Promotional Photo

For a long time I've been wanting to create a Bead Lola Bead postcard to send to family, friends and prospective customers. I envisioned this postcard to contain a picture or two of my more popular designs along with information on how to contact me.

During the holidays, however, I kept receiving coupons from Walgreens Photo for discounts on their collage prints. Aha! An inexpensive opportunity to play around with some ideas. So I rather quickly submitted the photos I wanted to use (a 50% off coupon was about to expire!) and had 50, 4x6 collage prints made up. What do you think?

Gratitude

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." ~ William Arthur Ward

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all your encouragement and support throughout 2009. It is very much appreciated!

Moo Crew Feature

I'm a little late in getting the word out about this (I've been sick with a nasty, NASTY cough) but Bead Lola Bead was last week's Moo Crew featured shop. If you're interested in learning a little bit more about me and my business, head on over to the Wisconsin Street Team blog and check out the November 18th Moo Crew Feature. The special offer mentioned is being extended through Sunday, December 6, 2009.

Octoberfest Special ~ October 3rd through October 11th

I am participating in an Octoberfest Special with 33 other members of the Etsy Wisconsin Street Team. I have adjusted the price of each item in my Etsy shop to include a 20% discount and will be adding items throughout the week. I am also offering a 20% discount on all special orders placed this week, so if you'd like a custom made ring or scarf, please do not hesitate to contact me. Custom orders are my favorite!

To visit the shops of the other Wisconsin Street Team members offering their own Octoberfest Special, please see the Moo Crew blog for details.

HAPPY OCTOBER!

Etsy Treasury ~ Wisconsin Street Team

I recently became a member of the Wisconsin Street Team (The Moo Crew) ~ a Wisconsin-based group of artists who maintain shops on Etsy ~ and I took the opportunity to peruse the shops of my fellow Wisconsinites and get to know them through their work while creating this treasury. (Click on picture for a more detailed view.)

If you're interested in seeing some of the beautiful work being created throughout the State of Wisconsin, check out the Wisconsin Street Team blog. It's a great place to start looking for those uniquely perfect holiday gifts!

I created my very first treasury on Etsy the other day and in doing so discovered some really beautiful items created by some very talented artists. If you enjoy bestowing unique gifts upon family and friends, Etsy is the place for you!

My Beaded Scarf Makes its Etsy Treasury Debut!

For those of you unfamiliar with Etsy, a Treasury is "an ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery of handpicked items," and my beaded scarf was chosen for a collection entitled "Calming . . . " Thank you Carol (http://www.designingit.etsy.com/) for including me!

Win a Pinecone Bling Ring!

I just finished creating a fan page for Bead Lola Bead on Facebook and I'm looking for some fans! If you're interested, please go to the Facebook link on the sidebar of this blog and become a fan of Bead Lola Bead. Everyone who does so during the month of August will have a chance to win a Pinecone Bling Ring. The winner will be drawn, notified and posted on my Facebook page on September 1, 2009.

Thank you and good luck to all!

Loving The Fall Colors

Beaded Note Cards

Crystal Blue Persuasion & Heart Trifecta

I love using components in ways other than those for which they were originally intended. (Is my legalese showing?) These blue earrings are fashioned out of crystal spacer bars, wire and beads, while the glass heart earrings below are accented with repurposed heart-shaped toggles that refused to stay "toggled" in their original form.

Pinecone Bling

I fell in love with the pinecone look I stumbled upon while playing around with some channel set crystals. This ring design is the end result of that playtime and even earned a finalist spot in the crystal category of the Bead Star 2008 contest. They're quite the popular little number in my corner of the world. Check out my Etsy shop if you're interested in sporting one in your corner of the world.

Bead Star 2009

Bead Star 2009 voting is underway, so if you haven't voted yet, go do it right now. I'll wait here . . .

If you are one of the finalists, CONGRATULATIONS! If not, would you like to come to my pity party? Although I didn't make the cut this year (sniff-sniff), it's easy to see the elements my entries lacked based on those that were chosen. Although I like the pieces I entered, I really missed the mark design wise and erred too far on the side of simple. I'm learning quite a bit from this year's creative designs and am going to have to incorporate that knowledge into next year's efforts.

Until then, KUDOS to those of you bead star finalists who got it perfectly and beautifully right!!

Dance, Dance, Dance

The Volunteer Center of Ozaukee County is having a night of fundraising entitled "Dance, Dance, Dance" where local celebrities (TMJ4's Michael Fish, Michael George, Melissa McCrady & Diane Pathieu, County Administrator Tom Meaux and Scott Shully of Shully's Cuisine and Events) will be paired up with Fred Astaire Dance Studio instructors for a competition a la "Dancing with the Stars." The event is being held at Shully's Cafe in Thiensville (146 Green Bay Road) on Thursday May 21, 2009. Hors d' oeuvres (by Shully's Catering and Larry's Market) and silent auction begin at 6:00 pm (below are pictures of the jewelry pieces I contributed to the "Artisan" basket) with the dance competition beginning at 7:00 pm. The cost is $35 per person/$65 per couple. To learn more about the Volunteer Center of Ozaukee County and to get your Dance, Dance, Dance tickets, go to http://www.volunteerozaukee.com/. Enjoy a fun evening and vote for your favorite celebrity dancer!

(Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace; Sterling Silver, Metal and Crystal Ring)

Boy Scout Fundraiser

This is my contribution to our local annual Boy Scout fundraiser to be held on the 15th. I hope whoever wins this jewelry set, made with gold-filled chain and semi-precious stones, enjoys wearing the pieces as much as I enjoyed making them. Thank you for supporting Scouting!