Let's Play Indoors

With Summer taking longer to get here, it seems I have been spending more time indoors.  I look around at all I have to do; laundry, dishes, vacuum, etc and I begin to drift off to that magical place..... my jewelry supplies!

I have put together a few new things in the past couple of days.  It has helped that I have learned to say "Laundry, you will have to wait".  I have asserted myself to the towels; yippeee!!! 

Instead I have been mixing lotions, making necklaces and earrings and I have been just so happy.  Now when the sun comes back out to play, I will have to tend to the garden, and chickens and spend more time outside, but in the meantime.... let's play indoors!

Now, don't get me wrong.  I love to be outdoors, but there is just something about the days  you get to be inside.... your imagination wanders and sometimes it creates beautiful things.  And when the sun does peek its head out for just a few minutes then you get amazing photo's like this.  Then it runs away again, knowing you are trying to accomplish something.  Kind of reminds me of my kids!  :) But They would never do something like that, would they?

So with a little bit of effort, a lot of time and more material I know what to do with I have made bags, and hair barrettes.  I have made three bags and I rarely use them.  I love the colors, and the shape and simplicity of the design.  I have even learned how to put in a pocket with a zipper! Not that I am great but I am learning.

With all the fun things I have put together over the past week, I am starting to run out of place to put these fun things!  Does this mean I get to start wearing them and using them for my own?  The chickens already love my earrings, and they peck at them every time I go out and pick one up.  What would they do with some real bling??  They would get jealous, that's what they'd do!

Just us chickens..........wearing our bling

Treasures beneath the Sea

Have you ever wondered how glass is made?
Have you ever tried to figure out how they get the great color combination, or the deep hues of red or cobalt blue? Do you know how old the glass formula is?

In the old days, because beach glass has been around as long as we have had glass, it was said to be "Mermaid Tears". It was said that every time a sailor drowned at sea, the Mermaids would cry and the sea glass was their tears washing up on the shore.
Well, going into this adventure of finding "Sea Glass" or "Beach Glass" I turned up some very interesting facts. This exploration took me deep into the history of the travel of the glass itself. Within many books,(yes I said books) I found stories I had never begun to imagine, great places to find this glass and how to search for it. It just makes me want to head out and start looking!

With all this new found information, I decided to figure out why the red glass was so rare and how it was made. This recipe found on the East Carolina University's web site is very old and are not used today, this is more for educational and informational purposes only. This information is from "Book of Formulas
Recipes, Methods and Secret Processes"

Prepared by the Editorial Staff of Popular Science Monthly
copyright 1932:

Red Glass	parts
Sand	100
Red Lead	200
Copper oxide	6
Stannic Oxide	6

You may ask what Stannic Oxide is. Stannic oxide is also referred to as Tin oxide or White tin oxide. This is a hazardous material to use. If inhaled it could cause respiratory problems that include benign pneumoconiosis, producing distinctive changes in the lungs with no apparent disability or complications. So with this information, the glass was rarely made. So finding a glimmering piece on the beach is like finding treasures beneath the sea.

With this color and many more, sea glass is aged and tumbled by the surf and time. Each piece is so individual that finding two identical pieces is impossible. Not to say that it might happen..... And I am not saying that the red is the only rare color. Everywhere Sea Glass is found, and it is found everywhere, its value is partially determined by its color. This is because only a few items were stored in red, blue, lavender, purple or pink glass containers. Likewise certain rare tints and shades of these popular colors are found.
For instance, very rare Cobalt Blue, the "sapphire" of the beach, came from such apothacary items as Milk of Magnesia, Vick's Vapo Rub, Noxema, Nivea, and Bromo Seltzer bottles, along with some prescription bottles and perfumes.
The extremely rare red pieces, or "rubies" of the beach, might come from perfume bottles, the tail lights on old automobiles, lantern and traffic light lenses, or even some types of old beer bottles, like the bottles made by Anchor Hocking.
Pinks, lavenders, purples, lime greens and other rare shades of came from things like perfume bottles.

Greens, browns, and aquas come from beer and soda bottles, and nearly every other source, like Clorox Bleach jugs, shampoos, etc.
The glass is commonly found in lakes and beaches alike, where there was a lot of boat travel. Some glass have been found with impressions still in the glass, and some are more than 100 years old.


So with all of this said, I want to introduce my newest piece in my Island Dreams Collection. This necklace takes you to a distant time or place, where mermaids swim freely amongst the coral and fish. The color of this glass is just stunning. It is a breathtaking red with cultured freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystal. The chain is sterling silver and is approximately 17 1/2" long. There is no other like it, this is truly a one of a kind treasure from the sea. Visit my store and view this item and others like it.

And just a sneak at the next piece I am working on.....

**Information obtained from East Carolina University, Glass Beach Jewelry and Museum and Wikipedia Other facts and information was gathered from books loaned by the Klamath County Library.

New Geo Bangle Bracelet

Today on ArtFire and Etsy, I have posted a new item. I had a lot of fun with this bracelet because it is not something I would normally make. But, I feel it important to step outside your safety boundaries to create and invent something different. That is what makes me, a custom jewelry designer.

So with creativity at hand, and a lot of beads in front of me I started off on this little adventure! I had to use these lampwork beads I had stashed from awhile ago because the squares intrigued me. I was not sure what to pair them with at first, but it seemed the only choice as I came across my gold chain stash. I thought of the age old saying "You can't fit a square peg into a round hole...." and thought Yes I can!

Without further ado, I started wrapping the square lampwork beads and gettting them prepared for thier journey into the unknown. But I just had to add a few more squares of something to make it sparkle. About a week ago I came across some Olivine Swarovski componets on the Fire Mountain Gems website and I just fell in love with them. Of course they mysteriously showed up on my doorstep two days later! The olivine color is such a great color. It reminds me of all these lush green Pine and Cedar trees that surround me. I just wish I could capture the sparkle of the crystals in the pictures. Then for the final piece I found a few random stardust beads without a home and gave them purpose.

Finally, a very simple and understated, but great bangle was born. This is the type of bracelet that can be worn with a sweater and a pair of jeans, or that little black dress for a night out on the town. There are not a lot of bangles hanging off it so it does not feel like you have 20 lbs attached to your wrist, thats next week! You should stop by and check out the "Spring Sale" and receive 20% everything in my shop!

I should also mention that I did get other pieces done this weekend as well, but have not posted them yet. It was a great weekend for getting some bracelets done. They are quick and easy so I can keep up with the kids and husband over the weekends! Not to mention nurse a sunburn.... Yes, I was working on my beads outside in that beautiful sunshine we had! :)

Come by and leave me your feedback, say hi, let me know what you think. And thanks for stopping in!