Monday, January 27, 2014

A Unique Gift

         
                                                                                                                           ~ Unknown

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Echo Creative Club Reveal - January 2014



I am the lucky recipient of the January Echo Creative Club beads handmade by Jeannie K. Dukic of JKD Studio. So what is Echo Creative Club? I'm looking for experienced jewelry designers to use my art beads and pendants for FREE. What does the name, Echo Creative mean? Echo is something you put out there and it comes back. I put my beads out there and they come back in a creative design from you.


I received the Acanthus pendant and matching Polarity beads  - the rich purple and fuschia with just a hint of gold are gorgeous!! These pendants were inspired by Jeannie's love of Greek and Roman mythology and architecture.When I saw the pendant, I knew I had to design with it! When I was a child, I wanted to be an architect and I still love taking pictures of the decorative ornamentation and fretwork on buildings.


I kept the necklace simple and added some decorative, architectural- like elements to highlight the beautiful Acanthus pendant.


I hung the pendant from a small, stamped circle and used filigree balls, dyed freshwater pearls, stamped puff beads, crystal beads with filigree tubes, delicate raw copper chain and a toggle that mimics the pendant, with the Acanthus pendant and Polarity beads.


For this pair of earrings, I wire wrapped a set of Polarity beads with silver flower bead caps and leaf dangles.


To highlight the gold in the Polarity beads, I wire wrapped a leaf bead cap and tiny balls to the beads and gave them a bit of swing hanging them from twist jump rings.


I want to thank Jeannie and Kara for this amazing opportunity - it's been an honor to be able to design with Jeannie's beautiful pendant and beads!!

Mallory Hoffman is the January Echo Creative Club Featured Guest - please check out her blog and Etsy shop.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Echo Creative Club January 2014 Beads


When there was a call out for jewelry designers to participate in the Echo Creative Club - I jumped at the chance! I have always been in awe of the amazing beads and the designs that the creative jewelry designers have made with them - I'm so excited for this opportunity!!


Jeannie Dukic of JKD Studio made the beautiful Acanthus pendant and Polarity beads that I received. They came in a lovely handmade envelope that was wrapped in pretty paper - such fun to open!


I love the detail and rich colors in the Acanthus pendant and the Polarity beads have just a hint of gold - gorgeous!


Reveal date is January 25 - please check back to see what I create!


Monday, January 13, 2014

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Into the Forest Blog Hop Reveal

The lovely, Lisa Lodge, of Pine Ridge Treasures had a sign-up for another of her fun blog hops - this one with the "Forest" theme.  We were sent a bead kit and were asked to use beads from our own stash and asked not to go out and buy additional beads.


                                                                           I received the Tiger Eye kit


When I decided to sit down and get to work on my kit, I remembered that I had recently bought a pendant that would go perfectly with my beads. It's a dark brown metal puff bead that has a great texture and is very light-weight.


I strung most of the bigger beads with the metal pendant and added some of my beautiful green recycled sari silk.


The toggle I used has a texture that reminds me of bark.


This morning, I thought I'd make the earrings I had in mind - I love how they turned out! The teardrop and gold beads are from my kit and I added the silver disc from my stash.


Thank you for stopping by! Please hop over to all of the other jewelry designers to see their beautiful creations!


Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Janine Lucas, Esfera Travel Blog
Jasvanti Patel, Jewelry by Jasvanti
Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
Janet Bocciardi, Honey from the Bee
Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs
Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Elizabeth Engriser, Bead Contagion
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming
Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
Kay Mallery,TBD
Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings
Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs



Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Spicy Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

This is a delicious addition to any holiday dinner. The recipe makes 3/4 cup - it will go fast, so you may want to double or triple the recipe!


1/4 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced

- Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan - bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
- Stir in cranberries - reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, 10-15 minutes
- Remove from heat - stir in jalapenos.
- Cool to room temperature.


                                                                               ENJOY

* If you like it a little spicier, add a few of the jalapeno seeds.
* Once cooled, you can put it in the refrigerator - personally, I think it's best cold.