Olive Bicone

I love the color of this bead! This olive bicone is not a swarovski crystal, but it is a beauty! (And it really is the color of an olive, yum!)

I believe this is an 8mm bead so it could hold its own among some larger gemstone or glazed ceramic beads in a variety of earth tones. I wish I could upload the vision from my head into this blog so you can see the extremely cool looking bracelet that I see. Made on either recycled paper or faux leather cording, it's the many dangles that makes it so cool!! Maybe one day technology will catch up with brain wave patterns! In the mean time, you just have to trust me!

Have a great evening!

Pressed Flower Button

Hi everyone! Is this the coolest button or what? I couldn't resist buying this one because of these tiny little pressed flowers that are encased in resin. I could picture this as a focal "bead" in a very cool, sparkly memory wire bracelet. I might have to run out or order some other similar color and contrasting color swarovski crystals since I don't seem to have the right ones "in stock".

I'll post a photo of the finished product once I figure it out! This is definitely going to be in one of my summer bracelets this year. I notice that I seem to have seasonal jewelry that gets put away and brought back out as the seasons change. I have found I'm not as drawn to the jewelry I wore over the winter months and only want to wear some of my new things. Interesting... You learn something new about yourself every day!

Have a great evening!

Candy or Bead?

I'm really beginning to think I have some issues with candy...OR...it's a conspiracy...bead designers intentionally making beads to look like candy and other sweets to get unsuspecting beaders to buy them?!! That's it, I figured it out! Please let me know your thoughts (especially if you agree with me)!!

In all seriousness, I wanted to share this bead because it is a really fun shape and the colors are striking. It has an interesting matte finish rather than a shiny one. That's sort of unusual for the average glass bead. I'm not sure where this one came from, but if you know of someone who carries these, please let me know. I'd like to get some in a variety of colors for a very festive bracelet.

Take care!!

Sparkly Metal Disc

Hi everyone and to all the mom's out there, Happy Mother's Day!

I don't typically post metal spacers or beads, but this one seems special. This is a tiny metal spacer, but it packs a punch of style. There is something a little bit 1960's about it and also something a little 1980's. I'm not sure why the styles of those timeframes come to mind, but to be honest, you could even call it a little art deco. Every twenty years, there seems to be a resurgence of styles that are taken in a slightly different direction. I think this is a compilation of styles over the years.

I just know I like it. I hope you do to. Have a great evening!

Fun Loving Links

Hello! I hope everyone is having a great Saturday! I wanted to start posting the "bracelet of the week" on Saturdays just because it's something extra fun!

This week's bracelet is one that I made last night after a trip to Michael's. I already posted this over on my other blog at http://www.mycraftivity.com/, but I wanted to share it over here too.

I have been wearing this all day and just love it!! This bracelet requires absolutely no beading skills!! As you probably already know, my goal is to convert non-beaders into beaders. This is another of those projects that anyone can make without any tools because the silver jump rings are so large and easy to bend, you can use your fingers.

The large loops are acrylic and the smaller blue discs are glass. The only other pieces are the silver jump rings which connect all the pieces and I added a simple magnetic clasp.

I hope you like this as much as I do!! Have a great evening!

Yin & Yang

This polymer Yin & Yang bead is such fun in crisp black and white. You've got to love the concept of universal opposites. The thought that one principle dominates another temporarily is pretty cool and provides hope for health when one is sick and wealth when one is in poverty. I love the idea that all conditions are subject to change into their opposites.

I am thinking this will make a nice focal bead by using smaller black and milky white crystals. I think it needs a few nice silver spacers too!

I hope you all have something fun and crafty planned for the weekend. Take care and have fun!

Palm Wood Beads

These 3 beads are called "palm wood beads" according to fire mountain gems. I ordered them recently and wasn't really expecting them to be this cool! I sort of expected them to be typical wood beads, but these seem extra special somehow. They are a little larger than expected and very light weight. I had a thought recently about palm trees. I'm not sure if it was a dream or a daydream, but I thought, "if I had a palm tree in my front yard, I would hug it every day".

My personal goal is to move to a warmer climate so, of course, palm trees are usually what I visualize. I think of this often now and get a happy feeling when I think of that hug. I consider using these beads the next best thing. I get to showcase them and also wear my little palm tree friend on my wrist! Life is good!