Welcome to ChrisBeads!

A Blog about Bead addiction, crochet, knitting and life in general.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Veroque included me in her Treasury.


How exciting! Haven't been included in a treasury for such a long time and this morning there was a convo from Veroque letting me know she had put my Maui Wedding head band in hers! Thanks very much Veroque, I was pleased to be included in such a lovely treasury.

Take a look here.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Winner of the Etsy Beadweavers Challenge


Voting is now finished in the Etsy Beadweaver Challenge for Jan/Feb. Although choosing among the 47 beautiful entries was difficult, almost 700 people took on the task and chose the Tropical Treasures necklace created by Mariya of BeadCatcher.

I'm sure you'll all agree this was a very worthy winner. The colours are just beautiful.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Etsy DUSTERS - A Wonderful Community Effort

The Etsy DUST (Down Under Street Team) group have put together a special Etsy shop for donated items, with all proceeds going to the Victorian Bush Fire Appeal. So far there have been 389 sales, raising more than $5,000 in just one week. Hope you can take a peek at all the great items for sale there and maybe find something you like.


I have selected a few items to show you here.

This year, my parents are celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary and one of the things I thought of to help them celebrate was to send them off for a weekend at the place where they spent their honeymoon. Unfortunately, Marylands is just a pile of rubble so that is no longer an option. Check out http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/files/marysville.pdf to see what I mean.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Horror Weekend


Just 50 km away from home, nestled in the Yarra Valley is Healesville, one of the places where I go to teach beading. On Saturday evening, there was news of a catastrophic bushfire in the area and since then the unfolding news has shown scenes of such horror that it is almost beyond words.

The toll of human life lost in the ferocious fire storm which overtook the idyllic towns has risen to 180 and is expected to go to more than 200 as the police, army and fire authorities search for bodies among the rubble.

Understandably, my class on Monday was postponed until next week. I surely did not wish to drive up to Healesville which was up until today still in a state of ready alert in case the wind caused the fires to turn towards that township again.

Our Bead Society has several members in the fire area and some, I know, are fine although they have their cars packed and ready to flee if necessary. Others I haven't yet been able to contact. One lady was to attend her first meeting on Sunday, but didn't arrive. It wasn't until I was re-reading her email that I realised she came from Dixon's Creek, which is not far from one of the worst hit areas. I hope she is OK and will be able to come and meet with us some other time.

Friends of friends have lost houses, or family members in the fires and there are many miraculous escapes being reported. One family lost their grandparents, who had been estranged from one son for many years. Now they will never have the chance to repair the breach. We all need to make the most of every minute and make sure that we don't lose the chance to show our families how much we love them when we can.

Sorry to be a little morbid, but it is hard to watch such grief unfolding without being a little affected.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

ETSY BEADWEAVERS JAN-FEB CHALLENGE


An amazing number of entries have been received for the Etsy Beadweavers Jan-Feb Challenge "TROPICAL HOLIDAY". A total of 46 entries have been listed on the site of the Etsy Beadweavers and you can vote for your favourite between the 9-15 February.
ChrisBeads entry is No. 39 Maui Wedding. For larger pictures, click on the link to the EBW blogspot above.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

An Etsy Sale - after a long pause in business.


Got quite excited to see that someone had bought one of my Instructions for a beaded snake bracelet on Etsy today. It has been a long time between sales though.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

AT LAST A NEW BEADING POST


Just added my Etsy Beadweaver Challenge piece to the ChrisBeads etsy shop. Until the weekend, I didn't think I would be able to think of anything to do as the hot weather is so stultifying. My hair was driving me mad so I made a couple of beaded headbands to get it off my face.

Then it hit me - head band.... bridal.... MAUI WEDDING!!

Two members of our family have eloped to MAUI (HAWAII)and got married on a romantic tropical holiday so it seemed appropriate that my entry in the EBW Challenge should be something bridal. Whilst it is not as elaborate as some of the usual beadweaving entries, I think it fits the theme well.

Visit the etsy-beadweavers.blogspot to check out the rest of the entries and don't forget to vote after February 9.