Leap Year Giveaway!

I've been at home from work today sick.  Even though I have been resting most of the day, I figured it wouldn't take too much energy to post my giveaway! :)

So as I promised on my facebook fanpage, here it is!

I am giving away a pair of my little skulls!

Two little white skulls.  You get the choice of winning them as the charms themselves or as a pair of sterling silver plated fish hook earrings.

To enter check out my fanpage here!

Giveaway ends Friday March 2nd at 10am EST
Random winner will be drawn & announced Saturday 3rd or Sunday 4th!
Good luck!

Adventures in Lampwork - Day 2

My second day in my flameworking class was great.  I had gone in early to take advantage of the lab time.  Looking back now, I got a little over excited and tried to plunge ahead of the class and attempted to make dots on beads before the lesson.  It was fun, but after the class had ended I can see why I should have waited for the instruction before.  It was still a learning experience.  :)  I should have practiced making my lifesaver shaped beads instead.  I did kind of do that, but then I put some wonky dots on them too.  :D
The lesson plan for the day was to learn how to make dots, and then put dots on dots.  As my teacher said "Dots nice".  ;)  The final ideal bead was to be an eye bead.  Eye beads are used for protection.  They ward off the evil eye, bad luck, and bring good fortune to the wearer.  By the end of class, I had a few eye beads, and a couple nice dot beads.  I also had a few less attractive beads, and some plain lifesaver beads too.  The other lesson I learned from that class, don't rush.  Don't rush thru making a bead just to make another one.  I have a couple beads I stuck in my vermiculite that were too hot and ended up getting damaged.  Some might think I should ditch these damaged beads, but I could never do that.  Its a journey, and I want to be able to see the distance I've come since the first class.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  I am still having a sale in the shop thru the end of the holiday.  So if you see something you like, you can get 15% OFF with the coupon code LOVEYOU during checkout.  :)  Hope you all have a Happy Valentines Day!

My best eye bead with two plain little green beads.

Adventures in Lampwork - Day 1

Two weeks ago I started my lampwork course.  I am in love with it.  It has been so much fun, and I can hardly wait for the next lesson.  On Friday, the instructor taught how to make dots.  My beads are in the kiln waiting for me for the coming class.  My last two beads that day turned out really nice.  I hope they survived the kiln and I will be able to wear them.
This has really been an awesome journey so far.  I was worried that I might not enjoy it, or that I would completely suck at making glass beads.  I didn't think it would be a good idea to invest in anything until I knew where I stood with the medium.  Right now, things are looking promising.  If they continue in the same direction I could see myself trying to concoct a studio fit for lampworking.  :)

Speaking of new and exciting things, I have two other little updates to share. 
I have a sale running to show some love to all my customers in honor of Valentines Day.  :)  All you have to do to get 15% OFF in the shop is use this coupon code during check out:  LOVEYOU.  Because without my customers I am lost.  So Thank-you all of you for your continued support and business.  :)  Happy Valentines Day <3
My other little exciting update, which really might only be exciting to me, is that soon, I will be able to take credit as a form of payment at any of my shows to come!  :D  Isn't that awesome?!  I think so.  :)  In the past it was hard for a small business artist to get ahead, and had to limit accepted payments to cash or checks, and really these days, how many people pay in cash, and how many people carry their checkbooks?  We live in a digital age where plastic rules the land.  So if you are backed by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express, I can finally welcome you to come and check out my booth with open arms.  :)  Heehee :D

More to come on shows and such later :)
For now, here's a picture of my beads from my first class!

Blue and black beads!