A stay-cation in Mystic, CT

Welcome to my reveal for the 2nd Annual Challenge of Travel blog hop! Erin has challenged us to stay-cation, where we experience the local attractions close to home.

Today I'll be taking you on a trip to the famous Mystic, CT. This shoreline town is not only full of beautiful scenery but it's also rich in history, making it a popular tourist destination in the summer months. You may have already heard of my small town because of a popular movie called Mystic Pizza, staring Julia Roberts. The Mystic Pizza restaurant is right in the heart of downtown, where you can grab a slice and do some great shopping!

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This store is owned by a woman who shares my name! It's such a cool boutique.

Running through downtown Mystic is a river, and if you want to cross by car or foot, at 40 minutes past the hour, you will have to stop and wait for the drawbridge to rise. Built in 1920, this bascule style swing bridge is one of the oldest of its type still in operation and is quite a sight to see!

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I look forward to the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival every year. It's the largest around and runs all weekend long! This year the weather was just beautiful and the amazingly talented artists were plentiful. We also enjoyed some tasty New England summer foods.

Clam Fritters!

There are so many other great attractions in Mystic too. At the Seaport, you can learn about the old sailing ships and experience what maritime life was like!

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If you're a regular reader, you may remember that my high school reunion was held at the Mystic Aquarium. Who doesn't love sea lions and penguins? :)

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Now, let's get to the jewelry! I created a necklace for this challenge that was inspired by the tall sailing ships. I had a vintage brass stamping that I hung from brass chain. I then created a sort of "ocean" with multiple strands of seed beads in shades of blue and turquoise.

I hope I have peaked your interest about my area of the world, and just maybe I'll see ya around!

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Getting back to normal

I seem to have been in a blogging slump lately, it's taken me two days to write this post. I blame the weather. As most of you heard, the North East was hit hard by a blizzard last week. I happen to live in the area that was hit hardest, with just under three feet of snow! Luckily I was prepared, as I have lived here all my life, I knew to run out Friday morning, not only for groceries but also for beads! Two and a half days of being stuck in the house, with or without power, can make you crazy if you don't have enough projects to stay busy.

I got these lampwork beauties at a local bead shop and while this was happening outside...

I made these colorful and fun earrings!

Flower Garden Bracelet

This is a similar design to a bracelet I had previously posted, but this one is done in pinks and purples and features a stunning one of a kind lampwork bead.

Materials:
Vintage light pink glass rounds
Dark pink rondelle gemstones
Purple quartz gemstones
Vintage handmade glass and lucite beads in Dark pink
Goregous Handmade Lampwork focal bead in Light Pink, Dark pink, Purple and White
Silver toned flower toggle clasp

Available in my Etsy shop

Memories and Thanks

Lori Anderson is hosting the Memories and Thanks blog hop. Each participant is creating a piece of jewelry in honor of someone who means a lot to them. I knew when I signed up I would be making a necklace for my mom, Lesley. I am very fortunate to have her, not only for a mother but as a best friend too.

Mom's favorite color is green, so when I saw these faceted green agate rounds, I knew they were perfect. I used brown Swarovski bicones (with a finish that showed a bit of green) and two handmade beads by Splendid Loon Studios to pick up on the brown inflections in the agate. The sterling chain and clasp were actually part of an old bracelet that Mom used to wear. It is a longer necklace, about 24 inches, and includes lots of seed beads because, well, that's what she likes. I haven't given the necklace to her yet so she'll be quite surprised when she reads this post! :)

Don't forget to stop by the other participants blogs and see what things they have created. You won't be disappointed!


Hostess, Lori Anderson Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir Dream Struck Designs
Aimee Biondolillo Aimee's Jewelry Treasures
Alicia Marinache All the Pretty Things
Andra Marasteanu Handmade by Indra Marasteanu
Andrea Trank Heaven Lane Creations
April Grinaway Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Barb Solem Vivi Magoo Presents
Becky Pancake Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery Stories by Indigo Heart
Bonnie Coursolle Jasper's Gems

Cassi Paslick Beads: Rolling Downhill
Catherine King Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier The Beading Yogini
Chandra Leitz Juniper Goods
Charissa Nesler FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka Clay Space
Christina Hickman Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Murrow Charis Designs Jewelry
Christine Stonefield Sweet Girl Design
Chrizette Bayman Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson It's My Sea of Dreams
CJ Bauschka 4 His Glory Creations by CJ
Crystal Thain Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin Beading Arts

Debbie Rasmussen A little of this, a little of that
Denielle Hagerman Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez Arte y Poemas
Diane Hawkey diane hawkey
Dita Basu ankarshilpa
Donetta Farrington Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell Deeliteful Jewelry Creations
Emma Todd A Polymer Penchant
Erin Kenny beadiful therapy
Erin Prais-Hintz Treasures Found
Gina Hockett Freestyle Elements
Gloria Allen Innovative Dreams Jewelry
Heather Marston CSW Designs
Inge von Roos Inge's Blog
Iveth Caruso Creative Atelier

Jacqueline Marchant Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp Celebrating Life!
Jean Yates Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!
Jennifer Reno Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo Peppa's Dream
Jennifer VanBenschoten Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren Cellar Door Jewelry
Jessica Murray Whimsical Monkey
Joan Williams lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton It's a Beadiful Creation
Joanne Browne josjewels1
Jodie Marshall Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art
Johanna Rhodes Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC
JuLee Wolfe The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean Blue Pig Blog

Karen Mitchell Over the Moon Designs
Karin King The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton Backstory Beads
Kat Douglas Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton Toodles and Binks
Kelly Hosford Patterson The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak CianciBlue
Kim Houston The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter Kym Hunter Designs

Laren Dee Barton Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus First Impression Design
Liddy McLaughlin Liddy McLaughlin Art
Linda Florian Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder Must-Haves Jewelry
Lisa Hamilton Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver Fancee That
Lori Bowring Michaud Artfully Ornamental
Lori Poppe Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
LouAnn Elwell Southpass Beads

Mandi Effron Craft-o-licious
Marcia DeCoster MadDesigns
Marcia Dunne The Alternative Foundry
Marie Covert Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite bennubirdrising
Marlene Cupo Amazing Designs by Marlene
Martha Aleo Ornamento
Marti Conrad Marti's Buttons -n- Beads
Mary Ellen Parker BeeTree by m.e.

Mary Govaars MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Lindell Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry
Maureen Connolly Mrs Beadsley's Workshop
Maybeline Tay The Jewelry Larder
Melissa Elgin The Addicted Beader
Melissa Mesara one-eared pig beads
Menka Gupta Menka's Jewelry
Michaela Pabeschitz la mar de bonita
Mischelle Fanucchi Micheladas Musings
Mona Rae Baroody Who Does She Bead She Is?

Nan Emmett Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth
Nancy Pedersen Something Heartfelt by Nancy
Natalie Davidson NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas Bead It and Weep
Pam Farren re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister The Crazy Creative Corner
Pam Traub Klassy Joolz
Priya Krish Hellopalz
Rebecca Anderson Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson a creative chelle
Rosa Maria Cuevas Helena de Troya

Sabine Dittrich perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff Creative Chaos
Sarah Goode Pookledo
Sarah Singer String a Song of Sixpence
Serena Trent All Things Made Jewelry
Shai Williams Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac Sharon's Jewelry Garden
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sheila Davis Stone Designs
Shelley Graham Turner Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey Knot Just Macrame
Sherry Baun Unicorns Jewels
Skylar Bre'z Brising Beads
Stephanie Haussler Pixybug Designs

Tania Spivey Moobie Grace Designs
Terri G. Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter Tapping Flamingo
Terry Matuszyk Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Toltec Jewels Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse Goldkisses Art
Tracy Martin Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin Beads, Tea and Sweets

Multiple Strands

Lately I have been working on a few multi-strand designs. I'm loving the bold dimension it gives each piece and the wide range of possibilities when combining colors and materials.

This necklace is actually six strands, despite the five strand clasp. It includes Amethyst gemstones, blue freshwater pearls, traditional Czech glass and other various glass beads in grey and silver tones.

I designed this bracelet to be only half mutli-strand. Here I combined two types of Jasper (Red and Impression) with light blue faceted glass beads and a lovely handmade lampwork focal bead. A sterling silver toggle clasp features a two strand design as well :)

Tips for creating multiple strand jewelry:

1. Use a bead board to help in the design process. This handy tool has to be one of my favorite because it allows me to lay out beads and play around the the design before committing and creating the piece. This also lets me put to put my project away for a bit and I know that the beads will not be moved out of order.

Available from Prima Beads

2. Let your findings make it easy. While no special clasps or findings are necessary to create multi-strand jewelry, these items can really help enhance your designs and make creating a piece much easier on yourself.

Clasp available from Prima Beads           Cones available from Art Beads

3. Experiment with different color and material combinations. Be brave and play with your stash of materials. Combine unlikely colors or contrasting materials, like rough chain and elegant pearls.

For further reading, I recommend Magpie Gemstone's article 'How to Make Multi-strand Necklaces' Part I and Part II.

Never Too Many Earrings

Pink Ombre Earrings

Available here

Kyanite and Spiral Earrings
Available here Sold

Jasper and Brass Key Earrings
Available here

Bronzite, Jasper, Pearl and Czech glass Earrings
Available here

Czech glass Double Chain Earrings

Available here

Winding down

I hope everyone had wonderful holidays! I am enjoying some down time, after the last few hectic months, hanging out at home. I will have some new jewelry to post soon, but for now some of my photos from Christmas...

Adorable 'Noel' sign from Target, on clearance!

The tree and decorations.

Santa has done it again!

Homemade Vanilla Extract, I made for gifts

My boys, with their presents, on Christmas morning