SUNNY DAY BLOG HOP *** A Lisa Lodge Challenge

It has been a long while since I have visited with you my friends.  For this, I apologize.  I promise not to be such a stranger from now on.  My "come-back" blog is very special.  It is a bead challenge from Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures.

    You know I was over the moon when I saw this package of goodies.  My mind was all over the place! I love the colors!  I love the cultured sea glass and the brass findings!!   I can make this and I can make that....

Please read on to see what I decided on.

     The very first thing I HAD to make were these GEOMETRIC GLASS EARRINGS:

At this point I need to add a disclaimer....My camera is new and I am trying to figure it out.  The pale glass is a lemon yellow.  I hope that by the time I have these list in my shop I will have the color right.  The circles are periwinkle.  The  thread used is olive drab (it really is the name) waxed Irish linen.  I think I say this every blog hop...but I may just keep these.  

Naturally, When the earrings were done, the matching necklace was screaming to be made!

 

      I believe the middle pendant shows the detail of the etching in the cultured sea glass.  The word LOVE is etched in bold capital letters.  

     On one side of the necklace you have anchors in the sand; the other sea turtles swimming with the current.  I have aptly (I think, anyway) I LOVE THE BEACH.

     For me, one of the best parts of summer is waking up to the birds singing!  I was so thrilled that Lisa included these sweet song birds in the kits.

These SONG BIRD EARRINGS will be in my shop when I re-open (as well as everything you see on this page).

This piece is presented last because it represents the LAST DAYS of SUMMER,  From the chainmaille rosettes to the teardrop (tears of sadness) crackle glass pendant.

Don't be too sad there are many more SUNNY DAYS at the following blogs.  Check out what these lovely ladies did with their kits:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha’s Ramblings

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool Jewelry

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Rosee Hanemaayer, Silver Penny Artisans

Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Stephanie McGinley, TBD

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyns Creations

Please leave you comments below.  Thank you so so much for stopping by!!!  

{{HUGS}}  Rosee

   

SHOP of the WEEK: ALTEREDsewFittingly

Happy Tuesday to you all!!

Today's shop of the week is AlteredsewFittingly.  You may remember BethAnn from my post last August ( http://silverpennyartisans.blogspot.ca/2015/08/treasury-tuesday-todays-treasure-is.html ).  

BethAnn has so many new and wonderful items!!  I just had to share some of them with you!!

BethAnn Pearce-Davis

BethAnn says her "fascination with the odd perspectives is the key to almost all my designs. Turning things upside down, inside out, imagining another scale, whether super-sized or tiny miniatures and the rich textures of nature are what I try to share in my handcrafts. I love to sew as well and try to incorporate needlework whenever possible."

Here is just a selection of her goodies:

Dollhouse4aDoll'aHouse~TINY~Miniature Dollhouse

Tiny. House for a dollhouse! Unsanded, unpainted, unfinished Balsa wood.

3 Rooms, two upper with a pass-thru doorway, one large room lower level.

Open front with a partial roof, a deep slanting roof on the open back.

Representation of a chimney at one end.

Use your imagination; this can even be decorated and furnished for tiny q-tip people! Added to fairy garden home or put it on a shish-kabob skewer to use for a plant poke! 

SIZE: 2" x 2" x 1"

Pinecone Flowers ~ tiny

Yes, they ARE way more difficult to make than it would appear to be!

Each tiny "flower" is about 1" wide when I have finished carving it, then it's drilled and attached to a painted bamboo shishkabob skewer for a stem. The various sturdy pine cones have also been oven-dried for two hours (eliminating any clinging organisms), dipped in a white primer solution, dried again, then painted with three layers of colorful acrylics, dried once more and finished with a water-resistant top coat.

I like the fantasy varieties best, but many seemingly resemble marigolds, zinnias, chicory, forget-me-nots and johnny jump-up violets to name a few!

Give your potted green plants some encouragement or pop a dash of color into the garden to motivate them to get blooming!

DREAM topsy-turvy BELIEVE

I hand-painted this weathered vintage door panel with highly stylized words to inspire! 

A topsy-turvy whimsical fantasy font that can be hung upside-down to or right side up!

When you "see" the words, it reads "DReAM" one way and "bElieve" the other. 

Rough and uncoated, not a stencil, not a vinyl cut-out, the imperfections are part of its rustic charm. The reverse side has the chippy original paint with an epoxy-glued wire hanger . 

Signed and dated in roman numerals on the edge!

LadyBug~GardenSpike

Ladybugs are ADORABLE!!! These mega-LadyBugs are TOUGH, too! (Made of vintage Croquet ball manufacturing discards!

Dressed up to become a splash of color and whimsical highlight in your garden or large flowerpot! Finished with several clear coats of special UV protection polyurethane for outdoor (or indoor) use, they are Numbered, signed and dated by the artist; me!

A "mounting bracket" made of PVC end-cap has been permanently attached to original under surface with clear epoxy before being painted. Re-positionable, it press-fits, attaching to longer sections of PVC pipe "stems" which can be obtained at most hardware stores. They may even cut it for you, (diagram will be enclosed) or use a regular hand- hacksaw to easily cut to custom lengths then spray paint with Krylon for Plastics to blend in with other plant greens, instructions included, to keep your Ladybug flying high ABOVE the height of your growing plants.

Storage Rack ~PlanterBox 

Storage for magazines, mail caddy, a planter for orchids in a bathroom; just a few of the uses you might find for this rustic rescued vintage chair-back. Somewhere, someone will be reminded of Hurricane Sandy if they saw the remains of this spindle bow, but that can be your secret! Made of real wood, this upcycled wall hanging could also sit flat on a shelf.

SIZE: appx. 15" wide x 20" high x 4-1/2" deep

Watermelon, Tree Slice, Primitive, Save-the-Date, Wedding Tablesetting, Summer Party Centerpiece

A fun symbol of abundance: Watermelon! 

These tree slices are the remains of a timber harvest; this section removed just before a tree was felled. Gathered years later from the forest floor it has been dried slowly and heat-treated for sanitation, stained with acrylic paints on one side and matte sealed to resemble a favorite summertime treat!

The other side which was left rough-sawn and unpainted to reveal the natural yearly growth rings (that may still be counted) has been signed and dated by stained carving.

Sustainably harvested from storm damaged trees on private property with respect for ecosystems.

No two slices will be exactly the same.

Thank you for stopping by!!!  Please visit BethAnn at  https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/ALTEREDsewFittingly  and me on my new website SilverPennyArtisans.com

Another Holiday Funny

Hey all!!  I hope you are enjoying this Blessed Holiday Season!

I can't help myself...so please indulge me...I love these quick amusing posts!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY~~~Machu Picchu

     I seem to be drawn to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Sites (http://whc.unesco.org).  

     "In 1945, UNESCO was created in order to respond to the firm belief of nations, forged by two world wars in less than a generation, that political and economic agreements are not enough to build a lasting peace. Peace must be established on the basis of humanity’s moral and intellectual solidarity.

     UNESCO is known as the "intellectual" agency of the United Nations. At a time when the world is looking for new ways to build peace and sustainable development, people must rely on the power of intelligence to innovate, expand their horizons and sustain the hope of a new humanism. UNESCO exists to bring this creative intelligence to life; for it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace and the conditions for sustainable development must be built."

     That being said,  this week's post is about Machu Picchu!  I can't wait to get there.

MACHU PICCHU

 

The ancient city of Machu Picchu is one of the world’s best known archaeological sites.

Machu Picchu is an Incan fortress set high in the Andes Mountains of Peru.  It was built in the 15th century. It is renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar; intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments; and breathtaking panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery.

" Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna." (UNESCO)

panoramic view of the residences

 Wikipedia.org

The following is travel advice from National Geographic (http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/world-heritage/machu-picchu/)

 

"When to Visit

Mountain archaeologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Johan Reinhard offered this tip on how to escape the crowds that typically fill the site by midday. “I traditionally climb to the top of a nearby peak with a pack lunch and wait till the crowds are gone,” he wrote in National Geographic Traveler.

How to Visit

For the fit there is simply no substitute for traveling to Machu Picchu the way the Inca themselves did—on foot. Today the Inca Trail winds through the mountains and along the path of the ancient royal highway. More than 75,000 people make the trip each year and along the way experience some of the associated sites that were part of the Inca network in this area.

It’s no longer possible to do the trek independently. Due to heavy use (and subsequent environmental impact) the trail has become heavily regulated. Visitors must sign up with an organized group to tackle either the classic four-day route or a recently added two-day option."

 Now the teasers....

 I just can't wait to get there!!!  If you have been, please share your experiences!  Thank you!

I leave you this week with this parting shot:

Remember to stop by SilverPennyArtisans.etsy.com !  The coffee is always on!  Thanks for visiting!

OOAK Unique Jewelry September 28, 2015

Long Asymmetrical Green, Ivory, and Brown Dangle Earrings

 

 

 Long asymmetrical green, ivory, and brown dangle earrings are very unique indeed!!
These are fun whimsical statement jewelry!
While they are made of natural stone, They are very light to wear.
The sea foam green stones and the ivory quartz are individually knotted on chocolate brown Irish waxed linen thread for drama AND security.
The bit of whimsy was added with the polka dot euro style beads.
Two (2) different shaped cola colored transparent beads finish off the earrings with asymmetrical flare.
Personally, I feel these are more casual than dressy but I will leave that up to you.
One hangs 4 1/2" (11.43cm). The other not quite 5" (12.7cm).
Dangle earrings look best with oval, round and heart shaped faces.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Please visit again or drop by the shop

SilverPennyArtisans.etsy.com  the coffee is always on.