Big Day and Big Dreams!!

New "faux" seaglass beads in my shop!!

So today is my Birthday! I am hitting 35 and I feel for the first Birthday in my life that I have finally accomplished something! I had set goals for myself at the beginning of the year and have reached quite a few of them already! I wanted to be the Designer Highlight in Bead Trends and that happened in July, I wanted my shop to reach 100 sales and one of my shops is close to 200 and the other is over 50, so I think that counts. I also wanted to be published in anything other than Bead Trends and I have a pair of earrings going into Stringing's Winter Issue! I have a few more goals on the list that I have not quite reached yet, but there is still time before the end of the year :)

This is one of my new creations. It includes one of my new pendants and a hint of Vintaj filigree. This is something I had not really though of until I sent some pieces to Jess Italia Lincoln at Vintaj and she created some amazing pieces! I had asked her if she wanted them drilled or left alone to wrap and as I was writing it I thought, what a great idea! Of course I did not get to try it until after she had done her pieces, but they sure helped bring out the best in my final designs!

Altered Wings by Jess Italia Lincoln

Here is one of her gorgeous pieces!! I hope she won't mind me using her photo, I am giving full credit to Vintaj and Jess for this design and photo. I love how she inked the background of the butterfly, changing it completely with Alcohol inks! Jess you rock!! Thanks for creating such beauty with my modest little pieces.

On another note I have entered into a Steampunk challenge from Bead Unique and hope to have a fighting chance of winning :)  I really love what I made, this is only my second Steampunk piece ever, so I guess we will see! The Boro glass beads are from my friend Amanda of Seashore Glass, I love her beads! I have to say, I am starting to have quite the stash of Lampwork from the many wonderful artists I have found, and Boro is my new obsession!! So much movement in the glass, it is so very addictive!!

I feel lucky to be here among you on this amazing adventure!! For my Birthday, my simple wish would be to have all of you go pick out your favorite piece in my shop and put it in your cart. Lol!! Simple really :) Then maybe I can get to 200 sales!! I will be away for the weekend, but back first thing Monday!!
See you then!!

Marie