Sweet Bead Studio — Handcrafted jewelry by Cindy Wimmer

Back from the Sunshine State!

by Cindy on August 23, 2010

You know you’re in FL when you see these….

Hello! I’m back after a week away…did anyone miss me? 🙂 We went on a long road trip down south to visit my brother and his family in Florida! The week went by way too fast…… cousins playing (6 boys!), staying up late chatting with my sister-in-law, lots of time at the pool (it is HOT there), and local sight-seeing. We were sure spoiled by the wonderful hospitality we received and were so sad to finally leave!

You know me and how I tend to turn my blog into a photo album! Thought I’d share a few pics here from our visit to the Sunshine State.

City of Jacksonville

View of the backyard...look at this sweet trio.

My son was captivated by air plants. Have you heard of them?

Couch full of cousins!

My sis-in-law and with my youngest nephew, the little chubbins. He's just 8 days older than my youngest.

All in the family

High diving in the neighborhood pool

A serene view of St. Augustine

Stopped in Savannah on the way home...always seeking out the local antique shops!

I’m hoping to catch up on my blog hopping to see what YOU have all been up to too…. Thanks for stopping by!

{ 23 comments }

Creative Sparks have Sparked

by Cindy on August 13, 2010

Hello friends!

I hope this finds you enjoying a beautiful summer day, Friday the 13th and all! I feel a bit drained from being in the sun all day but can’t complain because there was a great breeze on the beach and it was barely 80 degrees.

Are you ready for a little Creative Spark? I was able to squeeze in some time to finish a project inspired by last week’s Creative Spark! If you have not heard the buzz yet and would like to join in, Becky of The Gritty Bird shares a new creative theme, color scheme and phrase every week. Becky’s sparks are an inspiration for everyone – jewelry designers to mixed media artists. Here are the sparks we worked with over the week this time around (and you can select any or all of the “sparks”):

**CREATIVE SPARK ONE**

•Artistic Theme•

Woodland

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**CREATIVE SPARK TWO**

•Theme Words or Phrase•

Trees, Birds, Fly, Clouds, Moss, Grass, Twigs, Mist

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**Creative SPARK THREE**

•Theme Color Palette•

I think I captured that woodland theme and those misty colors in “Believe in Dreams” . This bracelet features a metal focal that I hand cut, filed, stamped, oxidized, polished and tumbled. 🙂 Just look at those gorgeous lampwork beads by Jena Fulcher and spacers by Lori Anderson…all in a soft, muted palette. The detail in the beads are just incredible, some are encased and that one pillow bead – oh! the flower on both sides is just so pretty. I wire wrapped the beads with a nice substantial sterling silver wire – 16 gauge, and added some beautiful sterling Hill Tribe bead caps and flower charm. If you think you might need a reminder from time to time that you should believe in your dreams, this one is available in my Etsy shop. Sold, thank you.

I’ll be taking a little blog break as we head on a road trip…so I’ll see you when I return!

{ 30 comments }

7 little things…and icecream at the end.

by Cindy on August 11, 2010

There’s a sweet award going around the jewelry blog community…have you seen this one? I was flattered to receive the Versatile Blogger award from fellow jewelry designers Amy of Copper Diem, Beth of EB Bead and Metal Works, Elisabeth of Beads for Busy Gals, and Courtney of Beads by Breul. You are all so thoughtful! 🙂 I wonder where this one originated? Guess I could follow the links all the way back…

Many of the jewelry blogs I follow are not open to “tags”, so I’ll just share my 7 little things and encourage YOU to participate too if you’d like! With this award, we were to share 7 things about ourselves…. hmm, let me think of a few quick, random things you may not know.

1. I lived in the Philippines in Kindergarten. There were monkeys that would come right up to the back screened door and look right in. Of course, that scared me back then!

2. I love boardwalk fries (still here at the beach and confess to eating too many)….must be that salt and vinegar!

3. The most frequently used tools/supplies in this “studio” (no real studio at the present, but I brought everything I possibly could) are liver of sulfur gel and my Lortone tumbler!

4. I love happy endings.

5. Broke down over the weekend and got a smart phone after my cell phone broke in half! I’ve resisted because I didn’t want to become one of those people (always on it). But that video recorder sure came in handy when I took the kids to see the balloon lady at the library today!

6. I am a brownie afficionado…always in search of the perfect one. And I think I found it. Come to the ArtBliss event next month and try one yourself…hoping to have them brought in for the Meet and Greet.

7. So sad that summer will be coming to an end soon. Will hold on to the bitter end.

Remember how I mentioned that the kids made home made ice cream at the Peach Festival last weekend? I recevied a couple emails asking about the recipe. Here’s a fun activity to do with the kids – and look at the easy ingredients! I hope you enjoy….

VANILLA ICE CREAM (courtesy of the First Grade Scientists, Worcester County School)

1 tray of ice cubes

6 TBSP. salt

1-gallon plastic zipper freezer bag

1-pint plastic zipper freezer bag

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 TBSP. sugar

Put the ice and salt in the gallon plastic zipper bag. Then put the milk, vanilla and sugar in the pint bag. Seal the pint bag. Be sure that it is sealed!
Put the pint bag in to the gallon bag and seal the gallon bag. Sahke the bags for about 5 minutes, until the mixture in the pint bag freezes. Then ENJOY your ice cream!