News!

Hi everyone!

As per usual, I've gone WAY too long without writing a blog post!

I wanted to give several updates--

There's a new website in town, and guess who it represents?! ZENITHJADE CREATIONS. You can see it here at http://zenithjade.com/ ! I've finally made the photography side of the business OFFICIAL & I'm slowly moving away from Etsy, (even though I LOVE them), because their fees have gotten too high. I've been on Etsy since 2006 and will still maintain and put listings up in my shop for clients BY REQUEST but clients will pay a 10% surcharge on all items listed on Etsy to cover the additional fees. I am at the same time ELATED and SAD, if that makes any sense! The new website ALSO has a STORE and I take credit cards and paypal via the website! I am working on setting up klarna, and I really thank you for your patience while I figure that side of the business out!

I've still been participating in SWAPS here and there! The latest one, The Bracelet Beads Swap, was put on by Lori Anderson of Pretty Little Things. Some photos are embedded in this post, but you can see them all by searching through the linked facebook group, or by visiting MY facebook group ZenithJade Makes! on facebook.

There are shows and photography EVENTS on the horizon! And I've been doing a LOT of charity work, as well, which I absolutely MUST tell you all about!

My next show to vend at is Mayfair in West Salem, WI at the Lion's Club Shelter, (see more info here), on Saturday, May 13th, 2023. My husband and I will be selling jewelry, leather goods, postcard prints and small 5"x7" metallic prints.

I am helping to organize the Bizarre Bazaar- a geeky show in La Crosse, WI at The Bronze Dragon. It is a show and fundraiser to help keep our favorite alcohol free gaming venue in downtown LaX in business. If you're interested in joining in on the fun and being a vendor, you can sign up here. If you can't join in but would like to help, I'm taking donations for giveaway baskets (items, gift cards or services) and/or you can donate here via GoFundMe. If you'd like more information, feel free to email me at andrea@zenithjade.com or via gmail at zenithjade@gmail.com. 

There's also a fantastic Juneteenth Event which I'm participating in and DONATING to, so if you'd like to stay in the know about that, please please please join my group- I'll be posting all about it there! :)

I'm also organizing an Extra Life Gaming Event through The Coulee Region Gaming Guild which benefits Gundersen's Children's Miracle Network. It raises money for a really great cause which is helping kids thrive! This event is happening in November, and I will have more information on this soon!

As per usual, if you need to get in touch, please feel free to contact me via the form on my website, email or phone via text (I don't answer calls if I don't recognize the number). 

Thank you so much for sticking with me over the years! I've had this blog A LONG TIME and it's going to be wonderful to reconnect with you all again!

Hello and Welcome!

 I've updated my links! You can now visit me everywhere- it's all pretty interconnected. :) I'm "ZenithJade" on most platforms, and "anjicle" on deviantART.

I've been busy updating my banners and info on Etsy, as well! I'm sure most of you are well aware that I've been on Etsy since 2006! That's quite a long haul on one site! I've tried others, including running my own independent website, and it just isn't as cost effective as Etsy is. So Etsy it is!

I'm also updating my deviantART to best represent me as a photographer. If you want a signed print from me, the best way to get one is to either contact me directly or join my Patreon. The latter is "best of" assorted prints and cards of my choosing.

I also re-booted my Patreon! I've got all sorts of amazing things going on over there and so many cool things in the works. One of the things that I'm MOST excited about is my new bead subscription service. It's limited edition, kick butt boxes for $35/month, (free shipping & USA only). I can't wait to source beads for everyone! It's going to be a blast. I also have several photography tiers, a jewelry subscription service, and COMING SOON are STICKERS. Those who know me just know I'm obsessed with them. :) So now I get to make and sell cool ones for everyone else! I'm insanely excited. Hehe!

You can view links in the blog to your right, otherwise (since I'm x-posting), they'll be in the comments along with a link to this blog.

Happy everything, everyone!

Facebook Jewelry & Art Sale!

Hello faithful followers of the blog!

I'm having a jewelry & art show ON THE INTERNET.

It's happening RIGHT NOW.

And it's been amazing!

CLICK HERE to see all the goodies for sale!

Heavily discounted! Also taking custom orders at discounted rates. :)

Here are a few pictures of items that are STILL AVAILABLE! (As of 5am Central Time)

Pine Ridge Treasures: Favorite Things, A Blog Hop!

Pine Ridge Treasure: Favorite Things, A Blog Hop!!!

Here's a link to the other participants (CLICK) and the group (CLICK). :)

This is a bracelet I made for my brother using some of the blue crystals in my kit.

 I used the matte clear sea glass, the blue crystals and a glass sand dollar from my kit!

The only thing here I used from my kit were the mother of pearl beads. The lampwork glass focal is by Valerie O'Neal, (she makes some really stellar beads!) I accented the lampwork focal with a coated quartz crystal point in a matching shade of blue. I also used light yellow popcorn pearls with some lovely faceted cubes. I don't know if you can tell, but all these colors are in the lampwork focal I used.

 This uses the blue crystals again! (I received a whole stand of those!) I blended them with some light blue seaglass (from the kit), light blue freshwater pearls and some crystal-encrusted rondelles. Very pretty!!!

 This one uses elements from my kit again- I used the orange sea glass and the yellow-orange mother of pearl beads, blended with chain and I made a simple pair of matching earrings to go with the necklace.

 These are probably my favorite! :) Acrylic rainbow beads are blended with light blue seaglass (from the kit) and those silly light blue faceted rondelles again. LOL! I adore how they turned out!

Art of Awareness Blog Hop 2015 hosted by Lori Anderson

A blog hop presented by:

Lori Anderson

of 

Pretty Things

and

Heather Millican

of

Swoondimples

^_^

So! The purpose of this blog hop is to raise awareness for your favorite CAUSE. Since I believe so strongly in so many, I couldn't choose just one. The bead I chose for the hop says simply, "Love Bravely..." I think this falls true for those people attached to a cause and those who love said persons. It can be a hard journey!

I would like to dedicate this blog entry of mine to my friends and family who are fighting and perhaps struggling. I'm here for you! *mad love*

So, on to my design...

Here's an up-close view of the pendant/charm made by Heather Millican of Swoondimples! Isn't it lovely? A lot of the beads that Heather made by hand (!!!) have a saying on the front and an awareness ribbon on the back, with the color of the bead representing the color of a cause. You can see some of those lovely awareness-specific beads by visiting other blogs in the hop! For me, it was very important not to be limited to one specific cause. It's very hard for me to just pick one, because everyone and their battles are IMPORTANT.

Here are the matching earrings! The earwires were hand-crafted by Shelley Grahm Turner of Tori Sophia Designs. She galaxy wrapped the amazonite cubes! :) The other beads are faceted AB crystal and enameled headpins (store bought) in dark teal blue.

 The necklace is made from lovely white AB ribbon (which didn't photograph well); the ribbon ends were bought from The Beehive group on facebook- as were the little bars- the beads are lovely light teal glass pearl and more of that faceted AB crystal. ^_^ The clasp is brass with inlaid Swarovski crystals. Mostly copper findings!

Pretty and delicate!

You can view the participant list by CLICKING HERE. :)

Thank you for stopping by!

~Andrea of ZenithJade Creations

Swap 'n Hop Reveal 2015 - Partner: Rachel M

Swap 'n Hop Reveal!!! ^_^

(WARNING: PHOTO HEAVY!) 

 But first, a raffle! A winner will be chosen RANDOMLY using rafflecopter. Winner will be contacted via email. If you are an international participant you'll be responsible for the shipping costs. Please be aware of that before entering! If I don't hear back from the winner within a week of the raffle end date, a NEW winner will be chosen. Awesome prize: Choose Your Color(s) Waterfall Pendant.

Raffle runs from May 2nd, 2015 midnight to May 16th, 2015 midnight.
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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My lovely, talented partner- Rachel Mallis- sent me some AWESOME beads to play with... these are the sum of my labors...

 Now I think I mentioned in my blog post that the pendant was on the small side for me??? IT IS PERFECT on this three strand necklace!!! It has just the right amount of "oomph" without being overpowering. ^_^ Thank you for the challenge Rachel!!! It was a lot of fun to work outside of my comfort zone.

So, this necklace uses quite a few of the beads that Rachel sent me- most of them are on the green strand of the necklace. I used some Czech crystal in two shades of green and green aventurine from the horde of beads that Rachel sent. I also used green kyanite on the purple strand of the necklace.

Green strand (shortest): Czech glass, green aventurine in two shapes, green freshwater pearls, copper rondelles.

White Strand (medium length): White freshwater rice pearls and copper rondelles.

Purple and Green Strand (longest): Purple AB (aurora borealis) Swarovski crystal bicones, purple AB Swarovski cubes, faceted amethyst rondelles, purple freshwater rice pearls, green kyanite, and the awesome pendant that Rachel made.

^^^ for the curious as to what went into the necklace

 See how lovely and dainty it is? ^_^ Rachel wrapped it in copper, which is one of her new favorite metals to work with now. It's also one of my favorites, too!

Unfortunately for me, I didn't have any of those cool freshwater pearl discs/heishe... so I made do with some other styles of freshwater pearls. Rachel sent me lovely purple focals and green beads! So this three strand necklace is a combination of those colors.

 I really love these earrings! They bring out the best elements of the necklace, I think.

I also managed to use the awesome copper clasp that Rachel sent me. It has a wonderful "moon and stars" motif.

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I couldn't leave that rockin' focal by kumceramics by the wayside!

Matching that precise shade of purple proved to be tricky, but I think I did OK! I used some vintage faceted Japanese crystal I got from a friend's destash, MORE freshwater pearls, this time in a button shape, AND some gorgeous purple-y leaves/hearts which I got from The Beehive.

Here are the earrings... they used some more of those vintage Japanese crystals, some tiny little crystals I had about, and more of those hearts/leaves.

 Just for a change of pace, I used silver tone, nickle-free findings. ^_^

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Here are those incredible enameled sticks from Numinosity Beads... I used them in earrings! With three shades of complimentary rainbow fluorite, (which was picked up in a different friend's destash!)

Those little copper dangles were also picked up from The Beehive group on facebook.

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This one is one of my favorites that I've made so far! It's very unique!!! Rachel sent me some leathers- so I used both kinds in making of the big star and the little stars (which are adhered to the big one).

Here's an up-close view of the star... as you can see, I even punched out little holes for rivets! I also added a swanky dragon.

Here's a view of "the beast!" ;)

 Here's the complete view of the set. I used a TON of the beads Rachel sent me for this one, plus some of the leather. I was torn about adding some of the silk ribbon to this one. We'll see what I ultimately decide.

Rachel sent the antiqued silver links, the kyanite, the Czech crystals, the leathers, the ceramic beads, and the mosaic turquoise. I provided findings, rivets, the dragon, and the glue. ^_^

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Another fun pair of earrings:

 These use green aventurine drops wrapped in gold wire plus green and white faceted jade beads. The antiqued chandelier findings were given to me by my Swap 'n Hop partner, Rachel, as were the jade beads. (These won't be going up for sale, they went to a friend as a present!)

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This bracelet uses some of the Sari silk Rachel gave me, as well as the HUGE brass butterfly. :) The lampwork glass is by Valerie O'Neal, the little copper butterflies are from Bead Box Bargains, and the silver tone chain is something I had in my stash!

 

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 This piece uses the wonderful Trade Beads that Rachel sent me, plus red faux coral, freshwater pearls and red faceted crystals. I matched to the red in the Trade Beads. I thought it turned out OK- not my favorite out of the bunch- but neat, nonetheless. The wonderful tassel was a gift from a friend of mine. :)

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Here is the chronicle of events:

1) Infomercial

2) Get and Give

3) Introduction to Rachel

4) The Reveal!

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All of these cool pieces will be in my Etsy shop for sale when this post goes live, (at least, that's the plan!). If you want something specifically, please shoot me an email at zenithjade@yahoo.com . ^_^

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Bead Peeps Swap N Hop 2015  Partner List    Our Hostess: Linda Anderson from http//:fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com Linda Anderson http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com Marica Zammit http://www.beadlovelies.com Jessica Hocutt https://faithfamilyandadventure.wordpress.com Kristina Hahn Eleniak http://www.peacockandlime.wordpress.com Debbie Jeffries http://wordpress/debrasdivinedesigns/blog.com Rosantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.com/ Shalini Austin http://jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/my-blog/ Catherine La Vite http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com Annica Larsson http://zestyfrog.wordpress.com/ Lori Schneider http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/ Divya N http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com Mowse Doyle http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com Fay Wolfenden http://torchfairy.blogspot.com Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/ Claire Fabian http://saraccino.blogspot.de/ Janice Warden Bergeron http://thejewelryroom.blogspot.ca Natalie Davidson http://www.northshoredays.com Deb Fortin http://www.studiok24.blogspot.ca Inge von Roos http://ingetraud.wordpress.com Karen Mitchell http://overthemoon-design.com Robin Reed http://willowdragon.blogspot.com Marie Covert http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/ Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca Nan Smith http://www.wirednan.blogspot.ca Johana Nunez http://artincendi.com Kelly Hosford Patterson http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/ Lori Blanchard http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com Sue  Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.com Niky Sayers http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk Melissa Trudinger http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com Candida Castleberry http://www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com Erin Guest http://www.renlish.com Nicole Rennell http://nicolerennell.com/blog Ien Temaluru http://ienmaginationsjewelry.wordpress.com Robin Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/ Sam Waghorn http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk Marianne Baxter http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com Elsie Deliz-Fonseca http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.com Lee Koopman http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com Jayne Capps http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com Marti Conrad http://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/martisbuttonsandbeads/2015/03/20/bead-peeps-blog-hop/ Tina Bosh http://bookbug-somanybookssolittletime.blogspot.com/ Eleanor Thomas http://woolywireetc.blogspot.com Jeanne Steck http://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com Gloria Allen http://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com Rachel Mallis http://www.mintmonarch.com/#!blog/c1jlz Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/ Stephanie Stamper http://skwds.blogspot.com Chris Haussler http://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com Betony Maiden http://www.beadwenches.blogspot.com/ Kari Asbury http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog/ Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/ Colleen Foley http://colleenfoleycreations.blogspot.com Marybeth Rich http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/ Marcy Lamberson http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com Dyanne Everett-Cantrell http://www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com Ginny Lones http://www.Skippingintotheunknown.blogspot.com Maria Rosa Sharrow http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com Loretta Carstensen http://designsbyloretta.blogspot.com Dolores Raml http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com Louise McCormick-Glazier http://jewelrytreasuresbylouise.blogspot.com/ Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com Tammy Adams http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/ Shirley Moore http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com Seed Beaders Susanne Stelljes http://pearlify.blogspot.de Sheila Prosterman http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com Pallavi Asher http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/ Jami Shipp http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com Peggy Kosier http://www.kosydesigns.blogspot.ca/ Andra Weber http://andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com Krafty Max http://kraftymax.com Sierra Barrett http://giraffecanhas.wordpress.com Lois Sherwood http://thiznthat5454blog.wordpress.com Katy Heider http://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com Rebecca Robertson   (White) http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/ Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com Brandy Collier http://bhjewelry.wordpress.com Stephanie Haussler http://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com Lori Blanchard http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com Kathleen Breeding http://99bobotw.blogspot.com Becky Pancake http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/ Tami Norris https://jewelrybytami.wordpress.com/ Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/ Peggy Johnson http://charmbarn.blogspot.com

TRUNK SHOW INFO and Beads of Courage Reminder

I'm having my annual Trunk Show on facebook- and you're invited! If you "Join" the event, you get an entry into a giveaway/raffle thing for a special present! If you "Share" the event, you get an extra entry! Not too shabby for putting up with my posting on the event page.

This year is going to end with a BANG. :) And I mean that in a good way!

Giveaways, prizes, whatever my little heart desires to do that's good and awesome. Sounds like a ball, right? :) Wootz!

So you can CLICK HERE to join in on the facebook trunk show that I'm putting on this year. All the details you need are in the event description. Please be sure to read those! Thanks! And if you have any questions, just ask! 

On to the Beads of Courage auction reminder:

 I will be posting a link to the auctions on ebay here in this blog on November 14th. Please stay tuned!

EDIT: Here's the host's blog about the Art Charm Exchange, click!

Time for a GIVEAWAY!

I promised that I'd give away some swanky handmade-by-me keychains a while back, and I am following up on the promise!

Check out this rafflecopter giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


When I get 500 fans, I'll host ANOTHER giveaway to celebrate!

Halloween/Day of the Dead Jewelry Blog Hop by Suburban Girl Studio (A dedication to Crab Apple)

Here's a link to Toltec Jewel's Halloweeny Blog Hop: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/2013/10/octoberfest-day-of-dead-by-jewel-school.html

So for this Halloween/Day of the Dead Blog Hop, we were supposed to make something using artist beads- for the uninformed, they are beads that are handmade, not mass-produced. :) They can include polymer clay, (my medium of choice), lampwork, clay, porcelain, wood, etc etc etc. I actually made a pair of polymer clay kitty cat earrings in honor of my cat, but didn't manage to get a snapshot of them on Sunday. I will add to this post later today, so keep your eyes peeled! They are awfully cute. *love* In the meantime, however, I have made some other beautiful stuff using artist beads... and here they are:

Pumpkin Earrings (the pumpkins were made by me using polymer clay!) on Sterling Silver Earring Hooks:

And a real pumpkin, carved by my finace, Eric:

And a cool bracelet in Halloween colors with a SKULL accent from The Beehive and a lampworked bead by Marica of Shazazz Glass:

Used in this bracelet are faux black matte sea glass beads bought from Bedazzled (our local bead store), purple glass from The Beehive (a bead shop/group on facebook), black faceted crystals, and lampwork glass by Shazazz glass. The little skulls are also from The Beehive. :)

This post brought to you by my Halloweeny Cat, Crab Apple, who died on Friday, October 18th, 2013...

 This is Crabbi... isn't she beautiful? I thought she'd make a great Halloween mascot for this post.

Remember, I'm going to show off a pair of lovely kitty cat earrings a little later today, (when the sun pops out so I can get a good photo!), so keep your eyes peeled!

Without further ado, here are the pictures of the black kitty cat Halloweeny earrings:

Black polymer clay, a little pink nose, Swarovski crystals for the eyes in Topaz I think, and yellow fluorite- all on silver plate. :)

Here's another photo:

Here's Suburban Girl Studio's call for artists. (CLICK!)

And without further ado, here's the participant list:

Christine Damm   http://storiestheytell.blogspot.com

Diana Ptaszynski  http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com (The host!)

Staci Smith  http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/

Kathleen Breeding  http://99bobotw.blogspot.com

Sue Kennedy  http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Dianne Miller  http://www.artbydianne.blogspot.com

Lisa Liddy  http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Toltec Jewels  http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Linda Landig  http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com

Laura Medeiros  http://Www.zoeowyn.blogspot.com

Veralynne Malone  http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

Lynn Jobber  http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk

Michelle McCarthy  http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Karen Totten  http://www.starryroadstudio.blogspot.com

Jayne Capps  https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor  http://jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Joan Miller  http://metalmudandsand.blogspot.com/

Melissa Meman  http://melissameman.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger  http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury  http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Inge von Roos  http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick  http://zenithjade.blogspot.com  (You are here!)

Stephanie LaRosa  http://Www.stringaholic.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo  http://www.beadlolabead.com

Jennifer Cameron  http://glassaddictions.com/blog

Diane Hawkey  http://dianehawkey.blogspot.com

Kristi Harrison  http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com

Nicole Valentine Rimmer  http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com

Tanya Goodwin  http://www.Pixiloo.blogspot.com

Shai Williams  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff  http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Sarajo Wentling  http://www.sjdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Marie Covert  http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com

Lisa Stukel  http://www.carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com

Laurie Vyselaar  http://www.Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com

Sherri Stokey  http://www.knotjustmacrame.com

Pam Traub  http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Lori Dorrington  http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens  http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr  http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com

Sally Russick  http://thestudiosublime.com

Dawn M. Gallop  http://www.flipflopsandpoptarts.com