LBI Sea Glass Festival at Things a Drift NJ

Well- I made a lot of jewlery for this show, in fear I wouldn't have the variety I needed.  I came home with all of it!  I think with the NASGA show in NJ this year, (and it's this coming weekend), we were competing for business.  Last year I sold WAY more, with less then half the turn out we had this year.  I mean, I would do the same thing asa buyer, wait until the big show to spend my sea glass money!  Lots of lookers this year and many fun folks came out to talk sea glass.  So, although it wasn't a big money show,  I love to do it anyway, and I love sea glass fans, and the other vendors were just great too!  Plus- I get some time on the island with my husband and no kids.  No more to be said there.  Its all good.

I did do demonstrations of how to drill sea glass, and sold some loose glass and drill bits.  I always have people ask me about it, so I was glad that I thought to bring all that stuff this year.

I didn't take any photos, and I really wish I had. I caught the cold that was going through my house last week, and had no voice, and was run down and tired.  I mostly sat and just played with sea glass and beads (and gabbed with the other vendors, though  my voice sounded like I smoked two packs a day for 50years!)

Here are some pictures I took of the newest sea glass necklaces I made for the show.  Hope you like them.....I will be listing some next week.

Anyone going to the big festival next weekend??????  NASGA in Long Branch NJ?

Getting Inspired

You may have been wondering where I've been.  Well, I have been getting inspired.  We had our annual family trip to LBI NJ.  I love the beach.  Everything about it inspires me, and I had ample time to find little treasures that will continue to inspire me in the months to come.

I found some great shells, and sea glass, and REALLY cool beach stones.  I love textures, and looking at this beach loot is inspiration galore!
I am all ready to get into the studio to prep for the LBI Sea Glass festival, Chowderfest Weekend.  Its a great time.  For details, check out my website.

I was not the only one who was artistically inspired at the shore.  Here are some drawings and projects my kids did.  I am so very proud of them and their ability to express themselves through art!

These three were done by Aiden 9yrs old

The colorful one is by Julia 7yrs old

And these were done by all three kids, but Collin 4yrs old came up with the idea!

Here are some pics of the kids getting braver and braver each year in the water.  They swam and boogie boarded until we called them out to go home each day.  I think Julia may be a surfer when she grows up!

They all handled crab pinches and wipes outs without much fuss at all.  Even my littlest bub had TWO HUGE wipe outs, and went back for more!  I just love those guys!

us at the beach after dinner....we were there every chance we got

Theres Jules...she even made a pen pal friend this year

Bub couldn't hang all day, but he tried

It was a refreshing time, with friends and family, and I am already looking forward to next year.

Now I can't wait to get into the studio and make some stuff with my new finds. 

What inspired you this week?

Giveaways, Giveaways, Giveaways!

So, here is a list of some really cool, current giveaways right now!

First, don't forget to enter mine...I am giving away these beads from my Artisan Accents shop,

And then choosing another winner for this pendant.

You have until Wednesday, August 3rd to enter.  Click here to read about it and enter.
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Then there is one that I would like to win....its from Heather at Humblebeads, and its a whopper of a giveaway!
Check this out!

Click here to enter to win that lot of goodness above!
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And then, if you are still hoping to land some great artisan beads, you can hop on over to Love My Art Jewelry here to enter to win these beauties from Artisan Beads Plus.

Good Luck and have a fun and safe weekend!

BTW and A Giveaway or TWO!!!!!!

Well, Bead Table Wednesday is here again...and its about time I did another giveaway.  First of all, here is what is on my bead table...........

(left)This photo here is a close up of some idea's I have rolling around for Lorelei's C-Koop Enameled Shadowbox Challenge.  I think I love these little boxes.

These (below) are just some wings and such, and a bezel with a Lisa Peters Art Bead that needs to happen.  That wing focal on the bottom broke into all those pieces in the kiln.  I am still not sure why.   Maybe it wasn't fully dried.  Anyway- I was determined to save it....so I riveted it to a copper backing, and its now called, "Broken Dreams".

Ok- and now for the giveaway..................or TWO!

First I have this lovely pendant.  I made it for my sea glass and shell drilling demonstration last Saturday. 

It's a sterling silver bail and swirl, with genuine aquamarine and pink seaglass dangling from it, all adorning a large mother of pearl donut. Its bold and perfect for summer.  It will fit on most chains, it comes with an 18" silver plated snake chain.

The second giveaway is for you jewelry designers. 

This one is for two pieces of genuine sea glass, top drilled, two shells top drilled and one bronze ammonite charm, also top drilled, from my Artisan Accents store.

To enter, leave a comment, and I will pick two winner randomly next wednesday, August 3rd.  You get additional entries for facebooking or blogging or both, but PLEASE leave an additional comment for each way you shared.  Also- make sure I have a way to get ahold of you.  If you do not have a blog or your email linked to your blog, please leave your email in the comment.  If you win, and I cannot get ahold of you, a new winner will be picked.

So good luck, and thanks for checking out my bead table this wednesday!