Perfectly Potter

I (Lori), like many others, LOVE Harry Potter! Especially as a teacher, I love the fact that I can watch reluctant or struggling readers pick up a 600 page book WILLINGLY and REFUSE to put it down. It thrills me!

So naturally, my favorite series of books would inspire some jewelry....so here are my wearable tributes to The Boy Who Lived :)


This sterling silver necklace boasts a sterling silver lightning bolt charm and two Swarovski crystals in your choice of color. Here's one on display:


And here's a recent trio of these necklaces that made their way to a new home last week:


Check them out on our Etsy Shop (click here!).



And for those who prefer bracelets:

Once again available in your choice of colors. Here's some favorite combinations:





Those can be found in our Etsy shop as well (Click here!).


And if you're looking to get your shopping done soon, swing by the shop and use BLOGGER5 as a coupon code at checkout for 5% off! It'll be good through Wednesday night at 11:59!

Tonight's Productivity: Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry

Both in our shop and during shows, I have 2 collections in my jewelry that benefit specific causes; Autism Awareness & Breast Cancer Research. Sales from either of these categories mean I make a donation to Autism Speaks or The Weekend to End Breast Cancer. Tonight, I spent a good deal of time working on creating new Breast Cancer Awareness jewelry to get ready for our big show in November. Take a look and let me know which piece you like best!

Here's the first bracelet - Done in Celestial Crystals in 8mm, 6mm, and 4mm sizes. LOVE the detailed toggle clasp and the "Hope" ribbon as finishing touches!

Here's the second bracelet, done in pink glass beads and silver plated spacers, with white lampwork beads with pink ribbons. I think my favorite part of this one is the toggle clasp with the little hearts!

This is a different spin on my usual bracelets, done with pink Celestial Crystals and a clear lampwork bead with the pink ribbon. I used long tube beads instead of chain for this one, and I think I like it!

Also did a wire-wrapped pendant with a ribbon on a large pink glass bead. Obviously, it will eventually be put on a chain!

I also did a variety of earrings:

Enameled Ribbons:

Lampworks with Crystals:

Twisted Rings with Lampworks in 2 colors:

Leave a comment and let me know which piece is your favorite!

Hello, My name is Lori, and I'm a blog slacker!

Yikes! I didn't realize exactly how long it had been since I updated here until I was linking someone else to it. I do believe I am a blog slacker.

On the up side, that means I've been busy creating in my (nearly non-existent) free time. :)

Sara and I are gearing up for our big IUK Arts and Crafts show in November. We had a great time (and a good amount of sales!) at this show last year, and we're anxious to see how this year turns out. My former college roommate is a very talented chainmaille artist and she will be joining us at the show as well. Check her out on Etsy.

As for new creations, I've been posting several of them on the Beads by Lori and Sara Etsy Shop, but I've also set back a few that will be just for the show in November. Here's a look:

This is on of my new personal favorites. I adore the Harry Potter books (I'm an elementary teacher, cut me some slack!) and knew the instant I saw these lightning bolt toggle clasps I HAD to make something Harry Potter inspired. The end result is the Harry Potter House Pride Bracelets. They're available in the Etsy shop and there will be some at the IUK sale as well!

It's available, of course, in all four house colors:
L-R: Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff

Here's the Gryffindor bracelet, so you can really see the gunmetal toggle clasp:

Aside from showing my inner geek, I've been creating some new earrings. Here's a favorite from those, created to match the Frankly Scarlett bracelet:



They're available in the Etsy shop, and I'm currently working on making them in a variety of colors!



And now for a few that aren't up in the shop, just for a sneak preview!

Here's one of the (many!) wire-wrapped pendants I have been working on:

And another pair of earrings - I just LOVE how one side has a different finish than the other on these beads!


On that note, it's late, and I'm headed to bed so I can have plenty of energy to create tomorrow!

New Workspace!

I recently redid my office and studio area and now I have an awesome new space for creating! I'm a hobby scrapper and a serious beader (obviously!) so here's a look at where some of your Beads by Lori and Sara jewelry is created!


Here's my Cricut/scrapping area :)




Here's the wide shot of my beading area. My grandfather built the shelving to my design sketches for what I wanted in a creative studio.



This side is mostly supplies, with the exception of my finished bracelet rack up on top.


This side is mostly packaging, finished product and of course, my giant diet coke.

Custom Request: Red and Black

Trisha requested a design of a red and black bracelet - what do you think?

Lime Twist

Here's a look at a new citrus-inspired set that will be in the shop soon! Comment and let us know what you think!

Cane Glass in Progress :)

Working on a few new pieces tonight using some beautiful cane glass from our inventory. Here's what I'm working on right now :)


Square cane glass beads with red lining, topped with a silver-plated cube. These will be earrings :)




These will turn in to necklace pendants. Both are made with 3 stacked pieces of cane glass.




Purple cane glass earrings with white swirls. Obviously not attached to the earwires yet :)



Bright blue cane glass earrings withgreen, orange, dark blue and yellow stripes:



Cute little cane glass bracelet made with clear triangular beads with red lining. Stripe colors vary.


Leave a comment and let me know which one is your favorite :)