simple Analogy

Traditional Giveaway!

Guess what!  Today is Giveaway Day!  I love this tradition.  For those of you who are stopping by for the first time, welcome!  I hope you come back often.  

These earrings will become your favorite, wear-every-single-day fare.  They are simple, yet sophisticated.  Pair them with jeans and a tee, or throw them on with your holiday party dress - perfect for either occasion.  Made using teal blue cracked glass chunks and antiqued brass Vintaj ear wires with a  2 1/4 inch dangle.  I made a pair for myself on Thanksgiving, and LOVE them!

To win these earrings, leave a comment on this post telling me about your favorite holiday tradition.  I'll use a random number generator on December 6th to pick a winner.  Make sure you visit Sew Mama Sew to see all the other great giveaways!

P.S.  For those of you who read my blog regularly, this post will be featured at the top of the page until December 6.  Any new posts will appear below this one.  Just so you know...

Mahalo Nui Loa

My friend and fellow Bible study teacher, Cindy, just came back from a trip to Hawaii.  She brought me back some awesome little gifts. 

Hershey's Kisses with Macadamia nuts.  These are right up there with the coconut ones that Meg gave me for Easter.  I put the bag on my dresser and yesterday found myself grabbing one each time I went by.  I thought I was being good for only eating one at a time, but at the end of the day when I saw the accumulated pile of foil wrappers in my trash can, I knew I had overdone it.  "Just one more!"  Oh, the guilt!

She also brought me a pearl that she herself found and had drilled!  So cool!!!  Eggplant in color and of the black pearl family, this pearl means "adventure and power". 

I don't put much stock in the supposed meanings of stones, but in this case it just might be true.  I've had an adventure eating those chocolates and I'm going to need will power to put myself on chocolate rationing (which means I'll be sharing with Joel and the boys instead of hoarding them for myself). 

So, to translate the title of this post, "Thank you very much!"

Woo Hoo!!!

OK, just politely tap me on the shoulder and tell me if I wear this bracelet too much!

Silpada Inspired

The ones I saw in the Silpada  catalog were sterling silver.  You know me with Vintaj!

Mother's Day in September

Girls night was a blast!  We ate, beaded, and laughed all night.  Thanks, Michelle!  I finally used my Mother's Day gift certificate at the bead shop.  Can you believe I've had one this whole time and not used it?  Anyway, I've been wanting to make some purple jewelry for the longest time and finally found some beads I liked.  So craft night was dedicated to purple jewelry for me! 

This set is purple and/or blue depending on the light.  I started out with lots of purple pearls hanging on the necklace, but it wasn't what I was going for.  I took them all off and went with a simple drop.  Sometimes simple is better.  I love it!!!!! 

Yep, totally loving the purples.  Just had to make a new banner with it!

Girls Night Out

'Nough said!  Have a great weekend - I know I will!

Devotion

Devotion - loyalty and deep affection

Something about pearls and Vintaj... they go together so well.  Maybe it's that they both have a natural appeal or perhaps it's their old fashioned modern charm.  I don't know, but I am loving putting these two together.  You can expect more with this pair in the near future.

When a Tomboy Asks for Girly Stuff

My sister was a tomboy.  One day my mom asked what she wanted to be when she grew up.  Tracy said something to the effect that she would like to be a Denver Bronco.  One of the cheerleaders?  Oh no!  She wanted to wear the shoulder pads like Steve Foley.  So when in about second or third grade she asked for perfume for her birthday, my mom about danced for joy.  She swooped us into the car and headed for Dillard's right then to fulfill that request before Tracy changed her mind.  When a tomboy asks for girly stuff you gotta jump on it! 

I called my sister-in-law the other day to get some ideas for what to get my soon to be 8 year old niece for her birthday.  In the past the recommendations were spy gear, a Harley Davidson jacket, nothing pink!!!  So I was astonished to hear that this year she wanted girl stuff.  Nothing in particular, just girl stuff.  She has her ears pierced, so I asked about heading that direction.  Yes, and dangly please!

I was sadly disappointed when I went to Claire's, which is where I used to get my little girl earrings.  Everything was so dumpy!  I mean half of the posts were bent, paint chipping off, and skulls everwhere.  I refuse to buy skulls!  Then I remembered - I make jewelry.  H-E-L-L-O!  What was I doing in here, when I could make something of much better quality and for just as much as it would cost me to buy some of this junk?

I made her a set of interchangeable sterling silver dangly earrings with her initials.  What 8 year old doesn't love their initials and love to have the power to choose the style of earrings for the day?  It's a win win!

Getting to Know You

My three nieces and I are getting to know each other again after several years of being apart.   We had a group birthday party for Mema (mmmhlp), Landon (13), and Abbie (6) on Thursday.  Of course I am all about handmade gifts for the girls.  Abbie is one of the easiest to come up with ideas for presents.  She is still little, and is all girl.

Her gift?  A Little Bird Blue necklace, which I am now selling in the shop.  I finally did an update!  Oh and also some IKEA finger puppets.  A hit, both of them.  She told me that she was going to wear the necklace every day and only take it off at night.  That sure makes this aunt feel really good!

Fresh Love

***The Vintaj necklace giveaway is still going on!  You must comment on the VINTAJ NECKLACE GIVEAWAY post to enter. ***

Have you seen FRESH over at Michael's?  My sister got me some for Christmas, but I hadn't seen the line for myself until Tuesday.  I finished up at the house early and took off to browse Michael's, which I hadn't done in a while.

I spent most of my time looking at these and these.  Look for some of them in a shop update coming soon!  Hopefully Monday!