From Christmas to Valentines Day

It seems crazy that Christmas has already come and gone. For months I look forward to the holiday and we all crazily prepare for the big day for it to be over in a matter of hours. Its kind of sad in a way but I wouldn't trade it for the world. For those of us who know the true reason for the season it is a wonderous and joyful occassion. With it being over I now have to focus my attention on the next holiday which is Valentines Day. I know it seems crazy thinking of it so fast but it will be here before we know it. I have been busily working on some new heart designs for 2013. For the first video of the year I will be showing how to make this super cute 3D heart ring. I love this little ring and everyone who has seen it at the shop so far has loved it!

Working on kits

Every year for Christmas one of the things I ask for from my in laws is a new beading kit. I scour the Internet looking for projects that look interesting and send the links to Patty. She then surprises me on Christmas morning with a bright shiny new kit to work on. Last year she got me several and there is one that I had yet to tackle until tonight.



I was immediately drawn to this kit because of the beaded beads. Anyone who knows me knows that I love beaded beads. I do believe though that I have finally met a beaded bead that I can live the rest of my life and feel fine if I never make one again.







This beaded bead is simple in concept. Basically it's a base beaded bead that you then embellish. The thing I don't like about it is the fact that you have to use illusion cord and by the time you get to the end you can hardly get your thread through the beads. The illusion cord makes the bead super stiff but boy is that stuff a pickle to work with after its been wrapped around a little disc for over a year :(

Just because I HATE this beaded bead it won't stop me from finishing the necklace. As the old saying goes "take one step at a time" but in my case I'm going to take it one bead at a time. I think I still have 3 or 4 more beaded beads to make and they are different so maybe it won't be so bad. I'm going to have to go and bury my poor big eye needle tomorrow though. I started using it about halfway through so that I could get the thread through and let's just say that it has now seen its better days!

If your interested in the kit or pattern you can check out her website or etsy store that is one the first picture.

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Big Color for 2013.......

Every year Pantone choses a color that will be seen widely throughout the year.  2013's color is going to be Emerald. It's the color of Oz and one of the most abundant colors in nature.  For all you jewelry designers out there you may want to start stocking up and making jewelry with this color!

Feeling Accomplished!

Today I feel a feeling of accomplishment!  I got the rest of my Christmas cards sent out.  I love Christmas because its the one time of year when I get to send out cards. Christmas Cards are becoming a lost art as our society depends more and more on social media. When I was a kid I loved to go to our family mail box and get the cards out of the box. When we got home mom would let me open them and I loved to see the shiny glittery festive colors.

When I was old enough to make my own money I started mailing out Christmas cards to my family. Then when Sammy and I got married I was so excited because I got to add a whole more people to my card list. I just love stuffing envelopes with my own personal holiday cheer. I guess I just have that hope that when someone opens their Christmas card they are as happy to receive it as I am to send it.

With that being said, I was so excited yesterday to receive a large package in the mail. Last month I joined a charm swap from one of my yahoo groups. The package had all sorts of lovely charms sent from all over the United States. I put them on my chain but haven't had a chance to put the clasp on yet. I will defiantly do another swap in the future!

New Book

 

I was surfing the web the other day and I found a great website called Mabeline Designs.  You can check it out at www.MabelineDesigns.com  I purchased a few patterns from the designer a few years ago at Bead and Button and loved them. Well come to find out she has written a book. If you order the book through her website you get free shipping and a few extra patterns that are not printed in the book. I ordered the book and it came in the mail on Saturday. I got a chance to sit down and look at it and let me tell you.....it is AWESOME!  Her patterns are great and the diagrams in this book are the best i've ever seen in a beading book. I will defently be making some of the patterns in this book!  You can also purchase PDF patterns from her website. If you get a chance to check it out them out because they are just as great!

Polar Express

Christmas is my absolute most favorite time of year!  If it's Christmas related I want to do it.  So last night Sammy, his parents, and myself went to ride the Polar Express in Bryson City NC.  It was an absolute blast! If you have kids and live anywhere near Bryson City you must take them to ride the train. They try to make it as much like the movie as possible. You sing carols, get to meet Santa who gives the small children a bell, you get to listen to the book being read aloud, and my most favorite...they serve you the BEST hot chocolate that I have EVER tasted! I would go and ride the train again just to get that hot chocolate!  I was telling my one of my best friends about it. She googled it and found the recipe.  According to the www here's how to make the worlds best polar express hot chocolate:

 

1.5 cups of Heavy Cream

1 Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk (14oz)

2 Cups of bittersweet chocolate chips

6 Cups of milk

1 tsp Vanilla extract

 

In a regular pot over low heat, combine all of the ingredients. Stir regularly for 30-40 minutes or until chocolate is fully melted.

 

I haven't tried this myself yet but if it's anywhere near as good as what they had on the train, you will LOVE IT!

 

 

Sammy thought it was hysterical when he put whipped cream on my nose so of coarse he had to have a picture. LOL!