Happy New Year!

Wow! 2014 already!  What happened to 2013??

Lots of things are going on for Analece and Bayside Beads in 2014.  First, we have closed our downtown Fairhope retail store in order to be more efficient in serving our customers.  Alece, Anita and Karen will all work from home studios making our beautiful artisan jewelry and continuing our repair services and filling custom orders.  Our phone number is the same and we will be maintaining our website for those of you who cannot get to our lovely city of Fairhope, Alabama!

Additionally, Anita will be showcasing work at M&F Casuals in Fairhope and will be present there a few days per week to meet with customers.  You may drop off jewelry for repair at M&F Casuals Monday through Saturday.   Karen will showcase her work at Metal Benders Gallery in Fairhope, and Alece will work from her studio in Magnolia Springs, Al.

We have lots of exciting product coming out in 2014 and we are really anxious to share it with you!  Look for changes on our website, and new product introduction around March 1, 2014.  In the meantime, you can still shop our website for current product listings, including beads and findings.  

Beaders, we promise not to let you down!  If we don't have it on our website just call us at 251-929-3620 and we will order it especially for you!  Our bead shop services will continue, and we'll be happy to serve your needs!

We look forward to a great 2014 and wish you and your family the Happiest Healthiest New Year ever!

Check back frequently for announcements about new products and services.

Hand Made Lampwork Beads Trunk Show and Bead Sale in Progress!

We have an amazing inventory of these beautiful handmade lampworked glass beads until October 12, 2013!

We'll be happy to design and make beautiful jewelry for you using these beads, or you can make it yourself!

We are also featuring 1920's - 1960's German Glass Beads sold loose by the gram and Studio 59 Ceramic and Porcelain Focal Pendants and Beads!

Throughout the month of October we'll feature a variety of beads through trunk shows and by bringing in new inventory.  We are celebrating "Visit Your Local Bead Store Month" in conjunction with Bead and Button Magazine.  This week we have natural stone beads and crystal from 25 - 50% off.  New product will continue to arrive throughout the month, so stay tuned to announcements and visit us often so you don't miss out on some great products and deals.  Check our calender below for special promos!

As always we are happy to have you for a customer and we hope that you find everything you need at our store!

I've been working hard to make new jewelry product as well.  Some new jewelry selections for men and children, and as always a wide variety of beaded, and handmade silver and gold jewelry for everyone!   Thanks for following our blog and have a happy fall!

Long Time No Post! News at Analece Design!

My apologies for the lapse of time between this and my last post.  I've been very busy with custom orders and restyling of our store so I've slipped a little when it comes to keeping up with my audience.

As far as changes go at Analece, I'm sure many of you are aware that Alece Pugh is no longer active at Analece Design.  She has been very busy with her five children, and has now joined the Advocare Sales Team, with a wonderful weight loss and supplement company, which allows her to have more time with her children.  I miss her terribly, but as her mother and grandmother to those beautiful children, I support her 100% in her new career.  I still carry a line of Alece's beautiful jewelry in our shop and I'm hopeful that in the future she will continue to produce jewelry for the store in her spare time.

Karen Cazel, a silversmith and good friend,  is still working with me part-time, and Shaley Decker, my summer employee,  is back in school.  So, that brings me to the next subject:  I'm looking for a new retail associate to fill the void.  I need someone on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays beginning October, 2013. This individual must have an outgoing personality, work well with people, and present a professional appearance.   Additionally, I prefer someone with some retail experience, preferably in the jewelry industry. If you or someone you know is looking for a job in Fairhope, Alabama, please contact me to arrange an interview!

We have had a great summer (despite the excessive rain!) and look forward to a very busy fall season. Currently we are having a fine and fashion jewelry sale in our store, offering 25 - 75% off on beautiful handmade jewelry.  We are saying goodbye to some old friends to make room for the new.  It's a great time for you to get a jump start on holiday shopping!  There are really some great deals!  I just sold a beautiful 1ct Tanzanite  ring set in white gold with .75tcw diamonds yesterday for $500!  The original price was $2100!  A 77% savings!   We have marked down some product on the website, but if you see something you can't live without and it's not on sale, call me at 251-929-3620 and make an offer!  I may say yes!

Now for the really good news!  We are giving away a Tanzanite and Diamond Ring!  To enter the drawing, go to http/www.facebook.com  look for group, Analece and Bayside Beads, join our group (you have to wait for validation) then repost our announcement about this giveaway and like us.  Then,  go to http:// twitter.com, look for Analece Design, and follow us.  Post "Analece Design is the place to go for fine jewelry" with a link to our Twitter site.  That's it!  But hurry, contest ends September 30 and the winner will be announced October 15, 2013.  Good luck!

We will be rolling out our new products sometime in September and we have month long events planned in October, which is "Shop Your Local Bead Store" month.  These events include a fashion show, trunk show, demos of new products and weekly specials on select beads and findings.  Hope you had a great summer!  Happy Fall!

Anita

Happy 4th of July!

I can't believe it!  Half of the year is gone already!  Tomorrow we celebrate the 4th of July 2013!  We wish you, our customers and friends, a happy, fun filled and safe holiday!  And for our servicemen, we pray you will stay safe, and we thank you ever so much for your service!  A salute to our American warriors!  May you all be home with your families soon!

After your day of celebration tomorrow, why not place Analece on your list of places to stop on Friday or Saturday! On Friday we'll have a local Girl Scout Troop serving up lemonade from 11 am - 1 pm.  Come out and support their efforts, and save a little money while shopping our 4th of July week deals!  Hope to see you this weekend!  For our web customers who cannot visit us, shop our website and take advantage of our 4th of July savings on select beads and findings!  USE COUPON CODE JULY4

Becoming a Professional Jewelry Artisan

Owning a jewelery and bead store is sometimes especially enlightening.  I am frequently met with the comment by customers, "Oh, I'm a jeweler myself" or "Aren't you crafty!"  When further discussion ensues, most likely the "jeweler" does some beading or other craft level artistry.  The customer who refers to me as "crafty" doesn't understand the concept of a jewelry designer and artisan. Then I feel compelled to enlighten them a little about what a real jeweler does.

Yes, I agree I am a craftsman (or crafts woman).  And I meet a lot of "jewelers" in my profession.  And, I am sometimes offended by the occasional comment from someone who thinks my work is "crafty" or "cute",  or when they ask me to make something for them, then balking at the price quoted to them,  say, "Oh, I'll just make it myself, it can't be that hard!"   Would you perform your own open heart surgery if you were not a cardiac surgeon? I think not.  All I request is that I am respected for my expertise in jewelry making, and that my customers understand I am a professional, have spent lots of money and time learning my craft, and that I am entitled to compensation for providing them with professional product and service.  This is my profession, my job, the way I feed my family, not a hobby!

Becoming a professional jewelry artisan takes time and patience. It is something that  definitely requires major planning. With money,  plenty of  training,  motivation, knowledge, and business skills, you can become a jeweler and a business owner.

Stringing a few beads on elastic string does not make you a jeweler.  Buying mountings and dropping stones in them does not make you a jeweler.  Getting a thorough education in jewelry making, practice and perseverance,  and an eye for detail along with a creative streak can make you a real jeweler if your work really hard.   

So, if you are thinking about becoming a professional jewelry artisan, ask yourself if you are detail oriented, have the time and money to invest in attending a professional jewelry school, and have the patience to practice, practice, practice to hone your jewelry making skills.  If not, then this profession is not for you.  

On the other hand, if you just want to have some fun, make some simple jewelry for yourself and friends then you should consider taking a basic beading class or other beginner classes offered at  your local bead store, senior center or community college.  That way you can learn to assemble your pieces properly and impress your friends and family with your creative projects.  And you can feel free to refer to yourself as a beader or crafter, but,  I'm sorry,  not a jeweler.

Sorry for the soapbox folks!  Just sharing a little about my life!   And by the way, I love being a jeweler.......I'd like to be your jeweler... Call me or stop in to visit anytime!

Dog Days of Summer are Upon Us!

June 21, 2013, the first official day of summer proved to me a true Summer in the South day!  91+ degrees and humid!  But we love our Southern climes and we can always hit the beach, the river or the pool to cool off OR we can take a class at Analece in the good old air conditioned studio with a great instructor and fun classmates!  Don't forget to include us in your summer "Beat the Heat Plans".  Our next group class on the calendar is the "Sparkly Wrap Bracelet", Saturday July 6 at 10:30 am. Make your bracelet in the morning and still have time for the beach!  A classic take on the Chan Luu style bracelet with a little bit of added glam.  Be sure to sign up soon before the class is full!

Sign up for summer classes!

Private summer classes offer an opportunity to hone your jewelry making skills and get a head start on holiday gift making.  We are offering basic beading, wire techniques, and precious metal clay primer classes by appointment only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays starting at 10:30 am.  You may book a single class or a series of classes beginner to advanced.  Come alone or book with a friend or two.  Taught by Anita Park-Rosenbaum, owner who brings years of jewelry making experience to the table.  You will work with quality materials (included with class fee) and take home a finished piece of jewelry you will be proud to wear.  Anita will also offer some group seed bead weaving classes featuring peyote stitch, ladder and brick stitch, herringbone stitch and various spiral techniques..  Classes will be limited to 6 students and require advance registration. Group classes will be listed on the attached calendar and in our store.  Minimum age requirement for all classes is 12 years old.  Make your summer a fun and creative one!  Stop by the store or call us at 251-929-3620 to schedule your class today.

It's Grad Season! Get Them Something Special!

High School and College Graduations are definitely important milestones calling for special celebration!  We recommend gifts that are timeless and remind the graduate of their special day!
Some ideas for graduation gifts:

For the Women.  How about a beautiful  Birthstone Jewelry set to commemorate their day!  We have a new product line recently designed by Anita Rosenbaum, and we offer the pieces individually or as a kit.  You can buy a beautiful birthstone ring in sterling silver, surrounded by a halo of diamonds with a 6 mm center stone for only $99.95!  We offer this product in a set of ring, necklace and earrings for $250.00 or individually for $99.95!  These pieces are contemporary with a traditional flair and will become a daily accessory for the graduate.  Rings are stocked in size 7, but you can order sizes 5, 6 or 8 for an additional $10 sizing fee.

Also available is a beautiful vintage style set (can be purchase individually) of ring, necklace and earrings.  This set is available set with simulated sapphire, ruby or emerald and melee diamonds in sterling silver. Necklace: http://www.analecedesign.com/Sterling_and_Gemstone_Oval_Filigree_Necklace_p/69715-colon-101-colon-p.htm,
Ring:  http://www.analecedesign.com/Oval_Filigree_Sterling_Gemstone_Ring_p/69718-colon-109-colon-p.htm
Earrings:http://www.analecedesign.com/Filigree_Sterling_Silver_Dangle_Earrings_p/69707-colon-103-colon-p.htm

For the Guys.  How about a money clip with a silver dollar from their birth year or graduation year?  $85.00 (without dollar). Call or stop in to order.

1889 Silver Dollar Money Clip

We also have great leather bracelets for men ranging from $40 to $225. Some are engraveable and are stocked in size 8.  Available in a variety of colors and styles.  Call or stop in to purchase.

Leather Bracelets

Mention you saw this on our blog and receive an additional 10% off your purchase!  You can't beat that!

NEW SPRING AND SUMMER BEADS AND JEWELRY ARE IN THE STORE!

We have finally received our new inventory of beads and findings!  Be the first to come in and shop, spend $25 or more and get 10% off your one time purchase! (Coupon NEWGO99)  Applies to new product only and cannot be used in conjunction with other offers or coupons.

Most of our new jewelry items are also on the website, however, since we were in a hurry to get the new beads and findings inventoried and in the store they are not yet available on the website.  If you are interested in these items, but cannot get to our store, please call us and we will be happy to email you a photo of the beads and pricing and you can place your order over the phone.  Just call us at 251-929-3260 CST between 10 am and 5 pm, Monday - Saturday.  Closed Sunday.

Impression Jasper

Agate

Natural Turquoise

 New Items:

Aquamarine

Amazonite

Amethyst

Citrine

Various Agates

Opal

Moonstone

Garnet (Green & Red)

Ammonite

Recycled Glass

Resin

Rhodocrosite

Crystal Quartz

Quartz Points (Drilled)

Smokey Quartz

Rutilated Quartz

Picture Jasper

Bronze, Copper, Sterling, Silver Filled and Pewter Findings

Large Clasps

Artisan Jewelry in Sterling Silver and Vermeil

and many more.....

Don't Delay - New Items Go Fast!  Support your local bead and jewelry store!

Inventory Reduction Sale Extended!

We have extended our storewide inventory reduction sale through March 31!  There are still some great deals to be found so come in and shop before the sale ends!  You may even find a great Easter accessory! 

Beginning April 1, we will be bringing out our new creations for late spring and summer, as well as new beads and findings!  Our new jewelry line will be offered in a variety of metals, including sterling, white and yellow gold, palladium and platinum!  New Diamond Bridal Styles and Artisan Wedding Band Styles will also be available.  Our bridal customers are choosing to express their personalities in all sorts of ways, including with color.  We carry a large virtual inventory of diamonds and colored gemstones for your selection. Our inventory of Red Box Diamonds and Black Box Gemstones by Stuller is constantly changing. You'll always find the center diamonds and gemstones, accents, or melee you need to create the perfect piece of jewelry.
You can choose, change and create though our newest design system, Analece Countersketch, which allows you choose from a vast selection of our designs, customize the designs to fit your purpose, as well as work with your existing stones or newly purchased stones for redesign and flexibility. 
Analece Design strives to be your preferred jeweler by meeting the demands of our customers in very creative ways.  Stop in and ask for a free demonstration of Analece Countersketch, or call for an over the phone consultation today!

Storewide Inventory Reduction Sale!

Analece and Bayside Beads is having a storewide inventory reduction sale, with items from 10-75% off!  For example, all our beads by the strand, natural stone, glass etc are now reduced by 25%!  Since we already have rock bottom prices on beads, this is a real bargain!  Seed Beads and Findings, reduced 20%.  Designer Jewelry reduced 10%.  Miscellaneous jewelry and seasonal items up to 75% off!  Now is great time to take advantage of these low prices, before our Spring and Summer Inventory is displayed!  Sale will run thru March 17th, or till everything on sale is sold!  We'll be continually marking down items until then.  But Hurray!  Things are going fast! 

We also have select items on our website for sale.  Please look under sale items and featured items for pricing and order on line if it's more convenient.

We'll be bringing out our new inventory March 15th, so all these great items must go now!

SMALL TOWN AMERICA - FAIRHOPE, AL

I'm back from my January vacation, rested and ready to roll!  Knocking out some great jewelry for our spring line, and getting ready for our annual Arts and Crafts show in March!  I was doing a little research on the internet and found an article about Fairhope.  Here is an excerpt from Coastal Living Magazine regarding our beautiful town!  Why don't you come for a visit and stop by our shop right on the main street.  Our azaleas are in bloom and spring is right around the corner!  We have lots to offer and we'd love to see you and chat for a while!  If you can't stop in, check out our website at www.analecedesign.com and look for new product to be added very soon!  Happy Spring!  Anita

Hidden Gems

Coastal Living Magazine

Hot Spots

The hottest coastal towns. These hidden coastal gems might be lesser-known but they are equally alluring.

Text by William Scheller with Susan Haynes, Kay Scheller, Kristen Shelton, and Kimberly Turnbull


Fairhope, Alabama

Here's a sentence you don't read every day: Alabama (home to the editorial offices of Coastal Living) shelters one of the country's best-kept surprises. Trust us on this one. Just veer off U.S. 98 onto Alternate 98, parallel to Mobile Bay, and follow the leafy, gently curving two-lane road into a dictionary-perfect "Smalltown, USA"―Fairhope.

Turn right onto Fairhope Avenue, pass the two-story storefronts with rockers out front, and take in this panorama: Protected green parkland saddles the waterfront bluffs to the left and right. Below their slopes, the Mobile Bay shoreline appears like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. Fishermen deftly cast their lines from the public pier, families picnic on the sand or beneath the shade of mossy live oaks, and, some days, the local schoolteacher takes her first-graders to the shallows to learn about the sea creatures. North and south from the beach, you'll see the parade of privately owned dock pavilions. These piers with gazebo-like structures are enduring icons, signaling a way of life on Alabama's Eastern Shore.

Founded in 1894, the town claims a long history and unusual beginnings that have given it cultural cachet. It has attracted writers ranging from Upton Sinclair and Sherwood Anderson to Winston Groom and Fannie Flagg, and its legendary Page and Palette bookstore holds a lively schedule of author appearances and readings. Like Mobile across the bay, Fairhope hosts its own Mardi Gras, along with an annual arts and crafts festival.

The town's nearby attraction, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, comprises almost 6,000 acres of land and water in and around Weeks and Mobile bays. The reserve offers spectacular birding―more than 350 species have been spotted―along with good salt- and freshwater fishing; hummingbird and butterfly gardens; and nature trails, including a boardwalk through a swamp forest where rare pitcher plants thrive.

what the locals know

Anil Vira, owner of Fairhope's Barons Inn, tells us that sometimes, when the wind blows from the east―usually when the weather is hot―thousands of fish, including flounder, eel, crab, and shrimp, head for shallow waters. "This phenomenon is known locally as 'Jubilee,'" says Anil. "In the early days, people would run through the streets, banging on pots and pans, yelling, 'jubilee!' when it happened. Now they watch the sky for hovering seagulls, then run down to the waterfront with pails to scoop up the bounty. Some restaurants will even cook up your catch."

Population: 14,106

Median Home Price: $187,288

For More Info: cofairhope.com