Gimme Gimme Gimme Some Beads!

I want more beads!

One of the shipments I've received this week. This was the only one I actually remembered to photograph. The others were fairly small & I was so excited I just logged everything into the computer & started making designs or putting them into their nice containers so I know exactly where they are so when I'm ready to make the designs - they will be waiting for me!

Another sad picture that I couldn't get to turn over. This is the only place I can't get to "turn". It looks perfectly fine when I'm downloading but then here it is sideways so please forgive me for having to turn your head. I know what a pain in the you know what that can be. If anyone knows how to flip it on Blogger - I'm all ears. :)

Pictured above are lots of Silver clasps and findings. I made a new purchase I am excited about, which is a converter for broaches. I can make broaches into pendants. If you have a broach that you love but are not using/wearing & would like to make it into a lovely necklace or bracelet, contact me at nkrug@cebridge.net and we'll make a one-of-a kind design just for you. I'm ready to start making some new projects with these. I always love broaches but I hate that they leave holes in my clothing & I always forget to put them on my jackets & hopefully now we won't be needing jackets much longer. YIPPEE!

I'm very excited about my new Lindstrom tools. They are very good pliers & I am excited to get started with lots of projects. I have tested them out of course because I'm like a little kid at Christmas & have to play with everything new! They seem fabulous already.

I can't believe I couldn't get the picture to turn around like I can in "My Pictures" so I apologize for you having to turn your head, but it's only a box. I just wanted to point out that this small box held between $400-$500.00. Isn't that crazy? So many little things they pack into a small package but then again, beads and supplies are definitely not getting any cheaper + I did get my new tools.

One of a kind Designs
www.nikkidoodledesigns.com
Jewelry Designs can also be purchased in Decatur, IL at Giggles or The Fox's Den.

Get your pet goodies at Woofstock 2009

Woofstock 2009





Saturday, May 16, 2009
Macon Resources
2121 Hubbard Avenue - Decatur, IL
9:00am-2:00pm



- A festival of pets, love, & rock-n-roll benefiting Homeward Bound Pet Shelter, a no-kill pet facility.




I am showcasing many brand new dog designs specifically for this event. I will have one-of-a-kind hand-painted pottery pieces and unique jewelry designs for you & your lovable pouch! I am giving you a sneak peak of some of the new doggy pottery. It is much more colorful & adorable in person. I got tons of compliments when I picked it up yesterday at The Pottery Shop in Bloomington, IL where they glazed & fired it for me. I think they did a terrific job!



- Come enjoy a Pooch Parade, Pet Art, Best Trick Contest, Music, Food, Pet Adoption Agencies, Microchipping by Pawsitively Pets, Fido Fotos by the Decatur Camera Club, Doggie Wagon Rides, and Pet Friendly Arts and Crafts Vendors. It will be tons of dog-gone fun for the entire family!



- you can find more information at http://www.homewardboundpetshelter.com/







One of a kind Designs
www.nikkidoodledesigns.com
Jewelry Designs can also be purchased in Decatur, IL at Giggles or The Fox's Den.

Kiss-A-Pig for Diabetes

Kiss a Pig
Sixth Annual Decatur Kiss-A-Pig Gala

Decatur, Illinois is hosting this outlandishly fun contest on Friday, May 8, 2009 to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association.

I have donated 2 pieces of Nikkidoodle Designs jewelry to help candidate Nicole Bateman of Land of Lincoln Credit Union.

I'm going to vote for Nicole & I would appreciate your vote for her as well. You can do so at http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/whatslocal-detail.jsp?id=LOCALINFOITEM_563306&zip=61725&title= They are trying to raise $50,000 through Kiss-A-Pig in 2009!



The 2 pieces from my collection that are up for auction under Nicole Bateman are: Swarovski Crystal Memory Bracelet. (multicolor swarovski round & bicone crystals on a sterling silver memory wire bracelet. This bracelet will beautifully wrap around any wrist). It is valued at $45.00.

The second piece is: Small Bicone Rainbow Swarovski Crystal Earrings. (these lovely rainbow swarovski earrings consist of 4mm bicone colors in 9 shades of crystals - light rose, fuchsia, hyacinth, jonquil, peridot, aquamarine, sapphire, violet, and amethyst. The earrings are made on sterling silver ear wires). Value $18.00.

One of a kind Designs
www.nikkidoodledesigns.com
Jewelry Designs can also be purchased in Decatur, IL at Giggles or The Fox's Den.

Let's get organized!

It's time for some organization! With all of my growing supplies, I have been needing more storage space and these lovely shelves above one side of my desk will be a big help. They were installed yesterday. I am very excited and happy about the turnout. I now have more room in my linen closets because that is where my jewelry and pottery supplies have been "hiding" out.

As my business continues to grow, I have been driving myself nuts with cramming everything into my linen and bedroom closets. I just want everything to be neat and easily accessible. I am not one who is able to work in clutter to I'm on my way back to bliss.


The first 2 pictures are just the beginning (I actually think I may have taken the pictures before I dusted them). Oops... They are nice and clean now though.

I am trying to sort out where everything is going to go - big decisions because I want it to look just right & I'm sure I will still have lots of tweaking to do as I find cute little storage containers that will be visually pleasing yet functional (and will still fit on the shelves). I've been on the lookout already but I wasn't completely sure how they would turn out and the size of the shelves so I haven't purchased anything yet. So the next picture is what it looks like as of right now. I'll keep you posted as I keep going. Right now it is the jewelry headquarter & the pottery is in the cabinets but I'm sure I'll keep moving things around (because it's what I do).

One of a kind Designs
www.nikkidoodledesigns.com
Jewelry Designs can also be purchased in Decatur, IL at Giggles or The Fox's Den.

Happy Birthday to me!

It was Girls Night for my "Pre-Birthday" last Friday night. My actual birthday was Saturday. I want to thank my great friends Corie & Julie for spending the evening with me. We had more with us at different times of the night but these lovely ladies were my "staples."

We started off with margaritas and some Mexican cuisine with the Caulkins and a couple of Julie's friends. After dinner we traveled downtown to Robbies and Katz for some drinks & dancing. Nothing is better than great friends, especially on your birthday!


Corie and I at Robbies


Everyone just told me I had to sit on Julie's lap! This one is with Julie & her friend, Rob.

Aren't they just adorable? Julie and Rob at Robbies.

One of a kind Designs
www.nikkidoodledesigns.com
Jewelry Designs can also be purchased in Decatur, IL at Giggles or The Fox's Den.

My dog wants to be a jewelry designer

Ella, my adorable 6 year old Japanese Chin, decided she wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps today. I set up this little workstation in my room by the TV so I could bead & be entertained at the same time. I left it in a mess, which I try not to do, but I got excited about my pottery delivery & went off to check it in & left everything as it was - so that's why it looks the way it is.
Anyway, I decided to check some email and my Facebook account while resting and when I got up to get dinner, this is where I found Ella. She was just sitting in the "chair" area looking at the beads like she was contemplating what she was going to design next. It was so cute I had to get my camera. Luckily she stayed in the same position long enough for a few pictures (which can be rare).
The even funnier thing is just an hour ago, I got up to get a snack & there she was again. She was just sitting there like she belonged there.





Ella checking out all of my beads: When I get in my zone, I like to pull all of my containers close to me & try to get it all within arms reach. So many times there isn't room for Ella to curl up next to me like she prefers so now she has the whole area to herself.

One of a kind Designs
www.nikkidoodledesigns.com
Jewelry Designs can also be purchased in Decatur, IL at Giggles or The Fox's Den.

Can I paint you some pottery?

It's delivery day for Nikkidoodle Designs. These boxes were inside 3 very large boxes. Thankfully (this time) Ella barked to let me know the UPS truck was at the house. So I quickly made my way to the front door & asked politely if he would bring them inside because I couldn't lift them. I then had to push & drag them into my room/office where I proceeded to check everything in. Well, I guess everything that came. One item was missing from the order form & from my list so I will have to rectify it with the company. As you can see from a couple of the pictures, Ella wanted to be close to me so you will see her lovely tail. Look for the next blog & you'll see where Ella is actually trying to take over my job!

The basics of any pottery business, plates. Dinner size and salad size are fantastic because they are a blank canvas. Pretty much anything can be painted on them & they are smooth so I use them quite frequently. They are perfect gifts for weddings, births of a new baby, holiday designs, and retirements - just to name a few.

Here is at least 1 of everything I ordered this go around. As you can see, there are quite a few dog items. This is because I am going to have a display at Woofstock 2009 on May 16, 2009 in Decatur, IL. You can find out more information at http://www.homewardboundpetshelter.com/

I have a sitting dog bank, a square water/food bowl, a canister for treats, and a doghouse picture frame. I also ordered large round water/food bowls but they were the ones that didn't come. I should get them shortly & still have plenty of time to paint one for sale at Woofstock. If you would like something personalized, just email or call me & I would be happy to paint it for you.

This is the 1st delivery (the small delivery). I ended up with 2 shipments of pottery this go around. I needed a few colors of paint, mostly replenishments, but a couple are new colors. The toothbrush holder & soap dish are going to be painted & used in one of my bathrooms. The dogs are drawer pulls & are fabulous. I have 8 different ones in 2 of my rooms (mostly the man & woman design but I have 1 dog). The pulls are so cute and very functional.

One of a kind Designs
www.nikkidoodledesigns.com
Jewelry Designs can also be purchased in Decatur, IL at Giggles or The Fox's Den.