Beading for Yourself

I ran out of the house last Monday without grabbing a bracelet. No problem, I always have one or two in a purse pocket.

I happened to have switched bags and found this 3 strand pearl/MOP bracelet that I made several years ago.

I love the cuff effect of this one and wish it had some other colors in it.

I was just thinking about making something tonight so I would have something new to wear tomorrow and my thoughts turned to a multicolor/multistrand pearl bracelet.

I still have a few beads from each of these combos and am thinking about mixing them up and adding crystals.

You know how you get that feeling that you NEED to bead or NEED something new to help you have more positivity?

It's so great to look down at your wrist and see something fresh, new and fun to give you a BOOST of whatever it is that you need.

It could be fun or confidence, but in any case that is one of the wonderful things about beading for yourself!!

I'm heading for beads, I'll keep you posted!

Cuff to Embellish

While I was gathering beads for last weekend's craft night, I came back across this faux leather cuff with snaps that I found last year in the craft store bargain bin. It's so cute and has the metal ring in the front, perfect for adding some embellishments.

I would LOVE to get your thoughts on this!! Here are a few that are spinning around in my head at the moment:

• Use silver craft wire to add a few beads and wrap from one side of the ring to the other forming wire web with random beads.
• Make beaded dangles and/or charms to hang from each side of the ring.
• Wire on an additional strand on either side of the ring using chunky/colorful beads.
• Randomly wrap all silver beads around the ring with a more industrial vibe...

Once you start thinking it is not always easy to know for sure which direction to take. I guess that's why it's called a creative PROCESS!!

I hope your week is off to a good start! I would so appreciate your thoughts on this one! :)

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

It's no secret that time has a way of flying right by when you aren't looking! The most important thing to me is that I have fun while it happens! :)

The group below seems to have similar goals! Please join me in taking a quick peek in the worlds of the bead bloggers below.

We've got two new bloggers who have joined the group, Lori Anderson of the "Pretty Things" blog and Michelle Mach of the blog, "Beads & Books".

Throughout these links you will see bead soup swaps, holiday shopping and craft shows, giveaways and sweepstakes...Yay!

Pretty Things Come see the small swaps that go on in the Bead Soup Blog Party Yahoo Group!

Beads & Books Michelle searches the toy store to get ideas for earring displays for her upcoming craft show.

About.com Jewelry Making Find out the latest news, including a tight deadline, for an awesome jewelry making challenge sponsored by Rio Grande and Lark Books.

Carmi's Art/Life World In a two part story Carmi glams up a name tag with jewelery components.

Art Bead Scene Get your jewelry shop ready for the holiday shopping season with help from Art Bead Scene!

Beading Arts Don't miss the beautiful Murano glass pendants that Cyndi will be giving away now and all through next month!

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva Watching your pennies while trying to make fabulous jewelry for gifts this holiday season? Cindy can help you, read on!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Happy Thanksgiving! Celebrate the holiday with a special Thursday Giveaway sponsored by Auntie's Beads!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! The latest news from Artbeads : voting and a new sweepstakes!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles A thrift store find inspires Melanie to make some fun dinosaur tear pendants

This Week's Project: Ready for Florida Earrings

Tonight is craft night so I'm posting a little early. I'll be heading over to my Mom's to eat, drink and be merry with friends and family members. After a meal of Frito Taco's, my hubby will head home and we'll break out the crafts.

Each participant brings a craft to teach along with all the supplies necessary for each person to make it. After looking through beads, I decided to do just earrings this time.

I usually teach a bracelet or necklace and then make earrings if anyone wants to. This time, we're going to do a real tutorial on earring making. Very simple cutting of head and eye pins, using round nose pliers to make a loop and connecting to earring wires.

I've packed up kits for everyone to make 5 very different pairs of earrings from festive holiday swarovski sparkle to this one pictured here and even one pair with smiley faces for them to remember me by :).

My Mom and Dad will be heading down to Florida the first week in January which is why I threw in some fun, bright colored kits too! Have a great Saturday!!

Featured Designer: Lori Anderson of Pretty Things

Happy Friday!

There's nothing like having a couple days off to round out a fun filled holiday week!

I am happy to share with you this week's featured designer, Lori Anderson of the blog, Pretty Things, where the tagline reads, "Because life should be filled with beautiful experiences and pretty things".

Lori is joining the bead blogger group that I post on Sundays, so I thought it would be fun to feature her here along with some of her work.

You can get a great view of her jewelry designs on her website.

Both her blog and website are full of life, family, fun, generosity, beads, bead soup and, of course, great jewelry designs!

I'm heading over there myself to take a better look at her holiday pieces! :)

Have a great weekend!

Giving Thanks...

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I mentioned recently that I enjoy giving jewelry to people who do not expect it, just for being them! I enjoy and appreciate having them in my life for the many laughs, comfort and joy they give ME!

I gave this bracelet to a former boss last week because I think she is SO special in many ways. Not to mention, she is one of the most charitable people I know, if not THE most charitable.

It has nothing to do with her thoughts of moral character, it is just in her genetic makeup, she doesn't think about it, she just does it. That is what I think is so special! (Thanks Joy, for being you)!

The day after I gave Joy this bracelet, she sent me this photo of a tree branch she found on a walk and wanted to use in the house in some way. She decided to use it to hold her jewelry and when she sent this to me, she stopped by my desk to let me know that she thought just about all the pieces on it were things I made for her. Aww, that is so cool. I didn't realize I had made her so many things, but it just goes to show how much she means to me!

I recently asked if anyone else had a story they wanted to share and received these two below. Thank you so much Christine & Lori for sharing these heartfelt and meaningful stories on this Thanksgiving Day! :)

From Christine Ritchey:

First, what a great idea to tell stories about jewelry and thankfulness! My story isn't specifically about your topic, but it's still a pretty nifty story.

My dad was a B-17 pilot in World War II. He was shot down twice. The second time he was shot down, it was over Germany and when he parachuted from the plane, he was met by a German soldier. Uh oh! The soldier marched him back to his camp, where Dad became a POW. Dad was wearing a pinky ring with a beautiful diamond in it - a gift from his mother. Naturally, the Germans took his watch and ring. Incredibly, when the war ended, one of the German officers gave Dad's ring back to him.

The diamond in this ring became my mother's engagement ring. I inherited Mom's wedding rings after her death. Two Thanksgivings ago, having no children of my own, I presented the ring to my niece and let my dad tell her the story. My niece was so happy to have the ring that she cried buckets!

And that's my story! Happy Thanksgiving...Christine Ritchey

From Lori Anderson

This isn’t really about making jewelry for family or friends, but more about the accidental giving that means a lot to me. This story is one that sticks with me and makes me happy whenever I think about it.

I was doing a show at the beach, and it was very early in the morning when I was setting up. A man in ragged clothes, carrying a backpack on his back, smelling like he’d been sleeping on the streets for a while, came into my booth. He had wild hair and was dirty but his eyes sparkled and he had a great smile. He started chatting with me, looking at my jewelry that was on the table, and started telling me about how he was a Vietnam vet, living on the streets, traveling the beaches where it was warm.

He said, “Let me ask you something.”

I figured he was going to ask for money, so I reached for my bag to give him something.

He asked, “Do you like veterans?”

I told him I WAS a veteran, and was married to a retired Chief Master Sergeant.

“Well maybe you can do something for me,” he said.

I started reaching for my wallet again.

But no.

He picked up a necklace I’d made. It had a dichroic glass heart in purple and red, with purple pearls.

“Can I have this?” he asked. “I got a Purple Heart in Vietnam, but I lost it.”

I put the necklace around his neck, he squeezed my arm in thanks, and he walked out of the booth whistling a tune.

I just stood there, stunned, touched, and tearful.

I’m thankful that I didn’t react like many may have, shooing him out of my booth. I’m thankful that I’d made something that he’d deemed a good substitute for the medal he’d won and lost.

I’ll never forget that man, that necklace, or that morning.

Festive Holiday Packages!

Oh my gosh! After writing yesterday's post, I realized I had previously seen beads with colorful beading wire all festive and curly! I searched my posts from last December and found this one!

It was a feature of Soft Flex designer Jamie Hogsett's holiday project using colorful softflex econoflex wire!

In fact, I now remember using some of my cinnamon and spring green wire on a couple small packages. Isn't the brain an amazing thing? I have no idea where those memories were hiding yesterday!!

I'm SO GLAD the fog cleared so I could share these with you again! :) I hope you are all having a great week so far!!

By the way, if you have any stories you would like to share of how you thank people in your life by making jewelry for them, send them my way and I'll post them tomorrow. (abeadaday@sbcglobal.net)

Blue & White Latticino

After yesterday's post of a red/orange 25 x 27mm murano hand blown glass bead, I just had to share its partner.

Today's bead is a Venetian Blown Glass Penny Bead - Blue and White Latticino. This is where we can ooh and ahh!

I just love the NAME of the bead, for heaven's sake!!! :)

There was a comment on yesterday's post asking what I would do with the bead.

I would REALLY like to hang these on a tree or other festive structure with some fun, colorful beading wire in curly-q's!! Doesn't that sound fun?

Just gorgeous and so festive!

Giveaway Winner & Holiday Bead

It's always a great day when we get to announce a winner of my book, A Bead in Time! Yay! Artbeads.com recently sponsored the giveaway and asked people what inspires them to create jewelry.

The winner announced this week, Karen M. of Boulder Creeek, California wrote,“Nature inspires me, with its shapes, colors and rhythms. Wind and raindrops dancing together through the air, a redwood tree reaching toward the blue sky as a crow floats downward, the arms of its black coat outstretched. Nature is infinite in its creative inspiration. She is my muse.”

Beautifully stated!! The sky this evening was so amazing, I wish I could have pulled the car over in rush hour traffic so I could stare at it for a while! Thanks for sharing Karen!

When I was getting on the Artbeads.com online catalog earlier, I couldn't help but click on their sale items and found this great "Venetian Blown Glass Penny Bead - Orange and Aventurina Latticino". My thoughts turned to holiday ornaments immediately and these beads are certainly large enough at 27mm by 25mm, to adorn some kind of festive structure!! I couldn't wait to share this one!! :)

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

It's Sunday already, wow!! It's time to take a peek at what our bead blogger friends below have been up to...

Have a great week! By the way, if you would like to share a story of giving thanks by giving a piece of jewelry, here's the info.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva This week, Cindy's mad for "snow globe-ish" jewelry!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Take a tour of Africa through its beads! Win a $75 gift certificate to The BeadChest in this week's Thursday Giveaway!

Art Bead Scene Take a Trip into the Woods via ABS's Friday Picks!

Beading Arts Cyndi currently has TWO fabulous giveaways going on: Acculon beading wire and a Murano glass pendant!

About.com Jewelry Making Tammy tackles the never ending question about soldering irons and making jewelry.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean has an amazing, don't miss, book giveaway! All you have to do is leave a comment on her blog and you might becme the winner of Lark's completely stunning 500 Plastics Jewelry Designs--what a marvel of a book!

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi has a cute little felt ring project to share this week.

This Week's Project: Quick & Easy Gift

This time of year is a perfect time to create quick and easy gifts that I can have on hand to give out to people when the time seems right.

It's a lot of fun to surprise them and also a great way to push my creativity into "quick & easy mode". Sometimes I will remember the night before I need to have a few gifts for people, so the ability to create something fun and simple with materials I already have becomes necessary. At first it might seem a little overwhelming, but once I get started, I get so excited and could create all night!

This bracelet uses just a simple beading component that I wrote about week or so ago. As I was looking through bead containers to figure out what to use with this component, I came across some black rubber tubing from Fire Mountain Gems. I used black beadalon wire and then just used a silver toned clasp to finish it off. It's so lightweight and easy to wear. The sparkle is extra cool too!

I hope you are all having fun creating this weekend!! I'd love to hear your ideas for quick and easy jewelry gifts! :)

Featured Designer: The Peacock Fairy

Happy weekend everyone!

This week's featured designer is The Peacock Fairy! Her etsy site is known as, Loosefeathers, where she showcases her wood burned components that can be incorporated into jewelry projects.

How FUN!

You might remember that I had some grandiose ideas a while back about using a wood burning tool on wood bead components so when I saw these items on Etsy, I knew I just had to feature them here!!

I just LOVE these pieces and think they would be great as jewelry. Of course, I'm also a huge fan of peace and love in general, but when you can incorporate those sentiments into jewelry, you got me!

If you have a chance to visit The Peacock Fairy etsy site, make sure you also pop over to her blog.

Her profile states, "I LOVE peacocks, and I have a 6th sense to seek out peacock items. Second to peacocks, I like owls. I serve as Secretary on the Board of my local Art Center and sit on various other committees there. My jewelry can be found for sale on Etsy, the Art Center of Battle Creek, and other local art fairs and stores".

How fun! Thanks so much for allowing me to share your work today!

Showing Thanks with Jewelry

Since the Thanksgiving holiday is coming up in the US next week, I thought it would be fun to share stories of giving thanks.

I LOVE to give thanks to my friends, family or people who have helped me with things by making them pieces of jewelry.

The fact that this kind of jewelry giving is usually a surprise to the recipient adds to the fun!

I would like to do a post on Thanksgiving day (next Thursday) that showcases all of the jewelry making and giving we do to thank people.

If you would like to have your story of giving thanks through jewelry and/or jewelry pictures included, please email at abeadaday@sbcglobal.net.

You can also feel free to leave a comment here with your story and I will incorporate it in the post next week.

THANK YOU! :)

Blue or Sky Blue?

What exactly is "sky blue"?

I have noticed some gorgeous colors in the fall sky lately including many variations of the color blue! The color of these crystals are close to the color I think of when I hear "sky blue".

I wonder if there is an "official" sky blue color. Who would be considered the "color" guru? How do we know we aren't all seeing slightly different versions of colors through each pair of eyes?

As I was on the way home this evening, a GREAT song was on the radio that I need to remember to put on my MP3 player, it was "I can see clearly now the rain is gone"! It really stuck in my head and when the part about seeing blue skies everywhere, I could actually see it in my mind even though in reality, it was getting dark already!

Here are the lyrics (what a perfect song for anyone looking for clarity or enlightenment)...

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way...Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind....It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day. ...I think I can make it now, the pain is gone...All of the bad feelings have disappeared...Here is the rainbow I’ve been prayin for...It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day.

Look all around, there’s nothin but blue skies...Look straight ahead, nothin but blue skies.....I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way...Gone are the dark clouds that had me blindIt’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day.

Ahh, moments like this are great reminders that Life is Good!

Using Beaded Trim

Oh my gosh, I just came back across this pre-fabricated beaded trim and think it is SO FUN!

The only thing I can think of doing with it is attaching it to a purse or something like that.

I would LOVE to hear any ideas you might have for using this in jewelry projects.

If you have a few minutes, PLEASE share your creativity, I can't wait. I'm going to dig this up right now.

The good news is that I actually know where this trim is hiding at the moment!! THANK YOU!!

Book Giveaway Winner!!

Artbeads.com has just announced one of the winners of my book, A Bead in Time, yay!

They had asked readers to write in about what inspires them to create.

The winner, Angelica R. wrote, "Some of my best jewelry designs have come from my kids inspiration and ability to portray different shapes and colors in their school work. Because they have no boundaries or limitations on putting together their ideas on paper, it has been a fun and liberating way for me to express my art through theirs."

Wow! What a GREAT idea! She has inspired me to go digging around on my niece's blog for some cool artwork that I can use for jewelry designing inspiration! This is one of my favorites that she has titled, "brightheart". (Thanks Raeven!)

AND, many thanks to Angelica for this great idea! I'd love to share some of your artwork inspired jewelry, just send me an email if you are interested. :)

The next Artbeads.com winner will be picked on Monday, November 29, 2010. Please stay tuned!

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

It's time once again for some reflection....I hope everyone had a fun and crafty weekend!!

Below are some fun links to see what some of our crafty friends have been up to over the last week or so.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! :)

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles ArtBeads.com and Pantone inspire Melanie to work with some new fall colors to create an asymmetrical autumn cluster necklace

About.com Jewelry Making Thanksgiving is not just about the turkey. It's a perfect time to make some fun themed jewelry as well.

Art Bead Scene November is here and so is the monthly challenge. This month it's Klimt's Tree of Life.

Beading Arts Registration has just opened for next year's Bead Journal Project! Don't get left behind!

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi crafts a little joy brooch.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva Cindy shares a handmade necklace that has special meaning for her.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Kathy Van Kleeck helps Andrew out with his medical bills by placing a magical, fairytale style fine silver and beach glass box up for auction. Check it out!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Artbeads inspires Jean to write about their Fall Inspiration Contest (you can win!), and also their FaceBook site!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Tis the season for Craft Fairs! Lorelei had a great weekend at the Raise the Roof Fundraiser last weekend.

Featured Designer: Tammy Powley, The Crafty Princess

Aren't weekends great?!! I know, silly question... The answer is YES!

My husband and I were having a laugh earlier about the fact that local radio stations are already playing holiday music. Our question was, where are the Thanksgiving holiday songs? Are there any?

I'd like to throw the question out to all of you now, if you know of any Thanksgiving holiday songs, PLEASE send them my way!! :)

I just happened to click over to Tammy Powley's Jewelry Making website at About.com and noticed, as always, she had a current crafty holiday related project posted! What holiday, you ask? THANKSGIVING!! :)

Tammy is SO crafty which explains why she is nicknamed "The Crafty Princess" on her own personal blog!

Check out this project and more on About.com.

Shrink-firmation Chain

I just realized I hadn't shared the other plain silver tone chain and clasp I found at Michael's last weekend for use in my shrinky dink jewelry designs!

So, I will share those today and get back to a featured designer tomorrow. Yes, that's my executive decision! :)

Now I just have to run out for printer cartridges and I can get my shrink-firmation jewelry rolling!!

Everywhere I turn I seem to be finding or remembering little quotes or words that I can't wait to turn into wearable affirmation pieces or "shrink-firmations"!

Happy Friday....we made it! :)

A Cornucopia...

Since I have an abundance of things to mention, it seemed appropriate to call this the cornucopia post!

I realized today that I've been wearing this "cornucopia" bracelet, but never posted an updated photo of the final project.

This is my Artbeads.com fall beading project that I mentioned back in early October's posts. Originally I had used the same brown hemp cord for the band, but I had used some fabric glitter glue to sparkle it up a bit.

I personally enjoyed the glitter especially when I found it everywhere I had been when wearing the bracelet, however, I realized it was a little more "basket like" without the glitter and dangles and felt like what I was going for. So, here is the final version and I have to say I LOVE the Swarovski sparkle!!

I also wanted to THANK everyone for participating in the Artbeads.com book giveaway for "A Bead in Time" on facebook! The first winner will be announced on Monday, so please stay tuned! :)

The last thing I wanted to mention is Margot Potter's debut on JTV's jewel school today, how cool is that? For the part I saw, she had this very cool wire tool for making easy jump rings. I can't wait to see what she has in store next!

Rose Colored Chain

Isn't this great chain?!!

Let me re-phrase that...It's inexpensive chain that I found at Michael's on clearance and it was just what I had in mind when I stopped by.

The plan is to use this one with some new shrinky dink designs!! ! I LOVE the rose colored effect! Reminds me of "rose colored glasses"

I'm off work tomorrow which is perfectly timed for me to work on some of these shrinky dinks!! I'll keep you posted!! Have a great evening!!

Olivine Metal & Glass

Today's bead is an interesting component I found at Michael's over the weekend. After hearing that my book has made it to the shelves of Michael's Craft store, I couldn't help myself...I stopped in to check it out and there it was, sitting front and center on the shelf :)

Aww, the next thing I knew I was taking a picture of it with my cell phone. The next phone I get I need to make sure to have a good camera in it!

So, getting back to the beads...There are three of these double-stranded olivine components on the package. I would love to run a band on each side sort of like a watch.

I'm not sure if it will be made with beads or rubber tubing, but would love to get your thoughts! :)

Revisiting A Great Component & A Book Giveaway

Today's bead a sterling silver component from Artbeads.com that I received probably close to at least a year ago, maybe even 2 years ago. Time just flies right by when beads are involved.

I had used this component in a necklace and then ended up doubling the chain, adding a new clasp and turning it into a great bracelet. I didn't like the idea of other people seeing the beads when I couldn't!! :)

I'm now at a crossroads because I just came across the piece again last week and my first thought was to take this apart and create something fresh & new...Please let me know if you think I should!)

I also wanted to take a minute in today's post to let you know of a giveway going on over at Artbeads.com on Facebook. They are giving away two copies of A Bead in Time.

Yay!

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

Our fun, creative weekend is winding down...

Rather than feel sad, I'm going to stay in a feeling of gratitude because it was a good one and I'd like to have many more just like it!

The best part about Sunday is sharing the bead blogger happenings for the previous week! As usual, you can find great info, giveaways and free how-to's! What a great bunch of beaders! :)

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva This week's Mad for Monday is all about the lotus.

About.com Jewelry Making Tammy is catching up on her book reviews. Take a look as some of her latest .

Beading Arts Cyndi has a SIGNED copy of the wonderful new book "30-Minute Necklaces" to give away!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Indian Creek Studios has generously donated some rustic ceramic pieces to be featured in this week's Thursday Giveaway! Find out how you can win these beauties!

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi makes some Peter Rabbit clay pendants using new rubber stamps.

Art Bead Scene Make a lovely autumn wreath with this Art Bead Scene free project!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Inspired by bones, Melanie experiments with some resin clays and silver noodle beads to create some boney, buggy pendants

Peace at the Circus

There is something special about creating a piece of jewelry that is different than anything you've ever done before.

HOWEVER, with that said, I don't usually enjoy creating the exact same thing twice or having to take it apart to resize or fix a boo-boo.

I would rather just leave it alone, whether that is wearable or not. Am I crazy? I've just decided that I must feel that way in order to honor "original creative thought". It's not as special the second time around for me. Maybe I've grown and know myself much better than I used to. The positive side to aging! :)

This piece definitely falls into that "original" category. While the word on the silver component reads "peace", it seems to have a circus-y vibe that makes me laugh!

I hope you are all having a great, creative weekend making lots of original and maybe even crazy things that make you smile!!

Featured Designer: Amy of Ponder & Stitch

It's Friday and I'm SO GLAD!

Please join me in admiring these ultra-cool fabric bracelets from Ponder&Stitch.

I have included a link to Amy's etsy site so you can take a quick peek and join me in "ooh-ing and aww-ing" over her work!

In her profile she writes: "I'm Amy. I ponder and stitch just for you. In this shop, you'll find items made with repurposed vintage fabric, or vintage-inspired prints.

Dainty florals are my favorite! I'll happily embroider a word or short phrase of your choosing onto a cuff. Convo me and I'll set up a custom listing!I'm convo friendly so come say hello!"

How cool!! I think my love for fabrics, considering I don't really sew, comes from my Mom lugging me and my sisters to Joann Fabrics for what seemed like hours at a time looking through pattern books. :)

I always take a quick tour through the fabric aisles before heading for beads now that I lug myself to Joann's!

Thanks a bunch to Amy for allowing me to share her work with you tonight!

Exciting Newsflash!

I have an exciting newsflash from the "A Bead in Time" homefront...

A crafty friend of mine sent me a text message on Tuesday from Michael's Craft Store that went something like this: "I'm standing in Michael's admiring your book Lisa!"

Wow! My heart made a pretty huge leap when I read that!! I have been hoping it would make it to the craft stores at some point and was SO EXCITED to find out it did!! YAY!

Being a craft store "regular", many of the beads, pieces and parts in the book came from a craft store! One of last projects I did for the book was created during the last two weeks before the photo shoot.

I had decided to walk through town with the camera looking for interesting architectural details that I could use as inspiration for a piece of jewelry.

This is one of the photos I decided on, so I downloaded it and sent it over to Walgreens to print in an hour, picked up the pics and headed to Michael's. Within just a few minutes, I found these beads.... It was like the planets aligned! :)

Thanks so much for sharing this with me!!!

Multi-purpose Springy Star

I used this star shaped "bead" in some holiday designs last year in a variety of ways.

First of all, this "star" is actually tightly twisted wire which gives it quite a bit of flexibility.

For use in a pair of earrings, I stretched out a couple of stars, made loops on either end and suspended a crystal ab-2x bicone from one loop and attached an ear wire to the other.

VERY simple, but so much fun!!

I can't tell you how many comments I received when I wore them. I wish I knew where they were....


In the other design, which was since gifted to my Mom, I used a star on either side of the focal piece in a bracelet, how fun!

I just had to make a very tiny loop at each end of the wire so they didn't slip off.

I found these springy beads at the Rings&Things traveling bead show last year when it passed through our city.

GREAT find!

Holiday-worthy Bling!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, it's time to start searching through my bead collection to find some fabulousness to use in holiday gifts!

These triple decker swarovski sparklers are even prettier in real life! I bought a BUNCH of them in clear, black and pink at least a year ago from Artbeads.com because they had them in one of their seriously major practically liquidation sales!

Of course, I LOVE when I click on a bead site's clearance section and there are actually GREAT beads on clearance!! It's one of those times that some temporary OCD clicks in and I can't buy just one!

By the way, some of these triple deckers have one connector above the small crystal, but some have one on both ends. I'll have to dig up one of the designs I made using the black ones.

If I recall correctly, I made a bracelet in the car before walking into work because, for some reason, I just couldn't go jewelry-less that day! I can't explain it and probably shouldn't share it, but I know I can't possibly be alone!!

Are We Ready for Holiday Jewelry Designs?

I think it's time to gear up and gather all the gorgeous gems, pearls and sparkle in my bead box AND get a list of people together I would like to make gifts for this holiday season!

I sure hope I have some of these gorgeous Cubic Zirconias left! I'm thinking I might have one or two, HOWEVER, I also think I used them in last year's holiday gift designs...yikes!

Time to jog my memory! I am the kind of person who is capable of having the same idea a year later and think it's fresh and new.

Hopefully if I made jewelry for people, I photographed and captured that info here on A Bead A Day! Ahh, the memory is cranking now!!

I'd love to hear your ideas for new or updated holiday designs if you are interested in sharing!! :)