A Giveaway that gives back

I've posted about some giveaways before, but this one is by far the most special.  My friend Tanya at Fusion Muse is giving away a lovely rubies and pearls necklace and earring set. 

You can have up to four entries by doing various things.  Check out her blog for all of the details.  The most important way you can enter is to go to Sinarin Silver and ordering some of there silver beads for your creations.  The owner of the store and his wife just had triplets.  Unfortunately, two of the babies have passed away.  The third baby is alive, but is in ICU and could be there for another six weeks.  It goes without saying, but I think we all know how expensive their hospital bill will be.  Please check out their store.  They have many beads to choose from at very excellent prices.  I've posted some of my favorites below.


20 mm Cylindrical Prakeuam Bead



20 mm Diamond Prakeuam Bead

 

11 mm Semicircular Prakeuam Bead

Thanks for reading :)

The Links Have Arrived!

It's always a good day when you come home from work and have something fun waiting for you in the mailbox.  This week's mailbox surprise is the arrival of my links for Peggy's Link Challenge!  There are twenty participants.  Half of the group received turtle shell links and the other half received black ones.



My links

I have some ideas brewing for these, I just hope they work!  The reveal date is August 17th.  If you want to get some links, you can purchase them in different sizes and colors at Peggy's etsy store, WillowBranchBeads.  She also has other types of beads for sale, including these rusty blue czech glass rondelles that are gorgeous.

As I was taking pictures of these last night for the blog, my crafty assistant decided that she needed to help.

Inspecting the Goods



Testing the light box for sturdiness



I'm a little surprised she didn't try to go after any of the links, but I did put them away before she really got the chance. 

That's all for today.  Thanks for reading. :)

Update & Realization

To start, a quick update from my last post.  I ended up not going to the bead show.  My plan was to stay at home, craft, and prepare to launch my etsy store . . . but, I ended up not doing much of anything.  I just couldn't get motivated, which leads into the real topic of this post.  I've been doing a lot of thinking over the past couple of weeks about why I seem to get so close to showing off my work, and then pulling back. 

1.  I think I'm afraid to fail. 

2.  I'm shy, and it's challenging at times to put myself and my work out there. 

So, the realization is this:  I just have to get over it. Really, what is the worst thing that could happen?  I don't sell anything in my store is all I can come up with.  I've already had success selling pieces in-person, so I know people like my work.  Besides, if I didn't even open a store, wouldn't that be a failure in a way?  Has anyone else ever felt this way?  Do you have any tips for me?

To work on my shyness of showing off my work, I thought it would be good for me to post some more pictures my pieces, just so it's out there in the universe for comments.  I really do appreciate all feedback, both positive and critical. 

This is a fun, colorful memory wire bracelet I made from an assortment of my beads. 

This one is probably my favorite because of the colors.  I've very, very partial to blues. 

I've got different colors of these made also. 

That's all for tonight.  I'm still finding it challenging to take pictures of earrings.  I'm probably just being too picky.

I'll also have a post tomorrow, because my links for the Link Challenge have arrived!  My crafty assistant was very excited about this, but I'll save that for the post. :)

Intergalactic Bead Show

This weekend the Intergalactic Bead Show is in Charlotte, NC.  I've always wanted to go, but it seems like something always comes up with work or family plans that I can't go.  Right now, it looks like I can attend.  Here's my dilemma.  I really don't need to add to the bead stash right now, as much as I want to.  I need to spend the weekend taking pictures of my completed pieces and making new ones so I can get ready for my etsy shop to open.  The show is under two hours from where I live, but I know I would spend all day there, so that's a whole day that I didn't get anything done (not counting looking at goodies).  So, do I go or not?  If you've been to this show before, I would appreciate any comments about the show. 

If anyone is interested in going, here's all the info:  Intergalactic Bead Show.  They have shows up and down the East Coast and in the Mid West.

Two book giveaways!

Ok, I'll blog in a little bit about my crafting goals for this weekend in my next post, but first more giveaways!

The first one is from Art Jewelry Elements.  They are giving away a copy of Virginia Jensen's book Contemporary Cube Bead Designs.  I have Virginia's first book on cube beads.  If you've ever been interested in cube beads, you should definetly check out one of her books.  Her steps are very easy to follow, even for beginners.  You have until tonight to enter.

Enter Here

The second one is from MirandAck Arts.  She is giving away Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Beading Projects.  I haven't read this book, but I have read Diane's Shaped Beadwork which is a good book.  When I say read, I really mean I've flipped thru the pages and looked at all of her amazing designs.  She is an amazing seed bead artist.  You have until Sunday to enter.

Enter Here

My first comment and another challenge

It felt really good to get up this morning and see that I had my first comment from Tanya at Fusion Muse!  I've been lurking at her blog for a couple of weeks, so it was nice to here from her.  On the lurking note, I know I have a few other readers because of the page views.  I appreciate you all.  If you do feel like leaving a comment, I would love it.  :)  Also, if you have a blog, please provide your address with your comment so I can visit yours and leave you comments in return.

Now for my next challenge.  You might have noticed the second button on the right called Free Beads for Blogging.  (Really, how could you miss that?  It has Free and Beads in the title ;)  ).  It's a challenge from my first commenter!  Tanya is giving away beads to one blogger each week who leaves a comment.  The only things you have to do in return is blog about the beads at least three times:  when you receive them, your work in progress, and your complete piece.  The rest of the rules are on her blog, so just click on the Free Beads for Blogging link.  I got selected for the challenge!  I can't wait to see the goodies that Tanya is going to send me.

DIY Light Box Complete & First Pics

If anyone is interesting in making their own light box, I followed the easy instructions from http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent.  It only costs a few dollars or less to make, depending on what you already have on hand.  I had the box, but didn't have any of the other supplies.  I got the muslin from Joann's for under a dollar (it was on sale, the end of the bolt, plus a coupon) and I got the glue sticks, poster boards, and tape from the Dollar Tree.  On a side note, I will never buy tape from the Dollar Tree again, unless it's a name brand.  This tape was really, really thin and I had to get it unstuck from the roll multiple times.  It also smelled really bad once you started using it.

My Light Box

Here are a couple of pictures of one of my pieces.  I have a Panasonic DMC-ZS8 and I'm using the macro setting.

Swarovski Crystal Bracelet



 I would love to get some feedback on my pictures as well as the bracelet.  In the second picture I'm using a plastic bowl for the bracelet to rest on, but I'm thinking an all white tea cup would be a lot cuter.  It would also give me something to hang my earrings on for pictures.

Off to create something else!

So, I was about to get to work . . .

I should just sign off of facebook anytime I say anything about work and not read any updates.  There is something that always seems to catch my eye.  This time, I'm really glad I saw this.  Lori Anderson just posted a giveaway on her blog http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2012/07/finally-five-bead-and-button-bead.html.  The catch is that it's not just one thing she's giving away but 5 different things!  The two I'm most interested in, of course, involve beads.  The first one is all kinds of amazing beads Lori picked up at the Bead & Button show.  There are so many beautiful ceramic beads in it.  I really like the one by Diane Hawkey and the one by Golem Studios.  The second one is a Mystery Soup hand mixed by Lori!  I don't know which one to be more excited about.  If I was lucky enough to get that, it would almost be like I was participated in the Bead Soup going on right now. 

Maybe I'll get lucky!  I'm really signing off now, really I mean it.  Really.

First Post!

I've been meaning to start a blog, mainly to be able to participate in all of the bead challenges I keep seeing.  I wanted to do Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party, but I was a little intimidated by all of the great bead creations I see getting posted to the group on facebook.  Now, I wish I had, but at least I'll have a blog to be ready for next time!

Luckly for me, Peggy Johnson at charmbarn.blogspot.com started her own blog challenge using these amazing links.  If you want to check out any info on it, there a link directly to the post on her blog on the right.  I can't wait to see what links she sends me.  There are a wide variety of colors in her etsy shop, www.etsy.com/shop/willowbranchbeads.  Right now, I'm partial to the ice blue ones, but then again, I am biased towards anything that is blue.

I need to get started crafting today.  I plan to do an update tonight or tomorrow and post some pictures of things I'm working on.  I've almost finished my dyi light box, so I can't wait to take pictures and start using it.

I would love any comments or follows from anyone.  I'm totally new to blogger and google+, so I'm still trying to figure it out.