Love is in the air...

~Best Dog in the World~

~Ewe Rock~

I loaded the shop with lots of hearts today...I love hearts!

You can check everything out HERE.

I also added a set of beads HERE.

Have a fun weekend!

xo

Give me a G

G is for GARDEN

G is for GREAT

G is for GREEN

G is for GIDDY

G is also the letter in my last name

I found this large salvaged metal letter "G" 

Now I need to give it a coat of paint (maybe two different colors) and hang it on my wall.

I'll show you when it's all done...

xo

Finders Keepers

Kurt: i found these in my shop, are they yours?

Me: OMG!!!! where were they?

Kurt: in my shop...

Me: in your shop?

Kurt: on the shelf above my work bench

Me: i was looking everywhere for those (a few years ago)

Kurt: why were they in my shop?

Me: i was using your grinder to clean up the backs of the typewriter keys...i've looked everywhere in my studio for them, but I could never find them...

I don't even remember what I had in mind for these keys...but my mind is racing now with some fun ideas!
xo

Bloomin' Headpins

Introducing Bloomin' Headpins...

As the Design of the Month I'll be offering FREE SHIPPING on them.

They are available here- MY SITE.

xo

Happy New Year!

Did everyone survive the holidays?

No matter how organized I try to be, they still sneak up on me.

But we had a nice one, hope you did too!

A couple weeks ago Martha had a giveaway on her blog (I love her soldered goodies) she was introducing her new Custom Pet Silhouette ornaments! 

Well, I had to enter...who wouldn't want a ornament of their pup, right!

And guess what, I WON!!! I know, I feel like I won the lottery!

So first I had to get a side shot of you know who...which was easier said then done.

It took two of us. I went outside (Molly is super nosy) so while Molly was playing i-spy with me...Kurt started snapping away...


no, too far away...


no, blurry...


no Molly, look out the window...


no, need ear tips...



ah just right...

I then sent the picture to Martha and in a few days this arrived...and hung on our tree over the holidays.

It's just the sweetest!

LOVE it!

And look at all the detail...you can see the little hairs! 

Thank you again Martha...

Molly is also one of 20 contenders for a Christmas picture contest...(wearing her Santa Baby suit)
If you'd like to vote for her, I know she would love it!
You can vote HERE
I told Molly if she wins, she'll have to have a "fan page" on Facebook! HA!

Here's to a Healthy & Happy 2012!

xo

Santa Baby

Have yourself a Very Merry Christmas

and a Happy 2012!

or else!

Love, Maria and Molly

xo

P.S.  I had to laugh when I saw Molly in this "vicious" shot!
She was barking at me because I was teasing her with cookies! HA

Christmas memories

The only thing on my Christmas list in 1966 was a Baby First Step.
Two of my favorite things in life back then were roller skating and baby dolls.
This doll could walk and skate! She was perfect...

What was your favorite childhood gift?

If you give a dog a cookie

If you give a dog a cookie...then she'll want a bag of them...

If you give a dog a bag of cookies...

...then she'll do almost anything, like pose for your Christmas card photo!

My son, Anthony came home to take pictures for this years Christmas cards.

I can't wait to show you them!

xo

Last but not least

The last snowman of the season is listed on my site.

Wearing blue winter scarf and sitting on a bottle of snow (German glass glitter)

You can find him here.

xo

Size matters

We have a "dog" cookie jar by the backdoor. Molly gets a little treat every time she does her business. Because Molly is a little dog I buy the small size milk bones and I break the cookies up in about 4 pieces. After all it's a treat, not a meal.

 

Last week I discovered they now make a MINI size milk-bone! The perfect size for Molly and so CUTE!

xo

It's raining

It's been raining leaves here this last week (so glad I don't clean the pool)

If you turn up the volume you can hear our kitty cat, Tina at the very end. Ha!

xo

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who placed bids on the Toys For Tots Charity Auction. (and Facebooked about the auction) It was a huge success! And because of you, many children will have a gift this holiday season. Thank you very much for your generosity.

Above is the Money Order for the amount of $258.00 which is now on it's way to the Toys For Tots!

~Bow Wow Bracelet~

I added a few new things to my site. Including this fun bracelet filled with lots of fun beads like- a food bowl, fire hydrant, a ball, dog bone and a heart dangle.

You can see them all  HERE.

 xo

Art Bead Scene Holiday Ornament Blog Hop

~Woodland Snowman Ornament~

I'm taking part in the Art Bead Scene Holiday Ornament Blog Hop.

This little woodland snowman ornament is made up of a lampwork snowman head bead (made by me) which sits on a tiny glass bottle filled with frosty flakes (glass beads, pearls and mica) I then added a tinsel collar (for a little holiday cheer)

A lampwork acorn and nest with eggs (by me), a lucite bloom, brass fern and a heart locket complete the ornament.

 

This month I'm offering a similar ornament (which is a kit) for the Design of the Month.

Here is the list of all the other participating ornament blog hoppers-  

Humblebeads

Suburban Girl Studio

Spirited Earth

Garden Path Beads

Life in the Lyon's Den

Blog by Salla

It's Been a While

Sue Beads

Artist At Work

Modern Nature Studio

WireWorked

Too Aquarius

Artfully Ornamental

Gem Rose Designs

Jewels by Ine

BeeTree by M.E.

Islandgirl's Insights

Angela Lund-Logan

Gem's PC Corner

Summers Studio

Sandy Volpe

The Next Bend

Skye Jewels

Janina Grigore

Elysian Studios

Art Bead Scene
Jeannie's Blog

The last day...

Today is the last day for the Toys for Tots Charity Auction.

If you haven't had a chance to check the goodies out yet, there is still time.

Bidding ends tonight at 6:00pm (PST) West coast time

xo

It's TIME!

The Toys for Tots Charity Auction starts today! 

I hope you'll take a moment to check them out.

All the money raised goes to a great cause!

The new Design of the Month (December) is now available! It's my first kit and I thought it might be fun! Click here to order yours.

Plus I will be adding new things to my website store over the next few weeks! Fun Fun Fun

I also added a new page on my site for my handmade paper clay ornaments, fun little things I make when ever the mood hits me (which is not often)

xo

Challenge of Color

I signed up for Erin's Challenge of Color Blog Hop.

Each participant picked one color, I picked red (thinking of Christmas)

Then I was assigned the color palette above (nothing like Christmas)

This is what I made...

I made a lampwork focal, added coral disks, faceted Czech glass, Agate beads (in browns) and brass findings.

It was a color palette I probably would have never tried if I didn't sign up for this challenge. 

Thanks again Erin, it was fun!

Here's the list of the participants and their color palettes:

1	Norma Turvey	Teal	Color Crave
2	Jeannie Dukic	Green	Mineral Tones
3	Mary McGraw	Teal	Embellished Hues
4	Jo Tinley	Red	Decadent Tones
5	Rebecca Anderson	Pink	Tulip Tones
6	Kristi Jaro	Red	Temple Entrance
7	Stephani Gorman	Green	Dew Tones
8	Melissa Meman	Green	Fruit Star
9	Kathleen Lange Klik	Teal	Silk Hues
10	Cynthia Riggs	Red	Autumn Comfort
11	Heidi Post	Teal	Flora Bright
12	Cece Cormier	Teal	Merino Teal
13	Amy Freeland	Gray	Cultured Tones
14	Alice Peterson	Blue	Island Play
15	Rose Noble	Gray	Autumn Stacked
16	Kristina Johansson	Yellow	Sunny Flower
17	Kirsi Luostarinen	Teal	Dragon Hues
18	Tari Kahrs	Orange	Citrus Tones
19	Mallory Hoffman	Purple	Petaled Dark
20	Molly Alexander	Brown	Peppered Tones
21	Regina Santerre	Red	Frosted Berry
22	Emanda Johnson	Teal	Color Purl
23	Amy Severino	Orange	Winged Tones
24	Bobbie Rafferty	Teal	Lime Hues
25	Tanya Goodwin	Gray	Pecked Tones
26	Lisa Lodge	Blue	Nocturnal Tones
27	Hope Smitherman	Blue	Bloom Tones
28	Linda Landig	Green	Cacti Dark
29	Ambra Gostoli	Teal	Perched Autumn
30	Lori Bowring-Michaud	Blue	Sharpened Blue
31	Pippa Chandler	Teal	Hungarian Hues
32	Keirsten Giles	Purple	Mineral Brights
33	Jennifer Justman	Blue	Autumn Rays
34	Sandy Richardson	Purple	Moroccan Brights
35	CJ Bauschka	Teal	Teal Air
36	Shaiha Williams	Teal	Sushi Hues
37	Kay Thomerson	Purple	Autumn Spectrum
38	Sally Russick	Purple	Golden Gate Tones
39	Cilla Watkins	Purple	Autumn Infused
40	Shirley Moore	Purple	Frozen Heather
41	Jenni Connolly	Gray	Paw Tones
42	Tamara Soper	Green	Field Tones
43	Sharyl McMillian-Nelson	Blue	Nested Blues
44	Jen Velasquez	Pink	Sweetened Tints
45	Maria Grimes	Red	Bright Bloom
46	Elisabeth Auld	Gray	Petaled Tints
47	Susan Kennedy	Pink	Zinnia Tones
48	Shannon Chomanczuk	Gray	Autumn Leaf
49	Holly Westfall	Yellow	Sprinkled Tones
50	Patty Gasparino	Red	Color Carton
51	Angela Little	Pink	Singapore Brights
52	Lizzie Zawinski	Green	Budding Hues
53	Kristen Stevens	Pink	Scooped Tones
54	Dawn Doucette	Brown	Jarred Tones

Naughty or Nice

I found someone's "wish list" under her bed (wink wink)

And what a list it is...

I'll let Santa know she's been a good doggy this year...

~Suitcase Bed~

~Monkey Toy~

~Holiday Hat~

~New Leash~

~Food Bowl~

~Fav Child t-shirt~ (funny)

~Chihuahua Necklace~ I think this was for me?

~Pink Robe~

~Oh Christmas Tree Hat~

Yes, it's quite a list...

xo