Risky Beads

Personalized Valentine's Day Gifts ... and Otherwise

2012-01-10T11:29:00.000-05:00

It's about a month away from Valentine's Day and here are some great gift ideas from my shop. Some are personalized and some aren't. Find what you need for him or her!

Whoooo Loves You Key Chain, $14.95

(a best seller)

Anniversary Zipper Pull in Antique Brass for Him, $14.95

Be My Valentine Triple Wrap Bracelet with Charm, $52.50

(customize the button with your own info!)

Gay Male Charm Necklace in Black Leather, $13.95

(also available in brown leather)

Personalized Anniversary Key Chain, $14.95

Love Birds Custom Aluminum Cuff Bracelet, $15.95

(great for him & her or her & her)

Love Letter Necklace, $19.95

I Spend My Life Loving You Key Chain with Charm, $19.95

(Ready to ship as is or customize it with your own quote/symbols)

Personalized Silver Key Chain, $16.95

(also available in copper and antique brass)

Lesbian Anniversary Key Chain with Charm, $14.95

Set of 2 Aluminum Bar Key Chains, $28.95

(completely customizable, even on the back!)

Custom Quote Key Chain in Antique Brass, $16.95

Please visit my shop to see hundreds of other ideas! This is just a small sampling. The only limits are your imagination combined with mine, and, quite frankly, that can be dangerous. LOL.

~Lori

Best Selling Designs at Risky Beads

2011-10-13T12:00:00.001-04:00

Today's post is a tribute to the best selling designs in my shop. You never know which designs will take off, but it's always kind of fun to figure it out. Here we go!

Personalized Mother's Bracelet, $15.95

My Port in a Storm Anchor Key Chain, $17.95

Personalized Double Wrap Bracelet with Custom Charm, $44.95

Whoooo Loves You? Owl Key Chain, $14.95

Personalized Christmas Ornament, $19.95

Sweet Harvest Earrings, $8.50. Matching necklace is here.

Best Daddy Personalized Key Chain, $16.95

Personalized Aluminum Washer Key Chain, $13.95

Only 72 days left 'til Christmas! International order deadline is November 1st.

Until next time,

Lori

Consistently Inconsistent

2011-10-11T22:27:00.000-04:00

Patti's Primitives

One of the things I struggle with every day is my inability to keep a daily routine. For some reason, I get all judgmental with myself when I can't seem to find a good regime and stick to it. I've finally come to the conclusion (after 42 years, lol) that I'm thinking about this the wrong way. Yes, we all function in the paradigm of a 24 hour day, but I think my actual 'day' is about twice that. In the span of just about every 48 hours, I'll go through my standard phases of being hungry, wanting to get tons of work done, needing a hard core nap, needing some exercise, coveting my alone time and going crazy from lack of a social outlet. In other words, I think I cycle through my basic physical, mental and emotional needs every 2 days. Anytime I think that I need to do 'X' every day, it never happens and I end up frustrated with myself rather than realizing that I don't rejuvenate that way.

Hmmm, food for thought...

~Lori

If You're A Successful Etsy Seller...

2011-09-19T18:47:00.000-04:00

Every day I spend a little time in the Etsy forums just to make sure I don't miss out on some important announcement affecting my business. One thing that I see over and over again is new folks coming in asking for the key to success on Etsy. Those threads are always populated with tons of advice from tons of smart sellers, but today, I think I'd like to turn it around a little and talk to the existing sellers vs. the newbies. I've been thinking about these concepts for awhile, letting them crystallize into things I think you should know...

If you're a successful Etsy seller (and YOU define success in this scenario, not me), the following is most likely true for you:

10. You're a self-starter. No one has to tell you to do anything. In fact, they'd probably die trying.
9. You're comfortable around organized chaos. You probably thrive in it, and when people aren't looking, you probably snort it.
8. You have a love/hate relationship with packing tape.
7. You are more curious than the most curious of cats. If it can be known, you'll learn it. You will do it completely wrong 500 times just to get it right once.
6. You dove into branding and marketing like it was a hot fudge sundae. You know how to tweet, plurk, facebook, pin, tumblr, relist, renew, blog... and more importantly, when to stop.
5. You accept, reject, mourn, adapt and change what you're doing or how you're doing it every 6 mouths. Psychiatrists marvel at your resilience.
4. If you go an entire day without a sale, you'll spend the entire night designing a new product for a new shop. If the drought persists into day 2, you're out jonesing for a support group only to come back to a sale in your inbox.
3. You have designated 'areas' in your inside your 'home' for designing your product, making it, photographing it, listing it, storing it, and shipping it, and by 'home,' I mean '1 bedroom studio apartment' and by 'areas,' I mean 'coffee tables.'
2. You learn something new at least once a week. If you don't, you get an itchy rash.
1. You've figured out the difference between 'successful' and 'busy.' This was the hardest lesson to learn, and you have the scars to prove it.

*whew*
I feel better now!
~Lori

It's a wrap ... more handmade boho bracelets

2011-09-14T11:06:00.001-04:00

I'll be spending a lot of today stitching my brains out, so I thought I'd take a moment before I begin to showcase some of the latest designs I've made...

Night Owl... he's watching you!

A double wrap of remembrance...

The Forgotten Forest Triple Wrap

Preppy Meadow

Set of 2 Destination Wedding Triple Wraps

Never Promised You a Rose Garden

You can see all of my bracelets here. Back to the grind...

~Lori

Fall 2011 Pantone Color Forecast

2011-08-31T00:18:00.000-04:00

Just in time to start creating your Fall 2011 designs... it's Pantone's color forecast for my favorite time of year! The forecast is divided into colors for women and men:

WOMEN

MEN

Only a slight difference between the two really, but it's kinda interesting. Enjoy!
~Lori

31 Days Til Autumn

2011-08-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

Hooray! Autumn is officially 31 days away, and I can't wait! Just realized I haven't updated this blog in a month, but I have a good excuse: I've been stitching my brains out. :) Here are just a few of the new additions to the wrap bracelet line. These pictured below are ready to ship today!

Single Wrap Autumn Squirrel. Isn't he a cutie?

Autumn Leaves Triple Wrap

(Makes you just wanna jump in a big ol' pile of leaves, huh?)

The Triple Veggie Wrap

#69 in the revived Leftovers Series!

Love Neapolitan Style Single Wrap

(Her big sister sold, but can be made to order again!)

Modish Maroon Triple Wrap

There are many, many more in my shop ready to go and tons with optional custom buttons and custom charms. Leather choices have expanded to: black, dark brown, rust, off white, maroon, light pink, aqua, pale aqua, pale periwinkle, gray, navy blue and custom buttons and charms come in copper, aluminum, or brass! I'll post more of those later this week. Have a great Monday!

View previous bracelet post here.

~Lori

My July Newsletter Is Out!

2011-07-19T12:45:00.000-04:00

I've finally found time to publish a new newsletter! Click the image to read it and see the freebie coupon enclosed!

~Enjoy, Lori

Current Obsessions - July 2011

2011-07-14T09:43:00.000-04:00

Now that the Casey Anthony trial is over (and DON'T get me started on that), I've found some new obsessions that are populating my life and unfortunately, my waistline. First up, my summer crush is back, Big Brother. I LOVE this show. I'm a true fan, watching the live feeds and everything. Is it the best show on TV? God, no. But it's become a summer vacay for me because I get to get involved, invested, and infected with a bunch of money-hungry personalities with varying degrees of social skills. It fascinates me. (Plus, watching people snore is really under-rated.) Also, I have a group of peeps that I chat with each summer so it's a big ole virtual reunion.

My next obsession is one I'm reticent to tell anyone about because I don't want you clearing out my store shelves! These new cookies, Newtons Fruit Thins - Cranberry Citrus Oat, are the freaking BOMB. If you like cranberry bread, you'll LOVE these things. And I'm not alone in this; my mother is hooked, too, and even though they make 4 flavors (Blueberry Brown Sugar, Chocolate Raspberry, and Fig & Honey), the cranberry ones are always almost gone. I'm starting to hoard these things, lol.

Finally, my latest summer indulgence is these Weight Watchers Chocolate Dipped Strawberry ice cream bars. They're 80 calories per bar and they taste AMAZING! I'm not one to tolerate artificial sweeteners and diet-tasting foods, so when I say they taste delish, they do! The ONLY thing I'm irked about is that apparently they have a Dark Chocolate Dipped Raspberry Cheesecake flavor that isn't at my grocery store. Arrrgh! I think dipping just over 1/2 the bar in chocolate and not the whole thing is pretty ingenious. You get your chocolate fix without all the calories.

Have a great weekend!
~Lori

New Beaded Double & Triple Wrap Bracelets at Risky Beads

2011-07-12T10:19:00.002-04:00

For those of you who've followed my shop over years, I've sure you've noticed that my style has changed somewhat. When I moved into metal stamping in April of 2010, a lot of my beaded work went by the wayside as I was so excited about working in a new medium. Well, now I'm beginning to re-incorporate more beaded pieces into my shop in a brand new way: trendy beaded leather wrap bracelets! If you pay attention on popular TV shows and to current fashion trends, you'll see that these bracelets are uber-popular. Luckily, they're also fun to make! Here are the newest additions to the family:

the triple wraps...
Each one takes 2.5 hours to complete!

Brown Leather Triple Wrap with Personalized Button, $49.95

(Custom buttons could be your children's names or a baby's name, birth date, and weight, commemorate a great golf score or marathon time, wedding/anniversary details, graduation and school pride, a phrase you like, longitude & latitude coordinates, a thank you to a teacher, coach, or sitter, etc. Buttons can also be done in copper.)

Earthy Nautical Brown Leather Triple Wrap, one of a kind design, $44.95***

Raspberry Vanilla Black Leather Triple Wrap, $44.95***

Golden Heart Brown Leather Triple Wrap, $44.95***

Metallic Gray Rubber Tubing Triple Wrap, $44.95

And now for the double wraps! Each piece takes about 1 1/5 hours to complete.

Double Wrap Black Leather with Personalized Button, $39.95

Rainbow Black Leather Double Wrap with Handmade Glass Disc Clasp, $34.95***

;Blue Jean Girl Duo Brown/Lt. Brown Leather Double Wrap, $34.95

Mermaid Song Brown Leather Double Wrap with Handmade Glass Disc, $34.95***

Rainforest Crunch Dark Green/Lt. Brown Leather Double Wrap, $34.95

Lover's Quarrel Brown Tubing Double Wrap Bracelet, $34.95***

I'm working on several new designs each week, so keep checking my bracelet section for new arrivals. I have a new one in my light box waiting for some decent sunlight! Please note that designs marked with *** indicate one of a kind designs. Typically, this means that I don't have any more duplicate clasps to recreate that exact design.

~Lori

Happy Independence Day 2011

2011-07-01T11:07:00.000-04:00

Americana Hand Stamped Necklace

The summer slump has arrived just in time to celebrate the 4th of July and kick off my favorite summertime addiction...

Big Brother! I'm a pretty decent Super Fan of this show. I watch the feeds and get waaay too invested, but it's a nice vacay right before the Christmas rush begins! Thank goodness the Casey Anthony Murder Trial will likely be ending when BB13 starts 'cause I'm currently addicted to both!

~Lori

Cat in Box - Supplies Arrive

2011-06-16T08:32:00.000-04:00

Admittedly, I get excited when supplies arrive, but not nearly as excited as my oldest, Darcy, gets. This tall narrow box was impossible to resist!

She didn't object when I finally rescued her, lol!

~Lori

More Custom Gifts for Father's Day

2011-06-05T08:54:00.001-04:00

Does Dad like to fish?

A Bad Day Fishing Key Chain with fishing pole, $16.95

Best Way to a Fisherman's Heart Key Chain, $16.95

Good Things Comes to Those Who Bait Key Chain with fish, $16.95

Is he a little off beat?

My Dad is Rad Key Chain, $13.95

Maybe a little geeky?

Microscope Weapon of Choice Key Chain, $14.95

Just the best ever?

World's Best Dad Key Chain, $16.95

See all of my manly designs here OR view my entire shop (450 designs!)...

13 days til Father's day!! And don't forget Grandpa!!

~Lori

Personalized Gifts for Dad for Father's Day

2011-05-24T11:36:00.000-04:00

Father's Day is 25 days away! This year it falls on Sunday, June 19, 2011. Are you ready? Here are some gift ideas to help you honor the father figure in your life...

Personalized Brass Star Silver Key Chain, $18.95

Any Man Can Be A Father Custom Quote Key Chain, $16.95

Golfer Gift Set, Zipper Pull and Ball Marker, $25.95

Best Dad Ever Key Chain in Brushed Aluminum, $16.95

Custom Best Daddy Brass Key Chain, $15.95

Custom Copper Golf Ball Marker, $11.95

also available in nickel silver and in sets of 2 or 3

I Love My Daddy 2 Layer Key Chain, $18.95

There are lots of other options in my shop as well! Get creative and design the perfect gift he'll never forget! All pieces enjoy flat rate shipping... $2.50 to U.S. & Canada, $3.95 elsewhere.

~Lori

Rio - Go See This Movie

2011-05-05T08:00:00.003-04:00

Brought to you by the folks who made Ice Age, Rio is a fabulously hilarious movie. You'll love it; your kids will love it, and your booty will be shaking like a polaroid picture. ;-) I mean, George Lopez is the toucan. How can you not love that?

~Lori

Recent Handmade Purchase - Caribbean Scents Soy Candles

2011-05-04T10:16:00.000-04:00

It's once again time to gush about a recent purchase! I do this periodically as it's become a crucial step in my Retail Therapy, lol. Today's praise comes from a seller I've bought from before--Caribbean Scents on Etsy! Since I've been getting uber-busy again with Mother's Day, Graduation, Father's Day, etc., I decided to splurge and spoil myself with my favorite drug of choice--handmade bath and body goodies. As I've said before, I'm hard-core addicted to the Brown Sugar Fig scent Ana makes. I've tried similar scents from other shops, and they literally made by stomach turn. Not Ana's. Ana's makes me so freaking happy. (Don't ever let anyone tell you aromatherapy doesn't have some truth in it.)

So, this time I decided to try her soy candles because, like I said, spoiling myself.... I bought 2. One in a glass jar and one in a little tin. They both smell unbelievable. This candle in the glass jar, though...well, I think I'm in love. It has a wooden wick which is something I haven't tried before, but I'm hooked now. When you burn it, the wood adds a trace of a fireplace scent and it actually crackles a little. For real. At night when I'm trying to wind down, I burn it for a few minutes in the darkness of my bedroom. Peace in a jar, I tell ya. Peace. In. A. Jar.

Know that my effusive praise comes only from the heart when I brag about these products. I do it because I enjoy it, and I figure, you might enjoy it, too. It's fun to lurk and see what other people buy, isn't it?

~Lori

Time to Remember Teachers & The Graduate!

2011-05-03T07:48:00.000-04:00

It's time to remember teachers of all stripes and of course, the 2011 graduate! Don't forget your child's aftercare teachers, troop leaders, and camp counselors! Need a specialized gift for the graduate? Be sure to check out the Weapon of Choice series where I have over 50 charm choices including: medical, calculator, microscope, scales of justice, beaker, molecule, tons of sports, typewriter, laptop, instruments, and crafting/artist charms. Here are some other ideas:

Teachers Make A Difference 3 Layer Key Chain, $24.95

Class of 2011 Owl Stamped Key Chain, $14.95

(can be customized. please ask.)

Schooling Ends, Education Continues Aluminum Key Chain, $16.95

All She Wants to Do Is Dance, $14.95

(for the dance teachers!)

Class of 2011 Aluminum Bar Key Chain, $13.95

(back side customization available)

Class of 2011 Copper Washer Key Chain, $13.95

Class of 2011 Male Graduation Necklace, $24.95

2 teach is 2 touch a life 4ever Aluminum Key Chain, $14.95

Class of 2011 Graduation Cap Key Chain, $14.95

Most designs in my shop can be customized, so if you'd like to include more info, please convo me and ask! I'm happy to help. All pieces ship for a flat rate! $2.50 to U.S. & Canada, $3.95 elsewhere. Shop here!

~Lori

Good-bye Steve Carell

2011-04-28T22:10:00.000-04:00

I just watched Steve Carell's last episode on The Office, and yes, I'm in tears. I'll really, really miss his character Michael Scott. It's dorky, but through the bizarre power of emotional transference and because I don't work in an office anymore, but just for myself at home, this cast became my co-workers. I was able to feel like a part of that 8-5 world that I've been absent from for 2 years (and really for years before that because of health issues I was battling.) I know the show will try to go on, and it'll probably be fine, but it's truly not going to be the same. Now I'll be sad every time I catch a re-run where Michael Scott rolls his eyes at Toby Flenderson for having the gall to be alive, or flaunts his bro-mance with the hot temp, Ryan, or somehow manages to bring humanity out in Dwight, the cat killer (lest we forget.)

So, good-bye Michael Scott, and I'm only a little less saddened because Jim told you what a fabulous boss you turned out to be in your last episode, and really, he was speaking for everyone watching. I don't know how Carell managed to turn a complete idiot into a hero, but he did. Good for you, Steve Carell, and good for us. You gave us 7 seasons of absolute must-see-tv. Thank you.

Spring Cleaning My Studio

2011-04-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

One of the things I enjoy most about being a jewelry artist is the few times a year I have time to get my 'OCD on' and reorganize my studio. It's been a year now since I started making hand-stamped jewelry, and in that year, my studio has been revamped about three times because I'm using different tools and materials and what works for beading does not work for hammering. LOL. So, this weekend, I took yet another crack and reorganizing because my studio is basically 40% of my one bedroom apartment. So, a friend of mine came over on Saturday and we rearranged the furniture yet again (much like deck chairs on the Titanic when you're in a tiny space) and I think this will work. I bought a new media tower, put it together and then put it to use!

Can you tell I'm having a hard-core love affair with my labeler?

I'm now at the point where I wouldn't be horribly embarrassed if someone came over because I've freed my nightmare sofa from my work space, hence, why you can't see it in these pictures. And believe me, that's a feat when you see what a gargantuan sofa I have. (Yes, I have sacrificed my fireplace. I used it once last winter here in NC.)

Please excuse the crookedness, lol. I went to sleep early last night after all this organizing and basically slept through the rest of my area getting pummeled by tornadoes.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

~Lori

Wordless Wednesday - Mother

2011-04-13T09:34:00.000-04:00

Walk in the Park, tmlCREATIONS

You Make Me Gleam, Midnight Orange

I Love You Mom Art Print, 8x10, donnagleissler

Hope you enjoy!

~Lori

Personalized Gifts for Mom on Mother's Day

2011-04-12T17:53:00.001-04:00

Mother's Day is less than a month away; are you ready? Sunday, May 8, 2011 will be here before you know it! Here are some ideas that she'll love! And don't forget grandma either!

Personalized Copper Heart Key Chain, $18.95

Disc Nickel Silver Mommy's Necklace, $24.95

available in lots of varieties (disc amounts and metal types)

Personalized Mother's Bracelet, $15.95

3 Tag Mother's Aluminum Necklace with Birthstone Beads, $29.95

available in 2 tag and 1 tag as well

Copper Flower Personalized Mother's Key Chain, $18.95

A Mommy Makes A House A Home, $14.95

There are tons and tons of other ideas in my shop. Have questions? Please ask!

~Lori

Thoughts on Digesting 6 Seasons of The L Word

2011-04-03T16:55:00.000-04:00

I've spent the last month marathon-ing the entire season of The L Word, and have made a few observations about the series. Figured I put them here because if I put them anywhere else, I'll forget where that place is, lol. So, in no particular order... (spoilers will abound...)

First, (and this is not just the fault of The L Word, but every dramatic series of yet), when you watch a show in one whole gulp, you realize how every single episode is composed of everyone running into each other at the same restaurant and then pardoning themselves because they have to do X to get ready for a party/fundraiser/event. I need another refill of something strong to get through that tired plot device. I realize that the easiest and often most logical way to get all your friends in one place is to throw a shin dig. But, omg, exhausting.

2ndly, major kudos to The L Word for being heavy on brunettes! I'm a brunette and a brunette-lover myself, so I appreciated that greatly. In fact, I appreciated it so much that I started to truly wonder if there are really that many brunettes in L.A. where the show is set. I kind of doubt it. And the blondes that were in the show weren't bleach blondes, so that was another plus. Nice and easy!

3rdly, because I watched it all at once, I was immediately able to dissect who was stealing whose jewelry. I often found myself tiring of the constant hashing-out-of-emotions (however true to form) which allowed my attention to wander to Bette and Tina, who in the middle of a quite infamous split, were actually sharing necklaces. Yeah, I think not.

4thly, I found the sex believable, and I only rolled my eyes a few times. This is a feat for lesbian sex because it can be varied and boring at the same time. If you don't understand what I mean, you're probably not a lesbian. I thought the portrayals were genuine, and I (almost) bought Cybil Shepherd as a lez.

5thly, a real pat on the back to the writers who created the Jenny Schechter character and didn't slit her throat in the first episode. I don't know who actually killed her or if she killed herself, but if I think about too long, I'll confess to it myself. It wasn't for a lack of trying through my television screen. You kind of have to hand it to writers who decide to put 98% of their plot devices into one character. That takes balls...or apathy.

Finally, a big hug to Olivia Windbiel who played Bette and Tina's daughter, Angie. She was absolutely adorable and a scene stealer. Talk about perfect casting!

That's all for now! If you have thoughts on The L Word, feel free to comment!
~Lori

FREE charm necklace offer thru March 31st at Risky Beads

2011-03-30T10:10:00.001-04:00

It's time to start shopping for Mother's Day and Graduation, keeping in mind that production time for custom and made-to-order handmade goods will lengthen as we get into April. Shop today and/or tomorrow at Risky Beads at get a FREE charm necklace with any purchase of $39.95 or more. (Free shipping to the U.S. ends April 1st!)

Charm necklace must be valued at $13.95 to be free choice. You can choose from any of my Weapon of Choice charms (list below). Necklace will be 16" unless requested otherwise. If you choose a brass charm, you'll get a brass chain. Offer good thru March 31, 2011, one per customer. Request your free necklace in notes to seller at checkout.

The following charms are available:
airplane
anchor
artist's palette
ballet slippers
baseball
basketball
beaker
beer (various)
bike
binoculars (brass)
birth control pills
book
boom box
calculator
camera
cell phone
cheer leading
chef hat
chocolate (Hershey bar)
corkscrew
cowboy boot (brass)
cross
dental mirror
dress
dumbbell
football
golf clubs
guitar
hammer (brass)
hand cuffs
hanger
hand mixer
hockey stick
hope (awareness ribbon)
laptop
microphone
microscope
musical note
martini
medical Caduceus
molecule
needle (sewing)
paint brush
pen
piano (brass)
pick up truck
pliers
purse (brass)
remote control
rolling pin
ruler
saw (brass)
scales of justice
scissors
skateboard
skein of yarn
sneaker (brass)
soccer ball
spoon
television (brass)
tennis racket
toothbrush in cup
tractor
trumpet (brass)
trowel (brass)
typewriter
vodka (Smirnoff can)
volleyball
watering can
whiskey (Jack Daniel's can)
woman’s shoe
wrench (brass)

Thanks and enjoy!
~Lori

Creature Comforts America - a little weekend fun

2011-03-26T12:40:00.000-04:00

I am hooked on this show Creature Comforts on Netflix. It was originally a BBC show, but there's also an American version. It's absolutely hilarious. This video does the set up for you... so just watch and laugh!

Get Ready to Geek - New Science Designs at Risky Beads

2011-03-14T10:18:00.000-04:00

By popular request, I've created more science-centered designs! I've been anxiously waiting for these charms to arrive, and they're finally here!

First up is the microscope key chain that started the science craze. It's a best-seller!

Microscope Weapon of Choice Key Chain

The microscope led to inquiries for other science-centered pieces, so we now have the beaker:

Beaker Weapon of Choice Key Chain

And the molecule...

Molecule Weapon of Choice Key Chain

You can turn any of my key chains into a necklace for her or him or as a stand alone charm:

Molecule Charm Necklace

I'm always on the look out for more charms, so if you have a request, please let me know!

Happy Monday,
Lori

Thoughts and Prayers ... to Japan

2011-03-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone dealing with the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan and threatens the west coast of the U.S.

Take care and be safe.

Wordless Wednesday - Threesomes

2011-03-09T12:14:00.000-05:00

Who cares if three's a crowd?

Menage A Trois Anyone, 3 -Way sign, veraviola

Leaf Frog Mini Print, Lori411

Ladies Man 1940s Vintage Photograph, EphemeraObscura

Enesco Owl Family Bank 1979, TogetherAgain

Be Happy Now, Three Handmade Word Birds, SkyeArt

Lg Threesome Unmatched Octopus Earrings, OctopusMe

Bizarre Love Triange set of 3 Wooden Wall Hangings, TackledAndShackled

Nesting Card, Idaimfille

Three Antique German Doll Heads, Time Passages

Find your own threesome. You know you want to. LOL.

~Lori

New Designs at Risky Beads - Early March 2011 Round 2

2011-03-08T20:22:00.000-05:00

More newness today! (Free U.S. shipping ends April 1st, so order now! If you'd like access to special deals, email me to get on my mailing list.)

Customized 3 Layer All Nickel Silver Key Chain

Fly. Brass Bird Necklace

Beach Bum Key Chain with seashell

Princess Necklace

Tiny Paint Brushes Charm Necklace

(I can make a necklace out of most of the charms in my shop. I several of them listed, but please ask if you don't see what you need!

Teardrop Crater Silver Necklace

See the last post about new designs (late Feb.) here and early March here and be sure to check out my new product line... pet tags!

~Lori

New Designs at Risky Beads - Early March 2011

2011-03-07T15:40:00.000-05:00

I've been busy, busy, busy designing new pieces. I have a bunch I've made that I haven't even photographed yet! Here's a sneak peek at some new goodies! (Free U.S. shipping ends April 1st, so order now! If you'd like access to special deals, email me to get on my mailing list.)

Customized Aluminum Washer Key Chain

(great gift for groomsmen!)

Whoooo Loves You? Key Chain

Beach Bum Necklace

You Are My Sunshine Copper Washer Key Chain

Ballerina Princess Necklace

See the last post about new designs (late Feb.) here, and be sure to check out my new product line... pet tags!

~Lori

Repopulating My Life

2011-03-04T15:06:00.000-05:00

I need to repopulate my life. While I absolutely love (and covet) the freedom I have as a self-employed jewelry artist, it can be a lonely trade. I live by myself save my two cats and have always been a solitary person by nature. I have a tendency to make socializing more difficult than it needs to be, so I'm trying to change that.

My first real step is to start volunteering once a week at the Raleigh LGBT center. I went to a Volunteer Orientation a couple of weeks ago and found everyone there to be very friendly. It's a very welcoming place and much to my surprise, has only existed since May 2010. I'm looking forward to meeting some new people and getting out more, especially now that the weather will start warming up. Guess we'll see how it goes, but I'm hopeful. I brought a few of my new rack cards to add to the business display as well. I never seem to have anything on hand to really show people what I do (make), so I made new cards to show them! I think they came out well. I created them myself and ordered them from Vistaprint.

The front:

The back:

I made more new designs today as well that I'll likely photograph this weekend. I've noticed that the more listings I create, the more inquiries and sales I get. I know; that seems rather like DUH, but I'm at about 350 now, so it's been a journey and a learning experience the entire way!

~Lori

New Designs at Risky Beads - Late February 2011

2011-02-24T11:33:00.000-05:00

The only good thing about my shop slowing down a bit this time of year is that it gives me time to design the pieces that have been rolling around in my head. Here are a few I've released in the past few days:

If You Can Read This, Thank a Teacher Key Chain

Cross Weapon of Choice Key Chain

Luv Me Luv My Cat Key Chain

Gardeners Like It Dirty Key Chain

God Is Love Mini Dog Tag Necklace

i luv 2 txt key chain

Custom Quote Key Chain

cute as a cupcake key chain

Lots more on the way so stay tuned!

~Lori

Etsy's German Blog Features Risky Beads

2011-02-04T11:30:00.000-05:00

Woke up this morning to a convo saying I'm featured on Etsy's German blog. Nice way to start a Friday!

Have a great weekend!
~Lori

Color Trends for Spring 2011

2011-02-03T08:00:00.004-05:00

Feast your eyes and digest these colors into your new designs!

~Lori

Wordless Wednesday - If Grape and Blueberry Were to Marry

2011-02-02T10:20:00.000-05:00

A treasury. Click the image to visit....

Craft Juice, Fresh Squeezed Tuesday, 2/1/11

2011-02-01T16:34:00.000-05:00

Well, it's Tuesday which means it's time to take a peak at some Craft Juice picks! In honor of Valentine's Day only 13 days away, let's think romance!

Isn't this g-g-gorgeous?

Ruffle Scarf Handmade knitted Flamenco Scarf in rich by jarg0n

Nine Pointed Star Mixed Metal Necklace by OneHeartJewelry

Braided Warmth Silk and Copper Adjustable by meiguidesigns

Spanish Lace Huge Red Filigree Earrings by Prdgy

Hope you enjoyed!

~Lori

A Pear of Treasuries made Jan 29...

2011-01-29T11:58:00.000-05:00

Click on each image to visit the Treasury!

Who will you PEAR up with this Valentine's Day?

Tangible Sincerity...

Recent Handmade Purchase--Jersey Screen Printed Scarves

2011-01-24T12:03:00.001-05:00

Well, it's time to divulge some more favorite handmade purchases of late! So here's a little tidbit about me: I'm a very hot-natured person. I'm never the person sitting in a restaurant or the movies complaining about being too cold. In fact, my hands stay so warm that friends have used me as their personal heater when they come in from the cold. Because I'm always toasty, I miss out on some really cool accessories because I'm afraid if I don them, I'll explode. Well, this winter in NC has been particularly chilly; we've had more snow and wind than we usually have the entire winter, and it's not even February yet, so I decided to buy a scarf I'd had my eye on and give it a shot. Result? FULL ON SCARF-LOVE. Jersey knit scarves are light-weight because they're made out of t-shirt material, and I often just wear a scarf and no jacket because it keeps me warm enough! Here are the ones I bought...

Roots Tree Sheer Jersey Triblend Scarf, Zen Threads, $17

(I bought this in black with a white print.)

Sheer Jersey Cotton Scarf, Flock Design on Asphalt, Limeyts, $18

Vintage Damask Scarf in Chocolate, ellembee, $22

Screen Printed Jersey Scarf in Tri-Coffee with Red Line Drops Print, Michelle Brusegaard, $25

(no, that's not me, lol)

I'm addicted to these scarves now because they're so super soft and lightweight and pretty. One of the really cool things about this type of scarf is that artists can print their own designs on them, so it's like walking around with warm, cozy, functional art! I have my eye on some others right now, but I'm trying to pinch my pennies.

Hope you enjoyed! Be nosy and see what else I've bought and bragged about!

~Lori

Valentine Gifts for Everyone on Your List...

2011-01-22T10:22:00.000-05:00

Over the past year, I've really expanded my product lines to include gifts for everyone on your list (and that fit within your budget!). Here are a few...

For the bird watcher...

For the dancer...

For the frazzled...

For the equestrian...

For the fashion forward...

For the reliable...

For the photographer...

For the geeky girl...

For the golfer...

For the treasured...

For the break dancer...

For the party girl (or guy)...

For the hockey fan...

For the scientist...

For those addicted to chocolate...

This is just a sample of what's available in my shop. You'll find gifts for the tennis, soccer, volleyball, baseball, football and basketball fan, the gardener, the liberal, your family, the musician, the teacher, the devoted, the reader, the writer, the crafter, the cyclist, and many, many more! All jewelry ships free to the U.S. with a $2 flate rate to Canada, and a $3.95 flat rate elsewhere. Enjoy!

~Lori

So Hot...Some Action on Your Friday Night!

2011-01-14T18:04:00.000-05:00

New Valentine's Day Designs at Risky Beads

2011-01-13T08:51:00.000-05:00

I've finally had some time to create some new designs...and not a moment too soon as Valentine's Day is a month away! Here's a peek...

Love is a Gamble Worth Taking Key Chain, $16.95

You Are Loved Key Chain, $12.95

Personalized Nickel Silver Key Chain, $16.95

Sharp Dressed Man Key Chain, $14.95

Key to My Heart Stamped Copper Necklace, $18.95

Be Mine Always or Always Be Mine (depending on your perspective, lol) Key Chain, $12.95

Chocolate Weapon of Choice Key Chain, $14.95

(give her chocolate that lasts!)

You're My World Key Chain, $14.95

Mom...we love you Key Chain, $15.95

Hope you enjoyed this glance at some new designs! Remember that all jewelry ships FREE to the U.S., $2 flat rate to Canada, $3.95 flat rate elsewhere.

~Lori

Craft Juice Finds, Fresh Squeezed 1/11/11

2011-01-11T14:30:00.005-05:00

Well, the holidays have come and gone, and I've finally recuperated from hammering my brains out, so it's time to squeeze some new Craft Juice Finds! Valentine's Day is soon approaching, so here are some love inspired finds...

Learn to make your own adorable crocheted hearts!

Crocheted Heart Scrubbies Pattern, Crocheted Little Things

Cleopatra Capelet Crochet Pattern, Thesunroomuk

Ruby Red Swarovski Earrings, Linda Searcy Jewelry

Dainty Silver Heart Necklace, One Heart Jewelry

Need more inspiration? Head on over to Craft Juice and vote up your favorite picks yourself!

~Lori

Recent Handmade Purchase - Ballet Recital Outfit for American Girl Doll

2011-01-09T22:13:00.000-05:00

It's time again to brag about a recent Etsy purchase that I'm VERY happy with...or rather my 4-year-old niece is. Christmas 2009 saw the arrival of American Girl dolls to my three nieces and ever since, it's been a joy to find cute handmade clothes for them on Etsy. This time I bought this adorable ballet recital outfit because my niece is all about dance.

The dress comes from Polkie Dot Designs and it's even prettier than the picture. The little tights and ballet slippers really make a niece touch. I'll definitely keep this shop bookmarked and come back for more. Kathy (the shop owner) has some really cool outfits! Here are a couple of my favorites:

Custom Cheerleader Set, $19.99

Red with Roses Circular Dress, $16.99

Hope you like this peek at what I bought. Stay tuned for me and be nosy and see what else I've bought and bragged about!

~Lori

Recent Handmade Purchase - The Zoological Garden - Christmas Candy TWO Tough Cat catnip kick pillows

2011-01-07T02:49:00.002-05:00

Well, the holidays have come and gone, and I think I've survived them, not completely sure yet. I was so busy that I didn't have time to do my regular posts about the awesome handmade things I've bought lately either for myself or as gifts. I'm going to be doing several of these posts this month because I have lots to share with you!

Today's post is about a gift I got for my kitties! During the holidays, I felt so bad that I didn't have time to sit down and just play with them, so I decided to get them some Christmas-inspired catnip kick pillows from The Zoological Garden on Etsy. Here's a pic:

Aren't they adorable? Jenny (the shop owner) was even nice enough to accommodate my request for a little less organic catnip than is standard for these pillows. My cats tend to have a rather psychotic reaction to huge amounts, so she cut it in half for me. Worked perfectly!

I have to admit though that the ribbon that came with them has gotten even more play time, lol. It is currently carried around my both of my cats like it's their blanky. I think that's pretty cute!

Hope you like this peek at what I bought. Stay tuned for me and be nosy and see what else I've bought and bragged about!

~Lori

The Complete List of Weapon of Choice options

2011-01-06T18:47:00.000-05:00

As I've blogged about previously, the Weapon of Choice series in my shop is a huge hit! I'm always on the lookout for new additions, and the list has grown considerably! Here's a couple of the newest additions:

Cowboy Boot Weapon of Choice Key Chain

Scales of Justice Weapon of Choice Key Chain

And just in time for Valentine's Day...

Love Weapon of Choice Key Chain

As of today, 1/6/11, here's a full list of what I have available as 'weapons.' I also make Weapon of Choice necklaces for those that don't prefer a key chain.

airplane
anchor
ballet slippers
baseball
basketball
beer (various)
bike
binoculars (brass)
book
boom box
camera
cell phone
cheer leading
chocolate (Hershey bar)
corkscrew
cowboy boot (brass)
dental mirror
dress
football
golf clubs
guitar
hammer (brass)
hand cuffs
hanger
hand mixer
hockey stick
hope (awareness ribbon)
laptop
microphone
microscope
musical note
martini
medical Caduceus
needle
paint brush
pen
piano (brass)
pick up truck
pliers
purse (brass)
remote control
rolling pin
ruler
saw (brass)
scales of justice
scissors
skateboard
skein of yarn
sneaker (brass)
soccer ball
spoon
television (brass)
tennis racket
toothbrush in cup
trombone (brass)
trowel (brass)
typewriter
vodka (Smirnoff can)
volleyball
watering can
whiskey (Jack Daniel's can)
woman’s shoe
wrench (brass)

*Whew* I think that's enough for the time being!
~Lori

Holiday Ordering and Shipping Times at Risky Beads

2010-12-08T17:57:00.000-05:00

You Better Not Pout Ornament, Picard Creative

Risky Beads has gotten very busy in the last month, and I'm getting a ton of emails/convos asking for information. This blog post is at attempt to consolidate those answers in one place and make it easier for me to concentrate on completing orders. :)

Here are the FAQs:

When will my order ship?
As of December 8, 2010, hand stamped metal pieces are shipping out in about 7 business days from date of order (and payment.) I ship domestic orders first class mail straight out of PayPal. Orders are trackable that way. You'll receive an email from PayPal when your order ships.

Can I upgrade to USPS Priority Shipping?
Yes, but you need to tell me before you order. Upgrading to priority doesn't get your order out of my shop any faster; it just moves it faster once it's out.

How long does the mail take?
Typically, First Class mail takes 2-5 days; Priority takes 2-3. These times are stretched during the holidays due to an increase in volume. Please consult the postal service if you have other questions. I apologize, but I can't predict these things.

When is your international order deadline?
It was December 3rd; it's now passed. Any international orders that come in will be done as soon as I can get to them.

What should I do if I have a question about my order?
Please message me from the 'contact' link on your order page. That way I know who you are and what order you're referring to. I have over 100 orders right now, so that's the best way to get to me.

Are you Wonder Woman?
God, I wish. Oh Santa... about that invisible plane...

I'll add to this post if I think of any others!

Ho, ho, ho--
Lori

New 2010 Personalized Silver Snowman Ornament at Risky Beads

2010-12-03T11:34:00.000-05:00

I've had this design in my head for awhile, and I finally got it done! He's customizable, too!

Ain't he a cutie?

~Lori

Busy, Busy, Busy at Risky Beads

2010-12-02T09:21:00.000-05:00

Snowball in Hell Necklace

Hi, folks! Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been super busy with my Etsy shop since about the 5th of November, and other things have fallen by the wayside. So, just a few updates before it's back to the bench block!

My deadline for international (all non-U.S.) orders is Dec 3rd. I need to have time to make your order and then have enough time for it to travel through the mail to your chimney!

Bracelets are now 35% off! Everything left is a one-of-a-kind design! Beaded jewelry ships out within 24 hours because there's no hammering involved!

That's all for now!
~Lori

How to Pay by Credit Card Using PayPal

2010-11-26T10:48:00.000-05:00

Many of my customers are having problems checking out on Etsy when they want to pay by credit card. It can be a bit confusing, but you should always choose 'PayPal' as a payment option and then proceed to their site even if you just want to pay by credit card. Here's what it looks like when you first proceed to PayPal to pay:

And here's what it looks like when you click the 'Pay Now' button:

So that's how you do it! It's simple and easy. Happy Shopping!!!

~Lori

Holiday BOGO Deals at Risky Beads

2010-11-24T10:53:00.000-05:00

Hi, peeps! It's a month till Christmas... a month, people! I've put together some nifty BOGO deals in my shop... take a peek!

Buy this one of a kind Wreath bracelet at 25% off $33.71...

and get this Wreath necklace for FREE! (Request in notes to seller. $16.95 value!)

Buy this gorgeous Sea Anemone bracelet, 25% off at $37.46

and get these Cherries Jubilee matching earrings FREE! (Request them in notes to seller at checkout. $8.50 value!)

Or, buy this Always a Woman bracelet for 25% off at $33.71...

and automatically get the matching necklace FREE! ($14.95 value!)

Hungry? How about buying this Peanut Butter and Jelly bracelet 25% off $33.71

And get this key chain for FREE, automatically! ($9.95 value!)

Bracelets not your thing? Snap up this Sweet Harvest Necklace for $17.95...

And get your choice of the matching earrings or key chain for FREE! (Request in notes to seller. $7.95 value!)

All of these are one shot deals, so if something tickles your fancy, grab it and your freebie to boot! Happy Holiday Shopping! And remember, all jewelry ships free to the U.S. and Canada and with a $3.75 flat rate everywhere else.

~Lori

Craft Juice, Fresh Squeezed Tuesday, 11/23/10

2010-11-23T18:37:00.001-05:00

Cranberry and Crimson Lampwork and Copper Necklace, Lune

White Red Shades of Gold Glass Bead Necklace, Lilabelledesign

Bright Posy of Felt Flowers Pin, Sweet Hearts and Roses

Your Christmas Tree Ornament Owl Set of 3, JKL Encaustics

Wordless Wednesday-Forest for the Trees

2010-11-17T09:48:00.001-05:00

Time to get keen on serene...

Among Friends No. 2 Oringinal, 24"x18", Mae Chevrette, $275

Winter Sleep 8x10 Canvas Print, Kim Schweitzer Art, $20

Winter Forest Original Encaustic Painting, Susanna Jarian, $75

Aspen and Bunnies, 11x15 Original Watercolor, Ghart, $25

Wee TreeO Wee Three Tree Original Waterolor, Kim Bade, $13.50

Winter Solstice Archival Print, Cristina Berretta, $18

Winter Woods Original Canvas by Irene Machine, $180

I'm in a very zen place right now. How 'bout you?

~Lori

Craft Juice, Fresh Squeezed Tuesday, 11/16/10

2010-11-16T09:08:00.000-05:00

This week's Craft Juice picks are all showstoppers!

First off, this Japanese Maple Red Sake bottle by Little Wren Pottery is absolutely mesmerizing! Or am I the only person who gets mesmerized by pottery?

And look, now I'm mesmerized again! Fiber jewelry is very in right now; check out this amazing Crocheted Bangle Bracelet from Melba Shoppe.

Now, not that you need reminding that there are only 38 days til Christmas, but these are what reminded me today. Aren't these ribbon trees amazing!

And now it's time to feel a pretty shiver all the way through you! Look at this gorgeous Snow Berry Necklace by Eternal Eden. I love it!

And let's finish off today with this adorable little guy! He's a polymer clay Christmas Elf Bookworm Ornament by Nanjo Dogz, and he's so dang cute, I can't stand it!

I think he's got your Christmas list at the ready and he's checking it twice!

Until tomorrow,

Lori

Recent Handmade Purchase - BPR Designs

2010-11-15T09:03:00.000-05:00

My Christmas shopping is officially underway, and although I'll probably make most of the gifts I give, there are always a few that I buy, and (surprise, surprise), they're almost all handmade! This year, I'm excited because I got the coolest plate for my brother-in-law! He was a real trooper about a year ago when he helped me buy and deliver the sofa from hell! I feel like I'll always owe him for that disaster, lol. In his free time, my brother-in-law likes to fish; he owns his own boat named High Maintenance...after my sister, lmao. So here's what he's getting for Christmas this year:

Glass Fish Cheese Plate, BPR Designs

I'm going to go out and buy some of his favorite cheese and crackers to put with it. Everybody in my family has a hard core cheese addiction. You just can't go wrong with cheese. Now, while I was shopping for my BIL, I couldn't resist picking up something for myself...

Woodland Brown and Cream Contemporary Soap Dish, BPR Designs

My handmade soap collection has to have a pretty place to sit, and this matches my bathroom perfectly! It even came with a sample of Pumpkin Brulee with Pistachio Butter soap from Tallulah's Soaps! Doesn't it look delicious?

Pumpkin Brulee with Pistachio Butter Soap, Tallulah's Soaps, $5.50

That's all for now! Want more? Be nosy and see what else I buy!

~Lori

Top 5 Ways to Have a Fabulous Risky Beads Experience on Etsy

2010-11-12T04:24:00.000-05:00

Sex on TV won't hurt you...

5. Read my shop policies before purchasing! Oh wait, you are! Good 4 u!

4. Convo me or email me with your email address and I'll add you to my mailing list. You'll get secret sales, special deals, and sneak peeks! Also, refer a friend and get a coupon of 15% off your favorite piece! Cannot be combined with other sales or discounts.

3. Leave all customization and order requests in notes to seller. It's a white box under payment type in step 3 of checkout. Here's a picture:

2. READ THE ENTIRE LISTING before purchasing so you understand how to BUY 3 pairs of earrings and get 1 FREE and what customization info I need. In MANY cases I need sizing, charm choice, color choice, etc. That's also how you'll know about other sales going on!

1. KEEP COMMUNICATION OPEN! I'll convo you asap if I have a question about your order. PLEASE respond in a timely manner. I want you to be happy with your order! If you receive your order and have an issue with it, PLEASE let me know ASAP so I can correct it. Lack of communication often puts your order on hold.

THANK YOU!!!!

~Lori

Notes to Seller on Etsy -- What is it? Where is it?

2010-11-11T03:42:00.000-05:00

If you're a newbie when it comes to shopping on Etsy, and there are a ton of you according to Etsy's latest weather report for November, you may have seen a similar message in a particular listing:

Please leave all customization requests, color, sizing, other preferences in notes to seller at checkout.

Etsy sellers use this method to give buyers options and flexibility as we really don't have another option, like a drop down box during checkout to choose a size, flavor, color, etc. But where exactly do you leave this information? It's simple... in step 3 of checkout:

When you leave your requests there, they show up on the back side of the seller's shop where all of our orders reside. (I like to call this land Etsy-topia, lol.)

So, see, it's super easy! Happy Handmade shopping! Only 43 days til Christmas....

~Lori

Keep Calm and Shop On Poster, Keep Calm Shop

Christmas in Carolina - Finds from the NCTriangle Team

2010-11-10T11:51:00.000-05:00

It's beautiful in North Carolina right now. I'm in Raleigh where it's currently 60 degrees and fabulously sunny with a gorgeous blue sky! Thought I'd take a peek at some fabulous holiday finds from my NCTriangle Team peeps!

Maybe if you use this Mistletoe Soap, someone will kiss you in the shower!

Mistletoe Handmade Soap, Tracey Gurley Bath and Body, $3.75

Here we have some old-timey Candy Canes. I have a feeling that primitive candy canes are uber-low in calories!

Primitive Candy Canes Bunch, Rabbit Hollow Prims, $14.95

Don't put this little snowman in hot water... he might melt!

Snowman Duck on a Pond, Karen's Soaps, $8.25

Okay, I'll confess that I wouldn't know what to do with this yarn, but I still want everything in the entire shop!

Zinnas Handspun Supercoil Shag Art Yarn, Jazz Turtle, $45

OMG, and I need one of these! It conceals a post-it note pad! (They need hard core protection in my purse, trust me.)

Mini Sticky Coverup by Shams and Cover Ups, $8

Well, hopefully now, you're in the Christmas spirit! Only 44 days to go! Don't forget the finishing touch for all your presents!

Merry Christmas Gift Tags, Set of 6, Whimsy Pics, $6

Dashing through the snow....

~Lori

Craft Juice, Fresh Squeezed Tuesday, 11/9/10

2010-11-09T18:07:00.000-05:00

This week's Craft Juice picks are all about CUTE! Don't you just wanna cuddle up with this little guy? Well, too bad, he's for your doggy!!

Extra Small Dog Squeaker Toy, Repurposed, Jewelz Creatives

Christmas + winter + technology =

Santa Claus Robot Sculpture, Jiggly Wiggly, Robots are Awesome

Okay, maybe this isn't dictionary 'cute,' but I love it! And it's chilly here!

Crochet Afghan Granny Square Spoils, Kraftii 1

Along with my handmade soap and handmade art fetish, I also have a thing for....clocks!

Round Wall Clock with Giraffes Painting, Taltula

You know, lavender is very big on the doll runway this year! Trust me!

Crocheted Lavender Dress with Flowers for Blythe, Lost Stitch

That's all for now! I don't know about you, but I'm on cute overload now! I make these picks every Tuesday. Check out previous picks!

~Lori

How to Use PayPal to Create a Mailing List

2010-11-08T12:30:00.000-05:00

In October, I started a thread on Etsy called 10 Ways to Make the Most Out of Every Sale. After getting a ton of feedback from other sellers, two questions kept emerging surrounding the option of using PayPal as a mailing list. Here are the answers:

First, PayPal allows Premier account holders to collect email addresses for their mailing list. To do this, log into PayPal and go to: My Account/Profile/Selling Preferences/Custom Payment Pages/Option tab --> scroll down to see mailing list option. If you don't have a Premier account, just upgrade. It's free and easy. Here's where to go to set it up if you have a Premier Account:

As you collect your names, add them to your mailing list. PayPal doesn't create a mailing list function for you; it's just helping you add names. You have to choose an interface to use that has an unsubscribe option. There are tons to choose from, some free, some not. Most have a free trial period if they cost money. Some vendors are: Constant Contact, iContact, Mail Chimp, and Bravenet. I personally use Constant Contact. It costs me $25 a month, but I like their interface the templates the best.

Here's what it looks like on the PayPal side when someone signs up:

As you can see that's also where folks answers to your customer service question appear. That can be set up on the same page as the mailing list question.

Hope this helps everybody!
~Lori

Weapon of Choice Series Expands!

2010-11-08T02:00:00.000-05:00

My Weapon of Choice series (post 1 and post 2) has been a best seller this year and now there are new additions just in time for Christmas! For the musician or singer:

Music Weapon of Choice, $14.95

Bowling Weapon of Choice, LIMITED EDITION, QTY 2 ONLY, $14.95

Basketball Weapon of Choice, $14.95

Cheer leading Weapon of Choice, $14.95

Hockey Weapon of Choice, $14.95

Also available, volleyball, ballet slippers, golf clubs. See them all here!

Hope you enjoyed!!
~Lori

Craft Juice, Fresh Squeezed Tuesday, 11/2/10

2010-11-02T19:31:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the late posting tonight, but it's election day, and I had to flip my schedule around! Come with me to find some great crafty picks!

"R" Light Grey Hot Water Bottle Cover, Noton

Pair of Grape Glass Beads, One Heart Art

Green Aventurine Wrap Bracelet, Amore Valkyrie

Brass Leaf Medallion Pendant, Mookalite Jasper, Lune

Bird and Mushroom Plate, CMS Designs

Hope you enjoyed!

~Lori

New Designs at Risky Beads, 54 Shopping Days Until Christmas

2010-11-01T09:56:00.000-04:00

Well, boys and girls, there are only 54 shopping days left until Christmas! I have some new designs in my shop...here's a little preview~

Personalized Silver Hand Stamped Family Keepsake Christmas Ornament, $12.95

Live Love Laugh Copper Key Chain, customization available, $9.95

Dear Santa, I've Been Naughty Key Chain, $14.95

My Other Car is a Motorcycle, (only 1 in stock!), $14.95

Writing a Novel E.L. Doctorow Quote Key Chain, $16.95

Well, that's just a little peek! Visit my shop to see them all, and remember, all jewelry ships free to the U.S. and Canada (flat rate elsewhere.)

Craft Juice, Fresh Squeezed Tuesday, 10/26/10

2010-10-26T15:33:00.001-04:00

Well, it's Tuesday again which means that some more pretties have caught my eye from Craft Juice. Come with me...

Be True Original Painting, Jill's Dream

Dandelion Paper Quilling Artwork, The Pretties

Cotton Fabric Flower Pendant, Madeline's Wardrobe

Custom Pet Sculpture, Geklara

Copper Burgundy Gold Brown Scarf, hautemarme

Wow, these were some AWESOME finds today! Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did!

~Lori

3 Things Etsy Could Do to Make My Shop Run Smoother - Etsy Forum

2010-10-25T11:18:00.000-04:00

Posted in Etsy's Idea Forum today... my pipe dreams:

Bloody Hell Coffee Mug Cozy, Knot Workshop

1. I would just about give my right arm for a little more functionality on the backside of my shop. The combination of doing 90% custom/personalized work coupled with the 40% chance that a buyer will give me all required info in notes to seller is making me cuck0_0.

Etsy, I would kill for a little fly out box or note ability by each order so that I can keep up with who I'm waiting on, who I've contacted about payment, and extra details that need to be attached to the order.

2. A listing section that can be bulk edited to add timely promotion info, custom order lead time, instructions, etc. Since we can do a bulk edit on shipping profiles, could we add this?

3. A customizable intro to Conversations so I can remind customers (existing and new) what info I need when they're inquiring. I get so many vague convos that could be converted into sales if I could give the customer some info up front like:

I need to know what you want, what size, what time frame, where I'm shipping to, etc...

(Yes, I know there's Alchmey, but Alchemy is too cumbersome for my needs.)

Thank you for listening!

~Lori

Hostess Gifts Under $50 - A Treasury

2010-10-23T13:57:00.001-04:00

Don't be caught empty handed this holiday season! Enjoy this Treasury. Click to visit and comment. BOGO Clearance sale still in progress through 10/24 in my Etsy shop. Details here!

BOGO Clearance SALE at Risky Beads - How it Works

2010-10-21T17:06:00.000-04:00

I'm having a BOGO Clearance SALE in my Etsy shop right now, and here's how it works:

Shopping by Touikzarza

Purchase ANY item in my shop. Choose a free item from the BOGO Clearance section here:

Price of free item must be of equal or lesser value than purchased items. Free items don't go in your cart; they are added to your order when you request them in notes to seller. No limit on the number of free items you can get. If you decide, for example, to purchase 2 necklaces for $24.90 each... you can choose a free items totaling $49.80. I don't care how you get to that number, they just have to be from the BOGO Clearance section linked above.

Thanks so much!
Lori

Wordless Wednesday-Autumn Art Inspired

2010-10-20T12:36:00.001-04:00

Today's finds come from ArtFire!

Chickadee in Autumn, Sunshine Sight, $12.95

Autumn Tree Vintage Style Luggage Tags, Set of 6, Crafty Pagan, $8.25

Autumn Leaves at Hardy Falls Fine Art Print, Ginger Snapz, $18

Falling Leaves in Autumn Mini Card Set of 9, Chyrls Origami, $6.75

Basket Coiled Fabric Harvest Basket, A Lotta Jazz, $28

Original Autumn Leaf Fall Abstract Canvas, The Venusflytrap Collection, $39.99

Autumn Leaves Embroidered Placemats, Forget Me Not Treasures, $45

You can just hear the leaves crunching underfoot, can't you?

~Lori

BOGO Clearance Sale in progress...

Craft Juice Tuesday, Fresh Squeezed 10/19/10

2010-10-19T09:33:00.002-04:00

Well, it's Tuesday again which means it's time to pick some Craft Juice pretties! Let's get going!

Gingerbread Man Glass Ornament, BPR Designs

Joy in the Morning, Mei Guide Designs

Blue Earth Globe Earrings, Dreams Corner

Art Nouveau Leather Cuff, tovicorrie

Smokey Charcoal Grey Fingerless Gloves, Think Knit Purl

Hope you enjoyed! Tomorrow is Wordless Wednesday... finds that leave me speechless! Stay tuned!

~Lori

10 Ways to Make the Most Out of Every Sale

2010-10-17T18:30:00.000-04:00

I wrote this up the other day and started threads on both Etsy and ArtFire about it. Putting it here for archival purposes, etc.

Grocery Store Original, The White Amazon

While we all wait for the much-anticipated holiday rush to descend on us in our sleep, I put together a few ideas for making the most out of the customer you have TODAY. You can do 1 or all of these together or separately...

1. Send a freebie along with each order. Make sure it's something that people would want. Perhaps a scaled down version of another product or a sustainable marketing item like a magnet, etc. A thank you card goes a long way as well!

2. Invite customers to join your mailing list. (I've been using the PayPal Customer Service option, and I've added about 20 people since I started it. To do this, log into PayPal and go to: My Account/Profile/Selling Preferences/Custom Payment Pages/Option tab --> scroll down to see mailing list option.)

3. Send a coupon for their next purchase. You can do this by getting cheap biz cards printed as coupons or just put a label or paper coupon in the package. I often use labels because it allows me to customize my marketing materials. Most of the coupons I get from other sellers offer 5-10% off. I offer 15% off an order of $50 or more. Remember, not everyone will use their coupon, so there's no need to stress about what you offer. Send more than 1 coupon to encourage sharing and/or offer a referral discount. I offer my customers 15% off any item of their choice if they refer a new custom to me!

4. Send a brochure with FANTASTIC pictures of other products you sell. Perhaps offer a discount or coupon as part of the brochure. Using a brochure or postcard works nicely because people can easily show your products to folks who aren't online... co-workers in the lunch room, etc. You can keep it relative. If a person buys Lavender Body Butter from you, maybe send a brochure with pics/info on your other lavender products.

5. Invite your customer to a future secret sale--not too far in the future, say 2-3 weeks max AND/OR unveil a secret product and offer it early to your existing custom base.

6. Send along your Twitter and Facebook links...either on a card or via a convo/email when notifying about shipping.

7. If you have a significant customer base, send out a customer service/product survey and offer a nice coupon for customers that complete it.

8. Send samples of a new product and ask for feedback. This can be a great way to try out a new scent/flavor/color of something.

9. Offer an instant entry into a giveaway for their purchase. Advertise this in your shop announcement and be sure to give all details including if it's open to ALL customers regardless of location and what the opening and closing dates are for the draw. You could set up a giveaway each month for something small and automatically enter your customer in it when they purchase. Be sure to have a way that non-customers can enter as well.

10. Network with other ArtFire sellers who sell complimentary products to yours, not direct competition. Offer to trade freebies for each seller's customers. The more ties a customer has to ArtFire, the more likely they are to buy from you again!

These ideas were the result of a brain-storming session I had with myself today, lol. Hope they help. Have other ideas? Please share!

Happy Sales,
Lori
:)

Rain and Chaos - Recent Treasuries

2010-10-15T15:33:00.000-04:00

Different inspirations.. a whole lotta fun! Inspired by the Eurthymics song, Here Comes the Rain Again:

And a little chaos thrown in the mix:

Enjoy! Click to visit each one!
~Lori

Wordless Wednesday-Today I'm Entertaining Myself

2010-10-13T15:39:00.000-04:00

Sometimes when I'm editing the photos for my shop, I accidentally hit the wrong button and get something crazy. Half the time, I actually really LIKE the crazy versions. They make me see my work in a new way. Thought I'd share a couple of these cuckoo versions today! (I realize this should be Wordless Wednesday...but I had to explain it, lol!)

Autumn Lariat

Keep Calm & Craft On

Weapon of Choice CAMERA Key Chain

I hope you liked these! I'm thoroughly entertained for today. :)

~Lori

Craft Juice Fresh Squeezed for Tues., October 12, 2010

2010-10-12T11:50:00.001-04:00

It's Craft Juice Tuesday again and time to pick some cool finds! If you like these goodies, be sure to visit Craft Juice and vote them up!

Serenity Mermaid Sewing Pattern, Jojoebi, Etsy

A Cold Grey Sunday Fine Art Photo, Britt8682, Etsy

Fabric Trees, Sew Vintage Obsessed, Folksy

Pale Plum & Pink Glass Soap Dish, BPR Designs, Etsy

Hope you enjoyed!!

~Lori

Teach Tony Danza - A&E's Very Real Reality Show

2010-10-10T15:08:00.000-04:00

A&E has a new show this season called Teach Tony Danza. It's a documentary style show where Tony Danza becomes an English teacher in an urban Philly high school. The show is amazing. In 1991, I graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in English Education and ended up spending my teaching years with children 0-5 instead of in a high school classroom. I have health issues that made it impossible for me to be the lone teacher in a classroom all day long. When I watch this show, it makes me wish I was back student teaching again. He's teaching John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and I taught The Pearl. He's dealing with children who fall ALL over the developmental spectrum, and I taught the exact same kids here in Hillsborough, NC, a very rural school. I had 4 periods of Basic English filled with kids who were low achievers and/or in their 1st year of transitioning out of a special ed classroom.

Aside from my personal experiences, if you have kids, you should really watch this show. It makes you confront the truly sad shape our public schools are in and helps you truly value the heroes, both child and adult, that make it work anyway. Danza is having a challenging time with these kids; this is no easy feat for him. Just seeing what he's up against keeps my eyes glued to the screen and truly sad when each episode ends. It airs every Friday night at 10pm on A&E. Check your local listings or watch it online. You can even follow the show on Facebook!

Be nosy and see what else I watch!

~Lori

Murderous Cheesecake - A Treasury

2010-10-10T02:37:00.001-04:00

My latest Treasury is a little bit Halloween and a little bit hungry. LOL. Click to visit if you dare...

Trick or Treating and Some Real Good Eating

2010-10-09T08:00:00.007-04:00

One of my best friends has a birthday on Halloween (Oct. 31st). I thought I'd take a spin around Etsy and see what nifty Halloween party finds I could discover!

Chocolate Spiced Apple Cider Butter Caramels, Fusion Sweets, $10

12 Black Cat Halloween Party Invites, Le French Circus, $15

Tiny Pumpkins 3 Dozen Cookies, Cookie Rush, $13.50

Halloween Paper Cake with Spider, imeon design, $20

Lime Frankenstein Soap Bar, Love Lee Soaps, $4.50

Custom Cupcake Toppers, Amanda Black Designs, $20

Assorted French Nougats in 8 Flavors, Kettle Confections, $14

6 Foot Hand Cut Fabric Garland, Halloween, Paisley Handmade, $12

Witch Hat and Broom Halloween Edible Fondant Cup Cake Topper, Artisan Cake Company, $4

Witch Halloween Favor Tags, set of 12, Dawn Correspondence, $8

All righty then! I hope you enjoyed this boo-tiful collection and are officially ready to party!

~Lori

Last Chance Designs at Risky Beads

2010-10-08T11:35:00.000-04:00

Most of my designs are made to order, but there are a few in my shop that are either one of a kind or I'm down to my last one... here's a little preview of some of them:

Nudity Pale Peach Earrings, $8.50

Don't You Dare Take Me for Pomegranate Necklace, $24.95

Mother Nature Antique Brass Necklace, $22.95

Princess and the Peas Beaded Bracelet, $47.95

All of these pieces are available in my Etsy and ArtFire shops. Today I just chose to showcase them from ArtFire. Hope you enjoyed!

~Lori

Halloween Inspired Handmade Art from Etsy

2010-10-07T08:00:00.036-04:00

Yesterday, we indulged in October Inspired Art, and today we're going to focus just on Halloween. Grab your punkin' and let's go trick o' treating!

Pumpkin Elf Clay Paper Mache Halloween Folk Art Doll, Sleepy Hollow, $75.99

The Halloween Parade, Summer Saylor, $38

Yoga Pose Zombie Skeleton, Zed's Zombie Ranch, $49

Ghost Parade Halloween Painting, The Peppermint Forest, $55

Pumpkin Harvest Day, Lavennz Osy, $30

Halloween LEXY LAX Folk Art Vintage Assemblage, Barb's Blessings, $29.99

Halloween Glee Club 8x8 Painting on Canvas, Chicory Skies, $119

You should be plenty scared now, right? Thanks for trick o' treating with me!

~Lori

Wordless Wednesday-Inspiring October Art from Etsy

2010-10-06T09:21:00.000-04:00

My addiction and compulsions around handmade soap and lotion are well documented. Lesser known is my fascination with handmade art, and my lingering sadness surrounding my lack of wall space. Today, this post is that wall...

Cambridge Dreams fine art photograph, Raceytay, $25

In October Original, Paper Quilt Studio, $65

Walk Into Autumn 8x8 Fine Art Photograph, Sherri Conley, $30

Art Card, Three Pumpkins on Porch, Over the Fence, $4

October Farm 8x10 Fine Art Photograph, Jellyfish Bay, $25

Winding Creek, 8x10 Photograph, Joy St. Claire, $28

Childhood Memories 8x8 Photograph, Magnesina, $24

Hope you enjoyed! Tomorrow, we'll focus on Halloween art.

~Lori

Craft Juice..fresh squeezed each Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010

2010-10-05T12:39:00.001-04:00

It's Tuesday, so it's time to drink some Craft Juice! Here are some of my favorites this week. Visit the links and vote your heart!

Silly Pumpkin Potholder by DoilyMania

Wedding Vase by CMS Designs

Artisan Tiger Lampwork and Fine Silver Pendant, Honey From the Bee

Autumn Colors Stained Glass Sailboats

Love Bites Greeting Card, Crafty Pagan

Hope that quenches your crafty thirst! See you next Tuesday with more...

~Lori

Meet MiniFood and Her Sweet Treats

2010-10-04T08:24:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that I, Lori of Risky Beads, go absolutely cuckoo when I stumble upon some beads that will easily pass for lettuce or ham or anything you might find on a menu. When I started my Leftovers Series in the fall of 2007, I had no idea it would grow to almost 70 pieces today. I mean, who knew Peanut Butter and Jelly could be so fascinating? Well, today I want to introduce you to someone who makes even cooler faux food! Her name is Huiyi Tan (pronounced Hway-Yee Tan) and she has two shops on Etsy, MiniFood and Huiyi Tan. I am so impressed with how real her MiniFood jewelry looks, especially in its tiny scale, that I had to show you!

Dumplings Handbag Charm Fob Pendant

I asked Huiyi to give us a little insight into how and why she got into making miniature food, and she told me:

I enjoy making things for my Barbie which was my 6-year-old birthday present, such as cloths, hair decoration, jewellery, etc. The first MiniFood is originally my Barbie’s meal :) I'm a jewellery designer, maker. The ideas of use of materials and making techniques are adopted from some jewellery making process and skills which I learn at school of jewellery in England :)

Mini Dessert Key Charms:
The white bowl with white and yellow ingredients is sago and sweetcorn dessert.
The white bowl with green and white ingredients is white rice and mung beans dessert.
The white bowl with red ingredients is Seeds of Job's Tears and adzuki beans dessert.

Cake Handbag Charm

Huiyi's creations are made from polymer clay, rubber, resin and other secret ingredients and sometimes take 3 days to dry. I admire her patience and her ability not to eat them while she waits. ;-)

Shrimp Noodle Soup Charm

I don't know about you, but back in my day, my Barbies would've been hanging out together in the camper having a killer brunch with these darling little dishes. Who needs Ken when you've got shrimp that looks like it just came out of your Easy Bake Oven?

Delicious Miniature Handbag Charm

I hope you'll visit MiniFood and marvel at her delicious treats. The amount of care and time it takes to create these little works of art impress me...hardcore. You can follow Huiyi on twitter here.

~Lori

Detroit 1-8-7: A new show worth every minute!

2010-10-02T14:05:00.000-04:00

I absolutely love the new show on Tuesdays at 10pm on ABC, Detroit 1-8-7. It's a new crime drama that has a very NYPD Blue vibe (and at least one NYPD veteran cast member), and it's the perfect mix of crime, police work, and inter-department drama. The 'Dennis Franz aka Sipowitz' type character is played by Michael Imperioli as Detective Louis Fitch. You'll recognize him from The Sopranos. He's matured very nicely into this role, and he's an absolutely JOY to watch. Led by Imperioli, the entire show (and cast) is gritty, funny, awkward, and compelling. In many ways, it reminds me of The West Wing as well.

You can catch the first two episodes online if you've missed them and then set your DVR! You WON'T be sorry. :)

~Lori

Why Good Pictures Matter On Etsy and Everywhere Else

2010-09-30T16:50:00.001-04:00

Old School Camera Belt Bucket, flightpathdesigns

Whether you're a newbie to Etsy or a pro, I'm sure you've spent a lot of time pondering this question as well as how to achieve the best results. Time and time again, I see sellers in the Etsy forums (particularly) asking why no one is buying their stuff. 98% of the time it always comes back to pictures. Are their pictures terrible? Maybe, maybe not. But terrible shouldn't be the question. The question should be: Are your pictures dyn-o-mite!?

I know you've probably tried everything... natural light, a light box, no light box, camera on a tripod, camera on the floor, hanging upside down from your ceiling fan, taking a running leap INTO the shot... but think about this instead: CONTEXT. Good product pictures are about CONTEXT. Don't believe me? Pick up any magazine anywhere and flip through it. Do you read the articles? Probably not. You get a vibe from the style of photography the magazine employs, and you probably read the captions because it's all you need to know the whole story. (Scholarly journals aside, of course.) The following is a partial excerpt from my book: How to Make It Small When You're Trying to Make it Big.

Grocery Cart, cplummerart

I see people do something all the time that drives me absolutely batty, and it dawned on me the other day that the same thing happens on Etsy all the time. Know what that pet peeve is? It’s grocery carts. (Just hang with me here.) Ever go to the grocery store, buy your groceries, push them out to your car, load them in the trunk, and then turn around and look for the cart return? So far, so good, right? Now, how many times is the grocery cart return equidistant from the store and your car, and yet you take the cart to the return instead of back to the store? Subtract ten points if you’re taking it to a return that is farther away from the store than you actually parked. That makes no sense. Why are you walking fifteen paces to put the cart in a return when you could walk fifteen paces or less and put it back in the store where it ultimately needs to end up anyway? And no, you cannot use the, “It’s good exercise,” excuse.

How does this apply to Etsy or to you? I shall explain...

When I first opened Risky Beads, I put up my homemade banner and avatar, listed all of my jewelry and had a few sales, more than I should’ve quite frankly when I go back and look at my pictures. They were horrible. I have a few pieces that are either repeated or reprised, so let’s look at a few before and after shots. We'll focus on earrings because some of my designs seem to live longer than vampires.

Thunder Clap in the beginning:

Thunder Clap Summer 2010:

Thunder Clap Now:

Aqua Acorns in the beginning:

Aqua Acorns thru Spring 2010:

Aqua Acorns now:

And just in case you don't really think those make my point, go back and look at my OLD sold items and you'll get a very depressing vibe that will heretofore make my point. Seriously, go look. I'll wait. It's important.

Now, I just voluntarily embarrassed myself for your education, so please believe me when I say that improving your pictures makes a huge difference. My picture taking process has now gone through several revisions because photography is NOT my cup of tea. It took me a LONG time to get comfortable playing around with my camera, learning the macro setting, and convincing myself that while a straight on, top down picture of a bracelet might be the best representation of the piece it WON'T SELL THE PIECE. And if it doesn't sell the piece, what the hell is the point of photographing it in the first place?

So now you’re probably wondering what in the world this has to do with grocery carts. Well, not focusing on stellar product pictures is like putting your grocery cart in the return that’s equidistant or farther away from the store. Granted, you can put your cart wherever you want, and you can run a shop on Etsy with less than impressive product pictures but don’t both actions defeat the purpose? Your product photo is typically the first interaction you have with your customer. If they like it, they’ll stick around and keep reading even if they don’t like what you’re selling, and this is really important. If you look at your pictures and don’t feel ecstatic about them, then go back to the drawing board and try again. Sometimes I get a really good shot of a piece and end up loving the picture more than the piece! It CAN happen. My Taco Salad bracelet is a good example of that:

There are many ways to take great photos, including using really interesting props, using nature and the outdoors as backdrops, using colored backdrops, etc. If you aren’t sure what suits your product best, browse Etsy and look at the photos that catch your eye and decide what you like about them. Go into the forums and search the forum titles for ‘good pictures’ or ‘taking pictures’ or ‘help with pictures’ and you’ll get a ton of threads filled with experiences Etsyians and photographers offering advice on everything from lighting to cameras to props to cropping. Don't be afraid to experiment with different angles. Get eye level with your product. Zoom in...zoom out...crop it in an interesting way.

Your product pictures should reflect the entire design concept of your shop. For example, if you have a very minimalist concept, banner, and avatar, then don’t have busy photos that are crowded with color. On the other hand, if you have a colorful ‘busy’ shop and want to have pictures that reflect that, then that’s fine. Just be sure that people can distinguish your product in the picture. It can be hard to browse for earrings when they’re hanging off of a toucan in a rainforest. Crisp and relevant product pictures are essential for your shop, and I don’t write this assuming that mine are perfect because I’m always trying to improve them. Always. And here are some quick tips about product pictures:

• Do not post pictures with your camera’s date on them. That looks unprofessional.
• If you choose to put a watermark on your photos, know that Etsy admin tend to not choose those pictures for the front page.
• Watch your backgrounds. Customers want to feel like they’re in a store when they’re shopping, not your extra bedroom.
• Don’t post blurry or dark pictures. People need to see what they’re buying.
• Don’t have extraneous items in your photo that are not related to what you’re selling like your husband’s foot.
• Pay attention to dimensions. Etsy resizes photos to about 1000 pixels square. If you’re picture is smaller than that, there’s a good chance the picture Etsy produces is going to look out of focus. You need to upload a picture that will look right in thumbnail and full view on Etsy or any site you’re selling on.

Claire and her Camera Print, acageybee

And a couple more points, and then I'll shut up. Don't be afraid of your camera! Look at the picture of 'Claire' above... She's not a professional photographer; she's just a girl with a camera who looks like she takes really interesting pictures. I'm actually interested in what's in her camera just from her face. THIS is how you have to hook people (aka customers.) Make your browsing potential customer unable to look away from your product photo. Make it intoxicating. Set the mood. Buy it dinner. Whatever works. So many people are just surfing through Etsy waiting to be inspired. Stop them in their tracks! After all, people are seducing YOU all day long; that's why you wandered in here instead of say, cooking dinner. Something caught your eye, didn't it? Now it's your turn to pay it forward.

~Lori

Tools of the Trade - The Unsung Heroes in My Toolbox

2010-09-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

As a jewelry artist, I use many of the tools you probably imagine...scissors, pliers of every type you can imagine, a hammer, etc., but I'm always amused by some of the little things I use every time I sit down to bead...tiny things that were they to vanish, my work would become uber-frustrating. (I'd probably even throw something.) First up is the Jump Ring Tool! This little booger is so important to my work that I have at least 3 of them stashed everywhere in my home. It allows me to open and close jump rings without destroying their shape and purpose. I wear it on my index fingers, and I've left the house with it on more times than I'd like to admit. I don't usually notice until my hands are on the steering wheel, lol.

Next up is adhesive measuring tape! I cannot and will NOT live without this stuff. There isn't a working surface (including my desk) that isn't already lined with the stuff. It makes life so, so, so much easier to be able to look down and quickly measure something while your hands are full of beads, chain, and a cookie. (Okay, just kidding about the cookie.) I use the cheap stuff and the last time I bought it, I didn't pay attention and bought a brand without inches AND centimeters. Word to the wise: Don't Do That. The tape repeats in 1' sections, and you'll be tempted to measure everything.

Finally, there's the handy dandy drill bit. I've been stamping metal for about 6 months now, and this little guy makes great punctuation and cool designs, too. Without him, I'd never be able to finish a sentence. Best dollar I ever spent!

Hope you've enjoyed this peek into my tool box! What quirky tools do you use every day that you'd sooner die than part with?

~Lori

Craft Juice...some juicy, crafty finds

2010-09-28T10:44:00.003-04:00

Have you ever visited the site Craft Juice? It's a very cool site where you can submit your handmade items and have them be seen by thousands and voted up or down by the masses. I like it because you see items from all over the place...Etsy, ArtFire, Folksy, Zibbet, etc. It's a great way to be seen. All you do is visit the site, create a log in/password, then choose Submit a New Craft Item. Here are some examples of pieces I've submitted so you can see how it works: Condensation, Frosting, Sheer Show Offs. As you can see, they have a different number of votes from the community. I also submit items for the Handmade Highway on a separate account as it's a great way to promote team members as well. You can follow Craft Juice on Twitter and Facebook. Today, I'm going to spotlight a few of the very cool finds I've seen on Craft Juice. Perhaps it will inspire you to submit your own!

From Folksy, I really like this shabby chic brooch by Pants and Paper!

Check out this beautiful Upcycled Decoupage Banana Leaf Paper Bracelet by Sena Smiles on Etsy:

And I'm in LOVE with these paper beads made from wallpaper by iluvwallpaper on Etsy:

What amazing things do you find at Craft Juice? Don't forget to submit your own and vote, vote, vote!

~Lori

Brandy You're A Fine Girl Lyrical Treasury Tribute

2010-09-25T13:42:00.001-04:00

Time for a little nautical romance and heart break... This is a tribute to the song Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) by Looking Glass, released in 1972.

See all my lyrical treasuries here.

~Lori

Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Elton John, 1974 Lyrical Treasury Tribute

2010-09-18T13:18:00.000-04:00

Today's lyrical tribute celebrates Elton John's hit song Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me (1974) and an autumn sunset...

Click to visit and comment! :)

~Lori

Featured Today on Inspriational Beading

2010-09-17T11:48:00.000-04:00

I'm featured today on the very cool beading blog:

Have a read if you have a few minutes. It'll make you smile. :)

What's Your Weapon of Choice?

2010-09-16T13:13:00.000-04:00

Well, about a month ago (time flies! yikes!), I posted about my new Weapon of Choice series. Since then, it's grown quite a bit, and I'm having a ton of fun with it! Thought I'd take some time today and debut some of the newer weapons in my crafty arsenal. Can you spot yours?

For the musicians in our midst....

Weapon of Choice Guitar Keychain

For the indispensable and dedicated scientist...

Weapon of Choice Microscope Necklace

For the jogger, the actives ones, and anybody on the run...

Weapon of Choice Sneaker Key Chain

For the culinary artist...

Weapon of Choice Hand Mixer Key Chain

For the metal stamper (hint, hint, lol) or handy bloke around the house...

Weapon of Choice Hammer Key Chain

For those on either side of the net...

Weapon of Choice Tennis Racket Key Chain

For your friend who never misses happy hour...

Weapon of Choice Beer Key Chain

All Weapon of Choice designs can be either necklaces or key chains. All ship free worldwide and make a great gift for yourself or that hard-to-buy-for friend! I also have the following charms available: football, baseball, stethoscope, ruler, scissors, pliers, yarn, needle, typewriter, sewing machine, rolling pin, spoon, martini, remote control, pen, handcuffs, golf bag, camera, pickup truck, airplane, television, and more that I'm sure I can't even remember right now. You can even combine charms on a custom order if you want to group a few today. Just email me!

Missed the first post? See it here.

Do you have a suggestion for another weapon? Let me know! I'd love to hear your ideas.

~Lori

Wordless Wednesday-Game, Set, Match and Surprise Coupon

2010-09-15T07:00:00.007-04:00

Koi Pond earrings and matching bracelet:

Femininity earrings with Felicity bracelet:

Cherry Chill earrings and matching necklace:

Autumn Upstarts, one of a kind earrings and bracelet:

Inner Circles...earrings and pendant pair:

Sweet Harvest earrings and necklace:

Hope you enjoyed! Purchase any of these sets (or any 2 pieces you like!) in my shop and receive 10% off. Please use code SET10 in notes to seller and checkout and 10% will be refunded! Offer expires Friday, 9/17/10. Feel free to shop ArtFire, Zibbet, or 1000Markets as well.

~Lori