New This Week

Our Week Off

Hope you had a lovely holiday, and are having a nice, easy week. I know I'm not! I had a major computer hardware failure - which has resulted in days and days of reinstalling and re-patching and re-upgrading software. I can tell you right now which major software companies are big heroes with me for ease of recovery - and which aren't!

Nothing new this week - unless you count all the renovations at our new location! We are like a duck - outwardly we appear to be calmly and serenely sailing along - while under the water we are paddling like mad! Normally - we'd be taking a well-deserved rest - but this year, we're planning and packing and designing! Moving a home is a breeze compared to the tornado of moving a retail business!

Here's a snap shot of what is going on under the deceptively calm waters:

• Old walls have come down, and new walls have been framed and drywalled.
• The lampworking and metal working studio floors, plus other utility areas have been painted with a non-slip epoxy paint. New laminate flooring is being installed in the show room.
• New handicapped accessible washroom is being added, and the front entrance has had a ramp added.
• New signage is being designed for the front entrance.
• An intercom is being added - so when students arrive late for classes after hours - they can just buzz to be let in.
• New lighting is being installed. (The electrician is in awe of the amazing wiring job that was done by the previous occupant. Seriously.)

Next up will be painting and moving in the cabinets and installing fixtures and furniture. It's all soooo exciting!
(Oh - and the reason WHY we haven't given out the address of the new location yet is because - sure as shootin' - someone will get confused and go there before we are open. Just sayin'. )

12 Projects of Christmas!

Hope you are enjoying the 12 projects of Christmas - it's a lot of fun for Jen and I to see each other's new projects pop up every day - as we worked in isolation from each other. It's also fun to see how much license we had to take with the theme in order to come up with an idea!

Golden Rings	Geese A Layin	Swans a' Swimming	Milky Made
Ladies Dancing	Ten Lizards Leaping	11 Pipers	Drummers Drumming

And, if you haven't been following our blog - you should make a point of checking out this new way to make earrings!
Cluster Drops - a New Way to Make Earrings!
I should qualify this - as I have a hard time believing no one else has thought of it - but even Jen says she hasn't seen this before. Anyway - it IS quick and easy and has lots of design possibilities.

Holiday Closings!

Annnnnnyway - the storefront is closed, as usual for the week between Christmas and New Years, and will reopen on Monday, January 2. However, our trusty robot lackeys (er - computers) will continue to take online orders - but there may be a few days delay in shipping in the new year, as we catch up.

See you all next year!!!!!!

Wonderful stuff all over the site, so go ahead, click on a link or a picture above, or start with the Main Page, if you are feeling intrepid, (there is a LOT of stuff there), or chunk it down into bite-size portions by checking out the categories: Click on a link and go crazy! Firepolish, Pressed Glass, Swarovski Crystal, Seedbeads, Stone and Pearls, Preciosa Crystal, Metal Beads, Other Cool Beads, Findings, Metal Clay & Supplies or Books, Kits, Tools. Look for the "new" tags!