bella luna beads

Playtime

2007-12-06T17:51:00.000-08:00

View From Studio Window

Okay, I haven't been very good about updating my blog. I would love to confess that I've been playing but in reality I'm running around doing errands and kid stuff.
So, the snow arrives and I'm not really happy about it. I don't know that most of us are. It's kind of a hassle and you risk an accident everytime you leave the driveway. So yesterday I go to pick up my youngest at school and there he is~ his head is in the snow and he's pushing it along like he's snowplow. Why he's out of his mind I'm thinking and I'm looking around and all the children are smiling and laughing and playing. Wow. They look forward to the snow and they see this gift from Mother Nature as something fun! I don't want to dread it and when I'm standing in the kitchen window or looking out my studio window and the sun is out then I'm surprised by the incredible beauty. Okay, so I love the snow from the inside looking out. Now if I could get some sort of tank to drive me around safely that would be cool.
So, email me or do a comment and tell me what is your favorite playtime. It doesn't have to be related to snow just that it brings you joy. Joy like in making you laugh and smile like a child. I'll pick one and the winner will get a Bead Girl Train case for a wonderful holiday surprise!

Tree Goddess Necklace

I'm supposed to be home, tucked away in my new beautiful studio making lots of jewelry. Turns out I'm a little ADD and the dishes, laundry blah blah blah get my attention first! So, in a whole month all I made is this necklace. I've got to tell you that I just love it! Thank you Melanie of Earthenwood Studios for making such gorgeous pendants and giving me an opportunity to make something beautiful.

The New Studio

Well, here it is. Not the best picture but it's filled with very happy people taking the Lisa Blackwell of ZoaArt and Cynthia Thorton of GreenGirlStudio workshop. I believe I did mention how lucky I felt. We had the best time! And anytime you can get a class with these fabulous artists it's worth every minute and every penny. We learned so much and were so inspired. My pics of the resin pendants we made did not come out well. I had too much glare from the resin but a previous post shows what the project was. My hope is that the girls loved it enough to come back in the Spring and teach another class!

PMC Classes!

2007-11-13T13:58:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a fabulous weekend! This Thursday, November 15th & Friday, November 16th is Lisa Blackwell's resin bracelet class. On day one, students will create a different shaped bezels, a toggle and chain link with pmc. Day two is finding the awesome artwork to put inside this bracelet and filling it with resin. It's actually a two-sided bracelet because the back side is stamped with design/texture so you can wear an all silver bracelet or one with color. Surprisingly seats are still left so if you are in the Dundee/Elgin area of Illinois or willing to make the drive ~ email me! bellalunabeads@aol.com

After that class, I am jumping for joy for the weekend class. Saturday Lisa will be teaching the pendant bezels made of pmc and then Sunday, Cynthia Thorton of Green Girl Studios (check out her blog) will be teaching how to fill it with polymer clay and various techniques. I am a huge fan of Cynthia's and have been for years. I'm so lucky and feel so blessed to have these amazing artists in my midst! There are 4 spots left as several people were unavailable~ So again, email me if you are interested.

It's All About Me

2007-10-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited. One more day open to the public and then I move everything to my studio. It's all empty and painted and ready to be settled in to. I forgot how much I love to move!

I'm sorry that everyone is sad. I know a lot of people really enjoyed shopping and hanging out but it is time. I've been wanting to close since the summer. It all started when I was offered a job in California. I was asked "what do you really want?" "What do you really want to do?" I realized that I was perfectly willing to move which meant I was perfectly willing to close the store. But I didn't want to re-open in California. I want to make jewelry. I promised myself 4 years ago to start a jewelry line and I haven't. I promised myself that I would master the flexshaft for drilling stones and master the soldering iron. I haven't done that. But I have been monitoring my sales and what sells well.

So, it's all about me. I want to sit at home and create. I want to play beads and I really miss it. That's what I really want. The online store will be filled with what sells well in Bella. If you've been in my shop you know how much I love color and how much I love to mix it up. Bracelet kits, Lariat Kits, Healing Bracelet kits, Knotted Necklace Kits, etc. etc. and of course, Project of Week will be online. Naturally I will have all the supplies needed to go with those projects plus Toho seed beads, wire, closures, etc and my pmc pieces.

Then just for fun I'm considering doing bead shows. At first I thought no way but Ruth suggested that it could really promote the online store besides having a new venue and it really makes sense to try a few if not just for the fun of traveling and meeting new people.

And last but not least, I really miss my family. This is such a great way for me to still have my business but all on my terms and maybe sneak in a vacation once in awhile. My boys have grown so big and have been so patient and now I want to spend more time with them. I'm so lucky that the business has grown and is capable of going worldwide~

Thank you to all my loyal and wonderful customers and dearest friends.

Sad but True

2007-10-11T19:58:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's true I'm closing the shop. After 4 1/2 years I have found that too many beaders like to buy online. While, many of my customers love the classes and the atmosphere of the shop there are simply not enough beaders to support the business. I've noticed a steady decline in shoppers and being told "I like to buy online". So, keeping up with times and the current business practices, I will be turning my webpage into an online store. My kits, projects and supplies will be available for those who like to shop at midnight. East Dundee seemed the perfect place to start a business in a quaint downtown area but alas only bars survive. So many of my customers have become friends and I hope to continue to see them as I would miss them terribly.

On the bright side, the freedom of not having a retail space will allow me more time for creativity and the making of jewelry. I am really very excited about that. I can't tell you how many projects and ideas I have floating around my head. I can't wait to get started. But first we are changing my current in home studio into a new and improved larger studio taking up most of the basement. I've got new paint colors selected and the area all drawn out on graph paper. As I told my husband, "I need to hit the ground running". I know that I will be so busy trying to stock up two stores with jewelry and filling my webpage with wonderful new kits and possibily step by step instructions with pics.

This is the perfect time and I am ready for change. I miss my kids and I miss my husband and, of course, miss my Nina. And speaking of change I'm dying my hair red in 3 weeks! Gee, I hope it takes.

Did You Find It?

2007-10-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

Nina found it. Let out to do her business, my husband found her basking in the sun. Yes, this is a carseat left in the carport for the next trash day and a perfect throne for our princess. Nina, our chiahuahua is 3 years old in December and the best chiahuahua ever. She barks just til she smells you and then demands that you hold her. A true lap dog and she loves everyone!

My joys: beads, Nina, my boys sound asleep, Benjamin's laugh, Harrison's dimples, my husband's humor, my favorite music loud, breakfast with my best friends, starbucks, full moons to recharge under, rain, waterfalls, japanese gardens, yoga and meditation.

It was so hard to choose the winner of the "find your joy" talisman bar so I picked two. Joan and Evelyn moved me with their words. I loved reading them all!

Find Your Joy

2007-09-27T10:06:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, Karen and I did a Self-Discovery Faire at Evolve in Crystal Lake. This was a joint venture between Evolve, Akasha (the yoga center) and Moon Willow (the tai chi center). Our part in the faire was doing a healing bracelet workshop. We created kits to make it a little less stressful for non-beaders. Our kits were Calming, Aura Protection, Abundance, Opening your Intuition, Healing the Heart, Healing the Mind and Goddess. In addition to the kits, we created what I call Talisman bars. We tried to select words that would go nicely with the kits. We had Serenity, Radiance, Blessings, Namaste, Enlightment, Gratitude, Inner Power, True Self, Goddess and Find Your Joy. I thought that the Find Your Joy went nicely with the abundance kit. This is my bracelet and it's perfect for fall!
What is the healing attributes of the goddess bracelet you ask? It's just pretty and purple and a reminder that we women are Goddesses and we need to keep that in mind when we are dealing with the world and our families and friends. It's an empowering bracelet. We need constant reminders of how powerful we are as women and how we really run this place~

So, my question to you is:

What is your joy?

Two weeks ago when I was running errands I was so annoyed. I was returning a fire extinguisher required by the fire department and I had purchased one that was apparently not charged. It's the errands that really wipe me out. So I had been repeating in my head "Find Your Joy" because I wanted to get out of the funk I was in. I returned the extinguisher and when I turned to leave I saw a cart full of orchids. I found my self smiling and enchanted and bought two. Find your joy Deborah. This one is in my bathroom and it's perfect in there since I am not a morning person.

Now, post your Joy and I will pick a winner for a "Find Your Joy" talisman bar including jumprings and a lobster so you can create a joyful bracelet.

Good Luck!

Wicked Witch

2007-09-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

It's true I guess. The earliest Halloween I remember dressing up as a witch. It was easy and convenient for my mother. I was not happy about that. At the very least, I could have had a pointed hat. A couple of years ago, when my boys were still quiet young, I was searching Toys R Us for their costumes and I picked up fairy wings for me. The woman at the checkout said "that's great. We are witches all year." Then last year my 10 year old muttered "witch" under his breath and I smiled. He doesn't know what he's got in store for him!
Anyway, I finally finished my newest favorite bracelet as promised with no orange. I love the mix of the jet hemitite, purple velvet and peridot satin for my crystals. It sounds wonderful and lays so nicely on my wrist~

I did make enough charms for two more bracelets and they sold this week! Yea, now I can make more to feed my pmc hunger. I will be making more charms because I know there are more witches out there. Anyone ever hear the Cowboy Junkies song "Witches" on their the caution horses album? I love that song~

PMC Crazy

2007-09-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

I did have a lot of fun last weekend with PMC. This leaf cross is my favorite cross yet so far. I do collect them so it's natural that I would make them given the opportunity. I'm going to do a braided knotted necklace in autumn browns. I can't wait! If anyone is interested please email me as I will be making more.

Last year I had this fun winter bracelet that made this wonderful noise when the beads and the charms knocked together. I used a similar toggle to this magic one and hung all the charms and beads off chain. I wore it all winter because I did the beads with winter colors~ blues and greens. Are those winter colors? Anyway, this year I decided I needed a Halloween bracelet because I love, love Halloween. I will dangle them from chain again with various black beads. I don't think I'll put orange because if I don't match it makes me a little crazy.

I'm trying to plan ahead so I've been making the gratitude crosses which I've posted before and now have made a couple of gratitude pendants. I just love these and plan on doing a gratitude knotted necklace workshop at Evolve in early November.

My current favorite design element is the "bar" and I have available another artbar and will be making a few more "friends are magic" bars. You can't have too much beaded jewelry!

I need more time to play pmc but I'm redoing my bead studio. I'll get some before and after pictures posted in the next couple of weeks. I'm still choosing paint colors and have to remove some things that my family has "stored" in the basement. My husband has been informed that I am taking over the entire space instead of just one little corner that I have been allotted. It's all mine now.

Bracelet Kits!

2007-08-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

My very favorite Bracelet is my Art Bar with blacks and browns. It's hard not to wear it everyday!

At long last I have put my bracelet kits on Etsy. Most of these kits were created because I loved the bracelet I made for myself so much. Since I do a lot of sharing at Bella, I would let my customers pick out the matching beads. Now, I just make the kits because it makes my customers happy! This weekend I am playing with PMC and plan to make a couple of art bars and the newest addition is the Friends are Magic bar. And of course I don't have a picture of that bar but Ruth Rae and I have matching ones! So, email me if you want one. I'm not sure I'll actually get it on Etsy.

My black and brown bracelet kit available on Etsy. It is a single strand kit.

Lakefront Property

2007-08-23T18:18:00.001-07:00

What a wild day. It was so nice today and then Mother Nature struck. Everytime it started storming my boys ran to the window and watched our lake grow. Typically it's just lawn but the past week and with our high water table created this lovely lake between our yard and our neighbors. My husband who likes to see the bright side of things asked if we really did have a lake in our yard, he was still downtown. and I said yes. "Call the realtor," he said. Our basement is still dry as our property slopes downward to the back gravel road. There is a creek behind that and it should get interesting the next couple of days. . . .

Monique and I were working together Sunday because she has a really cool braided bracelet workshop that she teaches. No one showed up because of all the flooding in town. I knew as I pulled my favorite black tee from the closet that we would be twins. People ask if we sisters!

Tuesday, my friend, Karen and I took step by step photos for our Knotted & Braided Necklace workshop. Once thoroughly proofread and analyzed, I will be putting the instructions and kits for sale on Etsy. Monique, the cutie in the previous photo, created this awesome technique and we just love it!

Moving slowly with Etsy because I actually need Ruth's camera and photo program. All my darn pics come out blurry!

Lucky Me

2007-08-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Lucky me for having such a fantastic week! With Ruth Rae in town and then Lisa and Tony Blackwell of ZoaArt in for classes, I was in heaven! Lisa's classes were terrific. She had a PMC earring class, a PMC charm class and then a awesome PMC chain bracelet class.

I didn't mean to do it but I slightly overbooked us. We had a party every night Lisa and Tony were here. I don't know how they survived the ride home! This is us at my friend Lisa's shop, Evolve, in Crystal Lake. From right to left is my husband, Gary; Lisa L of Evolve; Leanne of Triskele Moon, an amazing jewelry artist; Lisa Blackwell of ZoaArt; Ivan, Leanne's wonderful husband and phenomenal tarot reader; Ruth Rae, amazing mixed media and jewelry artist, behind her, Tony Blackwell of ZoaArt (we need to see more beads Tony!); in front of him, my best pal Monique and her sweet husband Jim; next to him is John, Lisa's new beau and finally me in the corner. My bestest friends in the world and yes some were missing but it was an amazing night!

That was the first night then we partied at Monique's and Jim's Saturday night and Sunday night at my place. Wow.

Good news is that we booked Lisa's next pmc classes for November. When I get the samples I will post them here and on my Bella Luna Beads class schedule.

Ruth's Class

2007-08-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was a wonderful day filled with lots of wire! Ruth Rae taught her wire woven jewelry class and it was terrific! This is Cindy and Kacy, a mother and daughter team, that love to spend time together beading. The day was even more exciting with tornado warnings that really made the day interesting for our visiting Californian. While the class was going on and I was manning the front, I met a very interesting Blogger named Jen. We had an interesting conversation about empowering women and I love forward to seeing her again.
Today there was no beading for us but we did go have breakfast at my favorite restaurant called Benedicts. There is a tree growing out through the middle of the house and it makes for an interesting meal. We visited various shops in our quaint town of Dundee with the finale of the afternoon being a cementary tour. My children were less than thrilled with traipsing through the headstones looking for angels. A bribery of Starbucks usually works well. Then Ruth was treated to an evening of bowling, such a midwest sport!, because my boys are on a bowling league. They looked so cute in their new retro black bowling shirts.
Well, we are watching the second episode of Lost now because Ruth is addicted to it and we have to get up early for our PMC Earring Class with Lisa Blackwell from zoaart early tomorrow so check back later this weekend for new pics of our wonderful pmc classes.
Deb

First Post

2007-08-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first post. I'm new to this blogging thingy but Ruth Rae, my best friend since High School is here, said it was time. I'm not very techy so she walked me through the set up two nights ago but I hesitated posting. She said she hated seeing a naked post so to make her happy I began.
This past Saturday night we had a wonderful time doing PMC Play. Friends and customers who have taken Lisa Blackwell's, of zoaart, pmc classes can come to our Saturday night workshop. I lay out all the stamps and cutters I have and we have a blast!
Lately we've been making lots of rings and art charm bars. This night I made a whole bunch of crosses because suddenly I had orders for them! They say "Gratitude", "the heart" and "Seek". I'm so pleased with how they came out.
I'm so excited Ruth also helped me start my etsy store. My new crosses will be on shortly!