Goldstone "Everyday" Necklace & Earrings

"Brown goldstone is a form of glass infused with glittering particles of copper that sparkle and gleam." 

I wanted to make a necklace with copper wire and goldstone.  I wasted most of Sunday afternoon and many yards of wire trying to create something more intricate and didn't like any of it!  This is what I ended up with and, you know, I really like it.  Just a simple necklace to wear for everyday that really lets the goldstone shine!   I couldn't get a picture that really shows the beauty of it.

I'm getting ready for the Edna craft show this Saturday.  If you're in the area stop by and see us!

~Today's Quote~

I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process....

it may not be true, but do I dare take the chance???

"Back to Nature" Wood Beads & Leather Necklace

For some reason lately I'm attracted to leather in jewelry.  Maybe it's the changing seasons.  I've never done much with it until lately.  I guess I'm going through  a leather phase!  I have a few other ideas I'd like to try, too.

  I crocheted this necklace with wood beads on bronze wire and attached a piece of brown leather on each side.   Matching earrings were made by adding a round wood bead and wood donuts to large bronze jumprings. 

~Today's Quote~

Stop every now and then.  Just stop and enjoy.  Take a deep breath.  Relax and take in the abundance of life.

~Unknown

{Smile}

There's a cute e-mail going around that I wanted to share if you haven't seen it already.  It says:

"I don't want to brag or make anybody jealous or anything, but I can still fit into the earrings I wore in high school."

I actually did wear these in High School. 

Hey, what can I say?  It was the 70's!

They were one of my favorite pairs and somehow I've managed to hang on to them all these years! 

Well, until next time...

Peace & Love!

The Beauty of Spring

"Lilacs in Bloom"

When Artbeads announced the theme, "The Beauty of Spring", the first thing that came to my mind was lilacs!  I've always loved them.  They're one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring and they smell soooo good!  I have a lilac bush outside my kitchen window.  I see the first little buds on the bush and within a couple of weeks those tiny buds are lilacs in full bloom!

I made a matching set~ necklace, bracelet and earrings.  To create this set I chose the following from Artbeads selection of Swarovski crystals and used Vintaj bronze wire to represent the bark :

5301 5mm Faceted Bicones in Lilac 

(These must be out of stock.  I don't find them on the website now.  I'm guessing this is due to Swarovski phasing out the 5301 and replacing them with the XILION bicone)

5328 4mm XILION Bicone in Lilac

5328 4mm XILION Bicone in Light Olivine

I wish you could see the sparkle of these crystals.  There's just nothing prettier or sparklier than a Swarovksi crystal!

Thank you, Artbeads!

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.

~Today's Quote~

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.

 ~Kahlil Gibran

I'm the lucky winner of this beautiful bracelet!

One of my favorite blogs is Rose Binoya's blog, Ahtee's Blog.  She says that "making pretty things is what I love doing" and making pretty things is what she does!  She offered this beautiful bracelet as a giveaway on her blog and I was lucky enough to win!  It arrived Monday and it is SO pretty! 

 I love her logo and packaging...

It was in a pretty box and tied with ribbons. She also enclosed a sweet handwritten note.  I told her that I had just ordered a new turquoise top and that the bracelet would go perfectly with it.  She surprised me with a matching pair of earrings!  How stinkin' cute are they?!  The bracelet and earrings both feature buttons!

Hop on over to her blog where you can shop her Etsy shop, become a fan of her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter!

THANK YOU, ROSE!!!

I LOVE THEM!

~Today's Quote~

True contentment is not in having everything, but in being satisfied with everything you have.

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.

All the way from Australia!

I was lucky enough to win a bracelet giveaway from Davinia in Australia!  It arrived today and let me tell you I got the royal treatment!

Inside was a nice handwritten note and a very cute decorated tin...

She even included some extra goodies~ a pair of her wallpaper earrings and two pendants that she made using Tim Holtz memory frames!

AND she sent the cutest little koala...!!!

She made me feel so special! 

The bracelet is awesome and includes a hook clasp that she made herself.

I can't wait to make something with the pendants!

Drop by her blog, Deez News, to see her latest creations and take a look in her Artfire Studio!

Thank you so much for Everything, Davinia!

~Today's Quote~

You give but little when you give of your possessions. 

 It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

~Kahlil Gibran

~♥~

Dragonflies for Mom

Wednesday was my Mom's birthday.  We celebrated with Dairy Queen ice cream cake, gifts, and lots of giggles!  Hope your day was happy, Mom!  We love you!!!

 I made this necklace & earrings especially for her because she likes Dragonflies. A "fried marble" is attached to the tail.  My granddaughter{Delaney} & I like to do crafty things together.  One day we fried marbles.  They turned out quite pretty & sparkly!  Delaney gave one of the marbles to Mom and she has saved it so I knew it would have special meaning on the necklace. 

I used Czech Fire Polished beads in "Moonlight Mist".  These are so pretty, aqua with bronze-y accents, which went perfectly with the Vintaj bronze wire.  I used a Vintaj Scrolled Filigree Ring & Art Deco Dragonfly, and used a Vintaj bead cap to attach the marble.  The earrings are Dragonfly Connectors with a "Moonlight Mist" dangle.

~Today's Quote is in Honor of my Mom~

"All that I am or hope to be I owe to my Mother."

~Abraham Lincoln

~♥~