Beads And Beads!! What's a Girl to DO???

EXCERPT FROM TODAY'S STUDIO CONVERSATION:

Genevieve: "Hey Orna, what are you doing for New Year's?"

Orna: "I'm doing our annual Progressive!"

Genevieve: "That's my car insurance company...."

Orna: "No, no... It's where a whole bunch of families travel from house to house for appetizers, and then dinner, and then dessert.  All the kids go, it's so much fun! We end up at the house nearest the fireworks. We've been doing this for 5 years. What are you doing Genevieve?"

Genevieve: "I just don't know. I have a party invite and a Romantic Getaway invite, but as of today, we have decided nothing."

While I try to nail down a plan of some sort, have a looksee at what I found this week:

We have beads! I have discovered an enormous stash of hand wrapped bead components that Orna has done as a "hobby" (please explain to me where you will find another Hobbyist who will apply such high craft to what she does in her "down time"?? Phew!!)

So I started putting together little sets and taking photos of the larger single ones. They are all available for sale on our Etsy site. This one below is my personal favorite set, but they are all really great. If you are working on jewelry or you need embellishments for your needle art projects, these are really unique options. I think they are so charming!

So I leave you all with these beautiful pictures, may they bring much inspiration. Have a lovely New Year's whatever you do, and feel free to drop a line and make suggestions for interesting things I can do on New Year's----- I am always open to new ideas!!!

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To all!

First things first:   Happy Holidays, my friends! 

I hung a large ring of silk ribbon from a high cabinet and squatted under the big big bunch to take this photo.  I thought: what a perfect celebration of fiber for this festive season! 

We were doing some clean up around here, (you don't want to know what the studio looks like!).  Some of these were hanging around, so I stopped cleaning and started adding to the mess.  I put together this collection of beauties, don't you think?

OH, and we posted a whole bunch if new, fun items on Etsy so pay us a visit, and enjoy the colorful display.

We'll talk again soon!

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FREEBIE!! a needlecase design for you...

It's ready for you, this free design, a needlecase. 
The instructions are for the needlepoint as well as the sewing (which is very easy, so don't shy away)

If you'd like the free pattern, please email us here.

We are also offering the kit with all the materials and the mini button. You can purchase the kit for $15 on my Etsy site here.

Drop me a line and get the free design..  (hey, that rhymes!)

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Colorful Bundles and a tour of my home.

I went Thread Gathering this morning, skipping through the fields 

of skeins and spools in my studio.  Then I paired them......

all of these delicious pairings  are available in my  Etsy Supply Shop!!

Ice, and Chilly Grey Skies inspired this frosty combination of silk, cotton and metallics. 

24 Yards complimented by onyx, agate, and czech glass beads. 

Below is a cheery pairing in "Penchant for Plum". 24 yards of silk, gauze, and cotton set off by metallic glass, large purple rhinestones, and hand dyed wooden beads.

And finally, as named by the lovely Nina, we have "Strawberry Flower Pot"-- 

a Scrumptious Blend of Glittering Greens, Pinks and Plums.

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Speaking of Nina!!! You can see her beautiful face in our House Tour on Apartment Therapy!!   I love that they lead with a picture of Nina in the kitchen. Head on over there and take a tour of my home!!

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Orna's Therapy!

We've been keeping this under wraps for awhile, but now we can formally announce that my home has been selected for a house tour on Apartment Therapy!  The tour will be posted on Tuesday, December 14th. If you are not familiar with Apartment Therapy, this is what they have to say:

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"The Apartment Therapy Mission

Helping people make their homes more beautiful, organized and healthy by connecting them to a wealth of resources, ideas and community online.

What We Believe

A calm, healthy, beautiful home is a necessary foundation for happiness and success in the world. Creating this home doesn’t require large amounts of money or space. It requires inspiration, connection to resources and motivation to do something about it. The basic elements of good home design can be learned and achieved by all. Simplicity and luxury are not mutually exclusive.

Our Goal

To connect people to the resources they need to improve their homes, while reducing their reliance on stuff."

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This website has every idea under the sun to rework your home and make it more beautiful and more functional! What I like most about the site is to see how many people love their homes, love personalizing their living space and have pride in their abode!

The website has "ohdeedoh" for children's rooms, "unplggd" for offices and technology and "re-nest" for great recycling and green ideas. I have been a fan for quite some time, however, be warned, it can be addictive! 

It was really a treat to have photographer/writer Kristin Lubbe and her talented fiance' (pictured above) over for the photo session, and I am very excited to see her work when the spread is posted!  

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WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

Hi everyone! Genevieve here--


We have our winners for last week's Giveaway! We so enjoyed reading about your traditions and memories we decided to do a second prize!! We put together a sampling of some of our new Silk Thread Bundles and  Canvas available on Etsy starting today. Randomly chosen with the Google Random  Generator, this little gift should make a nice treat for our Second Place winner AMANDA from Ontario Canada. Have fun!!!

And as for our First Place Winner---MARY from Louisiana takes the Making Memories Needlepoint kit and Instruction Booklet.  Her memory of her Christmas Traditions are a perfect fit for such a special treat!!

If you are a winner---please be sure to email us your snail mail so that we get this to you ahead of the last minute holiday shipping!!! 

In other news, we have been getting great feedback from our Cyber-Squaredancer's!!! Everyone has been getting their kits and I would just like to say thank you for all your kind words. We really really worked hard to get those out as fast and as beautifully put together as was possible in the 2 weeks since we received the final count from ANG on November 15th. It has been just great to read the happy posts--this particular assistant is breathing a sigh of relief!

And lastly---we have been brainstorming new ideas for Cyber Classes and I thought I would just ask you all what kind of class you would like to see in our Cyberclass series over the next year. We are looking for innovative ideas, classes that go beyond the ordinary! 

Let us know if there has been a class you are dying to take and want to see worked up as Cyber class! Just think--you could be taking it this time next year from the coziness 

of your favorite chair!!

That's it for now--Thanks everyone for your wonderful Holiday Thoughts---and here's hoping that the Season has been a happy one for you!

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It's time for a giveaway!

It's that time of year and I just feel like giving!!  

It doesn't matter how old you get or what your family traditions are, this time of year you just have to get in a good mood.  It seems like the perfect time for an Extraordinary Giveaway!!!! 

 

Up for grabs is a "Making Memories" Needlepoint Kit. It comes complete with all the threads, supplies and instruction packet to make one book. The book is bound with blank pages and is suitable for photos, scrap booking, sketching, recipes---whatever you can think of.

So for this Giveaway, you can enter any or all of the ways below:

1. Comment on your very favorite holiday tradition.

2. Go to my blog : ornadesign.blogspot.com and start following me. It's a great way to learn about classes, workshops, new designs and really great sales!

3. And finally, visit ETSY and make my shop a Favorite! It's chock full of small kits, canvas, Ultrasuede, and equipment to help you with your Needlepoint! 

If you do all three you can consider yourself entered three times!

Please be sure to keep checking back--and if you win, send us your snail mail!!

(We promise not to use it for anything else).

The deadline for this contest is December 7th, 2010 @ noon.

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