We're a CHAIN! :)

I might be dating myself... but remember that great line in "Steel Magnolias" when Dolly Parton's character realizes her beauty shop is now a chain?  That is how I felt tonight :)

It's been two and a half years since we opened our first cyber shop on Etsy and now... drumroll please... we opened our second cyber shop on ArtFire!  We have really enjoyed sending our creations all over the world!  The wonderful feedback we've received has always brightened our days... thanks to all of you!

In honor of "Steel Magnolias" and our newest shop on ArtFire... I searched for these pictures from way back when.

Harbor Playhouse (Corpus Christi, TX) production of "Steel Magnolias"... I was Shelby... what fun :)

vintage evening bags...

Vintage fun, vintage perfection!

Who wants to wear something gorgeous and oh! so unique?  Take a peek at these vintage evening bags we have on our Etsy site...

Happy Halloween!

Wow! It's been quite a bit since I've written. Still getting used to the full-time job, outside of home. Seems every spare moment goes into mendlbarr.

Our goal is to have 100 pieces of jewelry on the Etsy site by November 1st... we have so many just waiting for their photography session! Ah... the days that I used to spend just designing, creating and photographing! Okay, wake up!

The leaves have turned beautiful colors and my favorite time of year is here! Just in case I don't get to write before October 31st... HAPPY HALLOWEEN! :)

life is good...

Sabu, our Indian Ringneck, is trying to ride Monte's back. Monte, our American Eskimo, patiently glances back at him. Yes, it's the little things that make life so good!

My new job is going well. Now I know what looking forward to the weekend really feels like. You automatically wake up on Friday morning in a great mood! Praise God for all of our blessings!

We visited two wholesale bead shops in Manhattan last weekend and we have begun the creative process. Hopefully, we will get to post some of the new creations on our Etsy site by next weekend. We love creating... but our regular, everyday chores have piled up so high that we had to spend the weekend being domestic. Whew... we need a "weekend" to rest from our weekend!

a new "day" job...

I started a new job in beautiful Tribeca! After my years of retail management... I am finally able to experience a normal Monday thru Friday work week! Praise God! After fighting the idea of outside sales for way too long, I am finally where I am supposed to be! It's only been four days but I am so excited!

And... it doesn't hurt that I get to work with my husband again! We work for an architectural glass company and use our creative gifts to help design glass projects. Brainstorming with architects to bring their vision to fruition, our "day jobs" inspire our jewelry designs. It's also nice to be able to enjoy eachother's company as we commute to and from work!

We plan to shop many of the NYC wholesale jewelry supply stores this weekend... ahhh... the fun we'll have! Can't wait to see what catches our eyes... the hunt for stones is as much fun as designing with them! Check out our Etsy shop early next week for a peek! :)

front page of Etsy...

One of our designs made it to the front page of Etsy!!! We are so excited and honoured! Just found out and wanted to share it with the world! A very bright spot added to our day... praise God! :)

her comments made our day...

Sent two pairs of earrings to California today! New customer who just happened upon our Etsy shop! It feels so good when the customer writes us a note describing her excitement! The validation received, knowing we made someone happy, is truly fulfilling!

And we don't stop there... the whole package is prepared with care so that when she opens it... she's excited all over again! Our presentation will continue to be a work in progress because we will always find another "thank you" card, ribbon, gift box or business card we can't live without! Just like the two of us... our business is evolving! Love it! Thank you... Jesus!

let's get physical...

We put up four new pieces on the Etsy site yesterday! Would like to be a bit more disciplined and maybe not wait "two weeks" before we do it again! :)

Good things happening on our weight-loss program... it's been two weeks and we are starting to lose some of our extra poundage! David has lost more than I... but isn't that the norm? Men somehow get to lose faster... bummer for me!

We haven't really changed our eating habits yet... we just started using our treadmill and pilates machine! We bought both of the machines a long time ago... I'm afraid to look it up because I will be so embarrassed! Of course, I had to look for the dates... OCD, right? We got the pilates February 2006 and the treadmill soon afterward! It took us 2 1/2 years, but we are finally using them!

Praise God! I'm happy to say that we have really made it a routine to work-out... if one is on the treadmill, the other uses the pilates machine! I made a 10-page booklet of pilates exercises out of the large poster that accompanied the machine (never could find a convenient place to post it once we moved it to our living room!) Yes! Our living room has become our gym, too! Have to do what it takes, right?

the beginning of something new...

Hello Everyone! We're so excited to become a part of the "web" world! We just launched our shop on Etsy! My husband, David, and I have been creating jewelry since 1995 and we've started placing our "art" on this site!... http://www.mendlbarr.etsy.com/

If you're not familiar with Etsy... get ready... it's addicting!...

Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. You'll find a creative community of independent artists and designers and the very best in handmade goods, craft supplies and vintage. It's an excellent place to find one-of-a-kind items, to give as gifts - or as gifts for yourself! Since you're buying directly from artists on Etsy, you have the special opportunity to form personal connections with the people who create your treasures.

Take a peek! Who knows... you might want to unleash your creative side, too? :)