More Garden Confetti

Here are some more die-cuts in my paper shop.
It was fun to set the sheets to look like a wallpaper sample
to display where the rounds came from.

Stripes, flowers & dots...you just can't go wrong!

I would love to see what crafters do with these on note cards.

The Jazz in Spring

Last month I showed you the first jasmine flowers on the vine in my front yard. (Former post) It is a month later now and the 8 foot strip that runs along my fence from entry gate to front door is in full bloom...but it's really just getting started!

Look at all the flowers above...and all of the plump pink buds below just waiting to explode!

I just love knowing that when I water and mist them each day that I'm part of this amazing burst of life.

Believe me, I don't NEED to water daily. These guys have found a water source that keeps them alive year round without my help. I just like to give them the extra water since they are working so hard to put on this pretty show. Don't they look wonderful shining white through the dappled sunlight?


I sat in this yard this morning with my coffee and newspaper and enjoyed breathing in their heavy scent. Ahhhh, spring.

What do you enjoy most in YOUR garden?

Cupcakes & Flowers

Oh boy, another fun piece! I started designing this bracelet thinking colored crystals would beautifully match the lettered beads but their transparent quality came across as too delicate. So I pulled out these sweet little acrylic flowers and *poof*, the texture and colors were just right.


Isn't it fabulous having "c-u-p-c-a-k-e" spelled out? I just love it, especially with the sterling silver and acrylic cupcake charms that dangle at the sterling clasp. S-o-o...s-w-e-e-t-!


And for those of you who've been reading faithfully, here is an update on my neighbor's "peeping tom" Bird of Paradise flower. I got this shot with the morning sun causing the yellow and orange tones to burst into flame like brightness! (The "before" photos are THIS post).

Pretty like Wallpaper

I got my hands on this pretty cardstock paper that reminds me of pretty wallpaper. I've got them listed in my Etsy paper crafts shop so I stacked the designs so that they would look just like wallpaper in a photograph. It's a good alternate view of what can be done with the quarter sized rounds I punched from them. These will be great for scrapbooking, card making, journaling and who knows what else.



I like that the papers are slightly distressed to provide a more homey decorating result. It can either go the shabby chic route or a flea market or country style. Now I just have to photograph the four other sets that have the same palette but different patterns. If you'd like to see more details, click HERE. And celebrate that it is Friday!

Nothin'

Nothin'...I got nothin' to say, so enjoy some pretties.

A Leprechaun Birthday

Today is my husband's birthday. I doubt he is wearing green, but you never know. He works an early shift so going out to dinner can be kind of tough to coordinate in order to get him and my son, a night owl like me, to be hungry at the same time. So it was decided we would do something this weekend instead.

The good thing about my husband's birthday attitude is that he attempts to make every day such a good day that a special event like a birthday or anniversary has almost no meaning for him. He doesn't require specific dates on a calendar to decide if a day should be special or not. He looks at every day as special. Isn't that great?

Too bad he married such a romantic that DOES like those special days as reminders. Just goes to show you I could use a healthy attitude adjustment, but I don't think I'll ever reach his "par". I'll just enjoy the smiles I get from him every day and bask in that glow.

Happy Birthday, Honey...now, make a wish!



Get your green on everyone...oh, you aren't wearing green today??? Pinch!

Cupcake Confetti

Wow, did this bracelet ever turn out suh-weet! I was so focused on getting the slender "plate" disks correct for each cupcake color that I didn't realize how spectacular the bracelet was until all those little sprinkles came alive in the finished piece.


It was perfect that the bead artist included those little round spacers with the cupcakes. They were just the right touch to keep me from having to add other elements...this kept the focus on the cupcakes.

You can catch more photos and details on this beauty HERE.

Paradise

I love it when my neighbor's blooming Bird of Paradise flowers peek over my fence like they are checking things out on the other side.


The flower is standing strong, even in the rain today. Here's hoping you have a lovely weekend.

Eggs & Bunnies

Wow, wow, wow! I love these detailed lampwork glass eggs, don't you? Their tiny flowers match nicely with the rosettes on the bunnies...and oh those bunnies!


Periwinkle is my favorite color like that in the little round beads. It's a combo of blue & purple, so add in the pink beads and you are talking my language.


I discovered these awesome round pink crystals last year and really like the sparkle they add to this one of a kind bracelet. Come see more details in my SHOP.

It's been a while

I know...it's been a while. Just pulling tax return info together and performing household duties like buying groceries. Hang in there, I'll be back soon.

A wish granted

Oh boy, looky what I got! I met an entrepreneur on line that occasionally distributes small grants to artists that want to make a change in their creative life. She doesn't even want to know what one will use the grant for other than furthering their artistic journey.


Well, I was awarded one of those grants just when I decided to discover more about what I could accomplish in clay. So first I selected some tools, glaze & shapers and then chose clay in peacock, blush and teal from Sculpey's Studio line. I also got...


...a yummy box of color, in pastels.....



...and brights.

I'm going to try making some buttons and another style of rosette. So I'll meetcha back here with my experiments.

Muhuhuhahahah.....

Sweet Strawberries

Yum yum, I just added these sweet strawberry earrings in polymer clay to my shop. Aren't they wonderful?



It is so hard to believe these are not painted. The cane technique was employed by the polymer artist and that design runs all the way through a "cane" (roll) of clay and each time she slices it for me, she produces the design on BOTH sides of the bead. A-MAZ-ING. You can see more details HERE.

I wish I were there

Wish I was at my favorite restaurant today, Kincaid's in Burlingame, California. I love this counter to ceiling wall of bottles at the bar.

And the simple but comfy decor. The lamps are the only decorations other than a couple of large paintings. The view through the gigantic picture windows onto the nature area is all I need.


And I can watch the air traffic but not hear it landing at SFO (San Francisco International Airport).

And the food, oh the food. Sigh. For now, I'll just enjoy being at home, warm and dry, while it rains lightly outside and homemade spaghetti sauce sputters on the stovetop.

Where do you wish you could be right now?