another peacock bracelet, latest Blogging for Beads stash

Here is my new listing for today.


It's kind of the cousin of my first feathered fringe cuff. I have the fringe beads for a blue one as well (which will be larger like the first one), although I haven't started working on it yet.

I received my newest stash from the Blogging for Beads program yesterday. (Also, for the record, I did take advantage of the 20% off glass beads sale at Art Beads. Hopefully that order will be here tomorrow or Saturday.) They're all from the Swarovski Crystal Beads section of Art Beads. Here's a picture of my goodies.
I have a couple ideas for some of the pieces already. As always, I'm also open to suggestions! :)

leaf jewelry and supplies feature

As you probably already know, I am still not over my leaf bead obsession that started sometime in early 2009. I haven't done a feature on here in a while so I decided to feature some leaf jewelry pieces and supplies from fellow Etsy sellers.

BEADWOVEN FLORAL BRACELET by fashionsfrome

Pink Glass, Antique Gold - Charm Bracelet - Pink Spring Garden by Balanced

HANDMADE PORCELAIN MAPLE LEAF BUTTONS - RUSTY ORANGE by LisaPetersArt

HANDMADE RAKU FIRED CERAMIC LEAF BUTTON IN GREEN by LisaPetersArt

Large Green Leaf Earrings by FancifulForm

Brass Leaf Bracelet by Greenerica

EcleCtic Leafy Goodness Fiesta Charm Bracelet by LifeTravelsDesigns

Pretty Birds garden charm bracelet Summerpoint studios by poetsummer

sunkist bracelet by oceanhouse

Rose Garden Bracelet by Mandyshaner

continued new listings and non-Etsy sales

I have another new listing up on Etsy.


This was the first wrapped skinny cuff that I made. As you may remember, I already sold the second one that I made with gold embellishment. I have one other wrapped cuff that I'll list sometime in the next week. Other than that, I don't have any others in the works...yet. But there will definitely be more in the future because I love this look.

At the request of one of my classmates, I brought some of my jewelry with me to the last day of my last summer grad class. I ended up selling three bracelets, including two more that I hadn't even listed yet. The third one that I sold is my beloved blue embellished square stitch bracelet. I just may have to make another one!

I am really excited that my newer work has been so well received this summer. It is really encouraging and gives me confidence to keep working on my new ideas.

Here are pictures of the two bracelets that I sold that I hadn't listed yet. I bought the turquoise dotted beads for this first one over a year ago! I actually have three more of them so I may make another bracelet like this one.

This is the first leafy bracelet that I've sold!

more new listings, personal collection jewelry

I've been on a roll with new listings lately. I want to get everything that I've made so far this summer listed before I head out of town in a couple weeks. Once I get back into town, I'll be starting the new school year (less than 4 weeks away *sigh*). The more I can do now, the better!


As you can see, I gave into my weakness for stripes.

Twice!

The last bracelet is one of two pieces that I made for myself recently. I decided to list it as a made to order item. Here is a picture of both personal pieces.

Making jewelry has really expanded the color palette that I enjoy wearing on a regular basis. I never would have picked the pinks in the striped bracelet a couple years ago, but now I love it. :)

new treasury curated by me!

I put this poster sketch together quite a while ago. I think it was back in the spring. I was watching Treasury West today and managed to snag a spot. What a great treasury day!


It's called "bead woven black and white." You can visit it live by CLICKING HERE until Tuesday July 28 6:43AM EST.

treasury feature

Thank you to my fellow EBW member kraftymax for featuring my the leafy series - autumn bracelet in her EBW Falling for Fall! treasury!


You can view the treasury live by CLICKING HERE until Monday July 27 2:07PM EST. Thanks again!

the return of the two-button explosion charm bracelet is back, new Art Beads Blogging Program materials

I relisted the two-button explosion charm bracelet tonight. I've already gotten some compliments about the new one in person.


I also got an e-mail today about my second round of supplies from Art Beads through their blogging program. I was able to pick out a wide assortment of items from their Swarowski Crystal Beads section. I had my eye on some of the Swarovski Pendants, too, though I held off in the end. Maybe some other time. I'm still contemplating the 20% off sale that I mentioned in my last post as well.

more new listings, another sale, custom order

I've listed a couple more new items the last few days.



I also made another sale on Etsy today! This is the third one I've had on Etsy this month. I have lots of money sitting in my PayPal account now. I may take advantage of the ArtBead's Gigantic Glass Sale that's going on until next Tuesday.

I completed a custom order for my grandma today. She wanted a larger version of this bangle. I'll give it to her when I'm back in Chicago in a few weeks.

EBW July Challenge winner, more fun with embellishment

Congratulations to KraftyMax who won the EBW July Challenge Here Comes the Bride with her piece Intertwined in Love for Wedding Bliss! As always there were a ton of stunning entries.

I have been wanting to make something like the bracelet that I listed today ever since I wanted to get serious about making beaded jewelry and not just stringing beads. A year later, I finally accomplished it. I cannot tell you how proud I am of this piece.


It was really a lot of fun to make, too. I completed a similar piece in green this week. I'm thinking about making a purple or red one (surprise, surprise!) as well.

a new button embellished bracelet

I've been having more fun making new pieces and sharing them with people in person so I haven't posted many new items lately even though I have some ready to go. However, I did put this new button embellished bracelet up today.


This is another item that fulfilled part of my recent purple and red fixation. The square red buttons that I used are from my mom's button collection (which she kindly let me raid back at Thanksgiving). I honestly don't know how old they are. They could be from either my mom's mom or one of my dad's grandmas. I think that they're really neat, though.

more non-Etsy sales

I went to Chicago from the 10th through the 13th. While I was there, among other things, I sold five more pieces, two of which are so new that I hadn't even listed them on Etsy yet. I had taken pictures of everything that I brought with me, though, so you can still see the new work.



The first one will still be a very easy one to list as a made to order item. I may go ahead and make another one at some point so I can have one on hand. The second one is a new design I've made two of now. The other one is all blue and will be listed sometime this month. I'm thinking about making another embellished cuff with the gold cubes for detail, but with an all green background. As always, feedback on the new design as well as other ideas for color and embellishment are appreciated.

My sales covered the beads that I bought at Briolette and Bead in Hand while I was there. I went to Briolette when I was in Chicago back in February, and my mom bought me a stash of beads from there for my birthday, too. I hadn't been to Bead in Hand in about three years, though. It was good to go back. I love the two bead stores in the Iowa City / Cedar Rapids area, too, but I love the variety of different stores.

Don't forget to vote in the current EBW Challenge if you haven't already! You can vote at the blog by clicking here. Thank you to everyone who already has voted.

July EBW Challenge

The voting is up for the July EBW Challenge Here Comes the Bride! Please go to the EBW blog by CLICKING HERE and vote for my Something Blue bracelet. :) It's entry number 6. (And yes, they did live the "e" off of my name both in the post about the challenge and on the ballot.) Thanks!

the purple button embellished bracelet is back!

I sold the original purple button embellished right angle bracelet back in May. I decided that it was worth making another purple one. I completed it last month and listed it today.


The picture does not do justice to the richness of the larger purple beads. They only have a slight blue tint in person. I recently finished a purple and red button embellished bracelet that I'll be listing this week, too. :)

all sorts of fun randomness - made to order, sales, recent purchase, EBW

I forgot to mention that my last post was my 100th post on this journal. :)

I listed a new made to order item today. This is one of the items that I made for my trade with Jo of Dogmaw Glass last month.

I have already had two sales in July! I cannot tell you how exciting that is. I shipped one on Thursday. I'm sure that the holiday delayed it a little bit, but hopefully it will be arriving at its destination soon. I just had the second sale come in today. I'm waiting for the buyer's eCheck to clear on PayPal and then I'll put it in the mail.

I don't post about all of my bead/beading supply purchases, but I wanted to mention one recent one here. After springbeads featured me in her Beautiful Bead Works treasury last month, I checked out her shop. She had several sets of leaf and tear drop beads at a great price with free shipping so I went ahead and purchased a few things. They arrived in the mail today along with a set of these beads. Thanks for the great deal, Sherry! Please check out her shop if you get a chance.

The August EBWC theme was announced today! Check it out at the EBW blog. The July voting for Here Comes the Bride will be coming up shortly. Make sure you check back for details in the next week or so!

made to order, treasury feature

I hope that everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! :)

I finally listed both the peyote cuff and triangle pendant that I made for my cousin's wedding back in May as made to order items in my Etsy shop this week.

My fellow EBW member KraftyMax included my skinny black and white bracelet in her Many SHAPES of Black and White treasury. She very kindly sent me a convo to let me know that I was featured!


You can visit it live by CLICKING HERE until Tuesday July 7 at 5:42PM EST.

June Top Droppers

Where did June go?! Sadly, it's gone already and it's time to list the Top Droppers again. Thank you as always for all of your support! I mean that for everyone who drops on my blog regularly, not just those in the top 10. Thank you!!

1) Split Rock Ranch
2) BeadedTail
3) Online Marketing
4) my review
5) Zero
6) My Reflections and Impressions
7) My gypsygoods
8) Daisy the Curly Cat
9) Melissas Jewelry and Gem Blog
10) A Rose By Name

And featured items from the Top 10 Droppers who are also Etsy sellers:
CLEAR BLUE SKY Custom Fiber Blend with SuperWash Wool and Bamboo SOCK BATTS by SplitRockRanch

Annie Kitty - Red Sponge Coral and Vintage Lucite Handpainted Cat Bead Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace by BeadedTail

ABEO - (12) PIN-BACK-Art Buttons....Mini Artist Canvas 1.5 inch buttons by gypsygoods

Blue and Green Chainmaille Island Paradise Pendant by missy69

Black and Rose Geometrics Bracelet by arosebyname