Hi all! 

Happy Friday!!!  I have our bags packed waiting by the door and ready to load in to the car.  We’re heading to the beach again…..and just getting out the door seems to take forever!  I am sure some of you can relate…I always feel like there’s one more thing to do before we can finally escape (another load of laundry, pack a lunch, double check for books, stuffed animals, etc).  But we are almost there.

One thing I absolutely wanted to do before leaving is to post some pictures of the new jewelry added to the Shop.  Yes, sweet bead studio has been bustling with creativity again.  If you could just see the lampwork, silver and tools out everywhere.

This first bracelet is simple, elegant and has a cute little twist. I’ve had a few of these lampwork ladybugs by Kim Typanski for some time, waiting for just the right idea. 

This charming bracelet features an art bead by Heather Powers of Humblebeads.  I like the colors she uses for her polymer clay beads, they are so pretty to work with.

Turning Tides is a necklace I was inspired to create after reading Christine Strube’s tutorial in Step by Step Beads.   By using two strands of beading wire, you can create the little loops here and there with seed beads.   The wood, abalone, crystal, quartz and glass combine in soft shades of brown.

I haven’t made a complete set in a while.   There were plenty of lampwork beads here to create a necklace, earrings and bracelet.  I was challenged a while back by a certain someone to purchase beads in colors that I’m not ordinarily drawn to.   The soft, matte green in these lampwork beads have a peaceful quality about them.  The glass beads were created by Shari Slonski of Beads for a Cure.

That’s all for my show and tell.  I have a gorgeous ocean-inspired set to share when I return from the beach!  Stay tuned….

It’s fun to hear what everyone’s been reading this summer.  I’ve visited a number of blogs that share their favorite “beach book”.  To fill you in on what I’ve been reading, it starts with chocolate.  Now that shouldn’t come as a surprise!  Today I opened up an old favorite that I’ve had since 1992….

tadaaaa!  It’s Ben and Jerry’s cookbook.  This is where you’ll find my favorite brownie recipe…I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before.  Today the kids and I baked a batch of absolutely delicious gooey brownies.  You probably have all the staples already to whip up your own - just eggs, butter, unsweetened chocolate, vanilla extract, flour and sugar.

Now as far as beach reads go (and I literally read them at the beach, or once the kids went to bed really)….a few favorites are ”The Double Bind”, “Friday Night Knitting Club”, and “The Art of Keeping Secrets”.  My favorite book in this bunch was “Friday Night Knitting Club”.  Now if it were about a bunch of beading ladies, I could have really understood the lingo.  My husband saw me reading this book and didn’t understand why I wasn’t reading something more like “Harry Potter”.  You have to admit, the title alone doesn’t sound appealing.

Last but not least - my latest stash of jewelry design magazines.  Hmmm, notice how the covers are all white for the summer.  I’ve had to catch up since I’ve been away from creating jewelry for quite some time.  Here are a few thoughts on these issues:

1.  Creative Jewelry…although this one is on the more basic technique side, I had to pick it up because it features a tutorial on Kab’s Concepts latest “Snagged” style necklace.  I love the great big disc used as a toggle clasp.

Kerry will be making these cool lampwork focal/toggles available soon so we can make our own.

2.  Stringing…as usual this one showcases such incredible talent in jewelry design.  I flip through this and think, “wow, why didn’t I think of that?!”  This one leaves you feeling inspired to create something different.

 3.  Step by Step Beads…My favorite piece in this one is by Christine Strube titled “Coral Reef”.  I created my own simplified version of this and jumped back in to creating jewelry once more after my long break.  Picture to come.

4.  Bell Armoire Jewelry…This one is packed from start to finish with unparalleled creativity.  Wirework, mixed media, PMC, lampwork, it’s all in here in ways I’ve never seen before.  Definitely right up there with Step by Step Wire and Stringing as my favorite magazine!  One of my favorite artists, Deryn Mentock is featured with an article on creating ear wires.  I can’t wait until the next issue comes out in September.  Actually, I can wait.  I DON’T want to rush summer!

Please pass along your “must-read” selections for this summer, I’d love to hear suggestions!

Hello friends!

I hope you are all having a terrific summer so far.  Following tradition, we headed to Ocean City to celebrate the 4th of July.  There was lots of fun on the beach, swimming lessons, meeting friends on the boardwalk, kayaking, crab cake eating, and the 1st Annual 4th of July Parade in the community.  Here are a few pictures of our latest trip to the beach!

I’m in summer-vacation-mode, but I do plan to be back very soon with the latest.  I don’t think you’ll have to wait months to hear from me again this time…..

~ Cindy

Who’s there?

Cindy.

Cindy who?

Yes I know you may have forgotten who I am because I haven’t shown my face around here in ages!  I can’t blame you.  I’ll admit I’ve been taking a little break.  There’s been some changes around here, namely one that involved morning sickness and overall exhaustion (!) which have not made the best conditions for jewelry making.  I will still be around although I’ll be popping up a little more sporadically.  I do hope to share some design-related news soon and I’ll be sure to be back to announce it!  Thank you for your visits.

~ Cindy

It’s Friday!  And the start of Spring Break.   I for one am very relieved to enjoy a week off from the crazy routine and rush, rush, rush.  We are leaving on a little trip tomorrow so I thought I would wish you the luck ‘O the Irish early!  Here is a whole bunch of little Leprechauns (courtesy of the kids) to wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Enjoy your weekend and the upcoming holiday.

It’s  Milo B.!  While my sister is off skiing in Colorado (how lucky!), we are bunny-sitting this little guy.  He has to be the most-loved bunny around.  You should see his set-up.  He has a huge multiple crate living area, lots of toys, and gets plenty of fresh greens and carrots.  I think he must be wondering what’s going on and why he’s suddenly feeling a little confined…back at his own house he gets an entire room to himself!  But he is receiving lots of love here as we’re enjoying having a bunny in the house again.  Early Saturday morning my oldest son constructed him a “fort” out of a cardboard box, complete with shelves to place his treats on.  It’s fun to place lettuce inside and watch him hop in for a nibble.

 Now speaking of bunnies, I thought I’d share a great kid’s book (for older kids).  We started listening to books on tape in the car to help with our dreadfully long commute.  We just finished Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe.  It is a clever mystery of a bunny vampire as told by the family dog.  We also finished Howliday Inn which is equally spell binding and are now starting The Celery Stalks at Midnight.  Great entertainment for adults and children alike.

Wire, lampwork, and sterling silver beads.  These are my top favorite to mix together to create a new piece of jewelry.  I’m finally posting a picture here of that necklace I may have mentioned a few weeks ago.  This one took forever to finish….I just worked on bits and pieces and put them aside.  It did not help the process when I accidentally used silver plated wire on several of the links!  I had the plated wire left over from my early days working in wire, and didn’t realize I had used it until I oxidized the necklace and started polishing it with steel wool (the silver started to turn a coppery color!).  I had to remake 5 of the wire links.

This one may look familiar because I made a very similar necklace last Fall.  It’s long gone with it’s new owner and I always knew I wanted to replicate one just for me.  Would you believe I used lampwork beads from 3 different glass  artists?   And even a few of my own beginner beads mixed in (that’s the beauty of working with wire, you can embellish a basic bead and turn it into something fancy!).  I know I will be making similar pieces soon, even if it takes me forever again.  I am a slow and steady kinda jewelry maker. :-) 

Hi friends

It feels like Monday getting back to my routine but it’s already Tuesday.  It was a nice long weekend, full of the unusual.  The weekend  started off on a great note by attending the International Gem and Jewelry Show - again.  It comes around 4 times a year and this time it seems like it was on the calendar again fast!  But I’m not complaining.  I was able to meet a fellow jewelry designer there…one whose blog I like to check in on from time to time.  We are both Moms of boys and love beads, but that’s where the comparison stops.  She does the professional art/craft show circuit,  has a fantastic display, and is a real inspiration.   It was great to meet Lori Anderson in person!  Her jewelry is beautiful and I was able to admire all of her varied creations up close rather than just visiting her website.  I think of her whenever we drive through her town on the Eastern Shore on the way to Ocean City….

Speaking of the beach, we kicked-off the 2008 beach season (a little early, I know) by taking a trip to Ocean City.  I went with my Dad, the kids, and the dogs.  6 “boys” to 1 girl.  On the drive down we stopped at one of my parent’s new favorite restaurants, a local place on Kent Island.  Rather than a crabcake, I had to try one of their famed shrimp salad sandwiches. 

It was a real mix as far as the weather all weekend.  One day we hung out at the “kiddie” beach on the bayside and it was warm enough for the kids to take off their shoes and go barefoot.  The next day it was rainy and chilly, but we still had to stop by the Ocean for the dogs to take a stroll in the sand (since it’s off-season).  In the few days that we were there, we were able to fit in the favorites: beach, boardwalk and even putt putt golf.  Well I had a break that time and my Dad took all 3 boys while I stayed home.  It was a nice get-away to break up the dreary month of February.  Now I really can’t wait until Spring!

 Have a super sweet Valentine’s Day!