Latest Creation

Here is my latest creation, copper wire wrapped Fire Polished Picasso Czech beads. It is currently for sale at my Etsy shop, http://www.etsy.com/listing/88920263/czech-fire-polished-picasso-bead-and

Tis the Season.... Ho Ho Ho!

Can you believe it? Christmas is almost here! Where has the year gone. It just seemed to fly by this year. I've been busy..... creating, teaching classes, marketing and promoting, and then of course there is my personal life. What a zoo and I do mean literally, lol.

Here are a few of my lastest additions. All are available at my Etsy store,

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LVsBeadsnThings/ I also have an "Etsy Mini" to the right that shows pictures of my newest items.

We now carry sage smudge bundles, smudge/prayer feathers, mini smudge and mini travel kits. We have lots of great gifts for your friends, family, and your pets. Stop in and check us out.
All of our items and custom creations are handmade in the USA.

I hope you are all staying warm and cozy.

Ho Ho Ho!

Merry Christmas to all!

California White Sage Smudge Sticks!

I have just added 3 new items at my Etsy store. The new items are two sizes of sage smudge bundles and a mini smudge kit. The mini smudge kit is perfect for traveler's or those with limited space like I have. It would be a great gift item for a loved one or friend.

The mini smudge kit is shown above. It includes a 4" mini sage and lavender smudge bundle, 4" abalone shell, and a 4" 3-legged Cobra style wooden stand.

For more information or to purchase please visit my online Etsy store LVsBeadsnThings They are also shown on my Etsy mini on the right side of my blog.

Thanks so much for your interest in our unique and handcrafted items.

~LVS~

My Facebook Page

An update for all of my Facebook friends. I just added a page for LVs Beads n Things if you would like to follow me on Facebook. Please keep in mind that it's going to take me a little while to add content and upload pictures so be patient. If you do visit my page please bookmark it and be sure to check back often. I will be continually adding new things as time permits.

https://www.facebook.com/LVsBeadsnThings

Great tutorials!

For all of you wire wrap and beaded jewelry artisans as well as my wire wrap students, I found this awesome Aussie Etsy seller who has great tutorials for the popular herringbone, bird's nest, and briolette wire wraps. I know Susie will love the tutorial for the briolette wrap because that wrap is still giving her fits..... and (shhhhhh) I am getting it for her for Christmas. ;-) Patricia is currently running some terrific specials so be sure to check those out. If you stop in and visit her shop don't forget to give her a "heart."

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JewelryonPicadilly

Winter came way too fast this year!

Well dang, if winter didn't come too fast this year. I was not ready for summer to end. It's like we went from summer to winter with only a few weeks of fall. Summer was definitely too short!

For holiday shoppers I am selling Jewelry locally at Harvest Health Food store located on Hwy. 2 in Priest River, ID. I still have my Etsy store and I will be adding more items (waiting on gemstones and Ebay auctions.) If you are interested either check back or check my Etsy mini on the right side of my blog. This past summer and fall I've also been teaching wire wrap jewelry classes. Some of my students have really caught on fast. ;-) I want to personally thank Susie for the beautiful jewelry pieces she made for me. I will treasure them always.

I'd like to take this time to wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season and all the best to you for the new year. To all of my friends in the north country, stay warm and cozy!

Cheers! LVS

My very first ACEO Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is an ACEO?

Art Cards, Editions and Originals are miniature works of art the size of a baseball or playing card. They can be framed or stored in a trading card album. ACEOs can be created in any medium available in the art world. There are no rules limiting the artist, except that the dimensions have to be 2.5" x 3.5". They're a great way of collecting original art, at an affordable price. Start your collection today!

Here is a link to my first ACEO, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, featuring my Snow Dog, Aleutia. http://www.etsy.com/listing/63452848/let-is-snow-aceo

It's currently for sale at my Etsy shop as a refrigerator magnet.

Edge makes his Debut!

OMG! You need a haircut, is the first thing that comes to mind, lol. Seriously, I love this little guy and had great fun making him. He needs a few last minute finishing touches and then I will list him on Etsy. I want to embroider his mouth. Right now it is put on with permanent marker.

I want to share a story, my story and the story of how Edge came to be. Most who know me know that I am a private person. I don't air my dirty laundry, don't whine and complain when I have a problem, I don't discuss aches, pains, hurts, despair, and God knows the agony I have felt these past 6 months since my Brother died suddenly and unexpectedly even though we knew he had some issues. My family was just not prepared for the suddenness, the finality, knowing we would never see or talk to Bill ever again. I found myself slipping into a deep depression, a funk! My poor Mom was having an even harder time and I really worried about her. I did little things to try to cheer her up and hopefully I succeeded...... but we all know that time is what eventually heals all wounds. Time and the love of good friends and your family.

Ok, that being said, I received an email from a friend. You know the one.... the one with the cute little hedgehog balled up in the palm of someone's hand? It has circulated for about 2 years now. I have always loved hedgehogs..... well almost all animals. This little hedgehog was soooooo cute! I had to forward it on to Mom. She emailed back "I WANT ONE!!!!!" Well so did I but I knew that buying Mom (and myself) a hedgehog was not feasible nor practical so I got this idea in my head.... hmmmmmmm, I should make her one. Well the idea just remained an idea, until today that is.

I belong to an Etsy BNR called Shopper's Paradise. This group's members are the most loving, friendly, creative people that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Sometimes there are "Challenges." Our recent challenge was to create our first ACEO. Pray tell, someone tell me, what in God's name is an ACEO? Well now I know. My first attempt was a water color painting, which I still have. After someone explained what an ACEO actually was, I discovered my post card water color painting was too large so didn't qualify as a true ACEO. Drats! Then I thought "I will make a felt picture of a hedgehog!" And I almost did, but thought to myself, naw! I gotta make Mom one she can hold in her hand, you know, "see it, feel it, touch it."

I did submit my first ACEO (and sold two!) Yay! Then I set out to make the little hedgehog for Mom because that's what a loving Daughter does. I was so pleased at how he turned out. I named him Edge. He will now be a regular featured item in my Etsy store.

The morale of my story? In my funkenness, my turmoil, my pain, I found it very hard to create. Although I did bury myself in my wire wrapped jewelry, I forgot my "Critters" who have always been a very big part of who I was. I had not touched my felting needles or wool roving for months and months. I put aside my clay. It was almost like a small part of me died with my Brother or at least was put to rest for a little while. When we were asked to do the ACEO challenge it woke up that part of me that I had squelched or locked up inside.

Thank you my Paradise friends, family, loved ones. Sometimes all it takes is a word, an idea, a thought, a gentle nudge. Please remember, NEVER give up on your dreams!

Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday season. May your New Year be filled with love, happiness, enthusiasm, and hope!

Work Station

I thought you might like to look at a wire wrappers work station. Cleaned up and condensed version of course. Wire and tools have been put away. I was just putting finishing touches on a pair of earrings.

Rose Quartz Crystal Earrings

I love these Rose Quartz Crystal Earrings. Rose Quartz has always been so soothing and calming for me.

Santa's Work Shop

These are busy, busy times for me. The Christmas craft show at Stratton's is right around the corner and I am teaching wire wrap classes too! We will see how we do at the craft show this year. Economy really took it's toll last year but I still managed to do all right. Other's weren't as fortunate.

My Etsy store is stocked with all kinds of great gifts for your 4 legged and 2 legged loved ones.

This set is gorgeous and the price is right. It can be purchased at lvsbeadsnthings.etsy.com.

Happy fall y'all. Summer is definitely gone for another year..... sighs!