♥ Well, I thought it was exciting ;) ♥

I had my first package to ship to Australia this week! I know, I know. It may not be a big deal to some, but to me I was really thrilled! Hmmm....does this make me an "international seller" now? LOL. I admit I get excited when I make a sale in my Etsy Shoppe. Yes, I wear a silly smile all day. I love beading and it just makes me happy that someone likes my work enough to buy it. This economy has been a killer for alot of businesses but I'm hanging in there! I keep believing it will get better and one day I'll be doing this full-time. Well, if you're gonna dream, dream big!!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend! Stay cool & out this heat! :)

SHERI

♥ Friday Flickr Inspiration: Handmade Designer-Style Lampwork Jewelry ♥

I shared a bit yesterday about how I want to take my Etsy shoppe into another direction with the jewelry making. I used to hate lampwork beads because all I ever saw were those ugly bumpy ones. ;) You know what I mean? I had no idea how beautiful lampwork could be! Of course, you know I love flowers, so of course I naturally migrate towards those. Today I thought I'd share with you where I want my shoppe to go and the designs I want to start making. Hope you have a TEA-rrific weekend!! :) Keep crafting!

pinkcloudsandangels: pearl and lampwork bracelet

ariesdesignstoo: Vineyard Blossoms

Silverfish Designs: Seaside Lampwork bracelet

EternoJewelry: Tussie-Mussie Lampwork Glass and Sterling Earrings

Moonlighting Creations: Lampwork Christmas Bracelet

ctbydonna: Lampwork Earrings with Swarovski Crystals

lauwil243: Aqua Swirl Sterling Silver Lampwork Earrings

♥ Updating my Etsy Shoppe & Starting a New Line of Jewelry ♥

So what have I been up to lately? I gave up unpacking boxes for awhile and decided to work on my Etsy Shoppe. I have been so far behind in adding new items. I added about 40 new things to the shoppe this past week! Whew. I still have more to add. I'm wondering if I will ever finish. I have sworn to myself I will never get this far behind again and will start adding items as I make them. I think I was going through a bit of depression here lately and was barely keeping up on my blog, much less my shoppe. Thank goodness I think I'm coming through to the other side and I even feel inspired! I bought some new beads and so I will be "playing" this weekend for sure. ;) I hope I can wait that long!

More tea infusers in my shoppe! I LOVE this owl!

I started adding letter openers with beaded handle.

Of course, you know I had to make some teapot earrings! I have more of these to make so I hope to be adding them in the next week or so.

Added some beaded Wine or Bottle stoppers!

Tons of new earrings! All my earrings I have added are inexpensive, most of them under $10. I have people say, well they must not be quality if they are so cheap. Listen, I will let you in on a little secret....if you knew how inexpensive earrings are to make you would be appalled at the prices you are paying elsewhere! Unless they are made with 14K gold pieces or handmade lampwork or handblown glass pieces or the such, they are NOT expensive to make. I don't believe in over-charging or ripping people off. I want you to be happy with your item and come back and purchase more! :)



I have purchased some handmade lampwork beads that are just GORGEOUS and I cannot wait to get started making jewelry with them. It's a new line of jewelry I want to start making...designer pieces at affordable prices. They will be a bit more pricey than my usual earrings because these lampwork beads are handmade by a skilled artisan so they cost quite a bit more for me to purchase, BUT they will be 1/2 to 1/3 of the price of what I have seen listed on Etsy and Artfire so far!! Really, why rip people off? I mean I just don't see it. Personally I don't have $60-$90 to drop on a pair of earrings & I doubt you do too. (That's why they keep sitting in these sellers stores!! You'd think they'd figure that out.) Well, that's just how I feel about it. :)

I hope your week has gone well and you're looking forward to the weekend. I know I am! ;)

♥ Hump Day Humor ♥

YES! THAT'S HOW HOT IT'S BEEN HERE!! ;) LOL

♥ Friday Flickr Inspiration: Pinkeeps ♥

SheSewPretty: Bon Bon Pin Cushions
OurDesignedLife: Namolio

lauriescharmingdesigns: Teacup Bird Pin Cushion

A girl in paradise: Flamingo Pin cushion

gina2124: Baby shoe Pinkeep

fierce bunny: Needlework Pinkeep

rockriverstitches: Primitive Folk Art make do

♥ Friday Flickr Inspiration: For the Birds ♥

lauriescharmingdesigns: Handpainted Birdseed can

BooBeads: Bird Song Bracelet

lilyvanilli72: Embroidery birds

robinette handmade: Bird mobile

WonderlandShoppe: Bird of Paradise machine applique

moline: Teacup Birdie Pincushion

♥ Hump Day Humor ♥

♥ Friday Flickr Inspiration: Redwork ♥

megrje: Redwork Doll

Norththreads: Redwork Embroidery Pinkeep

Smelder: Redwork Pillowcase

Desertstitcher:Oriental Wallhanging

GailBojangles: Redwork Sewing Bag

Norththreads: Redwork Drawstring Bag

Trapos & Fiopos: Redwork Pillow

♥ Hump Day Humor ♥

♥ Friday Flickr Inspiration: Americana Crafts ♥

It's July! Can you believe it? We're going to take a break away from home this weekend and head to Gatlinburg TN. :) We went to their 4th of July parade last year and it was awesome! They start it at midnight on the 3rd and it lasts almost 2 hours!! Really! By the time we got back to our motel it was almost 3am & we were really glad that we were staying another night and not dragging out of town in a few hours like most of the tourists. Of course, I'll be back with tons of pictures from the parade! ;)

Since it's the 4th of July weekend, I had to share some Americana goodies with you this Friday! Hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July!

goodygoodygumdrops: Set of 3 patriotic cupcake canvases

Foxy-Momma: Patriotic Shooting Stars

katiessandboxart: Punchneedle americana

SummerSadie: Washington Cherry Wreath Quilt

solsisters: Americana bag

One2beeluved: Americana Pillow

SweetTreatsDolls: Primitive Raggedy Americana Doll