I'm An American!

My very close bloggy friend Lu of Crocheted Little Things (check out her $15 gift certificate giveaway going on) recently did something amazing...

She's an Italian-American who has been living in America (legally of course) for the last several years with her family, but wasn't classified a US citizen. 

The last few months, she's been working hard to try and get her citizenship and at the end of February, she finally got that coveted certificate; more importantly, she's now, officially, a United States citizen! 

I'm so proud of her that when I heard, I know there was something I needed to do.

You know what that means: Jewelry!

For those of you seasoned jewelry stampers out there, be kind! This was my first attempt at stamping; it's not the greatest but I'm still proud of the way it turned out ^.^

Congratulations Lu!

Flashback Monday(1/28)

Originally posted on May 22nd, 2009 entitled 'Drum Roll Please...The Bracelet!' 

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Ta da!

This is the final post in The Making of a Good Cause series and the unveiling of 'The Bracelet'! Okay, so it's not the best picture in the world, but unfortunately I couldn't come up with a creative way to display it >.<

Although I took more pictures!

Did you know an elephant with its trunk up in the air is a symbol for good luck? Well now you do! I forgot to add that into my bio for the bracelet itself, but that's alright.

This little beauty brought in $105.00 for the elephants!!!

Just for that, I am thrilled I got to be apart of everything =]

Thanks for following this story!

Saturday's Picks(1/26)--I Miss You

Unfortunately this Saturday's Picks is a bit of a downer, mostly because I haven't been able to see my boyfriend in nearly a month and I'm missing him like crazy! 

That being said, it still contains a lot of cute handcrafted products from talented artists and crafters around the Etsy universe ^.^

Enjoy! 

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I Miss You A S--t Ton Greeting Card from JulieAnnArt

$4.00

Miss You Bear Stamp from cathands

$12.00

I Think I'd Miss You Even If We Never Met Cuff Bracelet from MyBellaByLizLollar

$29.00

Miss You XOXO Large White Chocolate Letters from chocolatesays

$22.99

Woman's Sun Tee by Jolby

$12.00

Flashback Monday(1/21)

Originally posted on May 20th, 2009 entitled 'The Making of a Good Cause-Beadware IL' 

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Happy Wednesday everyone and here is the other installment of my The Making of a Good Cause series!

When making a bracelet, the beads are the soul of the piece, but the findings are the heart and body. So you couldn't have a beautiful piece of jewelry without the clasps, crimp beads, or jump rings as its structure.

Which brings me to introduce you to the wonderful company I bought my 13mm Bali Sterling Silver Double Strand Toggle Clasp(pictured to the right below) from, Beadware IL on Ebay! If your not familiar with their store name, you might know them by their Ebay username wooden_flower.

Some information on Beadware IL right from their website:

Beautiful beads from around the world - Swarovski crystals in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, Bali silver beads and findings, Czech glass, Venetian glass, Grade A fiber optic cats eye beads in 30 colors,

vintage lucite, and more!

Free US shipping on purchases of $50 or more

If you want to know more about the technical stuff such as shipping, returns, and whatever else you may question, check their FAQ page here.
When I went in search of the perfect clasp, I knew I had requirements; One, for it to be double stranded and two, it be sterling silver because I wanted this to be a high quality bracelet with nothing but the best materials. Then I wandered upon this toggle clasp and it was beautiful!

Looking through Beadware IL, I can see their description is right on the money! They have a wide variety of stunning

and very affordable beads and findings. I found what I paid for the sterling silver toggle clasp(after shipping) was extremly reasonable. I am very satisfied at how perfectly it went with my bracelet and how easy working with the company was.

With reasonable prices, fast shipping, and 100% positive feedback, you have another place to indulge your jewelry fetish! Lol

Tomorrow we will be featuring an Etsy seller(finally)! And this one is where I got my amazing elephang charm. Don't miss it!

Flashback Monday(1/14)

Originally posted on May 19th, 2009 entitled 'The Making of a Good Cause-24hourgems' 

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I thought I would start out with the beads that I chose for the auction bracelet. The first thing you should know about me is that I love symbolism. It means more to me if I buy something that has meaning to it over something that's just an object-Kind of like buying handmade or vintage as opposed to factory made. Handmade is just more personal and has more of a story then some mass produced cheapy piece of crap you buy from a chain store.

So of course I'm going to put symbolism into my bracelet! And because this is going to the Elephants, I figured I would look up the Elephant totem online and see what some of it's attributes were.

Here is what I found from Lins Domain:

An Elephant totem gives you

ancient wisdom and power to draw upon.

It embodies strength and power.
 

It's very important that I add those qualities to my bracelet because that's who I am. I want to make this bracelet personal and meaningful for the person who buys it.

I did some research and found all of those qualities in one beautiful stone: Lapis Lazuli. I found the perfect Lapis beads at 24hourbeads on Ebay!

A little about the company from their site:

We specialize in beads: Freshwater Pearl, Millefiori Glass, Lampwork Glass, Gemstones, Kyanite, Ruby, Pink Opal, Lava, Turquoise, Bracelet, Pearl Necklace, Biwa Pearl, Tourmaline and much more.
 

I have to say I am extremely satisfied with this company! The beads where beyond stunning(I am debating on making myself something from whats left over), the shipping was fast and easy, and very pleasant to work with in general.

If you take a look at their site, you can find anything in any price range. Speaking of prices, WOW. They are extremely reasonable even before shipping.

All in all, I am very satisfied on my purchase from 24hourbeads and I'm eyeballin a few other lovelies for my collection! Lol

Come back tomorrow for more on The Making of a Good Cause.

Flashback Monday(1/7)

Originally posted on May 16th, 2009 and titled 'The Making of a Good Cause' 

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This is a more detailed explanation of the Mailbox Monday post and my venture to help the Elephants!

First off, I wanted to say a big thank you to my friend Suzy who has humored me with all of her wonderful and adventurous stories on her trips to Africa and her love of all the animals she has encountered! I am truly honored to be apart of this experience!

I suppose it all started when Suzy emailed me with some of her stories. I love hearing all of them! In some later emails she told me about some of the organizations she works with and the fact that the Elephant organization she belongs to is having a banquet within the next few weeks. She told me of last year's banquet and what went on and I wanted to do something to help out the cause.

Thats when she told me of the auction and I had the idea to make something jewelry related that can be auctioned off. I was so excited, I immediately asked if I would be able to do that and when she said of course, I launched into finding the perfect pieces for the bracelet that was forming in my mind's eye.

Here is a little about EARS(Elephant of Africa Rescue Society) from their website Elephant Ears:

Elephants of Africa Rescue Society is dedicated to supporting projects aimed at securing a safe habitat for wild, African animals and dedicated to providing a sanctuary for their captive cousins with a special focus on elephants. We believe that by educating the public about the problems facing both captive and wild animals we can increase public awareness and support.

Elephants of Africa Rescue Society is a 501(c)(3) California non-profit organization. We have a board of directors consisting of seven people who have a love of African Elephants. Some with exotic animal experience, others with just the desire to help. We have pulled our resources together to form E.A.R.S.

This year's fundraiser was a western theme! I can't wait to see the pictures :D Anywho, the next few parts in this series are dedicated to the companies in which I bought my supplies and the making of the actual bracelet!

There will be a special suprise at the end of the series too...Shall I say in two words: Give Away.

Keep checking back for more on The Making of A Good Cause Series.

An Auction for Survivors-Meet Ms. Sandy Newtown

What happened on Friday, December 14th will ever be on our minds and in our hearts; the senseless slaughter of 20 innocent grade school boys and girls and 7 teachers, principles and other adults took the whole nation, and possibly the world, by complete shock, surprise and left us all feeling completely and utterly heartbroken.

Our hearts go out to those people that lost their lives to an obviously disturbed individual and to their families who were left to pick up the pieces, but that's not going to be an easy task for anybody involved.

As a nation, we all have to ban together and show our support to the community and it's inhabitants; they need to know we're behind them right now!

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Max of Krafty Max Originals is doing her part in supporting the community of Newtown and she made Ms. Sandy Newtown, a beautiful beadwoven bracelet comprised of cheerful blues, pinks, greens and yellows which come together to make a single, little girl in a pretty pink and yellow dress.

This bracelet shouts 'Hope,' especially with the single strategically placed pink heart on the middle of the little girl's shirt.

From 12/19/12 5:00am until 12/23/12, 5:00pm, this bracelet will be auctioned off to the highest bidder on Krafty Max's Facebook Fanpage. The minimum opening bid is starting off at $15.00 and from there, it's up to YOU!

The highest bidder will be required to send a Paypal payment to max@kraftymax.com as a gift, which means no fees will be taken out.

All proceeds of this bracelet auction will go to a survivors fund for the survivors and the community that has been hit incredibly hard by this horrible tragedy.

3rd Annual Challenge of Color: The Reveal

I know I've been completely MIA on this blog and I take full responsibility in the fact that I'm all over the map doing 9 million different things at once! Unfortunately when you take on more than you can handle, things suffer and this blog is one that has suffered o.O

Either way, I'm glad I was able to at least finish my Challenge of Color pieces before my health took a nosedive early this week. Three things about this challenge and my pieces:


1. I suck at structured colors. I had the worst time trying to match what I had in my stash to the colors from my palette. It's very appropriate this hop is called Challenge of Color! 

2. I wish I could have done WAY more than two pieces, but I'm trying to be happy with what I did get accomplished. A life lesson I'm still struggling to learn and accept on a daily basis: You can't be perfect!

3. I wasn't able to do the absolutely stunning color palette I received justice with all it's colors because I sadly didn't have all the colors that came with it in my stash. I had to pick out a few colors and work with those, but all in all I'm happy to have been able to stick to a few colors out of my palette even if it wasn't all of them.


Before we venture to my pieces, here is a little reminder of the color palette I received:

Sierra De Velasco

On to my pieces!

Firstly, I opted for a bracelet since they are my specialty...

Dream a Little Dream

For the bracelet, my inspiration came from the silver tone crescent moon focal piece and, of course, my color palette! As you can see, I went for a 'cool color' theme and pulled out the lime green, deep blue and plum purple to work with. All beads come from my stash whether they be purchased or upcycled.

The chain is one of the elements that is upcycled from a simple multi-chain necklace I took apart just for this project and is made to alternate sides of each larger bead in the bracelet.

The silver tone 'Dream' charm was a last minute addition because I felt the focal need a wee something else to make it perfect ^.^

Next in my Challenge of Color pieces is a pair of earrings, similar in color to the bracelet, but with more of a teal taken out of my palette rather than the dark blue.

Also, I chose to run with a gold tone base rather then silver.

To be quite honest, this pair of earrings was a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants creation; I had no idea what I envisioned when I picked up those large focal beads so I just ran with it and I think it turned out pretty darn good!

Used were smaller glass beads with little bits of upcycled gold tone chain in between to give it that 'full' look.

Just an FYI, I plan on selling both of my pieces in the near future, so if you're interested or know anyone who's name these two pieces are loudly shouting for a holiday present, leave me a comment or send me an email! :)

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Make sure to stop by our beautiful hostess's site, Erin of Treasures Found, and see what she created as well as the rest of the 80 other Challenge of Color participants! 

Erin Prais-Hintz
Brandi Hussey
  Rebecca Anderson

Kris Auderer  

Chrizette Bayman

Lori Bowring Michaud  

 Courtney Breul 

Lynsey Brooks
Stephanie Buss 

Iveth Caruso
Shannon Chomanczuk
Lisa Cone
Cece Cormier

Lori Dorrington
Dawn Doucette
Jeannie Dukic    (life threw her a curveball, spread some sunshine to her anyway!)
Kim Dworak
Beth Emery
Janice Everett
Pam Farren
Donetta Farrington
Gloria Ferrer

Cherrie Fick
Therese Frank
Patty Gasparino
Tanya Goodwin
Ambra Gostoli
Jess Green
Denielle Hagerman
Mary Harding
Karla Hartzog
Kim Hora
Emanda Johnson
Jennifer Justman
Sue Kennedy

Ema Kilroy
Lee Koopman
Linda Landig
Kirsi Luostarinen
Cynthia Machata
Alicia Marinache
Beth McCord
Mary K McGraw
Karen Mitchell
Cheri Mitchell-Reed
Aimee Moisa
Karla Morgan
Penny Neville
Becky Pancake
Kashmira Patel
Alice Peterson
Kayla Potega
Debbie Price
Bobbie Rafferty
Caron Reid
Nicole Rennell
Cynthia Riggs
Andrea Ross
Sally Russick
Annie Scherz
Pam Sears
Renetha Stanziano
Sandra Stein
Kristen Stevens  (her Muse is on vacation - hop over and give her Muse a nudge ;-)
Tracy Stillman   (hard to bead with a wrist injury, send healing thoughts)
Sherri Stokey
Lola Survillo
Kay Thomerson
Jo Tinley
Emma Todd
Cory Tompkins
Pam Traub 
Melissa Trudinger
Michelle Tucker
Shelley Graham Turner
Monique Urquhart
Rachel Van-Walsh 
Patti Vanderbloemen
Lesley Watt
Lynn White 
Joan Williams

A Painting & A Custom Bracelet

I've been blogging since 2009 and when I began blogging, I started following several different people, some of which have been become some great friends over the years and to whom I still loyally follow to this day!

One of which is my friend Jennifer of Eighty MPH Mom.

Recently, Jennifer picked up painting as a hobby and if you've seen some of the pictures she's done, you wouldn't believe me when I say she JUST started. Her paintings look more like a seasoned artists' than someone who just started!

One of which, I absolutely fell head-over-heels in love with...

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I just had to have it and a deal was struck! We came to an agreement we'd do an even trade; her painting for a custom piece of jewelry from me.

Boy was this a fun project!

Jennifer specifically asked for something that incorporated a butterfly in it and I immediately thought of the perfect piece that had her name written all over it.

I've had that cloisonne butterfly piece since I started making jewelry which was 7+ years ago! It was sitting all that time because it knew it was destined to be this bracelet ^.^

I sent some pictures of the bracelet when it was finished off to my lovely friend eagerly anticipating her opinion. Honestly, I'm always nervous when I do custom work; what if the client doesn't like the way it turned out?

In this case, I didn't have to worry. She LOVED it with a capital L :)

Now to wait until tomorrow to send it off!

Work It Wednesday(10/24)

Work It Wednesday is a meme for any type of artist and crafter regardless of what you do, where you're located, or what medium you work with...If you create with your hands and your heart, you're welcome to link up with your latest work(s)-in-progress! 

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This week, I'm showing you the start of either a bracelet OR a necklace; not sure which yet, but that particular detail will be chosen from the person I'm making this for. 

I like the color scheme I've laid out, but it might change depending on my vision as I work.

What are you working on this week?

Care to link up with me? 
 Grab the WIW button!

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Work It Wednesday(10/10)

Work It Wednesday is a meme for any type of artist and crafter regardless of what you do, where you're located, or what medium you work with...If you create with your hands and your heart, you're welcome to link up with your latest work(s)-in-progress! 

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This bracelet (yes, another bracelet) was inspired by the focal piece key hole I picked up at one of my favorite local antique malls.

I love how it's turning out, don't you!?

What are you working on this week?

Care to link up with me? 
 Grab the WIW button!

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Work It Wednesday(10/3)

Work It Wednesday is a meme for any type of artist and crafter regardless of what you do, where you're located, or what medium you work with...If you create with your hands and your heart, you're welcome to link up with your latest work(s)-in-progress! 

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This isn't necessarily a work in progress since I already completed it once, but it's still on my table to be altered! 

 

I'm so bad with guessing measurements that I unfortunately made the bracelet too small for my boyfriend's mom; she loved it regardless though ^.^ 

 

What are you working on this week?

Care to link up with me? 
 Grab the WIW button!

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Truly Humbled & Smilin' Ear to Ear

One of my good bloggy friends I've known for awhile, Cathy of Cathy Kennedy's Blog, humbled me and made me grin like a fool with a beautiful review of the custom bracelet she hired me to create for her, which, I must say was an absolute pleasure to do and such a fun experience! 

She's such a kind and wonderful friend to me and I'm so happy I got a chance to meet her ^.^

If you would be so kind, please head over to her website, check out the review, and possibly have a look around!

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Check it out HERE!

P.s. There's a 20% off coupon code good for use in both of my shops as an incentive ;)