Sunshine Artist is featuring Barbara Umbel in June! Check this out!

One of my favorite artists has been featured on the cover of Sunshine Artist Magazine for June 2013.

Congratulations! Barbara & Rick. Until recently Barbara and Rick Umbel lived and worked in my neighborhood. I enjoyed times we spent together. They have since moved away, but they are doing great and her work is just as gorgeous as ever! She makes the most beautiful jewelry with shells and stones, silver and gold.  Many times I was fascinated by the designs that Barbara and Rick would make. The colors in the stones and shells were mesmerizing and every piece is a one of a kind!
That is definitely My kind of Art!

You can read a fantastic article about Barbara & Rick here.

I am so happy for you both!
 All the Best!

Silence Is Golden......

And this one has gone on far too long. 




The garden has been loved in some areas and totally neglected in others.
 We had a part of a big oak tree fall and land on 3 of my biggest prettiest Camellia Sasanquas and now my big experiment will be to try to save the shrubs and  propagate  what I can from them out of season.


These are from top to bottom, Camellia Sasanqua :"Taylors Pink Perfection", Apple Blossom, and Sparkling Burgundy. All 3 have been in this spot for at least 15 years so it is very traumatic to see them in this state of damage.

Are you ready for a good experiment? 


Camellias are normally rooted during the summer months when the new growth has hardened a little.
Cuttings taken in late June are usually tough enough so taking cuttings now means they are still very soft.
I plan to use several different methods,  and I will document them here. 
Check back later this week for the methods.


The Jewelry Studio has been totally neglected, but I hope to get back to work there soon too.  I have missed doing the Diva's zentangle challenges every monday. It;s funny how your routine just changes suddenly. Does that ever happen to you?

Are you a Planner, or a Doer?

I couldn't resist this title. It stems from a question I asked myself after a long fun conversation with my sister. She suggested that I get a sketch book and some colored pens and design my jewelry ( and doodles and etc) and keep the designs in a book. My problem is that I don't really plan out ahead of time what I am going to create. For years I designed (home) landscapes and flower beds (on golf courses Like this one at LCC)

and even then I never drew out designs or plans. I always kind of joked that I liked to design on the "fly". (I once even designed her flower boxes ( disclosure-this flower box isn't hers, but I couldn't find my pictures of her boxes)

while she worked all the while never putting pen to paper) . I like to see what I have available and use that to create whatever I am working on. I never know when I sit down to make something, what I am going to actually do. It seems like even when I have a picture or pattern in mind, what I make never looks like what I thought I was going to make.  So I guess my question is:

Do you plan out what you are going to do, or do you let the wire and beads, or paint and brushes, or even flowers and shrubs decide what the end product will be?

If like me, you don't plan anything, do you find it frustrating trying to follow a pattern?
I appreciate all of your answers to last week's question about preferences, and I hope you don't mind more questions... ( I promise this is not a quiz). I just really want to know are there others like me who don't plan, or should I start trying to be a little more methodical.

Monday's Motivation

Ok there are less than 60 days until Christmas, but then who's counting?

What? less than 2 months? Just think if you are paid bi-weekly, there are only 3 pay checks left between now and then. ( That is a scary thought). Anyway it is incredibly motivating for me. I have to get busy.  My sister and I have decided that handmade is the way to go for us this year. She is wonderfully creative and loves to make all kinds of things, and I love to make things, so this year we have agreed to go handmade. The girls in the family of course will get jewelry, but what about the guys and the children?
Well, "almost" all of the guys in the family are now able to drive, so I am thinking maybe a key chain like this

would make a great stocking stuffer and hand made book markers like these would be an ideal gift for the avid readers in the bunch.
The children though are a very different story. We have 5 little ones ( under 10) on the Christmas list this year. What do you make for little ones from 1-8 years old? Any ideas? Are you motivated yet?

Fresh from the Forge... Well sort of....

My mind went on vacation last week and left the rest of me home pouting, but I still kept busy. I managed to spend some time making jewelry, but not enough time in the garden or on the beach. Anyway, I thought I would offer a sneak preview of some of my new jewelry pieces. I will list them in my Etsy shop later on this evening. I will also be listing some things at eCrater as well as ebay. Most of these involve more chain maille than forging, but I just couldn't resist the title.

This bracelet and earring set features turquoise dyed howlite rondells with little wooden spacers and hand forged sterling silver infinity symbols.

These earrings might just be some of my new favorites. The little crosses are made from mother of pearl and indoors they look kind of gold, but outdoors the colors looked a little more rosy. The gemstones are garnet rondells and the ring is a gold plated solid twist circle. They are light weight and easy to forget you have them on.

I've also been playing with pearls and chain maille. I just love doing this. It's so much more fun than going back to work.

If you would like to see more, check out my shops at etsy and ecrater. I don't have an ebay store, but you can find my listings there as Sandypetals.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Rough Week?

If these don't bring you a giggle, or at least a smile, then you have had a really rough week and you have my permission to take Monday off.

Saturday's shopping spree Aka Have you thought about Christmas yet?

Have you thought about Christmas yet? Do you wait until the last minute to shop, hit the stores on the day after Thanksgiving before the sun rises, or do you plan ahead, making lists and determining that this year, most of it will be hand made or at least purchased and mailed by Thanksgiving,  I fall somewhere in the midst of all those categories. I've been thinking about it lately though and because I hate to shop in a crowd and I really would like to make the majority of the gifts I give and yes, I would love to have everything done before Thanksgiving so that I can be free to enjoy as many of the season's festivities as humanly possible. After all, it only happens once a year right?
Brace yourself: Here it comes: Christmas will be here in.....133 days!
Let's Go shopping....

new baby in the family? check out this adorable Sock Monkey Cocoon and Hat by nmelone13 on ETSY, or how about the little ones who love stuffed animals? Check these out....Gordon.
For the avid reader on your list, you can always offer bookmarks like this one  by my favorite folk artist Campbell Jane.


Jewelry is always a plus, and I love this bracelet by sparkle peach with it's simple elegance.
 I've been working on some earrings and bracelets of my own too,

but I have yet to list them.   I have no idea what to do for the guys on my list, but I really need ideas.

So where do you stand? Have you started, do you not want to think about it? Have you thought about it but don't want to deal with it just yet? Once again I seem to fall in the middle of all my categories.

Meandering through Blogs on Monday

This has been one of those weeks that I think my mind went on vacation and left my body behind. Does that ever happen to you? Nothing specifically wrong, I just seem to have been in a fog this week. I have to do something to clear my head, so I decided I would meander around some blogs that I enjoy and see what I can find. Want to see what I have found too?
I am not usually a fan of bottle cap jewelry, but Adaptive Reuse has used them to make a bracelet that may have just changed my mind. Then these Roses
that Emily made are stunning. I cannot begin to fathom the patience she must have to get all that weaving so pretty.
At Campbell Jane's blog "Sometimes things ARE just black and white", She has an awesome collection called Carpe-deim. I really like the doodles and that black dress is really something.
Today I spent working on this and that, but not actually completing anything just yet. Although I did wrap a bright white sun-bleached beach pebble with sterling silver wire and as soon as I finish wrapping the bail, I will show it to you. I think it has turned out very nicely.
Have you seen what Trudie Davies Designs has for her August give away? They are gorgeous sterling and gemstone rings. I couldn't choose a favorite, but ok if I had to choose just 1 it might be the topaz, or maybe the garnet, but then again..............Oh, I just can't choose!

Finally! Photos are looking better

I have had quite a hard time lately getting my photos just right. It seems they were blurry, or badly lit and it didn't matter how I tried, I couldn't make them look any better. I Finally got frustrated the other day and took them outside. The right light makes all the difference in the world.
These pictures are a few of the things I have been talking about and working on. Hope you like them.








I will be listing all of these in my Etsy Shop over the next few days.
Have a great Weekend.

Those are just plain....UGLY!

What a day this day has been at Sandypetals' studio. I have tried twice to photograph my jewelry so that I can list it here and in my etsy shop and on some other market places. Notice I said twice! I don't know what is wrong with me, but I have discovered that the pics I have taken of my jewelry stink. They aren't well lit, or there is some blurring,( blurred, an autofocus camera on a tripod?) so I deleted all of the first takes and tried again., Worst of all, I found that some of the earrings I have made are just UGLY. It was quite an eyeopener today when I went through my little box of treasures anxiously visualizing all the pretty little pieces proudly showing off in my shops, excitedly waiting for new homes.
I have heard it said that "blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused" and I have to admit that I have been quite amused with myself today.What was I thinking?, how could I have put those combinations together? The really funny part is that I can picture my husband and child, playing the Abe Lincoln "hey does my butt look big in this dress?" scenario through their minds when I showed off my prizes and asked their opinions.
I thought that the little creative spurts I have been having at 1 or 2 AM lately were a good thing. Boy did I "thought" wrong! Those wee hours of the morning should definitely be spent dreaming! Now that I have confessed my design flaws, I have some questions for you.
What is the "ugliest" combination you have put together? ( come on, I can't possibly be the only one). I know that some others may like and be drawn to what seems unattractive to me, but if I wouldn't wear a piece of jewelry myself, should I try to sell it for someone else to wear?

Read any good books Lately?

I love to read. I read all sorts of books, and this past week I picked up a good one that a friend had passed on to me.
I read The Traveler's Gift, by Andy Andrews. We had a real rainy day with a lot of lightning and thunder and the rain made everything smell so fresh and look so green. My 2 mutts however don't have the same appreciation for storms that I enjoy and with each thunderclap, or streak of lightning they were forced to endure, they shook and quivered and whined.


I had planned to photograph some Jewelry pieces that I had made,



but everytime I moved, the dogs moved with me. When I walked across the room to retrieve a camera battery, they got down from the sofa and followed me there and back whining all the way. When I made myself a cup of coffee and heated a Krispy Kreme donut they almost tripped me. I finally gave up on my plans and decided the only peace in the valley would be if they were right beside me with their heads buried under a blanket.So I decided it would be a perfect day just to sit on the couch and read. The book moved so fast that I couldn't put it down. In fact, I don't think I moved at all until I finished the book sometime during the wee hours of the morning.
It turned out to be quite a good read for a rainy day and if you get a chance, check it out and let me know what you think of it.

Oh Man it's Hot, Hot Hot

It has become so hot and humid in the past week or two that I promise it feels as though you could cook an egg on the sidewalk.



The only problem is that I have no sidewalks anywhere close by. Yesterday I braved the heat for a couple of hours and potted some seedlings and cuttings, today I didn't even go out after I made a mandatory trip to the corner grocery store. I wish I could say that I had done something productive or made some pretty piece of jewelry, but I cannot. In truth I think my brain feels much like that egg on the sidewalk.

I thought about things to make and do all day, but I just couldn't make myself do any of them. Do you have days like that? When you do have those days, do you just work through them or give in to them? I keep telling myself, not to give in, but "my self" hasn't been listening lately. I need some kind of routine. Do you schedule your time, or just let it flow when creativity shows up with another bright idea? I have never been a night owl, but lately, that is when I want to work on things. It is out of character for me in a big way. I think I should start working on a schedule, but not tonight. I believe I will just go bend some wire and add a few beads and think about it for a while.

What happened to the rest of the week?

This is one of those weeks that just flew. The kind of week where you wake up one morning and realize it is Saturday, and somehow you are sure that when you went to sleep yesterday it was Wednesday.I have been very busy this week... I have gardened,



crossed daylily seeds,


made jewelry,


learned to make a chain maille cross,



cooked and played chauffeur. It has been a terrific week. It just went so by fast.
If the rest of the summer goes by as fast as this week, we'll be heading back to school in about 3 hours. I am definitely not ready for that.

My camera is acting up and I am having problems lighting it up and keeping it focussed. It is one with image stabilization and even though I had put it on a tripod to take these pictures, I bracketed exposures and used time delay so that I wouldn't jostle the camera in any way, it still wasn't sharp and clear. I hate to think about replacing it, but I sure need one that works better than this one lately.

Tomorrow, I am planning to cook Father's Day Dinner for both my Hubby and my Dad. They both love the same thing and so I make it for all their birthday's and special days too. It will be a mexican cornbread ( with meat and cheese and peppers) and I will probably add some sliced tomatos, nachos and a chocolate cake. Sounds Yummy doesn't it? I will let you know how it all turns out.
Have a Great Father's Day!

I finally got a "Roun'toit"...

Do you remember being on vacation and stopping in one of the normal touristy type stores and seeing a "rountoit"? Basically It was just a circle of wood with the words " round to it" painted on it. It was simply a reminder to stop procrastinating and get around to doing whatever your project may be. Well, someone must have wished me one because I finally got "around" to photographing some of the jewelry pieces I have been making and decided to share. I am still learning a lot about metals and design, but so far I have only made a few things I didn't like and needless to say, you won't see those. I truly thought I had made more, but tonight as I was photographing my pieces, I realized I must have dreamed it because I didn't have as many as I thought.
Anyway, I have learned some forging, some wire weaving, some beading and some wire wrapping. These two peices are my attempts at forging.

This pair combines hemimorphite stones with some tiny seed pearls. They are surprisingly comfortable too. I love the aqua color of the stones mixed with the copper.

This bracelet I forged from brass wire. I was using it to practice with and I think I like using it as well as copper. The brass is a little stiffer and just seems to hold it's shape better than the soft copper.

The next 2 pieces are green onyx that I made a woven Bezel for. I was really happy with it, because I haven't ever woven a bezel before now.

I love these open circles with the weaving between the frames too.

These are pebbles I picked up off of the beach. I love rocks and I have loved picking up these little pebbles for as long as I can remember. I have wrapped them as pendants, which is strange because I don't wear any necklaces but I think they are just too big for earrings.

Wire filigree caught my eye and I had to just try it. This is my attempt. I believe next time I will use a smaller guage for the filigree than I used for the frames.

Freshwater pearls are hard to beat. I wrapped these coin pearls to a hand forged teardrop frame and put some 1/2 ear wires on them. They are incredibly comfortable and fun to wear.

I will post more later on, I am just getting started and I am trying out some new designs too. I have so much to learn, but right now my hands are sore and I need a little break.

Maybe next I will design something with crystals or faceted gemstones.

"Wastin' Daylight"

Spring is only 1 month away!

I cannot believe how fast 2010 is already moving. It seems like Christmas was last week and I am just beginning to catch up. It is almost the end of February though and Spring will be here in record time. Spring at the beach is usually very early and most welcome. I am not a winter person and it feels as though I have spent months in the house. In reality, I have spent far too many days indoors. Today however was different. The minute my feet hit the floor this morning, my brain told me I was "wastin daylight!"

It is gorgeous outside, Sunny and in the mid 50's, I determined I had to be outdoors. I wanted to check on the greenhouse and make sure all the plants were ok. It appears that their quiet pleas for attention have ascended to desperate shouts for help. I gave them all a drink of water and turned the heat off as our days and evenings are now mostly in the 40's. I think like me, the plants needed to get outside a little bit too but there are too many for me to attempt that today.. A quick stroll through the rest of the yard gave even more assurance of spring's much anticipated arrival. The daylily seedlings I grew last year are beginning to emerge from their slumber, and you can tell that the buds are swelling on the early spring "bloomers". The Iris seedlings are beginning to emerge as well and now all the fun I have had planting those 100's of seeds is about to become sheer panic as I struggle for places to plant them . You know " right plant/right place?"

As well as seeing what was making it's debut, I got a chance to see what is blooming. Being in a mild climate, I try to have something blooming all the time. Even in December and January, there is something blooming somewhere in my yard. Today is no exception. I have several camellias blooming that winter days just wouldn't be complete without.This is one of my favorites. Her name is Jean Clere and although this picture doesn't so as much of the detail as I would like, it has a small white edge around the petals. It is just beautiful. Oh, if only camellias were fragrant like roses!

This Camellia is so pretty, this photo doesn't show it off as well as I would like, but each of these double formal shaped blossoms has tiny carmine colored stripes and just a tinge of pink around the outside edges of the flower. This camellia is called Grace Albritton. The winter days inside haven't been a total waste, I have taken up a new hobby, making jewelry and I have really enjoyed it. I have made a few little projects and will post those later. Right now though I have about 2 more hours of "daylight" and 3 tons of sticks to be picked up from the front yard alone. The "TO DO" list is about to begin.

I will be listing some daylily seeds as well as seedlings on Ebay later today ( I have other seeds available too)and hopefully, I will put a few pieces of jewelry in my etsy shop. On Ebay, my seller name is Sandypetals and my etsy shop is www.sandypetals.etsy.com

Hope to see you there.

Boy Time sure flies....

Wow!
I cannot believe how long it has been since I have posted. This summer brought many changes into my little world. My son became a vegan in June, so I feel as if I am failing cooking school. It is really not easy to adjust to cooking with no animal products whatsoever especially when you have never cooked without them. Most of the things I have made have been okay, but not wonderful, some not edible and very few that were requested more than once. I am spending lots of time searching the net for recipes and tips and tricks that will make things look and taste better and if they can be a little more convenient.... ( well I can dream right). I had planned to post some recipes and pictures of things we have made, but I just haven't gotten to it yet.Hopefully pictures and recipes will come soon.

Another thing that changed for me this summer, was I revisited an old craft. I took copper working classes in school and have fiddled with it on and off since then. I have a great friend who is a fine jewelry designer and who makes the most beautiful jewelry and she has shown me some methods of forging and soldering metals and so I have branched into silver as well as copper. You can follow this link to her website and see why I am so crazy about her designs. Barbara Umbel Jewelry Designs . I have made many earrings as well as a few bracelets and I will list them in my etsy shop soon.

I am hopelessly addicted to plants. Most people who know me, don't bother to question the fact that I have an extra refrigerator for seeds, but it is quite a pleasant addiction. I have heard it said that "Good things come to those who wait" and 2 nights ago good things did. I have amassed an extensive collection of Epiphyllum (orchid cactus) ( some started from refrigerated seeds) and 1 bloomed for the first time. These are nocturnal cacti and the blooms don't even begin opening until late in the evening. By morning, the blooms have finished and they only last for 1 showing. The variety that bloomed for me this week is Epiphyllum Oxypetalum. Also known as Queen of the Night. She put on quite a show and although I was too tired to stay up all night watching, I was able to see bloom. Here she is in all her glory.


Thanks for stopping by and look for updates on a regular basis real soon.

My Soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Luke 1: 4-6

Feeling Creative?

This seems to be one of those weeks that I just want to make something. Usually it doesn't turn out as pretty as the idea I had when I started, but sometimes I get lucky.This week it was a pair of earrings with a royal blue lampworked bead, mixed with white freshwater pearls and gold beads. They dangle just the right length and are pretty comfortable. I have never been one to wear much jewelry but for some reason a few months ago, I decided I would learn to make it. It seems to have a steep learning curve for me, but I don't give up easily.
I have fed this artsy mood ( really kind of unusual for me) by searching out artists and paintings, Jewelry designers and designs and performances that I really just enjoy. One such artist is Campbell Jane. She paints the prettiest angels and mermaid angels and the most magical trees I have seen in a long time. You can see her work at www.campbelljane.etsy.com and she has a great blog too. www.folkartbycampbelljane.blogspot.com Check it out and you will see what I am talking about. I haven't seen one of her paintings that I didn't like. Campbell Jane's paintings touch your heart in unexpected ways. It is something I didn't notice at first, but later I can't quit thinking about. They just make you feel happy when you look at them.Some are whimsical and some are not. All seem to have their own special quality. It may be different for everyone.
As for performances, My son's school put on their spring musical program tonight. Don't you know the kind of programs that mom's love and dad's get dragged to kicking and screaming. LOL My son didn't have a part, but I went to watch my friends children perform. It was such a treat. You can tell immediately which children God designed to be entertainers.

When I get a little braver, I will list some of my jewelry in my etsy shop. Until then you just need a little imagination.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.