Monday, December 12, 2011

Wreath inspiration

Every year I want to buy a new wreath for our front door but every year the funds need to be spent on gifts so the same old wreath is put up.   It's not that it's a bad wreath, I just need a change.  Thanks to pinterest I can look at beautiful wreaths and think about making a new one....maybe in July! Here are a few..........

 Picture source bhg.com

I have tons  of vintage postcards ( I have a small obsession with them). So this one would be totally doable for me.  It would also be the perfect excuse to look for more vintage postcards :)
 
Picture source bhg.com

I love the white snowflakes on the red door!  I don't have a red door though. Oh well.....
 Picture source pinterest


This one is made out of toilet paper rolls! How affordable is that!  I already have a small collection started under the sink! I should have enough by July :)

Monday, November 28, 2011

Number Two of 52 Necklaces

I had so much fun making necklace #2.  The inspiration came from one of my favorite magazines: Jewelry Affaire. In this issue, artist  Erin Bullock uses wire and gems to wrap a hoop with brass wire, fire opal and quartz.  I used what I had on hand:

and this is what I came up with!
   
after I took my supply picture I ended up adding the clear crystals and second inner circle.

I had so much fun making this piece that I made two more!!

I have to admit the pictures don't do them justice.  They are very sparkly in person.

Have you made anything lately that you just had to make more of?

Sunday, November 27, 2011

So pretty!

If I was making 52 bracelets instead of 52 necklaces I would love to make this pretty bracelet.  So nice for a bridal or baby shower!
Picture courtesy of Pinterest

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Proud Mom Moment

Alison won the Dragon Award for Social Studies this quarter.  Woohoo! We are so proud of her.  Here she is with her teacher and her certificate.  What a way to start off high school :)

Monday, November 21, 2011

Number One!! of 52

Here is necklace # 1 of 52 necklaces in 52 weeks.
"Just Be" is my way of remembering to stay in the moment and not to get ahead of myself.
 

The new techniques for me that I used for this necklace were to use metal stamps ( People.....you should give those artists who hand stamp jewelry ALOT of credit. It is not as easy as it looks and you only have one shot) 

and to use paint to stamp the blank. This would not have been something I thought of doing until this project.

I also went for the asymmetrical look which is not usually in my comfort zone. Ya know, with the two beads on one side and none on the other.

These were the supplies I started out with

The findings are by Vintaj.
They have lots of cool findings and after doing this project I would like to try more of their products, although I think they are a bit expensive.

Overall it was a lot of fun to make and I would try these techniques again.

If anyone has any ideas for how to use the metal blanks ruined by metal stamping goofs let me know ;)

Let me know what you think of necklace #1!

Monday, November 14, 2011

52 necklaces in 52 weeks

I was recently talking to my mom about how I'm always saving craft and jewelry ideas but I never make them.  I buy jewelry magazines and then I don't make the necklaces because I don't know a certain technique or I'm not familiar with some of the supplies.

Later that same evening I was watching the movie Julie and Julia.
Photo courtesy of Google

In the movie a blogger named Julie aspires to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child's cookbook in 365 days.  It is based on a book by Julie Powell. Now there is no way I am making 524 necklaces in 365 days..........but I do think it would be fun to make one new necklace style a week. So we will have....

52 Necklaces in 52 Weeks!!

Now these necklaces will not be something I have ever made before.  They will have some element that is new to me.  Whether it be a style, material or design element.

The goal is to have some fun while making something pretty and learning some new techniques. Let me know what you think of the new styles over the next 52 weeks :)

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Flower Power

A couple of weeks ago I was feeling a bit down.  I had been telling my mom about it during the week. On Sunday morning the door bell rang.  It was my mom! She lives an hour away.  It was such a nice surprise. We drank tea, ate cookies and talked (We are famous for that!). She also brought me an Amaryllis bulb.  I love them but don't usually buy them because they are for sale at the same time I have to do Christmas shopping so they are not a priority.


Our family has gotten so much joy out of this little flower bulb.  We all love watching it grow and are amazed how quickly it has. My mom was just trying to brighten up my mood but gave something to all of us by giving us this little bit of mother nature.


 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Hot Water!

Halleluliah! We finally have hot water after 11 days!  Yes, I said 11!.  It started out with a freak October snowstorm where we lost power for 4 days.  When the power came back on it blew a "something or other"  that is extremely important in the process of heating our water.  Every time they came to fix the problem it would break again, almost as soon as they pulled out of the driveway.  They finally fixed it yesterday and it hasn't broken yet (It's very hard to type with my fingers crossed).  No more boiling water to bathe and wash the dishes.

 Picture courtesy of tumblr

This isn't really my bathroom but I would love it if it was :)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Tiny Belles Boutique Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Shanna! She has won the Tiny Belles Boutique Giveaway.  To see what she has won check out this site http://www.tinybellesblog.com/2011/11/and-winners-are.html  Included in her winnings is a $50 credit to Sundays Cottage! Happy Shopping Shanna!

You have to be in it to win it!

Friday, November 4, 2011

jewelry display

Getting ready for a craft show this weekend,
Sooo excited!

Before:


After:

 

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Life

Life: Handle with Prayer


Photo courtesy of Google

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Couponer Jealousy

Yes, I am totally jealous of couponers.  I am a wanna be couponer......for real.  I know several savvy couponers who surf the net for deals, clip their coupons on Sunday and save enough money from their food budget to pay for vacations and buy their Christmas presents.  I want to be one of them!

However I find it to be totally overwhelming.  So I set a goal.  One successful purchase made this week using a coupon.

I did it!  One toothpaste and one toothbrush, both for 19 cents.


Who knows how much I'll save next week!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Confession #1

Ok, I have a confession! I listen to musicals in my craft room while I make my jewelry. There I admitted it!  I repeatedly listen to My Fair Lady


Photo courtesy of Google


 and Oliver!

Photo courtesy of Yahoo 

I also listen to my favorite guy......... 

photo courtesy of Yahoo
 
but that's not a confession.......it's a proclamation!!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Our New Look!

Come see the new look on our blog!

Happy Fall!!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Pudding quotation

My Jello pudding had this quote on it today:

"Happy is still legal in 50 states"

That made me smile on my lunch break!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

10 Reasons Why I Love Our Dog Abby


10. She's pretty ( yes, I know that's superficial)
 9. She 's afraid of the cats (even though she's 20x their size)
 8. She's always in the mood for a walk
 7. She actually thinks she's going to catch the rabbits
 6.She doesn't chase the deer (although I wish she would)
 5.She scratches her own back 
 4. She behaves at Grandma's house
 3. When she plays she can growl and wag her tail at the same time
 2. She sleeps in late (this almost wins #1)
 1. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body!  She loves everyone!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Feeding the Whole Person

Several times a week at the nursing home where I work, a gentleman comes in to have lunch with his wife.  About an hour before the meal they sit in the library, read the paper, listen to music and go on facebook to check out what's going on with family and friends.


As I was walking through the library one day the husband looked at me, smiled, and said "You have to feed the whole person".


This was not a new concept for me, but I know it is really hard to "feed the whole person" when they are in a nursing home.  What touched me was that this gentleman, to the best of his ability, was making sure that the "whole person" of his loved one was taken care of.


Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in giving until you have nothing left.  I believe in people being responsible for their own happiness.  However, if we all took a minute to think of those we care about and if we can help them to "feed their whole person" what a better life this would be.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Simple Things

It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.  Paulo Coelho

Monday, September 12, 2011

Having an inspiring Mom

My mom retired last year.  She spent 45 years working for a school bus company and caring for her family.  She continues to do for others by volunteering for various organizations, helping out at church and helping her children.  I was so proud of her for doing something for herself by joining an art group and having an art show! She deserves it!  She put herself and her artwork out there which is something I am always hesitant to do.  At 41 I am still learning from my mom and I am sure I will for many years to come.  Thanks for being an inspiration Mom!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Home


He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Monday, July 25, 2011

My sister's store

My sister has opened a store in Millbrook,NY called La Provencia.
She is selling southwestern products, antiques, children's clothing,
and my jewelry :)..........


These are my mom's beautiful paintings.....





Come visit her bright beautiful store and say hello

Sunday, July 17, 2011

thrift store finds

I usually leave thrift stores disappointed. However, I had some luck recently.  Our local hospital has a thrift store and when I visited it was hopping!  I love these baskets that are like a little suitcase.  I don't know what I'm going to use it for but I couldn't resist it.
I also don't know what I am going to use this jewelry for but I felt if I didn't buy it I would regret it.
My favorite find was this adorable candle holder.  I love this green and was expecting it to be a vase when I saw it sitting on the shelf.  Finding that it was a candle holder was a pleasant surprise!....and it was only $3.

Can't wait to check out the thrift stores again!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Maine

On a recent trip to the beautiful State of Maine I was struck by the beauty of it's landscape as I always am when I visit.  I have had a love for Maine ever since I was a child and my grandfather would take me to visit my cousins on Bailey's Island and Orr's Island.  Whether you are on the coast or on one of the many beautiful lakes you can't help but be reminded that God has given us the wonderful gift of nature.

My dear friend Ann once gave me this poem that sums up Maine perfectly.

The Charms of Maine

How can I begin to tell you,
How can I make it plain,
How can I make you realize
The wonderful charms of Maine?

I can tell of its miles of sea coast,
Of the forests full of game,
Of the sparkling lakes and rivers
In the dear old State of Maine.

I can tell of a thousand beauties
Which have made the artists' fame,
Of the ferns and lovely wildflowers,
You will find in dear old Maine.

But words cannot do justice,
Descriptions cannot make plain,
You must come and see the beauties
To be found in dear old Maine.

The dear old State is calling
From mountain and hill and lane,
And waits with warms wide open,
To welcome you to Maine.

copyright by Edith A. Butterfield, 1929

I will be eternally grateful to my grandfather sharing Maine with me.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Lesson from my Elders

I was talking about the challenges of motherhood with one of my nursing home residents.

She told me to think of motherhood as the bark on a tree.......it holds everything together.
Of course one of my co-workers pointed out that bark is usually dried out and cracked
but we won't think about that :)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Thriving

Are you thriving or just surviving? I'm actually asking myself
this question.  I think I am usually just surviving but I want to
be thriving.  I am coming to the realization that we have to make
a conscience decision to thrive everyday.  It reminds me of Abraham Lincoln's quote
".Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."
Abraham Lincoln

Monday, May 9, 2011

Peaceful Moments

I am a big believer in finding peaceful moments in our crazy days

Today I found my peaceful moment by taking a walk on my lunch
break and smelling the fresh cut grass
(Sorry all of you allergy sufferers)

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Mother's Day

We spent a beautiful day at the New Jersey Botanical Gardens
The buildings feel like they came out of a fairytale
The flowers were beautiful
and the kids were kids

and my sweetheart gave me a beautiful rose bush
that smells gorgeous!