Friday, March 23, 2012

Friday Finds....and Fun!

I had an early meeting this morning with a client interested in a few commission pieces. She has her grandmothers jewelry and wants a necklace made to welcome her soon to be sister-in-law into the family.
We also decided to make a bracelet and necklace for her. I can't wait to get started! Custom pieces are my favorite to create.. I love the sentimentality people hold to their family heirlooms. I guess that's because I am such a sentimentalist myself! (ok...that's my BIG word for the day!:-))

I will update you on these pieces, after my client receives them.

Since the last few days have been rainy and a bit gloomy here, and I was up and out early, I thought today would be a perfect day to check out the antique shops in my town. And boy did I score some wonderful stuff!

A great brass lucky horseshoe, black glass faceted beads, cut steel buttons....
Silver chain, rhinestone buckles, and those sweet little old brass turtle screw back earrings!
Also these wonderful vintage tins.....which I will be updating you about very soon.

Well that was my "Fun Friday Finds"......Have a great weekend everyone!
And remember...... "Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless."  -Bill Watterson

Monday, March 19, 2012

Spring!...and something new from Nostalgic Summer.

 Tomorrow is the first day of spring, and here in Minnesota it's summer. We are having unusually warm weather (80 degrees in March?).

Since it has been so warm we decided to spend the weekend at our cabin. We don't usually do this until mid April. The ice was still on the lake, just barely! We could hear it cracking and see huge pieces floating away...a very surreal site with 80 degree temperatures!
But it was beautiful!
And the girls loved checking out their favorite tree!
Lily trying to climb up after a chipmunk!
Audrey going inside for a better look.
We all had a great time and are so excited to start "lake season" early.

 ....And a little Nostalgic Summer catch up:
I have been very busy the last few week, and I have a few new surprises coming up. Stay tuned for more information on this.

 But I wanted to show you some new pieces I have been working on. I finally added earrings to Nostalgic Summers line and am so excited. I'm finding I love creating them!
These two are from the "Something Old, Something New" Bridal Line. I have some wonderful vintage pearls and crystals and would love to create some custom bridal pieces for you!
My favorite color combination, Ruby red faceted glass beads, White milk glass beads, and Navy blue glass drop beads. These vintage beads are wonderful!
Vintage brass finding combined with sky blue glass beads and a faceted quartz bead.

These are beautiful vintage crystal navette stones, with green glass stones.
These are all available in my Etsy shop along with several more earrings.


Happy SPRING everyone!


"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."  ~Charles Dickens



Thursday, March 1, 2012

Happy Birthday…. March!


A little birthstone history, fact, lore and legend.

If you were born in March your flower is the daffodil, and the weeping willow is your tree.

The word 'March' comes from the Roman 'Martius'. This was originally the first month of the Roman calendar and was named after Mars, the god of war. 



…And I think some of the best sayings are for the month of March:

'When March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb.'

'A dry March and a wet May
Fill barns and bays with corn and hay.'

'As it rains in March so it rains in June.'

'March winds and April showers
Bring forth May flowers.'



The Aquamarine is March’s modern birthstone. This gemstone was believed to protect sailors, as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. It is said that the serene color cools the temper allowing the wearer to remain calm and levelheaded. Wearing aquamarine brings love and affection.

 
The Aquamarine, was thought to cure heart, liver, and stomach diseases—all one had to do was drink the water in which the gem had been soaking.

The Aquamarine depicts courage, creativity, health, perception and hope. It is also associated with awareness and spiritual energy. 



The Bloodstone is March’s traditional birthstone.
The Bloodstone stands for health, passion, courage and strength. A variety of Quartz, the Bloodstone is thought to strengthen the immune system and to contain healing properties.
It is sometimes called the martyr's stone as legend tells that it was created when drops of Christ's blood stained some jasper at the foot of the cross.

Happy Birthday March…Enjoy Spring, and stop to smell the daffodils!

“Every year on your birthday, you get a chance to start new.”
-Sammy Hagar

Stay tuned, next month for Happy Birthday… April!

Blue Rhinestone Earrings....Now available on Etsy.