Celebrating Over 100 Sales This Year in My Online Store!

Shortly before Christmas I hit my 100th sale this year in my Bay Moon Design online store!  

Fireworks! Bang! Pop! Kazaam!

This will challenge me to surpass this target next year!
I am very pleased and grateful to my customers.  To celebrate I am giving back to my customers. I am offering 20% off all orders from now until 12-31-15. This is my largest discount offer ever.  Use the discount code Celebrate at checkout at my store HERE.  You can take advantage of this offer to purchase handmade cards and jewelry.  

We're All Ears at the Leftovers Party

Crazy title for a blog right!  It does make sense.  This is the monthly blog hop sponsored by We're All Ears- an earring blog hop.  The leftovers are pairs of beads that turn into earrings.  The directions that we were given are in bold print.

First, take a picture of the craftermath on your work table.  

my worktable

I know this isn't pretty.  It is dark and dreary  just like the weather has been.  Here is a thought--I have been cleaning up my worktable gradually all month getting ready for my move to Florida for the winter after the holidays. My family is coming for the holidays so I really need to get this room in order.  Just imagine what it was like before!  The sad thing is I really have made progress but it really doesn't look like it.

Next, find a divided box, bin, baggies or small bowls and go through the stash on your festive table picking out coordinated sets that you can use to create earrings. 

Pairs of Beads

I discovered that putting the pairs in a divided box works really well for me.  It is a great way to get organized and build your earrings.  Prior to making this discovery I was putting all of my pairs lumped together into one big tin.   I am so happy with this method that I am putting my art beads into a divided container too.

Now, kick your creating into high gear! 

I set a timer for an hour 3 times in the past 3 days.  This is a  very good idea for me.  I can get lost in my beads and computer.  I also need to stand up and move around rather than sit for hours on end.  I need to take care of my back or pay the price with pain.

Let's get this leftover party started!

Edgy black earrings by BayMoonDesign

While cleaning up my desk I discovered a bag of the oval shaped silver beads that I used in the earrings above.  I also located on my computer these really glossy black beads that I love.  I think they turned into  a great pair of edgy looking earrings and they are available for purchased HERE.

                                                                    Green Ceramic Earrings by BayMoonDesign

The next pair make use of the green ceramics made by Marsha Neal Studio. I used dark forest green colored Irish waxed linen thread when I created them. I love the combination of the rustic ceramics and thread together. They have a casual appearance and are available for purchase HERE.  

Flowers and leaves earrings by BayMoonDesign

I was anxious to add some blue earrings to my shop that will be perfect for the summer.  I have been want to make a pair of earrings with the blue floral beads for sometime now.  Just yesterday I received the sterling silver leaves in an order that I placed.  Sterling silver is very popular so I thought the leaves and flowers would work together will.  To continue with the floral theme, I paired them with some sterling silver floral ear wires. The pretty pale blue earrings are available for purchase HERE.


Thank you, Erin and Earrings Everyday! for getting me more organized and inspired to make earrings.  

Go visit the We’re All Ears December reveal on Earrings Everyday and see what others made.  Also, checkout their workspaces.  Seeing others are almost as messy as I am gave me a little Christmas cheer.

Evergreen Challenge

Welcome to the Evergreen Challenge sponsored by Andrew Thornton.

The Kit

This kit features a selection of vintage acrylic, aventurine, waxed Irish linen, waxed cotton, vintage glass, vintage seed beads, Chinese jade, dyed pyrite and a Luxury Bead Blend.  The Luxury Bead Blend consists of Japanese Miyuki seed beads, Toho seed beads, Japanese Matsuno seed beads, vintage Czech seed beads, freshwater pearls, glass pearls, Czech glass (both old and new), aventurine, jade, ruby zoisite, serpentine, stone, vintage sequins, vintage German plastic, dyed wood, German glass, electroplated hematite, Swarovski crystals, vintage Japanese glass, Javanese glass, and vintage lucite.

A wonderful assortment of beads

The inspiration of this blog hop is-snow dusted evergreens.

Evergreen Ornament by Bay Moon Design

I love Andrew Thornton's special evergreen focal that he created for this and I thought it would be a perfect Christmas ornament.  I added a red bead, jump rings, cord from the kit he sent and whipped up a silver hanger to put it on.

Silver Pearl Earrings by Bay Moon Design

I love to make earrings so I couldn't resist making a pair of silver freshwater pearl earrings from the silver pearls that kit included.  They are perfect for a special holiday event and available for purchase HERE.

5th Art Bead Scene Ornament Blog Hop

Welcome to the 5th Art Bead Scene Ornament Blog Hop sponsored by Heather Powers of Humblebeads.  The instructions were simple:
Create an ornament using handmade components or art beads. 
This is an inclusive creative challenge. Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Winter Solstice themed decorations along with traditional Christmas ornaments are all possibilities. 

A bull elk in a park in Estes Park, Colorado

I wanted to make a Christmas ornament that will serve as a reminder of some favorite vacations. I selected the mighty elk.  Last fall we went to Estes Park in Colorado at just the time when the elk were literally laying all over the very cute town.  My husband and I spotted elk in the park, on the sidewalks around town and on the golf course.  We also spotted elk in the wild of Colorado National Park.   

Cow elk in Colorado National Park

The year before we spotted elk in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.  These magnificent animals provided us with much entertainment and joy.  It was also a thrill to be able to capture a few photos of them.

Bull elk in Yellowstone

I saw a rustic looking elk pendant by Lipstick Ranch. It is fitting that  Lipstick Ranch is located in Colorado.

Elk Ornament by Bay Moon Design

The Lipstick Ranch Rusted Iron Elk Pendant is 57x54mm so it is a nice size for an ornament.  I can't wait to give it to my husband on Christmas.  He loves to put the ornaments on the tree so I know he will be happy to receive it.

I can't wait to see what everyone else came up with for this ABS Ornament Blog Hop.