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!!

My Artful Mind!

I checked out an Art group over the weekend. I have been wanting to get into painting. I was very inspired by the people there. The one girl who organizes this meeting is very talented and nice. She had a lot of her collages on display. One of the girls there gave me a canvas to play around with. I learned a little about the paints and tools they use. As soon as I left there I stopped to get my own supplies before heading home!

I figured with my new canvas I would create something to do with my anniversary that is coming up this weekend. I went in the attic and dug out one of my wedding invitations and a scroll that I used for favors. I started cutting, shaping and gluing.........the result:

We all start somewhere! I can't wait to experiment with mixing paints!