1-2-3 little boxes

As I told ya'll yesterday, I was working on a pair of smaller barefoot sandals for my niece's birthday. It was actually on Monday but her party will be this Friday. The Chazman is excited about it because it's at an arcade and pizza joint. My sister laughs and calls it a casino for kiddos. *Gulp*...guess I better have lots of quarters ready!! Wait....Hold UP...is my 11 year old going to a casino before I ever even get to go to one. I guess he is and might be a good thing. I don't know if I could walk away from machines that promised me money!!

OK OK I'm getting way off what this post was suppose to be about.....hehe. So easily distracted I am. I was talking about Banana's gifts. I did get the sandals completed and added a bracelet and one of my shell necklaces too. I think she will be quiet happy with her grown up jewelry pieces.

I made some of my paper gift boxes to put each item in. I so love making these boxes. Remember that I posted a how to on these if you want to make some yourself. I cut these out so they could be stacked together and make a gift tower. The smallest one is 6 inches...the next 8 inches and the bottom 10 inches.
They are all tied together with some of the hemp rope and a tiny natural shell and gift card placed on top.

Now....we just have to patiently wait for Friday to get here. So happy that the Chazman looks at the calendar himself these days and I won't be hearing 24/7 "Is it time yet"??

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

TGIF...and it's BBQ & Blues weekend!!!

Happy Happy Friday to all and I hope you have plans for fun and adventure this weekend. I know that we surely do because it's that time of year again. What time you ask? BBQ and Blues time..that's what time!! It's a annual event here in Foley and is fastly becoming THE place to be. Music from 11am until 5pm. If  you are near here then stop on by to listen to some AWESOME music and oh yeah.....eat some BBQ. Tickets are only $10 per person (10 and under FREE) and you get to taste all the BBQ you can eat. Yeppers, this event is a BBQ cook off to see who just really does have the best BBQ in the area. It will most certainly be a BBQ-licious time!!

Now for those that come to visit me I guess ya noticed that I have been missing for a week. No worries, all's good here...now. It's just been a rather stressful two weeks and last week I just needed some down time. Of course, ya'll that know me know me, know that I didn't just sit. My art is my therapy and that I do more of when I'm feeling down and blue. Since I did have several pieces of my shell jewelry made I had a sweet little week of sales. That cheered me up BIG TIME. Thank you to all that purchased ^_^   I have a 20% off promotion going on from now until Monday and to receive it all ya have to do is use the word BEACH at checkout. Since I did have a good week in sales, I'm currently working on some more pieces. ^_^

Here's one that I just finished and Boy oh Boy did it take me back to my hippie days.I have always loved hemp rope jewelry and I discovered I had some real beauty of some shells to make this piece with. It's bigger than any I have made so far. See................

The base is a scallop shell and inside is a broken Murex shell along with a glass vial filled with some of our beach sand. Yeah yeah...I'm an outlaw..hehe...NOT!!!  I get my sand from the shells once I clean them. Ya can't imagine how much stays inside of them when ya pick them up. Inside of the vial also are some pieces of coral and tiny shells and some tiny pieces of sea glass. The outside of the vial has two tiny barnacles attached.

I did one of my twisted square knot cords and this necklace can be worn at 20 inches all the way up to 38 inches. The closure is one of my twisted square knot ones so that you just slip it over your head and can wear it at different lengths. (everything from the 20 in between up to the 38)

I have also been working on some of my beaded memory wire bracelets and plan on getting several added to the shop by next week. That is if folks stop buying them before I even get them finished...hehe. That's alright though.....I just like that they are liked and are selling. Here's one that I have made two of so far and am patiently waiting on more wire to get here so I can make yet another one.

Now....it's time to get to work. I hope that you have a fantastic weekend. Get out and do something FUN!!

Until next time...............HUGS,
Regi

Psssttt...it's that time!!

Happy Happy Sunday morning all and I hope it's been a good one so far!!! I have been working on some bracelet holders for all the bracelets I have been making lately. No need in them just lying around...so the cats can try and sneak off with em ..hehe.  I hear some asking "what's a bracelet holder Regi?".  If you are new visiting under the old Southern ooaks tree or missed the post then just click HERE and learn how to make one for yourself.  Here are two I made to hold the beaded memory wire bracelets and one for the hemp rope ones.

This one I used paper on all of it. Around the bottom I used some ribbon that had tiny pearls sewed to it. Notice the paper on the bracelet holder part.....it has PEARLS!!!

This one I used paper for the bottom and the short column and used a felt sheet for the bracelet holder part.
I glued tiny shells around the bottom. Pretty, eh?  If you would like me to make YOU one just send me a comment and I will be more than happy to and then list it in my Etsy shop just for you. The cost will be $10 plus shipping. (remember though, I did give you a "How to" on making your own above) Also, I will choose the papers and or felt.

While I was waiting for the glue to dry on the blue one I worked on another hemp rope bracelet. I just love the deep burgundy rope with the turquoise turtle beads. Add an olive shell to it and well it's just a perfect lil beach theme bracelet.

Now if you will remember, a few days ago, I said that I would be giving away one of my jewelry pieces. Today is the day!! No hoops to jump through, I promise. Just be the fifth person to leave me a comment and you will be receiving a bracelet in the mail. Make sure you're not set up as a "No-reply" blogger/commenter or I will have no way to get in touch with you. If you're not sure then click HERE and see how you can find out and even how to fix it. Make sure to leave me an email address so I can contact you, if you are the 5th one. (Ohhhh...and only one post per person counts..hehe) Share my blog with friends and better improve your chances of being the 5th commenter. Hmmmmm....I might just send the person that sends new friends that start following me here a little sumthin sumthin as a thank you. Just make sure they mention YOUR name in their comment. Let's have some FUN this year and what's more FUN than receiving a surprise in the mail.

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

Beads, Beads and more Beads ^_^

Good Monday Morning!!! Only 9 more days til Christmas...YIKES!! Are YOU ready yet? All that shopping done? Nope? Me either but guess what, it's a coming regardless. So HOHOHO!!!! (said in a cheery way, just in case you were a wondering...hehehe)

I spent this weekend finishing up the teachers gifts and even made one for the principal. She has really made this year a most excellent one so far. She will be getting a pretty pair of earrings and the teachers will be getting some of my prettier twisted bracelets and of course each will be wrapped in one of my pretty paper boxes.

The little bead is an abraded quartz

better known as Dragons egg.

Once I finished these gifts I just couldn't stop making bracelets. I mean.....I already had all my beads out and they were just laying there...staring at me....so what was I suppose to do....ignore them? I think not...hehehe

Some of my twisted bracelets...ya'll know I LOVE to twist. ^_^   The first one has the last of my pretty plastic beads that have etchings on them. I don't normally like plastic but I fell in love with these. The next grouping is just some twisted ones with one having that neat Celtic button. The last one I did using some polished moonstones and tiny aquamarine stones on the tree of life charm. This looks really pretty dressed up or with jeans and tshirt. I make these kind of bracelets where they can fit just about anyones wrist. I leave the hanging ropes long in case they are needed and if not then you can clip them to the size you need. Just remember to knot them on the end so that the closing twist doesn't come off.

 Jade beads, jasper beads, bone beads, Tibetan charm holder with Tree of life charm

 Just keep swimming..hehe  

Tibetan fish charm with glass purple/green beads.

 Rose quartz beads, green glass beads and turquoise turtle bead.

 Tibetan charm holder with Koi fish charm, vintage pearls, dye pearls in mint, pink, coral and white.

 Back of the one above so that you could see all the colors of pearls.

Violet Jade round faceted beads, tiny tan Swarovski crystals with a glass focal bead.

 

 Rose quartz beads, agate green/pink beads, Tibetan rose bead.

 Back of one above so you can see the different sized quartz beads.

 glass turquoise hued beads with actual turquoise turtle beads.

 Glass tiger look beads, wooden black beads, Tibetan charm holder with tiny silver wire wrapped glass heart.

Pink faux pearl beads, Tibetan rose beads, Tibetan charm holder with faux diamond spacers, two tiny pink Swarovski crystals and one large pink Swarovski crystal.

I loved making all of these and made them for no one in particular The beads were just calling to me and I had to do something with them...hehe!!  If you see one you would like to purchase, just let me know and I will list it on Etsy just for you. These would make great Christmas gifts or a gift just to say "I love you or I'm thinking of you".  If you do buy one it will come gift wrapped in one of my pretty little paper boxes. 

Until next time...........Hugs,

Regi 

Faerie muse inspired jewelry

I'm so blessed to have several muses that sing to me (blessed unless they all want to sing at the same time that is..hehe) My faerie muse came to visit with me and brought such inspiration along with her. I told ya'll yesterday in my post that I had found some gemstone beads while hunting for something else completely and it seems fae wanted to use them for her inspired designs. I'm very happy that she did!!!

I love these beads and taking a picture of them NEVER does them justice. (of course, it could be the camera and the photographer..just a wee bit) The dark ones are in the green hued family and are called green cube shell beads. They look like they have a rainbow inside when the light reflects off of them...so pretty. The pink ones are pink coral and the two green ones are dyed water pearls with a hand blown glass bead used as the focal bead. The other side of the focal bead has some coral color in it and it will turn around..when it wants to. ^_^   I made this using memory wire so it will fit any wrist.

I do believe this one is my most favorite bracelet I have ever made. I used jasper beads (the green flecked beads), bone beads (the tiny off white beads), goldstone (which is a manmade stone and is the brown with golden flecks) and the focal bead on this one is a river stone. Yes...it came from a river!!  A true earth faerie designed this one...can't ya tell? It is also made on memory wire and wraps several times around your wrist...like you have several different bangles on.

This was made on two strands of memory wire. The silver piece is one whole piece and very unique. I do believe my faerie found this one and decided to sneak it home. I don't really know where it came from but I like it. Don't you?? I used jasper beads, black acrylic beads and did the closure using green hemp rope and a twisted square knot. Would look very elegant with a dress or equally as good with a pair of jeans and a tshirt. (or shorts and a tshirt...it's getting fairly warm here)

These can be found in my Etsy shop and I hope you will come and shop sometimes when you are looking for that unique gift. (or just something special for yourself)

Until next time..........Hugs,
Regi

Agate Stone and Clay Turtle Charm

Yesterday I posted about making clay molds to make clay charms. They are turning out AWWWESOME!! I have never made molds before and I'm sure there is some technical way of doing it better than I am BUT it's working for me and that's what counts. I never use molds for my character ooaks and never will but I think making molds for charms is a smart idea. Each piece of jewelry will be different but I might want to use some of the same charms on them. That is alright, isn't it?

I have been sorting out beads today....I kinda turned my bead box over in the desk drawer. Thank goodness it was in the drawer and not on the floor or I would be picking up beads forever more. HA...that rhymed!!

Once I got most sorted out I decided to make a bracelet using my memory wire and of course, one of my clay charms. I loved the turquoise turtle beads so much that I made a mold of one so I could make a charm.

I love how it turned out. See the little turtle...cute...ri iight? The bracelet has two shades of glass green beads and two agate stones along with a faux pearl. I couldn't just stop at the bracelet so I made a pair of earrings to match.

I also made some more charms today but you will get to see them as I use them. I haven't painted them yet as I want to wait and have them match what beads I use. I also made three mermaid tail charms...made these smaller than I normally do and I will put these on a silk and hemp rope ribbon necklace. (photos tomorrow)

Hope YOU are having a fantastic Monday. Thank you for stopping by today. I love your visits and *HINT* comments.

Until next time.......HUGS,
Regi