Harry Potter Knitting House Cup

I have been a terrible student at my Ravelry Hogwarts School for Knitting and Crocheting!
I have 4 assignments that need to be completed for my classes!!!

Okay those of you who don't know me probably read that and rolled your eyes!! Well I love knitting almost as much as I love glass mostly because it is a functional craft and the colors that yarn comes in are just lush! Plus lampworking fits in nicely as knitters are always looking for some really cool buttons to use in their projects!

I am also a yarn dyer and spinner which creates so many design possibilities. You may even get a parcel of my beads tied up with bits of yarn from my handspun collection!

Here are some of my latest projects that I have made including my first plied yarn! Enjoy and look for me on Ravelry! Go Gryffindors!

Another Side Of Spring

I am constantly moved and inspired by the natural world. We have been having some amazing foggy mornings here in South Florida and the pictures I took of it have totally inspired me. The gorgeous matte finish of the fog and the striking red of my bottle-brush tree lend to a more seductive tone. I am thinking that the beads made from this inspiration will go in my Organiks Collection since this is nature at it's finest! Let me know what you all think about this "other side of Spring"

My Bottle-Brush Tree in full bloom

My Neighbors tree kinda creepy but cool!

The view across the lake

Fire Divas Customer Appreciation Sale!!

The Fire Divas wish to show our heartfelt thanks to you, our customer, for your continued patronage and enthusiastic support of us. Many of you have become our good friends ;-). It is customers like you who are largely responsible for making us the best that we can be. The consistent feedback and support we get from you has helped us scale new heights in improving the quality of our products.

Lutrick              ~              Icarus Beads              ~              Fire and Sand              ~              Ema K Designs

But we don't want to just talk about our appreciation—we want to show you in a more concrete way! Beginning this Friday, March 25 - April 2, 2011, we're having a Special Customer Appreciation Week—just for you! You will find sales ranging from 15 to 20% off our normal prices, and other special offers. The list of participating Fire Divas can be found below with specific coupon codes and sale details for either their Etsy and/or Artfire shops.   

Susan Lambert           ~           Ugly Duckling Beads            ~            Ashlyn Design            ~            Spawn of Flame

Ashlyn Design ~ 15% off Lori's ArtFire shop and a gift with every purchase. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS. **Please note that Lori's shop will be on "vacation mode" on April 2nd, so she will have to end her personal sale on Friday, April 1st. All other team members will have their items on sale through April 2nd.

Holly's Folly Glass ~ 15% off her Etsy shop and 20% off her website. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS

SusanLambert ~ Specially marked spacer bead sets for $10 including shipping in her Etsy shop.

Lutrick ~ 20% off Lara's Etsy and ArtFire shops. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS

Icarus Beads ~ 20% off Judith's Etsy shop.  Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS

Ema K Designs ~ 20% off her Etsy and ArtFire shops.

Spawn of Flame ~ 15% off Rosemarie's Etsy and ArtFire shops. Coupon Code DIVATHANKSSPRING11

Fire and Sand ~ 20% off Karen's Etsy and ArtFire shops. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS

Sun Door Beads ~ 20% off Michelle's Etsy and ArtFire shops. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS

Ugly Duckling Beads ~ 20% off Kathleen's Etsy shop. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS

Rivers Edge Glass ~ 15% off Barb's Etsy and ArtFire shops. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS

Uvanomos            ~            Holly's Folly Glass            ~            Rivers Edge Glass            ~            Sun Door Beads

Babs Beads and Design ~ 15% off Susanne's ArtFire shop.

Shepherd Creations ~ 20% off Patrice's ArtFire shop. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS

Uvanomos ~ 15% off Lluvia's Etsy shop. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS

Amy Hall ~ Free shipping in her Etsy shop. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKS

Silver River Glass ~  10% off Sonja's Artfire shop. Coupon Code: DIVATHANKYOU

We're so happy to have served you in the past and will continue to provide you with the best in handmade artisan lampwork beads. We look forward to your continuing support, please keep in touch with us via your "comments" and your "likes" on this page, and don't forget to share us with all your friends! *Ü*

FIRE DIVAS SALE!!!

The Fire Divas are having a spectacular sale!!! To honor all of our amazing customers with whom our glass careers would not be complete (or possible) The Fire Divas are having a group wide sale!
I Myself, (SunDoorBeads) have placed both of my shops Etsy & ArtFire on a 20% off sale!!! Simply use the coupon code "DIVATHANKS" when checking out and you will receive 20% off your entire order!
So once again, here  is a HUGE THANK YOU!! to all my singularly amazing supporters of the art!!!

Love,
Michelle

Lightroom3- Love It!!!

Being a bead and jewelry artist the hardest thing about what I do seems to be the photography! I know what I see through my eyes but the camera always seems to see things I don't and not in a good way either!  I think I have finally found my solution to this! I have tried other photo editing programs and never really quite mastered them- I was looking for something that did the job but did not take a college course in order to use- Lightroom3 has solved that all for me!! It is easy to use but has the advanced features that make my beads show their true beauty- best of all you can try it for free with no obligation to buy, just visit the adobe website to download and you have 30 days!
Here is an example of how it fixed my photo in a couple of simple steps!

Original Shot Using a light tent with natural light source
Notice the pink cast

This was with the brush mask feature in Lightroom3
No color adjustments were made just a white balance!

Etsy Treasury: Fire Divas Collection

I was just fancying a looksie at all the great beads that my fellow Divas had in their shops and I decided to make a treasury. I have been to the beach a lot lately and the colors and feel of summer were calling to me!
Here is a link to this great collection of cool, bright, fun and wonderful beads!! GO DIVAS!!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d85225abf828eefb458ebdf/sun-sand-sea-diva-style-fire-divas?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Treasury&utm_campaign=Share

Winner For Wedding Poll!!

Thank you to all who voted!! It really helps me with my designing and marketing to get feedback from "real" people!!!
The winner of the poll is Chris Sanderson Beads!!! The earrings will be assembled as soon as the goldfilled findings arrive and should be shipped by the end of next week. The winner can contact me via email to leave their details on shipping. mveizaga@sundoorbeads.com

Stay tuned for more fun and contests!!!

Wedding Poll Udate!

I am making the earrings as we speak- I had to order some gold filled findings for the prize pair. However, what I wanted to do is have a reminder up for those of you who have voted to please come back and leave a comment. Just pop in and say "I voted" you do not have to leave anything else. I will post here which post was the lucky drawing and you can email me at mveizaga@sundoorbeads.com to arrange the shipment of the earrings. Thank you all for your feedback and for voting!

New Tesoro Beads

I am so happy with the new Tesoro Beads I have been making! These beads were all made using various silver glasses and I love the color!

Check them out on My ArtFire!

Brides To Be

I have a great friend getting married in April and can't wait! As a bead maker and jewelry designer I find this time of year so enchanting! I would love to know what you guys think about accessorizing for that special day!
Whether you will be a bridesmaid, invite, or even that princess for a day (the bride) I would love to know what you think!
To make this fun I will randomly choose a voter from the poll to win a gorgeous pair of my "Golden Drape" lampwork and crystal earrings! (photo coming soon) Make sure to get in your votes!! The winner will be randomly selected but you must comment so I know that you voted! Heres to Weddings!!

I'm A Fire Diva!

I have been contemplating the joining of an Etsy Street Team for some time and finally gave it go. I realized that there is a special place out there for everyone and I am so happy that I found it with the Fire Divas!
Already I have been made to feel right at home and included in the activities of the group. Heres to a long and happy time with them!
Check out our Fanpage on Facebook and become a Fan! Hope to see you there!!!

Finally Blogging

I have always been a very outgoing person but never gave much thought to putting my words and experiences down in a blog- Well I finally gave in after seeing how much fun (and how highly addicting) the world of blogging can be.

I have had some great things happen over the past couple weeks and can't wait to share it all with you!

Hope you have fun reading my posts and seeing what I'm all about!