AJE Earring Challenge Reveal 20

Blue Earrings with petals are available for purchase

I am so glad that I am participating in the AJE Earring Challenge.  I have met some talented artisans who sell wonderful handmade beads.  For Reveal 20, I have have used beads from two of my favorite polymer clay artists.  

 I love blue and copper together.   These earrings combine polymer clay beads with a field of willows set on a navy blue background. Each petal is hand-sculpted and unique. These blue petals are by polymer clay artist Humblebeads. I love all of her intricate detailing on the beads. I combined them with blue czech glass beads and copper.

These earrings are inspired by nature. They remind me of a walk in a meadow in the spring.

Gold Earrings with peacock design are available for purchase

These gold earrings are made with handmade artisan teal and gold polymer clay beads by A Polymer Pendant. I  combines them with yellow swarovski crystals. I love how the swarovski crystals catch the light. The beautiful polymer clay bead has swirls of teal, blue and gold that remind me of a peacock feather. The teal color looks like the Pantone color Emerald.

These earrings would be great accessories for a New Year's Eve party, wedding, or special occasion. They are very elegant.

Octoberfest--What Do You Love about Fall? October 27

Fall leaves bracelet by Bay Moon Design

This cuff bracelet is inspired by crisp autumn days and leaves falling off trees. This leaf cuff bracelet celebrates a wonderful time of year.

Gorgeous Fall Leaves

Octoberfest: A Blog Hop Celebrating Autumn's Splendor with Beads, Jewelry, Home Decor, Food, Friends and Family!

What do you love about fall? The  Fall Elements Blog Hop is devoted to that question! The members of the blog hop share and celebrates the wonders of fall.  It may be a favorite Fall photo, a quilt with a pumpkin motif, an acorn necklace, your favorite apple pie recipe, or  Halloween poem.  Please visit all of The Autumn Elements Blog Hop Participants. 
A special thanks goes to Toltec Jewels for organizing this blog hop.  I hope you enjoy it!


 I am happy to report that I was able to go camping this fall at Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons.  This trip was sandwiched in between the flood in Colorado which canceled our plans to go to Rocky Mountain National Park.  We decided to extend our stay in Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons.  The stay was then shorten a few days by a forecast of a major snowfall.  The weather forecast got us moving home to Delaware quickly.  We got home a few days before the Federal Government closed the national parks.We did seen lots of gorgeous wildlife and flora. 
I want to share with you a few photos of the wildlife that I took this autumn in Wyoming.

Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

To celebrate my favorite season,  I also put together a digital magazine which features my jewelry that I made especially with autumn in mind.  I have a sampling of some of my fall jewelry on the front cover.  My favorite fall activities center around the great outdoors.  I love to go camping during this time of the year because the temperatures are perfect for it.  In this magazine I  have included of my favorite wooded spots, some autumn quotes and a fun poem.  Special foods are also part of my summer so you will find some luscious recipes.  This issue is about what inspires my fall creations. I hope you enjoy my digital magazine.  Thank you for looking through my digital magazine.  

Click to view Fall 2013 on GLOSSI.COM

Oct. is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Pink Glove Dance Sweeps Medical Centers Across the Nation!

Pink Glove Dancers at Mount Rushmore

 Recently, I took a break from my baymoondesign etsy store and jewelry making and went out West.  I went Mount Rushmore early one morning and spotted these folks dancing up a storm wearing lots of pink.  I didn't know why but I guessed that they were connected with breast cancer survivors.  I did a little research and discovered that they were part of a contest among hospitals and doing their version of the Pink Glove Dance.

Could it be any more fitting to the goal of the Pink Glove Dance itself: to remind us of the disease that is breast cancer, but to do it in a way that celebrates the survivor, the community and the  power of a good laugh?  Competitors throughout North and Central America are making the news with the creation of their Pink Glove Dance videos.  Take a look at all of the great stories and see if your town has been featured!

Voting begins October 25th.  You can vote for the best choreography, most money raised for breast cancer awareness, most people in a video, best story, most views and artist's choice! 
The hospital that wins the national competition will receive a $25,000 donation toward the breast cancer charity of its choice.  All competing videos will be posted on the website www.pinkglovedance.com on Oct. 25, with the voting period then running through Nov. 8.

(you need to have adobe flash to view video or you may go to  http://youtu.be/oLnGnVvmt1Q)

I found my dancers on You Tube!
To show their support in the fight against breast cancer, hundreds of Regional Health employees in the Black Hills of South Dakota perform in their version of the "Pink Glove Dance". More than 30 departments from Regional Health hospitals, clinics, corporate offices, and senior care facilities within Regional Health family participate in the video which was filmed by Linn Productions. Local cancer survivors danced at Mt. Rushmore and are also featured in the video.
 
They are getting my vote!  What do you think?

Yoga in Florida and the Expansion of my Yoga Jewelry Line

Buddha Bracelet by Bay Moon Design is available for $35

In July,  I mentioned that I started doing yoga several years ago at the Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.   I have had a number of different, and all excellent yoga instructors, but Iris has been my instructor the longest.  Iris is close to my age so it gives me hope that someday I will be able to do most everything she can.  Also, most of the folks in the class are close to my age--old.  I can do many more poses now than when I started.  Progress is slow, but steady. As you may know I spend the winter months in the Key Largo. Florida.  I am happy to say that I located a wonderful yoga studio so that I can continue my practice there. 

 Key Largo Yoga and Holistic Health Coaching is a real challenge for me.  It is very different from my experience at the Y.  First of all, it is a yoga studio so it has more ambiance than the Y.  Also, my instructor is younger and so is the class.  I am older than the instructor by over a decade and the students; several decades.  It is a humbling experience for me.  I know, you aren't suppose to compare yourself to others in a class, but I can't help it!  While the class is doing head stands I do something else.  As winter approaches I find myself trying to mentally and physically prepare for the challenge.  I have cut back on the swimming and substituted the bike twice a week.  I am hoping to build my leg muscles.

I have added some yoga jewelry section to my Etsy store because I love yoga and I know others who do.   I have expanded the line.  The ceramic buddha bracelet is the first yoga bracelet.  The ceramic was made by Blu Mudd Design.  I love the colors in the glaze.  I hope to add a few more bracelets.

You might wonder what the connection is between Buddha and yoga.  The number one thing that Buddhist practice offers is mindfulness, which broadens your ability to manifest your values in your life. Mindfulness was the meditation  Buddha himself practiced and taught. It was his basic prescription for human suffering. Looking at life with an open and non judgemental attention, we see our confusion and develop insight. This is the basis of all Buddhist practice and is encouraged by the practice of yoga. 





---Namaste
 

Catching Up for the AJE Earring Challenge Reveal 19 and Craft Fair Plans

Banners - Medium by Vistaprint

I am gearing up for the holiday season in my Etsy store and for the 3 craft fairs that I am planning on doing in November and December.  My plans include adding a banner to the front of my table.  I made one on Vistaprint.  It was easy to make.  I selected a banner that allowed me to include photos of a pair of earrings, a bracelet. and necklace.  I hope that this will draw buyers to my table.  I plan to put it on the front of my table cloth.  This will eliminate a sign that I put on my table and free up some space for jewelry.  Also, it should make my table more professional looking.  November 2 is my first craft fair of the season.  It is Delaware by Hand Holiday Market and it features a group of artists and artisans from Delaware.  The fair is held in Dover, the capital of Delaware from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The admission is free.

 

I am caught up on my earrings for the AJE Earring Challenge.  I got behind while on vacation in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.  Earrings are my best seller so I am focusing on adding to my selection in my Etsy store and for my craft fairs.  I feel catching up with the earring challenge is good use of my time.

Artisan Purple Ceramic Earrings available in Bay Moon Design Etsy Store

These are fun handmade ceramic earrings. The purple and turquoise earrings are made with artisan crackle beads by Scorched Earth. I added handmade purple ceramic beads by blueberribeads for their color. Gunmetal earwires are used to compliment the gray in the crackle beads. 

Mother Nature loves purple and turquoise too!

I got my inspiration for these purple and turquoise earrings from this photo of a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park.  Mother nature likes the combination too.

Copper and brown earrings are available for purchase 

These copper and brown earrings have bronze and white crackle strip added to them. They combine handmade artisan crackle beads by Scorched Earth with copper spiral beads for a boho look. Copper earwires are used to compliment the copper beads and brown in the crackle beads.

Hot spring in Yellowstone with lots of browns and coppers for inspiration

I love the brown and copper together.  Mother Nature does too.  I found this lovely brown and copper hot spring in Yellowstone National Park and I had to get a photo of it to save for inspiration.

Add Some Bling to Your Bags with ZnetShows Crystals and Lobster Clasp Keychains

Znetshows metallic indigo blue half tone with metallic sides crystals on the left.  Their tiny smoky blue crystals on the right

My latest design for Znetshows showcases the beautiful metallic indigo blue crystals and silver-plated keychain clasps.  Since my  online Baymoondesign store carries handmade artisan jewelry, I thought I would make some bag charms with these materials.  After all, I am all about bling!

Fish bag charm with lots of bling is available for purchase

Bag charms make great accessories, because you can just clip them onto any type of bag. The silver clip allows you to attach it to your bag, purse, totes, beach bags, clutches, diaper bags, backpacks and just about anything else you'd like to attach it to.

I carefully selected the indigo blue metallic half tone crystals for their color and the fact that they have matte sides.  I love how the color changes depending on which side you are looking.  The colors worked well with the aqua czech glass that complimented the cute stripped fish. They are attached to a large silver lobster clasp.

This particular design would add a bit of bling to any bag.

Lavender Bag Charms available for purchase

The next bag charm combines the tiny ZnetShows smokey blue crystals with beads in different shades of lavender and purples. These crystals added some sparkle to the design.  I added a Znet Shows conch shell pendant to it.  You can give your bag a boost of personality easily with bag charms.  I love the beach and summer, I think this bag charm will look great on a beach bag.

Decorate and brighten up your bag!

If you are interested in making your own bag charms or jewelry, go check out the selection of beads, findings, and crystals on the Znetshows website.  Their prices are great and their customer service is wonderful!

Yellowstone National Park in an Inspiration for AJE Earrings Challenge, Reveal 17

Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park

 Reveal 17!  Yes, I am late, but I have a great reason--vacation and no high speed Internet.  You probably noticed that I haven't kept up with the AJE Challenge of making a pair of earrings a week.  I am determine to catch up and complete the challenge. 

Luckily I got back from visiting two national parks before the government closed them and mother nature dumped more snow on them.  I visited Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming for the first time and what an experience.  It is hard to say what is most spectacular-- the geysers, or flora and fauna.  Old Faithful is just one of the geysers there.  I saw first hand why it is called Old Faithful.  It blows water and steam on a regular and predictable cycle.  The other geysers do there own thing. 

One of the many hot springs at Yellowstone

 I loved seeing all of the different colored hot springs there.  This particular one has wonderful shades of green, yellow, gray, and white, and brown.  I used it for the inspiration for two new pairs of earrings. 

These earrings capture the earthy shades of brown and amber in the hot springs. These starfish earrings are made with handmade artisan polymer clay beads combined with Czech glass beads. The beautiful polymer clay bead are by artisan Humblebeads and are white with a tan design. The Czech glass beads have a hint of yellow in them which goes well with the gold earwires.

 

Stripped Earrings Available in Bay Moon Design

These stripped green, white, and gray earrings are made with handmade artisan polymer clay beads by artisan Humblebeads and gorgeous crackle beads by Scorched Earth on Etsy. Gunmetal earwires are used to compliment the gray in the crackle beads.

Hot spring in Yellowstone National Park

The number of thermal features in Yellowstone is estimated at 10,000.  The bubbling waters and pools in Yellowstone National Park are much too hot for soaking.  The colors are amazing.  I used this hot spring as my inspiration for the stripped earrings.  I love green and this particular shade in a favorite.

By the way, have you seen the snow reports for this area for early October?  I am impressed and glad we got back with just a sighting of a light snow there.

I am still behind in the challenge, but I will catch up.