Some Fall Fav's...

Love the Fall. The clean, crisp air. I love wearing my sweaters (with my flip flops). The colors always inspire me. Summer is gone, and this summer I spent so much time with my kids they must be sick of me. Oh I hope not. But we did so many things! New things, fun things, and the fun has just begun. Fall is here, and that means leaf peeping and pumpkins and lots of photos and memories.

 Hiking was a big thing this summer! I love waterfalls, so we're still hunting for more!

 Pumpkin Picking is an all time fav here. I need a recipe for pie... for sure!

 

 Catchin' a ride to the pumpkin field!

 Tree Climbing!

 Skippin' Rocks!

 Enjoying the sunset

 Cliff-side seat... just chilling out.

This Summer was about the kids. Enjoying their time off from school, and trying new things. I'm thrilled that they had such a blast. 

I have had little time to design, however, now that they are back in school, we'll save our outings for the weekends and I'll have time to play during the day.

  Here are a few of the new things I've cooked up!

 "Lady Buggin'" Glass Bead Bracelet

 I'm loving the memory wire... Here's a new design I'm playing with. I think I love it!

 For Halloween, my favorite holiday!

 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I have a few of these. Love how they came out!

 Some pretty Fall colors

 And of course, Green and Black.

 This one is a bracelet.

I'm going to spread out a few of the new things among some local shops and my Etsy store.

I will be back with more photo's soon. Getting back into the groove and very excited to spend some more time doing the things I love. 

Off to grab my sweater and get designing!

New Summer Jewelry!!

I know that I've been a very bad blogger lately. I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted. But rather than apologize, because most of you know how it is having kids at home all summer, I think I'm just going to show you what I've been up to! 

I've been making a new style of ring and bracelet out of memory wire. I truly disliked the stuff when I first looked at it years ago and never tried it out. But NOW, I have become a complete addict!! I can't get enough of it! So check out what I did. Here are a few pictures of the rings I just listed a few moments ago on Etsy. 

In addition to the rings, I've been making bracelets too that are flying off the shelves of the shops that I have put them in. If you are local, you can find them at The Wishing Well, in Sandy Hook CT and at Salon Odette in Middlebury, CT.

Check them out and feel free to leave comments!!

I'll be back, now that I'm on a roll!

Thanks for checking in!

I hope you're enjoying your summer!

Mom's are such special people!

Aside from my own mother, who I look up to so much, I know so many wonderful women who are the best mothers! It's this opportunity that you are presented with to show unconditional love to these little people who look up to you and want to learn from you. I am so proud of who my babies have become, even at their young ages! I was showered with handmade gifts from my little ones today. My 4 year old gave me this poster with his footprint on it and a beautiful poem. Made me cry. :) My 6 year old gave me a book that he wrote about all the things he loves about me! And my very artistic 12 year old daughter made me a paper rose, SCENTED, and a coupon book of "HUGS" to use when needed!

My kids are awesome!!! I'm truly feeling the love today! :)

For my Mother, I have designed a necklace and earring set. Of course, I loved it so much I made myself one as my own mother's day gift to me! 

 I used one of the pink tulips in the backyard as my backdrop for the earrings. Panicked the entire time, as there was a spider nestled INSIDE the tulip leaf on the other side, so I tried not to disrupt him. I hate spiders. And there was also a big juicy fat Bumble Bee flying over my head the entire time. I just said, give me 30 seconds Mr. Bee, and this flower is all yours! LOL! Got my photo's done and ran! I hope my mom loves her gifts.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!!

Have a wonderful day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Wow, have I been a bad blogger or what? Goodness, I haven't written a post in a while. It's just been crazy around here lately. I guess that New Year's resolution has gone by the wayside. But I have very good intentions of getting my butt in gear! I've just booked a home show in June and I have to hustle now to get myself ready. I have so many pretty beads to design with, and I'm so excited to play with them! Just need to get myself situated and just go! I sat today and made my mother a beautiful necklace and earring set. I'll have a picture to show tomorrow. She's going to just love it! I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day! I am looking forward to hanging with my mom and my sister for the afternoon. Good times! Back tomorrow with pictures of the jewels! I have some rings going to Sandy Hook too! they are really pretty!

Two more to make and they'll be on their way!

SPRING BREAK SALE!!

Happy Saturday!

The kids are on Spring Break this week coming up and in honor of the vacation for the little darlings

(even though they don't REALLY need it), 

I'm having a

SPRING BREAK SALE

in my Etsy shop!

From today, April 16, through Saturday April 23, take 10% off your purchase up to $100, and 15% off your purchase of $100 or more! Just mention SPRINGBREAK in the comments section of your order and I'll send you a revised invoice, or refund you the difference through PayPal. 

Perfect time to grab something special for Mom, Mother's Day is May 8th!!

Coming up fast! Which reminds me, I better get cracking on my mom's gift! 

Have a great weekend everyone! I'll be adding new things to the shop as I make them!

March is a busy birthday month...

I have many birthday's in March to celebrate. The first two are done!

My niece just turned 9, and she wanted "Auntie" jewelry for her birthday present. Naturally I was happy to design something especially for her. 

Big girl jewelry. 

Here's her bracelet. I love the color combo!! She asked for blue/green. I am going to have to have one of these for myself, I think! :) 

And for my best friend, Ann. She loves the beach. I know this. So I wanted to make her something to remind her of her favorite place. 

Here's her "Sand and Sea" cluster ring!

Here it is on her lovely hand!! Happy Birthday to my girls! :) 

There's more coming!

Hope you have a great day!

Water water everywhere!!

You'll have to forgive my lack of posting. I'm taking a break from dumping the shop vac as we speak! 

We've had a miserable winter here in CT, and on top of all the snow we've had, we had a TON of rain over the past few days. The river by our house flooded the streets again and in addition to that, our basement. We had to break down and purchase a sump pump and that seems to be helping with the issue, but not before I had to physically suck up countless gallons of water on my own with the shop vac. Every 15 seconds I was lugging the darn thing up the stairs and dumping it outdside! I'm exhausted! And very sore. What a workout! The pump is working great, but there are remnants that I still need to get with the shop vac...boo! I'll be back on track soon! Cross your fingers for us, we're expecting more rain in the next couple of days! :( 

Hope you are all dry where you are!

Rings are coming!

I've had such a great response to my cluster rings, and that makes me so happy! I just got some new bases in, and will be making some cool Spring color combination's this weekend! I have some great ideas for summer ones too. One step at a time, right? ;) Photo's coming soon! 

Hope you're having a great day!

Strands, Toggles and Soup...Oh My!!

Let's start with some soup, Bead soup that is!

Here's a picture of what I received from Libbyleu for the Bead Soup Party!

I love everything! The colors are right up my alley!! I have plans in mind, so you'll have to stay tuned for the big reveal on February 26th!! :) No hint's until then, rules are rules. 

Now, onto my gem show finds from this past weekend. I'm in love!! Love love love! Silver is my weakness, and so are teardrop glass beads. Well, all glass beads really... but these are so fun to incorporate into my designs. 

I'll let the photo's do the talking.

And last but not least, I couldn't resist this sweet little teapot and spoon toggle!

I'm looking forward to playing with all my new shiny silver finds!!

Life is GOOD!!

65 Roses

I was asked a few months back by my friend Traci to design and donate a piece to a fundraiser this April for Cystic Fibrosis. I didn't know too much about the cause, so I asked for some details on it. She told me that it is represented by Red roses and that when kids say Cystic Fibrosis, it often sounds like "65 Roses". I wanted to stay true to the cause and design a piece fitting for the occasion. So I commissioned Lynn of Brilynn Beads to create some beautiful beads for me that she also donated for the cause. Here's what I came up with for the design. All together, between the bracelet and the earrings there are close to "65 Roses" in the set. I hope it raises a lot of money at the fundraiser! :)

 Next up on my agenda...the Awesome Bead Soup that I received from Libbyleu!!

Will photograph and then I've got the get cracking on my design. The beads are gorgeous, pictures coming! 

Stay tuned!!

Bead store outing!

I did a little shopping today at my local bead store. I had so much fun looking at all the pretty shiny things in there, I really had to exercise restraint too! I came out with a bag full of goodies though, so I'll be sitting tomorrow in the snow storm designing...yes, you heard correctly, there is another storm coming. I can't wait to make the things that I pulled beads together for. I can see them all in my head! Time to get the ideas into jewelry. Photo's to follow! Hope everyone is staying warm and dry!

Lori's doing a giveaway!

On my list of things to try is metal stamping. The supplies are quite costly though, so it's been put on the back burner for me. However, Lori Anderson is giving away a set of stamps...and I want to WIN!! If you want to try to win too, here's the link to her website:

http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/2011/01/metal-stamp-giveaway.html

Lori, thanks for doing such an awesome giveaway! :)

Oh my...the snow is coming!!!

I'm not a big fan of winter, I don't like to be cold! However, we got some snow over the weekend and when I woke up, it actually looked very pretty on the trees, untouched by the sun yet and there were no footprints to be found. It inspired me to grab my camera and go on a little scenic car ride.

This is what I found:

Isn't it just beautiful? I couldn't believe it myself. I actually enjoyed freezing my butt off to get these great shots. It also inspired me to come home and make some jewelry! In my nice warm office with the heater on! LOL!

And here's a couple of the earring pairs that will be listed on Etsy later tonight! 

More designs coming as we are expecting another foot to perhaps two feet overnight tonight and tomorrow! Which means no school, and a nice comfy warm office to lock myself away in! 

Stay tuned!

"Nice Party"

I have so many good things that I can say about my Grandmother. So many good memories! We were fortunate enough to have her in our lives until now. She got to enjoy her 6 great-grandchildren. What a rare opportunity, and how lucky are our kids to have had a Great Grandmother that played with them and spent lots of quality time with them. Always smiling, and offering a kind word. Her contagious laugh, cheating at games because she liked to "win"...and we let her, because she played with us. She taught us to play golf in the backyard when we were kids. She spoiled us...but not rotten. She fed us candy behind our parents back...oh lets get real...she fed us candy right in front of their faces! But she fed us well. Best Italian cook there was. There was love in the food. Sat in the sand and played with the grandkids at the beach every year. She loved the beach. Loved her family, and we knew it. All of us. We knew it. What an impression she has left on me. 

We lost her on Sunday. She went peacefully and comfortably. 

The world was a better place with her in it. But I know she has now been reunited with my grandfather after he waited 22 years for her, and perhaps they are playing a round of golf together. I can only hope! It's a nice thought though. 

Love you Gram. It's been a "Nice Party". Miss you so much.