Preparations

  I can't believe how fast this past week went. I was out of the office for the whole week and finally have to back to work tomorrow. Trying to prepare myself emotionally prepared to get back into that routine. It's going to be a tough morning, tomorrow.


BUT! I have the best thing to look forward to! Thursday, (hoping that the weather cooperates) Kerry Bogert will be here and we'll be hitting the road on Friday morning to Reston VA to attend Barbara's enamel bead workshop! That is going to be FUN TIMES. SO VERY EXCITED!


Something for you to look forward to: A New BOOK Review AND a  GIVEAWAY! Look for that tomorrow morning. It's a good one- you'll be so psyched!

 As you can see, I was busy in the studio this weekend. I had a really great time in there actually. I was in love with everything I made, and you can find all of these pretties in my shop.

Hope everyone has a great week!







 The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew shares his feelings about the awesome new Spring issue of "Stringing" magazine.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
jean is breathless with delight when she receives a gift from her friend the artist Lisa Kan!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei had a chance, a while back (2008) to have a nice little interview with etsy seller, Patina Queen! This is Lorelei's wire supplier, and she ROCKS!

Jean Campbell
A mystery package is the catalyst for this creative challenge. Up for it? You could win a free book!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie unleashes her grumpy feelings with a little rant and a bead sale!

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Cindy takes a bead shopping trip to the Great White North and almost passes out!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses a candy mold to make a new resin pendant.

  Beading Arts
Do you want to try lampworking? Cyndi's been busy at the torch again.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Bopping Along the ICE Resin Blog hop - My resin version of Little Egypt.

Art Bead Scene
The Art Bead Scene begins a new monthly feature - the ABS Carnival Blog! Let the Carnival begin!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy got the 411 on some very cool new metal stamps. Though these can also be used with clay as well.
A Bead A Day
Have you ever fallen in love with a piece of jewelry? Lisa fell head over heels for a bracelet on a fellow beader's blog and ended up trading for it!

Gardanne Beads

Have you checked out Anne's beads yet? She's a lampworker who creates little bits of magic using glass.
This Kandinsky bead was given to me several months ago when Anne stopped in and went to lunch with me. I hoarded it for a while, and then finally settled on this bracelet design.
I love Anne's glass techniques. She has a wonderful sense of color and always creates something interesting and unique.

If you have a minute this chilly Saturday morning, and you want to peruse Anne's shop- click here to go to her Etsy store Gardanne Beads.


If you are interested in seeing some behind the scenes stuff, check out Anne's blog.

Digging into the dragon hord

Okay, so, I think I'm finally done hoarding goodies from Amanda Davie. The dream connector here is the first piece I've used. I've just been buying them a few at a time and now I have a nice little dragon hord of a stash going on. Time to start using them.  I paired this sweet stamped bronze metal clay connector with some wire wrapped faceted opal nuggets, a lampwork nugget from Kelleys Beads, some bar chain, and a bee charm from Candice Wakumoto,(i got it from Andrew)  and amber glass looking glass drop from Cindy Gimbrone. I love how it came out, and the amber and teal color combination has to be one of my all time favorites.

I also used a few of those cute lavender beads I blogged about last week. I thought they'd be cute paired with these brass dragonflies which were actually linked together in a chain that I found at Michael's. Both of these new pieces are now in my etsy shop.

I am spending the day at home today. After 18 inches of snow fell in the last 24 hours, I don't plan on leaving my little oasis of home.  STAY WARM!

Spring Stringing 2010

These beauties came back home while I was away in Florida.
They can currently be seen in the pages of the Spring issue of Stringing magazine, on stands now!


This first necklace features a handmade Bird pendant from Heather Wynn. Heather created this clever pendant with polymer clay, and a sterling silver bezel. The back of the pendant says: You are my one true love.
Gotta love that! How romantic!
I also used some pretty green silk cording, an enamel button from C-Koop Beads, and lampwork glass from Studio Rent.

The best part about this necklace is that you don't need tools to create it. I just tied knots into the silk to anchor the beads.

Springtime Collaboration is a mixed media piece that brings many different art beads together in one necklace.
Felted wool beads from Tang Baby, a lampworked lentil from Loupiac, lampwork glass from The Orange Bell and Dorset Hill Beads, a polymer tube focal from Humblebeads, and a botanical pewter link from my friends at Green Girl Studios. All wire wrapped and linked with interesting chain from AD Adornments.



















This last bracelet is another hand-knotted silk corded piece.
The ceramic square button is from Nancy at Round Rabbit. I adore these little fine silver, handmade charms from Beth at Hint, the lampwork is from Pinocean, the ceramic beads are from Marti Conrad. Other beads are painted wood.

Isn't that little leaping rabbit the cutest? O.m.G.
So adorable. And perfect for this Spring Fever I've been having.

What Spring Time beads have you found on Etsy?

My work here is done.

WHEW!
A long day but I made it through. We got everything done at the museum and I was finished working by 4pm today. SWEET!
It was a beautiful and sunny day today. I couldn't believe how warm it got. I enjoyed some sun on my face on my lunch break. That's also when I ran into one of the coolest birds I've ever seen.Not sure what it was called, a cool deep grey/blue crane type bird, that was checking out the back yard by the lake while I was catching some rays. I got a pic with my iphone but it came out blurry and I was far away.

These pics are from Tijuana Flats where I ate a chimichanga for dinner. It was good and I loved the fun and colorful atmosphere. I sent some iphone pics to Joe, knowing that he would get a kick out of this wall mural.

And of course he would have totally loved the hot sauce bar.

 

Not sure if you heard about this major snowstorm that is slowly closing in on NY state. Weather is always an issue... so after lots of thought and deliberation, I decided to switch my fllight to tomorrow so that I would have less of a chance of canceled flights/or delays. I have no patience for stuff like this and it unnecessarily stresses me totally out so, I'll be home tomorrow. Fingers crossed for no problems or issues.

See you when I get home...

More pictures from today

I walked around the museum  where I am working (reminder, i am not on a florida vacation!) and enjoyed some of the scenery during my lunch break. The museum looks out onto a pretty little lake where this morning, it was completely taken over by birds of all sizes.... mostly geese, and many blue herons and white cranes. They were stunning to watch flying in to the shore to catch their breakfast.

Looks like I may have a day to just relax if we can get everything done tomorrow but I probably just jinxed it.

Here is a shot of my B&B from the sidewalk. My room is on the second floor.

that's my porch.

it's so cute!

Working

I am working today. Been a busy morning. Enjoying my leftover chicken quesadilla from last night. Thought I'd surprise you with an an iPhone blog post. Haha! Didn't know I could do that, didja??
Here is where I'm sitting having some lunch.



But I wish I was enjoying my private oasis at my B&B.


Nice huh?? More later. Don't want my phone battery to die.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lavender Beads

Receiving this package in the mail was an experience all on it's own.

I wish you could smell it... as soon as I ripped open the

bubble mailer, I was hit with the lovely sweet aroma of lavender.

And why not?

Andrea's shop is called Lavender Beads.

Why wouldn't it smell just like that?

I open the box and nestled into a pile of 

dried lavender was my beads in their little organza bag.

Andrea's lampwork beads are gorgeous. And unique.

I have seen nothing quite like this on Etsy or online.

We traded. I sent her a necklace and she sent me

a set of her small lavender bud beads. I can't wait

to use them.I'm thinking I'll snag two for a pair of earrings

for myself. 

Bead Blogger Links for the week

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Working with Jill MacKay's new line of decorative bezels, Andrew experiments with resin and takes advantage of the bezels' deep walls.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is embroiled in a conundrum--help a girl out!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is still a little nervous to try her hand at using resin. But the pendant in this necklace turned out nice at any rate.

Jewelry & Beading
Have you heard of Zulugrass? Find out about the wonderful industry that's helping to support the Maasai, and enter to win a piece!

Jean Campbell
Jean reviews Margie Deeb's (pretty fabulous) Spring/Summer 2010 Color Report.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Celebrate the many uses of Ice Resin with Melanie's blog latest blog series which highlights some of her newest works

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Inspired by the color of summer gardens in a seed catalog, Cindy creates a new bead.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi restrings a strand of cheap plastic beads with a wristlet. Repurposing is great!

Beading Arts
Cyndi's new bead embroidered necklace has everything but a name!

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene teams up with Margie Deeb for a color challenge. 

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy reminds you about a thriving jewelry community and how to keep up with news on her site.

A Bead A Day
Are there color combinations that are always in style? Black and white seems to fit that description.

Randomness for Saturday

-These little cuties, from LeAnn, are flying on over to my place, and will probably be waiting for me when I return from FL. I'm excited, they are so cute!

- Yesterday I made it to 400 followers, and today I have 399. Hmmm. Lost one. I guess my charm and good looks couldn't keep them around.  I wish I knew who it was, I could try to lure them back with beads, or candy.

-Last night, Joe got back from a few days in CT. I really missed him, and I am so glad he's home. I cooked  a nice dinner, Puttanesca with Haddock. Normally we just make the sauce, no meat, and put it on pasta. Last night we bought some Haddock filets, and cut it up , and put it inside the sauce to cook it, and had it with past on the side. It was so good. My favorite way to make fish.

-I am headed to a local spa this afternoon for a Facial. It's the Hot Lava Stone Facial, that comes with a head, neck, hands and feet massage. I got a gift certificate from a cool co-worker, and I'm happy to have a little relaxation time before the stress of travelling. I'm not the best traveller. I get nervous. I worry. Flying doesn't bother me really, but just the befores and afters, finding my luggage, getting to a cab, getting to my hotel. I could do without all that stress.

-I was just thinking the other day that it had been a long time since my cat threw up. She normally does when she eats too fast. It happened this morning. Poor thing. And now she's acting kind of weird, like it really took a lot out of her. Gosh, I know that feeling.

Alright well, time to start my Saturday. Hope you all keep checking in while I'm away,
I'm going to try to blog a little bit while I'm gone.

My Friend Barbara Lewis...

...is giving away beads.

you like beads, don't you?

i mean, we all do. and what's better than free beads?

not a whole heck of a lot!

Go here. it's barbara's new blog!

..find out how you can be entered to win.

A Girl on a Horse

My Dad sent this to me in the mail.

I recall seeing this years ago, it was a nice

little blast from the past, so unexpected!

That's me on the horse. at the fair.

in August.

I'm still trying to figure why my parents had me dressed

in long pants and long sleeves in the dead of Summer.

This picture was clearly taken BEFORE

my dreaded fear of horses set in.

Anyway, thought it would be fun

to share.

400 Followers

I am just 2 followers away from 400! that's pretty crazy!

Be my 400th follower, and I will give you a 30% off coupon to be used in my jewelry shop!


Scroll down and click the FOLLOW button in the side bar ----------------------------------------------->


let me know by email or with a comment that you are follower #400.

Update: 400 followers achieved! woot woot woot!
thanks ya'all!

We Interrupt this program for a Brief Announcement...

{in case you're interested, you can check out The Gritty Bird here.}

Chocolate Mallow Girl

are you a chocolate mallow

girl?

i am.

 

Favorite Things

 Romancing the Stone, now available

1. This antique lace I bought while with my friend Kerry, at a local antique mall.

2. this steamy cup of coffee with french vanilla creamer

3. 2 Nights of Free Beading while Joe goes to visit his Mother

4. The fact that I won't have to cook all day, since we have leftovers from both meals at the birthday dinner.

5. A happy purring cat on my lap.

6. When my Mom calls just to say Hi

7. Shopping for warm weather clothes for my upcoming trip to Florida.

8. cinnamon toast crunch

9. Getting small packages of love in the mail almost daily

10. The fact that I can be a little late coming back from lunch because I don't have a high pressure job

11. Keeping up with the Kardashians

12. Chelsea Lately

13. Sending surprises to my sister in the mail.

14. my car

15. a pair of old beat up and ripped wool clogs from Keen

16. The awesome pewter Fan that I got from Lynn for my House at Riverton necklace 

17. Any and all beads from Mika Collins

18.  My electric blanket on a cold night

19. Ghost shows on tv

20. my bead cabinet, because without it my craft room would look like a bead shop open for business

Tuesday feels like Monday

Good Morning Bunnies!

After my shopping plans were cancelled due to a fever of my friend, I felt antsy. Like, I had to do something that was motivating, and beading all day wasn't on my agenda. So I decided to rearrange my studio. I moved my work table back to face the windows, and moved that big ass window bench that Joe built, to wear the table was. Every available wall space is taken. The lighting in that room is poor (no ceiling fixture) and the clamp light I was using wouldn't stay clamped, and the floor lamp lost its knobs and I now literally have to use a mini screwdriver to turn the thing on. Good times.
This project was a lofty idea. I moved everything and then spent most of my time consolidating beads, putting more into the big bead cabinet. So now I still seem to have 1 and a half tables full of beads, but I didn't lose or gain much space at all. ? huh!

I wasn't really that happy with the whole outcome but was pretty burnt out and tired by 3pm and didn't feel like fixing it so I'll keep it until the mood strikes again.
Oh this bracelet above- I ended up taking apart a bunch of jewelry. So this was a culmination of a few different pieces, into this new bracelet design. I like how it turned out, but I'm a total sucker for this Rabbit Ojime bead. I took apart the big showy Alice in Wonderland necklace. It was a little sad but I didn't feel like it was all that wearable or successful. So, off with it's head!! That's where I snagged the rabbit from.

Hmmm, another highlight of yesterday was that Joe and I made beer battered fish tacos. They were quite delicious. We were quite proud that we pulled this meal off, and even high fived, halfway through eating it.
It was a recipe we saw on the Food Network, a new Mexican show- Mexican Made Easy or something like that.

Wishing my Joe a great birthday today, is the big 39- but keeps saying "Can't believe I'm 40". I guess at this stage in life, 39 might as well be 40. It's all the same. We are headed out to a nice steak house for the birthday dinner tonight.  I didn't get him anything. I asked him for weeks what he wanted. He kept saying, NOTHING!! What do you buy a man who wants nothing. You take him out for steak I guess!!

Hope you all have a good Monday. Tuesday!

Happy President's Day

I love it when I have a 3 day weekend. Today I'm headed to Syracuse to hit the mall with my best friend Rosie. update: Rosie has a fever :( so we aren't meeting afterall. 
 Rosie and I have been friends since the 4th Grade. She moved to my home town and we were inseparable from the day we met in Mrs. Houck's classroom. Over the years we have grown up, and grown apart but always try to get together once every few months, or talk once a month.  We love getting together to share the gossip about people we know, or enjoy some girl time, and shopping is always fun.
If you ever met Rosie, you'd love her. She's always happy. And her laugh is infectious.

I thought I would show you a bigger pic of this necklace I made a few days ago. I put a pic of it in a collage the other day and got some nice comments on it and questions about the pendant.
I bought the bezel pendant at Fusion Beads. It's fairly shallow- I had planned on filling it with resin. I even bought the resin. I found this cute floral fabric and cut it carefully out for the bezel. I glued it in with some mod podge. But then I nixed the idea of Resin. I'm not sure it's necessary, and being that the bezel is so shallow, I thought it might just be a pain in the butt. SO ... it works!

 

Cute little bird toggle that I 

found at Michael's. 

It's from the 

Jill Mackay line. You pull

the birds tail down to open the clasp! ;)

Here's a close up up of the beads, I used some lucite rounds,

carved bones, glass, a floral ceramic round,

and this cool faceted handmade red ceramic nugget

from Diane Hawkey.

my favorites

i rarely have favorites. but these three are super fun and pretty and interesting and unique, and positive, and colorful, and perfect in every way.
I know.
cuz, i made them.

Happy Valentine's Day

My Valentine bought me 2 potted Orchids for Valentine's day. One double stalked plant for the family room and one single for my studio! Aren't they beautiful?! I just hope I can keep them alive! I love that he picked these out for me. What a guy!
Today I'll be scouring my cookbooks to find the perfect "Valentines meal" for tonight. Any suggestions??


Oh, and before I forget, enjoy this weeks Bead Bloggers links:

A Bead A Day
Need a quick gift or new piece of jewelry for work tomorrow? You can't miss with black Econoflex Softflex wire!

About.com Jewelry Making
Ever thought of applying for a jewelry making grant? If so, here is news about how to do so as well as some important tips to follow.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene Unveils the February Monthly Challenge - Luna Park by Vestie Davis.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Avoiding work by showing off some new jewelry pieces and other eye candy

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi attempts to explain how one necklace turns into two.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
An addition to the Grunge Bead Series - Grunge Faux Bois!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shows off the necklace she made for the Bead Soup Party: a delicious blend of stone, pearls, glass, ceramic, and brass ingredients.

Jean Campbell
Jean did a little product scouting in Tucson...check out her favorite finds!

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi has a great giveaway going on: TWO gift certificates for Murano glass jewelry!!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
The connection you can have with a customer, is a treasure. Collaborating on a necklace, Lorelei and JoAnn create a wonderful keepsake.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Book review by jean: feel like learning new techniques? Try this new text with fab photos!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Using components from Artbeads.com, Andrew creates a Valentine's Day worthy necklace named, "Not Without".

A busy Day

tweet

t.g.i.f.

happy friday my little tweets.

Can you believe, it's 8 degrees here, and I can hear in

the distance a small bird singing away in the frigid cold.

I want Spring so badly I can taste it.

I'm headed to my Cardiologist appt. this morning.

A follow-up to this summer's diagnosis  of A-Fib.

I hope it goes well.

Then I'm going to stop into a local shop

and pick up one of these.

How stinkin' cute is this new Vera Bradley print, Sittin' in a Tree!!

A Custom Order Keepsake

 

One of my customers contacted me recently to make her a necklace. Not just any old necklace though. A keepsake necklace with many components and individual meanings.  I wanted to share with you, the final outcome. The results. The cause and effect, of a final design concept. It started with JoAnn's vision that started with a key, and the end result is a piece of jewelry that she can cherish and possibly even pass down through her family in the future. One that holds more meaning than just any old necklace.

This skeleton key, is an original key to a house owned by JoAnn's Grandparents. Sad part is, the house is no longer standing.

"My grandparent’s (my mom’s parents) home was recently torn down in our town to make way for a 2-yr college to expand.  Theirs wasn’t the only house; all the homes in a 1 block area were taken.  My grandparents have been gone for 20 yrs. and my mom sold their home 20 yrs ago to a couple who now had to move because of this expansion.  We were lucky enough to go through my grandparent’s home after they moved out and before it was torn down just last week.   While meandering through the empty rooms, and reminiscing  the many times I spent there, I found 2 skeleton keys in some of the doors.  Of course, I quietly pocketed them.  They are now sitting on my kitchen window sill where I can see them every day."

 

Clearly the key had to be the focal.  JoAnn asked me to include the letter M. Her Grandparents last name is Maek (pronounced Make) A typewriter key, because JoAnn is a typist.  The number on the stamped tag (from Stacy Hartis of Sissy & Jacks) is "612" which was the house number. JoAnn even sent me a photo of that in the email:

The foundation of the house was red and black granite. Finding stones the exact color was a challenge without seeing it but I did find some nice poppy jasper that had specks of cream, red and black. I didn't want it to be too overpowering so I chose really small smooth rondelles and only used a few in the final design.


JoAnn's Grandfather did a lot of carpentry in the past and did Marquetry as a hobby after he had retired as a Barber in the town where they lived. She asked me if I had wood beads. DO I EVER! Of course, I easily found these carved wood elongated bicone beads to be the perfect fit for this component.




"The last thing I’d like to mention about my grandparents is that they were avid growers of flowers; mainly gladiolus.  My grandfather (his name was Walter) specifically grew glads and entered them in the county fair every year.  My grandmother tended to other well known perennials in their backyard.  So if you have any, or can acquire any ceramic medallions with a flower on it, that would mean a lot."

I have a lot of floral type beads and focals in my bead stash, but came across this pretty cool Lisa Peters Art flower connector. Although not a gladiola, the bold image of a flower stands out, and I thought it paired nicely with all of the other elements in the necklace.

I wire wrapped the wood and jasper beads at the forefront of the necklace. The ceramic green nugget at the left, was an addition I added on my own accord. Lucky for me, JoAnn liked it! It's an interesting addition, but an added color that I think adds to the overall design. A ceramic barrel from Keith O'Connor. 

It didn't take long to put together a preliminary design, although it was quite different from the one you see here. The key was horizontal in the first design. The chain was actually more jasper and wood beads up around the back.  JoAnn asked to see another version, one where the key hangs vertically instead. So she could get the idea of how it would wear. As soon as I revamped the design into this finished piece, I knew it was going to be the jackpot. JoAnn loved the final outcome. All of the elements that she asked for were included, but not only that. The vision that she has in her mind, has been played out through my fingers and she was quite pleased with this redesigned piece.

Taking on custom orders can be challenging, and sometimes jewelry designers decide to either be open for this type of request, or not. JoAnn had been such a wonderful and communacative customer in the past, that I knew working with her on this design would be successful in the end. I recommend doing special keepsake pieces like this for your customers, but the only advice I want to give is, make sure you are open to all ideas, be willing to rearrange, and take take time to create a piece that the customer connects with immediately. Communication is key, as with anything, really. And in the end, the success of having someone swoon over something you created with their ideas- there is just nothing more satisfying than that.

Thank you JoAnn for thinking of me and asking me to make this piece for you. It means a lot to me that you would trust me and my creativity for such a heartwarming and special necklace!

 

Bead Soup Party REVEAL DAY!

Welcome to the Bead Soup Party, hosted by the lovely and talented Lori Anderson.  Click here to go back to Lori's party page to see the list of all the participants! Happy Surfing!

My party exchange partner was Maria Grimes of Garden Path Beads. Maria is a lampwork glass artist, that has mastered the fine art of whimsy in her creations. She sent me this sweet set of beads in and bright and colorful red, green and white color palette. 
Maria made this oxidized silver swirly hook clasp to use in my project.

To keep with the colorful theme, I paired these beads with some light aqua resin rounds from Natural Touch Beads.  They are strung on wire up around the back of my necklace with small darkened copper metal seed beads.  At the front is a strand of large textured oval link chain. I wire wrapped the lampwork beads all along the front and added in a few fairy pewter focals from my friends at Green Girl Studios. I also added a few dyed buri seeds in a lime green, with faceted green Czech glass rondelles.
The green and red leaf looks like it was made for this set! It came from Sabine at Little Cup.I placed the clasp at the side, adding to the asymmetrical flair of this garden themed piece.

 I love the polka dotted theme in the beads that Maria sent. They really add a fun element.  Although this color palette is not one that I normally work with, I had fun stretching my abilities and trying to think outside of the box, of my normal earthy tendencies.

Thanks for stopping by to check out my Garden Delight necklace.

I hope you take some time to leave me a few comments about what you've seen so far,

and have fun traveling through the blog party today!

I can't wait to see what Maria creates with the fun set of beads I sent her!

Read her blog here!

February blues

Got the blues?

These might cheer you up.

Check out these delicious red nuggets I got from Kelleys Beads. Aren't they

wonderful?  I paired them one of my Jade Scott pendants.

She made these specially for me. But then she made more and so

i have these and these and these and these coming my way.

This bracelet is a bit more rustic, or organic, or earthy.

I love this silk ribbon from Ornamentea. I have to get

some more, first chance I get. I wire wrapped it to

wired section of art beads. Ceramic rounds from Elaine Ray,

Lampwork glass from The Orange Bell and a Ceramic

square focal from Summers Studios Etc.

A few things to look forward to here at the blog:

Tomorrow is the big Bead Soup Party REVEAL!

Thursday I'll talk about a special Keepsake necklace that I made for a special customer.

Friday at the ABS I'll be showing some Valentine's favorites from Ornamentea.

A Bracelet Giveaway

Head over to Stacy's blog, The Love Shack to enter to win my
LOVE U bracelet. She's drawing a winner on Wednesday the 10th! And you can enter as many times as you want! GOOD LUCK!

A special Thank You

Dear Kelly,

Thank you for creating a special piece of jewelry that I was able to really connect with.

Thank you for assembling this lovely pale yellow and bronze bracelet

that brings me back to my roots, that reminds me of my family, that

makes me think of my Grandmother, that helps me to not forget who I am, and

reminds me that family is the most important thing.

  It's funny how a small token like this, just a bracelet,

helps me connect with my past.

I know you didn't know any of the history of this connection when you made this,

but now that I have received it, I just wanted you to know how important

this is and how pivotal your talent has been in putting

a gigantic smile on my face today.

Thank you.

again, and again.

xo

*lorelei

Check out the other beautiful items in Kelly's Silver Parrot etsy shop,

and laugh your a** off at her blog.

i need a vacation.

I think this might be a sign.

the beach is calling for me.



Aren't these so cool? I attached the drilled beach stones to the Speckled ceramic discs that Erin of Every Heart Crafts made, using small brass cable chain.

And these earrings were kind of tough to create because of the knotting at the top, but I like how the rocks fan out almost like branches. The Coin beads are handmade ceramic discs from Elaine Ray.


I am headed to Florida in a couple of weeks. Orlando. Gotta do some work for the museum. I hope it's warm there. Because it certainly is NOT warm here and I've got the February blues.

I'm hoping I can find a bead shop in downtown Orlando. Know of any good ones? I'll take recommendations for good food too. I'll be without a car so I'm hoping the area I'm staying will have lots to see within walking distance.

These new earrings are now available in my shop. Just in case the beach is calling your name too.