This month has been great for Elle's Beads!  As the weather has gotten better, I've been able to take my jewelry to a craft show.  This past weekend I was at the NC State Farmer's Market for the Spring Craft Fair.  Several of my items on this site sold and I plan to participate in more throughout the warmer months.  Be sure to purchase anything you're interested in or ask me to reserve it for you, as most items are one of a kind and once they've sold, they're gone for good!

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I've started a newsletter, so if you're interested, please visit my website at http://elles-beads.com to sign up.  The newsletter goes out approximately once a month and is jam-packed full of links to tips, reviews, products, and exciting news.

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This month I'm offering a whopping 50% off of all studio items, including PIF listings.  Take advantage of this fantastic sale!  Check out the studio and grab the coupon code from the right column to enjoy the savings!

February is here and 2010 is in full swing.  Elle's Beads is celebrating the mid-month holiday with an Anti-Valentine's Day Sale, because that's just how I roll.  Any of my blue or black items (anything labeled "coupon") is 40% off all this month with the coupon code ANTIVDAY.  Basically, when you're sick of seeing pink...and red...and hearts, you can swing by the shop and pick up something awesome and decidely UN-festive.  (Don't worry, I have a couple of cute Valentine's Day appropriate earrings too if you'd prefer.  I just feel that if I'm not being different, I'm not being true to myself.)

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Elle's Beads is also pleased to have been featured and recognized so far this year.  I've been awarded the Kreativ Blogger award for my Blogger blog, had my jewelry featured in an Etsy treasury, and I made my second ever sale on ArtFire!  The item I sold was a cute blue and silver butterfly charm.  I was a little sad to see it go as it was given to me on a necklace by my childhood best friend who I'm no longer in contact with, but I'm confident that the person I sold it to will enjoy wearing it.  I'm happy I was able to pass on a little of the joy and cheerful spirit that is an inherent part of that butterfly charm - It has spread it's wings and found a new home!  That charm was a Pay It Forward listing, and I have several more similar listings up in the studio right now.  Check them out and pick up one for yourself at virtually no cost to you!  All I ask is that you pay it forward and list something in the PIF spirit or do some out of the ordinary act of kindness for a stranger.

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Lots of exciting things are in store for this month and I'll be posting some really fun new listings now that I have access to a digital camera again.  Be sure to add me to your marketplace so you won't miss out!

Until next time,
Elle

One of the fun things about handmade products is that an artisan is able to put their own touch into what they make.  Giving handmade gifts is both enjoyable and meaningful for both the giver and the recipient.  One of my gift ideas are these cute little mini jeweled boxes.  You can get these boxes in tons of sizes and decorate them with any number of materials, including beads, sequins, rhinestones, buttons, fabric, etc.  They're super fun to make and I'll show you how in my tutorial:

 

 

If you'd like to make your own, I recommend using some recycled materials like vintage beads or old storage containers and giving them a whole new purpose.  If you'd like to purchase these boxes instead, you can do so on my studio page:

 

 

Until next time,
Elle

2009 saw the creation of Elle's Beads - a handmade jewelry business run by yours truly.  I've come a long way in the six months I've been creating jewelry and the four months I've been selling on and offline.  Here's a short summary of what's been going on with Elle's Beads:

• EB has embraced social media with it's adoption of Twitter (ellexmarie), Blogger (elles.beads), YouTube (elles.beads), and Facebook (ellesbeads).
• EB enjoyed one sale each on Etsy and Artfire and several sales at markets and craft shows.
• Product lines branched out from funky beaded jewelry to collage resin charms and glass magnets.

In 2010, I'm hoping to increase Elle's Beads success.  I will be adding many new items including a group of new LGBT-oriented jewelry.  Be sure to check my shop regularly for the new and exciting things to come this year!

I host a blog at http://ellesbeads.blogspot.com.  Please check there for all of my blog entries.  If you like what you read, please subscribe via Blogger Follow, Google Friend Connect, or RSS.  Thanks so much for your interest!