We made it though January and we will make it through February too and then hopefully by March we will see warmer and warmer temps!  I'm SO ready!!

January has been a busy month starting with the Farmers Market beginning of the month and ending with the Cowgirl Luncheon in Jordan at the end.  In between I've had studio visitors for picking up custom orders, private shopping experiences and I've been busy creating new styles with the new beads I picked up over the New Years Holiday.    I've posted a couple bracelets of what is to come last month.

This time of year is usually slower for events so I totally appreciate those who have had orders or found things online they liked and bought.    February there will be two events with a fairly new-ish one, the Becker Business Expo in Becker this coming Saturday.  New-ish is because I've been there before about three years ago and schedule freed up for me to attend once again this year.  

So remember there won't be a Sartell Farmers Winter Market in February, because the Sartell Community Center is booked out, so we couldn't set up.  
Since we are talking about the Sartell Winter Farmers Market.... we will not be at the market the first Saturday in March due to a date conflict with Monticello Women of Today's show.
Then -  in April (which now I need to change once the market decides on a different date), - the Community Center will be closed for the Easter Holiday, so there won't be a Farmers Winter Market that first Saturday.  However they are talking about finding a different date and once that's announced I will change that on the website in "Events".

Also the Ham Amateur Radio Club's "Ham Fest" is coming up this month and it's not only for ham operators but also for people who love handcrafted items as there will be crafters, Warren's BBQ with his home made sauce and of course NotesNBling.

So.... here is the upcoming schedule:
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THE JEWELRY:
As I mentioned earlier, I have a new design created that's more in the neutral tones with beautiful beads in a variety of textures from bone, to mala, to gemstone, pearls, handmade links, cloisonné and more.  These are the beads I talked about last month when I went on a lil shopping trip to Taylors Falls with my daughter and scored some very cool items.  
Here is a sneak peek of what's been on the show tables mid January:

The necklaces feature a variety of textures of bone, mala, pearls, gemstone and Czech beads. The pendants I ordered from a fellow artist in Indiana.  She always has the coolest finds!  The feather pendant also features pearls cascading down on it's side.
Earrings have bone stars and genuine Sleeping Beauty Mine Turquoise.  The stack of bracelets fits with the necklaces as I've incorporated some of the beads from those into the bracelets.  Prices range from $35 for bracelets to $75 for some of the necklaces.  
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LASTLY:
Well so far the medical procedure I talked about last month is not going to happen this month - not yet anyways.  We will do monitoring on that end for now.  I had to find a new doctor as well concerning this.

So far I'm also caught up with custom orders - YAY!  I'm keeping people happy by getting it done.
Taxes on the other hand.....I haven't even started.  Thankfully NotesNBling paperwork is kept up and that's done, but all the other for hubby's work endeavors still needs to be put in the computer and I've been major procrastinating!  It's one of those things that are daunting to me.

End of January I attended a small women's retreat in Wisconsin with the theme "how to get through the winter blues".  It gave us all a different perspective on snow and what it represents in the Bible for renewal, forgiveness, cleansing, beauty and God's glory.  I'm working hard to not complain anymore about the snow.  The bitter cold on the other hand..... LOL....that's another story for another Women's Retreat Theme!

Otherwise I'm still going to the gym, which by the way I need to head out to after I hit "publish" on this post.

Again thank you to all of you who have purchased my designs and for loving them and supporting my small adventure.   Stay warm, focus on that Spring isn't too far off anymore and the days getting longer!  Oh...and no bugs this time of year!  LOL.

Until we see you at a show, may God bless you and keep you and watch over you.

Much love to all,

​Sam

Happy New Year!  
Here we are once again in another new year.  Let's go into it with confidence and our eyes on the Lord rather than the headlines.

In Minnesota it's been some interesting winter weather with snow and now even some ice events with slick roads - just nasty weather.  Who else is ready for Spring?

The months of January and February will be a lot more quiet events wise, which is fairly normal this time of year.  We have lost a couple shows in the month of February.  The Sartell Farmers Market will not take place due to the venue being booked out once again at the same time when we normally have our market at the Sartell Community Center.  Also the St. Francis Xavier Church's Art Fair is being moved into March.  I'm hoping the new date will not be a conflicting one with something we have already booked....

However in January there might be a possibility for a pop up for me at a boutique in Sauk Rapids, Sweet Bay Boutique.   Ashley the owner is thinking of two Saturdays, one being January 10th and the other Saturday, January 17th.  I'm thinking it might be more feasible for the latter date....  So watch for announcements here on the Event's page and of course on my Facebook page!

So here's what we have coming up.
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Upcoming Events:

Date: Saturday, Jan 10 or January 17, 2026  (still in planning stage!!)
Event:  Boutique Pop-Up  (Jewelry only)
Time:  10am-4pm
​Where: Sweet Bay Boutique, 20 N. Benton Drive
Town:  Sauk Rapids, MN

Date: Saturday, Jan 31, 2026  
Event:  Cowgirl Luncheon  (NNB & Sauce/Crafts)
Time:  10am-2pm
​Where: Ridges of Sand Creek Golf Course, 21775 Ridges Dr.
Town:  Jordan, MN

Next event will not be until February 28 for the Ham Fest our Amateur Ham Radio Club's event which will also host a few handmade vendors, including NotesNBling and also Warren's BBQ (hubby with his home made BBQ sauces)

The Jewelry:

My last show was on December 12, which was a very fun one being a Beaver Island Brewing Company's Holiday Market.  I connected with new clients as well as very cool handmade vendors!!

Since then I've been creating just a few things.... not a lot because I wanted to take some time for the holidays to just rest and spend some time with my daughter who came up for the New Year's holiday.  We went to the Bead Store in Taylors Falls where I got quite a few cool beads again that I can't wait to work with and make new things.   
​Here are a few new items:

A new line is releasing in neutrals with creames, golden hues, browns and some vintage beads sprinkled in.  Also a repurposed necklace which can be worn as a statement piece or Western with Millefiori beads, which are unique and I believe originated in Japan. The bracelet is fashioned along the lines of my quite popular vintage look sparkle bracelets, but these ones will be with Millefiori, Cloisonné butterfly, blue wood, stone beads and finished out with Picasso Czech.  So be looking for more of these items coming out this Spring at upcoming shows - or you can always message me for private shopping at the studio.
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Lastly:

As the new year begins, there will be new lines and designs coming from the design desk at NotesNBling Studio.  I've also scored some very colorful African seed beads I'll be making into stacking bracelets and choker necklaces, of course the cream bone beads with vintage beads in between and who knows what else will be in the making as the year progresses.

In February I will have to undergo a medical procedure I'm not looking forward to and I hope it won't turn into a drawn out event.  Ain't got no time for that and I need to be working out at the gym to stay in shape!  Prayers already for that are very much appreciated.

Ohhh and the taxes..... yeah, that'll take up some time, so in a way it's good I don't have many events upcoming because it's a process I struggle with and it takes me a long time to get it all done since hubby has many things he works in and it's all separate paperwork to get ready for the accountant.

Otherwise I'll be working on some custom orders I recently got in and excited to get started working on now that the holidays are over!  Plus I'd like to make at least one new design each day for the next upcoming months.

See you at the shows - or at the studio for studio pickup, custom orders or shopping!

​Sam

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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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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So here we are already November!  Where has the year gone?  It seemed that we just had summer like temperatures and were walking around in t-shirts in Minnesota in October and even into the beginning of November!  I'm loving it for sure and not excited about the cold temps that eventually will descend upon us.

At the NotesNBling studio it has been a very busy time creating, designing and making new jewelry items for the upcoming selling season.  Some are re-stocks of favorite items (just a few) but mostly some new necklaces, fun bright color bracelets and new design hammered wire earrings.  

Now lets get to the upcoming show dates so you can make your plans:
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UPCOMING SHOWS:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025  
Event:  Monticello Women Of Today Fall Craft Show (Jewelry only)
Time:  9am-3pm
​Where: Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut Street
Town:  Monticello, MN

Date: Friday, November 14, 2025    
Event:  Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Ladies Nite (NNB & Sauce/Crafts)
Time:  5pm - 9pm
​Where: American Legion, 30369 County Road 32
Town:  Paynesville, MN

Date: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025    
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: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2025   
Event:  Melrose Craft & Gift Show (NNB & Sauce/Crafts)
Time:  1 - 5 pm
​Where: Melrose City Center, 225 1st Street NE
Town:  Melrose, MN

Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025   
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

Of course you can also find all these dates on the "Event Dates" page as well, but at least the ones coming up in November are all listed here for your convenience.  
Also always check my Facebook page: Facebook.com/NotesNBling for any last minute quick updates that I haven't had the chance to list on the event's page yet.
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THE JEWELRY:

I thought to give you just a few sneak peeks of a few items from the design desk this month.  Of course there are a lot more on the show tables!
Also as a side note - I just have not had the "umph" to invest time into my shopping page and I apologize for that.  I need to work on a re-vamp and re-listing soon.  The computer work seems to be tedious to me and it's something I tend to put off - because - after all there's ALL these design ideas in my head that NEED to be created into physical product, right?!!

​Cat lovers - I got the goods for you!!  Recently I went to the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar which happens every October where vendors from all over the region come to wholesale their wares to beaders, artists, designers.  I have my favorite vendors I always buy from because they have the goods!  They are the ones with the unique beads, vintage/estate items, rare stuff, awesome handmade designs in cool beads and of course the stones I look for.  
So I got to meet a new vendor who is my favorite now too.  She makes these super cute cat pendants and cat beads that are just funky and so boho - I totally fell in love with them and well blew my budget when I discovered her booth.  So y'all need to help me out and get some of the cool necklaces I designed and also a couple  pair of earrings I tried to match to a couple pendants.

So the first two pictures are a cat pendant necklace and cat earrings from said vendor.  I paired her beads with Czech beads capturing some of the colors in her cat beads.  
Then I had Czech cat beads in my stash now for a couple of years and decided I needed to get them out and pair them with the vintage gold beads I scored at the Bead Bazaar and Sardonyx or Onyx black stones. They are fun but they sure look elegant.  
The earrings are Czech butterfly beads with a handcrafted mini-hoop.  They are just beautiful and in retrospect I wish I would have gotten more, but there will be only two earring pairs and when they are gone - they are gone.  
The last photo is one of many bright colored trade bead/beach glass/greek heishi beads bracelet designs - there are MANY more colors to choose from!  They've been a blast to make!  
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LASTLY:

Last month I had mentioned about my cracked tooth and how challenging eating had become.  So I'm excited to announce that the tooth has been removed and they were able to put an implant in right away.  Now that has to heal for 3 months and I hope the bone grabs onto the implant and will be solid so I can get a tooth put on and get to chewing on that side again..... 

Yesterday I went to a ladies bible study and we were in John Chapter 5.  In verses 1-9 a lot of things stood out to me about the man sitting by the side of the pool having a health condition for 38 years.  We come to find out that it was a sin that he held on to because Jesus later told him to "sin no more".  
So at this pool at certain times an angel would come and stir the waters and whoever made it into the water first received healing.  So whoever got there first was watching as they waited and were ready to act.  
The man of 38 year long illness apparently never made it into the water because he said that he never got help from anyone to put him into the pool.  So he sat, staring at a pool of loss, he depended upon others and wasn't watching as he waited because he could have sat much closer to the pool to at least roll his way in there....

Jesus asked him the question "do you wish to get well?".  At first glance it seems like quite a silly question, because yeah of course who wouldn't want to be well. This question however had a specific purpose for the man to think about why he was in that condition and did he really want to be well or hold on to something he should have let go of years ago.   Because so often we can hold on to a sin because it has become part of us, or it has become a strange comfort zone (because it's what we know and the unknown seems daunting, especially when we are to give up something even at the cost of our wellbeing).  
After the man gave his excuse, Jesus in His grace and mercy gave him healing by saying " get up, pick up your pallet and walk".   The man immediately became well but he also had to DO something which was to pick up his pallet and walk.  

Same with us.  We always need to be watching, praying and listening to the Holy Spirit so that we are ready for a move of God when God moves and then we need to do our part and move.  

I'm grateful for the grace of God and His mercy to still heal us, love us, correct us, guide us despite of our sinful nature.  

Just had to share that and maybe it's something that may encourage someone who reads this to be watchful in their waiting and press into the Holy Spirit to seek His guidance in letting go of whatever ensnares us so we can be free and complete and in peace and rest in God.

Well, let's hope for a good weather November for all the craft shows for safe travels to and fro and I'm looking forward to seeing y'all at the shows!

Thank you for your support for my small business!

Blessings,
​Sam

The summer outdoor under the tent season has come to a close with last Saturday's Backwards Bread Anniversary Celebration Market in their parking lot.  Weather was gorgeous, felt like summer, a bit breezy but not too bad for the jewelry thankfully.
People came out, hubby Warren with Warren's BBQ made brisket breakfast burritos and BBQ beef brisket sandwiches closer to lunchtime and we had a lot of other fun vendors out besides the coffee wagon & the radio station.

Now everything is moving inside again for the winter season starting with the Sartell Winter Farmers Market the first Saturday in November.

Although I very much enjoy the outdoor atmosphere and for the most part we did have nice and decent weather again this year, I am glad not to have to deal with the tent setup for a while, or dealing with windy weather.    So on to a good spurt towards the holiday season, then a break and just a few shows in the early winter months in the new year before the spring/summer season starts once again.
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UPCOMING EVENTS:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 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, Nov. 8, 2025  
Event:  Monticello Women Of Today Fall Craft Show (Jewelry only)
Time:  9am-3pm
​Where: Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut Street
Town:  Monticello, MN

(more shows, see the "Event Dates" page)

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​THE JEWELRY:

My Annual Jewelry Open House could not have had any better weather for the studio backyard sale that happens once a year.  I was a little sad that the turnout wasn't like last year despite the good weather, but those who came out got some gifts through drawings, snagged some sales and also drew their own sale % amount.  Some ladies stayed to visit on the deck enjoying beverages, soup and snacks and good conversation!
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​Here are some photos from the Open House!

There always is a sign out by the street, then this one up the driveway pointing to the backyard where the tent was set up with all the goodies inside.  I utilized the planting table for the earring displays and behind it is the deck with the seating and more prize drawing items.  Then the side table beside the deck had the other drawing prizes on it.  
​If you missed this year - hopefully you can make it for next year which will be the 7th Annual Open House then.  The Lord willing we all stay well and healthy to have the blessing of another year.

Also the winner of the $20 Gift Certificate was Kat!!  Congratulations!!
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LASTLY:
Again I want to say THANK YOU to all of you who came out to shop or just to hang out!  You made my Open House very special by your care, your support and your patronage!

Now I'm going to take a couple of weeks just to focus on my health, work on a few new designs or stock-ups for the upcoming season.  

I just had a root canal done and my mouth isn't feeling too great, especially since on the other side I have a cracked tooth on top of it, so eating has been quite challenging.  Would appreciate your prayers.

Thank you again for coming to the shows, for loving my jewelry and being such great customers and friends.  God bless you!

​Sam