A Little "Staycation" for the Bee . . .

Hello friends! I just wanted to let you know that beginning next Monday, June 28th, I will be taking a little staycation with my family and will not be accessing my e-mails or filling orders. All pending orders to this point are being processed as usual and will be shipped before I begin my home-vacation, but any orders requested between June 28th and July 5th will be answered and invoiced after I "return". Thank you for understanding! Happy summer, folks!

Amanda

For Mamas Everywhere

Whether the mama you are buying for just brought home her baby, or she has teenage or adult children, this designs lends itself to everyone. Soldered and left with an antique feel, this piece may be personalized any way you want it.

$45

Made to Order . . .

I received a special request from a new father for a pendant of his own. Along with the request came a scanned photo of a drawing he made. I love creating totally unique pieces for people and this was no exception. I think it turned out pretty close to the drawing, don't you?

Smiles,
Amanda

Our New "Button"

Courtesy of Layla. I l-o-v-e it!

Keep Them Close to Your Heart . . .

One of the best parts about my business is being able to work with amazing people. Most of them are women and all of them have a story to tell. Some tell of love and happiness and others share their tales of sorrow. Either way, I feel honored to be a part of each of these individuals lives. I get goose bumps each time I think about how something I have created could quite possibly become a family keepsake. One such piece was recently made for Peggy and with her permission I would like to share a snippet of her story.

Peggy e-mailed me with the story of her son who is on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. She was looking for a piece that would keep her close to him while he is away. I remember her saying that it felt silly, but that by wearing something with his name on it she would feel a sense of peace and protection over him. After working on the design together via e-mail, we came up with the design shown above and this is the e-mail I received from her as soon as she got it . . .

Amanda,

I received my necklace today, PERFECT!!! I will wear it every
day *name omitted* is gone ....as weird as it may sound, I feel like by wearing it, I am helping to keep him safe. So a very very deep hearted thank you.

Peggy

The "Simply Soldered" Original

The Queen has been as busy as a bee these days processing orders from the holiday rush and soldering everything that isn't nailed down. Well, actually I am only soldering silver but I have had such a great time doing it! This design is a relative of The Original with its dual disc design, but this time the two discs are soldered together and it has a more organic feel with its patina and brushed silver surface. I added dots on the sample shown here, but it can be simplified a bit by just stamping names or a quote and leaving the remaining space open. You will love the feel of this design . . .

$48

Nothing Tweeter . . .

 

A new little birdie has entered the nest here at Queen Bee Designs. I have had her for awhile, but haven't shared her until now. I love the simplicity of her shape and the sweet touch she adds to every piece she touches. Shown here on a 1.25" snazzed disc, she adds a little something to this family tree of four. Love it!!

$38

Simply Soldered

"Keep it Simple . . ." Strive for a simpler existance with less to worry about, less to do and more time to swing in the hammock of life. This piece is a gentle reminder for all of us to relax, enjoy the moment and strive for simplicity. This is the first beauty in our *Simply Soldered* line and is weathered and worn with its snazzed edges and buffed finish. Measuring at 1" in diameter, you can "Keep it Simple . . ." daily with this around your neck.

As shown . . . $48

Everyday Is Mother's Day . . .

The Grand Original is so simple with its concentric circles and clean lines. This version measures a bit larger than our traditional Original with the disc on the bottom being 1.25" in diameter and the disc on top measuring
1". The quote above is perfect for the Mother, Mommy, Mama or Granny in your life . . .

A Mother's love and tender care makes love bloom everywhere . . .

As shown- $45
(May be personalized however you wish. Add a colored Swarovski crystal or creamy freshwater pearl at no additional charge.)

The Katie-- Revisited For Mom

Our Katie design lends itself to many different types of personalization. Here it is shown with hand stamped flowers and an offset "GRANDMA" on the second disc. As always, this piece comes with a petite sterling ball chain and two crystals or pearls of your choice. Very sweet and expandable for larger families.

As shown- $40
Additional discs- $8 each

The Flutter-by

 

I am not sure if my brother and I started calling them flutter-bys as children, or if it was just something cute my mom came up with, but the term has certainly stuck with me. This flutter-by is sweet for the little girl in your life, but certainly appeals to all ages with its simple shape and flutter-by details. The sample above is mine and though I am not a young girl anymore, it makes me smile every time I see it. Complete with a petite ball chain, this beauty doesn't need any crystal or pearls to shine, but if you would like to add one just let me know.

$32

How Charming

 

After many requests for a charm bracelet, I am offering our How Charming piece complete with four discs and a sweet pearl or crystal of your choice. As you can see in the sample above, longer names are easy to add on these cuties without any difficulty. A perfect gift for your sweetie on Valentine's Day or for Grandma on Mother's Day. There is no such thing as being too prepared! As always, all of my designs are sterling silver and I use Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls. How charming is that!

$55
(Includes four 1/2" discs. Additional discs are $8 each.)

Have Faith . . .

 

In these times when so many things are changing, having faith is more important than ever. Wearing this tear drop design with its simple cross will remind its wearer to take the time to trust and Have Faith . . .

$38

Best Friends . . .

 

These petite sweeties are perfect for the little girls in your life who just can't seem to spend enough time together. Better than the broken heart design we grew up with, this Best Friends set is personal and understated with its teeny tiny flowers and equally tiny sentiment. Each rounded square measures 1/2" across and the set includes both pendants and two 16" chains. (18" chains may be substituted)

$50 for the set

The Julia . . .

 

Created for my sister-in-law, this piece includes a touch of whimsy with a tiny hammered flower "planted" on a 1" disc. It is shown here with a purple Swarovski crystal, but may be personalized with the birthstone-colored crystal of your choice. The Julia includes a hammered flower, personalized disc, crystal and a petite sterling silver ball chain. The perfect gift for your girlfriend's upcoming birthday or for the new mommy, this design is just as sweet as it seems.

$42

Dancing in the Rain . . .

 

When I started this business, I never knew how many amazing women I would meet. So many of you have come to me with touching stories of happiness, sorrow, new beginnings and lives still unfolding. This past October as I began processing holiday orders, I met many women telling stories of breast cancer and how it had touched their lives. Many of you were survivors, and others were going through treatment, but each of you was a warrior in your own right. Dancing in the Rain was created for all of the women in our lives battling this disease and is being dedicated to Vicki Watland, a truly lovely mother, wife and friend who left this earth far too soon. Though Vicki was a friend of my mother's, I was always fond of her and I watched as she fought for the opportunity to watch her daughters live and grow.

Vicki, you touched so many lives living by example. We all love and miss you.

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

Shown on a 1" domed spiral disc with sterling silver ribbon accent. $50

The Queen has Gift Certificates!

 

Are we sold out of the design you wanted? We are now selling gift certificates in any amount you would like. Allow your loved one to design their own pendant and you will never have to wonder if you got her the one she would have chosen. E-mail me with the dollar amount you are interested in and we will get started. (Please note: Upon certificate redemption the code on the bottom of the certificate and the last name of the gift giver will be requested. Thank you!)

Welcome Wondertime Readers!

 

When I answered my phone six weeks ago and spoke to someone named "Megan" I had no idea what a wonderful opportunity awaited me. Megan told me that she worked for a magazine, "Wondertime. Have you heard of us?" Heard of them? They are my favorite magazine-- favorite as in I save every copy I receive for future reference. The articles are amazing-- written with style and often humor, but also done so as to make you feel you are having a conversation with the author. Looking for some eye-candy? Open a current subscription and feast on the colors, the perspective and full-page spreads Wondertime has to offer and as you do, pay close attention to the heaviness of the paper. Don't expect to see thin, glossy pages like in your typical magazine. Wondertime boasts pages full of body so as to provide the perfect canvas for all of the beauty beyond its cover. I digress . . . Megan contacted me and wanted to know if I could send her a prototype of one of my jewelry designs. She specified the names she wanted, gave me a Fed-ex number (so I could overnight the piece to her) and I got to work. A couple of days and one more design later we were in business and now I have officially heard from my first Wondertime reader. Thank you for this amazing opportunity Megan and all of the ladies I worked with. You were as great as your publication!

The beauty shown above is the official piece pictured in the magazine. It is a doll at 1" with its creamy pearl accents and domed shape. As shown, $42. We'll call this sweetheart "Wondertime".

Flowers for the Princess

I have visited this angel many times this week and thought it was only appropriate to share her again. "Flowers for the Princess" is perfect for the little girl in your life (or her mother) and is about 3/4" across. Shown here with our crown detail and Lady Zoe's name, this is a gift any princess would love!

$30 (available on a 16" chain for the little ones)

Three's a Charm

 

Whether you decide on the 1.25" disc for the bottom, or a 1" disc, this turns out beautifully with my teeny-tiny letters and a petite ball chain.

As shown (with the 1" disc on the bottom) $48

The Original . . . Snazzed Up!

For my frequent fliers, this is nothing new. The Original is just that-- the design that began this journey for me. It has inspired The Triple Circle design and even The Mini, but has remained classy and classic throughout it all. Here The Original is shown with tapped edges, a creamy freshwater pearl and my teeny-tiny letters. The new mommy who is receiving this should certainly love it.

As shown $40

Farewell . . .

I was recently contacted by a lovely valley resident who saw my ad in the Phoenix Kids Directory. She told me that she was looking for a going away gift for her cousin (who was really more like a sister) and she was hoping we could work together to come up with the perfect saying for a going away gift. Her cousin's favorite color is green, so the crystal shared that sentiment and the saying we came up with was as follows . . .

CLOSE TOGETHER . . . FAR APART . . . ALWAYS IN MY HEART

What a great way to tell that special person in your life that no matter how far away they are, they will always hold a special place in your heart.

As shown, $40

Queen Bee Meets TV

I am so excited to be sharing this wonderful news-- I am being featured (along with my jewelry) on Fox channel 15 here in Phoenix Thursday morning. I will be on Sonoran Living Live at 9AM and will be sharing some of our most popular designs along with some basic jewelry information. If you are home, tune in and check us out. What an awesome opportunity!

New Designs! New Designs!

 

 

 

After the kids were in bed and the house was quiet, I had a chance to sort through my silver and just play a bit. The photos above are the fruits of my labor and I am pleased with all three pieces.

Imagine. A different spin on the circular washer, this piece is square and very unique. Here it is shown with a hammered texture, though it can be purchased smooth as well. Measuring 1" across and displaying two tiny green crystals along with our signature pearl, this piece sparkles and smiles. $38

Laugh. Three handcrafted posies and a simple reminder. Absolutely precious. $28

Grow. A distressed flower rests comfortably on a shiny disc (5/8") and offers texture as well as shine. Stamped with the word of your choice. $40

Everyday Is Daddy's Day

 

Everyday should be Daddy's day and it can be with these sterling dog tags and their wonderful messages. Measuring just over 1.25" long these pieces are very masculine and can be given as a keychain, or on a heavy duty ball chain.

$35 (keychain)

$45 (on a ball chain)