A Happy Birthday Music Monday

Today is a special Music Monday!

Today is Laci's birthday!

 My little girl turns 28 today, and even though she says No More Birthdays, that's NOT how it works!



Happy Birthday Lace! May you have many, many birthdays Sweetie!

Sunshine & Seashells

Before we get into necklaces, I want to show you what's going on in the pond we put in last year!
Remember when it looked like this?

and then this?

and then the volunteer ferns popped up between the rocks?

Well those ferns have grown so much! and my Louisiana Iris is blooming this year!

So Pretty!

I am having a battle with algae right now, but it should be clear in a few more days at the most. I Hope.
But, check out those ferns! How cool is that?!?! I am so happy with my pond! These pics are unedited. Check out the sunshine!

I also have some volunteer berries growing!

I have been pulling what looks like blackberry starts for several years. They just keep popping up in the north flower bed. Last year I decided to leave one and see what happened. This year I have berries, and several new starts.

See all of the little stick like starts around the poinsettia? I'm leaving them. I want to see just what they are going to do over the next few years, and if they get to be too much, then I will yank them. It would be awesome to make my own jam from these freebie berries though.

Thank you to the birds that pooped these seeds in my flower bed (and around it)!

Nature is wonderful!

Okay, how to segway into jewelry after that? Hmmmm.

Nature is wonderful in producing things we can create with!
Like this Heart Cockle Necklace!

I used all sterling components with this pretty shell :)

Right down to the heart shaped bail I attached to the back.

That pearl really is that dark purple! Very nice dye job on these!

I sure need to get a better close up of the bead cap on the pearl. It's a really pretty and delicate filigree.

I've been wanting to do a Periwinkle Shell necklace, too. It almost matches the earrings I made a little while ago.

They look so good with gunmetal.

The gunmetal brings out the blue gray in the shell! I used a dark metal blue peacock pearl and black diamond crystal for the drop.

I also added one to the back :D

The earrings have greige crystals.

 You can find the earrings here in my Etsy shop!

The necklaces will be listed soon!

Elegant seashell necklaces coming up next!

Now, about that pond.....

Have a great Friday!

Maple Leaf Shell Earrings

A pretty and elegant little shell, the maple leaf shell is from the Bursidae family. They are similar to the Tritons.

I don't usually work with bought shells, but I have to admit I don't mind as much as I used to. I do have to continually remind myself that seashells are a byproduct. Other cultures eat what is in the shells, like we eat oysters, clams, and mussels, and their shells are the byproduct. I can't imagine eating what comes from these.

I do prefer to work with my found shells, although it makes saying goodbye to the item much harder. I form an attachment to the shells when I find them, and that attachment gets stronger as I play with the shell and gaze upon it until it sells. Such is the life of a seashell jewelry maker. sigh

The maple leaf shell earrings have been fun! I have broken a few while drilling. That's always the scary part! If it can survive being drilled, it's all good. If I think it won't, I try the alternatives and forgo the drilling.

I always want my jewelry to be unique, and try to make each pair of earrings, and each necklace, or bracelet different than the last. These would easily be replicated for bridesmaids earrings though.

I have some shell necklaces coming up next! Some bought shells, and some found shells, too! For now, it's back to taking some retakes of these earrings. I am not 100% happy with them yet. These were the best 3 out of the last 30 I've taken.

These seashell earrings will be in my Etsy shop soon!

Pink and Girly Seashell Jewelry

I have had so much fun jumping from one thing to the next, and having several things in the works going at the same time. I can be working on a leather bracelet, and get an idea for something else and have to write it down or lay it out. It is not unusual for me to be awake at 3am making something! That's what instant coffee is for....when it's too early to make a pot ;D


Feminine, flirty, and fun for spring and summer, this pink button pearl and maple leaf shell necklace will be the darling of the day! Bring on the pink tutu's and lace umbrella's, this pretty in pink sparkly creation is for us girly girls!

These are some of the prettiest button pearls I've seen! This is dreamy.

and there are matching earrings!
Feminine. Girly. Fun!

I have more girly stuff to show you, and some more maple leaf shell earrings. My camera battery is charging, and I have another beaded necklace in the works.

I'll be back soon with more seashell jewelry for you!

What's your favorite girly color?

Bright and Colorful

How are ya'll doin'? Hope you had a great weekend!

I did some more playing around with leather, and shells....and Greek Mykonos beads. My son now wants one of these bracelets in green, teal, and yellow.

This olive shell is quite unique, and has a spot of blue on it that looks like ink.

These beads are so cool, and this bracelet has 28 beads on it. I'm lovin' the bright colors, and it's unlike anything I've ever done before.

I want to make more of these! This was fun, and it was cool to step out of my comfort zone once again. Sometimes you just have to take a walk on the wild side!

This bracelet fits an 8 to an 8.5 inch wrist. I tried it on my son to get the size. Chunky bracelets measure longer than your wrist size to accommodate the beads and such on it.

This is definitely one bright and colorful bracelet, and you can read the full description here, in my Etsy shop.

I have some new pretty and girly things coming up this week! I hope you stop by to visit and see them!

I'm lovin' your comments, and usually respond via email if you are a reply blogger. I'd love to answer all comments! Check your profile, and make sure your email is connected to it for a reply, please :D

Thanks for hanging out with me today, and always have a beachy day!

My Music Monday

A great Monday morning to you all!

I chose a heavy rock band who did a sweet mellow song that has been a favorite of mine since my kids were babies.

KISS has done some really great songs, and I just love them. This song has special meanings, feelings, and significance for me and hubby.

You see, back about 25 years ago when my hubby was doing hardwood floors, he put in some late, late hours. He would call me up, and sing this song....replacing BETH, with DEL....and replacing PLAYING with SANDING. You would think it would make me hate this song, but I love it even more.

Beth, by KISS:

Pearl Snobbery

I'm turning into a pearl snob...or I've TURNED into a pearl snob.

I just ordered some pearls, and I noticed I was only buying A+ and AAA pearls, with and without the + sign.

Oh Dear!

It was bound to happen.

Not only do I love the smooth blemish free pearls, but I'm really lovin' the funky shaped pearls, too. Those high dollar baroque pearls are drool worthy!

A while back (a LONG while back, like almost a year ago) I showed you some pearls I had bought.....

SO pretty!
and I said I would show you the rest....
and being the bad, forgetful blogger that I am.....I FORGOT!

These....

and these!

Pretty decent pearls! I've used just about all of them, except for the peacock color, and I have a few of the dark teal and silver left. I do have some of the light teal, and magenta button pearls from the top pic, but have been saving them for something special...I don't know what yet, but it will come to me.

I'm certainly not OUT of pearls. I could use another bead box just for pearls. I have all of my pearls, gemstones, and naturals in one big bead box.

I just need MORE pearls! Specifically white pearls, in various shapes and sizes.

This morning I ordered from a new supplier, and I hope their pearls are as pretty as their pictures.
We will see.

I have 19 pages of pearls in my "favorites" on Etsy!!!

NINETEEN PAGES!!!!

I wish I could buy them all.

Baaaad, Better, Best

A friend recently mentioned to me how good my pics are, and how nice my listings in my shop are.

I take this as a great compliment!

It wasn't always so, and I hate to admit what a horrible photographer I was. I'm sure I could still use some improvement, and I strive for perfection with every click.

Let's go back in time, to 2009, when I first began taking pics of my creations.

Oh boy!

Here goes...this is so embarrassing :P

The first seashell necklace I made, and it's still my favorite.

It's really plain, no bling at all, and not the nice pearls I buy now. I  still love this necklace.
But what utterly horrible pics!

Let's see some more of my fails!

UGH! This was just before Etsy by the way...

Let's move on!

And then there were props!

Oh yes, yes I did...on my mermaid. I LOVE this last piece...I called it Neptune's Bride... LOL! I sent it to a friend. This was beginning Etsy days, maybe about 9 months in. A few more months and I nearly gave up. I'm so glad I stuck with it, and started reading everything I could about how to improve my shop.

Oh Look! Here's me with blonde and purple hair! Yes, I did that, too! (more than once actually! I've had it 1 inch long, blonde with purple tips! What FUN!)

Okay back to the subject.

Vast improvement here!

and then the white backgrounds.

Not too bad.

And then I decided to try "natural" backgrounds.

That was a mistake!

Those were so bad I've deleted 98% of them!

It was because of the determination to have good pics that I kept trying different things.

And then I discovered scrapbook paper.

I've been doing this for about a year, and still have just a few I'd like to change in my shop.

I think this does make a world of difference, and I use an OTT light now.

So many crappy pictures, but what a valuable learning experience it has been.

I'm so glad I can look back, see the improvement, and laugh at myself!

Beach Wedding Bridesmaid Necklaces

Are you ready for another unveiling? I've really been on a designing kick lately!

I bring to you my Beach Wedding Bridesmaid Necklaces!

Something else I've had in mind for a loooooong time. I'm finally getting around to doing many of those things that have been sitting on the back burner of my mind.

The backside, or inside is pretty, too!

 

I think these would be awesome for a beach wedding!

I have enough of these Spiral Turitella shells to make several more in custom colors for the wedding party. Freshwater, or Swarovski Pearls come in a myriad of colors. Okay, maybe not a myriad, but very very many! I chose white for the first set cause it's so wedding-y.

These are on sterling silver chains, with sterling findings....only the bead caps are silver plated.

I have two more gorgeous necklaces laid out right now. I may have mentioned one of them yesterday???? I really can't remember! DOH! Do busy hands make a brain more vacant? Or maybe my brain is just too full right now? LOL!

Anyway....they would also be gorgeous for a wedding!
As well as this one~

This one actually looks so much better hanging!

So, more beach wedding necklaces coming up!

I can't wait to show you the piece de resistance!

But that my dear friends is another post!

What do ya think? Another winner? Maybe????