You're Never Too Old For A Costume!

We had a great time today at Long & McQuade Brampton for Halloween!  We were already in the spirit with our window display, so a bunch of us decided to dress up for an exciting work day on Saturday, with some pretty fantastic results!  See what me and my workmates were up to!

Here's Shayna's tribute to Sailor Moon!

Will rotated costumes from Rorschach from The Watchmen ...

 

... to Drew Carey hosting 'The Price Is Right!'

I'm a Giveaway Winner ... Again!

Karma is such a wonderful thing!

Remember the Black Kitty scarf from RosaleenDhu Designs I had tweeted about earlier from Ms. Modern's Halloween Giveaway Extravaganza?  I won the giveaway!  I couldn't believe it!  Just look at this cute scarf!

I plan to wear it in tribute to my newly adopted kitten, Edward, who just happens to be a black cat.  Thank you to RosaleenDhu for the scarf, and I shall wear it proudly!

When I had entered this giveaway, I had noticed at that time that there was an open space available for anyone who'd like to participate in this month-long giveaway.  Well, as you had probably seen previously, I had offered up the Spider necklace, no. 2 as a prize for a lucky winner.

Who wouldn't want to win this?  I mean, I don't mean to 'toot my own horn', but it took a lot to separate myself from this necklace.

I am happy to announce that this necklace will be in a happy home with Cathy, our lucky winner, in Pennsylvania, US!

Wee-haw!  This is a testament that it is great to give - and receive!

Handmade Christmas Ornaments!

It's a special Make n' Tell today, kids!  Yes, the holidays are upon us artisans!  And I've already finished some custom orders!

This custom order just finished is for my best friend's mum, Phyllis.  She had asked me to make her four Christmas tree ornaments, similar to the ornament that I had made for her last year. 

I called this ornament 'Carolers in the Snow'.  I fashioned these singers out of glass beads and a lot of jumprings individually attached.  (That was a lot of work.)  Faux pearl beads represent falling snow, a paper crane out of sheet music flies overhead.  This is all put on a lightweight chandelier earring frame.

This ornament, albeit I ended up with calluses after this one, was loads of fun to make, especially making the singers; experimenting with bead sizes, styles and colours to make 'outfits'.  I relished in the opportunity to make four more of these monsters.  The next few days were dedicated to furnishing these custom pieces for Phyllis to give to her family!

Carolers in the Snow, no. 2

 

 

Halloween Giveaway Extravaganza, Hosted by Ms. Modern! (CLOSED)

You need to check this giveaway out!

I do apologize for the delay of posting this, but I have been fortunate to be involved in Ms. Modern's Halloween Giveaway Extravaganza!  There's a giveaway a day, and guess who's on Day 21?  That's me!

Get a chance to win this showstopper Spider necklace, no. 2, from my Etsy shop, amongst other very, very cool things!

You'll remember this necklace from a previous Make n' Tell Challenge, and thought this would be the perfect way for it to go to a great home!

To get yourself in the draw, pick your favourite piece from my Etsy shop and leave a comment on this post on the Ms. Modern blog.  There are many other ways you can earn bonus entries, too!  Visit her blog to find out more.

But that's not all from me!

I've been keeping track of everyone's favourite picks and I've put them on sale!  The 'Ms. Modern Sale' at Design by Cassandra will end on November 1st!  So pick your favourite piece and enter the draw - and keep an eye on my Etsy shop for your item on a great sale price!

Swarovski Elements with Artbeads.com!

Ladies and gents, this is a very special edition of the 365-Day Make n' Tell Challenge, because I have been chosen to be part of a blogging team for the spectacular one-stop bead website, Artbeads.com!

I'm really excited about this particular Make n' Tell, because I have, in my hot little hands, some lovely Swarovski crystal pieces I've chosen from the vast catalogue available on Artbeads.com.  As soon as Nick told me at work that they'd arrived in the mail, my hands were itching for the rest of the day!

Since being chosen to be part of the blogging team, I had poured over the pages and dabbled over a few design ideas, sketching them out.  I was always hesitant to work with Swarovski crystals, hearing of their 'high-maintenance care', associating their brilliance to gaudy costume jewelry.  I could never get away from that image of Dallas-like jewelry that was just too flashy, too gaudy, and tooooo big ... at least for my taste.  I like character in my jewelry, but I had consciously tried to stay away from anything that had a literal 'sparkle'.  With that in mind, and the desire to 'expand my vision', I was really, really careful in what I picked, wanting to mix these beads with 'natural elements', like rough cut gemstones, shells and wood beads.  (Well, that was the idea at first.  You'll see what I mean later.)  I was so happy to find a rainbow and beyond of colours available, in all shapes and sizes!  It sent the little girl inside me skipping through a fantasyland of glittery trees, and sparkly flowers in windowsill, and gorgeous butterflies sparkling in a mellow yellow jonquil sun with their amethyst wings and olivine eyes fluttering through a sapphire sky ... that was fun!  You get what I mean ... but you should really see it for yourself!

Happy Halloween from Long & McQuade!

Oooooh, did we have fun with this window display at Long & McQuade Brampton!  The original idea we had was to make scarecrows in the likenesses of Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Moon and the like, but the task was rather daunting (not to mention Courtney Love might sue us for turning her dead husband into a scarecrow).  This idea was just as equally cool.  We found some guitars only the demons of rock would play, added some spider webs, laser lights and a fog machine ... and don't forget that huge spider!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This display has to be one of our favourites by far.  I'm looking forward to Halloween (being it on a Saturday!) when the wee ones come in with their cute costumes!  I have my Indiana Jones costume all set, just looking for the right things to add into my messenger bag ...

Off to work!

Long & McQuade Field Trip: Cosmic Bowling!

I love where I work; not just because Long & McQuade is a great place to work, it's the people I work with.  We consider ourselves like a great big family, and treat each other the same way.

So, picture your family with about 15 or so big brothers, all musicians.  Yep.  That's my 'family'!  And I couldn't ask for a better one.  It helps that we all like each other, which makes coming to work that much more fun.

We just came from a recently planned social event, an evening of pizza, beer and Cosmic Bowling!  It also just happens to be the day before my birthday!  (Of course, wanting to keep this a low-key birthday, I was glad there wasn't a lot of attention brought to it, just a couple of 'Happy Birthday, Cassman!')  We had a great time, and a lot of 'goofballs' and 'gutterballs' toboot.  Nick won the game on our team, and was primarily behind the lens taking these great pictures.  I'm sorry I didn't get any of you in action, honey!

My bowling shoes, burgundy and pink.  Oh, the inspirations!

Nick's enjoying the space-age swivel chairs.

Jenna has joined us after her climb up the CN Tower for cancer research!  She was just a cheerleader for the evening.

Graham and Beej, 'nuff said.

Thank You, Blueberry Cream!

I've just received my Pearly Swirly bracelet I had won in a recent giveaway in the mail, and it is gorgeous!  Even more stunning in real life!  I've worn it on numerous occasions, and received plenty of compliments - to which all I direct to the lovely store it came from, BlueberryCream.etsy.com!

You're gonna see a picture here real soon of me wearing this beautiful bracelet ... just need to take a nice one with detail!

I've already started a little personal 'wish list' of other stuff from the shop!

Autumn Collection - Fall bracelet, blueberrycream.etsy.com

Yellow and Grey necklace, blueberrycream.etsy.com

Herringbone earrings, blueberrycream.etsy.com

Square pendant, blueberrycream.etsy.com

Garnet Heart necklace, blueberrycream.etsy.com

Blueberry Cream offers shipping on almost everything in the store!  You can follow her blog for more giveaway options at gemstonegirl.blogspot.com, and be sure to follow her on Twitter at @blueberry_cream.

Lots of Jewelry Inspiration!

I apologize to all those following that I haven't been catching up as of late.  There has been a bit of a troubling experience that I've had to do deal with (see post Adia: In Absentia), as well as some new listings in my Etsy shop.

Although I've been absent from the Challenge, I have been creative!  I'm excited to show you some of the projects I had been making this past week.  New jewelry designs, creative gift wrap ideas, even a new window display at work for Halloween!

In this post, I'll share with you the new handmade bling!

I have a bajillion (well, overemphasizing) spare keys lying around that were given to me over the course of time.  I don't really know what to do with them all, because I have so many.  If they were of the vintage variety, it would be a field day!  They're more of the 'lost house key you found in the couch' variety.  Not too bad, though, because I grabbed these smaller keys and made some fresh earrings with dangling chain in different metals and a caged bead to top it off.  They're a little heavy, as keys would be dangling from 'lobes, and truly, not an uncomfortable heavy.  They'll certainly remind you that they're there!

Etsy Purchase from Everyday Diamonds!

Look what I bought myself for my birthday!  Ophelia's Flower from Everyday Diamonds!

I had fallen in love with this flower when I saw it as the avatar for the shop, and once I found it on sale again, I had tweeted to @EtsyEveryday to please, please hold it for me, while I was on my way to her Etsy shop at everydaydiamonds.etsy.com.  I had the option of a pinback or hair pin, but I couldn't really decide.  I was recommended an alligator pin - perfect!

Happy birthday to me!  I can't wait to get this beautiful flower!  Here are some other ones I have my eye on for a possible future purchase.

 

Christmastime Organza Flower necklace, everydaydiamonds.etsy.com

Padoga purse, everydaydiamonds.etsy.com

Wednesday brooch/hair clip, everydaydiamonds.etsy.com

Give the shop a visit at everydaydiamonds.etsy.com, and tell 'em Cassandra says hello!

100th Post Giveaway Winners!

Congrats to the 100th Post Giveaway winners!  Tracy from The Tote Trove and Debby from Starbabys Little Universe!  They'll each receive their choice of prize from my Etsy shop valued at $20 or less!

Stay tuned for more chances to win more awesome stuff from Design by Cassandra!

Adia: In Absentia

In light of hearing more incriminating news about the founder of the Adia Foundation, a 'charitable organization' in which I recently did promote and donate to, I have been focusing efforts in reviewing information that seems to point that this organization and it's founder's intentions may be fraudulent.  I won't be posting any more about the Adia Foundation, and am no longer a supporter.  Donation items have been removed from my Etsy shop, as well as any links and posts referring to the Adia Foundation or 'Adia's Aunties' for the sake of privacy of those involved.  I have made a few comment posts on this blog, to which now there are nearly one thousand comments providing more incriminating evidence. 

For those involved in the Etsy community and are aware of this 'foundation', I do urge you to read this blog and be aware of this situation and the people involved for your own sake.  Now that it has infiltrated something we may have been taking for granted, like Etsy's 'safe' online community, there may be new precautions in place.

I do promise you that I have been making some awesome stuff, surely!  You will see the fruits of these past few days rather soon, once I get the camera's batteries charged.  Of course, I need to find the camera first.

I also apologize to the folks who've entered into my 100th Blog Post Giveaway, and will be announcing the winner on the next post within the next 24 hours.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Think Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness!

 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Artisans across the globe are raising funds to help battle breast cancer, and I would like to do my part, too.  Nick's grandmother, Sharron, is a breast cancer survivor and is currently recovering splendidly, albeit she had her share of pain and suffering.  Brave women like Sharron suffer every day from breast cancer, while still retaining positive attitudes and still remain active in their communities as much as they can, to bring awareness to this cause.  Seeing Sharron through this ordeal has made her family much closer than before, and much more determined to help her and other women like her beat breast cancer for good.  I've gone through my shop, grabbed all the 'pink' stuff, and moved it all into the b r e a s t C A N C E R section in my Etsy shop, with 50% of the proceeds of these items being donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation during the month of October (2009).  Take a look at the wonderful gifts you can give, and saving a woman's 'best friends!'

Late Night Friday Covets, Issue #7: The Birthday List Continues!

My birthday looms closer, and birthday money might be coming my way.  If I received millions of dollars, by chance, on my birthday, what would I spend it on?

Why, that's what the Late Night Friday Covets are for!

Antarctic - quartz and sterling silver ring, Jealousydesigns.etsy.com

 

I'm A Dirty Hipster mask/necklace, punchdrunkprincess.etsy.com

Hand-dip dyed purple fringe and chain necklace, threehorses.etsy.com

Spider Jewelry For Halloween!

My spidey sense is tingling on this Make n' Tell Challenge!

Apologies for the lateness ... when I get to making something that is awesome, I don't usually stop for breaks.  I had recently performed a social experiment on Twitter with a retweet giveaway, the winner being Debby from starbabyonline.etsy.com!  Her prize was anything from my Etsy shop, and she chose the Spider Kiss necklace, no. 1!  A great pick for the upcoming Halloween bonanza!

Nick said that was his favourite one, and that I should make another one.  So, on Day #43, I stewed over a new spider necklace idea while I giftwrapped my new Etsy listings! 

My 'spidey senses' were tingling on Day #44 and #45!  Check these out!

 

 

This one's kind of macabre, with the flies caught in the net and the 'blood splatter'.  I had just finished this one today, and had a few more ideas.

Earrings, with 'flies' caught in a partial 'spider web'.

This is a smaller-scale version of the previous necklaces, something more of a 'sweetheart' neckline.  I thought a smaller one would be cute, for lack of a better term, and remembered I had a few black glass hearts left, and added one to the bottom of the web.

It's really late, so I gotta get to bed!  I'll be catching up with the rest of my 365-Day Make n' Tell Challenge friends very soon!

Designs by Victoria

dbvictoria.blogspot.com

Mrs Gryphon

mrsgryphon.blogspot.com

The Tote Trove

thetotetrove.blogspot.com