North Bay Farmers' Market begins...

Tomorrow is the opening day for the North Bay Farmers' Market!

For those of you who live in the North Bay and surrounding area here is a bit of information about the Market!

This photo was taken May 2010

North Bay residents of all ages will soon be able to wander through the booths of local growers of bedding plants and vegetables, producers of baked goods, preserves, jams, jellies, wood products, soaps and unique handmade goods. The 2011 season begins Saturday May 21st, with more than 30 LOCAL vendors. Many of your favorites are returning but come out and see who and what’s new at the Market!

• The North Bay Farmers’ Market, in its ninth year, will be open every Saturday 8:30am to 1:00pm – RAIN or SHINE through to Thanksgiving . Once again the Market will be located in the McIntyre St. Parking Lot #11 – across from City Hall (behind TD CanadaTrust on Main St.). There is NO CHARGE to attend the Market and the live entertainment adds a festive flare to the visit. You never know who you’ll bump into that you haven’t seen in ages!

• Many exciting things are happening at the North Bay Farmers’ Market this year including the 3rd Annual PANCAKE FESTIVAL which will take place May 28th. Check back for more information next week!

• Our entertainment for the day will be Rachel Barber-Scarrow from 8:30am to 9:00am...and the jazz/blues sounds of Tim Beckett from 9:00am to 1:00pm...come out and enjoy their performances!
  

For upcoming Special Event dates & information or to learn more about the Market’s vendors, visit the Market website at: www.northbayfarmersmar​ket.com

I'll try to remember to bring my camera and then remember to take photos to post next week!

I look forward to seeing everyone at the Market...

Cheers

"Birthstone of the Month" Emerald...again

***I've decided to re-publishing my previous "Birthstone of the Month" posts...they were, for the most part well received...I've been contemplating doing a series of post regarding the healing properties of semi-precious stones but thought I would begin by re-publishing these...enjoy! ***

Emerald is the most precious member of the beryl family; the name is derived from the Greek “smaragdos”, which means “green stone”.

The wonderful green color is produced by chromium present in the gemstone. The vibrant color won’t fade, as it is stable regarding light and heat. As with many gemstones the color varies depending on the source or the location the gemstone was found. Apparently the most favorable color is a strong slightly bluish green.

Colombian emeralds are a pure green with a slight tint of blue. There are significant deposits, especially in the Muzo mine northwest of Bogotá.

This magnificent emerald was mined in Colombia, set in white gold, with yellow gold claws, encased in diamonds...what more could you ask for ladies!!!

A 60 carat Colombian emerald set with approximately 25 carats of diamonds on yellow gold. Market value US$240,000

Brazilian emeralds are a slightly lighter color of green with more yellow noticeable, often slightly cloudy, but most often without inclusions. Deposits have been found in Bahia, Goias, and Minas Gerais and while relatively new deposits, discovered since the 1980s, Brazil has become one of the most important suppliers of emeralds!

From Northeast Brazil...A fully terminated, semi-gemmy Emerald crystal...Measures about 1/2" across...semi-gemmy means "clear in spots but not completely"

Zambian emeralds have good clarity are are a deep green. Other deposits have been found in Russia, Afghanistan, Australia, Ghana, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, China and the United States.
These lovely emerald crystals are from Wenshan, near Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
Here is a natural, grass green Emerald (Beryl) crystal from the Lao Cai Province of Vietnam
Famous Emeralds can be found at the British Museum of Natural History in London, England, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, in the treasury of Russian, in the state treasury of Iran, in the Treasury room in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey and in the Viennese treasury in a vase is a gem 4 ¾ in (12cm) high, weighing 2205cts, cut from a single emerald crystal.

Most emeralds are not clean, having some imperfections such as cloudy, cracks, inclusions of fiber, tremolite rods, some of which make the emerald sensitive to pressure…hence the emerald cut was designed to maximize the color while the rounded corners help to minimize chipping and breaking of the corners.

These semi-gemmy emerald crystals are from the Jiangsu Prov, in China

It is common for emeralds to be dipped in a specific type of oil or sometimes prepared with an artificial resin in a vacuum if they have hairline fractures or other faults…this is usually done in the country of origin. The FTC in the United
States requires a disclosure of this kind of treatment.

While not my favorite gemstone I have to admit these lovely gems have grown on me…a nice set of emerald earrings or perhaps a bracelet would be nice…what do you think???

Cheers

Natural gem photos courtesy of "Orbital Joe"

Emerald jewelry courtesy of "Swamibu"

I thank both Orbital Joe and Swamibu for allowing me to use their wonderful photographs! More of their amazing work can be found on Flickr.com

Information courtesy of:

Gemstones of the World, Walter Schumann, Third Edition, Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.,

The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones, Judith Crowe, Firefly Books, 2006

Earrings...

These are kind of cute, very tiny though...only 10mm long! They look a little crooked...the bangle they are resting on is a bit slanted on the starfish...I actually just checked them out as I thought the ear wires might have been off. I always make at least four at a time so there shouldn't be any difference but you never know...

Again...these were cut from scrap silver then 4 pieces of sterling silver was soldered onto each...



More scrap pieces...before I began doing this I would have cut a piece of silver from the larger sheet for this...not sure why I didn't start doing this earlier? The curly Q's are small pieces of fine silver fused on the rectangle.

The elongate diamond shape was cut from my sheet silver...to which was soldered the left over silver wire pieces...
I am please with the recycling aspect of making these pieces but the fact they allow for one of a kind jewelry makes it even more appealing to me...besides it is fun searching around in my boxes of metal for just the right piece to work...

Cheers

Gotta love rings...

I find rings to be very popular...the only problem for me is to have the right sizes! It is not easy to do...the only rings I have a variety of sizes in is the fine silver stacking rings...like the one below with out the silver ball fused on top...

Here is another style that people seem to like...the Egyptian design...at least that is what I call it!

These are great as they are somewhat adjustable, and can be designed many different ways, textured, smooth, curled ends, flat hammered ends, flattened balls at the end, etc....I think part of the appeal is they are wide and spread over the finger...I have to say I prefer wide rings myself.

The twisted rings are fun to make as I'm guaranteed no two will be the same...just won't happen!

I could make the two rings like the one below but even then the curves would be a different shape and size...

I'm beginning to experiment with setting stones in my rings and pendants...photos to come soon!
Enjoy the day...
Cheers

Recycled silver again

These two pieces were done a while ago but I hadn't taken the time to photograph them...I'm not happy with the lighting here so I put off taking pictures...won't be long now before I move...the end of June, hopefully the lighting will be better suited to taking photos!

As you can see this was four pieces of scrap silver that I soldered together with a horse shoe bail...sort of...if you look closely that is what it looks like?

This was a piece of silver left over from something else that was cut out and I liked the shape so I punched two holes in it and soldered on all kinds of little scrap pieces...fun to do!

Enjoy the rest of your day...
Cheers

This is a photo I took of bloom in Key West this winter...the colors were gorgeous!

Have a wonderful day Mothers...doing what ever makes you happy!
Cheers

Pearls, Pearls & Pearls

I'm a huge fan of pearls, traditional cream or white, yes, but I just love the multi- colored pearls available...last fall I did a post including Artbeads.com pearls and Pantone 2010 Fall Colors in the same sentence. It was very exciting to look over the "new" colors such as Endive, Golden Glow, Living Coral, Lipstick Red, Purple Orchid, Chocolate Truffle, Lagoon, Oyster Gray, to name a few...aren't they delicious names?



It is funny because as soon as I saw all the gorgeous colors I decided to look for pearls that would be in the same family...while I didn't find all the colors in one strand I found enough to satisfy myself.
You might remember I chose two gorgeous strands of multi-colored pearls along with a delicate sterling silver hook clasp and leaf link. Below is a better look at the beautiful silver items.
I new right away what I wanted to make...something simple, elegant and classy!

...there are 6 strands of pearls at the front, light but still substantial in appearance, I'm always conscious of weight when it comes to a necklace...I attached the strands with sterling silver ends...on one side, the leaf link and the other the hook clasp situated so both should be visible when the necklace is worn; I try not to hide such beautiful clasps and connectors when ever possible...the back is a solid strand of pearls.
(Please excuse the lighting in the photo below it's a bit bright)

I was trying to show something of the back of the piece, while still showing the front...rather hard with this necklace...below a close up of the clasp.
I loved these pearls so much I ended up buying more and made myself a triple strand necklace...I wear it constantly!

Many thanks to Artbeads.com.
Enjoy the weekend!

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.

Artbeads.com is doing it again...another great contest...or shall I say a challenge!

They have just launched their latest jewelry design contest at Artbeads! The Make it for Mom Challenge is all about creating that perfect design for Mom while have some fun. The winner of this jewelry design contest will receive a $250 Artbeads.com Gift Card and their winning design will also be featured in the Artbeads Learning Center. All design submissions must contain at least 50% products available at the Artbeads.com website. Contestants must be 18 or older to enter and this contest is open to entrants worldwide. The winner will be determined by a public vote on Facebook starting at midnight (Pacific Time) on Mother’s Day.

As if that isn't enough they are also having a sale...hurry over as it ends tomorrow Saturday April 23rd, you can save 15% on your order of $45 or more in their Make it for Mom Sale going on right now. Just enter coupon code ZZ-MOM15 at checkout to take advantage of these fantastic savings. Don't forget to hurry over...

A heart felt "thank you" our friends from Artbeads.com...
Cheers

The beginnings of organiztion

Tomorrow I will be a vendor at the Powassan 14th Annual Maple Syrup Festival, in the community of Powassan, so this morning I'm beginning my organization/pack-up. This year the organizers offered space inside the Sportsplex so I jumped at the opportunity...the weather this time of the year can be so iffy! I have to say I'm so happy I did as the forecast is not good...I sure hope the weather forecast is wrong...otherwise the outside vendors are in for an unpleasant day!!!

"Cloudy. Snow beginning in the morning changing to wet snow mixed with rain and then to rain late in the afternoon. Snowfall amount 2 to 4 cm. Wind southeast 30 km/h gusting to 50. High plus 4".

I've cut back on shows this year, I actually started last fall, besides I'm in the finishing stages of a major renovation and it is taking up a great deal of time...not to mention emotions.

This is the first of my shows this season, (I missed all my Sudbury friends this year)...so everything is in a bit of a mess, time to go through it!
Thought I would let you see what I was up to this morning...

There is paper, jewelry, bags, tissue, etc., cluttered around right now...for some reason I seem to work in these kinds of conditions...not sure what it is?

My pretty organza bags, boxes, bags, not sure where my tissue is and a hand held mirror on the side...

In the past I've used hand held mirrors partly because I couldn't seem to find what I was looking for and partly because I do a great many out door shows/markets and I was always afraid the mirror would get blown over...which it definitly would have in some of the weather we've been in. Having said that I've managed to break 2 hand mirrors...I'm hoping the second mirror negates the first in the bad luck department? :0) I found this mirror the other day and decided, go for it...it is difficult to tell in the photo but it is just the right size for sitting on the table.

The some of the "girls" as my daughter calls them...

Enough...time to go get things under control!
Enjoy the weekend.
Cheers

$100 Artbeads Gift Certificate

Our good friends from Artbeads.com are have a great contest, just in time for Mothers' Day!

The prize is a $100 Artbeads Gift Certificate! You can enter this giveaway just by leaving a comment on the Artbeads Blog for Beaders, stating what your favorite Mother’s Day themed product is and what you would create with it. Hurry, this giveaway ends Friday, April 15 at 9am Pacific Time. The winner will be selected at random and announced on their blog.

I have a difficult time deciding on just one favorite...there are so many wonderful items on Artbeads.com

One favorite would be their porcelain hearts...

Wouldn't this beautiful heart hanging from a chain or leather cord be a wonderful Mothers' Day present?
They have others as well...how about this one?
I've had this black/white pendant and can say it is gorgeous...as are all Golem Designs!!!
So much to choose from...
Hurry to enter the contest...not much time left!

Enjoy your day.
Cheers