VIP Customer

A while back I received a custom order for duck earrings. My customer was very specific. She didn't want her earrings to match. She wanted a yellow duck and she wanted a green duck. And also a blue duck. What she wanted was a pair - and a spare. Plus, this customer was in a big hurry. She wanted those duck earrings and she wanted them now. On top of the special rush order, she also wasn't planning on paying for them. She didn't exactly tell me this, but I knew. I knew her type.

Despite knowing I wouldn't be compensated monetarily, I got to work quickly. I didn't want to disappoint my customer. She had been known to put in special orders in the past, but I tended to ignore them. I was too busy, I said. This one would have to be different, or I might lose this special non-paying customer.

I'm happy to report that my customer loves her duck earrings, and even wore them to school today.

One yellow duck.

And one green duck.

The spare blue duck is safe at home.

L@@ky What I Bought

I will never lose my keys again! I got this alien octopus from Katy at LethargicLass, and I quickly put it to work guarding my keys. He's doing an excellent job.

There are more of these adorable yet intimidating keychains in Katy's shop ~ they come in several colors, including purple:

It's also quite fun when your husband has to drive your car and he asks for the keys.

Happy Thursday ~ Buy Handmade!

Art Charm Swap

A few weeks ago I signed on to do an Art Charm Swap. I've done a bead swap before, but only once, and it only involved one bead. So when my friend Jennifer of GlassAddictions posted her idea for an Art Charm Swap, I decided to expand my horizons and join. I'll be making 10 art charms (I better get going!) and sending them in to Jennifer within a month. But there are rules, and one major one is that we have to use at least one of these three colors:

I love lots of color, so I'm down with that. Now to come up with a bead (yes, mine will involve a lampwork bead, likely a critter bead, go figure) that would be appealing to all the participants. Jennifer said they don't all have to be the same, but I'd like to keep them similar. I'm really excited to get going on this project, and I can't wait to see what everyone else puts in the mix. I already know some of the participants, but not all. I'm especially anxious to see all the different mediums people use.

Here's a list of the Art Swap participants:

1. Jennifer http://glassaddictions.blogspot.com

2. Susan http://suebeads.blogspot.com

3. Kristie http://ArtisanClay.blogspot.com

4. Paige http://pmaximdesigns.blogspot.com/

5. Nan http://spiritrattles.blogspot.com/

6. Amy http://copperdiem.blogspot.com/

7. Lauren http://maybeads.blogspot.com/

8. Loretta http://www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com/

9. Ema http://emakaye.blogspot.com/

10. Janel http://janeldudleybeads.blogspot.com/

I don't yet know the rules for secrecy, but I'm guessing I won't be posting pictures before the official swap. I will definitely post them afterward, so you all can see my new goodies!

Murrini Monday

You can imagine my sheer delight when lori and kim posted their new Spooky murrini blend. Two packs were in my cart before I could say "omg mini jack-o-lanterns!" My murrini packs arrived last week, along with Dumbledore (I couldn't resist those magical, color-changing murrini any more than I could say no to Dumbledore himself), and so far I've allowed three lucky critters to choose a pumpkin from my little patch. I've also been having a blast with the eyeball murrini!

I feel like Oprah - "You get a jack-o-lantern! You get a jack-o-lantern! And you get a jack-o-lantern!" I don't get quite the same reaction as Oprah does when she's handing out cars, but believe me, the critters are happy on the inside.

Green eyeball murrini. Is there a better use for it than a one-eyed alien? I think not.

Wait - I take that back. Green eyeball murrini also works quite well for headless green goblins.

Yes, I did try out some of the other murrini in the Spooky blend. This fall turtle was lucky enough to land some really fine shell spots. See how happy she is? I think she wanted a car.

Some of these beads are in my Etsy shop and some will be listed soon. I've still got lots more murrini to play with . . . . Happy Murrini Monday!

Fire Divas Jewelry Challenge- I Dare You to Enter!

Have you ever bought beads from me or my fellow Fire Divas? If you have, and you like to turn them into jewelry, we want to see your designs! The Fire Divas are hosting another Jewelry Challenge! For this challenge, the theme is "The Holiday Season." There are several holidays coming up, and we want to celebrate them! You can see holiday-inspired Fire Diva creations in our Flickr. By entering this challenge, you have the chance to win some seriously cool bead prizes:

http://www.twoglassyladies.ca/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanelDudleyBeads

http://www.arensea.etsy.com/

http://www.teasebeads.artfire.com/

http://www.artfire.com/users/BabsBeadsandDesign

http://www.lajewelrydesigns.etsy.com/
or http://www.lajewelrydesigns.artfire.com/

http://www.hollysfolly.com/

http://www.lutrick.artfire.com/

Owl bead from http://www.maybeads.etsy.com/

http://www.emakaye.etsy.com/

http://www.beadygirlbeads.etsy.com/

Now for the details:

All submissions must feature Fire Divas' lampwork. We require the name of the Fire Diva who made the beads used in the submitted piece, so if you submit something, please be ready to provide that information.

We will allow one submission per person per contest, and a maximum of two photos per submission. Entries may be submitted here (http://www.flickr.com/groups/firedivachallenge/) for approval, no later than October 15, 2010. No Flickr account? No problem. You can also email your submissions to firedivas @ gmail . com (no spaces). Please include, in the comments section or in your email, the following:
Information about the beads:
Description of the piece:
Inspiration for the piece:
Submissions will not be approved without all of this information.

Fire Divas reserve the right to approve or reject any submissions.

Fire Divas reserve the right to modify or cancel the challenge at any time.

The winners will be determined by an open poll which does not allow multiple votes.

Then & Now

When I'm downloading pictures to put on Etsy, sometimes I accidentally click on a picture file with the same date, only two years earlier. The other day I was putting bead pictures on Etsy from a file dated 8.15.10. I noticed I also had a file from 8.15.08 - so I clicked on it. And this is what I saw:

This is one of my original owls. The head and body were basically one unit, and apparently I believed owls had big feet back then. Also, notice the feathers on the owl's head - kind of sad, like a lame comb-over. But back then I thought this owl was pretty darn good.

Here's an owl from 8.15.10 - two years later. I think it's a lot more fun, mostly because I've learned in the last two years that owls and other critters can come in any color. Plus, they can have rainbow star murrini on their bellies.

Going back in time got me thinking about another bead I had made last summer. This weenie in a tube was one of my favorite beads. I thought it was very innovative, and I'm still proud of it.

This summer I expanded on that idea and got my doggies to sit upright in their tubes. I think they're much more confident that way.

Do you ever look back at your past work? You should. You may cringe (as I do), but it's fun to see how far you've come.

Almost Wordless Wednesday ~ First Day of School

Second grade.

Junior High.

Notice the high school kid got his picture taken inside, where there are no witnesses.