Finally

Hello...

As you might have noticed...I've been away since the beginning of February...I've spent the last little while since my return catching up on boring issues!

I've finally made it back to my blog...

Last fall my Mother happened to see a onyx and black swarovski dangle bracelet that I was wearing(love dangles) and she thought she would like one in brown...she loves brown over black. So when I went to see her this winter I brought her this brown pearl & swarovski, sterling silver bracelet...she rarely ever asks for anything so when she does I'm on it!

She loved it but, has arthritis in her hands and found the claw too difficult...I used this swivel claw as I thought it might work well for her but it didn't so I changed the claw to a magnetic clasp and safety chain...I checked out a local bead store and found a nice strong clasp...I've not had a great deal of luck finding strong magnetic clasps lately. I order them online and I'm often disappointed in the strength when they arrive. If anyone can recommend where I can purchase strong magnetic clasps I appreciate it!

I'm an earring and bracelet person...without either I don't feel properly dressed when I go out...and I'm also one of those who likes my earrings to coordinate with something I'm wearing. (I know, I know, but I do) I decided rather than bring my whole earring collection I would bring one of my favorite pair of sterling silver earrings, they go with almost anything...I then made a pair of long kidney wires, after which I wire wrapped Bali beads, white, dark pink & lime green pearls, onyx, dyed purple & magenta jade, denim something or other, I forget the stone and sodalite...these are colors I wear most often/packed.
Worked for me...simplified the earring packing...now all I have to do is simplify the close issue!!!!

Cheers

13.5% duty added!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but we need to be informed...

Check out this excerpt from Artbeads.com's blog...regarding the addition of 13.5% duty to all Bali & Hill Tribe silver products as of January 1st, 2011!


"Chief Operating Officer, Michael Hervieux.

Since 1976 the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) has been in place to promote economic growth in under-developed nations by offering duty-free entry into the US for a large number of products including, among others, Bali and Hill Tribe Silver. The federal government is required to continually reassess and reauthorize this program in order to keep it in place and over the years has let it lapse several times only to pick it up once again. Unfortunately, this program was most recently only authorized until December 31, 2010 so effective January 1, 2011 all imports of products previously covered by the GSP have been levied at the standard duty rates that are as high as 13.5%. There is no estimated date for when the GSP will be renewed or if it will even happen. Sadly, Artbeads finds itself with little choice but to raise the prices on these items to help cover this new cost. (These prices will be rolled out in the next few days so now would be a good time to stock up!)

As always Artbeads strives to be as open as possible about outside influences on prices. Over the course of the last year the sterling silver market has been highly volatile and has forced us to move our prices up significantly. However, when the silver market declines our prices have likewise been adjusted accordingly. As soon as we learn if and when the GSP will be renewed we will be sure to keep you advised and will roll back our prices accordingly.

-Michael Hervieux, Chief Operating Officer, Artbeads.com"

I have my fingers crossed...hoping the "powers that be" take a fresh look at this and renew the GSP...could happen as they done it before!!!

By the way I just checked the silver prices and they've gone down to $26.80...thank goodness the price is going down!!! Good things come to those who wait...

Things could be worse... :0)

Have a great day...Cheers

Swarovki crystals, silver & a fab Shopping Spree!

Just look at all these gorgeous beads from Artbeads.com ...it was just like Christmas all over again...I do love to see the Post lady (politically correct) walking up my drive way!!!

I just love the color of these 8 mm Swarovski Crystals...they are called Indian Pink, I don't wear a great deal of pink but this color is very special, somewhat dark with a very slight hint of mauve. You have to see them to understand what I mean...

I didn't have to wait forever to get a nice sunny day to take these photos...and the color is fairly accurate...

Just look at these gorgeous Mocca 8mm crystals...I've been wanting to try this relatively new Swarovksi crystal color for some time now, I'm certainly not disappointed the color is definitly "me" , it reminds me of a smokey quartz but with sparkle ... smokey quartz is a personal favorite of mine. Don't you just love the name of the color...doesn't it sound delicious!!
Surprisingly enough this photo shows the color fairly accurately as well...I say surprisingly because I found both the Indian Pink and the Mocca to be very difficult to achieve a natural color in the photos!

Hill Tribe Bumpy Stamped Puffed Disc...(16.5mm x 17mm)now that is what I would call a mouth full...having said that these are great beads, they are generally a whiter silver...I'm a huge fan of Hill Tribe anything, the workmanship is always #1, at least from my experience...

Another great Hill Tribe bead, this one is called Hill Tribe Silver Swirled and Doted Disc Bead...(14.5mm) another mouth full but the description is accurate...

Next is a Bali Silver Flat Round Bead with Sun...(12mm x 10.5)great bead with what they are calling a sun in the middle...on my bead it looks more like a starfish, at least to me it does...which suits me just fine!!!

Here are the smallest beads in my order...they are called a Crimped Hollow Bead
6.5mm x 8.5mm) tiny in comparison to the other beads I've chosen but I like the leaf design on the bead, these would be lovely in a larger size on a silver bracelet...these are fine silver from Thailand.

To finish of my piece is a beautiful sterling silver Star Toggle from Israel...

I always like to show a photo of everything together, just to show how well they fit together...all these stunning beads are from Artbeads.com.
FYI...I do have to say the color of the crystals in this shot is a little too dark but I didn't realize that until it was time to do the post and now it is dark outside and I don't want to wait for more sun...or at the very least a bright, cloudy day...sounds like a bit of an oxymoron doesn't it...but those who like the sun to take photos will understand!!!

When I ordered these pieces I had something in mind but now I'm not so sure that is what I want to do...I'm very tempted to make myself a bracelet with dangles...those are my most favorite kind ...I generally have to have at least one dangle but I have visions of more with these beads!!!

I'll think about it...
A heart felt thank you to Artbeads.com, for allowing me the opportunity to show you such wonderful products...

***By the way just wanted to let everyone know that Artbeads.com is having a spectacular give away***

They have just launched their biggest Sweepstakes ever!
***Enter to win a $1,000.00 Shopping Spree at Artbeads.com***
Wow that would be fabulous wouldn't it, I could spend that in a hurry, there are so many unusual and unique items at Artbeads.com!!! This contest is open to US and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) age 18 or older...
The contest began yesterday, January 6th, 2010 and ends March 4th 2010.

Here is the link...
http://apps.facebook.com/sweepstakeshq/contests/16554

I have a link to the contest on my side bar as well, which I will leave up until the contest is closed...
Cheers

*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.

Spring is around the corner!

Spring is trying very hard to emerge...it is slow this year but I see signs it won't be long...time is flying by though. There never seems to be enough time to do everything that needs/I want to do!

Here are a few new pieces...
A choker style necklace made from bone rondelles, and agate barrel beads, finished with sterling silver findings...a pair of earrings hanging from hand made sterling ear wires completes the set...perfect summer colors!

Turquoise is a favorite of mine but then I'm sure everyone is aware of that...five gorgeous chunky nuggets, the center acutally looks like a heart of sorts (chalk turquoise which has been stabilized and dyed)spaced with fire engine red glass rondelles and Bali beads, the smaller turquoise nuggets are Blue Spider Web nuggets and are natural)...finished with a striking sterling silver toggle clasp...of course earrings to go along with the necklace

This is a fun piece...wood beads spaced between plump glass beads...copper and brown again a favorite combo of mine...

Last for today...my first attempt at fusing...a fine silver link chain bracelet, each link and the clasp are hand cut, fused, hammered for strength and tumbled to a sparkling shine...I know my photography skills leave much to be desired but it does sparkle...
Enjoy...
Cheers

More Photos!!

The first two pictures are of an absolutely stunning pair of ruby earrings...
These earrings were a custom order from a friend who supplied the rubies which came directly from Burma, everything else is gold filled while the ball wires are gold...simply wonderful!!!
I will be making a similiar pair of sapphire earrings, in sterling silver, for this same person in the next couple of days and will post a picture when finished!


This piece is part of the Heart & Stroke Foundation collection I do...a hand cut, hammered, and sanded/finished sterling silver heart attached to which is a tiny Swarovski clear crystal heart, hanging from a large sterling silver oval link chain...

Aventurine nuggets and pendant, wrapped with silver plated wire


Hand cut, hammered, sanded/finished sterling silver dangles hanging from hand shaped sterling silver ear wires...

I love the color of these Swarovski crystals...Bali beads, sterling silver tubes and a sterling silver toggle finish this bracelet...




This is a great set...hand cut, stamped and sanded/finished sterling silver circles, the pendant is hanging from a sterling silver chain...the smaller circles are hanging from sterling silver hand formed ear wires...


Red and silver...a striking combination...coral, resin and glass beads are all wrapped with Argentium silver...from which hangs a sterling silver heart...again part of the Heart & Stroke Foundation series...


I've had people say these look like silver fish...simple but they do make a statement...all sterling silver, hand shaped...


A versatile two strand necklace and earrings...front and center is a great lampwork bead, with soladite nuggets, resin and glass beads, on silver coated wire, finished with sterling silver cones... matching earrings are included...


Cobalt blue lampwork beads and white glass dangles...wire wrapped and hanging from sterling silver ear wires...
Hope you've enjoyed the latest photos...
PS...Watch for the post I will be doing in the near future regarding the Heart & Stroke Foundation Series...
Cheers