Celebrating the U.S. Thanksgiving

My Etsy Street Team, etsyBEAD, is having a big sale this weekend. From what I understand, Thanksgiving is a really big holiday down in the States, which is where is Etsy is located (Brooklyn, NY) and probably where the majority of sellers live too. So check it out; all prices are in U.S. dollars, which is a big plus now for Canadian shoppers!

Surf and Sand, Here I Come!

Kaskaad Handmade Jewellery will be vacationing in Myrtle Beach and thus unable to ship out any sales until the week of Sept. 3.

Gee, funny how the first time I get around to blogging in well over a month and it's just to tell you that I'm going away. How hilarious.

Themin'

The etsyBEAD Theme of the Week for July 14-21 is Summer Flowers. May I present my offerings:





What are you waiting for? These are on sale this week! Go, go, go!

Happy Canada Day!

New week, new theme...

This week, etsyBEAD's theme of the week is Red, White & Blue. My offering is this long, lapis lazuli chip necklace, accented with blueberry quartz.

etsyBEAD Theme of the Week

Check out this cool idea from Jenni, one of the etsyBEAD members: each week, the group will have a theme and members will list their beaded items on Etsy at a reduced price.

This week's theme is "Summer Lovin' Colours". Here are my selections:

For a snapshot of all the items featured, check the etsyBEAD photo pool on Flickr.

Or, head to Etsy and see all the listings tagged with "ebtw".

I am the worst blogger in the world.

That's it, nothing else. I think if you see my posting dates, you'll see what I mean.

Although suggestions for a developing a more regular posting routine would be appreciated.

My Beady Name...

My Your Beady Name is: is Iridescent Turquoise Stone Bead.


Hey, that's not bad, I like it! Now if only they'd tell me what it means...

Take Your Beady Name Generator today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.

Sunday Etsy Showcase

Whoops, I'm a day late again! You'll have to forgive me, I was slaving away at our garage sale yesterday and it wiped me out!

Today I'm featuring Katy B Designs. Katy is an elementary school art teacher who can proudly say she still loves her career after 12 years. In her spare time, she creates these wonderful designs, using gemstones, crystals, and sterling silver, resulting in stunning creations such as this "Natural Beauty Turquoise and Agate Bracelet". (Comes with a matching necklace, too!)

Sunday Etsy Showcase

Meet Juliery (clever name, huh?). She started creating jewelry as a little girl, using seed beads and embroidery floss and moving on to Czech glass, Swarovski crystal, semiprecious stones, lucite, and unique vintage elements. After taking a few silversmithing courses along the way, Juliery returned to her beading roots.

If you think this piece looks interesting, check out her shop for more unique items!

Sunday Etsy Showcase

Ok, I know I'm a day late, but I figured you'll excuse the tardiness since it was Easter yesterday and I was doing the family thing.

So today's artist is Green Envy Desings, an Australian jewelry maker with a special skill for weaving the most intriguing weaves. Check out this gorgeous blue flower ring entitled "Efflorescence". The ring was created from different size Japanese seed beads built around a beautiful cobalt-blue Swarovski crystal.

Update: I think the ring must've sold, as it is no longer appearing in the post.

Sunday Etsy Showcase

Today I'm featuring EML Designs, a self-confessed beadaholic, whose designs are delicate yet funky. EML Designs uses only .925 Sterling silver, gold filled, brass and colour-coated copper; Swarovski crystals; gemstone beads; and polymer clay. All designs are one of a kind and original.

Jasper & Sterling Silver Byzantine Chainmaille Bracelet:

User Name Overload!

I've come to realize that I have an incredible number of user names and passwords, an insane amount really. There's this blog, my other blog, my etsy account, and my flikr site. I have user names for those little icons down on the right. I have various email addresses and accounts for different point plans. I have numerous user names and passwords at work and ones for personal use. Then of course there are all those websites where you have to create a user name and password just for visiting one time. As if I can remember those ones!

The problem with having all those accounts is that where do you keep your user names and passwords? Certainly you can't keep a file on your computer; what if it's hacked? Write it down somewhere? Yeah, exactly, "somewhere"...that has to be a place you can readily find it, where it doesn't get misplaced or tossed. No, I think my best bet is to stick with my usual method...keep it all in my head. For now.

Until my head explodes.

Sunday Etsy Showcase

Today I'm featuring Cassowary Jewelry. Shown here is a lovely porcelain blue and white Chinese choker, measuring about 14 inches and made with sodalite beads and white and blue porcelain beads. The necklace is clasped with a sterling silver toggle.

Check out her other site for more beautiful handmade jewelry!

Spring Cleaning, Anyone?

I really am a very lazy person, so don't be fooled by the title. My spring cleaning actually consists of me just listing my loose beads in my Etsy shop. I don't want to call them "leftover" beads, exactly; let's just say that sometimes I go a little overboard in my bead purchases. I see something in the store, or online, and I think I really need to have it in order to make something fantastic. Then reality hits and I realize, what the ... I can't make anything from these! It's weird; some beads look better lying around loose than they do strung out.

Haha, I just read that back and it sounds like I'm talking about hookers or something.

Wow, the things people come up with...

Really now, a website dedicated to voting for the worst contestant on American Idol? That is so...I don't even know the words...wrong? weird? ridiculous? brilliant? I'm sure there's plenty of posting out there about it, so I don't think I need to get too into it. I guess I just wanted to say, wow, are we that bored?

Sunday Etsy Showcase

I've decided to go alphabetically through my "Indulge" blogroll to feature Etsy artists. Beginning with the "A"s, this week I'd like to introduce Alejandra, a stay-at-home-mom with a talent for creating jewelry, such as this lovely bracelet:

For only $10, this would be a nice addition to any jewelry box!

Sunday Etsy Showcase

Today I'd like to feature iSew, who quit her job two years ago to sew full time. Her shop is chock full of really interesting items. Frank, here, is one of them:


Having just become the proud owner of an iPod, this cute Monkey Cozy might come in handy! (It can also be used for cameras and cell phones!)

Beaders United!

I joined a google group for all us Etsy beaders, makers of OOAK jewelry. (Don't know what that stands for? That's okay, I only learned myself earlier today..."one of a kind"). Anyway, I've blogrolled quite a few of them under "Indulge" to your right. If you feel like pampering yourself, have a look.

Treasures Abound!

Etsy, the website for buying and selling all things handmade, has an interesting feature called the Treasury. Etsy members have the opportunity to make a list of items in their theme of choice and then post it for all to see. This gives greater exposure to the shopkeepers as well as to the list creator.

There 150 lists (sometimes a few extra) so there's sure to be something good.