MERRY CHRISTMAS

Just wanted to leave a little post to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I've made a couple of things lately for the two Etsy stores that I'd like to share, but not much. I have a very sick dog at home which I have become nurse to. She has pancreatitis and kidney problems so I've been giving her meds and fluids with a needle. Can you believe it nurse Raida, who would have known. It was either try at home or $3,000.00 in Vet hospital stay which I don't have to spend and they couldn't guarantee that she would get better. She's slowly getting better but we're just taking it one day at a time since she's 11 years old.

If you're reading this and you're going through something like this with a beloved friend, companion who loves you unconditionally, don't give up when the vet gives you an estimate and you know you're not able to pay for it.  I found out I could give her care at home from the internet not the vet.  It's not possible for every situation but still do some research and if you think you might be able to care for them yourself give it a try.  I actually called the vet the following day after learning the diagnosis and asked him could I do the things I researched at home, and he said yes.

Misty (who is sick) on the left and Bear on the Right - Both Mini Schnauzers

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Raida

Susan Lewis New Release DVD

I had the opportunity this Friday to meet Susan Lewis and see some of her beautiful PMC work.  I took some pictures to share.

From Left to right, me, Susan Lewis, Amy (Store Owner)

Sorry about the jewelry pictures, the pieces where under Plexiglas and I got a lot of reflective light.  The necklace in the center is magnificent.  All the silver beads are PMC.

She makes the most magnificent boxes.

All of the pieces in the front are boxes, even the one with the bunny.

The DVD to the left is her first DVD and the one in the middle is her new release.  You can go here to purchase her DVD's.  Metalwork-Metal-Clay-Hollow-Forms-DVD.html, Metalwork-Metal-Clay-Basics-DVD.html.  These are Interweave DVDs.

BUSY BEE

Can the holidays get any crazier!  I have to say as busy as I've been lately I've had some jewelry ideas floating around in my head that I finally got to.  Here are some pictures.  These are all listed on my Gentle Wind Designs store.  I am also offering a US Priority Upgrade until December 21st with any purchase in this store.

You thought I was kidding when I said "busy".  Hope everyone is inspired this season, yet still enjoying this time with friends and family which is the most important time of all.

Take Care,

Raida



NEW BEADS AND JEWELRY

I finally got around yesterday to take pics of some jewelry I made last week and some lampwork bead sets I put together.  They are all listed now on Gentlewinddesigns and Havanabeads.

Have a wonderful day!

Raida

AMY'S BEADS

I had the best time this past weekend with Amy who hosted my trunk show at her store Amy's Beads.  All around good sales, great customers and even great weather.  I couldn't ask for more.  This is a couple of quick pics I took when we weren't busy.  Hard to concentrate on selling with a wall of beads like that one behind you!

If you're local, this is going to become your favorite bead hangout.

Amy's Beads

220 S. University Drive

954-530-2029

HAVANA BEADS TRUNK SHOW AT AMY'S BEADS

Come join me on Friday, December 10 and Saturday December 11 at Amy's new beautiful bead store.  I've been working on new beads, lampwork skeleton keys, enameled and ceramic beads.  I will also have a bead set giveaway.  No purchase necessary to participate in giveaway. Here's the particulars:

Amy's Beads
220 S. University Drive
954-530-2029
Friday - 11-7 p.m.
Saturday 11-5 p.m.

For those that can't make it I am offering free shipping at my Etsy store until Thursday, December 9th.  Shipping will be reimbursed through Paypal.  Since I have so many one of a kind pieces the store will be closed on Friday December 10 and will reopen on Saturday December 11th in the evening.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS WEEKEND!

Raida

SANTA BEAD SET GIVEAWAY

Just wanted to remind everyone to go HERE to enter my Santa Bead Set Giveaway.  I will be picking a winner on Tuesday evening.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR PARTICIPATING, I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR COMMENTS.  THE WINNER OF THE SANTA BEAD SET IS NUMBER "7" REGINA.  CONTACT ME AT HAVANABEADS@YAHOO.COM WITH YOUR ADDRESS AND I WILL SEND THESE OUT TO YOU.  CONGRATULATIONS!

FLY ME AWAY

I fell in love with this focal piece the minute I laid eyes on it.  I'm somewhat of a dragonfly fanatic so I really enjoyed making this piece.   Go to Spirited Earth to see all of Nan's beautiful ceramic pieces.  I knotted this piece with dark brown hemp, round ceramic beads, picture jasper, kang wood, corrugated silver beads, seed beads and a silver decorative clasp with an antiqued sterling silver hook.   I snuck one of my tie dye lampwork beads in there.  Can you find it?

I made these little earrings to match.

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Raida

NEW BEADS AND ETCHED EARRINGS

I just finished some new etched earrings you can find on my Gentle Wind Designs Etsy store.  The top left side earrings have a leaf pattern, handmade sterling silver hooks and lovely vintage acrylic faceted beads.  The one below them have a type of Aztec design to them and have beautiful African turquoise coin beads dangling from them.  The bottom right hand side earrings are a remake.  Ever make a piece of jewelry and something about it is just not right?  These earrings have been bothering me ever since I made them.  Below is the before and after picture.  I like them much better now.

The lampwork beads will be listed on my Havana Beads Etsy store.  I have two new earring pairs and the set in the middle I really love.  It's a mixture of different silver glass that gave me that amber swirled look and I love the silvered blue dots.  I hope I can make these again since I didn't write down the different glass and stringers I used.

Not happy with the bottom bead cap.

You can see the top a little better in this picture.

On the remake I hammered the end of the wire, brought it through and coiled the top making a cap with the wire.  I like this version much better than the first one.  DON'T FORGET TO GO BELOW AND LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A SANTA LAMPWORK BEAD SET.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

"WHO'S NAUGHTY OR NICE" CHRISTMAS BEAD SET GIVEAWAY

Let's have some fun with this giveaway. Leave me a comment on the naughtiest or nicest thing you did "as a child" at Christmas to be entered. Lets keep it clean, remember I said as a child. No Naughty or Nice stories, no problem, just say "hi".  For extra chances blog about this giveaway and let me know. Become a follower and let me know you follow my blog. I will pick a winner through random.org so let me know if you blogged or are a follower for those extra chances. I will pick a winner on Tuesday, December 7th.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR PARTICIPATING, I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR COMMENTS. THE WINNER OF THE SANTA BEAD SET IS NUMBER "7" REGINA. CONTACT ME AT HAVANABEADS@YAHOO.COM WITH YOUR ADDRESS AND I WILL SEND THESE OUT TO YOU. CONGRATULATIONS!

GOOD LUCK!

Raida

BLACK FRIDAY SALE

I''m going to try out a new feature on Etsy this Black Friday.  They've come up with a coupon feature your customers can use when they check out.  It automatically discounts whatever percentage you set up with that particular coupon code.  No more reimbursing through Paypal or redoing invoices.  Lets hope it works.  So here's the sale.  Both my stores have 20% off the entire store.  Shop as usual and when you get ready to pay there should be a coupon feature where you type my unique code "THANKYOU10" and it should automatically take off 20% off your entire order.  Pretty cool; lets hope it works.  Sale runs from 6am Friday, November 26th through 6am, Saturday November 27th or whenever I wake up to turn it off.
Here are the two links to my stores. Havana Beads, Gentle Wind Designs.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Raida

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hi everyone, just wanted to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!  I am having 24 people over for Thanksgiving tomorrow so I've been baking up a storm today.  I have 6 loafs of bread, 3 pumpkin pies, and 4 dozen cookies almost ready to go; cookies baking.  Turkey is defrosting and I'll season that tonight so it's ready early tomorrow morning for the stuffing.  I can't wait to see my family and have a great day with them.  Here's a sneak peek of some of the baking.

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Raida

ETCHED EARRINGS

I've been busy doing some etching lately.  I've been doing these handmade plates which I love but are extremely labor intensive being that I cut out my own plates and sand them and then go through the whole etching process, tarnish, tumble and wax.  It almost seems not worth the effort until you see the finished product and your customers are loving them.  Then you know it was all worth while.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Bead Soup that is being hosted by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things.  Click on the Bead Soup link button on your right to go to her site for more info.

These are listed on my Gentle Wind Designs Etsy store.  gentlewinddesigns

Have a great Weekend!

Raida