aurora borealis | Bead Happily Ever After

“Bohemian Nights” Purse Charm

Posted on March 22, 2010 by crystal

Welcome Kids! I hope you had a fun weekend. Spring has officially sprung, since the last time we chatted!!! 🙂

Before I go any further, I’d like to thank everyone for the terrific comments last week! They really are what keeps me posting, you know! I’m incredibly lucky to have the best readers in blogland, and I treasure every single one of you. Please remember you can suggest topics that you’d like to see in future posts. Your opinions matter. 🙂

On to the giveaway!

This week, I thought I’d do something a little different, so I made a charm which can be used on a purse or tote bag. It’s designed with very lovely Vintage Czech Glass beads.

The beads are Jet Black with a gorgeous aurora borealis finish on one side, which flashes blue, green, and teal. You’ll notice several sizes and shapes. I accented the beads with sterling silver rondelles and lace-y silver plated bead caps. A small dangling key charm was added for a bit of whimsy. The key fob style “hanger” is a secure piece of hardware that will enable you to attach this purse charm to a pocketbook strap, handle, or to any large ring that’s on your purse. Measurements: Just over 3″ in length.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

Any day you leave a comment on this blog – it is counted as a chance to enter that week’s giveaway.

For example, if you answer today’s question (you’ll find it below!) that will give you one chance.

But if you then come back another day this week and comment on a different post – you will have earned another chance in this week’s giveaway!

When you comment you do not have to mention that it’s an entry in the giveaway. My blog program shows me all of the “comments” as they come in – so I do not miss any of them, and all will count and be entered into the drawing! 😀

Today’s question is:

What will you never do again?

My answer? Wear a bikini! Those days are over, Ladies. 😉

The Boring Stuff . . .
You must be 18 yrs. old. After the completion of the contest, the name of the winner will be listed here. The winner will also be notified by email. If the 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. The prize will be mailed via USPS First Class Mail

All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 03/28/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 03/29/10.

Raspberry Frost Earrings

Posted on February 15, 2010 by crystal

Hello! 🙂

Welcome to my weekly giveaway.

Special Greetings to my regular readers!

(If you are not yet subscribing to the blog, just click on the orange RSS button on the right side of this page. In doing so, you’ll never miss your chances for the weekly giveaways.)

I hope everyone had at least a little chocolate over the Valentine’s Day weekend. If not, don’t worry – it will be half-price in the stores today! 😉

On to the giveaway . . .
This week, I have a pair of flirty dangle earrings that feature baroque-shaped Czech glass beads in a fabulous girly-girl shade of FUCHSIA pink. They have an icy cool sparkle that will brighten even the dreariest of winter days.

“Raspberry Frost”

I’ve accented the Czech beads with glittering Swarovski Crystals in both fuchsia and clear aurora borealis. All metal embellishments & findings are *Sterling Silver*!

Measurements: approximately 2″ long, including the sterling silver earwires.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

Any day you leave a comment on this blog – it is counted as a chance to enter that week’s giveaway.

For example, if you answer today’s question (you’ll find it below!) that will give you one chance.

But if you then come back another day this week and comment on a different post – you will have earned another chance in this week’s giveaway! There are usually 4-5 posts per week – Monday through Friday – so you can have multiple chances to enter!

Today’s question is:

Describe the perfect day off!

All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 02/21/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 02/22/10.

Giveaway – Blue Velvet Necklace

Posted on January 11, 2010 by crystal

129

Hi there 😀
It’s time for another weekly giveaway! If you’ve just landed here for the first time, I hope you’ll subscribe through the orange RSS button located on the sidebar, or put me in your “favorites” so that you’ll never miss your chance to enter.

A great big thank you goes out to each and every one of you who, last week, generously offered your input regarding the giveaways. I was just blown away by your thoughtful opinions, and the time you devoted to answering the survey. I truly appreciate it and I’ll be carefully considering everything that was suggested. There was one feeling that was almost unanimous though –

KEEP THE QUESTIONS!

Ok! I hear you loud and clear and I definitely will. 🙂

Now on to the giveaway!

This week, I have a necklace in royal shades of blue that’s fit for a princess.

click photo to enlarge

I‘ve used some very special vintage beads in luscious light blue, midnight blue, and deep royal blue. The ovals have a gorgeous luster. They’re Vintage Moonglow Lucite, which is particularly rare in the oval shape. The larger round beads are Vintage Czech glass and they have exquisite faceting and an aurora borealis flash on one side. The smallest beads are contemporary Czech glass with a rich velvety sheen. Measurements: just under 20” in length. Closes with a textured, silver-plated, toggle clasp.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

Any day you leave a comment on this blog – it is counted as a chance to enter that week’s giveaway.

For example, if you answer today’s question (you’ll find it below!) that will give you one chance.

But if you then come back tomorrow and comment on tomorrow’s post too – you will have earned another chance in this week’s giveaway – so you’ll have 2 chances!

Return on the next day, comment, and you add another chance! And so on through the week. When you comment you do not have to mention that it’s an entry in the giveaway. My blog program shows me all of the “comments” as they come in – so I do not miss any of them, and all will count to be entered into the drawing! 😀

The giveaways end on Sundays, so you’ll have a little time to “catch up” if you missed any weekday posts.

Today’s question is:

Can you tell us about something that *you* really love – but friends, family, or co-workers just don’t seem to appreciate?

All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 01/17/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 01/18/10.

Rainbow City

Posted on September 3, 2009 by crystal

Well Kids, let me tell ya . . .

It’s been a wild and wooly ride trying to get a picture of this baby! I tried on three different occasions, and I don’t know whether to say, “third time’s the charm”, or “three strikes and you’re out’! 😉

No wonder Tiffany’s pays a fortune for photography! Taking pictures of sparkling stones and crystals is both an art and a science. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever be really good at it.

My first attempt was frustrating. It’s artsy maybe – but not sharp enough, even with photoshop . . .

Next try, a few days later, I was going for a soft “mood lighting” effect, but this was still not quite what I was hoping for . . .

Here’s one I took today. What can I say? This set is so much prettier in person!

Oh well, maybe with all three photos you can get an idea of how striking the bracelet and earrings truly are!

I used glittering Swarovski Aurora Borealis Crystals in multiple shapes and sizes, then added Swarovski “Squaredelles” to enhance the cube shaped crystals. The finished effect is absolutely mesmerizing – especially when the light hits just right.

Recently, I made a similar set for my sister to wear for her son’s wedding (the wedding I mentioned yesterday!). 🙂

OK then, it’s back to the tripod for me. There’s still some good sunlight out there and I need to take more pictures – but not of this set.

Maybe on another day . . . 😉

The Allure of the Vintage Bead

Posted on June 17, 2009 by crystal

When it comes to vintage beads, I’m often asked two questions:

1. Why are vintage beads so special?

2. Where do you find them?

I’ll answer the first question today, and then answer the second in a future post.

So, why are vintage beads special?

It may sound corny, but they don’t make things like they used to! This is definitely true with beads.

Sure, mass-produced contemporary beads are pretty, but they can’t compete with vintage beads in terms of color, cut, reflective flash, and the sheer artistry of the vintage designs.

There are several reasons for this, but to put it simply – the world has changed so much. It’s no longer cost-effective for beads to be produced with the painstaking care and time-consuming methods of the past. Just ask any lampwork glass artist in today’s world if it’s easy – in the current market – to be paid a truly fair price for the time and imaginative skill that she puts into her work.

As has been the case in the manufacture of many different products over the years, there often comes a time when certain processes of production become too expensive to maintain or are found to be environmentally unfriendly. Early bead makers often used finishes and coating formulas that had to be modified for these reasons. As a result, today’s crystal beads with an aurora borealis finish, for example, simply do not have the full spectrum of color and brilliance of a vintage aurora borealis crystal, and so that adds to the value and desirability of the vintage crystal.

Vintage plastics and Lucite are cherished for the same reasons – the old methods yielded beads that are often superior to the versions created today. Sometimes it’s a minor difference, but often it’s very obvious that the vintage beads were more finely crafted and are more beautiful.

If you haven’t used vintage beads in your designs before, why not consider using some in your next project?

You might just fall in love! 🙂