Friday, May 27, 2011

They're Here! Just in Time for Summer...Bangle Bracelets!

Hi Girlfriends!

How are you today? Hope everyone's having a great day and getting ready to welcome in summer (my northern hemisphere friends anyway)!

I promised my Facebook fans/friends that once I hit 313 fans, I'd hold a special Fan Appreciation Giveaway and introduce a new product online. Well they got me to 313 much faster than I thought they would and (mostly due to 2 bad rounds of product photography...ugh!!) I've been scrambling to get it all ready :)

Just in time for summer I'm unveiling my Bangle Bracelets!! They're this season's must-have accessory and you can find all the best ones at Designs by Debi. If you like bangle bracelets, you're going to LOVE these!
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry Beaded Bangle Bracelets

For those of you who don't already know, bangle bracelets are actually how Designs by Debi came to be in the first place. I wanted beaded bangles and couldn't find any so I decided to figure out how to make them myself. You can read more about it and the bracelets in the new article I wrote called "It's All About the Bangles!" in the reference center on the website.

I'm going to start listing them this weekend on the website and in my ArtFire Studio. I have A LOT of them for you in silver and gold, every color imaginable, some with hearts, flowers, swirls of color, some plain. And these bangles are great for stacking! Very important because, as those of us who wear bangles know...you can't just wear one :)

Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry Beaded Bangle Bracelets Stackable


While I'm finishing up the photo-editing and getting them listed though, you can go on over to the 313 Fan Giveaway tabs and enter to win one! Read, agree to and follow everything on the Rules tab first then hop over to the Prizes tab and follow the instructions to enter. There will be 5 winners chosen and each will receive 1 bangle selected from the ones on the prizes page. The giveaway is open until June 14th so go on and enter and please share it with your friends!

♥ Thank you so much for being a fan and friend of Designs by Debi... and me ♥

Have a wonderful holiday weekend with your friends and family! My Dad told me I'd better enjoy this one...it's my last weekend being 39. I turn 40 on Tuesday. So nice of him to remind me huh? Oh well, have a great one everyone :)

♥ Debi

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

NEW ~ Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial Bracelet™ designs for Horses

Hi everyone!

I'm very excited... I have a new product announcement for you today! It's actually an addition to an existing product line. I designed my Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial Bracelet™ in May of 2008. It all began with a sketch on paper. I made the very first bracelets for a friend and her daughter in December of that year when she had to put her dog Tasha to sleep. They loved them. So I made up a sample, photographed it and started the product line...


Dawn was my grandfather's Seeing Eye Dog. She was wonderful and, since I would never put Niko's name on the sample for fear of jinxing myself, I decided to honor Dawn instead.


The bracelets have been very popular. So in 2010 I decided to add a second style with the rainbow displayed in a more subtle fashion for those who prefer a less colorful option. This style comes in 4 different combinations of sterling silver beads and your choice of crystal color(s)...


Now I've been asked to design one for horses. So here's the newest addition to the Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial Bracelets™ line...



I admittedly don't know much about horses and wasn't sure what kind of charm would be preferred by a horse lover so I selected 3 different ones to try... a horse head, a small horse and a horseshoe. (If you're a horse owner, feel free to give me your input!)




Custom orders are my specialty and, with the vast selection of charms available, these bracelets can actually be customized for any kind of pet.

To many of us pets are family. They bring great joy into our lives and when we lose a pet it hurts...often just as much as losing a human friend or family member. The Pet Memorial Bracelet is a great way to carry your love for your pet and happy memories of them with you every day to bring you comfort.
If you or someone you know ever suffer that terrible loss and are looking for a special keepsake, I'd love to design one for you.

Thanks for letting me share my new design. My dog, Niko means the world to me so my heart just breaks every time I hear of someone losing a pet and that's where my idea for these bracelets came from. If you've ever lost a beloved pet, my heart goes out to you too :)

♥ Debi

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

May Jewelry for Charity Set to Benefit the American Red Cross to Help Tornado Victims

Well the charity jewelry for this month is finally done and up on the website! After the tornado outbreak at the end of April, I decided to change charities and make this one to benefit the American Red Cross because they're helping the tornado victims.

Of course changing charity and purpose changed everything. I decided I wanted yellow and white beads, preferably with flowers, because yellow represents hope and renewal. Of course I didn't have any. I did a shout out on facebook to my glass artist friends though and Krissy from Krissy Beads came through for me with a beautiful set of beads that were just perfect!! This is the result...
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry for Charity Bracelet and Earrings Set Hope for a Bright Future. The one of a kind ooak bracelet features handmade artisan lampwork glass beads, sterling silver flower beads, Swarovski citrine and white alabaster bicones, a sterling silver hook clasp and extender chain with charms. The one of a kind earrings are leverback style with matching beads, crystals and chain.

I finally finished everything and got it up on the website today and I'll tell ya it was nice to work on something cheerful after a really rough couple days!

I brought Niko to the vet first thing Monday morning and he needs surgery. Doggie moms get really upset and nervous when their babies are sick, too :( 

Then it was a phonecall to my doctor for left arm pain that I feared may be a blood clot. Soon as he examined me he sent me off for a stat ultrasound and, sure enough, the basilic vein is clotted from just above my wrist all the way up my arm!! Talk about a bad day.

So I guess I'm hoping for a bright future, too...... and that's exactly what I wish for all of you  ♥xoxo♥

♥ Debi

Friday, May 6, 2011

Designs by Debi Newsletter

Well, I think I've FINALLY worked out all the bugs in the sign-up process for my newsletter! (It's a double opt-in system to avoid spamming.) And once I accomplished that feat today, I started putting together the first issue. I'm so excited!

And ((*hint*)) you're not going to want to miss the first issue so, if you haven't already, head on over to the main part of the website to sign-up. There's a sign-up box in the right column of every page on the site.

The first issue will arrive in inboxes first thing Sunday morning so make sure you get on that list!

♥ Debi

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Remember 9/11 & Thank Our Troops

I'm sure you've all been thinking alot about 9/11, the loved ones lost, the wars we're in, our soldiers, etc over the last few days especially...and I have been too. I decided to spend some quiet time before going to sleep expressing feelings by putting together a collection on ArtFire. I thought you might enjoy it...




The death of one man does not heal our wounds or bring back our loved ones. But it is a step toward closure and hopefully a more peaceful world. Thank you to our soldiers who work tirelessly every day to keep us safe. Thank you to the soldiers who gave us this victory. And thank you to all the military families who sacrifice just as much for us. We salute you. God Bless America.

♥ Support Our Troops & Remember Our Veterans ♥

My heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones...
♥ Debi