Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day coincides with Good Friday this year and I was fortunate enough to have the day off work. I ran a couple errands, one of which was hauling my 17 lbs. of crushed aluminum cans at the local recycling center. They bump the price a little in their customers' favor in honor of Earth Day, and being that it's just my husband and I, we collect cans all year for it.

Upon my return home, I happened to gaze out my upstairs window and spotted some of these lovely lavender blooms on one of my perennial geraniums. With all of the rain we've had this spring, my gardens are looking so lush and full, especially given how early it still is.

Happy Earth Day!

Spring has sprung!

Well, I think it's here! Spring! After what seemed like an endless winter, I actually got out and mowed the grass today. Though I'm not entirely thrilled about that chore, it was nice to get out in the sunshine in the green grass and smell the fresh blooming viburnum. Its tiny white flowers are just beginning to open and they are so fragrant. It's a heavenly scent. Yum!

This little tuft of daffodils popped up out of nowhere this year. Light buttery color and it seems to be one of the double ones. I couldn't have picked a prettier plant. I guess I have the birds, chipmunks or squirrels to thank for that random planting.

This is the crabapple tree just starting to bloom. So bright and pretty!

I did add a pretty new necklace to my shop today as well, called Peony. Appropriate for springtime, I think. There were Peony earrings already in my shop, so I figured it would be nice to offer a matching necklace. Either would make a perfect Mother's Day gift!

Whew! That was fast!

Wow, I just listed these earrings tonight and I happened to check my activity feed and there they were in this lovely, springy treasury! It really has a nice feel, and I thank WeekendVintage for including me! Please stop by and check out all of the yellow and grey items if you have a chance!

Say it ain't snow!

Well, spring is right around the corner, but winter decided to show itself one more time – at least – before it retreats for the season. We aren't supposed to get more than a dusting, so it should be letting up soon. It's supposed to be sunny and around 50º tomorrow. With that said, I find myself more able to appreciate its beauty. It sure is sparkly sitting atop the bare tree limbs and bushes. Tomorrow, I will enjoy the sun. :)

It's what's on the inside that counts.

I was attending one of the traveling bead shows over the weekend and came across a booth (EarthArt) selling all sorts of mineral specimens and geodes. They had the coolest thing where you could pick a rock from various bins and the guy running the booth would load it into a vice-like contraption. He would then give it a couple clicks with a socket wrench and the rock would crack. (You can see the crack above if you look closely.) Once cracked, it was carefully handed back to its purchaser to be opened to reveal the jewels inside.

It was very exciting and I got a bit carried away with it. When I took the two home that I purchased on Saturday for $5 each and shared the calcite, smoky quartz and amethyst with my husband, he asked me to get a couple of the $10 ones on Sunday. No problem! They are just so cool. I have no idea what I'll do with them, but I got some nice ones!

This is one of the Los Choyas ones. It contains chalcedony and smoky quartz (if I remember correctly).

Another Los Choyas, this is one of the beautiful amethyst ones I picked.

This type looked so different on the outside from the others. They reminded me of potatoes in in both color and texture. This one is Moroccan and contains quartz. Very beautiful!

I do weddings!

I love when people find my shop. I'm always so curious as to how it happens and I rarely find out. I know I need to educate myself more on how Google Analytics can work for me. I seem to get quite a few shoppers who are first-time Etsy buyers, which intrigues me even more. Were they browsing, searching categories...?

This week I received a convo from a very sweet bride-to-be who said she adored my necklace entitled Lightness. She was wondering if I truly only had one available or if she could order more of them. Naturally, I replied telling her I would check my supplies, but was fairly certain I could accommodate her order. She wanted 5 of them!

It's always a bit nerve-racking for me to be at work, away from my supplies or sold orders because I want to be home, designing or shipping right then! But I had to wait. I ordered some back-up pearls though, just in case. Checked my supplies at home and found I had all I needed to make the necklaces. When I contacted my shopper, she had seen a pair of ametrine earrings in my shop and decided to change the lemon quartz to ametrine instead.

I am thrilled with the results! It's a lovely stone and it pairs so well with the little oblong white pearls. Perfect for a spring wedding!

This is the 3rd wedding for which I've designed bridesmaid jewelry and it is certainly an area where I'd like to have more sales. I enjoy creating something a little different for the brides, and they seem to enjoy having input in the design process. It makes a wonderful and memorable gift to the bridesmaids, who are usually dear friends or siblings!

A very cheerful treasury.

I just checked my activity feed and found that my Peppertree bracelet has been included in a nice, bright and springy treasury put together by birdsoforegon. I love how happy it feels. Here is a peek at it and if you'd like to shop the other sellers, check it out here on Etsy.