Beads | Bead Happily Ever After

Giveaway – “Lil Black Dress” Earrings

Posted on May 11, 2009 by crystal

Hi there 🙂

Welcome to the weekly giveaway. Last week’s comments were fabulous! I’m so inspired by all of you smart shoppers and the amazing bargains you’ve found! I also loved your honest and sometimes very amusing answers to the question on birthstones! Thanks to everyone for leaving such interesting and thoughtful comments.

This week’s giveaway is a sleek and sassy pair of leverback earrings. They’d be pretty with just about any outfit in your closet!

I’m calling them “Lil Black Dress” because I think they could be the earrings you reach for often – just like that little dress you can always count on when you need to look your best. The earrings feature three-dimensional “Daisy” beads in sterling silver, Swarovski Jet AB Crystals that flash glorious shades of blue, violet, and teal, and jet black Czech beads in a faceted teardrop shape. All metal embellishments & findings are sterling silver, including the “hammered” leverbacks.

Measurements: approximately 2″ long

Contest Rules and How To Enter

This week, you will have up to six (6) chances to enter the weekly giveaway.

You can choose any or all of the following 6 ways to enter:

1st Chance:

Leave a comment answering the first weekly question: What hobbies or interests do you spend money on?

2nd Chance:

Leave a comment answering the second weekly question: What is the one food you could never give up?

3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Chances:

Leave comments on any other posts on this blog. They can be left on recent posts or old posts. There are 135 posts – take a peek at the “Categories” on the right side of the page for choices. You can leave all of your comments today, or you can come back during the week to see what’s new and leave them then.

Please note: You do NOT have to tell me that you left a comment on another post. The blog program shows me all of the comments as they come in – so I do not miss any of them! 🙂

Of course, I’d be very delighted to receive as many comments as you want to leave, but no more than six will count towards this week’s giveaway.

A valid email address must be given at time of entry. You must be 18 yrs. old. The name of the winner will be listed here after the completion of the contest. The winner will be notified by email. The prize will be mailed by USPS First Class Mail. If no valid email address is given at time of entry, or if winner fails to respond to email within 3 days from the time notification email has been sent, the win will be null and void and a new winner will be chosen.
All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 05/17/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 05/18/09.

All’s Well That Ends Well!

Posted on April 16, 2009 by crystal

Did you ever have one of those days when you skipped breakfast and lunch and didn’t even realize it?

You know – a day when you had a million things to do and in the midst of it all, there were constant interruptions and the phone wouldn’t stop ringing?

That was Wednesday for me. By the time we finished a late dinner (I was starving by then!) all I wanted to do was put my feet up and relax.

One of the best ways I’ve found to unwind after a long day is to “play” with beads. There’s definitely something very soothing about planning and creating a pretty design!

It doesn’t have to be a big project – those are probably better for when you’re well-rested. Even if you only have an hour or two during the evening, you can easily make some smaller pieces! Of course, you can always start a larger piece if you like, and then work on it little by little whenever you have time. The point is to be sure and get your share of those creative moments – they will truly refresh your spirit!

And after the crazy busy day that I’ve just had, it seems especially nice that I have something fun to show for it! 🙂

“Garden Fairy” Pendant Set

Posted on April 15, 2009 by crystal

Yesterday, as I was making room for lots of pretty new beads (Look for them in my store very soon!), I came across this gorgeous pendant!

I bought it from one of my favorite polymer clay artisans several months ago, and then tucked it away for a future designing session. I hadn’t planned on making jewelry yesterday but the pendant looked so lovely – the way the sunlight illuminated the colors – that I immediately began to search for coordinating beads to showcase it, in all its glory.

Double click the photo for the best view.

For the color scheme, I chose light rose pink, pale lilac, and a burnished gold. I wanted the colors to be soft and the beads to be a delicate size so the pendant itself would be the focal point. I’m happy with how it turned out and because I like it so much, I’ll have a hard time putting in my shop. I probably will though . . . but I might need a few days to look at it first. 😉

Giveaway – Beaded Veggie Bookmark

Posted on April 13, 2009 by crystal

Welcome to the weekly giveaway! Before I announce the details, I just want to say that there were some amazing answers to last week’s question! I’d sure love to be invited to those dinner parties that many of you planned! Thanks everyone for playing along and for sending in such interesting guest lists!

This week’s giveaway is an adorable beaded bookmark called “Veggie Garden”. Use it to mark your place in that book you’re reading! Whether it’s a novel at your bedside table or an art book in the living room, this pretty bookmark will add a whimsical touch to your home.

It’s made with wonderful artisan-crafted lampwork glass beads that are shaped like little vegetables! There’s a tomato, broccoli, cauliflower, and a yellow pepper! The part that you place inside your book is made with tiny glass seed beads in light emerald green aurora borealis. Swarovski crystals in red siam, and light and medium shades of emerald green serve as sparkling accents! All findings are sterling silver.
Measurements: The overall length (including the veggie beads) is 17″, but the part that is meant to be placed inside a book is about 13″. It should fit many of your books – except for those that are the very large coffee table size.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

1. For your first chance to win leave a comment answering this question: If you were to look up the word “kindness” in the dictionary, and right beside the definition of the word, there was a picture of a person – which person in your life would it be and why?

2. For a second chance to win, leave a second comment that answers the question: Do you like it when people make a big deal out of your birthday or do you prefer a quiet celebration?

3. For a third chance to win, leave a comment on any other post on this blog except this one. You can do it today by looking for a post in the archives to comment on, or you can come back during the week and add a comment on any post – old or new. You will receive an extra entry each time you do so.

You can choose any one or all of the above chances to enter.

A valid email address must be given at time of entry. You must be 18 yrs. old. The name of the winner will be listed here after the completion of the contest. The winner will be notified by email. The prize will be mailed by USPS First Class Mail. If no valid email address is given at time of entry, or if winner fails to respond to email within 3 days from the time notification email has been sent, the win will be null and void and a new winner will be chosen.
All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 04/19/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 04/20/09.

Passion for Purple

Posted on March 11, 2009 by crystal

I’m a purple person. I’m always immediately attracted to anything purple. Whether it’s flowers, clothes, jewelry, or paper – if it’s purple, I usually love it!

Because I design jewelry, I have to keep reminding myself that there are other colors and that many people love other colors!!!

So yesterday, when I decided to make a pendant necklace, what color do you think I made?

You guessed it — purple. I just couldn’t help it. The beautifully muted shade of matte metallic purple on the faceted beads mesmerized me! 🙂

Oh well, back to the drawing board. I’ll try again tomorrow for a different color . . .

Maybe I’ll just leave all of the purple beads in the drawer so I won’t be tempted! 😉