New Items In The Shop

Hello all! New handmade beaded toggle clasps in the SHOP now! Enjoy!!!

New Items In The Shop

Hello all!! New items were listed in the shop yesterday, these are just a few examples!! These pendants are similar to the one that Kitty used in her Bead Soup Blog Party piece! Have a great Sunday! Enjoy!

Etsy Shop - REOPENED!

Hello all! I am still clicking my way through the fantastic Bead Soup Blog Hop! I want to say that I really appreciate all the fantastic comments you have left here! As well as on my bead soup partner, Kitty Durmaj's, blog! Thank you all so very much! It is because of the very sweet and enthusiastic comments about my handmade beaded toggle and handmade pendant, that I decided to bite the bullet and list some of these components in my Etsy Shop!

I made 3 more beaded wheels tonight. I hope to make some candy earring tomorrow with Madelyn (she LOVES these) and then on to some pendants.....so look for these to be listed too!

This was the hard decision and IDEA I had awhile back! If it does not fly and they never sell then "Oh Well", onto something else! In truth.....they just make me plain happy to make them!

Keep enjoying the BSBP! Thanks for stopping in!

Verena Rose

Hello! Sorry for the Intermission, but I have a NASTY illness that put me in the hospital! Yuck! I thought I had caught the stomach virus that my daughter and husband had, but alas....it is worse. While I recover, I thought I might tell you about a new line of jewelry that Mad Maggie Designs is launching soon called the Verna Rose Collection. Simple sophistication meets antique-style findings in this new collection! Romantic, nostalgic jewelry designed by MMD! Keep an eye out for it and I will keep you posted and share some links soon!!! Take care!

And Again......

Beadwork June/July 2010 Magazine

Hello! Good morning! Well, it is morning here! I had time while taking care of my little sick gal to check out my new issue of Beadwork June/July 2010 magazine. I must say that I am not a seed bead weaver....actually, I am not even sure if that is the correct wording! But....I like the magazine so I subscribe! Years and YEARS ago I saw how to make the neatest bracelet on the Carol Duvall show (oh how I miss THAT show)! Evette Potts was on and she showed how to make a DNA Bracelet. Tried to find a link and of course I can not! I made so many of those bracelets....I was a bit obsessed. At that time I had no idea what I was doing, weaving and such, all I know is that I had fun!

Anyhoo...I think that I might have found at least one or two projects in there that I can do! Usually, I am SOOOO lost reading the "how-to's" that I just end up browsing the pictures. But this time something clicked! And I understood! Woo Hoo! Bought the supplies yesterday so I am anxiously awaiting the mail!

I have a secret! I fell in love with a jewelry artist after my mother brought me a postcard from the artists table at an arts and crafts show in St. Louis.....Clayton, Mo. I think. Anyway, after getting online and looking her up I found that she had an Etsy shop. At that time I had NO idea what Etsy was, so it is this artist who introduced me to the site. Also, she did things with seed beads that I feel IN LOVE with! I have been looking, researching, Googling, and buying instructions on how to make these same type of "beaded beads". I guess I keep hoping on day Beadwork magazine will post a how-to!!

In the mean time I will be still subscribing and still hoping and maybe now actually trying some of the projects! Wish me luck, and maybe I will be back with some pictures......

A Tale of Two......Journeys!

Hello! How are you all? I am very well thank you! And that is a statement that for the last 5 years was never heard from me! I have decided to catch you all up on the last months of my life. This might get lengthy...so you can either check out now and browse the internet some more or grab a cup of coffee and read! If you decide to stay and read....thank you, as this was a struggle to decide to let out!

In a nutshell, or as I see it in my own mind, a timeline....Monday after Halloween I went to the doctor because I was not feeling well. They did a flu test and I came back positive for H1N1. No big deal, just had to be off work for a week. But it was that week that changed everything for me....specifically the following Monday. I can't really put it into words but, to use the old saying that "I was at the end of my rope"......with what you might ask? Everything, is all I can say. You know people tell you, if you are at the end of it, hold on. But, see that was the problem....I did not want to anymore. So, I let go.

Back up to April 2005.....I was diagnosed after having my daughter with post-partum depression. It never went away. The doctors put me on Lexapro for three months and then took me off.......not.a.good.thing. I was put back on it by my general physician and took it for all these years. Every year that I went back for my yearly check up I said the same thing to my doctor.....I feel ok, but I still cry all the time and am tired to the point of exhaustion. Every year I sunk lower on the "rope" and every year I told him the same thing. But you know, I can just about justify or come up with a reason for whatever feelings I was having during this time.....new mother, husband who worked nights, Madelyn being diagnosed with medical problems, starting a new job, putting Maddy in daycare for the first time......you know....LIFE! The summer of 2009 I had had enough and my doc decided to try an addition medication....it worked for 4 weeks....so upsetting! Also, I found out I had a REALLY bad (and still do to this day) vitamin D deficiency. If you read up on it, you will find out that it can mimic the signs of depression, so my doctor thought he found the "problem".

Fast forward to Monday in November 2009. I got up, took a shower and got ready for work. Put my nightgown back on, sat in the recliner and called my manager and quit my job. Did not give notice, did not talk to my husband, did not get advice from anyone in my family.....just did it. And......I saved my life. Call it burning bridges, a bad career move, selfish, rude, whatever......I have a name for it. I call it self-preservation.

I took a stand! I called my sister...we both had just read Eat, Pray, Love. She gave me great advice, and love! I called a psychiatrist and got an appointment for January. I made an appointment with my general doc and asked for a referral to a surgeon for the Lapband procedure. I was making changes in my life that I had wanted FOR SO LONG, but I had let my friends, family, husband and doctor influence my in another direction.

I am now seeing a FANTASTIC doctor who diagnosed me with MDD with anxiety disorder. I am taking a new medication the has flat out changed my life!!!

On Friday April 30th I had my Lapband procedure and have already lost over 20 pounds, including some weight during the pre-op diet phase.

It is a "slow and steady wins the race" life with me right now. I take one day at a time, because, in truth, I can't think too far ahead or the anxiety kicks in!

So please come along with me if you like.....I am on a new journey in my life. I have not decided to open up my Etsy shops yet, as I am not feeling that "well" yet. One of the big "signs" that I had was my loss of interest in designing and making jewelry. It was not fun for me anymore. One day I hope to get back to a time when it can bring me joy again and not anxiety!

Well, thanks for reading....hope I did not bore you all, or worse, lose a couple of you as friends or fans! Stay with me....I promise I am trying to do better!

Much love!

Maybe I Should Play the Lottery

Beautiful handmade lampwork glass Pendant from Nancy Sells Glass
Stunning ring from Crystal Rose

GREAT set of lampwork beads and handmade ornament from Melanie Brooks at Earthenwoods Studios

Hello all! Look at all of the fantastic items that I have won from these great artists on their Facebook pages! 2 in the last week alone! I really do not have good luck....my husband always says that if I did not have bad luck, I would have no luck at all...yes, it is that bad! But look how incredibly lucky I have gotten! You can click on the photos to go to each artists Etsy site! Seriously, we never play the lottery, but maybe I should give it a try, as it seems my luck is changing! Thank you to all the great artists and their giveaways on Facebook....it goes to show....you CAN win! Happy Holidays everyone!

Oh my heavens!! UPDATE: I am sorry that I missed an artist! I forgot that I also won a pair of earrings from the Facebook page of TwIsTeD. I deeply apologize!

Just An Idea

Anthropologie $198

Etsy $2.00

OR

Etsy $2.50

Etsy $7.50

Etsy $6.25

Wanna make one of your own???

Looking at the original bracelet, all I think you need is the above items, a little bow making skill, and possibly some E6000 glue....and a little crafty know-how! Let me know what you think!

Click on each picture to take you to the Etsy listing for supplies!

I am linking this post up with Living with Lindsay, one of my new most favorite blogs!

I Am Honored

Hello All! I am super happy, excited and honored to be able to announce that CoachingHandmade.com will soon be going LIVE! Jesse of Jesse Janes will hopefully be launching it this Monday or early next week! Why am I honored you might ask? Because Jesse has asked me to be one of the mentors/teachers on the site! It has been explained that I will be able to teach a class, do a tutorial, or mentor other sellers! I am stoked! Check out the site when you have time!

Let me tell you a little about it! If you are a seller of handmade items this is definitely going to be in your ballpark! Join with other Handmade Sellers around the globe to increase sales, enhance the handmade buying experience for customers and learn how to use the latest technologies to work for you! This site will show you how to work smarter and not harder!

BENEFITS of Membership:

Classes

Mentoring Groups

Network with other Handmade Sellers

Handmade Marketing Resources

Learn to Use Technology to Gain Sales

Learn Ins & Outs of Wholesale

Joint Marketing Opportunities

and MORE...

Etsy Finds - From My Favorites

Wordless Wednesday