Sunday, May 27, 2012

Jewelry Design and Spiritual Motivation

There's something I've been thinking about a lot, lately, and I've decided that I'd love to share.   Sometimes I'm asked -why- I do what I do.   There's a lot of aggravation in running a jewelry business and a lot of competition out there as well.   Sometimes the frustration for the business side of things can be overwhelming to someone with a creativity driven mind and, in my case, being self taught (in the world of business and creation, both) held a great deal of all of that.

And yet, I LOVE what I do.   Even when there are frustrating parts and the occasional stumbling blocks involved in turning it into a business.





Creating jewelry, for me, is a spiritual experience.  Prayer is energy sent out into the universe on a purpose.  Like prayer, my creations go out into the world with a purpose as well.   They leave my hands and are sent into the world to -touch- others in positive ways.  To make women feel special and pretty.  To brighten someone's day. 

I love that my jewelry can make women feel special and pretty.   I love that when one of my creations are worn or given as a gift, they have the capability of brightening someone's day and making that day or that person feel a little more special.   I love that the rosaries and prayer beads I create are treasured and valued for their meaning and purpose, and that over time they become imbibed with the hopes and prayers and dreams of those that cherish them.





When I design jewelry, I don't draw it out first.  In fact, in most cases, I don't even have a plan.  I just sit down and start putting together what -feels- good to me.   Whether a design is simple or complex... silly and fun, or reverent or elegant.... I want to share those good feelings with others, and I hope and dream that every piece I make has that same feel-good feeling within it when it is sent out into the world and arrives at its new home.

I love creating jewelry for this reason.  I love sharing this part of myself with others and giving others something to enjoy and cherish, something that makes -them- feel good and influences them in positive ways.





By turning my passion for creating and designing jewelry and my love for touching others lives in positive ways into a business, I'm able to do what I love every day.   That I can do what I love -every day- and share that love with the world is one of the greatest treasures in my life and I'm grateful every day for the opportunity to do just that.

[A gratitude post inspired by Dr. Nima Rahmany.]



Sunday, July 17, 2011

How to Tighten the Ends of an Eyeglass Chain

Sometimes when you buy eyeglass chains, it's difficult to get them to work with your glasses. Lots of glasses have very thin arms, and this makes the loops on the eyeglass chain slip off easily.

Your eyeglasses get dropped. Scratched. Stepped on. Or lost, as the case may be.

I make beaded eyeglass chains that are offered in my online shops both on Artfire and Etsy.

Bits n Beads on Artfire | Bits n Beads on Etsy

Eyeglass Chain without Tightening Bands


In my experience, there are a number of people who love beaded eyeglass chains, but have this problem with the loops being too loose to hold their glasses in place.

Fortunately, there's an easy fix to this problem that I'd love to share!

All you need is some miniature rubber bands.

Mini Rubber Bands


You can find these bands in a variety of colors including black at a variety of locations including grocery stores, convenience stores, catch-all stores like Wal-Mart, dollar stores and more.

I recommend using black, because the black will match the loop that holds on to your glasses and be nearly invisible to anyone looking. In this demonstration I show it done in yellow so you can easily see how it's done.

Rubber Bands for Tightening Eyeglass Chain Ends


Use one rubber band on each end and wrap the band around the cloth part of the eyeglass chain's loop a number of times until it bands around the bottom of the loop near the bead. (See picture below.)


Eyeglass Chain Ends Tightened with Rubber Bands


This technique tightens the loop of the eyeglass chain so that it can easily grip the skinnier arms that many eyeglasses now have. At the same time, it's nearly invisible and so it keeps the eyeglass chain still fashionable and neat!

Eyeglass Chain Tightened with Rubber Bands


I hope this helps those out there that love wearing pretty, beaded eyeglass chains but have always had a problem with getting them to work with your glasses.

In our shop, not only do we make beaded eyeglass chains, but we accept custom orders as well! If you have a specific length you want, please don't hesitate to contact me for a custom order. It doesn't cost extra to adjust the length and I'm happy to do it at no extra charge on the eyeglass chains we have in stock as well as when creating new designs.



Saturday, July 16, 2011




Thursday, May 5, 2011

Spring Pink Mum Flower Hair Pins

Chrysanthemum Flower Hair Pins in Sweet Spring Colors
With spring coming and the weather getting warmer, flowers are quickly becoming the theme of the new season.

I was given the supplies to make a handful of these handmade bobby pins as a gift and after I made the first set, I liked them so much I decided to give them to a close friend of mine as a gift then order some more to make for myself!


These flower hair pins are made from pretty resin flowers that look like little mums that have been adhered to a bobby pin base.

There are so many wonderful ways to use these hair pins and it's a terrific and safe way to decorate your hair with flowers and color without losing them all over the place or worrying about them falling out.

They would even be perfect for children or for accessories to incorporate into a wedding!