Bully Beads

I really did say no more....

2011-01-04T12:35:00.003-05:00

I said no more dogs after Cassie was gone, I really did...and I meant it...for about 2 days. It was so lonely and quiet here neither one of us could stand it . So I went on the search for a reputable breeder in the area. Usually most only have a littler once or twice a year so I was sure we would have to wait until spring. I think I must have sent out about 20 emails . Most would let me know when they had a litter available..but one..one had a litter ready to go and we could come visit.

So we did and left with Annabella..who I must say as I sit here and write and she's in her puppy corral..is VERY vocal. I haven't had and sleep in days and caught the flu yesterday but we're happy! We'll be even happier when she's a big girl with a big girl bladder!

So here's Belly!

In memory of Cassie

2010-12-22T17:51:00.004-05:00

Our little bully went over the rainbow bridge last night. She was the most faithful, lovable dog I've ever had the pleasure of calling my own. She came into this world on June 21,2000 The longest day of the year and summer solstice and left this earth December 21, 2010 the shortest day of the year. My only consolation is she's up in heaven with my parents taking care of her silly face right now. Here's to all those mourning the loss of a pet this holiday....

Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting heaven and earth
It is called Rainbow Bridge because of its many colours

Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows,
hills, valleys with lush green grass

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this special place
There is always food and water and warm spring weather

The old and frail are young again
Those who are maimed are made whole again

They play all day with each other
There is only one thing missing

They are not with their special person who loved them on Earth
So each day they run and play until the day comes
when one suddenly stops playing and looks up !

The nose twitches !
The ears are up !
The eyes are staring !
And this one suddenly runs from the group !

You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet,
you take him or her into your arms and embrace
your face is kissed again and again,
and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated

Author Unknown

Rest in peace sweet little girl.

Second chance at a freebie!!

2010-08-30T20:35:00.005-05:00

I'm so grateful to everyone who signed up for the last giveaway! Quite an overwhelming response to say the least.. considering the giveaway before that I only had 8 people sign up for!

Good news is I'm having one more giveaway! I'm not hosting this one though. It's at Cafe Handmade and they have a few different rules and you have less time to dilly over putting in an entry ;)
Here is the link to the giveaway Cafe Handmade Giveaway
and here's what you could win!

This is a solid sterling silver cuff (that will fit pretty much any wrist) with a sea glass stone bezel set in fine silver. The stone washed up on the beaches of Hawaii after many years of tumbling around in the sea!

So go sign up because it ends September 4th!!

We have a winner!

2010-08-28T23:14:00.003-05:00

Congratulations goes out to Bob Fedoruk for winning the 1st ever Bully Beads Blog Giveaway! Send me a message with your snail mail addy Bob and I'll get your necklace out to you Monday!

Thank you everyone for participating! Stay tuned for another great giveaway!

This drawing was held by Lissa Harlin Designs in a fair and unbiased manner, using RANDOM.ORG's Third-Party Draw Service. For details, please see the drawing's record.

BLOG GIVEAWAY!

2010-08-14T13:47:00.006-05:00

Without further ado and to not keep anyone in more suspense... Starting today I will be having a blog giveaway to celebrate the re opening of bullybeads blog. I've sorely neglected her :(

This is the prize!

The sterling silver chain is 34 inches long and has 2 pink puffy cubes of pink quartz. The circle pendant is made from fine silver and hammered for texture. I've wire wrapped 3 fantastic briolettes to the circle.The first is a beautiful gold flash onion faceted labradorite, the second is a lovely mystic blue topaz flat pear briolette and last but certainly not least is a humongo large double concave mystic pink quartz! The entire piece was heavily oxidized to make the colors pop!

There will be several ways you can enter and each will count as it's own entry should you choose to enter more than once :)

1. 1 entry for posting a comment below

2.1 entry for following my blog

3. 1 entry for fanning (liking)me on facebook CLICK HERE

4. 1 entry for tweeting about this giveaway

5. 1 entry for posting a link to this giveaway on your facebook page.

6. 1 entry for posting about this giveaway on your own blog.

Please leave a comment here with an email address so you can be contacted and how many entries you had and and what you did to enter. The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the winning announcement and give me their shipping address. If not, there will be another winner chosen . The giveaway will run today August 14th until August 28th midnight EST.

A winner will be chosen using random.org on August the 29th!

Thanks for joining in!

Exciting times!!

2010-08-08T21:48:00.005-05:00

So the big news is I've finally had a shop want to carry some of my items!! I know it's not like I have terrible things, but I've never known how to approach anyone to carry things. Thanks to facebook and Susan Rosenblum I got connected with American Craftsman Gallery . I've been working feverishly for two days now! I don't carry a ton of extra stock and I wanted to come up with some fresh ideas to send to the shop!

These are a few of the things I'm going to be sending in... I have a ton more *whew*

I did get to have some time in the yard to unwind and think about what I wanted to make next. Caught this little beauty on the hosta.

So if you're in New Platz, NY on August 27th , they are having a fashion show with wine, cheese and other goodies at the Grand Opening of the American Craftsman Gallery from 6-8 pm. Stop by and see some of my things at the fashion show!

Sunday afternoon and what's to eat..

2010-08-01T14:37:00.003-05:00

I'm not a vegetarian..not even close, but occasionally I like to feel like I'm eating healthy and make one of my dear friend Sharons recipe for veggie pizza. Keep in mind you can use any combo of your favorite veggies these are just the ones I like.

1 -tube 13.8 oz. pillsbury classic pizza (usually in dairy case with crescent rolls)
1 -1.0 oz package Hidden Valley Ranch dips mix
1 -8 oz package Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese ( I used 1/3 less fat..more healthy lol)

2 TBS. Mayo
2 small bunches of broccoli
handful of petite carrots sliced
1/2 medium green pepper diced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 small jar sliced spanish olives

Mix cream cheese,mayo and half the package of hidden valley ranch until well blended, set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Bake pizza dough according to directions... 425 degrees for about 8 minutes. Make sure to poke some holes in the dough to keep it from getting huge bubbles (lesson learned) Set aside to cool.

While crust is cooling chop all veggies. When the crust is cool, spread with cream cheese mixture. Top with your chopped veggies...make sure you take your "clean" hands and press the veggies into the cream cheese mixture...makes them stick better and you don't end up with a lap full of veggieness. Top with cheddar cheese and cover with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator for about an hour to let the flavors meld ;)

These can be cut up into small pieces if you are having a party. They make an awesome appetizer or like me, cut in big pieces and try to consume the entire thing in one afternoon...hey, it is 1/3 less calories right?!! Notice I got out the good china for this photo =D

The bully is back in town..

2010-08-01T10:02:00.001-05:00

New exciting things coming up! Stay tuned for the grand reopening of bullybeads blog :)

Package from across the sea

2009-05-18T11:37:00.007-05:00

I've always been envious of other gemstone buyers for one simple reason...they post pictures of the package they get from India! I know it's trivial, but I can't help it. I've always wished for my very own package wrapped in linen, hand stitched shut and a seal in red wax all over the outside. I never thought I would get my very own linen box....

...but I did today!!! Almost missed the mailman! He never comes this early in the morning..ever. After a late night with hubby playing "world of warcraft" getting my level 29 night elf hunter to a level 30 so I can finally have a mount, I was pooped and stayed in bed till 11:30. Hey, I'm a second shifter, what can I say?

I peeked out the window to see who was disturbing my beauty sleep and see the mailman leaving the porch ...with my package from India in tow! OHMYGOD!!!! I sent hubby outside after him...in his pj's hahaha!! This was my reward

It was just like christmas day, I could hear the metal box inside making thunking noises as I pressed my fingers around the package. After taking several momento pictures, I cut into that sucker quicker than you can say "bob's your uncle" (don't know what that mean's, but I've heard people from the UK say it and always wanted an excuse to say it :) )

All wrapped up and nicely packaged

Getting a little closer to the contents...just peeping out...

After all these years of waiting..just a bit more packaging...oh! Like a kid in a candy store I ripped it all out and examined each and every stone *sigh* Only one bead broke from the fancy rock crystal quartz, but that sucker was loaded with stones. One snapped top isn't going to make me sob with grief..now two maybe??

But this is the end result of all my waiting and wishing. The prices were fabulous and it didn't take very long at all to get them. I must say the quality is really good too. I hate not being able to pick and choose, but there were only minor inclusions in just a very few of the pink amethyst (but they sent me two strands instead of only one!)

My very own patron saint!

2009-05-05T10:08:00.011-05:00

Seriously ...and her name is Donnamarie! But..I'll get to her later :)

So set up day was Thursday. It all went smoothly and I met my booth partner Michele of Tomboy Tools. I noticed the place smelled kind of funky...it is the Harrisburg Farm Show Complex afterall, so it was a sort of barnyard smell...GREAT! Swine flu...barnyard...pigs...swine flu. It should have been an omen for things to come...

Here I am all set up and ready to go friday morning.You can see how excited hubby is trying to hide in the fake trees of my neighbor.

This is the view down my isle...and it pretty much looked like this all Friday!It was just vendors walking around buying and taste testing...lucky me I had a casino 2 doors down with a spinning wheel that made a lovely tick tick tick tick sound with each peg that was hit...joy...

Here enters Donnamarie :) and the heavens opened up *enter angel chorus*
Everyone was so bored that we pretty much left our booths and wondered around. This is when she found my booth..and bought my favorite pair of london blue topaz and ruby earrings! Half way to paying my booth fee YAY!

Saturday was supposed to be the big drawl, Jon and Kate minus the 8. Where Kate signed copies of their new book. It drew a whopping 1,000 people.

...but, once again Donnamarie visited and made my day...TWICE!

Sunday, we had to be there early for a vendor meeting. Many vendors were calling the show coordinators and complaining of the poor attendance. I saw so many packing up saturday and leaving. Many more left sunday morning. They were sorry and apologized for the poor attendance, but had no idea why it was so poorly attended. If word got out how awful the farm shows food was, that could be one reason..bleck! The coordinators had no control over the food or the $8 parking fee 0_o
Sunday was the day Andrew Dan-Jumbo showed up..poor guy! He walked down my isle while I was packing up and said "hi" to me! AHHHHHHHH!

We packed up early because I was just exhausted and hubby ended up getting sick sunday morning.But not before Donnamarie visited and bought more and asked me to custom make her a pair of "Let them eat cake" earrings and wire wrap a stone for her :D

I only had one negative experience with a vendor on the other side of the curtain I guess thinking they had a dome of silence curtain...saying to a customer that "They were true artisans and silversmiths unlike the crafter wire wrappers" Not sure who she thought she was.. I left in the black..she was still in the red...guess it pays to be "just a crafter". I did make several sales besides Donnamarie and overall it was a great learning experience and I won't be so freaked out next time.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Donnamarie for making my first show worthwhile!

First show jitters!!!

2009-04-30T09:18:00.008-05:00

So at the beginning of the month, I was contacted by the show coordinator for the 1st annual Pennsylvania woman's show I knew there was no way under God's green earth I could afford the booth fee, But the very sweet lady told me she would see if she could find someone to share a booth with me. After several days of not hearing from her, I breathed a sigh of relief thinking "she forgot about me...who am I kidding? I'm a huge introvert.. I'm not doing a show!" ...she got back to me saying she found someone to share a booth with me! Oh snap! Busted...now I have to do it. So , here it is, the day of set up. Can I just say I'm scared to DEATH! Not only do I have to worry about people not liking my things or having to compete with mass produced Lia Sophia jewelry..now we have the swine flu *possible pandemic* Now all I can think of is no one is going to show for fear of getting the pig virus *rolling eyes* can anything else possibly go wrong?I did do a pre show set up just to see how it would look set up..here's a preview (keep in mind I have a small space to set up, so the table to the left won't be that close)

The big draw is Jon and Kate Gosselin from Jon & Kate + 8.
I'm really hoping they show, I would love to meet them!Hubby said , it's all a learning process and atleast I'll get some experience even if it's a bust. Maybe I should have shot for a smaller show to start with?!

Oy Vey...it's going to be a long weekend! Wish me luck!I'll come back later to update as to how it went.

Tea Time and Taxes...

2008-11-29T11:53:00.004-05:00

I said I wouldn't do it this year..I promised I wouldn't have the mess of last year...I swore to heaven I'd keep on top of it....hell..that all went out the
window...

Tax time again and once again, I've fallen sadly behind. I wish I could have been more like my mother..or even my brother and be a more organized person, but it just wasn't ment to be. I think those genes passed me by on the gene pool highway.

I'm such a procrastinator infact that I took some time to make tea with orange cranberry scones,pear tarts and devonshire cream with my favorite lady grey tea. Guess it's time to suck it up! Wish me luck!

I've been tagged :)

2008-11-26T20:10:00.002-05:00

I've been tagged by the wonderful , sweet Renee of Candy Stick Lane

I have to list 7 secrets about myself :-0

1. I'm an extrovert trapped in an introverts body...I have so much to say, but often just keep my mouth shut.

2. I'm scared to death to show people my jewelry... I've never done a show or approached a shop to sell my things.

3. I'm a compulsive gem shopper..one day I'll get myself in big trouble since I can't seem to stop!

4. I HATE seeing pictures of myself.. I still see the geeky kid in braces with the Michael Jackson home perm..ahh..the 80's *rolling eyes*

5. Not a day goes by that I don't dwell on the fact that both of my parents have passed away and neither ever got to see my jewelry.

6. I'm a terrible driver...*shhhh* don't tell my husband I admitted that!

7. I sometimes go a month before I remember to vacuum!

I don't have anyone to tag, so if you read this and feel like outting yourself, please do and let me know you did!

Holiday Etsyfest Extravaganza!

2008-11-26T19:52:00.006-05:00

This holiday season, many of us are on a tight budget. What better way to get more bang for your buck than to shop with sellers on Etsy participating in the Etsyfest Holiday sale!

Each seller will have their own shop sale listed clearly in their shop. I will be having 20% off all items in my shop! The sale runs from Thanksgiving to cyber Monday December 1st.

Here is the complete list of sellers participating in the Etsyfest sale:

heatherknitz.etsy.com
kikibirdjewelry.etsy.com
4sevenssake.etsy.com
idyllhands.etsy.com
woolyhands.etsy.com
diffraction.etsy.com
nathaperkins.etsy.com
greenfamilytree.etsy.com
liviasjewelry.etsy.com
anteris.etsy.com
silverriverstitches.etsy.com
lovealwaysxox.etsy.com
silverriverjewelry.etsy.com
tennekka.etsy.com
SexyGeekWithAttitude.etsy.com
MyDarlingBaby.etsy.com
LiDDesignsboutique.etsy.com
kikibirdjewelry.etsy.com
blondechicken.etsy.com
Knitsburgh.Etsy.com
tinybirdarts.etsy.com
MeaCulpaBodyandBath.etsy.com
hauttotes.etsy.com
paperwire.etsy.com
bycj.etsy.com
http://legeekestchic.etsy.com
TerriTaylorDesign.etsy.com
jmcguinness.etsy.com
novadesigns.etsy.com
glassmenagerie1.etsy.com
JustAddMemories.etsy.com
xabiajewels.etsy.com
kriskropmemories.etsy.com
lavendercollections.etsy.com
purpledaisyjewelry.etsy.com
BeadinBabe.etsy.com
whatsthatsmell.etsy.com
thewoodynook.etsy.com
alfcreations.etsy.com
mynewhomestead.etsy.com
charul.etsy.com
brooooke.etsy.com
prettywhimsical.etsy.com
SeasideStudio.etsy.com
Softpencil.etsy.com
StylinPupPillows.etsy.com
xxsnapdragon.etsy.com
MomNMiaQuilts.etsy.com
beautifulbridget.etsy.com
mynewhomestead.etsy.com
plumstars.etsy.com
beckandcallgirl.etsy.com
briaberger.etsy.com
twisteddesigns.etsy.com
wastenotwhimsy.etsy.com
jewelrybyallison.etsy.com
charul.etsy.com
TheBlueDaisy.etsy.com
amplifyme.etsy.com
craftsbycarer.etsy.com
ashleybug.etsy.com
happygrandma402905.etsy.com
glassismyname.etsy.com
SeasideStudio.etsy.com
kellyvanhook.etsy.com
spottedcowsoaps.etsy.com
nightskyproducts.etsy.com
lathermeup.etsy.com
gigglinggoldfish.etsy.com
vshfree.etsy.com
jetflair.etsy.com
elizabethjayne.etsy.com
ClawTreeDesign.etsy.com
modfineart.etsy.com
studio550.etsy.com
brownrose.etsy.com
squaresofflair.etsy.com
punkinhead.etsy.com
MyManyMoodz.Etsy.com
ellentheeye.blogspot.com
GaiaTroveChicago.etsy.com
michaelgrace.etsy.com
BouquetOfStitches.etsy.com
mistflowerstudio.etsy.com
sweetstickerexpress.etsy.com
imaginestudio.etsy.com
meegun.etsy.com
artisanclay.etsy.com
magnoliablossomart.etsy.com
shopdavinia.etsy.com
gifteddesigns.etsy.com
softpencil.etsy.com
gallerialindaloft.etsy.com
starless.etsy.com
whatshername.etsy.com
justaddcharm.etsy.com
earthcharms.etsy.com
wiretree.etsy.com
FairyDC2008.etsy.com
bluekatdesigns.etsy.com
anniebee.etsy.com
storybeader.etsy.com
molecularmuse.etsy.com
MagdaleneJewels.etsy.com
suenosdejmi.etsy.com
createdbyrisa.etsy.com
maddyandme.etsy.com
barrelofcrafts.etsy.com
dragonflyfinedesigns.etsy.com
cocobeans2008.etsy.com
MimisCrafts.Etsy.com
blackcatboutique.etsy.com
vigilantelabs.etsy.com
eanner.etsy.com
parallaxphoto.etsy.com
tscrapper.etsy.com
bluetricycle.etsy.com
Joycestolepainting.etsy.com
crochet18purple.etsy.com
lrichmond3.etsy.com
twilightknits.etsy.com
JoannasPhotography.etsy.com
dbabcock.etsy.com
bonhomiejewelry.etsy.com
beauxbijoux.etsy.com
katbag.etsy.com
knitandpearl.etsy.com
balaboostababy.etsy.com
jdfootloose.etsy.com
bagsandbuds.etsy.com
klemanphotography.etsy.com
babylane.etsy.com
theendofthechrysalis.etsy.com
lalala08.etsy.com
SewArtsy.Etsy.com
SewArtsyBethany.Etsy.com
OnSlenderThreads.etsy.com
AMOzarkian.etsy.com
ALLthangsOLDbutNEW2u.etsy.com
CreativeThings.etsy.com
cagedbirdsings.etsy.com
LunargentWorkshop.etsy.com
Jadedmind.etsy.com
jillredesigns.etsy.com
bamdesigns.etsy.com
jinx1764.etsy.com
http://happytrees.etsy.com
SunnyDayArtandCraft.etsy.com
ceejaybags.etsy.com
SkinJourney.etsy.com
ZaftigDelights.etsy.com
hammelmanart.etsy.com
simplysaidcards.etsy.com
stormysky.etsy.com
melsdaisypatch.etsy.com
potatoface.etsy.com
lovemeknotcreations.etsy.com
jmilliesjustforyou.etsy.com
craftylittlekitten.etsy.com
melsdolls.etsy.com
domosaics.etsy.com
beadifulbaublesSC.etsy.com
personaltreasures.etsy.com
SpiceofLifeDesigns.etsy.com
AndrusGardensQuilts.etsy.com
worksmith.etsy.com
zigzagstitches.etsy.com
sewinghappyplace.etsy.com
cmkcrafts.etsy.com
sandritocat.etsy.com
threelittleladies.etsy.com
simplywillow.etsy.com
artsoftheozarks.etsy.com
citydetails.etsy.com
knitsnmore.etsy.com
altanotes.etsy.com
HandmadebyPam.etsy.com
jessiemccann.etsy.com
amomentamemory28.etsy.com
kitsandcaboodles.etsy.com
www.goldentwine.etsy.com
objettrouve.etsy.com
brooooke.etsy.com
brookefuller.etsy.com
thepearproject.etsy.com
uncommondepth.etsy.com
alwaysadorable.etsy.com
iherdalpacas.etsy.com
www.amyliz.etsy.com
www.amarketcollection.etsy.com
jshaynes.etsy.com
www.Floridagirls.etsy.com
www.ElleGarrettDesigns.etsy.com
LoveOfVintage.etsy.com
simplyembellish.etsy.com
Croska.etsy.com
Perlinedesign.etsy.com
Regalbeads.etsy.com
cassowaryjewelry.etsy.com
cassowaryjewelry.etsy.com
presentsforpirates.etsy.com
9livesphotography.etsy.com
Barbesaintjohn.etsy.com
lissa73.etsy.com
lucidjewelry.etsy.com
BrightBlack.etsy.com
paddywackdesigns.etsy.com
beth123b.etsy.com

I also have a brand spankin new web site up and running! You can visit here I'm also having 20% off there if you add the word "holiday" in the coupon code box at the check out.The sale on my personal website lasts till January 2nd.

I've Been Featured!

2008-08-25T17:25:00.004-05:00

I didn't want to do it,I feel odd talking about myself,who would want to read about me,would anyone really care??!!! All my excuses in the past for not jumping at the chance to have someone actually blog about me.

I'm a terrible introvert and not very confident that anyone would even care to look at my work. Lately, I've been getting a lot of compliments from total strangers just wanting to tell me they love my work and I even had a great conversation with a lady (whom I had never met before) tell me she believed in ME! Imagine that!

The lovely Kristy of Shiny Adornments on etsy has been a friend for about a year now and approached me about doing a feature on me.I finally said "what the heck harm can it do?" So I said YES!

You can see the great article Kristy did on her site here Shiny Adornments

If you ever get asked to be featured on someones site, don't turn it down! You never know who will see you and fall in love with your work ;)

In The Garden

2008-08-01T16:40:00.004-05:00

Just a few pics for this beautiful sunny day here in south central Pa. We get a ton of dragonflies every year and this one was just hanging out on the hosta flower.

A few more pictures of the fish and frogs..they were very prolific last year! Lots of new babies :)

Hope you enjoyed the nature :)

Time for a lay off and a sale!

2008-07-27T17:02:00.003-05:00

Due to our crappy economy,housing market slump,rising cost of groceries,health care,gas,supplies, yadda yadda..... I have been layed off from my job this week. I'm sort of happy and sort of sad. I badly needed a break because it was getting really stressful always wonder when I would finally get the lay off word and getting bumped from shift to shift and building to building, but darn it! I worked HARD to get into that place waiting for 3 1/2 years to even hear from them after I put in my application..getting tested,back ground check and physical like no other physical ever known to man kind...

So right now, I am going to focus on my two shops and build up as much inventory as possible.I'll be starting a new sale beginning August 1st through the entire month.
10% off any one item
15% off any two items
20% off any 3 items or more
The discount will only be on the price of the item and not off of shiping.

If anyone would like to get on my mailing list to hear about future sales and special discounts only for people on my mailing list, please send an email to mdharlin@gmail.com

Feel free to visit me at Lissa Harlin Designs

Or at my Ruby Lane shop

SALE TIME!

2008-04-26T21:02:00.005-05:00

Time to get rid of some inventory (and justify all those gemstone purchases I've made lately!) so from now until I get tired of it I'm having any one item purchased and receive 10% off.Purchase 2 or more items and receive 20% off.
Simply add SALE in note to seller and I will send you a revised invoice or refund if you would like to purchase the items immediatly. Sale is only on total of item and does not include shipping charges.

Some of my newer pieces are going for a bargain ..especially if you purchase more than one item.

Sofies Night Out Necklace

Blue Butterfly Day Earrings

and the Abbra Kadabra Necklace

These are just a sampling of what's in my shop, so stop by and check it out. I also do commissions :) Lissa Harlin Designs

Earth Day Project

2008-04-17T23:19:00.006-05:00

The very first Earth Day was held on November 30, 1969 and founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson as a way to bring environmental issues and awareness to the public's attention.

Our Wire Artisans Guild on Etsy is participating on this earth day by coming up with a theme challenge of "au naturale". My submission was just completed.. I just can't tell you how many hours I put into wire wrapping this piece while laying in bed with a cold from hell. I named it Dogwood Blossoms after the poem by George Marion McClellan~

O dreamy languors and the violet mist
Of early Spring, the deep sequestered vale
Gives first her paling-blue Miamimist,
Where blithely pours the cuckoo's annual tale
Of Summer promises and tender green,
Of a new life and beauty yet unseen.
The forest trees have yet a sighing mouth,
Where dying winds of March their branches swing,
While upward from the dreamy, sunny South,
A hand invisible leads on the Spring.

His rounds from bloom to bloom the bee begins
With flying song, and cowslip wine he sups,
Where to the warm and passing southern winds,
Azaleas gently swing their yellow cups.
Soon everywhere, with glory through and through,
The fields will spread with every brilliant hue.
But high o'er all the early floral train,
Where softness all the arching sky resumes,
The dogwood dancing to the winds' refrain,
In stainless glory spreads its snowy blooms.

We used to have wild dogwoods growing behind our house in the woods when I was growing up and I just thought they were the most beautiful flowering trees still growing in the densely lush oaks and pines.

I bought these amazing prehnite marquise beads at the last bead show in York and I think, put them to good use in this piece along with the lovely crystal clear rose quartz briolettes. I chose to oxidize this piece to make the pale pastel colors stand out more.I'm going to be making more flower necklaces in the future...if they never sell, I'll have a great collection!

Please check out the Wire Artisans Shop on Etsy April 22nd to see all the fabulous entries by some awesomely talented wire artisans! Be sure to give them lots of heart love!

Mr. Tanner

2008-03-23T22:41:00.004-05:00

Music is my life, it is not my livlihood...maybe not music, but jewlery. Just a little back story.. When I create, sometimes I might not have a clue what I'm going to make ...some days I don't even want to make anything,but I turn on the music and I'm inspired. Both of my parents have passed away back when I was in my 20's so I have a tendency to listen to music that they enjoyed and it makes me feel closer to them. Neither one was alive when I started making jewelry, so it's my little ode to them :)

Back to Mr. Tanner... One of my father's favorites was Harry Chapin..I don't think he ever really forgave Mom for not wanting to go to a Harry concert right before he(Harry Chapin) died in '81. Dad would blare it down in the basement and I'd yell downstairs for him to turn it down! He'd always yell up "Miss, I like my music loud and my women quiet" That always got a grin out of me. Mr.Tanner is the name of a Harry Chapin song about a dry cleaner who sang a beautiful baritone and everyone in the neighborhood told him he needs to sing professionally. Here are the lyrics and a live video of Harry performing.

Mr. Tanner
by Harry Chapin

Mister Tanner was a cleaner from a town in the Midwest.
And of all the cleaning shops around he'd made his the best.
But he also was a baritone who sang while hanging clothes.
He practiced scales while pressing tails and sang at local shows.
His friends and neighbors praised the voice that poured out from his throat.
They said that he should use his gift instead of cleaning coats.

But music was his life, it was not his livelihood,
and it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good.
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul.
He did not know how well he sang; It just made him whole.

His friends kept working on him to try music out full time.
A big debut and rave reviews, a great career to climb.
Finally they got to him, he would take the fling.
A concert agent in New York agreed to have him sing.
And there were plane tickets, phone calls, money spent to rent the hall.
It took most of his savings but he gladly used them all.

But music was his life, it was not his livelihood,
and it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good.
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul.
He did not know how well he sang; It just made him whole.

The evening came, he took the stage, his face set in a smile.
And in the half filled hall the critics sat watching on the aisle.
But the concert was a blur to him, spatters of applause.
He did not know how well he sang, he only heard the flaws.
But the critics were concise, it only took four lines.
But no one could accuse them of being over kind.

(spoken) Mr. Martin Tanner, Baritone, of Dayton, Ohio made his
Town Hall debut last night. He came well prepared, but unfortunately
his presentation was not up to contemporary professional standards.
His voice lacks the range of tonal color necessary to make it
consistently interesting.
(sung) Full time consideration of another endeavor might be in order.

He came home to Dayton and was questioned by his friends.
Then he smiled and just said nothing and he never sang again,
excepting very late at night when the shop was dark and closed.
He sang softly to himself as he sorted through the clothes.
Music was his life, it was not his livelihood,
and it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good.
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul.
He did not know how well he sang; It just made him whole.

I can so relate to Mr.Martin Tanner..jewelry is my life, it is not my livlihood....but it makes me feel so happy and it makes me feel so whole. Never let critic's get you down as long as you love what you're doing.

Shhhhh..don't tell!

2008-03-11T20:21:00.005-05:00

I've been home sick the past two days...supposedly bad chinese food. I actually played hookie because I just didn't feel like going in. Bad, I know! I never really feel like I have time to do what I want to do, even on the weekends it's always rush to cram as much into the two days off that you can and you end up tired Monday morning anyway.So I did what I wanted to for two hole days!

When I was in junior high english , Mrs. Blackstock made us read Shakespear. Not really into all the thee's, yea,'s and thines but the crib notes were fab! One that has always facinated me was "A Midsummer Night's Dream"...no, I haven't read it,but the synopsis is full of plot's, love,deceit,magic and fairies...what more could you ask for?

I've made two interpretations of the play...the first is called A Midsummer Night's Dream

The second piece is called Titania Queen of the Fairies for the fairie queen who is deceived by her husband King Oberon.

I'm outta steam right now and my eyes are crossed from all that tiny wire wrapping, so I guess it's back to work for me tomorrow...but it was a nice break from working the assembly line at Harley!

Holy CRAP!

2008-03-08T19:26:00.004-05:00

Guess anyone that breezes through here has noticed I haven't blogged in quite some time... Eeee Gads! Well... I've not really had anything to blog about. I'm not one of those that sneezes and has to blog about it so the world can see their perfectly photographed used tissue.... Back to the holy crap part.. I logged into my Etsy shop and noticed one of my items had a tremendous amount of views and thought.. "hmm.. wonder if it's been on the front page?" Sure enough, there it was in all it's glory! My unassuming tree branch earrings right there on the front page!!! I couldn't capture a friggin screen shot, but thankfully Kristy of ShinyAdornments.etsy.com did!

I feel sort of like a rock star right now :) Super big thanks to Natalia of RealisationCreations.etsy.com

SOLD!

2007-10-01T00:06:00.000-05:00

My "Blue Sky" earrings from the previous post just sold! I'm so happy about it and the person they are going to! I'm in very good company looking at previous purchases!Now I feel the need to make something even grander. I always feel the need to "one up" myself.

On another note, I just listed a new bangle :) It's a fused fine silver piece of glorious, beautiousness with lots of shiny pretty things ..hehehe Seriously it has citrine,apatite,chalcedony and lemon quartz.

I'm also planning on making just plain bangles too...just need to find the time! Hope you all had a great weekend!

I'm baaaackkk..

2007-09-23T22:40:00.000-05:00

Well, I pretty much holed up in my craft room for my 3 day weekend. I made 5 pairs of different sized hoop earrings and a bunch of fine silver rings..on top of 5 pairs of earrings and 3 necklaces...one of which is still in the working process.

It was really nice to be able to be home for 3 days and do whatever I wanted to do. Someday I really need to make this a bona fide business so I can quit work and just create.I think I would have alot less gray hair...

Here are a few things I've made...

Blue Sky Earrings made of sterling silver and Apatite

Amazonite and Smokey Quartz Earrings

Gold Carnelian Flower necklace

Pastels for my Etsybead street teams theme week sale

My stacker fine silver rings (which are $7 each for 16 gauge and $10 for 12 gauge in case anyone is interested)

And lastly my little earrings I call Juicy
Until next time ~ Happy Beading!

Sorry Yall...

2007-09-20T23:59:00.000-05:00

Haven't felt like posting much...my work has got me pretty bummed this week and I just don't feel like doing much of anything..which includes creating any pretties. It's just one of those weeks you feel like crawling under the covers and staying there.I'm hoping maybe my brother in law will perscribe me some good happy pills...if not, I think I might need to invest in a good marguerita maker.

Hope you all are having a good week..I'll be back in full swing again in a little while :)

Stackers!

2007-09-16T17:15:00.000-05:00

Been playing with the torch again..yep..the creme brulee one *wink* the one they told me at the bead store wouldn't get hot enough to melt fine gauge silver...the one that has burned the hair off my knuckles....I'm here to tell ya girls...don't waste your money on a fancy one...this one works great!

Today I got out the 12 gauge fine silver and wrapped it around my ring mandrel a few times...made my jump rings about what I thought would be a good ring size and torched away. After fusing them, I got out my handy dandy jewelers anvil and started hammering away. Now I have 6 awesome rings!I almost don't want to sell them. Guess I need to head back to monsterslayer for some fine silver. I think they came out pretty cool! What'cha think?

Made a beauty of a carnelian lariat too...starting to get some into wire wrapping. I'm not perfect yet, but alot better than my first attempt!

and some matching earrings..

This is my town...

2007-09-14T00:36:00.000-05:00

...now I have that song in my head..It's a country song, so I'm sure I'm the only person on the planet that knows which song I'm talking about! But anywho...this is my town ..York ,Pa. Hubster and I went on a walk in the city a few weeks ago and I've been meaning to share, but time just flies by!

York County has played a proud role in the long exciting drama that is the history of the United States of America. York County can justifiably be called the first proving ground for a westward flow of settlers that did not stop until checked by the waters of the Pacific. It was in the forefront of organized resistance during the American Revolution and a source of strength to the Union armies during the most critical period of the Civil War. In more modern times, its citizenry has made notable contributions to the victory effort in two world wars and numerous armed conflicts. Over the past 250 years it has utilized its resources to create a community nationally admired for its agricultural richness, industrial vigor and cultural enterprise.

Opening on December 11th, 1888 York's Central Market house is still operating and full of the counties farm produce and crafters wares from all over the area.

This is one of many painting done on buildings around town . This one is to honor all the military people from York.

Many old historic places are still open in the city and open most of the year to tour groups. The Colonial Complex is the largest historical area still standing.The next few are just shots of the the complex and gardens (since I'm a garden nut)This is the Gates House that is connected to the Plough Tavern.

The place on the right is the Plough Tavern in brick and tudor and the one on the right is Gates house in stone.

Bobb Log House in the complex...that's NOT Bobb :)

The Plough Tavern, built in 1741, presents the significant role a tavern played in a community as hotel, restaurant and source for news and housed Congressional delegates. The Gates House (c.1751) reflects the year 1778 when General Gates occupied the house while the Continental Congress met in York and was the setting of the Conway Cabal Meeting in which the overthrow of Washington as commander was prevented. The Bobb House, built with squared timbers, shows family life in the 1830s and acts as an example of a frontier house.

Gen. Horatio Gates in front of the Plough Tavern

Lastly just some more paintings in the city I thought were really neat. The first one, you can read a funny story about the squirrel hunt in 1824.

Hope you enjoyed my little tour around town :)

Something got accomplished anyway...

2007-09-09T20:21:00.000-05:00

Made lots of pretties on my 3 day weekend...house isn't cleaned, laundry isn't done ...but damnit I made some things! This one is inspired by my sweet internet friend Christie who loves jem stones I'm told :) I got into my stash *big sigh*. I know I have to part with some... This is my first gold piece. It's 18 gauge hammered gold filled wire. I used some of my much beloved carnelian briolettes with a jade briolette for the center. I'm not sure if it's too "cute"... I've been on a flower kick since I saw the Karla Cam from Aunties Beads. Just need to get some chain for this one and it will be done.

This is another weekend creation that I'm pretty proud of too...took forever to wire wrap all that fine gauge silver!

It's made from glass that is coated with something to give it that color. I just love using hill tribe silver in my designs too!This is the matching necklace

I won't bore ya with all the rest..if you would like to see them, stop in my shop anytime! Until next time~ Happy Beading!

Come heaven or hell...

2007-09-08T19:12:00.000-05:00

I'm going to do a tutorial on headpins!!! I got everything set up...tore the house apart looking for my tri-pod..found it...took me several hours of talking myself down from sheer terror of letting the world see my mug live. So..I sit down, press play and start talking...ok, this isn't so bad..BEEP! Memory card full ..what? What??! And only a minute in! Now it won't let me delete all the pics on it to free it up. I hate modern technology somedays. Give me a good old toothbrush and I can figure it out...I did get some pics of the tools involved after changing the settings and freeing up space, but not enough for a video.So if I have to show a pic of each step , I will. For now, here are the tools involved...

Ever wonder wonder what to do with that creme brulee' torch you bought on the spur of the moment after you had a partucularly good custard?? Look no further! Makes a perfect torch for thin gauge fine silver. If you have a local cigar store, they sell butane fuel in XXXX super clean burning fuel (don't want to ruin the smell of that ol' stogey eh??)

Next is a set of long tweezers...these are a must have to hold the metal as it gets extremely hot!I bought these at my local bead store for a grand total of $3.50. I'm sure they are easy to find on ebay or Rio Grande if you have an account with them.

Next is a firing brick. I also bought this at the bead store for $5.75 but can be found online. They are sort of soft so you can make a gouge in it to hold your metal when you are fusing rings.And one of the most important things...22 gauge fine silver. This is relatively inexpensive at around $1.50-$2.00 a foot depending on where you purchase it.

If you are going to be working indoors, I would strongly suggest you put an old cookie sheet under the firing brick.The very last thing you will need is some sort of bowl with water. After you use your torch and make a headpin or fuse something, you want to dip it in the water to cool it.

So..there is the list for the "class" ..it's not expensive to get into fusing metal at all unless you get into the heavier gauge metal. But we'll start small..now ..off to the Canon website to find out how to delete all these photos....

Some new earrings

2007-09-06T11:40:00.000-05:00

Well, by now I'm sure you know I'm alittle different than most :) Different is good I think LOL! I don't like a boring old strung on a headpin earrings, although I have made them before when I had my first custom order. You never know what someone is going to like so I made a whole mess of earrings so that the customer would have a choice.

I haven't gotten great pics of the new ones yet...just a few ok shots so I won't list them until I'm happy with atleast 3 pics of each to list in my shop.Here are a few pics of the ones I've done the past few days just to see what a'll think.

Handmade ceramic beads with bali spacer on handmade earwires.

Blue handmade ceramic beads with bali swirl spacers on handmade earwires.

Jade and rhyolite briolettes wire wrapped on handforged hoops and earwires.

Pyrite in amazonite with caribbeanblue and light azure swarovski crysyals with bali headpin and handmade earwires.

Violet opal and tanzenite swarovski crystals with light purple pearls and dark purple swarovski's

Good ol' sterling silver hoops!

I'm off work on Friday (I've decided to give myself another holiday day) Gping to the bead store to pick up my tweezers for the head pin demo that I haven't forgotten about...just busy! So stay tuned for that one.

AHHHH!!!

2007-09-04T22:44:00.000-05:00

I've just been featured on Talent database!!!!! Holy cow I could pee my pants!! Here's the link to the page Fashion I'm in the top left corner of the featured box. I don't know how they pick you, but I got an email in my box from them saying I was a featured artist. Now I can finally say I was featured somewhere!!!

Ok...that was just a quick post to share my good news!! I would take a pic of it, but I don't know where my screen shots are ending up on my pc... Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Productive day!

2007-09-02T14:24:00.000-05:00

Finally got something done! For months now, I've been trying to find my signature piece..doesn't every designer out there want something they can call their own?? After much procrastinating...since it was going to take 15 feet (yes 15 feet) of sterling wire, about a foot of 12 gauge fine silver wire and numerous pearls and silver beads...I was seriously sweating having to pull this apart if it looked like poo. The colors totally rock! Very Fall-ish in peacock pearls with a mulberry colored pearl...so without further a-do...

So I would really like some feedback on what everyone thinks ..I don't even have a clue as to what to price it at?I like it so much, I'm tempted to keep it! Right now, I'm working on making some sterling hoops...who doesn't love hoops and I'm an 80's girl after all!

My workshop

2007-08-26T23:43:00.000-05:00

Ok..so this picture is alittle old...if you had seen what it looked like yesterday, you would have thought a hurricane hit or..."OMG! How does she find anything!"Sometimes I wonder myself...

Beading is like cooking for me...if I have a messy work space, I am totally uninspired to make anything...not even an earwire.Must be why I don't cook very much!

I think it would be kind of cool to see others work area's , so if you are reading this, do a blog post and post a picture of your creating space..messy or clean..if it's messy, you'll make me feel much better! Then leave a comment here so I can see it :) So here's my clean area!

As of today, all the drawers are labeled with what is inside...it sure was a pain opening each drawer to find where I stuck the crimp beads...To the right is my pc and printer. I really need to get one more set of drawers since I have ordered a few more gemstones (but we won't talk about that...)Since next weekend is a three day weekend (YAY) I'm going to see if I can get my video on here and demonstrate if I can't catch my hair on fire , you won't either!

So..now I know a few of you are repeat readers, so don't try and sneak out of posting those pictures! So before I go, just a little cuteness on the way out...

Extremely cool class!

2007-08-22T00:22:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!! I didn't forget about my blog or all my lovlies that keep me smiling with your replies :) I had a semi busy weekend. Only semi because I had a fused fine silver class. Cool thing number one..I got to use a torch! FIRE, FIRE hehe(sorry...from the old Bevis and Butthead days) The torch was just like those creme brule' torches they carry at the kitchen stores, but has alittle more umph.So after several minutes of watching the teacher with many ohhh's and ahhh's...We got to try our own . Now you have to start simple by making rings around a dowel rod and snip them into jump rings. After much ^%@@&%$#%$ I discovered I suck at making jump rings. They were always cut on an angle. I muddled through though and actually managed to link them together and get a halfway decent bracelet started.

Cool thing number two...you don't have to make just circles :) I experimented with a few shapes I'm turning into pendants later.I'm having a bit of a hysterical block right now...too much to do and where to start syndrome...

I don't know how much you all know about silver, but I am exclusive to sterling which is 92.5 % silver and the rest I believe is copper. Fine silver however is 99.9% silver. The reason we used fine silver for the class is ...it doesn't oxidize. If I were to take sterling and heat it like the fine silver, it would turn black because of the copper in it. Fine silver just gets alittle hazy from the heating. You just toss it in a tumbler and out it comes all sparkley again. I think I may have to bit the bullet and get into more fine silver...the good Lord knows I bought enough extra after class before I hit the door.(Had to get a fire brick,bench block, fine silver,a string of Apatite...) I can't seem to leave that place without spending somewhere in the $100-$200 range. When the owner sees me coming in , I'm sure she's thinking "there's the light bill paid", "there's the rent paid" ...

So I digress... Cool thing number 3... you get to hammer the poo out of it! We looked like Santa's little helpers in the back room just pounding away on our lovely (expensive) fine silver..boy what a stress reliever! Can I get a halleluia crafting sistah's??!! I need to put in an order for stainless steel shot, so I haven't tumbled the silver yet, but here is my silver goodness :)

I also made some nifty little headpins and plan on doing a little short video demo on making themif anyone has any interest. I have to talk to my sweet friend Christie at Dragonfly Lane (woot! another clickable!) and see how she makes her awesome demo's!

Well...going on 2 am here, so time for me to hit the hay. Hope everyone has a wonderful week! Many happy blessings!

MOOOO!

2007-08-17T10:43:00.000-05:00

I wanted to give a special shout out to my fellow Pennsylvanian friend Eve of Faff Creations (psst...I made a link!!) I've been on a few swap threads at Etsy and only had one other trade. Eve contacted me about a trade for my little copper and flower earrings

As soon as I saw her shop, I knew what I had to have! Eve makes the cutest felt pocket mirrors!And I had to have the cow... *snicker*

I think these would make awesome stocking stuffers for family and friends , so go check out her shop!

Had a visitor.....

2007-08-15T12:24:00.000-05:00

Some visitors are very unwelcome...specially the green buggy variety.How this one made it past me into the house is beyond me...who could miss it??! REALLY?!

A big ugly cicada...bleck! I have nightmares of that thing crawling on me as I'm sleeping!

On to a brighter note :) One of my favorite things is wildlife photography. We have a large pond and a small pond with many frogs and other critters visiting (hopefully no more cats )
Couldn't resist taking a few today since it was so pretty out. This first one is our small pond and one of the boy frogs hanging out in a morning glory vine.

This is a peach water lily in the large pond in full, glorious bloom. They seem to be taking over the pond this year, so I guess it's time to thin them out alittle...

One of our resident dragonflies at the big pond. They hang out all day,lay eggs in the water and new come out next year....

Lastly for the bulldog junkies :) and you now who you are...

For pity's sake !

2007-08-14T11:37:00.000-05:00

You would think it would be simple..I mean, I do run my own chat forum and have for two years now...I fix codes and change the background..but I can't CAN'T figure out how to make a clickable link without the URL! *thud*

Joeyandaleethea gave me a tutorial and I somehow managed to mess that up too...somedays the internet really makes me feel my age :(

TAG! I'm it!!!

2007-08-13T23:29:00.000-05:00

I've had my very first tag from Renee at Candy Stick Lane http://candysticklane.blogspot.com/

Here are the rules:

1. List seven random facts/habits about yourself

2. Choose another SEVEN bloggers to tag and list their names in your blog

3. Leave your seven tagged bloggers comments to notfiy them of their tagging and to direct them to your blog for tag instructions.

7 facts/habits about me...

I'll try to do you justice Renee, but I doubt I can top your list ! :0

1. I collect cooking magazines and cookbooks to look at the pictures and fantasize about maybe ...just one day...actually making something from them. I don't cook ...much. I can cook, but never enough time in the day to do it..then I would have to wash..yes wash..as in hand wash ..dishes :(

2. I'm an orphan (technically)both of my parents have passed away now. My Mom when I was 20 and she was 48 from colon cancer and my father when I was 27 and he was 58. They think he had a heart attack.I'm often terribly envious of people my age and older that still have their parents. I still really miss having them around.

3. I'm a british high tea whore..yup!One of my favorite things to do is find a tea room and have "High Tea". Scones, lemon curd, soup , petit fours ...the works. My bud from Norway comes home and we have tea parties and our guys also participate!

4. Spent a night in jail :0!!! Yep..ahhh...reckless youth! Let that be a lesson to ya if you don't pay your parking tickets! :p

5. I'm a hoarder..depending on what hobby I'm taking up, I seem to think I need to have all of it... *sigh* a few months back I took up polymer clay...I bought drawers FULL of it. Every tool, magazine and book out there on it , I had to have it. And here it sat..for some time..I just now sold it in my etsy shop. The last of it goes out in the mail hopefully this week. Some kind soul bought the mother load of clay from me :) Now..jewelry design...I have drawers overflowing. But, no I don't think I'm going to give this up. I did open another Etsy shop to get rid of a few things.

6. I'm not a good friend. You know the saying "to have a friend , you have to be a friend". The majority of my friends are online friends and the real life friends I have, I keep in contact with via the internet...not phone, not hang out together type deals. I LIKE to stay home.I don't care much anymore for hanging out because I have 15 things going on at home that I could be doing...I'm terrible!

7. I'm as shy as shy can be! I do not like talking to people face to faceand if I'm put in a situation where I know I'm expected to talk , I clam up all the more. I really don't know why. I can chat your ear off on the internet, but not if I meet you on the street.

Those are the facts and I'm stickin to um!

Ok..I'm gonna tag..

ackoelade at http://ackoelade.blogspot.com/

Chantelle at http://www.sixthandelm.blogspot.com/

Judy at http://artsyclay.blogspot.com/

The Therapist at http://asianbodyworktherapies.blogspot.com/

Anodyne at http://anodynedesign.com/blog/

Amanda at http://beadnfiberbabe.blogspot.com/

Ok that's it!! So let's see all those little known facts about all of you :) Most of all , have fun with it..don't think of it as a chore like I used to when I blogged way back...looking forward to seeing them all! You're it!

And the nice matters awards go to....

2007-08-11T16:18:00.000-05:00

Today is the big day, so I hope you all get to check in!I'm awarding out the "Nice Matters" awards that I'm allowed to pass out to fellow bloggers who have been ...well..nice!

So without further ado...

My first award goes to Christie of Dragonfly Lane http://wright5804.blogspot.com/Christie is one of the nicest people I have met! She does the most fabulos tut's on polymer clay that you would ever see!

The next award goes to Renee of Candy Stick Lane http://candysticklane.blogspot.com/
How could I not give an award to a lady that loves my dog??And who has given me my first tag!

My next award goes to a dear friend of mine Melody from Aria Images http://ariaimages.blogspot.com/
Mel is the one that gave me my first Etsy sale and also made this awesome template for me! That deserves TWO niceness matters awards!

My next award goes to Georganne of Georganne's Handcrafted Baby Accessories http://georgannesbaby.blogspot.com/
Georganne is awesome! I bought a baby item from her for a friend and she whipped it up in two days and has sent it off already!

The next award goes to Evelyn of Mother and Child http://motherandchild.typepad.com/mother_and_child/ for rouonding up a bunch of us crafters to raise money for Krystal Glass who is a single mother fighting breast cancer. I have the utmost respect for Evelyn!

My last award goes to Beki of PamperingBeki Custom Boutique Jewelry and Accessories http://www.pamperingbeki.com/If I hadn't found her beautiful blog, I wouldn't have known how to add music to my own blog! Thanks Beki!

So you all can grab your well deserved award and pass it out to other deserving bloggers :)

Who do you look like?

2007-08-09T11:41:00.000-05:00

I saw this on another blog today and had to try it to see who I looked like..not sure that I agree, but it was funny to see nontheless...

So...what do you think?? I was thinking more along the lines of Sandra Bullock myself...but who am I to argue if they think I look like a 20 something celebrity?? LOL! You do have to register for it and basically give them your first born, but ...it's all in the name of a good giggle!

Holy Golden Globes Batman!

2007-08-08T12:22:00.000-05:00

I won an award!! My very first blog award! *cue soft background music* I would like to thank everyone for making this dream possible. First my Mother and Father, without whom I wouldn't be here.*Music getting louder as James Blunt (sigh) starts dragging me off stage as I've taken too long on my speech * Ok, wishful thinking LOL! Here's my purdy award for "Nice Matters"

This was awarded to my by a selfless, caring individual whom I have known for many years. My best friend Tracy over at the Pink Purl blog.We went to highschool together at old Spring Grove Sr. High (those were the days) Two people couldn't be more opposite than she and I! I'm 5'10" and Tracy barely comes up to chest level on me.She's super soft spoken and I like to tell it like it is, but somehow we've remained friends for about 20 years :) She's the first person to jump in with both feet to help a friend. I am truely honored!

Now I need to pass on my award to some deserving folks!Stay tuned to see who get's the next honor!

Newest Project

2007-08-06T18:44:00.000-05:00

I've recently discovered a new stone I love working with... Picasso Marble!Picasso Marble is a stone that is mined in Utah. Some call it Picasso Jasper, but it is a marble, not a jasper. Technically it is a metamorphosed limestone occurring in the form of a coarse to medium grained rock of re-crystallized dolomite or calcite.This marble is mined in Utah and no two pieces are ever alike.

Been busily working on creating something with this beautiful marble today. I'm not sure I did the piece justice..I like it, but maybe could do better? After much hemming and hawing, I finished. I would love feedback on this piece!

Until next time~ Happy Beading!

Ta-Dahhhh!

2007-08-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

Here it is! The newly designed Bully Beads! Isn't it purdy!! I need to send out a HUGE thank you to Melody of ariaimages.etsy.com for making me a beautiful template! I was so excited I could hardly wait till she was done to post something new!

On a heavier note,there is going to be a benefit for a sweet lady in Texas named Krystal who is a single Mother battling breast cancer. There was originally going to be an Ebay auction and a bunch of crafters were going to send some things, however ..Ebay requires you to be a licensed charity so that didn't work so off we all rushed to make something to send to Texas for the benefit taking place on Aug. 18th. You can read all about it on my buddy's site Pink Purl . There is a link to her site on the right hand side.

Here is my humble submission

I hope it makes some money for the cause. I have a sister in law who battled breast cancer twice and because of the treatments they had back in the 80's now has heart issues. Please say a prayer for this young mother and her son.

The mother load!

2007-07-22T19:17:00.000-05:00

Twice a year I spend ALOT of money on beading supplies. This year was certainly no exception . Our little town host an Intergalactic Bead and Jewelry show So once again, I put on a comfy pair of shoes and headed out to wonder the show with the masses.

I HATE crowds and hate pushy people...both of which are in abundance at the show...everyone wants to look at the pretties :)I did finally manage to worm my way in between some ladies and hit the mother load of labradorite! I bought 8 strands of the lovely bluish gray jem!! Yep 8! My one splurge of the day was a strand of Grade A Citrine faceted briolettes.

This is a pic of my labradorite...I also got some rondelles in various sizes..you just never know when you're gonna need some labradorite!

I also hit another stand on my way out. They had lots of chains and DRILLED beach glass! I was so thrilled, I bought up most of what they had left! It's so hard to find it already drilled and I'm not gonna do it myself! I have just started a new line called "Tears of A Mermaid" where I incorporate beach glass in my designs. I think it will do really well...least I'm hopeful it will do well! This is my haul from that shop...

And lastly..our local bead store was having a sale!! 25% off all beads,50% off some silver and 10% off all findings...Had to head over there (after getting my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

I have lots of things planned for all this stuff. Most importantly to make a few pretties for a special lady in need of some help to fight breast cancer. For more info, please see the link at the side for Pink Purl .There is going to be an auction held and if anyone would like to donate some hand crafted items, it would be greatly appreciated!!!! Either contact myself or Pink Purl if you would like to help out!Purl's post is entitled "Will you help with a gift for life?"

Until next time~ Happy Beading!!

One of my favorites!

2007-07-16T12:32:00.000-05:00

Actually two...My favorite artist and jewelry designer is Eni Oken She has a fanominal sence of style and artistic ability. I've been following up on her website for about a year now since I stumbled across her site while surfing the web. I have finally gotten the courage to try one of her intermediate tutorials and add my own twist to it.

Now let me interject my other favorite ...labradorite! I can't seem to get enough of this stone.The geological type area for labradorite is Paul's Island near the town of Nain in Labrador, Canada. I have been hording quite a bit of it lately, but decided to actually make some things with it. So I combined my two favorite things and made a beautiful (I think ) teardrop pendant
I'm planning on using some liver of sulpher to age this piece once my sunshine cloths arrive in the mail.

I also reworked an earlier piece I wasn't too happy with. The orange and green bracelet with the big hill tribe silver flower. I had some beads from napal I was saving and thought they would go well with the whole flower motif I have going on.It now fit's better. I have a small size 6 wrist and it was tight on me. Now it's an average size 7 to 7 1/2.I also made complimenting earrings for it.

Hopefully going to get some time tomorrow to add them to my etsy shop and see how well they do.

Unfortunatly, it's time to head to my real life job, so until next time...happy beading~

Pond Cam

2007-07-04T12:59:00.003-05:00

Happy 4th of July ~if anyone actually reads this stuff LOL!

It has stopped raining here in Pa so I thought I would take a walk out to the pond and see what was going on. Not too much I'm afraid since we seem to have a cat raiding the pond...all the frogs and fish are very skittish lately and haven't been up to many photo op's. I was never a big cat fan anyway, but this is really making me upset. I'm very attached to all the pond life and hate to go out to a little mangled green guy in the yard. If anyone knows of a good cat deterrant, please let me know!!

This is my beautiful peach and white water lily.It seems to have taken over most of the pond this year, so it must be pretty happy...since it's the 4th , it's time to fertilize the lilies so we'll have a few more months of blooms.

Please excuse my lack of camera skills! This was taken at the beginning of the season with our new digital camera. The pond has changed alittle since then...more green and lots of pretty flowers!

Beautiful Saturday in the yard

2007-06-30T21:38:00.001-05:00

Hubby and I have a similar passion in life...gardening! Who would have thought I would find my perfect soul mate...not many men would traipse around tea rooms and bead shops with their wives...but to actually have a love of gardening also! Mind boggling if you ask me ;)

So we puttered around in the yard today...he mowed and I ate raspberries...A little history of the house...it was built in the 50's for soldiers coming back from the war in a small neighborhood full of these little split levels..all looking exactly the same.

When we moved in 10 years ago,there was nothing in the back yard but a run down gray shed a mock orange bush, butterfly bush and a french lilac.We've done alittle work since then...
The pond was our wedding gift to eachother. We put it in the weekend we got home from our honeymoon and it has done nothing but thrive since. We have several generations of frogs, fish and toads living in and by the pond. We had a visitor today too...this gorgeous blue dragonfly was sitting on the day lilies just waiting for me to snap her picture.

We also have a smaller pond for frog overflow. We are hoping one of these days to enlarge this one since they are really multiplying!There is even a rare yellow spotted salamander that comes and lays her eggs in our little pond every spring. Hard to believe we have so much animal life going on living in the city.

And finally after much cajoling and praying...my hydrangea has bloomed!!!
This is a Macrophylla Harlequin Hydrangea which get's gorgeous pink and white flowers. Many years ago, I worked in a green house and just had to have this hydrangea..I'm so glad I bought it now!

On the beading front...nothing new this week..I did get my liver of sulpher in the mail finally, so I'm going to experiment with oxidizing some metal tomorrow. I'm thinking about oxidizing my wire wrapped pendant from last week..but still thinking that one over...until next post~happy beading!!

Busy Weekend!

2007-06-24T18:50:00.000-05:00

Well....all the insanity started Friday evening...I bought a showcase slot on Etsy to get some more exposure so more people can see my work. Totally not ready for it at ALL! So, most of friday and saturday I sat in my little "office" beading away on anything I could think of that would be attractive enough to get people to come look in my Etsy shop and possibly buy something..anything

Came up with some things, but then I saw what everyone else was putting in the showcase *insert crying guy*Don't get me wrong, I love what I do and love what I create...but lets face it, I'm only a small fish in a huge pond!So here's what I came up with...keep in mind, I like to think outside the box :)

Whew!! So..that's done. Sunday rolls up and we have to get in groceries or risk starvation...which means after going to bed at 3 am (watching Deadliest Catch) we have to get back up at 9 am to hit the store before the church people come flocking in with their screaming kiddies (see why I only have dogs?) Groceries home and put away ...mostly...

Off to the Bead Gallery to take a class on wire wrapping Cabs!! YAY! I love learning new things ...specially when it involves some new jewelry for me to make!!I thought I would be quite rusty since it's been awhile since my last class, but most of us got done in about 1 hour. I'm a big turquoise junkie so I knew I had to do something with the big chunk I've been hanging onto for the last 6 months with no idea what to do with it...hey...it was pretty! Anywho, I digress...class went great and this is what I ended up with...

Not too shabby for my first and I've already got a custom order to make another *thumbs up Fonze*

So now I sit here bored ..too early to go to bed ...so I put together another bracelet :) I totally fell in LOVE with these colors and for anyone that knows me..I'm not a bright color person..I like the muted "earthy" colors..I do have to rethink this design though, cause it just isn't quite what I want..I think I'm going to have to make a seed bead loop with a button closure. I do really love the hill tribe silver snap colsure, but there is a gap next to that (the silver beads cover it, but it looks "off" to me) So back to the drawing board with this one...but almost....

Dinner tonight is nothing special..DH is having leftover Beer Beef Bolognese Parpadelle

Made it from this awesome recipe I found on another blog here > http://teczcape.blogspot.com/2007/05/parpadelle-with-homemade-ragu-sauce.html

It was wonderful, but omitted the beer since DH and I don't drink beer and it would just end up skunked in our fridge :) My lovely dinner is a frozen chicken breast stuffed with broccoli and cheese...not the healthiest, but I'm too tired to make anything tonight! Well..off to check my dinner...till next time, happy beading!

Beading Buddy

2007-06-18T00:21:00.001-05:00

2007-06-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

First blog post! (Well ...real blog post anyway..the first didn't count) Thought I would jump on the blog band wagon and see if I can actually keep up with postings this time instead of letting the poor thing sit and collect dust.

One of my most favorite things to do is create jewelry. I have my own little Etsy shop at secretgardenjewelry.com I've even bought my logo to plaster all over my car *snicker* haven't gotten the courage to actually put them on yet...that would be like I was really in business! So far, I've sold 5 items, but it's such a big thrill to actually think someone would PAY for something I make. I'm into all kinds of things..I like making vintage looking jewelry from old skeleton keys and antique escutcheon's (pronounce that 5 times!) Anywho...I've just discoved a new supply...costume jewelry! I have some ideas about adding pieces of that to my design's so stay tuned for some new pieces. I knew I should have taken a metal class in highschool instead of home ec...

I plan on doing some tutorials soon too..just easy peasy things like wire wrapping rings and wire wrapping a cab. I'm taking a class on it sunday, so wish me luck! I'll share my knowledge when I get back....

Now if I can figure out how to add a video to this thing, I'll show you my inspiration for "bully" beads...one of the loves of my life...my little bully dog Cass.Both of my "pups" are great, but little Cass likes to snore at my feet while I'm working on new pieces.

Under construction

2007-06-17T03:02:00.001-05:00

Be back soon!