Get Rid of Her!

EDITED she has all her money! Yay :) Thanks to those who helped!
 I'm doing another jewelry for missions deal ;)
I have a friend who is heading to Ireland to be a part of YWAM (youth with a mission) and we are helping her to raise the money that she needs for this!
I love being a part of this!
So, between now and the end of the month all the money from every sale is going to help her to meet this goal.
We are doing a night where my items will be available Tuesday after next you who are local. If you are not, anything you purchase from my shop will go straight to this need!

 Just to tempt, here are a few new piecs:

New Season

Well, it's yet another season of our lives!
Not long after I wrote the last post, let's say I get really tired. Really, really tired. I then lived in a tired  haze for quite some time made up of work, sinus headaches, soaking my feet and collapsing onto the couch.
We are having a little baby girl in November :).
So, needless to say my focus and what energy I had during the first trimester were not about beads. And then as my energy returned it was about getting through each work day and putting my legs up and resting when I got home.
I am now starting my third week home and not working as my legs would not handle eight hour shifts on them at a go. I am spending a lot of time organizing and cleaning, getting the baby's room ready and nesting.
But it also mean I have time and energy to bead! Yay!
My poor Etsy shop has been sorely neglected. I'm debating about finding a new street team on Etsy or waiting until after little girl shows herself and seeing how her days go first.
Either way, it's also a new season for my beading.
As yes, I have maternity leave and a bit of money with that, but not as much, I'm hoping to get back to selling a little more often and putting more efforts into that online I seem to have sold more in person over the last few years, but I have the time to try to advertise and such more now.
 It will also be a new season in that, since I'm not working right now not all the profits will go to missions. I will still have times where this is true though.
I have some pieces to photograph and listings to update, but mostly I'm excited to play with my beads again :)

I'm also excited to have time to look at other beady buddies blogs and get back into the beading community online :).

See you all soon!

"Just a little one"

Last month Little Girl Friend was over for a Christmas movie and I was working on a custom order. She strolled over and wanted to know "whatcha doin?" She then proceeded, with cute hand gestures to ask if I would make her"just a little one"(she said this a few times;)). She likes jewelery, princesses and being girly just a bit. And the fact that she constantly "ooohs" over my jewelery does not hurt either.
So I told her something like "oh, we'll have to see, sometime" planning to make her something for Christmas.
I really like what I came up with and the concept will be showing up soon in the shop, maybe even in "just a little one" size.

With love to Moldova

I have not blogged for Regal beads in over a year? OUCH!
I will admit I sell more in person than online and gave up putting out all the online effort for quite some time. I find sometimes once my job is over for the day and we've eaten dinner, gone out or whatever is going on that week that sometimes I just don't have the energy! But, it's all about priorities.

Last fall I got pretty ill and during that time I had a lot of time to think and pray as I could not do much else. God convicted me that I was becoming greedy with the money I was making from my jewelery and also that there were those in need whom I could help with the talent He had given me. So, I decided from there on out to give 100% of what I make from Regalbeads to ministries.

This is the second year that the month of December has meant sending money to Moldova: there is a church there whom my church has sent funds to each Christmas for quite a few years. They help the disabled and needy who cannot work or do not have enough to have food in the winter. In the summer they eat from their gardens, but in the winter they have great need.
I don't know about you, but I've really never had to worry about food. I can't imagine worrying that my child will have food to fill their stomach.

Pastor Andrew (the pastor of this church) came and spoke to us the summer before last and shared pictures and stories of those whom we helped. To say it was moving does not begin to sum up the impact.
A woman asked if our offering provided them with enough food to last all winter. The answer? Well, not really but sometimes it's all they have so they are encouraged to make it last.

So, all of the money I made last December and again this year will be going to Moldova.
So, anything and everything you buy in my etsy shop or in person for those of you who live here will go to feed the needy.

Won't you help to fill this basic need?

It's the little things

I am so grateful to have a husband who puts up with all my crazy beads. Not just everyone could do such a thing.
And not only put up with, but encourage me in what I enjoy doing, in my creative outlet. And once in a while even name a piece.
Earlier this year he was away for school, sitting at a desk, far from me and my beads and he looked down, and there, on his desk was a seed bead.

I love you and appreciate your support!

MINE

Over the past year I've fallen more and more in love with Czech pressed glass beads. I have a favourite seller who I'm willing to share my source of because I LOVE sending business her way :).
Bobbi This 'N That (I've blogged about her before) is my go to gal for my Czech bead obesession.
I just got some goodies from her in the mail this week. Some of them are for a couple of custom orders I have, but you know ;).
There are two sets in particular that I saw and went "MINE" over!


I played around with these little beauties a bit last night, but the right thing didn't work out yet.

These very well may be my (current) favorite ever. I say current because I'm fickle any time I see a new set of beads. What can I say???
These beads, as per usual, were so much better in person than in her shop.
I cannot imagine if I were to shop from her in person how many I'd come home with!!
So, I will make these into something for me at some close point in time. After all, what is the point of being able to beadweave if I don't treat myself as well? I can also use the excuse that it is great advertising.
Today though, I am going to work on piece one of said custom order. All wilst sipping on a caffinated beverage and visiting with my quilter friend at a local coffee shop. I love my day off :).

BobbiThisnThat

Back in May Etsy made a few changes, and all of a sudden I could find beads!! When I looked, I didn't give up because everything was drowned in fished product, I was thrilled!!
Towards the end of the month I stumbled into an AMAZING seller BobbiThisnThat
Her beads drew me in, I loved the idea that she was in Canada so that I could get my goodies right away, but her amazing customer service kept me.
I have ordered from her again since and will return to her for my beading needs!!

Here are a few (of the many!) favourites!











I have some of these, some I am tempted to buy (but I should behave ;) ) and some are on the way to me!

Bobbi also has some beautiful silver findings and charms!
Whatever you do, go and check her out!! She makes it worth your while!!!

Gifts

What good is it to be able to make beautiful creations if you don't share them with those in your life who are extra special and dear?
This week I've worked on a few gifts :)
That first piece is for my Mother In law who isn't a big jewelery lady, but wanted some Russian work for her jacket. :)
(Pattern © by Galina Barsky )












Netted cuffs. These type will be showing up in my shop shortly. I've really gotten to like them!









































As will some of these! I love herringbone! It can be time consuming, but there is something about the flow of it that is amazing.




























I bought these "ladies" from Mugsysbeads
a little while back after coming across them and simply falling in LOVE with them! Aren't they they cutest?
There are a couple of special little ladies in my life who will be getting a special package in the mail :).

Looking for some sparkle?

Find it in sparklystrandz's shop!
Sparkly Stradz
http://sparklystrandz.etsy.com
http://sparklystrandz.blogspot.com/

What she has to say about herself:
I've had a love for crafts, especially crochet for over 25 years ever since my grandmother taught me at age 5. It was probably the best thing she could have done for my parents because it would keep me busy for hours. During college, I developed a love for beads--not just because they're sparkly, but because beads have such a rich history to them from around the world, and can be made from almost anything imaginable. Also, as an occupational therapist, I am able to use a variety of crafts and activities in my therapy to make it more fun!

I combined my love for crochet and beads and began making jewelry, baby onesies, hats, and all sorts of gift items about 10 years ago. "Sparkly Strandz" is an online store that you can visit and create your own jewelry by choosing the right color bead, wire, and length you want for that perfect piece!!

A couple of samples of her work:

Nursing Necklace-Serpentine Jade Gemstone

Interchangeable Lever Back Earring Starter Set-CHOOSE YOUR 4 COLORS

Be sure to browse the rest of her beauties in her shop!

Dive In!!

"Below Sea Level"

Today I am featuring myfairladyvt4-http://myfairladyvt4.etsy.com
http://myfairladyvt4.blogspot.com/.

What she has to say about herself:
I love to bead. Seed bead weaving by hand and gemstones are my favorite.
I am a Wife and Mom. Currently I am a stay at home Mom, which I love. I have 2 great kids, a boy age 12 and a daughter age 10. They are both Basketball stars at the moment. We also have 2 cats and a toy poodle.

The amazing piece above was created for the Etsy Bead Weavers Monthly Challenge "Spring Break." (Be sure to come and vote for your favourite piece begining February the seventh!! http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com)

Like what you see??
Take a look at the rest of her beautiful shop!!