Mother's Bracelets

I guess I never put any pictures up on these. I made multiple bracelets for Mother's day back in May. Here is one I recently made for a new mom at her request. It's a unique gift that any mother or grandmother is sure to treasure!

Back To School - Bank Fee Sale - Open House - September 4 10AM - 2PM

Ok everyone just bought their new school/fall wardrobe right? So it's time to get together and make some jewelry that matches! I will have around 20-30 bracelets, earrings, necklaces and anklets made for the event. They will be selling for $5-$30, or you can make your own. All beads are 15% off this day only.

If you have something particular in mind please give me a call so I can make sure to have matching beads on hand that day. Drop me an email if you have not been to my house before :)

In Home Jewelry Parties

An All About Beads party is a great social outlet! A group of friends getting together to design their own jewelry for a few hours. It's a great way to reduce stress and catch up with your friends. At a party you can select from over 300 high quality beads, as well as multiple clasps and toggles. The hostess will receive a credit for free jewelry as well. You can even schedule a party for your pre-teen or teenagers, where the girls can get together and make fun jewelry. A great way to build memories and you don't have to wait for the item to be shipped to you!

Another great idea is to host a party with your bridal party. You can easily find beads that will match your bridal, bridesmaid, flower girls, and mothers attire. A perfect way to take a few hours to de-stress from the hectic wedding planning days.

Beaded Cell Phone Straps

I'm one of those people that is always trying to dig through my purse to find my ringing cell phone. Usually I find it on the last ring as it goes to voicemail. Very frustrating! So one day when I was making some jewelry I came up with a fun idea. Why not make a bracelet that can attact to a cell phone case?? That way you don't have to take your purse with you, if your hitting a club. Just slide your money and ID into the phone case and your ready to go! You can also use the beaded strap to attach through the handle on your purse. So the cell phone is easily accessible. I've even started attaching my keys to the strap as well. It has saved me a lot of time, and I no longer miss calls. Luckily I came across a seller doing a close out on cases she had left, so I bought them up. The White, Black, and Pink cases sold quickly. Now I need to find a way to sell the blue ones. I may end up putting them back for sale on eBay soon. Either way it's been a fun addition to my jewelry.

Dog Jewelry Necklaces

My dear friend Kim asked me to make her a necklace for her dog Ella many months back. No idea why I put that on the back burner but I did. I finally was able to visualize it recently, and have started to see more and more jewelry for pets showing up in the stores. So I ventured out and last night made my first pet jewelry. It's has Pink and White 8mm Cats eye beads, and Silver plated 7mm round beads. It is connected with a small lobster clasp and beaded on 49 gauge wire. It is finished off with an adorable little princess tag. I brought it into work and the first person I showed it to bought it on the spot!

So now I plan to hit some groom shops early saturday morning to see if they would let me display my wares in their store for a commission. I think I'm going to hire Kim as my designer and pay her in jewelry. She has an amazing talent in all things creative.

I'm a franchise now......

A few weeks ago I was getting my monthly massage (Hot Stone Massages rock!) and had brought in my jewelry since she wanted to look at it. After looking through my wares she suggested putting up a display in her office. I was so excited and thrilled I went home and made up some sets just for her office.

I went to Taipan Trading bought a tall metal vase and some of that green foam. Then grabbed some dried branches from the yard. My good friend Kim came over and helped me arrange it. This is one of her strong talents.. not mine. She brought some Moss and then we added a ribbon. I have to say it turned out gorgeous!

I carefully drove the "jewelry tree" down to Becky's office and then put up the display. Once I get my camera back from it's accidental journey to Georgia (my friends wife packed the camera thinking it was her husbands) I will take a pic to show you how it looks.

I tried to stick to natural materials since it is in a massage therapists office. So I made Bracelets with matching earrings out of African Jade, Red Howlite, Golden Jade, Pietersite, River Stone, Sodalite, Hermatite, and Amethyst.

Hopefully the franchise will do as well as my office store has done. The store was closed today due to some crazy allergic reaction from my recent camping trip. I believe the campground north of us had a really bad ailment in the form of repetitiveness. First the teenage boy kept saying "Merrily" or "Melana" over and over barely pausing for a breath. I had to leave to get firewood before I lost my mind. The next evening a new group of campers moved in, as I started to drift off to sleep I hear: "I want to go to bed, the fire is out and I'm cold" Repeat that 15 times in a row as all the adults in the campground seem to not here the poor child and you'll understand why I was unable to sleep.....

All About Beads

Last February my Aunt Martha invited me to a Jewelry Party. Not being a huge wearer of jewelry at the time I debated going. But in the end thought it would be fun just to go and see what this was about.

Once I showed up, and saw a few examples I was pretty sure I wasn't creative enough to be attempting this feat! So I grabbed a bracelet I liked in hopes of copying it in a different color. I thought about what color do I wear the most, and it is definitely corals or reds. I found the perfect mix of stones and proceeded in copying the design with a bit of a twist. It actually turned out gorgeous! I think in part because the beads available were incredibly good quality and easy to match with each other.

The consultant liked it so much she took a picture and planned to make the exact copy for her display. I was sooooo proud of myself! Maybe this is some hidden untouched talent! I told her to sign me up for her next party!

A few weeks later my sister was in town to attend the bridal shower of a cousin. We got to talking and I showed her my bracelet I had made. She wanted to make one too! Luckily, the consultant was my cousin's sister-in-law. So we grabbed my two nieces and headed off to her house to make some jewelry. My sister made a really pretty bracelet with the Rose Quartz, and decided she wanted a matching necklace as well. Both of my nieces were able to make their own bracelets as well. My one niece Ginger is only 8, but she was able to design a very cute yet sophisticated bracelet. My older niece Kayla, 13 designed the perfect teen look. Both were incredibly happy with their new jewelry.

This is when my sister asked about becoming a consultant, and I thought... hey this is something I could really do. I researched it a bit further and then signed up, my sister signed up soon after as well. So now I am busy with making my own designs which I sell at work or on eBay. I've really enjoyed learning more about the jewelry making process. I've even researched the gemstone meanings! I still like to look at other jewelry to get designs, as well as what the latest fashion trends are. But as I continue to make jewelry I'm really starting to gain some confidence in my abilities.

I recently found an incredible massage therapist, and she is going to let me display my designs in her office. So I'm trying to create some unique sets to put up there. I really need to put more of an effort into having my friends host parties and building up that aspect of my business. I enjoy the parties as it really lets me see different designs and ways to put beads together. Amazingly I have yet to see a design that I think is horrid. Mainly because Diane, (owner of All about Beads) has an amazing eye for great looking beads that work together.

I had bought beads online and at bead shops before signing up as a consultant. There are some really great online stores to buy from. However, the quality just never seemed to match up. Which was a HUGE reason for selecting to become a consultant with All About Beads. I purchased a sign to put up on my car. It's just the vinyl lettering in white, and it goes on my back window. But I have had some fun and interesting calls from people interested in beads and making jewelry.

My most recent creation is making beaded straps that you can attach to basic cell phone cases. I made one of these for me, as I am constantly losing my cell phone in the black hole I sometimes refer to as a purse. So now I have a cute beaded strap that I can attach to my purse strap to quickly retrieve my cell phone.

I brought these into work one day and everyone loved them. Sold out of the pink ones, and halfway through the black cases. I'm now trying to find some cases that will hold the Razr phones. Hopefully I will find a distributor soon. I've also learned a few new ways to make earrings with wire into tear drop shaped hoops.

I'm currently up to having over 300 different types of beads! So I'm trying to decide if I should take my storage room and turn it into a craft room so I can store the beads easier. I think that will be my goal for now. Hopefully, I'll be able to earn enough doing parties and selling jewelry to pay for the remodel to be done within a year. Wish me luck!

Paperless Geocaching for Singles

I have been geocaching for over 2 years now. The first time I heard of this hobby was when a girlfriend told me about this original fun date she had just gone on. Even though I had no idea what she was talking about, I was intrigued!

I bought my first GPS unit, a Magellan Sport Trek and started fumbling through the various Geocaching sites online. In the beginning it was a chore. I'd sit at my computer and try to plot which of the thousands of caches in my state I'd go after first. I would then write down the coordinates and head out. I found myself lost and back tracking many times in the beginning. I really had no idea what I was doing, and my dog just thought it was a fun adventure.

As I started meeting other Geocachers, I began to hear about Paperless Geocaching. The first time I went out with a Palm Pilot and my GPS unit, it was HEAVEN! No longer did I have to stop and head back home for more coordinates, or look ridiculous walking around in the forest with random pieces of paper in my hand. I felt like a pro!

There are some basic tools you need to go paperless geocaching. First a GPS unit that you can load Geocaches onto. I currently have the Garmin 60C and it's a kick to see all the little treasure boxes on the map, just waiting to be found! Next you will need something along the lines of a Palm Pilot. Once you have both of these tools, you will need to download Cachmate for the Palm, and GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) to track your Pocket quieries and Geocaches.

Now you just need to load your Pocket Quieries onto your GSAK, export the Waypoints to your GPS unit, and load the Cache information into your Palm Pilot.

Enter the dating part of geocaching. I was tired of dating guys and doing the same Dinner and movie themed evening. So if given the opportunity I would generally suggest geocaching after dinner. It's a great way to get out and hike around while having great conversation with your date. It's best to give them a brief overview and then let them find the location on the GPS unit while you assist.

I've found that many men get turned off if I just jump in and find the cache everytime. Having found more then a hundred caches, I have begun to think like a cacher. If I see random bark laying across something on the ground, I automatically think there must be a cache there!
Of course there are a few precautions a person should take. Geocaching should be done in a public area until you get to know your date more. I would never suggest driving out in the middle of nowhere with a stranger. Save that for later in the relationship.

For guys that are planning the date, pack a picnic and take her to some caches that you've already located and know they exist. Nothing is more frustrating then a new cacher not being able to find the geocache. It's also good to have preplanned the perfect setting and area for the picnic. Trust me, your date will be thrilled to have gone on a unique date. Unless of course she hates the outdoors, but then why would you want to date someone like that? Also, make sure she dresses appropriately. Hiking around in heels is a definite strike against getting a second date.

My dog Jake

So I have a fox terrier. Keyword here is Terrier... he is a bundle of energy! But I love him. Right now he is in his lazy days of summer mode. He lies around and sleeps a lot, just trying to stay cool. He still gathers up the energy to head out on a hike or go find some geocaches with me, but I can tell the heat just wears him out. Lately I've tried to go on hikes near a river or lake so he can get some swim time in and cool off.

The pizza guy just came... Jake has been laying around sleeping all day. But the doorbell is an instant signal for him to bark his head off and run around like a crazy man. I lock him in the bedroom where he continues barking, and open the door to see the pizza guy with large eyes looking over my shoulder to see if it was safe or not.

All in all.. nobody else gets to see how great he is, he tends to not behave around others. But he's my baby and I think I will keep him around a bit more.

How to create a Babysitting Kit

Many years ago when I was a teenage, the greatest way to earn money was babysitting. I found that more people hired me, if their kids had a great time while I was there. One of my teachers showed us how to create a babysitter kit. I thought this was amazing! Not only did the kids enjoy it, I loved using the kit with the children.

The first thing you want to do is find an appropriate sized container. Today there are some really great Storage boxes that would be perfect. I would suggest not going any larger then 2 X 3 Foot box. You don't want the box to overwhelm you, or be to heavy to cart around to your various jobs.

Now your ready to create the items in your kit. The first thing is a Parent Checklist, you can create this on a Word document on your computer. If you babysit regularly for the same family you can file your document away for the next babysitting job. However, to save a tree, I would go with a laminated document using a dry erase marker. The checklist should contain the following information for the parents to fill out.

Parents Cell Phone:
Emergency Contact:
Doctor's Name and Phone Number
Any Medications or Allergies
Next you can get several fun activities to do with the children. I would suggest Story books, Coloring books, Crayons, Activity books, and some creative activity or your own design.

Finally, have a report ready to present to the parents that will briefly explain what the children did while they were gone. If the kids are old enough, have them help you fill this out.

Make sure to change up your activity supplies often so you aren't always bringing the same items each time you babysit.

Gemstone Meanings

I have been studying the meanings and powers behind Gemstones, and have been very intrigued about the mysteries behind these powers. Most of them I use in the jewelry I create. I wanted to share what I've learned with you, as you may find gemstones that might help you in your various activities.

It is often said that crystals and stones choose us, rather then us choosing them. This may well be, although I tend to think it's a mutual choosing process, and the same holds true for crytals and gemstones jewelry.

Either way, the key to choosing crystals and stones is to use your intuition. Do what feels right to you. This holds true when purchasing stones online as well as in a shop or at a fair locally.
Purple has long been considered a royal color so it is not suprising that amethyst has been so much in demand during history. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.

Amethyst Gemstone Meaning:
Crystalline quartz in shades of purple, lilac, or mauve is called amethyst, a stone traditionally worn to guard against drunkeness and to instill a sober mind. The word amethyst comes from the Greek meaning "without drunkenesss" and amethyst is believed to protect one from poison. This explains why wine goblets were often carved from Amethyst.

The legend of the origin of amethyst comes from Greek Myths. Dionysius, the god of intoxication, was angered one day by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a stature of pure crystalline quartz to protect her fromthe brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse of his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today.

Blue Quartz crystal is a soothing, stress-relief stone. Like all quartz, it can be used as a power amplifier during magic. Blue quartz is especially fine as a peace or tranquility stone.

Alternate names and name spellings include Dumortierite Quartz, sometimes called just Dumortierite. Blue quartz is a stone of order that can enhance organizational abilities, self-discipline, and orderliness. The enhancement is believed to be due to the effect it can have of balancing the throat chakra and enhancing communication between the lower chakras (physical) and higher chakras (mental/spiritual). Blue quartz brings the sense of order to all things, and releases fear, bringing courage into one's life. It is also a boost for creativity and expression.
Emotionally, blue quartz greatly reduces problems with scattered mind and disorganization, and brings mental clarity. It also helps one to see and accept reality, and react to it intelligently in one's behalf. It can lift depression and replace it with peace and happiness. It also can help reduce stubborness, particularly stubborness that ultimately is bad for one.

Physically, blue quartz can help with cooling the body, throat, thyroid, and parathyroid, detoxification, overstimulation, hyperactivity, spleen, endocrine system, and blood.

Chalcedony, also spelled Calcedony, is a very fine-grained (cryptocrystalline) variety of the silica mineral quartz. It has a waxy luster and appears in a great variety of colors including blue, white, buff, light tan, gray, yellow, pink, red, or brown. If chalcedony is conspicuously color-banded, it may be called agate and with minerals it has various other names including carnelian, mocha stone, onyx, and bloodstone to name a few.

In the petrified forests of the Desert Southwest, many of the original tree tissues have been replaced by chalcedony in the formation of petrified wood. What remains is a mineral replica of the original tree in various fantastic colors. The brilliant reds and greens are caused primarily by traces of iron oxides

Considered a sacred stone by the Native American Indians, chalcedony nurtures and promotes brotherhood and good will.
Used to assist telepathy
Absorbs negative energy and dissipates it
Harmonizes mind, body, and spirit
Instills generosity
Vitality
Stamina
Endurance
Kindness
Emotional balance
Friendliness
It supposedly alleviates hostilities, irritability and melancholy

eBay Guides.... Jewelry Making

Here are a few guides I've written for eBay... enjoy!

I have been doing this for about 6 months now, so by no means am I an expert in this field. However, for those of you wanting to start, I'd like to share what I have learned.
First, it's important to use the right beading wire. Don't go cheap here, all that will happen is the bracelet or necklace will break at some point. I only use Beadalon 49 Strand Wire, Invisiline, or 1mm Stretch Magic wire. When I first started out I bought the 19 Strand Wire and found it couldn't hold the heavier beads after several months.
There are some great tools out there that are must haves. First a wire cutter to cut the Wire to length as well as the excess. Chain nose pliers can be used for crimping the beads as well as holding the headpins while wrapping the wire with the Roundnose pliers. A split ring tool is not essential but makes attaching rings to Charms much easier.
The Chain nose pliers are great for crimping until you become more advanced. I currently have begun using the Bead crimper tool which provides a more polished look. The lower section will crimps the wire into two separate strands, while the upper section folds it in half and rounds it off. You need to make sure the wires are laying parallel when you do the first crimp, or the crimp may not be as secure.
There are several different sizes of crimps. They range for 1mm which are great for the illusion style jewerly, up to the 3mm size to use when threading multiple strands of wire. Some like to secure the jewelry with two crimps, I prefer just one.
Now that you have your tools and wire, its time to find the beads. I stay away from plastic beads as they give the jewelry a type of unfinished and cheap look. I generally stick with Glass beads, Gemstones, Bali Silver, Lampwork beads, Seed Beads, and Swarovski Crystals.
When creating your jewelry, a bead board comes in incredibly handy. This way you can lay out your design and rearrange as needed before threading your beads. I've found it's best to choose your biggest beads first and center those in your design. Then work your way out with the smaller beads. Most like to do it in symetrical fashion, but some really neat designs can come out of using simliar but not duplicate beads.