When I was a kid, my sister and I had a lot of energy to expend, and I expect that we were probably real difficult to keep up with. One of the things I remember the most about my childhood, though, is being set down with our family's spiritual/parenting mentor and beading at the coffee table with her and my sister.
For some reason, this activity could fill up hours of our day where we would sit and bead while we caught up on recent events in our family, our future plans and our lives in general. And, even though we were stuck sitting at a table, there was no restlessness or boredom because we were always engaged in both creative activity and interesting conversation.
I've decided that next winter I'm going to be resurrecting one of these projects that I used to enjoy the most on cold snowed-in days.
Each winter for years, our mentor would come to visit on the first snow-day where we were stuck home from school and she would bring with her the supplies a very special project only done on this one special day each year.
On the first snow-day of the winter year, we made snowflakes. Not paper cut outs, although she did teach us that too. We made awesome, shimmering beaded snowflakes. Each one a unique piece of art that we'd later hang on the tree or in our windows. Sometimes we used forms and at other times, as we became older, free formed.
Next winter, I plan to have a collection of these to list in our shop for the holidays. So that we can share one of our own cherished traditions with everyone.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF BEADED SNOWFLAKES, HERE'S A FEW SHOPS THAT CURRENTLY HAVE SOME IN STOCK: ZVIOLET, VINTAGEGIRLDEZIGNS, AESTHETICSANDOLDLACE, CARAMIADESIGNSBYV, SONOMASTREET
Yep, you heard right. We're going adult.
Okay, so only for today. Why, do you ask?
Well, because there's a soap maker that I'd love to introduce you to and she sells wedding & bachelorette party goodies.
Some of those bachelorette parties get a little wild, you know. You just can't go showing some of this stuff to everyone, because when you give these kind of presents, you're trying to make the bride BLUSH... or groom, as the case may be.
The artist behind all these creations Annelle Beecher, a nomad at heart who loves to work with scents. She's creative in more ways than one too! She also has a second shop on Etsy that deals with photos of beautiful and intriguing places.
And as for those parties? If you're the one at the bachelorette party that likes to make the bride blush, this could very well be the shop for you. Pepper Apothecary is filled with scents to choose from and shapes that are sure to get you to your goal.
So, check your ID at the door and go take a look for yourself!
TO VISIT THE PEPPERAPOTHECARY SHOP YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!
I got really excited and beyond fascinated the first time I saw work by this particular artist, and I'm thrilled and honored that they agreed to letting me feature them here on my blog.
This artist is a glass worker, and what I saw 
is the focal pendant that you can see pictured here in my post. This lovely, softly etched and hand-formed borosilicate glass shell pendant is so beautiful that my mouth dropped open in amazement and I was left speechless.
For those that know me, speechless isn't something that happens all that often so you can understand my excitement.
I'm sure a part of my fascination is the fact that I have a great admiration for those that do lampwork arts and other types of glass work. The other part of my fascination? It has everything to do with my love for beaches and oceans.
Lori Lochner is a full-time studio glass artist, metalsmith and jewelry designer. This piece, like all of Lori's beautiful glass art pieces, is meticulously created and then kiln annealed.
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT LORI LOCNER'S SHOP OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
That's what today's shop makes me think of when I stepped in to take a peek around. This one was brought to my attention by the EtsyBloggers street team, of which I'm a member, and so is Nico Designs!
Nico Designs is filled with colorful fabrics and cheerful prints.
Not only do they carry bags and totes, but they have a variety of soft-soled baby shoes as well as pincushions, clutches and plan on soon carrying other home decor items as well.
Nico (as known by her father) is a mother of two who enjoys sewing as a time to collect herself from her busy and chaotic life.
Each item in her shop is made with design, style and functionality in mind. She strives to create products that are Eco-friendly by utilizing a combination of new, re-purposed, recycled or up-cycled materials. Not only that, but her diaper bags are made with 100% cotton fabric to be safe not just adults but also for babies!
TO VISIT NICODESIGNS' SHOP YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!
