holiday shop 2014

Behind the Moon Beadworks will be at the Holiday Shop at South Butler Primary School in Saxonburg PA tomorrow evening from 6:30 to 8:30.  If you are in the area we would love to see you there!  Enjoy some yummy refreshments as you peruse the festive offerings of several local vendors and business owners. 

Support your local businesses this holiday season!

Insta-Sale!

The time has come!  Behind the Moon Beadworks is having our first Instagram Only Sale this Saturday 9/6 starting at 9am.  Watch your feed, you don't want to miss this! Not following us yet?  No worries, find me @btmbeadworks.

*Open to US residents only

Spotlight on color | Amethyst

Oh yeah, I totally put Prince in there!

Many of you probably already know that February's birthstone is Amethyst. 
Oh how I wish I was a February baby!

Amethyst can range from gentle violet to brilliant purple.

 Long known as the color of royalty, purple has many other properties you may not be aware of.

It is said to be the color of spiritual fulfillment and purpose.  If you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind.  

No wonder I've always been drawn to it :)

Being the combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, 

it is believed to be the ideal color.

Even if you aren't a February baby, don't let that stop you from rocking this commanding color!

If you want to add some calm power to your look, go for Amethyst.  

Pair it with light or dark shades, you can't go wrong.

Find Amethyst in my Etsy Shop!

Sparkling Wines Earrings

for the love of color

 
"What's your favorite color?"

I never could answer that question.  

There's no way I could ever pick just one. 

I simply love color.

Every. glorious. one.

And when you start putting them together in varying combinations?  

Well that's where the magic happens.  Emotions are stirred and souls begin to sing.

Here are a few combinations that I'm loving right now and a little bit about the feelings they bring out in me.

color pallette via and Capri Palm Earrings from my Etsy Shop

confident
courageous
secure

This is a great palette to wear for a job interview or any time
you need an extra ounce of confidence.

color pallette via and Red Howlite and Turquoise Bracelet from my Etsy Shop

playful
vibrant
energetic

Living it up on the weekend with friends?
Go for this fun combo and play all day in the sun.

color pallette via and Calming Waters Necklace from my Etsy Shop

tranquil
alert

patient
 
If your a morning person like me, this blend of colors will get your day started off right
Calm, cool, and collected.

color pallette via and Sparkling Wine Earrings from my Etsy Shop

romantic
deep
cozy

Cozy up on a rainy night with these rich colors.
Maybe even drink a little wine by candle light with your honey.

So....what's your favorite color? ;)

Happy Days Handmade Holiday Market

I know there are weird people out there that don't like to think about Christmas until December but when something as fun as Hannah's Handmade Holiday Market comes along you just CAN'T resist!

All handmade items, in one easy place.

Oh yeah, AND there will be special discounts and giveaways to partake in too!

The market will run from October 20th to December 31st.

Guess who will be participating...

Yours truly of course!

Be sure to check out all the handmade goodness for your holiday gift giving!

Support handmade artisans and receive a unique product to delight those on your list.

Have fun with it girls!

New to the shop and a sale!

Hey y'all!  

I added some new baubles to the shop this week.

Let's give them a nice warm welcome shall we :)

{1} Key Lime Chandelier Earrings

{2} Key Lime Necklace

{3} Eden's Garden Earrings

{4} Tumeric Spice Necklace

{5} Tumeric Spice Earrings

New look on the blog and in the shop...

how about celebrating with a little 20% off sale in the entire shop!
*sale ends Oct 6th

Just enter coupon code NEWMOON20 at checkout.

Have a blessed weekend ladies!

New to the Shop - Book bling (Plus a chance at FREE Jewelry!)

Got a new summer read your itching to get your hands on?  

Don't spoil it with a crumpled up scrap piece of paper as your bookmark.  

You need to get you some book bling :)  

A great story deserves it!

And my new Book Bling Bookmarks happen to be new to the Shop this week!

Talk about the stars aligning :)

Fossil Coral Bookmark

Mabolo Wood and "Turquoise" Bookmark

Amber Glass and Flourite Bookmark

I also have my first giveaway today!

Head on over to The Chronicles of Ruthie Hart to enter.  

Oh.  And be sure to follow along with Miss Ruthie,
she has a heart on fire for God, a hilarious poochie, 

and all sorts of awesome goings-on.  

You DON'T want to miss out :)

New to the shop - Pretty in Pink

I'm so excited to be adding some new designs to my Etsy Shop!

Feast you eyes on Pretty in Pink

A 36" long necklace with a fun delicate beauty.  

Pink is not really my color, doesn't look good on my skin tone,

but I love it so I satisfy my need with some pink accessories :)

I'm absolutely in love with this one.

Some great pairings for pink include...

Chocolate

Aqua

Buttercream

Olive

Just have fun with it and feel utterly "Pretty in Pink"!

Interview with a Dad & a Sale

I recently saw a wonderful little interview series that Lisa is doing at Lisa Leonard Blog to celebrate fatherhood and I thought "I'd really love to hear what my own husband has to say".

So I asked him :)

1.  What is something you love about being a dad?
Just looking at my boys everyday.

2.  What is one of your proudest moments of being a dad?
I have lots of them.  Every time I see one of them learn a new skill/discover something new 
or express happiness.

3.  What did you learn from your dad that you want to pass on to our boys?
How to take care of things and not have to rely on others. My Dad taught me how to fix things around the house, work on cars, change oil, etc...

4.  What have you learned from your kids?
To find the good in simple things and have patience. Both of which I am still learning from them.

5.  What is one of your funniest dad moments? 
 Potty training our boys.  We would "house break" them naked outside on our deck.  There's something about the fresh air and being naked that seems to help push things along.  Plus boys just love peeing on plants/trees. 

So there you have it, straight from me Hubsy's mouth :)


Love that man!  He is a wonderful dad to our two boys.  Firm when necessary but loving always.  He never ceases to go out of his way to make our kids happy.  If he can do some small thing to bring a smile to their faces you better believe he's gonna do it.

Since Father's Day is fast approaching I thought I'd run a little sale for that special dad in your life.  

Be it you own dad, your husband or any other special "dad' you may want to celebrate.  They play such an important role in all our lives and deserve a little something special don't ya think?

So from June 5th to June 12th, I'll be offering 20% off my Unisex designs in my Etsy Shop.

Lucky you :)

Mabolo Wood Necklace

Wood Agate Necklace

Just enter coupon code "DAD2012" when checking out.

Happy Father's Day to all the loving 
and encouraging dad's out there!

They're here, they're here!

finding joy

I haven't linked up with Rachel for Friday Favorites in a while but when I do,
it's usually filled with moments of peace, love, and family that are highlighted.  

Well this week it's a little different.  

Not that I didn't have those other great moments because believe me I did but occasionally 

I get to have these fun little *squeal* moments as well.

Ok most of you will probably roll your eyes but if you didn't know already,
I ADORE BEADS.

Everything about them.

the endless array of colors

the subtle textures

the various shapes

 the sparkle of Czech glass

the warmth of Rosewood

I could go on and on.

Since selling almost completely out of my current stock, I've been blessed to order some new items for some new designs that I'm so excited to transform from my mind's eye to actual wearable pieces.  

I branched out this time and bought some beads on Etsy for the first time.

It feels really good to support other small business owners.  

These particular beads came from Bead and Ribbon and I couldn't be more pleased with my purchases.  

I mean, just look at them!  And I have another shipment from a different supplier due any day!

Enter the *squeal*

I'm like a kid on Christmas morning when I get a new shipment of beads.  I mean who else gets inspired to do an impromptu quick and dirty photo shoot of their beads...ahem...this goober.

 Anyhoo, I'm dying to get started on my new designs but my time is being monopolized with preparations for our weekend plans (not a bad thing though).  

Can't wait until next week when I can hopefully get started :)

 

Happy weekend all!

Do you have something that gives you this 

crazy-nerdy-ridiculous sense of intense joy?

Do tell!

Valentine's Day Sale in the shop!

 

Don'tcha just love Valentine's Day!!!

I'm spreading the love already....

I've put select styles on sale to help you celebrate!

Visit my Etsy Shop here.

Finally getting close - the hair that is

Cobalt tank: New York & Co

Earrings: Drops of Rain - b e h i n d  t h e  m o o n  BEADWORKS (available on Etsy)

Necklace: Custom - b e h i n d  t h e  m o o n  BEADWORKS (email me for details)

Bracelet: Custom - b e h i n d  t h e  m o o n  BEADWORKS (email me for details)

 Five months ago I did this post about trying to grow out my hair and achieve those loose luscious curls I so often admire on celebs and several of you other bloggers!  I got a "body wave" that was more like a full on

"finger in an electric socket" perm.  Not that I minded it much once it started to relax but it was still tighter than I wanted.  Well my hair is finally showing some length gained.  And I curled it with a curling iron despite that my perm is still going strong.  I was actually able to get something close to what I've been wanting for a long time...which made me really happy.  

Me?
Happy with my hair? 
It's like an impossibilty and yet...I kinda am.

We recently had a Indian Summer weekend so we decided to have one last cookout at our house.  This is the prettiest I have felt in a good while so I had my hubby document it for me.  

Gee, I don't look stiff do I?  

Not used to posing for a pic ;)

Are you ever happy with your hair?

New to the Shop - Mabolo Wood Necklace, Spring Fling I Earrings, & Wood Agate Necklace

I've been busy adding more designs to my Etsy Shop including two new Unisex necklaces and a fun and flirty pair of earrings.  Great for summer birthdays and hard-to-find men's gifts!

Mabolo Wood Necklace

Yep, you've seen this necklace before in my Tough guy meets Teddybear post.  

My husband wears this one all the time :)

Wood Agate Necklace

 This straightforward/neutral design work well with just about anything!

Spring Fling I Earrings

Dangling Czech glass fringe make this pair fun and flirty!   

They are a great compliment to my Spring Fling Bracelet design.

New to the Shop - Carnelian Candy

 Beads always remind me of candy for some reason.  

When a new shipment arrives, I'm like a kid in a candy store and all those bright colors look so delicious.  The carnelian and coral I used in this pair is no exception.  I could just gobble them up!

Carnelian Candy

Have a SWEET day!

New to the Shop - Royal Simplicity

I recently added a new necklace and bracelet design to my Etsy shop!

Meet Royal Simplicity!

Royal Simplicity Necklace

I'm a big fan of stones with varying tonal ranges.  

I think it makes the piece more versatile and complimentary to several wardrobe colors.

Royal Simplicity Bracelet

The Antique "New" Jade in this piece has tones ranging from warm tans and browns to light greens and aquas.  

Set off beautifully by a lovely vermeil clasp, this design is both simple and regal at the same time!
Gee, wonder how it got it's name? : )

Friday Favorites

I'm linking up again today with Rachel at finding joy for favorite things friday.

1.  Sayings from my 5yr old
Me during dinner: "What did you do today?"

My son in a most intense voice: "Some serious doing stuff."

Cracked me up!

Me holding his sweet face between my hands: "Do you have any idea how much I love you?"

My son simply: "no"

Yep, that's probably true.

My son: "How old are you?"
Me: "33"
My son: "That's a big number."
Me: "Yep"
My son: "Did you already go past 100?"
Me: Can't. Talk. Laughing. Too. Hard.

2.  Blowing bubbles with my 2yr old

He's not too skilled at blowing bubbles yet so he tends to just dip the wand in the bubble solution and then fling the wand around hoping the wind will catch it and some bubbles will come out.  He flung bubble solution all over me, giggling all the while.  His little squeal is so precious.  And the dog LOVES to jump up and pop the bubbles in the air.  They are too cute that pair!

3. A sunny day
Round these parts, a sunny day is becoming quite rare.  We are getting about 1 a week, the rest of the days are filled with gray clouds and rain.  But oh how we look forward to that one bright day!

4.  Chocolate Chip Cookies
We made a batch of cookies the other evening.  My boys couldn't wait until they were done baking.  It was seriously hard to distract them from their single minded focus of oooey-gooey-chocolatey goodness.  I could hardly blame them.  There was one moment when I turned around and there they both were with their faces practically pressed against the oven watching them bake.  It brought back a wonderful memory of mine of my sister and I sitting in front of the oven waiting for the cookies to be done.  We would sing songs and be silly while we waited.  It was so great to see that same situation reflected in my little ones.  Gotta love siblings!  Love you Nae!

5. New Beads
Getting new beads always excites me and I was so happy to see that my main supplier finally added a larger selection of pewter beads.  These are some of my favorites that I picked up.  Can't wait to see what they become :)

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Snowflake Obsidian and Black Onyx

I've finally been able to begin listing some of my new designs on my Etsy shop now that my home showing is over.   

This week I've added my Snowlfake Obsidian and Onyx Bangle and Drops to the shop.

Onyx and Obsidian Bangle

 Spring is here and that means shorter sleeves, perfect for showcasing a great bracelet and this swinging bangle will not disappoint! I love the movement this bangle has!

  

Onyx and Osidian Drops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was immediately drawn to the sterling silver vase beads used in these drops.  Such an unexpected shape!

Snowflake Obsidian is one of my favorite gemstones.  I really love the dalmation semblance it has.  Perfect for so many pieces in my wardrobe.  

And the simple beauty of black onyx cannot be denied!

Happy Wednesday!

Behind the Moon First Home Show - April 2011

As many of you know I recently had my first home showing of my jewelry designs and I'm SSOO excited to report....
it was a success!

I worked really hard on all aspects of the show and sale and it seems that most of it worked out really well, I will tweak a few things here and there but my second one shouldn't be as labor intensive as the first (I know my husband and boys are happy about that).

It would not have been a success without the
support of my friends and family.
You all have been so encouraging since way before Behind the Moon was even a legitimate business and I can't thank you enough for coming.
And to those that brought guests...
A HUGE THANK YOU
for helping to expose my designs to some new eyes.
That alone is invaluable to me.

So here are some pics from the day.  Too bad it was such a gray rainy day.
I hope everyone enjoyed themselves!

Me and all my lovelies. 
I had three main displays set up.  My mantle works so nicely as a display space  but I will be designing a single table scape for future home shows and craft fairs.

Onyx & Obsidian Drops, Onyx & Obsidian Bangle (Coming soon to Etsy) : Drops of Rain : Morning Dew Necklace, Goldlip Shell Earrings

 First Frond: Carolina Moon: Calming Waters
Blushing Bronze (Coming soon to Etsy) : African Bloom :  African Turquoise (Coming soon to Etsy)

 
Some pics of my designs.  
Yep I know.... I need to take the time to figure out how to better crop and edit in photobucket, 
but bear with me, I'm often in a time crunch!

Wrap me in Chains Earrings & Necklace : Spring Fling II (coming soon to Etsy) : Sands of Time
Royal Simplicity Bracelet (coming soon to Etsy) : Royal Simplicity Necklace (coming soon to Etsy) : Rose Quartz
 Pistachio Pearl : African Turquoise : Blushing Bronze (coming soon to Etsy)


More designs.
I'm loving the set in the very center.  Its called Royal Simplicity (coming to my Etsy shop soon!).

 

coming soon to Etsy 

Beaded Bookmarks

 I was able to premier my new line of bookmarks affectionately called "Book Bling".  

Also coming soon to Etsy.  They were a real hit!

 

The giveaway.

Anyone who brought a guest got entered to win these pretty chandeliers!  

Congrats to Tammy!

Carnelian Carnival : Queen of Diamonds : Golden Pear : Satin Sand Pearl

More Earring Designs

Wood Agate (coming soon to Etsy) : Mabolo Wood (coming soon to Etsy)

For Him

I debuted my "for him" line of men's necklaces.  

My husband has the Mabolo Wood, see Tough guy meets teddy bear.

Some happy customers
Friends and family made the day!  These gorgeous gals left with some gorgeous baubles :)



What could be better than great friends, good food, and jewelry? 

I'm looking forward to doing it again!