Beads | Bead Happily Ever After

Giveaway – Sugar and Spice Earrings

Posted on July 12, 2010 by crystal

I’m baaaack! 😉

Whew, Kids! It was quite the week off….

Shall I tell you about it?

When you’re a kid, there are times you hear adults talking, but don’t really understand what they’re saying . . .

I can remember listening to my parents and their friends as they discussed vacations. They said that one week just isn’t enough – you need two weeks in a row. They insisted you only begin to relax during the first week, and it’s not until the second week that you are able to fully absorb the benefits of time-off.

After the week Sir Beads and I just had, I think I finally understand exactly what they were talking about!

This year, we’ve had 2 vacations – one week each – and come to think of it, neither turned out to be very restful. I suppose the fact that they were “staycations” may have been a contributing factor, because we did incorporate household tasks into the mix. We probably should have planned to take both weeks together. Maybe, next time!

With respect to last week though, besides more days-off, we could have used fewer instances of Murphy’s Law! (You know – “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”)

“What the heck are ya talkin’ about, Crystal?” (You ask. 😉 )

Well, I guess I’m trying to say that I feel as if I need a vacation after the vacation I just had. 😉

First, there was the weather…

Holy Moly! We had scorching hot days, some of which were 100 degrees plus! And the humidity – ouch! The air was so soupy that our little air conditioners groaned as they valiantly tried to keep up.

Next, there was the plumbing repair gone haywire….

We thought it would be convenient to let a plumber replace the bathroom shower/hot water mixer, faucet, and drain plug in our bathtub. Sir Beads is very good at home repairs, but we were looking for a quick fix this time – no searching for parts or having to buy a new tool. The plumbers arrived and what should have been a 2-hour job turned into two long days! What went wrong? Everything it seems. Ay-yi-yi!

No good deed goes unpunished . . .

We promised my parents we’d spend time doing chores for them. We wanted to accomplish a lot, so we set aside an entire day. Our daughter wanted to help, too, so she took a vacation day from work to join us. Wouldn’t you know; the temperatures soared to 103 degrees that day! Since we had plumbers coming later in the week and dear daughter had arranged for the time off, we decided we had to keep with our scheduled day – even though it was going to be hot, hot, hot! Can you say nightmare? 😉 We did finish a portion of what we had intended to do, but were as wilted as dishrags by sunset.

“Gee, Crystal, can you please get back to talking like your cheerful old self? We don’t want to hear you whine!”

Yes, of course, kids – sorry! It must be the heat talking (still brutally muggy, here.)

All of you were in my thoughts and I’m happy to be back with a new question and a new giveaway! 😀

During July and August, I’ll have the weekly questions, as usual, but it will be a “monthly” giveaway until autumn.

Sugar and Spice

For July’s giveaway, I have a beautiful pair of pearl earrings. They feature Vintage Swarovski round faceted beads in a gorgeous shade of forest green aurora borealis called “Turmaline AB”. The aurora borealis flash makes them twinkle like a rainbow of stars on a clear night.

I’ve added Swarovski clear crystal rondelles and also Swarovski tear-drop shaped glass faux pearls in creamy white.

ALL metal components are STERLING SILVER, including the elegant artisan-crafted earwires! Overall measurement is just over 2 inches in length.

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 most enjoyable vacation that you’ve ever had. It can be anything from a relaxing week at home with no schedule, to a day-trip to the beach, to a sightseeing tour of another country. Please tell us about the vacation that was the most fun for you! 😀

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 07/30/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 07/31/10.

Giveaway Mermaid’s Treasure Earrings

Posted on June 28, 2010 by crystal

Hi Kids! 😀

I hope you had a lovely weekend. We did.

It was Friday that turned out to be a little on the wild and wooly side!

We awoke to no water. Not a trickle, not a drop, nada!

The pump in our well had finally croaked after 27 years of faithful service. After all that time, we really can’t complain too much, and I guess we were actually pretty lucky that it happened on a Friday instead of over the weekend. I can only imagine how much more difficult it would have been to find somebody to replace it on a Saturday or a Sunday. Our plumbing contractors did a wonderful job and by nightfall things were almost back to normal – still some sputtering pipes and sand and debris to clear, but that would straighten itself out as the water continued to run over the weekend.

BUT, The fun isn’t over quite yet though . . .

The bill will be mailed to us! I didn’t really want a new camera anyway. 😉

Seriously though, as My Dad often says:

“It’s not so bad, at least everyone is ok.”

(That guy is pretty smart!) 😉

On to the giveaway!

This week’s earrings feature faceted Czech beads in a fabulous shade of teal blue/green – like the waters of the Caribbean Sea! They have a matte metallic finish and I’ve accented them with Swarovski Jet-Metal Rondelle Spacers, which are set with Aurora Borealis Crystals. They measure approximately 1-5/8 inches long – including the 14k gold plated 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!

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 something that you would like to accomplish this summer. 😀

All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 07/04/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 07/05/10.

Giveaway – “Lemonade Stand” Pendant

Posted on June 21, 2010 by crystal

I’m back after a whirlwind of a weekend!

I hope all the Dads in your world had a very special Father’s Day.

Here at Bead Happily Ever After, we celebrated the event all weekend long.

On Saturday, we accompanied my 84 year-old Dad to a baseball game with his local team, and then topped that off with a delicious dinner.

The next day, Sir Beads (and I) spent quality time with our daughters. There was chatter, laughter, and more good food!

The weekend was over in a flash, though, and by Sunday night, we were pretty exhausted – but very happy, too!

We reminded ourselves how lucky we are to have had the chance to enjoy two days of happy moments with people we love. 😀 When you stop and think about it, nothing is more wonderful than that.

On to the Giveaway . . .

This week, I have a sweet pendant that will glisten in the summer sunshine!

My design features Vintage Swarovski crystals in a lovely, soft, shade of yellow, called “jonquil”. 🙂

All of the metal components are sterling silver. The little heart-shaped bail should fit one of the chains in your wardrobe, or maybe you’ll purchase a narrow length of satin cord and wear this pendant high on the neck for a look that is tres chic! Pendant measures 1-1/2″ from top to bottom.

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.

Today’s question is:

Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 06/27/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 06/28/10.

An Interview with Crystal

Posted on June 10, 2010 by crystal

During the early days of this blog, I was asked to do a “Getting to Know You” interview.

Most of you have probably never seen it, so I thought I’d post it here, today.

An Interview with Crystal

1. Please tell us more about yourself.

I’m a woman who loves all forms of art. Ever since I was a child I’ve had the desire to learn to create something beautiful. Of course at first it was with paper and a little box of crayons! 🙂 Over the years I’ve learned many different types of crafts including needlework, decorative painting, sewing, knitting, floral arranging, doll making, and beading. My work has been sold in gift shops and at artisan shows and craft fairs. I’ve been making jewelry for about 5 or 6 years, and I enjoy it tremendously. On a more personal note, I’m married to my best friend and we have two wonderful daughters, who are all grown up now.

2. How was your shop started?
After making jewelry for friends and family for a few years, I began to receive many kind compliments on my designs and also encouragement to begin selling my creations. I discovered etsy around the same time, and it seemed to be the perfect place to display my work. I’m so impressed with etsy – it’s a wonderful community of people who appreciate the beauty of items made by hand. I think it’s so important to support the arts and the spirit of creating. Everyone benefits from art – those who create it, those who buy it, and those who simply look at it! It’s inspiring and soothing all at the same time. Bravo to etsy for recognizing that the Internet needed a place dedicated to showcasing handmade treasures.

3. What inspires you?
Art in general inspires me, but I am particularly inspired by vintage jewelry. It is definitely an art form. Although the materials used were often inexpensive (rhinestones, Lucite beads, glass beads, and plated metals), many vintage designs truly rival the finest pieces of precious jewelry. One reason for this is that many of the designers were originally trained to make fine jewelry. That’s another whole topic, however! LOL

4. What handmade possession do you most cherish?
Ah, that is a tough question! I absolutely cherish anything that someone has taken the time to make for me. It would be impossible to choose a favorite but . . . I treasure doll clothes that my grandmother and my mother made for me many, many years ago, and an afghan that my husband’s mother made, and a set of prayer beads that my sister-in-law made for me, and the handcrafted gifts and cards that my daughters have made over the years, and finally, although my husband has not made gifts for me – he chooses very thoughtful gifts with cards and wrappings that have a coordinating theme and this I cherish as well.

5. Which items in your shop receive most compliments from customers?
I suppose it would be my earrings simply because I sell them most often. Earrings are a more affordable purchase – something that we can buy to treat ourselves now and then. Women love a new lipstick, or a pretty new scarf, and earrings also fall into that “something small to jazz up my wardrobe” category. I receive compliments on my necklace and earrings sets, as well, along with the beads that I select for my designs. Beads are one of my passions so I love working with them, especially vintage beads – which truly are treasures from the past, and an art form in themselves.

6. What is your favorite bead/gemstone?
That is easy! Amethyst! I love purple! 🙂

7. How do you promote your work?
Well, I actually have two shops – one is my website and the other is my etsy shop. After I started to make jewelry, I became so interested in beads that I studied everything available to learn more about them. I began to use more and more vintage beads in my designs and eventually decided to offer them for sale. My customers are very helpful in recommending my shops, and I also have a blog, which has brought me new customers and also many new friends!

Hang on, Kids! The weekend is almost here. 😀

Hugs,

Giveaway – Desert Sun Earrings

Posted on June 7, 2010 by crystal

Hello Kids! 🙂

We made some good progress on our spring/summer chores this weekend but whew! – it’s been awfully muggy here in New England. And, truth be told; Lady Crystal is kind of a big baby when it comes to humidity. 😉

Luckily, the forecast for the next several days is for more comfortable weather. I’m a happy camper, again!

This week’s giveaway is so, so pretty!

A photo just can’t capture the gorgeous sparkle on this sweet pair of earrings. I used some very special vintage Swarovski components for my design.

You’ll notice faceted oval crystal drops, which are channel-set in gleaming gold-plated metal. For accents, I’ve added glittering (and rare) Swarovski crystal rounds in Lt. Topaz Aurora Borealis. The rounds are interesting in that the top and bottom of the beads gradually form a more pointed shape. Flirty and fabulous, these earrings measure 1-5/8” long, including the 14K gold-plated 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.

Today’s question is:

Which household chore do you dislike the most?

My answer . . .
I would have to say, dusting, although it’s become easier since the invention of the “Swiffer” (That little cloth really grabs the dust!) I think my main problem is that I have little collections of teacups, dolls, and small figurines – so dusting seems to take – forever! 😉

All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 06/13/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 06/14/10.