December notes

Well...... my banner is appropriate isn't it?!!  Winter has arrived in MN and so did the snow!  The photo was taken last year when our small tree was full of these lil red berries and with the snow/ice on them it was just super pretty.    Perfect photo to make a banner out of for the winter season!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We did too as we got to spend time with friends in two different places.  Lots of good food, fun and laughter.  We needed the break.

Then the day after we headed to Melrose, MN for a craft show followed by Saturday's Art & Craft Fair in Long Prairie.  
Sadly the Melrose event reported a 50% drop in attendance for this year and it was felt.  The weather this time was actually "warm" compared to last year (it was -2 degrees and wind that year)....  Just strange how things can go.  But they had food vendors cancel on them so maybe that had something to do with it.

Long Prairie was great as always and we are SO thankful for the support shoppers gave to small businesses!   It was great to see a couple of my customers who visit my booth each year.  Grateful for their support of my business and so sweet to catch up with their lives and  exchange hugs.

The event season is starting to wind down with only 3 more events to go.  I'm toying with the idea of a sip & shop, so I'll be sending out emails to see if there's enough interest for me to set things up at the studio's living area.  So be watchful for an announcement on this website, Facebook and/or email.
Below are the events scheduled so far:
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UPCOMING EVENTS:

Date: Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025  
Event:  Sartell Winter Farmers Market (NNB & Sauce/Crafts)
Time:  10am-1pm
​Where: Sartell Community Center, 850 19th Street South
Town:  Sartell, MN

Date: Sunday, December 7, 2025    
Event: Roadside Tavern Holiday Market
Time:  10am-2pm
Where: Roadside Tavern, 531 Main Street
Town:  Roscoe, MN

Date: Friday , December  12, 2025    
Event:  Holiday Market (NNB & Sauce/Crafts)
Time:  5pm - 9pm
​Where: Beaver Island Brewing Co., 216  6th Ave. S
Town:  St. Cloud, MN
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THE JEWELRY:
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It's been a really busy time of the year between making new items for the shows and getting custom orders out in time for people to pick them up either at the studio or at shows.
​Creatively I've focused a little more on other items also besides jewelry and created some seasonal items for those who aren't interested in jewelry.  Ornaments, Ornament hangers and Charcuterie Marker Holders were part of the creative process the last few weeks in addition to new jewelry pieces.

So here are some examples of ornaments I've created.
Throughout the year in my hunt for unique pieces I've found quite the treasures which some of them I repurposed into cool Christmas ornaments that are unique, one of a kind and very different.   The wings I've added patina paints in golden and silver hues and added green glass beads, with Premo Austrian Crystal Rondelles and vintage gold beads and a handmade ornament hanger.  The wreath is a repurposed napkin ring with Premo Austrian Crystal and Cloisonné Butterfly, the handmade hanger is included.  The flower is made out of golden sack cloth.  I added a freshwater pearl in the middle, a vintage gold bead and it comes with the handmade ornament hanger.  The last two pictures are my most fun find, vintage chandelier crystals transformed into Ornaments with copper leaves or hand formed swirls.  They all have a crystal bead with vintage copper bead caps and of course the handmade ornament hanger comes with them.  These were SO fun to make and oh do they sparkle on a tree!!!  Definitely eye catchers!

Creativity will continue the rest of the month with a break a lil before, during and after the holidays and start afresh in the New Year.  Can't wait to see what ideas will come to fruition in the coming weeks and months.
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LASTLY:

As 2025 comes to a close I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of my customers, friends and family for supporting my small business over this whole past year!  I'm so thankful to have had some amazingly great shows, tremendous support and encouragement with so many of you loving my designs and coming back for more, bringing your friends, family and co-workers to the shows and allowing me to gain new jewelry friends!  I couldn't do this business without you!
I'm grateful you've chosen NotesNBling for your gift giving, for employee rewards, for your events or just for yourself to enjoy and show off.  Many of you have mentioned the compliments you've gotten by folks seeing your pieces!  

Every one of you has a place in my heart and I'm always SO excited to see familiar faces and some who come to get a hug and some who've become friends.  You all are a blessing and a gift from God.  

Always remember, you are unique, you are gifted, you have been created with and for a purpose.  Some of you may still be searching and wondering why you are here and if God has plans for you.  Those plans are always for your welfare, your future and your hope.  Do we face hard times, yes, we do.  We live in a fallen world that is full of calamity and evil.  But we must learn to know that we are loved by God, loved by family or friends and after all Jesus gave His life on the cross for our sins, to forgive us as we repent and thus reconcile us back to God for our salvation and hope of eternal life with Him.  How glorious that day will be!!

Now I wish you all a very Blessed Christmas Season and God's grace for the New Year.  Hopefully I'll see some of you yet at the next three shows in December (and maybe I'll do the sip & shop if there's enough interest)..... otherwise I'll see you all at a show or more in 2026!!

May God deeply bless you, 
​Sam
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