FREAKY BEADS - AND A GIVEAWAY

Last week I purchased a bag of "Freaky Beads".  The look of the beads themselves aren't freaky, I'm the one freaking out.  The purchase of these beads went like this.

Excuse me sir, how much is that small bag of beads, $$$$. 
I look at them a little closer.  They're really organic looking, really cool and old looking.  They look like wood.
Excuse me sir, what are these made of; are they wood?
They're bone.
I gasp. All of them!
Yes, and I have a way bigger bag of them. Would you like to see it.
That's o.k.  I walk away.
Can't stop thinking of those beads, they're so cool. I'm thinking of things to make with them.
I inch my way back down his table.
O.k. can I see the big bag.

So to understand why I'm freaking out you have to know me a little better.  For the past three years I've been trying not to eat meat.  I did really good for over a year and only ate seafood and veggies.  That was a start.  But little by little chicken and turkey have started to appear in the evening menu.  I'm trying.

So here are some pictures of my large bag of "Freaky Beads".

Earrings I made with my "Freaky Beads"

I took a handful and put them in a baggie to give away.  If you would like to share some of my "Freaky Beads" let me know what are the strangest beads you've ever purchased.  I will pick a random winner on Friday night.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

LABOR DAY SALE!

Labor Day Sale all week at Havana Beads.  I have soooo many beads its time to have a good long sale for my wonderful customers.  I'll keep adding beads all week so check back often.  Here are some new beads I added recently.

PRALINE SWIRL

VIOLET MEADOW

SEASHORE DREAMS

FALL LEAVES

VIOLET MEADOW LEAF

ROLLING BROOK

For my East Coast Friends going through Hurricane Irene, please stay safe!

Enjoy your day,

Raida

BEAD SOUP BEADS SENT TO MY PARTNER

My blog hop partner Rebecca of Artybecca has now received the beads I made for her for the Blog Hop Party.  Here are a couple of pictures of the beads I sent her.

I made a large focal with transparent and silvered glass and added coordinating beads to match.  I included a black hand dyed silk cord, picasso finished czech glass beads and my own handmade sterling silver clasp.  See previous post for the beads Rebecca sent me.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

LOTS OF PICTURES - BEFORE HURRICANE IRENE PASSES THROUGH

First I want to thank all the wonderful ladies that came by my booth this past weekend in Georgia.  You made me feel so welcome and I really appreciate it.  Southern hospitality at its best!

I finally made it outside to take pictures of the beautiful beads my blog hop partner Rebecca of artybecca sent me.  Unfortunately, Hurricane Irene is sending some heavy winds and rain our way so not much sun to take good pics.  Here are my amazing Blog Hop beads.

POLYMER CLAY BEADS BY REBECCA OF ARTYBECCA

Some new ceramic and lampwork beads I posted on Etsy.  Some of the ceramic beads have a couple of different styles and colors so check the Etsy store for more pictures.

RUSTIC BLUE BEE

BEE TRUE

New necklace on Gentle Wind Designs with my Bee Ceramic Pendant.  I was inspired to make this necklace by Cherrie Fink's necklace "Sedona Swag" featured in this months Stringing Magazine.  Cherrie was my Blog Hop Partner on the last Blog Hop Lori had and we've kept in touch and developed a long distance friendship.  Check out her blog at En Lalumie're to see her necklace and all of her beautiful jewelry pieces.

PISTACHIO BUTTERFLY

ANTIQUE ROSE BUTTERFLY

TENDER HEART

ADOBE TREASURE

ALASKA LANDSCAPE

TEAL ELEGANCE

JUST FOR YOU

DREAMING OF YOU

OCEAN TREASURE 1" LENTIL

SEA SPRAY

OCEAN TREASURE SPACERS

LITTLE GHOST

REMEMBERING YOU

OUT ON A LIMB

BLUE VINTAGE ROSE

MARIGOLDS TOGGLE/CONNECTOR

Well that's all for today.

Raida

GEORGIA ON MY MIND

I'm headed for Georgia!  I'm so excited to be doing the Intergalactic Bead show in Georgia this coming weekend.  Here's the info.

Saturday, August 20 and
Sunday, August 21st

Gwinnett Center
6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Duluth, GA 30097
 
10:00 a..m. - 5 p.m. each day
 
$2.00 Admission Discount Coupon
 
I hope peaches are still in season.  My husband and I have a great place in Lizella that makes the most wonderful peach ice cream.  I'll take some pictures when I'm there.
 
If you're in Geogia come by my booth and say hello, I'd love to meet you.
 
Enjoy your day,
 
Raida

BEAD SOUP BLOG PARTY PARTNER

My partner for the bead soup swap is the wonderful polymer clay artist Rebecca Watkins of artybecca or Artybecca on Etsy.  She makes the most amazing polymer clay beads.  Can't tell you much about the beads I sent her since they are in transit.  But I'll tell you it's one of my favorite style of beads to make.  Once she receives them I'll post pictures of the beads I sent and the ones I received.

Mini Pumpkins - Earring Pair

Little Mummies - Earring Pair

Enjoy your day,

Raida

FINALLY I HAVE INTERNET!!!

On Monday morning my Internet and cable service went out.  Finally after endless calls and visits inside and outside of my home they fixed it today.  I am sooooo happy!  So here are some new pictures of beads I made.

MINI ACORNS - Great for Earring Pairs or Charms

PINK BONNET EARRING PAIR

TEA FOR TWO EARRING PAIR

WAVE FOCAL BEAD

WAVE EARRING PAIR

SHELL EARRING PAIR

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

RAIDA

We Have Our Winners

Sorry it's taken so long to post these but I've been out of Internet service for three days! I'm posting this with my phone. The winner of the trinket keepsake and birdie is Alice and the winner of the ceramic toggle/connector is Penny. Contact me at havanabeads@yahoo.com with your address so I can send these prizes to you. Congratulations!

Enjoy your evening,

Raida

DEEP PURPLE

I have this strange fascination with purple.  I love the color, really I do.  I love purple, violet, lilac, etc.  I love making beads and jewelry with these colors.  Yet, I don't have one item of clothing in this color.  STRANGE!  Well here's a new bracelet I made yesterday with one of my favorite colors, deep purple.

I made this with my lampwork beads "Wildflower Meadow", some natural amethyst, wood beads, suede and some funky rubber O-rings from Amy's Beads scattered around for good measure.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

NEW BRACELET

Worked on a new bracelet today with some of my new lampwork and ceramic beads.  I wanted to try my new ceramic toggles.  I think they can also be used in a necklace.  I'll have to try that later on when I make more of them.  I really like the rustic look of this bracelet.

BLUE FOREST

Don't forget to go below and comment for a chance to win some of my new ceramic beads.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY

O.k. after all those previous pictures we'll make this short.  I think it's time for a ceramic giveaway.  Here is a picture of my trinket keepsake and my little brown bird up for grabs also a second winner will win the toggle/connector.  Here's how to enter:

1.  Leave a comment here on my blog.
2.  For an extra chance, blog about it and come back and let me know.
3.  Comment on my facebook page Havana Beads.
4.  If you follow my blog or just joined, let me know for an extra chance.

Two winners will be chosen next Wednesday, August 10th.  I use random.org to choose my winners.  Here are the goodies.

GOOD LUCK!

Raida

UNLOADING THE CERAMIC KILN

I have to say unloading the kiln of ceramic beads is like what I felt on Christmas morning right before I got to see my presents.  When you lampwork you get to see the results the next day.  When you do ceramics, at least the way I'm doing it by making sure I fill my little kiln to save on electricity, I'm having to wait a whole week.  I was dying this morning to open the kiln and see my babies.  I've been working on them for a week!  Here they are, lots of pictures.

SAFFRON BUTTERFLY

SALTWATER TAFFY

STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE

CURVED BRACELET CONNECTOR

CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO

RUSTIC EARTH

TENDER HEART

MAYAN TOGGLE/CONNECTOR

RED CEDAR BUTTERFLY

BLUE BAYOU

MARIGOLDS/TOGGLE CONNECTOR

AQUA FLOWER BUTTONS

FOREST GREEN FLOWER BUTTONS

RUSTIC SEASHORE DREAMS

AQUA SEASHORE DREAMS

MAYAN CHOCOLATE CONNECTORS

MAYAN BLUE CONNECTORS

ENJOY YOUR EVENING!

RAIDA