A Party and A Sale

So I missed this past Feature Friday. There was a reason I said, "Lord willing!" I knew last week was going to be crazy, but I wasn't actually prepared for how crazy it was!

It was a WONDERFUL week full of family and food! Doesn't get much better than that.

Unfortunately, it was also a week full of no internet or iPhoto access. So my online business and blog have seriously taken a hit! I don't know when I'll be back up and running.

God has His reasons for things.

In the meantime, my mom is having a DandLs DangLs Jewelry party!

Saturday, December 4, 10am-1pm

• Touch/Hold/Try on all the jewelry you want
• Eat yummy snacks
• Enter to win free jewelry
• Find unique, handcrafted jewelry to give as gifts this Christmas season
• Purchase gift cards
• See yours truly in creative action
• Bring friends and enjoy fellowship

Hope to see you there!!!

(Email me for directions - dandlsdangls@gmail.com)

Also...

I've never braved Black Friday. Not my thing. But Cyber Monday - I'm all about that! So of course DandLs DangLs is having a sale! 25% off everything in my shop beginning at 6am and ending at midnight!

If you plan to attend the jewelry party, you can still take advantage of this sale! Just let me know in the note to seller that you'll be picking up your jewelry at the party and I'll refund the shipping and have your jewelry waiting for you!

Go to my Etsy shop tomorrow (Monday) and check it out!

Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving!! THANK YOU for supporting my love for jewelry making!

Feature Friday #3

Eventually I will figure out how to make a button so if you're featured, you can add my button to your site. But of course I never think to work on it when I actually have the time to.

Yes, I should write it down.

But have you seen my desk?? No, you haven't seen my desk and you never will see my desk in the state it has been in lately! So don't even ask. And don't try to imagine it. Just forget I mentioned it.

So I really like themed feature Fridays so in light of the coming holiday (Thanksgiving) I'm going to feature things that are reminiscent of things/people I am thankful for.

First of all, I'm thankful for my husband...

These are AWESOME! Made with a real soccer ball! 

Find them at qacreate and buy them for my hubs.

Second, I'm thankful for my baby girl...

It's hard to find Elmo things that are for girls! While I can't imagine my sporty girl wearing a tutu, this outfit just has to be featured! I love it!

Find this fantastic outfit at Nanastutus

Third, I'm thankful for my JackJack...

Okay, so he's only 4 months old. It's hard to know what he's into right now. But He is definitely in need of something to keep his squishy feet warm. I was sold on these as soon as I saw the name of the shop - PleasantlyPlumpKnits!

My son defines "pleasantly plump."

Finally, I'm thankful for the Word of God...

This verse has been very important in my life lately. And it is beautifully displayed here!

Find this gorgeous canvas at soul blessings shop!

I could go on and on.

But instead, what are you thankful for??

 By the way, next week (Lord willing!) I'll be featuring one shop that I love. I recently won something from them that I just received today and can't wait to show off! Check out their shop while you wait :)

Happy Friday!

Bead Shopping with my girl.

As I've mentioned before, my baby girl loves to bead shop with me. And I'm beginning to enjoy shopping with her, too!

It definitely wasn't always pleasant. But now that she's old enough to walk around on her own and (usually) obediently stay nearby, it's been fun.

While I hate the idea of her growing up, I'm looking forward to when she can join DandLs DangLs and create jewelry with all the beads she picks out!

Christmas Dangles

When I was little, I loved sporting the holiday-inspired jewelry. I think I still have the Easter Bunny earrings from years and years ago. Thankfully that was years and years ago.

Since then my taste in jewelry has settled down a little. In fact, I much prefer simple. Unique, but simple. With that in mind I came up with these 3 pairs of dangles. What do you think?

O Christmas Tree Dangles

Christmas Copper Dangles

Ornament Dangles

And even after the holiday season is over, these designs can be custom made with all sorts of colors!

These will be posted on my website soon. Gotta share them with my wonderful Facebook fans first!

Feature Friday #2

It's Friday! I didn't spend as much time browsing the web this week as usual. The stomach bug my little family still is trying to shake even kept me from watching Castle! I love that show.

But it's not hard to find some pretty awesome shops/blogs/crafts out there! It's especially not hard to find adorable and wonderful baby things! I may have gotten carried away...

My awesomely creative friend, Jill, came up with this adorable tutu for her daughter. So easy!

Find the tut for the tutu here.

Oh. My. Word.
I must hold this child.

Buy this hat by IlzeMemories

My sis-in-law (who happens to be a DandLs DangLs employee!) made a bumper pad for her baby girl's bed. She just whipped this thing up and it's fantastic!

Learn how to make one here!

Personalized puzzle stool! Maybe Marie would learn her name is not spelled "A-r-a-r-a"

Buy one! From AnneMarieGifts

 

While I'll normally feature a piece from my shop, I don't sell baby things right now so I'll leave you with this picture of my beautiful baby girl wearing a pair of earrings I made her.

I cannot believe that was over a year ago... Someone stop her! She's growing up MUCH TOO FAST!

Alright. I'm done. Happy Friday!

(Don't forget to get your discount! Find out how here)

Headpins and Eyepins and Wire, oh my!

So you've got a little overview of some basic tools. What's next? Headpins and eyepins. You've gotta have something to use your new tools on!

I still use headpins regularly. This is what they generally look like:

You can get a variety of colors, gauges, and lengths. They can be found at any craft store that carries jewelry-making supplies. (Try Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or Joann Fabrics - my 3 faves).

Use:
To hold beads

Example:

 Tips:
-Stick with packages of headpins that are all the same length (It's frustrating trying to sift through different lengths to find just the right one).
-Save your left over pieces (if they are long enough to be functional) as they can later be used as eyepins.

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I don't purchase eyepins anymore. Instead I make them with wire. But in the beginning it's SO much easier to buy a package or two of eyepins.

These can also be found in a variety of colors, gauges, and lengths at just about any craft store.

Uses:
To hold beads
To connect a section of beads to another section

Examples:

Tips:
-Stick with packages of eyepins that are all the same length
-Save your leftover pieces
-If you plan on venturing into wire jewelry, you'll quickly save money by making these instead of buying them.

------------

I love wire jewelry. I loved it before I knew it was possible to make it by hand. I'm so excited to be learning how to make wire jewelry.

Photo Credit

Headpins and eyepins are just wire. When you get the hang of things, save yourself some money and make them with wire. This also gives you more freedom to be even more creative and add your own unique style. But until then, I hope I've helped you take your next step toward the wonderful world of jewelry making!

Don't forget to check out how to get a discount for the coming holiday season!

Discount Giveaway!

One of my very favorite parts of Christmas is giving gifts! Unfortunately this year that opportunity is limited due to very limited finances. So I wanted to take this opportunity to give you all a gift!

Follow this blog, let me know in a comment on this post, and you will receive a 10% discount via email good through January 1, 2011! And two randomly drawn followers will receive a 40% discount!

That means every single one of you will receive a discount coupon!  Woot woot!

(Giveaway ends Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010)

DandLsDangLs.com

Feature Friday #1

So I browsed some Etsy shops that I've marked as favorites since I joined the Etsy world. Here are a handful of favorite items!

Love this quilt from Bravo in Bloom! My little dude would look fantastic wrapped up in this!

Purple and green. Does it get any better? From Sweet Dixie Designs.

I was drawn to this bc it's gorgeous and the title is "Midwest Daydreams." Living in the midwest, I had to take a closer look. Lo and behold, the talented artist of EverybodyElse lives one town over!

I absolutely adore these teething toys from Little Alouette! Anyone want to get one for my baby Jack for Christmas? :)

And here's a little self-promotion... my favorite creation in my shop right now.

Interested in being featured? Just send me a link (DandLsDangLs@gmail.com) to your shop, blog, or website. 

((While certainly not required or even expected, a return feature would be so kind!))

Looking forward to next Friday! I love browsing creations and admiring talents!

I was featured!

My earrings tutorial was featured on The Train to Crazy. 



Thank you, Andrea! :)

"Feature Friday" and "Blog Hop"

I'm joining the rest of the blogosphere, and adding "Feature Friday" each week. For those of you who have been living under a rock, uh, haven't come across a Feature Friday yet, it's very simple.

Each Friday I'm going to Feature different items I've come across throughout the week that I love. These will be found on Etsy or in blogs or they will be sent to me by you! If you have an Etsy site or a personal website/blog or anything of the sort, send me a link (through email: DandLsDangLs@gmail.com, or leave a comment here or post a link on my facebook page: facebook.com/dandlsdangls). I'll browse your work, pick my favorite item and feature it! Free marketing! We all love that, right??

Also, I've joined a "blog hop" today. I found it over at The Trendy Treehouse. More free marketing! Add your site/blog or just browse everyone elses!