 March has arrived like a lion. Here it's been almost Spring like in temps and yesterday a snow storm blew in with a vengeance especially southern and eastern Minnesota. Thankfully here it was just about an inch, but with the wind blowing there's been a lot of blizzard conditions. Aside from the weather, I'm ready to create some more Spring/Summer items and finally worked on this website to reflect a more updated version of the current happenings in the studio with the jewelry more in the forefront than the music. NotesNBling reflects both and so I worked on this website with a new look - AND - finally a SHOPPING page for the jewelry. On the shopping page items will be slowly listed and eventually will get categories such as Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, etc for easier searching. It will take me some time because even listing on my own website takes a lot of learning and remembering how to do the listings so that they actually show up on the page. Yeah, that one was a head scratcher for sure! Also wanted to let you know that both my websites www.NotesNBling.com and www.SamScales.com all point to this same website now. (I have you know that I actually figured all that out how to do it on GoDaddy on my own! That's an accomplishment for this non-tech person. Haha.) Now on to the upcoming events, March is a busy one! UPCOMING EVENTS: Date: Saturday, Mar. 1, 2025 Event: Sartell Winter Farmers Market (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10am-1pm Where: Sartell Community Center, 850 19th Street South Town: Sartell, MN Date: Saturday, Mar. 8, 2025 Event: Monticello Women of Today's Spring Craft Show (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 9am-3pm Where: Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut Street Town: Monticello, MN Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025 Event: Lake Wobegon Community Expo (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10am-2pm Where: Albany Area Schools/Blattner Energy Community Center, Town: Albany, MN Date: Saturday, Apr. 5, 2025 Event: Sartell Winter Farmers Market (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10am-1pm Where: Sartell Community Center, 850 19th Street South Town: Sartell, MN For more events, please check the "Events" tab. THE JEWELRY: Normally I would post pictures of some of my designs I've been working on lately here in this section, but with the shopping page up, you can take a look there of what's been on the design table as of late. Soon there will be a category of "New Arrivals" as well. The men's line of bracelets has been really a welcomed addition by many of my customers, guys and ladies alike and I just love the designs with the Czech beads and the chunky leather!. Since I make my bracelets in different sizes which also includes people like me with super tiny wrists, or people who have bigger boned wrists, I may not always have your size. If there's a bracelet you like and for some reason don't see it in your size, you are welcome to contact me to see if I can make one in your size. I've done that plenty of times for my customers because it is really hard to include everybody in a design when at times I have a limited supply of a certain color beads or leather - or the magnetic clasps on hand. New also will be the "story" necklaces with beads and charms on a chain with front closure and a restock will be happening soon with some of the lightweight beach glass necklaces. I've created a bunch of new opaque colored keychains and wooden keychains ....so be on the lookout for those at the shows. LASTLY:
Again I'm really thrilled to be able to offer a shopping page that is powered through Square, which is a payment system I use at my shows as well. Grateful to see you all at the shows and the Farmers Market on March 1 welcomed some new faces with lots of hugs, stories, laughter and "play time" with my jewelry. Thank you all for your support of my lil business! See you at the shows!! Sam
0 Comments
 We have made it through January!! Yay.....and it was a cold one up here in the North for us. So now going into February that means we are a tad closer to Spring. If you have looked for us at the Sartell Farmers Market the first Saturday of the month, we weren't there as an organization had booked out the whole Community Center. The optional date was Saturday February 8, but everyone cancelled due to scheduling conflicts of 3 of vendors. I would have been the only one there.... 😳 I posted on my Facebook page that it was cancelled and the Farmers Market will resume on Saturday, March 1. UPCOMING EVENTS: Date: Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 Event: Ham Radio Days & Craft Show(NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10am-2pm Where: National Guard Armory, 1710 Veterans Drive Town: St. Cloud, MN Date: Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 Event: Gathering In The Arts (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 11 am-4 pm Where: St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 219 2nd Street N Town: Sartell, MN Date: Saturday, Mar. 1, 2025 Event: Sartell Winter Farmers Market (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10am-1pm Where: Sartell Community Center, 850 19th Street South Town: Sartell, MN Date: Saturday, Mar. 8, 2025 Event: Monticello Women of Today's Spring Craft Show (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 9am-3pm Where: Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut Street Town: Monticello, MN NOTES-N-BLING Jewelry: I've been working really hard on jewelry pieces in January for the Cowgirl Luncheon in Jordan which took place on the last Saturday of that month. I still have some unsold items I made for that show which I think are just so super pretty. Here are a few sneak peak photos: I've started a brand new MEN's LINE!! So excited as many have asked, especially for bracelets. So this is just a sneak peek here (you will be able to find more photos on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NotesNBling) in the next coming days.... More designs are planned, including some necklaces. Hubby cut out a display wood piece for me I need to finish yet and have ready for the next shows. The horse necklaces are special to me as I love the pink opal and the gemstone heishi beads! They are just gorgeous! The howling wolf is the second of two I scored, so this is the last and only one for a while until hopefully I can find them again. The wolf howls at an Azurite Magnasite rough stone focal, he has a small charm of the same stone and a leather fringe. The leather necklace part features Apple Jasper, Denim Lapis and Picasso Czech. At the moment the Tucson AZ Gem show is happening, one place I've been wanting to visit for years but haven't had the opportunity yet. It's probably best if I travel with someone who is experienced in being there and knows where the great places are to go to. So right nowI have a fellow artist shopping in Tucson - and boy oh boy, so many gorgeous beads she's getting. I have bought a few from her but have to limit my spending tremendously, so it's been hard to choose as some things I have to grab quick before they are gone.... So soon there will be some VERY LIMITED Navajo Pearl items in my inventory, once they arrive and I finalize my ideas and designs.... LASTLY:
I'm so pumped that I actually started picking up my guitar again and practiced for an hour or so per day a few days in a row. The last couple days paperwork has been dragging me over to get them done, but I'm not stopping again because I need to get back in vocal and guitar playing shape!. Here I bought my favorite guitar last May and hardly have played it. It's been quite busy with designing, craft/art shows and now the dreaded income tax paperwork. I sure wish they'd make that go away forever... Anyhow, so it's been really nice to play and exercise my rusty voice (yikes!!) and for my fingers to develop guitar string callouses again so they don't hurt so much after an hour of playing. Can you imagine, I used to play/sing for 3 hours at times in one shot! That's something I no longer can do - for now anyways. Now I wish you all a wonderful February and Valentines Day and I hope Spring arrives soon! Lots of love, Sam  Well, I just realized there was NO newsletter in December.... so funny because I really thought I had done one, but the first two weeks of December were so busy with craft shows back to back that I totally forgot and then after all the shows were over, I was ready to just chill and take some time off to recover from the shows, the bitter cold days and being out in them during loading/unloading/re-loading for and after our shows and markets. I hope everyone has had a fruitful and calming Christmas and that the New Years holiday was a good one as well. So I want to wish all of you the best for 2025. Alright....on the the upcoming events. If it says "pending" that means I did this show in the past and I'm just waiting to hear back from the event coordinator to book our booths and pay our fees. Yet I want to put those dates in the books, because they are shows we have enjoyed doing in the past. UPCOMING EVENTS: Date: Saturday, Jan 4, 2025 Event: Sartell Winter Farmers Market (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10am-1pm Where: Sartell Community Center, 850 19th Street South Town: Sartell, MN PENDING: Saturday, Jan 25, 2025 (waiting on booth confirmation) Event: Cowgirl Luncheon (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10am-2pm Where: Edges of Sand Creek Golf Course, 21775 Ridges Dr. Town: Jordan, MN Date: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 Event: Sartell Winter Farmers Market (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10am-1pm Where: Sartell Community Center, 850 19th Street South Town: Sartell, MN Date: Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 Event: Ham Radio Days & Craft Show(NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10am-2pm Where: National Guard Armory, 1710 Veterans Drive Town: St. Cloud, MN Date: Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 Event: Gathering In The Arts (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 11 am-4 pm Where: St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 219 2nd Street N Town: Sartell, MN Also remember to double check the NotesNBling Facebook page for any updates or changes that might occur, should it be time changes or changes in where we are set up at. You can also check the "Events" page on this website for what's coming up in 2025. THE JEWELRY: After all the shows were done in December, I took some time off to recuperate and spend time with friends or just rest. So not much has been on the creative desk, except for custom orders. But there's still a few items you will discover at the next shows. LASTLY:
Again I want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU so much for all your support and enthusiasm for my designs over this past year. So many of you have expressed how much you have enjoyed wearing your pieces and the compliments you have received. Thank you also for passing on my cards or telling others about my designs which brought new jewelry friends into my life who also enjoy what I created. I'm grateful for your patronage and hope to always dazzle you with new items you may come to love. May this New Year bring you blessings, healing, hope, joy, comfort, God's felt presence, may you dream and go for it and may everything you do bring success in whatever way that looks like for you personally. God bless till next newsletter, Sam  What an exciting "beading month" I had in October! Dakota Stones had their annual great sale and then two weeks later in Hopkins the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar! Talk about lots and lots of inspiration and ideas. Just perfect for the dreary early dark winter months - and - I'm ready for Spring already after the time change. LOL. So now it means that I must get busy with new ideas (they are brewing in my head already) and carrying them out one at a time. I'm suuuuper excited about the upcoming shows in November and a few in December. This will a very busy season, but I can't wait to show all my new designs in the hopes you all will fall in love with them! UPCOMING SHOWS: Date: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 Event: Monticello Women of Today 37th Annual Fall Craft Show (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 9 am - 3 pm Where: Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut Street Town: Monticello, MN Date: Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 Event: Girls Just Want To Have Fun Ladies Sip & Shop (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 5-9 pm Where: Paynesville Legion, 30369 County Road 32 Town: Paynesville, MN Date: Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 Event: Howard Lake Annual Craft & Art Show (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 9am-2pm Where: Middle School & Activity Center, 8700 County Road 6 SW Town: Howard Lake, MN Date: Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 Event: Holiday Kickoff Craft & Vendor Show (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 1 - 5 pm Where: Melrose City Center, 225 1st Street NE Town: Melrose, MN Date: Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 Event: Long Prairie Arts & Crafts Show (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 9am-3pm Where: Grey Eagle Secondary School, 510 9th Street NE Town: Long Prairie, MN Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 Event: Roadside Tavern Holiday Market (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10-2 Where: Roadside Tavern, 531 Main Street Town: Roscoe, MN As always all the shows are also listed in the "Events" page and all the new ones have been added. Sometimes an event coordinator had to change times or location due to unforeseen circumstances, but for the most part the rest of this year looks solid on the dates and times. But before heading out, always check my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NotesNBling for any changes that might pop up. Also I want to mention when it says (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) by a show date that means my husband Warren will also be set up at the same event with his homemade BBQ sauces and some of his creative pallet wood crafts. So make sure you come and "get your sauce!" THE JEWELRY: Here are some of the new designs I've been working on. These new bracelets have been created by an inspiration from a live beading show and since I got in some new Arizona Terracotta beads, new Czech and large hole Sweetwater Pearls these creations are so rich and yummy and sparkly and they are perfect for an "arm stack" of bracelets that will be noticed! In my stash I had a wooden hand cut horse I call "courage horse" and it became the focal of this necklace with a variety of beads, amongst them featuring also the Arizona Terracotta beads and Czech. The last bracelet are fun Czech beads I picked up at the Bead Bazaar in Hopkins from a new vendor from Georgia! They are all about Czech!! I paired those with matching stone beads of jasper, carnelian, river rock and African Turquoise beads. There is SO much more - but you have to come to a show to see them all, or keep watching on my Facebook page (NotesNBling) to see all the photos. LASTLY:
As you can see my show schedule is quite full and I'm super excited to see you all and make new friends. At all the shows over the summer I've met so many new ladies and it's been super fun to see all of the excitement and joy and the interest and love for my art and creations. I can't thank you enough for supporting my lil business to make people happy and beautiful and feeling great when they wear my designs. So a HUGE THANK YOU to you all for all the love!! ❤️❤️❤️ Now since November is Thanksgiving month at the end of the month (really late this year which also made some show dates kind of late but I'm glad they all worked out), I want to wish you all a very blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving, hopefully filled with good company, good food or time of rest and restoration. (The banner picture above is actually of one of our trees in the yard after the first snowfall we had in Minnesota. I thought those berries with the snow were just gorgeous, so I took a few photos - and I needed a new winter banner anyways...) Until the next show or monthly "Notes", may God bless you and keep you and protect you and be your ever present help in all situations in life and may your light shine as you extend your kindness and love to those who cross your path. Much love, Sam  What a glorious fall so far up here in the North! Yesterday there were even Northern Lights to be admired! I was too lazy to go out and take photos as I have had the opportunity a few times already in the past couple months. They are pretty cool! The NNB Open House was a smashing success with the gorgeous weather present that day and everyone who came just hung out, had some snacks, soup or refreshments and were able to shop without the rush or crowds. Lots of giveaways were enjoyed and we had two winners one in the drawing for the Gift Certificate and one for the freshwater pearl necklace set! I think the Open House will be moved from now on to the last Saturday of September as the weather chances for sunshine and a bit more warmth are higher that time of year than waiting to the second week in October when I had it the past 4 years. So again a HUGE THANK YOU to all who came, to all who bought and brought a friend, for chatting and hanging out and just enjoying a lovely afternoon in the studio's back yard. Now on to upcoming Events! The Events page also has been updated with all the new dates and information. Always make sure if you do get a flyer from me at a show, that you check the Facebook page or here for updated info as sometimes event dates change (because I haven't had all the info yet) or even locations may change due to venue availability issues that can arise occasionally. UPCOMING EVENTS: Date: Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 Event: St. Augusta Legion Fall Craft Show (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10 am - 2 pm Where: St. Augusta Legion, 1894 247th St. Town: St. Augusta, MN Date: Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 Event: Sartell Winter Farmers Market (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 10am-1pm Where: Sartell Community Center, 850 19th Street South Town: Sartell, MN Date: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 Event: Monticello Women of Today 37th Annual Fall Craft Show (NNB & Sauce/Crafts) Time: 9 am - 3 pm Where: Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut Street Town: Monticello, MN More dates are listed on the "Events" page in the "hamburger menu" on top right. NOTESNBLING Jewelry: As always when I do a news update I'll show just a few pieces that I have recently made, but many more are on my Facebook page, as I list the items as they are created with photo and description. Top Row: Custom Order with genuine Turquoise & Czech Picasso on leather fringe. Handcrafted Copper Scroll hearts with Terra Cotta Toho beads. The scroll stick coined "the Messed Up One" with Picasso Czech. Arizona Terra Cotta beads!!!! so excited I got my order in and created this necklace. Then due to mismeasurement of a girls leather bracelet, I cut it in half and made earrings out of that leather which turned out super cute! Bottom Row: For the first time I've started making bracelets for tiny wrists!! Little girls earrings, girls beaded bracelet and small sized leather bracelets to fit young ones or someone with super small wrists. LASTLY:
Just wanted to share that I'm still in the "contemplating" mode as far as a shopping website and the particulars and learning curve that come along with it. As well as lives that I'd really like to do. However, lately life has been happening - lots has to do with a friend's health issues I'm trying to be a good supportive friend to. So much of my time has gone to that, some to creating and of course the Open House, upcoming shows and so on. I"m super excited about the fun items I got in as of late, especially the Clay & Terra Cotta beads I got in from Arizona. Also I was just at the Dakota Stones Warehouse Sale in the Twin Cities this past weekend and found some wonderful bead specimens I can't wait to work with. It was great catching up with Ricky and the crew at Dakota, finding out about other beading colleagues in Hurricane affected areas and that they are ok. The funniest thing as I was checking out beads at Dakota Stones and running strands through my hands to see the color variations of the beads, Ricky walks by and says: "Happy bead petting". 😂. Now THAT's funny!! LOL. Guess from now on I'm not bead shopping but bead petting. 😊😊😊. Anyhow, right now another hurricane is headed towards Florida, my daughter lives there and had to evacuate.... I'm praying for safety for all and that all those stuck on highways to get out are able to get going again as they are opening opposite Interstate Lanes for just that traffic going out so they can all get to a safe place. Praying also for folks in the places in the Carolinas and Georgia and other areas devastated by the weather... May God keep us in the palm of His hand as we trust Him in these scary weather times. Until the next time.... Blessings to all, Sam |
Christian Organic Folk Singer/Songwriter & Author
based in Minnesota See my Jewelry!
 Psalm 100 Scripture
1 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. Archives
March 2025
Categories
|
RSS Feed