Summer is hear and I'm so ready for it. I feel like I have been coopd up for so long I'm ready to break free. I have been spending as much as possible outside. I'm loving it and my little one is as well. That little girl would live outside if I let her. But I can't blame her. 

Unfortunately the lovely weather is preventing my from being in the studio. It's not that I don't want to be in there, I love creating, but I also love being outside. Enjoying the weather, not wearing shoes, relaxing. It's great. I mean, who doesn't love that? How much time is everyone else spending outside?  

But I have been forcing myself to do some work in the studio. Mostly photography. I have been working, and working, and working a little bit more on getting some photos that I'm happy with. I feel like I'm getting closer to something that I feel is acceptable. 

I've been working on uping my game. Adding a little bit of this and that to make the photos look more professional. More appealing. That means taking hundreds of photos. ​

But that's okay. Practice makes perfect. And I've been practicing with some of these new simple necklaces. What do you think of these photos? I think they still need a little something, but are getting better. Do like the look or do you think they are too distracting? Let me know. I would love to hear from all of you wonderful people.

And also, check out these great necklaces. They are bright and colorful, just like I like it, but they are also simple and something you can wear everyday. They make great gifts for the end of the school year to let that special teacher know how much you appreciate their work. 

They are always very popular at shows. Each one is unique and different. 

They will be available in my shop soon. If you can't wait for them to go live, send me a message and I can get some ready just for you. 

Don't forget about my newsletter giveaway. There are only a few days left in May to enter to win this great beaded necklace. My newsletter is filled with email only deals, tips and tricks, tutorials, show updates, and much more. Sign up today to be entered to win. 

I've had quite a few requests for my guitar string bracelets over the past year, so I've decided to start offering them again! YAY! 

These are great bracelets that can be work by themselves or stacked all the way up your arm.  They look great either way! 

They are made with recycled guitar strings that have been on many guitars on many of the stages here Madison Wisconsin. So each one has a great story to go along with it. And since the strings have a second life as bracelets, they are eco friendly. 

Pair them with a guitar pick necklace and you've got yourself a great musical set. 

They make great gifts as well. Get one for a music lover you know. Or maybe a few for the rocker chick in your life. Or maybe just treat yourself and get a couple for you. Go ahead. You're worth it.  Check them out in my Etsy shop today! 

I mean just look at that detail. The bright pink wire. I could eat them up! 

I have a few of these and I love them. I actually have the first one I ever made still. I won't share with you how old that one is, okay maybe I will. It's about 10 years old now. Holy crap. I can't believe I started making these almost 10 years ago. They have come a long way from that first prototype, but they are still as cool. 

Don't forget to enter my newsletter giveaway. If I can get 25 new readers by the end of May, I'll be giving one of those lucky readers a beaded necklace! I'm almost to my goal, so let's see if I can do this. Help a girl out and sign up today. And share it with friends and family that would also love to get bright beady emails from me. Then take to social media and share it there. I appreciate everyone helping me out! 

If you sign up through this website (pop up or upper left corner) you'll get a 10% coupon that you can use in my Etsy shop. Oh yeah, Bonus! 

I've been working a lot on my business lately. Working on keywords. Improving my pictures. Working on a logo. You know, things I should have done years ago. But that's because I never took my business seriously. I just thought things would happen. I would put my stuff out there and people would flock to me. Yeah, that's not exactly how that works, now is it. So after years of having a "business" I'm finally treating it like a business. I'm taking business classes and work hard. Working very hard. And the one thing I've been putting off for years is a newsletter. I had no idea how to do one and I felt like I didn't need one. Well I was wrong. I need one. You need one. Those of you that really like what I do and want to know more need one. And I'm sorry I've been ignoring that. So I set up a little goal for myself. If I can get 25 new likes by the end of May, I will have a newsletter only giveaway. I know 25 is not a lot of people, but I'm starting small. I'm going to see if I can reach this goal and then move on to my next goal. And I need you're help to do that. I need people who really want to know more about me and my art to sign up for my newsletter. I need you to share it with friends and family that would also love to learn more. I need you to share it on social media. This is one of the best ways to support a handmade business (besides buying from us). Help me spread the word about me and my new little newsletter.  

Not only are you supporting a small business, you could win this great necklace. Everyone one that signs up for my newsletter will be entered to win this beaded necklace. How cool is that? Pretty cool. 

And if you want a little added bonus, if you sign up through my blog (with the pop up or top left corner) you'll get a 10% off coupon to be used in my Etsy Shop. Yay! So sign up today and help me reach my goal and maybe win a great new beaded necklace in the process.