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
———————————-
**CREATIVE SPARK TWO**
•Theme Words or Phrase•
Trees, Birds, Fly, Clouds, Moss, Grass, Twigs, Mist
———————————-
**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!
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!
by Cindy on August 9, 2010
Come join me for a down-home festival, in a sweet little town on the Eastern Shore. We discovered Berlin earlier this year when we went for the town Easter egg hunt (posted about it here). The 2nd annual Peach Festival took place today, a tribute to the peaches that helped shape the economy at the last turn of the century.
Coming from the suburbs and hustle and bustle of the nation’s capital, my husband and I truly enjoy the small-town community feel in Berlin. I think I spoke to more strangers today than I would in a month back home. Maybe an exaggeration, but if you live in the city, you can appreciate what I mean. Let’s take a look at the festival, and some good ole-fashioned fun…and just imagine you can hear the fiddler playing….
Strolling down main street, you can see how the whole town got involved. There was a window-decorating contest going on between the businesses. Here are a couple of my favorite windows -
There were plenty of activities for the kids: ice cream shaking and making, a peach toss, and a pie-eating contest!
A local waterfowl artist creating a decoy from wood -
While stopping to enjoy some peach crisp, we discovered not one, but two baby birds who left the nest to attend the festival -
You have to see the peach crisp….sorry to do this to you. Yes, it was scrumptious -
Just look what I found in one of the antique malls! This dear book (almost 100 years old) features FOUR little boys. And would you believe the boys are playing by a peach tree…
Thank you for coming along with me, and visiting one of our favorite American small towns. Have a great week!
by Cindy on August 6, 2010
I have summer jewelry on my mind still, as I mentioned in my last blog post. Living here at the beach for the summer, naturally I chose ocean-themed components when selecting beads for Artbead’s Design Partner program. It was easy to find the perfect inspiration when perusing the many pendants available.
Ocean Blue features a beautiful Hill Tribe sterling silver sand dollar pendant. In keeping with a classic circular shape, I added some great lampwork discs by Blue Seraphim. Just look at that metallic sheen on those chunky discs! This piece was oxidized and tumble polished for a rustic appeal. Can’t you just see wearing this one with your favorite strappy sundress or a crisp white cotton top?
My next piece once again features a sand dollar pendant, this time a stunning copper pendant with an incredible patina. With a focal like this, I knew simplicity would be the key. I wire wrapped some brown turquoise beads and added a second strand of pure copper chain. A gorgeous, etched lampwork bead by Kim Typanski was added off to the side. Again, the chains were oxidized and tumble polished. The hand forged clasp was created from heavy-gauge wire.
Ocean Blues has sold, thank you. Copper Sands can be found in my Etsy shop.
Now speaking of Artbeads, a fun new contest was just announced! You can enter for a chance to win a “Bead Genius” prize package (including a $100 gift card AND $150 worth of beading supplies) by taking a short quiz. Check your bead knowledge and enter for a chance to win here. Uh oh, I think I need to head back to school as I only scored a 7 out of 10! Contest open until September 16th.
Thank you taking a moment out of your summer day and spending some time here at sweet bead studio.
*Components were provided free of charge by ArtBeads for review in their Design Partner Program.
by Cindy on August 4, 2010
Hello!
Thank you for stopping by after my long absence! I have been away simply enjoying SUMMER. It’s that time of year when a few of the blogs are starting to mention (gasp!) fall colors, cool weather and boot shopping! Okay, hold on here. Wasn’t it just yesterday that everyone was dreaming of warm weather and snapping pictures of every blooming bud spotted in their gardens? We were all wishing for summer time. Therefore I am not going to rush through one single day of summer. Anyone with me? :-) On that note, I thought I’d share some wonderful finds on Etsy….just a little reminder that it is still easy, breezy, summer time. You can click right on the pictures for more info.
Cockle Shell by Floridity
Connected at the Heart by Allybeans
Raku Beaches, Hawaii by Afterhours
Endless Summer Discs by Mermaid Glass
Starfish by Clay Designs by Glee
Turquoise Conch Shell by Jane Perala Designs
Stay tuned….next up I’ll share a few ocean-inspired pieces of jewelry.
Have a FANTASTIC day dear blog friends!
