Feeling like fall already???

Where did the summer go? It just seemed to fly by so quick this year! Maybe I'm just not ready for the warmth to end, or maybe I'm not ready for the snow that I know is just around the corner. Or maybe, just maybe I wasn't ready for my oldest, my first baby, to go to kindergarten. I usually love the beginning of fall, the crispness in the air and the change in the leaves invigorates me. But for whatever reason, this fall seems so bitter sweet to me. It just seemed to come all too soon.

I just signed the forms for becoming a "room mother" for the first of I'm sure many times. And I just sobbed after leaving my kindergartener at school for the first time. This is a fall of firsts for me and I'm sure it will be one I always remember. So now I am left with just two little ones at home and it's a strange odd feeling. I keep turning around with a feeling like I'm missing something...and I am. But when he gets off that bus he's just so excited that it makes up for the sadness. I'm sure in a few months it will all seem normal, but for right now I'm just left with this uneasy feeling for a few hours each day.

Will I Ever Catch Up???

It seems that the past few months have just flown by! I always think there will be time tomorrow...always tomorrow. But with three little boys, a husband who works 3rd shift, a dear grandmother in a nursing home, a jewelry business, laundry, dishes...and on and on...there's never enough time to finish the things I set out to finish, let alone to start something new.

I have abandoned my scrapbooking...they are all officially a year behind (and I have 5 going that I used to keep up with). My house is a mess, my laundry never done, jewelry all in pieces laying around...new ideas never finished, a grandmother I need to see more often then I do...and boys, always boys :) But, my oldest son is starting kindergarten this fall. So what did we do this week?? We went to the beach and the zoo and Chuck E. Cheese. Because you know what?? The scrapbooks and dishes and jewelry and laundry can wait. It will be there...but my 5 year old son will be 6 soon...and then 16 before I know it, and then 26 and gone. So this is what I do. Of course, my grandmother...there's always my grandmother. She will be gone before I am ready for her to be too. So tomorrow. Always tomorrow.

Chesterland Farmers Market

I've been so neglectful of this blog! It keeps getting pushed back down on the list and for that I apologize! Spring is upon us, and for me that has meant building up my inventory for spring craft shows. Mother's Day is only 11 days away, and I have been busy creating items for three upcoming shows. I just learned that my home town, Chesterland, Ohio has started up a Farmers Market this year! I'm just so excited about this news! It will be held in The Geauga Market House, which I've always been very fond of. I have fun memories of going in there with my grandparents when I was a little girl. I haven't been in there for probably about 10 years (gosh...could that be possible) and I just think it will be a neat location to hold a farmers market. The market begins the week of May 9 (just in time for Mother's Day) and runs through October. It will be every Friday from 2-7! I will be there May 9...and I'm sure a number of other days as well. This is it's first year, but I have good feelings about this. I think it is something our community has been lacking. So come join me at the first Chesterland Farmers Market on May 9!

***NEW**** Hand stamped, personalized jewelry just in time for Mother's Day!

Well...I did it! The next step for me as I see it. I am excited to announce the arrival of personalized, hand stamped jewelry to my shop! I am so excited about the endless possibilities in this next phase of my jewelry exploration. I have two different sizes of block letters and 6 different design stamps that can be combined in so many different ways! Hearts, birds, stars, leaves, flowers and of course, starfish to go with my beach glass. I have some great Mother's Day pieces in the works...some are already listed in my etsy shop

So here's to exploration and the courage to try something new! It always leads to good things......so go for it and try something new today :)

Personalized jewelry coming soon!!

I'm so excited to announce that I've just received my very first set of metal letter stamps! I have been thinking about purchasing them for quite some time now, and finally decided to make the investment! I received them in the mail today and have already stamped two pieces! I LOVE IT!! I decided to make this investment now to have some pieces ready for Mother's Day...so I'm just in time to get some practice in and get some pieces made! I know I'm excited about this new step, but I think my best friend may be even more excited. She loves personalized jewelry and can't wait for me to make her a cute little anklet...so I better get to work :) I'd hate to disappoint you Kim!

Spring has sprung...and that means NEW BEACH GLASS!!

The weather here in Cleveland has been so spring like the past few days! It's just beautiful. I'm certain it will not stick around just yet...it is Cleveland after all :) But we are enjoying it none the less. We had a cook out today, hot dogs and marshmallows on the fire. So yummy!

And yesterday, my husband was desperate to go fishing...so I agreed to wrangle the kids for a few hours so he could get away for some peace and quiet. Now, those who know my husband will know he came home without fish. That is the usual. Poor guy! But he did come home with something for me!!! It was a whole shirt full (his shirt!) of beach glass in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors. SOOO EXCITING! How cute is that? He went out to fish, but instead he came home with a bunch of beach glass for his crazy wife :) And oh my did he have some great finds! Many of them were large pieces and the bottoms of bottles which will be perfect for my upcoming sun catcher designs that I have been working on this winter. He also found some truly amazing smaller pieces. He found a rare lavender, a lovely aqua blue patterened piece and some other great ones! There is one in particular that I just can't fathom what it was though.


It is a very large, thick piece of aqua glass. And I mean like an inch thick in spots! Any ideas as to what it could have been would be greatly appreciated!! So off to work I go with all of these great "fishing" finds! Thank you hubby!!

My first feature in a treasury!!

I was so excited when I opened that convo on etsy this morning and saw the words treasury! What an exciting thing! Now, I know that there are people out there who have been featured in many treasuries...and ones that have made it to the front page no less. But this is HUGE for me! I am so very flattered to be included in the beautiful treasury FigMuffin has created. The Beach Babe treasury is full of lovely, frosty white beachy items...including my Lake Erie frosted white beach glass circle necklace. In addition to my necklace there are a variety of beachy themed things from headbands to a beautiful custom wedding dress! This is a truly fabulous collection that will really put you in the mood for summer! So go ahead...take a peak!

Facebook addiction!

Oh boy do I have a problem...it is facebook! I am utterly addicted. How many of you are with me? I mean, it really is very addictive. You can find old friends, chat, look at pictures, take quizzes and on and on! How does anybody get anything done anymore? Of course there are the occasional people that you think...hmmm, do I really want to talk to them? (Really...be honest!) But for the most part it is such a fun thing! I am the type of person who loves to catch up with old friends and Facebook is sooo amazing when it comes to that!

Originally I signed up for Facebook to use it as a tool to promote JLynnCreations. Now that I'm there though I hardly ever use it for that. I just love catching up. What strikes me as odd though is this, I never used to understand why people would rather text then just call their friend up. Well...now I get it. I chat with my best friends all the time. And you know what, I'm in contact with them more now then I was before. Don't get me wrong...I still pick up the phone and call. But it seems that when you just want to chit chat it's just easier to type. I can hardly believe I just typed that! I don't want to be one of those people! I swore I'd never be one of them. What's next? Am I going to stop picking up books and just read it on the computer. Oh lord...my little ex-librarian head is whirling right now! I need to step away from the computer right now! Really, I need to go make something with my hands!

Midnight

The sweet silence of the night. This is my favorite time of the day. Everything is quiet and peaceful. It is my time, has always been my time. I have always loved the night. For as long as I can remember I would stay up later then most. I love the solitude, the accomplishments, the calm. I used to stay up all hours of the night just listening to my music, writing, drawing...whatever I wanted to do. Now, as the mother of three little boys, my love of the night has never been truer or more needed.
It is the quiet after the storm. After everyone is put to sleep I look around, I listen, and I think. Sometimes I just go over the days events wondering how I'm going to do it all again tomorrow when today was so very trying. And other times I look around at a stray toy that was forgotten and I think about how I may feel 20 years from now...when all my boys are grown and gone. I think I will be sad, and I think I will miss their noise. It is an odd feeling this back and forth. And this is what the night is. My chance to go over things in my head, my chance to create and not think about those things, my chance to clean my house, my chance to watch a TV show without being interrupted, my chance to just sit and think about my boys and their futures, my chance to dream. Midnight is my time.

What is your favorite color of beach glass??

I thought I'd be fun to do a little informal survey here!! I love beach glass, all shapes, sizes and colors! Frosty white, amber brown, deep brown, green, mossy green, lime green, aqua, colbalt blue, cornflower blue, orange, lavender, red, pink oh my!! But I must say that even I have my favorite. Now, I know the rare colors and the not so rare colors, but all that aside...I just LOVE a lovely piece of cobalt blue myself!! The color is just so rich and deep...I get so excited whenever I see even a little shard :)

So tell me, what is your favorite color of beach glass?? Inquiring minds want to know!
Just leave me a comment and I'll tally them up in about a week and we'll see if we have a winner!!

Saturday Special Featured Artist Series!!

And it's Saturday!! Wow... that's amazing :) First of all...happy Valentine's Day to all of you out there! This weeks artist is one that I discovered this past Christmas season. She makes beautiful hand knit and crocheted designs to bring out your own personal style. UniquelyEwe's has something to delight everyone! From kids booties to beautiful hats and shawls...her shop is truly a pleasure to browse! I found her bunny booties




while doing some Christmas shopping on Etsy. My son LOVES bunnies and I just knew he would adore these. She created a delightful pair of brown bunnies for my son in time for "Santa" to deliver them Christmas morning...and oh the look on his face was priceless! She was such a pleasure to work with, and my son adores his bunnies!

In addition to her whimsical designs for children, she also makes beautiful things for adults as well. I have been coveting her Little Red Riding for quite some time now. I think I need to put it on my wish list for my birthday! I am a sucker for red...and this shawl is just so dramatic and lovely!



So stop on in UniquelyEwe's shop and pick up something special!

New beach themed market on 1000 Markets...Check out The Boardwalk!

As I've written before, 1000 Markets is a beautiful new site where you will find wonderful, handmade goods. Within this site, there are "markets" that focus on style, region or other common factors. I am so excited about the addition of a brand new market...The Boardwalk. It is a market that features costal, nautical and beach themed items that vary from fine art to beach glass jewelry and everywhere in-between! In browsing through this market I have found such innovative and fun items like these Sea Glass Drawer Pulls by BeachyRustica:




and this beautiful fine art print St. Augustine Lighthouse by Derek McCrea



It is truly a beautiful market that I am honored to be a part of. Please stop by to check us out!!

Yet another new skill!

So to make strong circle links and things of this nature, I decided it was important for me to learn how to solder. I have soldered in the past. Well, alright, just once or twice in Industrial Arts class back in middle school. Of course this was about 17-18 years ago (God when did I get that old??) So this soldering thing was a bit more nerve racking for me then the earwires, I'll admit. I was intimidated by the heat and melting of metals. I wasn't sure I would be successful at it. But you know what, it really is much easier then I thought it would be!! Don't get me wrong, I've still got a lot of practicing to do and so far my works not always the prettiest...but at day two I've already seen improvements in my work. How encouraging is that!

I was lucky to have a handy husband who could show me the steps. I think it would be a lot harder to learn just by reading a forum post or blog post. In fact, I think that's why I was so intimidated by it. I was also lucky in the fact that my father-in-law, who is awesome by the way, just happened to have an old soldering iron laying around his workshop. So double excitement. Not only am I saving money making my own circle links, but I also didn't have to spend a bunch of money on tools to do it!!!


And the feeling of accomplishment when I finished all the components to this bracelet was just amazing!! I made every link and the clasp on it by hand. Formed, hammered, and soldered by me :) Now my next adventure will be oxidizing this bracelet with the egg method...wish me luck, and make sure to check back in a few days! I'll let you all know how it goes and will post a picture of my completed bracelet.

Featured Artist for Sunday!!

MelissasMagicSpot

Today I wanted to share an artist who is very special to me. She is my best friend. I have known her for twenty five years now and in that time I can't even imagine how many crafts we have shared! We have been through it all together...and I do mean all! :) Jewelry is no different. In fact, she is the one who taught me all the basics and for that(in addition to many, many other things) I am eternally grateful!!

So, lets take a peak at MelissasMagicSpot! In her shop you will find jewelry for your inner child! Now keep in mind, she actually designs her jewelry with us in mind...adults, not children (although children love her stuff just as much)! If you love micro machines (or if your husband does), barbie accessories and other little toys from your past...you will LOVE her shop!! She is an avid up-cycler (if that's a word), going to garage sales and rummage sales looking for toys from our past and then she creates these creative, fun pieces of jewelry out of them. How do you not love that! My latest favorite is her Dress Up Your Neck necklace I mean really, how does she come up with this fabulous stuff...I've known her for 25 years and she still amazes me!

In addition, she scours the craft stores...well any store really :), looking for unique, fun, or colorful items to add to her creations. I think one of my all time favorite pieces are these Rainbow Starshine Earrings!
Yeah, how great are those! I know! And she's my best friend! So take some time, look around her shop...I know you'll find something to make you smile!

Learning a new skill!

In the past I had wondered how some artists made their own wonderful jewelry findings. Full of character, handmade findings seem to bring such a different feel to a piece. I assumed there would be a lot of expensive tools involved...and figured it may be best to leave this sort of thing to the "experts", so to say. But I've been rethinking this for the past month or so. I have been talking to my husband about how I'd like to possibly learn this new trade eventually, when the kids are older. Well, due to a new little flower earring design, I was in need of some small earwires and had to go searching on etsy...and realized that I just can't keep spending so much money! So I started going through what I had on hand, and playing around with wire. It got me to thinking that maybe I really needed to look into what it would take to make my own findings! So today...I started a forum entitled " So if I want to learn how to make my own findings..." and there were SOO many helpful people who responded with what/how/where to search for information on this. I have to give a HUGE thank you to LisasLovlies who pointed me to a tutorial she had set up on her blog to make earwires!!!

And here they are... my first attempts at making my own earwires! Now, I know they are not perfect, but I love them just the same. It is a whole different feeling of accomplishment! I am hooked! I just used the same 20g copper wire I already had on hand, my round nose pliers, a hammer, and the flat surface of my husbands clamp. So I don't have the exact materials...I am playing around with what I have available to me and I love it! So to all of you out there thinking about doing it I say DO IT! Just dive in! What's the worst that could happen? So you use up some wire, big deal. Use copper first, it's cheaper :) So here I am...making my own earwires. Oh and I tried a clasp too. Next up for me are headpins. (Well, if I can get over my fear of the torch!)

My crazy bead obsession!!

So, I think I probably go to Michaels Craft Store at least once a week, and I am constantly buying new supplies on etsy, and am always looking at all the jewelry supply sites. It's a bit like a sickness I'm afraid! I just can't seem to help looking at all the pretty things. Now, I am usually pretty good about limiting myself to a budget, but that doesn't mean I don't walk around that stupid store WAY to long with all kinds of things in my hands. I'm one of those shoppers that picks things up along the way, walks around and then decides to go put half of it back. (I do actually go and put it back where it belongs though...another sickness of mine, everything has to be in it's place) Very often, when I do these little trips around, most of the impulse type items leave my hands. I opt for the more versatile items and make sure I get the basic findings first. Usually I leave with one little "treat".

So just a few days ago, on my most recent visit to Michaels I picked up these lovely dusty pink Crystazzi glass pearls. Now, I have had these in my hands I can't tell you how many times. The color just calls to me...it's so deep and dusty and lovely. So I'm walking around and finally make it up to the counter...and they are STILL in my hands! YES FINALLY! Along with a these lovely dark green and sage ones too!! Oh my excitement! It is such a silly little thing. But they are just so pretty. They finally came home with me! And I couldn't wait to use them...they are my new favorites...at least until my next trip.

Saturday Special Featured Artist Series!!--well, O.K...it's really Wednesday I know!

So last Saturday didn't work out as I had planned, but that's the way it goes. Right now my two oldest boys are with their grandparents though and my youngest is sleeping!! Ah, sweet sweet peace! So I thought this would be a good time to do another feature artist :)

Today's pick is RanaMuckPhotography!! I discovered her shop on Etsy while I was looking for some peacock feathers to make earrings with. She was amazing to work with and went above and beyond to get the feathers to me before my mother's birthday! She has two shops on etsy and just recently set up shop at 1000Markets!! I was so excited to see that she has joined.




In her shops you will find beautiful photography, hemp jewelry and (on etsy only) her supply of bird feathers for your own projects. She has such a beautiful, playful style that shows through in each of her pieces! The necklace pictured above is her Lampwork Heart Necklace that can be seen at her 1000Markets shop. I love how she mixed the different hemp cords. It gives this piece such a unique feel!


My favorite photograph of RanaMucks is her Canoe on Wisconsin Lake. It is so peaceful and simple. Just beautiful!

So check out RanaMuck at 1000 markets or her two shops on etsy: RanaMuckPhotography and her jewelry shop RanaMuck

Out with the old and in with the new!

Wow! Things have been so hectic for the past month with the holidays and friends and family being in town that I feel like I've barely had time to catch my breath. We had a wonderful visit from my brother in law and his wife and new baby! We had so much fun! It was great to see my boys playing with their baby cousin. And those baby smiles...they just melt your heart. A great time was had by all!

But now it's back to work time. My husband just started school again last Saturday, and that's quite a change! But it's good for our family, and I think good for my husband too. I'm just hoping I don't go too crazy while he's gone :)

And so it's back to work for me too. My next priority is working on my photos. It's such an ongoing battle it seems. When I first started my shop on Etsy my pictures were terrible. With some great tips and, of course experience, I have seen steady improvement. But then, just about a month and a half ago I had to buy a new camera. So here I am, back at the drawing board again, trying to learn camera settings. Playing with settings, lights and composition!!! It's a bit crazy. My wonderful brother in law was able to give me some great pointers though (he's great at photography!) and I am eager to give them a try! So I'll be editing out a lot of the old photos for new, improved photos!! (well, hopefully!) So...for January my theme is OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW!!!

Saturday Special Featured Artist Series!!

So, since my hubby has school every Saturday, I've decided it is a good day to do my special feature of talented artists I have been lucky enough to find. I am going to try my best to make this a weekly feature, so we are going to hope that three certain little boys decide to cooperate with their mommy :) So for my very first featured artist, I have chosen someone extra special!

NINE DRAGONS SCULPTURE ART

I want to introduce you guys to a wonderful artist who has a shop on 1000 Markets. Nine Dragons files her shop with beautiful original oil paintings, art sculpture pendants and beautiful, unique jewelry She is meticulous in her detail and it shows. Her paintings have such a beautiful, life-like quality. My personal favorite is her oil pastel Desolation It is remarkable. Sue's use of light and shadows just amazes me! I am hooked for sure!

She's also a very talented sculptress. She creates these detailed sculpure pendants that just grab your attention. I love her tree frog Fabulous isn't it?

I also love following her blog! Right now she is taking us step by step through her next painting! She has a great way of explaining the processes she must go through to get to the end result. So take a peak! Here's her blog and make sure to have a look around ninedragons shop too.

And be sure to stop back in next Saturday, for my next featured artist!

Hope Tag- #3 in the Beach Glass Tag line

I am exited to introduce my newest Beach Glass Tag necklace just in time for the inauguration. This tag is entitled Hope! I thought it was the perfect sentiment for the hope so many of us are hanging onto as we approach January 2o, 2009! The hope that we can all pull together as a nation and make the changes that need to be made to make this an even better country to live in.

This necklace feautres a silver toned "Hope" charm that hangs off of a silver plated 16 inch chain. I have chosen a lovely green, triangular shaped piece of Lake Erie beach glass, and have accented this with a tiny, light- blue piece of Lake Erie beach glass.

Simple and beautiful, it is truly one of my favorites so far! You can find this necklace listed on etsy at JLynnCreations.etsy.com.

Excitement grows!

I have been working on my new Beach Glass Tags line and today the second necklace in the series sold! I am so excited about this line and I'm pleased to see that excitement is catching! I do have more in the works, and am exploring a sterling silver option as well, for those that have sensitive skin. I have been trying to find the right combination of materials and price to bring in attention, and I think I may have found it! I also have a "circle sentiments" beach glass line I am exploring as well! A new year means a time for exploring and heading in new directions! Cheers to 2009!

1000 Markets invite!

I recently set up a new shop on 1000markets! It is a beautiful market with many talented artists and crafters. It is a juried location and you have to set up a few items in a shop and then apply to be accepted. Then, in addition, they have what they call Markets. They have different themes and some are a bit more selective than others. Tonight I was accepted to the Inspired by Nature market!!! I am so excited I'm bouncing off the walls tonight! It is a beautiful collection of handmade items that are inspired by nature and my Lake Erie beach glass jewelry was excepted. There are a few other talented artist who work with beach glass that are featured there too. I am honored to be listed along with all the other wonderful artists in this group. So, drop by my 1000Markets shop http://www.1000markets.com/users/jlynncreations And while you are there, take a look around at the other amazing artists!

New beach glass product line! BEACH GLASS TAGS!

I have been trying to figure out something to do with all those "imperfect" pieces of beach glass I have picked up over the years. And then, while I was at my local craft store looking at charms it hit me! I've combined the "imperfect" (not worn quite enough, or chipped), but still beautiful beach glass with little sentiment tags. And, to keep the price lower, I have chosen to use plated chain instead of sterling chain. Ta-Da!! BEACH GLASS TAGS!

I'm very excited to have found something to do with all these wonderful pieces of glass AND to have a lower price point to offer my customers in this terrible economy! So take a look at the first Beach Glass Tag necklace that's available in my etsy shop. There will be many more coming soon, so be sure to stop back!

So I finally did it!

I have been talking about creating a blog for a few months now. So, as part of my New Year's resolution to grow my jewelry business......HERE IT IS!! ( So please bare with me as I learn all this as I go :)

I started creating jewelry this past summer and just couldn't get enough! I have always been the crafty sort and jewelry making combines so many things I love....colors, textures, and just the playing around of it all. I love to go downstairs in my room and get lost (not hard considering that I share my crafting space with the laundry too)! It is my escape. It is my time. And I treasure it!