Creative Ways

This gun used to be a key chain. I had this forever. It is metal and the trigger works, like a pop gun. The gun is black and the trigger and accents are antique copper.

I added two skull beads and attached an antique copper over sized clasp all on a black chain.

Luv it!!

Another Great Thrifty Find!

I have a vintage dressing table. The one with a big mirror in the middle and three drawers on each side. It is soo cool. My husband found it up in NY and gave it to me for Christmas.

It did not have a bench so I have been using a wicker chair that I had. Normally these things have a cute little bench. I have been trying to find one......old vintage style, not modern and never could find anything I liked.

Today, during my thrift store browsing there it was! It is solid metal. I got this for $15 and with a discount I ended up paying $12!!! SO HAPPY! These usually run anywhere between $40 - $80 if not more new.

I am thinking of recovering it with a vintage fabric to go with my dressing table and spray painting the metal the color to match. For now, I will leave it until I settle on one idea! I am just happy I finally found somthing.

I soooo love thrift stores and finding a great deal!!

CIAO!
XOXOX

These boots are made for walking!

Do you LOVE them?! I found these at a thrift store today! They are pretty cool! I soo love thrift stores, specially when you can find something wild like this. I originally went thrifting today to find a jean skirt, which I did for $3.99! I am going to wear that and these boots tomorrow! So excited. I got a lot of compliments on the boots already, just holding them in my hand. Pretty snazzy!! They are blue with animal print and all man made material! The brand is BeeFly. They zip up on the side and come just below the knee. I looked these up online and used some start at $20 - $65 used! I got these for $10. CIAO!

Reboot Yourself

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." — Andy Warhol

The year is coming to an end and another one is going to start. The New Year brings to people a reason to make the ever so famous "New Years Resolutions" I am going to exercise more, eat right and travel more are usually on the top 10

This coming year I will be turning 40. I guess I am OK with that. I don't look 40 and don't really feel it. That is due to the good Sicilian blood flowing in my veins ;) The only list I plan on making is "What I want to accomplish in my 40's" list. I will post that one in a couple of months. It will be something I plan on adding to here and there, but ultimately it is the list of things I want to accomplish during that decade.

As for the title of this post, reboot yourself. There are always things you don't like about yourself. Bad habits, weight, diet, your hair, clothes....whatever. If you don't like something, don't wait to start on the New Year, reboot yourself and do it now! Your computer is slow or freezes, you don't wait to reboot it.....and you should not wait to reboot yourself. Keep a little calendar or a notebook and jot down your milestones along the way.......if you quit smoking mark the 5th day, 6th day or 30th day that you have gone without.

There is no time like the present to update, change or "reboot" yourself. Are you waiting for that career change? Do it. Take charge and reboot it!

Ciao!

"Do one thing everyday that scares you"
~Elleanor Roosevelt

A Tribute to Robert Frost

Robert Lee Frost

Born: March 26, 1874
Place: San Francisco, California
Died: January 29, 1963
Place: Boston, Massachusetts

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Just Do It!

That is my favorite slogan.....Just Do It. How motivational. This came into my email and I thought I'd share it. It is pretty good advise:

There will always be a reason not to do something.

Always.

(Given our natural talent for rationalizing, there will probably be far more than one.)

There will always be a reason you shouldn't change jobs. There will always be a reason you shouldn't start a business. There will always be a reason you shouldn't go to New York to attend art school.

Always.

So you have a choice.

You can wait until you no longer have a reason to avoid making an uncomfortable change (which isn't going to happen) or you can accept that your mind will always conjure up a reason why you need to play it safe and you can stop listening.

It's not an easy choice. Most people opt for the comfort of the routine. Sure, they'd like to make a shift, but that's scary. Better to stay snug in the same old pattern.

More comfortable? Possibly. But certainly not the way to live your life.

If you're waiting for that moment when the stars align and you feel 100% confident and comfortable about doing something new, stop.

Please stop.

You'll be waiting for the rest of your life.

Remember: There will always be a reason not to do something.

So do it anyway.

If you want to live your passion..........JUST DO IT!!

Ciao!
XOXOX
;)

My finished enamel piece!!

It is done! Once of the pieces I created, I turned into a necklace. These are two copper circles that I sifted a few different colors on. The two sides that are shown are blue and orange the the other side I have a red and brown. I can mix these around a bit if I choose.

I have it on a copper chain with a couple of glass beads to compliment the colors. I had to add a dang-ly piece on each side.......I love things that dangle, it is so fun and gives it a little movement.

Not to bad for my first project. I am moving on the saw out of copper vintage ladies, a martini and wine glass etc. Fun Fun Fun!!!

CIAO!

End of Summer

Even though it is officially the end of summer, it still remains hot here in Virginia through November. This weekend we spent a night at a local state park. I never even new this place existed and it is so close to our house. Another couple go here every year. Even though we spent only one night, we had a great time. We went on a bike ride and discovered a peaceful beach. At night we sat around the fire with drinks and good convo. We decided that every year we are going to join them. It is a nice paradise get a way so close to home and very inexpensive. It is a great way to get in touch with nature, recharge your juices and get creative new ideas. Next week I start my enamaling class. I am going to be creating new designs and finishing up a couple of copper bezels I worked on. This year has really been all about learning and discovering things in the DIY world. I want to learn as much as I can so when I sit in my studio I am armed with creative possibilities. I have so many collection of things that inspire me in binders........I am thinking.......why are they in binders? Out of site, out of mind. I want to put a wire on one wall to hang such inspirations, I want to get a bullentin board to post ideas, reminders etc. So even though it is the end of summer, I already have new beginnings starting. With the end of each season something new can be born. Kinda like shedding old skin. Yeah!

Get Clear

Today I read something from my Skinny Bitch book. Anyone who feels empty, sad, or like they are not ahead....I hope this helps:

Get Clear:
Are you living your life
as someone who is healthy,
happy and vibrant
or someone who is
sick, angry, and sad?
If it is the latter,
it's because your being a victim,
KNOCK IT OFF! The best way to turn
that shit around
is to make a list of all the things
in your life you are grateful for.
Every single one of them.
Bask in your gratitude all day long!

Listen, it doesn't matter that you don't have a Lexus in your driveway, a big fancy house or a few friends/family instead of an entourage. What you have is good enough. I have to remind myself of this daily. We are all going to run into life's dilemmas and fall short somewhere. That is what makes us....US!
The more we appreciate the better we will feel. :)

A Riveting Experience

Last night in my silver jewelry class, I was paging through a very cool book on riveting for jewelry., Wrap, Stitch, Fold and Rivet. Soooooo of course I wanted to learn how to do this and my teacher just happened to have her equipment with her. We took a piece of copper that was aged and distressed and riveting other metal materials and WA-LA! .





I think I am going to turn this into a necklace.........:)

Fresh New Goodies

The best thing about summer is flowers and lovely gardens. I just created this piece not to long ago. It is a pink enamal flower on a copper chain. Very simple and fun. It reminds me of summer.





This is another flower piece. The flower pendent has an egyptian spiral wrap that attaches the flower to the beads. The copper wine brings out the brown and copper tones on the beads....love it.



Both available at my Etsy shop! Check them out!

Ciao!

Indie

The Power of Handmade!

The more I create, the more inspired I feel. I can't tell you the last time it was that I went shopping at a department store or mall to buy clothing or jewelry. I don't need to run out and buy the latest and greatest trend. I use to, and all it got me was wasted money and a sense of disappointment after the newness wore off so shortly after the purchase. I have learned not to buy into all the commercial hype. It is garbage and not needed. Ever since this change.....I feel lighter....

When you buy handmade, you are supporting someones dreams and hard work. When you buy Indie, you are getting one of a kind piece of art! How cool is that? These artists really are so appreciative of your purchase. It feels good. I really do not like supporting mass productions. I will spend my money on a more deserving community.

I also support local farmers markets. If I am not growing it myself, I will buy from the locals. It is healthier and tastier. I am gravitating more towards an organic diet. The hormones, pesticides, and processed foods are a real turn off. I feel healthier and not so sluggish. You can change also, you have to start small. Change one thing at a time....Rome was not built in a day ;) If you change a few things in your diet you are ahead of the game. Maybe eat fresh fruit in the morning or snack on veggies for a start. You can even do something as simple as replacing a can of soda with water.

So this change I have been going through the past year is a good one. I am so glad I got into the Indie world and am so very appreciative of my crafty artsy people I have met along the way. The world is a much brighter and healthier place!

Is there any change you made in your life that makes you feel like a new person?

A Key To All Things

This is a recycle piece with vintage flair. We were getting rid of an old door and I saved the brass decorative plates. I just new I could make something out of it.

I love skeleton keys. I love the old look. I wonder how many doors they have opened and imagine how cool it must have been to live in the olden days. I like to think of keys as symbolic. Such as a positive energy, when your looking to pass from an old situation and into a new one. I like to look ahead and "unlock the secrets" of new things.

Collecting skeleton keys is one of my many obsessions. They are hard to find, but when I do, it is such a satisfaction.

Ciao!

Take Control Of Your Life

Today is Monday and I am sure having the Monday Blah. Well, I was until I read a post over at Scoutie Girl! I wanted to share it:

You are in control: of your life, your opportunities, your ability to enact change in this world.

Use your creativity, your outside-of-the-box point of view to make something happen today. Stop wishing for change, stop envisioning a better world, stop hoping for a shift of power.

Seize control. Take your ideas to the street and demand to be heard.

If you are a consumer, use consumption to take control. If are a creator, use innovation to overpower the status quo.

We all as Artists get into these frumps. Everyday life can do that to

us. It is when we come across a post, a quote or someone who says something like the above that instantly gives me this recharge! I wanted to pass it along. Hopefully it inspires you as well.

I have not blogged in a while so this is what has been going on with me.....

Yesterday I spent the day with an artist friend of mine, Kat Allison. We dyed fabrics like muslin and china silk. She also taught me a little bit about screen printing and

mixing my own dyes. It is very fun to do. My hands have red dye on them still.........gives me a very arty look :)

I was fumbling around in my studio the other day and put together a piece with scraps. It is my favorite piece at the moment, my circle eternity necklace.

This necklace I wore at the local Etsy party we had for Etsy's birthday. This is going to be part of a flower line I am creating. I should be posting this necklace on Etsy soon......I have someone who may be interested...yeah! We will see.....

I am continuing with my silver jewelry class. I am working on some copper pieces. I figure I spend this year learning and working on inventory so I will be better equipped for shows next summer.....Besides this I am spending my weekends walking around farmer markets and laying on the beach....enjoy the simple things in life and absorbing all the earth has to offer!

I like spending evenings after work on my patio and looking out at our gardens....








The other week was my birthday. My husband knows how much I love Marilyn so they got together and order me this cake!!


It took me a day or so to cut into it, but they took a picture of it for me and had it framed.

My Interview

I am currently working on an article for our Bead Society. I am the newsletter editor and I decided to pay tribute to a member and local artist who recently opened her shop. I feel that local artists do not get recognized enough if at all.

I feel that as artists, we often get into rutts and wonder if anyone else gets like this and how to get out of it. One of my questions to Tammy was "What inspires you? Here is an excerpt:

What most inspires you?

Nature, water. I love solitude and quiet. My office/studio looks out over the Sarah Creek and York River. I get to watch the Heron feed, red wing black birds nest ,boats coming and going and the wonderful sunsets. Almost everything comes from this. I recently took Kat Allison and Cindy Yost’s class at Art and Soul, a new medium for me. The energy from other artists gives us so much and renews us from day to day chores. I will go into my studio late at night, when no one is around. This seems to be the most valuable time for me to put things into action. I always look at other artist’s work. I do not copy their designs, but I carry a sketchbook in my purse and take notes or draw out my interpretation of the concept

I love her answer on this, because I believe we all pull energy and inspirations from other people. People and our daily surroundings are great sources. If we carry a sketchbook or a journal with us, we can capture life's moments at any given time.

Sometimes we just have to stop and take in what is around us and breath........

Vintage Blouse

Pretty In Pink....
and shear blouse
Nice for summer nights with jeans and chunky shoes........

http://www.etsy.com/listing/46981596/vintage-blouse

Silversmith Class

Well, this is my first pendant from my silversmith class. I am pretty proud. It is a great class and I love doing this.

It takes a lot of time, but like anything else, the more I work with it the better and faster I will get. I must say the polishing part took the longest. It was hard for me to detect the fire scale. I am still working on this piece. I have to add the wire up top. Normally a bale will go there, but I decided to use wire because of the bottom pieces of brass, silver and copper. I need to stamp those pieces. I figure I will stamp them with the name of my soy making candles project.......coming soon! :)

The stone needs to be set in the bezel. Once all this is finished and polished to perfection I will post detail pictures........

Italian Life

I love, love, love being Italian!! Not just because of the pasta and the cannolis........that is fabulous, but because I feel Italians are full of love and life! If you ever been around them you know this. Even at funerals, there always seemed to be such a calming sense. Though funerals are sad, being around a room full of Italians made it manageable. The stories, the food, the wise cracks.........everything always seemed fine. They celebrated the life of the person. Italians always laugh, and have a good time no matter what. I remember growing up we lived next door to my cousins and there was always laughter, gatherings and food and wine. They lived life to the fullest, loved people and never judged.

Some things I have learned growing up Italian:

Everything will be fine, just put on a little lipstick!
Mangia! Don't worry about the calories, life is too short.
Eat Fresh Food, get rid of the processed crap!
Red Wine...drink it
LAUGH
LOVE
Have a strong Family
Enjoy your life, surround yourself with friends and famiies.....have fun little gatherings
Appreciate Each day and Have fun
Be Happy, Hopeful and optimistic.....no need to be miserable, remember, everything will be fine, just put on a little lipstick.

Labels?

Scoutie Girl, a blog I am so happy I came acrossed, has a question about "How do you label yourself?" http://www.scoutiegirl.com/2010/05/labels-whats-yours-we-scout-wednesday.html

I cannot define myself in one label. I think that we are so many things and having to be "labeled" can seem so negative.

I am so many things; Mom, Wife, Friend, Tech, daughter, designer, crafter, Creator, silversmith......the list goes on. I could have a different label everyday dependinng on my mood, LOL. The one I like, that best describes me to date is "Student Of Life". I am constantly learning. I need to educate myself from others, books, the web etc. That is a label I could live with....for the moment :)

Backyard

We are revamping out backyard. We put a little patio off our main patio by the driveway. It was just grass with a little stone garden. Now it looks great coming off the patio!! By the fence is a flower garden. See how drab it is? Check out the pictures further down :)






My husband made this fireplace for me. It is great!! He took some left over slate that we had when we redid our kitchen and put it on the top of the fireplace.




Finished product! We just have to grout it now. This fireplace will sit on another section of our yard as soon as we get our granite patio done. We were given big huge slabs! Can't wait for it to be done!!


This year we did the red mulch in our back yard. It used to be filled in with stone, but over the years it just got to much debris from the pine needles etc. We decided to do the mulch. It really pad the backyard pop!




I love to have a nice backyard were I can just sit and enjoy the weather and views! It has been a long time since we really gave our backyard TLC!

65 Red Roses Eva Markvoort Blog to the end.

I saw this girl's story on CNN.com I went to her blog and red a few posts. Stories like this with people's courage really inspires me. I saw her story on the internet only a few minutes ago and she has already impacted my life. It reminds me we all have the power to make a difference. We all have our problems, issues, pains, but we can't forget to live passionately with love and hope. We all take things for granted, and when we do we must appreciate the little things to remind us of what is important.

From here journal:

© Eva Dien Brine Markvoort 2006-2010
pressure change
Mar. 22nd, 2010 at 12:49 AM

making the effort this evening to sit up in a chair

good to change positions

stretch different muscles

sending air to different pockets

mum asked what i miss?

i miss walking in and out of buildings

the feeling of air pressure change when you enter or exit a building

i miss getting in and out of cars

how your view changes when you sit at a different height

change really

i miss change

now, it is all the same

seven weeks....there are no transitions

i miss transitions

from one place to another

which is strange really

because now i hate change

i can't stand change and yet i miss the transitions

i hold onto who ever is near

since when am i clingy?

i grasp onto

annie in the morning

jackie and robin in the afternoon

dad in the evening

maman all the time

episodes of projectile vomiting

hours of gasping for breath

waves of nausea lulling out into

hours of sleepiness once the meds have hit

leaving me daydreaming about stepping out of this room

just getting up free of tubes and plugs and walking out the door pushing open doorways skipping down the street

breathing free free

© Eva Dien Brine Markvoort 2006-2010

RINGS RINGS RINGS!!

I am making some fab fab rings!!

I love this one! This is a flower ring on a copper piece with a white peal bead. This is in the process of being made still. I am also working on a few flower necklaces that should be done this weekend. Yeah! I already have someone who wants dibs on the flower necklaces. Sooo cool!





These two girls are vintage buttons. Aren't they beautiful! They are so fun to wear! The redone was scoffed up already by my friend. I have another one to make of her......These will be posted on my Etsy shop here soon.




Ciao!

My lunch hour was spent here.....

Love spring.........
XOXOX

Things I Like

-kind people
-Love
-My family and friends
-cheese
-going for walks
-wine
-coffee (preferably in interesting mugs)
-back roads
-antiques
-old houses & abandoned houses
-the smell of libraries and old books
-criminal minds (tv show)
-walking on the beach
-bike rides
-dogs
-scary stories
-art
-craft magazines and books
-glitter
-Classic Cartoons
-Family Guy

-


WHAT DO YOU LIKE?-
-

New Necklace

I love this! It is turquoise beads and a coral pendant with silver spacers. I think all the colors go great!!! It is soooo yummy!

I really have to take a better picture of it, this is from my camera phone. I need to keep my camera with me more. Turquoise pieces look great against suntanned skin......it is bellisimo!!';) I will be posting this soon in my shop!!

I have been slacking a little lately with my jewelry designs because I have been head over heals in love with learning my silversmithing and getting my yard looking good and enjoying the warm weather!

So much to do......so little time.

XOXOX

Made In Italy

I love anything Italian. I love thrifting. So how great is it today that I go thrifting and fine two items made in Italy!!!!!!

I found these shoes. I love the colors, yellow and blues. Perfect for spring, and they will go great with my yellow pants!! Price $.98 cents!! YES! .98 cents!!!





The next item, is the leather purse! It was hanging on the rack wide open and the label screamed at me: MADE IN ITALY! It has copper circles for zipper pulls and the strap is a copper color with leather sewn laces, like a shoe string. It fits snug right under my arm!! Price $4.00


On my way to the thrift store, I stopped at this awesome store. I call it the witch store. They sell crystals, do circle meets, tarrot card readings etc. They have great jewelry, stones and neat little things. I am delving into the world of silversmithing and I love it, so I wanted to pick up some stones to do my settings and wire wraps.


They have a great selection. The guy there told me he has a friend coming in from Peru who is bringing all his precious stones and crystals! I am excited to see his stuff.

Today I bought Tigers Eye, Jasper, Amethyst, and natural stones. I cannot wait to create the settings for these!





CIAO!!

Have A Secret?

Do you have something you like to get off your chest but can't bear to tell anyone else?

Well now you can read all about peoples thoughts.......anonymously of course. Post Secret. I love this blog! It is an art community, where people mail in their secrets, never revealed before, on homemade postcards.

Certain secrets are selected and posted on the blog and in books. There are some very creative postcards and very interesting secrets..........

Check it out.......

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

I love the Art that people create on their cards.....but I also love that people have the same issues, obstacles, and struggles that we all do. Of course I don't love that people go through this, but this is life....it happens to everyone. It is nice to know that we are not alone.

I reminds me to enjoy my journey and let love guide you.

Ciao!

Create Your Life

I have spent a lot of time searching for creative inspirations. I read books, blogs, talk to other DIY'ers to get a perspective on how others come up with ideas. I think learning to be creative, expressing yourself and not being afraid to make mistakes or say what you think are all equally important. I've changed, grown and learned so much during this. I did not realize how much at first.....one day I was like......hey I got this!

This is your life. Everyday is a new start. There are times when we feel like it is a constant uphill battle, but it is a journey. All of this you go through is a learning experience. Every hard time you may go through.....it is only a moment....a small period of your life that won't last forever.

If you don't like something, change it. We create life everyday, our own lives. The words we use, the actions we take, the people we surround ourselves with mold us everyday. What is it that you want to achieve? Create a manifest of your own self......we get one shot at this life.....make it the best Oscar deserving one you can!

Random Bits

Last week was sooooooooooo nice out. 70 degree weather. YUM! We planted some veggies. We have lettuce and brussell sprouts and some herbs. First time planting the lettuce and sprouts so we will see how that goes. I believe the brussell sprouts are for cooler weather but we will see how they turn out.

There is this super cool Martini bar downtown that we discovered the other weekend. We have been there the last two weeks. Luv this place! The decor is very trendy. The tapas are yummy. It is in an old town. I have to post more pics of this area. Lots of antique shops, coffee shop and an Irish pub! When I walk into this place, I feel like I am in Manhattan because of its chic, trendy style.

The bartenders are cool. When you are in there, these bartenders have conversations with everyone and everyone joins in the conversations. It is like being at home during an Italian family get together over pasta and wine. I usually have two martinis.

If I have anymore than two I will need a sign like this:

Blah ha ha ha!

Enjoy your weekend! It is going to be rainy and chilly, the battle of winter and spring. That is ok, spring will win. I will be busy creating necklaces with some cool vintage flower pieces and hanging out with my art group.

CIAO!

My Hair

I always get highlights. I use to get sand/blond color and I got tired of that after so many years. I always liked red, but my hair is so dark that it never stays in for very long at all. A few months ago I got a real pretty wine color in my hair and it wasn't very noticeable. It was pretty, but you could not really see it and then it faded.

I always liked the block style color and I always liked big bold red colors. My hairdresser said to me last night as we were looking at color, go with the bold red, you always show me pictures of this color, if we are going to do it, lets just do it!! I said OK.

After it was all said and done, I was in shock. Shock because I never did anything this extreme before with color. They loved it at the shop, she told me to wait a few days and if I still did not like it she would tone it down. It was to bright for me. In the pic it shows a little darker. I also have it styled more to one side because WOW, if I had it going across the top it would be too much.

I am not sure what I was in shock mostly over, the new color or what would the reaction of my office peers be? So far, as the morning goes on people like it. For some people they are to conservative and would not be so bold, and that is fine; (however those same people judge and hold their noses up). That is were I used to be. I would never do anything fun, edgy because I worked in an office and fell into the "what are people going to think"?

So as I sit here this morning thinking about the shock to my system, I realize, it is just hair. It is just a section of hair that is red. I wanted different, I got it. I want to be a little edgier, branch out of my comfort zone and I did it. I wanted to be brave and try new things and adventures. It is no big deal! I got what I want.

The moral to this story? Don't be afraid to try anything new! Just Do It!!! Give it a chance. The worst thing that could happen is you don't like it, but at least now you know this. You never know how you will grow and change as a person if you do not take the jump. Your not performing surgery, no one will die. Don't fall into the "what will people think"? Who cares. Any criticism you get from someone take as constructive, use what you can from it and move on. You are only in this life one time! :)

OH Jessie Jessie Jessie!

What were you thinking??

You had this:



And you cheated to be with this:


Really???

You gave up your wife and kids and curled up next to her?

Thrifty Finds

Every third Tuesday I meet with a knitting group. I love it. They are such great ladies and I have a great time. I learn things, laugh and just have a great time!

Usually I stop at a thrift store near were we meet before I head over. I usually look over the books as usual and gaze around to see if I can find anything cool and vintage. I was looking through the books and found a book called While My Pretty One Knits I laughed! How cool was that. It is about two rival knitting shops, murder and gossip! Knitting with a twist.

I also found another book, Living Artfully. I never heard of this book. I am all into the Art world; creating and learning. I LOVE any books to do with Art and Crafts. Well, obsessed is more like it! This book is teaching you to express who you are through moments that you create living. Living Artfully reminds us to explore and experience life with more heart, meaning, purpose, and joy.

You never know what you will find in your local thrift stores. You can buy a pile of books and without risk. Your spending a fraction of what you would at a bookstore. Your reusing, saving the environment and education yourself! What is not to love! :)

Ciao~

Spring Is Coming!

I just signed up for a silversmith class!! Super excited about that! I cannot wait. I will post things and pics on my progress.

On my way back from signing up, I stopped by a Garden Shop. I bought spinach, Brussels Sprouts, Lettuce, Parsley and Oregano for my herb/vegetable garden. I also bought a pink Geranium. I am redoing my yard and I am not putting flowers and plants in pots anymore, I am putting them in the ground. I want things to grow and come back year after year. I know geraniums do not, however they provide color all summer long so I will mix annuals and perennials. Perennials, from what I just learned at the garden shop, bloom a few weeks here then die off and re-bloom a few weeks later on.

There is a lot of work to be done still, but I am sooo excited! I am so ready for warm weather, the beach and a cold beer on a hot day! :)

OH, HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!!!

New Stuff

The weather is getting warmer.......finally!! I cannot wait for it to be in full swing! I love laying on the beach and being in the sun. It gives me good energies to be creative!

I made a few things recently and just posted them to my Etsy account.

I love skulls and guitar pics. Always have. So I combined the two! I went to a party over the weekend and sold a pair!





I love browns, copper and reds together. This set is soo cool. I just love it!

http://www.ciaobelladesign.etsy.com/

My husband also has a creative side. He made this fireplace. We all sat around it Saturday night! He made this as a gift for a friend of ours. Very cool!

I also went to a craft show that was being held at a local high school. Soooo many talented people! I went out to support a couple of my friends that were there. I bought some of their jewelry. I am wearing a couple of pieces today. I feel real good. Not only did I support my friends and buy great pieces of theirs, I feel good because they, as well as all crafters, spend so much time on their designs and I know they truly appreciate my purchase. Each piece is thought up, carefully constructed and put together.

Buy Handmade! Your not only buying one of a kind pieces, but you are making people feel good and satisfied in their crafts!

Ciao!

Busy Beader!!

I have been busy creating. I have been waiting for my skeleton keys to come in the mail so I can make something out of it. I have always been drawn to skeleton keys. Not sure if it is for their symbolism (the power to open things or wisdom) but maybe for the vintage look or I wonder what doors these opened? What was behind the door?

I made a necklace out of one. I wanted to double wrap this, but I was not sure how much string I needed to use. I love the read and tan/black beads against this. It is soooo cool. Unique! I love unique things. Not many people would wear a key around their neck or even think of using it has a piece of jewelry. This is one of the many things I love, these skeleton keys, and wearing it just shows a bit of my personality I suppose.

Yesterday morning I put together this bracelet. I had some read lamp work beads and silver pieces....and wa-la a bracelet is born. I am going to make another one of these and a skeleton key necklace and add to my Etsy shop soon!!!

I am now also dabbling in painting. I love it. I love so much this creative outlet I have. Summer is coming! I will be inspired by the beach, the sun, the warm weather!! Possibilities are endless! Keep coming warm weather!!! Sun, sand, beach and a cold one! How nice.......

Ciao!!