Out With The Old

I'm cleaning house and getting ready for some new product, so I'm offering a 40/40 sale starting now until October 5.  40 percent off with a minimum $40.00 purchase.  Just use coupon code CLEARANCE40 at checkout.

Holiday Sale!

Starting now through December 5, I'm having a sale on items on my Etsy site.  20% off on everything.  Use coupon code HOLIDAY2014 at checkout.  The link is mysuitenothings.etsy.com.  I'm also working on some new items which I'll have for sale at the Lovely Market on December 6.  It's held by Virtue Women's Ministry at Harvest Riverside.  It's from 12:00pm to 6:00pm.  There's a Christmas celebration from 10:00am to 12:00pm before hand.  It's all free, lots of vendors and food trucks, too.  The address is 6115 Arlington Avenue in Riverside, 92504.   You can get more info at virtue.harvest.org.  Hope to see you there!

Labor Day sale

Sale this weekend on my Etsy site.  20% off of everything.  Use coupon code LABORDAY2014 at checkout.

How I Spent My Holiday Off

Well, I had workers here, trying to get some tile work done, so since I was housebound, I decided to work on finishing some things and getting them

posted on my Etsy store.

New items on Etsy store

I've been busy with a new job, but have finally got a few things back on my Etsy store.  I'm also 'cleaning house' and have listed some things at reduced prices, including a custom lamp at cost.  I've also put on some hand made chain, for those of you that like to create your own treasures.

Craft Fair

I know it's short notice, but doing a craft fair today at Harvest O. C. Cross streets Campus and Jamboree.  Here's my table, stop by if you're in the area!

Downtown Anaheim Art Crawl November 9

I will have a booth at the Art Crawl in downtown Anaheim on November 9 from 6pm to 10pm.  I've been working on some new things.  If you're in the area come on by!

Also, check out the latest issue of Haute Handbags.  I got a piece published!

New items on Etsy

I just posted some cute little burlap cross body totes on my Etsy site.

Parent's 70th wedding anniversary

I meant to post this last week, on the actual day, but was quite busy with family and all.  I just thought I would post a picture as I KNOW this is rare...my parent's had their 70th anniversary on February 9.  Don't ask me the secret of their success, cynic that I am, I would say it's due to Mom's refusal to get a hearing aid..

Here's a picture.  Not bad for 90 and 88, still walking on their own.  Try and zoom in on the photo of the young newlyweds, they were quite cute!

Etsy Store finally has listings!

Well, I finally did it, I took the time to put items in my Etsy store. I'll be adding more over the weekend, including some items that are NOT jewelry! I've included a few pictures.

Cookies!

I know, it's been a few weeks.  The last few have been a bit hectic, went out of state to help our my aging parents and to convince them to move my me.  Got a summer cold (I really hate those!).  Anyway, I haven't worked on anything new much.  It's been way too hot and with no air conditioning in the house, well, you get the picture!  Before the heat set in, there was a bake sale at work for a charity fund and I made some peanut butter chocolate chip cookies that were a hit so I thought I would post the recipe.  Here it is, along with a picture:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/4 lb. butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 extra large eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 10oz. bag peanut butter chips
1 12oz. bag chocolate chips

Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars.  Add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla, until thoroghly blended.  Sift together flour, soda and salt.  Add to the bowl and mix.  Beat in the chips (if your mixer can handle it, the dough can get pretty thick with the chips.  You may have to fold in by hand).  Preheat oven to 325 F.  Drop by handfulls (or use a cookie scoop or teaspoon for smaller cookies) onto a baking sheet and bake until done.  Smaller cookies take about 12 minutes, the large ones about 16 minutes.  Cookies are done when the edges are golden brown and center just slightly brown.

Enjoy!

Anaheim Art Crawl

I thought I would melt.  It was so humid (I know, I know, its nothing like the midwest and the east, but it not something I'm used to!).  My nephew, Blake and one of his friends were kind enough to come and help me set up.  The first couple of hours were a little slow but once twilight set in and it started to cool off a bit, it got a bit busier.  There was a swing dance thing going on, it was nice to see so many people in their vintage dress, lots of cute outfits.  I wasn't able to take many pictures.  Here's one of my spot:

I guess I was a bit crooked with the table cloth :-0

At the table next to me was Erica, who makes really cute bottle cap jewelry.  Her website is www.betsysdrawers.com.  She was very kind in helping me set up my canopy.  I borrowed it from my friend Monica and I had never used one before...and thank goodness for my friend Terri, who came at the end to help me pack up and take down the canopy.  I don't know what I would do without my friends.  Oh!  And here's a picture of Erica's area:

Sorry for all of you ladies who's backsides are in the pictures!
Overall, a good time!  Thanks to all who came out for the event, I hope you enjoyed it, too!

In the mean time...

Well, I was going to work on some more jewelry this weekend, but an order for some needed supplies went astray.  I took the opportunity to work on finishing up another project.  I had had an idea for a purse and had purchased a basic pattern to alter.  I used a McCall's pattern and added pockets and embellishments.  I had coffee died and stamped the pocket fabric a few weeks ago but decided to do the same with the rest.  I just took the photos with my iPad camera so they aren't the best, but here you go:

Here's a closer picture:

It's really hard to see in these pictures, but there's a touch of aqua among the coffee.  The rose is hand sewn with gathered strips of fabric, lace, and tulle.  I put some pearls, aqua rondelles and a round rhinestone bead in the center of the rose:

On either side of the rose, I ran some fabric scraps through my Big Shot with the Tim Holt tattered flower die cut.  I just ran the stamped linen and some tulle through it and sewed them on with a pearl in the center.

I don't know why the pictures turned out so yellow, it's really not that color!  I'll have to take some other pictures in natural lighting and post them.  These were taken indoors at night.  Not sure I'll get them posted before next Sunday, as I'll be at the downtown Anaheim Art Crawl on Saturday, August 11.  I have a table there so if you're in the area, come and say hi!  It's on Promenade from 6-10pm.  Hope to see you there!        http://www.facebook.com/events/117704735038131/

Embracing the Shine

Well, I've finished a piece I had made a focal for.  I fought my usual urge to 'dirty it up' and decided to leave the silver metal shiney.  It's a bit hard to tell from the picture:

So I took it outside and tried the natural light:

I could seem to get an angle without my shadow in it....

While I was outside, my moonflowers were starting to come out for the evening.

Back inside, I finished a fabric rose for another project I'm working on. 

Here's one without the flash:

My cat had to oversee everything, of course.

Apparently he wasn't too impressed! 

Pops Peacock and new pieces

Went to the L.A. Arboretum to see Michael Feinstein with the Pasadena Pops.  Lots of peacocks were wandering around. 

This fellow started shaking his tail and gave us this view (was he trying to tell us something?)!

We followed him, hoping for a front view, but this was all we were able to get:

Saw a bunny, too:

A longggg distance view of the stage.  We were almost that far back!  Great concert.

Finished a couple of projects on Sunday.  I was having too much fun soldering chain!

Finished a couple of bracelets, too:

You know, I didn't notice it until the close up, but it looks like she's sniffing her armpit!  And the one below, the way the light hit the bevel, it looks like snot coming out of the angel's nose...I really need to work on my photo abilities!

And the final piece being sent tomorrow for an upcoming art show.  This one is titled 'Reaching for the Moon'

Hope you have a wonderful week!

I am going to make an effort to post something each weekend.  We'll see...:-)
Anyway, I spent the better part of this weekend working on a couple of pieces for an employee art show where I work, and to get some new pieces started for the upcoming downtown Anaheim Art Crawl on August 11.  Here's one of the finished pieces for the art show.

Here's another one I recently finished:

Some pieces I soldered, and soldered rhinestones to.  One will be put on a cuff bracelet.

The chain is some I made this weekend, also, along with the fabric you see in the background.  I stamped it for a purse I'm hoping to get made this week.

I hope you like what you see here, and get some inspiration out of it!  Have a good week!

Belle Armoire Jewelry

I have a piece of jewelry published in the latest edition of Belle Armoir Jewelry.  Click the link  http://www.stampington.com/bellearmoirejewelry/   It's on page 120.  It was inspired by something my grandmother sent me when I was in high school, about  an elderly woman that passed by a cosmetics counter and the woman working the counter asked the older woman how she maintained her beautiful complexion.  She said for her eyes pity, her voice prayer, hands charity, heart love, figure uprighteousness and her lips truth, the supply refilled with continued use.  Anyway it made quite the impression on me, I just wish I lived up to it!

Another year gone by!

Okay, so another year has gone and I never posted to the blog until now...
Just finished a piece where I tried etching metal.  Worked great!  Only one piece I left in the solution too long and ate away most of the metal. 

Listen to Playlist for Blog

4th of July

I can't believe the year is half over. I had good intentions of keeping up with a blog but as you all know, life can get in the way. I'll try and do better the rest of the year! I have some new jewelry pieces that I will post as soon as I get the photos taken. In the mean time, I have a few things to say about today, the celebration of the birth of our nation. Every year, I make a point of watching the movie 1776. When I was in Jr. High, my two oldest brothers and their wives took me with them to see this and I still love this movie. Those of you that don't like musicals probably wouldn't like it, but I happen to love them. If you see this posting in time, it is coming on TCM at 11:30 this morning. It's about how the Declaration of Independence came about. One little excerpt I thought was interesting is the following. The declaration has just been written and is being reviewed (picked apart) by the Continental Congress. The following is said between Dickenson, one of the representatives from Pennsylvania and a Loyalist, Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin:

Dickenson (to Jefferson): Why do you refer to King George as a tyrant?

Jefferson: Because he is a tyrant.

Dickenson: I remind you, Mr Jefferson, that this tyrant is still your king.

Jefferson: When a king becomes a tyrant, he breaks the contract binding his subjects to him.

Dickenson: How so?

Jefferson: By taking away their rights.

Dickenson: Rights that came from him in the first place?

Jefferson: All except one. The right to be free comes from nature.

Dickenson: And are we not free, Mr. Jefferson?

Jefferson: Homes entered without warrant, citizens arrested without charge, and in many places, free assembly itself denied.

Dickenson: No one approves of such things, but these are dangerous times.

Jefferson: Those who give up some of their liberty in order to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty, nor safety.

With this day being a celebration of the signing of this document, lets reflect on the price our founding fathers paid to ensure our liberties. Let us also remember that compromise is a subtle way for us to also lose these liberties that were won at such a high price. Our nation has already compromised much. Let's do what we can to ensure that our liberties, bought at such a high price by our ancestors, remain intact.