March's Birthstone, Aquamarine on SALE

This is just a quick post to let you know that it is...SALE TIME!!!

***MARCH BIRTHSTONE SALE*** Today through friday, (3/19-3/22) take 20% OFF all purchases of AQUAMARINE gemstones and crystals at Tiger Bead Store! *(Please make your purchase first and the discount will be credited back to your Paypal account or credit card).*

Here is a sample of what I have available:

4mm round cabochons.

Wire wrapped swarovski crystal pendant.

Crystal Swarovski briolette pendant.

Crystal Swarovski briolette pendant.

Swarovski Crystal Pendant  in 8mm and 4mm.

Crystal Swarovski pendant in Baroque style.

Faceted Aquamarine in 4mm and 5mm.

I have more aquamarine cabochons coming in at any moment,  in rose cut and checkerboard.  I will list them as soon as I get them, so that hopefully, they will be a part of this SALE.  

Watch for them in the bead store, or on my Tiger Bead Store Facebook page.  Since I have not been very good about blogging lately, you can find out about new gemstone listings by following me on Facebook.  I am much better about staying up to date with news there.    

Peacock Chain Earrings Tutorial

Found this new tutorial on the website "Craftsy."  They are called Peacock Chain Earrings and they look pretty simple to make.  I really like how colorful these earrings are.  You may not have the same beads, but the photo gives you an idea of colors to try.  Use multi colors, or a single color, or shades of a color.  Whatever you choose,  they look fun and playful.

Because of how they are made with the jump rings, they will have a lot of movement to them, another feature I like.

The original design is by XQDesigns.  Xqdesigns is the Chief Editor behind the popular blog, www.handmade-jewelry-club.com.  You can also find her work at www.diylessons.org.

How to Make Wrapped Leather Bracelets

This tutorial is from the blog Rings & Things.  I just love the contemporary feel to the bracelet.  And it could be made for a man or a woman.   I, personally, have seen these bracelets on different shopping sites retailing for $120. to $150.  But with these instructions, you can make them for a whole lot less.  Make one for yourself, or two, or three.  Or make them as a gift.  That is what I am planning to do.  I have a friend's birthday coming up and I all ready have the beads and thread and cord picked out.  I can't wait to give it a go.

How to make wrapped leather bracelets

Wire and Bead Tutorial

This is a new bracelet tutorial from Judy Larson and found on Beading Gem's website.

Braided Wire and Bead Bangle Tutorial

I Have a Dream

Over this year, I have purchased many items for my bead store that have never made it to Tiger Beads. I would just buy more and more and get overwhelmed with all the photographing and listing I needed to do. Buying the beads and gems is always much more fun.

But I have a dream! I am going to do my best to photo and list the cabs and beads and pendants I just have stored and get them in my store. I also need to rephotograph some of my beads. Some of my photos just do not do justice to how pretty some of these beads really are.

So if you need supplies, keep an eye on my bead store for more additions.

And a Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers and their families.

Artfire is On Fire

Artfire, an online selling venue for handmade arts and crafts is on fire!! They keep adding more and more new features to the site to make it very artist friendly. The latest addition is the ability to download all your listings from Etsy to Artfire with minimal editing to each listing. It's a great feature. It takes a lot of time putting a listing on both venues. This will be a great time saver.

Thanks Artfire!

BIG Bead Sale at Tiger Beads

Time to clear out the inventory to make way for new items at Tiger Beads. I have many great bead deals listed, many strands below wholesale. Take a look. You may find just what you need for your next creation!

FedEx Delivers a New Order

Hurray! FedEx just delivered a new order from one of my suppliers. Always one of the best days in my whole life. Just a joke. My son used to say that whenever something good happened to him such as seeing a Batman movie or not having to go to school for some reason.

But it is exciting. Receiving new gemstones is like being a kid in a candy store. As a jewelry artist, these are the tools of the trade. Not the boring tools like pliers and wire cutters, but the pretty, fancy stuff, that enhance a design.

I ordered cabachons in different stones than I currently have available at Tiger Beads, and new briolettes, labradorite and iolite. I hope to get the photography started today so I can list them in the store.

Stop by soon, even just to look if you have an interest in gemstones.

New Cabachons

I am beginning to carry cabachons for ring and pendant designing. Some are calibrated in size and others have been cut to a custom size. The stones are beautiful. Take a look:


Prehnite Rounds


Moonstone Rounds


Turquoise


Charolite

I will be adding many more so keep coming back!

New Necklaces

Whenever I buy new beads for Tiger Beads, I almost always have to keep a strand for myself. I have been collecting for a while now, not knowing how I wanted to use them. This weekend, I took the time just to be creative and to make myself some new jewelry pieces. This is what I came up with.

Lavender Pearls and Sugilite

Ebony Twist Beads and Amazonite

Cool Ebony Triangle Beads and Yellow Jade

Artfire

I just opened a second Tiger Beads store on Artfire, a handmade art and crafts website similar to Etsy. It seems Artfire has taken most of the suggestions sellers have asked for from Etsy but Etsy has not responded to. Once Artfire becomes more known, it is going to be quite the competition for Etsy. Etsy just does not respond to the needs of its sellers very well.

One of the things I really like about Artfire is how easy it is to set up listings. Everything you need to fill out is on one page. I like the looks of my store site and the Artfire homepage, which is what you see first when you visit. And I think their flat monthly fee is fair instead of listing fees and selling fees.

Take a look at Artfire, and check out Tiger Beads II. Right now I have more listed at Etsy but I hope to fill out my Artfire inventory real soon.

More New Briolettes

In my ever widening search to find the best beads for my bead store, I came across these beauties.


Lovely Pink Amethyst. This is a very pretty, almost delicate looking stone. These gems are a pale pink color.


These gems are a Sky Blue Chalcedony faceted briolette. Gorgeous color.


Labradorite. My favorite.


And Green Amethyst faceted pear briolettes.

For more detailed information on any of these beads, visit Tiger Beads.

Tiger Beads is also having a SALE ON ALL WOOD BEADS. They are 25%OFF for a limited time. I have a very nice selection available. Stop by if you are interested.

Beautiful Briolettes

Briolettes, my favorite. Lovely shapes, lovely colors. What's not to like?







From the top photo down:

Citrine
Beer Quartz
Smokey Quartz
Pink and Purple Chalcedony
Natural Chalcedony
Purple Veined Chalcedony

For more information, please go to Tiger Beads.

More Pretty New Beads

All of these new beads are available at Tiger Beads. They are part of my last shopping spree.


Sparkly Neon Micro Faceted Apatite Rondelles


Blue Flash Labradorite Heishi Beads


Juicy Mango Chalcedony Round Beads


And Rainbow Moonstone Micro Faceted Rondelles

Sunstone

I seem to really like the shiny, sparkly gemstones. Sunstone is one of them. The nicest sunstone I have found is from a local supplier. These pendants are the second batch I have purchased from him. And here is my first ever video on my blog.



These are just a few of the pendants I currently have in my bead store.






I did a little research because I was interested in knowing where sunstone comes from.

"Sunstone is the State Gem of Oregon, a prime source for this beautiful gem.

Sunstone is metallic in appearance and comes in red, orange or green colors. However, cleaner red sunstone is very rare and it commands true gemstone prices. The stone is a composition of oligioclase feldspar which also contains hematite or goethite. The presence of hematite or goethite creates a reflections of light, hence the name sunstone.

Sunstone is formed in molten lava and is discharged onto the surface with the help of a volcano. The lava weathers away or is broken. Fine crystals of sunstone is then released. The Oregon sunstone is found with copper in it which is the cause for the range of colors in the stone from water color to yellow and many shades of green, red and pink.

In ancient times, this stone was used by natives for barter. It was also believed by the Vikings to be a talisman for navigation. Today, it is widely linked with human being as protective energy. It lends extra energy at times of stress or ill health."

Information from www.MineralsZone.com

New Beads

Here are some of the new beads I have purchased for Tiger Beads lately.


Lepidolite Rondelles (this photograph is darker than the actual beads)


Lepidolite Rounds


Caribbean Blue Jade Rounds


Angelic Crab Agate Rounds


And Deep Red Chalcedony Briolettes

There will many more new beads coming!
Check out Tiger Beads for more information on all strands.

A Great Saturday

I had a really good day yesterday. I have been working on an outdoor enclosure for my cats so they can go outside, safely, and lie in the sun, and listen to the sounds. Especially since the weather is getting better. After I figured out my plans for how to build it, it took me 3 hours last saturday and maybe 3 hours at the most yesterday. I had the help of my nephew to attach the chicken wire and to put the top of the enclosure on the bottom. This is the end result.


I call this Tiger's room because he is the whole reason I built it.

My plan is the add onto this, an enclosed walkway through the grass to another larger "room" type area where they can hang out. but for right now, I am very pleased with what is all ready done.

The other thing I did on saturday was go to a bead show in our local area. I am increasing my inventory of beads at Tiger Beads and I purchased some very beautiful goodies. I found some new crystal beads that sparkle like I have never seen before. And a very good price too! And I bought some beautiful briolettes.

Today's plan is to photograph, edit, and get some new listings at my bead store, Tiger Beads. I'll probably share some photos here too. I love getting new beads!

Finally, New Beads

Just unpacked a new order of beads so I will have a little show and tell.


These bright blue beads are Carribean blue jade and they are 5.5mm in size. Boy, I can tell you, they are very bright.



And these larger beads are Angelic crab agate and they are 13mm in size. These beads have a cool crackly effect in them. They are really pretty beads.

I've been going on a shopping spree lately so there will be plenty more to see real soon. Get more details about these and other beads at Tiger Beads.

WINTER SALE.........up to 75% OFF at The Tiger Bead Store

I started a SALE today in my Tiger Bead Store. Everything must go! Many items are on sale for up to 75% OFF. Others are 25% and 50% OFF.

Take a look and stock up on supplies for the new year!

While I Was Away

Sorry I've been away so long. As I stated, I am trying to integrate my new kitten Motor (who just happens to be on my lap) into our household. What that really means is needing to watch how he and Tiger are together. I can tell you it is wrestle mania here. If you are interested in more about how the cats are doing, please go to my new blog, "The Very Best Cats."

So I am in my first Showcase at Etsy today. A Showcase is a way to have your work stand out from the crowd for a day. There are MANY artists trying to sell their art work there so it is important to somehow stand out.

Wanted to share some new earrings I have made lately.




The top 2 are beaded with crystals and the last one is crystals and glass. Of course, I call that pair "Cherries."