Trio of Birds

This autumn jewelry trends are big on nature.The weather has been so spectacular that everyone should get a breath of fresh air and step outside to enjoy the beautiful things nature has to offer. This time of year there are lots of different kinds of bird migrating and changing our scenery. This seasonal migration is the inspiration for this earthy set. This necklace and matching earrings make a great gift for a bird watcher or nature lover.

This silver necklace with 3 cute hand carved turquoise birds celebrates the joy that nature brings us. Wearing this trio of turquoise birds sitting on a silver branch is a cool way to get in touch with your earthy side. The necklace is long at 23 inches from toggle to clasp and is made up of silver chain and turquoise beads meticulously wire wrapped together. I used the same oval turquoise beads to make the matching earrings.

Cranberry Tea

This weekend really felt like the cool weather is here to stay. My husband just brought in some firewood. A visit home this week, brought to mind a favorite family fall and holiday tea recipe that I will share. The ingredients are simple:

• 3 1/2 quarts water
• 1 (12 ounce) package cranberries
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 oranges, juiced
• 2 lemons, juiced
• 12 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Use a large pot and combine water and cranberries. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add sugar, orange juice, lemon juice, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Cover, and steep for 1 hour.

While sipping this tea I gathered my cranberry color pearls and created what I call my "Sparkling Berry Necklace".

Words of Inspiration

"If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments." (Anne Morrow Lindbergh)

"The older I get, the more this quote helps me to enrich my life by appreciate each day and experience. Time seems to pass so quickly and we need to appreciate what we are given and have."

Thanks to Sheryl at Hand Painted Petals, I am able to appreciate this sweet little box that she created and sent to me this week. I won this in her giveaway! I entered the giveaway with Anne Morrow Lindbergh's words of inspiration. What I really like about Sheryl's work is that she can take a message like this one and incorporate it into one of her creations--like a memory box. It is her willingness to customize that really makes her special.

These words of inspiration remind me of what I have learned in my yoga practice. A message of yoga is to completely surrender to the reality of your life exactly as it “IS” with an active presence. Ishvara-Pranidhana teaches, "Embrace the entirety of your life with gratefulness as you surrender willingly to every movement of life that brought you to this moment".

Brian's Facebook post is an Inspiration

A friend of mine posted this Disney photo to Facebook today. The picture brought back great memories of several family vacations there with my children who are now adults.












The photo also inspired me to create this Minnie Mouse necklace. The pink and black polka dot bow looks so cute on this famous mouse.