A day at the flea market

Yesterday I spent a good portion of the day at our local flea market. I got some antique keys and vintage brass stampings for my jewelry designs. I also picked up a cute vintage Sarah Conventry necklace for only a buck! I forgot to put on sunscreen though, so a beautiful day turned into a very ugly sunburn! 

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!

Currently, I am...

Fall inspired designs

 

The blues-rock sounds of The Black Keys

 

Enjoying beautiful New England scenery

 Exercising my civic duty!

October in Photos

This month was a busy one, for sure. With a craft festival, a private home party and a monthly Connecticut Bead Society meeting, I was constantly on the go. I wouldn't have it any other way either :)

For the second year now, I participated in the Saybrook Country Barn's Craft of Main St show. It is always a good time, even if I'm huddled up under a blanket because it's so cold!

Here is a (bad) shot from a private home party I had this month. I had so much fun hanging out with all these talented, lovely ladies!

Kabela Designs came to the Connecticut Bead Society meeting with a challenge for all of us. We were all given the same bead kit and 30 minutes to make a design. Then we laid them all out to see. It's amazing how different each person's piece of jewelry was even though we had the same materials to work with!

These are a few of Kabela's pieces that I purchased. The middle set of links has Swarovski crystals and I've already made a pair of earrings using the keys!

Even with all this work to do, I still took some time out to go apple picking!

Photos of recent jewelry work are to come soon. Hurricane Sandy had us all in a hold for the last few days, but the power is back on and we're all safe!

Happy Halloween!

Key to the Heart

A little while back, I participated in a supply swap and received some beautiful gifts from my partner, Lisa of Pine Ridge Treasures. There was no obligation to create anything, this was simply to share beads and components, so I hadn't gotten around to using these goodies until this weekend.

I used both the key focal and large cable chain in a gunmetal finish. First, I had to alter the key a bit to use as a pendant. I used the dremel to create a bit of a distressed look and then glued a heart shaped jewel on to the the middle. It looked like it needed some color there! The chain was added to a strand of red Malaysia Jade and Jet gemstone beads to create an asymmetrical design. This finished necklace is about 36 inches long with no clasp, as it can easily slip over the head.

This necklace is available at my etsy shop, here.

Sunflowers and Ice Cream!

We had thunderstorms on and off all weekend, but I still managed to get out and enjoy a great little spot called Buttonwood Ice Cream Farm. Not only do they make their delicious ice cream and waffle cones right on site (you can even meet their cows!), but they also have fields and fields of goregous sunflowers to walk around in and snap photos.

Wait in line for 30 minutes...

 Forbidden Silk Chocolate and Coconut ice cream in a waffle bowl. 
And topped with a little hot fudge of course!  Worth the wait!

 Meet the cows!

Then the big rain storm hit.... Time to head home!

Success!

The Art on Groton Bank show was a success!! I could not have wished for a better day weather wise and I just love the location of this show! We enjoyed the cool breeze coming from the sound, while under the shadow of New England's oldest standing obelisk at Fort Griswold.

On Sunday, I went to a local flea market to stock up on some more vintage keys. They make such awesome pendants!

I was really enjoying a perfect summer weekend, so I decided the best way to end it would be some delicious fried seafood for dinner and watching the sunset at the marina.

 

Photo credits:  1 | 2 | 3