Look What the Clouds Brought In

Aw summertime... For most, I'm sure you think summertime in California has to be gorgeous with the beaches and mountains. It can't get more than 70 or 80 degrees there right? Ha! You have been watching too much tv or movies. Or perhaps if you have ever visited California it was coastal and not beyond a mountain range. Most of California is a desert which means it can get up to 100-115 degrees during the day and no cooling off in the evenings. Where I live is closer to the desert area so dry, hot, heat is what you get. There are days you see shade under a tree and think ah relief. Further from the truth, there is no wind so dry, hot, heat even in the shade. Well last week we got a break and there was a very overcast and cloudy day. It was actually too cold to wear shorts and I was really wishing I had a sweatshirt. It felt like a normal day at the beach. But I pressed on and took 647 pictures of gemstones. Was able to take some pictures of gemstones that have a high glossy coating and have been really hard to get a shot without all the glare. So this next week I will be re-doing some of the pictures of listings and also listing some new beads for you to enjoy. Here is just a small sample:

My Little Corner of Facebook

YaY!! Excited to announce my own little corner of Facebook now has it's own official url. Thanks to all who have been "liking" Beads2string on Facebook, http://facebook.com/Beads2string is now alive and kicking. You know I literally could not have done it without you. It will look more professional being able to use this nice, neat url instead of that long jibberish one don't you think?

Well that's it for today, nice, short and sweet. Nothing else to see here until next time. Go on... have a fabulous day.

To a New Year and Changes

This year is going to be fabulous I can already tell. Or at least I'm bound and determined to make it go that way haha. Am very excited to soon be introducing some more flowers to the bead stores. Including some pretty flower cabochons, so be looking for the pretties coming in February. There will also be some new charms coming your way too.

For those of you who may not be following me on Twitter I've had some changes going on this past year. One particular is a new computer due to the death of the old one. With that, went pictures of all the beads and findings in the stores. So it is time to get an overhaul, revamp, chachachachanges with the look of the store pictures. You will be seeing a lot of colors soon with the backgrounds of the product pictures. Some can already be seen with the findings category. Hope you like the changes coming your way.

Get A Great Deal While Shopping For Beads

Beads2string is saying "Thank You" to all Customers by having a SALE ... 20% off all items ... through Cyber Monday. So stay nice and cozy in your warm house and enjoy shopping for beads and jewelry findings this weekend. Sale is available for shopping on ArtFire and Etsy. Here are the details:

ArtFire: 20% off items will automatically be applied at checkout. ArtFire is so awesome that you will already be able to see the sale price while shopping. Discount is for items in the studio and excludes shipping/handling.

Etsy: In order to receive 20% off items you must input a coupon code at checkout:  givethanks2010
The coupon code is not case sensitive when entering. Discount is for items in the store and excludes shipping/handling. Due to venue/payment processing fees it will be necessary to enter the coupon code at checkout to receive the discount.

Change Up for Chat on ArtFire

Live chat is still available when you visit Beads2string on Artfire; however, I've done a little change. No longer will the chat box be provided by AIM. Instead the chat box is now brought to you by Yahoo's Messenger Pingbox. This system will give better functionality to the live chat option. If you utilize the chatbox you can choose to use your Yahoo IM account or be a guest account. If you are an ArtFire member or previous customer, please just let me know who you are.

Ok so the real reason behind this change is that the AIM chat would come up in a different tab on my browser window. If I am in deep thought listing beads I may not realize or see the blinking tab. (hey I am blonde and have a 30 second delay haha). With the Yahoo pingbox it acts just like the Yahoo Messenger and comes up in a pop up box on my window so all around it will help to better assist your concerns. And a big bonus with the Pingbox is you can set cute backgrounds for the chat box. Now with that option alone how could I refuse?

What's in the Making??

I have created many different crafty things over the years. Started making jewelry um how many years ago? Oh man, hurts to think back that far haha but 2 decades ago. Even before that as a child was always making something. I began to paint on ceramics (made by my Grandma) when I was in elementary school. In my 20's I worked at a circus painting on sculptures of clowns, Disney, Warner Bros characters. Best job I ever had; well compared to where I am now. A few years ago I combined both talents of jewelry and painting and started designing pendants. I've had a lot of "ooo's" and "aahhh's" with my pendants and it was just lately that a friend said I need to put them available in the Beads2string stores. Wow stupid me, why didn't I think of that. So this is what I'm currently working on. A lot of the pendants that will be used are from what I currently have in the store; just spruced up a little. Some have faux patina's and some have a little more for your artistic flare. I am not going to set a specific date when they will arrive in the stores as it honestly will depend on how the fibromyalgia lets me use my hands. I usually only do 1 or 2 on occasion but this is bringing me back to the time I worked in the circus and painted by the piece work method. But I'm excited to bring you a variety of colors with pendants that you can use in your designs.

Also now that I'm moved into my new townhouse I'm going to be working on more flowers and leaves that you have been asking for. I do apologize for my supply being limited at this time. Oh and going to do some aging on the raw brass I carry so you have more options to purchasing raw or being oxidized. So be looking forward to all of the new goodies soon.

Come Chat With Me Live

It is so wonderful to be able to say this phrase "Come Chat with Me LIVE!" Are there times you are looking around the shop and wish you could have more of an item? Or maybe you have a concern about size or color of an item? Maybe you want to see if I have more of a sold item? Want to ask your question but don't want to have to wait for a reply to be sent via email? Well now in the Artfire shop you will be able to chat with me live, right in the shop (When I'm not offline playing with beads). This will be a wonderful opportunity to be able to provide you with a quicker response time to your concerns. I'm excited to be able to offer more Customer Service options to you; come chat with me.

When using this chat feature I ask that you please let me know who you are (either username or name), if you are a repeat Customer, someone I already now. This chat feature will not advise me your name unless you are logged into an AIM account.