NEW AUTHENTIC MURANO GLASS

Filed under: Glass Beads, Handmade Jewelry, Uncategorized

Take a look at what we have in store for you! I am delighted to add to my collection handmade Genuine Murano Art Glass pieces with designs by the amazingly talented Alan K.. This man is a genius! I’ve sang the praises of a lot of people in the past, but never have I seen work quite like his. And, these catalogs that I have put together for you to view are just the tip of the iceberg. Along with the Millefiori, Millecreli, Designo, and Stingray collections that you will see, he also has created some amazing Signature, and Signature Authentico pieces (I proudly own 2 of them) that I cannot advertise for sale on my website, but they will be available at shows. Also, I will be showing you the Twisted Blade Collection by Jena Forte. It’s a VERY cool name, and an even cooler collection for both Men and Women. Some teasers below!!!

I have provided the link to 3 catalogs that I have personally created into .PDF format, since digital catalogs of these items do not exist. Some of the pieces that I already own will be listed on the site. I have sold many pieces privately already. However, I have no intention of stocking every single piece since that would completely break me for years to come. So, if you like something (or TWELVE THINGS) in the catalog in which you are interested, please just jot down the item number and Contact Me for pricing. Enjoy!

First, the Designo PDF can be found HERE. The Murano Catalog can be found HERE. The Stingray Catalog can be found HERE.

Some of these items could be discontinued in the future, or out of stock. I will do my best to maintain the integrity of the catalog so that everything is current. Please check the blog for updates! Please remember this content is Copyrighted and is not available for public re-posting.

Tags: Alan K., Handmade Jewelry, Jena Forte, Millefiori Glass, MURANO GLASS, sterling silver, Stingray, twisted blade

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Filed under: Holiday Jewelry, Uncategorized

Happy Holidays!

Let me start with the good news: After having to pull a second winner from last month’s FREE GIFT giveaway, unlike our first winner, Ragina Young did respond and her free gift was delivered safe and sound. Congratulations again, Ragina!

On to the Holidays! For us, October brings Halloween, and then as my sister says, “The downfall of all of our pocket books” begins in November. That is because we have many birthdays starting in November and then on to Thanksgiving, more Birthdays in December (including my son who will be 2), and then of course Christmas…and so on, and so on.

With the addition of over 6000 products to the site, we have added some new items in the Holiday Jewelry section with more being added later today and throughout the week. Keep in mind while some of these items are novelty items (like the Santa watches), others can be worn daily like the necklace below:

Swarovski Snowflake Pendant

Also, don’t forget that when you are gifting that bottle of cheer you can do it in style with our decorative Wine/Bottle Gift Bags. Please select your favorite color bag from the drop down menu.

Decorative Wine/Bottle storage bag

As always, I love to design custom pieces that are not listed on the site. For those of you interested in seeing some new pieces that ARE for sale but not yet listed on the site you can visit our Facebook website here. There we have a few albums of some older items as well as MANY new items that were never listed on the website, as they are being used for Private sales to registered website members, and Facebook “Friends”. Here is just an example of items not listed:

I have been making the above bracelet for more than 2 years, and Swarovski just keeps adding more and more beautiful colors of this particular crystal to their line. Most of these bracelets that I have made have all been special order with a mix of colors, or as in the one pictured below, as a donation to the St. Joseph’s Prep “Hawk Huddle” fundraiser. My nephew plays football for them so that was one of the ways I showed my support. This bracelet is comprised of The Prep’s school colors.

St. Joseph's Prep Hawk Huddle Swarovski Bracelet. Donated by Isabella's Beads and raffled off to one lucky winner!

If you desire to have a standard “Pointed Cluster” bracelet made (in any single color or mixed colors) you can do so for $135. Please Contact Us with your special request. We’ll keep you posted on new items being added. Don’t forget to add us on Facebook to stay current with all Private Sale items!

Tags: crystal jewelry, holiday accessories, holiday gift ideas, Holiday jewelry, Holiday watches, snowflake, sterling silver

FREE GIFT WINNER - OCTOBER 2010

Filed under: Handmade Jewelry, Holiday Jewelry, Uncategorized

It has been a while since I’ve actually taken the time to post the names of the free gift winners. Believe it or not, there is one every month. It’s my way of doing some inexpensive advertising while making people happy at the same time

This month’s free gift winner is Natalia Korobeinikova. She is the recipient of a beautiful Criss Cross jeweled hair accessory. The Criss Cross jeweled hair clip is decorated with rhinestones in shades of green and AB coated clear stones. A lovely accessory for any up-do or long hair.

If you are already a member of Isabella’s Beads then you are automatically registered to win. Others who choose not to create an account can register to win HERE.

I’ve made a few halloween pieces, but chose to sell them privately since I got started so late. I have been busy trying to organize the newly added 6000 products on my website. It’ll be an ongoing process, but since I am doing it myself it’ll take a little while longer than I expected. I do have many items already listed for Fall though, including these simple yet stunning Baltic Amber and Sterling Silver earrings.

Sterling Silver with Baltic Amber disc

I will have time to make plenty of items in time for the Christmas Holiday and winter season, and you’ll be able to find all that and more in our Holiday Items section of the site. There are many items there now including this adorable seasonal bracelet that is on sale now. Order yours today just in time for the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays!

Tags: Bracelet, Glass Beads, Holiday gifts, Holiday jewelry, pumpkin, sterling silver, SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL

6000 NEW PRODUCTS ADDED!

Filed under: Handmade Jewelry, Uncategorized

6000 NEW PRODUCTS! I’ve been saying that I had some new and exciting things planned, and with the arrival of September, I promise not to disappoint you. There are so many things happening right now it would be too lengthy to list them all, but I am happy to announce some of the new major changes to my web site.

In the beginning, I planned on only offering hand made items made by me, and items made by some very talented guest artists whom I have been featuring since 2008. I also offered a few manufactured items to hit a lower price point just so that I was able to offer something to everyone that visited my store. All along I have known that there is so much out there offer in the world of jewelry, but I had found it difficult to find my niche in the industry, until now.

I am known primarily as a “beader” in the jewelry world. I use precious metals, Freshwater pearls, semi-precious stones and genuine gemstones, only the best Swarovski Crystal and hand made glass beads among other things in my designs. I do not make the CZ findings myself, although I use them in my designs. I do not use art clay, YET, although I do own a kiln. I do not make chain maille at this time. However, these are all of the things, and more, that I want to be able to offer my customers. So, with that being said, I would like to happily announce the unveiling of my new and improved web site complete with an ever-changing slide show of new items on the Home page, and over 6000 NEW ITEMS added to my store.

I love Authentic Murano glass. I can now offer you the designs of Alan K who only uses Genuine Murano glass from Italy in his designs. I have a brand new Men’s collection that I am SUPER EXCITED about, as I have been anticipating it for quite some time. I make some of the items, and some are high quality manufactured items made with Sterling silver, 14K gold, and contemporary materials such as Stainless Steel, Titanium, and Tungsten. I promise there is something for everyone, and you won’t be disappointed!

The Bridal collection is now complete. There are so many items from which to choose. I make many of them myself, and those that are made primarily of metals with CZ are high quality manufactured items.

The new Body Jewelry Collection is here, and is still expanding. I can now offer ear cuffs, naval rings, nose rings and studs, with more coming soon! The Religious Collection has also started and is also still expanding. Right now I am working on crystal, wood beads, and precious metal rosaries for Men, Women, and children.

Lastly, I am very excited to offer Story Bead Jewelry. These bracelets, necklaces, and earrings are similar to Pandora, Troll, etc., but are a fraction of the price. The materials are the same high quality materials used in making the competitor’s beads. I am able to offer them at a lower cost for 3 reasons:

1.   I buy direct from the manufacturer

2.   You pay for the name whenever you buy anything “designer”.

3.   And more so because my profit margin is much lower than that of a retail store.

Home shows. I have been preparing to start home shows in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area starting in September. I want to have an amazing display so I am taking a little longer than I had hoped, but I am almost complete. I look forward to unveiling all of this to you and more in the coming months.

As with my old policy, I stand behind everything I offer 100%. If you are not satisfied with any purchase, handmade or otherwise, you will receive a full refund. Please see the refunds section for complete details. For your shopping convenience we accept all major credit cards, money orders, and cashier’s checks. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Don’t forget, my passion is still creating custom one-of-a-kind items specifically for you. So if there is something that you’d like but don’t see in my store, I’ll be happy to make it for you.

Thanks for reading!

Mariealena

Tags: 14K GOLD, BIRTHSTONES, gemstones, Holiday jewelry, LARGE HOLE BEADS, MURANO GLASS, SILVER JEWELRY, sterling silver, STORY BEADS, SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL

Featured Artists (and other stuff)

Filed under: Handmade Jewelry, Uncategorized

It’s been hectic around here to say the least. I mentioned to my friend Lisa Atchison just last night how I haven’t had any time to work on many of my planned designs, especially since the wedding. I feel like nothing has slowed down yet. That is probably because my son, who will be 10 months (ALREADY!) on the 10th of October is running me all over the place. I’m desperately trying to potty train my 3 year old daughter, and thankfully that is going A LOT better these days, nevertheless, it’s still hard work and it’s keeping me busy along with the rest of life’s daily activities.

OK. Enough about that. Almost a year ago I started a “Featured Artist” program where I featured 5-7 pieces of any guest artist who wanted to participate. I even created a special section in my store called Guest Jewelers & Merchants to display only their items. All that was required along with a Biography is that they send pictures of a specific size, a description for each item, and the price for which they wanted to sell it. I agreed to post the items in the store for a period of one year, free of charge. (Disclaimer: The price on the items has to be slightly adjusted to the nearest dollar so that the artist can receive the asking price, because all new customers on my site receive a 10% discount.) I posted this offer on LinkedIn and received a very positive response. This is not done so that I could directly profit from the sale of their items. This is beneficial to both my site and the Guest Artist as it offers the artist exposure, and me new content perhaps in areas that I do not dabble

For example, although I own a kiln and silver art clay, I have yet to post any of the pieces that I have made. Instead, I leave that to the experts. This piece made by Jennifer Dewey is one of my all-time favorites. It is a handmade sterling silver baby’s rattle. It is highly polished and features a freshwater pearl filled rosette (the pearl is symbolic of purity and innocence), musically rotating upon the sterling teething ring. You can click on the photo to see its full description in the store.

Although my Father is a talented artist, I am not (not in the drawing and painting sense of the word anyway). So, another unique artist I featured back in June is Barbara Yalof. Most of her artwork depicts people or animals rather than designs. What her artwork and jewelry do have in common is knowledge of color theory and a playfulness with color and line. What I love most about Barbara’s work is that it is affordable to just about EVERYONE, and that is difficult to find when you are dealing with quality handmade items of any kind.

This Original Art and Hand Painted Jewelry is the work of Barbara Yalof who graduated Temple U./Tyler School of Art and resides in Narberth, PA. In the past, Barbara’s jewelry has been sold by artist’s rep to boutiques and stores, including the shops of The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Her one-of-a-kind jewelry was awarded “Best Fashion Jewelry in Philadelphia”, and was given a solo trunk show at Macy’s Manhattan.

After 8 years in business, Barbara took a hiatus from her jewelry and took this time to concentrate on parenthood and other interests. She went back to school to study computer graphics, and took time to paint and draw again. Barbara’s paintings and prints can be seen on her website: www.barbarayalof.com .

When things quieted down at home, she realized just how much she missed creating tiny works of art. Armed with a heightened interest in colors and how they interact, Barbara is back creating the earrings, pins, bracelets, and necklaces that are once again on the market. Hours fly by, pieces are moved around and paired up with other pieces; a lot of thought goes into the production of each of these one-of-a-kind miniature works of art. Barbara currently teaches Color Theory at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA.

If you or anyone you know might be interested in becoming a Featured Guest Artist on my site, please E-mail me with your request and we’ll get you set up right away! I will be posting some new items next week, and I am hoping to get the collection finished on which I started working months ago. It’s really something special and it’s unfortunate that it has taken me this long to complete. I look forward to sharing my new designs with you.

Tags: Brooch, hand painted, handmade gifts, Handmade Jewelry, jewelry, Matisse, paintings, Pin, sterling silver

Upcoming Wedding

Filed under: Glass Beads, Handmade Jewelry, Uncategorized

Well, I haven’t written too much and I haven’t had a ton of time to even make a lot of new pieces. I am getting married on August 1st, and there is still so much to do that I feel like it’s never going to get finished in time. I’ll post a separate blog on that fiasco later!

I did make this bracelet and called it “Something Blue”. I thought that I might wear it on my own wedding day. I still might, I am not sure. Nevertheless the bracelet is beautiful, and I think anyone would be happy to own it. It is made of the same great quality materials that I always use; Swarovski Crystal and Freshwater pearls along with Bali and Sterling silvers. Keep in mind that this bracelet, should you want one for yourself, can be customized with any color pearl, and various colors of crystal in these graphite and butterfly shapes.

I did have some time a few weeks ago to complete some new pieces with beads that I had waiting to be used. The photographs aren’t the best, as I have procrastinated on purchasing a really good lighting system. I don’t seem to be very good at juggling being a mommy of 2, a wife-to-be, a poker player, and jewelry maker all at the same time. I’ll get it together one of these days. It’s a goal of mine! Anyway here is a piece from the “Breakfast at Bella’s” collection that I had started. In this collection I used handmade glass beads from Laurie Whitney of Mermaid Glass. Here is one of the newer pieces. It is a Cupcake and Doughnut set and it’s accented with Swarovski crystal bicone beads and sterling silver. The chain was cut and assembled by me so the length is completely customizable.

The next piece is something I just love, although the picture surely own reflect it’s beauty. This I call the “Grand Slam”. It is a very solid sterling silver rolo bracelet with toggle clasp, and on it several delicious charms accented in sterling silver and Hill Tribes silver dangle delicately, and just tempt your taste buds! You’ll find a complete breakfast of bacon and eggs along with a short stack of syrup smothered pancakes.

Tags: cupcake, doughnut, earrings, Glass Beads, Hill Tribes Silver, Necklace, sterling silver, swar

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Filed under: Glass Beads, Handmade Jewelry, Holiday Jewelry

Well it’s been an interesting 2 weeks to say the least. My Tungsten lights blew out so I have no adequate light in which to photograph my jewelry until the new lights arrive. We had a wind storm that blew out the electric so we had to take ourselves, along with our 2 children (one is 2 years old and the other is 2 months old) to the Country Buffet for dinner the other night. Two pieces of the aluminum on one of the roof peaks blew off in that storm so now we have to replace the the aluminum on all THREE peaks so that it matches. The material isn’t much but the labor is where they get you, obviously.

I did have a few good things happen too, though. I bought a new camera so hopefully that will aid in better pictures for the future. Today was a first for me. Some of you might be able to sympathize with my plight, but probably not. I created several pieces of jewelry with a 2 month old napping in an upright position on my lap. At this very moment I am typing my blog with one finger and the wrong hand because I am feeding him with the other! Listen…you gotta do what you gotta do.

I have a new collection of handmade bracelets that I will be adding to continuously. I call it the “Breakfast at Bella’s” collection. These bracelets are all handmade sterling silver and they feature handmade glass charms made by Laurie of Mermaid Glass. She has my business for life. I LOVE these bracelets and the beads. I used sterling findings and Hill Tribes silver charms throughout the design, and each one is different. There is more breakfast to be served so keep your eyes peeled for new additions!

Also these Swarovski Crystal heart earrings were supposed to be for Valentine’s Day, but again, camera and lighting issues prevented me from listing them sooner. Anyway, they are great to wear anytime obviously and they are now listed in the store.

We have introduced 5 new Guest Artists for the month of February. They are in no particular order: Alexsandra Gifford - aka Wild Pearly. Alexsandra makes the most amazing handbags I have ever seen. They are creative and vibrant, and you definitely need to check them out. They are all OOAK items and I promise you won’t be disappointed. Here is an example of her work…

Next we have Connie Loyet of “Riverbed” creations. Here is another great artist who brings us unique gemstone and mineral pendants. Some of her beautiful creations are personally mined! Below is just an example of Connie’s work. Please click on the photo to view the item in the store as well as her other four offerings for a total of five showcased items!

Megan Huffaker of Tesoro Bella Jewelry is a 36-year-old stay-at-home mother with a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Genetics. Megan is joined in design, creation, and distribution by her sisters Becky, Katie, and Chris, by her nieces Kathryn (Kat) and Maddeline, by her parents Jay and Rosie, and by her close friend Kari. Please see a glimpse of what Megan has to offer below. Click on the picture to be taken to the store and explore some of Megan’s other wonderful creations!

Next is Manda Link of Manda Panda Creations. Her jewelry is as unique as her name. I know that you will just love her pieces. Below is my personal favorite from Manda’s submitted collection. Please click the photo to be taken to that item in the store, or just visit the store to view six more of Manda’s creations!

Jewelry Fetish is a relatively young business that grew out of three women’s passions for custom made pieces. Those women are Teresa Ellens, Stephanie Ponius, and Jocelyn Walker. Please see just one of the many creations that they have to offer. Click on the photo to be taken to this item in the store and read more about it, or add it to your collection before someone else does!

Tags: earrings, handcrafted jewelry, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, handmade gifts, handmade glass beads, Holiday gifts, Holiday jewelry, sterling silver

Boro Bead Bonanza!

Filed under: Glass Beads, Handmade Jewelry

Here are a few new items using some handmade boro beads that I happen to have in stock. The first two items are made using handmade “Journey” boro beads from Beau’s Beads. I used Hill Tribes pure silver throughout most of the bracelet with the exception of the Swarovski crystals and the Bali bead caps that accent them.

Each boro bead is flanked with handmade Hill Tribes silver beads caps and is then separated by Hill Tribes decorative spacers. The flower tube bead that are used in the “band” portion of the bracelet are also handmade Hill Tribes silver as well as the round toggle that terminates the bracelet. The citrine colored Swarovski crystals nicely accent the yellow color in the glass boro bead. This bracelet measures 7″ in length. Another of its kind can be made as long as the boro bead is still available.

Also available is this matching boro ring. The band is handmade sterling silver form McDuck Creations and features a round topper. This particular ring is a size 7. Please contact me for available sizes.

The last addtion is another boro bead ring, which also features a handmade band from McDuck Creations. This is a sterling silver hammered band with a conical topper. This ring however is decorated with a boro bead in rich, deep colors made by one of my most favorite glass artists, Lisa Atchison of Touch Of Glass Designs. This ring is also a size 7 and due to the fact that there is only one of these beads at this time, this ring is the only one of its kind.

Tags: boro bead ring, boro beads, glass bead ring, Glass Beads, handmade glass beads, Handmade Jewelry, sterling silver, sterling silver ring

New Items and Artists for January!!!

Filed under: Handmade Jewelry, Holiday Jewelry

What an exciting December we have had here! If you’ve been keeping up with the new Isabella’s Beads Blog Page then you know that we have just given birth to our second child, John P. D’Agostino, IV. He was born on December 10, 2008 and we are so blessed to have him in our lives along with our daughter Isabella Rose. Also last month we introduced a section of the site called the “Guest Jewelers” section, and it is where I feature the works of other talented artists that I have met in this industry.

We showcased the works of three very talented artists last month and we have more for you this month! The artists that I would like to present to you for January are Debbie Jennings of “Deb’s Beaded Treasures”, and Kim Grassing of “LexieJewel”.

Debbie Jennings writes: “I started Debs Beaded Treasures in 2005 as a means to share my love of creating jewelry with everyone.  I especially like making “wearable art statement pieces”, and love the compliments my customers receive when wearing them.  I have a studio in my home that I couldn’t live without.  It is a creative environment that is very inspirational, where I spend many hours of enjoyment, creating special pieces for you (and a few for me, of course!). It takes a bit more of an “eye for design” to sell craft work in the vast ocean of talented artists in today’s market, so I am always learning new things.”

Here is an example of Debbie’s work. You can click on the photo to be taken to the item in the store. Also, to see all of the items in our Guest Jeweler’s Section click here!

Kim Writes: “A walk on the wild side…. or a stroll in the park! That’s how I describe my line of jewelry.  Each unique creation by LexieJewel is designed and handcrafted by me, Kimberley Grasing. All of my designs are original, and I strive to be innovative, cutting edge, and sometimes over the top.  I have been creating beaded jewelry for the past 5 years and have recently added FIRE (soldering!) to my repertoire…. and I haven’t seen the light of day since!! Yes, my acetylene torch is my new best friend! Working with metals has allowed me to reach into my inner depths of creativity to unleash designs and pieces fully infused with passion, heart and soul. I hope you enjoy all that LexieJewel has to offer!”

This Molton Rock necklace one is one my favorite pieces from Kim…

Well, February is quickly approaching and with that so is Valentines Day! I have some nice designs for Women and Children that you’ll definitely want to see. This Swarovski Crystal heart pendant doesn’t need a special occasion to be worn.

Also available and new this past month is this lovely Sterling Silver CZ double Heart ring.

Or how about this delicately adorable Sterling silver pave heart dangle ring for your daughter or even yourself!

These are just a few of the wonderful items that are available for this coming Valentine’s Day holiday. Please be sure to check out the Themed Jewelry section of the site for more ideas. And remember, if you have something specific in mind we can work together to create the perfect custom design! E-mail me for custom orders.

Tags: Glass Beads, handcrafted jewelry, handmade gifts, Handmade Jewelry, semi precious gemstones, sterling silver, valentine's day gifts

Wonder Woman, I am not…

Filed under: Events, Handmade Jewelry

Well, I thought that I would be able to be more like my favorite super hero, Wonder Woman, and handle having a newborn son, celebrating Christmas with our large family, traveling to Connecticut for a week, and maintaining the web site all while still taking care of my fiancee and our 2 year old daughter, Isabella Rose. I was wrong, and I suck. I’m sorry.

OK. So I am a little behind with posting some new items and introducing new guest jewelers for January (and putting out my monthly newsletter to registered users) but it will get done, I PROMISE!!! Actually I tried to put out the Newsletter at the end of December, but my server is having a small glitch and my developer is working on that at this time. I hope to have it resolved shortly. It seems that having the site Search Engine Optimized created some small glitches here and there and they are being corrected. Sorry for the delays!

While January seems to be flying by, I do have 4 new guest jewelers lined up which I will introduce in a separate blog tomorrow after listing their items in the Guest Jewelers section of the site. I thank you for your patience and understanding and I promise all of you it will be worth the wait to see what these talented artists have to offer.

Tags: Glass Beads, handcrafted jewelry, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, sterling silver