Hot Pink & Black Blingy Necklace!

This necklace was inspired by all the blingy wallets and purses you see everywhere, like this one...

Photo from the website of ST Country Bling located in Welch, OK

I've had the cross pendant for awhile but needed to get the right beads.  You can't see it too well in the picture, but I used black wire.  It is kind of big and blingy but it's really cute on!

As you can probably tell, I've still been a little uninspired this year.  I think maybe I just needed some new beads!  I took my granddaughter on her first trip to Hobby Lobby yesterday!  (Well, actually I did take her once before, but she doesn't remember, so it doesn't count!)  She had a gift card and I printed a 40% off coupon for her.  She had the ultimate Hobby Lobby experience!  She loved it.  She's partial to paper like the rest of us girls and was amazed that you could buy just one sheet of paper...and thrilled!  She picked out a couple of sheets of paper and some stickers to decorate a notebook and some little glass animal charms and a ball chain so she'll be able to switch out her charms for different necklaces.  It sure was fun!

I've been doing a lot of crocheting with yarn since the fall and have opened a new Etsy shop, but more on that later!

~Today's Quote~

There is in each of us so much goodness that if we could see it glow, it would light the world.

~Sam Friend

SPRING BEGINS!

On the calendar today it says ~ Spring Begins!  O Happy Day!  I know you're all just as excited by that announcement as I am!

I made a bracelet with these beads last year and made another one this year because they just seem so... Springy!

Have a nice day!  : )

~Today's Quote~

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush."

~ Doug Larson

Bridesmaid Jewelry!

I don't know if you'll remember but awhile back I mentioned that I had received a custom order for 13 matching necklaces that were to be given as bridesmaid gifts.  I received this e-mail from the bride yesterday!

"GOOD MORNING!  How are you?! Just wanted to share... Our wedding and your necklaces are featured! I am really excited about this posting below and just wanted to share! Our wedding made Style Me Pretty! Style me pretty is a wedding blog that I checked everyday for inspiration while planning. Our florist Cori submitted the wedding to them and they posted it under the "black book vender" yesterday! :) Just wanted to share! ;) Thanks again!"

A virtual rainbow of Bridesmaids!

"All I knew was that I wanted something elegant, fun, original and personal.  We did not want a particular “theme”or color (!) or a wedding that looked like any wedding our guests had ever seen before. In fact, many would call me crazy as I started the wedding planning process for our January 15th, 2011 wedding. We had thirteen bridesmaids and thirteen groomsmen all wearing a different color. (I assigned a color to each bridesmaid or groomsmen that I thought fit their personality!) I gave each bridesmaid a matching clutch and the boys wore a matching pocket squar. Our florist, Cori Cook Floral Design, took on many of the wedding details … in particular, the thirteen beautiful bouquet and boutonnieres pairs, each completely unique from the other."  You can read the rest of the feature and see more photos of this beautiful and whimsical wedding at Style Me Pretty here!

Congratulations to the Bride and Groom...I wish you all the happiness in the world as you start your new life together!  And, thank you, Kami, for allowing me to be part of your very special day!

Photos by Laura Murray Photography
Florals by Cori Cook Floral Design
 
The necklaces were similar to this one ~ black wire, black beads, but more heavily beaded.  You can see some of the bridesmaids are wearing them in the photos!
 

~Today's Quote~

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."

~Mignon McLaughlin

Multicolor Madness!

Four and a half feet of glass beads in all shapes and colors were strung on gunmetal wire, crocheted and then twisted together to create this multicolor necklace and bracelet!  I think it has kind of a vintage look, maybe it's the gunmetal wire.

February is drawing to a close and putting us that much closer to spring!  I think we're all ready for that!  I'll leave you with this lovely word art that I ran across the other day...

Free download found at http://www.youpublish.com/files/36179/Sparkle--Shine-Quote-Word-Art

"Mermaid" Wire Crochet Necklace

It was fun to work with these bright colors!  The shell pendant and ocean colors make me think of a mermaid and the green wire seaweed.

There are six strands of peridot wire with tiny seed beads in green and blue with an iridescent finish and some 6/0 gold lined green beads.  Each strand is a little different. 

The weather has been beautiful this week!  I'm sure there is more winter to come but this has been such a nice break!  And look at the gorgeous sunset we had the other night...

"Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal.” 

~Elbert Hubbard

"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.

Blizzard of 2011

Like a third of the country, we here in Southeast Kansas were hit by the Blizzard of 2011.  This was Tuesday and so far there hasn't been much change. 

The temperature yesterday morning was -18.  It's supposed to be barely above freezing this weekend which I'm hoping will cause some melting, but there's more snow in the forcast for Sunday and Monday. 

I've got quite an ice sculpture going on my windchimes and a dangerous looking overhang on the roof which just happens to be over the back door.  Yikes!  Hope my husband doesn't slam the door too hard!

I'm working on my Artbeads "Winter Enchantment" design and hope to post it tomorrow.

Wishing you a warm nose and toasty toes!