My New Etsy Look

It’s been a long time coming, but now my Etsy Shop Jewelry Elegance has a new look. Thanks to my friend ChezChani I have found a wonderful Etsy Shop Dusty Designs to create my new banner. The designer Nicole created exactly what I had envisioned she is a very talented designer. So if you are currently unhappy with your banner, or just need a new look, why not take a look at what Dusty Designs Etsy Shop has to offer.

I Have a New Toy

I have a new toy, well maybe not so new, just never used this wonderful toy. Yes, I purchased a “Rotary Tumbler” sometime ago and never got around to learning to use the tumbler. Well, today I had some extra time, and decided I would finally open the box and see what tumbling jewelry was all about. A pound

of mixed stainless steel shot, a little water, and a squirt of dawn and I was off and running to see what tumbling would do for may copper jewelry.

I was amazed when I finished the first batch, just three copper bracelets, but what a difference the tumbling made. Everything is bright and shiny, with a special glow. So next I tumbled Naga Shell sterling silver earrings, again the tumbling made a beautiful shine.The next tumbling adventure was a Gold Parawire bracelet which included Lampwork beads, again a beautiful shine.I happened to have another similar bracelet,and could compare them side by side, amazing how beautifully the tumbled bracelet out shined it’s sister. My next experiment was my “Springs & Loops” Necklace, this necklace features both Gold Parawire and Silver Parawire, wanted to see how the tumbling would effect two different color wires.Now I’ll experiment with tumbling my favorite copper necklace and some earrings. The necklace has a number of mixed gemstones, and the earrings have copper coils and bead dangles. Really made everything sparkle…

I love my new toy….

It’s a Free World After All

A Local Legend
Free Home, Georgia

Down along one of Free Home's unpaved roads, you will find a girl selling corn. However, this innocent farm hand has been dead for 72 years yet has become a local legend to this sleepy town. Starting in 1942, many claimed to have seen this specter and have also claimed to have tasted 'the sweetest corn in the world'. But when it comes time to pay, the young girl turns and walks away saying "it’s on the house. It’s a free world after all".

My family doesn’t read my blog…

October 13, 2007 to October 13, 2008

My blog is a year old today…

I first started blogging on October 13, 2007, a whole year has passed and my focus has totally changed. My original intent was for my blog to be read by my children and their families, so they could experience what Mom was creating…

My daughter and her family live over 3000 miles away, and I thought this would be a great way for her to see what Mom was creating. Now sons really don’t care about what Mama’s doing, or at least mine doesn’t.He was married in May of 2007, and has a very busy life with his new family, besides he has seen me create stuff, since he was just a baby.

Then there is my un-married daughter, who lives close by, she can’t miss what I’m up too, it’s always sitting around the house. But I gave them all my blogger address, hoping that maybe they would discover something they didn’t know about me.

Well, it didn’t take long before I decided that I would post to see if they had ever visited my blog. Yes, I was bad, I posted all three girls Christmas gifts on my blog, before Christmas. If they just logged into my blog they would have seen their gifts. I also told them all on Christmas day what I had done. Do you think anything has changed….No, they still haven’t made the first visit to my blog.

My focus, hasn’t really changed…I just now blog for myself, my customers and my friends. I love the ability to share what I’m creating and what I’ve learned.

I’ve Started My Holiday Shopping

I couldn’t think of a better way to start my holiday shopping than to participate in the Art Auction for Charity, this event was hosted and sponsored by a loving artist community!

I’m the lucky winning bidder on three beautiful artwork pieces from the auction which will benefit the Georgia Graham Kidney Transplant Fund. Georgia Graham is the Mother of my friend Jacqui from the Artist of the Round Table (A.R.T.), where she has graciously been moderating and teaching on-line workshops for many years.

"Caring Hands & Giving Hearts"

My first winning bid was for a fabric and fiber satchel that was published in Haute Handbags II. This is an awesome satchel/purse that is deep enough to hold all your essentials. Created using a variety of black & white fabrics & fibers. Hand stitched!

Artist: Cynthia Powell


My second winning bid was for a lovely vintage necklace. Triple black & gold cording with large lobster claw closure. This unique one of a kind piece was created using vintage brass findings, amber color glass beads, and charms.


Artist: Cynthia Powell

My third winning bid was for this beautiful painted collage, of techniques to indulge your senses. It is very calming and serene, not overworked, yet very visual.
The artist used several different techniques in a variety of layers, painting, stamping, paper and pastels.

Artist: Sabine Vater


I wish all my holiday shopping would be this easy…
Did I mention that I hate to shop…
Haven’t been in a mall in 13 years
And love shopping online…

And can’t wait for the next Art Auction for Charity which will take place in January 2009

A Trip to Columbus

Today we took a trip to Columbus, Georgia to attend a Airborne Military Graduation. . We stared off at 5:45 AM, a horrible early hour, but a long trip, and the Airborne Graduation starts at 9:00 AM. Our daughter Jennifer’s boyfriend is graduating today, time for family support.

On the agenda was a graduation from Fort Benning Airborne Jump School. Brandon is stationed in Seattle, Washington, but he seems to spend a lot of time training in the south. It’s been so many years since I’ve stepped on a military base, way back in 1967, for my Brother Chips graduation for the Marine Boot camp in Oceanside, California, a different time and a different place.

I’m old school, Viet Nam has memories that I still have a hard time dealing with. Both my brother and husband were greatly affected by this war, and both still carry the scars, both emotionally and physically every day. I can’t tell you the apprehension I have today stepping on a military base. Brings back memories that I’m not prepared to deal with, let alone how this will affect my husband. Will his nightmares become more frequent again? Hope not! Only time will tell.

Grandparents Day at Free Home Elementary School

Every year I look forward to Grandparents Day at my grandson Nathan’s elementary school, this year was no exception, this was my fifth year attending. I really don’t like having my picture taken, but I always look forward to having my picture taken on grandparent’s day. Nathan has now is in the 4th grade and in the AIM program, where has the time gone. Soon I’ll have another wonderful picture of us together on our special day.

Free Home Elementary is a very old school, one of the oldest in Cherokee County, Georgia, the first one room school house opened during the civil war era. Free Home Elementary is a Georgia School of Excellence, and currently has 272 students enrolled, Pre-K to 5th grade.

We had lunch together in the cafeteria, though Nathan brings his lunch, not eating the cafeteria food, we had a wonderful lunch sharing great pinwheel sandwiches, juice, and chips. One entire wall in the cafeteria has a great painting, not the first school building, but the school built on the property in 1919. So much history….

Nathan’s classroom is a modular unit, I guess I don’t dare call it a trailer, and his classroom has a state of the art teaching system with a electronic touch screen that almost covers the entire wall. This Friday Nathan will begin learning algebra, boy have things changed since I was in school. I didn’t learn algebra until the 9th grade.

I can’t wait until next year at Free Home Elementary to have my picture taken again with my grandson and see what improvements the school has made. Next year will be Nathan’s last year in elementary school, and probably the last of the Grandparents day at school, I will miss our special day.