patterns, new listing

Happy Halloween everyone!

I took advantage of Carol Dean's (SandFibers) Two for One Patterns Deal that she has going on right now. I was planning to buy one of the patterns as little treat for myself after conferences next week. So I went ahead and did it now. There is no way that I will be beading either pattern before then anyway. I got the Red Bargello Ribbon Peyote Cuff pattern and then the Imitation of Disco Dots Peyote Cuff pattern for my freebie. As most of you know by now, I am a huge fan of Carol's work and am excited to try her patterns for myself. I also helped her reach her goal of 100 sales for the month of October. Congrats Carol!

I listed my newest rock garden bracelet today.
I thought about making another purple one since I decided to keep the original purple. I didn't have quite enough of that assortment, though, so I mixed what I did have with blue. I'm thinking about making a jade garden next. I'd also like to make a pink/red or a yellow/orange one sometime as well.

I completed four remakes of old designs this week. The natural light was beautiful today, and I really got some good shots. I'm looking forward to editing those pictures later this weekend.

completion of my international order and button trade, new listing

One of the bracelets that my first international buyer ordered was my Valentine's Day button charm bracelet. I sold the original during the spring so I put together a new one for her. I snapped a picture of it before I packed everything up.


I made another one to list as well. I am going to wait until I can take some outside or natural light pictures of the new one before I relist it on Etsy.

I uploaded the pictures of my button trade with Kelly tonight. Here's a picture of my full stash.
Ever since I saw my dad's parents back in August, I've been searching for maroon beads and buttons. My grandpa is a professor at Texas A&M, whose colors are maroon and white. I'd like to make a few A&M items that my grandma can sell or give as gifts to friends. Maroon is VERY hard to find, though! Kelly was so nice to go pull some maroon buttons for me, which is why those are all separated. I am also so excited about all of the SMALL buttons in the mix. They'll be perfect for button embellished right angle bracelets.

I also took a picture of just a few of my favorites.

Finally, Kelly attached this neat vintage fish button to the card that she included in my package. How cute is this?!
Thanks again, Kelly! :)

And now: my new listing for today: my newest wrapped skinny peyote cuff.
I'm thinking about a blue gold-accented wrapped cuff next. As always, I'm open to suggestions!

FoundHandmade feature

I got a convo today, letting me know that I'm currently featured on FoundHandmade. They just put up a second set of cubed items, which includes my turquoise and red fringed peyote cuff. You can view it on the site with all of the other wonderful cubed items by going to http://foundhandmade.com/ and clicking on the "blog" link at the top of the screen. :)

my first blog award

I received my first blog award today from Theresa of Theresa's Treasures!


I am so grateful for all of the support that I've had with this blog. I really appreciate everyone who visits regularly and offers advice, opinions, and support. I would like to pass this award on to just a few of these people.

KreatedbyKelly
BeadedTail
WillOaks Studio
Three Fates Design
Alterity Art
Linda B
LANYARDLADY

Thank you again everyone!

Also, I had my first international order today, which was very exciting. I will be shipping the package off to the UK tomorrow. Finally, I received my buttons from Kelly, completing the current button trade. More details about both will follow shortly. :)

continued pink and a new leafy bracelet

I completed my custom order transaction last night. Nicole is going to give this charm bracelet to her niece for Christmas.

While I still had the pink and white mix, I made another charm bracelet. This one was for an old friend's birthday. She received it last week and is hopefully enjoying it.

Because I was still so into the pink and white, I made a new random links bracelet with it that I'll be listing sometime in the next week. For now, though, I listed my newest leafy bracelet which has a completely different look. It's called vibrant autumn.

For my next leafy bracelet, I will most likely repeat a color combination that I've already visited and sold. I'm thinking about either autumn with copper or purple/pink. As always, input is appreciated!

pink feature

One of the EtsyBlogger Carnival topics for this month is protection and awareness. Since pink is the color for breast cancer awareness, I selected a wonderful variety of pink themed items from for a few of my favorite Etsy sellers. Enjoy!

Soft Pink Bargello Hearts Peyote Cuff Bracelet by SandFibers

Mocha Pink Bracelet by dorothydomingo

Totally Tubular - Sexy Hot Pink and Black Tubular Peyote Stitch Bangles by miamiamia

Strawberries and Cream Bracelet by PoorRobin

Sweet Pink Moonface Necklace by houseofcats6

Adult and Kids Lovebird Slippers by piddies

I love my Kids personalized altered art charm bracelet by poetsummer

vintage pink carnations - hangs on 18 inch chain by bethtastic

Fuschia Fingerless Gloves with 3-Button Trim by TinkerAndPo

Pink Sugar (Aquolina Type) Sugar Scrub - 10 oz by HeathensHearth

Key to My Heart Keepsake by sojourncuriosities

new button book, EtsyBlogger October Featured Seller

I checked out an absolutely wonderful button book from the library today: Button It Up: 80 Amazing Vintage Button Projects for Necklaces, Bracelets, Embellishments, Housewares, & More by Susan Beal. I found it by chance in the new nonfiction section and have barely put it down since. For those of you who are also into making button crafts, I highly recommend that you check it out. Normally I just check out crafty books for inspiration and don't buy them, but I think that this is one that I need for my personal collection. Susan Beal has written a couple other books that sound really interesting, too.

The EtsyBlogger Featured Seller for October is madebymelissa. You can check out her Etsy shop as well as her blog. Here are just a few wonderful items from her shop.

Green Glass Beaded Bracelet

Pumpkin Picking Glass Beaded Necklace

Blue and Green Skinny Scarf

Purple Heart Earrings

polka dotted barrels

I just listed a new bracelet. I have not done a lot with polka dots in my jewelry thus far, but I am a big fan of them. I have had these lamp worked beads for a while because I felt I needed them haha. I didn't have much of a clue what I wanted to do with them when I bought them. I finally worked out a design that I really couldn't be more proud of, though. It's probably a good thing that this bracelet is too big for me or I might not have listed it at all! I'm having a hard time pinpointing what I love so much about this bracelet, but I will say that it combines my love of polka dots with my love of classic black and white. There's also something about the balance of colors and weight that works really well. If I think of something more than that, I will be sure to share it. Click on the pictures for the listing.



It's hard to believe that we're already more than halfway through October. There's still lots more to come this month with my EtsyBloggers' featured seller and blog carnival posts as well as more new listings and possibly another leaf feature.

I didn't make the front page but...

...the Flower Garden treasury that my orange flower garden cuff was featured in spent its last hours in the hottest seat in Treasury West!


I thought that was pretty exciting. :) Thank you so much to everyone who visited and clicked on items in the treasury!

congrats, final Etsy purchases (for now)

The EBW October Challenge Super Power Jewelry was a tie! Congratulations to both the winners: AngelqueCreations with her Cuff of Power (which sold!) and SmadarsTreasure with her Black Spider Woman Necklace! The November Challenge Beauty of the Flower is already underway. :)

I received my final Etsy purchases (for now) at the end of this week. The first was the cell phone cozy that I originally posted when I made my Etsy wish list here, except that Juliette (thefinickystitcher) was so kind to make me one in chocolate brown. I love it!

I also received my first set of beads from Jennifer (theblueseraphim). I have admired her shop for over a year but had never purchased anything before now. It was VERY tough to decide on one item, but I finally settled on this black and periwinkle set. I was not disappointed. As with many Etsy creations, they looked even more beautiful in person than they did on the web site. She included a coupon for a free glass ruffle pendant necklace with all the orders she received while she was on vacation. I've still been contemplating a custom order with her so I may put that in while I can still use my coupon (it's good through Nov. 10).

leaf feature number 4

I keep thinking that I'm ready to be done with the leaf features, but then I keep finding more wonderful leafy items on Etsy. Here are the latest goodies. :)

Fall Leaf Magnets by blockpartypress

Autumn Leaf Magnet by Ryanplz

Heart Leaf Bracelet by YayLut
YayLut also has some wonderful leafy earrings in her shop. Check them out!

Fall Maple Leaf Bracelet by JANETLILY

Sale Seven Assorted Leaves by LynnCardwellPottery

Baby Leaves Droplet Earrings by AmongTheRuins

New Fall Collection - Peridot Glass Leaf MultiDangle by OceanSea

Set of 6 Green Leaf Fabric Covered Push Pins by erinvt

fall gold remake and other recent happenings

I recently updated my fall gold right angle bracelet listing with two new versions of it. Both versions now have button clasps. (Previous versions had beaded clasp.)



I also sold the longer of my two rainbow button embellished right angle bracelets. The shorter one is still available here. :)

I have finished a few other pieces this week as well, including a custom order for one of Jake's med school classmates. I braved taking some pictures inside with natural daylight during the week. If the cold, cloudy weather continues I may be forced to do the same thing today, too. I think that it will work out okay, though.

treasury feature

SFBeads was so kind to let me know that she featured my orange garden peyote cuff in her Flower garden treasury. This is the third treasury that it's been in, and the piece is up to 8 hearts, which is a record for me. Hopefully it will gain at least one or two more through its appearance here.

You can view this treasury live by CLICKING HERE until Monday October 19 6:05PM EST.

buttons

I received another one of my recent Etsy purchases in the mail yesterday: two sets of buttons from kellwood - peppermint fizz and purple pie man. I ordered the rainbow brite mix last year and was very pleased with it. The two new mixes did not disappoint. Here's a picture with just a few of my favorites from the new mixes.


While I had buttons on my mind this weekend, I asked Kelly from KreatedbyKelly if she'd be interested in doing another button exchange. She said yes so I put together a mix of buttons for her today. Here they are in the measuring cup.

And here they are in a Ziplock, ready to be wrapped in tissue paper and then put in an bubble mailer.

I'm going to put them in the mail tomorrow. I'm always up for button exchanges so if any other fellow button crafters are interested, please let me know!

Etsy Bloggers Team

I got accepted into the Etsy Bloggers team tonight! I know that several of you who read my blog regularly as members as well. I'm excited to be a part of it, too. :) Writing is as much a part of me as making jewelry is and has been so for a much longer amount of time. I have the buttons for the team posted on the right hand side of my page now. You can also check out their blogspot here: http://etsybloggers.blogspot.com. Those of you who are part of the team, please let me know if you have any advice/tips about the group.

Despite the fact that it was snowing for a while this morning (thankfully none of it stuck...it's too early for snow!), I had some wonderful lighting for taking pictures this afternoon. I should be able to upload and edit them this weekend.

October EBW Challenge, new listing, Etsy purchase

The October EBW Challenge Super Power Jewelry voting is up and running! You can vote on the EBW blog from today through October 15. http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ The entries are wonderful as always.

I listed another button embellished right angle bracelet tonight. I'd like to do a remake of my red and purple button embellished design next.

I got the first of several recent Etsy purchases in the mail today. It is this wonderful wristlet from Janine King Designs. I prefer to carry a small purse and was in need of a new one. I have had a hard time finding something small, but this one is perfect. Yes, I really will be able to fit everything that I need into this bag. It is VERY well constructed. The padding is amazing, and the zipper is very securely attached. I am confident that it will have a long life span.

I finished my bright red and orange leafy bracelet that I posted the sneak peak of earlier this week. Hopefully I will get some good lighting this weekend to take pictures of it.

remake (with blue dots!)

I listed a remake today of a design that I put together over the summer. I sold the original before I could even list it on Etsy. I'm happy to have another version in my inventory and now listed on Etsy.



I will be listing a couple other new items over the next few days, too.

sneak picks

The first sneak peak is a piece that I've actually been working on since the end of the summer. The base went pretty quickly, but I've been taking my time with the fringe. I work a couple more rows rows in between pieces or whenever I have a few minutes and think to pick it up. I have more fun with it this way because it never gets tedious.


The second sneak peak is the mix for my newest leafy series piece, which I started tonight.

new listing, success with pictures

It was a gorgeous, sunny day here. It's really starting to feel like fall. I was finally able to take some pictures outside, including the ones in this listing.


I love turquoise and red. I can't believe that it's taken me this long to make another piece with that color combination.

I also got thinking about turquoise and red this week because Carol Dean of Sand Fibers started a new Flickr group called Beadwoven Beauties. When she asked me to join, she left me a comment about the group with this picture. Complete coincidence, although I know that she does love turquoise. I am honored that she asked me. For those of you who are fellow bead weavers, I highly encourage you to join the group. The submissions have been amazing so far.

I have been encouraged by how many hits my newest listings have received since I joined Twitter and started posting there about my new items. Hopefully that will continue. :)

I made a few purchases on Etsy this weekend, including a few of the items that I posted about recently. I will post more about them as they start arriving. I'm sure that I won't be disappointed!

Twitter, September Dropper feature, new listing

I finally gave in and joined Twitter last night. I have no intention of texting all day about nothingness. I will use it solely for promoting my Etsy shop and other Etsy related things like favorited items. I have already started following a new other Twitter users who read my blog, but I know that there are lots more of you out there. Please start following me! http://twitter.com/randomcreative .

Here is a lovely new listing from BeadedTail, one of my Top 10 Droppers for September. If you are still interested in being featured as well, it's not too late! Just let me a comment.

In the Pink Rose Quartz and Swarovski Crystal by BeadedTail

I also listed a new item myself today.

It's the third cloudy/rainy day in a row here so unfortunately I have not taken any new pictures yet. I may attempt some indoor shots if it doesn't clear up tomorrow.