Burning Scentsations On Facebook!

I've been quite busy this weekend getting set up on Facebook.

As you may know, Facebook is a social networking site where you can connect to friends, family, businesses, fan groups and just about everything else you can imagine. The system is set up to help organize updates from all of your contacts, and keeps you up to date with what your friends are doing and saying in one easy place. Best of all, using Facebook is FREE.

I'm planning on using the site to connect with friends and customers around the country, but in addition to that, I've set up a company page for Burning Scentsations.

Of course, this blog and my other websites are not going anywhere, but I'm hoping this will help increase my exposure on the net. If you're on Facebook, please be sure to stop by the Burning Scentsations page.

I'm still adding photos and features to the page, so be sure to become a Fan of the page so that changes and updates will be forwarded to you automatically. An events calendar will also be coming once I've confirmed the shows I'll be doing this Fall.

More new stuff is coming to Etsy soon also, so stay tuned!

Come Visit The Mall!

I hope today finds you healthy and happy.

My second web update this weeks debuts a new section of my website: The Mall.

This is the page where all of the shops, galleries and on-line venues that I sell my work in will be listed. As shows and art fairs come along, this will be the place to see that schedule too!

For all of the details, come take a look HERE.

Hope you have a great day!

Web Site Update - Success

Finally, after waiting nearly a week my web site has published properly!

Apple's new MobileMe service which replaced the original .Mac service wasn't allowing the site to publish which was a huge drag since I was going on vacation. However, now the site has been completely updated and is ready for viewing.

While some of the pictures and features were published earlier, the software would not confirm the publishing which made me think some pictures and entries were missing. However, it published tonight!

Yeah!

Have a great one!

Web Site Update - Or Not

Just a quick note before heading out on vacation.

I tried to post up a new web update with all the new pictures and designs I've been creating over the last few weeks, but, alas, I cannot get my application to .Mac to publish. I believe it is a glitch with Apple's new MobileMe service which is replacing .Mac.

Please excuse my web site if it is looking funky at the moment.

When I get back, I'll try the update again and if that doesn't work, then I will get to the bottom of the issue.

Thanks for your patience and have a great week!

Two New Web Updates

This weekend I was able to put up two new updates to my website and bring a couple of the galleries up to date with recent photos.

I've added the pictures of my custom order of hollows and the latest organic focals to their respective galleries. Check out the What's New section of my site for all of the details and links.

I also got to try out my new Mandrel Spinner and see how that works. It worked quite well, but I need to prepare and dip my new set of mandrels that I bought for it several months ago in preparation of its arrival. My current mandrels are bit too bent after several years of use and the mandrel spinner does not allow me to compensate for the defects in the mandrels alignment as I can do when spinning the mandrels manually.

I assure you that I will have the new mandrels ready to go in short order and will some lovely new beads to show you soon!

Have a great night!

P.S. In case you're wondering out the podcast I was working on a while back, I've decided to hold off until I can add video to the cast. As I worked on pulling it together, I really had a problem with defining its purpose and scope without video. It just seemed like I was speaking blog entries rather than doing something new or informative.

I have plans for tutorial videos once I get a video camera. It will come, I promise!

Organic Focals Added To Website

I've just completed the update of my website to include the latest batch of organic focal beads that I made last week.

All of the pictures are loaded and more information about their creation was included. Check out the What's New section for links and more information.

Where's the New Stuff?

If you've been wondering where all are all the new beads lately in my Etsy Shop, then send me lots of good, creative energy this weekend. I'm planning on finishing up a custom set I've been working on and then getting more new beads made for next week.

Hopefully I'll have something to show you soon!

There are several great re-lists in my shop if you'd like to check them out. Perhaps one of your favorites is back one last time!

Have a great weekend!

Multiple Web Site Updates

I hope you have had a very nice weekend.

While I'm still awaiting for my new tools to arrive, I did get some more beads made today and will have new focal beads in the next day or two. Right now they are in kiln annealing and getting ready for life in the world.

In between making beads and visiting the glass store, I did get some new updates loaded into the web site.

Along with many more earring pictures, there more pictures of this new rose pendant and the two focal beads that were posted to my Etsy Shop last week.

You can find more information on all of the new additions to my web site HERE.

Have a great week!

New Gallery Added To Website

Just a quick post this morning to let you know that I added a new gallery to my website yesterday for your viewing pleasuring.

The new gallery is dedicated to a new gift item that I've added to my offerings, beaded letter openers. The one shown here is entitled Middle Earth and has a very rich palette of earthy golds and browns on a gold tone opener.

I made up 6 new ones for my show last week, and now you can see them HERE.

Hope you have a great week!

New Wine Stoppers On Website

I've posted a new set of pictures into my web site of several new wine and bottle stoppers in a few different designs like this one, entitled Royal Topper.

Created in wonderful shades of transparent teal and purple, this stopper has a very elegant look to it.

The background used on the transparent dot pattern is silvered ivory which gives the bead a great texture.

The large focal bead is sitting on a purple disk bead at the base of the stopper.

I made up several for my show and now you can see the pictures HERE.

More web updates are coming, so stay tuned!

Web Site Update - Earring Gallery

As I'm typing this blog entry, the Earring Gallery 2008 on my web site is being doubled in size with 34 more pictures of my latest earring designs.

I've got more to make yet, so I'm not done, but I've run out of earring findings at the moment and will need to order up some more soon.

I hope you enjoy these new designs. Don't be shy about it. Let me know what you think by posting a note either here or on my web site--www.LampOfLuxury.com.

Check out the web site's What's New section for more information on the update.

New Tools Coming

I've ordered up some new tools tonight that I cannot wait to get my hands on and try out. I've been wanting these tools since last June and now I have ordered them up.

Hopefully they will ship soon as these will enable me to take my beads to a new level of design and different plane of execution...I hope.

When I get the hang of the tools, I'll be sure to let you know when the beads from them are coming and let you be the first to check them out.

Take Care!

Earrings Anyone?

I've posted a new gallery of earrings from my mad jewelry making weekend on my web site.

Come check out the 46 new pictures of earrings and let me know which ones are your favorites. You can read about the newest addition to my site in the What's New section of my web site.

All of the earrings are strung on sterling silver wire with natural stone of one type or another. Some use leverback earring findings and others are posts. Both earring finding styles are also sterling silver. There's also some with accent beads for an added touch of bling.

Due to the technical difficulties of this morning, I will not be adding a new pair of earrings into My Shop tomorrow morning. Another new pair will be loaded on Thursday though, so check back tomorrow night to find out which pair will be coming!

Have a great night!

Web Site Updated - More Purple Pix

Just a quick one tonight since its getting late, but I wanted to let you know that additional (and larger) photos of the "Purple Knight" and "Purple Squire" pieces have been added to my web site. 

Now you can see them in  more detail and even run them as a slide show, as you can with all of my pictures on the website.

For the whole scoop, click HERE.

Sleep Tight!

I'm Giving My Kiln A Workout

This has been a very busy weekend here with making new beads,  chain mail jewelry and updating my website.

New Beads Made (LOTS OF THEM!)

I was on the torch both Saturday and Sunday and created several sets of beads that I'm planning on using for earrings for the upcoming shows.  I'll probably add a few pairs of earrings into my Etsy Shop as I get them made since I have made enough for at least two pair of earrings in most of bead set designs.

There are a few of the designs that I'm not sure how they will come out until the beads cool, so I've only got enough of those for a single pair of beads.

I'm very pleased I was able to get so many beads made this weekend since I need to ramp up production for shows.  My kiln has been running all weekend with a full load, which is really great.  I can't wait to get them out and take a look.

Lots of pictures are coming, so stay tuned for those once I get the beads cleaned and photographed.  I'll be photographing the beads before being made into earrings and will be updating the web site with them soon.

Chain Mail Jewelry Update

My necklace ensemble that I started working on Friday night is still in process.  The necklace is completed and I think it looks stunning.  I'm taking it to work to see how it fits some of ladies there since I'm not sure if I need to extend it or not.  

I promise, pictures of the necklace are coming.  I'm also working on the design for the matching bracelet which I cannot wait to get started.  I think it will be awesome (nothing like confidence, right?).

Web Site Updated!

OK, with everything going on getting applications done for the two art fairs completed, I've neglected my web site a bit over the past week and half or so.  So I took a little time on Saturday to update it with several new galleries of pictures.

Come check out all of the new pictures in the site's What's New section!

I hope you all have had a great weekend, and I look forward to talking with you again soon.

Have a great night!

New Gallery Loaded Into Website!

As I'm typing this entry, I am uploading a new Sculptural Beads gallery into the web site containing my latest non-traditional beads for 2008.  This is just the start of this gallery, so be sure to subscribe to it and get all of the latest updates sent directly to you!

The new gallery contains pictures of my latest leaf bead sets as well as my "Early Bloomers" flower bud beads.

Have I mentioned how much simpler updating my website is now with my new Mac?  

New Item In Etsy

Just when you thought it was safe to go into my shop, you see it.  Another new dot design!

While I made grapes this weekend, that doesn't mean I've listed all of my dot beads yet.  This little gem is called "Pinky Blues" for its Lilac Ice base bead and the deep ink blue of its dots.

It's got a lovely contrast between the warm and cool shades, don't you think?  Under the blue dots, white dots were used and can be seen in the photo if look carefully.

Hope you're having a great night.  Sleep well!

It's Alive!

Well after much promises and reassurances that the new web site was going to be coming, it is finally here.

The old site is now dead and the new one is up and running in its place with lots of pictures and new features that the old one didn't have, not mention a much snazzier look and feel than the old one.

Check out the new web site here: www.LampOfLuxury.com and let me know what you think of it.  Post a comment or two in any number of areas that you'd like to comment on.  I've even put out a new blog announcement on the site which you can view directly here. 

Many more pictures and galleries will be loaded now that it is up and running. 

What's New Tomorrow

Tomorrow, this bright blue bead will be coming your way in my Etsy shop.  This little gem is called "Swimming Pools" due to all of the blue pools that remind me of tiny beads of water just big enough for maybe an ant to swim in, if ants swam.

This bead is a turquoise base with transparent blue dots arranged around the bead.  The back color for the deep blue pools is actually  pink, which gives this bead a nice warmth despite it being a cool color.

Anyway, have a great night.

New Website Update - A Bit Under The Weather

Today the new web site took a major new step toward being my only website with addition of the new Jewelry Galleries page and the What's New section which is a blog about web updates, announcements and other items of interest.

In the Jewelry Galleries, I have put up the inaugural galleries for my 2007 designs with many more past and present galleries scheduled over the next few days and weeks.  These galleries are categorized by Earrings, Necklaces, Bracelets and Pendants, Sets and More which are all other types of designs which do not fit into those categories including my popular pendant and earring sets.

The What's New blog section will contain announcements and news items that will be of interest to the viewers of the web site.  While there will be some overlap in content with this blog, it probably will not be a day-to-day blog as this one is.  Be sure to check it out though since I will probably have different items on the two blogs rather than just one being a copy of the other.  

I'll have to see how having two blogs works out and try to keep them both updated and interesting.  Of course, the new blog, like this one, supports RSS feeds so you can be notified immediately when changes are made if you subscribe to it.

In addition to the content update of the new web site, I have put in the transfer of the domain to point to the new web site as instructed by DotMac.  It may take up to 48 hours for the change to take effect, but I keep checking the link often to see if it changes.  Considering I did it on a weekend, it may be a bit longer.  

Fighting Off A Cold

For the past few days, I've been coming down with a cold that I've not been able to shake off which is affecting my productivity this weekend.  I was hoping to have some torch time today since I only needed a little bit of time to finish up the updates I started on my partial day off thanks to the snow storms we've had.  

Alas, I just didn't have the energy today.  Instead I took a nice long nap which was very nice, but doesn't help me get anything new into the shop or have items to show you.

I've got a new bead design that I am planning on making plus some new pink roses for a custom order, so let's hope that I feel better tomorrow and can actually get some things done.  I may also create a couple of sculptural leaf bead sets for Spring.

So, Please send me happy thoughts, and I'll let you know how everything turns out tomorrow sometime.

More Rose Colored Glasses!

Time off for snow!

Well, you all must have been praying a lot last night after my post because, while I did go into work in the morning, it was snowing so much noon they had to send everyone home due to deteriorating conditions on the roads.

It was unexpected and quite welcome for a change in the work week, and did allow me to get a lot work done on bringing up the new Jewelry galleries on the new web site.  I was able to organize the 2007 jewelry pictures, split them into galleries, set up the new jewelry navigation and pages and import a few of the galleries.

I have one more page that needs to be added to the site before I can bring up the inaugural jewelry galleries.  I haven't posted the changes yet, but they will be coming shortly.

Spray Of Roses Set

The third and final installment in the Rose orders that I've created for one of my clients is called "Spray Of Roses" and features a large lentil pendant and matching earrings.

The large lentil that is the focal of the pendant is adorned with green leaves with delicate striping detail.  Across these leaves, the three red roses are in full bloom and migrate in the opposite direction of the leaves creating a sort of "X".  This pattern is repeated on other side of the pendant as well.

The set of earrings is a shrunken down version of this pendant in that the same patterns on those lentil beads is also represented on a smaller scale.  Actually, the pendant was a blow-up of the earrings rather than the earrings being a shrunk down version because I made the earrings first and then designed the larger version for the pendant.

As with the other two sets, the pendant and earrings are strung on sterling silver wire and sterling lever-back earring findings.  Black onyx beads and zinc flower spacers finish the design of these pieces.

The challenges of these sets was a bit daunting to me initially, but I'm so glad I accepted the challenge and worked through the design issues to create these pieces.  Not only does it give me another design to add to my skill set, but also the confidence to tackle other challenges.

I  hope you're all coping with the horrible weather that is ravaging the country and that you and yours are all warm, safe and sound.

Have a great night!

Another New Gallery On The Web!

Well, I'm sorry to inform you that there will not be a new listing in the morning in my Etsy shop since I need to get to work a bit earlier.  Don't worry though, I still have many new beads that will be coming shortly.

To hold you over until Wednesday morning, I've uploaded another new gallery to my updated web site, click HERE to check it out.

This gallery shows the new grape motif beads that I've made this year so far.  More will be added as the year continues, so please check it often or better yet subscribe to it and you'll be notified when changes are made.  What a cool feature of the new site!

Anyway, I hope you have a great day tomorrow and I'll be back with a new posting of the next bead to hit my shop tomorrow evening.

Until then, Ciao!

Bead Galleries For 2007 On Updated Web Site

Lamp Of Luxury Website Update

The updated web site is really taking shape now and I can't wait for you all to see it.  With a couple hours of work organizing the photos from last year, I've gotten several of the new galleries loaded up onto the test web server.  

I've organized the Beads galleries into 5 main categories:  

• Hollow Beads
• Focal Beads
• Bead Sets 
• Sculptural Beads (frogs, fish, etc)

You'll find albums by sub-categories on each of these main galleries to further help organize the beads since they come in so many different kinds.

Other galleries that have been loaded are the Gifts and Other Artists which have their own album pages.

I've also updated a few of glitches on the site that I found while testing in IE last week and added Google's AdSense to the bottom of the main pages.

New Gallery Features

The new galleries have several features that I think will really improve your use of them as well as keep my tasks much easier.  Here's the highlights of the new gallery features:

• New Slideshow Mode For Albums In The Galleries
• Subscribe To An Album Or Gallery And Be Notified When An Update Occurs
• View Albums As Thumbnails Or Enlarge Images
• View Smaller Slides (Or Not) Of The Album While In Enlarged Mode
• Preview Albums By Dragging Mouse Over Album Covers

Web Site Input Requested

I've tested the web site out in Safari and IE and it works pretty well in both (however IE is MUCH slower at rendering the pages).  I'd love to get feedback from you to see how the speed and response time for the site works on your computer.  

Come take a look at the new site at:  Web.Mac.Com/BurningScentsations and let me know what you think and if you're having any issues.

I look forward to hearing your reviews on the new design and its performance.  I'd especially like to hear from any FireFox users out there too!

Hope you're enjoying your weekend, and have a great night.

Web Site Sneak Peek

Today I've started the new web site for LampOfLuxury.com, and I'm very pleased with how Mac's web design tools are making life so much easier.  I cannot believe what I was able to accomplish in just an afternoon, but don't take my word for it.  Would you like to see it in progress?  Just click on this link here.

Not all of the sections are up yet, and I haven't gotten the picture albums completely organized, but I think you'll get the idea of how the new site will look.  Best of all, the site will be so much easier to maintain, it will not get as stagnant as the my current site has become. 

Once the basics have been completed, I'm looking forward to creating some multi-media content like podcasts and video tutorials on various topics. 

Please feel free to let me know what you think of the new design!

New Bead Coming To Etsy Shop

Tomorrow morning, I'll be loading this new bead into my Etsy shop.  

I haven't decided what I will call this type of shape, but I like how the bead has a gentle curvature to it that feels nice and provides a bit of interest.

Do you have any suggestions for the name of this shape?

The name of this bead is Fire Flower, and it's looking for a good home!  

Anyway,  have a great night, and I hope to hear from you very soon.