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!