Sweet Tarts, Singing, and a Few Favorite Things

I have been playing with more tiles... I love tiles... and I am fortunate to know several amazing ladies who make gorgeous tiles.  The two I'm excited to show you today are from the lovely and wonderful Janice of JLynn Jewels.  Her tiles are just always so warm and inspiring, I love them!  This first is another wrap bracelet, when I saw this cute little tile it just seemed so sweet and reminded me of those little sweet tart hearts I used to eat when I was little, the ones that were... tart.  Not the sugar hearts you get for Valentine's lol.

And how delicious is the silk ribbon?  It has the loveliest shades of purple, blue, mint, and a hint of pink.  Color Kissed Silk makes such gorgeous ribbon!  And then my second piece is another lariat, though a different type.  I saw this Sing tile in Janice's shop and... it's one of those that I had to have.  I love to sing.  I have always loved to sing.  My mother once teased that I could sing before I could speak ;).  I was in choirs all throughout school, even at UO for most of my time there.  Anyway, there I go rambling again!  I love to sing and when I saw the sing tile I had to snag it and play with it!  I have the most lovely vintage brass ring from Fallen Angel Brass Co.  and it just seemed like they belonged together lol.  So here we are... Sing!

I just love the way it turned out!  Click on either of the pics to be taken to the shop listing where there are more pics if you are interested :)

Now, I've decided to start trying to show you a few of my favorite things here and there... why?  Because I love to share ;)  So here is the first for today:

Isn't that the sweetest ring?  It's by the wonderful April of Pieces of April on Etsy.  She's a real sweetheart, just like her amazing mama, Mary, who made these gorgeous earrings:

and does the most beautiful poetry.  You have to check out their shops!  They are the most wonderfully warm, funny, and talented ladies!
And since I said few.. I should add at least one other favorite thing.  This is a bracelet by the fabulous Patty of My Life Under The Bus stardom, if you don't read her blog yet, you so need to start!  Anyway, here's this bracelet that I am totally in love with:

So there you have it...  sweet tarts, singing, and a few favorite things!  Happy Wednesday, everyone!

~Jennifer

The Last Gift... and What I've Been Working On...

As any of you who caught my last post know, I was totally shocked and excited to find that I was one of the winners of the Artisan Group Giveaway.  If you missed my last post, please check it out :)  I met some amazing artisans!  The last of my goodies hadn't arrived when I wrote the post, but it arrived a couple of days later and oh!  It is so wonderful!  It is a positively stunning leather wrap bracelet by Julicia of Julicia's Creations!  I am in love :)  She makes them custom and it fits so so perfectly!  My kids are totally thrilled that I get to wear their names around for everyone to see LOL.

Isn't it fabulous?  I am so excited :)  So, check out the wonderful Julicia!  Here are her links:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Juliciascreations  http://twitter.com/#!/JuliciaCreates
http://www.juliciascreations.com/    https://www.facebook.com/JuliciasCreations

Now, what have I been up to?  Trying to create a lot more beautiful pieces to go up into the store in preparation for the coming holidays!  That's right, they are cooooooooming!  I LOVE Christmas, so I am excited!  I made I think it was six? Pieces this last weekend? I was hoping to make more, but it was a bit nutty in my house.  (I blame the littles... always their fault ;) )  Here are the new pretties I put up this morning, featuring... Fallen Angel Brass!  Are you shocked? I'm sure you are *wink*.  The first up is my personal favorite earrings ever I think...  I call them "Gypsy Soul"

Next up are two winter-y pieces I am dubbing the Snow Princess collection :)  I love snowflakes, I think they are just amazing and beautiful:

And the wrap that features the most stunning silk ribbon from Mudhound Studios on Etsy... maybe my favorite ribbon ever!

What do you guys think?  I am pretty pleased :)  I love all the sparkle!  These three are up in the shop now!  Click on the pics to go see the listing with even more fabulous pics.  :D  I'll have even more fun and fabulous things up later this week!  I have another set of sparkly earrings and a new lariat ready to be photographed!

My beautiful eldest daughter just went on her very first field trip on Friday (my husband got to go!) they went to the pumpkin patch :)  They had an absolutely amazing time and she brought home a very cute pumpkin lol.  I'm hoping we'll be able to take the others to pick out pumpkins sometime this week!  (before Halloween would be optimal LOL)  What are you all up to this week?  Anything fun?  Hope it is a fantastic one!

~Jennifer

Artisan Giveaway... Oh my lucky me!

So... as some of you may know... I was one of the incredibly lucky people selected in the Artisan Group Huge 2000 Fan Giveaway!  Now, I have to tell you, I am one of those people who generally enters all sorts of contests and giveaways... and never wins a darn thing!  So when I saw that I had won THIS I about had a heart attack!  And then... then I was giddy.  I still am, actually!  I feel so special and fortunate and... yes!  Yay!  Ok, so rumour has it each of the winners is supposed to get six items.  So far I have received five of mine and the last is on its way today! :)  So I want to tell you about what I got so that I can introduce you to some very cool ladies and shops as a thank you to them and to the Artisan Group itself :)  First off... if you don't know about the Artisan Group, I encourage you to check out their blog, they are an amazing group that aims to get handcrafted goodies into the hands of celebrities (through swag bags and such).  Check them out!


Ok, now, several of these wonderful ladies were kind enough to drop me an email and let me know my happy prize was on its way.  The first of these was the lovely Shawna of Wags and Wiggles, and let me tell ya it is the cutest little lobster dog toy!  It is really well made and going to the dog of a good friend of mine, I'll try and get pics of the introduction between the two at a later date ;)
Here's the pic from the Artisan blog:

Isn't it cute?  Love!  You can check out Shawna's Etsy shop by clicking the store name above, she also has a FB page: http://www.facebook.com/wagsandwiggles


Next up is the gorgeous silver filigree cuff bracelet blank I received from LexiBeads, I still am debating... but I'm thinking maybe of adding some sari silk... we'll see.  If I do I will definitely post pictures :)  It is so pretty on its own that it is hard to decide LOL.  Here it is on my wrist as is :)

And Alexis is a total sweetheart, here are her links!  https://www.facebook.com/LexiBeads
http://twitter.com/#!/lexibeads   http://www.etsy.com/shop/LexiBeads
She also has a page for her jewelry, make sure you check that out too!  https://www.facebook.com/AlexisStudioDesign


Next up is Kathryn of Kathryn Designs, her pendant is so much lovelier in person, it absolutely shimmers!  Here is my attempt at taking a picture of it in the awful light in my house...  and yes, that is my daughter's head in the background LOL!  

Here's the pic from the Artisan Group blog, much better one lol:

Another totally sweet lady, I am so excited to meet all of these new artisans!  Here are her links:

Artfire shop:http://www.kathryndesigns.Artfire.com
Facebook page: 
http://www.facebook.com/Kathryndesigns
Twitter: 
http://www.twitter.com/Kathrynjewelry

The next goodies I received were some Boo Boo Balm and Soothing Lip Rescue Balm from Scentability :)  I haven't tried the Boo Boo Balm as of yet, but the lip balm  smells like cotton candy and is amazing!  Here are her links:

https://www.facebook.com/Scentability

http://twitter.com/#!/scentability

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Scentability

And lastly of the fabulous goodies I have been so blessed to receive is a set of gorgeous Thank You cards from Simply Paperie, here's the pic from the Artisan blog:

And her links!  

https://www.facebook.com/SimplyPaperie

http://twitter.com/#!/simplypaperie

http://www.etsy.com/shop/simplypaperie

So, thank you, thank you, to all of you who have sent me such wonderful things and to the Artisan Group for doing this amazing giveaway!!  I will blog about any other goodies I receive as I get them :)  And if you have a minute, you should totally check out some of these links!  These are some truly wonderful shops!

Have a fantastic day!

~Jennifer

Sari Blog Hop Reveal

If you are looking for my bead soup post, please go HERE

So... here we are... the day of the big reveal :)  I had a lot of fun with this one, I am coming to just love the look of the sari ribbon... soft, elegant, romantic... and has the potential to be deliciously fun and boho!  So, you may ask, how did I decide what to do?  Well, I actually had two pieces I wanted to do, but the necklace... still isn't there yet, so I am going to show you all the piece I did do :)

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I present "Hope and Chocolate"...

I know what you're thinking... what a weird name, right?  Well, when I was making it, I just had to put the pinks with these chocolate-y browns... and the color so does remind me of semi-sweet chocolate.  As I sat there and thought about cancer and oddly enough, chocolate.  I thought well... hope is a bit like semi-sweet chocolate... hope makes things that are bitter and hard more bearable.  It gives us the strength to make it through things, it gives us a reason to keep going.  And... there I go getting all romantic and sappy lol.  Alright, here are a few other pics, I really love how this turned out!

Most of the brass on this is by Fallen Angel Brass Co., all of the wire and the headpins.  The charm is Vintaj though.

I don't know what it is about the fraying on the ribbon that is so appealing, but it is.  I think it softens the stones, softens the wire... sweetens it.

Love it!  I hope you love it too!  :)  If anyone is interested, it is now up in the shop!  http://www.etsy.com/listing/83877684/hope-and-chocolate-breast-cancer

Now, go on and check out the rest of the hop!  So many fabulous participants! 

HERE IT IS:

Sari Ribbon Party Blog Hop

Vickie Wills

http://www.jewelrybyvee.blogspot.com/

Susan Kennedy
http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Michelle Mach
http://www.michellemach.com/blog/


Michelle Lee Hardy
http://fireflyvisions.blogspot.com/ 

Ruth Crawford
http://www.home-with-ruth.blogspot.com


Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
http://fryestyle.blogspot.com/


Diana P.
http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com 

Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B'sue Boutiques
http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/

Elizabeth Owens-Dwy
http://www.clarityofpurplesage.blogspot.com 

Connie Rios-Relyea
http://www.JewelsDesignsCreativeCorner.wordpress.com/ 

Jennifer Justman
http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/       < < < YOU ARE HERE
Deb Davis
http://www.naturaltreasuresbydeb.blogspot.com

Beanzie
http://www.thevintageheartcharmbracelets.com/the-vintage-heart-charm-b/
              
Cathie Carroll
http://www.cathiecarroll.com/

Rosemary Cowit
http://www.gemrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Georgene Lockwood
http://sylvanavintagedesigns.wordpress.com/

Cathy Buckley
http://cathybuckleycatsmeow.blogspot.com

Harry Wood
http://www.oscarcrow.blogspot.com

Sonya Stille
http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com 

Mary Deis
http://mdeis.blogspot.com/

Heather Goldsmith
http://asibeadit.blogspot.com/

Susan Rouleau
http://mountainshadowstudio.blogspot.com

Terry Matusyk
http://pinkchapeau.wordpress.com

Pam Chesbro
http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/

Mary Shannon Hicks
http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Janice Everett
http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com

Davinia
http://www.daviniadesign.com

Kristina Johansson, Maneki
http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com 

Kris Binsfeld
http://www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com


Mandy
http://www.beadsforbrains.blogspot.com

Charlene
http://thebeaddreamer.com/blog/

Catherine Jeltes
http://www.galleryzooart.com

Jackie
http://kydojewellery.blogspot.com/ 

Sharon Palac
http://www.sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com 

Deb Beechy
http://beetique56.blogspot.com/ 

Jean Yates
http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/

Patrice Pfeiffer
http://treeseatreasures.blogspot.com/ 

Dorcas Midkiff
http://wondrousstrangedesigns.blogspot.com/

Lynn Perry Bennett
http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com

Linzi Alford
http://www.magpieintheskyspoilheaptales.blogspot.com

Deb
http://greenshoot.blogspot.com/ 

Cynthia Wainscott
http://www.exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com

Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp

http://skyejewels.blogspot.com

Alice Craddick

http://alicesbeadsandbaubles.blogspot.com/

B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

http://www.flickr.com/groups/bsueboutiques/

I love java sweet and hot...

Are you a coffee person? I totally am.  I wasn't always, but now I am not sure I could live without it.  I love coffee.  I love the way it smells, I love the way it tastes, I love the happy secure feeling I get when I have it.  Because it is really just one of those happy spots in my life, drinking a cup of coffee (or four, depending on the day ;) ).  I find when I'm starting to feel stressed that making a pot of coffee, letting the scent fill the house, holding the warm mug in my hands... soothes me.  Helps me breathe for a minute.  And sometimes that minute is something I desperately need, don't we all?  What had me thinking of coffee in such a way, you may ask... well, I just finished reading The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen.  There is a character in there named Rachel and she says that the way a person likes their coffee can tell you about them...  I don't know about that, but it is definitely an interesting thought, don't you think?

I know, rambling, right?  Ok, onto business!  :)  Today I want to talk about what I've been working on!  I made two new bracelets this last week or so and have finally had enough weak sunlight to attempt to photograph them :)  They feature the work of two ladies whose work I admire very much :)  The first bracelet is called "Autumn Leaves in the Wind" and has the most wonderful cuff style bead by Heather of Humblebeads.  The blues and browns in it are just so perfect for autumn and I love the oak leaves, so pretty, they just looked like they were blowing in the wind, thus the name :).  I kept it simple featuring more of that amazing Fallen Angel Brass Co. brass... chain, wire, and headpins.  Can't get enough of their metal!  Anyway... here it is!

What do you think?  :)  

The second piece that I'm really excited about is a bracelet featuring a focal by the wonderful Marie of Skye Jewels.  I have a bit of an obsession with the Eiffel Tower (and Paris in general) and anything London related. I just think they seem like such beautiful and amazing things and hope someday to see them in person... until then I will just have to create jewelry inspired by them :)  Marie made this lovely tile with a stunning layered image of the Eiffel Tower and the London Eye... it's so dreamy, so romantic... and I tried to keep that feel by wrapping it in a gorgeous filigree from (you guessed it!) Fallen Angel Brass Co.  I used this amazing creamy green jasper and soft lavender cape amethyst that almost glows in some lights.  After I made the clasp I wrapped it in a finer gauge wire with lavender seed beads and then added a few sparkling swarovski crystals... Oh here, you have to see it LOL

Well? What do you think?  :)  I'm pretty excited about them.  Getting to use such amazing materials by such talented ladies is a true pleasure!  If you click on their names above you'll be taken to their fabulous shops!  

~Jennifer

Humblebeads: http://www.etsy.com/shop/humblebeads    http://humblebeads.blogspot.com/   

Fallen Angel Brass Co.:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/FallenAngelBrass  http://www.etsy.com/shop/FallenAngelJewelry   http://fallenangelbrass.blogspot.com/

Skye Jewels:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/skyejewels  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Moreskyejewels  http://skyejewels.blogspot.com/

P.S. Come back tomorrow for the Sari Blog Hop Reveal!!!  

Autumn breezes... blow through my mind.

If you are looking for my soup post, it is HERE

I swear they do, really.  I love autumn... it is by far my favorite season.  The leaves are turning now in front of the school down the street... and when I jog in the mornings I get to watch the progression.  First just a hint of color on the edges of the leaves... and day by day it changes... a little at a time.  Rather like some things in life... not everything changes in moments, some things are softer, more gradual.  Rather like a steady rain or the surf caressing the shore, changing the shape of it year after year, little by little...  Yes, that's right, I get all dreamy and musing in the autumn LOL.  So watch out, you never know what is coming next!  ;)

For now though, I thought I'd share some of my latest creations :)  I've been hard at work... and with such lovely materials it has been a true pleasure to work.. then again, when isn't it?  Fallen Angel Brass Co. has become my new favorite place to go for all things metal... there is something so incredibly appealing about their dark brass.  It totally fuels my imagination!  They have these angel wings... if you know them, you know what I speak of lol.  I've wanted to play with them for ages and finally ordered a set... and when they arrived? And I held them in my hands I had a vision... and my hands started working and a few hours later... this was born :)  I named it "Fallen" for it's dark fallen angel appearance... and of course the company who inspired it!  Thank you, Karen and Tina, you ladies rock!  Their wire just makes me breathless with joy :D Without further ado... "Fallen"

Please excuse the middle pic... I need to get myself a proper lady for displaying :)  Anyway... I wire wrapped the lapis and the boro (20 gauge wire from FAB, of course).  Three types of chain.... some swarovski crystals and pearls.  And you have... a lariat *big cheesy grin*  Very proud of myself LOL.  I love this piece!  

Next up features not only FAB... but also the work of an artist whose work I have admired for quite some time now, Janice of JLynn Jewels.  She has become a wonderful friend and I am so grateful to her for her advice and daily inspiration, I am so blessed!  Anyway, point Jennifer, get to the point!  I was sitting here, skimming through Etsy trying to find inspiration.. and saw the most gorgeous tiles she put up in her shop.  I usually hem and haw and wait and wait before buying things, worry over costs... not these!  I snapped them up within seconds of seeing them!  And she sent them out to me quickly too!  Angel that she is, because I was so excited!!  So here it is, my Wings of Autumn necklace featuring one of her perfect tiles!  

Isn't that tile just stunning?  And all of that FAB wire and I made the clasp myself too :)  I am growing very proud of my wire work lol.  Honey jade and cappuccino jasper just seemed to perfectly capture the colors in the tile.  And that boro bead I've had sitting there waiting for the perfect piece for months now!  It all just seemed to fall together perfectly :)  Click on any of the pics to go to my Etsy site to see other pictures of the pieces.  Let me know what you guys think!  I have several new wrap bracelets and some amazingly sparkly and dangle-y earrings coming up and into the shop this week!  Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week, my dears!  

~Jennifer

P.S.  Blogs for the ladies mentioned above!  Click on their highlighted names above for their shops!  Check them out!!
http://fallenangelbrass.blogspot.com/

http://jlynnjewels.blogspot.com/