the leaf obsession continues

I listed my second leafy bracelet (second made for the purpose of selling it...) today.


I know that this isn't really the right time of year to be sporting this colors regularly, but hopefully everyone will be able to look past that and appreciate how awesome this bracelet is. I can't get over how amazing leaf beads are. They give the double stranded right angle weave look that I love a whole new feel. I made a version of this for myself, which I haven't worn yet, but I will all the time when fall comes (which I'm really not ready to think about yet...).

I photographed eight pieces this past week. Two are remakes of older ideas and six are brand new. I spent most of this week working on a couple new pieces for myself, one of which I will be listing as a made to order item. I've already made two new pieces this weekend as well. :)

treasury feature, feathered fringe

I feel very fortunate to have my ocean stained glass peyote cuff included in this gorgeous collection of bead work in springbeads' Beautiful Bead Works treasury.


You can visit it live by CLICKING HERE until Saturday June 27 at 6:43PM EST.

I just listed this bracelet today. I have fulfilled most of my fringe obsession by making my leafy creations, but I wanted to try something a little different with this bracelet. My husband says that it reminds him of a peacock. :) This bracelet also fulfills my new love for the red and purple color combination that I referred to earlier this month.


I bought some similar beads in similar colors that are a little smaller so I can make a more delicate version. I haven't decided if I want to use smaller beads for the base or just make it more narrow.

remake, completed trade

I uploaded pictures of the new version of this bracelet this week. I sold the original off Etsy last month and decided it was worth making another one.


I completed a trade with knitterye this week. She makes wonderful jewelry. I traded her my coffee 'n cream bangle for her Pale Starry necklace. Thanks again Rorye!

I have a lot of newly finished pieces that I need to photograph. I may brave the heat this afternoon and take picture of at least a few of them. :)

feature on The Art Zoo

Guess who got featured on The Art Zoo yesterday for her purple shell beads bracelet? I'm so excited!!

June EBW Challenge winner, July EBW Challenge entry

Congratulations to LiciaBeads who won the June EBW Challenge: Humor with her awesome necklace Curiosity Killed the Cat! I seriously love that piece. Licia is also a fellow Awesome Chicks of Etsy member. :)


I listed my entry for the July EBW Challenge: Here Comes the Bride today. As some of you may remember, I got the Swarovski buttons that I used in the bracelet as part of my first set of items for the ArtBeads Blogging for Beads program. I still have a set of purple buttons to use at some point in the future, too.


I have had weddings on my mind most of this past year so this theme really could not have some at a more perfect time. As soon as I saw the theme, I knew that this was a challenge that I could not resist. I had a lot of fun with this piece and am really pleased with the result. :)

Please check out Art Beads for any beading supplies that you may need!

red and purple feature post

My new favorite color combination is red and purple. You got to see a sneak peak over the weekend of one of several pieces that I've made recently in this color combination. While I'm waiting for a sunny day so I can photograph my other new pieces outside, here are some of my favorite jewelry pieces from fellow Etsy sellers that also use this color combination.

Delightful Daisy Bangle by taylorgal

Violet Borosilicate Heart Necklace by DesertRainJewelry

Beaded Fabric and Peyote Cuff by SandFibers

Completely Puzzled - Beadwoven Peyote Cuff by time2cre8

Red Hat Society Bracelet by dreambeadweaver

Summer Berry - Charm Bracelet by Kim Smith SRAJD by KIMMSMITH

trade completed, first leafy bracelet for sale, sneak peak

I completed my trade with Jo from Dogmaw Glass this past week. She sent me this beautiful glass sculpture in exchange for two of my bracelets. She wanted to be completely surprised with her bracelets. This is what I sent her.


If you like Jo's sculpture, I highly recommend following her blog and watching for future offers to trade. She just posted her third sculpture for trade this week. :) I am always open to trading with others as well. Please let me know if you're ever interested.

I finally created my first leafy bracelet to sell and listed it today. First, here is a picture of my own green leafy bracelet, after all of its reworking.

And here is the one that is now listed.
I am so happy with the result. I hope that others are, too! I put together an autumn version as well. I actually made two autumn leafy bracelets - one for myself and one to sell. I'd like to make a more blue/turquoise themed leafy bracelet next. After that, I'm not sure, but I know that there will be more because I don't think that will quite kick my leaf beads obsession. As always, I'm open to suggestions.

Here's a sneak peak at the autumn leafy bracelet that will be for sale, as well as a couple other newly finished pieces that I haven't listed yet.

Bead Giveaway Contest at Silver Parrot

Silver Parrot Designs is having a HUGE bead giveaway right now! You can see pictures of just a handful of the beads that you will receive by CLICKING HERE. All you need to do to enter is post about the contest in your blog and then leave a comment with the link on her blog. I know that many of you who read this blog are like me and already have huge bead stashes, but who doesn't want more beads? :)

continuation of the ocean theme, June EBW Challenge

Here are the other two ocean themed pieces that I made. They are both listed in my Etsy shop now. :)



Voting for the June EBW Challenge is now up and running! The theme for this challenge is humor. You can vote at the blog by CLICKING HERE from now until June 15th. I am not in this current challenge, but I am entering the July Challenge: Here Comes the Bride.

first of several ocean themed pieces

I indulged in my blue/green weakness a couple weeks ago. I started one the pieces in the middle of all of the craziness with my cousin's wedding and it took me a lot longer than usual to finish and photograph. I made the other two pieces relatively quickly afterward. Here is one of the final, quicker pieces, which I just listed today.


I made one piece like this before. That one was Hawkeye themed. I'm very pleased with this one and will likely make more in the same design in the future. As always, color suggestions are welcomed! :)

couple fun things from Art Beads

Art Beads is sponsoring the Use the Muse II contest. The contest was created by Scarlett Lanson who has won some prestigious contests herself including 2009 KGI Worldwide Design Contest and fourth place in the Swarovski "Create Your Style" competition. Her goal for the contest was to create a competition for all types of beaders that has a shortened timeline and a big payoff. For this contest, everyone receives the same assortment of components including beads, crystals, pearls, silk, and seed beads plus a mystery component that must be kept secret until the "big reveal." Then everyone will see what the muse is and all of the photos of the entries for the contest.

The cost for the entry kit is $30 plus $5 shipping (US), $10 shipping (international). There are a limited number of kits and they will likely be gone before the order deadline of June 27. The entry deadline is June 18. Scarlett is holding a weekly giveaway for bloggers who help promote the contest. You can see information about that here: http://www.thebeadersmuse.com/blogger-rewards/ . You can also go here to find out what happened in the first contest: http://www.thebeadersmuse.com/use-the-muse-contest2/ .

Also, for those of you on Twitter: Art Beads has a new Tweet Your Prize giveaway. Enter this giveaway for Twitter followers of Art Beads to win a beautiful handmade Taina Hartman Pendant. http://www.artbeads.com/tweet-your-prize.html

Have fun and good luck everyone! :)

rainbow stripes

I listed a new item yesterday.

This is the one I mentioned a little while back that I made with the same beads as this triangle pendant. :)

May Top Droppers

Thank you once again to everyone who has supported me through Entrecard! I have not been dropping as regularly as usual this past month and did not make very many, if any, top 10 lists myself. I hope that no one has taken any offense to this. I still love visiting the many wonderful blogs that I have discovered through Entrecard and will continue to do so whenever I can. Here are the top 10 for May:

1) Online Marketing
2) my review
3) Zero
4) Silver Sachet
5) My gypsygoods
6) A Rose by Name
7) Split Rock Ranch
8) Dogmaw Glass
9) Three Fates Design - Beaded Jewelry
10) BeadedTail

And some awesome pieces from the fellow Etsy sellers from the Top 10:
Purple Crackle Beads and Swarovski Crystals Bracelet by silversachet

Afraid of plants pin back buttons from gypsygoods

Summer in the Hamptons Cuff by arosebyname

Midnight Desire - Handspun 2-Ply Yarn - Corriedale Wool by SplitRockRanch (who I deeply apologize for not featuring before now despite previous top 10 appearances!!)

Green spiral disc bead by DogmawGlass

Blue Butterfly Cuff by ThreeFatesDesign

Berry Baby - Red Kitty Face Beaded Toggle Bracelet by BeadedTail

remakes, leafy satisfaction

I made new versions of two of my designs. I have listed them as "made to order" for the last couple weeks, but they are both bracelets that I've sold/given (as presents) multiples of so I want to have them on hand for in person viewing as well. I also wanted to have some new, better pictures because my ability to photograph jewelry (and edit pictures of jewelry) has improved significantly since I made the original bracelets.

This one is identical to the original.

This one is a slightly different shade of purple, as exact shade I used previously wasn't available any more.

I remade my leaf bracelet again over the weekend. I know that I said that the third time would be the charm...but then I dropped it at work and one of the large glass leaves broke. I really wasn't going to be happy with the leaf missing so I took it apart and made it again with my one remaining large clear glass leaf. I am now very satisfied with how my bracelet fits and am 99% confident that the design will hold. I will also be more carefully about how I hold it when I'm not wearing it. So I finally went ahead and made another leaf bracelet last night. It's very similar to my original and will be listed as soon as I get it photographed. I have a few other newly finished pieces to photograph and list as well. :)

non-jewelry favorites

Another feature post. Enjoy!

BLUE Jeans by blueseraphim

Sheet Music Coaster Set by CarolinaCottage

Birdies Magnet Set by cineloh

Disco Birds Have a Dance Party Print by finchwork

The Kelsey - Pleated Clutch - Damask in Espresso by GraceyBags
Mid Summer Night Glycerine Soap by HeathensHearth

Sassy Tote Bag...Circ de Tote by hmmmbymel

Special Edition Oval - Starry Night by ImagesUnderGlass

Circle of Friends Print by jellybeans
Cushion Covers by MARIESCOSYCUSHIONS

Umber Cat by Marjji

Adults and Kids Lovebird Slippers by piddies

Sleepy owl in mellow yellow by pouch

Teal Recycled BINGO Game Sketchbook Journal by somavenus