Last weekend we had our first camp fire of the season. Well, to be honest it was our second, but the first one only lasted a half an hour before we got rained out. So this was our official first one. One that we made s'mores and had a few adult beverages and the company of good friends. 

We love hanging out in our backyard during the summer. Even though it's in the middle of the city, it's still filled with trees and plants (and wildlife). The best part, you don't hear the noise of the city. We are fairly close to the highway and you would never know it. It's our little retreat from a hard days work. Sitting on the deck watching LO play or hanging around the fire with friends. I love it.  But enough about my personal life and my love of my backyard. Let's get to the important things. 

Yay! I have been making a bunch of changes to my Facebook page and I have been having so much fun getting to know everyone. I love doing the daily question and seeing pics of fur babies. It's been so much fun, I decided to start a group so we could get to know each other on a more personal level. We'll be talking about all kinds of great things. Food, travel, art, business, family, and food. Did I already say food? There will be a lot of food talk from my end. 

I'll also be offering group only deals. Things that only group members will have access to. As well as some "before anyone else" peeks at new products. I will also do some giveaways for members only. 

Come join me and get in on the conversation. It's a small group now, but I know you'll help me grow and make it an awesome place to handout. Click the button below to join. There is a quick question you need to answer to join, but that's because I want to keep the spamy bots out. 

Don't forget to also sign up for my email newsletter. You'll get awesome info and some email only deals (right now my readers get upgraded shipping until the end of the month). You'll also be entered to win this awesome pair of earrings. The winner will be announced, July 1st. So, what are you waiting for? Go sign up today! 

I've been working my butt off on my new logo and working on re-branding my shop. I'm in love with it, I really am and I hope everyone else out there is as well. But all that work at a computer has really hampered the amount of actual artwork I make. I'm soooo glad I can take a break on my logo because I really missed just sitting down and working with some awesome beads. 

Good news, I do have some new beadwork to share. All the computer work also included to new photos being edited. I have a whole stack of new goodies that I started working on before the whole logo thing began. Now I can finally post them and share them with all of you.

This one this week is a great bead embroidered brooch. I know it's not really brooch season, but I just love it so much, I couldn't wait to share it. 

It's all hand embroidered with great matte turquoise colored beads, accented with some red. And of course that beautiful redstone marble bead that catches the eye. It's so lovely. It honestly makes me smile when I see it.  

If you love it as much as I do, and I know you do, check it out in my shop. 

Ugh, I missed my blog post last week. Yuk. What's up with that? The holiday just threw me off so much. One little difference and I'm lost and off my schedule. I seriously missed a bunch of things last weeks. Oh well, it is what it is. The only thing I can do is hold my head high and get back on the (blogging) horse. 

So let's just get into it! 

I've been working on a new updated logo. It's actually something I've been working on for a very long time. A few years. I have a friend that is a graphic designer and we've been working together on something I like. Well I think I might finally have something I'm happy with. 

I'm still not sure about the font, but it's growing on me. I still might change it up a little bit. I also am thinking about adding some beads. Maybe a strand of beads or something like that. It's a work in progress. 

It is based on a photo I took of a fox skull from my collection. I made a bunch of different sketches from different angels, trying to find something I like. The hubs liked the side view, but I wasn't sold. I tried this angel, and I liked it, but there was something missing. That's where the ears came in. The idea came from a plastic skeleton of a rat we have in the lab. It has ears, not sure why, but it does. Even though it doesn't make sense for a skeleton to have ears, I liked it. So I tried some big fox years and was smitten. I instantly knew this was what I've wanted. 

But it needed something else. Something pretty. Enter the flowers. I tried all different types of flowers. Daisies, roses, violets, etc. But the poppies had my heart. The pop of red poppies make me so happy. It's beautiful. 

I'm pretty happy with it. Like I said, I'll probably be tweaking it here and there. But overall it's finally finished. Finally after years of working on it. It feels so good to have something I'm happy with. 

June's email giveaway is live. If you haven't signed up for my email newsletter yet, go do it now! You'll be entered to win this great pair of beaded earrings. Added bonus, you'll get a 10% off coupon you can use today! If you've already signed up, awesome, you're already entered! 

My email newsletter has product and show updates, tips and tricks, email only coupons, and much more. It's new and improved and I'm working hard to make it amazing for you! 

An email address is all you need to sign up for my newsletter. I'm aiming for 1-2 emails per week, so don't worry, I promise I won't be spammy. Readers are free to unsubscribe at any time. Once a reader unsubscribes, their info will be deleted. The winner will be asked for a mailing address. It will be collected using a secure third party service. Mailing addresses will only be used for mailing of prize and will be deleted after prize is sent. Winners have 5 days to claim prize. Once that is up, the prize will be forfeit.