CHALLENGE OF TRAVEL - BLOG HOP

My Country of choice for the Challenge of Travel Blog Hop is Tanzania, Africa.  I knew I would love to design a piece of jewelry inspired by this beautiful country.  I love earth tones and the pictures really inspired me to create this piece. I've added several photos from kirikou.com which inspired my creation. Enjoy!

Tanzania, Africa

Mont Kilimanjaro 

Serengeti 

Lake Manyara 

Zanzibaris

THIS IS AFRICA

I used beautiful slices of agate for my focal and in the necklace.  I also used bone beads, my own lampwork beads and drop lampwork headpin and lots of antiqued copper.  I finished the necklace with a handmade silk ribbon in black and brown.

Thanks to Erin from Treasures Found: Inspiration is Everywhere for hosting this wonderful Blog Hop!

Check the other blogs participating in the Hop.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

To see the other participating blogger's creations, head over here:

Treasures Found: Inspiration is Everywhere

LABOR DAY SALE

Enjoy 15% off this long holiday weekend at my Etsy store Havana Beads.  Use coupon code "LABORDAY12" when checking out and receive 15% off your entire purchase.  Sale runs through Monday, September 3rd.  Enjoy!

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the "Challenge of Travel" blog hop.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

NEW GOODIES ON ETSY

This past week was a real challenge trying to finish up my newest ceramic beads.  The torrential rain storms due to Isaac really made it hard. Thank God we were spared a direct hit.  I lived in South Florida during Hurricane Andrew and I know too well what Mother Nature is capable of.  I pray those in Louisiana and neighboring states will fare well.

Here are some pictures of the beads I listed this morning.

This piece has a slight curve to be used as a bracelet.

Ocean Treasure Regaliz Bead

This is how it looks on the leather bracelet.

Gypsy Skirt for Regaliz Bracelet

This is how it looks on the leather bracelet.

ENJOY YOUR DAY,

Raida

BELLE ARMOIRE JEWELRY - AUTUMN 2012

I was just visiting Janet's blog at Anvil Artifacts to see what new beautiful jewelry she's making.  Janet is featured in the Autumn 2012 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry.  She has the most amazing shield earrings and a beautiful necklace featured.  Wait to you guys see this issue, it's full of the most amazing jewelry.  PipnMolly has beautiful earrings and one pair has some of my lampwork head pins!  Those are her earrings on the cover.  Also, beatnheart has an amazing pair of earrings.  Congratulations ladies, you're so talented.  Head over to Janet's blog to see lots of pictures from the magazine.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

NEW ON ETSY

I had a little time yesterday to play with my glass and made a couple of larger bead sets.  These sets are matte with little shine to them and a rough texture.  I have these posted on Etsy.  Tomorrow I'm going to work on head pins.  My Etsy store is in desperate need of head pins!

Tried to pick up some colors from the Pantone Fall Color Report

Olympian Blue & Honey Gold

OLYMPIAN RUSH

Bright Chartreuse

LIME SPLASH

Enjoy your evening,

Raida

PUFFY HEART HEAD PIN WINNER

You guys are not going to believe this but Random.org says #1 again.  So the winner is #1, LisaS, Congratulations.  Please send your address to havanabeads@yahoo.com and I'll send these out to you.  Thanks to everyone who participated, I really appreciate your visits and your comments.

Enjoy your evening,

Raida

NEW CERAMIC BEAD SETS

I'm still crazy busy working on some large lampwork orders but had a chance to fill the ceramic kiln this week.  Here are some pictures of the new beads listed on Etsy this morning.  Don't forget to come back later  when I'll announce the winner of the Puffy Heart Head pins.

This pendant has a slight curve great for a bracelet

Little acorn set

This piece also has a nice curve for a bracelet

Red Poinsettia Pendant

White Poinsettia Pendant

Enjoy your day,

Raida

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAR

Thought I'd share a sweet picture of my Miniature Schnauzer "BEAR",  today is his 9th Birthday.  Bear's my little companion when I'm at home working on my ceramic beads, jewelry and on the computer.  You can usually find him under my chair or sometimes laying on my feet!  I don't take him to the studio with me because I'm worried about the propane fumes and I think he would be bothered by all the noise my equipment makes.  It's great to come home after working and have him waiting for me at the door wagging his little tail.

Happy Birthday "Bear"

Every season I head over to Pantone Fashion Color to get a little inspiration.  Pantone has the new Colors of Fall on their website.  I try to take as many colors as I can and make beads inspired by those colors.

Here are the new colors of Fall 2012.

You'll be seeing some of these colors in the coming weeks!

Enjoy your day,

Raida

SOME NEW GOODIES AND A GIVEAWAY

This week has been slow for new beads.  I've been working on some large orders for customers getting a head start on their creations for the holidays.  Thank goodness!  Well here are the new goodies on Etsy.

Light and Dark Lavender "Puffy Heart Head Pins"

Aqua and Lavender "Puffy Heart Head Pins"

Have you seen the beautiful necklace Martha Thomas has featured in this months Fall issue of Stringing.  It has my little Acorn as a focal bead and some of my "Sahara" Beads.

Black Raku Sparkle Regaliz Slider Bead

Here's what it looks like on leather.

"GIVEAWAY"

Now for the GIVEAWAY!  Of course I made an extra set of heart head pins for you guys.  Leave a comment for a chance to win a pair of my new Aqua and Lavender PUFFY HEART Head pins.  I will pick a winner next Wednesday evening, August 22 by random.org.

Enjoy your day,

Raida