Its Creative Bead Chat Administrator Appreciation Day: "Go raibh maith agaibh"

You're asking yourself "What the heck does that mean?" -- Let me tell you!

First, the translation:  Go raibh maith agaibh -- is Gaelic for "Thank you" (to more than one person) and since there are SEVERAL site administrators *I will name them all in a few* this saying is PERFECT!

First, if you're a beader and don't know about Creative Bead Chat on Facebook, let me give you the link and drop what you're doing (well, after my post that is) and RUN to join! These are the BEST people I have encountered in a very long time!  There are very few groups in which you will find that people are genuinely kind and actually care about you......this would be one of them!

Okay!  Here's the link to Creative Bead Chat:  
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CREATIVEBEADCHAT/

Now, to the Administrators and how completely 100% awesome they are!

I don't know each and every one personally.  It's truly amazing how things work over there.  Before I saw the names of the administrators I only knew of two! That's how smoothly they run things!  We had an amazing Destash Day where everyone who had anything beading related to sell was able to put up pics and prices and sell to members of the group.  We had a giveaway day for those of us who couldn't go to Bead Fest......There were so many generous people that gave prizes and Marla James spent the entire day at her computer listing giveaways! She did all this with a smile on her face (you could tell by her posts).

Let me show you what I won! These are more stunning in person than in the photo and they're GORGEOUS in the photo!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KristiBowmanDesign

Okay, so, let me show you who the administrators are via their Etsy shops & blogs! 
Marla James: www.etsy.com/shop/marlasmud  Here is Marla's blog Marla's Mud Mess
Melinda Orr: http://www.etsy.com/shop/orrtec  Melinda's blog is here:  Melinda Orr Designs
Karen Totten: http://www.starryroadstudio.com/  Karen's blog is here:  Starry Road Studio
Marla Gibson: http://www.etsy.com/shop/spiceboxdesigns  (Marla's shop is currently not open but you can find her at her blog here -- Spice Box Designs
Keirsten Giles: http://lunedesigns.etsy.com/  Keirsten's blog is here: The Cerebral Dilettante

I'm not the only person who believes this is an AMAZING group! There are over 1,100 members!  Each and every person I have encountered has been someone I have been thankful to call my friend.  

If you haven't joined us yet, stop on by! You will be welcomed with open arms! 

Keep Beading Goddesses!  And another THANK YOU to the AMAZING administrators at Creative Bead Chat! You are all doing an OUTSTANDING job and are so very appreciated!

Beautiful handmade items by Gardanne! A giveaway to go with it!

A friend shared a post on Facebook about this amazing artist! Her work is beautiful.  There are some gorgeous enameled pieces and....well, why don't you just go check out her blog.  She's restocking her Etsy store as well.

Well, she has something special for you bead lovers.......something gorgeous! Something spectacular for TWO winners!  I am truly in love with the items I've seen.  Here -- Take a quick peek!


*Photos via Gardanne Glass Lampwork Beads & Artisan Jewelry, by Anne

Well, why don't you just go see for yourself and look at your computer screen with amazement and glitter in your eyes like I did.  I did a screen shot of her blog so you could get an idea but ummmmm.....Hello!!!! You HAVE to go see them for yourself!

The link to her blog is here:
http://gardannelife.blogspot.com/2012/08/giveaway-nowlistings-later.html

Go forth and enter people!

Keep Beading Goddesses!
Kimberly

Earrings Everyday: The Best Kind of Earrings....

Hello Goddesses! Do I have something special to tell you about!  A contest from another blog with some FANTABULOUS Earrings!

There are some amazing designs with some gorgeous colors.  Are you looking for something that you just can't put your finger on?  Look no further, there are earrings here (and on her Etsy site) that you just can't find anywhere else.  And.....Look at the amazing workmanship!  Doesn't Heather do a fantastic job?!

Earrings Everyday: The Best Kind of Earrings....: are ones that are given to you! I thought I would re-create the earrings from my Bead Soup the other day, since I got so many sweet ......

Want to read more from her blog??? Click on the link and tell her Goddesses and Gorgeous Beads sent you!

Keeping the world beautiful one bead at a time!
Kimberly

A New Glasswork Artist

Hello Goddesses!
I have an online friend that I joke with about being her "stalker".  She has some amazing jewelry designs and she inspires me a great deal.  I'm happy to say that one of her pieces is being published in the quarterly publication Jewelry Affaire AND she just one a contest with another piece through beadaholique.com.  She AND her work are truly inspirational to me.

Now, it's a little joke we have that I'm her biggest stalker on Facebook.  Through my stalking her, I have come across some AMAZING beads!  One set I bought from her (well, Boyfriend).  Lampwork beads!

Through Boyfriend and Lauren I found Cozza Frenzzy Glassworks.  He's been so much fun to learn from. I've purchased three different sets of his beads (two are on their way to me now).  He's so creative.  He's the type of person that thinks "out of the box."  Well, let me show you what I mean.

Some gorgeous pieces right??? The three sets of beads I purchased from him are in that video.  Can you believe he's only been doing this since March?!! Yes.... March of 2012!!! 

If you have any questions about his pieces or want to purchase one of them, you can private message Lauren through her Lp's Jewelry Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/LPjewelry

The link to Lauren's Etsy shop is here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lpsjewelry

Again, if you have ANY questions or want to inquire about one of Cozza Frenzzy Glasswork pieces, please go to Lauren's Facebook page (link above).  She even has a photo album marked DZ Pendants.  That would be pieces by Cozza Frenzzy Glassworks. 

Well, Goddesses, its time for me to come to a close on this post.  I hope something you see on one of Lauren's pages or something from Cozza Frenzzy Glassworks inspires you to be creative!

Keep Creating Goddesses!

Kimberly

A Spectacular Giveaway!

A giveaway on a friend's blog that I'd love Love LOve LOVe LOVE to win.....can you get that? I'd love to win anything about this giveaway.  But, I'd also love to share it with you all as well.

Lori Anderson, from Pretty Things Blog is giving away some Pretties and a couple of her books -- well, there are 5 giveaways total so you should go check it out yourself.

Here's the link to the giveaway:
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2012/07/finally-five-bead-and-button-bead.html?m=0

Let me share a few of the things that Lori is giving away!  In order to find out where she got these lovelies, to sign up for the giveaway and to just peruse through all of her blog (which I might add has some gorgeous stuff) you have to click the link above!

Don't ya just love those? That's all in giveaway #1! You'll have to find out what's in the other giveaways by clicking on the link above!

I'd like to thank Lori for coming up with some of the prettiest beads and giveaways! I've always loved looking at the things you're giving away, making, or have won, swapped or just found!

And thank you to my friend Krafty Max! She is the one who sent me to the site where I found Lori and a whole slew of other friends!  You can find Krafty Max's blog and store link here.

http://kraftymax.blogspot.com/
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/kraftymax

Enjoy looking at all the pretties and good luck with the giveaway!

Keep Beading Goddesses!
Kimberly

Earrings I made 06/26/2012

Hello Goddesses,
Just wanted you all to see the earrings I made last night.  I have some super wonderful friends with some great hook ups.  I found some fabulous lampwork beads that are to DIE FOR!  Take a look at what I made.  If there is anything you see that you would like to purchase, please leave me a comment with your e-mail address (the blog isn't complete yet) and I'll get back to you! I promise I'll finish the blog completely ASAP!

*Please note:  Unless stated otherwise, if there is a crystal on a piece of jewelry, it is a Swarovski crystal.  So please, do not wash dishes (if buying a bracelet), take a shower or go swimming in your jewelry.

Oh! These are yummy beads!  My friend Lauren Potts from LP's Jewelry (You can find her Facebook link here:  https://www.facebook.com/LPjewelry and her Etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/lpsjewelry)
 hooked me up with these beads.  Her wonderful boyfriend made these.  Can you believe he is just beginning? What a talented guy!  In the sunlight the purple in these earrings just POPS! It's amazing!

And these! Lauren hooked me up with Dave and his lampwork beads are so unique! I cannot even begin to tell you the shimmer of black and copper that are in these beads! You should see some of the pieces he's made that are more tubular an full of color! They are delicious!  So, look at what I made with 4 of the beads I purchased from Dave.  I have a treasure trove of this style of beads.  There is one that is AMAZING.  I'll keep that a secret until it tells me what it wants to be when it grows up.

Can you see the copper shining through on the bottom beads?  The bead end caps I used, I bought from MetalMeThis on Etsy, you can find her shop here (she has some beautiful stuff in her shop.....the pieces you need to give your jewelry that special look) http://www.etsy.com/search/shops?search_query=metalmethis&search_type=shops&ref=auto1 -- Lisa's work is all made by her! Nothing is shipped in from another country.  She has some beautiful bails, caps, clasps, etc.

Now on to the next piece I made last night (don't worry, we're almost finished).

These are one of my favorite pair (from my workings last night).  The green "milk glass" flower and the pink flower on the bottom of the earring are vintage beads.  You can't see it in the picture but there is a Swarovski crystal inside the flower bead.  The focal point of this pair of earrings is also a lampwork bead.

And piece number four (I only made 4 pair of earrings and a bracelet last night....I'll only show you the earrings today).

And don't these just make you want to put on a beautiful dress, a pair of jeans with a nice white shirt and go out and just enjoy the day? The pink bead just above the lampwork bead is rose quartz. These are much lighter than they look.  The antique-looking design is very light but sturdy.

And last but not least!

Again, the flower at the end of the earring is a vintage glass flower with a fire opal Swarovski crystal inside it.  The round stone I am unsure of.  It is one of the stones I did not label and I'm pretty good about labeling things because I can't remember anything!.  The crystals above that are lighter than the one inside the bell of the flower.  These are just a fun pair of earrings that you could wear to the office or out on a date.

Well, I hope you have had as much fun looking at them as I have had making them.

I will try to keep this page updated so you will know what is available and what is not until I can get my Artfire shop up and going (when I get home from vacation).

Keep Beading Goddesses!
Kimberly

Welcome!

So, this is my first post and I wanted to welcome you all!  Here, you will find some amazing artists, gorgeous beads and some great links to buy some of these amazing artists works.  


Join me in an amazing journey as I learn more about making jewelry and my hiccups and triumphs!


Something pretty for you to look at! I made this for my daughter for her 21st birthday.  Black leather cord wrap bracelet with 8 mm chrysacolla beads.  

Chrysocolla has become one of my favorite gemstones.  The vibrant colors swirling through, shades of greed and blue that seem to just play through the stone.  In a website I found, it says that it is believed in folklore that Chrysocolla can heal a broken heart and can remove the negative energy and emotions of people in its environment.  It is said that by wearing Chrysocolla, a persona can experience inner peace and acceptance even in the midst of turmoil.

I found this information after I had decided that it was one of my favorite gemstones.  I guess it was the universe telling me this is what I needed.  So, it's time to make one of these (or something with these beads) for myself.

Keep Beading Goddesses!
Kimberly