Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Karen Snyder and I've been a crafter for about as long as I can remember. I am a stay-at-home-Mama of two beautiful children with a husband who makes my dreams possible.

This blog is about all sorts of crafting. I am a paper-crafter from early days, a jewelry-maker with an unending obsession for chain maille. I make chain maille purses, many of which will be chronicled in this blog as their future owners await their completion. I love metalsmithing. I am an indifferent beader and don't get me anywhere near seed beads... they scatter, screaming to get away from me. I love to try new things, have a short attention span so if its a long-term project... I'm probably not doing it LOL.

If you have questions, ask. If you have tips, share. Same with suggestions - share! I want this to be a great forum for people to brainstorm and problem-solve with a good attitude. Crabby Apples need not respond, this is a feel-good kind of blog :)

Saturday, June 16, 2012

A Summer Swirl Ring You Can Win!


I can't even tell you how many compliments and comments this ring has received since I made it several weeks ago. I'm usually not a big fan of orange but there's just something about the swirls of colors in this lamp work bead that scream "SUMMER!"  The ring is wrapped with silver filled wire and orange and yellow Swarovski crystals so you've got sparkle too!  The sides are finished with my signature swirls and this is a very comfortable ring.  The winner will get to choose the size they need and shipping is included in your prize.

So comment here and tell me - when it comes to colors you like to wear, do you go more for the brights, the pastels, or the neutrals? Me? I'm all over the map! I love pink (like you didn't already know that) and I seriously love every shade I've ever seen! I do tend to fit colors to seasons though - I'm much more prone to the brights and pastels in the summer and spring but I find myself wearing a lot of neutrals in the colder months.

Please leave an email address or your Facebook name so that I'll be able to contact you if you win! Thanks everyone and good luck!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Better Late Than Never!


Well this post should have gone up days ago but between Sebastian turning 6 and all of the celebrating that goes with that, the disgusting heat here in Texas and tons of sales to work on / ship out, let's just say I'm doing good to remember my name! My ultimate thanks to Marcie Clark for saving me from the Mama Dog House and reminding me that I'd never posted this give away!

So here's the thing - Sebastian was determined that we would do a give away to celebrate his birthday BUT he didn't want to do anything we'd made before. We discussed it and here's what we decided - a pair of Romanov earrings in silver fill with pearls instead of crystals! Pearls because they are his birthstone and Romanov earrings because, and I'm quoting here, "Mommy, they really are the best earrings you make."

The winner will have their choice of pearl colors from what I currently have in stock and shipping is included in the win whether you are in the US or an International fan. 

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment here and please include either an email address or your Facebook name so that I can contact you if you win. So tell me - what was the best birthday present you ever received? 

Saturday, June 2, 2012

The New Bellus Ladder Bracelet


So what do you get when you take 14g square wire, bend it into Bellus curves, link them all together with 16g rings and add a box clasp? You get a Bellus Ladder Bracelet! My latest bracelet design and I gotta tell ya... I am in love with this! I've not taken mine off since it came out of the tumbler! It has the look of a cuff without being stiff on my wrist. It moves with me and I can't wear it out of the house without people stopping and asking me about it. Love that!

Now... how would you like to win one of these beauties for your very own? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with email address or Facebook name (so that I can contact you if you win) and answer this question:  What is your favorite thing about Summer?  This year, it's definitely having my son on break from school! He had such a great year as a Kindergarten student but I missed him every single day. I'm so happy he's home every day for the next few months!

Thanks so much for visiting and good luck everyone!