Out with the old...in with the new!

Well it is that time of year...the older I get the faster the year seems to go by! 2009 is almost over...2010 is soon to be upon us, incredible!!!


Glitter Graphics - Topglittergraphics

I wish everyone health, happiness and prosperity...

Happy New Year!!!

Cheers...

More pictures!!!!!

I now have a whole file of photos as I managed to take many last week, and I've been slowly resizing to list and post...here are a few pieces!

These are my Sticks...sterling silver hammered and hung from ear wires...how simple is that but you know I love to wear mine they are simple but stylish at the same time...I've also hung a bead from the bottom or hung the stick from a bead...rather versatile!

Here are Tri Sticks...no explanation required!

These are perfect for New Years...especially with a simple but elegant black dress???

Here is what I call the Open Window series...this is the second... the first and third I did somewhat differently as I cut the opening and bent back the silver to reveal the window...for this one I cut the opening with a cutter and removed the extra silver...I think I prefer the bent look, more rustic looking! I would show you the other two pendants for comparisons sake but they sold before I took a photo. This piece is sterling silver with a gorgeous British Columbia Jade teardrop wire wrapped and hanging from the window!!!

These earrings are crafted with sterling silver, the black wire wrapped dangles are one of my favorite to use onyx! Another pair perfect for New Years Eve!!!

I'll leave these with you for now...
Cheers

A "bit of bling"

Hope everyone had a peaceful few days...my time was spent with family, which is all I can ask for!
Last week I had the time to take some photos of pieces to list on my website...here are a few pieces...

I crafted this pendant from sterling silver, wire wrapped the piece of cognac amber and dangled in the opening...of course hanging from a sterling silver chain...

This pendant is a favorite...a hand cut elongated fine silver triangle which had chunks of fine silver fused on top for a totally abstract look, definitly a "one of a kind"...

This was a fun set to make...if you look closely you will see this is a necklace and earring set of "flowers...this was my first attempt but I had a great time working with the silver.
This gorgeous design and technique is courtesy of a tutorial by Janice Fowler, Doxallo Designs., she has a great blog, an Etsy shop and a 1000 Markets shop...take a few minutes to have a look...

The chandeliers are sterling silver from which I've hung sparkling Swarovski crystals...perfect for New Years as they would go with what ever out fit you choose!

Back to basics...simple but effective, and you all know I prefer simple, for myself...fine silver fused circles hung on hand crafted sterling silver ear wires...perfect for every day or a special occasion, that is the beauty of them!!!

There is more to come but that is enough for one visit!!!
Enjoy your day...
Cheers

All The Best!!!

I would like to wish everyone a safe, happy, healthy, peaceful holiday season...
Cheers!

One Woman Show!

I had my very first "one woman show" on December 3rd...I'm happy to say it was an amazing success!!! So much so I'm planning on doing it again for Valentine's Day, which may possibly be a Men's Night and Mother's Day! I've had many requests to do "home parties", I'm not particularly interested in them. I decided to give this idea a try. A similiar principle but not in someones home. I wasn't sure how it would be attended but ...it was worth the risk and thankfully it paid off!!!

My son-in-law manages a family owned restaurant and we came to an arrangement to hold our "Silver Christmas", (which is what we called it) in the "Living Room" of his establishment, Cecil's Eatery and Beer Society, corner of Main & Wylde, downtown, North Bay. The "Living Room" is a party/conference room but the way it has been finished it has a charming atmosphere...the authentic brick walls, brass ceiling, and comfy leather chairs and tables create the perfect ambiance for what Dawn and I had in mind!!!

My daughter managed to snap a few photos before we opened, both of us have tried before to take photos of the set up during a show...but for what ever reason they didn't turn out well! These ones are presentable... This was the table at the entrance where guests filled out ballots for the door prize!

We set up two 8 foot tables with a small space in between...it was difficult to take a shot of both tables together ...but it gives you an idea!

This is the table to the left...

This is the table to the right...if you look closely you will see part of wrapping/working/etc. table... I need a spot to "work" as I always custom fit pieces while my customers wait.

I realize the photos do not give close ups of the jewelry...but Dawn was trying to show the setup!!!
For the last year I have been trying to come up with a different way to display my pieces but so far I've not made a decision. So for now, this will do!


Cheers

And The Winner Is...

What a great time I had reading the comments everyone left for the Artbeads.com Email Gift Certificate give away!!!

Lets see...mentioned was Thai beads, brownish beads, Hill Tribe beads, special beads, Czech glass beads, Swarovksi crystals, shiny black beads and the list goes on!

What would I buy...it would have to be silver of some kind, whether it was sterling, Thai or Hill Tribe, what ever caught my eye, but then this isn't about me...:0)

The winner is...Shaiha, she says "Artbeads is my favorite place to shop". Congratulations Shaiha enjoy your shopping spree...

Thank you everyone for taking the time to leave a comment and enter my "give away"...


By the way...if you haven't yet entered Artbeads.com Facebook contest for a $100.00 Gift Certificate you still have time...their contest ends December 20th at midnight...so hurry!!!

The link is here...http://www.facebook.com/artbeads?v=app_28134323652

Thanks again everyone...
Cheers

*FTC compliance disclosure* the Email Gift Certificate and the Gift Card attributed to Artbeads.com in this post are promotional gifts from Artbeads.com provided directly to the winner, in relation to the blogging program. My comments pertaining to both Gift Certificate and Gift Card are my personal opinion, no compensation has been received.

A Give Away!!!!

I have some exciting news...I've a great giveaway for all the bead-aholiques out there!!!

Up for grabs is a $25.00 Email Gift Certificate from the fabulous Artbeads.com!

This is my contest, which means it is open to everyone, even if you have entered/won another contest similiar to this one!!!

What obsessed jewelry designer wouldn't love this???

Here is all you have to do to enter my Give Away...
Leave a comment stating what you would most like to use the email gift certificate for if you were to win! There is so much to choose from at Artbeads.com it might be difficult to decide!


"My Give Aaway ends midnight, Friday December18th, 2009 ! I'll post the random winner on December 19th, 2009".

But...that isn't all...Artbeads.com on Facebook is having a Holiday Cheers Sweepstakes with a prize of $100.00 Artbeads.com Gift Card (open to US residents, 18 years or older). Can you believe it, would that be wonderful to win!!!

Here is the link to this contest... http://www.facebook.com/artbeads?v=app_28134323652

Hurry though as ArtBeads.com's contest ends December 20th, 2009.

Good luck to everyone!!!
Cheers

*FTC compliance disclosure* the Email Gift Certificate and the Gift Card attributed to Artbeads.com in this post is a promotional gifts from Artbeads.com provided directly to the winner, in relation to the blogging program. My comments pertaining to both Gift Certificate and Gift Card are my personal opinion, no compensation has been received.

Free shipping!!!

A while back I had the pleasure of winning some great African bone beads from For The Love of Beads, through a contest held by Pearl at The Beading Gems Journal.

Emily from For The Love Of Beads (FtLoB) has let me know they are offering "free shipping" to anywhere in Canada and the continental United States, from now until December 31st, 2009. What a great deal,...FtLoB's is a small online bead shop, in Toronto,Canada, run by Emily and Suzanne along with technical/computer help from their husbands. Stop by I know they would love to have you visit!!!

Emily also gave me a "heads up" they are planning a variety of contests in the new year open to customers and bloggers alike, this will be something to watch for...their blog is http://fortheloveofbeads.com/blog.

Cheers

Gorgeous...Red Magma Swarovski Crystals!!!

A few weeks ago I mentioned the Red Magma Swarovski crystals I received from Artbeads.com ...

As I'm sure most of you know I'm not a huge fan of red, especially orange red, which this color is...but this new Swarovski color, Red Magma is simply gorgeous...bright, vibrant, and sparkles like you wouldn't believe... definitly a show stopper!!!

It has taken me sometime to make the necklace. Not because I didn't know what I wanted to make but because I've been a bit busy! Sometimes I can look at something and know exactly what I'm going to make, other times nothing comes to mind. For these pieces I knew right away what I wanted do...


This was an enjoyable piece to make...first I fused and textured two fine silver rings, then wire wrapped the stunning rondelles together, I just love the rondelles they are amazing...because the Cosmic Ovals are rather substantial it was necessary to wire wrap these to the rondelles and the textured ring...as well I wire wrapped the sprig coral to the ring.

Then I added a round and oval linked sterling silver chain I use often...it is substantial but still delicate at the same time! I felt the oval and round links complimented the rest of the necklace perfectly!

As you can see, I also made a pair of earrings using the Magma rondelles and the sterling silver chain...pretty dangles!!

Thank you Artbeads.com...the pleasure has been all mine!!!

Cheers

PS...thought you might like to know Artbeads.com is having a %50 off over 2,000 items until December 15th...now that is a sale!!!

*FTC compliance disclosure* the products attributed to Artbeads.com in this post where provided as a promotional gift by Artbeads.com in relation to the blogging program. My comments pertaining to these products are my personal opinion, no compensation has been received.

Doesn't work!

I know, I know, the background doesn't work with my banner...

I do like the Christmas banner, color and detail on the sides but plain in the middle, so I may try to change my banner somehow? I'll see what I can come up with.
I'm working on a new jewelry post...it will be up soon!

Cheers