Black Friday & Cyber Monday Special Offer!!!

Are you ready to make all those fabulous holiday gifts? Well, I'm here to help! On Black Friday, and through to Cyber Monday, I will be holding special offers at my shops. Could it be maybe a freebie?


I can't let the cat out of the bag yet, you'll have to stop by on Nov.26 - Nov 30 and see!!!

Think of all the wonderful "heartfelt" gifts you can make for the special people in your life. And don't forget some quick and easy gifts for teachers, hairdressers, babysitters, and all the other people who help you out all year!

I also have some wonderful new items that I have listed recently, as well as a ton of new items yet to be added to my sites.

Spoiler Alert! A whole line of Czech beads is coming - so stay tuned! I need to clone myself!!

Supply Team

For all your supply needs!

Check out the November Team ESST promotion thread for lots of great deals on supplies, including black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. It is time to get started on creating those holdiay gifts!
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6335128

Happy crafting!

Go Green! Recycle Vintage Jewelry Supplies

Go green! Recycle found vintage findings and beads into your own unique jewelry designs. These components were all made in the USA back in the 1970's when quality was as important as design. A truly special and unique way to design jewelry!

I specialize in high quality genuine vintage findings, beads and Swarovski crystal. I also carry many rare enameled brass pieces, which are so hot right now, but increasingly difficult to find. This gorgeous peice is an example, and in very limited supply.

I hunt old warehouses that have bought out long defunkt costume jewelry houses. One of my stock lines is Banana Bob: a high end costume jewelry line from the 70's. The warehouse I buy from purchased all of the Banana Bob stock when they went out of business. The pieces I obtain are not found anywhere else, and often I purchase the entire lot of a piece I like. There's no more to purchase - so if you like something I suggest you grab it. When they are gone, they are gone!!

Twilight Movie and Vintage Jewelry

Twilight inspired vintage jewelry. It's the biggest vampire thing since "Dark Shadows" back in the 70's. Well, darn, now you all know how old I am....and the girls love to wear Twilight inpired jewelry.

Anyways! I have had several designers buy certain vintage supply items I've offered en mass, to create Twilight inspired jewelry. And they are selling it like it's on fire. The movie's star Bella, as well as her friends wears awesome vintage pieces in the movie, and it's the biggest craze since the mood ring. (Again, my age....)

Most specifically, turquoise cabs and large cab settings. It's Bella's signature look, and I couldn't be more pleased. Some of these shops can't even keep up with the demand!


Here are some pictures of what you can create for your favorite "Twilight" fan, or yourself with vintage pieces. I haven't finished the pieces, but you get the drift. The look is elegant and timeless, and makes a bold statement. After all, what self respecting vampire doesn't want to have a great sense of style????

They are to "die" for :))
You can find the pieces in both my Etsy and Artfire shops!

Vintage Findings and Beads..OH MY!

Well, I'm finally back! So sorry for being gone so long, life just got in the way. But during all this time I was still hunting and buying vintage treasures for all of you clever designers. I have a room full of new pieces, and have been working 24/7 to get them listed on Etsy and Artfire for you to take a look at.  How about these awesome aqua blue cabochon links?? Can you say Twilight bracelet :)?

I'm still finding some coveted Banana Bob pieces, but they are very few and far between - they are almost all gone, especially the enameled pieces. I now buy all the remaining stock when I do find a piece, so at least I have what's left to offer to you. It's like finding treasure when I locate any!

Here are some wonderful examples of some great pieces I have found from my warehouse finds. Gorgeous vintage Banana Bob and cool copper beadcaps. And, for fun, a funky retro brass ring with a huge flower setting. Imagine the possibilities - what fun!

Blog Contest: Leave a comment and let me know what you think of my new items and you'll be entered to win a surprise packet of vintage goodies!  Hint - it will include some Swarovski crystal :). Winner announced 11/12/09.

Esty Anual Yart Sale!

Yart Sale! Yart Sale! Yart Sale!

The 2nd Annual "Yart Sale” will be held from Wednesday June 10th-Sunday June 14th, 2009. This year the “2nd Annual Yart Sale” will be sponsored by the Etsy Supply Street Team (Team ESST). Please check out the Etsy Storque article for details!

A “Yart Sale” is an artistic spin on the traditional Yard Sale: Art + Yard Sale = “Yart Sale”. There are many art museums, artists, and groups that have Yart sales annually to raise cash.

I will be participating in the 2nd Annual "Yart Sale". I will have many vintage beads, findings and assorted goodies on sale for the yart sale. Please check my Etsy shop starting on Wednesday for the great specials. See you at the “Yart Sale”!

Memorial Weekend Bead Sale

I'm having a great sale to celebrate Memorial Day and help out all the jewelry designers save a bit of cash. All beads through out my sites are 20% off! Please stop by and see all the bead goodies and save yourself some cash to boot!

Lampworking & Vintage Treasures

It's been so long since I've posted! I have been busy finding vintage treasures and have tons of things that I need to list on etsy and artfire. I'm doing it as fast as I can - and my daughter is home from UCONN in a few days. Yay!! I've missed her and can't wait to have her home for the summer. (Not to mention she helps me count and catalog beads and findings!)

Well, I decided to take up making lampworking beads and have been at it about 6 months. Yep, it's as hard as it looks! And not an inexpensive hobby to get into, either. Fortunately, I have many online fellow lampworkers who help with tips and techniques.

They're are so many talented lampwork artists on artfire and etsy, some of whom are customers to my shops. The stunning necklace above was made by Rae of Flaming Heart Beads and Jewelry using one of my shop's dragon fly charms - she sure makes it take wing!!! Click here for flamingheart's 921 shop and check out her beautiful beads and jewelry.

Cabs and Settings

Well, the sling is off my arm and I'm ready to go! The latest passion of mine is vintage cabachons and settings. I've never really given them their proper due, but I'm now in love with them! There are such gorgeous settings to be found, and the cabs come in so many delicious colors! I've found ornate sliver filigree settings, lovely brass pendant settingds, as well as darling lockets both large and small that can have cabs glued onto the front.

I think the tiny lockets would make a beautiful vintage Mother's or Grandmother's bracelet - just attach the lockets to a chain with jump rings and add some crystals for extra dazzle in their favorite colors. How about some vintage swarovski charm dangles? All you need to add is the pictures and you have a one of a kind gift.

The cabs are vintage acrilic and glass and come in gorgeous colors of aqua blue, pink, green, yellow...the list goes on. Choose from matte frosted or sparkling! You are only limited by your imagination!!

Spring Fever

I am so ready for Sring! Winter has been tough here in CT, and we just had another snow fall yesterday. I am especially ticked off at winter, sinceI fell on the ice 4 weeks ago and broke my elbow. Not fun at all. Siince can't make jewelry or flame glass beads, it's been a little frustrating. But, with my husbands help I can still prowl the old warehouses for vintage finds. I have some great new findings I hope people will enjoy. Since my mind has been on spring, I was particularly attrached to birds, leaves and nature themes. I hope you like the new additions! Come visit soon!

http://vintagebeadery.etsy.com
http://bluebirdbeads.artfire.com

The Crystal Lady

Well, I have found Swarovski nirvana! I mean the total, absolute, shiver to the bottom of your toes, it's hard to breathe kind of heaven. In an old, old, warehouse where many a vintage finding has gone to rest. Then I heard about "the room". I was personally lead to the path. First, I went up a steep old wooden staircase that is roped off, and only accessible by being accompanied by the lady who rules the room. When I reached the top and entered the room, I was stunned. OMG! An entire room, full of shelves to the ceiling that hold every imaginable vintage (and new) Swarovski crystals by the thousands. This is where they live! I actually gasped and couldn't breathe for a moment, which the crystal lady found a bit comical. I was not allowed to touch anything, not even a box. Each tiny box was taken off the shelf by the lady and shown to me, one by one. Wait until you see what I found! Pictures to come very soon!

Treasure Hunting

To me, the greatest thing about selling vintage findings is the hunt. My husband likens it to treasure huting, which is exactly how I feel as I'm getting filthy dirty in the bowels of a scary warehouse digging for the next "great find". This past week was an especially gratifying trip. I am officially in love with Banana Bob findings. And this time, I hit the motherload. Gorgeous high quality lovlies: I can't wait to see what everyone ends up designing with these!

If you do create something wonderful with any of my findings, please give me a shout. I'd love to show them here on my blog. Here's a bit of vintage eye candy!

You can visit my shop at www.vintagebeadery.etsy.com to see all of the new additions.

Joined Art Fire

Hello! I've just discovered a new great selling venue called Art Fire. It's very similar to etsy, but seems to be taking off like wildfire! It is very user friendly and offers a lot more options than etsy. And you can list your items for free! The other option is lifetime unlimited listings for a flat rate of $14.00 per month, which is the route I went. I'm very excited about this site, as they are actively promoting the site with print ads in crafting magazines, etc. This brings the customers to you much faster!!! My shop on artfire is call Bluebird Beads Please come and take a look! It's sheltie approved by Lily!

Check it out - and if you like it please use me as a referring shop. After 10 people use you as a reference, you get lifetime listing for free! You can do the same with your friends! Click here to use me as a reference

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=sevenforlife&afuid=12464

Exciting New Vintage Items!

Well, I just came back from a very back bending, dirty trip to my favorite vintage jewelry warehouse, and it was all worth it! I find the most incredible stuff in old dusty boxes in the back corners of those old factory buildings. One of my favorite is Banana Bob pieces, and I struck payday. For those of you who don't know about Banana Bob, a bit of history:

Banana Bob made incredible jewelry in the mid 1980s for high end department stores such as Macys and Bloomingdales. They are no longer in business and their designs are now in great demand. Their jewelry was of exceptional quality. The now closed company’s designer, Ann Venditti, liked to work with high quality glass stones such as Swarovski and metal stampings from vintage molds to create her pieces. She produced both exact reproductions of antique designs as well as original pieces that incorporated many styles, especially Victorian, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau motifs.

What a treat to find these items!! My findings are new, undistributed factory stock. Imagine the vintage creations you can make with them. vintagebeadery.etsy.com

How To Stay Sane During The Winter!

Why by creating wonderful creations! Soon I will be posting design ideas for cool jewelry pieces such as earrings and bracelets. But first, let's start with organizing tips to keep your beading area in tip top shape.
If you're anything like me, things get a little dicey during the creation process. I have a habit of pulling everything out, seeing what color crystals look great with which findings, etc. In the end, I've got a great pair of earrings, but the aftermath's of a tornado on my beading table.

As a New Year's resolution, I'll be trying to mend my ways and come up with simple, workable solutions for organizing my treasures. I'd sure like to see yours!!

In the meantime, check out my beads and vintage findings at vintagebeadery.etsy.com

And, I'd love to see your finished pieces, so please show us pictures!