Happy New Year!

I would like to wish all my loyal readers a very happy and prosperous New Year, for 2013!

Thank you for visiting my blog, and for all your wonderful comments over the past year! 

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Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas to you all!

I will be taking some time off to enjoy the holidays with my family. 

Peace on Earth.

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Creating More Memories!

Another set of vintage memory pendants.

These were so much fun to create!

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Brown Paper Packages, tied up with String.....these are a Few of my Favorite Things!

I have been stocking up on supplies, and the packages have been arriving over the last week. Parcels packed with vintage keys, brass lockets,  lures with wonderful patina, vintage and handmade glass beads, old filigree findings, antique escutcheons, vintage brass and copper charms, handmade silk and burlap flowers, semi precious gemstones and pearls, vintage buttons...oh my...fabulous things!

 In 2013, there will be more of my line of Alluring necklaces. 

These were hot sellers at my Christmas shows this year. Of course I will have more vintage key necklaces...... 

....as well as Double Duty pieces. 

 

  
I really enjoyed making the vintage photo pieces, and will also expand this line in the New Year.

Of course there will always be earrings......

As, mentioned before, I am also working on adding a new accessory line to the Hot Rocks collection, and I am experimenting with some more wrap style bracelets.

I would be interested to hear what my readers would like to see in my 2013 collections! What are your favorites?
What would you like to see more of?

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Peppermint Eggnog Punch

 

Mmmmmm...doesn't this look delicious? 


Just saw this recipe, for Peppermint Eggnog Punch on the BHG website.

Somehow, I am going to see if I can make this diabetic friendly...(for me)!

Perhaps, almond milk to replace the eggnog,  sugar free ginger ale and  vanilla sugar free ice cream with peppermint flavouring???

 I must go and experiment!!

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Silent Night

 God Bless those affected by the horrendous event that occurred in Connecticut on Friday. The world is praying for you all. Words cannot express how we all feel. We are all so deeply saddened, here in Canada and around the world, for the loss of those innocent lives. 

I thought a lot about this tragedy  over the weekend, and it brought to mind the Christmas carol, Silent Night, performed by Simon and Garfunkel, over 40 years ago. Please take a minute to play this, and think of the lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary.  Not much has changed...only the places and names of the victims. 

Peace on Earth.

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It Didn't Kill Me!

Some of you may know that I have been doing the "Get Ripped" exercise program, 3 times a week, with Jari Love, since Sept of 2011. I absolutely love it, and through that class, have met some wonderful ladies in our community. I also work out at home with her DVDs another 2 times per week. With this program and a healthy diet, I can honestly say, that I am now, at age 54, the fittest that I have ever been in, in my life.

Recently, Jaris' fitness center, in the big city, introduced Cardio GX, and a couple of the ladies attended on of the classes. The day after,  I got the full report, and was invited to try a couple of classes out. My friends,  told me, and I quote," It'll kill you...but you will love it!" OK...one of these ladies runs marathons..and I am was a bit worried, that I may not be able to get through this class.

So, last evening, all 3 of us country gals, carpooled into the big city, and attended the GX Cardio class. Your particulars, height, weight, and age are entered into the system. You wear a heart monitor just under your chest area, and ride a stationary bike, with an instructor...a very fit male instructor....and go through a series of cycling intervals for 45 minutes straight. You work up to different levels, (gears) on your bike, from level #2, which is super easy, up through level #22...which is super hard. Everyones heart rate, calories burned, and  the  intensity level at which they are working in displayed on screen, so you can see at a glance, how you are doing.

At first it was a bit challenging, but after a few minutes I was into the "zone", and really got into it! It was a lot of fun, and the time flew by. I ended up burning 390 calories, and really felt that I had worked hard.  So I am going to go again next week. Above,  is a little promotional clip of this type of workout. If you have Cardio GX, in your area, I highly recommend it...it was fun!

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Winding Down

Things  here, at Hot Rocks Jewellery, are winding down for the holiday season. Now that the Christmas shows are finished, and most of the custom orders are completed, I am looking forward to taking a bit of a break over the holidays. I still have one more custom order to do, and I am done. I even cleaned up the studio last week....which let me tell you...is a MAJOR  job!

I already have thoughts and plans in my head for next years designs, and I am planning on experimenting with a new line...more on that in the New Year!


My Etsy Shop closes for the holidays, on Dec. 12, so if you are planning on making a purchase please hop on over to my little boutique...there are still a few pieces that need homes. Deadline to the USA in time for Christmas is today...but if you live in Canada, there are still a few days left for me to get your Christmas purchase into the mail, and to you in time for the big day. 

My shop will reopen later in January, but if you would like to keep in touch with Hot Rocks over the holidays, check out my Facebook Page. I plan on having a big sale, later in the New Year, so by "liking" my page, you will be the first to be "in the know'! Pin It

Sisters Pendants

I just finished this custom order, for  two sisters. One of the sisters is giving one necklace to her other sister for Christmas, and keeping one for herself. The photo is  of a special moment in their lives, taken of the two of them as young girls. I layered the image on vintage lace, and added a rhinestone for some sparkle. Although each necklace is different, they retain some similar elements....just like real sisters do!

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Party dress dreaming.................

I need to look for a party dress for an upcoming Christmas party, and for New Years Eve. I love vintage fashion, I have a lovely dressy black swing coat from the 1940s that I  often wear during this time of year, and I have often admired..... but have never purchased a vintage dress. I'll probably end up with just going to the mall, and getting something...but these gorgeous vintage dresses are certainly drool worthy!

WoW...this probably costs way too much.

vintage Valentino

I love this  romantic 1950's dress...from wearitagain on Etsy. 

 Another beauty from wearitagain on Etsy. This is so Madmen! Can't you just see Joan wearing this?

I absolutely adore this one!

historicalfashion.tumblr.com

 
I thought this little evening bag would be a nice finishing touch, for any of the dresses.

www.pinterest.com

Now...I just need the shoes!



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Catching up!

I feel like I have been gone for a long time! I am finally catching up ater another very successful show on the weekend. The Waldorf Faire was fabulous, and featured some very talented artists. It was a 100% handmade show...which I just love! There were potters, painters, woodworkers, a lady that made fairy dolls, there were felted bags and hair accessories, leather cuffs, one of a kind hand embellished belt buckles,soaps and creams,funky handmade hats, homegrown tea, beautiful dyed silk scarves, and of course some fabulous jewelry.

I am now trying to catch up on my neglected housework!

Now that my Christmas shows are over with for the year, I am having a Christmas Sale, in my Etsy boutique. Everything is 15% off from now until Dec.10. Then I will close my shop up for the holidays, and reopen later in January. So if you are looking for Christmas gifts, there is still time to shop on line and have your purchases mailed out in time for holiday gift giving.

Deadlines for shipping from Canada:

 Overseas - Dec. 3 

 U.S.A - Dec. 14

Within Canada

Outside province- Dec. 17

Within Province- Dec.18

Local Delivery- Dec. 19

Here are a few pieces that are still waiting for good homes!

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A Shameless Plug !

I don't know how some people manage to do a show every weekend during the lead up to Christmas. I am preparing for my second show that takes place this Saturday, and I am feeling the pressure!  After a very successful weekend, at last weeks show, I have had to replenish the stock, and have been busy making a few additional pieces. On top of that, I am almost out of my little satin bags that I package my jewelry in at the point of sale, and I have to go out and hunt down some more before Saturday. Don't get me wrong, I love doing shows and meeting all the wonderful people that come and browse and shop in my booth, but I am looking forward, to taking it a bit easier next week!

On another note, my daughter, who lives out on Vancouver Island, is participating in her first craft show ever, this weekend!

She is a journeyman carpenter by trade, but is getting her crafty side out for the Kris Kringle Show in Parksville, B.C this weekend.  It is a huge 4 day event,  featuring more than 150 awesome artisans, entertainment,  food, and  even FREE carriage rides!

 She makes some great shabby chic/ cottage chic style furniture and accessories, by recycling and reworking old furniture into new designs, and then finishing them in the soft colors of Annie Sloan chalk paint for that trendy shabby style. If you are out that way this weekend, please be sure to pop by her tent. Here are just a couple of photos of some Christmas decor items that she recently made....but you have to see the other things she designs... they are awesome!

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Great show, second place and a bottle of wine!

Its been a crazy week, getting packed up and then setting up for my most recent show, on the weekend. It's a lot of work, hauling all the stuff for set up and display...glad to have the hubby along to help with the lifting and moving! However, its all worth while, when everything comes together, and you have a great weekend seeing loyal customers, and meeting new ones..... and getting great sales in the process. 

Here are a few photos of my booth.

The show also had a competition for best display, and I was thrilled to win second prize...and a bottle of wine!

I have a bit of down time today, but tomorrow I have to regroup and get ready for the next sale this Saturday. For all you local Hot Rocks fans, I will be at the Calgary Waldorf  Faire, this Saturday from 10-5. 

Hope to see you there! Pin It

Kananaskis Country Christmas

I have a super busy week ahead, with final preparations for Kananaskis Country Christmas! 
I'll be back to blogging in a week.

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Coal Miners Daughter

I wanted to share with you, the story behind one of my newest creations called,
Coal Miners Daughter.

At the entrance to every underground mine, there is a tag board. This is a board that is used to indicate who is in the mine. Each time a miner goes underground they must tag in, by placing a brass tag with their number stamped on it on the in side of the board. When the miners leave at the end of their shift, they are required to tag out, by moving their numbered tag to the out side of the board. Anybody approaching the entrance to the mine can then tell at a glance how many men are underground in the mine. This was also important at the end of the day to make sure that everybody was out of the mine.

http://kycoal.homestead.com/MiningtheCoal.html

http://kycoal.homestead.com/MiningtheCoal.html

 The miners also carried their individual brass tags with their number, to hang on the coal cars that they would fill and send out to be weighed. That way, the weigh man knew whom to credit with the mined coal.

http://kycoal.homestead.com/MiningtheCoal.html

This is a vintage brass miners tag, that I have set against a background of old lace, and set in resin, to create this piece of historic jewellery. I have also added a vintage skeleton key, and then suspended it all from a multi strand gunmetal chain...also vintage!

           Jewellery with a story to tell!

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My Caribbean Cruise

So life has to return to normal now, after being on a  cruise ship, for one fabulous week in the Caribbean. 

We were lucky we missed tropical storm Sandy, and had some great weather, with the exception of a day of rain in Jamaica. 

Here we are at our first port of call, in Key West, which was beautiful!

The next stop was Grand Cayman....WOW! 
White sand, turquoise water, nice people..and Stingray City!
We boarded a boat that took us  out to a sandbar, where we could swim, snorkel and interact with these magnificent creatures. It was so cool!

The last port, was Ocho Rios, Jamaica, where we had an excursion booked to climb Dunn's River Falls.

The weather was not so great that day, and was actually raining pretty hard. But...hey...we are going to get wet anyway..so  off we went. We had a guide lead us up the 600 foot waterfall, climbing over boulders, and walking through pools of water, which were at times waist deep!  At one point we had to crawl underneath a concrete bridge, and in total, took about an hour to complete the climb. I was actually at the front, up with the guide! 

My camera battery died that day, so I have no photos, of us actually going up the falls, but we did buy the video of our adventure up the falls. I found some photos on the internet, so you can see this gorgeous landmark. These photos only show a portion of the falls, which are actually a lot bigger than what these photos show.

So now its back to work. I have  lots to do to prepare  for 2 shows coming up later this month.Hope you enjoyed the photos!


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