Time for the BIG Reveal!

Time for the 6th Annual BSBP R-E-V-E-A-L...

If you didn't see my post about the bead soup Jami Shipp sent me check this post out first: http://tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-bead-soup-has-arrived.html

The agate focal I received in my bead soup is very much outside of my color comfort zone since I usually lean toward brighter colors.  I was really glad though because one of my reasons for joining this party is to stretch my creativity.

I wanted to really jump in to this bead soup so I looked through my bead stash to see what I had that would work well with the focal and I decided to pair it with some turquoise beads (howlite maybe).  

Here is the necklace I made...

The toggle was copper which was great because I have been playing with copper lately. I was thrilled to use a metal I haven't used a lot but I really love!

The copper wire I had  was very bright and shiny which was not going to work.  I decided to antique it to match the toggle color better.  I put the wire into a bowl of vinegar and sea salt for a minute then let it air dry without wiping it off which worked very quickly in turning my wire dark and giving it a patina very quickly.

The tiny brown disks are shell beads from Michaels. I love the deep turquoise color of these little beads.

I got the silk pieces from Suzanne Berk a super sweet lady, a fellow artisan and HUGE animal activist...love that!!

I went much more artsy than I usually do and I got to use some new materials and techniques that I am happy about.

I also wanted to use the beautiful flat shell coins I got so here is a bracelet that also has some of the same tiny shell disks I used in the necklace. 

I handwrapped a tiny bell glass flower on a bronze ball headpin as well as a crystal in champagne ab.

I would love to hear what you think so feel free to comment below.

Now, on to the rest of the party, check out these blogs for many more reveals...

Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com

Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

Alicia Marinache, All The Pretty Things

Amanda Tibbetts, Amanda Made

Amber Dawn Goldish, Inventive Soul

Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool

Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit

Candida Castleberry, Spinning Spun Sugar

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Cassie Donlen, Glass Beadle

Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri

Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another

Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe

Christina Hickman, Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Hendrickson, Clamworks

Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends

Cindy Wilson, Mommy's Dream

Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio

Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie

Cory Tompkins, Tealwater Designs  (THIS IS ME!)

Cris Peacock, Cris' Page

Cynthia Deis, Shiny Little Things

Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers

Cynthia Wainscott, Exotic Peru

Dana Hickey, Magpie Approved

Dana James, Dana's Jewelry Designs

Dana Lang, Tumblestone Handmakery

Debbie Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs

Denielle Hagerman, Some Beads and Other Things

Diane Valasek, Dragonfly Close

Doris Stumpf, Glaszwerg

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations

Elaine Robitaille, Too Aquarius

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life

Enikö Fabian, Perl-eni

Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found

Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads

Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto Jewelry

Hilary Frye, FryeStyle

Ilenia Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded and Painted Jewelry

Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog

Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life

Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle

Jean A. Well, Jean A. Wells Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry

Jean Yates, Snap Out of It Jean! There's Beading to Do!

Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions

Jennifer Pottner, Rock Candy Beads

Jennifer VanBenschoten, Jewelry, Art and Life

Jenny Davies-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor

Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design

Jessica Dickens, My Jewelry, My Life, Me

Jessica Klaaren, Beadful-Things by Jessica

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Joan Williams, Lilruby Jewelry

Judith Johnston, Judith Johnston

Judy Riggs, Rigglettes

Judy Turner, Silver Rains

Julie Anne Leggett, The Peaceful Bead

K Hutchinson, Jumbled Hutch

Karen Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch

Karyn Bonfiglio, Plus Size Bangles

Katherine Gale, Terra Beadworks

Kathleen Lange Klik, Modern Nature Studio

Katja Benevol Gabrijelcic, Slovonske Technobe

Kelli Jacobson, Creative Moon

Kelly Ramstack, Adventures with Kelly

Keri Lee Sereika, Pink Lemonade

Kim Ballor, Vitamin C... A Daily Dose of Creativity

Kim Bender-Hora, KimmyKat

Kirsi Luostarinen, Kirsi Luo Korut

Kitty Bozzini, Kitty Lampwork

Laura Demoya, The Bead Therapist

Laurie Hanna, Laurie's Jewelbox

Leah Curtis, Beady Eyed Bunny

Lesley Watt, The Gossiping Goddess

Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry

Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings

Lisa Liddy, Metal Me This

Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land

Lori Poppe, Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads

Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations

Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things

Marion Simmons, Shade Tree Studio

Marla Gibson, Spice Box Design

Marta Weaver, Marta Weaver Jewelry

Marti Conrad, Marti C's Clay Blog

Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens, GlassBeadArt, Lampwork Beads

Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio

Michelle Hardy, Firefly Visions

Mikala Coates, Maybe Just Perhaps

Mowse Doyle, HoCArt

Nan Emmett, Spirit Rattles - Spirited Earth

Nancy Boylan, Snazzy Doodle Designs

Nancy Peterson, Beading From the Heart

Nicole Rennell, Nicole Rennell Designs

Niki Meiners, 365 Days of Craft

Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats

Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink

Patricia Johnson, Patricia L. Johnson Glass Art

Patti Vanderbloemen, My Addictions ... Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs

Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads

Renetha Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts

Shannon Hicks, Falling Into the Sky

Shannon LeVart, Miss Fickle Media

Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Art Werks

Shelby Foxwell, Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric

Shelley Graham Turner, Fabric of My Life

Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame

Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread

Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads

Stacie Florer, Soul to Substance

Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue

Stacy Alderson, Iridal's Attic

Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs

Stephanie Stamper, Rainy Day Designs

Sue Hamel, The Bottte Cork and Crystal

Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux

Szarka, Magpie Gemstones

Tammy Jones, Jewelry Making Daily

Tania Tebbit, Glass, Craft, & Artful Goodness

Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti

Terry Matuszyk, Pink Chapeau

Tina Bosh, Every Good and Perfect Gift

Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass and Recycled Trash

Vonna Maslanka, Just Vonna

 Thanks Lori Anderson, you are the BEST!!

Here is the Bead Soup I sent to my BSBP partner

Last week I posted a purposely fuzzy photo of the beads I sent to my BSBP partner.  We can't really show what we sent till our partners get their beads and since Jami already got it I can now clear up that photo and show it here...

I am so excited to see what she makes!  July 29th is coming waaayyy too fast!!

Lori Anderson's Giveaway

Lori Anderson is doing a 5 part giveaway from the stash she got at the Bead and Button show.  The giveaways she has put together are just delicious.

Lori Anderson's Pretty Things Giveaway

First, she has a great stash of beads and other jewelry related items from the B&B show.  The other items are a copy of Lori's Bead Soup book, her online book Blogging Inspirations, a nice large tote with the BSBP logo and a mystery soup that she is putting together herself (that's what I want to win!)

If you want a chance to win one of these great prizes better hurry, she is picking winners on Friday the 13th!  Click on Lori's name above to go to her blog for all the details.

Art Jewelry Elements: Professional Looking and Practical Packaging

Check out these great packaging ideas from Jennifer Cameron.  Click here for the entire post:  Art Jewelry Elements: Professional Looking and Practical Packaging

Jennifer makes Kick A** glass at Glass Addictions.

My Bead Soup Has Arrived!

My creativity is churning, visions of jewelry designs flowing through my brain.  I am so excited now that I have my Bead Soup!! 

My husband came by the office yesterday and when I was walking him out I saw a package with my name on it by the front door.  If you know me then you know that I lOvE surprises and gifts so an unknown package with my name on it...oh yeah!!  When I saw Jami's name in the return address I knew this was IT so I quickly ripped it open.

I'll let the pictures do the rest...

Copper Toggle

Lentil Shells

Agate Focal

Ruby Brecciated Jasper

Bead Soup

How do I feel?

 like the nose ring? Hehe

My Bead Soup Revealed...Kinda

Here is a little teaser of the Bead Soup I sent to Jami Shipp from Celebrating Life, my BSBP Partner.  She should get it by Friday and she has sent mine too!!  I am so excited and nervous to see it and see what I can do with it.

More coming soon...

7 Simple Steps to Cheap and Easy International Shipping

Are you selling internationally?  No?  Well, let  me help you make that leap by showing you how cheap and easy it can be.  I have sold internationally for the past few years and, so far, it has been a very good thing.

Actually my first sale on Etsy (from someone I didn't know)was to a lady in Great Britain who bought a pair of my wire wrapped ruby earrings. 

Ruby and gold wire wrapped earrings

 I have sent jewelry to Canada, England and, just the other day, Germany where my cobolt earrings will soon be worn at an engagement party (which is going to be held on the sea coast of Albania)! 

Cobolt Blue and gold earrings

It gives me a special little thrill knowing that something I made will be travelling farther than I ever have and will be worn by someone in a different country.

So...let me demystify the international shipment a bit.  Now remember, I live in the US so this is just my experience from my perspective.  I have found that most people think shipping internationally is way too expensive.  Some of this is due to Paypal because you can only ship the more expensive ways through Paypal (ie: Global Express, Express Mail International).  If you go to USPS.com you will find good information and a MUCH cheaper way to send packages.

Here are 7 simple steps to shipping internationally:

1.  Go to USPS.com and rest your mouse over Ship a Package so the drop down menu displays.  Choose Compare Services

2.  Make sure you choose the International tab

3.  Scroll down and choose First Class Mail International by clicking calculate prices.

4.  Select the Destination and the shape of your shipment (mine are always packages which includes a box or a thick envelope.

 5.  Whoa...look at these prices!!

 6.  Don't worry, I told you this would be much cheaper right?  Click the First Class Mail International Options to see what I was talking about.

7.  Next, click on the Customs Forms and Extra Services button at the bottom right.  You can actually fill out and print the customs form online now.  You still have to go to the post office to pay and ship (unless you use a service like Stamps.com, I think you can actually pay and print shipping from there).

So that's it...not so scary is it?  Now get out there and try it, you might make additional sales by opening up your options to international shipping.

Good Luck!!