Fall 2012 Jewelry Trends

I long for the cool temperatures and vibrant colors of fall.  Here in Georgia, the temperature has been in the high 80s with humidity no less than 70% all week.  Not a single leaf has fallen and the acorns are still on the tree. So, to make this muggy day a bit more bearable I’ve been doing some research on fall fashion and jewelry trends for 2012.  Here are three of the jewelry trends for fall…..

 

The Hopeless Romantic

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85396828/white-and-gold-bridal-cuff-bracelet
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76326173/flower-jewelry-nature-inspired-jewelry
http://www.etsy.com/listing/101513219/vintage-style-cream-necklace-south-sea



The runway was full of soft feminine looks for fall; it’s not really what I think of when I think of fall, but it will be one of the strong trends none the less.  Fall jewelry will echo that soft look with feminine colors such as rose, cream, white, and beige.  I’ve always loved romantic vintage jewelry; the trend will be stronger than ever. Look for soft romantic curves, frilly embellishments, and muted tones.

Tribal Inspired

http://www.etsy.com/listing/99632107/bohemian-earrings-handmade-brass
http://www.etsy.com/listing/108776239/orange-tribal-bracelet-with-hand-painted
http://www.etsy.com/listing/44004068/tribal-pendant-long-necklace-big-african

When I think of fall, bold dark reds, warm oranges, natural greens and vibrant purples come to mind. These colors are used beautifully in tribal inspired designs on the runway for fall 2012.  Likewise, burnished gold and silver with a tribal etchings and prints will be worn to match.  You will also see natural components used in tribal designs: wood beads, bone, shell and animal print embellishments will be part of the trend.

The Flower Child



http://www.etsy.com/listing/71763994/leather-and-sterling-silver-bracelet

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94657852/beach-shell-jewelry

http://www.etsy.com/listing/105936891/peace-hemp-choker-braided-hemp-cord-with

It is predicted that 70s vintage jewelry will make a huge comeback. If I had only known….I had a jewelry box full of Mod chunky jewelry.  Expect to see collar necklaces of soft muted precious metals such as gold and silver; they are reminiscent of the chokers that were so popular. The 70s fascination with all things Native American created a trend for chunky turquoise jewelry set into silver. Then and now, delicacy is not the aim here, the chunkier the better! The anti-consumerism of the hippie society also meant that handmade jewelry was the trend--leather bands or braids worn as bracelets, and handmade bead necklaces will be on trend this fall.



Thanks for stopping by my blog...Happy Fall!

Blogging - Who Knew.....

One of many lovely Paths featured on my Pinterest board -

"The Path Less Traveled"

I started this blog to chronicle the opening and evolution of my Etsy shop - LorisGlassworks. My first post was in July 2009 about a month after opening my online shop. At the onset I struggled with blogging, but eventually after some trial and error, mixing articles about my life and Etsy projects became enjoyable. I don’t consider myself a brilliant writer, but I’ve discovered that I can put a few words together and take a decent picture. The unbelievable thing to me is that people actually READ my words. Some of my posts have had hundreds of readers (Yikes). This is truly amazing and a little daunting! I assumed that I would get a few family members, friends, and neighbors stopping by the blog from time to time, but I never thought I would go down this path and actually have a “following”. I promise that I’m going to get more deliberate about making time for blogging and crafting; after all, it’s why I started my blog in the first place. Thank You for making the time in your day to take a peek at my little blog.

Cheers!
Lori D.



Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal August 2012

Yippee, I’m able to reveal!

Originally I was scheduled for July 28th Bead Soup Blog Party reveal, but on Friday the 13th (no black cats or ladders in sight), I had an unpleasant accident. I fell in our garage and broke my ankle. I could not safely get to my third floor studio (on crutches), it was miserable. Prior to the fall, I had started two designs using the vintage soup ingredients that I received from my partner Kayla. My worst fear in life is disappointing people, so not being able to complete the task on time was very hard for me. Thankfully Lori A. let me move my reveal date…Hope you like my designs

Best wishes to all who are revealing today!

What is a bead soup you ask? It's an assortment of beads, one focal bead, and a pretty clasp traded between partners. On the reveal day we blog about what we've made using the beads received from our partner.

As a reminder, here is what I received from my wonderful partner Kayla:

While pondering how to use my soup ingredients, I decided to use a specific color pallet that complimented the focal bead. Here is an example of that pallet (the fist color square is oyster white, it doesn't show up in the picture very well)...

My first piece incorporates the large focal and clasp Kayla sent in my soup. I also used some of the glass nugget, bone, seed, and gemstones beads to create a necklace. I loved the beautiful clasp so much that I did not want to hide it behind the neck; it’s placed front and center in my design. Wire wrapped links  of various sizes and textures were attached making a long necklace with a fun beaded tassel at the end. I incorporated many different beads, bits, and bobs from my own stash to get a very bohemian look.

This necklace will be fun to wear with a soft tunic sweater and my favorite straight leg jeans. We have a lot of festivals coming up here in Georgia, I plan to show off my design then; fall is my favorite time of year in the south!

I also created a second piece using my soup ingredients. I’ve wanted to create a cuff bracelet for some time so I used some of the smaller green beads from my soup in this design. I had several coils of copper wire in different sizes and a handmade copper cuff that was just waiting to become something special. I experimented with wrapping and coiling the copper wire around the cuff until I got use to the feel and flexibility of the wire.

After several trial runs, I began weaving and wrapping the coral beads, copper beads, soup gemstones, and gemstones from my stash around the cuff. I really like how it turned out, I plan to keep this piece for myself!

Thanks for stopping by my blog to take a peek at my designs. If you have a few minutes, visit my partner Kayla's blog to see what she made with the beads I sent her and stop by some of the other blogs revealing designs today. Participants are listed below. Have fun hoping around!

My Wonderful Partner: Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space

Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry 

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog

Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous 

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy

Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging
Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy

Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs
Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels

Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home
Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle

Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show
Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities
Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment

Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN
Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious

Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio
Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi
Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color

Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry
Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog

Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo
Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila
Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead

Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

Summer 2012 Bead Soup Blog Party Goodies...

Take a peek at the goodies I received from Kayla Potega, my partner for the July 2012 Bead Soup Blog Party. Kayla from The Eclectic Element creates lovely jewelry featuring up-cycled vintage beads and findings. I love the fact that her designs are 90% recycled materials, even elements of her packaging is up-cycled. Based on her eclectic style and vast collection of vintage materials, I was excited to see what she would send.

I was delighted when I opened the package from Kayla, so many wonderful vintage items to play with! The goodies are spread out on my bead bench so I can think about how I will use them in my Bead Soup design. I want to really challenge myself this time, so in preparation for the event, I outlined 10 ways

(see them here) to improve my experience and grow as a designer.

Just look at all the treasure Kayla sent!

I removed the individual bags to reveal the materials I will use for this challenge. The idea is to work outside our comfort zone to design a jewelry piece using the beads selected by a partner. Kayla's selection for me included fabulous textures and shapes... there are so many great items, I don’t know where to start. The clasp is really wonderful and I have several focal beads to choose from.

Check back on July 28 when my finished design(s) will be revealed. I will also post a list of the other participants so you can hop around to the other blogs and see what they have created using the beads they received. Cheers!

 See Kayla's Etsy Shops Here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEclecticElement

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEclecticElement2

Wire Wrap Loop Tutorial

Wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making handmade jewelry. In wire wrapping, jewelry is made using jewelry wire or findings similar to wire (like head-pins) to make components. Wire components are then connected to one another using manual techniques with no soldering or heating of the wire.

I use this method when making my pearl “Bubbles” bracelets. The technique is easy and with a little practice I learned to make a perfect loop every time. Basically, wire is bent into a loop or other decorative shape and then the wire is wrapped around itself making the loop permanent. I found a great tutorial that explains step by step how to make a perfect loop. Give it a try….

http://www.beadaroo.com/techniques/view/wirewraploop

Oh for the Love of Birds...

I love birdhouses! I find that watching the birds in the garden is very relaxing and enjoyable.  I think I inherited my love of birdhouses from my father.  His property in Indiana is a mini ecosystem not far from the city of Chicago. His property attracts all kinds of wild life. The back deck of the house, overlooking the wetlands, is a perfect place to sit and watch the many birds that visit his property. He has a wonderful collection of birdhouses and feeders on every tree and post.

 I love the idea of re-purposing!  Re-purposing is taking an object and using it for something entirely different than its original purpose. You probably already have some re-purposed items around your home without even realizing it. The mug on your desk used to hold pencils, the old water pitcher used to hold cut flowers, or the red wagon used as a garden cart now that the kids have grown. All good examples of re-purposed items.

 So, combining birdhouses and re-purposing is just about perfect in my book. Let me show you a few examples of re-purposed birdhouses from around the blogosphere ....

http://fowlplaces.com/bobbin.html

This birdhouse was created by incorporating a re-purposed 80+ year old wooden bobbin from the Pendleton woolen mills. The Pendleton Bobbin Birdhouse is a unique blend of previously used wood, metal and glass utility pole insulators. 

http://www.grandiflora.pro/cool-pics/bird-houses-and-bottle-trees

 I loved Charles Chips as a kid; they came in a large metal canister that sat on the counter.  Once a week the Charles Chips delivery truck would pull up to refill our canister, I couldn’t wait for that delivery day!  This bird house is made out of one of the chip canisters. Love it!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83747525/coffee-can-birdhouse-whimsical-birdhouse?ref=v1_other_1

This little birdhouse is completely made with re-purposed items from the kitchen. Cute! This website has many interesting birdhouses and feeders.

http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/36287/yellow-porcelain-enamel-pitcher-birdhouse

The re-purposed yellow pitcher birdhouse as described by the designer:  “It's just a little bit of sunshine”.  I’m sure the birds at my dad’s place would love this!

http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/2011/09/sweet-tweet-retreat.html#comment-form

The Brambleberry Cottage really went "sky-high" on this one-of-a-kind re-purposed birdhouse. They’ve got a barn full of found items and decided to put something together for the birds. I adore the perch which is made out of an old coffee grinder handle and the chicken feeder top that became part of the post decoration.

So you’re ready to give it a try and you’re wondering where to scavenge for materials? Stop at construction sites to ask for whatever scraps and leftover materials they won't be using. Check out the local flea market or farm sale. If a building is being torn down, ask if you can scavenge old hinges or discarded bits and bobs.  And without plundering protected wildernesses, consider nature: use a particularly gorgeous stone as a decoration, or make a birdhouse hanger by sanding down a sturdy branch and nailing a few (scavenged/found) hooks into it.  Take a walk on the wild side and have fun!

Summer love....

Summer in Atlanta is hot and sticky, but the high humidity is perfect for growing hydrangeas.  I'm in love with hydrangeas; they are one of the most beautiful summer blooming plants in the south. I can remember when I moved to Atlanta being drawn to the cool shaded area on the north side of the my house where a huge bush of blue hydrangeas was planted. The giant blooms were as big as a plate and such a clear, deep blue they seemed to belong in a hot house rather than casually hanging about the garden. 

Every year just a few weeks before the daily temps soar, we get to enjoy these gorgeous blooming flowers in a range of bold colors.  Below are some of my jewelry designs reminiscent of the hydrangeas in the garden... 

CHEERS!

But it doesn't have pockets.....

Yesterday I noticed that my purse is starting to look shabby, not just a little shabby, it is way past what could be called “shabby chic”. The straps are fraying, the seams are coming loose, the leather is worn, and one zipper refuses to zip.

To me there is not a more excruciating chore than having to switch my purse, and I really can’t comprehend how some gals do it every day. I literally spend hours shopping for just the right purse. It can’t be flimsy, floppy, or refuse to stand solidly. It must have pockets, and dividers, and compartments, and zippers, and... you get the picture. For me, successfully using a purse involves close supervision of its contents. I tend to forget where I’ve put things so compartmentalizing is the key to my sanity. I work hard to be organized, but even then the multi-pocket idea is not fool-proof. I have to remember which pocket I put stuff in. Maybe voice-activated software would be useful—I could open my purse, say “chapstick”, and the correct pocket will vibrate, blink, or talk back to me.

So, today I started my search for a new handbag on Etsy. I always try to support small businesses and my fellow Etsy handmade artists, but I just wasn’t finding what I wanted. Don’t get me wrong, there were beautiful handbags in every color, texture, and shape, but I couldn’t find the perfect fit for me.

Then I stumbled upon these…..problem solved!



Organizer by Divide and Conquer

A purse organizer insert with pockets galore and stand-up sides so it doesn't go all flimsy inside the purse.

Organizer by Divide and Conquer

It has pockets inside and out and some have dividers and zippers too!

Organizer by Divide and Conquer

The organizers come in many different colors and styles; with or without handles.

Example Photos by PurseSitter.com

Just look how everything fits neatly inside this purse!

Organizer by: It's All in the Bag

There's even a mini organizer for your formal clutch bag.

Keeping my purse organized just got a whole lot easier! No more digging around in the dark corners of my purse for cell phone, keys, check book, etc. Best of all, if I do decide to swap my handbag to match an outfit, I can simply lift the Organizer out of my everyday purse and the entire contents can be easily transferred to a cute trendy bag with NO pockets. It will be simple, quick and easy, no need to unload all the pockets to change bags. Yippeee!

1000 Gifts – Part Two

This is part two of my own journey to list my 1000 gifts; blessings to be thankful for every day.

It really does make a difference in my outlook when I realize how much splendor surrounds me on a daily basis. Whether it's a morning walk in the woods, the sound of my sweetie arriving, or the flowers blooming in our yard, there are so many things to be thankful for…all the little things that make me smile.

My mission is based on a book by Ann Voskamp titled One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. I plan to complete this journey by June 3o, 2013. Should you also feel inspired to remind yourself of all the things you have been blessed with (things that make you smile every day), please join me. Add a comment to this post and let me know you’re onboard; I'd love to read about your gifts too.

And so my 1000 Gifts journey continues...

One Thousand gifts I have been blessed with Part Two:

19.  My Sweetie stopping on the way home from work to get me a chicken pot pie

20.  Receiving the catalog order before the anticipated arrival date

21.  Opening a new bar of oatmeal and honey soap

22.  Sunday Brunch at my favorite spot: Local Three

23.  Braised Short Ribs that slice like butter

24.  Whipped potatoes so scrumptious you go for seconds AND thirds

25.  Fresh cut flowers on the counter in the kitchen

26.  A hand written thank you note in the mail

27.  A new keypad lock so I can’t lock myself out of the house

28.  Hitting the long stop light just right so I can dig around in my purse for lost treasures

29.  Finding money in the pocket of the jeans that I haven’t worn recently

30.  Being trusted by family to research cruise ship vacations to Alaska

31.  Watching “The Bachelorette” (guilty pleasure) from a DVR so I can skip commercials

32. Ear plugs at bedtime

33. An extra purple pen to replace the one that dried-up in the middle of a conference call

34. Reminiscing with a friend about “the old days” and experiences we shared at work

35. Knowing that I’m loved when I’m having a bad day

36. An express elevator trip from the 19th floor to the lobby with zero stops (very rare)

37. Pictures of Puppies Playing

38. Time to read favorite blogs today

  

Too be continued….

Bead Soup Blog Party...Ten stress-free steps...

  The next Bead Soup Blog Party is just around the corner.  I’ve been thinking about how I want to approach the upcoming event.  In the past I’ve completed designs that I was comfortable with, but that isn't the point of this ‘Party’.  It is meant to challenge creative limitations and help you try something new.  So in preparation for the next Bead Soup event, I have outlined 10 ways (listed below) to improve my experience and grow as a designer. If you are interesting in reading about the Bead Soup Blog Party, check out Lori Anderson’s blog “Pretty Things”.



My Past Bead Soup Blog Party Designs



My New Design Process for the Bead Soup Blog Party…

1. You need to keep in mind what’s interesting to you as a designer, not what’s easy to do as a jewelry maker. They can be very different.


2. Simplify. Focus. Define your color pallet. Which beads will you use from your soup ingredients? You may feel like you’re losing valuable stuff, but it sets you free.


3. Visualize jewelry designs you love. What you love about them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.


4. Think about what you are good at, comfortable with. Now what is the polar opposite of that? Challenge yourself.


5. Discount the 1st design that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.


6. Visualize or draw a finished piece before you figure out how to create it. Seriously. New design direction is hard; get your design well-defined up front.


7. No effort is ever wasted. If it’s not working, let go and move on - it’ll come back around to be useful later.


8. Recognize your skill: the difference between doing your best & fretting. Design is about trying, not worrying.


9. If you were wearing this piece, how would you feel? Use that feeling to describe your work.


10. Finish and post your design, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both (finished on time and perfection), but even if you don’t have both, know that you embraced the challenge and created something from your heart.

Cheers!

WOOHOO! Things are back to normal…

I’ve been a bit slack in my regular blog posts lately. My husband and I were quite busy working on our daughters’ wedding during the month of May. Anyone who’s planned a big wedding can probably understand that life was a bit hectic prior to the big walk down the aisle. The wedding was a success and it’s behind us now, so life is back to normal and I’m working on new items for my Etsy shop.

I’ve been wire wrapping like crazy so I can list some new pearl cluster bracelets. Each dangle must be individually wrapped so this design is fairly labor intensive. The design has been one of the top sellers, so I hope to breathe some new life into my inactive shop. Below you will see an example of the pink bracelet I’m working on. I’m also working on a purple one at the same time. I’ve found that working on the bracelets with an assembly line approach makes the task a little less time consuming. I will be posting the finished products in my shop this weekend.

1000 Gifts

   This morning while visiting some of the blogs that I enjoy reading, I was intrigued by an older post by Sarah, the author of “fairytales are true”. The post was titled – “1000 gifts”. Sarah was inspired by a book written by Ann Voskamp titled One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. She made the decision to list her own 1000 gifts on her blog. After reading Sarah's blog post and additional lists, I’ve decided to join several charismatic bloggers and embark on my own journey to list “1000 gifts”…

   I too believe that being thankful and appreciative is one of life's greatest challenges and joys. As Sarah put it, “happy people are grateful and grateful people are happy” It really does make a difference when I realize how much splendor surrounds me on a daily basis. Whether it's a morning walk in the woods, the sound of my sweetie arriving, or the flowers blooming in our yard, there are so many things to be thankful for every day. All the little things that make me smile.

   I plan to complete this journey by June 3o, 2013. Should you also feel inspired to remind yourself of all the things you have been blessed with (things that make you smile every day), please join me. Add a comment to this post and let me know you’re onboard; I'd love to read about your gifts too. Also, Sarah tracks and follows the blogs of people who are participating in this journey; send her a note and she’ll add you to her list.

And so my 1000 Gifts journey begins...

One Thousand gifts I have been blessed with:

1. The deep purple hydrangea bush blooming next to our house.
2. The woodpecker tapping out his version of Morse Code on the hardwood tree
3. Seeing the spider before I accidentally walked through his web
4. Watching the grade school students in their matching uniforms walk to school
5. Help moving the heavy boxes from the tenth floor to the ground floor
6. Having a Nook in my purse so I can read at lunch
7. The fabric flowers in a pot on my desk that remind me of Laguna Beach, CA
8. The location of my cube so I can see out the window and have natural light at work.
9. The email with a picture of kittens that my Dad sent
10. Shoes that don’t pinch, rub, or squish my feet
11. Time to think while waiting in the long line of cars exiting the parking garage
12. The air conditioner is working in my car (I live in the deep south)
13. The “song of the trains” down the street from our house
14. Our cat Beau greeting me at the door (he’s elderly and doesn’t do this very often)
15. A friendly greeting from the coffee stand barista
16. A bakery fresh “Everything” bagel
17. Seeing the V formation of geese gliding down to a smooth landing on lawn
18. The elevator doors opening before I push the button

Too be continued….

‘Festooned’ Packaging…

I’ve recently been lucky enough to have some repeat buyers in my Etsy shop. With so much competition in the jewelry category, it’s quite an honor to have a buyer appreciate my design and workmanship enough to return to my shop to make an additional purchase.

 

Packaging is one way I try to stand out from my competition. Every purchase includes a glossy white gift box, wrapped with a pretty ribbon, ready for gift giving. But what about my outer packaging, I want to make that stand out too.

I ship in a small white video cassette shipping box. They are sturdy and very economical if you buy them in bulk, but they do not promote my brand in any way. I want to improve that area of my business. I found a great tutorial on how to make a rubber stamp roller. The roller makes a cute string of pennant flags that can be used to decorate my shipping boxes. I’m going to try this tutorial with other shapes too. Maybe a string of butterflies to match my shop banner or Christmas trees for holiday shoppers. Check out the full tutorial on Cathe Holden’s blog - Just Something I Made.

I’m off to the craft store to pick-up some supplies…Cheers!

Wedding Fan Project

Our daughters wedding is less than six weeks away (yikes!).  This weekend my husband and I are working on hand fans for the guests to use during the outdoor ceremony.  The weather in Georgia is unpredictable that time of year so we are preparing for what could be a steamy event.  Since the color printer and I have issues, Chuck will be doing the printing and I will be doing the design and assembly work.  Below is the inspiration fan we will be using as a guide.  On the back we will have a fill in the blank "Mad Libs" story about the bride and groom. Chuck and his daughters enjoyed doing "Mad Libs" when the girls were growing up. It will give the guests something to do while waiting for the big event.

Have a great weekend! We will be covered with glue and ink.....

Cheers!

Pretty Etsy Treasury

My Monet's Garden bracelet was featured in a Etsy treasury today. 
Take a peek, I love the colors...

Swamp Romp.....

It’s Spring Break here in Georgia. We spent the last few days exploring and camping in the amazing Okefenokee Swamp with our more adventurous camping buddies. The swamp is one of North America’s most unspoiled, fascinating and valuable natural areas. It is the largest, intact, un-fragmented, freshwater and black water wilderness in North America. The swamp covers roughly 700 square miles and is located in the southeastern corner of Georgia. Wildlife flourishes here; more than 400 species of vertebrates, including more than 200 varieties of birds and more than 60 kinds of reptiles, are known to inhabit the swamp.

The Okefenokee is crisscrossed by over 120 miles of water trails. It is a major destination for wetlands nature lovers, paddlers and boaters. We chartered a boat for an incredible night tour. Without any light pollution, the Okefenokee Swamp is one of the best places in the Southeast to view the moon, stars and planets. The night was so clear; we saw Venus vividly shining down on us and thousands of twinkling stars.

At night, alligator’s eyes shine bright red; it’s spooky to see hundreds of red eyes watching you. Park Rangers estimate that 12,000 alligators live within the refuge. We listened to gators bellowing and a chorus of singing frogs and toads. I loved seeing owls and bats silently gliding overhead.

The only advice I can give about camping in the swamp is this: you can never have enough bug spray!
But don't let that keep you from visiting this magical place.

Happy Camping, Cheers!

Five Little Monkeys.......

Do you ever have a song stuck in your head?  A snippet of the tune keeps coming to mind over and over and over?  I've had a well know childrens song swirling around in my head for days now.  It was triggered by a wonderful cake design by "i Heart Cakes" in the photo below.  I spotted this cute cake while searching for a grooms cake in a DesignBeep blog post featuring 70 wonderful cake designs. Isn't this the cutest cake you've ever seen!



Designed by -  iheartcakes.com



"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the Doctor and the Doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"