New Buttons

I have been totally slack this past week (or two) in responding to comments on the blog.  I'd like to take a moment to apologize to you all for that.  Work has been crazy hectic and I'm struggling to find balance right now with personal, professional and bead commitments I have made.  I told one customer last night I should just stop making commitments this week because I am keeping so few.  It makes me feel like crap.  :(  I don't like not following through on promises I have made and I need to better learn how to juggle all the different aspects of my life.

On the flip side, I am still convinced I have the best and most understanding and patient customers ever.  So thank you for that!

Since the custom buttons that were requested a coupla weeks ago have now been chosen and reserved (because I took a coupla weeks to actually make the aforementioned buttons), I have others that are now up for grabs.  I thought I should go ahead and list them since I have the pics all taken and ready to go. 

10,000 Leagues

Hot Mess

and

Blue Belt

All sales made before 8pm EDT tonight will get shipped out on Friday.  Anything purchased after that will be sent out on Monday, October 25th after I return from St. Louis.

I am so excited to go on another roadtrip so soon.  Can you tell?  Normally we wait months after the drive up to Minnesota and back in June/July.  So many good things (and not in any particular order) about this weekend!!!

Gooey Butter Cakes!

Seeing my Aunt Judy get married!

Jack In The Box tacos!

Seeing my Uncle Mike from Arizona!

Photographing my Aunt Judy get married!

Loading up on more Maul's barbecue sauce!

Taking my kids to the Magic House!

Driving for the better part of a day and seeing a vast amount of our countryside and farmland!

Spending time with my husband and kids for three solid days straight!

Getting a three day weekend and not worrying about work!

Are you tired of my exclamation points yet?!

:D

On another note, but equally exciting because I am so. very. thrilled. for my friend....  If you are a jewelry designer and you didn't already know, Lorelei and Erin Siegel landed their own book deal on leather, lace, cord and ribbon projects.  They have started a Flickr group and opened up a contest to decide upon another contributor (or two) to their upcoming book.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!  I am looking forward to sharing pics of MY weekend once I return.

Eagan, MN artist - Sherry Ehret of JitterJewels

Sherry is a fantastic jewelry designer and is living the dream! She has been working full-time, designing jewelry for years. What would be her formal living room in her home is actually her studio and showroom. When I visited Sherry last summer, I was in awe of her designs, workmanship and the sheer quantity of pieces displayed. It was like I had walked into an upscale boutique off Main Street because there was soooo much to look at and touch and look at some more :)


Sherry has a great eye for design and color combinations. Her work ranges from simply subtle to complex and elegant to bold and flashy. I'm sure you can find a piece for any occasion, whether you're dressing down for the beach or up for a formal ball. I LOVE how she can take so many different components and put them all together to make stunning jewelry that anyone can wear!


And you might have noticed some of my beads in her jewelry, which I think is so cool. I enjoy watching my beads 'grow up' and live new & different lives in ways I would never dream up. Like the etched green & yellow beads in the bracelet above. I loved these beads, but I could never figure out what to do with them. Sherry created this bracelet and now I can't imagine a more perfect design with these colors!


She even makes name and birthstone bracelets similar to the one above. Sherry made one that says GRANDMA for Sharon (my mom-in-law) that she wears ALL. THE. TIME. And I got Sherry to make a bracelet for one of my good friend's with her son's name and birthstones (which she LOVED!). Just send her an email if you want something specific, Sherry takes on custom work all the time :)

You can visit Sherry's Jitter Jewels shop on Etsy at JitterJewels.etsy.com

New Hartford, NY Artist - Lorelei

If I wore jewelry, I would wear Lorelei's!  I know it seems strange, since I also make jewelry...but I rarely wear it.  Lorelei has a tremendous bead addiction and gets her fill by buying TONS on Etsy and then plays for hours with her beads....designing funky, hip, uber-cool, jewelry with a vintage feel.  

I am amazed at how many new pieces she creates each week, as this is a hobby.  Major shame....I'd LOVE to see what she would do if she could create full time.  Lorelei bought some of my beads last summer and I've been glued to her blog and admiring her designs ever since!

Lorelei has a great eye for selecting & combining colors, unique pendants and creating innovative designs that will not be found in so many other jewelry shops.  She has really perfected wire-wrapping to a beautiful art and I love how she sometimes incorporates buttons into her designs!

You may check out her blog which she updates regularly with what is keeping her busy inside & out of her studio.  The url is http://lorelei1141.blogspot.com/

Lorelei also maintains two shops, one on Etsy and another on 1000 Markets where you can ogle and purchase her jewelry.

www.lorelei1141.etsy.com

http://www.1000markets.com/shops/theowlsden

You can also follow Lorelei on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lorelei1141

Jacksonville Artist - Cristi of 2ifbysea

And with that last resolution to highlight & promote exceptional artists....please check out Cristi's work. She is a fantastic jewelry designer, on top of raising two beautiful boys with her husband in Jacksonville. Being a graphic designer in her past life has truly given her an eye for seeing what color combinations will go together the best with different metals and other complementary elements. Cristi has her own blog and Etsy shop that she successfully maintains on top of keeping all her boys happy.

This Ancient Ruins bracelet is very cool...the lock & key are a nice touch

I LOVE this dragonfly necklace of hers