Post Your Giveaways Here

May 29, 2010





I'm puttin' it out there.............anyone interested in a giveaway of their wares can contact me and we'll get the party started!  Just click on "View my complete profile" under Me and Mine (right sidebar at the top) and then click "email" to let me know the details.  I'd be stoked to host your giveaway!  Can't wait to hear from you!


Have a great holiday weekend!




My So Called Junky Life's Spring 2010 Bead Swap

May 25, 2010

Okay, I've finally done it ~ I entered a bead swap!  I've been toying with the idea for some time now and I came across this one at My So Called Junky Life's blog.  Talk about shabby chic!



I LoVe her shabby chic jewelry AND the idea of the swap!  Whatcha waitin' for?  Head on over to her blog for details and the how-to's of signing up (it's easy!) ~ the deadline is Saturday, May 29th.  I positively can't wait!

"If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall ere long be surprised to find how little remains that we cannot do."
~Samuel Butler

This Week's Featured Artisan

May 24, 2010





This week's featured artisan is Stitch n Studio!
Check out her beautiful and unique handmade accessories here.  I LoVe her Reversible Hobo Bag! Check out her blog here

Follow her on Facebook
 http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/pages/StitchnStudio/181176934168?ref=ts
and
Twitter
http://twitter.com/stitchnstudio

So what are you waiting for?

ICE Resin and a Big Mess

May 22, 2010

I was SO excited to get my ICE Resin mixture in the mail today ~ I'm totally ready to embark on all things resin!  Problem is, this is what I got when I opened the box:




One big, blue, gooey mess!  I was so bummed.  I was all ready to start filling my pendants, but no go.  It'll have to wait.  I e-mailed the company (I ordered it from a scrapbook supply online store) and explained the situation.  Hopefully I'll get a replacement in the mail so I can get started with the fun stuff!  I've got pendants and really cool collage sheets all ready and waiting for that globby, gooey, smelly stuff.

Do any of you use ICE Resin for your jewelry?  I know you have to mix the two gloppy liquids and that it "domes" when it dries.  Does it bubble much?  I've had bad luck with the Diamond Glaze one-step method.  Any insights would be appreciated!

If you're curious about ICE Resin and want to learn more, go to Youtube for a tutorial.  Just click on the "pause" button on my Playlist (in the lower left hand column) to shut it up so that you can hear the video! 



Good Luck!  Any great resin creations can be shared here!

"The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it."
~William James

Shabby Chic Bird's Nest Charm Necklace (and How I Almost Made it as a Bead Star Finalist)

May 19, 2010

First things first.  I just finished this bird's nest charm necklace so I thought I'd share.



The pendant has a picture of a bird's nest and is hand-filled with resin.  There's an antique key snagged at a flea market, a faceted crystal teardrop bead, and an antique brass charm that says "thrive."  Finally, I added 6 teeny tiny acrylic bicone beads in six different colors.



I wasn't happy with the resin result.  What resin do you use?  Any tips or comments on this would be appreciated!  I am waiting for my first order of ICE Resin and I'm excited about it.  Hopefully I'll get a better result.  (It's supposed to "dome"...)    

Now, on to the juicy dirt..............I entered  Bead Star Magazine's jewelry competition (in both the Pearls and the Hearts categories), the finalists of which were supposed to be announced today.  Prior to the official announcement I stumbled upon some chatting beaders who lead me to a link that showed the 2010 finalists.  Boy, was I happy when I saw my own bracelet as a finalist in the "Heart" category.

 

I called it "Be Still My Heart."  I really was stoked that I actually was chosen as a finalist by the judges.  I knew I didn't have a chance in hell of actually winning the category, but hey ~ gotta start somewhere, right?

So I patiently waited all day for the formal announcement, only to find out that there was an e-mail snafu and some entries were never received.  SOooooooo, they reevaluated all the entries (mine included) in light of these newly found entries.  Lo and behold, mine and two other entries were removed from the finalist list and replaced by 3 other entries.  Bummer doesn't even cover it.  Oh well, for a moment I was able to bask in the glory of a job well done and kudos from my peers.  Now it's back to the real world of making lunches and kissing boo-boos for the chickadees.  Maybe next time.

  

"Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character."
~ Henry Clay

This Week's Featured Artisan

May 18, 2010

This Weeks Featured Shop is pamannie ink- beautiful cards for all occassions! Say it with Love.. say it with Handmade! Stop by and see all of her wonderful creations! You can find pamannie at:
Face Book Page
Twitter Page

Bead Star Contest Entry

May 17, 2010

I really meant to share this information with you last week but, alas, life got in the way ~ again:)  Here's my entry for Bead Star Magazine's annual competition (category: Pearls)

  Bauble Jar


You might remember that I made a bracelet very similar to this one last summer.  Since it got rave reviews I decided to make it again, this time as a contest entry.  I'm not expecting to win anything.  But if I make the final 20 in this category I will let you know so you can VOTE...for me, that is:) at Beadstar's websiteI mean, a girl can dream, can't she? :0) 



"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."
~William Shakespeare

Giveaway? What Giveaway?

May 16, 2010


Okay, so why haven't you entered the giveaway?  Go to Adori Graphics and click at the top of the page where it says "Enter Giveaway Here."  You can't go wrong.  Just take a peek at my Etsy shop first (hint:  it's scrolling in the left sidebar under the words "My Etsy Shop") then go to Adori Graphics and leave a comment telling her what treasure is your favorite.  Then cross your fingers and wait!  Good luck!  P.S.  The giveaway continues until June 5th  6th!


"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
~Eleanor Roosevelt

Shabby Chic Locket and Gem Necklace

May 13, 2010

Not sure why but I've been in sort of a bloggy slump lately ~ hopefully this creation will snap me out of it!  If you've made any charm necklaces you love let me know here and I'll share them with my readers.  It's much more interesting when they get to see a variety of styles and not just my jewelry designs:)! 


I actually took apart another necklace I had made and took the pearls off of it to make this one ~ sometimes the necklace design in my head is a lot better than the actual necklace that I make, SOOOooo back to the drawing board!

This necklace design came to me rather quickly.  That happens when I throw together baubles that I love.  And I love ALL this stuff ~ antique brass lockets, pearls, semi-precious glass rondelle gems, Swarovski crystals, gunmetal chain and funky toggles.  Don't you just love this clasp?


 

I'm still interested in hearing about any great flea market and/or tag sale finds!  Spring is one of the best times for raking in the goods ~ one man's trash is another man's treasure, right?  TTFN 


"Courage is grace under pressure."
~Ernest Hemingway

Share the Love ~ Bloggers Unite

May 11, 2010

This week's Featured Shop is Shabby Bags - Jan creates fun and funky purses and totes. Visit Shabby Bags to see all her beautiful creations!


Or visit her Made it Myself Shop, Artfire Shop, Etsy Shop,and her blog. And you can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

So what are you waiting for?

Happy Mother's Day, Really!

May 8, 2010


Truer words were never spoken ~ at least in this house :0)

To my sisters, my mother-in-law, my sisters-in-law, friends and readers, have a very happy Mother's Day!


"For the hand that rocks the cradle ~ Is the hand that rules the world."
~ William Ross Wallace

It's A Giveaway!

May 6, 2010

No, not on my blog.  But it is A GIVEAWAY OF MY JEWELRY on another great website ~~ Adori Graphics. I've mentioned Louise to you before but let me say again what a great graphic designer she is (not to mention an all-around nice person)!

SOoooo what are you waiting for? Head on over toAdori Graphicsto find out all about how to enter. You could end up winning your choice of any jewelry item from my Etsy shop! Not too shabby! I LoVe giveaways!!!  Good Luck!


Great Flea Market Jewelry Finds

May 5, 2010


I couldn't have been happier this past weekend  when I returned home with all my goods from a leisurely Saturday of Barn Sales and Flea Markets sans children!  (Thanks to my husband for agreeing to let me do this as my Mother's Day present, a week early.)

I came home with all THIS for a total of $13.00!


And looking at this photo I just realized that there are a few things I'm keeping for myself that aren't even pictured here (they're already with my personal stash)!  This stuff is SO cool...........I ended up snagging antique keys, lots of faux diamonds (we love sparkle!), religious icons (faves of mine), lapel pins and even a bejeweled "sweater guard" in the form of faux diamond crowns!  And I absolutely LOVE these ~


I'm a real sucker for cameos, of all kinds.  Oh, and silhouettes, too.  Speaking of, I also picked up a framed vintage black and white silhouette of three kids, two girls and one boy ~ just like mine!  And it was only $1.00!

I also forgot to mention the vintage chandelier crystals I snagged.  They were EVERYWHERE.  I've already made some earrings out of them.  I absolutely can't wait to start adorning charm bracelets with all this fantastic stuff.  The possibilities are endless.

Where do you pick up baubles and bits?  Do you have any great "flea market finds" stories? (Say, a strand of real pearls for a buck, a semi-precious stone-bejeweled brooch for next to nothing, you get the idea.)  Share your shopper savvy here.

Me, I'm off to make lunches and watch some tivo'd shows with the man.  Hope I can stay awake:)  TTFN


"There is always something for which to be thankful."
~Charles Dickens  

Celestial Whispers Necklace

May 4, 2010

Well, my love of all things Sundance has reared its ugly head once again.  I'm so lame, I know!  But hey, who says a a girl can't dream of owning her own collection of Sundance jewelry?  I swear, their designers inspire me constantly.  Here's my latest.

 

I was disappointed to find that the last necklace of theirs I fell in love with is no longer on their website (guess I waited too long.... :().  I really did want to post their photo as well as mine.  You know, give credit where credit is due and all.  But I don't feel totally bad because my necklace ended up being much more of a "me" design than a "them" design anyway.

 
 
You can see this one over on Etsy, too.  I really wanted to keep it for myself, but hey ~ gotta share the love!  Time to put the chickadees to bed.  TTFN

"Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending."
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Share the Love ~ Bloggers Unite

This week's featured artisan is London Lake Pickett and her Artfire shop Outta Sight.



Her jewelry is beautiful, and her Celebrate Awareness Collection is full of customizable necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  You choose your Cause and Color! So what are you waiting for?  Check out her shop hereYou can also follow her on her blog here.

Later I hope to post on my most recent creation.  That is, if life (and children, and unreliable internet service) doesn't keep getting in the way!  TTFN

Loves Me, Loves Me Not Pendant Earrings

May 2, 2010

Okay, so I'm not a big fan of dangle earrings.......I'm the conservative pearls and/or diamond stud type of earring wearer.  I've always been happy with that since I think they look best on me.  But I do know that there's a whole big world out there who likes and wears dangle earrings.  So, in their honor, I made another pair of dangles.

     
They're pink pearls and fuchsia flowers.  Delicate and romantic.  And dangly.  Not for me but I know they're for You!:0)  Time to run over and put them in my Etsy shop!  Hope you all had a GREAT weekend! TTFN


"If I can stop one heart
from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain."
~Emily Dickinson

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