WE HAVE A WINNER!

Thanks so much to all who participated in my giveaway.  The winner of the head pins is number 8, Copper Diem.  Email me at havanabeads@yahoo.com with your address and I'll send these right out to you.  Congratulations!

Enjoy your day,

Raida

BACK TO BASICS

My favorite thing in the whole wide world growing up was a new box of crayons.  I still remember the thrill the first year my mom got me the big box, you know, the one with the sharpner built right in.  I've traded in that box of crayons for a box of glass.  I get such a thrill when I receive new colors I've never tried.  It seems like nothings changed!

I had lots of fun making the following beads.  I thought I'd make some bumpies and polka dots with the colors I picked to work with.  These will be a lot of fun in jewelry.  I made them in pairs so they can be used in earrings or in bracelets or even as accents in necklaces.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

HAPPY EASTER

Hope you guys have a wonderful Easter Sunday with family and friends!

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Raida

2011 Buyers Guide - BEADS

I am so thrilled to have my head pins featured in the 2011 Buyers Guide - BEADS.  I would like to give away a set of my head pins to one lucky winner.  Leave a comment below and be entered to win.  If you follow my blog leave a separate comment and be entered twice.  I will pick a winner next Thursday, April 28th.

              These are the head pins you'll win.  GOOD LUCK!

          Raida

New Goodies on Etsy

I've been slowly adding beads I made last week to my Etsy store.  Still have some more to add later today.  It's amazing how much work one can do before a show and then how lethargic one gets the following week when the dead line is gone.

These little mini sets are coordinated and would be great for a bracelet.  I made them in pairs so if you wanted you could make earrings with them also.

More viking knit caps in different styles and color.

Little etched acorn.

Some funky earring pairs.

I've had a lot of customers ask for these in pairs so here's two sets in pairs.  I also have two new colors, an amber raku drop and an aqua raku drop.

Well that's all for now,

Enjoy your day,

Raida

7000 Bracelets - Blog Hop

First, I'd like to thank Lori Anderson of Pretty Things for hosting this wonderful event.  THANKS LORI!  Each person who is participating, 112 of us, will make an adult size bracelet in a denim/blue inspired theme.  These bracelets will be sent to the The Global Genes Project an advocacy group who launched "7000 Bracelets for Hope", a children's rare disease campaign. These bracelets are then given to one of 7000 families having children with rare diseases to show them love and support.  This is the bracelet I made for one of those families.

My bracelet is made with my lampwork beads in cobalt, periwinkle and white.  I knotted those beads in leather and attached them to a handmade textured sterling ring.  The other half of the bracelet has three strands of different glass beads and is finished with a handmade sterling clasp.  I dangled a small lampwork bead and a little ceramic doves from the clasp.  Hope you like it.

HOPE SOARS

I'm at The Best Bead show in Miami this weekend and won't be able to participate in the hop today, but will work my way during the week to visit all the blogs.

Enjoy the blog hop,

Raida

Check Out the Other Great Artist Participating in the 7000 Bracelet Blog Hop:

1. Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Jayne Capps,Mamas Got to Doodle
3. Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym
4. Mandy Duffy, Beads For Brains
5. Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
6. Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
7. Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry
8. Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
9. Amy Severino, Amy Beads
10. Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride
11. Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions
12. Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio
13. Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading
14. Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl
15. Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
16. Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae
17. Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium
18. Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
19. Jean Yates, Snap Out it Jean, There's Beading to Be Done
20. Nicki Keller, Nickis Reef
21. JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
23. Carrie Tahquechi, Carrie T
24. Deci Worland, Gem Trails
25. Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium
26. Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
27. Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio
28. Linda Landig, Lindas Bead Blog and Meanderings
29. Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady
30. Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery
31. Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux
32. Mallory Hoffman, For The Love of Beads
33. Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread
34. Kate Gardenghi, Tropical Blonde
35. Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
36. Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
37. Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co.
38. Cory Celaya, Art with Moxie
39. CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations
40. Tracy Bell, Copper Glass and Recycled Trash
41. Sandra Richardson, Sandys Coloring Box
42. Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs
43. Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn
44. Hilary Frye, Frye Style
45. Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio
46. Lisa Kavanaugh, Bading Bliss
47. Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads
48. Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral
49. Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel
50. Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
52. Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
53. Andrea Robinson, Madame Magpie's Shiny Things
54. John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry
55. Breana Fry, Vault 31
56. Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
57. Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
59. Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
60. Heather Pyle, Aquariart
61. Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs
62. Dee Gordon, Runako Designs
63. Judy Glende, Judith B Designs
64. Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie and Wings
65. Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
66. Norma Agron, Normas Clay
67. Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dogs Tuxedos
68. Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
69. Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads - YOU"RE HERE
70. Christa Murphy, Adventures of One beady woman
71. Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs, Silver Rose Designs
72. Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads, Boo Beads
73. Deana Hager, Just Deez Art
74. Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
75. Valerie Norton, Hot-Fused-Glass
76. Janet Bocciardi, Honey From The Bee
77. Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
78. Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design
79. Sally Russick, Wire Worked
80. Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
81. KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads
82. Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana
83. Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love
84. Karen Bien, Every Day Gypsy
85. Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
86. Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures
87. Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats
88. Deb Beechy, Beetique
89. Marian Hertzog, M's Place
90. Kerry Bogert, Kabs Creative Concepts
91. Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
92. Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studios
93. Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields
94. Sharon Palac, Sharons Jewelry Garden
95. Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
96. Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations
97. Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter
98. Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
99. Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio
100. Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores
101. Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets
102. Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy
103. Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies
104. Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof
105. Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals
106. Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry
107. Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry
108. Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks
109. Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading
110. Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne
111. Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra
112. Mary Ellen ParkerBee Tree by Me

BEST BEAD SHOW THIS WEEKEND

I'll be headed to the Best Bead Show in Miami this weekend.  Come by and see me if you're local or you'll be in the area, here's the info.:

DoubleTree Miami Mart

West Hall
711 NW 72nd Ave
Miami, FL 33126

Hours:

Fri: 12PM-7PM
Sat: 10AM-6PM
Sun: 11AM-5PM

Havana Beads at Etsy will be closed Friday - Sunday.  I have so many one of a kind pieces I can't chance that someone buys something at the show and it would be my luck that piece would sell from the store. 

Hope to see you there,

Raida

Next weekend I have a large bead show in Miami, The Best Bead Show.  I've been busy on Etsy and trying to stock those bins for the show.  I've been making some large floral lentil beads which I love to make but get distracted with other things and don't get around to them as often as I'd like.  I also made some organic type focals with the same lentil shape.  This shape is rounded in the front and lays flat in the back which I like.  I'm also working on my blue bracelet for the 7000 Bracelets Blog Hop Project, so I have a great deal on my plate right now.  Here's some pictures of the focals I made this week.

Enjoy your weekend,

Raida

SPRING SALE

It's time for a Spring Sale!  This weekend I have a 15% off coupon at my Gentle Wind Designs store on Etsy.  You can also use the 15% off coupon for items that are already on sale.  Here are some new items I've listed this week.

I made these with my lampwork disc and little square ceramic beads made by Michelle at Firefly Design Studio.  It would be me to pick out the only neutral thing she probably has ever made.  Her colors are vibrant and bright and her designs are so much fun!  Check out her store.

Here are some new lampwork listings on my Havana Beads Site on Etsy.

These caps are great for end caps for the viking knit.  I have to play with them a bit but I think they can be used for thick leather and possibly strands of smaller beads and fiber.  The hole is approx. 5mm.

Here's a picture with a portion of a viking knit.  I have to work on a finished piece to share with you guys.

These are fun, they have a barrel shape to them and a spiral pattern.

That's all for today, I'm off to the torch.

Enjoy your day,

Raida