Just wanted to make a quick post to let you know that I did receive my Cricket torch – and I miss my old Bobcat.  However, I’ve ordered some new glass – boro – and will be experimenting. 

GTT Cricket Torch

I just got UPS confirmation that the new torch I ordered is en route, and I should expect to get it on Thursday!  The GTT Cricket torch is a little smaller than my previous torch (a GTT Bobcat, which looks similar, but has 2 more fuel jets), but it seems that the Cricket was especially made to run on low pressure oxygen, such as my little Airsep oxygen concentrators, and I’m hearing from others that it gets good and hot for melting borosilicate glass (“hard” glass, like “Pyrex” brand).  I’ll be working soft glass at first, until I can scrounge up enough cash to place a good-sized boro order. Not sure how soon I’ll be experimenting with boro, but you’ll be the first to know!

Sterling Silver and Lampwork Glass wire wrapped pendants

Just a few pendants (and lots of earrings) added to my Etsy jewelry store, http://www.etsy.com/shop/NicholeJewelry. 

Don’t forget to use the Memorial Day holiday 15% discount by entering code “mem15″ at checkout.  Good for jewelry and loose beads!

Tags: jewelry, Lampwork, lampwork pendant, sterling silver, wire wrapped

"Amelia" Handmade Lampwork Pendant

I haven’t been around here lately – I haven’t made any new beads since Fall 2010, when I started working full time, so I sold my torch.  To make a long story short, I plan to buy a new torch so I can get back to the studio, so I unpacked my stash of beads and jewelry and am getting a few things listed in my Etsy store! 

I am offering a 15% discount for the  Memorial Day weekend.  Just enter the code “mem15″ at checkout!

Also, I’m working on getting my mailing list subscription active again, so please be patient – I’ll get that link working again soon!

So it seems that I’ve been a little *too* absent from my website.  My apologies – I started working FT this past September and just have not found time to spend any time on making beads, particularly as I was still in school last year.  In fact, I have about 25-30 sets that I would love to get listed, but I have not been happy with the photos my little point-and-shoot camera is producing.  I am ready for a new camera, but unfortunately, my budget isn’t!

I have been playing with wire again, and in my down time I’ve been sketching earring designs.  During the blizzard yesterday (if I hear the words “snowpocalpyse” or “snowmageddon” one more time I will scream – talk about overuse!) I made some earring findings with sterling wire and had a little fun shopping online for semi-precious gemstone beads, including amethyst, blue topaz, ruby, pearls, pink topaz, and more.  I can’t wait for my little packages to arrive so I can start putting together earring pairs.  I’d love to get more into metal working – cold joints as well as soldering – so we’ll see which direction I go.  I would still like to earn my Bachelor’s degree, which means that I might go take classes again in the Fall (unless my husband decides to take a turn at school).

Anyways, I hope that all affected by the snow storm yesterday and today are staying warm and safe – please be careful if you have to go anywhere!

I seriously have to think of a better way to do the drawing.  I printed my entire list of newsletter subscribers, and cut out a slip for each name on the list of subscribers.  Hundreds, and it took longer than I expected (thank you for your patience!).  My 13 year old son closed his eyes and picked a name…… 

And the winner is……   drumroll, please…….

ALANA J. , who I believe is somewhere down under.  :-) 

I’ve sent Alana an e-mail, and I can’t wait to see which set she has selected. 

Thank you all for joining the newsletter; I will definitely be having another drawing in October  and I plan to announce the next drawing by Sept. 20th.

Don’t worry – I’m working on it!  Later than I thought, because I’m now working FT outside of the home (I wasn’t when I first posted the drawing).  Will announce and e-mail the winner tonight! 

I am planning to send out a Preview Sale newsletter soon, but you will only see it if you are a member of my private e-mail list.  If you are interested in getting my newest beads at a discount, click that Newsletter button over there on the right and sign up for the mailing list.  An extra benefit is that I will be having a drawing for free beads in 2 weeks, and the winner will be selected from my mailing list members.  I’m hoping to get the Preview Sale newsletter sent out on Saturday a.m.  (Edited to add that the newsletter is ready to go, and is scheduled to be sent out around 7:00 a.m. CST.)

This is not bead related, so feel free to ignore the rest!  You may remember that I lost my cat, Kitty (pictured above) last month to a severe UTI (never having a cat before, I didn’t recognize that he was severely ill; even with surgery, his chances were slim so we opted to humanely put him down).  I’ve never been much of a cat person, although I never disliked cats, and have always stayed away from them because of my allergies.  But, Kitty really grew on me and was quite my little cuddle-bug (second only to my main cuddle-bug, 9yo Lauren – who is not a cat) – and I can always take an antihistimine. 

It turns out that I kind of (read: really) miss having a cat around.  Knowing that I don’t have a cat to run between my feet as I carry laundry down the stairs *does* make me feel safer, but I’ve been rather adventurous lately, so I guess I don’t mind the danger of having a cat.  Kain thinks it would be fun to have a pair of sibling kittens.  Blake wants a kitten so he can [try to] make cute/funny YouTube videos (he wants to be famous, you know).  Lauren cried when Kitty died, and before he was even dead she asked if we could get another one.  So I guess we’re all ready to have a cat in the house again.  Kain is looking in the classifieds, but I’d kind of like to get a Persian or Himalayan kitten. 

I think that deciding on a kitten – or two – is going to take more time and thought.  I know a lot of bead people are also cat people, so I’ll update from time to time on the progress on our quest for a cat/kitten, and post photos when I have some to share.

I haven’t done this in years, but I think it is time for a free bead drawing!  I am going to try to make this a regular thing, and I’m shooting for a monthly contest – we’ll see how that works out.

To enter, all you need to do is join my private mailing list.   I will draw one winner from my list of members, and the winner will choose ONE (1) of the sets pictured above, valued at $28.   Join soon, because I’m planning to have a members-first Preview Sale later this week!

The entry form, as well as terms and conditions are listed on the FREE BEADS page.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  The drawing for one of the bead sets shown above will be on Wednesday, September 15, 2010.

Lampwork Glass Beads by Nichole Byers

(click photo to enlarge)

I got a lot done this morning on other things (i.e. my job hunt), so around lunch time I emptied one of three bowls of beads that have been sitting on my desk (because I don’t have any more room in my divided plastic box).   I’ve been sorting beads and trying to string up sets so I can send out a newsletter with a Preview Sale. 

If you would like to get first dibs on my bead offerings later this week, click on that “Newsletter” button over there and join my private mailing list.  I try not to send e-mails too often, but I will let you know when I have sales and a significant number of new bead listings.

Hope you have a nice rest-of-the-week!