Moving Sale!

Big news!  The bad news is, Piper, Johnny, and the rest of the gang need to find a new home.

 

The good news is that we did find one! A nice little house with a big back yard. 

 It has a cozy kitchen for all the kitties to hang out and eat their dinner. So everyone's happy about that.

 But it's going to take a lot of work and lots of cash to turn this empty yard into a lush organic garden.  See that? It's dry as a bone, the ground is like concrete. And there aren't any trees for the kitties to climb. Not yet.

 That's why we're having a huge moving sale! We need to raise some funds for the garden, to buy topsoil, fruit trees, and berry bushes. And of course, we'll put in a nice catnip jungle as well.

 So you can head over to the jewelry shop and pick up something sparkly like a fall necklace, and get 20% off with the coupon code TAKE20.

Or mosey on over to the soap shop and pick up this great big rustic soap set, or any of our all natural soapy goodies, and save 20% with coupon code  SOAPLOVE.  We'll send you lots of love and kitty whisker tickles!  Thanks bunches from Cooby, Muppett, Zoe, John Wayne, Millie, Patches, Rusty Lee, Tessie, and Piper Kitty.  Meow!

Soft Pink and Grey

Today I'm sharing a few of my Etsy favorites, including a lovely handmade ceramic dish by Azulado.

1940's dress by 86vintage86, baby girl blanket by Karmaistanbul, star shaped sugar cubes by WishingwellArt,   burgundy and white pottery bowl by Azulado, Chiaroscuro by Spalenka, vintage perfume bottle by Hallingtons, vintage History of Music book by MsJeanieOlogy,   starlight earrings by Shadow Jewels

Please take a moment to stop by Star of the East, and enter the amazing raffle to benefit Azulado. So many exciting prizes are available, and you will get a chance to help and make a difference.  What could be sweeter? You will find the details here: http://star-of-the-east.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-kindness-of-strangers.html

Some Seriously Rockin' Jewelry!

 I'm reminded today of how much I love Etsy. Not just because it's a great place to buy and sell handmade or vintage treasures, and not just because it's a way for the middle class to take back the economy and show some love for the planet. I love Etsy because of the unique people I meet there.

Jeannie is one half of the dynamic duo that is JeannieRichard, a husband and wife team that designs and creates hot, stylish jewelry. You can get to know them on their blog ,

Luxe beaded rings

 or stop by their "about" page.  I love this explanation of how they make things work out: "She loves tea, he loves coffee. She loves sea, he loves mountains. She keeps curtains open, he keeps them closed. She loves him, and he loves her. Together they combine."  You immediately get a glimpse of their fashion sense and enthusiasm, but what you don't see is how awesome Jeannie really is. 

I met Jeannie on Etsy. And she's so cool! Kind, compassionate, strong, and truly able to keep a positive attitude no matter how tough the day is. We live on opposite sides of the planet, but I feel like she's the neighbor next door that I have my coffee with. No matter that when I'm getting up in the morning, she's getting ready for bed. She picks me up when I'm down.

Brass Infinity Bracelet

I'm loving the new infinity bracelets in the shop. Aren't these cool?

Color Block Earrings


 Jeannie and Richard make the kind of jewelry I wouldn't dream of attempting. It takes so much skill and patience. Just look at the beadwork on this bracelet and earrings.

Blue Stardust Bracelet

Raspberry bracelet

Here's another new one, the colors are so delicious and vibrant.

Beaded Chain bracelet

Imagine the skill needed to create this piece of gorgeousness? Be still my heart!

So do yourself a favor and stop by JeannieRichard's stunning shop! Right now they are having a 30% off sale. That's right, I said thirty percent! That's huge people!  Just enter coupon code EOS30 at checkout; sale lasts through the end of August. Go on, get over there! 
 Take me to JeannieRichard

Vintage Rhinestones: Peach Tea and Watermelon

The dog days of summer. Yes, they are here. It's 100* in my back yard right now.  Too hot to do much of anything. Certainly no cooking.  I've just been hiding here in the air conditioning, spending way too much time on pinterest, and making some jewelry inspired by the awesome pins I found.

Beads and rhinestones that remind me of food seems to be a recurring theme. It must be subliminal, no?
With these juicy pictures, how could one not be inspired to create something beautiful.

Sangria

Peach tea bracelet

Peach Tea

Rosaline necklace

Melon Balls

Watermelon is so tasty right now.  I have to try some of these frosty watermelon drinks. Don't they look good?

Frosty

Fresh fruit

Rose Lime punch

Punch

Slushy

Sorbet

Watermelon Punch! 

Stay cool and stay fruity my friends!

Etsy Stalker Giveaway

Oh, SWOON!  Sorry to say it, but....

The Big Dill

Yep, it's kind of a big deal to me.  I've been featured on Etsy Stalker!   Which is only the most fabulous blog that showcases handmade Etsy stuff anywhere out there on the net! Needless to say, I'm just thrilled.

So run on over there and enter the giveaway! You could win my sweet honeybee necklace!

Honeybee

A very Distracting Cat

Lately I've been finding it difficult to make any jewelry.  Not from lack of inspiration, but from a boatload of distractions.  My pack of rescue kittens take up a lot of my time and attention, naturally.  But one of them in particular has been making it hard for me to create new pieces.

This is Patches. She is very sweet and loving, and likes to sleep snuggled up next to me on the blanket.  She loves yoga time also, and thoughtfully adds to the difficulty of exercises by sitting on my stomach. 

*sigh*

She loves to play tent and blanket monster, and she loves to chase her tennis ball outside in the yard.  Such a happy little cat, and oh so curious!

Patches wants to "help" with any projects you are working on. She's particularly fascinated by the sound of jewelry making. The tinkle and clink of glass beads and metal charms draws her to my beading desk.  She climbs up and sits in the middle of the project, and tries to steal the finished product.

So, I decided to make her some jewelry toys of her own, in the hope that she would leave mine alone. Some glass bead dangles and brass hearts, with a nice ribbon and a tempting paper tag, yes, this should keep her busy. 

She loves her new jewelry! The sound of it jingling will bring her running, even if she is playing outside.  She will chase it and bring it back to you.  Sometimes she carries it around like a baby, and makes a funny meow like she's talking to it.  None of  her pack mates are allowed to play with this treasure.

Success? I suppose... but she still comes over to inspect all of my jewelry projects.  Charm bracelets and dangly earrings are obviously met with approval. Only the best for our customers!

vitrail earrings

And that's the story of Patches, a very distracting, but very cute little calico cat.


This is where I party:
Frugal Friday  http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/

Gray Eyes

Gray Eyes

Bridal Lace Headpiece by WhichGoose

It was April when you came

The first time to me,

And my first look in your eyes

Was like my first look at the sea. 


Spring Sparrow by TammieBowdenPhoto



We have been together

Four Aprils now

Watching for the green

On the swaying willow bough;



Sillimanite Flowers 


Yet whenever I turn

To your gray eyes over me,

It is as though I looked

For the first time at the sea.



~Sara Teasdale, 1930


Camargue Horse by EyePoetryPhotography  

Spring Giveaway! Pink Floral Shabby Necklace

The giveaway is now closed.  And the winner is~

MarieAnge!  Congrats Marie, we will be contacting you for your address :-)

Spring has really sprung!  My garden is abloom and full of baby flower shoots.  The kittens frolic in the sunshine  nearly every day.  And the days are getting longer.... I am preoccupied with thoughts of  Mother's Day gifting.

So I thought, what a perfect time for a giveaway.  Here we go! I'm sure your Mom would love this. Enter to win this charming shabby chic necklace.  The pendant is a vintage Japanese Cherry Brand floral glass cab, with the cutest little lampwork glass dangle.

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY

Giveaway ends April 21, at noon pacific time. 

The winner will be chosen by random.org  and will be announced immediately and contacted via email.
If the winner cannot be contacted within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen by random.org.

Open worldwide, shipping inclusive. 

Necklace valued at $24.

RULES

(note: leave a separate comment for each entry to increase your chances!)

To stand a chance to win, you must:
1. Be a follower of our blog

AND do any of the following:
1. Tweet about this giveaway  (leave your tweet link behind)
2. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and link back to our blog (leave your blog link behind)
3. Share this giveaway on your Facebook (leave your FB link behind)
4. Follow us on Facebook and leave a message on our wall 

5. Visit our Etsy shop and tell us which is your favorite item

That's it!  So good luck to everyone, and Happy Spring!

Giveaway time! Enter to win these free pastel earrings!

Hop on over to my friend Jeannie's blog and enter the giveaway for these spring pastel earrings!

Earring giveaway!

Enter the giveaway here:
http://jeannierichard.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/march-giveaway-3/


Thank you Jeannie for the lovely interview. It was fun chatting with you!

I love making jewelry in soft spring colors almost as much as I love springtime camping.

Yucca Flat, Sequoia National Forest

Tutorial: multi strand bracelet with earrings

Today I'm making a multi strand bracelet, with matching earrings.

It's not hard to do, and there are so many possible combinations you  can put together.  All you need are two different kinds of beads that go well together, one larger and one smaller; and some chain.  Ready? Let's get started.

First, let's prepare our work space.  I'm going to share my most secret jewelry making tip. Take an old pillowcase, or piece of fabric.  Something in a light color, not a busy print.  Using your tape measure and an ink pen, mark your starting point, and then mark the pillowcase at 7, 7-1/2, and 8 inches.  These are the standard bracelet sizes.  Now you have a template to guide your bracelet length as you work, and the fabric will keep round beads from rolling away.  It also feels comfy, so if you spend a lot of time beading and resting your arm on the desk, this will help you out.

Difficulty level:  easy to medium

Tools and Supplies:

*round nose pliers
*flat or chain nose pliers
*jump ring tool (looks like a ring)
*shears or wire cutters


*several larger beads
*lots of smaller beads
*chain
*3mm, 4mm, and 5mm jump rings
*eye pins and  head pins
*lobster clasp
*7mm jump ring for clasp
*ear wires
*daisy spacers

I'm using some 8mm Czech glass cathedral beads, and 3mm vintage amethyst glass beads; but you can choose any combination you like. 


A. Starting with your larger beads, place your beads on eye pins, and link together with the 4mm jump rings to make a rosary style chain. 
If you don't know how to make a beaded chain, check out the easy steps in my necklace tutorial.

B. Measure your beaded chain against your template.  Make sure you include the clasp in your measurement. Keep adding links until you get the desired length. An average bracelet is about 7-1/2 inches.  

Add a 4mm jump ring to each end of your large bead chain when it is done~ this will help it drape better when the bracelet is all put together.


C. Now let's make a rosary style chain with the smaller beads. I'm using 3mm jump rings on these small links. Keep adding links until it is about as long as your large bead chain. 

D. Now measure out a length of your chain that is about as long as your beaded chain. I'm going to use two strands of this vintage chain. It has links that you can open and close with your pliers and jump ring tool. If your chain has soldered links, cut it with the shears. 

E.  Attach both ends of the chain together with a 4mm jump ring. Repeat on the other side. 

F. Now comes the tricky part, assembling all of the strands.  Open a 5mm jump ring and place each of your strands on it.  Repeat on the other end. You may have to add small jump rings to the end of your strands to get them to drape right.  

G.  Now attach the lobster clasp to one end of the bracelet with a 3 or 4mm jump ring. Attach the 7mm jump ring to the other end.

H. Now let's make the matching earrings.  Take one of your large beads and place it on a head pin.  Then add a 3 or 4mm daisy spacer.  Then add one of your smaller beads.  

Now cut the pin with your shears or wire cutters, leaving about 1/4 inch at the top. 

Using the round nose pliers, shape your pin into a loop.  Use the flat nose pliers to close and straighten the loop. 

And add your dangles to the ear wires. Most ear wires have a loop that can be opened with the jump ring tool.  Easy peasy!

I would love to see what you make with this tutorial, so leave me a comment if you try it.  Happy beading!




This is where I party!