Is anyone still out there? Update

Hello, to all my beady friends.  It's been a long time.  I've been away from beading for a long time now, but two of my projects will be coming up in a book that's going to print any time now called The Complete Photo Guide to Beading by Robin Atkins.  It is available at that link for pre-order on Amazon.com.  Hope you check it out and buy a copy for your bead library!

In the meantime, I have been going through some personal struggles.  I've had a lot of health issues related to my weight.  In March of this year I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.  Not good.  So I have been on a journey to regain my health.  I have been successful thus far.  My A1C levels (blood glucose average for 3 months) is almost normal, I've lost 47 lbs so far, my blood pressure is back to normal and my cholesterol levels are almost in the normal range.  I've got about 95 more lbs to go to get to my goal weight.  Along my journey I have learned so much about healthy eating and living with diabetes that I decided to start a new blog, Beating Diabetes and Losing Weight Along the Way.  In this blog I will be giving information I have learned from my Dr., my nutritionist and my research in general, as well as recipes and product reviews.  I hope you will stop by.  It could be very helpful or motivating to reclaim your own health, or even you are at a healthy weight how to stay there and some yummy recipes to try.  I'm going to try at least one new main dish recipe each week, take pics of the steps, give the ingredients, directions and nutritional information.  This week I will be making a honey and pecan crusted chicken that is both low cal and low carb.  I also hope you will tell your friends about it.  A diabetic eating plan is healthy for everyone, whether you have diabetes or not.  I hope you will stop by and drop me a note.

I hope all of you are well. 

Many Thanks to All

It has been a very good ride, learning all I did about beading.  Then sharing it with all of you and getting some great feedback.  I've made some really good friends through my blog that I hope to stay in touch with.  But it is time for me to say goodbye for now.  I can no longer bead due to the extreme pain caused by carpal tunnel.  Tomorrow I am passing along most of my beads and little treasures to one of my students...my mom.  I will check back in when it is time to tell you all about the book that some of my projects are going to be in.  For now, though, it's time to turn off the lights.

You can still find me in blogland.  I'll be writing from time to time and posting pics of my life adventures at Indigo Days.  I hope to see you there.  Please keep in touch.

We Have Some Winners!

The Bead Crafty giveaway for 3 $20 gift cards ended yesterday, November 8th at 5:00 p.m. EST.  That means that there are 7 entries into the contest.  I used a Random Number Generator at random.org to select the winners.  The first winner of $20 to Bead Crafty is.....

Kristin K!!!  Congratulations, Kristin!   The second winner is......

And that would be Abracadebra!!!  Congratulations, Debbie!  And the final winner is.......

Another Debbie...Craftymoose!!!!  Congratulations!  I will be sending you all an email with more information about your prizes.  I want to say thank you to those of you who entered and shared this contest with others.

Bead Happy!!!!

Preview

GIVEAWAY!!! Enter Drawing for $20 Gift Card!

FREE BEADS!  Who doesn't want the chance to order beady things and get presents in the mail FOR FREE???!!!  All you have to do is follow, visit the sponsor's site and comment (on previous post here) what you would to buy.  And an extra entry for sharing on Facebook or your blog.  It's so easy!  Why aren't you entering??? 

UPDATE!!!  I got word from Bead Crafty, the sponsor of this giveaway, that they will be offering 200 lines that will go live in November!!!  Come on and enter so you can win one of 3 $20 Gift Cards to Bead Crafty!!!

Deadline is November 8, 2011 at 5p.m. EST.  Come on in and play!

A Beady Review and a Chance to Win One of 3 Prizes!

I would like to present to you a source for beads that is new to me, and it may be new to you too.  Bead Crafty is a nice little online bead shop that is based out of the UK.  But don't let that deter you!  They pick orders the very same day they are placed, and shipping to the US is only $1.95!  The orders may take up to 2 weeks to arrive.  However, I think they have some lovely little finds that are worth checking out and waiting a few extra days for.

Their site is easily laid out so you can find in a snap exactly what you are looking for.  They have 3 main categories:  beads, charms and findings.  Some of the categories are a little slim, and you may not find every component you are looking for to make a specific project (not to say you can't), but what they may lack in quantity they make up for in quality and unique items.  For example, one thing I had never seen before I visited Bead Crafty was kilt pins.  There are 3 loops that you can attach beads to, and would make a wonderful decorative pin or something similar.  Neat!

The prices on Bead Crafty are very reasonable.  And, even though it's a UK site, all the prices are shown in US dollars so there is no confusion about what you are getting for the price.  The prices are clearly marked and to find out the size or more description of an item, all you have to do is hover over it and a little box will pop up.

Also on the site are some interesting Tips & Tricks.  One that I thought was interesting and different was how to make a beaded lampshade.  Beads aren't just for jewelry, are they?  One section that I could not get to was the link for the FAQ's.  I'm a little weird that way...I like to read FAQ's.  Is that strange or do others do that too?  I hope they can get the link fixed to that page so I can check it out.

I sent an email asking about the inventory, to which I received a prompt reply btw, and Sarah said they are going to be expanding their offerings, but their main objective is quality first.  Overall I think Bead Crafty is a quaint little site with some interesting finds.  To me it is the difference in shopping at a charming little boutique versus getting lost in a mega warehouse store.  I think it is worth your while to check it out.  And to give you some incentive to do just that, I AM OFFERING PRIZES thanks to the fine people at Bead Crafty!  YEA!!!!  And there are more than one to be had, so please please please tell your friends about this  giveaway.

How to enter:

1.  Follow my page.
2.  Leave a comment giving two things.  First, I need your email to contact you and to get your info so you can have your prize!!!!  If I can't get in touch with you, then the prize will have to go to someone else and that would be sad.  Second, visit Bead Crafty and tell me one thing you would buy first if you won the prize.
3.  Post to Facebook or your own blog WITH A LINK BACK TO MY POST and get an extra entry (leave 2 separate comments if you do this.)  I will need a link to the post so I can see that you actually did it.

What are the prizes???

How about 3 $20 credits to their shop!  Doesn't that sound like fun?  Let's go shopping!!!!  So, don't be afraid to invite more people.  After all, you want good karma so you can win, right?  lol.  Ok, so maybe karma won't really be a factor, but hey, you never know.

The winners will be chosen by a random number generator and entries will be accepted until, oh let's say 2 weeks...November 8th at 5:00 p.m. EST.  Sound good?

Ok, kids...Get posting!

New Post

New post on Indigo Days if you would please like to join me there!

New Post (but not here)

For a little while I'll let everyone know here when I make a new post to my 2nd home over at Indigo Days.  There's one up tonight, so go check it out.  And I think I got my Follow button working, so please sign up!  There's a few of us over there, but I sure would like to see more of you!  Come on over!

dang technology!

I just discovered that the Follow gadget wasn't working on my new blog, Indigo Days.  (I almost called it Indigo Daze lol...that's how my days are sometimes...just in a daze.)  anyhoo.  I want to thank the people who came to check it out, and I would ask that you please go back and try following again.  I think it should work now.  I'm thinking about a giveaway to give some incentive to come on over.  What would you all like to see for a giveaway?  Give me some ideas to think about.

It's been a long time!

I have been seriously MIA, haven't I?  Sorry I have been away from Blogger for so long.  I really need to get caught up on everyone's blogs.  Do you forgive me for not visiting you lately?  I hope so!

I have no beads to share. :(  Due to lack of funds and the fact that my muse has abandoned me, I haven't created anything since working on the projects for the book.  The book has been keeping me busy, and I really hope that you will stick with me long enough to see it published so you can look at what I've been doing.  As of right now I will have 3 projects in it.  I am very excited about what I have designed, but unfortunately I can't share it with you yet.  In addition to designing and beading the projects, I have had to become somewhat of a mini expert in Photoshop to edit my photos and get them ready for print.  Each photo takes about 2 hours, so it's very time consuming!

I want to announce that I have created a new blog that I hope you all will visit and follow.  Why did I do that?  Simply because I have more to share than just beads.  Yes, beads are completely fantabulous, and I truly love them, but that's just one facet of what my life is.  So, I guess my new blog will be a little more up close and personal.  I'll still post here from time to time, but I think the bulk of my posts, beads and otherwise, will be over at my new spot at Indigo Days.  I do hope you will come see me there.  And I also hope that you haven't given up on me here.

I miss hearing from everyone, so I need to get back to blogging...both my stuff and reading yours!

Mirrix Loom For Sale

Hi ho, everyone!  I hope all of my friends out there in blogland are doing well.  I have an Ebay listing up right now.  I have an 8" Mirrix Lani Loom that I have never used that I am selling.  If you are interested, please click here to go to the listing.  There are about 3 1/2 days left to bid, or you can buy it outright now for 50% off the current list price.  The opening bid is $50.00.  There is only one bid right now, but there are 8 people watching it, so I expect there will be bids close to when it ends.  Here is a photo of what will come in the box:

On beady news, I've got nothing.  I strung a necklace on beading wire with just a mix of beads and there 2 beads on it that are making me not like it.  I need to restring it and get those beads off.  It's on a stand on my kitchen counter and I wrinkle my nose and make the icky face when I pass it by.  Other than that, nothing really.  Ever since I worked on and finished the book projects, things have really quieted down for a while.  I think part of it was because I was so intensely working on those things that I got a little worn out and now need a break.

What is on your table?  Share with me.  Or drop me a note and just say hi.  Anyone is welcome to email me at anytime at indigosbeads@live.com.  Hope to hear from you!