Expanding Line

In the process of making wine charms. Thought it would be a good promotional item to include in a welcome basket that the Great Brunswick Chamber of Commerce (GBACC) is putting together to distribute to new residents moving to the community. The charms will bring a sense of whimsy to my line of beaded items. I hope to expand to gift items such as beaded wine stoppers, serving utensils, and fan pulls. These are fast and easy 'wins' for the collection and expands the line to people who are looking for gift items more than jewelry.

I even came up with a catchy phrase for the card enclosure.

"Welcome new neighbor! Enjoy the 'charms' of Brunswick while sipping your favorite beverages with your new neighbors." Cute and kitchy. Hope it brings traffic to the website.

Songs of Summer Contest Results

Happy Mango Beads announced the winners for the Songs of Summer contest as well as the people's choice. I did not win either one, but there are no worries. I'm a new jewelry artist and these are the first contests I have entered. By entering these contests, I am accomplishing my overall goal of gaining a broader audience for my work. Winning is great, but free publicity is priceless!

A lot of people liked and voted for my necklace. I was right in the pack of potential vote-getters so it was all good.

Thanks to Happy Mango Beads for creating such fun contests!

Voting Begins

Voting began on Friday for Stinging Magazine's "Let's Go to the Movie" contest. Voting continues through September 3. My entry is #10.

http://www.stringingmagazine.com/gallery/Go-to-the-Movies

More Designs

Made three 3 new necklaces today. I recycled the glass beads from one of my personal necklaces since a bead broke and I wanted to repair it anyway. I am really pleased with the redesign for both. The one that will be a part of the Beadnicity collection is stunning (if I can toot my own horn).

I also designed a necklace using salmon-colored links, cream hexagon beads, coral, and turquoise puff coins, all mother-of-pearl. I had a happy accident today when putting this together. If I can duplicate it, then it will become a technique.

I'll post pictures on my facebook page and here soon.

Happy Mango Bead's "Songs of Summer" Contest

Well, I am trying my hand at another contest. This is the new contest sponsored by Happy Mango Beads. There are several themes based on summer songs. I entered a buttery yellow glass bead necklace with blue/green/white multicolored Krobos (African) glass beads in the "Kokomo" category. This was the category for tropical themed designs.

The other designers have really stepped up their game for this contest with some extraordinarily beautiful and creative designs. This is going to be tough.

Stringing Magazine's "Let's Go to the Movies" contest

Sent my entry for Stringing Magazine's "Let's Go to the Movies" contest. The necklace I designed used paper beads I made from the movie section of the Washington Post. I used Mod Podge and Glossy Accents to seal and lacquer the beads. The necklace has red bicone glass beads, grey oval glass beads, and white seed pearls.

This is the first time I tried to make my own beads and I am hooked on making beads from paper. I used a paper bead roller tool invented by Vicki (Dehne) Griffith. The tool makes this very easy. There is a slot to slide one end of the paper and in no time you are rolling paper beads like a pro! Makes for an unusual bead and just as beautiful as any gemstone or glass bead.