African Turquoise & Jade

African Turquoise oval beads are accented by Red Jade round beads and Australian Aquamarine chips. The bracelet and necklace have silver tone toggle clasps; the kidney ear wires are sterling silver.

The finished length of the necklace is about 17 inches - the perfect length to wear with a round neckline or even an open collar on a button up shirt.

Walk Like an Egyptian

Something about this set just makes that crazy song start playing in my head - although I don't usually break out in the dance! Oh, yes -- here's why!

The striking pendant is Egyptian Lapis Lazuli and 100% solid copper. It is accented with 7.5x6mm oval copper beads, 17x14mm 100% solid copper fancy beads, 6-8 mm Egyptian Lapis Lazuli coin beads, 14x4 mm Persian Lapis Lazuli oblong beads and 4mm copper round beads. the clasps on the necklace and bracelet are copper hook and eye and the earring findings are copper.

The Lapis Lazuli beads and pendant have tiny, tiny very fine glittery highlights of a goldish/copperish color in them. You almost have to really look for them to see them.

The necklace is about 20 inches long and the pendant adds another 1.5 inches.

This set is fit for a queen. It is a one-of-a-kind design.

End-of-the-year daily specials!

Note: This text is from a copy of an e-mail I sent out last night. If you would like to be on the e-mail list, please reply on this blog and I will add you to the list. Please forward the link to the blog to any friends/family who might be interested in the great end-of-the year deals I will be posting between now and 1-1-09.

Hi Everyone,Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas will be here in three short weeks! Time is really flying. We had a great open house last weekend and then I ended up missing work for two days with a nasty chest cold. I'm still battling it but feeling much better. I went back to work today and did pretty well but sure could have used a mid-day nap!I told Karl that I knew I really must not have been feeling well when I didn't even pick up a bead those two days.

Looking back, I'm not sure what I did with all that "free" time except sleep and think. Thinking is where this newsletter comes in...... read on.

Karl and I have been talking about the direction we want this business to head and I thought up all kinds of ideas while I was resting! Those of you who know me well are probably shaking your head --I love thinking up new ideas! So, here are a couple:

1. I am going to have some major first-come, first-serve sales between now and the end of the year in an effort to move some inventory so I can streamline the finished pieces I take to shows. I am never able to display it all. I am not going to fill your in-boxes with e-mail. I will post it on the blog. So, be sure to bookmark my blog and check it every day. Most days there will be only one item or set up for grabs. If something sells early in the day - I just might post something new on the same day or that evening. It will be a surprise. Check back often! You can send me an email if you want to purchase one of the items, or you can post right on the blog. Both methods will record the time of the request and I will honor the first. If you want something that someone has already spoken for on the blog, go ahead and post your interest just in case something falls through. I'll post on the blog when an item is sold.

NOTE: If you are not a registered Blogger, is very easy and secure to register and set up an account to blog. Just follow the links when you try to post a comment.

2. I am exploring the concept of girls' night out beading parties starting in early 2009. You could bring your girlfriends, sisters, daughters, mothers, (get the idea?) and come pick out your beads and design your own jewelry. I'd be available for assistance and instruction -- maybe even have some classes on different techniques. Have I told you yet that I LOVE the latest beads I've ordered. They are top quality and gorgeous. And, I have more on the way.

3. Wait, I said a couple. I think that is two. I'll stop there. I have to leave something for you to wonder about!

But, one more thing. We will be at the Holiday Open House at the Scout Hall in Minneapolis (in the park) on Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Stop by if you get a chance.I'm not sure when I will post the first great deal-- probably sometime in the next 24 hours. Get your list out so you know who you have to shop for yet -- and be ready!

Open house today

We are hosting an open house this afternoon (Saturday, Nov. 29) from 3-7 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Minneapolis.

We are offering 25% off all pre-made jewelry and custom orders placed today.

Please stop by today for some hot cocoa or cider and a cookie or two -- and see how many people on your Christmas list you can take care of in one stop!

Be sure to register for the $50 gift certificate drawing.

And ---- I just added eight new necklace/earring sets that are at great gift giving prices. I recently purchased some very nice gemstone beads and pendants at an awesome discount and am passing savings on to you - my valued customer. I've included a few photos here. You can expect to find these sets at about 1/2 of the "normal retail" price -- plus today we will take an additional 25% off.

Which of these is your favorite? (Double click on the photo to enlarge it.)


Mosaic inlay olive green sea opal shell (sorry, they do look brown here but they are a lovely shade of green and the tiger eye frames them perfectly!) with tiger eye and copper.

Rhodonite pendant and chips.

Fire agate, mother of pearl and carnelian. The colors in this fire agate are much more vibrant than my photography shows.

Purple peace jasper, pale pink agate nuggets, and amethyst sage chaldencony pendant.

For Jennifer's Review -- and Yours Too!

NOTE: If you double-click on the photo it will enlarge.

Jennifer, I've been holding the first bracelet for a customer who can't quite decide if she wants it. I'll check with her today. The beads on this one are all vintage. The dark beads are a deep plum color. The two larger glass beads are a pressed glass and they are a more gray color than clear. I found them in an antique store and fell in love!
Bracelet #2 is also all vintage. The bicone shaped beads look more blue in the picture but they are a very pretty shade of purple.

Bracelet #3 is also all vintage beads. The round faceted beads are a shade of purple too.

Bracelet #4 has pink/clear givre beads. The best to describe them is that it is a clear bead with the pink inside. I just can't even begin to describe them. They are some of my very favorite -- and these are almost the last of them.

I laid them all side by side for this photo.
Bracelet #5 - The accent beads in this bracelet are a light purple. All beads are vintage, including the gold fillagree.

I can show these to your mom tonight and she can give you a good idea of the colors. They are all very lovely -- and very shiny.

A couple more photos

Catch Up?

So, does anyone ever really get caught up or is it just something we talk about a lot - or in my case, obsess about a lot? A friend one time told me that I was always saying that as soon as I got past a certain busy time, or project, or whatever -- I'd have time to catch up and relax. She hadn't seen it happen yet and she had known me for about 10 years at that time.

I think about that often when I get overwhelmed with "busy" and try to mentally take a step back and truthfully look at the situation. I can get myself all kinds of stressed out about everything I am not getting done. The truth is, I do a lot of stuff. "Bored" is a word that just isn't in my vocabulary - at least not in the sense of bored because I don't have anything to do!

It's Sunday night and as I look at my to-do list for this weekend, I didn't get anywhere close to marking even half of the items off-- but I did get a lot done -- and I spent a great day in my pajamas yesterday making jewelry. I'll include a few photos here and I have updated the slide show. I had a great show a week ago and needed to replenish my inventory for next weekend.

Have a great week!