I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles***

I think of all the necklaces I made with Judy's fish that this is my favorite. This little guy just puts a smile on my face and it was so much fun putting him together. Yellow is one of my favorite colors, but I rarely find things in lampwork using yellow or that I think to use yellow with, so maybe that is why I enjoyed this piece so much. This cutie is sold, but I would make another similar piece as a custom order....if you twist my arm, lol! $120.00

Today's the Day...AND THE WINNER IS:

And the winner of the drawning is......

DEBBIE!!!!! Congratulations, Debbie. Send me an email at rspv@aol.com with your address and I'll get this in the mail to you asap! Thanks to everyone for participating in the drawing and for your votes on the Scuba Show Designs! I think Paradise Cove got the most votes!

Here's what Debbie won---hope you enjoy wearing it!

Thanks for all your comments and participation!

Yesterday I helped daughter, Emily, open her own etsy store. She's sold her etchings, prints and intaglios at local art shows and decided it would be fun to put a few up for sale online. I'd been encouraging her to try etsy out for awhile--just for fun, so we took the plunge yesterday. By vocation she is a landscape designer with a degree in horticulture and minor in art (and finishing up an advanced landscape architecture degree at UCLA currently!) She's very gifted and loved learning how to do prints and etchings. She also makes beautifully bound books, does oils and watercolors. She's usually my best eye to look at things I'm working on and give me advice on color and scale when I'm not quite sure what I want to do.

Here's one of her etchings that I especially love. I would--notice the beachy theme here with the woody and surfboards. Check out her etsy store---she'll be adding additional work all week.

http://www.emietches.etsy.com/

Take a Moment

Tomorrow while you are enjoying family and friends and good eats, take just a moment to remember those who made it possible. Those who loved country and liberty more than life itself and who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we could enjoy the blessings of liberty in this, America, the beautiful.

I didn't expect to feel the reverence and awe that I did when I visited Arlington Cemetary and saw the sea of citizen soldiers who had served our country with honor and sacrificed so much for the liberties I take for granted every day. Thank you to all those who have served and who do still serve.

Remember the hummingbirds?

Remember my little hummingbird momma nesting in my back yard? Well, looking thru my stash I found this adorable hummingbird bead I purchased a looong time ago and never used. Thought this is the perfect time to use her. Very simply displayed on a hand dyed silk ribbon with a boro slider. Isn't she sweet?

Honeysickle Heaven artisan lampwork (I don't remember the artist, I have to try and look it up!) silk ribbon with sterling ring, and boro slide $65.00

P.S. Don't forget the bracelet drawing all this week--just check out my jewelry artists gallery--- http://www.jewelryartists.org/Gal3323_Scuba_Dooby_Doo_09.asp and post your favorite here to be included in the drawing on Thursday...

P.P.S. Etsy store sale continues thru Monday evening-- 20% off of everything

Just a little summertime fun...

Soooo...it's way overdue, but how about a little giveaway this week to get ready for summer. I made a darling bracelet with some artisan hammered copper rings and clasp I got from Holly at Blind Cave Fish awhile ago, and put them together with some reactive glass beads from Tiffany McCoy--a seashell, of course and a heart, hence the name Sweetheart Bay (there's also a beautiful vintage swarovski long teardrop charm as well).

Okay, here's the deal, to be entered into the drawing for the bracelet, all you have to do is go look thru my jewelryartists Scuba Show gallery (that shouldn't be too painful!) and come back here, post a comment and tell me which design you like the best. http://www.jewelryartists.org/Gal3323_Scuba_Dooby_Doo_09.asp

I'll do the drawing next Thursday, since I may be leaving town on Friday and want to make sure I take care of it before I leave. Have fun and I hope you win!

p.s. I'm having a Memorial Day Weekend Sale in my esty store thru Monday with 20% off of everything--check it out! http://www.rickitic.etsy.com/

Sailing to Mykonos

Perfect Aegean Sea colors, like the beautiful islands that are sprinkled on the azure sea, this bracelet is loaded with precious treasures--artisan lampwork by Tiffany McCoy, Hilltribe silver seashell charms, gemstones, assorted freshwater pearls, swarovski crystals, cubic zirconia and all dangling from a fine sterling chain with sterling clasp by Pegasus.

Have you noticed I seem to be thinking about the Mediterranean alot lately? I don't really like cruises--I'm more of a person who likes her feet on terra firma, but I did spend some time in Greece a few years ago, took a short cruise while I was there and if, I say, IF I was feeling like spending some time on the water, those islands would definitely be at the top of my list. The colors are so inviting and the people have a charm all their own. I love the history in Athens, but hated the smog...but the islands, well, they are lovely. I guess I've been thinking about beautiful places alot--I do that when I play with my little treasures---try to remember places and colors and feelings when I'm working on my designs and this week it's been the Greek Isles. Hope you don't mind!

Sailing to Mykonos...only in my dreams. $145.00

Stop and Smell the Roses

I apologize that the clarity in these pictures isn't fantastic, but I just had to share my little treasure with you. Overhanging our swimming pool is a tree that probably needs a little pruning right now, but it won't be getting any attention from us until this little mother is thru using it. Monday afternoon as my husband was drifting on his big air cushion in the pool, a hummingbird buzzed by--as he followed her flight, low and behold, she landed in this nest swaying gently in the breeze. Of course when he got me to come take a look, I brought the camera and with the zoom was able to capture her sitting on her nest while the tree took care of the rock-a-bye part of the equation. Now we run out every day to check her progress in the nest and consider it one of life's little treasures to be savoured and enjoyed. The nest probably isn't 2" deep and though sitting in plain site once you 'see' it, it blends in with the tree well enough to never notice it.

Now the gardener and my daughter, the landscaper, have strict orders to stay away from that tree, and area until the eggs are hatched and the babies fly away. I, on the other hand, will be out there daily sitting just far enough away to see the progress in the nest without frightening the little mother away from her brood. Fortunately, I think the nest is too far out on a limb, and too high in the tree, to be threatened by the family hunter, the dread cat--Legolas.

Thunder Bay

Don't you love the wonderful colors in these lampwork beads by Dawn Scannell? These are just gorgeous with the color being truer in this top picture...for some reason on the white background they washed out a little, but there are a myriad of nuances in these stunning beads. I've pared them with hand hammered and forged links and rings and an adjustable clasp. The charms are bronze coin pearls, apatite, amethyst and fire cz briolettes to pop some of the colors from the beads. THUNDER BAY $110.00

The colors look a little more muted in this picture, but you can really see the details on the beads--a conch shell, a starfish and a very whimsical sand dollar.

Paradise Cove

A favorite spot for dinner and a stroll on the beach, only a few minutes drive down a winding canyon road from my little valley takes you to the charming Malibu beach and Paradise Cove. My husband likes to spirit me away there occasionally for a rustically romantic evening. That's where this bracelet and necklace remind me of--it's all romance and very sweet, like his thoughtful little gestures of love, that are pure and simple. Paradise Cove---just a little bit of heaven.

I almost never do matching sets and this didn't really start out that way, but when I finished the bracelet I liked it so well, I decided that the humongous sand dollar I had from Judy needed to be embellished with the same pearl combination. They look nice together or apart...they just happen to have complimenting compenents.

Finding Nemo....

This cute little guy is just swimming around looking for friends. The anemone fish is by Judy Carlson and combined with faceted black spinel beads, sterling silver and goldfilled findings and cz briolettes. Necklace is 18" plus the pendant that is just over 2" long.

Dreaming of Santorini

In contrast to the bright hot sun of the Mediterranean are the cool, crisp colors of the breathtaking island of Santorini with it's stark white and pastel buildings that seem to beckon us from afar. Judy Carlson's bright white extra large artisan lampwork sand dollar combined with my moonstone and apatite gemstones and a splash of goldfilled and vermeil findings is a reminder of the beautiful colors and contrast that make Santorini the place of honeymoons, and dreams. You'll be cool and crisp under the summer sun in the exquisite statement piece. Pendant has a total length of almost 3 and 1/2 inches on an 18 inch goldfilled chain.

Key West

Okay, I'm taking my ocean theme south--way south to Key West. This beautiful coral starfish was torched by Al Nurge and I've combined it with one of Jeff Drummer's spectacular 2 inch plus sand dollar that he casts from an actual specimen in lead free pewter. Little accents of swarovski crystals plus a vessonite briolette complete the pendant. Hung from another lovely silk ribbon that has a complimenting boro slider to adjust the length, this is perfect for summertime or anytime. $67.00

I'm having so much fun with these wonderful new silk ribbons I recently ordered---some of my favorite colors and just perfect with those components I've had in my stash, waiting for inspiration!

Ariel's Song

When I was off visiting my parents and sisters a couple of weeks ago, my 4 year old niece and I just had to watch The Little Mermaid together. It's one of her favorites and she's always wanting me to sing her the songs...which I don't know very well, because it's not a movie I've watched for awhile. But when I was working on this necklace I decided that Ariel or one of her sisters would very much enjoy wearing this little bit of vibrant pastels paying homage to the sea.

The focal lampwork seashell is quite large--about 1 3/4 inch long and really a gorgeous bead torched by artist Tiffany McCoy. The lead free pewter shell was hand cast by artisan Jeff Drummer from an actual seashell and there are several strands of gold filled chain dripping with gemstones--an 8mm swiss blue topaz briolette, several pink amethyst heart briolettes and a sprinkling of pink rubelite garnets hung from a hammered sterling ring that is wrapped in goldfilled wire and more rubelite garnets. Hung on a pastel verigated silk ribbon--it's lovely, but if you'd like to dress it up all you need to do is change out the ribbon (it's easy-peasy) and hang this lovely on a delicate sterling or gold chain. Versatile and lovely--you'll feel like Poisedon's daughter wearing this beauty. Total length of the pendant is 3" and it has an adjustable slide so the length will adjust from 15" to 36". Ariel's Song $132.00 (the gemstones make it a little pricey--but worth it!)

Ah, I couldn't resist playing with the color a bit for an artsy look...actually the pewter shell shows off a lot better in this picture than the others, but everything else is muted and toned down until it's unrecognizable colorwise...but sometimes a girl has to play with her grayscale, ya know!

Surfin' Safari

I loved the earthy colors I got to use for this bracelet---Judy's beautiful etched transparent seashells are the most wonderful color of olive green and when I dug thru my stash I had some stone beads I purchased awhile back from a vendor selling mostly Afghan Lapis. I can't remember if he said these are jasper or jade but they are from Afghan and I love the color variations and cut of these natural stones... and the way the complimented the lampwork.

The bracelet is wirewrapped with 18 gauge sterling silver, artisan hammered sterling oval links and I've added a palm tree sterling charm, along with a couple of hilltribe silver clam shells to complete the design. I think this is my favorite so far--Surfin' Safari $96.00.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my own sweet mother (standing next to my father), flanked by my precious daughter on one side and my son and daughter-in-law on the other. Counting my blessings for all of you...as well as my dear husband who supports me in every way.

I hope your day will be filled with happiness and love. I count my blessings today as I thank my Heavenly Father for my dear mother and for the privilege of being the mother of two amazingly wonderful children, add now a precious daughter-by-marriage and pleasure of adding the title of grandmother very soon. My cup runneth over.

I hope you find yours full to the brim whatever season of your life this is.

First Comes Love....Then Comes Marriage...

Well, that's the order of things when I was a girl...and one I am still a firm believer in. A little of my romantic side in this Hawaiian Honeymoon bracelet. I knew the minute I saw these seashells by Judy Carlson that I wanted pearls and sweetness. They just reminded me of something for a beach wedding. There is a lady back east who makes sugar seashells for wedding cakes that I just drool over--and these delicate shells look like they've been sugared on top and are good enough to eat! I love the color and the way they are etched and 'sugared' on top--just totally feminine and perfect for the softer side of 'beachy' goodness.

If you're thinking June Wedding at the beach, wouldn't these be just perfect for your bridesmaids to wear? Or any other time or place for that matter!

Channeling the Beach Boys..or something like that!

I haven't posted for sooo long...I was out of town for awhile and just not inspired for awhile...but this week I've hit the ground running with a batch of seashells from lampwork artist,Judy Carlson--I'm not a total slacker...at least not this week, so far.... Here's one...might as well string them out so I have something to post while I'm working on other things....Love the blush on this coral-tangeriney glass that she used to make the shells...combined it with some turquoise and coral lentils from my stash, swarovskis and little Thai silver shells for a fun piece....

So why 'Girl from Ipanema'...guess I have Brazil on the brain. My daughter just returned from three weeks in Brazil and so I decided to use a Rio beach in celebration of her return home safe and sound. She wasn't quite ready to come home..but, isn't that a good trip, when you leave still wishing for just a little more time to enjoy your visit? She stayed with friends in Sao Paulo, Rio and Fortaleza and their generous hospitality made the time pass much too quickly. So, my salute to Brazil--Girl from Ipanema.