now in sterling...

i made a version of the bracelet you're jealous of (come on, admit it) this time in sterling. 16 gauge. big beads. gorgeous beads. stoneymariedesign beads :) of course!



but i also learned something interesting. i thought i'd share. on encased lampwork beads the clear on the outside 'magnifies' the colors inside. that's why they really look layered. i was swimming the other day and realized that when my bracelet (yup, mine - won't be selling this one either...i hear you asking...how can she afford NOT to sell it? answer is simple - i have to have a sample to make sure everything works right, don't i? ;) ) anyways, back to what i learned. i found out that when the beads are underwater they don't look so layered. it's really cool. so i took some pictures to show you the difference. aren't i awesome. lol. not really.

above water:


under water:


can you see the difference? isn't that cool? just thought i'd share.

on a different note, voting is still in progress for the holiday cards (see my last post if you missed it) and i have my fingers crossed! i can't wait to find out!

holiday card voting begins!

i'm posting this to solicit votes :)

about a month ago i entered a holiday card design contest and today the voting begins. three of my designs made the short list and if i place 1-5th place then my design will be for sale on the minted.com website for this christmas season, plus i'll win a cash prize!

here are the submissions:

http://www.minted.com/vote

my designer name is brandianndesigns and if you like my work, i'd appreciate your support! i don't know if you have to register with minted.com to vote, but it's free, and i'd be grateful!

thanks so much!

here's a preview of what you'd be voting for:

i can feel...

your jealousy over my new bracelet...it's coming through quite well.

bracelet courtesy of me. beads courtesy of my wonderful hubby for mothers' day.





click on the pictures, make them bigger. check out the awesome beads. really. they're awesome. i love glass. i especially love stoneymariedesigns but not in a creepy way. in the i want to own every bead she makes kinda way.

i told you - send me beads i will make you one! :) you know you like it. it's so awesome. (hmm, i'm not proud am i?)

let's talk beads

ok, remember the beads i told you about by stoneymariedesigns? i haven't received any beads that you've bought from her and mailed to me yet. hello people! don't you want to own her beads?? go on, go shop!

if you mail me beads by her, i will make you something beautiful (for a fair price)

like this gorgeous necklace i just listed in my etsy shop:

slacker alert!

i have been such a slacker! i haven't posted in ages. in all honesty, i have a reason - cameron was sick all last week.. well, not really sick, but he ran a fever from tuesday - saturday. (it got up to 103.6 at one point!) there was nothing else wrong with him. we did take him to the dr. but he just confirmed what we thought. he can't find anything else wrong with him, so we just have to wait. if it hadn't gotten better by saturday, then we were going to have to do further digging.

thank goodness it was better by saturday!

on a different note, thanks to a wonderful customer of mine, my shop has been down to almost nothing so i'm working on posting some new jewelry. here's a sneak preview:

the cutest kid EVER

see? i wasn't lying. he really is the cutest kid ever.






we can't believe he's ours.

mother's day

happy belated mother's day everyone!

my husband is AWESOME! he bought me the best beads from StoneyMarie Designs. what?!? you've never heard of her beads? well, shame on you! go there. buy beads. send these beads to me as well (see previous post). here are my new favorite earrings:




i will take pictures of all the beads i got for mother's date later this week.

also, i took some new pictures of the kid this evening. i will post them soon. you will be jealous. he's so adorable!

on a side note, the bread i made was awesome! 4 ingredients. no kneading. i will post the recipe this week as well!

have a great evening!