End of Summer Sale!

I have discounted all my "summer" beads in my Etsy shop by 30% - you don't have to remember to input a code or anything like that.  Now would be a good time to stock up for next spring.

The above pics are some of the beads that have been discounted by 30% - Happy Shopping!

New Beads - feathers!

Have you ever noticed how sometimes there seems to be a "theme" running through an artist community?  Lately I have seen all kinds of glass feathers made by various bead makers.  I don't think it is a question of anyone copying anyone else, but is just that we are all open to various influences, and perhaps have been influenced by the same things.

Anyway, here are my feathers.  I got a little carried away with them, and they are really long - perhaps the next ones will be a little shorter.

These feathers are ready to have the bails attached and a satin cord added.
Their lengths are from left to right  3 1/4"; 3 1/2"; 2 1/2" (not including the
bead and hoop).

These ones measure from left to right 2 3/4"; 3"; 3".

Hope you are having a great weekend.

LOTS of New Beads!

However they are not for my shop - sorry.  They are for the upcoming show on the Labour Day weekend at Kitty Coleman Gardens in Comox.

I just love the look of the big holed beads/hoops.  The mandrels for
these guys are really heavy and my arms were aching after making them.
I also made the cord to hang them from, so there is no metal at all in
this design - perfect for those people who have metal allergies.

As I said in a previous post, I have been working on a new way to make
my tree beads - and I am REALLY pleased with this lot.  I have decided
to keep the top left hand side one for myself (black and ivory) - I think it has a very
oriental look about it.  I very rarely keep any of my own work; I'm not sure why.

This lot of beads turned out better than I hoped.  They were an
experiment.  The one on the left I made with light ivory and Double
Helix murrine,  the middle bead I used hair fine stringer and dots with Double
Helix Terra for the colour.  The bead on the right is similar to the
left one, but has been pressed flat and I have added some gold leaf.
I am calling this general style of beads "Orient Express".

I have been trying to figure out a way to display my pendants that I put on
my hand made cords.  I didn't want to just hang them, and putting them in a
box just looked messy.  So, thanks to Pinterest (got to love that place)
I have come up with a way to package them.  I write the length of the cord
on the price tag, so people will know how long the necklace is.  My only concern
is that some customers are going to want to try them on.  However the pendants
 are "sewn" onto the cardboard backing, and I do not want to have to undo the tape,
pull them out of the cello package, cut the thread, etc.
 I will have to see how it goes at the show, and see if it is a viable way to display them.

Well, I hope you enjoyed your little tour around my new show beads.  My booth partner and I have made some changes to our display - I will try to remember to take photos at the show.
Have a good week!

Working on a new design for an old theme.

I have always loved making tree beads, but find the ones I make are very time consuming.  With my right thumb having issues (doctor says the x-ray shows considerable wear and tear) I have needed to find a way to make tree beads that are easier on my hands.  While these are still a work in progress, I am pleased with the results so far.  What do you think?

Tree beads - new design, old theme.

These will go into my stock for an upcoming show on the labour day long weekend.  Unless of course someone just has to have one now - lol!

Dandelion Wine - new beads on Etsy!

I love how these turned out!  So soft and pretty - especially considering that the colour inspiration was the only thing still green on my poor parched lawn - dandelions!

Dandelion Wine - can be found in my Etsy shop.

I hope you all have a great weekend - it is a long weekend here in BC - "BC Day".