This or That Thursday!

It's This Or That Thursday over on Deb Duty's Blog. Her photography just amazes me. It's like you can reach out and touch everything that's in her photos - I love it!! 

So, not as good as Deb's,...or most other's over on her blog today, but these are the best I've been able to produce this week,...

Here's what's happening in my world today:

I love our roses and various flowers around out yard (they're in all my pics and I'm sure you're sick of them by now!).

Yes, this one is fake, but she changes colors once it gets dark and it's pretty cool!

Anyway,...I'm really loving our Grapefruit that are finally ready!

I'm making one of THESE yummy drinks with them and,....

I'm going to sit HERE and enjoy it while I take in the last of the Christmas Tree lights before they come down tomorrow.

The weather here's been in the high 70's to low 80's and so I'm getting together with my girl friends and we're grilling out some yummy steaks and having salad and great wine and loving the fact that we don't have to shovel snow in January!! 

We're going to enjoy each other's company and try to convince Rox to go with us to Italy this fall (even though she's already been there,...done that!) and hang out with us while we stay at a farm house in Tuscany, sip wine, eat fantastic food and hopefully perfect or photography skills enough to take some really cool pics (where's Misha's when you need her, huh?!).

So, what were you up to this week, huh? 

Please hop on over to Deb Duty's Blog for This or That Thursday - you will SOOOOO love it!!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Enjoying Beautiful Moments in Life!

Cheers,

~Shel~

BTW And Other Things,...

So, today for BTW (Bead Table Wednesday)

these were on my bench,

along with some other things.

Oh, what to do with these,...what to do,....

My thoughts included.



And these 'huge-ass' crystals that have been sitting in my drawer for almost a year screaming at me for attention are now on my bead table, too!

Not quite sure what I'm doing with these yet, either!

Barbie stopped in to sit a spell on my bench again, too!

She thinks if she stops by often enough I'll make her another necklace,...or a cool little leather belt like she's been asking for!

I've been busy setting my goals for 2012 this week and have been organizing, planning new directions, setting up a course of action and contemplating everything from

business plans and personal goals to fine tuning my

body, mind and soul! 

You name it, it's been buzzing around in my head!

Getting in touch with ME is a biggie this year.  You might see more of the 'real me' than you want to and in the comments box you may have to write "TMI, Shel,...TMI!"

But let's hope not! 

You're lucky I can't take a picture of the inside of my head or it would be here for you to see,... all that jumbled up do-da in my head on these pages.

Yep,...I'm pretty sure I'd loose a few followers on that one!

Anyhoo,.....

Vintaj brass blanks that I embossed.
(See the owl? Owl's are one of my totems and I usually don't use them in my designs or even show them - I just hoard them!)



Not sure what I'm doing with these Vintaj Brass Blanks I embossed. Should I create something with them or put them in my Jewelry Supplies shop for other people to create really cool things with them?

Any thoughts?

I'm trying to find the flip camera (I think it's in the RV that's out in storage a Ba-Zillion miles away!) to see if I can do those tutorial videos on the earring wires like people have asked for, so that's going a bit slow at the moment!

Photo from one on my bracelet tutorials from about 4 years ago or so!

I am participating in a pretty cool little endeavor this year - The Echo Creative Club over on Jeannie's Blog. 

Echo Creative Club - Jeannie's Blog

I'm only doing about 6 or 7 of the months because that's all I could commit to at this time, but I'm really looking forward to it and my first post will be this month on the 25th, so stop back by and see what's going on with that won't you?

So, what's cooking inside your head and studio this year?  Anything cool? How's your creative juices?  Are they flowing like crazy with the start of the New Year? 

I hope that 2012 has started off to be a great year for you and that it continues full spead ahead so all your hopes, dreams and aspirations come to fruition!!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Contemplation!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Video Tutorials

Here's a question for everyone: 

What media do you use for your video tutorials?

Do you just have a flip share camera video you download or a regular camera on a tripod,...your computer camera?

What forms of video and editing do you find the easiest for you or the best as far as quality and funtions? 

I'm a complete techno-idiot,

so the word EASY really interests me. 

But, being a bit of an anal perfectionist

(not always a good thing!),

I want to make sure the quality is good enough

for people to see clearly.

I'm asking because I've had people tell me they would like to see a video tutorial of a few of the earring wire styles

that I create and have for sale over on my

Shel's Jewelry Supplies Etsy site.

After you answer my questions about the types of video you use and download, what types of earring wire styles or other jewelry tutorials would you want to see?

I've seen so many really good jewelry videos but a couple of the one's that stand out for me are the ones by

B'Sue's Boutiques and the ones on Beaducation. 

I also like the ones that Szarka Carter 

with Magpie Gemstones does, too. 

All are completely different kinds of videos as far as the settings they are in and how they approach each subect - but they are all packed with excellent information, great techniques and loads of helpful hints and tips.

Click on the names above to go to a few of their videos and check them out - you'll be glad you did!

Have fun creating this week and be sure to give me some feedback - what you like, what you've tried, what you don't like, etc.

Any info or feedback at all is greatly appreciated!!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Learning New Things!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Happy New Year!

Wishing You A Healthy, Happy and Prosperous 2012!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Snowy Trips!

As always, click on images to make them bigger! :)

Getting ready to go hang out here for

New Year's Eve!

I hear there's way more snow than this right now, too!!

Good thing we've got the Subaru! 

( I swear, I need to do commercials for Subaru!)

I hope you're warm, safe and having a great time with

family and friends during winter break!!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Beautiful Snowy Places!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Only a Few Days Left,...

Wow - This year seemed to fly by, didn't it? 

from DarkerAngels via Pinterest

It's hard to believe that 2011 is almost over and 2012 is just around the corner! 

From Boston.com via Pinterest

Do you make New Year's Resolutions or not?  

I used to, but now I just stick with our "Bucket List" that Mike and I started writing out in 1997, the year our son was born.

Each year, somewhere close to New Year's, we cross off our bucket list all the things we've experienced and/or accomplished and replace those things with new ones.

Our Bucket Lists are more fun for us than New Year's Resolutions.

  

As a family we feel blessed and thankful that 2011 was a good year for us (and hopefully the remaining days will continue on this trend!).

Here's a few things I'm thankful for:

A happy, healthy family

A roof over my head and food on the table

A business that supports us

A hobby that allows me to be creative

Friends and family that I adore and love to hang out with!

My Subaru (***Love***)

Hot Showers and indoor plumbing ;)

My Health

Arizona (yes, even when it's 112 degrees, I still love where I live!)

My Tempurpedic bed and pillow

Here's a few things I'm looking forward to in 2012:

Continued good health for myself and my family

Continued success in our business

Camping in the desert w/my hubby and son again

Tuscany trip with the girls

Summer Vacation

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

What about you? What did 2011 Bless you with? 

What are you looking forward to in 2012?

Do you make New Year's Resolutions or do you have a "Bucket List"?

Whatever your traditions are, I hope you are able to enjoy them to the fullest these last few days of the year and that 2012 is one of your best, most productive, prosperous and happy years of all!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Here's to a Wonderful 2012!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Me and My Boys - Christmas Day 2011

Merry Christmas!

May Your Christmas Be Warm And Bright!

Until Next Time,

PEACE, LOVE and JOY!

Cheers,

~Shel~

It's Christmas Eve!

When I was a little girl, my brother and sister-in-law would host

a brother-sister get together at their house every Christmas Eve.

It was my favorite night of the year!

There would be people laughing, fun snacks to eat,

cool presents under the tree, games to play and music playing! 

It's one of my most cherished childhood memories.

I love looking back at all the old photos!

I hope you have many lovely Christmas memories that you cherish.

 

Here's wishing you more happy and warm memories this year, too!

Merry Christmas!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Memories of Christmas Eve!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Artists Helping Artists

Artists Helping Artists Silent Auction

Once again, several artists in the blog community have decided to come together to help a fellow artist in need.

A silent auction has been set up and the below participants have generously donated their amazing art work in order to help a fellow artist who, as the result of a very tragic accident, has suffered the loss of her mother and is recovering in the hospital herself.

The auction will run from Thursday, Dec. 22nd

through Wednesday, Dec. 28th at midnight

so there's plenty of time to browse through

the links below and bid on all the beautiful pieces

that you just cannot do without!

After all, this IS the "Season of Giving"!

 

 

Auction Participants:

 

http://myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com/

http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

http://skyejewels.blogspot.com/

http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com/

http://vintagebluestudio.typepad.com/

http://beads2die4.blogspot.com/

http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/

 

http://MarieDodd.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Giving Graciously!

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

BTW - Bead Table Wednesday!

Okay - so I'm not real good at silence,or inactivity, so here's what's on my bead table today. 

Odds and Ends - Making Last Minute Gifts for the Holidays Today!!

Which, I might say, is actually pretty full right now as I'm trying to get gifts finished and ready for Christmas!!

Lampwork Glass Beads - Firebabies on Etsy
Vintaj Artisan Copper and Bead Caps

Someone Special's Getting This for Christmas!

And I finished these - they're for me to wear on Christmas! (Lucky ME!)

Hope you're all having a wonderful week and that you're creating something wonderful, whether it be jewelry, cookies for the holidays or lovely memories with your family!!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Creating Fun Things!!

Cheers,

~Shel~