Trading Jewelry for Makeup

It's Monday, which means time to share more Bead Up projects with y'all! I have been so blessed with a great community at church that has really taken a liking to Bead Up. When I look around the women in my congregation, I smile because I have made jewelry for a good 50% of them! One of my favorite customers from church bought one of my favorite little sterling silver necklaces at my jewelry show last October: A few weeks ago she told me that she wears the necklace often, though would love a matching set of earrings to accompany the coral, pearl, and turquoise beads of the necklace. She also requested earring that were about 1.5" long and that I use ear hoops that clasp in the back so she doesn't lose them. Done and done! One of the unexpected joys of making jewelry is that I have been able to use what I have created as gifts, payment, or items to trade for others! A gal pal of mine from high school is a Bare Escentuals consultant and has been proving me with at-cost make up since I switched to the line last summer. This shipment around, she asked if I could pay her back in Bead Up goods! She was hoping that I could make her future mother-in-law a birthday gift of wine charms. My pal said that her F-M-I-L was super girlie, likes glitz and sparkle, and loves wine! I rushed to Michael's to buy some sterling silver "girlie" charms and came up with these: The charms include a stiletto heel, decorated heart, purse, and Eiffel tower ('cause what can get more feminine that that?!). I also added several different colors and sized of pink crystal beads on the little silver ear-hoops. Here is what my gal pal had to say about them: "Omg love the charms...... They are perfect. The Eiffel tower couldn't be more on target, there whole house is decorated 'country French' and has a couple rooms with Eiffel tower stuff in them!" Glad that worked out - I thought I was taking a gamble on the Eiffel tower charm! Finally, thanks to everyone who participated in Nilsa and my GIVEAWAY last week! We had 52 entries! The winner was actually a Bead Up client who originally found my Etsy shop through Nilsa's blog a few months ago! Now I must get to work - there were many outfits on the red carpet and I have much to discuss on this week's Fashionably Friday: Oscar Style post! Have a great week! In the meantime, if you are the Bible Devotional type, check out my contribution to my friend's blog as she aims to study the whole Bible through blog posts in a year!

Do It Yourself: Jewelry Displays

With my jewelry party less than 3 weeks away, I have started to do some serious thinking about how exactly I plan on displaying all my stuff. Granted, I could easily just plop the stuff on a table and focus on the cupcakes and cocktails, but what fun is that? This whole process has proven to me that I am totally my mother, an interior designer's, daughter. And admittedly a bit OCD about it, too ;) A few weeks ago I stumbled upon an awesome DIY article from the ever impressive Hostess with the Mostess on how to make this super chic Pink Tree centerpiece: Of course I went gaga and immediately told the Hubs to invest in the branch material used in the picture, called Manzanita branches (I figured I would let him figure it out since I had no clue where to get it!). Being the thrifty man that he is (to the point of bordering on cheap, gotta love it), he insisted that we didn't need to invest in the branch since the lemon tree in our back yard would work just as well. I was a bit hesitant at first (especially since we are renters!). There were, of course, lots of baby lemons left over. RIP little branch! After chopping down a good hunk of the tree, Hubs trimmed it down a bit and got rid of some of the bark. It was starting to take shape! Having searched high and low at Michael's, Home Depot, and Lowe's, the OCD in me finally found a shade of pink I could live with (i.e. just like the shade in the picture!). And so the spray painting began: We used a whole darn can of spray paint ($6) on this bad boy! Next, we cut some floral foam ($4) to fit into a clear square vase I had sitting around the house. After sticking the (newly dry) branch into the foam, I next had to decide on a color/print for the base (scrapbook paper, of course!). I measured the vase and cut the paper accordingly :) (and of course used Bead Up colors!) But we can't let the green foam show, now can we? Rather than investing on plastic-y looking fake flowers, I searched around the house for some kind of consistent color and theme for the base. I managed to find 5 different kinds of black flowers I use as hair clips and broaches. Done! Next to hang the jewelry to make sure it works: And Voila! $10 later, we have ourselves a fully functional tree jewelry display! I am sure if I had a baby blue wall like the Hostess with the Mostess example, it would look totally comparable! I kind of like the brown/black "clash" - who says you can't use these two "clashing" colors at the same time? Next week: DIY Jewelry Display - #$*& you, Oriental Trading Company! I can make that myself!