Count down is on...

This Saturday May 22nd, is the opening of the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market!!! I felt the excitement when I spoke with a few of the 33 vendors who are busy preparing for the big day...I know the customers are anticipating! Won't be long now...we will have, limited vegetables, plants, herbs, potted flowers, baking, health & beauty products, jams & jellies, weaving & knitting, eco-friendly products, jewelry, cards, maple syrup, honey, meat, wood crafts, flower arrangements, candles...all manner of unique hand made goods!!!

Beginning May 22nd, the Market will be open very Saturday 8:30am to 1:00pm, RAIN or SHINE until October 9th, at the McIntyre Street parking lot between City Hall and TD Canada Trust on Main Street.

Don't forget...when you buy drinks or snacks from the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market Booth you will be helping to make the possibility of a permanent home a reality as all the proceeds go towards this endeavor!

Local resident Derek Morin, (musician/singer) will be at the Market to entertain on opening day...Derek recently produced his first DC!

These two photos were from the June 1st, 2009, North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market!

There is even a "Market Season Opens" page on Facebook...take a look!!!

Stop by & say hello, we would love to have you visit us...there is so much to see as we begin a new North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market season!

Cheers

A heartfelt gesture...

Last December a friend of mine was kind enough to do a guest post featuring my Heart and Stroke jewelry series!

The creator of Crystal Allure jewelry, Stephanie, sent me a lovely "Designs Featured Banner" to put on my side bar...take a few minutes to visit her as she features her gorgeous hand crafted jewelry on her blog "Behind The Design" as well as her website. Stephanie also makes awareness jewelry "Animal Awareness", "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness" and "Transplant Awareness"...





As many of you know, I make pendants such as the "Broken Heart" from sterling silver, sometimes I stamp messages on the pendant or sometimes I "mend" the hearts like this one ...I also make heart shaped earrings with wire...

Great Etsy artists pendants are fun to use in my pieces!

Heart shaped semi precious stones are always make great necklaces & earrings!

As I mentioned to Stephanie...the reason I make this series is simple...heart disease has touched my life!!! When something I make includes a heart as part of the design, sells, I make a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I've been doing this since December 2008. I feel there isn't enough understanding of just how "deadly" heart disease is... unfortunately it isn't taken seriously until it is too late!!!

A heartfelt thank you to Stephanie for her part in bringing to attention all manner of issues with her guest posts and her awareness jewelry!
Enjoy your weekend!
Cheers

PS....was anyone have a difficult time with Blogger this morning, not doing what it is suppose to do??? This is not how the post looked when I was finished but I'm not going to fight with it any longer...got things to do!!! :0)

Snow, May 8th, 2010!!!

I think these photos taken this past Saturday May 8th, 2010 speak for themselves!!! I was sure it was coming because there had been snow out west last week...

Sitting out side enjoying the sun wasn't an option!

My poor tree...the snow was very wet & heavy!

Today is sunny..still cold but most of the snow melted yesterday!!! :0)

Cheers

Thank You!

Great show last night... I want to say "thank you" to everyone who stopped by & helped make the evening a huge success!!! As some of you will know I won't be doing another one of these shows until the fall...my previous commitments, (shows/markets) have to come first!

A heart felt thank you to those who've made all three shows this winter a huge success!

On another note...
A good friend of mine...someone I've known since we both were around 11 sent me the following in an email this morning...I thought I would share with you!

MOMMY TO MOM TO MOTHER

¨ Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.

¨ Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

¨ Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

¨ Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.

¨ Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up....

¨ Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' And get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

¨ Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade...

¨ It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother.....
The Images of Mother
4 years of age - My Mommy can do anything!
8 years of age - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 years of age - My Mother doesn't know everything!
14 years of age - My Mother? She wouldn't have a clue.
16 years of age - Mother? She's so five minutes ago.
18 years of age - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 years of age - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 years of age - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 years of age - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 years of age - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

¨ The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

What it means to give a yellow rose!!!
" Joy, gladness, friendship, a new beginning, I care"

Here is to a wonderful Mother's Day...I hope you are able to spend the day with those who are important to you...

Cheers

"One in a Million"

My next show, as you can see from the above poster is tomorrow evening!
Hope to see you there!!!

Cheers!

Spring delight!

Personally I love copper...I don't use it often as I've found my customers aren't great fans of this particular look/metal...I couldn't resist it for my choice in the Artbeads.com "Beauty of Spring" design campaign though!!!

I was very excited when this parcel arrived yesterday...it generally takes about three weeks and I'm always watching for the package to arrive!!!

One of the reasons I was so excited is because of the gorgeous double star pendant, this is truly a stunner 43m x 43m...this hand-crafted copper beauty is made in the USA!!! Great color variation, wonderful hand-crafted feel to it!!!

These 32mm, copper plated pewter circle links are beautiful...the photo on Artbeads.com doesn't do them justice!

How about these great square links...again copper plated pewter, 23mm sq... I love the new pewter items...

Can't be without oval copper plated pewter links, now can I?...18m x 12m

Gotta love this chain...nice detail, classy but still fun...copper plated over metal

Aren't these pretty? I loved them right away... hand-crafted stoneware clay tubes. Artbeads.com also has solid colors but I thought these said spring nicely, with green, yellow, orange, tan and delicate blue... definitly spring to me!

Of course my group photo...I do have to mention the star is not as dark as it looks in this photo...the first photo is an accurate color!

I must say I'm very happy with all these beads, they are all well made, nice intricate detail... lovely to look at.
I've been using silver plated pewter beads a great deal in the past year but this will be my first time using copper plated pewter beads of any kind..I'm looking forward to using the links in my piece!

As always thank you to Artbeads.com for allowing me this wonderful opportunity!
Enjoy your day...
Cheers

*FTC compliance disclosure* the products attributed to Artbeads.com in this post where provided as a promotional gift by Artbeads.com in relation to the blogging program. My comments pertaining to these products are my personal opinion, no compensation has been received for the comments.

Lisa Crone's Book has a new owner!!!

I would like to thank everyone who entered this great book give away, as well as those who chose to become a fan on Facebook & follow this site !

The lucky winner of Lisa Crone's fabulous book "A Bead In Time" is Jeannie, she has an interesting & informative blog as well as a website where she sells her work. Not only is she a self taught jewelry designer & polymer clay artist, she paints wonderfully...check out the gorgeous background of flowers she painted on her website.

Congratulations Jeannie...I know you will enjoy Lisa's great book!

Cheers

Silver & Ceramics!

Since this is "Wordless Wednesday" I'll try to be as wordless as I can, but you know me, I do tend to carry on!!!

Sterling silver "patchwork" bracelet

One of my new favorite pendants to make...sterling silver Inukshuk!

I rather like making tri necklaces as well...ceramic beads, Mykonos ceramic beads, citrine, copper & metal chains

These are fun everyday bracelets...fine silver mykonos tubes & rondelles, as well as mykonos ceramic rondelles.

Don't forget to enter my fabulous A Bead in Time , by Lisa Crone, book give away...winner to be announced Monday April 19th.

Cheers

"A Bead in Time" Give away!

I'm sure by now everyone has heard of the fabulous new book out by Lisa Crone..."A Bead in Time". The book is a must read for anyone who is passionate about jewelry designing, or for someone who would like to learn but isn't sure where to begin!!!

If you haven't already take the time to check out Lisa's blog, A Bead A Day, you can count on Lisa to post unique & colorful beads/creations, interesting tips or simply help if needed.

When I heard about the book I immediately pre-ordered it on Amazon.ca. To say the lease I was thrilled when my book arrived.

Lisa has out done her self with her book...this is a marvelous look into her life experiences as well as her vivid imagination! The inspiration for each project comes from something that has left an impression on Lisa...be it something as simple as tinsel on a Christmas tree, chocolate, a wrought iron fence or something as complex as the Golden Gate Bridge...she brought all to life with the perfect combination of color and style!

I happen to have a second copy of Lisa's book, which I'm going to give away...all you have to do to enter the give away is leave a comment and you are in...I will announce the lucky winner Monday April 19th...if you would like two entries follow me on Facebook or Twitter!

Have a great day...
Cheer

Did you think I was lost!!!

Life has been a bit busy in the last two weeks... what with the Spring show, a two day trip to Toronto, preparing for a fashion show & a one day show, keeping up with my Market Board work, and last but not least...the possibility of a move after 20 years...I've not had a great deal of time to visit my friends. For that I'm sorry!

I don't have any new jewelry photos but thought I would show these two portraits from the art class I took this winter...this one done with pencil.

This one done with pencil then paint over top...never did like this one...did the eyes over 4 times and then just left them like this because I couldn't get them the way I wanted them!!! Never did finish the nose or the mouth either. While I'm not thrilled with the face parts, I was somewhat happy with the shading I managed to do with the paints...which is what the lesson was about...

I'm not a portrait painter, never will be, but that is fine, I didn't take the course for that reason...I found I liked my face parts when I did them by themselves but when I put everything together I couldn't seem to make them work, I know it takes practice, but I think I would rather practice drawing & painting something else, :0). Regardless this was a great class with Misty Mawn, she is a wonderful teacher...I learned a great deal about drawing & shading, which is what I was hoping for. I would definitly take another class with her!

I'm hoping to have a few "bright" days shortly so I can take some jewelry photos, not today though, we are having freezing rain...can't complain as our weather since the beginning of March has been amazing! I will be patient and wait as I've learned the photos are so much better on a nice bright day!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!

Cheers
PS...watch for the fabulous give away next week!