I had a delightful weekend for my birthday celebration, and it has taken me a few days to get back into the swing of things. I am keeping busy with orders and getting ready for holiday sales, but I wanted to take a quick break to write about a new book that is on bookshelves. Cynthia Thornton's Enchanted Adornments has finally come out! I have been eagerly awaiting this book release, and not just because I was fortunate enough to have my Queen Mab necklace below added to the gallery section of the book. That was quite an honor. I knew this book would be great, knowing Cynthia and her magical work. And it certainly is great... it is absolutely gorgeous! There are all sorts of enchanted sketches and drawings throughout it, and the projects are wonderful! I was definitely inspired to want to try new techniques after just a quick flip-through. Just like Cynthia's delightful Green Girl beads, the book is full of fantasy and steeped in traditions of fairies, stories, and magic. It is a breathtaking journey through her creative process, and I think that readers of this book will be in for a fantastical treat!

You can enter to win a copy of Enchanted Adornments and a selection of my new beads! They are some of the prizes offered in the Art Bead Scene challenge this month. Create your own enchanted fairy themed jewelry using some art beads, and enter to win! Details over on the Art Bead Scene.

I wrote a big post for Art Bead Scene today all about the Fairy Feller painting, so I think I will keep today's blog here short. I wanted to show some of the new small dragonfly charms and links alongside the big ones. I am really in love with both of them, and I am dying to play with them! I have ideas for bracelets with the links and the charms. Maybe today I will get a chance to play!

The links, charms, and pendants with holes (instead of wire loops) are sort of new for me. I designed them so that I can put holes in them this time. I have to make that consideration in the design, so it doesn't look like the hole interrupts the design. The wires are less conspicuous, but they have their own design and construction problems, so I figured I would give this a try. So my questions to the beaders out there is: Which do you prefer? The wire loops for charms and links, or holes. Also, I would love to hear what you would make with these little dragonfly links with two holes. Do tell!