A Few Treats!

I've been a creating fool with these beaded wrap bracelets - let me tell you! I taught my sister-in-law to make these this summer while having a Buettner family reunion over the 4th of July - fun times for sure!

I love Tracy's videos over on Make Bracelets Blog!  Along with her tutorials and a few other videos on You Tube, I was able to take the different variations of this technique and create my own way of doing them.

I'm gearing up for the Annual Nutrioso BBQ - last weekend in July - and this year proceeds from my booth sales will go to help out the Nutrioso Fire Department and possibly to some families in the area who lost their homes due to the Wallow Fire (which is now 100% contained!) that burned so much of the beautiful area we spend our summers in!!

Here's a couple of pics of some of the beaded wrap bracelets I've been doing.  I'm also creating some 8 stranded beaded waxed linen bracelets, some leather and silver sliders, and some beaded macrame bracelets and necklaces, too (lots of fibers, cords, fabrics and such - much easier on my elbow than smacking metal around - gotta let things heal, I guess!).

I'm taking pics of a few of the other bracelets today and will have those up here on the blog early next week, so stay tuned!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Beady Bracelets!!
Cheers,
~Shel~

Summer Time Fun!

This is shaping up as a summer of many “Firsts” and a few “Done that Before” scenarios!

List of 1^st’s:

• Evacuated from a forest fire (Wallow Fire - Largest Wild Fire in Arizona’s History)
• Had our son, who’s a bit under-age, drive more than 15 miles on a state highway (due to being evacuated from the Wallow Fire)
• Drove a truck w/dogs in the cab (I’m more of a cat person!)
• Taught someone to macrame (after just being taught by my sister!)
• Tried deep-fried Twinkies (They sucked! The deep-fried peaches were better!)
• Filled Sandbags to help with flooding from the Wallow Fire in Eastern, AZ

• Bought penis shaped tequila bottles with my two of my sister-in-laws
• Slept in the RV all by myself
• Found an awesome stash of cool vintage beads and buttons in a really neato Antique Store in Kansas while in the middle of a massive down-pour!
• Met Nic, Logan’s “Twin Brother From Another Mother” who live in Germany
• Taught my sister-in-law to make beaded wrap bracelets
• Spent the 4^th of July in Kansas
• Missed the 4^th of July parade and fireworks in Nutrioso
• Took a lesson from my sister on how to tile/grout a shower

List of “Done that Before”:

• Drove through Oklahoma and Texas on the way to Kansas (and would prefer those two states be taken out of the drive all together – they’re the worst!!)
• Visited Mike’s sis and Bro-in-Law in Kansas and had a ball!!
• Hung out w/my sis eating popcorn while watching movies and past episodes of Glee
• Drove between the Hindman/Drachman cabins a million times!
• Had a glass of wine with Mary on the cabin porch
• Walked the path to the tree house a ton of times

• Slept in the RV with the hubby and son
• Packed way too much for all of my trips
• Beaded on the cabin porch
• Celebrated Logan’s birthday in the mountains
• Sat quietly on the cabin porch and enjoyed the birdies and the wind in the pines

Hope your summer is shaping up to be one of your best ever!

Drop me a line and tell me what some of your “First's” and “Done That’s” are this summer!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Interesting Summer Fun!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

June Pearls!

June's birthstone is the lovely and ever so fascinating PEARL!! 

My son was born in June and since pearls are my all time FAVORITE gemstone, I thought I'd show you a couple of pieces of awesome jewelry here - to entice you, of course!

The June Summer Sale over on my Etsy shop is going on now through June 22nd and you can save 15% on your total order.

Just enter JUNE15 upon check out to get some of these gorgeous pearl designs (and all other designs, too!!) for a spectacluar price!

And, here's a few Pearl Tid-Bits, too:

• June's Birthstone is the Pearl
• Pearls are one of only a handful of organic gemstones. (Organic gems come from things that were once living or were produced by a living organism and include not only pearls, but amber, coral, ivory, and jet.)
• Pearls were once believed to protect sailors from storms while at sea.
• Pearls are the most widely chosen gemstone for bridal necklaces.
• Diamonds might be a girls best friend, but pearls are a "cultured girls" best friend!!
• Metaphysically Pearls are believed to encourage open, heart to heart communication, to allow you to see the good within yourself and to protect the wearer from harm.

And, my favorite quote: (Author Unknown) "Pearls are the Gem of Queens and the Queen of Gems!"  (Gotta Love That One!)

So, as summer is now officially upon us (as of 10:31a.m. the news reported today), enjoy the Summer Season by hanging with family and friends, soaking up the sun and enjoying the outdoors and by happily celebrating the beauty of Pearls in your own, stylish way!


Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and "Pearls Baby"!!
Cheers,
~Shel~

  

Beautiful Land!

 

Many of you have sent messages because you have seen the little Animoto video I have here with my MiShel Designs models who were on location in Nutrioso and Alpine, AZ.

I appreciate your kind words and prayers for all those affected by the Wallow Fire here in Eastern, AZ and I wanted to let everyone know that, although we were evacuated while staying at my Brother-in-law and sister's cabin in the Nutrioso area, we are all fine.  Thank you for all the kind words and well wishes for everyone affected by this awful fire.

I will be putting some new designs up in my Etsy shop later this summer with proceeds going to help the people who have been mis-placed from their homes and I'll be sure to post this information here on my blog and on Facebook and Twitter as well once they're up.

Again, thanks for your emails and messages and please keep the people of Eastern Arizona and all those who have homes, land and family and friends in this area in your thoughts and prayers. Also, please hold close in your prayers all the fire fighters and those involved in fighting this fire and protecting everyone's homes as well - they are doing the very best and it hasn't been an easy fight!

It truly is one of the most amazing and beautiful places I've ever seen  in my life and although it is going to look very different for quite a while, I'm sure that somehow, someway, some time from now, it will again be the majestic and amazing place we've all come to love and cherish!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Beautiful Places filled with Hope and Happiness!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Banana Fiber is YUMMY!!

Okay - I'm totally hooked on ribbons and yarns from "Darn Good Yarn"! Especially their Banana Fiber Yarn!  It's so YUMMY and SOFT!

 

I created some bangles with this super cool yarn and wrapped it up with some .925 Sterling Silver Wire and sporadically added some Turquoise bead dangles for movement and fun!

Funky, fun, soft, and FLUFFY – these bangles are your ticket to WILD!

You can find these cool bangles hanging out in my Etsy Shop.

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Funky Fibers!!

Cheers,

~Shel~ 

P.S. Check out this cool "Peace Baby" necklace I also created with some super soft Banana Fiber Yarn.  This one was donated to a cancer benefit being held next month for a young woman who's standing up to Brain Cancer, but various ones will be up in my Etsy shop in June!

Yummy Pearls for Review!

When Szarka over at Magpie Gemstones allowed me to do a pearl review here on my blog - I was jumping for joy!  (You know me and my pearls, baby!!)


She sent this super yummy and delicious strand of freshwater cultured white stick pearls and once they arrived it was hard to stop drooling!
These beauties have a great luster and rose overtones (rainbow effect) and the nacre on them is very thick and clean. They're approximately 17 to 22 mm and their soft glow is superb!

I thought these would be the perfect pearls to hand knot with some Swarovski Crystals and a few other freshwater cultured pearls to create a necklace that could be worn with jeans and a "T" or dressed up for a night out on the town!


Here's what I created. What do you think?  This particular necklace is being donated to put in a silent auction for a caner benefit being held this summer.  I think someone's going to feel really good wearing these pearls.  First, knowing they've helped raise funds for a family in need and second, just because they're so darn beautful!!

Thanks Szarka and Magpie Gemstones for allowing me to do this pearl review - your gemstones ROCK!

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and "Pearls Baby"
Cheers,
~Shel~

FTC compliance disclosure: the Magpie Gemstones items mentioned in this post were provided free of charge for review/design purpose only.

MiShel Designs Keshi Pearl Dangle Earrings in the latest issue of BeadStyle Magazine!

Thank you BeadStyle Magazine for making my Keshi Pearl Dangle Earrings look so amazing!  (And for including them on the front cover - you ROCK!!)

Grab the July issue of BeadStyle Magazine which hits new stands on May 31st and you can see my Keshi Pearl Dangle Earrings on Page 80!

Also, I'm really lovin' the Pearl Necklace for the June Birthstone section on page 20 by DonnaMarie Bates - Gorgeous!!

I'm also fascinated with the "Tiny Treasures Eearrings" by Lori Mendenhall on page 34 - she makes me want to pour resin over some of my pearls!!

And, you gotta see the "Newfangled Bangle" project on page 44 by Sherri Haab - Simply YUMMY!! 

Okay - go check out BeadStyle magazine yourself for all the cool projects and designs they've got jam packed into the July issue! 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Happy Summer Beading!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

Something Old is NEW Again

Anyone who’s spent any time with me at all has probably heard me ramble on about my favorite hotel on the planet – the Hotel Queen Mary over in Long Beach, California.

You are immediately rushed back in a time bursting with history and culture as you walk on board with Fred Astaire and instrumental jazz music playing softly in the background. Beautiful, rich wood and chrome details are a delight to the eyes and the Art Deco paintings set your mind a whirl as the excitement of what it must have been like to sail on this amazing ship engulfs you! (I could go on gushing for days,…so I’ll just stop now, K?)

This pearl and gold tassel was in a bag of vintage goodies that my niece picked up at a yard sale in the mountains of Arizona. It always reminded me grand opulence (hence, the Queen Mary!) so when it came time for the new Artbeads Blogging Challenge, “Something Old is New Again”, I knew exactly what I wanted to create!

I worked and re-worked this piece a few different times, first with two different chains like what it was attached to when it was given to me. I added, subtracted, added, subtracted Swarovski pearls, crystals, bead caps, more chain,….urggghhhh,…nothing looked right and nothing felt like the sleek sophistication that was befitting the Queen Mary or the elegant women who graced those magical ballrooms and suites.

“Simple is Best” kept whispering in my ear, (just like the ghosts of the Queen Mary herself!) and I reconstructed everything once more, adding only a few pearls to the bottom of the tassel, keeping the chain that more closely resembled the 1940’s period and ditching the art-deco looking chain - although it would have been very fitting, it was way too "gold looking" and bright for this specific piece.

I alternated different sizes of Swarovski Pearls and gold plated bead caps and finished it off with a simple hook clasp; very befitting the time period. Earrings were created that would compliment, but not distract, from this elegant necklace and I finished them with my own handcrafted 14K gold filled earring wires. All was now perfect!

I imagine myself wearing this stunning and timeless set while sipping a cocktail on the aft deck of the Queen Mary; soft music playing in the background and the cool, ocean air dancing lightly on my skin as I sail, like royalty, across the ocean!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Something Old is Definitely New Again!

Cheers,

~Shel~

FTC compliance disclosure: the Artbeads.com items mentioned in this post were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

Color Blind!

Okay, so over at Lark Crafts they're asking about colors and I wanted to share my colorful stash of fabric colors with you and see what you think?

What's the dominant color here?  Blues?  Or is it really more pinks/fusia/purples in this mix?  It's hard to tell when they're all mixed together.


But boy do they look yummy and they're so fun to use and play with! 

And yesterday, another batch from Darn Good Yarn came in the mail - Woo Hoo - now there's even more colors in there!

Don't forget to tell me what color you think is the prominent one here and also tell me what's in your "Color Stash", too!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Color Me Happy! (with soft, yummy ribbons and yarns!!)

Cheers,

~Shel~

Inside the Studio

Okay - so I've been letting things go lately and haven't kept up my nice, neat, clean and very organized studio the way I used to.

I saw Lorelei's blog post last wednesday of her work bench along with Erin Siegel's pics she posted of her new studio space and how that's coming along and they both prompted me to "take inventory", if you will.

I completely understand what Lorelei wrote about feeling "discombobulated" when things get a bit out of control and spread out all over the place.  And, I'd love my studio space to resemble that of Erin's - it's gorgeous and so clean and neat - I love it!  (It's along the lines of what I aspire to have in the near future!)

With just  two bedrooms and a den (Mike's Man Cave!) I am 'sharing' some space now, so to speak, and nothing can "live" out in the open.  Everything (and I mean everything), has to be put away each time I'm done working for the day, or even 'pausing' for awhile as I do my daily duties of helping my husband run our family company.  (Otherwise I cannot reach my computer in order to work!)

Lately, I am feeling the need to 'spread out' and take over a room - a room that I don't have (yet!).  But, I wanted to share the views from "Inside My Studio" with you because I feel that if I "put it out there" then I'll be motivated to straighten it up again and organize things back to a more manageable level.

PLUS, although my space is limited and everything has to 'hide' right now, I'm super blessed to have an amazing view from my 'studio' window! (Which is super inspirational, by the way!)

I can hear the fountain running in our backyard, hear the birds singing, see the beautiful roses in our rose garden blooming, smell the lovely blooms of the grapefruit trees and see the lake, the palm trees, the green grasss - oh,...it's so wonderful! It definitely makes the 'space' issue completely fine! (for now!)

So, here's a glimpse around,....and heres wishing that everyone's "Dream Studio" comes true! 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Counting My Blessings!

Cheers,

~Shelly~