Sue Beads

You'll find these discs and a few more in the SueBeads etsy store! 

I was lucky enough to be chosen by the lovely Lorelei Eurto to participate in her Hoops Challenge! Today is the reveal day! She chose 6 people to make something with these gorgeous hoops from Karen Totten of Starry Road Studio !  I had the pleasure of meeting both of them at Bead Fest Philly this year, and they are really some lovely people! These are the hoops we were sent.  The challenge was to really go outside the box and make anything our heart desired.  I really really wanted to make myself a necklace with these - I had them laying on my counter for a week in the design that I wanted to make.  But - I also wanted to do something different, to show you how flexible Karen's components are!  So!  I made ornaments!  I was looking at another piece I made at ArtBLISS two years ago, and had a vision for how I wanted these ornaments to be!  I really like the vintage feel of these hoops - not only in the shape, but in the color as well.  ...

I just listed a bunch of sugar beads in my SueBeads etsy store!  Just in time for your holiday jewelry making!

The lovely Rita, from Jewel School Friends , is hosting a blog hop today!  The theme is Octoberfest, and we were supposed to show something we have created related to the current them of Autumn.  I made this beaded - yes, BEADED! - box a long time ago, when I was still doing cross-stitch!  But it's so appropriate that it is BEADED, because as you know, I am hopelessly addicted to all things beads!  I was going to make a bracelet for me from beads I just received from Nan Emmett, but didn't have time. Maybe I'll have time to add the photo later!  In the meantime, enjoy all the Octoberfest-ive creations from everyone else: Host Toltec Jewels          http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com Heather Otto                   http://www.thecrafthopper.com Mischelle Fanucchi          http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com Marlene Cupo  ...

One of my donations to 7,000 Bracelets of Hope Are you familiar with the 7,000 Bracelets for Hope campaign?  Many of us bead makers and jewelry designers are.  It's a bracelet program for people or families who suffer rare genetic diseases.  Here's a bit of information directly from their donation page : "Cause bracelets have been available for breast cancer and heart disease but there has never been a unifying symbol, color or bracelet that represents the rare and genetic disease community.  That’s why we started the 7,000 Bracelets for Hope™ campaign. Since launching the campaign in 2010, Global Genes has received thousands of unique blue themed bracelet designs made from everything from cut strips of recycled denim to vintage blue glass to turquoise stones. The creativity from our volunteers is truly inspiring! The number 7,000 represents the 7,000 different rare diseases that impact 1 in 10 people, 30 million Americans and 350 million globally....

Sometimes when I have mandrels that bend or get wonky, I make plant pokes.  Here's some flowers I made recently.  These were the first ones I made - I made them quickly because I was afraid they would crack from thermal shock, so they aren't the greatest.  I wanted to get a feel for how to make them!  But now that I do, I see myself making a lot more of these! Cuz those 1/16" mandrels don't last all that long!

I'm having a sale in my SueBeads etsy store !  Use coupon code FLASH15 for 15% off your order from Thursday October 18 - Sunday, October 21st!  I'll be adding beads over the weekend, too!  Get yourself ready for the holidays with this sale!

 I've just listed a bunch of new beads in the SueBeads etsy shop, including some great spacer grab bag sets for a great price of $9 in many colors!

I was picked!  I'm super excited to say I was picked as one of the 6 lucky designers to participate in Lorelei's next challenge!  Karen from Starry Road Studio graciously donated 6 sets of these hoops to see what can be done with them!  The reveal is October 30th!  Check back then to see what I came up with, and the 5 other lucky winners! BTW - large hole beads are still available if anyone wants free shipping!

I have some large hole bead sets available right now! I made them for my "big" show that turned out to be a "big" bust - each set is $25.  If you buy them off my blog right now, I'll throw in free no frills shipping!  Otherwise they will end up on etsy tomorrow!  Let me know what you want in comments and I'll send you a paypal invoice!  Thanks!  There are multiples of the Christmas sets, and two each of the first set and the orange set. SOLD - Thank you!

I was lucky enough to win one of Pearl's giveaways on The Beading Gem's Journal !  I won a set of tutorials from Corra from deCors Handmade Jewelry !  Please visit her and check out her tutorials!  They are really great and should add nicely to my soon-to-become-wrapping repetoire!  These are the tutorials I chose!

I am thrilled to announce that I am one of the new members of the art-inspired blog, Art Jewelry Elements !  Today is my first post over there, so I'd love it if you would go take a look, sign up, and give us some love!  We have a very talented pool of women who are an inspiration to me and will be to you too!  Today I wrote about how I am getting ready for my big show, and showed some non-jewelry related items that I made!