Stone Bead Strands and Facebook Marketplace - Great Deals!

I found the best deal on Facebook!

Facebook Marketplace is a new obsession and I have found some awesome deals, and even made a new friend :)

Wasting time in between jobs the other day, I stumbled upon a post of estate items, and in it were these 20 strands of stone beads!!!!!

There were a few pendants as well, but I wasn't as interested in them, and the post said bulk discount. I contacted her and asked if she would separate the pendants and the strands, and what her price was. She agreed and gave a tentative price, I followed up with $110 for all of it and she agreed!!!

That comes out to $5.50 per strand. 

Such a Deal!!!!

 Some of the strands are easily identified, lapis, fancy jasper, azurite, unakite, amethyst, picture jasper, etc. The strands are faceted, roundel and hesihi cut, just beautiful!

Other strands are a bit more difficult, is this really turquoise?

 These little faceted beauties I am fairly confident are emerald, but then again.......

Chrome diposide?

I did some poking online to compare some prices. 

The price strand on the lapis strand was $24, and I found them online between $5 and $24

The price tag on the maybe emerald strand was $16 and I found them online between $10 and $27

All and all, I am very happy with this find. 

Now I can't wait to get in the studio and make some awesome pieces!!

Where do you look for deals?

And remember, be peaceful and be kind!

I'll talk to you soon!

Finally Found My Calling With Clusters

Several months ago, while captain of the biggest pity ship you have ever seen, like a pity yacht,  I was over taking pictures of my jewelry. I was struggling with different ideas of how to photograph my pieces. This has been an ongoing battle. It really is not anything new. I have friends who are photographers, do I pay them for a couple weekends a month, do I take classes, do I invest in a better camera, or do I take decorating classes (to learn props and magic for shots)

This took me on a search thru the vastness of the interwebs looking at different jewelry sites, and seeing how they laid out their shots, what props did they use, how bright were their shots and anything else I could learn. As I ambled thru, what I began to notice about these shops was they all seemed, themed. Themed as in the jewelry was all very similar. A similar technique, or similar style. There was continuity about the presentation, and it was very appealing to me. It made me want to shop. It wasn't the photography so much as the content.

I flipped back to my store, and I see the eclectic hodge podge of my work. I have to make everything, every style, play with every technique and put it up for sale. My husbands words came back to haunt me in that instance -"Pick one thing and do it well".

I searched between my Etsy store and my Facebook page, and there it was, like a life preserver thrown to me on that sinking ship of pity. I do clusters. I do them well.

All of that mess up top, was to lead into this. I'm back at the workbench for a new year of designs, a new year of shows and a new year of self discovery. I took what I learned from my photography search and put it to good use as I sit working on new pieces for this year.

I did it and I think with much success. I sat back to work, and ideas started to roll! I think I am on my path :)

Rings & Things Loves ME!!!!

Back, oh, a week or so ago, Rings & Things posted on their facebook fan page, that if you posted a picture of your newest Rings & Things creation you could win a prize!!!

So I did :)

And I got this!




These are two awesome publications! Margot Potters book, Bead Chic is beautifully photographed with excellent step by step instructions for some fun designs.

Glass Art Magazine made my jaw drop. I don't know anything about glass art, other than I like looking at it, but this magazine has made me what to know more!

Rings & Things has a great online community full of support, information and just plain fun.
Look them up on Facebook, or Twitter, or their Blog, and see what they are up to.

You'll be glad you did :)

April give away time! Custom copper pendant!

The winner for Aprils giveaway is Destiny!!! I can't wait to put our heads together and see what we create!!! Congrats!!

Thanks everyone for playing. It was so much fun. I will do something again next month - stay tuned!!!!



April has snuck up on me - oh my gosh - it is give away time again! I have been on a pendant kick lately, as you can see from the pictures in this post, and thought it would be fun to involve you in the process. So for this months give away, I am doing a custom copper pendant. The pendant is going to be about you, the colors you like, the stones you like, and your input on the design!!! I am opening this up to my email list and Facebook fans as well. To enter all ...you have to do is comment on this post - enter me! Easy peasy.

2nd chance to win! Share this on your face book page (let me know you did)

3rd chance to win! Share this on your twitter account (let me know you did)

4th chance to win (are you nuts Tish! YES!) Share this on your blog!! (let me know you did)








Will draw the winner on Friday April 9th, 2010 - Good Luck!

Thursday quickie

I am flat out today. No sleep again last nite, just a nap.

While I was awake I made a necklace for my monthly Facebook giveaway.

I had an old washer and thought I would breath some life into it. It happened rather quickly, one of those, start working, blink and I am done - ever happen to you?

I got to thinking - Y not let the ppl who stop by to visit my blog and are on facebook get in on the fun too. So I put a face book link over on the right hand side of my blog under my profile that will allow you to go to the page and add it to your list of favs.

To get you caught up here is April's giveaway -




Here is Mays giveaway -





Here is what is being given away for June





If you want to get in on the give aways join my fan page and leave me a comment!