Brand Spanking New Website!

Yay it is finally here! A new re-designed website for Judith B. Designs, I am so excited to be sharing it with you all. To celebrate my new site I am offering a great giveaway. A typewriter key initial pendant...your choice of letter or symbol, all on a sterling ball chain.

To enter to win please visit my new site and tell me what you like or do not like about it, (don't worry I can handle it). If you'd like to share my giveaway grab the Judith B. button above and post it on your blog or site. Looking forward to your comments!

Giveaway ends Sunday March 7 @ 5pm. One random winner will be chosen and contacted by email.

Flea Market Friday

The third weekend of each month is the Nashville Flea Market held at the fairgrounds in Nashville. Besides hunting for antiques and treasures I look forward to going each month to purchase beads from Mary "the bead lady". Every jewelry designer needs a "Mary". She has really awesome beads and findings and it takes me hours to make my selections. I finally thought to take a few pictures of her tables and I know you will just die when you see all of her stuff.

..these trays are stacked 3-4 high and there are at least 100 of them!

This is the stash I came home with. Stunning labradorite, green amethyst briolettes, bone beads, citrine, smoky quartz, pearls some turquoise and lots more. It is so hard to choose and the great thing is she is always getting new things every month. She also gives me great deals....$28 strands for $20 and so on.

These were my antique and vintage finds...late 1800's mother of pearl pin, glass wire wrapped bead necklace, old religious charm, old brass and stone key brooch ( I can't wait to make a pendant out of this one!) I also could not resist the vintage link necklace, I think the links are so cool!

....I know I promised to open up my new website today but you know how that goes..a few more things to tweek and hopefully tomorrow I can share it with everyone.

New Beginnings

New Beginnings~
An eclectic combination of organic components~ wood, yellow turquoise and copper are all wire wrapped and linked to form this one of a kind bracelet. A printed mother of pearl disk is the focal, adding splashes of color. Tibetan beads add texture and a dragonfly charm adds happiness,new beginnings and change. An asymmetrical toggle clasp is hand forged, textured and adds a touch of whimsy.

You can find this on my new re-designed website JudithBDesigns.com...tomorrow is the day we will launch the new site.

Feathered Joy

So luminous with living wings,
So musical with feathered joy . . .

Told y'all I would finish this last night! This little yellow birdie makes me smile...

Little birdies can be found on Etsy at Summer's Studio Pottery.

Bird Sanctuary

Between the cliff-rise and the beach
A slip of emerald I own;
With fig and olive, almond, peach,
cherry and plum-tree overgrown;
Glad-watered by a crystal spring
That carols through the silver night,
And populous with birds who sing
Gay madrigals for my delight.

Some merchants fain would buy my land
To build a stately pleasure dome.
Poor fools! they cannot understand
how pricelessly it is my home!
So luminous with living wings,
So musical with feathered joy . . .
Not for all pleasure fortune brings,
Would I such ecstasy destroy.

A thousand birds are in my grove,
Melodious from morn to night;
My fruit trees are their treasure trove,
Their happiness is my delight.
And through the sweet and shining days
They know their lover and their friend;
So I will shield in peace and praise
My innocents unto the end.

By Robert Service

Look for this piece on my website...but you have to wait until the new site is opened, just a little tease. I will keep you posted!

Thank you Ms. Mail Lady

Two little packages arrived in the mail today...I had been waiting so patiently for them and I could not wait to rip them open. The first one was a FABULOUS pair of earrings from Sharon of Livewire Jewelry. I was the winner of her One World One Heart giveaway. I still can't believe I won out of 290 entrants. I am a big fan of Sharon and am so honored to have one of her creations, I just love these earrings!





The other package was from LeAnn of Summers Studio. I have been dying to get my hands on one of her precious little birdies and today was my day. I just love it and can't stop touching it. The color is exactly what I had hoped. I am going to use the birdie in a long necklace and hope to start that tonight. The other two pieces are gorgeous and generous in size. Inspiration comes in may forms and from many things, today it is LeAnn and her wonderful porcelain creations.

A new look and a great giveaway!

Hop on over to say "Hey" to Barbara Lewis of "Painting with Fire", she has a newly designed blog and is putting out the welcome mat for guests!
Barbara says "I love to make quirky, romantic, and fun-loving pieces for the woman who embraces the unexpected and makes a statement with her wearable art." She is offering a fantabulous giveaway of her torch fired beads, ( I really want those....I really, really do....). So run don't walk to check out her new place.

"Knock, Knock who's there?"

"Spring" ...she answered. "come right in!" I hollered.

Ok, spring may not really be here but I do see signs...my daffs are coming up, yay! It is a wee bit warmer today and there is some sunshine, so there is hope my friends!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This stunning orchid was sent to me way back in August by two of my best girls from Massachusetts (see post). I can not believe it is still blooming and still has buds and a ways to go.


The past few weeks I have been working on a new re-designed web site for Judith B. Designs with my friend Travis of Travis Designs. Travis is my friend Johnny's son as some of you remember me writing about, anyway if you are looking for any type of graphic design or web design I highly recommend him! Travis is awesome to work with and very talented, he just started to blog but I need to kick him in the pants to do it more often. Sometime next week I will open up the new site with a great giveaway too!

Creature of the Wind

...As a creature of the wind, the dragonfly frequently represents change. And as a dragonfly lives a short life, it knows it must live its life to the fullest with the short time it has – which is a lesson for all of us.

Monday I worked all day in my studio...working out some frustration and sadness. We had gotten some sad news that a friend of ours past away suddenly. Dave was a high school and college friend who had been in our wedding. We recently reconnected on Facebook and he was there everyday with his wonderful humor and support. Like this dragonfly Dave lived his short life to the fullest and gave himself to those in need. It is so hard to understand the master plan...who gets to stay and who has to leave so early in life. So my friends...make the best of each day, tell someone you love them, smile at a stranger and be good to yourself.

Fusion

I never know what I am going to make on any given day... I had some old millefiori beads that I cast aside and and today they came to life this bracelet. I am calling this piece "Fusion", A joining of yellow turquoise, czech, art glass and millefiori beads to form a composition of vibrant colors and textures. You can find this in my Flapyourwings Etsy shop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hop on over and check out Room Remix...a great blog that I follow and where you CAN create a great space within your budget! This blog provides you with decorating inspiration, practical decorating advice, creative ideas and resources, DIY ideas, before and afters, and helps you think outside of your current decorating box.

This week PK of Room Remix is hosting a blog giveaway of one of my bracelets...and the lucky winner gets to choose which bracelet you would like, how fun! I love following PK's blog and I think you will too. She has inspired me to start a few projects which I look forward to sharing with you real soon!




...and last but not least...I really had to share a picture of my two boys, Sam & Jack...aren't they just the cutest? They are perched on the back of the chair so they can look out of the window at it snowing...yes it is snowing again! This is our fourth winter in Tennessee and this has been the snowyest (is that a word?)...anyway I am not liking it and I am hoping that in March it will start warming up.

I would like to give a shout out and thank all of my new blog followers, I really appreciate you taking the time to visit.

Fulfill Your Heart

“Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.” Kahlil Gibran

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope each one of you is with someone you love or has something you love to do today...whatever it be I hope you fulfill your heart. Happy Valentine's Day!

Elegant Nouveau

I had purchased some bead caps from AD Adornments at a bead show about a month ago and I have been saving them for something really special. I finally found the right time to use one of them. The bead cap was the perfect fit for this antique rhinestone bead I found at an antique shop. I decided to turn up the petals for a little touch of whimsy. You can find this piece in my Artfire shop.


I just wanted to give Lori Anderson of "Pretty Things" a big shout out of gratitude for hosting the Bead Soup Party. I am still hoping around viewing all of the creative works and it has been fun meeting new people. Thanks again Lori for all of your efforts.

Soup's On

Today is the day! Just a few weeks ago each person listed below received a nice little package of beads in the mail. We were paired randomly with a partner to whom you had to send a focal, a clasp and some accent beads, one of the rules was you had to use the focal and clasp. This is what I received from my partner Emanda from Artemisia's Studio.



It was a little challenging for me using a focal so large and not wanting to take away from the pendant simple wired strands were created with the pearls and dyed quartz she sent me, they were a perfect compliments to the pendant. I used the clasp as a design element and not as a function . Be sure to hop on over to Emanda's blog to see what she created with what I sent her.





Pour a cup of tea and grab a few cookies, have a seat and visit the following blogs...there is lots of beading goodness. Have fun!

Party Participants

1. Lori, Pretty Things Blog
2. Mallory, For the Love of Beads
3. Terri, Blooming Ideas
4. Cindy, Sweet Bead Studio
5. Lorelei, Lorelei’s Blog: Inside the Studio
6. Kerry, Kab’s Creative Concepts
7. Erin, Treasures Found
8. Jeannette, Jeannette Blix Wire and Metal Jewelry
9. Adrienne, Adrienne Designs
10. Nan, Spirit Rattles
11. Laurel, Rue’s Daftique
12. Nancy, Beading From the Heart
13. Mary, MK’s Creative Musings
14. Cassie, The Glass Beadle
15. Dot, Winchell Clayworks
16. Sharon, Sharon’s Jewelry Garden
17. Lisa, Lo and Behold
18. Norma, Bead Dreams and Moonlit Fantaseas
19. Judith, Judith B.
20. Debbie, Prairie Emporium
21. Maria, Garden Path Beads
22. Susan, Kaplan Creations Jewelry and Glass Design
23. Melissa, Melissa Meman: Art, Love, Life
24. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things
25. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa
26. Cristi, 2 If By Sea
27. Sandra, Marbella Jewelry Design
28. Maria, Greene Earth Originals
29. Barbara, Jewelry of Distinction
30. Leslie, Bei Mondi
31. Loretta, Designs by Loretta
32. Linda, Bella Bead Jewelry
33. Kathie, The Bead Cult
34. Patty, Plays With Fire
35. Nicki, Nicki’s Reef
36. Anne Marie, Heart’s Desire
37. Mary, Mary Harding Jewelry
38. Jayne, Mama’s Got to Doodle
39. Emanda, Artemesia’s Studio
40. Whitney, Whitney Lassini
41. Marcie, La Bella Joya
42. Suzann, Beadphoria
43. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks
44. Julie, Credit River Art Glass
45. Janiece, J Birds Garden
46. Kate, Organic Odysseys
47. Laurie, The Mermaid Tale
48. Michelle, My Crazy Crafty Adventure
49. Sue, Sue Beads
50. Janeen, Wild Vanilla Designs
51. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse
52. Kristie, Artisan Clay
53. Regina, Regina’s Writings
54. Tari, Pearl and Pebble
55. Lyn, Lyn Foley
56. Beth, Sunshine Daydreamz
57. Cathryn, Chile Cats
58. Emma, Fred Bean’s Nook
59. Connie, Cetta Cheese Chatter
60. Juli, Jul’s Beads
61. Julie, RockerJewlz
62. Libby, LibbyLeu and Glass Too
63. Melanie, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
64. Katie, My Life and My Beads
65. Zuleykha, Zuleykha’s Polymer Clay
66. Rekella, Me But a Little More in Depth
67. Ricki, What’s New at Ricki Voges Design
68. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio
69. Jo, Daisychain Jewellery
70. Lynette, Rock Hill Designs
71. Lynne, Island Girl’s Insights
72. Chas, One Woman’s Haven
73. Ruthie, Rose Works Jewelry
74. Elizabeth, Turquoise Sky
75. Maire, Maire Dodd
76. Janet, Singing Woods
77. Eileen, Dorset Hill Beads
78. Julie, Miss Kitten’s Jewels
79. Joann, Jo’s Jewels
80. Patti, PJ Clark Designs
81. Mel, Kookie Designs
82. Erin, Every Heart Crafts
83. Dale, Flights of Fancy
84. Dee, Runako Designs