Who doesn't want a discount on beads???

I got a discount card from Artbeads.com the other day. There are a few wonderful things about this discount card!!

First, it lasts until December 31, 2009! Yay! Lots of time to shop. The code is good on any purchase between now and then.

Next....are you ready for it? It's good for everyone! :) I wanted to make sure to share it with the folks who read my blog.

So...place an order at Artbeads.com, and use the following discount code:

SCF10P-ARTBEADS-0424

I hope that at least a few people will find that useful!

Enjoy!!

Carmen:)

Caramel Creme

The whole time I was stitching this necklace I kept thinking it reminded me of vanilla ice cream and caramel topping. Imagine that caramel is one of my favorite flavors? OK, you don't have to imagine, that is a cold hard fact! The twisted necklace is a twisted tubular herringbone, or ndbele stitch. (Think "in de belly" for pronunciation.) I haven't known this stitch for too long and it's really one of my favorites. I really like the tublular type stitches, or the twisted ones. Lots of visual interest there, and that's what does it for me.
The bracelet is a little of the same type of stitch, just not in the twisted variety, it also has multiple strands twisting through the mother of pearl shell ring.
When I first began this set, I kept thinking that the colors might be too bland. I was so pleasantly surprised when they translated as rich and classic instead of just neutral. There are just times when colors will click together and be a perfect compliment, this was one of those times!
I am very pleased to announce that the pattern for these is available at DJBeads.com. The pattern page is located here: DJBeads Free Pattern Page.
For all of you non-beaders, this set is for sale. It is located at JC Salon on Grandview Drive in Frankfort, KY. Leave a comment here if you would like to inquire about pricing or to see if this set is still available.

Long overdue...

I began this bracelet a long while ago...so long that I can't remember! Over a year for sure...maybe two? Anyway, it was my first time to make a substantial peyote stitch anything, but then again, it doesn't count till now, since I have finally found the perfect ending!
How many of you are like me? I can begin a project, know what I want it to end up like in my head, and still don't quite know how to pull it all together. I never knew how I would make the clasp on this. I knew it was going to be a personal piece and not something that would end up in my store. When I was preparing my order for Artbeads.com I saw the perfect ending, well I hoped it would be anyway. I wasn't disappointed. This Hematite crystal button was absolutely perfect. It blended the silver and the black of the bracelet, was just as shiny as the beads, and it was right on the money with the size. You can browse Crystallized Swarovski Elements here. The link to the button, 16mm Hematite crystal button. I also got another button, the name of the color is Meridian Blue...wow what a color! Check it out while you're browsing around the Artbeads.com buttons. They're having a sale (15% off)on Crystallized Swarovski Elements, so get over there quick!
Now, I get to wear my new, well at least newly finished bracelet tomorrow! I couldn't have created a better match if I'd wanted to!

**Disclaimer** I was provided Swarovski Crystallized Elements to review free of charge from Artbeads.com. This is an honest evaluation of said products, and I was not paid for any endorsement of the products.

Ultimate sparkle!!

I got a small package in the mail a couple weeks ago. I have been trying to find the time to blog, and take pics and all the other things I meant to do since then. Life has a way of taking over and rearranging my schedule without my knowledge, and being quite stubborn about giving me back the time I'd like to have for MY things! LOL

Anyway....back to the package. I pulled open the top and poured out the contents, and they were wrapped in a tissue paper of the most regal purple, with a foil seal on the top. Usually I only see this type of wrapping when I order from folks on etsy....the small personal details of an individual with a a business to promote. I was surprised because this package came from a much larger than a one person show type of business. This little gem of a package was from Artbeads.com. I was completely impressed, and that was before I took the time to open up all my little goodies inside!
The pics you see at the top of this post are just one things from the package. This was an Aquamarine Fancy Oval 39x28. As you can see it is quite large. I sure wish I could get the sparkle to show in my pics. Well, I could, but it would blind you!
You can find the Artbeads Crystallized Swarovski Elements page here. The direct link to the Crystallized Swarovski Fancy Oval page is here. You'll find way too many choices of very beautiful colors. Now that I have mine, I have to do the hard part. I have to actually make something with it. I have in mind to bezel it with seed beads and maybe some bicones. All I can tell you right now is that I'm perfectly content to carry it around in my project bag, or place it on my desk so that I can enjoy the play of light and the beautiful color.

**Disclaimer** Artbeads.com has provided the merchandise free of charge to me for an honest opinion. No other compensation was made.
Oh wow, they're 15% off right now.....better move quick! :)

September Giveaway! Bluegrass Etsy Team

Wouldn't you love to win these? Check out the team blog for Bluegrass Etsy for instructions on how to win the trading cards and the poetry Zine from SmackinArt!

Blingin Rings!

I discovered what to do with those cute swarkie hearts that I had been collecting. Make rings and pendants, of course!
I found the pattern for the pendant in a Dutch publication by Matterns & de Graaf. It has English instructions, but it doesn't give you word instructions as to how to stitch, it has diagrams and lots of arrows! LOL, sort of mind boggling until you really absorb it all. I have several of these little hardback publications, and I do really like them. They, however require some ability to change things a little. I have noticed with a few projects that maybe the bead sizes aren't quite the same. I used the called for sizes, and it just wasn't quite right....but maybe substituting a smaller size 11 than the size 10 or even 8 that was called for worked like a charm.
I purchased this book from Carrie at Djbeads.com. I'm waiting for a lot more crystals in a few more colors and sizes. I have to keep up with the orders for these....they're certainly a hit. Of course, they're swarovski, what was I thinking? :)

Finally Finished!

This project has been in the works for some time. Do you ever start something and don't expect it to take nearly as long to do? This was one of those projects. Cellini spirals take a long time anyway, in just plain stitching. I wanted a long necklace and the spiral portion is about 32 inches when slightly pulled, so with the weight hanging should be about that much I would imagine. The shells and pearls part is a tad bit shorter at 26 and 1/2 inch plus about an inch of linkage to adjust.I originally intended to make these two in a single necklace and make it adjustable. In the end I decided that I would put clasps on them that would hook in a number of ways so you could wear them alone or together.
For instance, it would look amazing to wear the spiral tight around your neck and then hook the shells to hang, or just wear them hanging down together. A thinner woman than me could wear the shells up tight against the neck and hang the spiral part! LOL, which btw is MOST women!
I have just fallen in love with the combination of brown and lots of other colors. Pink and brown has been a fave for a long time, blue and brown too. I think the combo of lime green and brown has got to be one of my fave all time looks! Funny how your taste changes over the years....I wouldn't have picked up anything lime green when I was younger! I hated it, now everything lime green pulls me in!
I'll probably put this necklace up for sale. I just want to look at it for a while, it took so long to make it, well that and it's my first cellini....although I'm sure not the last. I love the undulating spiral! I'm going to try to get a "model" (read this as poor unsuspecting friend) to let me take some pics of it on in a couple different positions. Will post those later!