The Pantone Colour of 2010: Turquoise

With the stressful year that 2009 had given us, Pantone Inc. forcasts an appropriate colour that may reflect the ease of mind and tranquility that we all seek for 2010 - turquoise!

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

Turquoise is a colour that is universally flattering, and could be considered the 'new black': adding a punch of colour to browns, pinks, yellows and deep blues, "translating easily from fashion to interior design," Eiseman says.

Take a look at some of these Etsy finds that celebrate the multi-faceted turquoise spirit!

If Love Is An Ocean, thatjewelrygirl.etsy.com

Seafoam Veil, inspiringcolor.etsy.com 

Blown Bright Multi-Colour Fluted Glass Vase, wolfartglass.etsy.com 

Let Artbeads.com Be Your Valentine!

 

Did you like the beads that I've used in my Swarovski and Silver and Glass projects?  Excited to see what Artbeads.com can offer your designs?  Take advantage of the Sweetheart Sale, saving 15% off orders $60 or more storewide!  Don't delay - the sale ends at 9 am (PST) on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010.

I know that if I had the 'disposable' income, I would certainly spoil myself with these beautiful finds on sale:

Brown Tiger's Eye Coins

Sterling/Resin Pendant, Lime with Summer Oak

Small Lapis Lazuli Nuggets

Hill Tribe Silver Squiddy Floral Pendant

Fire-Polished Bead Mix - Black and White Tones

Swarovski Baroque Ruby Pendant

Grossularite Faceted Flat Squares

Visit Artbeads.com now to take advantage of the savings!

Glass and Silver From Artbeads.com!

It's time to show off some of the goodies Artbeads.com has to offer!  I've been invited to work with a selection of their Silver and Glass products, and I've got some fantastic things to show you!

The Swarovski project yielded 6 pieces from my selection, and I had certainly outdone myself - with 11!!  The selection of glass beads and Bali, Hill Tribe, and sterling silver beads Artbeads.com has to offer come in a myriad of colours, shapes, cuts and finishes for a real unique design experience.  I've got a few new beads of my own and a few recycled pieces of jewelry to use with these fantastic beads!

Wow, there's just too much to show you - let's get started!

Skeleton Key necklace

Skeletons in your closet much?  This necklace is one of my favourites!

These skull beads, carved out of bone (ironically!) are one of my favourites in my stash, and were a great element in this necklace.  These avocado green glass beads with a 'Picasso' finish add the perfect detail to the rugged skulls.  The green star pendant was from a pair of recycled earrings, and the vintage key came from an Etsy purchase from summerscreations.etsy.com.  A great fit!

Lookit! New Beads!

Being swayed by new visions of cleverness, I hit some of the shops on Etsy that provided nothing but the most gorgeous beads and findings - and nothing short of!  Check out these fantastic beads from these fantastic sellers!

Snow White Czech glass flowers, floridaangel.etsy.com

Czech glass in rose, floridaangel.etsy.com

green Czech pressed glass beads, floridaangel.etsy.com

vintage feather charms, snapcrafty.etsy.com

vintage plastic filigree beads, snapcrafty.etsy.com

ruffled grey rose cabochons, snapcrafty.etsy.com

ruffled jet black rose cabochons, snapcrafty.etsy.com

antique brass adjustable rings, snapcrafty.etsy.com

antique brass scarab pendant, snapcrafty.etsy.com

vintage warrior cabochon, waytobead.etsy.com

vintage German lucite conch shells, waytobead.etsy.com

Amber Floral Pandora lampwork bead, beadcrazed.etsy.com

Just you wait and see what I do with these!  I've got upcoming project ideas for the next Artbeads.com sponsored project, as well as some new items to go up in my Etsy shop!  You'll get the first look right here, real soon!

Photographs courtesy of mentioned shops.

A Very Etsy Christmas: Supporting Handmade for the Holidays

Spoiling myself a little bit over the holidays, I took to Etsy for some of my holiday shopping ... while finding some gifts for myself!

The Hootie Owl necklace and Olivine Green candle holder both came from summerscreations.etsy.com.  I had my eye on this necklace for a while, and the candle holder was a present from 'Santa' to my boyfriend, Nick - who loves candles, seemingly.

 

This awesome tote came from my friend Tracy at thetotetrove.etsy.com, and was a gift to my sister-in-law.  She surprised me with a small matching change purse inside!  (The postcard had a message from Tracy, and it's of an Andy Warhol painting of a Corvette, that I still have on my fridge!  It's awesome!)

Visit their shops to find more awesome stuff!

Photos provided by their respective Etsy shops.

Wordless Wednesday, Issue #8: Piccolo the Cat

 

 

 

 

Piccolo, our very first pet in our new apartment, minding her own business while I was getting ready this morning.

Photography credit: Cassandra Watsham 

"Hey, Do You Have Any More Of Those Reindeer Antlers?": A Handmade Christmas, 2009

The benefit of a handmade Christmas is the money you save; that's the first thought that may come to your mind.  I'll be honest, that's the first thought that came to mine.  Since Nick and I moved out on our own, we knew we were working on a far stricter budget than we anticipated.  Fresh-baked cookies in a dollar-store Christmas tin may be cost-thrifty, but don't doubt that you'll be the hit of every Christmas party and family gathering - we certainly were!  Nick and I spent some quality time together in the kitchen making some Christmas treats, starting a tradition I hope we can keep up for next Christmas!

These cookies were a mainstay around the apartment during Christmas.  There was always a fresh batch made every few days, either baking for friends or family.  To be honest, probably half of each batch made ended up in our tummies.  This is your standard choco-chip cookie recipe, replacing chocolate chips with red and green M&M's and adding a quarter-cup of cocoa powder for extra chocolateyness.  (It's a word now!)

 

 

Where To Start When Playing Catch-Up ...

Oh my goodness, I couldn't believe how long it had been since I'd posted anything here, and I have so much to tell you all!

We last left with the news that Nick and I have moved into our own humble abode, unpacking slowly but surely.  The 'moving' part is almost over - we still have some things in storage we need to pull out - and the exciting part - well, for me - is beginning: organizing!

Surprise! WE'RE MOVING!!

Nick and I have found ourselves on a lightning-fast search for a place for us to really settle some roots, and our good karma has landed right back in our lap - we've found ourselves a beautiful 2-bedroom open-concept apartment, just outside of downtown Brampton!  Hardwood floors throughout the entire apartment, kitchen with new appliances, and closet space galore!   (Plenty of room for all those shoes, my father would say!)   We'll be setting up the second bedroom as a workspace/music studio that both Nick and I can share, where I can be surrounded and inspired by a menagerie of musical instruments, and Nick can finally have the space he's always wanted to make his music flourish!  

I haven't any pictures right now of this beautiful space, but certainly will very soon!  My 365-Make n' Tell Challenges will mostly be revolved around decorating our little piece of planet Earth we call home, as well as organizing my jewelry workspace, while incorporating a shared space with Nick and his home studio for music recording.

Oh man, is he good.  I might be slightly biased, and I don't care; I know talent when I see it!  I know I show off enough with my own stuff all over this blog, so here's a chance to show off the love of my life doing what he loves to do in life!  This is Nick in his former band, Dali Circus, and a little taste of his guitar prowess. 




'Butterfly fingers', no?

See you in the new place!

Handmade Christmas Cards

Yes, yes, yes!  More holiday cheer!

I've always loved receiving handmade greeting cards.  The sentimentality of receiving a gift that someone has put lots of tender loving care into its creation says a lot more than a store-bought gift.  For someone on a holiday budget, it's the perfect option to give a token of love!

I thought I'd take a try on some handmade Christmas cards, since I love the art of 'cut n' paste' since I was a kid.  My talent has become quite refined since childhood, and I'm rather happy with the result!  Let me take you on a walk through what I had been doing over the past few days ...

Shooting Star card in red/yellow