I have talked about Silva Neilands and her website  Old Beads

before.  On her website you can find beautiful old silver beads from North Africa, strands of anciecnt carnelians, amulets from Asia, India, all sorts of beautiful adornments.  If you have some time, make yourself a cup of tea, look through Silva's website, and be inspired! She just  posted a lot of new things.  Hers is one of the few newsletters I subscribe to so I can see her newest additions.

Strand of Old Carnelians from Old Beads

thank you thank you thank you!I am closing in on my 600 sale on Etsy!  Hard for me to imagine all that glass and time at the torch.

I am so grateful for all of my great customers, for your support and encouragement!  As a thank you, the 600th customer will receive a surprise strand of beads and everyone else on the day of 600th sale will get a surprise as well.

You can see my current listings HERE on Etsy

Thanks to all my wonderful customers and friends on etsy!

ellen

I received this lovely note from a great customer this morning and it made my day! 

Many thanks!

"Hi Ellen,

lampwork beads instead of roses!

 ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥

Year of the Tiger Wooden Toy from IndiaThis year, 2010, is the Chinese year of the tiger.  I was born in a year of the Dragon.

The tiger to the left is a great old wooden tiger toy I found on a trip to Maharastra, India.

I found this description of people born in the years of the tiger.

 People born is the following years are "tigers".  Is this you?

1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, and 1998.

 Born to lead, Tigers can be stubborn if they realize they’re not in charge. They have a slight tendency to be selfish but overall, Tigers are extremely generous. They’re very intelligent and they’re always on alert. Tigers are very charming and are well-liked by others. They are not motivated by money or power.

creek frog saved from chickensOn a totally different note, we found this big guy out by the creek this morning. Luckily for him, we scooped him up and set him into the creek before the "girls", our little flock of hens found him.

Happy Year of the Tiger and Valentines Day!

ellen

February Lampwork Trio on EtsyI know, a lot of the country is digging out this morning, but I have spring on my mind.  The three sets I listed today on Etsy are in three different colorways, but they look great together, perfect for anyone putting together a line of spring/summer jewelry!  Click on the photo of the trio to get a closer look

I always think it is so interesting to take out my case of beads and let a friend go through them and put sets together.  Today, I did that myself.  I had several sets listed on Etsy, when I went to one of my favorite shops, Stepanka Ceramics to pay for a cup I had special ordered.  After looking through her shop and seeing this cup, I decided to take a few of my lampwork bead sets apart and put them together in a new grouping.  Here they are on Etsy and I love them this way.

Thanks so much for the inspiration, Stepanka!

ellen