Heidi Ring

Part of the reason I make jewelry is because I misplace jewelry. Actually, I lost the Mackenzie ring somewhere at Staples or Meijer today. So I created the HEIDI ring as a replacement. It's made from hammered copper wire and a single seed pearl.

Things My Grandma Taught Me

While putting on lipstick this morning, I was reminded of things my grandma taught me. Why would lipstick remind me of her? Because she could put on makeup without a mirror. Lipstick especially. Just purse your lips around the tube and voila! Perfect every time.

She also taught me how to make cakes and pies. For some reason, not every grandchild was given this knowledge. She showed me baking skills when I was just six.

And my grandma taught me to check your plants around the outside of your house every day. This way, you'll discover if bugs have invaded, if they need more water, more sun, or if unwanted plants took hold.

Probably the best piece of advice grandma gave me was to save my money. And that every penny, nickel and dime adds up. Don't be afraid to pick up change from the sidewalk or ask a store/company for an adjustment on your bill. Maybe it's just $3.00, but that's $3.00 that could buy a chicken, or potatoes. And it's your $3.00.

Jet Stream Fuel Art

Take a look at the swirls a jet made this morning. When they expend extra fuel, you get sky art.

Floral Grey Sofa Pillows

While shopping for pasta at Target, I stopped by the summer garden/patio clearance area. And look what I found - two large grey pillows with a gold flower motif. I was going to use these in another room, but the gold sofa looked lonely without these pillows. Best of all, the fabric is resistant to dog hair. SCORE! These babies cost $9.50 each. A bit more than my budget allows right now so I am back to eating beans and rice. Good thing I know how to make ricotta cheese.

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.