MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SALE

Thanks for stopping in and checking out my blog.  I've been making lots of floral beads lately for my Havana Beads store on Etsy.  I'll be working next week on more lentils and rounds for the shop.  I'm having a sale this weekend at Havana Beads and Gentle Wind Designs.  Take 15% off your entire order when checking out by using the coupon code "MEMORIAL11".  Sale ends Monday, May 30th.  Here are a couple of the floral sets and a new bracelet.

"Crossroads"

Enjoy your weekend!

Raida

New Goodies on Etsy

I made some fine silver beads this week and thought I'd make some bracelets to showcase them.  They seem to call for a more elegant design so I went with my gut feeling and I'm pretty happy with the results.  I'll be working on some more of these next week to post on Havana Beads.

Midnight Whisper

Calla Lily

Moonlit Fantasy - Reserved on Etsy

 Some new Lampwork beads on Havana Beads, Etsy.

These lentils have flowers on both sides.  Each lentil has 12 flowers.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

ART BEAD SCENE BLOG - HUGE GIVEAWAY

I was contacted by Erin Praiz-Hintz, contributing editor of Art Bead Scene blog a couple of weeks ago to let me know that she was doing a huge giveaway which included artist and vendors from the Beads 2011 magazine and would I like to participate.  I am a loyal follower of Art Bead Scene and love all of their informative posts so I said definitely.  OMG I just went over to see what else Erin had received for the giveaway and I'm still stunned by all the goodies.  This is huge; one person gets everything!  Get right over there and comment, post, facebook, join, whatever, but get over there.  Here's the link Art Bead Scene.  Here is my contribution to the Art Bead Scene giveaway.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

Bead Star Contest

A quick reminder that voting for your favorites for Bead Star 2012 magazine ends tomorrow.  So head on over to Beading Daily and vote for your favorites.  My pearl necklace made it to the finalist in the "Pearl" category.  If you like it, I would really appreciate your vote.  THANKS!

Enjoy your day,

Raida

I've been asked by some customers for larger round beads, 14mm or so.  So I made these three sets that are larger than my normal 12mm x 8mm.  I love how these turned out.  They're colorful yet have an organic feel to them I think.  I also made a floral focal bead and it's loaded with flowers.  It's also lightly etched. I've obviously been thinking of the mouse lately.  You know who I mean, fun, joy, vacation, yeah!  Mouse ear head pins for those of you that love the mouse as much as I do.  Also got around to making a couple of new jewelry pieces today and finished a necklace I wasn't totally happy with the length from the Bead Soup Hop.

These are all the same bead.  Different views.

Love these!

This ceramic piece is from Spirited Earth with Czech glass beads and my own handmade copper clasp.

This is my necklace from the Bead Soup Hop which needed a little adjustment on the length of the silk cord.  Now I love it.  I have all the jewelry listed on my Gentle Wind Designs Etsy store.

These are my handmade etched copper plates and my lampwork raku beads.

Thanks for stopping by!

Raida

NEW GOODIES ON ETSY

I've been working on some new head pins in bright summer colors.  I made a set in transparent glass with silver sparkle.  Also, a set with hand shaped beads which have a nugget type shape in a dark red color, partially encased and beautiful raku colors underneath.  I haven't made Pandora Style beads in a while so I made some for the shop. 

The little heart on the plum headpin wasn't intentional and I wouldn't be able to make it again if I tried on such a small scale.  I think it's pretty cute.

These fit the Pandora, Biagi and troll bracelets and necklaces.

These hoops are 18ga sterling silver with my Raindrop beads.  The beads have movement to them.  They are available in my Gentle Wind Designs Etsy store.

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Raida

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Just a quick post to wish all moms a wonderful day today!  I'm getting together with my boys later, I can't wait.

Eric, Me and Jason

Enjoy your day,

Raida

LOVELY SETS OF THREE TREASURY

Look at this lovely treasury by Dolls and Bunnies at Etsy.  She has the most adorable little dolls I've ever seen.  The soy candles and those little bird nest tags are just wonderful.  My little lampwork bird with companion beads is featured in this treasury.  Click the title of this post to view the entire treasury and see each individual store. Love it!

Enjoy your day,

Raida

New Beads and Jewelry

A new little guy is appearing on my Havana Beads Etsy store today.  He's ivory with little wings, tail and beak in raku.  I made two little companion beads to match.  All three beads have been etched so they have a matte finish.  Hope you like him.

This new necklace has 15 stands of seed beads on either side and gather into pretty copper cones.  This design started with the ornate copper focal bead and took off from there.  I added a thick copper chain and a handmade copper clasp to finish the piece.  This piece is available at my Gentle Wind Designs site.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

BEAD STAR FINALIST

I just found out that I have been chosen as one of the finalist in the "Pearls" category for Bead Star Magazine.  Yes, I did say pearls.  My glass piece didn't make it but I'm really thrilled to have made it in a category which I normally don't work in much.  Don't get me wrong I love pearls but I mostly love my glass and metals.  This years voting is a little different and I'm not too thrilled about it.  To be able to vote you have to sign in to the site and be registered to the Beading Daily Community I believe.  I haven't voted yet since I want to contact all my bloggy buddies and see if they made it first.  If you would like to vote, and I hope you love my piece - fingers crossed, you can go to this link here Beading Daily - Bead Star Finalist. Remember you have to sign in first.

I was on vacation in December of last year when I sketched the design of this necklace on a scrap piece of paper.  Of course it changed somewhat when I actually found the different components, but it pretty much looks just like the scrap piece of paper looked.  It all started with the mother of pearl focal.  I added more mother of pearl beads and two different color pearl strands to coordinate with the focal.  There are tiny seed beads in copper and cranberry throughout which you can't see very well in the picture.  I added copper chain links on top of the focal and added a spray of pearls and mother of pearl beads.  This necklace looks so pretty and elegant when worn.

SPRING BLOSSOM

Enjoy your day,

Raida

MOTHER'S DAY SALE

I think it's time for a sale.  Both Havana Beads and Gentle Wind Designs have a 15% discount coupon available.  When checking out of either store use coupon code "MOM2011"  and it will automatically discount 15% off your entire order.  Coupon is available until Friday, May 6, 2011. ENJOY!

Enjoy your day,

Raida