Change is Good!

I spent a few hours this past weekend, updating the look of my blog, as well as the banner in my Etsy Boutique. I wanted to reflect the vintage style of my jewelry designs in the new look, and keep everything consistent.

I also designed some new earring cards.

 

I hope you like the new changes!


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Design Evolution

Yesterday, I received some new beads that I had ordered.

 So...being inspired by the sparkling colors of the glass beads, I carefully selected a color palette. I wanted to reflect the colors of flowering Spring bulbs, such as crocus, Hyacinth, Alium and Iris.

I  chose beads and buttons, old and new, that fit in with my color scheme. I picked out some vintage brass chain. Then, I added a touch of Springtime whimsy with some cute dragonfly charms. I ended up with this springtime bracelet!

I think I will call it "Springtime Emerging"!









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Spring Color

The things I love about the arrival of Spring, are  the  fresh new colors that start to emerge into the shopping malls and fashion boutiques. It is still very white here in my part of the world and a little trip to the mall to see all the new Spring color trends is so refreshing at this time of year! I love the bright happy colors that I am seeing this Spring! The  Panatone Fashion Color Report for Spring says vivid brights, soft muted tones and fun-loving pastels are the main color influences this season.

My favorite has to be all the juicy tangerine and orange  colors that are popping up everywhere which is gorgeous when paired with navy, white or khaki.  However, I also love the vibrant colors paired together, Tangerine with  the hot pink "Cabaret"....wow...that will definitely get some attention!

BCBG Max Azria dress

 Even if you don't go all out and purchase clothing in these colors, accessories are always the way to go, to bring a touch of the season into your wardrobe.

This gorgeous hand painted scarf , by Silk Couture by Takuyo adds a fabulous touch of tangerine Spring!

 How about a vibrant colored purse in Solar Power Yellow?
From PouchStyle

Or grab some attention a pair of hot pink vintage eyeglass frames, like these from Vintage50sEyewear.

Not a big commitment, but still a lot of fun is to try out a funky nail polish on your fingers and toes!
 (I bought the aqua color one when I was in Kauai!)

Of course, jewelry is a great way to add the seasons colors!

Coin Turquoise Necklace - Jewelry by Andrea

      A touch of  bright color, is uplifting, makes you happy, and is good for the soul. How do you plan on adding some color to your Spring?





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Playing hooky

I woke up this morning to snow, and a snowfall warning for our region. I had planned to go into town for my usual workout, but as I started to get ready to go, the snow came down harder and thicker, so I decided that I did not want to drive in that and sat down at the computer to play with this cool photo editing app that I purchased. Its called Camerabag2, and is super simple to use, and has a lot of very cool  effects that I was looking for.  So I played around with some of my photos and came up with this.

I took this picture of these vintage bicycles, while on summer vacation a few years ago. I like the way it turned out with a bit of tweaking and a new border.

Then I took this photo that was taken sitting outside a Paris cafe this past summer.

and turned it into this!

 By this time it had temporarily stopped snowing....but I was having too much fun!

How about this photo of the poppy fields from the English countryside.....

to this......

 or this!

So, was I feeling a bit guilty on skipping out on my workout....well... a wee bit, but I had just finished working out for 5 days straight so I figured I deserved a break anyway!

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Snowbird

I am racking my brain for cost effective ways to return to Kauai and stay for several months! Wow...what a gorgeous island! It is very difficult returning to snow and cold weather after living the life on the south Pacific island of Kauai, Hi. I can see why people go there, give up their life back on the mainland and never return home. As a Canadian, I can go and stay for up to 6 months....that will just about cover the winter and do me just fine. I could be a snowbird and spend my winters there no problem! There is something to be said for living a simple life in paradise. Well for now its back to the routine...however with many tropical influenced inspirations running around my brain.

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I am busy packing and preparing for our little get away, so today I am introducing you to some of the fabulous shops that I have recently found on Etsy.

 Enjoy!

From the Waughdrobe: 
Handmade, Vintage Inspired,one of a kind hats, fascinators, jewelry & accessories. I love her shop...but I am especially  drooling over her gorgeous hats!

Handmade, crocheted accessories from JustColor. LOVE this adorable purse!

treehouse28 is definitely high up on my list of the next place to purchase some unique and comfortable clothing!

P.S Hot Rocks on Etsy will be closed from Feb. 14- 28. I will reopen in March with fresh new designs for Spring. Pin It

World Traveler

 Are you a world traveller? If so, then this is the necklace for you!This necklace started with this very cool vintage double sided opisometer....what is an opisometer you ask? Well an opisometer is an instrument for measuring the curved lines on a map. It has a tiny wheel, that when moved along roads or rivers on a map it measures the distance....this one measures  in miles.

I then added the equally cool "map beads" that are handmade with actual  vintage recycled Ordnance Survey maps, by British artist, Gillian McMurray.  These beads are just fabulous, they are coated with thick embossing enamel, and then the tips are finished with gold embossing powder.

 

World travels would not be complete without a visit to France and therefore I have added a worn antique French coin...so worn that the date reads 186......... cannot read the last number...but it is old! You get a souvenir of my home country, Canada,  which comes in the form of a beautiful vintage brass metal button. There is a pretty sterling silver, pineapple charm from exotic Thailand, and the gorgeous sparkling Swarovski crystal is of course....from Austria! Finally who couldn't resist visiting Cuyahoga, Ohio and getting this brass tag from 1966!

 

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My Tropical Paradise Awaits!

Only eight more sleeps and I am off to the south Pacific island of Kauai! If you don't know by now, I am not a "winter person".  I don't embrace the cold, I am not one of those people that gets excited when it starts to snow...well, except for a few weeks in December, around Christmas time. (A  snowy white Christmas is always picture perfect!) Therefore,  as I tell my husband each year, it is good for my soul to have a few days, where I can have a  small taste of summer in the middle of old man winter! Although this winter has been extremely mild...by Canadian standards....., I am more than ready to explore the warmth of Kauai.  Having been to Maui several times, and loved it, we are now ready to have an adventure on one of the other Hawaiian islands. I always find it amazing that one can leave behind the cold, crisp winter air, step onto a plane, and within hours be able to slip on your flip flops, and be lying on a warm sandy beach listening to the waves crash onto the shore.

 For ten glorious days, I will not have to think about jackets, mitts, boots or scraping ice and snow from the windshield of my car.  I love the fact that it is always so easy to pack for a tropical vacay...there is no second guessing what to bring in your suitcase, because you always know what the weather will be like...hot! There is something very therapeutic, about digging out your summer clothes from the depths of your closet ...in the middle of February! When I return, it will be almost March, and the worst of our long Canadian winter will be behind us, and I can look forward to the warmer weather......... which should arrive sometime in May!

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Vintage Valentines

I have a weak heart, when it comes to  things  from the past!  Whether it be nostalgic, vintage, rustic or shabby, I find things from a bygone era very appealing. I love my collection of vintage salt and pepper shakers, creamers and sugar bowls ...consisting  of fruits,  vegetables,   and flowers....  with faces, known as anthropomorphic! I have a small collection of linens  from days gone by,  a couple of old black Bakelite  telephones, a vintage mirrors hangs on my  powder room wall,  I have vintage kitchenware, antique photos and books and a few pieces of vintage furniture scattered through out my home. So, because we are now into February....the month of love, I thought I would share with you some cute vintage Valentines cards that I found online.

You can find these cute images and more at 
 Vintage Holiday Crafts.

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