Canadian Rockies Art

New Work – My pretty blue starfish

I was lucky enough last year to have private mentoring sessions with one of the greatest wire wrapping jewelry artists that I know, the fabulous Eni Oken. (I know, lucky me!!!)

I've learned a lot from Eni, and she, along with Magdalena Borejko and Iza Malczyk are a constant source of inspiration, and I aim to one day become as good as these fabulous women when it comes to creating wire wrapped jewelry designs.

The sun has finally been shining here this weekend, and I've been on an ocean kick this past week, remembering all the wonderful times I've had at the beach throughout my life so far... but instead of going on a beach vacation, I decided to bring the beach to me by creating this pretty wire wrapped blue starfish :)

 

This one of a kind creation is available in my Etsy shop - click on the link to see more pictures and get more details as to all that went into creating this piece (like 112 natural sapphires....).

Let me know how you like it... and stay tuned for more wire wrapped treasures!

TGIF - New Work… Chainmaille anyone?

Good morning everybody!

TGIF!!! :-)

I’ve always been a big fan of medieval times, and of course, of chainmaille jewelry as well. You’re talking to the gal that spent the entire day at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in NY in the Medieval and Egyptian sections of the museum when she was teen in College in NY on a school trip. I didn’t want to leave, I would have gladly moved right into the museum for the rest of my life. It’s such an incredible place.

There’s just something so luxurious when you hold various chainmaille weaves in your hands, the sultry sexy feel of the metal draping softly like a weighted fabric is just so  incredible to touch and wear. I love it!

Let me know how you like these, available in my Etsy shop and ready to ship:

Mediva – Fused Fine Silver & Sterling Silver Half-Byzantine Hoops Earrings.

 

Ciryn – Double Spiral Graduated Chainmaille Sterling Silver Earrings.

 

I also have a really beautiful wide chainmaille bracelet made up in Stainless Steel, but I still have to make the special clasp for it and I’m going to make it with hair fine sterling silver wire wrapped with gemstones, etc… so I’m not ready to show that piece just yet, but stay tuned for it!

Thursday - My Etsy Finds - 5 Hot Picks!

My gosh, my gosh, time flies!!! Here I am again drooling over some really cool creations that I'm finding on Etsy! Check out these cool 'Hot Picks' and affordable gift ideas :)

My first Hot Pick for tonight is this sizzlin' hot iPod / cell phone cover! Talk about stylish, useful and so pretty! Lovingly made by Jan of Beeyourselfdesigns on Etsy:

Mmmmm.... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.... and this cuff bracelet certainly delivers this message in a very bold and fabulous way - Wow! Handmade by Theresa of Studio618 on Etsy:

I'm addicted to paper and photography - and I could not pass up the opportunity to show off this really wild note card set with Calla Lilies by the very talented Laurie of Made By Swirly Girl on Etsy:

Another one of my hot picks for today is this eclectic Green Envy Necklace by Anita of ASK Designs :

And here's keeping with my beach theme in my Wordless Wednesday post of yesterday these beachy little starfish earrings from Studio On The Hill :

 

 

.... and last but not least, a little bonus - I also wanted to feature this cute Handwoven Tulip Wire basket made by Jodi of Jewels by Jules on Artfire:

Have fun shopping and drooling over all these wonderful artists' creations! Support HANDMADE!

If you would like to be featured in my Thursday Hot 5 picks from Etsy, leave a comment below  with a link to your Etsy shop, and I'll check out your shops!

Wordless Wednesday – My Etsy Art Treasury

Sunrise on the Punta Cana Beach – Photograph by Cathy’s Art in Chicago

 

 

Labadee Haiti – Photograph by Tyrcald in Baltimore

Baja Beach – Photograph by Cheyenne of Planet Chey in Park City

 

Visit these fine photographers’ Etsy shop by clicking on the above images – support Etsy artists!

Tuesday Video Break – Gerry Rafferty “Baker Street”

Here’s an oldie but a goody for today’s music video break – This was one of my favorite songs when I was a teenager.

I can just close my eyes and picture myself driving down a long stretch of US Highway in a classic red vintage convertible with white wall tires and shiny chrome….the wind in my long hair and this song blasting on the radio… enjoying the sunshine and the fresh air with my family the car - Can you picture it? :-)

One lovely blog award :)

Hey gang!

I have a couple of new jewelry creations to show off (but I have to take pictures first, so that will be for another blog post), but in the meantime, I'd like to thank Anna from The House of Mouse for the One Lovely Blog Award she gave me today - thank you very much!

 

And now, it's my turn to pass it on... here are the rules:

• Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

• Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

1. Sew Dandee
2. Wallis Design
3. My Handbound Books
4. McFarland Designs
5. Art by Susmitha
6. Cindy's Art & Soul
7. Creative Treasures by Donna
8. Five Forty at Home
9. UxCritters
10. Chicki
11. Brilliant Beads
12. Loopy 4 Ewe
13. Carvel Country Soapworks
14. Willowcat Studio
15. High on Craft

Everybody make sure to check out all these great blogs, and maybe you'll find a few that interest you to add to your 'follow' list!

Eeek! I'm being stalked!!!

Good morning everybody!

Yes, indeed, I'm being stalked... by Curator Beatrice of EtsyStalker, that is!

How cool is that!

She was kind enough to do a really nice write up on my Etsy shop, and as a thank you for her kind gesture, I am giving away a prize for her readers.

So, if you want to get to know me better and find out why I do what I do, go on over right away to the Canadian Rockies Art Solo Exhibit on Etsy Stalker , read the article and follow the directions to be entered in the giveaway!

Good luck my dears!

TGIF! Extreme Self-Care – Food for thoughts…

We reach, we reach, we finally reach…. it’s the end of the week. TGIF!!! Rejoice!!!

Well… are we rejoicing?

In this day and age, where we are bombarded with information, and pressured to do everything faster and better and the list goes on…. the pressure can become insane. We’re shallow-breathing and stressed out. We’re just moving around like robots from one task to the next, trying to win the elusive rat-race.

Many years ago, my awesome “Sistuh” Callie (May her beautiful soul rest in peace), gave me a book by Cheryl Richardson called "Take time for your life” (you can also see it below in my Amazon Picks section on the right). That book changed a lot of things for me over the years, little by little, and even with everything that I’ve learned in there over time, I still often find myself NOT taking time for my life.

About a year ago, I heard about Cheryl’s incredibly beautiful Grace cards and I have to say that I find them not only really beautiful and inspiring to look at (the cover of the deck below is just one example – the artwork on each of the cards is absolutely divine), but I also find them very helpful and insightful.

I pick one at random every day to see what the cards have to say to me, and for a moment, I stop… read the message…feel… breathe deeply… and think about what the card says, and it makes me feel better. It puts things in perspective, and often, it reminds me of something I really need to do.

Grace Cards Deck Box Cover

 

My card for today was: “Presence – Bring your mind into present-moment time. Now is the only place to be.”

I have a strong tendency to plan ahead and forget about being in the ‘present time’, so this card means a lot to me. I highly recommend Cheryl's beautiful cards and her books. They're on sale on Amazon.com at a great price.

It’s Friday… TGIF… Let’s all rejoice in the present and enjoy it to the fullest!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all my wonderful friends in the States!

Thursday - My Etsy Finds – 5 Hot Picks!

Happy Thursday everyone!

From now on, every Thursday, I will share 5 hot picks from my favorite shops on Etsy… and without further delay, here’s tonight’s “hot 5”!

I am the proud owner a couple of the fab camera pendants that Timothy Adam makes and sells in his Etsy shop, but I think his card holder design is just sooooo way cool – and what a perfect and affordable gift for Father’s Day. Every business man (and woman!)  should have one of these beauties on their desk:

For those with little wee ones, a fabulous baby shower gift that is so cute! Now this is my style and colors babe! Gorgeous handmade ‘Noonie’ by Lala’s Pequenios on Etsy:

I think that it’s always wonderful to show some love every day! This lovely ACEO created by Lori Dean Dyment is perfect for that. What a cool miniature piece of art… show some love to Lori’s Etsy shop, will ya?

Now, you all know I cannot resist a puppy! Have a look at this little sweetheart from The Little Shop Of Horus on Etsy – it’s a gorgeous piece of art:

Here’s something else I can’t resist… some bling! And these pretties caught my eye – they have a chic cool mod-retro feel, don’t you think? Clean cool very affordable design by Timeless Inspirations on Etsy:

If you would like to be featured in my Thursday Hot 5 picks from Etsy, leave a comment below  with a link to your Etsy shop, and I'll check out your shops!

Wordless Wednesday – My Etsy Art Treasury

Every Wednesday from now on, I will be featuring Etsy Photographers and Artists on my blog in my own little private treasury. I’m a visual person, and I love photography and fine arts. There are so many super talented artists on Etsy, we have to give them as much exposure as possible... A picture is truly worth at least a thousand words:

Rockwall – Fine Art Print by  Megan Rhodes Photography in Santa Rosa, California

 

Small Soldiers – Ann Wilkinson Photography in Park City, Utah

 

Purple – Janet Whalen Photography in Ontario, Canada

Visit these fine photographers’ Etsy shop by clicking on the above images – support Etsy artists!