Santa lampwork + pearl

Do you ever phone Rings & Things?  If not yet, you should, to enjoy some truly kind customer service.  If you have, you know we have a mighty creative bunch working here.

Today they had a Sales department holiday party.  Their tiny, tinsely Xmas tree was adorned with handmade ornaments.

Above: Lampwork Santa, freshwater pearl, copper wire wrapping, and leather cord.  Below: Chain, wire, crystal bicone beads, brass star charm, and mother of pearl rectangle ring bead.

Star charm + mother of pearl link

Below: Copper wire, lampwork snowman and gunmetal link, filigree, chain and filigree bead.

Lampwork snowman

Share your holiday ornament ideas below!

I also want to thank Rings & Things’ owners Russ and Dee.  They matched our contributions dollar for dollar.  It feels nice to be able to give twice as much to a good cause!

Every one of us can help

R&T has just sent out our employees’ donations for 2009.

Have a look at who we gave to (it’s a window into our soul):

• ACLU Foundation
• Alzheimer’s Association
• Anna Ogden Hall
  (“a warm, welcoming, home-like shelter offering a free, long-term, grace-based recovery program to women”)
• CERF – Craft Emergency Relief Fund
• Crosswalk
  (“an emergency shelter, a school drop-out prevention program, and a group of lifesaving and life-changing programs dedicated to breaking the cycle of youth homelessness”)
• Grameen Foundation
  (“helps the world’s poorest, especially women, improve their lives and escape poverty through access to microfinance and technology”)
• KSFC
  (Spokane Public Radio)
• KYRS
  (“Thin Air Community Radio: a volunteer-powered, non-commercial, listener-supported, Low Power FM community radio station in Spokane, WA“)
• Life Center Church
• Los Hermanos
  (“working in solidarity with students in Huisisilapa, El Salvador to insure that students can continue their education in their own community”)
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
• Planned Parenthood
• Project Safe Place
  (“a community collaboration program, operated by youth shelters or youth serving agencies make it possible for any youth to access help”)
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• SNAP
  (“connecting and providing access to resources which create opportunities, with dignity, for low income people”)
• Spokane Homeless Coalition
• Spokanimal CARE
  (“dedicated to the placement, protection and health of animals through legislation, education and programs”)
• Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund
  (“the money is used to open The Christmas Bureau for two weeks in December; it buys thousands of high-quality toys in January, when prices are low”)
• Union Gospel Mission
  (“since 1951, the Union Gospel Mission has been meeting the physical needs of people in crisis”)
• Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery
  (“immediate refuge for children and support to strengthen families”)

Here’s wishing everyone a prosperous, generous and healthy holiday season and new year!

1:

Penguin Santa brings beads & things...

2:

...like these, to customize the stockings...

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...and stuff...

4:

...while all through the house...

5:

...not a creature is stirring, except these stirring crystal fish!

Happy holiday bead shopping, everyone!

Invest selflessly

The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) specializes in helping those less fortunate–artists, specifically.  When a studio burns down or a hurricane sweeps away someone’s livelihood, CERF steps in to help rebuild.  CERF also educates artists in emergency preparedness.

Despite the economic ups & downs we’ve witnessed this year, some of us have come through all right — and as the holidays approach, we can consider donating to CERF.  Through December, join “A Season for CERF” to give a portion of your proceeds to this good cause.

Whether it’s a percentage of profits or a one-time donation, our donations add up, like beads strung onto a thread, to make a valuable contribution to our artisan community.

Can’t donate?  Please mention this article on Twitter or Facebook!

For jolly happy souls!

Add goofy grins to the festivities with the snowman-head beads above — or with the fun snowmen, Xmas trees and Santa beads below!

Making spirits bright...and helping mittened fingers zip jackets!

(There’s also a really fun bubble wand in our Design Gallery, featuring these same three beads.)

Besides these designs, check out such festive baubles as lampwork Christmas stockings…

Stocking stuff!

…and many more!

Have holiday plans involing beads?  Share the inspiration here!

Why not stretch the holiday theme a bit, and share one last picture from our employee Halloween costume contest.  Russ is featured here too, dressed up as the Russ bead…

Wishing you a fine winter, rewarding holidays, and coziness all around,

–Dave and the Rings & Things bunch