Unexpected surprises.

Have you ever done a search for your own business name and had a look to see what comes up?

I was looking for a photo on my tablet of some beads I had made but didn't have them saved on there so I thought I would have a look on Google Earthshinebeads to see if I could see them. Of course a lot of my own images came up but I was surprised to see some designs that I hadn't come across before (or at least didn't remember seeing them).

There was this picture of a necklace made with one of my toggle clasps that I haven't seen before.

Unfortunately the link doesn't work anymore so I don't know who made it without looking up who bought the clasp. It's rather scrummy, I must make some more like that.

Then I came across this blog post by Claire Lockwood of Something to do with your hands.

She made this pair of earrings and this bracelet with some of my butterfly wing beads that she bought at the Smitten Beads Open House earlier on this year.

I had no idea of this blog post on Art Bead Scene again by Claire Lockwood of Something to do with your hands.

She made this necklace with one of my headpins. It's the pink one on the copper squibble bead (???) at the centre of the necklace. I had a go at making these once and then didn't make any more - perhaps I should.

Another blog post this time from Monique of A Half-baked Notion.

I did a draw for this little chicken and Monique won it. I was a little upset to see that his beak is missing. It travelled a long way so I guess it came off in the post :-(

I hope you enjoyed this little selection.

Thanks for looking.

Linda
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Spotlight on my blog - Beads and Beyond Magazine

You may remember a while back I had a tutorial published in Beads and Beyond Magazine. (See blog post here: http://earth-shinedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/published.html).

I was delighted when I was contacted a while ago to see if I would like my blog featured. Of course I jumped at the chance! Then promptly forgot to buy my copy in December when it came out. I scoured the shops but no luck so I ordered one online and it came yesterday, only I didn't realise what it was until I opened it this morning. Happy days!

Thanks for looking.

Linda
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Selling in Facebook Groups

Very recently I have been selling on a couple of Facebook Groups. These are groups that have been set up specifically for lampworkers to sell their beads. The two that I have been selling on are Lampwork Beads For Sale and Lampwork Bead Market. 

They seem to attract mainly buyers from America and has opened up a whole new market for me. They seem to go nuts over my lampwork headpins!

Here are a few sets that I have sold over the last week.

 

Phew, there was more than I thought there was!

I hope you enjoyed the eye candy. Some of these I can make more of so if you are interested you can email me at earth-shine@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks for looking.

Linda
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Craft Event at The New Rembrandt Gallery

So this week I have been doing a craft event at The New Rembrandt Gallery in Newport here on the Isle of Wight. It's been a bit quiet but as I have an internet connection I have been able to catch up on some much needed work and have been sitting here making jewellery as well.

Here is a photo of my stand....

....isn't it funny how you don't notice things like the flower that had fallen off of one of the picture frames until you have posted the photo online!

On the left of my stand you can see the Snow Queen Necklace that I entered into the British Bead Awards. After I received my award I wrote to my local paper with all the details and told them that it would be on display at this event so they waited to publish it until last Friday. Here is a photo of the article.

 

It's always nice to be featured in a local paper.

Tomorrow is the last day that I will be at the Gallery so please pop by and have a look at the jewellery I have for sale. There are also 11 other crafters here ranging from Paper cuts to pictures on candles.

Thanks for looking.

Linda

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Autumn inspiration - RHS Wisley

I know that Autumn is nearly over and we are venturing into Winter but when I went to RHS Wisley last week I took some photos of the flora and fauna. They were all taken with my phone so if the quality isn't that brilliant - please forgive me.

I was inspired to make these Autumn Leaves Earrings which are available for sale in my jewellery store for £14.95 http://www.earth-shine.co.uk/product/autumn-leaves-earrings.

Maybe these will give you a little bit of inspiration.

I've never seen fungus like this before!

This photo was taken inside one of the green houses. I loved the reflection  in the water but it was a shame you could see the frame of the green house as well.

and I really like this photo. I used to belong to a camera club and entered my photo's into competitions. I would have entered this one if I was still a member,

Thanks for looking.

Linda
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Contemporary Christmas Craft Fair, Wisley

Following my trip to The Nederlands to the Sieraad International Jewellery Art Fair and to Winchester to the Desire Jewellery and Silversmithing Fair (read my blog post here: http://earth-shinedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/fact-finding-mission-sieraad-and-desire.html). I went to visit my Mum last week and we went to the Christmas Contemporary Craft Fair at RHS Wisley with a view to maybe having a stand in the future.

There were 150 stands selling all sorts of crafts, woodwork, wool, cheese and oils, glass, sculpture and more in 3 marquees that had been joined together. The standard of work was a very high quality and it was very busy. Here are a few of the stands.

It was fairly expensive to get in £9 or free to RHS members and £6 to friends of members but this did include entrance into Wisley as well.

The reason I chose this fair to visit is because of it's high standard and footfall and that my Mum lives not too far away so I wouldn't have to pay for accommodation. It's not cheap to do at around £1000 a stand for the 5 days so you would have to sell an awful lot of stock.

Unfortunately because there is such a high demand for stands at this event, Craft in Focus who organise it prioritise to stands that book all their events. Also their application forms came out last month so if I was to decided to do it I doubt whether it will be until 2016 now.

Comparing the jewellery fairs I went to with this craft fair this definitely seemed to be the busier show.

We popped into Wisley and had a look around, I took some photo's of these lovely autumnal columns which I found quite inspiring.

Thanks for looking.

Linda
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