Jelveh Designs Key Mandrel...

Hi Everyone, I’m so thrilled to announce that I am now selling the brand new Jelveh Designs Key Mandrel. I designed and manufactured this wonderful tool to enable you to secure a skeleton key (or anything with a hole that you want to wrap glass around!) and wrap perfectly round beads around it while working in the flame.

I had the first Jelveh Designs Key Mandrel made over a year ago by a good friend of mine who is a master machinist. I have been testing it for durability & reliability since then before offering it to you. It is one of the coolest tools that I have in my bead-making toy box…especially since skeleton key beads are all the rage right now!

The Jelveh Designs Key Mandrel is made out of stainless steel, and the skeleton key is secured by a simple hex screw and washer assembly. I am also offering an Allen wrench for a small additional fee, though you can use any standard 9/64 sized Allen wrench if you prefer.

The cost to you?…only $12 plus shipping for the mandrel alone, and I’ll throw in the Allen wrench for an additional $1 if you request it. Each mandrel will also come with an additional screw and washer in case you lose one.

Ok on to the winner of last week's bead which is Mel P. send me your address girl...this week's winner will get the key bead in the photo above, not the key Mandrel...enter to win the key bead by making a comment on this post...

I have listed some new beads and key beads today as well...to see them stop by my etsy shop here...

thanks for stopping by...life is good...

Jelveh

Peace

Happy Thanksgiving All...

Wishing you a yummy Turkey day, well to my clients in America...we already had a nice dinner with some new friends on Sunday, you can read about it on the last post...

I made a lot of yummy new beads this week, had about 4 hours at the torch, that was really fun, although by the end I could not feel my toes it was so cold out there...check out the new beads here

The bead above is this weeks giveaway, I made it with a layering method, it has a lot of depth, it is a rather yummy focal bead in shades of mostly greens, it is about 25mm along the hole x 29mm wide...

To win it, please enter by making a comment on this blog, let me know what you are thankful for in your life & would love to know what everyone is up to this holiday...Winner will be picked by hubby in a couple of days...

Have a great Thanksgiving & thanks for stopping by...

Jelveh

Peace

Fun House CD...

Sorry all, I did have a few beads I was going to list, I am still listing 3 new items today, all together I had 8, but 5 have already sold, before I got a chance to tell you about them...however you can still enter to win the bead above...

to enter to win this very yummy focal bead, make a comment here on the blog, tell me what you are doing today or this week that has to do with glass beads or jewelry making in general...one entry per person please, winner will be picked by Monday afternoon 11/24/08 California time...I will send an email out to all about this weeks giveaway...

Thanks for all the love & stopping by...PS I love Pink's new CD and the song So What? she is so cool...life is good...

Jelveh

Peace

New beads & one to win...

Hi all, wow has this been a great week or what...we have a new president elect & life seems full of hope...and that is always a good thing...

I have some new beads for you listed in my Etsy Shop

& the bead to the left is this week's giveaway this is a large encased in the middle bicone bead, about 35mm along the hole, I love how it came out, the colors are better in person, some Raku purples, greens...

To enter to win this bead, leave a comment on this post with your favorite jewelry commponant or fixing as it were...the Contest will end by Monday afternoon England time...Jelveh...Peace

Beads & a Giveaway...

Hi all, hope you had a good week...ours was good, sunny & cold...I have been feeling a bit ill, but other than that all is good...I did make some beads & you can enter to win the yummy gourd bead above by responding to this blog entry...in your response please say what color beads you wish you had right now, you can only enter once...a winner will be picked from all entries by Tuesday AM California time...

You get a $5.00 Discount, via a paypal refund, if you purchase 2 or more items between now & the day after the Election in America...

Have a great weekend, thanks for stopping by...

Jelveh

Peace

Its Bead time...

Hi all, hope you are doing well...life is good here...I finally have some beads listed in my shop, click on the photos of the beads on the right to see more...

PS I almost forgot, if you purchase 2 or more items you get a $5.00 discount. promotion runs between now & the election. About the bead photo above, this one is the giveaway bead for this week, its rather lovely if I say so myself...

OK. please answer this question on this blog, you can enter only one guess, hubby will pick a winner out of the correct entries by Sat am California time.

Question: In which decade of the 20th century did BathTub Gin got its name?

Thanks for stopping by & playing the game.

Jelveh

Peace

October is all about PINK...

Hi all, we are back...Boston was amazing, Katie is an awesome person, she gave me yummy cookies and gloves she made herself...I was so spoiled...on my last day there I got my toes & hair done. I got a bit of pink hair as you can see in the photo, it was all for Breast Cancer Awareness, so it went to a good cause. On Tuesday my mom is having a tiny bit of something removed from one of her boobs, she is fine, it is just an outpatient thing, her mamo came back with something in it, but its all good, caught plenty early enough to be bad. This is a lesson to all of us to get tested & make sure to do self exams every month...

Sadly in England they don't think you need a mammogram as early as you do in the states, I have had mine done by my sister every year. Here in England the NHS DR. said to me, oh you don't need one until you are 50. So I guess we all have to be our own advocates.

BEADS, where are they? what are they? oh yeah I make them...I should have some new beads sometime this week...for sure, as I miss the torch very much...

I know the economy is scary, but go out and spend a little bit, don't break the bank (well someone broke them already)but stay positive, don't let the press spook you, know that all is good right here, right now...the other stuff will pass...

Thanks for stopping by...

Jelveh

Peace

In Search of the Constitution...

So today we went for a lovely walk on what is called the Freedom Trail here in Boston...one historic building and or exhibit after another...all marked on the sidewalk with a stripe of red paint or red bricks that have been made to look like a red line...we went looking for the USS Constitution, the Oldest Commissioned warship afloat in the world...that is how our walk began, we saw some cool places & I learned some facts about American History, hubby knows most of it, he used to teach Western Civ in college. here are some photos & stories of our trip today... there I am starting our walk...but that's not the USS Constitution. So we keep on going, first of all, Boston is gorgeous, clean & friendly...we walked to a market area & met all kinds of cool people... This next photo is of the Old State House, I love how it remains its glory & is even complemented by all the modern buildings around it...this is we saw everywhere we went on our Walk... We had lunch at a wonderful & famous place called the Union Oysters House on Union st. This is the oldest restaurant in America, in 2003 the owners got a call from the Interior Dept. telling them just that & giving the building its justly due historical standing by making it a National Historical Landmark, it was built around 1717.

And here is me enjoying my lunch...

Martin met up with Paul Revere... After a few other great stops including a the very cool Copp's Hill cemetery, we took a walk over a bridge & followed the signs to the UUS Constitution...She is lovely, I took about 114 photos yesterday, I will put them together with slide show later & put in to a blog, but for now here is a photo of me with the USS Constitution.

I love boats, many of you don't know when I was about 18 or so, I worked for a Boat shop, I was the only girl in the shop, I used to cut the fiberglass for the hulls of 27 & 37 foot Xpress boats made by Alsberg Brothers. Not sure if they are in business anymore, but I used to be so good at my job, that I almost cut myself out of a job, the shop only made one and half boats a month & by the end of my first month there I had cut enough fiberglass for 13 boats, so I started to help in other areas, I learned how to paint the molds that the glass & balsa wood was then laid on to make the hull of the boat, I learned how to fit in the bulkheads & interior cabinets & other goodies like the shower, I worked on polishing the wood, I worked on the top deck, including fitting in the hardware for the sails & the Gel Coat...I love boats so to see this one, even though her Square sails where down for up keep, was an amazing experience for me...not to mention the lovely history of this 211 year old boat...

Today I am meeting with Katie, more on that later, thanks for stopping by... Jelveh Peace

Beads & trip photos...

Hi all, how are you doing? how is your September coming along...? ours is great...Listen up this one is long & has a ton of info in it, including photos of our travels this past month & new beads to win on the blog...time goes so fast when you are having so much fun...save for the Tooth issue which I had to have pulled here in England last week...life has been really nice here...even the weather has been sunny which is not usual of Oxford this time of the year at all...

Mom & dad just got back from Spain, they spent a few days in Barcelona they had a great time & saw a great Opera Flamenco while there... http://www.operaflamenco.com/index.html

Here are some photos of this month's trips so far, we will be going to Paris this weekend & next month hubby & I are going to Boston for a week, for his work... if you want to see the photos larger & read the captions click here http://picasaweb.google.com/jelvehdesigns/MomDadTrip# other wise see the slide show...

So on with the beads, the lovely Mexican Fiesta beads above are up for grabs, lets do it like we did last week, tell me what shapes & number of beads you like best by way of commenting on this post...only one comment per person, all entries will be put in a drawing for the Mexican Fiesta beads in the photo...drawing will be held on Friday same as last week...you have until 3pm Friday California time to enter...

I also made some beads & listed them on etsy...to see the yummy click here www.jelvehdesigns.etsy.com

Thanks for stopping by & looking & my photos & reading the blog...

Jelveh

Peace

Question & the Tooth...

Hi all...as you may have read the last post, we are back from Turkey...on our last day there, I somehow managed to damage my tooth that was under a crown for the past 10 years, long story short, if you ever need emergency health care while on vacation, you want to be traveling in Turkey...the place we went to was awesome, they took care of me & sent me home to my dentist...I already love the Turkish people, Turkish food & Turkey in General, now I am loving their health care system too, it makes the health care system and facilities in America look like the 3rd world...

On to beads & the question, first of all, I have some new beads just listed on etsy...click here to see the yummy www.jelvehdesigns.etsy.com

Second, answer this question here on the blog by way of a comment:

What 2 or 3 color combo you are looking for most in glass beads right now... you will be entered to win the yummy large flower focal(16x22mm)with the Bali Silver beads in the photo above...one entry per person, hubby will pick the winner by 3pm California time on Friday the 19th of September.

Thanks for stopping by...

Jelveh

Peace

Eye Candy for your soul....

Hi all, Last week when I was in line at the Book Festival in Edinburgh, waiting to get my husband's copy of Will Self's book signed by him, I thought of another great writer I like named Christopher Moore, and how so much of their styles can feel the same, although they are different form one another...so I asked him what does he thinks about over lapping ideas in creative writing these days and how sometimes it is just plain plagiarism that we see in writing or in other art forms...he looked up at me, with his strange set of eyes & without so much as missing a beat he said, "its easy I just don't read what others write, that way I will never know either way" he laughed after he said it, so did I, we had listened to him for about an hour taking questions from a sold out crowd of several hundred people in a small venue. by this time I knew he was smart and funny, but I also believe he has a point...we are only responsible for what we do, not what others do...

When I first started to make jewelery with lampwork beads, I used to look at them all the time, eye candy was a huge reason for me to go to the forums... 7.5 years ago when I started to make my own beads, I visited the forums & sites of my favorite glass artists like Sharon Peters, Diana East & Corina & still do in fact, I took only 2 classes in person that was years after I had made beads, they were with Diana East & Sharon Peters...

When I got my own site up and running I wanted to make sure others could come and see my beads as they wished, I never locked my photos or got upset & never will get upset, when some were inspired by my beads while making their own...there are so many designs even names of beads that I have seen out there that could very easily be one of mine...some pretty obvious, some a 1000 years old...I have always been flattered & never ever questioned anther's creative mind...

Speaking of inspiration take a look at the eye candy photo of what the lovely artist Ginny made with a set of 3 beads I made inspired by the famed Salmon Egg Beads by Andrea Guarino-Slemmons...I added my own twist to them of course, in fact I have seen tons of people make the Salmon Egg beads, in some way or another, but never credit the original creator of them, I think this is getting harder & harder as I go along in my journey with glass, as I do not have time to look at other's work to see if they are inspired by mine or to be inspired by them, Andrea made the first of these beads years ago, as far as I know they are her design, but who is to say, prior to my eyes looking at this art form of 3500 years old, others had not done the same design...perhaps Will Self is correct...

In Ginny's hands my beads find a gorgeous place to call home...I love how she showcases & takes care of them, when you see these lovely works of art, when you see how it all comes together & makes a circle, gets handed down to the next group of creative minds, this is when I can not agree with what Will Self said...we must share art, we must share our creative minds, in this way we can all grow & better our artistic nature, not to mention the truth that Eye Candy is great for our Souls... What do you think about sharing art and Creative minds? Who is your favorite Writer...?

Thanks Ginny for all the love... & Thanks for stopping by...

Jelveh

Peace

Things go Missing...

Hi all, today has been an odd day...I woke up & got an appointment for a minor checkup & all went down hill from there...I should have been back in time to wash the beads, take photos of them, list them, update the blog & send out the email to all... by the way the above is the group photo of the beads.

But that did not happen, so first Time went Missing...then there was no sun, then the photos took forever, since the Sun had gone Missing...then after I got it all together, after I had to drag out the lights and the cube, I sat down, got the photos up loaded to the lap top & started to write up the information...one of the beads went Missing, I have found it since, but now I can not find the other item that I need to write up my descriptions.

GAME TIME... Guess which item I am Missing now & win the lovely bead set you see above, These are so yummy...you will love them. Rules, one Guess per person, and one item per guess. Answers here on the blog only, first person who guesses correctly wins the beads...the blues in this set are all silver glass Picasso...yum.

Thanks for stopping by & by the way the item that went missing is still gone, I can not find it anywhere I have looked all over this house...

Jelveh

Peace

What is today...?

Hi all, we are back, I have been so tired, I don't even know what day it is... we came back a couple of days ago from Edinburgh in Scotland where we enjoyed a bit of the Fringe Festival, from Music to Comedy, from Theater to the Book Festival & everything in between, this town rocks for a whole month...click here to see some of what goes on at the Edinburgh Festival...there is a link below to our photos from the trip...

We saw one of Martin's favorite writers Will Self, he was amazing. We also saw 2 great Comedians, Shazia Mirza & the ever so funny Mark Watson, I don't think I have laughed this much & for this long forever...

Here are some photos of our Trip...we loved the castle, the city as a whole is so alive, with its rich history & all the people who bring so much art & talent to the city during the festival...we were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people & the wasting of so much paper used to print information for the hundreds of shows at the many venues that you can visit...

There is so much more to talk about today...I saw my "President" Hillary give one of the best speeches I have heard this year on why we are all democrats & we should stick together...I cried when I watched, I think Mr. Obama will be our next President & I think he will be a good president for America, but I think we missed a great opportunity as a people to elect a person of great intellect & strength to be our next President...Hillary is such a class act...maybe in 2012?

Where are the Beads...? I will list some yummy beads for your after 4pm on Thursday...I will send an email letting you know when they are up...& yes there will be a chance to win some yummy beads on the blog... We are so excited my parents will be here next week, they are staying for a whole month, we are going to Turkey with them in about 12 days to see my aunt who is coming from Iran to see us, it will be the first time I have seen her in 30 years...& we have a big dinner planned in Istanbul with my Turkish friends & fellow glass addicts...so much going on...more on this later...

Thanks for stopping by...

Jelveh

Peace

River Rock....

Hi all, I have new beads & a new contest to win the lovely River Rock focal bead above...You can win this focal bead by being the first person who guesses which colors of glass I have way too much of...Blues & Greens, Oranges & Corals, Reds & Yellows, Ivory & whites, Black & Grays, Purples & Violets, or Amber & Browns....

I have been Unpacking my glass, what was I thinking, see I had 2 studios one at the house & one at the shop in Gilroy Ca. well I never did inventory I guess & just kept ordering glass...Please note, one guess of a 2 color group (ie Black & Grays) & one entry per person...please make a comment on the blog with your guess...oh yeah maybe you can tell me what to make with it all...

Thanks for Playing

Jelveh

PEace

Relax Day...

Hi all...how is your Wednesday going so far...mine is slow & lazy, I have spent days unpacking & putting things away, we are almost done with it all...I will be making some beads today, but that is just about it, maybe list 3 sets of beads & a focal...the photo above is just for eye candy, this bead sold many moons ago...

My parents will be here in less than 2 weeks, & this weekend we are going to the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland...which should be loads of fun...the Festival runs for a whole month...I will have photos & story next week...

Have a great Wednesday...there may be beads later today...no one ever knows, I do need to list more, as I am down to 5 items in my shop...thanks for the love all...life is good.

Jelveh

Peace

Where are the BEADS??

Hi all, well I listed some beads & they sold before I got a chance to let everyone know they were there...thanks for the love, as I said a few times before I love listing beads as I go, more than a set time for listing beads...so once a week I will send out an email telling you whats up & the rest of the time you need to check etsy or my blog for updates...

Not sure if this is fair to all, but this is best for me right now... so the photo above is of some beads I am listing in the next few days & there is more in the kiln...send me an email if you want me to save you one of the sets in the photo...I will send out an email with the game to win the beads in the last post, on Friday AM my time...

Thanks for stopping by... Jelveh

Peace

Win These Beads...

OK, here is a yummy set of 3 beads, that I made with a ton of silver glass from double helix, you can not see the color that well...the iris pearl is yummy in them...

Here is the question: name one of the 3 most favorite bands of mine from the mid to late 80s...

first person with the right answer get the beads, you must answer on the comment section of the blog, it can not be on the email...

N0 correct answers yet. its Clue Time!

couple of you have come close to my type of music, so I think it is time to give a clue...I was once thrown out of a concert for one of these bands...I was there to watch over my sister and her friends, I got asked to leave, because I did not have the key to the hand cuffs that I was wearing as a belt & they could not be removed as they were not allowed in the venue...lol...some chaperon was I...hope this helps...

Jelveh

Peace

A Preview...

A preview of some beads I will be listing later today on Etsy...there is more but you have to come back to see them.

Remember how I complained about the hot hot weather, well last night it rained like you would not believe.Now its gorgeous again.

Jelveh

Peace

Greek Yogert Honey...

You ever have one of those days? you are going along, life is good, you have made great beads, the house is somewhat clean, you have got the whole day to do nothing but list beads, pick winners for the last of the weekly contests & send out an email to all... Then it happens, you have one of those creepy odd days, while you try & figure out why you were screaming at the guy on the phone in India, hired by the guy who owns your bank in the UK handling your money...you realize, its not your fault its not his fault, its no ones fault, sometimes life just is what it is... After the odd phone conversation, I had the worst hair dye job I have ever had, folks you have got to see this, perhaps not!! I am going back to have it fixed on Wednesday...if I feel brave I will take a photo for the blog, anyway, its light Orangey red all over the crown and darker red everywhere else, it looks as if my red root have come out and I need a root fix, save for my hair is all black, blue black when I went in and asked for a burgundy red colors....AARGh...So after that my ODD hair & I had to go to the bank downtown oxford to sort things out there. "Yes, that was really me trying to purchase tickets for our trip to Turkey in September on line..." I say, "oh OK, no worries then" the guy at bank tells me, "sure you can spend your money going on trips...its just our policy to look out for out of habit spending..." Out of habit spending, I was just in Turkey for 3 weeks...Perhaps I am planning on going back...So I will try & list my yummy beads for you today, its now almost 6pm...perhaps you have to wait till Wednesday for new beads...who knows... On the way home, I got myself introduced to a flavor of Ice Cream I had never had before, Greek Yogurt Honey...yummmmmmm life is good Jelveh Peace