Morning Sky Jewelry and Creations

Donations To The American Cancer Society

2011-10-06T11:09:00.000-04:00

I will be donating 10% of sales (excluding shipping) from my shop to The American Cancer Society through the end of October. I will have my donation targeted to Breast Cancer in honor of all the women and men in our lives affected by this devastating disease.

If you would like to donate directly without making a purchase you can click here.

Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelets

2011-08-22T11:49:00.000-04:00

I came across these great beads in 2 different sizes and I knew that I had to make a chunky bead crochet bangle from the. In lower light these beads appear purple with a rainbow finish, but when held up to the light they appear a translucent red, almost like pomegranate seeds.

Purple Spiral Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelet

I found the beads for this bangle when I was online shopping for supplies for a custom bracelet. I loved all the colors and how they blended together so seamlessly. The bead mix is called Summer Sunset and I think that the name describes these colors perfectly.

Summer Sunset Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelet

Grandmother's Bracelet For A Friend

2011-08-01T11:14:00.000-04:00

Last week was a friend's birthday. Her third grandchild was due any day and she was so excited. I thought, what could be a better gift than a grandmother's bracelet. I made a shiny aluminum chainmaille bracelet of byzantine segments. The segments are divided by Swarovski crystals, each one representing the birthstone of a grandchild.

I just gave her this special gift and she loved it. It made me so happy to see how thrilled she was to receive it. As an added bonus, it is also a mother's bracelet. Her birthday and the birthdays of her 2 daughters are in the same months as her grandchildren. So this is a double duty bracelet.

Fourth of July Sale

2011-07-04T10:31:00.003-04:00

I am having Fourth of July sales in both of my Etsy shops. Today only 15% off your entire purchase (excluding shipping) by using coupon code JUL4TH.

If you are looking for some great jewelry that can be worn for work or play please visit my jewelry shop, Morning Sky Jewelry.

Shopping for some 100% cotton eco friendly washcloths or scrubbies?

Maybe you need a cute cover for your Kindle, ereader, ipod or other gadget.

Tired of chasing all those reward cards and credit cards around your purse?

Visit Morning Sky Creations and take a look at what we have that is just right for you.

Shiny Aluminum Chainmaille Jewelery

2011-06-05T11:53:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago I posted about the amazing aluminum rings that I bought. Well, this is what has finally become of them.

Thick Byzantine Bracelet

Shaggy Loops Bracelet

Beez to Butterflies Bracelet

All three bracelets are for sale in my Zibbet shop as well as a wide selection of copper chainmaille and bead crochet. Stop by and have a look.

Trying Out Aluminum

2011-05-17T08:03:00.003-04:00

One of my biggest loves is making chainmaille. I had been coiling, sawing and tumbling my own rings. It takes time, but I loved being able to do whatever weave I wanted without having to order rings and wait for them to ship. (Different weaves require different ring sizes.)

Fast forward to today. I am back to work full time, my youngest son is involved in sports year round and I have a very old home that I am trying to maintain. The thing that fell by the wayside, besides cleaning, was chainmaille making. And I really miss it! So, I decided to try purchasing my rings. With the price of silver sky high, I tried to give aluminum a try.

My precut rings just arrived and they are beautiful!!! Keep an eye on my Zibbet shop shop to see what they become.

Root Beer Float Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelet

2011-05-09T10:00:00.000-04:00

I picked these beads for a nice neutral bracelet and as I was crocheting it I was reminded of a root beer float. The brown beads are shiny and translucent and the cream color beads are opaque. What do you think? Does it stir any cravings in you for a trip to the local soda shop?

Cherry Blossom Festival

2011-04-22T09:36:00.003-04:00

Last weekend we took a drive to Branch Brook Park in Newark to see the cherry blossoms at their peak. It was phenomenal.

Spring In New Jersey

2011-04-02T07:24:00.005-04:00

March 23, 2011

I really, really want to work in my garden!

Twitter

2011-03-19T09:30:00.003-04:00

Well, I finally did it. I am now officially on Twitter. I signed up for an account quite some time ago, but I never tweeted. I finally took the step and started following people and tweeting and I'm having fun.

You can find me here if you would like to follow.

An Etsian Needs Our Help

2011-02-09T13:18:00.005-05:00

If you frequent the Etsy forums then you have probably read one or many posts at some time from Cindy of DesignedByLucinda. She suffered a terrible tragedy last week - a fire took the life of her 11 year old son, her pets and destroyed her home.

A Big Cartel shop has been set up to raise money for Cindy and her family. You can find it by clicking the Helping Hearts below. Proceeds from sales will go to the family.

If you would like to make a donation to the shop or a monetary donation all details can be found here.

Please keep Cindy and her family in your prayers.

I'm Jealous

2011-02-06T12:13:00.004-05:00

Yes, I'm jealous of Emma, my cat. I have trouble sleeping and have for years and years. My son and I were in the family room on a freezing cold Saturday morning and Emma was sitting in the sun. My son started laughing and I looked over. Emma had fallen asleep sitting up and gradually went face down onto the beanbag chair - and kept sleeping. She woke when I turned on my camera and proceeded to go back to sleep sitting up. Damn right I'm jealous!! I have no idea what it must be like to be in such a deep sleep.

Kindle Ereader Case

2011-01-17T14:45:00.004-05:00

I received a Kindle ereader for Christmas this year. I love it!! I wanted to bring it to work with me so I could read on my break, but I was afraid that it would get scratched in my bag The answer - crochet a Kindle cozy to keep my Kindle safe and secure. I used a self patterning yarn and loved the result so much that I decided to make another and list it in my Etsy shop, Morning Sky Creations. That one, pictured below, sold the day after it was listed.

This is the one that is for sale now. It is also made from self patterning yarn and is composed of a variety of colors. If you look closely you will see tan, black, gray, lilac and a dark blue-green. Instead of using a flap with a buttonhole to close these cases I use a loop closure with a handcrafted button. This way if you want to charge your Kindle you simply put it in the case upside down and plug in your power cord.

The next one that I made was from a fun bright pink yarn that I came across. The picture doesn't do it justice. This yarn has pieces of metallic bright pink thread woven through. It is a fun cozy that is super soft. This case closes with a loop and button also, but the button is not handcrafted. I found a bright pink button with sparkles that I feel complements the case very well.

I also have added matching pouches to my shop that can be used to carry business cards, credit cards, rewards cards or whatever else you would like.

Favorite Holiday Recipe - Marinated Cheese

2010-12-17T17:40:00.006-05:00

This has quickly become a favorite holiday appetizer. I first tried it because it looked interesting, but loved the presentation and how it tasted. I love how festive it looks. This is not an original recipe. I would love to give credit to it's creator. I found it somewhere, I just have no idea where that was.

Marinated Cheese

1/2 c. olive oil

1/2 c. white wine vinegar

2 oz. drained and chopped sun-dried tomatoes (the kind in oil)

2 T. chopped fresh parsley

3 T. minced green onions

3 cloves garlic minced

1 t. sugar

3/4 t. dried basil

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. ground black pepper

1 (8 oz.) block cheddar cheese*

1 (8oz.) package cream cheese,cold**

Combine all, except cheese. Mix vigorously to blend. Set aside.

Cut each of the cheeses in half lengthwise. Cut crosswise into 1/4 inch slices to form squares. Arrange cheddar and cream cheese squares alternately in a shallow baking dish or pie plate with slices standing on end.

Pour marinade over the cheese slices, cover and refrigerate for at least 6 ours or overnight.

To serve, remove slices (carefully) to a serving platter so the still are arranged in an alternating patter. Spoon some of the extra marinade over the top.

Serve with crackers.

*Works the best if you can find a cheddar that is close in size and shape to cream cheese.

**Don’t use lo-fat cream cheese – way too soft.

ENJOY!

Etsy Christmas Wish List

2010-12-02T08:15:00.006-05:00

While browsing through the Etsy shops of my Etsy Bloggers teammates, I have found a few items that I wouldn't mind finding under my tree on Christmas morning.

I love this ring made from vintage silverware by silverWARES.

A friend brought me a loofah soap from her trip to Hawaii. I was so excited when I found it here on Etsy from spottedcowsoaps.

Right now I am using my kids old school spiral notebooks for things that I jot down as I am making jewelry or crocheting. While they are functional they don't inspire creativity like this handmade journal from CREATEaTHOUGHT.

How perfect is this shawl for adding some style to your wardrobe this winter. Check out FoxyGknits for more great wraps.

Etsybloggers Sale

2010-11-24T07:35:00.003-05:00

The Etsybloggers team is having a sale from Friday, 11/25 through Monday 11/29. Click here to find a complete list of shops participating in this sale.

Both of my shops, Morning Sky Jewelry and Morning Sky Creations, are offering free shipping and 10% off if you use coupon code Etsybloggers10.

Inspiration

2010-11-20T18:57:00.012-05:00

Hopefully it is not hard to see where the inspiration for this bracelet came from, but there is a little bit of a story behind it. I work at a card and gift shop and we have a very large container of candy canes on the counter. I guess that from looking at them day after day they made their way into my subconscious. The other night I had a dream that I made a candy cane bracelet. After work I dug through my bead stash and came across some matte red and white beads. That didn't seem quite right. So I kept digging. I then came across some clear beads with an AB finish and some translucent red beads - perfect! Sometimes dreams do come true.

November Featured Etsy Blogger

2010-11-14T10:08:00.004-05:00

This month's featured Etsy Blogger is Cindy of Devine Designs Jewelry. Her beautiful handcrafted jewelry is made from wire that has been twisted, shaped and coiled into some truly unique pieces. Cindy uses different metal, beads and stones so that no matter what your taste you will be sure to find something to fit your style.

I am in love with the bracelet shown below. The beads she used are very unique in that they are made of glass, but look like real stone. I also love the silver and the chunkiness in general of this bangle. Click here to learn more (and possibly purchase) this great bracelet.

How great would these sterling and lapis earrings look with a pair of jeans on the weekend? Take a closer look, I bet you'll fall in love with them.

A Recipe For A Bracelet

2010-11-09T08:21:00.004-05:00

I have a confession to make. I really don't like cooking. Don't get me wrong, I cook dinner for my family almost every night of the week and eating is one of my favorite pastimes. I also have quite the collection of recipes - most of which I have never attempted. The kind of recipes that I like to follow are for jewelry. Here are my ingredients:

The recipe I follow depends on the pattern that I am making. And here is my finished product:

Much more fulfilling for me that recipes involving food.

New Item

2010-10-16T10:05:00.007-04:00

Here is something new that I have added to my Artfire shop. This little pouch is perfect for carrying all your reward cards, credit cards or business cards.

2010-09-19T15:41:00.005-04:00

Stormy

July 1, 2003 – August 25, 2010

Nobody could have asked for a better cat. Thanks for all the snuggles, head butts, conversations and millions of laughs. We will miss your help with the printer, stealing our Doritos and Capn’ Crunch and getting closed in the dresser drawers. Rest in peace dear friend.

Taken after she stole my powdered donut.

Taken August 8, 2010

Beaded Eggs

2010-04-03T09:20:00.003-04:00

Happy Easter

While unpacking some Easter decorations I came across these eggs that I forgot I had made.

They were made based on patterns from Diane Fitzgerald's Book, "Netted Beadwork".

Sale! Sale! Sale!

2009-11-24T20:00:00.007-05:00

I will be offering 15% of your entire purchase in both my shops from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. The sale will start at 12:01 AM EST on 11/27 and end at 11:59 PM EST on 11/30.
I will refund the 15% through PayPal.

Here is just some of what you will find at Morning Sky Jewelry.

Morning Sky Creations offers crocheted items for the home such as washcloths, scrubbies and makeup removal pads.

Mention that you found out about this sale on my blog in the notes to seller upon checkout and I will also ship your order for free!

Featured Etsy Blogger for November

2009-11-20T08:18:00.003-05:00

This months featured Etsy Blogger is Becky of Becky Kazana.

In Becky's shop you will find a mix of adorable creations.

This Pachyderm Birthday Card is made from a reproduction of Becky's original artwork.

There are paper garlands like this Here's To Us Celebration Banner.

The highlight of Becky's shop has to be her pipe cleaner ornaments. They have hand painted faces and handmade clothing. Lena the Burlesque Pipette is my favorite.

Be sure to check out Becky's vintage shop,The Fab Miss B.

Check Your Pockets

2009-11-10T11:27:00.003-05:00

This is a public service announcement to check your pockets before you throw your clothes in the washer and dryer.

This is what a penny looks like when it gets caught in a dryer motor.

The motor looks the same, but no longer works. Fortunately my husband is very handy and was able to remove the motor. The appliance store wanted $200 for a new motor. YIKES! Not in our budget right now. After a little searching he found a used one on Ebay for $10. Yes, that's right $10. We figured that we really had nothing to lose and bought the motor. My husband put it in and it has been working perfectly for over a week now. I figure that even if it only works for a couple of months we still got our money's worth.

All in all, it still would have been easier if the penny had not been in somebody's pocket to begin with.

Crunched for Time

2009-10-14T09:32:00.002-04:00

I used to make it a point to fit in a workout at least 5 days a week. Now that I've gone back to work full time, have 2 kids with busy schedules and 2 Etsy shops it is just so hard to find the time.

Well, at least someone is getting use out of the aerobic step!

Happy Autumn

2009-09-22T05:52:00.002-04:00

In the United States today is the first day of Fall. Here in New Jersey that means that the leaves will soon be turning beautiful shades of orange, yellow and red. I thought I would take a look around Etsy and see what kind of Fall leaves I could find.

Thank you Glittered Bird in a Tree Card

A Forest Frolic

Maple Leaf ACEO

danagrace64

Quilted Cocktail Napkins-Autumn Leaves

Sew Nance

My Workspace...

2009-09-21T08:14:00.004-04:00

...or lack thereof.

I know that a lot of artists and craftspeople out there have beautiful studios and work spaces. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. Our house just doesn't have the room for me to take over some space for my crafts. So for now, I just have to make do with what I have.

When I am working on my Morning Sky Creations shop this is where I work - the sofa in the family room.

When I am working on jewelry for Morning Sky Jewelry I either work at the dining room table or on the same sofa with a lap desk.

My husband called from work a few weeks ago and said that there was a cabinet with lots of drawers outside the dumpster at his office and asked if I was interested. I was interested, but skeptical. Boy, was I thrilled when he got home.

A little scrubbing and I now have great storage for all my jewelry making supplies plus enough room for my general crafting supplies. I guess the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" is very true in this case.

My dream space is my son's bedroom. It has windows on 3 sides and gets the sunlight from first thing in the morning until the late afternoon. It also has built in shelves on both sides of the closet. Well, a girl can dream, can't she.

September Featured Etsy Blogger

2009-09-20T10:47:00.004-04:00

The featured Etsy Blogger for the month of September is Designs By Vanessa. Vanessa has a great shop with a wide array of beautiful items.

Her main focus is birds such as these Song Sparrow Earrings

and Bird Iron On Applique.

Bu,t you will also find other themes such as these adorable Cupcake Cards.

Why not pay Vanessa a visit. She may have just what you are looking for.

August Featured Etsy Blogger

2009-08-27T13:19:00.004-04:00

This month's featured Etsy blogger is Edi from memoriesforlifesb.
Edi has been papercrafting for over 12 years and has some truly awesome things in her shop.

This wedding guest book made from real flip flops is one of my favorite things for her shop.

Equally beautiful is this hand cut Baby album which can be customized with any name.

This is a very fun and extremely creative shop. Why not go and have a look?

Great Summer shop

2009-07-29T11:23:00.003-04:00

As part of an Etys Bloggers team assignment I went off in search of a shop with hot summer items. I came across Ezylife and her shop is what summer is all about. It is light, bright and airy. Her dresses are beautiful and come in a wide array of styles and colors. There is something there for every woman. An added bonus is that her prices are very reasonable.

Ezylife is a new seller, but she as perfect feedback and glowing reviews.

Featured Etsy Blogger for July

2009-07-20T11:55:00.003-04:00

The Etsy Bloggers team has chosen miesmama as the featured blogger for the month of July. Take a look at this colorful shop for a variety of handmade felted finds. You will come across such things as:

Headbands

Keychains

Garlands

and much, much more.

Christmas In July Sale

2009-07-07T08:35:00.005-04:00

Morning Sky Jewelry will be participating in the Christmas In July sale on Etsy from July 8th through July 23rd. I will be offering free shipping on any purchase. I will also offer an additional 10% off any purchase if you read about my sale on this blog. Simply enter BLOG10 in the message to seller and the 10% will be refunded through PayPal or, if you prefer, send me a convo before you pay and I will send you a revised invoice through PayPal.

A New Selling Venue

2009-06-19T07:55:00.005-04:00

I just started listing my items on a new handmade website that I found called Zibbet. I know that there are a lot of them out there, but I really liked the look of this one and the ease of listing. It is new so it doesn't have a lot of features yet, but they are sure to follow. You are allowed to sell handmade, vintage and supplies.

Click here to check out what my Zibbet shop looks like.

If you decide that you would like to become a seller on Zibbet I would really appreciate if you would click on the banner below and sign up from there. Zibbet offers a great referral program for its users.

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One of my favorite features in the shop performance stats. They show you how many visits you had to your shop during the month, how many times your item was shown on Zibbet, either on the home page, search page, someone's favorites or somewhere else around Zibbet. Some of my items have been displayed around Zibbet over 200 times.

While I don't have any sales yet I am being patient since this is a very new site and I have just started listing.

Yart Sale with a Bonus

2009-06-11T09:35:00.006-04:00

My shop is participating in the Yart Sale on Etsy. From today until midnight Eastern time on Sunday I am offering 15% off any of the items in my Yart Sale section.

As a bonus for blog readers I am offering FREE SHIPPING on ANY ITEM in my entire shop for the duration of the Yart Sale. Just mention "Blog" in the message to seller and I will refund the shipping through PayPal.

June Featured Etsy Blogger

2009-06-06T12:13:00.004-04:00

This month's featured Etsy Blogger is Tricia from Lazy T Crochet. If you frequent the forums on Etsy then I am sure that you recognize the name. Not only does Tricia do lovely crochet work, but she also give excellent advice and also seems willing to help someone out.

While all her work is beautiful, the bright green on the Cloche Hat and Net Scarf grabbed my attention right away.

My Favorite Birthday Present

2009-05-14T20:34:00.005-04:00

This month's Etsy Bloggers assignment is to write about a favorite birthday memory or gift. This one is very easy for me, but it needs to be preceded by a short story.

When I was very young I was scared by a dog. Although I don't remember the incident, I do remember being terrified of dogs. All dogs - any shape and size. Another fact from when I was young is that I adored my grandfather and when I was about 4 he got a dog. A black dachshund named Fred. He gently assured me that Fred wouldn't hurt me and he was right. I fell in love with Fred. I soon found myself feeling more and more confident around dogs and decided that I wanted one of my own, but it had to be a dachshund like Fred, only a different color.

About a week before my fifth birthday my father came home and when I ran to greet him what did I find down by his feet, but the cutest little dachshund which I promptly named Peanut. I had Peanut for 16 wonderful years and can remember the day that I got him (40 years later) like it was yesterday.

I would love to hear some of your favorite birthday memories. Please leave a comment.

Wonderful Wednesday

2009-05-06T06:00:00.005-04:00

These eggs, made by Ukrainian Eggs, are truly remarkable. Some of you may be familiar with Pysanky, but these eggs are made with a twist. The colors are from hundreds of tiny seed beads.

Here is the arttist's explanation of Pysanky and Her Pysanky:

"Pysanky are made to be given to family members and friends. To give a pysanka is to give a symbolic gift of life. Each of the designs and colors on the pysanka has symbolic meaning--the colors and designs are typically chosen to match the character of the person to whom the pysanka is to be given.

About My Pysanky:

I use beads instead of the typical beeswax designs because I prefer the focus to be primarily on the egg's colors. The beads are very small and each egg can take anywhere from one week to several months. I started making these eggs as gifts for family members and began my "store" as requests came in for specific colors for specific people.”

This one is made from an Ostrich egg. I can't even begin to imagine the time and the amount of beads that went into this work of art.

Lucite or Plastic?

2009-05-04T11:58:00.002-04:00

I bought some necklaces at a flea market a few years ago. They came with a tag on them that said "Original Lucite by Dupont". I recently took them apart and started to make some jewelry pieces with them. Shown below is a bracelet I made using some dark teal marbled beads and copper oxidized wire.

I decided that before I listed them for sale I wanted to do a little research to make sure what I had was genuine Lucitie even though the tag said it was. Almost everything I found indicated that Lucite is heavier then plastic and doesn't have seams. Well, the beads I have are light and do have seams. I did find one source that said that newer Lucite beads were lighter and could have seams. Since I only found that piece of information in one place I don't feel comfortable listing these for sale as Lucite.So, I guess I will be wearing the pieces I made myself. If I can find a definitive answer in the future I have plenty more beads to make many more pieces.

If anyone has any information about Lucite beads that they can share, I would love to hear your comments.

A Blue Fringe Treasury

2009-04-20T17:59:00.005-04:00

Thank you so much to randomcreative for including me in her treasury of blue fringe bracelets.

It was an honor to be showcased along with all these other amazing jewelry artists.

Wonderful Wednesday

2009-04-15T08:28:00.005-04:00

I haven't done a Wonderful Wednesday post in a while, so I thought I would do one today in honor of Tax Day in the US.

I found this adorable Tax Deduction bib and onesie in Fun2Wear's shop.

Fun2Wear's designs are custom made and can be personalized. They carry bibs, onesies, toddler, youth, and adult t-shirts.

More Black and White

2009-04-07T11:55:00.004-04:00

I liked the black and white bangle that I posted last week that I had to make another. Instead of a bangle this one has a sterling silver clasp. It is available for purchase in my Artistry Arts store.

Featured Etsy Blogger for April

2009-04-04T15:19:00.004-04:00

This month's featured Etsy Blogger is Two Zany Zebras. She makes fun and unique creations for babies and toddlers such as this Alien Invasion set. This is a great deal at $27.00 for a cuddle blanket and either a onesie or a toddler t-shirt.

You will find great characters at Two Zany Zebras such as Sydney Monster, found on this onesie, which is available in a full range of sizes as well as toddler t-shirt sizes

as well as Ingrid Zarkle , a softie made of minkey stuffed with hypo-allergenic polyfil. To top it off it is 100% machine washable.

Two Zany Zebras welcomes custom orders so if you don't see what you are looking for, just ask.

You can read more about Two Zany Zebras by visiting her blog.

SoopSee.com

2009-04-03T13:15:00.000-04:00

Have you visited SoopSee yet? It is a site that is set up to let you show your Etsy listings, blog posts and other places you sell, all in one place. I really like the nice, crisp look of the site and the ability to choose the template you use to showcase your items.

Have a look at my page and see what you think. SoopSee is in the beta stage, but they have more plans in the works. Future plans include allowing for import of items from other sites such as Artfire and 1000 Markets, adding Google Analytics and more.

I had a few questions and contacted them via email and I must say the their customer service was excellent.

Signs of Spring in Northwest NJ - Good and Bad

2009-03-27T13:58:00.007-04:00

Crocuses Blooming

Daffodils Sprouting

Buds on the Magnolia Tree

Muddy Cleats

Allergy Medicine

Shedding Cat

Peanut Butter Squares

2009-03-26T07:00:00.002-04:00

My youngest son turned 14 last Sunday. I can't believe it. I feel like this was just yesterday.

Anyway, instead of birthday cake he wanted Peanut Butter Squares. He also wanted this last year and the year before that. In the kid's defense, they are wonderful! I remember my mother making them when I was his age.

Here is the easy, no-bake recipe.

Mix together:
1-1pound box of confectioners sugar, sifted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 sticks butter or margarine, melted
1-17 or 18 ounce jar of peanut butter

Press onto the bottom of a 9 X 13 inch baking dish.

Melt together:
1 stick of butter or margarine
1-12oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pour and spread the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter mixture in the baking pan. Refrigerate for a few hours and cut into squares.

*NOTE* Poster is not responsible for clogged arteries, weight gain or tooth decay.

Nice Things Come In Small Packages

2009-03-24T08:40:00.004-04:00

I added these tiny earrings to my Artistry Arts shop last week. Earrings are my must wear piece of jewelry. I don't know about you, but there are times when I want an earring that I even feel in my ear. I want a small, very light earrings on days when I don't feel good, it's very hot, my allergies are bothering me, etc. It might seem strange, but that is how I feel.

Do you have days that you want a small earring? These look large in the photo, but they are less then an inch long.

Black and White

2009-03-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

As I was listing this bracelet I was thinking of my mother. She loved black and white and I grew up in a house that was decorated with a lot of black and white.

So, I decided to Pounce undiscovered shops to see what other black and white I could find.

I love this adorable Sock Punk Zebra from Sock Talk.

Check out Vayda's Pet Shopfor a custom pet portrait.

I fell in love with these black and white fused glass earrings by Gilded Lily Glass.

And we all know someone who loves spooky things like this Mr Marrow keepsake box made by Shadow Hill Lane.

All of the above shops, except mine, haven't had a sale yet. Why don't you give them a visit and show them some love.

Almost Spring

2009-03-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite times of the year. Winter is, finally, almost over. I can feel the weather beginning to turn. Yes, we will still have cold days and even colder nights, but the warmer days will be become more and more frequent.

This month the Etsy Bloggers are posting about what they like and don’t like about Spring.

My likes are easy:

Leaves on the trees

Birds singing

Warmth of the sun

Green grass

More hours of daylight

Open windows

Kids outside playing

Flowers

Gardening

As for my dislikes, there is only really one:

Allergies! Sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes.

Yes, I suffer quite badly from seasonal allergies. Last year I thought I would give it a go with over the counter medications only. After all, the commercials say how great they work. Well, maybe for some, but definitely not for me. I was miserable. I won’t be making the same mistake again this year.

What are your likes and dislikes about the arrival of Spring? I would love to hear.

A Chainmaille Treasury

2009-03-14T12:05:00.006-04:00

I woke this morning to find that I had been included in a chainmaille treasury. (Available for viewing until Monday, March 16, morning)

I love chainmaille treasuries, not only because I make and sell chainmaille, but also because it lets people know that chainmaille is not just about knights and armor.

Thanks to Avionmaille for including me in this beautiful collection.

Featured Etsy Blogger For March

2009-03-10T08:47:00.005-04:00

This month's featured Etsy Blogger is DesignByNora.

She has these cute polymer clay stud earrings in her shop and is offering free shipping. That can't be beat.

You will also find a great selection of handbags by her Uncle Naz. Cindy's purse, shown below, is just one of the many that Nora has to offer.

Right now Nora is offering $1.00 purchases as a way to celebrate her 100th blog post. What a great time to visit her shop and make a purchase.

Think Pink

2009-03-09T13:03:00.004-04:00

I just added this to my Artistry Arts shop. It was made by crocheting bright pink lined and pale pink lined glass seed beads into a bangle bracelet. Perfect for Spring!

Spring Ahead

2009-03-07T07:51:00.003-05:00

For those of you living in areas that observe Daylight Savings Time, don't forget to set your clocks ahead 1 hour at 2:00 AM tomorrow morning (or before bed tonight).

It should be sheer torture getting the teenagers out of bed for church tomorrow morning.

New Handmade Selling Venue

2009-03-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

I came across a new online site for selling handmade called Artistry Arts. They allow only the selling of handmade items and supplies used to sell handmade items.

I was fortunate enough to be among the first to sign up and therefore qualified for a 6 month free membership. This allowed me to start listing and set up my my store without having to pay a penny.

For those who still wish to sell it is only $5 per month to start selling and that price is guaranteed to never go up. You can list as many things as you want and choose how many days you want to list for - 30, 45, 90 or 120. You can also have your listing automatically renew 1 or 2 times.

I think that my favorite feature is the payment options that you can choose from. You can require your buyer to pay instantly before the item is removed from your shop or you can choose to invoice them for their purchase.

The front page also features different items on a rotating basis so that every time you refresh you will see new items that are chosen randomly. What a thrill it is to see some of my items on the front page at any given moment.

Some other features are:

· Paypal Cart Checkout

· Ability to Leave and Receive Feedback

· Sell Similar Option

· Favorites

· Create and Send Invoices

· And more.

This site was only started about 1 month ago by Sharon and John, also known as Mom and Pop. They are constantly upgrading the site and are very good about responding to user recommendations.

Check it out. What have you got to lose?

Foundhandmade

2009-02-27T08:47:00.004-05:00

Foundhandmade is a unique way to shop. A buyer is brought to a page with blocks of photos showing them either handmade items, vintage items or supplies. Clicking on a block brings you to the website page where that particular item is for sale. There are also opportunities for buyers to win items.

Sellers get exposure by having their blocks link directly to their website, whether it is a personal website or an online selling venue. You can either buy blocks: One block – One month - $5, Five Blocks (non-touching, randomly placed) – One month - $20, Four-merged blocks (one larger image) – One month - $30, or enter one of their events for a chance to win a free block.

They also have a "Where to Sell" feature. Here you can find traffic rankings of various websites where crafters, artists and designers can sell.

Etsy Envy

2009-02-26T12:55:00.006-05:00

The Etsy Bloggers Team is blogging about something from Etsy that you wish you had thought of first. As soon as I read that I new exactly what I was going to blog about. I came across 2ReVert.
This husband and wife team make jewelry from old skateboards. I think my idea envy stems from the fact that my son has been skating for over 9 years so we have gone through our share of skateboard decks. Here are a few of their unique pieces.

Micro Dots Necklace

Reversible Teardrop Necklace

Earrings

Until I came across their jewelry I had no idea that the layers in the deck of a skateboard were so colored and varied.

February Featured Etsy Blogger

2009-02-19T10:58:00.006-05:00

The Etsy Blogger for February is Donna Pool. I had never been to Donna's shop before and I was very impressed with what I found. Donna not only sews and takes fabulous photographs, but she also makes awesome buttons. Here is just a sample of what Donna has to offer. Please visit her shop to see more of her great creations.

Electric Guitar Buttons

Puzzle Ball Ornament

Cat Note Cards

I Was Featured

2009-02-02T11:36:00.008-05:00

A few week's ago I was featured on Angie's blog. It was very exciting for me and she wrote a very nice review of my shop. You can find it here if you would like to read it.

Of course I then had to go and check out Angie's shop, Handmade by Angie. I was totally blown away by what a talented lady she is. Not only does Angie have crocheting and cards, she also has ceramics. Here are my favorite picks from each of the 3 categories.

Three Pointed Bowl

Congratulations Card

Copper Patina Wool Scarf

Go check out Angie's shop; she truly has something for everyone.

A Valentine's Day Memory

2009-01-26T12:56:00.007-05:00

Many years ago when my husband and I were in high school and just dating he gave me a heart shaped box of chocolates.

A friend and I were sitting on my platform bed (it was the late 70's) eating some chocolate and talking. We decided to go out for a while. I returned to find the box of chocolates open and eaten and wrappers all over the place! Who would do such a thing? Well, the chocolate footprints all over the white comforter were a clue.

Peanut, my adorable dachshund, sure had himself a chocolate fest while I was out. They say that too much chocolate can kill a dog, but fortunately, he was just fine.

Something New

2009-01-17T08:24:00.003-05:00

This year, with prompting from an Etsy Bloggers carnival theme, I decided not only to make personal New Year's resolutions, but also resolutions for my stores and blog.

For my blog I will make a new post at least once a week. If I keep up with the blog groups that I belong to on Etsy and on Artfire that shouldn't be a problem.

For my shop I am going to try to add some new things. So far I am off to a good start. Here is my latest. I love making my bead crochet bangle bracelets, but I also love to crochet with yarn. I crocheted a couple of cuff bracelets, but I wasn't altogether happy with the way they turned out. Then I was browsing around online and noticed the felted items.I saw brooches and cell phone pouches and beads. I thought, "Why not bracelets?" So I gave them a try. After a few tries I was thrilled with the results. These bracelets are soft and very lightweight. They also work up very quickly and are something I can work on while I'm sitting in my car waiting for my kids at one of their activities. (The crochet part anyway; the felting part takes water).

I have made 2 sets They are available in my Etsy shop and also in my Artfire shop.

Winter Hater, Snowman Lover

2009-01-10T08:44:00.000-05:00

I can state with absolute certainty that I hate winter! I don’t like the cold, brisk air, I don’t like the long hours of darkness and I don’t like the snow. I don’t like it that my hands, feet and nose are always freezing. I don’t like all the extra laundry there is from all the layers that I wear. I don’t like driving in snow and I definitely don’t like shoveling snow.

Now that I am done with that rant I would like to say that I adore snowmen. Even after I take down my Christmas decorations I leave my snowmen up until Spring. There is something about them that just makes me smile.

These are a few of the many that I have around my house.

I love this fabric and wood wall hanging that was a gift from my in-laws.

This is my absolute favorite. It is a foam napkin holder made by my son when he was in kindergarten. I use it to hold Christmas cards.

Now that I have shown you some of my personal snowmen, here are some that I found on Artfire.

Snowman Teacup from GliztnGlass.

Fused Glass Snowman Pin from papernclay.

Snowman on The Beach Print from Joann Bristol Fine Art Photography

Featured Etsy Blogger January 2009

2009-01-05T09:56:00.003-05:00

This month's featured Etsyblogger is Ruthie from Rose Works Jewelry. Ruthie has been making jewelry since she was a freshman in high school. Her shop has a variety of jewelry. Her beautiful work includes beaded jewelry, beadweaving and also hemp jewelry.

Having done some beadweaving myself, I know how much time and patience must have gone into this piece. Her Purple Snake bracelet is absolutely stunning. Give her shop a peek. She has something for everyone.

Sunset

2008-12-30T07:31:00.003-05:00

As I walked through my living room on Sunday I noticed that everything had an orange hue. This is what the sky looked like out my back door.

New Year’s Resolution 2009

2008-12-29T07:56:00.000-05:00

Well, it’s that time of year again. It is time to reflect on the year that has passed and think about what I would like to change. I know that, without a doubt, the personal problem that I would love to tackle, and win, is procrastination. I am a world class procrastinator. My main form of procrastination is the computer. Hanging out in different forums is a main source of time consumption for me. The tool that I am going to use to help me combat this problem is the microwave timer. I will allow myself a certain amount of time online each day and when the timer goes off I will be done. This will include listing items in my Etsy and Artfire shops, blogging, Flickr and reading email. Wish me luck!

What are your resolutions? Leave me a comment; I would love to hear them.

PROCRASTINATE
v.i. delay action

It Pays To Ask

2008-12-19T08:28:00.005-05:00

Quite a few months ago I put an iPod case in my favorites. I thought that it would make a great gift for my 13 year old son for Christmas. It had a place for the ear bud wires to come out and a clip so that he could attach it to his backpack, duffel bag, etc. When I was ready to shop I saw that it was sold. No big deal, right? I'll just go to the shop and find one there. Well, there wasn't one listed and it looked like there hadn't been one listed in a while. OH NO! It's not being offered any more! I sent a convo to Tenthstreet and within minutes I got a convo back asking what color I would like. The next day I got another convo saying that there was one listed if I was still interested. It was exactly what I wanted. It arrived in plenty of time for Christmas and it came with a freebie - a pink coin pouch. Had I just looked in the shop and moved on when what I wanted wasn't there I wouldn't have this great case for my son

and cute pouch for myself.

.
Thanks Tenthstreet - you rock!

Featured Etsyblogger for December

2008-12-09T11:35:00.004-05:00

This month's featured Etsyblogger is Spotted Cow Soaps. If you like to pamper yourself and luxuriate in a nice hot bath, this is the place for you. The photo above shows the Chocoholics Unite Bath Fizzies. I don't know about you but I couldn't imagine anything better on a cold winter day then a nice warm bath surrounded by the aroma of chocolate. Two of my favorite things at one time and in one place...ahhh!

Spotted Cow Soaps, located in Vermont, not only makes soap, but bath accessories, candles and more. They will also include a free sample in every order.

If you would like to learn more, or even join, Etsybloggers please click here.

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-11-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

I live in New Jersey and lately it has been feeling more like winter then fall. It has been way below freezing the past couple of nights and I can't seem to get warm. This week I am featuring these great coasters from Elle Quilts. They have marshmallows wearing earmuffs on one side and the other side has pretty dots. Couldn't you just imagine these with a steaming hot cup of hot chocolate on them?

The Million Dollar Bracelet

2008-11-25T10:26:00.010-05:00

There is always a lot of talk on the Etsy forums about making sure that you get paid for your time when you are pricing your item. Well, I'm sure that we have all had item like my black, gray and red bangle. It is bead crocheted which entails stringing all the beads in order on thread and then crocheting them into a tube. The tube is then joined with an invisible seam to create a bangle. This is how it went:

Attempt 1 - Crocheted all the beads. Did invisible join. Knotted and knotted some more to make sure it was secure. After closer inspection I found that the stripes didn't match up evenly. Once a bangle is securely joined it cannot be taken apart, so it meant cutting it a part, restringing and starting over.

Attempt 2 - Crocheted all the beads again. Did the join and it lined up perfectly. Went to slip it over my hand and there was no way it was going to fit. Since I'm an average sized women I couldn't imagine it selling too quickly at the size it was. Cut apart and restring, again.

Attempt 3 - Crocheted all the beads again. Did the join and it lined up perfectly. Tried it on before doing the final knotting to make sure that it fit me loosely so that it would also fit someone slightly larger. Photographed and listed.

If I actually charged for all the time I worked on this bracelet I would have to charge an exorbitant amount. Since all time spent was due to operator error it is being offered in my shop for $28. Hopefully it will go to a good home to someone who appreciates it.

SALE! SALE! SALE!

2008-11-23T21:04:00.005-05:00

The EtsyBloggers Team is having a sale from Black Friday, 11/28 through Cyber Monday, 12/1. For a list of the 50+ shops participating in this sale click here.

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-11-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

This Wednesday I was feeling a little nostalgic. I was thinking about the holidays when I was a child and that led me to thinking about the dog I had as a child. I was petrified of dogs when I was very young. It seems that a relative’s dog jumped into my playpen when I was an infant. Fast forward a few years. I adored my grandfather and he got a dachshund named Fred. He assured me that Fred wouldn’t hurt me and because he was Grandpa I knew that it must be true. So for my 5th birthday I asked for and received a dachshund of my very own. I asked for a brown one since my grandfather had a black one. I named him Peanut and he was my pal for over 16 years.

This leads me to this Wednesday’s wonderful find – a polymer clay Doxie pin made by Kritter Krazed. Dachshunds aren’t the only dogs she has available. There are also Labs, Boston Terriers, Pugs and more. Wouldn't this be a great Christmas gift for the dog lover on your list?

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-11-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

I decided that this week I would use the Pounce feature on Etsy to discover a shop with nice items that has not had a sale yet. It was love at first sight when I saw this baby sand pail hat by Crackerjack Knits. This hat is made from merino wool and lined for baby's comfort.

I usually only post one picture, but I couldn't resist this face.

Tagged Again

2008-11-07T14:21:00.002-05:00

I was tagged by two people from the Etsy Bloggers team last month and in the past two weeks I have been tagged twice again. Since there is not a whole lot left to tell you can read about me here.

I was tagged by some Etsians with fabulous shops. I would love if you would pay them a visit.
You've Got Maille
Lil Bees

Etsy Bloggers Featured Member for November

2008-11-03T10:00:00.004-05:00

This month Deb aka storybeader has been chosen as the Featured Etsy Blogger for the month of November.
Not only does she make beautiful jewelry, but every one of her necklaces comes with a personally written haiku.

The gorgeous red magnesite and Turkish silver necklace pictured above, for example, comes with this haiku:

The workers shot large
Cannonballs into the hills
To draw out silver.
- storybeader

Give her shop a visit - you won't be disappointed!

What I'm Working On

2008-11-03T09:33:00.001-05:00

The Etsy Bloggers are blogging about what they are working on. I usually don't do holiday themed jewelry, but when I saw this Santa Claus button I just had to have it. I rummaged through my seed bead stash and found the perfect candy cane colors. I first thought of using the Santa as the toggle part of a toggle and loop closure, but I'm now thinking that he may make a better focal. This bracelet most likely won’t end up in my shop. The beads I used are very varied in size so there are places where they do not lie properly. I think I’ll just keep it for myself and wear it to get in the Christmas spirit.

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-10-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again - tea time. I drink coffee every morning all year, but when the weather starts turning colder I love an afternoon cup of tea. So I did an Etsy search for teapots to get an idea of what is out there. There are hundreds of wonderful pots, but this way by far my favorite. According to the description this pot was inspired by a trip to France. Take a peek at lawatson's shop for more fabulous, funky finds.

Etsy Bloggers Treasury

2008-10-25T18:39:00.003-04:00

I haven't made a treasury in a very long time. I finally snagged one in Treasury West and thought I would make one that showed my love of blue, my love of jewelry and my love of my new team - EtsyBloggers. You can find it here for a few days if you would like to click and comment.

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-10-22T06:00:00.001-04:00

I love wood, especially when different kinds/colors are used together. That is why I love these books made by Postindustrialist. Wouldn't they make a great Christmas gift?

Please visit her shop to read more about how she makes these fantastic works of art.

Family Hike at Bear Mountain

2008-10-16T06:15:00.001-04:00

Last weekend we went on a family hike to Bear Mountain State Park in New York. With 6 adults and 7 children ranging in age from 10 to 16 we set off on a 3.8 mile hike. You would think that with 13 fairly intelligent people this would be no problem. But, 4 hours and many, many miles later we finally made it back to the parking lot - in a completely different place then the map indicated. It was a beautiful sunny 65 degree Fall day with not a cloud in the sky - we had a great time!

Woodpecker holes.

Salamander

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-10-15T06:10:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I posted a find that reminded me of my black cat, Stormy. I don't want to play favorites, so this week I went looking for something that represented Emma, my tabby. I found this cute candle holder in memekiwii's shop. Her tag line is "Funky Folk Art Pottery + Whimsical Art Works" and that is exactly what you will find here.

Survival of the Fittest

2008-10-14T12:21:00.003-04:00

My husband came in through the front door and called us to come out and see the Praying Mantis on the door frame. I hadn't seen one in a very long time and ran to get my camera.

The next morning as we were heading out my son noticed that the Praying Mantis was still there - this time enjoying its breakfast. Poor Daddy Long Legs!

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-10-08T06:10:00.002-04:00

Earlier in the week as I was reading a forum thread I came across an avatar and shop name that piqued my interest. I visited the shop and was delighted in what I found. So this week's Wonderful Wednesday find is Butt Freckle. Here you will find the most adorable little plushies that I have ever seen. Just when I think I have chosen a favorite I find another. Below are just a few - check out the shop for yourself and pick your favorite and while you are there be sure to read the story behind them.

Grape Bonkers

Marvin Moss

My Other Job

2008-10-06T06:15:00.000-04:00

The Etsy Bloggers team been given the assignment to post about their job when not on Etsy.

I was a stay at home Mom for 16 years when I decided to return to the workforce part time. I found a job that I love. I work in a gourmet chocolate and gift shop.

The store that I work in is family owned and they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. I also work with another mom my age and a retired woman. Later in the day some college and highschool girls come in.

The store itself is in a very large old house. The front of the store contains tons of candy and gourmet food. The room in the back is the Vera Bradley room. Upstairs you will find Life Is Good apparel, pewter, ceramic, baby items, candles and lotion.

Our customers are great and a lot of fun. I couldn't have asked for a better re-entry into the workforce.

October's Featured Etsyblogger

2008-10-03T10:13:00.005-04:00

This month the Etsy Bloggers Street Team has chosen bfbeads , also known as Jen from Baby Friendly Beads. Jen makes beautiful single strand nursing necklaces that are adjustable and don't require a clasp. Check out Jen's shop and you will find a wide variety of styles and colors along with nursing reminder bracelets.

The photo above shows her Custom Birthstone Baby Friendly Beads Nursing Necklace (3 stone design). This is a one of a kind necklace that features Mom's birthstone and the stones of other children or family members. Give Jen a visit - you won't be disappointed.

I've Been Tagged

2008-10-01T17:49:00.008-04:00

So I joined the Etsy Bloggers Street Team and my very first day I was tagged by 2 different members. First by Manderlyrose and an hour later by HumanTouchDesigns.

I was hoping that joining the team would encourage me to be more active with my blog and it sure is.

Since I've been tagged I'm supposed to tell you 6 things about myself that most people don't know and then tag 5 other people. So, here we go:

1. I can write in script so it looks like you're looking in a mirror without even trying.

2. I love looking at office supplies and storage bins and such.

3. I can play classical guitar, but haven't had time to really do it since I had my kids.

4. When I was growing up my family used to make fun of me and call me a miser. It's a joke in my family that I would come back from vacation with more money then I went with.

5. It's very, very hard for me to buy things that aren't on sale or without a coupon even if I have the money for it. (see #4)

6. I hate calling people on the telephone, but if you call me I'd have no problem yakking away with you for hour.

Now I would like to tag:
TiLTcreations
Leakymouth
Molly S
Littlepaperdog
Felt Artistic

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-10-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

Here is my cutie pie Stormy.

Here is my Wonderful Wednesday pick from fing. Need I say more?

I'm Gold!

2008-09-28T06:06:00.001-04:00

My son told me about this fun personality test. His Social Studies class took the True Colors Personality Test in school to find out what kind of learners they are. I'm gold, and when I read the description I wasn't surprised. So, what color are you? Click here to find out.

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-09-24T06:30:00.000-04:00

This week I went way back to one of the first shops that I hearted as a favorite when I joined Etsy. Arny Designs has an eco-friendly shop where I found these great earrings made from plastic grocery bags.

Fingerless Gloves

2008-09-22T10:23:00.004-04:00

I've just completed my second crocheting project, sort of. I decided to make fingerless glove and went in search of a pattern. Most of the patterns were out of my understanding and with my crocheting friend away for the weekend I was on my own. After looking at many I realized that crocheting a rectangle and sewing up the side, leaving a space for the thumb, would work just fine. And it did as you can see from the photos below. Now that my friend is back I might have her show me how to add some rows by the thumb hole.

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-09-17T06:30:00.000-04:00

I am in awe of polymer clay artists. Here is something from beadsCraftz that is stunning.

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-09-10T06:30:00.000-04:00

I love this hand turned wooden bottle stopper from pjturner. It sure beats my plastic and rubber one.

I'm Learning To Crochet

2008-09-09T11:05:00.004-04:00

My mother taught me to knit many, many years ago, but I never learned how to crochet. She had tried to teach me, but I never caught on. Last week I was talking with a friend who crochets beautifully and she convinced me to give it another try. Well, I found some step by step instructions online and I LOVE it!

Here is my first try. Please don't look too closely. I know that I have a long way to go.

Homemade Pizza

2008-09-06T07:42:00.005-04:00

Quite a few years ago I inherited a bread machine. I used it once in a while to make bread, but not often. Then I found a pizza dough recipe and dinner at our house changed. We now have homemade pizza once a week, usually Friday or Saturday nights.

I throw all the ingredients in the bread machine and hit start. In an hour and a half I have pizza dough.

I stretch it out on a pan, add sauce, oregano, grated cheese, mozzarella cheese and then bake for about 20 minutes. My family loves it.

(Please excuse the photos - it seems I can't take decent pictures anymore without my lightbox and natural light.)

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-09-03T15:37:00.004-04:00

I thought I would start something new on my blog. On Wednesdays I will post something wonderful that I have come across. My first is this cell phone pouch from PitBullLadyDesigns. I love that it is made from a pair of jeans that have the decoration felted on them. Please visit here shop to see more great things.

My Helper, Again

2008-08-29T06:32:00.001-04:00

I have blogged in the past about my cat, Stormy, and how she thinks the printer is a very fun cat toy. Well, I thought we had gotten past that as she had not shown interest in quite a while. Obvisously I was wrong. I had coupons I wanted to print and I had to get my son to soccer. So I hit the print button and walked out the door. This is what I returned to. It seems that my helper thought she had to help the paper out of the printer and then kill it for me. Oh well, so much for saving time. She's just lucky that she's cute.

I'm In 2 Treasuries This Week

2008-08-21T06:00:00.001-04:00

This week I was in 2 treasuries that were created by members of a new Etsy team called Chainmaillers Guild.

To find out more about this great team of chainmaillers please visit our blog.

Fringe Bracelet Tutorial

2008-08-12T10:16:00.004-04:00

Here is a tutorial on how to make a fringe bracelet, also known as a cha-cha bracelet.
I hope these instructions are clear as I have never written a tutorial before.

Supplies: Beading wire such as Beadalon or Softflex
Beading thread such as Nymo or Fireline
Size 6 seed beads
Various size and shapes of beads in color/colors of your choice
Size 11 or 15 seed beads in complimentary color
Crimps
Clasp
Beading needle

Cut a length of beading wire long enough to add a clasp at each end. Since this is a hefty bracelet make sure that your finished size is about 1 inch longer than your wrist size. For example, my finished bracelet measures 8¾ inches, but fits well on a 7 inch wrist.

Let me see if I can explain this part clearly. You are going to string the size 6 seed beads on the beading wire like you are making a bracelet. You will add one part of your clasp to each end and crimp as usual. The only difference is that you want to have about an inch of the wire not covered by beads when you are done adding the clasp and crimping. You will need room between the beads to add the fringe.

Attach your beading thread to one end of the wire using a square knot with a dot of glue. Needle under the first seed bead. Pick up a combination of 2 or 3 beads ending with an 11 or 15 seed bead. Go back down through the beads you have just strung on, but do not go through the seed bead again. Needle under the next size 6 seed bead and continue to the end.

At the end make a knot and come back through all the size 6 seed beads again, adding beads between each as you go. When you get back to the other end you can either knot and end there or know and turn around and add fringes of beads down the length of the bracelet again depending on the fullness that you want. The bracelet in the photo has 3 fringes between each seed bead.

I apologize that I don’t have any photos showing the steps. Next time I make one I will definitely take some as I go and post them here.

Please feel free to email me if you need clarification on anything at maryann726@gmail.com

Beading Daily Reader' Gallery

2008-07-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

Beading Daily is a great website for beaders and all jewelry makers. They have free patterns and projcets along with ones that you can purchase. They have great, informative articles, polls and a readers gallery.

The call went out a few weeks ago for submissions for a readers gallery that would showcase combined techniques. I submitted my bead crochet bracelet with copper end caps and clasp and it made it into the gallery along with a lot of other great pieces of jewelry.

Click here to view the entire gallery.

Simplicity

2008-07-12T08:05:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I like the simple things the best. I made 2 pairs of these earrings - one pair for my shop and one pair for me to wear. I wear mine all the time.

Square Stitch

2008-06-22T08:38:00.000-04:00

I am out of wire at the moment so that means no chainmaille making for now. I have been doing some bead crochet and some beadweaving. I had never tried doing square stitch. I don't know why since it isn't difficult at all. I looked through my bead stash and found some glass cube beads that I forgot I had. I also came across a great pewter button and this blue bracelet is what I came up with.

My Irises

2008-06-08T20:07:00.003-04:00

I love my Siberian Irises and just wanted to share them with everyone.