Handmade Beaded Jewelry

Hello!

Welcome to my blog. I am Mariealena Calabrese, owner of Isabella's Beads. I design and make all the handmade beaded jewelry you see in my store at www.isabellasbeads.com. I hope this blog helps you to know me better, and I hope through your comments to get to know you, too.

I am passionate about my handmade beaded jewelry-as you might expect. I love searching for new and unusual beads, combining them with the best fastenings and stringing materials, and producing uniquely designed jewelry for you to wear.

I am even more passionate about my daughter, Isabella Rose. I named my business for her. My handmade beaded jewelry allows me to stay at home with Isabella and still build for her future. All the profit from my beaded jewelry goes to her, and it is my hope that this business will bring her profit for years to come.

I have a very special design project in mind right now. It will be in honor of a new addition to our family. Yes, I am expecting a baby in December! It is a boy, and we plan to name him John, after his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In honor of John IV, and Isabella Rose, I am designing a Mommy bracelet.

Of all the handmade beaded jewelry I design, the Mommy bracelet is most special. I do not want to rush any aspect of the design. But when it is complete it will be available for you to see and buy here at Isabella's Beads.

Since there will be four of us soon, we decided to buy a small second home in Connecticut. Then, when we visit John's parents, we will have room for all of us. And, the babies will not disturb their grandparents during the night.

We finally found what we were looking for, and now are deciding which furniture to have in which house. So much to decide!

Creating handmade beaded jewelry involves many decisions, too. Even when I have a vision of the finished piece to begin with, the end result may be quite different. Would the piece look better with the luminous depths of cat's eye or the sparkle of Swarovski® crystals? Can I find a better color combination to express my feeling of joy?

I hope you will enjoy this blog as it develops. I want Isabella's Beads to be a welcoming site for you. I would love to read your comments-and please, if you have any questions about my handmade jewelry, the beads and fittings I use or even my creative process-don't hesitate to ask!

Ciao!
Mariealena

It's been hectic around here to say the least. I mentioned to my friend Lisa Atchison just last night how I haven't had any time to work on many of me planned designs, especially since the wedding. I feel like nothing has slowed down yet. That is probably because my son, who will be 10 months (ALREADY!) on the 10th of October is running me all over the place. I'm desperately trying to potty train my 3 year old daughter, and thankfully that is going A LOT better these days, nevertheless, it's still hard work and it's keeping me busy along with the rest of life's daily activities.

OK. Enough about that. Almost a year ago I started a "Featured Artist" program where I featured 5-7 pieces of any guest artist who wanted to participate. I even created a special section in my store called Guest Jewelers & Merchants to display only their items. All that was required along with a Biography is that they send pictures of a specific size, a description for each item, and the price for which they wanted to sell it. I agreed to post the items in the store for a period of one year, free of charge. (Disclaimer: The price on the items has to be slightly adjusted to the nearest dollar so that the artist can receive the asking price, because all new customers on my site receive a 10% discount.) I posted this offer on LinkedIn and received a very positive response. This is not done so that I could directly profit from the sale of their items. This is beneficial to both my site and the Guest Artist as it offers the artist exposure, and me new content perhaps in areas that I do not dabble ;)

For example, although I own a kiln and silver art clay, I have yet to post any of the pieces that I have made. Instead, I leave that to the experts. This piece made by Jennifer Dewey is one of my all-time favorites. It is a handmade sterling silver baby's rattle. It is highly polished and features a freshwater pearl filled rosette (the pearl is symbolic of purity and innocence), musically rotating upon the sterling teething ring.



Although my Father is a talented artist, I am not (not in the drawing and painting sense of the word anyway). So, another unique artist I featured back in June is Barbara Yalof. Most of her artwork depicts people or animals rather than designs. What her artwork and jewelry do have in common is knowledge of color theory and a playfulness with color and line. What I love most about Barbara's work is that it is affordable to just about EVERYONE, and that is difficult to find when you are dealing with quality handmade items of any kind.



This Original Art and Hand Painted Jewelry is the work of Barbara Yalof who graduated Temple U./Tyler School of Art and resides in Narberth, PA. In the past, Barbara's jewelry has been sold by artist's rep to boutiques and stores, including the shops of The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Her one-of-a-kind jewelry was awarded "Best Fashion Jewelry in Philadelphia", and was given a solo trunk show at Macy's Manhattan.

After 8 years in business, Barbara took a hiatus from her jewelry and took this time to concentrate on parenthood and other interests. She went back to school to study computer graphics, and took time to paint and draw again. Barbara's paintings and prints can be seen on her website: www.barbarayalof.com .

When things quieted down at home, she realized just how much she missed creating tiny works of art. Armed with a heightened interest in colors and how they interact, Barbara is back creating the earrings, pins, bracelets, and necklaces that are once again on the market. Hours fly by, pieces are moved around and paired up with other pieces; a lot of thought goes into the production of each of these one-of-a-kind miniature works of art. Barbara currently teaches Color Theory at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA.

If you or anyone you know might be interested in becoming a Featured Guest Artist on my site, please E-mail me with your request and we'll get you set up right away! I will be posting some new items next week, and I am hoping to get the collection finished on which I started working months ago. It's really something special and it's unfortunate that it has taken me this long to complete. I look forward to sharing my new designs with you.

So, as I mentioned in my last blog I am going crazy planning a wedding; My wedding. We are getting married on the beach so naturally we are walking in the sand. I decided to wear these beautiful beaded, sole-less sandals to match my gown. Now, the picture that I am about to post doesn't show how truly beautiful these beaded sandals are, but it's the only picture I have at this time. When the professional photographer takes pics on the wedding day I'll be sure to post some.


I will be making these soon, and adding them to the site. I think they are essential for any beach bride, and her bridal party. Surely you can see that these can be customized any way that you can imagine! Do you like fringe or don't you? What colors are your favorite? The possibilities with these materials are endless, as Swarovski crystals, pearls and seed beads are available in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and finishes. Also I wanted to share with you a few other items that I purchased. Naturally they are all handmade, and I purchased them from some very talented artists who sell their products on Etsy. Here is a picture of my Guest sign in book with pen. It's perfect for my beach theme wedding and made from top quality materials. I purchased this from CreativeBridal on Etsy...



I want to share one more item with you. It is my ring pillow. I LOVE this pillow. It is also a beach themed, handmade item of silk, seashells and Swarovski Crystals. I purchased this from BellesandCrystals on Etsy. It is the most unique ring pillow I have ever seen for a beach wedding. The addition of feathers is great, because there are also feathers in my bouquet (I'm not telling what kind. You have to wait and see!) It'll be perfect for mine!

For those of you interested in learning the above stitch for beading sandlas, I found this very simplified video for creating a vertical netting pattern.

How to create a netting stitch

Well, I haven't written too much and I haven't had a ton of time to even make a lot of new pieces. I am getting married on August 1st, and there is still so much to do that I feel like it's never going to get finished in time. I'll post a separate blog on that fiasco later!

I did make this bracelet and called it "Something Blue". I thought that I might wear it on my own wedding day. I still might, I am not sure. Nevertheless the bracelet is beautiful, and I think anyone would be happy to own it. It is made of the same great quality materials that I always use; Swarovski Crystal and Freshwater pearls along with Bali and Sterling silvers. Keep in mind that this bracelet, should you want one for yourself, can be customized with any color pearl, and various colors of crystal in these graphite and butterfly shapes.



I did have some time a few weeks ago to complete some new pieces with beads that I had waiting to be used. The photographs aren't the best, as I have procrastinated on purchasing a really good lighting system. I don't seem to be very good at juggling being a mommy of 2, a wife-to-be, a poker player, and jewelry maker all at the same time. I'll get it together one of these days. It's a goal of mine! Anyway here is a piece from the "Breakfast at Bella's" collection that I had started. In this collection I used handmade glass beads from Laurie Whitney of Mermaid Glass. Here is one of the newer pieces. It is a Cupcake and Doughnut set and it's accented with Swarovski crystal bicone beads and sterling silver. The chain was cut and assembled by me so the length is completely customizable.





The next piece is something I just love, although the picture surely own reflect it's beauty. This I call the "Grand Slam". It is a very solid sterling silver rolo bracelet with toggle clasp, and on it several delicious charms accented in sterling silver and Hill Tribes silver dangle delicately, and just tempt your taste buds! You'll find a complete breakfast of bacon and eggs along with a short stack of syrup smothered pancakes.

It's been a while since I put out a blog. I am in the middle of so many things right now you couldn't imagine. I have some beautiful new jewelry to list, but I need to take better photos. I have new guest artists to introduce to you and items of theirs to list in the store, but I am going to wait until June, and here is the reason why.

I am continuing the Search Engine Optimization for my website so I can be listed higher in the search engines, AND to improve my page rankings. I recently had my site optimized, but it wasn't done completely and in some cases it was done improperly. So, when I thought I was hiring a new company for SEO Maintenance, I was very surprised to learn that before I purchased a maintenance plan I needed to have the site further optimized "on-page" to correct some things that were done wrong before, and to complete other things that were never done in the first place!

So, please be patient with me while I wait until June to list new products and feature new artists. I want to have the best site that I can and that is going to take both time and money. The good news is that in the mean time I can make a lot of new things so that in June I will have a TON of new items to post in the store and introduce to you!

In the midst of all of this I am still planning our wedding, which will take place on August 1st. It's very exciting, but it has been a lot of work because we already have 2 small children and we live a "Married Life" every day (that means we don't get much of a break for leisure activity! I know...we're ass backwards). I am sure that things will turn out perfectly, as I have a wedding planner doing all of the research to alleviate some of the stress. I just need to make the selections :)

Thank you all for your continued patience and support. In the mean time I will post another blog with the FREE GIFT winner for this month, and a picture of their prize tomorrow. Stay tuned....

Happy Easter! (and other Holidays too!)

It's been a while since I have put out a blog. I have new items from my "Breakfast at Bella's" collection that still need to be added, but I am finding that time is scarce since I had my second child. Once I photograph and re-size these items I will add them to the store for all to see (and buy!) Also I have been collaborating with Laurie from Mermaid Glass and our ideas are complete and the beads are being made for my next collection. I promise to have the breakfast pieces up first though.

I am obviously still trying to find myself as a jewelry designer among other things. There are so many beautiful mediums to use within a creation, I want to experiment with all of them before settling down into one specific area, which I swear to the almighty poker gods I will do one day.

To keep with my new tradition I would like to introduce you to my featured Guest Jeweler this month. She is award winning artist, Ann Marie Hodrick

Ann Marie Hodrick has been artistic from birth, developing her creativity in one medium or another all her life.

Ann Marie crafted as a young child, developing a keen sense of color and fine motor skills. In high school she pursued the fine arts of painting, printmaking, ceramics and silversmithing. She continued her exploration of these mediums while at Loyola University in New Orleans pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts. After earning her BA degree she went to work as a video editor choosing to voice her creativity on television while earning a regular income to help support her growing family, all the while never losing her artistic desire. Her current foray into jewelry design is simply a part of her life-long dedication to artistic expression. She has won multiple national awards for her jewelry designs.

Ann Marie currently lives in Oakland, Ca. with her husband and two teenage sons. As for her philosophy, Ann Marie uses skills from all areas of her past art studies. She has synthesized a unique style, blending her romantic nature and experience in the arts with a fascination for the art of personal adornment. Nature and architectural design inspire much of Ann Marie's work. It is because of this influence that she does not confine herself to one specific jewelry technique, allowing the materials and stones to inspire her final design.

This design is one of my favorites from Ann Marie because of its simplicity and richness. Please click on the photo to view the item in our store.

If any of you are interested in being a featured artist on my site, or you know anyone who might be interested, please contact me for details on how to get started!

Arts and Crafts day with a 2 year old...HOW FUN!!!! It's one of those days where I almost wanted to commit myself to an institution, but at the same time I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else, if that makes any sense.



Isabella and I had our first real Arts and Crafts day. I bought a plaster of paris kit to make her tiny hand print along with some decorations. She painted really well at first, adhering to the idea of using only her brush and the paints. She started off painting the heart and star decorations.



After about 10 minutes of intense concentration on those she was done. Slowly she moved on to painting the paper towel, then the table, and then she moved to painting herself, which was phenomenal!



After she was bored with that, she tried to paint the cat. That's where I drew the line (poor Mimi). I helped her decorate and even added some wire and jewelry embellishments for her. Here is our finished project...



This was by far one of the best days we have had together and I can't wait to start another project with her. Most of my sisters think I am insane for trying this with a 2 year old, and perhaps I am, but I haven't had that much fun in a long time :)

Well it's been an interesting 2 weeks to say the least. My Tungsten lights blew out so I have no adequate light in which to photograph my jewelry until the new lights arrive. We had a wind storm that blew out the electric so we had to take ourselves, along with our 2 children (one is 2 years old and the other is 2 months old) to the Country Buffet for dinner the other night. Two pieces of the aluminum on one of the roof peaks blew off in that storm so now we have to replace the the aluminum on all THREE peaks so that it matches. The material isn't much but the labor is where they get you, obviously.

I did have a few good things happen too, though. I bought a new camera so hopefully that will aid in better pictures for the future. Today was a first for me. Some of you might be able to sympathize with my plight, but probably not. I created several pieces of jewelry with a 2 month old napping in an upright position on my lap. At this very moment I am typing my blog with one finger and the wrong hand because I am feeding him with the other! Listen...you gotta do what you gotta do.

I have a new collection of handmade bracelets that I will be adding to continuously. I call it the "Breakfast at Bella's" collection. These bracelets are all handmade sterling silver and they feature handmade glass charms made by Laurie of Mermaid Glass. She has my business for life. I LOVE these bracelets and the beads. I used sterling findings and Hill Tribes silver charms throughout the design, and each one is different.

Also these Swarovski Crystal heart earrings were supposed to be for Valentine's Day, but again, camera and lighting issues prevented me from listing them sooner. Anyway, they are great to wear anytime obviously and they are now listed in the store.




We have introduced 5 new Guest Artists for the month of February. They are in no particular order: Alexsandra Gifford - aka Wild Pearly. Alexsandra makes the most amazing handbags I have ever seen. They are creative and vibrant, and you definitely need to check them out. They are all OOAK items and I promise you won't be disappointed. Here is an example of her work...

Next we have Connie Loyet of "Riverbed" creations. Here is another great artist who brings us unique gemstone and mineral pendants. Some of her beautiful creations are personally mined! Below is just an example of Connie's work. Please click on the photo to view the item in the store as well as her other four offerings for a total of five showcased items!



Megan Huffaker of Tesoro Bella Jewelry is a 36-year-old stay-at-home mother with a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Genetics. Megan is joined in design, creation, and distribution by her sisters Becky, Katie, and Chris, by her nieces Kathryn (Kat) and Maddeline, by her parents Jay and Rosie, and by her close friend Kari. Please see a glimpse of what Megan has to offer below. Click on the picture to be taken to the store and explore some of Megan's other wonderful creations!



Next is Manda Link of Manda Panda Creations. Her jewelry is as unique as her name. I know that you will just love her pieces. To the left is one of my personal favorites from Manda's submitted collection. Please click the photo to be taken to that item in the store, or just visit the store to view six more of Manda's creations!

Jewelry Fetish is a relatively young business that grew out of three women's passions for custom made pieces. Those women are Teresa Ellens, Stephanie Ponius, and Jocelyn Walker. Please see just one of the many creations that they have to offer. Click on the photo to be taken to this item in the store and read more about it, or add it to your collection before someone else does!

Here are a few new items using some handmade boro beads that I happen to have in stock. The first two items are made using handmade "Journey" boro beads from Beau's Beads. I used Hill Tribes pure silver throughout most of the bracelet with the exception of the Swarovski crystals and the Bali bead caps that accent them.



Each boro bead is flanked with handmade Hill Tribes silver beads caps and is then separated by Hill Tribes decorative spacers. The flower tube bead that are used in the "band" portion of the bracelet are also handmade Hill Tribes silver as well as the round toggle that terminates the bracelet. The citrine colored Swarovski crystals nicely accent the yellow color in the glass boro bead. This bracelet measures 7" in length. Another of its kind can be made as long as the boro bead is still available.

Also available is this matching boro ring. The band is handmade sterling silver form McDuck Creations and features a round topper. This particular ring is a size 7. Please contact me for available sizes.



The last addtion is another boro bead ring, which also features a handmade band from McDuck Creations. This is a sterling silver hammered band with a conical topper. This ring however is decorated with a boro bead in rich, deep colors made by one of my most favorite glass artists, Lisa Atchison of Touch Of Glass Designs. This ring is also a size 7 and due to the fact that there is only one of these beads at this time, this ring is the only one of its kind.

I wanted to introduce you to a new piece that I've recently created. In past blogs I highly praised my friend Lisa Atchison of Touch of Glass designs for her amazing handmade glass beads. While hoarding all of the beads that I liked, I waited a long time before ever creating a piece using those beads, and when I did I used a design similar to that of Lisa's own designs (with her permission of course). However, when I saw this black and white bead for the first time I was inspired to create something vastly different from the other designs I had already made using her beads. Hence, the "Black Sea" choker was born.

I call it "Black Sea" because the whirling waves in the bead along with the contrast of white used intermittently in the bead reminds me of an ocean wave in the dark of night. Along with this beautiful, sophisticated bead I used Swarovski crystal mystic black round and pear shaped pearls to complete the choker. The sides of the focal bead are accented with Sterling silver stardust beads, which bring out the CZ stones that Lisa incorporated into her creation of the bead. The choker is terminated with a silver filigree clasp and measures approximately 16" in length. This is a one of a kind design. While there will be others that could look similar, due to the fact that no glass bead can ever be exactly duplicated this is an original!



Please click on the picture below to see a larger image of the bead. I hope that you'll leave your questions or comments on this design. I can't wait to make the next one!



In upcoming news, as the end of January is quickly approaching I am getting ready to introduce upcoming Featured Guest Jewelers for the month of February, and we have quite a few! All are talented each with unique designs, and I look forward to sharing their stories with you! If you would like to be a Featured Guest Designer on my site please E-mail me for details.

Hello Everyone,

Once again we thank everyone who has registered their E-mail address with us and registered to win a free gift. Isabella's Beads would like to congratulate this month's winner of our FREE GIFT drawing, Margie Atz. Margie will receive a pair of Millefiori "Be Mine" heart earrings pictured below, for FREE. These earrings have a retail value of $15.00!



For those who are interested, these earrings are also available for sale in our store. If you are interested in purchasing one of these purse hangers please click the photo to be directly connected to that item in our store. Be sure to register your E-mail address with us for your chance to win a FREE GIFT!

I recently came across an article written by Teri of S&T Creations. Teri asks "Are you really adding in ALL of your costs?" The article in it's entirety can be viewed by clicking here. Below is a copy of my response to her article. Any thoughts that you have are encouraged to be posted, especially from those artists that do a lot of shows. Please leave your comments on my blog.

Preface: While Teri clearly realizes how expensive it is to actually have a beading business, like so many others in the industry I am not sure that she has completely crossed over from having a "Hobby" to having a full fledged business. As with any business you will incur start up costs such as tools, storage materials, equipment, advertising etc.. It is my feeling that these things should be written off as business expenses when filing your business taxes. Teri is trying to find a way to compensate for these expenses, and rightfully so, but she is thinking of passing along those expenses to her customers rather than writing them off as I believe she should be doing. Please read Teri's article for her list of expenses and then my response below.

My Response:

This is a very well thought out article, however I think you must consider are that you cannot pass along all of your expenses to your customer. Some of these things are the natural part of having a business such as your web site, storage compartments, tools, software, etc. The reward for having these necessary items is the eventual sale of your product.

Let's just say that you were to pass along these charges. Over what period of time are you factoring in those charges, or for how long? A storage compartment (plastic) can cost $1.00. Over how many pieces of jewelry (or other items) are you factoring in that $1.00? When the $1.00 has been compensated for, do you then lower your price?

In my humble opinion, these are business expenses and should be written off as such when you do your taxes, not passed along to your customers.

One of the first things I did when starting this business was to look on the Internet for the average hourly rate for the profession of a jeweler in my state. Then I factored in my experience and education and selected the rate that I thought was fair for myself and my customers. Over the past 3 years I have given myself a raise :-D

Therefore, the "cost of the classes you've taken" as you mentioned, should already be factored into your established hourly labor rate.

I have a program that allows me to keep inventory, calculates the cost of each bead, design a piece, and then it automatically calculates a proper selling price for that piece (wholesale, direct, and retail). I simply set the parameters for my markup in each category (which in my case is relatively low compared to the market), and my hourly labor rate and the program does the rest.

I see the blog writing and article writing as necessary self promotion and I don't factor charges into my designs for that, because if I were to do "professional" advertising or hire someone to write would cost a lot of money.

Many people also use free web pages available to promote their business such as Myspace, Facebook, and other free blog pages. This eliminates hosting fees. And, while the competition on Etsy is vast, it is definitely the cheapest place to sell your items for those without a shopping cart integrated into their site.

If you truly want to make it a business then you should incorporate, which is also pretty inexpensive. If you do a lot of shows where you feel that theft is a problem you should consider insurance that would cover your losses, and perhaps breakage, etc. I have never done this myself because I don't do shows at this time, but I imagine that this is possible. Some locations may even offer insurance (and if they don't perhaps they should start!)

You wrote: "e. Driving to and from post office to drop off, pick up packages"

Did you know that in most areas, if not all, that USPS will pick up items from your home for free? Their packaging is also free and can be ordered over the Internet and will be delivered to your home or business. (This obviously eliminates your driving time to and from the PO, your mileage, and the use of gas)

"b. Beads you purchased, then later realized you didn't like them and don't use"

You cannot charge customers for this. This is was your judgment. I suggest gathering all of your miscellaneous things that you don't want, putting them in a nice container with partitions, and selling it as a starter package (older tools, extra beads and findings, extra cord or wire). You might not recover all of your costs, but it is better than leaving them to rot.

This is EXACTLY how I started my "hobby". I purchased someone's leftovers on Ebay just to see if I would actually like beading and 3 years later I have a beautiful website and really enjoy my small business.

Also, if you don't already, try purchasing from a reputable place like Firemountain Gems, who has a "No Questions Asked" return policy on their items. If you buy something and don't like it, return it. It's that simple.

"Cost of Internet connectivity"

This is something else that you shouldn't charge for, as you would probably have Internet connectivity without your business. However, even if the Internet was strictly being used for your business, all of these things (like the use of your microwave, electric, or certain areas of your home) can be written off as business expenses when you file your taxes. If you dedicate let's say 15% of your home to your business, as long as you can prove this you should write it off. If you are not familiar with how to do this then you can consult an accountant (and probably find FREE information on the Internet).

Therefore, there is no need to pass these charges along to your customers because they are business write offs.

Thank you, and I hope that I have also given you some insight!

What an exciting December we have had here! If you've been keeping up with the new Isabella's Beads Blog Page then you know that we have just given birth to our second child, John P. D'Agostino, IV. He was born on December 10, 2008 and we are so blessed to have him in our lives along with our daughter Isabella Rose. Also last month we introduced a section of the site called the"Guest Jewelers" section, and it is where I feature the works of other talented artists that I have met in this industry.

We showcased the works of three very talented artists last month and we have more for you this month! The artists that I would like to present to you for January are Debbie Jennings of "Deb's Beaded Treasures", and Kim Grassing of "LexieJewel".

Debbie Jennings writes: "I started Debs Beaded Treasures in 2005 as a means to share my love of creating jewelry with everyone. I especially like making "wearable art statement pieces", and love the compliments my customers receive when wearing them. I have a studio in my home that I couldn't live without. It is a creative environment that is very inspirational, where I spend many hours of enjoyment, creating special pieces for you (and a few for me, of course!). It takes a bit more of an "eye for design" to sell craft work in the vast ocean of talented artists in today's market, so I am always learning new things."

Here is an example of Debbie's work. You can click on the photo to be taken to the item in the store. Also, to see all of the items in our Guest Jeweler's Section visit our site!



Kim Writes: "A walk on the wild side.... or a stroll in the park! That's how I describe my line of jewelry. Each unique creation by LexieJewel is designed and handcrafted by me, Kimberley Grasing. All of my designs are original, and I strive to be innovative, cutting edge, and sometimes over the top. I have been creating beaded jewelry for the past 5 years and have recently added FIRE (soldering!) to my repertoire.... and I haven't seen the light of day since!! Yes, my acetylene torch is my new best friend! Working with metals has allowed me to reach into my inner depths of creativity to unleash designs and pieces fully infused with passion, heart and soul. I hope you enjoy all that LexieJewel has to offer!"

This Molton Rock necklace one is one my favorite pieces from Kim...



Well, February is quickly approaching and with that so is Valentines Day! I have some nice designs for Women and Children that you'll definitely want to see. This Swarovski Crystal heart pendant doesn't need a special occasion to be worn.



Also available and new this past month is this lovely Sterling Silver CZ double Heart ring.

Or how about this delicately adorable Sterling silver pave heart dangle ring for your daughter or even yourself!

These are just a few of the wonderful items that are available for this coming Valentine's Day holiday. Please be sure to check out the Themed Jewelry section of the site for more ideas. And remember, if you have something specific in mind we can work together to create the perfect custom design! E-mail me for custom orders.

Well, I thought that I would be able to be more like my favorite super hero, Wonder Woman, and handle having a newborn son, celebrating Christmas with our large family, traveling to Connecticut for a week, and maintaining the web site all while still taking care of my fiancee and our 2 year old daughter, Isabella Rose. I was wrong, and I suck. I'm sorry.

OK. So I am a little behind with posting some new items and introducing new guest jewelers for January (and putting out my monthly newsletter to registered users) but it will get done, I PROMISE!!! Actually I tried to put out the Newsletter at the end of December, but my server is having a small glitch and my developer is working on that at this time. I hope to have it resolved shortly. It seems that having the site Search Engine Optimized created some small glitches here and there and they are being corrected. Sorry for the delays!

While January seems to be flying by, I do have 4 new guest jewelers lined up which I will introduce in a separate blog tomorrow after listing their items in the Guest Jewelers section of the site. I thank you for your patience and understanding and I promise all of you it will be worth the wait to see what these talented artists have to offer.

Hi Everyone,

Just as an update I am home from the hospital and I am trying to get back to normal after the birth of our son. Baby John, IV was born on December 10, 2008 measuring 21" long, and weighing in at a whopping 8lbs. 12oz., which was in vast contrast to Isabella's birth weight of 7lbs. 5oz. 2 years ago. Everything went perfectly and we now have a beautiful baby boy in our family. Isabella is doing her best to be a great big sister and so far she has been wonderful (a little jealous, but wonderful). Thanks to all of you who sent messages and left comments of well wishes for our family. Please know that we appreciate each and every one of you!

Later on this evening I will be posting the winner of the monthly FREE GIFT drawing so you'll want to check back to see what wonderful prize we have given away this month. Also, this week I will be posting pictures of some new items that I created before I went in the hospital to deliver our bundle of joy. I have so many new and unique ideas floating in my head (maybe it's just the medicine), and mounds of wonderful material to use for their creation. I can't wait to offer these items to you in my store!

Lastly, we are already mid month and I will be introducing some new guest jewelers for the 2nd half of December and also preparing you for January's featured Guest Jewelers. If you are a creator of handmade products and you are interested in being a featured artist on my site please contact me and we'll get you started ASAP!

Stay tuned....

I just wanted to keep everyone updated on what will be happening with me this week. I will sort of be on "vacation" from answering E-mails and making jewelry for the next few days. We are having a new baby, and we are expecting him to be a boy (so he better be cooperative and not come out with a pee-pee rather than a wee-wee!) He will be born on December 10th via scheduled C-Section, and his name will be John P D'Agostino, IV after his daddy. We are praying for a healthy baby and a safe delivery so please keep us in your prayers.

Luckily, I have gotten all of my orders for the holidays filled and shipped up to this time. If you need anything, please contact me before 10PM EST on December 9th. I will return home from the hospital on December 14th and answer any E-mails, and address any orders that I have at that time. Also, the computer software will randomly draw a name selecting December's FREE GIFT winner. That will be posted the week that I return home, but perhaps not exactly on the 15th when I usually post it, as it all depends on how I feel. If you would like to register to win a FREE GIFT from Isabella's Beads, please register your E-mail address with us. Registration is free and we have a lot of wonderful and unique gifts to give away each month from Gift Certificates to Handmade Jewelry.

More new items will be posted when I return home, but for now the only new addition I will be concentrating on will be our new son, Johnny! I hope everyone has a wonderful week and I look forward to reporting great news in the next week.

Ciao!

Here are a few new items that I have posted in the store. They are novelty watches featuring a glittering Santa or a Christmas tree for the holidays, and you can find them in the Holiday Collections section.



There is also one new addition to the Necklaces category. I have been busy with themed jewelry for the holidays so I haven't made any glass bead necklaces in the past week, and I still have at least 10 one-of-a-kind beads left to use. I don't have a favorite because they are all so very beautiful and believe me when I tell you that the pictures NEVER do them justice.

This necklace is made with a deep ocean blue electroform bead handmade by Lisa Atchison. The leaf is hand picked from her backyard. This handmade pendant is gently suspended from a copper bail, which hangs on hand-dyed silk ribbon from Jamn Glass. With this pendant I did something just a bit different and made Swarovski crystal components in complimentary colors and dangled them from the base of the bead for added sparkle! As usual with the silk ribbon necklaces, the copper coil closure allows for an adjustable length before tying closed.









Are you looking for stocking stuffers? Check out our"Great Gifts" section of the store where you can search our inventory by price. We have a ton of great gifts that would make perfect stocking stuffers for under $25, and many wonderful and unique gifts under $10 from hair jewelry, to macramé bracelets, to brocade satin lipstick cases.



Here's an original idea...every woman could use a Purse Hanger. You don't think about it until you actually have one. You never have to go to a restaurant and place your bag on the chair or on the floor, when you go to the casino and sit at the blackjack or poker table you can conveniently hang your purse close to you. They are available in 8 great styles! Select yours from the drop down menu when making your purchase.



We also carry Phone Finders. Keep your phone handy - just hook it to a "Finders for Fones" for a functional and fashionable way to decorate your purse. And we carry Key Finders so that you never have to dig in the bottom of your purse for your keys again! These unique gifts come in a variety of styles, more than 60 styles from which you can choose. Just visit our Cell Phone Accessories category or click on the photo below.



Meet Beary Spoiled Bear. These adorable "Kritters" can be used as either purse charms or key chains. There are 12 from which to choose and each has its own personality. Please see each one to make sure you select the Kritter that best suits your personality! You can find these in our Purse Charm section of the store.

How about gifts for your Children's schoolteachers? These handmade beaded bookmarkers will be one of the best gifts they ever receive. There aren't many listed in the store right now because the pictures are not very good, and many are already sold so I have to make more and then re-photograph them. However, all of them are custom made and I can do anything that you like in any color. The Millefiori bookmarkers to the right are customizable with over 10 different styles of Millefiori beads. Choose your favorite from the drop down menu when ordering.

If you'd like something custom made using other materials, please E-mail me for inquiries.

Hi Everyone...

Let me start by saying that I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! We spent ours in our "new", 2nd home in Connecticut and we ate with my fiancee's family. It was very nice although I didn't eat very much. We are having our 2nd child on December 10th and he is giving me some serious heartburn! Oh well, it'll all be worth it in the end, which is unbelievably only 9 days away.

Now for the introduction of my newest section of the store, Gift Cards! If you aren't sure what to get that special someone, but you know you want it handmade you can now conveniently purchase gift cards from Isabella's Beads. Click on the Gift Card and select your desired increment from the drop down menu and click "Add to Cart". It's that easy! Add multiple cards for various gifts. Our gift cards can be used to purchase any items in the store. There are no restrictions.

Please don't forget to check out the Holiday Items section of Isabella's Beads for new themed jewelry and holiday gift presentation items such as our Wine gift bags which are available in 5 vibrant colors for only $2.50 each!

In my last blog I mentioned the addition of the Guest Jewelers Section. That section is now complete and all of the items have been added for December's featured artists. Janice Kuhm, Rachael Swiss, and Sophia Waddell are the first artists to be featured for this month. The response has been overwhelming and I have several new artists already lined up for January. I think that this is going to be a wonderful experience for all who are involved.

If you are an artist of handmade jewelry or ANY handmade items, and you would like to be featured in my Blog, monthly Newsletter, and in the Guest Jewelers Section of my store please E-mail me and I'll tell you how you can get started immediately! Keep in mind that only registered users of Isabella's Beads will receive our exclusive Newsletters, so if you would like to be on that list please Register for free to become a member.
Money Making Opportunities:
If you are interested in selling some of my items on your own site, and you would like to be a wholesale customer with Isabella's Beads please register in our wholesale section. Certain restrictions apply.

If you are interested in earning money as an Affiliate of Isabella's Beads you can register for an Affiliate Account. It is helpful to have a web site of course, but it is definitely not necessary, as each affiliate has their own unique bonus code.

Each of these opportunities is absolutely FREE and takes only a few minutes of your time. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! Have a good week :)

I would like to tell you about a section of the site that has been in progress for a while now. It is the "Guest Jewelers" section, and it is where I feature the works of other talented artists that I have met in this industry. I am starting December off with a bang, and I am going to introduce you to three new artists. The first artist that I am proud to present to you is Janice Kuhm of Darkmere Designs.

Janice says: "I formed Darkmere Designs in 2000 selling my designs in the Medieval Recreation and Renaissance markets. In 2004 I received an award for my work in wire knitting and chains. Art has always been in my life from music to jewelry. I have been involved in some form of art since I was a child. After receiving a diploma from Brooks College in Fashion Merchandising, I worked in administration at several different companies before going back to college to earn my Bachelors Degree in Business. At that time I was becoming active in medieval recreation and took a class in wire jewelry. I enjoyed the class so much I started taking more classes through a local craft shop, including soldering, fabricating, weaving and chains.

My designs currently focus on wire work, including chain making, knitting and weaving. I work mostly in Sterling Silver and 14kt Gold-filled, although I would eventually like to work in other metals as well."

Here are some examples of Janice's work.





These items will be available for sale for a limited time so if you see something that catches your eye, please don't hesitate to make your purchase. There has been a lot of interest on the part of various artists to participate in this venture, so hopefully I will be featuring new artists every month.

Our second featured artist for the month is Rachael Swiss. Rachael writes, "I have been making jewelry since I was a child. I have been working in the jewelry business as a designer and merchandiser for private companies since 2003 and my work with them (mostly gold, silver, diamonds, and other stones) can be found all over in major department stores throughout the united states. I believe that jewelry is a form of expression and should be worn to bring out the beauty in one's self."





And, last but not least is Sophia Waddell. Sophia Clark Waddell has immersed herself in both the performing and fine arts since birth - her latest creation is Art Intervention. Having made jewelry and taken photographs for as long as she can remember, Sophia is excited about helping customers bring handcrafted, personalized, and functional pieces of art into their every day lives.

Sophia is happy to work with you and your imagination to create the perfect piece of jewelry, or capture that special moment in time and space.



I love having the opportunity to showcase the various styles of each of these artists. All of these items, and much more will be available in my store for you to purchase starting on December 1st in the Guest Jewelers section, so don't forget to check them out!

The most recent additions to my store have been of the Sterling silver and CZ rings and anklets, along with Millefiori and Millecreli earrings and rings. You can purchase these items separately or as a set, and purchasing them as a set will afford you a discounted price.



We've added a few new pendants and gemstone rings as well to both the Men and Women's Collections.




Stay tuned in the next few days for more items from our featured artists. Make sure you look in our new Guest Jewelers section for their items starting December 1st. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I wish you a joyous remainder of the 2008-year!

Ciao!

Before I introduce the new crystal pieces I want to preface this blog with one more glass bead necklace. For those of you who have been reading you know that lately I have been focusing on Lisa Atchison's glass beads. As I've stated before they are remarkable, one-of-a-kind beads unlike anything that I have ever seen. In most cases the pictures do not do the beads justice. Please review previous blogs for my most recent creations. I will introduce one new piece to you where I used the combination of a copper mesh necklace along with one of Lisa's electroformed leaf beads.



This necklace is comprised of fine, Italian brass mesh. There is a 3mm leatherette cord inserted into copper-colored brass mesh for durability. The necklace measures 18" in length and is terminated with a lobster claw clasp. I used copper findings, and pure copper wire to make the handmade bail from which the beautiful, ocean-colored bead is suspended. As you view both photos of the bead itself, notice that the bead is only electroformed with a leaf on one side, which adds to its versatility.





OK, now for the crystal. First I'll begin very quickly with the introduction of the "more classy" version of the Christmas tree earrings. I featured the classic-colored tree earrings in a previous blog, which was a green crystal tree accented in red and silver. This new pair is made using clear Swarovski® crystals along with an aurum 2x crystal topper and Colorado topaz base. They dangle from fancy gold-plated ear wires. These adorable creations can be worn all season long so get yours now!





Swarovski® crystal is the finest crystal in the world. I absolutely LOVE what Swarovski® has done this season with their new pendants. Of course these are perfect for any occasion, but hey, the winter season is upon us and in celebration of it I offer you a Swarovski® snowflake pendant necklace!



This sparkling creation has a flat table and faceted edges. The light reflects brilliantly from this classic pendant. I have attached a sterling silver teardrop bail to the snowflake, which dangles from a 20" sterling silver textured loop chain. I terminated the chain with a sterling silver lobster claw clasp.

Also new this season is the 18mm flat-faced heart pendant. With the amazing sparkle only Swarovski® can create, the feminine heart drop has faceted, beveled edges and a smooth center. Stunning glacier blue color, the crystal ignites flashes of blue, green and yellow. I used a sterling silver ice pick heart bail, and attached it to a sterling silver Italian chain for instant elegance. Makes a fabulous gift for any occasion!



I have started working with a new medium. I am not sure if I like it yet as it is very new and extremely delicate, but I feel that the potential for creativeness using this product is just itching to burst through! This woven mesh originates as an extremely fine brass wire, loosely woven and anodized into a glorious color palette. It can be used to create a myriad of styles. Because this mesh is very fragile, it is recommended that it be used like a ribbon with beads strung on the outside only. However, I am a bit of a rebel and I decided to string beads, twist the mesh, and even fill the tube with pearls! (I feel like I just ripped off one of those "DO NOT REMOVE" mattress tags)





This is a David Christensen cane glass bead necklace with sterling silver accents and Swarovski® pearls strung on, and in the mesh tube. The black and white glass beads are from David's "Sophisticate Collection". These are the finest manufactured cane glass beads in the world. I featured his "Harvest Collection" beads on another necklace, which was featured in another blog a short while ago. This necklace is approximately 18" in length and is terminated with a tube-like lobster claw clasp.



That's all for now. I am expecting the birth of our son on December 10th so I am trying to get as much completed and listed on my site before he arrives! Happy Holidays to all :-D

Ciao!

Hi Everyone,

In recent newsletters you were told that you would be able to find Holiday jewelry in our Collections section, and then to look in the appropriate category (For Him, For Her). This has been changed, as we have made it even easier for you to find your favorite holiday pieces. We have added a new category to the Collections section titled Holiday Items. Here you will be able to see all of the themed pieces associated with each holiday season as it changes. If there is something that you would like to see in this section please feel free to E-mail me and I'll do my best to make it for you and list it in that section.

Jewelry isn't the only thing that you'll find here though. Take a look at our newest gift presentation items, such as the decorative wine bottle gift bags.





No more struggling to wrap wine or liquor in holiday paper! For only $2.50 you can present your host with a gift in style. Place your bottle in a decorative, oriental inspired rayon gift bag available in 5 vibrant colors!

You can make your color selection from the drop down menu, or simply click on the items individually in our store. Remember to read my blog to see all of the newest creations. The blog page is updated at least once per week, and it is much easier than searching the various sections of the store every week to see if anything new has been added.

We wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!

Hello Everyone,

Once again we thank everyone who has registered their E-mail address with us and registered to win a free gift. Isabella's Beads would like to congratulate this month's winner of our FREE GIFT drawing, Courtney Baltazar. Courtney will receive one of the 8 decorative purse hangers pictured below, for FREE. These purse hangers have a retail value of $15.00!



For those who are interested, these purse hangers are also available for sale in our store. Many new holiday items have been added to the store these past few weeks. To stay updated on all of the latest creations please read our blog. If you are interested in purchasing one of these purse hangers please click the photo to be directly connected to that item in our store. The easiest way to find most holiday items will be to browse our

Collections section. From there you can select the appropriate category (for him or for her) to see what is currently available. Please keep in mind that the site has been undergoing some major changes for Search Engine Optimization, and new items are being added all the time. So, if you don't see something that catches your eye this time, please keep checking frequently! We at Isabella's Beads would like to wish you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!

I just wanted to keep you all apprised of the new and ongoing changes with the Isabella's Beads website. I have been extremely busy (and tired, and pregnant) these days with the creation of some new items in my Holiday Jewelry line as well as the addition of new glass bead necklaces, and other interesting features available on the site itself such as this blog.

I am trying to create somewhat of an organized schedule so that my regular readers will know what to expect, and when to expect it. My plan is to post a blog at least once a week keeping readers apprised of new pieces and/or happenings in my life and business. So far, that has been working out nicely!

Today I just want to remind you that Isabella's Beads has an Events Calendar that will be frequently updated with important (and not-so-important) events. For example, now that our "Drawing Software" is in place we have a monthly drawing where we give away a FREE GIFT to a special member who is randomly selected from a data base. To see last month's winner please read my previous blogs :-D

If you'd like to know what date that drawing will take place all you need to do is look at the calendar. You can do this by clicking "Events" at the top of the page. In order to be eligible to receive a free gift all you need to do is register your E-mail address with us. That's it! If you haven't done that already you can do so by visiting ourFree Gift page. Our next scheduled drawing will take place in just a few days so please check the calendar and don't forget to register with us!

Also, for those of you who haven't explored all of the wonderful pages on my site there is also a section where I post informative jewelry based articles. If you'd like to partake in some light reading you can visit my Articles page at any time, and unlike the newsletters you do not need to be a registered member or logged into the site to read the articles. I have recently added a new article and I will do my best to keep this page updated with new articles every two weeks.

If any of you have written informative articles that you would like to share with others please send them to me at my personal E-mail address and I would be glad to post your writings and credit you with the article, as well as link to your blog.

Well, it's back to work for me as I have some new and exciting pieces to create before the Holidays.

Ciao!

I wanted to start this blog off by touching on a few new additions. I have quite a few blog pages and all of them feature the same articles, however the main blog page, which is part of my website www.isabellasbeads.com, has several additions such as an event calendar and a blog roll featuring other talented bloggers that I discover along the way. I will try to get all of the blog links on my main site coordinated with these other blog pages so that I can share the talented artists whom I have been introduced to with you!

OK. In the past few blogs I have listed many new pieces of jewelry having various themes and using a multitude of different materials. Holiday jewelry will obviously be prevalent over the next few weeks with December, the holidays, and winter seasons quickly approaching.

(Here is a new necklace not yet listed in the store, but it'll be there in a day or two. I need to enter the pieces into my program to determine its selling price.)



I have also focused a lot on handmade glass beads and one artist in particular, Lisa Atchison. I know that there are many talented glass artists out there, but right now she is my favorite.

I have been hoarding Lisa's handmade glass beads for quite some time now without ever turning out a design, until recently. Every aspect of these handmade glass beads is so very special that I really wanted to take time before I did anything with them. In the end it was once again Lisa's own creativity in the art of handmade jewelry design that led me to make these amazing necklaces. One other thing about Lisa that I should mention is that she is never ever selfish. She is always willing to share with others and me the tricks of the trade as well as information on beads and suppliers, and for that I am very grateful. Thank you, Lisa.

I do my very best to support all artists who create handmade jewelry, materials, and findings. I believe that more love, care, and pride goes into the creation of each piece when someone takes the time to do it themselves rather than have a machine cut thousands of the same thing all day long. I know that for me creativity doesn't just flow like a peaceful river, so I take a lot of time to look at the handmade designs of other talented artists for inspiration, and I am thankful to all of you for being instrumental in my work.

The following necklaces are created using Lisa's handmade glass beads. Each design is a one-of-a-kind for the simple fact that no handmade bead can ever be duplicated exactly. Also, the metals and findings will always vary according to the size, color and style of the glass bead. For these handmade necklaces I have incorporated the works of 3 other artists. First, all of the focal glass beads are from Lisa Atchison at Touch of Glass Designs. The silk ribbon in three of the necklaces is hand dyed silk made by Heidi from Jamn Glass. Lastly, Mary Poineal of McDuck Creations makes the change-a-bead pendant bails.

(The first item is already sold so no link to the store is provided. For the remaining pictures you can view additional angles in my store by clicking on the photo.)







I take pride in using only the finest materials available in my designs. For example, the silver spacer beads are Hill Tribes fine silver rather than just sterling silver. And, when I use crystal in my designs, you can rest assured that the only crystal you will see is Swarovski crystal. I am sure that the less expensive beads have a place, but right now that place is not with me.

This next design is also an example of the quality of the glass beads that I incorporate. Although these are now manufactured, David Christensen is without a doubt the best maker of cane glass beads in the world. No one seems to argue this point. David's beads are special in many ways. Perhaps you've wondered how David could compete in the marketplace with prices over $100.00 or more per pound. The fact is that the Chinese do not use as high of a quality of glass as David Christensen. Also, their caning process is nowhere near as sophisticated as David's process. The edges of their glass beads are square while David's are slightly rounded. The slightly rounded edges protect the medium on which the beads are strung, and when using them on silk like I have done in this next design that was obviously very important. In this necklace I used beads from his "Harvest Collection" symbolic of the fall season.



Again, that doesn't mean that there isn't any place for Chinese cane glass. It is a great alternative for a new or young beading artist, their beads are also nice if you want to create many inexpensive bracelets, and they're wonderful if your customers are looking for a fashionable item at a low price. As for me I prefer to stick with David Christensen and the American made cane glass beads.

I think that I have rambled enough for now so I'll see you again soon. I hope you've enjoyed this blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it!

Ciao,

Mariealena

If you are a busy person like me, you start your Christmas shopping early. (With a new baby coming, that has been absolutely necessary this year.) I have the most trouble deciding what to buy for the teenagers on my list.

With that in mind, I've been browsing my designs and found several beaded jewelry items that will appeal to the teens on your list. Beaded jewelry is especially "hot" this year.

Among my handmade beaded jewelry designs are several that are especially appropriate for the holiday season.

My Italian soul rejoices at the red, white and green colors of the Italian flag. But my Christmas cat's-eye bracelet was actually designed with Christmas in mind.



I used Grade A cat's-eye beads in green and white. I like to use cat's eye in my beaded jewelry because of its luster and depth. Here I combined cat's-eye beads with red Swarovski® crystals for sparkle and sterling silver for added richness.

Like all of my beaded jewelry, each of my bracelets is made to order, so you can specify the correct wrist size.

I designed these snowman earrings for the young and the young at heart. I used two Grade A Freshwater pearls for the snowman's body and Jet Swarovski Crystals for the hat. I added just enough magic to make them dangle delightfully, but not enough to make them run away like Frosty!



As you may have guessed, I like to add a touch of whimsy to my beaded jewelry.

Remember that pearls need to be worn-it adds to their luster. Your teenager can wear these all through the winter season, and so can you.

These Swarovski Christmas tree earrings are also available with gold fill findings, and for a completely different look they will be available in white and gold crystal as well. Keep your eyes open for that new addition to Holiday jewelry in the next blog!



Also new this Holiday is this wonderful cat's eye Winter Wonderland bracelet made with Grade A cat's eye beads and decorated with sterling silver laser cut beads. For an added touch of winter, a sterling snowflake dangles near the clasp. Any sterling winter or Holiday charm can be substituted upon request.



Ankle bracelets are especially fashionable for teenagers this year. I've made several using the amazing millefiori or "thousand flower" beads made in Murano, Italy. As on many of my beaded jewelry pieces, I've added sterling silver to accent the millefiori beads.

Beaded jewelry is a marvelous choice when you want jewelry both mother and daughter can wear. For a special gift, consider my "Siam Slider" cuff bracelet. I used Swarovski® crystal "butterfly" sliders accented with red Swarovski® bicones and sterling silver. It's strung on memory wire so it will never lose its shape. Don't be surprised if your teenager slips it on to wear with jeans-I do the very same thing!

I hope you'll spend some time browsing my beaded jewelry. I'll be making more gift suggestions as the holiday season nears.

I love to work with handmade glass beads. The variety is amazing, and the colors are heavenly. And all made from sand and fire!

Glass beads can be made with very little resources. In Mauretania, the Kiffa people crush bottles and jars into a powder. They use their own saliva to bind the crushed glass into cone-shaped beads. They add designs by applying crushed colored glass to the cone with a needle. Then the beads are fired in small containers-often sardine cans.

Furnace glass beads, such as millefiore beads, use glass-working techniques first developed in Italy. Millefiore beads were popular in Roman days, two thousand years ago. Then as now, these handmade beads were formed from rods of colored glass, bundled to form the exquisite designs that give them their name, "thousand flowers."

After the fall of Rome, Europe made little in the way of luxury products such as glass. When the Crusaders brought glassmaking techniques from the East, Venice became a glass-making center. The rulers, or Doges, kept glassmakers on the island of Murano and threatened them with harsh penalties if they revealed the secrets of their trade.

Artists who make lampwork glass beads first coat a metal rod with a substance called "bead release." Then they melt a glass rod and spin the metal rod in the hot glass to form a bead. Once they have the base of the bead, they add colors in layers to complete their design.

My favorite maker of handmade lampwork beads is Lisa Atchison. I've included a picture of one of her beads with this blog. Nature inspires Lisa, and she often combines glass with electroplated natural objects, such as leaves, to make her beads. Here are two of the designs that I have created using her beads.






I've been stringing Lisa's beads on Silk Ribbon from Jamn Glass. This is a type of ribbon made for jewelry makers to be hardwearing. I use leather cord, too. And, of course, some of her beads seem to cry out for copper, sterling silver or vermeil.

I love the organic feeling of Lisa's beads. Her craftsmanship is extraordinary! My Italian soul resonates with the intricate patterns of millefiore beads. Handmade glass beads always seem to inspire me. Perhaps they carry with them the feelings of the artist who made them.






I know that something of myself is within every piece of jewelry I make. As Lisa says, a bead is not truly art until someone wears it.

Ciao,
Mariealena

I am often asked how I get my inspiration. Beaded jewelry design is like any other art form--inspiration can come from almost anywhere.

One source of inspiration is the work of other designers, such as David Yurman. From his Bijoux collection, I like his use of asymmetry, in which the two sides of a necklace do not quite match. I also like the way he combines textured and smooth links in his chains. And I especially like the way he showcases special beads in his jewelry design.

My finished design is quite different from Yurman's. But, you can see the combination of textured and smooth in the sterling and Hill Tribes silver, the asymmetry in the use of jade on one side of my central bead and pearl on the other, and the way I made the Grade A yellow/blue tiger-eye bead the focal point, setting it off with Swarovski® crystal rondelles.

My beaded jewelry design often is inspired by nature. For example, I've interpreted the color of the sea, the sky and the coral reefs around Caribbean islands in this ring. The turquoise ranges from blue in the nuggets to blue-green in the smooth beads.

The coral is actually from Swarovski® -- crystal coral-colored beads. I choose not to use real coral in my beaded jewelry design, because reefs are usually endangered habitats.

Another source of inspiration for beaded jewelry design comes from the beads themselves. When I look at a wonderful lampworked bead or a millefiori bead from Italy, I can draw inspiration from its colors and texture. I ask myself whether it calls for gold or silver findings and accents. What colors will bring out this or that color within the bead? Should I use a similar or a contrasting shade in my design?

Life itself inspires my beaded jewelry design, as in the Mommy bracelet I am designing to celebrate the coming birth of my second child. In fact, my jewelry design business began with my first child, Isabella Rose. She continues to be the wellspring of my creative spirit.

One of the things I love best about beaded jewelry design is using a variety of carefully chosen materials to create wearable art. If my designs never see the inside of a museum that's OK, as long as my creations are eye catching and wearable!

If you have questions about beaded jewelry design, please ask. I'll be happy to answer in this blog.

Ciao
Mariealena

Hello Everyone,

It took a while but we finally got our FREE GIFT drawing software in place. We thank everyone who has registered their E-mail address with us and registered to win a free gift. Isabella's Beads would like to congratulate this month's winner of our FREE GIFT drawing, Wanda Petchonka. Wanda will receive a free pair of our exclusive "Pearly Snowman" holiday earrings pictured below. These earrings have a retail value of $24.99! To be honest I was attempting to keep the free gifts $20 and under, but with the delay and the upcoming holidays a few nicer gifts will be awarded in the coming months.

For those who are interested, these earrings are also available for sale in our store at www.isabellasbeads.com. More holiday items will be added within the next few weeks. If you are interested in purchasing these earrings please visit our store. The easiest way to find holiday items will be to browse our Collections section. From there you can select the appropriate category (for him or for her) to see what is currently available. Please keep in mind that the site has been undergoing some major changes for Search Engine Optimization, and new items are being added all the time. So, if you don't see something that catches your eye this time, please keep checking frequently!

If you have not registered your E-mail address with us you can visit our FREE STUFF AND MORE page to enter for your chance to win! We at Isabella's Beads would like to wish you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!

My local PBS station recently aired a travelogue about Thailand's Golden Triangle. As Rudy Maxa visited various Hill Tribes villages, I waited for him to show them making the silver beads I love so much.

If he showed it, I missed it.

But, I was inspired to learn more about the people who make Hill Tribes silver beads. There are seven main tribes and over a dozen smaller ones. They each have their own language, religion, culture, dances and costumes. Some come from Tibet, some from southern China, and some from as far away as Micronesia in the Pacific. They live in southern China, Burma, Laos and Vietnam, in mountainous regions.

The Hill Tribe people best known in the United States are the Hmong, who helped our fighting men during the war in Vietnam. Many of them have settled in the United States.

In Thailand, Hill Tribes such as the Karen have been able to maintain their lifestyle of subsistence agriculture and their animist religions. Most Hill Tribes silver beads imported to the United States are made by Karen craftsmen. Like all Thai silver, their beads have a higher silver content (95-99%) than sterling (92.5%). The higher silver content means the metal is softer, easier to shape using their centuries-old traditional methods.

The Yao are among the best silversmiths. Raising opium poppies was their main source of income, but, because the Thai government has a program of destroying the poppy fields, they are now turning to other crops and other sources of income. The women do exquisite cross-stitch embroidery. I want a pair of their loose-fitting black trousers covered in brilliant stitchery. But I want Yao beads even more!

By far the most exotic-looking are the long-necked Paduang women, who add silver neck rings that gradually stretch their necks.

In Thailand, the government fears new migration of tribal people from neighboring countries, and does not grant citizenship to Hill Tribes people, though at least one tribe has lived there longer than the Thai themselves.

The Hill Tribes have been supplementing their traditional slash and burn agriculture with opium production. With the government crackdown, the lack of educational opportunities and without the benefit of citizenship, many Hill Tribes people live in dire poverty.

The sale of silver beads, pendants and findings is a source of much-needed income that enables them to continue their traditional lifestyle.

These are some of the ways I have used Hill Tribes beads recently...

Hill Tribes rope tube bracelet with Tanzanite Swarovski crystal

Hill Tribes Crystal Claw Necklace

Hill Tribes Flower and Swarovski crystal ring

Isabella's Beads offers you beautiful jewelry to suit any occasion or mood at very affordable prices. Choose the perfect piece from one of my distinctive collections or create one of your own! Isabella's Beads offers more than just women's jewelry. I even have a handsome collection of beaded jewelry for men and Children! And, I am currently working on some other items that are sure to add style to any home. Keep your eyes peeled for my new "Home Decor" collection! All of my jewelry is MADE IN THE USA, and is individually handcrafted so that nothing is mass produced. At Isabella's Beads you are sure to find something special that can be treasured and admired for years to come.

All of the designs at Isabella's Beads are handmade with loving care in a wide range of styles no matter what your taste or occasion. It might be an elegant necklace for a wedding that you desire, perhaps a sparkling choker for a night out on the town, or even a modest pair of earrings or bracelet to brighten up your day. You've come to the right place for costume jewelry with exceptional craftsmanship at affordable prices.

Are you are looking for a unique gemstone necklace, handcrafted earrings to accent a dress for a special evening, or an unusual gifts for that special person in your life? Maybe you'd like to wear your own personalized creation. Isabella's Beads welcomes custom orders! Please E-mail me personally for details.

My Handmade Jewelry collections are not available for sale in retails stores, so please visit my web site to view all of the wonderful products that I have available.

Over the past year I had the pleasure of befriending one of the most talented glass bead designers that I have ever seen, and that is saying quite a bit as much time as I spend on the Internet! Her name is Lisa Atchison and she is the owner and creator of Touch Of Glass Designs. Rather than read a bunch of blabber from me, I am just going to post an excerpt from her web site and show you this photo as a teaser. There are TOO MANY beautiful beads that she has created for me to list, so please visit Touch of Glass Designs and see all of her amazing creations for yourself!

Lisa writes:

"I have always been in love with art glass. Among my fondest childhood memories are trips to the hobby store with my parents where they would let me pick a new glass figurine from the showcase. Today, I collect glass flower frogs, and my home is decorated with antique Depression glass and contemporary fused pieces.

In 2003, not long after discovering handmade beads and artistic jewelry, I entered the world of lampworking and never looked back. My artistic philosophy is simple: To me, they are just beads, and they are just glass until somebody owns them and they bring them pleasure - only then do they become art. With the natural world as my inspiration, I constantly and purposefully build my skills to enhance my creations.

I have studied lampworking with some of the finest instructors including Kate Fowle Meleny, Larry Scott, Michael Barley, Andrea Guarino-Slemmons, Trey Cornette and Brent Graber. I have recently began teaching beginning lampworking. I am an active member of the Indiana Bead Society (IBS) and Indiana Society of Lampwork and Art Glass Artists (ISLAGA).

Lampworking and jewelry design have brought me much joy including meeting wonderful people and forging new friendships that will last a lifetime.

Aside from lampworking and my other hobby - photography - I work full time for an engineering firm in Indianapolis. I have been married to my best friend and biggest supporter, Steve, since 1983. We have a daughter of whom I'm very proud who loves the "bead benefits".

Thanks so much for your interest.
Sincerely,
Lisa"

Dazzling Handmade Costume Jewelry for Every Lifestyle and Occasion!

Isabella's Beads handmade jewelry uses only the finest quality materials, including Freshwater Pearls, the recently introduced Swarovski crystal pearls, Genuine gemstones, Precious and Semi-precious stones such as Turquoise and Jasper just to name a few, a variety of Silvers including but not limited to Sterling, Bali, and Hill Tribes, and of course...Gold. All of my materials are obtained from reputable jewelry and gemstone suppliers. Some items are even handpicked from well known local Philadelphia jewelry and gemstone suppliers; the city where I was born and raised!

My handcrafted jewelry designs are also created with dazzling Swarovski Austrian crystals, handcrafted Lampwork beads, and spectacular glass beads imported from all over the world as well as other beautiful components. My jewelry is typically strung on 49 strand wire for strength and durability. I use a variety of wires in various colors and gauges depending on the design. Some designs are strung with leather and cord, or even organza ribbon for something more delicate or decorative. All pieces are personally guaranteed with normal wear*.

All of the designs at Isabella's Beads are handmade with loving care in a wide range of styles no matter what your taste or occasion. It might be an elegant necklace for a wedding that you desire, perhaps a sparkling choker for a night out on the town, or even a modest pair of earrings or bracelet to brighten up your day. You've come to the right place for costume jewelry with exceptional craftsmanship at affordable prices.