Jewellery by ME!

I have had a very busy weekend. I am having a hard time getting use to the idea of going back to work tomorrow. Boo....

Anyway, like I said, I had a very busy weekend. Yesterday (Saturday) I was out shopping during the morning (normal groceries, a spring wardrobe shopping blitz, and a Wal-Mart run) and took a wire work jewellery course in the afternoon.

I have written it in my profile, but I am working on starting my own jewellery business. I am good at working with seed beads, glass beads and semi-precious stones, but am trying to learn a few new things too. For instance, this summer I want to take a class on making my own lampwork beads (Google it!), metal smithing, and wire work. I am also enrolled in a Color class (I know that sounds bizarre!) that starts in May, which is meant to help me learn which colors evoke certain moods and feelings in people, therapeutic uses for color, etc. I also just got fully certified as an Adult Educator in December (both for my regular 9-5 job as well as my own business) so I will be able to teach jewellery making classes in the future.

This Saturday, the class that I took was about wire work - specifically, wrapping. The project was a bracelet. I wanted to share with you my finished project:



The Instructor was not all that good (BRUTAL!!!), but I had fun making the project. My mom went to the class with me, so now we both have pretty bracelets to wear...and we've both got plans to improve on the Instructor's design and do our own thing with it!

Today, I finished off making a Rosary for my cousin for her birthday and made two pair of earrings. Here are the earrings:

This pair is made with silver findings, and Labradorite beads.

This pair is made with silver findings, and Blue Firestone beads.

I have a lot of fun making Jewellery. I've always wanted to turn it into something more than a hobby, and I am finally ready to move to making some money doing it!

Here's a sampling of some of the other things I have made recently:








I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend - hopefully yours was more restful than mine!

P.S. Of course when I was out shopping this weekend, I couldn't help but pick up a few things that I will be sharing in a Haul post on Monday. I've also got a few reviews planned, a March favorites to do, and at least one more Haul coming soon.

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Costume Jewellery

I have to confess that my main reason for creating this post is to get my mind off of a meeting I am not looking forward to attending later this morning. I am not expecting it to go well.

Anyway, I wanted to share with you a jewellery set that I bought last weekend. The set is an earring & necklace set, and it cost me $45.00 before tax.

I am a huge jewellery fan, and when I saw these pieces I could not resist buying them:



The set is made to look like it's sterling silver, and encrusted with semi-precious stones. In reality, the jewellery is mixed metal, and the stones are fake. But - it's still gorgeous!

My favorite piece in this set is the necklace. I like that it is large, and it looks like a collar. I have worn the set twice this week - on Monday and on Thursday.

When I bought this I was with my mom, and she mentioned that she knows I like jewellery and I have a lot of it, but I never wear it. My response was, that you forget what you own when you have to store it in a drawer. So, like I mentioned in another post, the need to figure out some kind of jewellery storage/organization system is growing.

I am getting increasingly excited about my trip to Ottawa the closer we get to Saturday! I cannot wait to peruse the malls in search of Christmas goodies for family, and some treats for myself. Like I mentioned, I am going to do a haul of my purchases, and I also plan on doing a few reviews about the things I buy.

Have a great start to your weekend! I will post again this Sunday!

What's in a Bag?

I apologize if the title of this blog entry is misleading - this is NOT an updated What’s in My Bag post.

You’ll recall that a week ago, I was enamored with a bag I had come across on the Coach website. I was bound and determined that I would be purchasing that bag when I am in Ottawa next weekend. Last week I found out that the purse I want is not stocked at the Coach store I was planning to go to, as the bag is Limited Edition and that store does not stock any LE products. So, for a few days, I was a little bummed out that I will not be able to get the purse I was lusting after.

This weekend I went into a town nearby where I live and did some shopping. I bought myself some new clothes, some supplies for making Christmas Candy (my mom and I have a tradition of making candy to give to family and friends at Christmas), and I also bought 3 things that made me forget all about that Coach bag.

I bought two new purses - a small clutch, and a large tote. I also bought a new ring.

The first bag is a black leather clutch, with a chain handle with leather woven in, and silver zipper detailing on the bag’s opening flap. It’s just big enough to hold essentials - wallet, coin purse, phone, keys, lipstick. Here’s a photo of the bag:





The second purse is a large silver-studded tote by the company Chocolate. It’s big and made of black leather, and the front has a pattern of silver studs on it. It’s got a strap that can be used to make the bag a cross-body bag, and two shorter ones so that it can be carried like a tote bag. This is my ‘day’ bag - I have loaded in what I consider to be my essentials: day book, prayer book, notebook, cheque pouch, my ChocoCat business card holder, iPod Nano, and a few other things. The best part about this bag is that I can actually carry around the smaller clutch bag inside it. So, if I am at work and want to go to the cafeteria to grab a coffee or lunch, I can just take out the small clutch and leave the larger bag behind at my desk. Here’s a photo of the bag:





Last, but most certainly not least, is the new ring I bought. Two years ago, my grandmother gave me a turquoise ring for my birthday. I had seen it in a jewellery store a few months earlier, and a few days after that she went back and bought it for me and then set it aside for my birthday. I use to feel awkward when I wore this ring, because I didn’t have another ring in my collection that I could wear with it. Then I stumbled on this beauty:



It’s a sterling silver and turquoise ring. There are 4 round stones, and one teardrop stone on its side in the middle. Each stone has a bit of black veining in it, and the stones are much bluer that the stone in my other ring. When I tried the ring on in the store, it fit perfectly. I couldn’t pass it up - I had to buy it! I absolutely love the ring, and it goes perfectly with my other ring. Here’s a picture of the two together:



I am really starting to look forward to my trip to Ottawa next Saturday. I think it will be a blast - and I will certainly have a haul to share with you all when I get back.

Have a great week!

Monthly Faves: October

I find myself suprised when I look over this list. When I was thinking about what to include in my monthly favorites post for October, I did not think that my list would be that big. And then I started gathering things for the photo, and I realized that this post was going to be a big'un.



Without further adieu, here we go!

Non-Drowsy Claritin, 12 Hour Formula - This has been a lifesaver for me this past month. My allergies have been acting up something fierce. At my allergen-reacting worst, I am a blood-shot-eyed, sniffling, watery-eyed, scratchy throat mess whose ears won't stop popping. I am allergic to mold and mildew, and the fall is really bad for that. When I am taking my Claritin, my allergy symptoms are either non-existent or manageable. I am very thankful for this medicine!

Benefit High Beam - I go through fits-and-starts with Benefit products. I use them religiously, and then don't touch them for months. That's been the case with this lovely liquid highlighter, which I have recently re-discovered after hearing Christina Hendricks uses it. I use this very sparingly (one itty-bitty dab will do ya) on my forehead, brow-bone, the bridge of my nose, the tops of my cheekbones, and on my chin - all of the natural places where light hits. It adds just enough shimmer to make your complexion light up, without making you look greasy.

Cover Girl Clean Makeup for Sensitive Skin (Foundation) - I really like this foundation. I have a good shade that matches my skin very well, and this foundation has not irritated my skin at all. The coverage is great. I couldn't ask for more from a foundation.

Silver Rose Necklace & Earrings - I recently hit my 5-year anniversary with my employer, meaning I have been with my current company for five years. When this happens at my place of work, you get a $50.00 gift certificate to spend where you want. I picked up this lovely set with part of that gift certificate. It's very simple and pretty - it goes well with everything, and when I wear it I will remember my 5-year anniversary.

Cover Girl Clean Pressed Powder for Sensitive Skin (Powder) - Once again, I don't have anything bad to say about this product. I bought a shade that matches my skin color well, and it doesn't irritate my skin at all. It sets my foundation, and does not appear cake-y or ashy on my skin.

Extra Professional Sugar-Free Gum in Bubblemint - I am addicted to this stuff, plain and simple. I have a pack in my purse, a pack at my desk at work, and a stash at home. This is also the product that I will pick up at the grocery store or drug store if the actual reason for my purchase doesn't amount to the minimum purchase total for debit transactions.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base - This is the best eye primer I have tried to date. It dries quickly and it dries clear. It grabs onto eyeshadow very well, and it takes about 5 hours before my eyeshadow will crease when I use this underneath. It's a standout product from my favorite company!

Neutrogena Healthy Glow Eye Cream - I don't know what it is, but this fall I have noticed my eye area is particularly dry. I use this cream on my under-eye area, as well as in my upper inner-corner (where the bridge of your nose and eyebrows meet). This cream soothes and does not leave an oily residue, which I really like. It's also fragrance free.

NARS Blush in Luster - This is a very pretty orange based blush. It's a nectarine-like shade, and it is very pigmented. I love it, because it gives my skin a nice coral flush without making me look pink, or like an oompa-loompa.

NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Taiga - This is perhaps one of my most favorite eyeshadow duos. The colors are very flattering on my pale skin. The first color in the duo is a creamy gold shimmer, and the second is a dark olive shimmer with gold undertone. The colors bring out the warmth in my complexion, and compliment my blue-green eyes nicely.

So there it is! My October favorites is complete. I cannot believe we are another month closer to Christmas...to think that Halloween was only yesterday! I am really looking forward to November, though. I really enjoy preparing for Christmas, as strange as that sounds - and that's pretty much all I do during November!

What are your favorite products from October?

Jewellery Organization

So, I have a bit of a space issue.

I moved home in July, and am tight for space now. It's meant me putting a lot of my things in storage, and also keeping a few boxes stashed in the basement.

The thing I struggle with most though, is organizing the top of my dresser - which is where I keep most of my jewellery and also my most frequently used makeup, as well as a few other things (deodorant, hair ties, etc.).

One thing that I've been able to organize really well are my earrings. I bought a cute cupcake stand from Winners, and hang my earrings from the spirals where cupcakes are suppose to sit. Here's a picture:



What I need help with is how to organize bracelets, brooches and necklaces - keeping in mind that I do not have much dresser-top space. Right now they all live in a drawer of my dresser.

Any suggestions?

Jewellery by Jan Mancey

Today I thought I would talk a bit about a local artisan, whose work I adore. The woman’s name is Jan Mancey, and she is an artist who specializes in fine art beadwork, and jewellery.

I own two of her pieces. Both are sterling-silver necklaces, which are pictured below.





The first is a sterling silver cup with the words ‘Have Faith’ inscribed in it, with a small pearl hanging in the middle.

The second is a sterling silver cup with the word “...Rejoice” inscribed it in, with an amethyst, emerald, amber, blue agate, and a garnet hanging in the middle. These pieces are simple and elegant, which is why I love them so much.

Jan’s work is available for purchase at the Valley Artisan’s Co-op in Deep River on Highway 17, next to the Laurentian View Dairy. Here is the link to their homepage: http://www.valleyartisans.com/

If you are interested in learning more about Jan and her work, you can check out her website at http://www.janmancey.com/Jan_Mancey_Art_%26_Design/__Jan_Mancey_Home.html