The Vault Sale and $50 Giveaway

The giveaway has ended and winner will be announced shortly! Thanks to everyone for your participation!

Enter to win some beads! During the giveaway I am also having a 20% off storewide sale, so that $50 is worth so much more. The winner will be able to use their credit toward a purchase made during the contest. If you found this drawing thru my newsletter, great!

This sale and giveaway helps me clear out space for the new gemshow beads that will show up near the end of the month. Let me know if you have any special requests!

• Subscribe to the newsletter and click the giveaway button therein, subscribe>(one entry)
  

• Comment below WITH a link to one of your favorite listings (one entry, make sure I can contact you, don't leave an anonymous comment)

• Tweet about the giveaway use #LBVaultGiveaway and link to my blog> http://liciapots.blogspot.com/ (up to one entry daily)
  

• Tweet about the sale use #LBVGem Sale and a link to (or within) my store> http://www.etsy.com/shop/LiciaBeadsVault (up to one entry daily)
  

• Follow me on Facebook AND click the share button on a status update (one entry)

• Write about/link the contest in your blog leave the link in a comment below (one entry)

• Write about/link the sale in your blog leave the link in a comment below (one entry)
  

Follow the entry rules closely, they allow me to track your entries. Each entry will be assigned a number which will be chosen using random.org to determine the winner. Contest runs from now to December 3rd. The winner will be notified using one of their entry methods and receive a $50 credit to LiciaBeads Vault which can be used for purchases from Nov 2nd 2010 onward.
_________________________________________________
Employees and direct relatives of LiciaBeads are not eligible to enter. Entries are for LiciaBeads Vault only and do not apply to jewelry. Winner must (have) select(ed) their items from those in stock and "checkout" using an Etsy account. Invalid entries, anonymous or untraceable comments, or obvious spam will be deleted from the comments.

Enter to win a $50 gift certificate to my jewelry supply store!

This Drawing has ended, thanks to all the participants! Stay tuned!





This giveaway is going on at the same time
as my 20% off sale at LiciaBeads Vault on Etsy.

The winner will receive a $50 credit to my Gemstone and Jewelry supply shop. Each entry will correspond to a number and the number will be selected using Random.org

The drawing ends on June 24th (midnight Eastern), just before the gem show so the winner can also take advantage of the new stock and sale.

There are many ways to put your hat in the ring and get an entry!

• Leave a comment below with a link to your favorite listing from my Vault shop
• Subscribe to the Vault Newsletter which will give you an entry link (and a little something else ;)
  
• Twitter - follow me on twitter and tell me you want to enter using @liciabeads #enterme for the $50 gem and jewelry supply giveaway
  
• Twitter - (up to one entry per day) tweet about the sale using @liciabeads #GemVault20% http://www.etsy.com/shop/liciabeadsvault
  
• Twitter - (up to one entry per day) tweet about the giveaway using @liciabeads #GemGiveaway$50 http://tinyurl.com/25e4wyq
  
• Facebook - "Like" me on Facebook and leave me a note on my wall that you want to enter
  
• Blog - Blog about the sale or giveaway and leave your blog link in a comment below
• Refer a friend for two entries! Have your friend/s post a comment below with your name and you get 2 entries! They get an entry for their comment as well.
  

So there are lots of ways to enter and lots of ways to keep entering (up to two times daily using the twitter methods). BE SURE that there is a way for me to contact you if you leave your comment to this blog posting. Facebook, Twitter and newsletter subscriptions all allow contact links of some sort but anonymous comments will not work for obvious reasons, so be sure there is a way to contact you (leave your Etsy shop name, or twitter address if you don't want to expose an e-mail).

Thanks to everyone for their support and comments! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or special requests at Vault (at) LiciaBeads (dot) com

Have a delightful Summer!

$50 Giveaway, Summer Sale, and gem show restock!

For those who are interested in all things beady, there are some wonderful things about to happen in my Jewelry and Gemstone Supply shop on Etsy. All the great details will be available in my Vault Newsletter!

I encourage you to subscribe for the best benefits, and you could win $50 worth of free beads!

Click here to subscribe!



Thanks!

Sterling Wire wrapping project (#3)

The main portion of the necklace is coming along. I have decided to include some Spessartite Garnets that I have been hoarding. They are a delicious sparkling bright orange. I'm still not quite sure what to put with them...

I put the beads on a separate wire than the wrapping one because I want them all to face with the faceting forward rather than wrap them directly in with the work. If you have wrapped before, or looked around at work, this will probably make more sense to you. There are so many ways to do things that sometimes it gets complicated. :)

This is where I am so far... and I can feel myself getting stuck. It's natural that along the way the inspiration slows because I don't want to "try something" and mess it up. There is a little more wrapping to be done to get it stable to the point that it can handle being worn and the additional stones that will go onto it. I have to figure out what kind of chain to make too. I want it to look rather substantial and have enough visual weight to balance out the central pendant.

Have a lovey weekend all, I'll get back to it!

Sterling Wire wrapping project (#2)

The progress is coming along with the wire wrapping. One of the things I notice with my work is that the wire wrapped portion tends to look more like a pendant. I'm working on trying to incorporate it into the necklace so that everything fits together onto the necklace itself.

I've done some additional sketches that include a full scale "traced" original. You can see my progress on the actual work in the photo also. I tend to change things and work it out as I go along, for me it's a fluid process.

I've chosen a preliminary selection of Peridot, Phrenite, and Spessartite Garnet for the gemstones, but might change that up too. :)

Sterling Wire wrapping project

My favorite pieces of jewelry always tend to be the wire wrapped bits. I like the intricate details that can be created with very fine wire. I recently did a few little spirals for earrings but the ones that draw the most attention tend to be the unique shapes and intricate weaves with gemstones.

This one to the right is among my most viewed. It sports :) a collection of colorful faceted gemstones and is hand wrapped in sterling silver wire on a sterling base.

I wanted to do another free form shape so the first step is getting out the sketch pad (handmade by nightowlcraftworks) and drawing some shapes. I'm a fan of filigree and wrought iron and like to get some intricate patterning involved in the wrapping so I basically have to draw it out first. Sterling is expensive, and I attempt not to waste it on mistakes.

The initial drawing looks like this. With some modifications, I decided to go with the one on the left. I sometimes make changes while I am in progress depending on fluidity of shapes, how the wire fits together, and inspiration.

After some forming, and hammering for structure, I put the pieces side by side to make sure they will fit the way I want.

Then I think about adding components like chain and gemstones. It all comes together slowly as each component is added. I find it important to make sure things fit the way I want. Sometimes that means testing it out with copper wire too since I may not want to mess with the actual piece or potentially waste precious wire.

So this is where I am. Stay tuned for the choosing of gemstones, and components.

Pearl Sale on now!

Click on the pretty pearls to shop!

I finally have them all listed for your perusal, all at 20% off. I concentrated on getting a few of some favorite colors in nice grades rather than many in few colors, because I love the colors! This year I should be able to acquire a more regular stock of freshwater pearls assuming they sell as well as I hope they should. Thanks to all for your patience and support!

Found, coin pearls in a nice grade, larger bright color freshwater.... sadly, there were no druzy pearls as requested. I go back in March for more!

You asked for it!

Of course, I got more than you asked for just in case.

Big pristine lemon quartz perfectly faceted drops. Totally keeping one for myself.
More Rondelle Sonata in A stones for my most popular 20 of each in a rainbow of flavors.
Special requests for great rutilated quartz and large flasytastic labradorite. Onion shapes too!Wonderful smooth Prasiolite and garnet, micro faceted amethyst onions, and ah, my first London Blue Topaz.
Some larger rondelles and faceted shapes, yum!
AND! That's not even close to being all! Want something you see? Let me know and I get get to it faster for you... cvause you may just want to purchase it while I am having the August Sale!

Playing in the wire again, thinking about handing out beads

Gotta love filigree! It takes a while to actually make it from wire but man is it ever cool! I get a little excited over the beads and wire... So anyway, I always liked the look of that old fashioned lacy filigree that is meant to embellish a central focus. And we know (we do at my house) that is a good element in design to have "strong centers". I'll do a blog post about the elements of design later on. For now I am too overly excited and beady eyed.

It doesn't help that I am going to a gem show in a couple of weeks. Which is why I am having the BIG SALE in my Vault shop to make way for the new things. But my followers already know that and subscribe to the newsletter for the even better deals... right followers?

I was thinking about having another $50 gemstone bead giveaway too... good idea? Are you watching?

I'm also gardening. Well, when I have the time to actually garden at my house I am anyway. I was inspired by the peas. Neither of these projects are complete ( you know you have 10 started too!) but one of these days as the inspiration flows I am sure they will develop.

Have a great weekend!

Are you subscribed? You might wanna do that soon.

Get the LiciaBeads Vault newsletter!

I have a newsletter that I use to send out special notifications and details that those of you who are interested in my gemstone supply shop should totally subscribe to. I will not spam you (I don't care to and who has that kinda time?).

Just sign up and you will be notified of all the details and special events ahead of time, so you can prepare yourself.

I'm currently working out a way to do a referral program to make it worth your while to tell a friend too. Subscribe and I'll keep ya posted!

Thanks to everyone for their support in all things sparkly!

I saw you at the Edmonds Art Festival!

Okay, so here I am browsing around the Edmonds (near Seattle) Art Festival and I swear I have seen these things before! It's like Etsy live and it was fantastic to see things up close and in person. I bought some things too, and it was fun. For the longest time I have been looking for a wall pocket for flowers. As a cat mama I have to keep exciting looking things off the tables, so table vases don't really get used anymore, but I have plenty of flowers to cut and bring inside.

I was browsing and found some that I swear I had seen before. When I got home, I checked the website printed on the "brand new from the box" business cards and he totally has an Etsy shop. One I had already hearted :) (And he's really nice too!)

I got myself a wall vase and James went back for something I had been eying since I turn 33 soon.

Among the other artists that were there, some of whom sell on Etsy:
Convergence Design (Etsy Shop)Abraxus Crow Company

Great dimensional metal sculpture featuring crows, but they have lots more too!

Marcio Diaz
Phenomenal Nicaraguan artist. His abstract paintings are really unique and striking. You just have to see them in person, they really are great!

Stubborn Design Works by Melissa Stiles
Bold nature inspired colors and patterns set into silver, and wonderful felt bags

Deborah Bridges of Sacred Stone
Stay tuned, this WILL be in our garden one of these days. James was thinking submerged into the pond. Oooh, spooky :)

William Vanscoy
I would love to stare at one of his works some day. Each year we look at his booth and hope that at one point we will get to bring one home.

It was fun, there was lots to see, and many calories to consume. I wore my TP necklace and passed out some cards to those who commented. I bought a few things too, it's only right to support fellow artists. So next time you are at a fair, buy a little something :)

If you stalk me for sparkles.....

There is more on the way. I just got in some specially requested Blue Goldstone (man made glass, but very pretty). There's big ones, little ones, faceted ones, round ones, rondelle ones, yup. Coming soon to LiciaBeads Vault in small affordable quantities.

Also in the stash: smokey quartz rondelles, the gold colored goldstone, black onyx faceted marquise briolettes, some CZ and glass briolettes, and some way cool aqua blue chalcedony faceted rounds. So yeah, thanks for following me. I am thinking about a summertime giveaway too. Whaddaya think? Good idea?

I'm being harassed...

See, now that I have a certain family member addicted to Etsy and trained on my blog, I have to keep this thing up or I get a phone call asking me where all the new stock is, or where all the blog posting has gone to.

So here is what I have been up to:
You will notice, sister.. that there are new gemstone listings up with the blends. See, I did something :) I also put up lots of pressed glass and the little purple flowers that we got at that place with the stuff. Just type in glass in my shop and you will see them.

I know you are waiting for those things that you made me buy and said "If these don't sell, I will buy them from you!" They are coming, don't get your panties in a bunch.

As for the blends, I really like this one called the Rondelle Sonata in A. It sells well to cause see, I listed it because I would buy it from me if I were not selling it. That wouldn't work, cause if I were not selling it I couldn't buy it from me, but you get what I mean. TIP: The things that sell best, are the things that you would buy from yerself... so peeps! sell those things!

Here's a photo of the Rondelle Sonata in A cause Joyce said so. Yup, it's cool, and I need more Topaz rondelles. The strand I had was sooo perdy, I dunno if I can get one that nice. Maybe I will call the place that sold it to me at the gemshow...


Anyway, yesterday I prepped the garden because I bought some seeds. I got some seeds from NotSoShabbyChic cause she sells Portulaca (iceplant) which I love because the flowers open in the sunshine, and you can watch it happen :) Yay for plants that do that! I also got some sunflowers and Marigold cause well, she had them and I like them.

We also have to go get goldfish for the bog pond. We have a planter that is filled with water, rather than soil, so that James can plant bog plants and have a water garden. The catch is that we have to put some kind of fish in it to eat the mosquito larvae. It works too! We have a water basin in the courtyard and the fish just eat from the little biome within the basin. I don't have to do a thing. How is that for a great "pet"! Feeder fish, just regular goldfish that are used as "bait" for other water animals work great AND we are saving lives! Okay, yes, they are just fish.

So that is what I have been up to. I tried to make the text a pretty color so you wouldn't get bored cause I dont' have a pretty picture of anything that applies to the "article". (I added one) Here is a picture of something else for you. :) I'll see how long it takes for me to get a note :) HA!

New bead stock soon...

So you may not be into all the fancy rocklike beads. Maybe you like glass beads and other sparkly things. I have some that I will be listing soon.

Cubes in colored crystal and fiber optics, as well as round miracle beads, pressed glass leaves and flowers and an assortment of Chinese cut crystal rondelles. I will still be listing the gemstones too, so don't worry, I am not even close to out of those. Spring is here, and we are going pastel. I hope you approve, cause I am winging it :)

I must show you this!

You gotta see it! Okay, so I was browsing the treasury pages (the particular treasury was made by ClinkscalesArts on Etsy, she has quite the eye for great things!) and came across a phenomenal work. Then I clicked on it and there were like several other phenomenal works. I really love pottery and the detail that can be captured by the clay, right down to the artists fingerprint. That really is a great part about it, it's got the capacity to capture the artists hand. Mine will be like that when I start making it, you will get the fingerprints and imperfections, rough textures and artists marks.

The detail and artistry that can be permanently married into the fine particles are unmatched with any other material I know of. I also like that clay has been used since the very beginning of civilization for many, many uses from tools to intricate artwork and display. I appreciate being part of Etsy and the mutual contribution and support that can be found there.

I like all kinds of pottery, and I buy it and am happy to own the work of other artists. Everything from fiber to jewelry to pottery, cards and art. And beads, of course.

This is some pottery I hope to have one day, displayed in a lighted stucco wall niche (or sooner than that a beautiful Yunomi for tea). You should totally check out her shop and the details behind her work.

Pottery by Grace Sheese

Etsy gifties! See anyone you know?

Oooh, it's like a puzzle! Leave a comment if you think you see anyone you know :)

Holiday special!!!!!

Here is the special offering for the holidays! It runs for the rest of 2008!!!

Simply spend $15 or more (not including shipping) in my LiciaBeads shop on Etsy, and choose your free pair of the freshwater pearl and sterling earrings. Leave your choice in the notes to seller box upon checkout, and they will be included with your order. (Limited to stock on hand, so order soon.) Choices are blue, violet, teal, woodland, and wine.

Not valid with any other offer and valid only while supplies last. Not valid for previous purchases. Offer expires when the clock strikes 12AM and 2009 begins.

Thank you for following my blog!

Thank you to my followers, and a note on future "scheduled programming"

I just wanted to extend my gratitude to everyone who has been so supportive of me, and of others!

For the time being, I am keeping the giveaway post at the top of the page, so that everyone who wants to enter, can find it easily.

I have been asking around about what people want to see more of and have made some decisions about the ongoing edition of this blog...

This is a list of what to look forward to seeing during the next few months:

I will be updating the photography tutorial soon specifically as it applies to jewelry photography.
Stay tuned for more recipes including dinners and links to online stores where I get specialty products for cooking with.
I'll be promoting other handmade sellers as well
There will be ongoing special offers and giveaways.
I will probably be talking about my cats, the garden progress, the weather, and look forward to taking photos of the holiday decorations at my house.

Let me know if you want to add anything else! I always enjoy your input!

First attempt complete....

Original post on this topic: http://liciapots.blogspot.com/2008/06/learning-how-to-wire-wrap.html

This is the first attempt at wire wrapping. I got about halfway done and started doing the earring rounds (because there is no such thing as one project at a time) after finding a fun "weave" that I liked. I don't even know what to call these weaves, I'm sure they have a name. I'll have to find a wire wrapping terms website or something.

In any case, this is what I came up with on my first try. It looks like a first try to me also... I'm not sure it is saleable. The second try is just above the photo, and I like it much more so far. I'm using more intricate wraps on the second try, and more components.

EARRING UPDATE: I am keeping the first ones I made, but pair #2 is for sale on my Etsy site.
go buy it! :)

Do I keep them, or do I sell them?

Over the last couple of days I have been messing around with wire. I even bought some since I liked it so much. Usually I am hunched over some seed beads, methodically counting each bead. I realized that with wire wrapping, I can lean back and just weave. It's similar to knitting a simple pattern... no hunching. I like not hunching.

These are the no hunching earrings. I like them, and cannot decide if I should sell them ($40) or keep them for my greedy little self. They are silver plated (because using sterling at this point would be wasteful considering the goofs) with glass pearls. Simple, elegant...