Showing posts with label Pearls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pearls. Show all posts

Pearls Reminder,...

I just wanted to send out a reminder that the Pearls! Pearls!! Pearls!!! Blog Hop Sign Ups are Going on this week.
 
 

 
 
The deadline to sign up is Sunday, August 25th and the blog hop will be on Sunday, September 15th.
 
Click here to go to the original blog post for more info
and to sign up. 

Thanks to everyone who's already signed up!!
 
It's gonna be a fun hop!
 
Miss Layla in MiShel Designs Pearls!
 
 
Why yes, Little Miss Layla is totally rockin' some gorgeous pearls!
 
Thank you for noticing.
 
 
 


 
But then,
 
she's been rockin' pearls
since she was just a baby!!
 
 
 
 
I've had some people ask questions regarding how to integrate pearls into their jewelry designs and what to do if you'd like to LOS your pearl and metal/wirework piece but don't want to harm your pearls and things of this nature.
 
 
Freya Pendant - Blackened Silver with Pearls and Turquoise
 
 
I'll be doing a blog post early next week that addresses some of these issues so that you'll have it for some guidance and I'm hoping it will help spark your interest in using pearls in many different ways.
 
 
Peace Bracelet - Pearls and crystals hand knotted on waxed linen
 
 
Because remember, even though the pieces I will create will be jewelry related ('cause that's what I do!), you're not limited to just creating jewelry with your pearls - you can crochet mittens decked out in pearls or knit a lovely scarf with pearl dangles (gosh, I wish I could do either of these!!) or you can create some cool wine charms with pearl dangles, be-deck your wine glass or your sunglasses even - you name it! 
 
 
 
Nicholas Kirkwood's Pearl Laced Satin Pumps - via Pinterest - are totally awesome!
 
 
 
Just get your pearls out and have some fun!
 
 
In the meantime, hop on over to my
for bits and pieces of inspiration to get you in the
"Pearl Designing" Mood, okay?!
 
Until Next Time,
 
Peace, Love and Pearls, Baby!!
 
Cheers,
~Shel~

Countin' Down

It's summer. The kiddo's are out of school (or almost out) and you're daily routine has been changed up a bit. 
 
Still busy, just different, right? Yep,...me, too!
 
I'm trying to get all sorts of stuff done, but I keep turning in circles because I'm not sure which 'stuff' to do first. Then, I just loose momentum. Not to mention focus and inspiration.
 
And, from what I'm reading on many other blogs,...it's happening to a lot of other folks, too!
 
I've been meaning to get pics of some designs I have had sitting over on my table for a few weeks (possibly months) and there's a bunch of components I've been meaning to actually create jewelry with. And then of course there's the tutorials and videos that are half-done, half-started or let's just call them 'still in the works' shall we?
 
I snapped a couple of pics this weekend of things I've been 'sitting on' for months. 
 
 
Vintaj blanks I altered - such cute birdies!




More Vintaj Blanks - so much fun to play with!!
 
 

 
And then there's these yummy goodies from
 
 
 

 
 
Do you ever just sit on stuff for what seems like forever before you turn them into something?  Maybe it's just me.
 
Anyway,...I did finish up a couple of fun little bracelets and was able to snap a pic of a necklace I created a while back.
 
 
Faceted Czech Glass Bead Macrame Bracelet
Beads: Beads Galore, Tempe, AZ
Cord: Waxed linen cord in 'Vino' from
The Knotty Do It All.
 
 
 
"Rugged" - Turquoise, Pearls and Jasper Knotted Bracelet

C-Lon Beading Cord: Online at Beadshop.com
Freshwater Cultured Pearls: Ayala's Originals - Evanston, Illinois
Turquoise:  Turquoise Jewelry MFG INC - G&LW Show - Tucson
Snakeskin Jasper: Might be Dakota Stones, but I spaced out writing it down
after purchasing it at the Tucson Gem/Bead Shows in Feb!  (Duh!)
 
 
They're all quite simple in design - showcasing the beads/stones.
 
Hand Knotted Mixed Pearl Necklace
Freshwater cultured pearls: Ayala's Originals and Majestic Pearl, Co.
C-Lon Micro Cord: online at Beashop.com
 
 
I'm heading up to my sister's cabin this weekend for a little 'girlfriends retreat'. I'm excited because it's going to be much cooler up in the mountains and I love hanging out with my sister and my girlfriends.
 
We've got some yummy meals planned as we take turns cooking something special each night for dinner. There's going to be a bit of jewelry 'teaching' going on (yeah!!), some art classes as my sister teaches us about abstract art (I think this is gonna be really fun!) and then she's even going to do a Zumba class or two on the front porch a couple mornings. How fun is that?!
 

Paradise in the White Mountains of Arizona
 
We'll be able to go hiking and enjoy the wonderful mountain air and we'll be watching great movies in our jammies, reading, lounging around, listening to awesome music, sippin' some cocktails and napping! 
 
Oh,...I am sooo ready for a wonderful weekend!
 
My creative juices seem to be all over the map lately, hence the 'stuck in my own tracks' syndrome, so I think it will be good to get away and soak up some 'nature'.
 
Happy Hour on the Deck of the Tree House - that's gonna be grand!
 
 
According to the Farmer's Almanac, Mercury isn't in Retrograde until June 26th, so I've got some time to get my act together before I'll need to to 'reflect' and 'go with the flow'.  :-)
 
Do you ever feel like you're turning in circles or you're stuck on what to do next?
 
What do you do to get past that little 'bump in the road'?
 
Until Next Time,
 
Peace, Love and Limbo!
 
Cheers,
~Shel~
 
 

Hang Ups

I finally got some jewelry pics taken and sized and was able to put a few new things up over in my
Etsy Store yesterday.
 
 
 
I swear, it's like pulling teeth to get me to do this.  I do love to take the pictures, edit them and all that good stuff, so I'm not sure what my hang up is as far as putting up new listings.
 
Sometimes it's because the new things I have are possibly for a boutique, or they're going to a client, or lately it's because I've sent pics in to a bead magazine and am waiting to hear back.
 
 
 
But more so than not, it's usually just because I either haven't gotten anything new to list, or the pics aren't taken and edited yet.
 
What do you get 'hung up' on with your art and your business?
 
Hop on over to my Etsy store to see the rest!
 
 
 
 
Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Listings!
Cheers,
~Shel~

Weekend Wear!

What are you wearing this weekend?
 
 
 
Me?  Like you have to ask!! :-)
 
 
 
 
Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Pearls Baby!!
Cheers,
~Shel~

The End of Another Gem Show!

Marsha, Ginny and me at the Gem Mall
  
Well, it was a fun few days that I spent down in Tucson at the Gem, Mineral and Bead Shows last week.
 
Janet - Not sure where,...possibly the Doubletree Hotel - TBTB Show
 
I have some pics my sister took of all of us at the gem show.  Most of mine came out kinda blurry for some reason.
 
Marsha, Ginny and Janet at the Gem Mall
 
 
Marsha - again, not sure where - possibly the TBTB Show
at the Doubletree Hotel
 
 
Marsha, Janet and I stayed with Ginny and Dan during the week (thanks Dan for the wonderful scrambled eggs and bacon on Thursday morning - they were  yummy!!)
 
 
Ginny at the Sketchers Store - she's already laid down
a few boxes,....she had so many you couldn't even see her!!
  
We won't mention the trip to the Sketcher's Store
or Ginny's obsession with Pink Shoes!
 
 
Janet picks out some goodies at the To Bead True Blue
Show at the Doubletree Hotel
 
While Marsha and Janet headed up to Sedona after a couple of days of "Gem Shopping", I headed over to Nina and Steve's on the North West side of town for a few days until my boys arrived for the weekend. 
 
Nina, Garrett, me and Logan
Notice the bunny ears and someone grabbing someone else's ear??
Yep - that's how we all roll, baby!!
  
Nina and I had fun goofing around with our boys.
Gosh they're getting so tall! 

But we forgot to get pictures of us and our Hubby's!

Yes, that guy belongs to me!!

Well, almost!

 
Woke up to snow on the Catalina Mountains on Saturday Morning
 
 
Saturday morning, we woke up to snow on the Catalina Mountains and Saturday evening we were treated to a gorgeous sunset! 
 
 
The Sunset reflecting on the Catalina's from Nina's backyard Saturday evening.
 
I never get tired of the beauty around Tucson!

Except for maybe these,...not real fond of running into these,...or scorpions either!
 
Nina ran into this on one of her walks. Glad I was not w/her when this happened.
He is rather pretty though, isn't he?!
  
Even though we've all had our flu shots, both my son and hubby came down with what seems like a flu/cold combo so Sunday we jetted home early so they could get some rest.

Oh, and here's a few pics of some of the goodies I picked up while I was in Tucson - can't forget those!
 
 
Charms and Pendants from Silver Sparrow Beads, Blingy Goddess Pendants and a
beautiful Jasper focal bead my sis got me from Silk Road Treasures.
   
 
A beautiful Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Focal Bead and a strand of really pretty
Turquoise nuggets from Mexico - Yummy Turquoise!!
 
 
 
Clay Beads - made to look old.  Cool and Fun!!
 
 
Unfortunately I only saw a couple of people I knew at the booths I stopped at - everyone else was on a break, or teaching a class or off eating somewhere.
 
 
Ayla,....one of my "Pearl Connections" I've had for several years!
And a fellow Illinois gal, too!
 
I didn't make it around to all the booths I wanted to either this year.  It was a rather hectic few days with not as much time at each location as I normally have - but it was still fun none-the-less. 
 
 
Steve with Pacific Silverworks
Have you seen his cool rings?!!
 
I mean, who wouldn't have fun strolling among pearls, beads, findings, gems and more pearls, right?
 
 
Beautiful, Beautiful Pearls!
These are some of the strands that came home with me!!
(happy dance!)
 
Until Next Time,
 
Peace, Love and Sadly,
The End of Another Gem Show!!

Cheers,
~Shel~

Window Shopping Anyone?

The fashion and shopping in Italy seemed to be just as big of an attraction as the ancient ruins and historic sights.
 
 
 
 
 

I tried to get some good shots of the window displays but it didn't really work out too well because the sun was shining so bright on the days these were shot (not to mention all the people in the plazas), so you'll have to trust me when I tell you that they were all amazing!
 
 
 

I'd love to tell you the names of some of the shops but we were running through the squares and I was snapping away with my camera as fast as I could and wasn't always able to step back enough to get the shop/brand name in most of the photos with out bumping into people or before I had to run off to catch up to Marsha and Roberta.

(They were often seen turning around asking, "Where's Shelly?!")






I noticed that although there were pops of vivid colors and wonderful textures every where,
 
 
 
And this dear friends, is how to wear a necklace with a scarf!
Their wrists are bare,...they need bracelets and bangles!!
 
 
 the displays showing clean lines and simple silhouettes highlighting black, white, cream/beige and gray for Autumn were very prominent.
 


Yes, you know gray is one of my favs! 
 



Bold Black and White
(and here I thought Cobalt Blue was the new black this season!)

 
 
The Versace window was so cool - wish I could have gotten a good shot!


And then, there were these boots!  Yep, I'm in love. Simply and utterly in LOVE!  Wild, aren't they?! I was so distracted at getting a photo of them with out some one's hand touching them, I have no idea what brand they are. (I know, I should get a fashion-ticket for that!!)




Another shopping detail was how the window displays had this electric vibe to them.
 
They seemed to come alive and evoke feelings and emotions of actually wearing the clothes and 'being' in the scenario pictured. 


Can't you just see these girls waiting for the metro, off to have a fabulous weekend?
 

Oh, and the creativity of the displays
(most of which I couldn't capture because of extreme window-glare!)
were a visual delight!
 


Shoe Trees!  Quite the forest if you ask me!

 
 
 
Works of art in themselves, I tell you!
 
 

How fun is this?!  And the music playing was great, too!


My excitement was obvious by the little squeals of joy at each window! I'm sure people were probably thinking I was some sort of nut job! At least I wasn't the only one snapping pics of the window displays and merchandise. I guess they're quite used to this by now.











Of course I did have to get some of the 'names' on camera - I mean, there's some things I just don't see every day on my way to work.
 
And, the architecture that houses these wonderful names is equally impressive, if not more, and the blend of the old and ancient with new and modern was a big time rush for me!
 
Textures mixed with smooth, clean lines and soft curves nestled among bold, sharp angles - oh my!




I know I'm kind of a freak (dork!) when it comes to drooling over the fashion scene, but really, it's one of those things that make me tick; that tickles my fancy and makes me smile inside and feel all wonderful and excited with life.

Here's a couple of pieces of jewelry that I designed to go with those gorgeous boots above and those wonderful, soft, cream and beige cashmere pieces in the windows of Rome!

Silver and white with some gray tones mixed in.
 
 

Bold Black and White
 

These pieces will go nicely with the 4 Italian leather handbags I purchased too. Now I just need to find an awesome pair of black riding boots,...like these that my sister smartly talked me out of.
 
 
 
 
See the ones right there in the middle?  Uh-uh,...I know.
Sigh,.......
 
I haven't quite figured out how to wear two pair of shoes at the same time yet and so that little detail, (coupled with the fact that I had absolutely no more room in my suite case for them) meant they were left behind in Rome. I heard them sigh a bit as I walked away! 

I may have to order them online,....

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Window Shopping!!
Cheers,
~Shel~