Lilacs in the Snow

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. 😉

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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!) 😀

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Smiles and hugs,

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Falling for Beads

All this week, I’ve been feeling especially “fall-ish”.

Not sure whether it’s the Halloween posts I’ve done, or the brilliant gold leaves on our beech tree, or the recent chatting with friends about Thanksgiving plans, but the mood has inspired an autumn color palette in some jewelry I’ve been working on.

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These earrings remind me of Indian Corn, which for many years was a fixture on our front door during November! 😀

Now available on my website

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Try and find a few moments for some you time today . . .

Hugs,

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October Giveaway

Welcome, welcome!

I hope everyone had a delightful weekend.

Why are weekend days the fastest days of the week? We are simply baffled about that here at Bead Happily Ever After. One minute it’s Friday night, and an hour or two later – it’s Monday morning! How can that be?!?!

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giftwrapTo help take the sting out of the beginning of a new workweek, I do have a new giveaway! 😀

If you’ve just landed here for the first time, I hope you’ll decide to visit often. We have lots of fun discussing everything! There’s a great group of “regulars” but don’t let that scare you away! They were all “new” at one time. We’d love for you to join us. 🙂

You’ll never miss any of the action if you subscribe to the blog. There are buttons in the sidebar to help you. Choose either the RSS feed (orange button), or use the “subscribe by email” box. If you have any questions about the process, click here to let me know. I’m happy to assist!

Now on to the giveaway!

October’s giveaway is this very chic pair of earrings! They’re a rich velvety “hematite” shade of grey, with sparkling silver accents.

I‘ve used some very special vintage Japanese faux pearls in a baroque shape. They’re medium charcoal grey with a gorgeous luster.

The faux pearls are accented with Czech Preciosa “Vitrail” faceted rounds. These Czech beads have a mirrored silvery surface and one side is covered with the lovely Vitrail (rainbow) finish. So elegant – like a tiny disco ball!

Made with only high quality components. All findings are Sterling Silver, including the artisan-crafted earwires.

Contest Rules and How 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 tomorrow and comment on tomorrow’s post too – you will have earned another chance – so you’ll have 2 chances!

Return another day, comment, and you add a third chance, 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:

Do you fold laundry carefully or do you have a more casual approach?

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 10/31/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 11/01/10.

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Noodling Around

Monday Greetings!

On Friday, Carapace hoped I’d be “swimming in beads” over the weekend . . .

I was! 😉 (And I hope she had a chance to paint!)

I began by working on some jewelry orders, but I made sure to spend a little time “playing”, too.

I wanted to come up with a creative use for these beautiful Vintage Swarovski jewelry components.

Click photo to enlarge.


Because they’re such sparkling “hoops” – earrings seemed to be a natural choice, but I didn’t want to go the usual route of using wire or jump rings to make them dangle . . .

Ever since I returned to using thread last month with my Summer Wind flat spiral bracelet, I’ve been reminded just how much I enjoy it.

So I dug out the 11/0 seed beads and here’s what I ended up with. Earrings!!!

Click photo to enlarge.

They’re based on a Dulcey Heller design, and I may have to make some in other colors, as well! I have some gold rings with ruby red rhinestones that would be gorgeous for the holidays!

If you like to “play” with beads – the rhinestone rings seen above are available in my shop.

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Are you ready for a weekly question? 😀

Here at our house, whenever we lose power during a storm, we have multiple clocks blinking as soon as the electricity is restored. Sometimes, right after we get every one of them reset, the power goes off AGAIN – for a minute or two (kind of a practical joke from the electric company, I suppose) so we have to do all of them a second time. Grrr! This has had us wondering if we really need all the clocks as we have.

How many clocks you have in your house? And could you function without a few of them?

Hugs,

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Falling for Autumn

I must admit I’m just giddy about the fact that Autumn is almost here!

We’ve had some rather chilly nights lately, so our leaves are beginning to show the first hints of glorious color. Can I get a “Woo hoo!” on that??? 😉

And last night for dessert, we had pumpkin pie for the first time this season! Have I ever mentioned that I absolutely LOVE pumpkin pie?

In fact, I’m so excited that fall is approaching, I even pushed aside my purple beads and decided to make something, well, fall-ish! Just a simple little choker necklace for a casual Autumn day . . .

I chose Swarovski amber-colored crystals and Czech glass beads with a coppery metallic finish. Perfect for a touch of sparkle at the neckline.

Hugs,

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