shop re-opening

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had joyous and peaceful holidays!    With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season behind us it's time to redirect our attention to the up and coming year.  Behind the Moon Beadworks will be available at some new locations this year (more on that to come) yet remains convenient for all at our Etsy shop.  I hope you will stop by the shop and see the latest designs that will be appearing soon!

new to the shop

Hi friends!

I'm excited to let you know that my Etsy Shop is now re-open (after a few years hiatus) and new items are being added.  Here's a peak at some of what's new.

1. Earrings - Cream, Teardrop, Chandelier, Green, Pearl, Chain, Diamond, Long, Dangle, Swag, Silver, Sterling, Beaded, Handmade

2. Necklace - Triple Strand - Autumn, Orange, Gold, Green, Glass, Fall, Multi strand, Muted, Beaded, Handmade

3. Earrings - Carnelain, Jade, Wire, Wrapped, Gold, Fall, Orange, Yellow, Chandelair, Teardrop, Long, Beaded, Handmade

4. Necklace - Fringe Charm - Long, Chain, Sterling, Silver, Cobalt, Blue, Dangle, Beaded, Handmade

5. Earrings - Cherry Blossom - Pink, Gold, Citron, Chandelier, Lime, Sweet, Spring, Summer, Beaded, Handmade

Stop by the shop and see what's new!

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

october's opal

The opal is said to be many things including the most powerful of healing stones, the stone of hope, the stone of great achievement and inspiration.  It is said to enhance the imagination and creativity as well.

Regardless of any deeper meaning, it's just plain beautiful if you ask me :)
Fest your eyes on these fabulous beauties from a few fellow jewelry artists.

1. pink faceted opal
2. opal filigree ring
3. opal and emerald earrings
4. opal pendant necklace
5. opal and silver ring
6. opal and gold charm bracelet
7. peruvian opal earrings

Are you a lucky October baby?

Have a lovely weekend friends!

gold fever

GOLD FEVER

It seems that silver has had my heart for most of my life.

But lately there's a new kid in town...gold.  Sorry silver I didn't mean to cheat on you but surely there is room to love you both?  I'm crushing on gold's refreshing warmth right now.  Maybe because it reminds me of the sun.  Are there any other sun worshipers out there?  I don't mean tanners, I mean those that need the sun, like air, just to function.  Surely I'm not the only one?  And Gold, right now your subtle fire is warming me up and keeping me energized...bless your little heart ; )

I'm adoring these finds from fellow handmade artists on Etsy, be sure to check them out!

1. tangle earrings
2. glitter earrings
3. hammered bangles
4. infinity bracelet
5. leaf chain necklace
6. tiered necklace
7. stacked ring
8. leaf ring

And I've been wearing my own creation below like its my job :)  Love the way this one turned out!

Magnesite Teardrop and Gold Necklace

Have you been faithful to just one metal or are you poly-metal like I am becoming?

Mother's Day Shop Sale

  Hi ladies!

Every mom likes to feel pretty and appreciated.  

Help her celebrate the wonderful blessings 

of motherhood with a beautiful piece of handcrafted jewelry.  

We're running a sale in the shop starting today thru Thursday 5/2 

with 20% off AND free shipping!

Etsy Shop

Happy shopping!

Shop sale in honor of Women's Day

Behind the Moon Beadworks Etsy Shop

International Women's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. 

It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, 

whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. 

It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, 

and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and 

opportunities that await future generations of women.

I am proud to be an American woman where I am free to have 

a voice and free to be in charge of my own life.

  

Also as a woman business owner, 

I'm so thankful to those who paved the way for our liberties.

So I'm celebrating with a little shop sale for today only!

Just enter code "WOMENS15" at checkout for a nice little discount :)

Join me in taking a moment today to reflect on how far we have come as women

and seek to encourage the accomplishments of our girls in the future.

A Review and Giveaway | A Behind the Moon First

Well looky here!  

I'm actually doing a review and giveaway!

Yes. Giveaway!

A little backstory....

I've been making jewelry since...well I can't remember exactly when, it's been so long ago...

but when I actually began thinking about selling it I subscribed to a couple catalog's and jewelry making magazines and came across some ads for Nina Designs.  It was love at first sight. 

I started following their blog about a year ago and saw an opportunity a few months
ago to become a blog partner. 

The time has finally come.

 They sent me some items to design with and share with all of you.  Score!!!
What a happy mail day it was when my little pretties arrived!

I was instantly smitten with their products.  There is no denying the exceptional quality.

Nina Designs has been in business for 25 years making high quality and truly unique jewelry components for artisans.  Each designs starts with a handmade sketch that is tweaked until it is ready for the market.  All the items are handmade and intricately produced in Asia by skilled silversmiths with extreme attention to detail.
Nina Designs prides themselves on being able to feed someone's creativity
and help enable their artistic vision.

The aspects of Nina Designs that really sets them apart in my eyes is the undeniable quality and 

the uniquely fluid designs of their products.

Here are a few of my favorite components from their store.

Now let's get to the giveaway!

There will be two winners, one for each pair of these earrings I designed using Nina Designs pieces.

Blue Apatite Teardrops

Golden Branches with Amazonite and Czech Glass

The Rules:  

(leave a separate comment for each for a total of 5 possible entries)

1. Follow the Behind the Moon blog

2. Follow Behind the Moon on Facebook

3. Follow Behind the Moon on Twitter  I'm at @BTMbeadworks

4. Visit my Etsy shop and tell which item is your favorite

5. Tell me which of the above Nina Designs pendants (numbered 1-6) is your favorite

The giveaway will run through Tuesday 1/29/13 and the winners will be randomly selected by one of my "little helpers" and announced on Thursday 1/31.

Good luck!

How to store and clean your sterling silver jewelry

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

This well know phrase can be applied to so many areas of life.
And it's no exception when it comes to your jewelry either. 

You can find all sorts of adorable jewelry storage ideas on Pinterest.

via

But these should really be kept for your costume jewelry and not your fine pieces.

One of the simplest ways to store your jewelry and keep those gorgeous metals from tarnishing is to keep them in a small resealable plastic bag.  This will help to hinder the oxidation process on the surface of sterling silver and keep your jewelry looking shiny and new.

Sterling Silver reacts with the moisture in the air which produces a layer of tarnish on the surface.  If you do have some pieces that  have gotten tarnished, there is a cool chemistry trick can help you
transfer the tarnish from your jewelry onto aluminum.
No lab coat or goggles required :) 

All you need is baking soda, boiling water, and aluminum foil.  Easy right?

It's the simple and organic way to polish your sterling silver. 

1. Grab some baking soda, aluminum foil, and a glass or plastic baking dish.

 2. Boil water

It doesn't have to be a lot, just enough to submerge the jewelry.

I have several pieces in this batch

3. Line the glass or plastic backing dish with slightly crumpled aluminum foil.

4. Lay your jewelry on top of the foil so that the silver parts are touching the foil.

5. Lightly sprinkle baking soda on top of the jewelry.

  6. Pour the boiling water over the jewelry until it is submerged.  Let sit for a minute or two.

7. Take the item(s) out and rinse with tap water.  Then buff with a clean soft cloth.

For particularly bad pieces, you may need to repeat the process to get all the tarnish off.

Any there you have it!
Easy peasy right?

New to the Shop

Here's a bunch new lovelies that have found their way to my shop!

I'm busy gearing up for the Happy Days Handmade Holiday Market.

You know....creating new designs.....restocking some best sellers... and generally just having some fun :)

Get ready y'all, it's coming!  The market starts on October 20th.

{1} carved rosewood earrings
{2}carved rosewood bracelet
{3}spring fling earrings
{4}red howlite and turquoise bracelet
{5}red howlite chip earrings
{6}crystal rose and quartz bracelet
{7}olive crackle agate chandelier earrings
{8}olive crackle agate necklace

Support America's artisans and buy handmade this holiday season!

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!

Beautiful You: Layer it up!

One of the best things about Fall is all the layering you can do, 
perfect for warm days but chilly nights. 
But there's more to layer that just your clothes.  

How about your accessories?

Layered jewelry is one of the looks that I simply adore.

It can add so much depth and texture and well...interest to your look.

Who wants to look like dry toast?
(my favorite metaphor for boring :))

Not this gal.

Let's spice it up a bit, slather some Nutella on that bread if you get me ;)

Here are some of my favorite looks.

From The Andean Collection, makers of uniquely beautiful and impactful jewelry using sustainable materials indigenous to South America.  I love the use of mixed media not to mention the positive effects they are having on the poverty stricken areas of the artists.  Beauty with a side of bettering the world?  Heck yeah.

This one is from my girl Anna over at IHOD who just so happens to be posting a DIY tutorial of these necklaces today.  Run on over and check her out.  Seriously.  She is the goddess of maintaining modesty while still looking absolutely feminine and fashionable.  Love her.

The wrist may just be the single most erroneously under-decorated body part.  The long column of the arm provides an unbelievable backdrop for stacks upon stacks of stunning bracelets.  Girls, we NEED to be working our wrists more often!  Just look at that bounty of bling and bangle. Oh my!

 

 

For the gals that like a less "cluttered" look, just try layering some delicate chains like the above.   It doesn't need to be all about the bulk. It's about experimenting and finding something that's uniquely you.  These ones are like a little surprise peeking out at the collar. *love*

And don't forget about a scarf.  You can "layer" that too, just by simply cutting up an old T-shirt.   You can bet your firstborn I'll be making one of these for myself.  The tutorial can be found here.

The trick to layering well is to mix it up...

{metal finishes}
Don't be afraid to pair gold with silver. Or put shiny and matte finished pieces together.

{textures}
Smooth wood or bone can bring out the depth of faceted beads or leather.

 {materials}
Choose from shell, glass, wood, metal, bone, fabric...you name it.

{colors}
 Pick several or keep it monotone but vary the intensity.

....and don't forget to vary the lengths for necklaces.

Layers.  
It's what makes life interesting ;)