vintage lucite beads | Bead Happily Ever After

Lilacs in the Snow

Posted on January 12, 2011 by crystal

Hi Kids,
You are all too cute! I appreciate yesterday’s comments, and I’m so glad you put up with my attempts at humor, here. 😉

It’s no secret that I’m a major fan of vintage beads, but among all my favorites – I have some very *FAVORITE* favorites!

These Vintage Lucite “Puffed” Roses in Lilac are heart-meltingly gorgeous in person.

They were made in Western Germany in the 1960’s and are now incredibly rare. Their 3-dimensional sculpted effect is just so pretty. I loved working with them.

When paired with Swarovski Lilac Aurora Borealis crystals in several sizes and shapes, the result is a beautiful set to wear both spring and summer (or even today, while it’s snowing!) 😀

Smiles and hugs,

Grape Jelly

Posted on August 17, 2010 by crystal

It was a quiet weekend, so I had a little time to design a necklace/earring set with some vintage lucite beads that I absolutely love!

Yes, they’re purple – you know that I just can’t resist purple!

In my defense, I must say that I’ve been pretty good about making things in other colors, lately . . . Really!

The beads here are an especially rich, translucent, “grape jelly” purple with little clouds of white swirling through them. So gorgeous!

This set is now available in my shop. 🙂

Or maybe you’d like to make your own design with the grape jelly beads! You can find them here!

What did you do over the weekend? 🙂

Hugs,

Giveaway – Candy Corn Earrings

Posted on August 2, 2010 by crystal

August Greetings! 😀

Don’t worry! There’s still lots of time left for summer fun.

But…. Autumn is definitely on the way, so my August Giveaway has a fall-ish theme!

“Candy Corn” Earrings

I’ve chosen some of my favorite beads for this design – they have sort of a subtle Autumn/Halloween flavor. Wouldn’t they be pretty to wear with a jacket done in earth tones?

The pumpkin-colored teardrop beads are Vintage Moonglow Lucite, and the very unique “candy corn” beads are Vintage Czech Glass (If you enjoy making jewelry, too, the candy corn beads are currently available in my bead shop).

The earrings measure a bold and beautiful 3″ in length – including the artisan-crafted earwires, which are sterling silver.

Contest Rules and How to Enter:

You can have multiple chances to enter!
Any day you leave a comment on this blog – it is counted as a chance to enter the current 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 and comment on a different post – you will have earned a second chance! Visit again and comment and you’ll have 3 chances, and so on.

(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!) 😀

Today’s question is:

Describe the closest thing to you, right this minute, that is red? (You might have to leave the room to find it.)

My answer: I love bright colors so I figured I would have something here on my computer desk, but nope! I finally spied my little red retractable tape measure on a shelf across the room! 🙂

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 08/31/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 09/01/10.

Beads – They’re not just for jewelry!

Posted on July 14, 2010 by crystal

Hi 🙂

I know that many of you make jewelry, but I also realize that many of you have never had the chance to learn.

Today, I’d like to show you a post where I discuss lots of creative things you can do with beautiful beads besides making jewelry! 😀

If you can sew on a button, or thread a needle, work with glue, or find a pretty little crystal dish around the house – you can have fun with beads.

As I say in the article: “Incorporating the artistry of beads into our everyday surroundings is a recipe for a smile.”

Click here to read it!

Hugs,

Giveaway – Dew Kissed Rose Earrings

Posted on March 1, 2010 by crystal

Warm Greetings on this first day of March!

Can you believe we’ll be setting the clocks ahead in just a couple of weeks? It’s been wonderful to see the daylight lasting longer and longer into the evening over the last two months, and I’m especially looking forward to adding that hour! 🙂

For this week’s giveaway I have a very sweet pair of earrings!

If you’ve ever been in a garden early on a summer morning, you know how the sun dances on flower petals making dewdrops sparkle like tiny diamonds. These pretty earrings have that same effect.

They feature a very beautiful and increasingly rare type of bead – “Vintage Confetti Lucite”. These beads are a transparent light rose pink with tiny bits of silver glitter sprinkled within the lucite. The glitter under the surface gives them a very subtle sparkle – so pretty!!! I’ve accented the lucite beads with Swarovski Rose Aurora Borealis Crystals and tiny silverplated beadcaps.

Measurements: The length is 1-1/2″ including the earwires, which are made of Sterling Silver.

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!

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! 😀

Today’s question is:

Pretend that you’ve been cleaning out your elderly aunt’s basement and you came across an old lamp. You dusted it off and a genie appeared! He offered to transport you to anytime in the PAST – either a time in your own life or to any other era in history. To what time would you travel and what would you do when you get there?

All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 03/07/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 03/08/10.