My Italian Friends

This cute little crab and 19 of her buddies came to my home via Italy this week. I have a wonderful Italian couple who make the crabs that I use in my ocean creature line of children's necklaces for "Postcards from Delaware" at the I95 Travel Center in Newark, Delaware. When I met with the purchaser for "Postcards from Delaware" she loved my children's line of necklaces and specifically asked to have some crabs featured in the ocean creatures line. I am fortunate to have found this Italian couple who are able to make these cuties. I am going to pair up this particular crab with one of the beads that I bought last week in Ocean City, Maryland. I just know that some child will be thrilled to have cute necklace that will be the result of this pairing.

How Motorcycles Inspire Jewelry

Friday evening my friend and I drove from Lewes, Delaware to Ocean City, Maryland, Convention Center to attend the Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show that is held there yearly. It was a beautiful evening and we rode in my convertible with the top down. The wind was flying through our hair and the sound and sight of motorcycles surrounded us. It was Delmarva Bike Week when tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts enjoy activities & rides throughout the Delmarva Peninsula .It is held the same time as this jewelry and bead show so we looked forward to the sights and sounds of the motorcycles. This is the first time that we went in the light of the early evening when the atmosphere was clear and the sun light hit the motorcycles in a special way. Bright colors of the motorcycles and drivers seemed to pop everywhere. When I got to the bead and jewelry show, I visited my favorite vendor there and spotted these really vibrant beads. They reminded me of the colors I saw in the lines of motorcycles headed to Ocean City for very different reasons. I was there to look for beads for my children's necklace line and for my crocheted necklaces. I grabbed these beads the moment I saw them. They called to me ! When my clay crabs from Italy arrive this week, I am certain these beads will work well with them. I can't wait to create the necklace with these beads inspired by the motorcyclists!

Holly Jolly Christmas Necklace

The inspiration for this necklace comes from the holiday song "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas". The song got stuck in my head this morning and I just had to do something about it. I know it is a bit early to be thinking about the holiday season, but it is perfect weather to be out trimming my trees. Now that the blazing heat of summer is over, I can get out with my electric hedge trimmer and have at it. Anyone who knows me, knows there are few things I love more than my power tools that trim the trees and bushes. I will go out and stay at the trimming until my back gives out or I cut the electrical cord by accident. This morning I decided to trim my holly trees. The green and red colors in the trees made me think of Christmas. I red and green colors became the inspiration for this necklace. The song is a favorite of mine. The Milton Middle Band under the direction of Bud Jenkins placed this song yearly in the local Christmas parades. Since I went to the Milton, Lewes, and Rehoboth holiday parades for at least a decade, I always start humming this song at the sight of a holly tree or Christmas Parade.

A little holiday cheer in this 18 inch (45.7 cm) round necklace! The lovely focal bead is holly red and Christmas green. It is whitewashed with a frost of paint to create an abstract snowflake design. The necklace is made with olive and white freshwater pearls. I love to use pearls because they are classic and are from nature, The necklace has a contemporary, triangle shaped silver clasp. There are sterling silver beads added into the necklace to add sparkle.

Red Sky in Morning, Sailors Take Warning

Inspiration for this necklace comes from the old nautical saying "Red Sky in Morning, Sailors Take Warning". As hurricane Earl approached the East coast of the United States, my eyes turned to the sky which is always interesting before and after a hurricane. Thank you Mother Nature for being very easy on us in Lewes, Delaware ! I am thankful that our little boat was not hauled out of the water and survived the waves so that we can use it a little longer.

The reds in the sky made me think of these beautiful red blister pearls that I had. This necklace is made with red blister pearls and smoky colored crystals which I added to give some additional sparkle and pop. The necklace has a dainty silver heart clasp and is 18 inch (45.7cm) long. It is simply gorgeous!

I love to use pearls because they are classic and are from nature, I choose blister pearls for this necklace. If you aren't familiar with these pearls, you may know them as bouton pearls. They are called blister pearls because they are attached to the inside of the oyster shell in the form of a blister.