Amy Sims Designs

A little something for myself

Amy — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:06:57 +0000

I love making glass beads, but sometimes I have the urge to do other things. It had been a while since I’d made anything for myself, so when I saw a cool wrap bracelet in a local bead store, I decided I HAD to make one. I found a great tutorial on Lampwork Etc. by Hannah Rosner so I gathered materials and made this a few weeks ago in about 2 hours:

Then I felt the need to do something with wire, so yesterday I made these cool earrings from a tutorial by JewlieBeads:

I think they turned out pretty cool! And she’s having a sale right now in her shop. You can snap this or several other great tutorials up for 20% off right now. Or if you aren’t into making wire jewelry, you can just buy her pretty creations. (not sure how long her sale will go.)

I’m feeling pretty fulfilled now, and I am looking forward to wearing my new earrings tomorrow…

I’m having a SALE!

Amy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:48:40 +0000

From now until February 14th, take 20% off your entire order with coupon code GIVELUV

Either click on the SHOP tab above, click the photo below, or click HERE to go right to the Etsy shop.

Enjoy!

Fire Divas January Challenge: Romance

Amy — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:48:05 +0000

The Fire Divas are having another challenge this month-the theme is “Romance”!

Please make sure to visit the Fire Divas’ blog and vote! (can you pick mine out? )

Remember, one lucky commenter will receive a 25% off Coupon for Sonja’s Artfire shop. So after you vote don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the post on the Divas Blog to win!! Poll closes at Midnight (EST) on Saturday, January 21st.

Entry 1

Entry 2

Entry 3

Entry 4

Entry 5

Entry 6

Entry 7

Good luck Divas!

Happy New Year

Amy — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:04:44 +0000

Welcome 2012! Time for a new year and a few changes. I am closing down the Artfire shop, so I can concentrate on maintaining just one shop (Etsy). And I will be focusing on getting a new catalog created, along with a loyalty program.

Here’s one of my latest creations:

Is there anything that you would like to see?

Fire Divas Black Tie Challenge

Amy — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:18:53 +0000

Go check out the Divas challenge for December-Black Tie! The winning comment will win a 20% off coupon to my Artfire shop!
The Poll closes at midnight EST this Saturday, December 17th, and we will post the results on Sunday.

Entry 1

Entry 2

Entry 3

Entry 4

Entry 5

Tis the Season with the Fire Divas

Amy — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:48:49 +0000

With the holidays fast approaching, our challenge this month with the Fire Divas was to
create some festive holiday designs. Please take a look at the entries and cast your vote. (can you tell which entry is mine, lol!) http://firedivas.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-challenge-tis-season.html

Here are the entries:

Entry 1:

Entry 2:

Entry 3:

Entry 4:

Entry 5:

Entry 6:

Studio Reveal!

Amy — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:54:23 +0000

Okay, I admit it. My studio has been finished for a few weeks. But, it wasn’t particularly clean, or neat, or ready for photos. AND, because my special tile was on backorder, I had a trench in the floor around my door.

Well, the tile came in, it was installed, and I have cleaned and straightened. And here it is:

This is my metalworking bench:

Here is the back door with the glass tile rug border:

Closeup of the tile:

My glass and kilns:

my lampworking bench:

Outside view of exhaust fan and propane:

Closeup of fan:

Propane box:

Oxygen concentrator and fan exhaust:

My Gallery:

I absolutely love my studio! What do you think?

Studio Update and Fire Divas Challenge

Amy — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:47:45 +0000

The studio is pretty much complete, I just have to put the finishing touches on it (and clean!) and then I will take some photos to show you!

In the meantime, check out the Fire Divas Monthly Challenge for September.

This month our challenge was to create glass beads with a message, and it was definitely a challenge! We have some great entries and a great prize for one lucky voter! Make sure to leave a comment on this post below after you vote, and you could win a $50 Gift Certificate to Holly’s Shop! Voting ends at noon on Sunday, September 25th. You can find the poll on the right of the Fire Divas Blog.

Entry 1

Entry 2

Entry 3

Entry 4

Entry 5

Entry 6

Entry 7

Thanks for voting!

Introducing the new and improved Amy Sims Designs

Amy — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:36:07 +0000

Well, what do you think?!

I love the new look and I have Darcy from Graphically Designing to thank for this beautifully redesigned web site! There may still be some quirks to work out, and definitely more photos to add to the Gallery, but hopefully you will be able to find you way around even easier than before.

Studio Update:

It’s coming along! I primed and painted the ceiling, and primed and painted the walls, and then decided I didn’t like the color! So, back to the Big Home Store for more color swatches, the over to the not very close little store that carries Benjamin Moore for more swatches and a color sample, home to try the color sample, and bingo, found a color. What do you think?

Benjamin Moore 1031 Carlisle Cream at MyPerfectColor

But, instead of trekking all the way back to the little store that carries Benjamin Moore, what did I do? Went to the much closer (and cheaper!) Big Home Store and had them color match. Which didn’t match. So, back to the Big Home Store for color adjustment, and by George I think she got it! So, this weekend I will be painting, installing ventilation, moving furniture, and hopefully unpacking glass! So, no more studio photos until the big reveal.

However, if you are starved for pictures, hop on over to my Etsy shop and check out my new listings! I made these beads in Ohio, but I just took the photos last week. I’ll be listing a bunch more so check back often! Have a fantastic weekend!

Etsy Team Treasury Giveaway

Amy — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:39:48 +0000

This month, the Divas are breaking out all the stops and creating a fabulous treasure trove of beads to be featured in the Fire Divas first ever Etsy Team Treasury Giveaway! Most of you are probably familiar with Etsy’s Treasuries, which are collections of items illustrating a special theme chosen by individual curators. Well, the Fire Divas are doing something a little extra special! Not only are we creating a Treasury featuring many of the Fire Divas showing off their renditions of a “Bead Jeweled” theme, but we are giving them all away to four—yes we said, FOUR!—very lucky winners! All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment on our Treasury HERE and “heart” or add all the featured shops in it as a favorite. Only one comment/person, please! Winners will be chosen at random on August 21, 2011.

RESERVED for Fire Divas… AmySimsDesigns $15.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas… susanlambert $20.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas… spawnofflame $20.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas… Lutrick $15.00
RESERVED for Fire Divas… BethKnappTyner $28.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas… AshlynDesign $15.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas… giapet $15.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas… FenG $39.99
RESERVED for Fire Divas… HollysFollyGla… $15.99	Reserved for Fire Divas… KittyLampwork $13.50	RESERVED “Fire Div… UglyDucklingBe… $18.00	RESERVED The Fire Divas… alohabead $48.95
RESERVED for Fire Divas… RiversEdgeGlas… $20.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas… SunDoorBeads $8.50	RESERVED for Fire Divas… SilverRiverGla… $9.95	RESERVED for Fire Divas… uvanomos $10.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

The best way you can show your love and support for the Divas is to make sure that you and everyone you know stops by to view this amazing Treasury! Please also take a few moments to spread the news by posting a link to Facebook or your blog, tweet it, StumbleUpon, or any other social media you prefer to use. And in the style of those infamous infomercials…“WAIT! There’s more!!”

Since some of our team members don’t have their own Etsy shops, we’re also offering a separate Blog Giveaway here to one lucky blog reader, who will win a wonderful bead from Patrice of Shepherd Creations!

To enter our Blog Giveaway (separate from our Etsy Treasury Giveaway!): Please leave a comment HERE on the Diva team blog and one winner will be chosen at random at the same time we pick the other four Treasury winners. They say that a person’s greatest treasure is their friends—and you, our fans—are some of our greatest treasures too! Thank you very much for your support from all of us here on the Fire Divas team!!