Does Sparkle = Happiness?

This is a continuation from yesterday's "Happy Jewelry" post...

Does sparkle equal happiness?..... YES! Well, yes, it does to me.

However, I also love making knotted hemp cord jewelry, peyote stitch and many other miscellaneous types of jewelry that typically will not include crystals.

But, with that said, there is just nothing like a little sparkle to make you smile!!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on what sparkle means to you... :)

Here are a few sparkly things to use as a reference.

Tomorrow, we'll chat about smiley faces in jewelry :)

Happy Jewelry!

I'm thinking about creating a new "happy" bracelet... something that makes me smile and expresses my happiness OR helps me find my happiness in challenging times.

So many of the things that I make seem to fit that description so maybe that's my entire purpose for creating jewelry, "express happiness" or "find happiness"!!!

But I am wondering if the things I create only speak this to me or if others get it too.

Maybe each individual must create their own version of happy since someone might find blue happy while others find that red expresses their happiness.

I think you can be literal and include smiley faces or you can use your favorite colors or even favorite patterns (right angle weave with CRYSTALS)!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this if you have a minute.

This might be a theme for a few days...

In the mean time, here are a few things I have made that make me feel happy!

Book Giveaway Winners!

Hi everyone! Thanks again to those of you who left such wonderful comments on last week's book giveaway blog! You all were so kind, I was really feeling the love!!

I decided to select two winners this time around and thought it would be fun (and hope they agree) for me to share links to their blogs and a piece of their jewelry that jumped off the page when I popped over.

The first winner, Waterwaif, has such a beautiful beachy blog that I didn't want to leave.

I actually felt the serenity come over me when I visited a little while ago. These earrings were front and center...I love this wire wrapping technique and the colors are so cool!

The second winner is Jana of, Be-Jeweled by Jana. I am a HUGE fan of Jana's and a huge fan of bead crochet.

She is a real pro and always amazes me with her color combinations and sweet, giving nature!

The colors in this new piece of hers, called Lime Twist, really make me smile, they are so bright and cheery!

Thanks again for stopping in at A Bead A Day! I can't wait till next month's giveaway!! :)

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who commented on Thursday's Book Giveaway blog post for a chance to win my beading book, A Bead in Time.

I can't tell you how much your wonderful and supportive words mean to me!!! :) You all are so special, THANK YOU!

I will announce the winner in tomorrow's blog post, so there are still a few hours tonight to comment.

I can't wait!! Depending on the number of comments through midnight tonight, I might be sending out two books this time around!

Sunday means that it is time to visit our fellow bead bloggers below to see what they have all been up to. Here we go....

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva This week's rewind makes a statement.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean reviews a SUPERfantastic new book by all star stamper and metalworker, Lisa Niven Kelly!

About.com Jewelry Making As part of the "Start a New Hobby" theme running through About.com's hobby blogs this week, Tammy takes a moment to think about jewelry as more than a hobby. What about jewelry as a job?

Art Bead Scene Want to capture a bit of the summer? This week's collection of sea beads will keep those summer memories alive all year 'round.

Beading Arts Want to get in on a fantastic giveaway? Cabbing Rough is offering a Kingman turquoise cabochon on Beading Arts!

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi was at CHA in Chicago and has a fabulous post about Prima Marketing.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew's blog recently marked its four year anniversary. Celebrate with him, by entering to win a HUGE bead stash via this week's Thursday Giveaway!

This Week's Project: Katiedid Bracelet

I had a chance to put together a quick bracelet today using one of my new Katiedid components. I started making a necklace, but the one thing that I wear the most is bracelets.

Once I had some crystals across the silver plated channel, I layed it across my wrist and liked the look of it. It didn't take long to figure out that glass pearls would be a fun contrast for the band.

I threw in a few 3mm crystals to set off the component against the pearls. Very fun and very fast! I finished this bracelet with a small magnetic clasp which always makes me happy in the morning when I am frantically grabbing easy jewelry to put on before work.

I hope you are all having a great weekend!! One more day to comment here for a chance to win a copy of my beading book, so stop over if you get a chance.

Featured Designer: Erin Prais-Hintz, Tesori Trovati Jewelry

Happy Friday!! I can't help but yell a few "yays"!!

This week's featured designer is Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati Jewelry. Her blog is entitled "Treasures Found".

She is not only a bead blogger, but she is one of those wonderfully supportive and encouraging souls, spreading happy thoughts around the blogging world.

I'd like to send her a personal "thanks" for doing that. It really makes a difference in the world!

Erin's updated website was just unveiled today and I was so excited to share it with everyone!

She wrote a great post about delivering her magnum opus to the Gallery Q tomorrow that will be hung for her show which opens on August 13th, WOW!!

I added some of my favorite Erin pieces here, but it's impossible to squeeze her personality here in this little space!

Thanks for letting me share Erin! :) Have a great weekend!

3mm Crystals

I've never had a GROSS of 3mm multi colored bicone crystals before, I feel very fortunate!! They are TINY and adorable!

I am back to designing with my new Katiedid components and since I'm going to line the channel with multicolored crystal bicones, it would make sense to somehow incorporate some of these adorable and subtle baby bicones.

I'd love to hear if you have used 3mm crystals in your designs especially if you consider them a staple.

I could see how that could happen and you could put some of these in EVERYTHING you make for extra color and sparkle!

By the way, don't forget to stop by yesterday's post for a chance to win a copy of my beading book! :)