Exploring Handmade ~ Holiday Shopping Event

Recently I was invited by Debi of Designs by Debi to be a featured lampwork artist in her "Exploring Handmade" Holiday Event. Debi is a wonderful jewelry designer who loves to use handmade artisan glass beads in her creations. The following is directly off her blog explaining what this event is all about.

Exploring Handmade Online Holiday Shopping Event!!

Are you ready to Occupy Wall Street (from the comfort of your home in your slippers)?

Are you ready to send a BOLD message to Congress, Corporate America and the 99%?

Are you ready to support Artisans and Small Businesses to send that message?

Excellent!!

So I guess that means you're also ready to find some really great gifts for yourself and your loved ones, huh?

Alright then let's go....

I'm very happy to see you here and hope you'll enjoy following along this 13 day event. I didn't have time to put out all my fancy decorations so please excuse the accommodations... I've been spending my time searching for handcrafts and artisans to introduce you to ;) Every day I'll show you a handcraft or two and some of the artisans that lovingly create items using that particular craft.

There are soooooo many benefits to buying handcrafted items direct from the artisans who make them. I discuss them in an article I wrote called "Why Buy Handmade Jewelry" ...... it ended up being about a whole lot more than jewelry ;) Artisans care about you and give a special touch to your items. We also give you custom one-on-one service and many ways to work with us. You'll notice most artisans are on facebook and twitter... we want to talk to you and share with you. Come join the fun and we'll show you just how amazing personalized service can be!

We're all pinching pennies and gift-giving budgets for sure aren't what they used to be. But the people you'll meet during this event make gorgeous things... truly special things... things that, even if they are the only gift you give or receive, will fill your holiday with meaning and love.... from our homes to yours.

So, take advantage of this opportunity... Do your shopping for your loved ones AND don't forget to use the Amazon Universal Wish List to help your loved ones shop for you! If you're not familiar with it, please read my previous post so you can use this useful tool.

I'd appreciate it if you would share this event with your family, friends and fans so they can enjoy it too :)

I wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous Holiday Season!

Thank you for coming by!

and

Thank you to everyone who is taking part in and promoting this event!

♥ Debi
***************

Thanks so much for supporting handmade during this Holiday season! Please follow Debi's 13 day shopping event on her blog.

Tis The Season Diva Challenge

The Fire Divas are doing a Holiday Season Challenge! Take a look at these beauties! Please cast your vote in the poll on the right side of the Fire Divas Blog The poll closes at midnight on Sunday, November 20th. Make sure to leave your comment below after you vote-the winning comment (randomly chosen) will win a 20% off coupon to Susanne's ArtFire Shop!

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Entry 6

Sizzling HOT Summer Sale! 40% Off

It's time for a hot sale! I've been so busy with warm weather projects that I haven't been at my torch as often as I'd like so to boost some sales I'm doing the biggest discount ever!

40% Off

Use this coupon code at checkout.

" SIZZLINGHOTSALE "

Great time to pick up new beads for your fall and Christmas season shows! The sale will end on Thursday the 21st.

Are you following me on Facebook? Here's the link, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fire-n-Sand-Glass-Art/163583837011756. Hope to see you there!

That's about it for now. Worked a night shift last night and going kayaking with my glass buds in a few hours, I really need to catch a nap.

Auction for the BOC, Beads of Courage

This ebay auction features a collection of beads made by the Fire Divas team I belong to. We also made a duplicate set that has been set directly to the Beads of Courage Program to be distributed to the kids.

The proceeds of this auction will be donated too so we're all hoping that it gets many bids. Most of these beads can used as focals in designs. Please click on the picture and take a look. The winner will also have the option to donate the beads to the kids in the program and we'll even mail them for the winner if they choose that option. Great opportunity to "Pay it forward!"

Beads of Courage Program

Beads of Courage provides Arts-in-Medicine for children with serious illness.
This is a picture of some of the beads I've been making for the Beads of Courage program. This wonderful program was started by nurse Jean Baruch in 2005 and has spread to 60 hospitals.

I've linked the picture to their about page so you can read more about what they do for the kids and families who are going through so much. They even have a Beads in Space program where beads are selected to ride the space shuttle and then return to earth and the BOC. How cool is that!

Many artists also donate their work for auctions and web sales with the money going directly to this cause. The artist site can be found here http://www.artistsgive.com/

The Fire Divas, an Etsy Team I belong to is having a sale for the next week. There are 16 of us participating with varying discounts and coupon codes to apply them. You can read more about it and see the list of shops on the Fire Divas Blog.

Gotta run and get ready for work. Next up here is another freebie drawing as soon I make a piece for it. Get on the mailing list (right hand column) to be entered for a chance to win!

Until then, Think Spring!

Customer Appreciation Sale!

Having a 20% Off Sale to say "Thanks" to all of you who have made it possible for me to continue to work with glass all these years. I appreciate you as a customer and will continue to treat both you and your information with the utmost respect.

Now for the sale info. You'll need to use the coupon code 20PERCENTOFF during checkout and the 20% off should be applied to the cart. The code is good in both my Etsy and Artfire shops. The sale runs now through Sunday night, April 3rd. If you do happen to run into issues on either site please contact me and we'll figure it out.

Here's a couple new items from me.

Budding Tulips

Classic Ribbed Rounds

That's it for now, I have more beads to make!

Cabin Fever & the Winter Blues

It's here. I'm restless

Cabin Fever has set in a little earlier this year (seems to that every year now)
The older I get the less I like the cold weather and snow. There are days I don't notice whats going on outside because I never look outside, how sad it that? Do love a good snowstorm though and we have plenty of them living close to one of the Great Lakes. The promise of spring emerging in just a few short weeks (keep telling myself) helps me keep the faith, lol.

The iced Chapel Hill shoreline picture above is a photo sent to me via email with a bunch of other beautiful shots from MI. I'll be posting them on this blog over the next several weeks until spring catches my attention. I don't know who originally took the photos, if I find out credit will be given to them.



In the meantime my 20% Off Winter Sale is still active until Tuesday Midnight. Use code WINTER2011 during checkout in either of my shops, etsy and artfire

THINK SPRING!

Winter 20% Off Sale

Having a Winter 20% Off Sale! For the next week or so I'm having this sale in my Etsy Shop to raise money for taxes. Etsy has a cool coupon feature now so you'll have to enter the code WINTER2011 at checkout for the discount to apply. No more waiting for refunds from paypal!

I'm going to run the same sale and same code to my Artfire Shop too! I've added a few new things there and hope to add many more in the next week.

Edited to add...
Artfire is doing unscheduled maintenance right now, I won't be able to add the code there till later today.

Cleaning Beads

When you're a bead artist one of most dreaded chores you have to do is clean your beads, often dozens of them at a time. Ask most bead makers and they'll say this is the chore they like doing the least. This and dipping mandrels.


Recently I saw a post on LE (Lampwork Etc., the best lampwork forum there is) about cleaning out big hole beads, specifically pandora style ones made on a 3/16 mandrel.

I had completely forgot that I have a large stash of diamond coated bits just the right size for pandora and other euro style beads. When adding a sterling silver core to these beads you need a 5mm hole for the tubing. The bits I use are 5mm and have a pointed end which helps to center the bit when cleaning.


I also use these for cleaning vessels and dread beads since they work much faster covering a larger area than the small bits. If you haven't tried these I encourage you to do so, at $3 they won't break the bank and you'll have those bracelets beads ready to core in no time. These are in both my Artfire and Etsy shops.