Playtime

View From Studio Window

Okay, I haven't been very good about updating my blog. I would love to confess that I've been playing but in reality I'm running around doing errands and kid stuff.
So, the snow arrives and I'm not really happy about it. I don't know that most of us are. It's kind of a hassle and you risk an accident everytime you leave the driveway. So yesterday I go to pick up my youngest at school and there he is~ his head is in the snow and he's pushing it along like he's snowplow. Why he's out of his mind I'm thinking and I'm looking around and all the children are smiling and laughing and playing. Wow. They look forward to the snow and they see this gift from Mother Nature as something fun! I don't want to dread it and when I'm standing in the kitchen window or looking out my studio window and the sun is out then I'm surprised by the incredible beauty. Okay, so I love the snow from the inside looking out. Now if I could get some sort of tank to drive me around safely that would be cool.
So, email me or do a comment and tell me what is your favorite playtime. It doesn't have to be related to snow just that it brings you joy. Joy like in making you laugh and smile like a child. I'll pick one and the winner will get a Bead Girl Train case for a wonderful holiday surprise!

Tree Goddess Necklace

I'm supposed to be home, tucked away in my new beautiful studio making lots of jewelry. Turns out I'm a little ADD and the dishes, laundry blah blah blah get my attention first! So, in a whole month all I made is this necklace. I've got to tell you that I just love it! Thank you Melanie of Earthenwood Studios for making such gorgeous pendants and giving me an opportunity to make something beautiful.

The New Studio

Well, here it is. Not the best picture but it's filled with very happy people taking the Lisa Blackwell of ZoaArt and Cynthia Thorton of GreenGirlStudio workshop. I believe I did mention how lucky I felt. We had the best time! And anytime you can get a class with these fabulous artists it's worth every minute and every penny. We learned so much and were so inspired. My pics of the resin pendants we made did not come out well. I had too much glare from the resin but a previous post shows what the project was. My hope is that the girls loved it enough to come back in the Spring and teach another class!

PMC Classes!

This is going to be a fabulous weekend! This Thursday, November 15th & Friday, November 16th is Lisa Blackwell's resin bracelet class. On day one, students will create a different shaped bezels, a toggle and chain link with pmc. Day two is finding the awesome artwork to put inside this bracelet and filling it with resin. It's actually a two-sided bracelet because the back side is stamped with design/texture so you can wear an all silver bracelet or one with color. Surprisingly seats are still left so if you are in the Dundee/Elgin area of Illinois or willing to make the drive ~ email me! bellalunabeads@aol.com

After that class, I am jumping for joy for the weekend class. Saturday Lisa will be teaching the pendant bezels made of pmc and then Sunday, Cynthia Thorton of Green Girl Studios (check out her blog) will be teaching how to fill it with polymer clay and various techniques. I am a huge fan of Cynthia's and have been for years. I'm so lucky and feel so blessed to have these amazing artists in my midst! There are 4 spots left as several people were unavailable~ So again, email me if you are interested.

It's All About Me

I'm so excited. One more day open to the public and then I move everything to my studio. It's all empty and painted and ready to be settled in to. I forgot how much I love to move!

I'm sorry that everyone is sad. I know a lot of people really enjoyed shopping and hanging out but it is time. I've been wanting to close since the summer. It all started when I was offered a job in California. I was asked "what do you really want?" "What do you really want to do?" I realized that I was perfectly willing to move which meant I was perfectly willing to close the store. But I didn't want to re-open in California. I want to make jewelry. I promised myself 4 years ago to start a jewelry line and I haven't. I promised myself that I would master the flexshaft for drilling stones and master the soldering iron. I haven't done that. But I have been monitoring my sales and what sells well.

So, it's all about me. I want to sit at home and create. I want to play beads and I really miss it. That's what I really want. The online store will be filled with what sells well in Bella. If you've been in my shop you know how much I love color and how much I love to mix it up. Bracelet kits, Lariat Kits, Healing Bracelet kits, Knotted Necklace Kits, etc. etc. and of course, Project of Week will be online. Naturally I will have all the supplies needed to go with those projects plus Toho seed beads, wire, closures, etc and my pmc pieces.

Then just for fun I'm considering doing bead shows. At first I thought no way but Ruth suggested that it could really promote the online store besides having a new venue and it really makes sense to try a few if not just for the fun of traveling and meeting new people.

And last but not least, I really miss my family. This is such a great way for me to still have my business but all on my terms and maybe sneak in a vacation once in awhile. My boys have grown so big and have been so patient and now I want to spend more time with them. I'm so lucky that the business has grown and is capable of going worldwide~

Thank you to all my loyal and wonderful customers and dearest friends.

Sad but True

Yes, it's true I'm closing the shop. After 4 1/2 years I have found that too many beaders like to buy online. While, many of my customers love the classes and the atmosphere of the shop there are simply not enough beaders to support the business. I've noticed a steady decline in shoppers and being told "I like to buy online". So, keeping up with times and the current business practices, I will be turning my webpage into an online store. My kits, projects and supplies will be available for those who like to shop at midnight. East Dundee seemed the perfect place to start a business in a quaint downtown area but alas only bars survive. So many of my customers have become friends and I hope to continue to see them as I would miss them terribly.

On the bright side, the freedom of not having a retail space will allow me more time for creativity and the making of jewelry. I am really very excited about that. I can't tell you how many projects and ideas I have floating around my head. I can't wait to get started. But first we are changing my current in home studio into a new and improved larger studio taking up most of the basement. I've got new paint colors selected and the area all drawn out on graph paper. As I told my husband, "I need to hit the ground running". I know that I will be so busy trying to stock up two stores with jewelry and filling my webpage with wonderful new kits and possibily step by step instructions with pics.

This is the perfect time and I am ready for change. I miss my kids and I miss my husband and, of course, miss my Nina. And speaking of change I'm dying my hair red in 3 weeks! Gee, I hope it takes.

Did You Find It?

Nina found it. Let out to do her business, my husband found her basking in the sun. Yes, this is a carseat left in the carport for the next trash day and a perfect throne for our princess. Nina, our chiahuahua is 3 years old in December and the best chiahuahua ever. She barks just til she smells you and then demands that you hold her. A true lap dog and she loves everyone!

My joys: beads, Nina, my boys sound asleep, Benjamin's laugh, Harrison's dimples, my husband's humor, my favorite music loud, breakfast with my best friends, starbucks, full moons to recharge under, rain, waterfalls, japanese gardens, yoga and meditation.

It was so hard to choose the winner of the "find your joy" talisman bar so I picked two. Joan and Evelyn moved me with their words. I loved reading them all!

Find Your Joy

Last Saturday, Karen and I did a Self-Discovery Faire at Evolve in Crystal Lake. This was a joint venture between Evolve, Akasha (the yoga center) and Moon Willow (the tai chi center). Our part in the faire was doing a healing bracelet workshop. We created kits to make it a little less stressful for non-beaders. Our kits were Calming, Aura Protection, Abundance, Opening your Intuition, Healing the Heart, Healing the Mind and Goddess. In addition to the kits, we created what I call Talisman bars. We tried to select words that would go nicely with the kits. We had Serenity, Radiance, Blessings, Namaste, Enlightment, Gratitude, Inner Power, True Self, Goddess and Find Your Joy. I thought that the Find Your Joy went nicely with the abundance kit. This is my bracelet and it's perfect for fall!
What is the healing attributes of the goddess bracelet you ask? It's just pretty and purple and a reminder that we women are Goddesses and we need to keep that in mind when we are dealing with the world and our families and friends. It's an empowering bracelet. We need constant reminders of how powerful we are as women and how we really run this place~

So, my question to you is:

What is your joy?

Two weeks ago when I was running errands I was so annoyed. I was returning a fire extinguisher required by the fire department and I had purchased one that was apparently not charged. It's the errands that really wipe me out. So I had been repeating in my head "Find Your Joy" because I wanted to get out of the funk I was in. I returned the extinguisher and when I turned to leave I saw a cart full of orchids. I found my self smiling and enchanted and bought two. Find your joy Deborah. This one is in my bathroom and it's perfect in there since I am not a morning person.

Now, post your Joy and I will pick a winner for a "Find Your Joy" talisman bar including jumprings and a lobster so you can create a joyful bracelet.

Good Luck!

Wicked Witch

It's true I guess. The earliest Halloween I remember dressing up as a witch. It was easy and convenient for my mother. I was not happy about that. At the very least, I could have had a pointed hat. A couple of years ago, when my boys were still quiet young, I was searching Toys R Us for their costumes and I picked up fairy wings for me. The woman at the checkout said "that's great. We are witches all year." Then last year my 10 year old muttered "witch" under his breath and I smiled. He doesn't know what he's got in store for him!
Anyway, I finally finished my newest favorite bracelet as promised with no orange. I love the mix of the jet hemitite, purple velvet and peridot satin for my crystals. It sounds wonderful and lays so nicely on my wrist~

I did make enough charms for two more bracelets and they sold this week! Yea, now I can make more to feed my pmc hunger. I will be making more charms because I know there are more witches out there. Anyone ever hear the Cowboy Junkies song "Witches" on their the caution horses album? I love that song~