"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.

"Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining"

Beads in whites and greys like a cloudy sky and an occasional silver sparkly bead prompted the name for this necklace.  

I was thinking about this as I was making it so I thought I'd type the phrase in an internet search.  This is a portion of what I found:

Idiom Definitions for 'Every cloud has a silver lining '~ People sometimes say that every cloud has a silver lining to comfort somebody who's having problems. They mean that it is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, no matter how unpleasant, difficult or even painful it might seem. 

I also learned something new today!  I had to look up the definition of "Idiom".  In case you don't know either, here is what it is: 

Definition of Idiom ~ A phrase which has a meaning that is commonly understood by speakers of the language, but whose meaning is often different from the normal meaning of the words is called an idiom. 

So the thought for today is to remember to be positive and alway's look for the silver lining!

Inspired by Wedding Flowers and The Wedding Story

Erin of Treasures Found::Inspiration is Everywhere does a monthly challenge.  The challenge this month is to create something “Inspired by Wedding Flowers".   I decided to use my daughter’s wedding flowers as my inspiration. 

Please note that I didn't properly follow the rules for this challenge.  I just used it as a starting point for my own enjoyment!  If you're interested in joining the challenge please read the rules!

The Wedding Story…
Once upon a time there was a 16 year old girl who fell in love with a 25 year old guy.  They decided it was time to tell the parents. The young man came to talk to my husband.  Now my husband is a big guy so you have to admire the courage it took for this young man to tell him that he was in love with his daughter!  Well, my husband told him in no uncertain terms to stay away from his daughter!  We knew him and didn’t have a problem with him personally. He’s a nice young man and we approved of him, but as parents had a problem with the age difference since our daughter was still in high school.

Well, they continued to talk on the phone, but I’m sure they didn’t see each other because that was forbidden.  (Uh huh, I’ll just keep on believing that!)  The subject of them dating kept coming up and finally my husband agreed, with strict conditions!  They continued to date through her high school years and the day came that he proposed.  The wedding plans began!


We planned an outdoor wedding for May 6 at a garden a few miles from here.  Imagine walking through a vine covered canopy, down a lovely wooded path, past a small waterfall to arrive at the wedding site.  It was going to be beautiful!  Her flowers were Stargazer Lilies.  The wedding colors were hot pink and lime green.  She walked down the aisle to "Beautiful Mess “ by Diamond Rio.  A little unconventional but that is “their” song.  That’s what I love about weddings now days.  You can be unique, you can be you, you can do anything you want to do!


We planned to have the reception there, also.  I envisioned this lovely “afternoon tea” setting with guests lingering, enjoying the beautiful gardens, while having their cake and punch. Well, that was not to be…


It rained and rained and rained.  All day.  It wasn’t sprinkles, it wasn’t pouring.  Just a nice steady shower.  There was a small chapel on the property and that was our back-up plan if necessary.  We knew it would be very crowded but it would work.  She was so disappointed and determined that she wanted to be married outside.  Luckily, one of the guests was a Boy Scout leader and, “always being prepared”, he arrived early AND he had a canopy with him! They quickly set it up for the wedding party.  We sent someone to town to buy all the umbrellas they could find and she was married in the garden!


It was a quick ceremony due to the rain.  The unity candle and reception were moved to a hall they had rented for the party afterwards.  Due to our oldest daughter “knowing people” we were able to have an arch and yards of tulle and twinkle lights delivered and managed to set up a very pretty backdrop for the reception table!

As they say, “All’s well that ends well“.  It wasn’t exactly the wedding of her dreams but it still turned out beautiful and they just celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary!

I put together a little slide show with some of the wedding pictures.

And now for the jewelry:

"Katie's Bouquet"

I used small white seed beads with a pearl finish, and pink, green and yellow seed beads as accents on black wire.  I added some Czech Fire Polished beads. The color in these beads ranges from the palest pink to dark pink.  The pendant is from a garage sale find.  I think it resembles a lily.  If I had shopped for beads for this project it would have been more elaborate, but due to the distance of the nearest bead shop and the temptations involved with ordering online I just used what I had on hand!

  I enjoyed this trip down memory lane and hope you did, too! 

~Today's Quote~

"Some see age as a restriction, some see age as a number, I see age as mind over matter.

 If you don't mind it don't matter!"

"Treasures of the Sea" Necklace & Earrings

"Treasures of the Sea" features a large shell pendant. 

 For this wire crochet necklace I used a seed bead mixture in whites and purples, including some with a pearlized finish, to pick up the purple color on the shell.   I also added in some small seashells. The sparkling beads, pearls and shells remind me of a deep sea treasure.

This is the first time I've used wire crochet in earrings.  I crocheted a very small section with a seashell and a few beads, attached it to the earwire, then attached a shell disk to it. 

~Today's Quote~

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.

So love the people who treat you right,

and forget about the ones who don't

and believe that everything happens for a reason. 

 If you get a chance, take it.

If it changes your life, let it. 

Nobody said that it would be easy,

they just promised it would be worth it.

~♥~

"Zoey"

"Zoey" is done with lots of black, white and clear Czech glass beads on silver wire.  I made a rather large "centerpiece" and attached chain on each side.  The chain has large round and oval links that are in proportion to the large center piece.  I think this one has kind of a modern "retro" look!

~Today's Quote~

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count.  It's the life in your years.

~Abraham Lincoln

"Jewel"

Finally, some time to create! I received these beads as a Blogging for Beaders gift from Artbeads before Christmas and I've been so anxious to get started! I was allowed to choose from their selection of Sterling Silver and Glass beads. When I saw this Black, Pink and White Pillow bead I knew that's what I wanted to use as the starting point for my design! It reflects the theme I have chosen for "Be~Jeweled by jana":  Black,White, Hot Pink & Swirls .

I used the following items from Artbeads selection of Glass Beads: Black, White, & Pink Pillow Bead, Black 5 x 4 mm Jet Roundelles, 8mm Glass Druk Beads White/Black (these are very cute, 1/2 white & half black), Jet 4mm Czech Fire Polished Beads, White 4mm Czech Fire Polished Beads & Toho 6/0 Beads in Gilt-Lines Hot Pink Opal.  I used black wire and added some small 3cut black seed beads that I had on hand.

It is finished with the cutest Bali Cones with a swirl pattern & a Sterling Spiral Toggle Clasp.

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.

~My Wish for you in 2010~

May peace break into your home

and may thieves come to steal your debts,

May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.

May love stick to your face like Vaseline

and may laughter assault your lips!

May happiness slap you across the face

and may your tears be that of joy.

May the problems you had forget your home address!