Sunrise or Sunset?

Sometimes you just have to open your mind and really ‘see’ what is streaming in to your brain through your eyes.

There are so many beautiful things that we take for granted because we have ‘seen’ them an umpteen millionth time. Yet if we really pay attention then suddenly the beauty that is before you can take your breath away.

I have windows that face east and west and I am blessed with the beauty of each sunrise and sunset. Either one comes to me shining through trees – an image that I can’t describe to do it justice.

I let these colours inspire me and I came up with this wrap bracelet. These are the colours I see before the sunrise and sunset turn to that rosy colour and then on into darker copper…….

(Please click to enlarge – it does make everything look that much nicer!)

  $26

Taking The Time

Sometimes you must take the time to be happy – to force yourself to shrug off that dark cloud that sits on your shoulder and put a smile on your face.

I looked in the mirror the other day and wondered who the person was with the ‘frowning  face’? You know the type – the people whose line of their mouth carries on down towards their chin – a permanent extended frown. The biggest upside down smile you can imagine.

I know I didn’t look like this before I took on the battle of the permanent pain thing these last couple of years. So I’ve set myself a goal – to turn that frown upside down. I’m just going to add that onto my goal list and work on it.

I find it odd that I have this upside down smile because I work hard at being in a happy mood every day. However sometimes the body is more powerful than the mind, but I’m not going to give up on my mind (again)!

Way back when beating Aims seemed to be the best game around for 3 decades, I always smiled to cover up the pain, both physical and emotional. I am not the only person who did/does that either.

These days I go every Friday to the hospital and get my bladder injected. There are three of us who have made friends and who cheer each other on. One comes from quite a distance away and with her illness can’t drive so her husband usually brings her. One day I met a beautiful woman who had driven my friend. Not only was she very pretty, but more importantly I felt a kindness that surrounded me when I spoke with her – like wings or a big blanket.  She made my day with her smiles and good wishes.

When she didn’t drive my friend the next time I learned that she has breast cancer. My heart sank and that instant fear all us women feel for each other took over. Now this morning I have learned that her partner is a Beater. I wanted to cry. I wanted to go defend her with such anger that I’m afraid of what I might do.

The BASTARD!

I hear she is safe – hidden away from him for a week. I’m hoping she isn’t thinking that a week will change him. I’m hoping she knows she has to keep running, she has to keep strong for herself twice over!

How angry this makes me! I often don’t understand how people can do this. Where is compassion? Where is love?

This wonderful woman took the time out from the horror of her life and made a couple of us gals feel better. I think her wings are made of gold.

Please take the time today to smile at a stranger and to read some of these stories. We all need support and a smile from a stranger.

It’s time to make a change.

Tea is Good at Any Time

I just checked our weather forecast and see that at present they have described our weather as ‘fog depositing ice’. I could have told them that by looking outside myself. It was something I noticed last night as I wandered the halls at 3am and again at 6:30am. The fog is so thick at present that I can’t see the houses across the road.

“Rhett! Rhett! Where are you? Rhett come back!”

Fog always make me think of Gone With The Wind and Scarlett as she ran down the sidewalks in the swirling fog and that gorgeous dress! Perhaps that is the reason I love the fog so much – I’m a hopeless and lost romantic at heart!

What has all of this to do with tea?

Have you ever noticed how tea is always perfect at any time of the day and in any circumstance? There is nothing like a good cup of tea to take away the chills and stop the sniffles. When situations get really tense ‘Would anyone like a cup of tea?’ seems to always break the tension. Or perhaps when things get rather tricky, the excuse to make a pot of tea is always handy. And of course – just to make one feel relaxed and content – a cup of tea will always do it.

I made this bracelet for all those reasons! It has a heavy chain that not only carries a number of different teapots but also a couple of tea cups so that a ‘spot of tea’ could be shared. I also dangled hearts everywhere to show how much tea is universally loved and then threw in a couple of chocolate bars – well – you know why.

Tea Anyone?

$45

Waiting Patiently

I think today makes six days straight that we have had snow.

Some days it is just little flecks constantly falling past my window – other days it’s those big soft ones that make you want to catch them on your tongue.

No matter how it comes out of the sky – it is getting exhausting.

I took these pictures of our deck and the surrounding trees two days ago. The depth of snow has risen another half inch at least since then. Have a look. 

I’m sure you can see why I am patiently waiting for Spring. Almost like waiting for Godot……

So I made this cute little bracelet that makes me think of Spring bonnets and Easter parades…..

$26

Turquoise – Oh My!

If you’re going to wear turquoise – you might as well wear a good chunk of it!

Here’s just the chunk! Circled with a silver bezel.

18”

$48

Spring is Right Around the Corner – Isn’t It?

This simple necklace makes me think of spring right away. I love the colours and the dangles hanging from the heart. How fabulous this would look with anything!

  18”

  $40

 

Please click to enlarge.

The Keys to My Heart - #2

Sometimes you like something so much you have to more than one.

Just saying……

71/2”

$35

 

I always take orders and I can ship anywhere!

The Keys to My Heart - #1

We all have keys to our heart. Some unlock our love, some unlock our passion, others unlock a part of our heart that we try to keep hidden.

What do these do for you?

The Keys To My Heart - (stamped around bangle)

61/2”

$45

Anything Else In That Sparkly Trunk?

This bangle is a little different than the others. I wrapped it with a darker wire and used brass charms instead of silver.

6”

$40

Always & Forever

Sometimes this is just the perfect sentiment. It can have different meanings to each person. What does it mean to you? How would you view these words when you looked at it encircling your wrist?

8”

$45

Having Fun!

Twisting and turning, delving into imagination and design, forming metal into something wearable and usable. Ahhh! This is my journey this week.

Usable you query? Copper – it helps with that age old demon – arthritis. Why where a band of plain copper when you could be wearing something like this?

 

6 1/2”

$45

From The Studio (for a while anyway)

Having returned home to incredibly cold weather – I have listened to the call of my studio and have happily buried myself in sparkling beads, metals, wire and charms.

At present I feel a bit of panic setting in as the countdown to the first carpal tunnel surgery has begun. March 15th – The Ides of March! – is the day set aside for my left hand. Six weeks later – April 26th – is my right hand.

Sigh. In one way I’ll be very happy to have it done. But in another way – it really is going to cut into (no pun intended) playing in my studio.

For right now though – sparkly things are coming out of that studio and here’s pics of one of them.

Friends <–> Forever <–> Friends <–> Forever (stamped around the bangle)

$45

6 1/4”

It’s Almost that Time Again!

Sorry for the corny heading but I didn’t have time to think of another!   :0)

 

$35

Sometimes Simple Makes a Real Statement

When I started thinking about this post an ad popped into my mind and it has stuck there.

Have you ever seen those ads that say ‘Make it today – wear it tonight’?

Has anyone ever had that happen? Don’t the ‘simplest things’ turn out to be the hardest?

Well – that’s what usually happens in my world. The best laid plans and all that….

Rant over and I am digressing anyway.

The title was referring to jewelry that isn’t all hyped up with doodads hanging here and there. It’s about how something simple can make a huge statement.

I give you the following - (click to enlarge)

19" long - $22

20" long - $30

Bracelet - $20

See what I mean? Simple – but makes a knockout statement!

One last Giveaway!

I am giving away 4 – yes – that is four! of these gorgeous little pins.

They are coffee or tea (you decide) cups with an attached spoon. Both the cup and spoon have little rhinestones around the rim and down the handle. They measure approx. - 1 1/4” x 1 1/4”

- that’s one and a quarter inches by one and a quarter inches.

I’ve always sold them for $19.99 – now I’m giving them away.

If you would like to be in on the draw – please tell me in the comment section. I will ship them anywhere in the world - no need to be local.

The pins are all the same - no differences between coffee or tea.

There were 6 pins when I first started this post but 2 have sold since the post went up.

I will make the draw on Wednesday – December 8th at NOON – mountain time. I will need addresses shortly afterward so I can pop them in the mail before I leave.

‘Tis a Dark and Foggy Night

Looking out the windows this evening I can barely see the new trailer sitting in my driveway. All the streetlights are shrouded with fuzzy halos and I can’t see into my neighbours back yard.

The fog reminds me so much of New Orleans that I am sitting here all warm and cozy with a smile on my face and tingling with anticipation of the holidays to come.

A week from now and probably right around this time, we will be pulling out of the driveway and pointing the front of the car southward. What happens after that will be a totally new experience for us with our new trailer and tow vehicle. We will be like little kids at Christmas when we make our first stop in Great Falls, Montana. Won’t it be fun to discover how everything ‘really’ works on our first night away from home?

I’ve been trying to talk him into ‘camping in the driveway’ but he won’t go for it. I personally think it would be a great way to figure out how this thing works and what else I might need to pack. He’s probably wondering how his Touareg is going to drive and not about if I packed his underwear or not! When we do pull into the Walmart in Great Falls – at least we know that the store is open all night and he can buy some if he needs to. They let people camp in their parking lots because they know we are going to spend money in their stores. Smart move on their part.

With the upcoming trip constantly on my mind I’m going to post the pic of  ‘The Grand Tour’ once again. Unfortunate circumstances have cancelled the sale of that particular bracelet and it is now back on the market. I’m also still taking orders for anything I’ve posted so far and will continue to do so right up until December 7th. If I haven’t got the trailer packed by noon on the 8th I might be in big trouble. Either that or we do a lot of shopping!

So without further ado – I give you ‘The Grand Tour’

$40

And the Winners Are!

It’s that time folks. I can hear my clock beginning to chime which means it is 12 noon here in Alberta.

Placing my hand into (the bowl I use for my popcorn every night – okay okay – I did say it was going to be a hat but bear with me) and pull out the first name!

The winner of the first copy of Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry is – GINA!!

And putting my hand back into the popcorn bowl for the second copy of the same book – I’ve drawn KERRI !!

Ladies – please use  ‘send me a message’ to give me your snail mail addy and I’ll be popping the book into the mail for you! Merry Christmas!

I truly wish I had a copy of this book to give away to all the people who put their names in for the draw. It really is a great book!

Moving on.

I’m one of those people who puts on a bracelet far more often than a necklace. I’m not sure why that is. Could it be that with an – ahem – heftier shelf – I’m distracted by what is laying on top of it? Or could it be that I really like the sound that dangly bracelets make? Yes that’s it – I like the sound! And I do! Really!

With that in mind I give you this -

$40

Wear it with some matching earrings and a great pair of jeans…..wow!

 

                                            $22