Shop Local/Shop Small

If you live in my neck of the woods take a break this weekend from all the commercial shopping madness and come to Winterfest at Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor. There you will find several hundred hand picked artisans and crafts people selling their beautiful creations. The nominal entry fee goes to support school programs. Or check out an arts and crafts event near you. You can feel good about your purchases in that the monies you spend will go back into your local community and you will come home with quality handmade gifts.

Here are a few new Beadware pieces you will see in my both this weekend:

 Green opal pendant with a pewter leaf. SOLD

 Agate and ocean jasper pendant with brass accents and a brass leaf clasp.  SOLD

 Agate pendant with brass accents.  SOLD

Glass Teardrops

Delicate, simple, understated. just a few words I have heard my customers use to describe these necklaces. They are made using glass seed beads, gold or silver plated rounds, and a faceted glass teardrop. The length can be adjusted thanks to a chain and lobster clasp. So versatile. Good with jeans and a t-shirt or that little black dress. A new version features a few freshwater seed pearls. Sorry, the pictures are a bit dark. This was before I figured out my new camera!

 Sold

The 2 on the left have been sold.

The one on the right has been SOLD.

The 2 at the top have been SOLD.

Shop Local

Big box stores are jam packed with deals to lure in holiday shoppers. As you do your holiday shopping consider shopping at a local art and craft fair. Every town has them, at schools, churches and community centers. Buying gifts at these events not only supports local artisans, in many cases the booth fess the vendors have paid or the nominal entry fees directly support community programs.

The high school events that I do often let you know where your vendor fee goes. They tell you what the funds were used for last year like buying musical instruments or art supplies. And, when you buy from a local crafts person, that money is very likely also go back into your local community as they use that income to pay bills or buy things locally.

And you can talk to person that made the item you are buying. Get the story behind it. This can be fun to share with the recipient and not something you get from a big box store! 

If you live near me just check out my events page for a list of a few local events where you will find Beadware and other artisans. Check your local paper or ask around. Buy local and buy handmade!

Recent Work - Jasper Teardrops

I am continuing to beef up my inventory for my holiday shows. One recent series uses jasper teardrops.

Jasper is a form of chalcedony or quartz.  It brings joy into your life! Clean you jasper jewelry with a soft dry cloth as the polish can be washed off with water. Jasper is believed to strengthen the stomach and cure gynecological problems. Mystically, jasper is believed to bring one what they need and to aid in attaining a sound sleep. Jasper also increases your ability to feel joy and carries a protective power.Jasper has been thought to drive away evil spirits and protect against snake and spider bites. (Note this information is provided for curiosity only and is not meant to be taken as medical advice. )

These have booth been SOLD.

The one on the left has been SOLD.

These have been SOLD.

Destash - Something New

I have added some new items to my online store today. They are not finished pieces, but instead are jewelry components. To keep my prices reasonable I buy my supplies in large quantities to take advantage of bulk and wholesale pricing. This means I often have way more of an item than I can use over several years.

You will find these items in the section called Supplies and Destash. I will be adding more items as time permits so check back often. And who knows, if this experiment takes off I may one day open another online store just for supplies.

Snakeskin Jasper

I have never met a snakeskin jasper I did like like. They are gorgeous stones. The patterns and colors are amazing. Snakeskin jasper is a stone of protection and invisibility. It guards against negative attitudes and actions. Its energy is useful in moving energy and can be helpful during massage. It can also be helpful during meditation, bringing one peace of mind. Snakeskin jasper is also thought to bring productivity and abundance to our minds and bodies. (Note this information is for curiosity only and is not meant to be medical advice.)

Here are some recent examples off my work bench. The ones marked sold were purchased their first day on display at my studio sale. A testament to just how gorgeous these are! I do have more of these stones and will create some new treasures this month. See one you like? Send me an email quick as I do not expect these to last long. $49 each.
 

These have been SOLD.

 The one reminds me of a watercolor. SOLD

 And this one reminds me of a river.

This was bought by a friend. That makes me happy! SOLD

These have been SOLD.

 This one lives up to its snakeskin name. Look at the pattern on this stone. SOLD

In this I see a mountain landscape. What do you see?  SOLD

SOLD

Another one with a very textural look. The coordinating seed beads are a beautiful soft green. 

SOLD

SOLD

Another one with a truly snakeskin appearance. 

Mixed with soft olive green seed beads and brass accents.
SOLD