Summertime

This has already been a very long, hot summer....

Wish I was at the beach...

What does Summertime mean to me? St. Augustine with my family; enjoying the sun, walking on the beach, stunning sunrises, beautiful sunsets, wonderful food, and above all, my Grandsons.

This summer, ArtBeads sponsored a Summertime design challenge, and I was really excited to participate.

The glitter of the ocean in the morning sunlight on a hot summer day. The depth of the blues and greens of the ocean, as the reflection of the ocean foam on the waves, all inspired my concept.

Many, many design ideas come to mind. I finally choose a necklace with blue and green glass beads, reflecting the beauty

.

Now I can’t wait for fall to arrive!

The Legal Stuff: I have received the glass beads free-of-charge from Artbeads.Com. I am reviewing the products honestly, from the above mentioned company, and the above post represents only the personal opinion of the blog author. I am not being compensated by Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

My Friend Wilma keeps me on my toes…

I have a very dear friend Wilma Travis, the very talented artisan

behind Wilma’s Whimsey.

Wilma and I both participate in a very successful Etsy Social Marketing Arts Guild. The eSMArts Guild, is a global collaborative of mixed media artisans intent on further understanding and applying eCommerce advertising and promotion techniques.

I doubt that Wilma even knows that she seems to always keep me on my toes when it comes to the eSMArts team, she seems to always remind me of the social marketing aspects that I’m often neglecting.

Wilma is a self taught, passionate lampwork bead artist, and oh do I wish I lived close to her, she could then teach me the wonderful art of lampwork. I too, dream of learning to melt glass and become a lampwork artist.

Her work is currently evolving in new directions, as she starts dabbling in making jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Chain Maille, and Viking Knit, and the use of Gemstones in her creations.

Please stop by Wilma’s blog, etsy shop and website and see her beautiful lampwork creations, and her progress into new jewelry endeavors.

Please Meet......

My Blogging Buddy – My Friend

I call her my friend, eSmarts teammate, and my blogging buddy. Who is she, but Teri Baskett of S & T Creations!

Teri and her partner, Saundra Brown-Gordon, began there jewelry business in 2005 when they opened S & T Creations in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Both ladies create larger pieces of jewelry, prominently featuring gemstones, glass and crystals in their jewelry designs.

Besides making beautiful bold jewelry designs, Teri handles most of the internet “tech-y” things for S & T Creations. But her heart is in creating beautifully unique jewelry designs. Each design features a bold style and flair, combined with quality components.

Here is how you can see more of Teri’s lovely work

http://www.sandtcreations.com

http://www.sandtcreations.com/wordpress

http://sandtcreations.etsy.com

The Lemonade Award

Danis Garcia of DG Designs has nominated me for the Lemonade Award.

Thank you very much, Danis. I really appreciate it. You are too kind. The Lemonade Award is awarded to sites that show a positive attitude and gratitude. And I am grateful to be considered a part of that group.

Here are the rules for the award:
1.Put the logo on your blog or post
2.Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great Gratitude and/or Attitude.
3.Be sure to list and link your nominees within your post.
4.Let them know they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.
5.Nominate your favorites and link to your post.

My Choices for the Award:
The World of Wezz
Art by Wanda
Bluebonnet Jewelry Designs
Glass0Beads
From the Bench
MeghanT Jewellrey Design
Studio618
Silver Rabbit Studio
Simplexities
Simply Willow

And the Winners are...

The One World - One Heart giveaway has come to a close. I have used a random number generator to select my winners for this year's giveaway.

The lucky winner of my "Beads Outa Beads" Necklace and Earrings is Leslie621
The lucky winner of my "Flowers and Leaves" Bracelet is Patee from Odd-Dolls

These ladies have three days to contact me... and if I do not here from them within this time frame I'll randomly draw another winner...

Please check back, I'll be blogging about my winners, and my experiences with this wonderful giveaway.

One World - One Heart

Make New Friends From Around the World.....

This year I decided to participate in one of the largest blogging events on the net One World – One Heart. Is the brainchild of Lisa Swifka, of A Whimsical Bohemian.

The original idea behind this event is to bring bloggers from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. Sharing their stories and creations, discovering new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize along the way.

Please visit the OWOH blog and visit all the other creative artisians….

Below are my two free gifts that I will ship anywhere in the world!

Beads Outa Beads Necklace

Swarovski Crystals, Fresh Water Pearls, Delica's, Self Clasp, and Sterling Silver Earwires

Flowers & Leaves
An unconventional color combination of blacks and purples create a stunning Flowers and Leaves Bracelet.

To have a chance to win, you only need to leave a comment on this blog post before midnight EST on February 11^th! The two winners names will be announced on February 12th and I will contact each winner to let you know you've won.

Jill

P.S. Please feel free to join my blog!

A Beaded Affair

An Affair You’ll Remember!

Who is the hard working, energetic designer behind “A Beaded Affair”, no other than my friend and fellow eSMArts Team member, Lois Matthews. Lois is a Daughter, Mother, Wife, Realtor, Title Insurance Agent, and outstanding Jewelry Designer.


Lois makes stunning jewelry designs, she combines high quality metals and gemstones to create a piece of art, art that will surely become heirlooms. Her work features the unusual, bold, feminine, and classic but always wearable designer pieces.


Lois is a special lady providing much guidance and support to the eSMArts Team, and its members. Always being available to help in all ways, giving of herself and her very valuable time.


Why not visit “A Beaded Affair’s” Etsy shop and see her stunning jewelry designs, hard to find 1/2 Round and Square Copper Wire in 18 and 20 gauge, Copper Findings, and fine gemstone beads.



Lois has a wonderful blog and website where she has featured many of the eSMArts team members, and as always provides the “play it forward” concept. For she is a true Team Player and my dear friend.

Kreativ Blogger Award

My friend Jacqui Graham from the Artist of the Round Table (A.R.T.) has presented me the wonderful Kreativ Blogger Award!

Jacqui, I truly treasure our friendship and thank you for your thoughtfulness.


The rules for passing this award on are:
1. The winner may put this award on their blog
2. Put a link to the person who sent this award to you
3. Nominate 5 blogs
4. Put links to their blogs
5. Leave a message for your nominees

I’m honored to give The Kreativ Award to:
Anna Lee Husband
Hilde Van Barel
Janet Burditt
The eSMArts Team Blog
Yvonne Cornelius

My family doesn’t read my blog…

October 13, 2007 to October 13, 2008

My blog is a year old today…

I first started blogging on October 13, 2007, a whole year has passed and my focus has totally changed. My original intent was for my blog to be read by my children and their families, so they could experience what Mom was creating…

My daughter and her family live over 3000 miles away, and I thought this would be a great way for her to see what Mom was creating. Now sons really don’t care about what Mama’s doing, or at least mine doesn’t.He was married in May of 2007, and has a very busy life with his new family, besides he has seen me create stuff, since he was just a baby.

Then there is my un-married daughter, who lives close by, she can’t miss what I’m up too, it’s always sitting around the house. But I gave them all my blogger address, hoping that maybe they would discover something they didn’t know about me.

Well, it didn’t take long before I decided that I would post to see if they had ever visited my blog. Yes, I was bad, I posted all three girls Christmas gifts on my blog, before Christmas. If they just logged into my blog they would have seen their gifts. I also told them all on Christmas day what I had done. Do you think anything has changed….No, they still haven’t made the first visit to my blog.

My focus, hasn’t really changed…I just now blog for myself, my customers and my friends. I love the ability to share what I’m creating and what I’ve learned.