New Years Sale - Now Until January 20th

Lampwork Beads

New Year Sale!!!  Entire Etsy Store 20% off.

Enameled Copper Pendants

Now through January 20th (until midnight) get 20% off all of our items in our Etsy store.  We hope you enjoy browsing our handmade, one-of-a-kind items. 

Viking Knit Unfinished Chain

Enter code NEWYEARS2012 to receive your 20% discount when checking out.  Discount does not apply toward shipping.

Happy New Year!!!
Evie and Beth

Year in Review and Goals

Well, it is almost the New Year, 2012.  Can you believe it???  Where does the time go I ask?  They aren't kidding, after you hit 30 time sure does fly.  If you would like to see what our year in a review was last year just click here.

This year for us has been good.  We did a total of eight shows and one of those shows was a new one. 

Mom and I found out about the Square.  OMG, if you don't have it for your credit cards mom and I so recommend this device!!!!!  It is so much easier to use than the knuckle buster and hardly any fees.  I think the only fee is what they take out to process and that is it.  All you need is an iPhone, iPad, or Droid.  The bestest investment we made this year!

The earrings are Enameled Copper and our
Lampwork Beads

We were published in three magazines:

• Summer Stringing 2011
• August 2011 Bead Trends
• October 2011 Bead Trends

We participated in two Bead Soup Blog Parties - love the work and detail that Lori puts into this party!!!

• February 2011
• September 2011 with Erin from Treasure's Found and Inspiration is Everywhere

We participated in 10 of the Art Bead Scene monthly challenges.  We are going to be late on the December challenge again, but hey, it is the thought that counts.


I re-vamped the blog and the Etsy site in the last few months.  I was tired of the way the blog was looking plus I learned how to add tabs to the top of the blog all on my own, which I think is a feat in of itself.

Mom and I talked over what we were going to sell in the Etsy shop.  Because the bowls and jewelry weren't selling we decided to take those out of the shop and just sell the enameled pendants, lampwork beads and Viking Knit.  That seemed to go over really well.  Two of the ladies I blog follow, and love their work, purchased beads from the store.  So, that made us feel really good.

We hit most of our goals from last year, but we still need to work on re-motivating mom and myself and get mom on the torch again.

Our goals for this year:

• Work on the photography
• I did start a blog called EB (Evie and Beth) Photo Journal
• I want to see what mom and I can do with the photography in the next year.  If having two blogs becomes too much for me than I may let that blog go 
• Sell some of the photos that mom and I think are really good
• Be published in magazines
• We still want to work on being published in Bead Trends and Stringing but we want to try other magazines
• Participate in more challenges
• Participate in more swaps or collaborations
• Work more on the torch, for both of us
• Saw, Saw, Saw and Enamel, Enamel, Enamel more
• Try to get into more juried shows

What is your year in review like?  I hope it was a good one too.  See you in the new year. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

New Blog for Photos

Well, it is almost the new year and one of the things mom and I want to do in 2012 is focus more on the photography.  Mom says I have an addictive personality, give me something and I run hell bent for leather with it and I guess it is true as you see with the new blog.

Yesterday I created a new blog to focus on the photography: EB (Evie and Beth) Photo Journal.  Mom is a little worried I am taking on too much and I am sure she is correct, but I so want to do something with all the pictures we have been taking.  I know some of the photos are good enough to sell, but we will wait and see on that.

This blog is still my main focus but I want to take a year and see what happens with the photography.  I am still drooling all over the Canon Rebel T3 DSLR and I hope one day mom and I will be able to afford that camera, but for now I have my handy dandy point and shoot Canon PowerShot and I think it does a great job.

I am off to make sure mom is still in bed.  She got her last shot of the year this morning and she was a little bit more loopy than usual.  At least she didn't get sick this time, so that is a plus in my book.  I am back to work tomorrow and then we have Friday and Monday off.  I also plan on taking January 5th through the 10th off since I didn't take any vacation over the holidays.  I hope to work on beads and maybe help mom saw out a few things.  I have been nagging mom to write up directions for two necklaces I want to submit to magazines, so hope to get that done this weekend.

I hope you all have a great holiday, I am sure I will post again about the year in review and our plans for 2012.  Well, you already have a sneak peek on one of our goals.  Have a great one!

Giveaway by Lorelei's Blog

Lark Book Giveaway

Lorelei is having a giveaway!  A series of Lark Books and there are 8 books in the series and the winner will receive all 8 books.

If you would like to learn more about the books or how to participate in this giveaway, head on over to Lorelei's Blog.

Vegging Kinda Day

Fire Hydrant - Ann Arbor 2011

It is the day after Christmas; mom and I aren't doing much.  Mom just went through a lot of her paperwork and now it needs to be shredded.

Fire Hydrant Chain - Ann Arbor 2011

Me, I have just been playing on Pinterest and then playing with images in Picnik.

Fire Hydrant - Ann Arbor 2011

There is so much mom and I need to get done but we just don't seem to be motivated to do it.  The last few weeks for both of us has been a roller coaster ride of one thing after the other.  We both seem pretty depressed and it doesn't help that we both sort of feed off of each other.

Chain on Fire Hydrant - Ann Arbor 2011

Mom is off this week and I go back to work on Tuesday and Thursday (Wednesday mom is having the last shot she can have for the year).  It doesn't seem like the shot she had two weeks ago helped out at all, so she is allowed one more shot.  I really hope this helps mom because I hate to see her in so much pain.

Top of Fire Hydrant - Ann Arbor 2011

Mom and I need to get out of this funk!  I know I would feel better if I started to work out again, stopped about two months ago (don't ask me why).  I was feeling so good when I was working out and then I just stopped.  I need to get back on the band wagon and I need to get back into the studio.  I think that will help my mood a lot.  I also need to get mom back on the exercise band wagon too, of course that means getting her Wii fixed (Lily ate the cords on the Wii).

Chain on Fire Hydrant - Ann Arbor 2011

Sorry to be in such a funk, must be the holidays.  Mom and I will try to do better!  There is so much we need to get done, especially for 2012.  I do have a list of things I want us to do plus I want to go over what we did accomplish in 2011, but that will be in the New Year post.  I hope you all did have a wonderful holiday, and just ignore us while we try to get our act together.  Take care all!!!!

Merry Christmas from Us

Mom and I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone!  May you have a wonderful day with family and friends!!!!

Belated Wishfully Wanting Wednesday

Yes, I know it isn't Wednesday but I still wanted to keep the title the same.

Here are some of my favorite things all found on Etsy.

A Little Midnight Magic

Painted Cottage Aqua Chic Bed

Your Quote OOAK Ornament

Tractor Spectrum

Nature Photography

Oval Raku Forest Form

Crevan Silver Wire Wrapped Pendant with Citrine

My Mother's Sweater

Mint Sage Ivory Paper Origami Flower

Macrame Art Necklace

Today is the last day of work for four days, though mom has off all next week.  I am looking forward to working in the studio.  Mom is sawing out pieces that I am ready to enamel and I have some ideas for beads I want to make.  I am sure I will do another post before Christmas, but if I don't I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Playing with Picnik - I Heart Macro

Some sort of bush outside moms house

There was actually some snow on the ground when I finally made it over to mom's house this morning.  I thought I would take some pictures for I Heart Macro.  I was able to get some photos before the camera battery died on me.

Oriental Grass

Mom has a lot of oriental grass in her garden.  I love the fuzzy things, have no idea what they are called.  I like how the snow gets caught in the grass.

I thought it would be fun to play with the different effects in Picnik.  I am loving how the pictures have turned out.  I usually don't alter our pictures, but this was a lot of fun.

Last really good shot I took.  Most of the images I took were pretty fuzzy.  Then, after the battery was charged, of course, no more snow.  Oh well.

Those are my images for I Heart Macro Sunday.  If you would like to join the fun or check out what everyone else is taking macro shots of, head on over to Studio Waterstone.

So Angry I Saw Red!!!!



via Pinterest

That was me yesterday.  It has been building for months but it came to a head yesterday and I did lose it.  I soooooooo hate it when that happens, but OH MY GOD WAS I PISSED!!!!



via Pinterest

If this could only be easily done .  I know there are people and circumstances that will make me angry, it is a way of life, but DAMN!!!!!

via Pinterest

I also know that this is so true.  But I don't forgive, and I don't forget very well.  I know I should have compassion and let go of my anger because the only one it is hurting is me.  But I am one who stuffs, mounts and dances a jig around the thing that has pissed me off.  I know that this is not good for me and only hurts me, but sometimes I just can't let go.

via Pinterest

So, I am going to try and do this - forget.  Not completely, I do plan on doing something about the situation, but I plan on blanking the person out.  That person ceases to exist.  I know they won't stop pissing me off, but I will let it run off me like water.  They are so not worth it!

via Pinterest

So, I have made a decision, and I have a plan.  Lori, Studio Waterstone, had a post on Wednesday about defining moments.  I have to say that moment came to me on Friday, when the inkling I had finally came true.  The only one who can make a difference is me!!!!!  I have two goals now; I plan on making those goals come true.

via Pinterest

I am awesome!  Mom said it to me last night, and I have people reinforcing the same thing all the time.  I let myself forget yesterday, and I WON'T let that happen again.  No one, I mean no one should have that kind of power over me.  For a while, I let that person have that power, and I am so disappointed at myself for letting that happen.  No more.



via Pinterest

As a friend told me, this event happened for a reason.  Yesterday was my defining moment, grab it and run with it.  I have already started in that direction, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.  I wish I could go into details of what happened, but I just can't.  I just had to purge it from my system like toxic waste.  I am ready - Bring It!!!!

Wishfully Wanting Wednesday

It is another Wishfully Wanting Wednesday.  I wanted to get this post done before I take mom over to get her last pain shot of the year.  A few weeks ago the pain started up again in her neck and shoulder blade but now it was also going to the other shoulder blade, so pain in another area.  She finally got into see the pain doctor last Friday and he was able to schedule her in today (thank goodness!).  Mom in pain is not a happy person and then I freak out because I can't make it better. 

So, some pretties to make the day a happy one.  Enjoy!!!

Clock and Dagger - by La Bella Joya

Frivolous Flowers Tutorial - by Beadology My Life & Times

Copper Elements by For My Sweet Daughter

Shabby Chic - by Schnitzkastchen (sorry don't know how to add the umlaut to the 'a')

Santa Earrings - A Work in Progress

Fire Tractor 8 - by Wolf Heart Photography

Capsule Necklace - By Reinvented Objects

Joss Stone Dress - by Momosoho

Antique Tree Landscape - by galeriedeilluminata  

Evergreen Wood Ring - by janeeroberti