"Winter Enchantment" with Artbeads

Artbeads asked their blog partners to create a ‘Winter Enchantment’ design that represents what you find beautiful or inspirational about the winter season.  Well, this one stumped me because, quite honestly, there’s not much that I find enchanting about winter!

The definition of enchantment is “a magical spell, charm or bewitchment, in traditional fairy tales or fantasy” so I decided to use the literal definition and create a winter fantasy!

"Enchanted Garden"

I cast a magical spell and created an “Enchanted Garden” where roses bloom in the wintertime.  Take the key, unlock the gate and step into my garden...

Roses are climbing everything in sight, a vision of pink against a solid backdrop of ice and snow.  The sun is shining brightly, making everything to sparkle as if it's been sprinkled with glitter.  The sun is warm on your shoulders allowing you to linger and enjoy the beautiful sight just a little while longer....

For my design, I chose Crystal and White Porphyr Czech Fire Polished beads (ice and snow), 10mm Round Silver Foil beads with Pink Roses, and Rose Swarovski Crystals from their glass beads.  I used a sweet little sterling silver skeleton key charm and I also chose a large silver-plated pewter twist ring to hang the key from as if it was a key ring. 

And last but not least I added the silver-plated Leaves Toggle clasp.  I thought it fit with the garden theme and looked like it belonged in a fairy tale.

Thank you, Artbeads, for letting me escape the reality of winter for just a little while!

Disclosure: I am a Blogging for Beaders partner with Artbeads. The above noted items were provided to me free of charge, to be used for design purposes, or for my honest review of them. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Grandma's Rose Garden

Shades of Antique Roses and Pearls inspired me to name this necklace "Grandma's Rose Garden".

I used lots of glass seed beads in shades of pink along with mauve cultured potato pearls.  It looks very soft and romantic! 

I kind of liked the way the crocheted earrings with the shells turned out so I made a pair to go with this necklace.  I think the delicate look of them goes especially well with this necklace.

~Today's Quote~

There's a story behind today's quote!

.  I bought a little hand painted heart shaped wall hanging that said

"If Grandma's were roses, I'd pick you."

for my Grandma when she was in the nursing home and it hung on her door.  When she passed away, unknown to me, my Mom kept it.  Not long ago my Grandaughter gave it to me. I never imagined when I bought it that someday I would be a Grandma and it would be hanging on my wall.