Two Items Listed Today

Not only is creating a joy, but selling is fabulous and a little recognition is even better! I was ecstatic to see the post on Purrfectlydevine's Jewelry Design blog Life as I Experience It - for both of us!

Purrfectlydevine's Jewelry Design
Handmade Beaded Jewelry - Something for Everyone

I am relatively new to beading and I love taking classes to learn new techniques. I began selling because co-workers liked my work and asked if I would sell to them. I opened a shop because people I didn't know would comment about how much they liked my jewelry. Friends encouraged me and helped me get set up and my husband is supportive of my efforts. Click the banner below to visit this wonderful shop!

Personalized Bead Box - for Beginners and All Ages!

My cousin David and I are less than one year apart in age. He is married to Irina, a wonderful woman and they have two children: Maiya (3 in November), and Maksim (6 months). For all intents and purposes - they are my niece and nephew, I am their aunt. And I LOVE it!

Maiya LOVES beads! She loves jewelry, loves making it, wearing it, getting it. (It's cute now, but her future significant other may be in for it!) And, as a jewelry maker, I am so excited to help her with this and be there with her as she grows.

So, when David called to tell me that she put a bead up her nose, it got lodged there, and they had to rush her to the doctor's office, it got me thinking, "Maybe I should put something together that is age appropriate." This is what I came up with:


I can't wait to give this to her for her third birthday! I found a wonderful sectioned box that her little fingers should be able to open and close easily. I added large beads with large holes for longer necklaces - necklaces that do not need clasps. I included wood, plastic, glass, polymer clay, vintage lucite, large porcelain pendants, large copper pendant - just to begin with!

My girlfriend Sue (whom I love and adore!) needed a gift for her 5 year old cousin and I offered to make one of these boxes for her as well. Since I know she is no longer exploring her body, I was able to include smaller beads, clasps, and more fragile pieces like shells.


Each box is adorned with hand painted letters of their name and an embellishment that reflects their interests or just makes the whole look darn cute! I will never use stickers - stickers fade and peel and over time just don't keep their appearance fresh. The embellishments on both of these boxes were created with wood but I also use sturdy molded plastic and metals as well.

I am confident, as a jewelry maker and designer, that I can put together a great bunch of beads - for boys and girls of all ages. Even adult beginners! I have been working with beads and gemstones for over 15 years - please contact me if I can create one of these special pieces for you!

I will also be posting this at my Etsy shop (just click the link at the top left of the page). I can't wait to put together your interests, add that personal touch, and feed your need to create!

New Bracelets - Fresh Photographed!

I was actually afraid of making bracelets. Here's my tale of neurosis.

Molten

While everyone asked me to make bracelets and wondered why I didn't, simply put, I didn't want anyone to hate my jewelry. I didn't want anyone to look at my jewelry as a chore, annoying, or having to ask their significant other for help during an argument. See, neurosis.

I have seen too many people curse out their bracelets because they cannot get it on themselves. Or, the clasp ALMOST makes it and then, "d'oh!" it slips out and flips around your wrist and then the swearing starts. I never wanted anyone to curse, hate, look at with disdain - my jewelry. After all, it's a one-of-a-kind piece, made with love and sometimes long hours, that I believe was especially created for the special person that now owns it!

Savory

So, while a very small number of my bracelets use the lobster claw clasp I finally found the "S" clasp which makes one-handed closure so much easier! I feel much better now!

I will be posting the bracelets shown here on Etsy but I am always happy to create custom orders so feel free to contact me at any time!

Circle of Life