Brie Ring

This is the Brie ring. A little cheesy, but it grows on you. This ring uses silver wire to hold a speckled stone - agate perhaps, two imitation pearls and a purple teardrop crystal. One of the imitation pearls dangles from the setting. I really love making jewelry that moves. It's also fun to wear.

Mackenzie Ring

Pretty little ring that reminds me of a butterfly or dragonfly. I call it the "Mackenzie" ring. Made with a deep purple sequin that dangles behind a light purple glass bead that's topped with a solid green bead. Adorable! 

Auden Ring

Another ring design called the Auden Ring. It features two purple square shaped stones set in silver wire. Very easy and elegant.

Book Review: One Dog and His Boy

Knowing how much I love dogs, someone recommended the book, "One Dog and His Boy" by Eva Ibbotson to me. Even though it is meant for young adults, this book will tug at your heart. It was a tear jerker - at least from chapter 5 onward.

The story centers around a ten year old boy from a wealthy family. The one thing he is denied is a dog. His mother thinks a dog is too messy and his father barely has time to see his wife and child because he is jetting around the world for his job. The story begins to get interesting when the father decides to rent a dog for the weekend as a birthday present for his son. Little does the boy know the dog is on loan and is heart broken when he learns his forever pet can't stay with him.

A fast read with a good plot, I highly recommend this book for animal lovers

Pilar Earrings

So reminiscent of many cultures, I decided to call these earrings PILAR since the name is recognizable in many languages. Lightweight and made of copper and a few glass beads, these earrings shine in the sunlight and dance in the moonlight. Perfect for a hot night.

Lily Ring

I found this ring design in a book from the library. Made a few changes to the design including a silver dangle. Believe it or not, this ring is made from silver, not gold. The photo is deceiving. I used two turquoise stones. It's small and delicate, yet can adapt to many ring sizes.

Making Ricotta Cheese in the Microwave

This recipe takes five minutes. Yes, five minutes for about a third of a cup of fresh ricotta cheese.

To make this soft cheese pour 2 cups of whole milk in a large, microwave-safe dish. I use a Pyrex baking dish. Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to the milk along with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. More or less salt can be added based on sodium dietary requirements. Place the dish in the microwave and cook on full power for three to five minutes - watch for the edges of the mixture to bubble. Remove the dish from the microwave and stir the liquid until the solids separate from the whey (clear liquid). Strain the mixture in a paper towel lined colander or through cheesecloth. Let the whey drain for a minute or two. Refrigerate for four to five days.

That's it. And with BPH-free milk just $1.69 at Aldi, it's less expensive to make ricotta from scratch than buy a pound. Best of all, you know the ingredients that go into the cheese. Enjoy!

Oak Leaf Drawing

Saw a similar drawing on the September, 2012 issue of "Architectural Digest". Liked it so much, I made my own version on watercolor paper using a black magic marker. Photo of magazine version is also shown below.

Jimmie Johns 8 inch Sub for One Dollar!

It's customer appreciation day at Jimmie Johns. On August 16th, you can get an 8 inch sub at Jimmie Johns for just a buck. You're limited to 6 menu choices and white bread only, but, hey, it's just one smack-a-roo. And they are freaky fast at making these sandwiches. I recommend the Vito. Limit one per customer. No coupon needed.

Reddi-Whip for a Dollar at Valu Center Market

What a deal! Reddi-Whip in the 15 oz. can is just one buck this week at Valu Center markets in Michigan.