Finding Treasures

I love going away for a few days, it recharges me, and gives me an appreciation for the uniqueness of where I am visiting and re kindles the love affair of where I live. I love to go, but I am always very happy to come home :)

This past weekend, my husband and I went for a little trip to visit family. First stop was with my daughter and son in law. We puttered all around her cute little town, taking in the sites and stopping by little stores. Good food, fun stores, and better yet, great friends to share it all with.

Next stop my parents. It isn't much different there, with the exception that I grew up there. I know my way around. It is always fun to take my husband around and tell him stories of growing up in that area, and throwin in a bit of history.

Whether at my daughters or my parents, one of our favorite things to do is to hit up thrift stores and flea markets. Never know what you may find. I always have my eye out for that perfect trinket, antique necklace or just flat out good deal that I can't pass up to add to my home or to my inventory. This trip offered that :)

At the flea market, I found a little table with these awesome skull bracelets. She wanted $1 each....

*blink* *blink*

I will take them all thank you :) I couldn't pass it up. Let's break it down. Even online where I shop, I can find some good deals, but to find these little beauties for .11 each, I can't. Makes perfect sense.

Now there is this beauty. I have been looking for this for quite a while now. I could have bought it online, but what is the fun in that :) I wanted a quest, a quest for the amethyst chicken :) It is a candy dish, but I am going to use it as a butter dish. The colors go great in my kitchen. I remember my grandmother having one, but in 'amber' or what ever the brown color is. Is this considered carnival glass?

\

While walking thru the flea market, I nearly fell over when I saw this little treasure on a table. I quickly grabbed it up and held it over my head in victory, and proclaimed to all around me - I HAVE WON THE CHICKEN!!!! Made for a great moment, and made people laugh.

Next on my list - Jadeite coffee mugs.

What are your adventures?

Lazy Sunday On Lake Ontario

It was very hard to get moving this morning. Just wanted to stay by the lake.

I can't pass up the rocks in the lake. The lake is really active this morning, so it was hard to get a good picture of the rocky shore under my feet.


I have a bucket and am collecting some nice stones to take home with me. This will prolly be one of the last times we get to stay up here at the lake house. Mic is selling it :( I don't blame him. It is a lot of up keep and so far away from everything, way out here - it just isn't safe.

*tear*


Comet had to test out the waters :)



And yes that is me in my pajamas at noon ;)

More Vacation!

Yesterday was so relaxing. We sat around the table and told stories thru the day - some true, most not :)

I took advantage of some quiet time while the men folk were napping and busted out the contents of the Mondo Delux Busy Bag and made some jewelry.

It was overwhelming at first - everything is so hodgepodge - then I just took a breath, and reached in and grabbed a few things, and made myself work with them.

LOVED IT!

This is a multi layer necklace of fresh water pearl, dyed agate and swarovski crystals.



I have a few more of the angel wing pearls left, hopefully enuff for a bracelet and earrings.

Last nite we went to visit James brother. Jon took us to his friends farm and we rode her horses.

James on Pooh Bear the quarter horse, receiving his instruction. He was a sweet baby


Me out bouncing around on Eastman the Thoroughbred. He was hard headed and didn't want to do anything. We had a quiet Jesus come to meetin in the back 40 and he straightened right out - May have been I mentioned the Alpo plant........


We bounced around for an hour, walked em out, and put 'em to bed. Then off in our stinky sweaty clothes to dinner.

I kept smelling my hands - nothing smells better than horse sweat :)

Tonite - THE FAIR!!!!!!!

Vacation!!!!!

Vacation for us is going home to visit family. Illinois for my folks and New York for James'. Wouldn't trade these trips home for any island get away or mountain ron-day-vu.

This is the house I want to call home. Smack dab on the shore line of Lake Ontario. This is a view from the back deck.

This 'Lake' (seems like a small sea to me) takes my breath away. It is so vast. When there is a good breeze, which is 95% of the time out here, the lake actually breaks on the shore like the ocean. Amazing.

From the kitchen table you can sit by the back door and listen to the waves. My favorite spot in the house. We could and do sit here for hours over a beverage and laff and talk for hours. Could completely waste a day right here.

I brought my 'Mondo Delux' busy bag with me for this week, because I didn't know what to bring and panicked :)


I have four trays of seed beads, crystals, findings - already sorted, wire, beading wire, bracelet blanks (hammer at home, cuz I didnt' want to bring my anvil), tools, roll of chain, and a couple tupperware containers with random handfuls of beads. It is going to be fun:)


Today has started off wonderful, a walk with the dog, a wander with the camera, and a stroll down memory lane. Comet may have the right idea, lets take a nap and then see what the rest of the day brings :)
May as well - here it is 11:30 and I am still in my pajamas!!!!

It just keeps getting better!!!

Out running errands before work and stopped in AC Moore on a whim and found these!!




Great little metal bracelets on sale for a dollar!! I can ditch the initials and make some fun charm bracelets with them, or attach the bracelets and use them as a necklace, who knows!!
What I do know, is I am going back to grab a few more at that price!

Leavin for the Smokies for a few days of relaxing with my family. I can't wait! I left ya with a few things to read while I am away - See you on Friday!!!

July is here!

July is here and I need a vacation bad. I need the refueling kind of vacation, where I can unplug. Preferably a porch with a view of a mountain, with coffe in the morning, and wine in the evening . No t.v, mebbe a radio, a good book, and a deck of cards. I dont' want to visit, i don't want to site see, i want to unlax....

In my head on this vacation, I may go to town one nite for dinner. What would I wear? My mind immediatly thinks beads - what would i wear jewelry wise, and then my mind wanders over to beading, and then I start to pah-roose my favorite supply sites and I put this together.

I would use a 3 tier chain look of different styles of chains. I would use this one at 27"

Chain, Footage, Hammered Oval Cable (Silver Plated)



This one at 24"

Chain, Footage, Oval Curb, 8mm (Silver Plated)



This one at 21"

Chain, Footage, Curb, Link, 4.2mm (Silver Plated)



5 or so of these - I always use odd numbers




Oh and THESE!!

Bead, Glass, Tip-Drilled Teardrop, 9x6mm (Peridot Matte)



Then add these (oh LAWD I love these) randomly over the three tiers

Crystal Mix, Boardwalk Stroll, Limited Edition "Buyer's Choice" (Assorted)



Rings & Things became my 'vacation escape' this afternoon. I am gonna have to make an order I feel and make this dream come true :) Rings & Things is more than just a jewelry supply site. Their selection is incredible, and if you can't find your inspiration, try their project gallery, so many ideas. Right now they are having a contest, you should get in on it! From now till the end of July, they are having a contest for Product Review! It's easy, just go to www.rings-things.com and post a review of your favorite product. Don't have any Rings & Things products? Call their customer service and place an order, find out for yourself how great their products are! Ask for Bill. ;)

Tuesday quickie

Am working 9 - 6 this week and at first i thought it would be a joy. To get to work early, and then to be home with my husband and cook some supper and have some alone time.....

Not happening........


My sanity seems to come from that fact that i work an oppisite shift than my husband. I work 12 - 9. It is awesome. I typically get up around 5:30/6 and start my day.

Cleaning, laundry, walking the dogs, make breakfast, make lunch, workin in the yard, running errands, working out, making jewelry, I have all morning to get done what I need to get done, including most times cooking supper and putting it up in the ice box for when James gets home.

Working 9 - 6 is a different matter. I get up at the same time, but I feel rushed. I only have 2 hours. My energy is all out of whack, and I am rushing round, here and there, and the dags are picking up on it, and they are out of control. I have cleaned up more after them in the last two days than I have in the last 4 months.

This morning I had a couple idea's rolling around in my head, and i really wanted to sit down and get some work done. Newd would have none of it. He was in the trash, in the cat box, barking at the cats, barking at the window, whining at the door, running up and down the stairs....this is not my dog. Between chasing him down, picking up shreded toilet paper, pulling shreded toilet paper out of his mouth, hiding the cat in the bed room, taking the dogs out for a ruff and tumble, I managed to do this.....

Ever wonder what else to do with jump rings? Why not let them be part of the focal of a design instead of the foundation.



These puppies took about 4 minutes to make, including the picture taking - these are a great last minute fashion accent.

Here is what I used



Rings & Things 37-136-7 Jump Ring, Medium, Copper
Rings & Things 46-702-11 Wire, Colourcraft, 22g,15yd,Copper
Art Beads BBA-EAR03 Antique Brass-Plated Plain Earwire
10 mm Malachite beads

Cut two pieces of copper wire, about 2" in lenght and crimp the ends to make head pins.




Slide on the malachite bead and 3 of the jump rings.


Make your wire wrapped loop down towards the bottom of your chain nosed pliers so that the loop is bigger than the jump rings - pesky physics......




Attach the ear wires, and use your coffee cup as a quick back drop - and Viola!!!!



I also played around with an old stick of ram from a thousand years ago, don't know whether to make it a pin or a necklace.


But this is a different story and another cup of coffee so...

I will say one good thing bout workin 9 - 6, I get to ride :)





Ain't nutthun like screamin down the interstate on a stolen Harley, in tie dyed overalls and mis matched chucks listening to Zeplins, Black dog - no sir, ain't nutthun like it :)