Swarovski crystals | Bead Happily Ever After

Falling for Beads

Posted on October 28, 2010 by crystal

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.

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

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

Hugs,

Noodling Around

Posted on September 27, 2010 by crystal

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.

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,

Falling for Autumn

Posted on September 22, 2010 by crystal

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,

Maid Wanted

Posted on September 15, 2010 by crystal

Job Requirements:

Must do laundry
Wash floors
Clean Bathroom
Dust/organize all clutter
Cook
Food Shop
Do the bills
Smile while doing all of the above

This will allow the lady of the house to concentrate on making jewelry . . .

Like this, for example!

Hey, I can dream of having a maid, can’t I? 😉

I loved making the above earrings – even though it meant I will have twice as much laundry to tackle today!

Smiles and hugs,

Giveaway – Soft Blue Earrings

Posted on September 7, 2010 by crystal

Tuesday Greetings!

Today, there’s a new giveaway and are you ready for the new weekly question? 😉

Here in my neck of the woods, we’re very grateful that on Friday night, Hurricane Earl spared us as he whooshed on by. The rest of our Labor Day Weekend was full of bright blue (almost cloudless) skies, which inspired me to offer these pretty dangle earrings for the giveaway.

Fun and flirty, they feature artisan-crafted lampwork glass beads in a gorgeous shade of blue with a soft shimmer. I’ve accented the lampwork beads with Swarovski Lt. Sapphire crystals and beautifully textured silver-plated beadcaps.

The earrings measure approximately 2″ in length (including the sterling silver earwires).

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:

If you were asked to give a five-minute talk on a topic of your choosing, what would you talk about? Tell us a little of what you would say.

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 09/30/10, and the winner will be selected on or about 10/01/10.