The Beauty of Spring Challenge

Lately everything I have created has a spring theme to it! I am taking photos of bulbs coming up, creating greeting cards in shades of pinks and lime green, and creating jewelry with the same inspiration. Even though fall is my favorite season, nothing beats the anticipation of spring!


I recently received this gorgeous selection of beads from Artbeads. What inspiration! I fell in love with floral glass pendant first, then selected other beads I thought would complement the pendant. When I received my order, I was not disappointed!

Here are some pics of my final creations. First I created the necklace using the floral bead as my focal point/pendant. I added some Swarovski peridot bicones to hold it in place on the decorative headpin. The necklace was created with 4mm faceted glass rondelles in pink and olivine and matte glass beads in white.



I created some coordinating earrings from some pink and white swirled glass bellflower beads, peridot Swarovski crystal and a decorative headpin. They are finished with fleur de lis motif leverbacks. I think this makes a nice set.




Disclosure: The Kalera floral glass focal bead, peridot Swarovski crystal, pink glass bellflower beads and the 4mm pink and olivine glass faceted beads were kindly provided free of charge by Artbeads.com, as part of the Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

To see more selections from Artbeads you can click on these links: lampwork glass beads and pressed Czech glass beads .

Ready for Spring!

Here are a few new designs. Can you tell I am ready for spring?

Sweet Cupcake Earrings

I recently purchased these polymer clay earrings from Michelle of Valebella Bracelets and More on etsy. Aren't they adorable? I wore these on Valentine's day when I was out buying and delivering cupcakes to my parents. I think they will be great to wear on my birthday too. Michelle's etsy shop is called heysista if you want to check it out.

I also entered a contest at Megan Rae's blog - TheGreenHaven and was so excited when I won a cute heart bookmark from Valebella. She is a good example of doing things the right way on etsy. Great customer service and very nice to work with! Be sure to check out Megan's blog for lots of giveaways!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing everyone a very happy Valentine's Day. Be sure to let your friends and family know how much you care! I finally got to visit the Gigi's Cupcake shop and was so excited to give cupcakes to my parents and my mother in law. They were delicious! Disappointed in myself that I did not make my own Valentines this year, but I did make up some treat bags filled with candy. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Back in Time at Schimpff's Confectionery

For the past two years my husband has indulged me with a trip across the river to Jeffersonville, Indiana. Here we take a trip back in time to visit Schimpff's Confectionery. I always like to go around Valentine's Day as it's my favorite day of the year.


You may not be able to read the date on the door, but it says "since 1891." Yes, it's been around 119 years. Check out the markings on the door that show the water level when the Ohio River flooded in years past.


This is what you see when you enter the front door and it takes my breath away, having a major sweet tooth. Yes, I turn into a "kid in a candy shop."


While there you can see a demonstration of candy making using crank style equipment and antique metal candy molds. As the cinnamon candy cools, it is broken apart and everyone gets samples that are still warm to the touch.




They also have a very impressive museum dedicated to the history of candy. There are vintage candy boxes, jars, containers and other forms of packaging.



Here are a few of the goodies I purchased! My favorites are the Oreos dipped in dark chocolate with candy hearts on top.


To learn more about this historic shop, check out the Schimpff's website. Be sure to click on HISTORY to see more photos and interesting info. If you are in the Louisville/Southern Indiana area, you should take the time to visit!

My Latest Designs

While everyone else in the world was watching the Super Bowl, I was in the basement working in my studio. This is a custom order for a friend who wanted to surprise his wife after their daughter was born. And the colors are nice for Valentine's Day too.


The chocolate brown jasper "chicklets" work well with the link pink Rhodonite nuggets and light rose Swarovski crystals. I hope she loves it!


And since Valentine's day is right around the corner here is the "My Michele" necklace inspired by a friend that spotted these cool hearts at a bead show in Louisville. I made the heart into a pendant and used faceted garnet rondelles and onyx. I made a similar version for myself, as she bought me a heart too.

Kellibeans Hat Giveaway!

If you haven't entered our Bluegrass Etsy contest for the month of February, you will want to enter now! This month's giveaway is our biggest yet - valued at $30. Team member Kellibeans is giving away a crocheted hat and an art card (of your choice) from her etsy and artfire shops. Be sure to visit our Kentucky Handmade blog for the details. The prize will be awarded on Feb 28. Remember, you can't win if you don't enter!