Chance to win an iPad from Artbeads but you've gotta hurry!

I know I said my last post would be the last post of the year but this is too good not to share!

Artbeads is having a giveaway for a new Apple iPad!  It even has 3G capability so you can get online just about anywhere.  Everyone who places an order between now and the end of the year will get an automatic entry for a chance to win. There is an alternate way to enter for those who don't want to place an order.   Click here for more information and to enter!

Sweepstakes ends 12/31/10.  Good luck!  

I'm heading over to Artbeads to do a little shopping!  Be sure to sign up for their newsletter to receive information on the lastest products, sales, coupon codes & more!

Thank you, Artbeads,  for allowing me to be one of your design partners this year.  I look forward to working with you in 2011!

The "Real" Santa Claus

My husband (a/k/a Santa) and my Granddaughter

2009

For the last 15 years or so my husband has been "Santa's helper".   He's pretty authentic, in looks and in spirit.  The beard is real and the suit doesn't require any extra padding!  He has watched kids grow up and calls them by name from year to year.   The kids know that he's the "real" Santa because he's missing part of his index finger.  It was lost in an unfortunate  accident... It was bitten off one day while feeding carrots to the reindeer {wink}!  His picture is on many a Christmas mantle in these parts!  He really enjoys it and has heard it all.  They ask for anything from the latest toy to a new brother or sister.  This year all one little girl wants is for her Mommy to be happy.

Like most of you, I've got a lot to do in the next week!  This will most likely be my last post of the year.  I'm looking forward to the calm (I hope!) after New Year.  There are some new things I'd like to learn and there are things around the house I've been putting off that really need done!  So...

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS

AND BEST WISHES FOR A

HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

Until next year...

Jana

Goldstone "Everyday" Necklace & Earrings

"Brown goldstone is a form of glass infused with glittering particles of copper that sparkle and gleam." 

I wanted to make a necklace with copper wire and goldstone.  I wasted most of Sunday afternoon and many yards of wire trying to create something more intricate and didn't like any of it!  This is what I ended up with and, you know, I really like it.  Just a simple necklace to wear for everyday that really lets the goldstone shine!   I couldn't get a picture that really shows the beauty of it.

I'm getting ready for the Edna craft show this Saturday.  If you're in the area stop by and see us!

~Today's Quote~

I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process....

it may not be true, but do I dare take the chance???

Thanksgiving Wishes

"Autumn Bounty"

~a necklace on gold wire in rich warm colors that remind me of the bounty of autumn.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day full of family, fun &  food!

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

~Author Unknown

"Nomad" Black & Silver Spool Knitted Necklace

When I saw this pendant from Blue Moon Beads' Global Nomad collection I immediately thought how perfect it would look on a spool knitted necklace.  I used silver wire, adding an opaque black 6/0 seed bead into each stitch, slid the pendant on and finished it with silver end cones and a lobster clasp.   

I do two craft shows each year.  The first one this year is next Saturday, the 20th, at the "Pecanfest" in Chetopa, KS.   If you're from our area, come check it out!  There will lots of fun things going on.  I'm looking forward to some homemade fudge from the "fudge lady"!  She has so many kinds to choose from but I always get Cherry Mash cause it's my favorite!

~Today's Quote~

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.

~Charles M. Schulz

"Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining"

Beads in whites and greys like a cloudy sky and an occasional silver sparkly bead prompted the name for this necklace.  

I was thinking about this as I was making it so I thought I'd type the phrase in an internet search.  This is a portion of what I found:

Idiom Definitions for 'Every cloud has a silver lining '~ People sometimes say that every cloud has a silver lining to comfort somebody who's having problems. They mean that it is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, no matter how unpleasant, difficult or even painful it might seem. 

I also learned something new today!  I had to look up the definition of "Idiom".  In case you don't know either, here is what it is: 

Definition of Idiom ~ A phrase which has a meaning that is commonly understood by speakers of the language, but whose meaning is often different from the normal meaning of the words is called an idiom. 

So the thought for today is to remember to be positive and alway's look for the silver lining!

Caution: SPOOKY!

The days of Lady Bugs and Princesses are behind us.  My granddaughter wanted to be something scary for Halloween this year. 

Meet the "Zombie Bride"

The dress started out as a new sparkling white bride costume.  They had fun trashing it.

My daughter did a really good job on her makeup.  I think maybe it's just a little too realistic!

My sister is a photographer so we took a little family outing to our local cemetary to get some spooky shots.

There are more on my sister's facebook page.  Click here if you'd like to look.  Some of them are just downright creepy! 

Hope you don't think we're too weird!  It was all in the fun of Halloween!

"Back to Nature" Wood Beads & Leather Necklace

For some reason lately I'm attracted to leather in jewelry.  Maybe it's the changing seasons.  I've never done much with it until lately.  I guess I'm going through  a leather phase!  I have a few other ideas I'd like to try, too.

  I crocheted this necklace with wood beads on bronze wire and attached a piece of brown leather on each side.   Matching earrings were made by adding a round wood bead and wood donuts to large bronze jumprings. 

~Today's Quote~

Stop every now and then.  Just stop and enjoy.  Take a deep breath.  Relax and take in the abundance of life.

~Unknown

A "Winning" Combination

"Audrey"

In earlier posts I told about winning a couple of blog giveaways.  This is a combination of beads that I won.   The larger beads are 8mm Fire Polish beads in "Crystal and Rose Porphyr" that I received from Jewelry by Jessica.  (Porphyr beads have "swirled" colors.) The seed beads are some of the seed beads that I received from JustATish.  They're a perfect match!  Thanks again, girls!

The center section is crocheted and I made a matching spool knitted "chain" to connect to each side.  I originally planned on attaching regular chain but nothing I had looked right so I decided to add the spool knitted pieces.

I like to give them names so I'm going to call this one "Audrey".  It's such a soft romantic piece and that name just seems to fit to me.

~Today's Quote~

"You may delay, but time will not."

~Benjamin Franklin

Isn't that the truth!

"Colors of Fall" with Artbeads!

As an Artbeads design partner, we're celebrating the gorgeous colors of fall!

For the beginning of my design I chose this beautiful Copper Heart Shaped Leaf Pendant.  The selection of pendants is huge, so this wasn't an easy task!  But I fell in love with this one.  I dangled it from the top but it also has a piece on the back for stringing it horizontally.  I used copper wire to compliment the copper on the pendant.

I chose the rest of the beads from their glass beads.  I chose rust picasso roundelles, carnelain opal, chestnut coral and siam from the Czech fire-polished beads for most of the design.  I was not disappointed in the colors!  I love them!  I also added a second strand of 3/0 Dark Copper TOHO beads and finished it off with a 12mm copper-plated curled toggle clasp from their selection of clasps.  I liked that the curled design of the toggle clasp matched the swirls on the pendant. 

I liked the colors together so much that I decided to use the leftover beads and copper wire to crochet this pendant.  I really like the look of it on a leather cord!

Thank you, Artbeads, for allowing me to work with these beautiful beads and to celebrate the glorious colors of fall! 

Disclosure: I am a Blogging for Beaders partner with Artbeads. The above noted items were provided to me free of charge, to be used for design purposes, or for my honest review of them. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

~Today's Quote~

Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

~Howard Thurman

I am SO Lucky!

Look at what I won from Tish at JustaTish Designs! 

Oh my gosh!  This beautiful pendant and all of these seed beads!  I love this wire wrapped pendant.  I've never had anything like it before and I will treasure it!  It came wrapped in that cute little fabric pouch.  I was so excited about the pendant that I completely forgot about the seed beads Tish was generous enough to include!  She had purchased hanks and shared half of them with the winner! 

Besides making the most beautiful jewelry, Tish has been a great source of inspiration for me.  Thanks for always encouraging me, Tish!  Please check out her blog where you will always find something interesting.  It also includes links to her website where you can purchase her jewelry, facebook and twitter. 

Tish also has a great love of animals.  There is a cause near and dear to her heart, "Christmas for Chamberlin".  Tish will be donating 15% of her sales from now through Christmas to help Chamberlin.  Please click the link above to read the story and see a video of Chamberlin.  Tish says, "He needs more surgery's, more PT, more love, and more support. Along with the donation to Chamberlin, I am also offering a free pair of earrings with every order.  Do a little something for yourself, and do a lot for Chamberlin."  What else can I say after that, except...

Thank you, Tish, for everything.  I thank you and I'm sure Chamberlin does.

~Today's Quote~

Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

~James Matthew Barrie

I'm a Winner!

I was the lucky winner of this pretty little organza bag full of goodies from Jewelry by Jessica!    She published her 100th blog post and celebrated with a give-away.  What a fun prize.  Just look at everything I received!  These are going to be some fun things to work with!

Hop on over and visit Jessica's blog, To Bead or Not to Bead What a Question,  and look at the beautiful jewelry that she makes!  Thank you so much, Jessica!

I've been lucky!  I also won another blog give-away that I can't wait to share when it arrives!

Here's a little update on what's going on with me lately~

  I received an Etsy order for 13 matching bridesmaids necklaces!  (Yay!)  I've been working on getting those done.

My jewelry is now for sale at the local consignment shop.  It's on display in their glass showcase.   I've already sold a few things, so that's exciting!  She wants me to make up some earrings to bring in, too.  

The local "Pecanfest" is coming up in November.  This will be the third year I've had a booth.  I also need to be working on jewelry for that.  It will be here before we know it!

Each year when fall arrives I get the urge to get out the yarn and crochet.  I recently discovered the Knifty Knitter and have been a little obsessed with it!  It's like the spool knitted jewelry only on a larger scale.  It's so relaxing.  You don't even have to think about it and this perfectly knitted piece comes out!  I never learned to knit so I'm pretty amazed with how it turns out!

And with all of this going on I've had a little "creative block".  I have a closet full of beads and just can't seem to get an idea of what I want to do! 

I went to the doctor this week (which I just don't do unless I'm seriously sick and that seldom happens) because my kids forced me to.  My youngest daughter actually made the appointment for me.  I had a really ugly mole on my back and a spot on my nose that just wouldn't heal.  Thank goodness, the mole was nothing to worry about and the one on my nose was pre-cancerous.  Both have been frozen and I'm good to go.  I'm glad I finally had them checked out because it has been a nagging worry.  It's just so easy to put off making the appointment.

Well, that's what's going on in my world.  Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

~Today's Quote~

Nothing is as frustrating as arguing with someone who knows what he's talking about!

 ~ Sam Ewing

Apricot Bling!

Wow, this necklace is sparkly!  I love these beads combined with the bright copper wire.  They're Czech Fire-Polished beads in "Metallic Apricot".  Each bead is half metallic and half clear apricot.  They match the copper wire perfectly.  The color makes me think of Rose Gold.

Have a nice weekend!

~Today's Quote~

Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how.

~Author Unknown

Unique Eclectic Eureka Springs, AR

If you follow my blog you know I love Eureka Springs, AR.  I wanted to do a post to try capture the charm of Eureka Springs and share with you just why I love it so much!

My sister and I started going to Eureka Springs about 15 years ago.  We actually went on a little trip to Bella Vista, AR.  We had heard about Eureka Springs and according to the map it wasn't very far from Bella Vista, so we decided we would "just drive over there for dinner".    We found out those few miles take much longer than normal due to the steep hills and curves!  It wasn't the short trip we were expecting!  But we were hooked.  We've gone every summer since then.  It has become an annual girls' trip that we look forward to every year!  When my daughters got old enough they started going with us and Mom went with us for several years.

Here's a little description:  Eureka Springs is a unique Victorian village which has its own eclectic mix of people and lifestyles.  The entire town of Eureka Springs is on the National Register of Historic Places. The city has steep winding streets filled with Victorian-style cottages. The buildings in the old commercial district are primarily constructed of local stone and lie along streets that curve around the hills. Some buildings have street-level entrances on more than one floor. The local Catholic Church has a street-level entrance to its bell tower!  The shops in the old commercial district are mostly specialty shops featuring local crafts, antiques, the works of local artists, and Ozark tourist fare. There are more than 20 art galleries in the downtown area and it's not uncommon to find a trickling spring inside a shop.  

So put on a comfortable pair of shoes and take a walk with me!

This is the commercial district with it's specialty shops, including Crescent Moon Beads.  You won't find a Wal-Mart in Eureka Springs! 

Basin Park is located downtown next to the Historic 1903 Basin Park Hotel.  It has an amphitheater where there are often free concerts.   Local artists are free to set up their wares whenever they please, no fees required. We love to just sit in the park and enjoy the atmosphere.

One of the things we love most is the laid back free spirited nature of the folks there.  Shops open and close on the owner's whim.  Street musicians perform in the park or can be found sitting on shop steps.

Nothing is left unadorned in Eureka Springs, including the utility covers!

Eureka Springs was founded on it's reputation for having healing springs.  There are many beautiful springs, gardens and grottos.  Flowers are everywhere and will grow from any crack or crevice!

Next is the historic loop which curves through the residential district full of brightly painted homes and Bed and Breakfast Inns.  We always have to "loop" at least a couple of times!  The top center picture is the "Rosalie".  It is and always has been my favorite!  The one on the top right is "Daffodil Cottage" and is my sister's favorite.  The one on the top left has entrances on an upper street and lower street.  This one can be rented and it's our dream to be able to stay there one of these days!

These are just a few miscellaneous pictures that show the beautiful, artsy, eclectic nature of Eureka Springs.  A couple of years ago while we were there we all got matching tattoos!  It's a special reminder of our "Sisterhood", the closeness we share and the fun that we've had.

Now the next time I say I'm going to Eureka Springs, you'll know why I look forward to it so much!  I hope you enjoyed the trip!

(If you'd like, click on the pictures to see them enlarged, and forgive the uneven spacing.  I tried and tried to fix it but Blogger had a mind of it's own on this one!)

Blue Turquoise Grotto & Copper Necklace

For this necklace I used a seed bead mix called "Blue Turquoise Grotto", Czech Fire Polished beads in "Blue Turquoise" and "Carnelian", and some "Cinnamon Spice" bicones all crocheted on dark copper wire.  I also crocheted a matching pendant for this one. 

I'm not real sure that this color mix makes me think of a grotto but it sure is a pretty name!

~Today's Quote~

"Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day."

~Sally Koch

"Versatility" Necklace

This super long necklace is about as versatile as it gets!  Besides being made with multi-colored glass beads that will go with just about anything, there are several options for wearing it.

 

It can be worn as three long strands...

 

Doubled with a long and a short strand...

Doubled with even strands...

Or even tripled!

 

I added a big spring ring as a fastener which might come in handy.  You never know, it might even make a cute belt!

~Today's Quote~

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." 

~ Dr. Seuss

The Only Thing I Like About Fall Is The Colors.

Well, that's not exactly true, I guess.  Fall is very pretty and the temperature is a nice break from the heat of summer.  BUT...fall leads into winter.  Which I hate.  How can the summer go so fast and the winter drag on forever?   But fall is upon us.  It's being mentioned everywhere.  The kids are going back to school and it will be September soon.  

So... now that I've whined about it, I'll show you a new necklace with the beautiful colors of fall in mind! 

This one is made with autumn jasper chips and sparkly 8mm goldstone beads on vintaj bronze wire.    The sparkle of the goldstone doesn't show up in the picture but this is a description of it:  "Thousands of shiny flecks in a medium brown stone, invented by accident in the 19th century.  This manmade glass shimmers with every move."  So pretty!

~Today's Quote~

"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower."

~Albert Camus

Enter Artbead's "Bead IQ Trivia Sweepstakes"

Artbeads has launched a new contest called the "Bead IQ Trivia Sweepstakes"!  You can test your bead knowledge by taking the short quiz and then enter the sweepstakes for a chance at winning a $250 ‘Bead Genius’ Prize Package, which includes a $100 Artbeads.com Gift Card and $150 worth of beading and jewelry supplies.   What a great prize package!  Count me in!   The sweepstakes is open to US and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) 18 years of age and older and ends on September 16, 2010. 

I took the quiz and got 7 out of 10, but I admit I guessed on a few of them!  To take the quiz and enter the sweepstakes, click here. 

Good luck!

Now you can save even more money shopping at Artbeads with their new "Instant Savings" .  With Instant Savings, all you have to do is meet certain total order values, and the discount will automatically be applied at checkout.  You can even combine coupons with Instant Savings for even greater discounts!  

~Today's Quote~

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything,

they just make the best of everything they have."

Lucky Winner of "A Bead in Time"!

Well, I wasn't a big winner in Vegas but I was the lucky winner of this book,  A Bead in Time, by Lisa Crone!   I follow Lisa's blog,

 A Bead A Day, faithfully!  Lisa is such an inspiration and has been so supportive of me since I started my blog.  I jumped with joy when I read her post and saw that my name was randomly drawn as one of the winners of her book giveaway! 

Lisa's book is "inspired by slices of life" and inspires you to "see the world in a different way and find inspiration around every corner" as she did.  The way she was able to translate photos of personal memories into a pieces of jewelry is amazing!  It's written as if Lisa is talking to you and includes beautiful photographs and clear instructions for all the projects, along with a section on materials, tools, and basic techniques.  I totally enjoyed this book and am thrilled to be able to add it to my "library"! 

Lisa and her book have inspired me to create a piece of  jewelry to remind me of my trip to Las Vegas!  The wheels are spinning on just how I want to do it!  

Thank you, Lisa! ♥

~Today's Quote~

"A creative mess is better than tidy idleness."

Viva Las Vegas!

View of the strip overlooking the fountain at Bellagio

I spent five days last week in Las Vegas!  We had a full window view of the strip from our room!  I've always wanted to see it, and my husband has no desire to go, so my kids were generous enough to take me with them!  It was also my first time flying. (if you don't count a short trip in a two seater with my brother-in-law about thirty years ago!)  I had an absolutely awesome time!  It's a pretty amazing place.  There's so much to see and do and entertainment everywhere.  My son-in-law said I would like it cause it's very sparkly!  (He knows me so well!)  And it was

s-p-a-r-k-l-y!

I want to thank my kids from the bottom of my heart.  It's something I probably would never have gotten to do and something I would not have wanted to miss!

I love you guys!

"Lime Twist" Wire Crochet Necklace

  Again, one of my favorite colors!  For this five strand necklace, I crocheted a mixture of  lime, gold and antique gold seed and bugle beads on Peridot wire.  (Actually, chartreuse may be a better description of the color, but I couldn't think of a name to go with chartreuse!)  I left long ends on each side of the center section.  They are fastened to a big gold toggle clasp in the back.  The gold end cones make a nice finish on each side of the crocheted section.  There's quite a bit of sparkle to this one, too.  The bugle beads really catch the light.  This has to be one of my all time favorites! 

~Today's Quote~

The little things? The little moments ? They are not little!

The Blues

Seed beads in shades of blue were randomly crocheted on silver wire.  The four strands in this necklace were crocheted in one continuous piece.  It fastens with a bead and loop like a button and buttonhole.  I saw something similar made with yarn and thought I'd try it with wire and beads. 

On a personal note, my sister and I are going to Eureka Springs, AR for the weekend. (YAY!)  Saturday is the Worldwide Photo Walk where people from around the world meet, take a walk together and take photographs.  You don't have to be a professional photographer to enjoy the event.  

I've used this quote before but it's fitting because Eureka Springs is my "one small place of enchantment".  I plan to do a blog post some time in the future & share it with you. 

~Today's Quote~

"I do not understand how anyone can live without one small place of enchantment to turn to."

~Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

"Salsa Dance" Wire Crochet Necklace

"Salsa Dance" in shades of bright orange and lime green! 

These are two of my favorite colors.  I love them separately or together!  So summery!  I crocheted the beads on silver wire and added a brightly colored glass pendant.  This one has a big fun toggle clasp.

But there is a problem.  I noticed when I decided to take a photograph of the clasp {which is poor, by the way, because I didn't want to go outside!  It's 94 with a heat index of 113 out there!} that one of the wires is broken near the clasp.  That never happens.  I don't know what caused it this time but it will have to be fixed.

~Today's Quote~

Make a wish and place it in  your heart.  Anything you want, everything you want.  Do you have it?  Good.  Now believe it can come true.  You never know where the next miracle is gonna come from, the next smile, the next wish come true.  But if you believe that it's right around the corner, and you open your heart and mind to the possibility of it, to the certainty of it, you just might get the thing you're wishing for.  The world is full of magic.  You just have to believe in it.  So make your wish.  Do you have it?  Good.  Now believe in it.  With all your heart.

Meet My New Assistant

Miss Vivian

  I'm going to call her "Miss Vivian" because she is a lot like Vivian in "Pretty Woman" ~ my all time favorite movie!  

She was cheap, bless her heart.  I found her on the street in front of the local flea market.  She's a little rough around the edges, but she'll clean up good.  Once she experiences life off the streets and has a chance to get all dolled up I'm sure she'll want to change her ways! 

Doesn't she have an elegant neck?  Just perfect for modeling jewelry!  I'm glad I was able to give her a new start in life.   ; )

Pretty Pink Sparkly Necklace

Here is another of the spool knitted necklaces.  This one has a strand of  pretty Pink AB Celestial Crystals captured inside the spool knitted chain.  A matching Celestial Crystal donut is attached.  This thing sparkles like crazy!  I wish you could see it,  the camera never captures the true sparkle!

~Today's Quote~

“When you have an opportunity to be Right or to be Kind, always choose to be KIND ”

~Immaculee Ilibagiza

"Heart of Glass" Spool Knitted Necklace

I got some fun new wire colors and learned something new ~ I learned to spool knit!  

I've found that this can be called by a few different names:  Spool knitting, french knitting, some people say they "crochet" through a spool, and my favorite, "corking"!   Whatever you call it, I love how it looks.

This necklace is just a knitted tube in "seafoam" with a matching glass heart strung on.

I'm quite obsessed with it at the moment so look for future posts featuring more spool knitted pieces!   

~Today's Quote~

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

~ Dr. Seuss