Sunrise Inspiration

  

 A couple of years ago, on a chilly November morning,  I managed to capture this gorgeous sunrise from my backyard. I just loved the colors of the pinky-orange lavender sky, which recently became the inspiration for the bracelet below.

I used araura borealis colored glass beads as the main component, as they reflect a rainbow of pretty colors. I then accented the design with various crystals and stone beads in shades of  pink, fuschia, and tangerine....some of the Swarovski crystals are old and quite rare!

 There are also Venetian glass beads both vintage and modern, and pretty glass pearls in teal that hail from the 1950's. I also added a couple of vintage buttons for fun! Several pieces of fine linked chain in both sterling and silver tone, are randomly placed for some texture and interest. Aptly named November Sunrise!
Just listed in In my Etsy shop. Pin It

Craving Color

The other day, I heard the weather guy on TV say that we were not quite half way through winter. What??? I wanted to cry. Ugh...it is only the end of January, and still several more months until Spring shows its face in my part of the world. This is the time of year where I start to crave color...everything has been very white, bare and brown for such  along time....with the exception of the spruce trees...but I need a shot of color! So looking through my vast collection of photos, I thought I could cheer us all up with a little color therapy! Most are from my travels.  Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend.

Curacao in the Caribbean

Maui

 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

  
Niagara on the Lake, Ontario

 Near my house, Alberta

Barbados

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Luscious Lampwork!

The ultra fabulous glass beads by artist Jane Perala, are always a joy to use in my creations! Her handmade  beads are beautifully made and have amazing depth...the camera just cannot capture how truly beautiful they really are! Lampwork glass beads are made one at a time, by melting rods of colored glass with a torch. Each one is an individual work of art! Jane is a Canadian lampwork bead artist, from one of my favorite places ....Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Here is what I made with some of Janes gorgeous beads:
Weekend Getaway #41, is a  multi strand necklace that features two of Janes glass beads, as well as a vintage button and faux pearls, a cool brass vintage number tag, abalone shell, amethyst, and an agate stone pendant .

 Spring Fling, is a  charm style bracelet designed with four marvelous water colored beads, several handcrafted sterling silver charms from Thailand, Bali silver, vintage beads and Swarovski pearls.

Visit Janes blog to see more of her wonderful work! Pin It

My little celebrities!

I just finished packaging up a few items that are on their way to the Different Strokes Art Gallery in Olds, Alberta. The gallery is  located in the historic Kemp Block of Uptowne Olds.   This part of town features eclectic local businesses, including a great bakery, a romantic French restaurant, a funky music store, a trendy skateboarding shop,  men’s and women’s clothing stores and a gallery specializing in home decor. This is the second group of items that are being sold in this wonderful gallery that features different artists from Alberta. I am honored, and of course thrilled to have my little creations in and amongst the works of some very talented individuals! So here are the selected creations that are on their way to stardom!

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Hooked again by the Idol!

Last night I watched this seasons first episode of American Idol, excited to see how the show was going to turn out with the new line up of judges. With only Randy Jackson left from the original panel, I was wondering if this was going to be the beginning of the end of this show now in its 10th season. At the end of last season, we saw Simon, Carla AND Ellen depart. Last night Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler ( from Aerosmith) joined Randy Jackson, and I thought the show was fantastic! I am a Steven Tyler fan, and was curious what he was going to bring to the table. He was very funny, and his "Rock God" influences are sure to be a positive thing on this show...which can sometimes be a bit "apple pie-ish"! Loved his paint chip comment!
J LO was gorgeous, and also very sweet... and at the beginning was having a hard time saying "NO", not wanting to  dash the dreams of the tender young contestants. Randy is still the DAWG! Ok, so American Idol has hooked me in for another season...from this first episode it seemed like it will be a success. Lets hope we can get some wonderful contestants, like Crystal Bowersox from last year....she should have won. Pin It

BFF

I spent Saturday night at a hotel in the big city, with my one of my best friends, who was in town visiting from the coast. It was great to have girls night out, enjoying a nice meal, gabbing, having wine until the wee hours of the morning, gabbing some more, ....shopping downtown the next day and even more gabbing. Shopping was fun, checking out the latest fashions, hunting for last seasons bargains, and drooling over the hottest designer handbags! It's just so therapeutic having a great friend who listens, laughs, dreams along with you. We have been best friends for 30 years, and she is like a sister to me. Do you have a great best friend forever like that? Pin It

$$$$Silver$$$$

Sterling Silver, which is the metal that I prefer to work with, is getting extremely expensive to buy. Silver prices have sky rocketed recently, especially within the last few months. Shortly before Christmas, I could buy a 1ounce roll of 21 or 22 gauge wire for about $30.00. When I checked yesterday, that same roll is now going to cost me $42.00!



Yikes...it really is getting crazy! All those beautiful silver beads, clasps, chains and findings are now becoming extremely pricey to buy.



Over the past few months I have started to use a lot more copper and brass in my designs, so that I can keep offering one of a kind creations at affordable prices. I am also using a lot more vintage findings, and chains and repurposing jewelry, so that I can achieve the desired looks that I want to create, without breaking the bank. That way I can pass the savings onto the consumer, who can still purchase a handcrafted piece of fashionable jewelry at a reasonable cost.



I love working with silver, and I will continue to offer sterling silver and gold vermeil pieces, but unfortunately the prices on the new items with these precious metals are going to be substantially higher. However, I will always create all of my earrings with sterling ear wires, due to the fact that many people have allergic reactions to less expensive metals that are worn in the ear. Every jewelry designer is in the same boat, so it won't be too long until you will see prices increase in all jewelry that is made with sterling and fine silver. So if you have been thinking of purchasing anything made of sterling or fine silver, my advice to you is don't wait....because the price of silver is forecast to steadily increase.

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Lets Have a Tea Party!

These are my Mad Hatter earrings! I love them because they are so whimsical and crazy, but still very pretty and feminine. They are so named, because they remind me of a topsy turvy top hat! So, I got to thinking that on this very cold wintery day, why don't we have a tea party?

 

I would send you invitations....I love these pretty invitations to a  Mad Hatters Tea Party, from Life Events on Etsy.

How about this teacup centerpiece for our table? Available on Etsy at French Kissed in Pink

Of course you will need a dress! Olivia Kate Couture has several ones to choose from.

We could have delicious cakes! These are guilt free from Fabric Fancies.

We must have tea at a tea party! I don't know about you...but Happy Tea sounds great to me!! Tea by Wildroot Botanicals on Etsy.

I do hope you can come........and remember....don't be late!
Pocketwatch from Plasticouture Pin It

Valentines Date!

Envisioning a glamorous woman sitting at her vanity table, preparing herself for a special romantic date ...she has her pearls, her rhinestones and her best perfume! This necklace features a wonderful vintage, mini perfume bottle, that was the inspiration for this piece.

I also used a vintage rhinestone bracelet, a paste rhinestone floral finding, as well as a tiny Victorian metal filigree button to add romantic appeal to this long fashion necklace.

Also in this piece are pink vintage faux pearls, as well as brand new Swarovski glass pearls in gray and apricot, Swarovski crystals and vintage silver toned chains.

 This is my first listing of 2011! Available here in my Etsy shop. Pin It