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.

La Mer

I can't seem to stop playing with my reactive glass seashells and beads, so I had to do one more design while I had them out. These have to be some of my favorite colors of glass--the double helix blues and greens just enchant me every time--especially the way Tiffany McCoy can make them sing. I've used an eclectic assortment of complimenting, but not matching beads, which to my mind always adds to the interest. La Mer has a seashell, a heart ( I love the sea), a pair of lentils and a hand shaped squeezed bead with dark blue goldstone, swarovskis and sterling beads and clasp. $92.00

While it's difficult to capture all the detail and color depth in these beads there really is alot of variety and interest with pattern, color and shape..so the little silver clam shells remain the constant to pull it all together with a touch of consistancy.

I love the way the beautiful vintage swarovski elongated teardrop charm helps the other colors to pop, and brightens the whole design--while reminding you of the azure blue in the sea and the sky--more turbulent than calm, is my little romance of the sea--La Mer.

Strolling on the Beach...

Simple design with beautiful reactive silver glass and sterling silver findings--Half Moon Bay $85.00

I had to try out something with my reactive glass beachy beads, so here's the finished product. My friend, lampwork artist, Tiffany McCoy made these beads--I think it was her one and only try at putting figurals on lentils, and I like what she did with them, although it's a bit difficult to see the details in a picture this small. I was happy with the way the clasp and the sterling seashell charm seem to match so well in this very simple design, and I love the colors she got out of this glass, as well.

HAPPY EASTER

May you have a beautiful Easter day full of bounteous blessings and love.

At Long Last....

I was beginning to think I might never get back to my work bench, but finally yesterday I seized the afternoon as my own and set out to play with my little treasures. The result was ISLAND DREAMS REVISITED. Bright pastels, summer breezes and memories in technicolor come to mind with a myriad of charms--14 artisan lampwork beads by Cassie Barrigan, with assorted gemstone, pearl, resin, swarovski crystal and czech glass charms set the tone. Sterling findings, of course, all designed to put a smile on your face.

I've noticed that when I take a few weeks without doing jewelry, I lose my confidence in my abilities and the longer I wait the more hesitant I am to get started again. I've found that when that happens, I have to start with something familiar--a creative jumpstart of sorts. Usually it just takes a little time--getting the tools and findings in my hands and I'm ready to plunge back into my work. Then the ideas start coming. I love color and wanted to think springtime so I dug out some of Cassie's colorful beads and did a bracelet that puts a smile on my face and hope you feel the same. Now those seashell beads are calling my name...so I have to grab a window of time again today and see what comes together.

I LOVE these colors--they just make me smile---nothing new, or sophisticated, but the perfect wrist art for your sundresses, beachwear and evoking memories of lighthearted pleasure--whether on a tropical island or your own backyard.