Found this great article...

Everyone needs a little motivation for sticking with it sometimes and this article has a few really good tips!

Making a Living as a Self-Employed Artist – Inspiration for Hanging in There

How to make a light box...

Photo taken using a home made light box

So I am discovering that the quality of your photos makes a HUGE difference in getting sales.  Thankfully, I found a website that gave me step-by=step instructions on how to make a home made light box to achieve professional looking results when photographing my jewelry (I'll be updating all my photos later today).

You can find the directions at Studio Lighting dot Net  Hopefully, this will help others who seem to be having the same problems I am:-)

~Pamela

Memory Wire Beaded Bracelet...How To Video

How To Knot Between Beads Using Tweezers



A knot between bamboo beads...



http://beadwork.about.com/cs/beadshowtos/ht/knotbetweenbead.htm

Many beginning beaders find knotting between beads challenging - here are some simple steps using bead cord and tweezers to assure your knot success!

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 45 minutes

Here's How:

1. Start with a silk or synthetic stringing material with an attached needle, such as Griffin brand bead cord, making sure that it is a small enough size for two strands to pass through your beads.
2. Using two separate cards of bead cord, unwind them both and place them next to each other to make a doubled thread.
3. Tie a double knot in the end of the cord opposite the needle.
4. Place a clamshell end on the doubled thread, cups turned in toward the knot.
5. Place a drop of glue on the knot and close the clamshell tightly.
6. Place the first bead on the threads, going through the bead first with one needle, then with the other,pushing the bead up close to the clamshell.
7. With your fingers, loop the threads to tie a very loose knot.
8. Holding the crossed threads of the knot in your left fingers, leaving the loop on the right, place the tweezers through the loop and grasp the threads right next to the bead.
9. Begin tightening the knot on the tweezers, pushing it along towards the bead and using your fingers to push it off the end of the tweezers and onto the cord.
10. Release the tweezers and remove them from the knot loop.
11. Using the side of the tweezers, lightly grasp the threads on the far side of the knot and push it up against the bead, making a snug knot.
12. Taking the two separate threads in each hand, gently tug them apart, tightening up the knot and evening out the threads.
13. Place your next bead on the thread, and proceed from Step 7.
14. When all beads are strung and knotted, end your strand by adding the final bead, do not make a knot, but place the second clamshell on the threads with the cups facing out.
15. Make your final knots inside the clamshell, add glue, trim your thread and close the clamshell. Place your findings on the clamshell loops.

Tips:

1. If you have trouble matching thread, use one a shade darker and one a shade lighter to make a blend that will add depth and look very nice in your finished product.
2. Check your knot and bead placement carefully before you slide your knot off of the end of the tweezers and make any changes then.
3. If you make a mistake, knots can be untied BEFORE the final tug on the separate strands. After that, it's pretty hard to undo the knots.

What You Need:

• Silk Thread - Self Needle
• Beads or Pearls
• Clamshell End
• Clasp
• Jump ring

Updated Blog...

So I have now added a Buy It Now feature to my available jewelry:-)  If you want a custom made design, please let me know.  I will be updating all my available beads and semi-presious stones in the next few days.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!
~Pamela

Neglect...

So I do realiz that the Coastal Bangles and Beads has been neglected lately and my only excuse is work (and that really isn't a good one).  Between the work I'm doing at the marina, for CYS Marine and the 2 other websites I'm trying to build for other; added with Bob's surgery, CB&B had to be put onto the back burner for a few weeks.  But, now that I'm finally getting "caught up", I'm back and ready to post:-)

Over the next few days, the blog will be changing dramatically and I hope everyone likes the "updated" version.

~Pamela

Sea Foam...

Finally back to making jewelry!  It's been a long few weeks that have simply left me with no time.  Tonight, I have a necklace that I'm calling Sea Foam.  It features a lovely silver star fish pendant strung on a doubled tiger-tail wire with semi-precious rough cut Amazonite stones and flat, rectangular silver accent beads.  This beautiful necklace is priced at $25.00.