Spring has sprung - some lovely designs in spring colors!

I'm still working my way through custom orders.  Here are 2 bracelets I finished recently. 

I made this pen as a special request and sold these earrings before I had time to list them online.

And I did list a couple of new earrings ...

Venetian Murano bead bling!

OK - I'm finally starting to get my act together.  I'm finishing up some custom design orders and getting pictures taken of the gorgeous beads I picked up while I was visiting Murano Italy.  Here's a design I just finished up using my favorite of all the beads I got there (they have purple and gold - what more needs to be said!).  The Viola Wrap bracelet with these gorgeous venetian murano beads and ametrine is available in my ArtFire studio. 

And here are a few of the other beads I got in Murano...

  

 

I can't wait to make more designs with these beauties!

Free beads!

I won the monthly drawing by Magpie Gemstones for free beads last month and I finally caught up enough to take pictures and share them with you!  I haven't had time to make anything with them - but that will happen soon - after I finish up some custom orders.  Here are the fun beads and split rings she sent.

brown lava, turquoise and nickel free split rings

I think I have some wonderful Kazuri beads that will go nicely with the brown lava and I'll accent them with copper beads.  Turquoise goes with so many things!  I just have to decide what I'll combine these with.

Finally back from traveling and I'm published again!

I came back from Tucson, had to finish up some consulting work and then headed off to Italy with my family.  This was my first visit to Italy and I LOVED it!  We visited Rome, Florence (Firenza) and Venice (Venicia).  My favorites were Florence and Venice.  What made it even more special was meeting Maurizio who makes and sells Murano Venetian beads!  He doesn't make all the beads he sells but he does teach the folks who do make beads for him.  I saw some of his beads and they are gorgeous!  I did forget to take pictures of his beads - but my hubby got pictures of my mom and I digging through some of his boxes of "orphans".  They are beautiful beads - they just weren't right for some of his customers.  

His bench setup for bead making




The inconspicuous entrance to his shop





   

And here we are digging through just some of his many boxes of beads!

I haven't yet taken pictures of the beautiful beads I bought - but I will shortly.  My hubby did take a picture of one of the wonderful Venetian chandeliers we saw.  I have never seen them before - but they are just wonderful!  

When we got back from Italy a copy of the March 2012 edition of Bead trends magazine was waiting for me in the mail.  My Aqua Falls earrings (with aquamarine rondelles from Magpie Gemstones) are published in this edition and here they are!

 

I'm working on some custom design requests and on some new designs to sell at Gili Anna's in La Jolla.  Those will be showing soon on my gallery and Gili Anna pages!

Have a great week!