Shiny new beads

I had a lovely surprise when I opened the kiln today and saw these gorgeously rich purple beads. Obviously I knew they'd be purple (because I sat and made them myself with purple glass) but they really are a very lovely purple. If you like them too then you might be interested to know that they, and also the teal green ones, are available in strands of seven over in my Folksy shop. Each strand of seven is priced at £9.00.

I've also made a set of etched 'Iced Coffee' beads.

These ones are for sale over on my Freshly Baked Beads page.

It's doing really wimpish, naff snow outside. What's it like where you are?

Have a good Sunday and thanks for stopping by,

And the winner is ...

Thank you to everyone who completed my bead survey. Your responses have been super duper and I really do appreciate you taking the time to help me.

The survey software assigned each respondent a number and I have just used a random number generator to pick the winner of the prize beads and that person is Jane Hickey. Yayhurray!

Again, big thanks to you all.

Folksy Update

I've just put some beads in my Folksy shop. There are some pairs which would be fab for earrings and there's also a some encased frit beads.

Joanna over at Designs By Jojo sent me another picture of one of her lovely neckalces, this time made with some of my sepia beads.

I love this one; it's just so pretty.

I must away to the shed now. See you later!

Sneaky Peek

I thought you might like a sneaky look at some of the beads that I'll have for sale later today. Those up there are they. New beads will be for sale at 8:30pm this evening.

Thank you so much to everyone who has completed my bead survey so far. Your responses have been brilliant and I really do appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

I'll be making a few minor changes to my little bead business (hence getting your opinions) and I've already implemented a couple of those.

Firstly, due to what seem to be constantly rising postal rates, I am now charging £3.50 to post beads to Europe, America, Canada and the rest of the world. However, postage to the UK mainland remains free of charge.

Secondly, I have opened a Folksy shop. I did consider Etsy but a few of you expressed a negative opinion about buying beads through Etsy and suggested Folksy instead. So, I listened and have set up shop there. In my Folksy shop you will find any Freshly Baked Beads that don't sell within a week of my listing them on my website. I'll put the odd set of Lonelies and one-offs in there too so do have a look occasionally to see if anything tickles your bead fancy.

Lastly, I am here now giving you prior warning of bead sellery tonight. A few of you have told me that I don't give you enough notice about new beads. It's not always possible for me to give you lots of notice but I promise you I will do my utter best. If you are signed up for email blog notifications and you rely on these for news of new beads then might I suggest that you sign up to my actual mailing list? It's just that the blog emails are sent via a third party service and I never know exactly when they'll be sent (I can only select a three hour window) which means that they might well be out of date when you receive them. Annoying, I know.

Righty-ho, that's enough waffling from me. I'd better go and melt some glass.

Have a fab Tuesday,

Prize Draw Survey

I’ve made a little bead survey as I’d like to get your bead opinions on a couple of things. There are only four multiple choice questions and a feedback section but I would really appreciate it if you could take a couple of minutes to complete the survey.

The survey is aimed at people who buy lampwork beads.

Each completed survey I receive will be entered into a draw to win the set of cocoa and turquoise beads pictured above.

If you'd like to take part, please email me with the subject ‘SURVEY’ and I will email you a link to the survey. The survey is hosted by SurveyMonkey and is very quick and easy to complete.

The survey will close at 19:00 on Friday 22^nd March and then I will draw a winner at random from all completed entries.

I am now awarding myself the prize of a cup of Earl Grey for Most Uses Of The Word 'Survey' In A Single Blog Post. Yay me!

Have a great Friday evening,