A Treasured Friend and TeamMate Passes

My good and very close friend, Cori of "CC Design," passed away early Monday morning from a brain anurisum. All of her team members from ABST are so very heartbroken. It's a truely sad day. We are going to miss Cori so so much. I became friends with Cori over a year ago. We emailed eachother all the time, then found ourselves talking on the phone at least twice a week. She lived in Missouri, while I reside in WA State, so we couldn't visit eachother everday like we wished we could. I know people come into our lives for a reason. You never know how long they will stay... maybe a day, a few months, or years. I feel so blessed to have known Cori and to have been a close friend. Something that maybe a lot of her online friends didn't know was that Cori had the most contagious laugh. And she could put a smile on my face on the worst day. She brightened my days, and I will miss her sooooo much. Dear sweet Cori....I will see you again one day. We will meet face to face and laugh again. Until then, you will be missed and always loved.........

It's Monday and You Know What That Means..........

A brand new *Giveaway* from the Artisan Beaders Street Team! This is the 2nd week of a series of fabulous giveaways of wonderful handmade items from the team. This week, you can win this gorgeous purple flower brooch from Meri of Elbit Enterprises!

Visit the team's blog for all the details. And while

you're at it, visit the Holiday Gift Guide for a jumpstart

on your holiday shopping. Peace!

Autumn has arrived...........

and the leaves are changing their colors to golden browns, soft oranges, and rich deep reds. This is my interpretation of capturing falling leaves and their changing Autumn colors. It is also part of the Artisan Beaders Street Team's October Challenge, "Fall Into Color." Citrine cubes, garnet triangles & leaves, and chocolate colored rounds surround a beautiful glass lampwork leaf with a tiny ladybug perched on it. The focal leaf was handcrafted by Deronda Designs. To see more of the lovely October challenge pieces, check out the team's Flickr page.

ABST Giveaway Winner is................

Natalie from "Adore by Nat!" Natalie won a beautiful pair of earrings from *Broken Teepee Designs.* Natalie was the first winner of more to come! There will be a new Giveaway each Monday till the end of the year. So pop on over for your chance to win a fabulous handmade item from the Artisan Beaders Street Team! If you're starting to do some holiday shopping, like I am, then you won't want to miss the Holiday Gift Guide. You can get a sneak peek of gorgeous handmade items with links to very talented artisans. Don't forget to buy handmade this holiday season! Peace!

I've been Tagged! Twice!!

That's right! Two very talented ladies that I am proud to call friends have tagged me; Brandi of "Brandi Girl" and Nicole of "Beadwright." Both of these ladies create beautiful handcrafted jewelry! Brandi's shop can be found here, and Nicole's shop can be found here. Okay...this is how this fun lil internet game works: 1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog. 2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. 3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs. 4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs. So...here goes! 1. I met my husband from the cb radio 13 years ago, and we've been married for 9 years now. 2. I was a proud single parent for the first 16 years of my son's life. 3. Regarding #2, I celebrated Father's Day for myself each year. 4. Back in Jr. High school, I won 1st place for the sketched pic for our annual address book cover, and I can't draw worth beans! 5. When I was a young teeneager (in the 70's) I actually thought I would grow up and marry Peter Frampton! Yes...this is fact! :)) 6. In the late 80's, I saw "Poison" in concert and got to party with them on one of their busses afterwards. Yes..I was a good girl! hehe... 7. And lastly, one of my necklaces will be published in the January 2009 issue of "Bead Trends." I am so happy about this wonderful thing that has happened to me! It makes me realize even more so that creating jewelry is what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm on the right path, and God and the angels are guiding me everyday. "I'm very very thankful for this awesome opportunity!!" So, there ya go! Now, you know 7 more things about me. Now, I'm going to tag the following 7 lucky people! Deronda - http://derondadesigns.blogspot.com/ Vicki - http://vickiorion.blogspot.com/ Cori - http://designsbycori.blogspot.com/ Marcy - http://studiomarcy.blogspot.com/ Meri - http://merigreenleaf.blogspot.com/ Jael - http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/ Lee - http://fivetoninedesign.blogspot.com/

Tis The Season For A GIVEAWAY!

Starting October 20th, *Artisan Beaders Street Team* members will be sponsoring a series of giveaways to celebrate the Holiday Season. New giveaways are posted each Monday, and winners are announced the following Friday. This week's giveaway item is a gorgeous pair of earrings from Broken Teepee Designs. They feature prasiolite (green amethyst), mystic blue topaz, and gold filled findings. Stop by our blog to view the earrings AND enter for your chance to win these beauties!

Look at the Artisan Beaders.............

brand new AD! Members of the Artisan Beaders Street Team have come together to provide customers a-one-stop-place on the web, making it easier to find all your holiday jewelry gift giving this year. Our new Holiday Gift Guide will show samples of each member's handmade items, such as, handmade earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and handcrafted glass and polymer clay beads. Each of these wonderful items is handmade with high quality materials and will make great gifts for the jewelry lover in your life! Please support artisans and buy handmade this holiday season! Peace!

ABST Holiday Gift Guide

The Artisan Beaders Street Team is...... Begin with a passion for beads. Combine with creativity. Mix with encouragement. The result is Artisan Beaders; a charismatic group committed to providing the knowledge, resources and support to help members succeed in their entrepreneurial dreams. If you are looking for quality, beauty, and an economical price for hand-crafted jewelry and beads this holiday season, then you will want to view The Artisan Beaders Street Team's Holiday Gift Guide. Not only will you find stunning items, you will also find unique individuals doing what they love and mastering the art of making amazing jewelry and beads. Support artisans and buy handmade this holiday season and receive one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces and beads.

October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month,

I will be donating 15% of sales in my "PINK For The CURE"

section of my shop to the "Susan G. Komen for the CURE

Foundation." Go to "The Jewelry Box" and do your part to

help find a cure! Thank you!

The Boxes Are Ready!

The "Washington State Friendship Box " is now on sale, as of October, 1st, 2008! This is a perfect way for consumers to learn and sample hand-crafted items from talented artists throughout Eastern Washington State. Each box consists of approximately 1 dozen hand-crafted samples/items, ranging from stationary to decorative items, candles, jewelry, and much more! You can guarantee that each item in these fabulous boxes are handmade with love and a lot of care. Each artist has provided a quality sample of their item in these boxes. Go here and click on the "box" to view a sample of the current boxes for sale and info on purchasing. Shipping to Canada is also available! You can find a treat from me, "The Jewelry Box," in each of these boxes too, along with an adorable lil handmade box. So...check 'em out, and enjoy all of the wonderful samples from Eastern Washington State artists!