Christmas Earrings are back!

The Christmas earrings are back in my Etsy store! I’ve listed them at super-low prices because hey, they’re just for fun after all!

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening… ?

Early Bird Free Shipping for Christmas!

The chill in the night air tells me that the weeks are flying by, and soon it will be time to think of snow and colored lights and presents under the tree. I’ve started choosing gifts for those special people in my life, and maybe you have, too.

For all my blog readers, I’d like to offer FREE SHIPPING on any order in my shop from now until December 31, 2009 (U.S only). Just type “freeblogship” in the “Note to Seller” and I’ll refund your shipping fees through PayPal! If that’s too hard to remember, don’t worry. Just write me a note that you saw the Free Shipping offer on my blog! There’s no item limit on this offer, so enjoy shopping! Visit my store at http://www.boutiquebybonnie.etsy.com

The Red Accent

Today I’m highlighting this red coral necklace, hoping to sell it before the listing expires on the 16th! Red coral is set off by puffed silver filigree beads in this 17" long necklace. It’s finished with a self-closing lobster claw clasp. The cheerful red is great all year round but especially for the upcoming holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. And best of all, it’s under $20!

New Listings!

I’m slowly getting around to adding new items to my etsy store. People get bored with seeing the same items being renewed so adding fresh pieces is essential.

This Picture Jasper necklace has a Southwest look and features nine rectangular “shards” as the centerpiece. I love the natural variations in this stone.

I also added this precious bracelet of pale pink glass beads. At 5.75 inches, it’s perfect for any girl who loves pink. A heart clasp finishes off this darling piece.

Home Again

I’ve returned home from my road trip with a few mosquito bites, a bit of a tan and a lot of memories. I even made a sale in my etsy store while I was gone. A bracelet very similar to the one in this photo sold. That always seems to happen when I’m away for a few days! It must be the watched pot phenomenom.

Tomorrow I go back to my day job, but I think the break has done me good. In fact, I vote that we all get five weeks of vacation a year instead of two!

A Shout Out to the United Kingdom

It took me a long time to add international shipping to my store. I guess I was afraid of underestimating shipping costs and the imagined hazards and pitfalls of mailing overseas. If you remember, I officially started offering international shipping about a month ago. I tried to get the word out, but saw no results. Now, suddenly, my last two sales have been to the U.K.! I'm always happy to make a sale and it's gratifying to know my overseas buyers are out there and have found me. So I just wanted to give a 'shout out' to my international friends and say, don't be shy! I'm open for business!

Girl’s Pink Necklace on Sale!

I’d rather sell it than renew it, so I’ve marked down this pink donut necklace to just $8 until the June 15th renewal date! It’s made of rose quartz chip beads and the swirled donut is acrylic. The pink and white color scheme of this piece makes it the perfect girl’s gift. This Rose Quartz necklace is 16.5" long with a 2" drop for the pendant. Click the photo for more info!

Wordless Wednesday – Crazy Horse Stone

Landscape Stone Pendant

Here’s a pendant I made last weekend. This gorgeous oval Landscape Stone pendant is wrapped in copper wire and hung on a rust colored suede cord. Landscape stone displays natural earth-tone patterns reminiscent of a painted desert landscape. I really love the natural pattern and colors!

This necklace is 25 inches long and finished with a toggle clasp. The pendant measures 1.75 inches long by 1.15 inches wide (41mm x 30mm). I hope you like it!

Vote for my photo!

I entered this photo in Timothy Adam's product photo contest on his Handmadeology blog. I'd sure appreciate your vote, so here is the link! http://timothyadam.cheddrmedia.com/iframe/310-Etsy-Worthy-Photo-Contest/entries/1635-Chunky-Green-Bracelet.html

Moss Agate and Cross Earrings

I just wanted to share my newest creation. I didn't realize until I finished them that the diagonal wire wrap on the agates match the binding on the cross charms. Sometimes design decisions come from subtle clues!

These have just been listed in my Etsy store.

And the winner is…

I’m happy to announce that Judy Richards Shubert is the winner of my Tax Relief Earring Giveaway!

You can find Judy online everywhere, but be sure to visit her blog, Food Gratitude, and her Etsy store, Edna Alice Designs. Judy also has a real interest in genealogy and cemeteries. Judy has won her choice of the earrings in my giveaway.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered my Giveaway and stopped by my blog in the last few weeks! According to comments, the favorite item in my Etsy store seems to be these Moss Green Earrings. That’s interesting since I gave away a pair just like this in my last Giveaway! I love them too, and these earthy flower beads are some of my favorites. But I also love hearing which of my “lesser known” pieces get noticed by certain readers. It’s nice to see that every piece has it’s fans!

Well, I hope Tax Day was kind to everyone this year. The good news is, we don’t have to do it again for another year!

What I Made Today

Today I made these gorgeous Kambaba Jasper Earrings! I’ve always loved this stone, especially in the soft square pillows that I used here. One thing I like about these earrings is the contrast. The shape of the round hammered hoops contrasts with the square stones. Also the shiny texture of the silver contrasts with the camoflauge pattern and color of the Jasper. The end result is both exotic and elegant!

Today I also made this simple necklace which could be worn by woman or a man. The pewter pendant is lead-free and the necklace can be worn with or without the glass accent beads. I’ve always liked pewter and got some of these pendants a few weeks ago. They make wonderful casual necklaces like this one.

Both of these items have just been listed in my Etsy store.

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Click HERE to enter my GIVEAWAY!

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I also did some "retakes" for items already in my shop that needed a fresh start. Good photos are so essential, and sometimes you just need to put a new face on old listings!

Welcome to Widescreen

My new 22” widescreen monitor arrived yesterday! I wanted more screen area for editing photos and decided one widescreen would be sleeker than a two monitor setup. I decided on the Dell 2209WA because it’s affordable and has an IPS panel. Yes, I had to learn a couple things about LCD monitors. I found out that most monitors have a TN panel, but for photo editing an IPS panel provides better color rendition. Maybe I should have done even more research because since hooking it up I’ve discovered (surprise) that my seven-year-old computer does not have a graphics card to support the widescreen resolution. As if I know how to install a graphics card, or know anything about power supplies or AGP or PCI or all these other terms I’m coming across!

I will not panic. I can do this. I will find the solution. Hopefully that solution won’t be buying a whole new computer. I’m still satisfied with the performance (mostly) of my old one. For now I’ll just enjoy the wide open spaces of my new screen.

Looking for my earring GIVEAWAY? Here it is: http://boutiquebybonnie.blogspot.com/2009/03/tax-relief-giveaway.html

Dangle Shell Earrings

I wanted to feature these dangle shell earrings because I think they’re pretty great! They’re the only pair I’ve ever made this way, using split rings to give the earrings great movement and true dangle. And the Golden Lip Shell matches anything! Did I mention they’re under $10? Visit my etsy store to see more!

Looking for my GIVEAWAY?? Click here http://boutiquebybonnie.blogspot.com/2009/03/tax-relief-giveaway.html

Tax Relief Giveaway!

I think we can all use some relief this year, so I’m hosting another giveaway! This giveaway will run through April 15^th (tax day) and you get to pick your prize from the two pairs of earrings pictured here (ok, only one of each is shown). Please write the number in your comment for which pair you'd like to receive! This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only – sorry.

HOW TO ENTER:

1.) Visit my Etsy store and leave a comment on this post about a favorite item = one entry.

2.) Become a new Follower of my blog and leave a separate comment on this post to let me know = one entry.

3.) Post a link to this giveaway on your blog and leave a separate comment on this post to let me know = one entry.

HOW TO WIN GUARANTEED:

Buy anything from my Etsy store and I’ll include a free pair of earrings! Just write “blog” in the Note to Seller. Earrings will be my choice (not the ones pictured). This offer is also good through April 15^th!

THE WINNER will be chosen on April 16^th by random number generation (that’s why I need you to leave separate comments for each entry). I’ll notify the winner by email and post it on my blog. Please be sure I have a way to contact you through your blog or Etsy store, or leave your email in your comment.

Good Luck, and thanks for stopping by!

Forest and Sea

Last weekend I returned to my roots and made this 100% beaded necklace. Lately I've had the Northern California coast on my mind and this necklace fits right in with those thoughts. I visited Redwood National Park last year and my memories are stained with greens, grays, blues and browns from the forest, sea and beaches. I stayed in a cabin under the giant Redwoods in Trinidad, which also has a gorgeous rocky beach that was almost deserted in April. There's another beach close by where you can hunt for agates, but I didn't get a chance to try my luck as a rock hound.

This necklace reminds me of that trip. The tumbled pebbles of moss agate represent the forest and the beach while the large seaweed quartz pendant evokes the cool April sea. The pendant was pretty, but plain, so I added just a touch of wire wrap to give it a more artisan look. I hope the wearer of this necklace will think of smooth stones under bare feet and the cool breeze of a shaded forest or a deserted beach in April.

Morning Seabirds,Trinidad, CA

New- Vintage Camera Pendants!

I love photography and I have a small vintage camera collection. I’ve been wanting to bring this part of myself into my Etsy store so I’ve created a series of pendants featuring vintage cameras. I cut the photos out of books from Christie’s auction house that featured all sorts of great antique cameras. I received the books as an un-expected surprise with an eBay auction that I won few years ago. I loved the photos so much I cut the covers off to frame and hang in my guest room (I keep most of my old cameras in the guest room, so it kind of has a theme). There will be five of these necklaces when I get done listing them – I kept the sixth one for myself. The pendants are less than an inch square so they’re not chunky at all, and I figure black and white looks good with wide range of outfits. This was my first attempt at making glass pendants and the process was quick and easy, although I’m sure I can do better next time. I bought the clear, kiln-fired glass already made and just had to cut out the graphic, adhere it to the back, seal it, and attach the bail. I like the idea of wearing jewelry that really says something about who I am, and I had fun deciding which photos would look the best as pendants.

I’m in a Treasury!

Check out this great Treasury of NATURAL items on Etsy by theBeadAerie. I’m happy to have my Agate Trio Necklace included (third row center)!

I haven’t been included in many treasuries so this gives me those good warm fuzzies! It’s funny, the piece just above mine looks very similar to the necklace I featured in yesterday’s post. I certainly do favor natural materials and colors over the “bling” of crystals. Earthtones are so gorgeous, and I don’t mean just brown. I mean red, yellow, orange and all shades of green. The agate nuggets in my featured necklace are complimented by wooden beads for a really natural look. It would look great over any “earthtone” t-shirt. That said, my FAVORITE item in this Treasury is the serving bowl by elmstudios in the bottom left corner - GORGEOUS!!

Jasper Pendant Just Listed

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The newest item in my etsy store is this wire-wrapped Paintbrush Jasper donut on a brown suede cord. The flat donut is 50mm across (about two inches).

This necklace is 23 inches long. Click on the photo to see more, and thanks for looking!