winter rock garden in progress

My mind is still on fall colors even though there aren't many of them left in this neck of the woods, but I'm working up some new winter designs, too. I got so excited about my fall rock garden design that I had to make a winter one right away.

As I mentioned yesterday, I haven't been listing a lot of new items online with everything that I've had going on for shows, but I have this available in two sizes. If you're interested, let me know. As always, I also take custom requests for this design in other sizes and color combinations.

Has anyone else been working with winter color palettes lately?

New articles:

How to Make Corn Husk Dolls and Other Corn Husk Craft Ideas
Recycled Old T-Shirt Craft Ideas: Clothing and Accessory Projects
Teaching Sight Words to Kids: Strategies, Games, Activities, Worksheets, and Printables

another edition of why I love my customers

If you're been reading my blog for a while, you know that "why I love my customer" posts come from my custom orders.  I love to sell in stock pieces that I created with my own ideas, but I love to make the designs that my customers have come to life, too.  Over the last few years, I have tried designs, color combinations, and more that I never would have otherwise because of my customers.  These last few orders were no exception.

Some of you know that I got a couple custom orders from open house guests before I even had the open house.  Before that happened, I had a request for a custom size of my red/pink rock garden bracelet.

I am so happy that my rock garden line continues to do well.  I've sold versions of the first four color combinations and just released the newest color combination: neutral this week.

The first custom order I got for the open house was for two color gradation button charm bracelets.

 

Isn't this a cool effect?  I love the result, especially the black and white one.  It is really tough to find black buttons, especially in unique sizes or with unique details, but I may try to make another one of these at some point.

I shared photos of the bracelets with the customer before the open house.  She loved them and asked if I made button earrings.  After showing her examples of a few different designs that I make, sure ordered 4 pairs!

 

I loved making stacked button post earrings and enjoyed using these new color combinations.

As I now included beads in the vast majority of my button charm bracelets, I decided that it was time to start using them in my button dangle earrings, too.

I included these earrings are as a freebie with her order.  Aren't these little buttons so sweet?

The second custom order that I got was from my brother's girlfriend.  Do you remember her Star Wars pendant?  She loves it and wanted several more to give to her friends before they see the new Star Wars 3D movie.  Don't tell George Lucas.

Normally I attach my glass pendants to lobster clasps so they can be interchanged with any of my wrap pieces, charm bracelets, etc., but she just wanted these as pendants on chains so I left them with just the bail.

I included a little freebie, too.

I'd been thinking about my Star Wars pendant again recently before this even happened and had been brainstorming other fun pendant ideas for her in the future.  She loves The X-Files so I went with it.  So much for future gift ideas, right?  That's okay.  When I made the first Star Wars pendant for her, I printed it on regular paper.  This time I upgraded to card stock.  The result was definitely better, but I may try photo paper sometime instead.  I don't know how it would do with the glaze, but I think that the clarity would be even better. 

Have you been working on any custom orders lately?

Stay tuned tomorrow for a wrap up of the open house and what else I did in Chicago over the weekend.



And in unrelated news...

Amy of CopperDiem is having an amazing 3 pound bead giveaway on her blog right now!  If you love beads as much as I do, go check it out.

Where I linked up today:

I included this post in Michelle's Delicately Constructed Friday 2/10/2012.

in the works

I have been putting so much effort into making and photographing pieces for my new line and working on holiday items that I haven't been taking a lot of pictures of "in the works" pieces.  I've also had so much scheduled here lately that I simply haven't found time for this in a few weeks.  It was way past time to bring it back!  Here are a few things that have in my beading bowls and on my crafting table lately.

The newest piece in my rock garden line is going to be a a winter piece in neutrals.  And no, there are no pinks in the mix.  The design on the bottom of the bowl has a lot of pink, which shines through the clear beads.

Thank you for all of the wonderful feedback that I've received on my current header piece that I gave to Bethany for Christmas!  I will be offering a similar piece in my shop.

I have been working on a lot of greeting cards, including a couple Valentine's Day designs.  My card designing is pretty scattered (one day I'm working on Valentine's Day items, the next day I get inspired to start working on flowers for Mother's Day cards...), but I may try to get at least one more Valentine's Day design together before the holiday.

I have to say that I am really thrilled with how well I've been able to photograph cards in my light box.  I was worried that it wouldn't be big enough and that I wouldn't be able to crop the sides of the box out.  I was also worried that I'd get weird shadows on the cards when I stood them up.  So far neither of these things has been an issue at all!  There will still be some learning curves I'm sure, but I'm off to a good start at least.

This doesn't have anything to do with "in the works" but I wanted to say thank you for all of the anniversary congrats from the end of December.  Jake and I had a wonderful dinner out together.  I enjoyed the leftovers  at home the next day.  Look at how big those scallops are!

I still have a few $10 ad spots that will run for all of 2012.  Get them while you can!  All of the information about my private ad sponsorship can be found right here.

the new line is up and some standard designs are back in stock

Last year I started making multiple versions of single designs, which makes it easier to re-list items.  During the last few months this has paid off, and I got a few popular listings up and running again pretty quickly.  Although no two pieces I make are exactly identical, I do like having some standard listings that sell well.  Here are some of the newest ones that are back in stock.

Now what we've all been waiting for:

The new herringbone wrap bracelet/necklace line and detachable charms are officially up and running!

Here are some of the first brand new listings.

Beaded Wrap Bracelet/Necklace - Purple - Detachable Love Charm

This is not a wrap bracelet but it is one of my new herringbone listings with a custom charm option.

Beaded Bracelet - Black - Detachable Sterling Silver Initials Charms

As suggested, I am listing a separate sterling silver chain in case people want to hang their charms/pendants on a chain and don't have one of their own or want to give a necklace set to someone, etc.

I listed three charm sets: custom initials, flowers, and leaves (surprise, right?).

Next up will be music and a heart set for Valentine's Day.  I have some bracelets in the works, too, including a couple pink bracelets to list for Valentine's Day.

Like most of my work, all of these new bracelets can be customized in different colors and lengths.  I can also work with you to make custom charms for just about any theme you can imagine.  I'm trying to keep my listing descriptions as concise as possible so my buyers don't get overwhelmed. But the possibilities are endless so don't hesitate to contact me.

I included this post in Michelle's Delicately Constructed Friday 1/6/11.

Are you interested in a $10 ad spot on my blog that will run for all of 2012?  Hop on over to my advertising page for more information.

continuing my lines: newest rock garden and dagger bracelets

I listed my newest rock garden bracelet last week.

It's available here.  I am so happy that this line continues to do well because 1) the pieces are so much fun to make and 2) my purple rock garden bracelet is one of my favorite pieces to wear.  I'm always scouting new small Czech glass in green, blue, and purple for these pieces.  I used a wide variety of Czech glass shapes included several different types of leaves.  I was able to pick up some new dark purple seed beads in Iowa City before we left, which was a relief, because that finish is awesome.  I have a longer version of this bracelet available, too.  If you're interested, let me know.

I also listed my newest dagger bracelet last week.  I know that I keep saying that I won't make anymore until I sell one and yet I seem to keep making them.

It's available here.  I bought some extra green daggers a while back for this piece.  I didn't know for sure how many daggers I would be getting from Art Beads because there was a little mix up with part of my order.  I don't know why I didn't do this sooner!  Some of you may remember this post where I shared the first version of this piece, which had a big mistake that I realized much too late to rip out.  I love the final result, though, especially with the green seed bead fringe.

Amazingly I don't have any more rock garden or dagger bracelets in the works right now, but as always, I'm open to suggestions.

newest rock gardens, finished and in the works

Some of you may remember my rock garden sneak peak from last month.  I did finish it before we moved and finally listed it last week.

It's available here.  Each rock garden bracelet has a slightly different combination of beads, and this one is no exception.  It has malachite chips and rounds, glass rounds, tear drops, and of course Czech glass leaf beads, some of which are from Shannon (beadsandbabble).  I have a slightly longer, very similar one available, too.  If you're interested, let me know.

I am so happy that the rock garden designs keep selling.  As long as they keep selling, I will keep making them.  I'm working on a couple new purple ones right now.