New Handmade Jewelry and Cards Featured in Spring Gift Guide

I have been busy making some new jewelry and cards for the spring.  This is the time of year when shoppers are looking for cards and gifts for such events as:

• graduations
• birthdays
• weddings
• Mother's Day
• Father's Day

I put together this small sampling of some of the new items that are in my online shop.  I hope something catches your eye! 

Spring Gift Guide' by BayMoonDesign

Jewelry and cards available from BayMoonDesign

Modern Yellow Triangle Neckl... BayMoonDesign $29	Lotus Earrings, Lotus Flower... BayMoonDesign $15	Lotus Necklace, Ohm Pendant,... BayMoonDesign $35
Artisan Starfish Pendant, S... BayMoonDesign $39	Turquoise Necklace, Starfish... BayMoonDesign $45	Trending Necklace, Trending ... BayMoonDesign $37
White Starfish Earrings, Sta... BayMoonDesign $15	Bird Nest Bracelet, Bird Nes... BayMoonDesign $33	Pink Necklace, Magenta Penda... BayMoonDesign $37
Sailboat Necklace, Marsala p... BayMoonDesign $49	Daisy Earrings, Yellow Flowe... BayMoonDesign $15	Purple Necklace, Multicolore... BayMoonDesign $45
Handmade Weddings Card, Love... BayMoonDesign $4	Pretty Floral Mothers Day Ca... BayMoonDesign $4	Outdoorsman Greeting Card, W... BayMoonDesign $4
Deer Father's Day Card, ... BayMoonDesign $4

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 For more, ideas visit me at  http://www.baymoondesign.etsy.com.

April's We're All Ears Inspiration is from Spain

The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain

 The City of Arts and Sciences is an impressive complex located in Valencia, Spain.  I had no idea that the City of Arts and Science complex even existed until I read about it on the We're All Ears Blog. It was created as a way to honor the melding of science, technology, nature and art. These buildings were conceived and designed by renowned Spanish architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela.  I would love to see it in person.

Our challenge for this month was to figure out which building piques our interest the most and create a pair of earrings inspired by it.  I selected the Ágora.

"Ágora, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, España, 2014-06-29, DD 58 Edit" by Diego Delso. 
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Ágora is an outdoor amphitheater that can seat up to 6,000 for concerts and events such as the Valencia Open 500, an international tennis competition.  A suspension bridge called Assut de l'Or Bridge ("The Dam of the Gold") connects visitors to the City of Arts and Sciences. The structure seen through the wires of the bridge is the Agora.

Orange and Yellow Floral Earrings by BayMoonDesign

The upper half of the floral earrings that I created for this challenge are inspired by the brown color and round shape of the  dome of this building.  The lower portion of the earrings are inspired by the purpose of the building--an outdoor amphitheater.  I choose to put some flowers into the design because I imagine people enjoying the sounds and sights of the outside in beautiful, warm weather.  Their senses are exposed to sound, smell, and sight.

I encourage you to visit my online store to see more of my jewelry.

Niky Sayers April Giveaway

April Giveaway by Niki Sayers

Niky Sayers is sponsoring a wonderful giveaway this month. 

This giveaway also includes a few mystery items!!!

Plus these:

• x2 Ceramic charms by Gaea
• Ceramic shank button by Bo Hulley Beads
• Lampwork disc by Mandrel Beads
• Pair of connectors by Scorched Earth
• Ceramic bird cage pendent by Tempting little charms
• Old button focal and copper wrap bead by Bits of NikNats

For details on how to win these goodies go to http://silverniknats.blogspot.com/2015/04/g-giveaway.html

This giveaway closes 30th April 12.00 UK time where a random number generator will be used to pick a winner!

Good luck to all!  I know I would love to win these so that I can create some more artisan jewelry for my Bay Moon Design shop.

Pepita's Celebrates Her Birthday with a Butterflies Blog Hop

Happy Birthday Alenka!   Alenka organized this blog hop and giveaway to celebrate her birthday.  The theme of the blog hop is butterflies.  

HOP RULES:

Every participant has to:

- create something on the theme of butterflies - it can be a piece of jewelry, an ornament or something else;

- write a blog post about the final creation and publish it on the blog hop date with the link to her blog and the list of all the participants. 

I used the beautiful butterflies that Alenka posted on her blog (Pepita) as my inspiration for some jewelry components that I made.  One of my goals this year is to create components and list them in my online shop. I am offering other designers an opportunity to purchase and create with.  This blog hop gave me the incentive to get this goal underway.

Butterfly Charm by BayMoonDesign

This first butterfly that I made is a natural brass butterfly charm that has had orange shades of patina applied to it and then sealed. Both sides has been sealed to protect the finish. This component makes a great butterfly finding to add to a project.

Green and Yellow Pendant by BayMoonDesign

This  next butterfly is a pendant that began with a 34mm natural brass circle. I embossed it with this butterfly pattern and patinated the metal. The patina metal pendant has been buffed to reveal some of the raw brass of the design. I used patinas of moss and emerald green and yellow and orange. Both sides has been sealed to protect the finish. The reverse side of this butterfly focal has the same colors and the raised parts buffed to reveal the raw brass.

Pretty Pink Butterfly Pendant by BayMoonDesign

This pink butterfly pendant is also a 34mm natural brass circle. There is one hole at the top. If you would like additional holes just convo me. I embossed it with this butterfly pattern and patinated the metal. The patina metal pendant has been buffed to reveal some of the raw brass of the design. I used patinas of pink and purple. Both sides has been sealed to protect the finish. The reverse side of this pretty pink butterfly focal has the same colors and the raised parts buffed to reveal the raw brass.

Forest Green and Orange Butterly Pendant by BayMoonDesign

This handmade butterfly pendant  is my personal favorite.  It is a 34mm natural brass circle. There is one hole at the top. I used the same process to make it. I love the patinas of dark green and forest green with orange. The contrast in colors are wonderful.

Butterfly or Geometric Finding by BayMoonDesign

Mother Nature creates lots of geometric patterns.  Most of the pendants here can also be used in a geometric jewelry design.  I think that you can see how this green and orange pendant would work in such a design.

Is there a butterfly here that captures your fancy?  I would love to see some designers use these in their creations.

Thank you Alenka for inspiring me and have a great birthday. I love how you are celebrating your birthday with this blog hop. 

 Please stop by and see what everyone made.  We love comments.

1. Alenka (Pepita) - hostess --> http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com/

2. Monique (A Half-Baked Notion) --> http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/

3. Beti Horvath -->http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/

4. Kathy Lindemer --> http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

5. Kepi --> http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/

6. Christine Altmiller --> http://onekisscreations.blogspot.com/

7. Amy S. --> http://blogspot.amybeads.com/

8. Dini Bruinsma --> http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

9. Cynthia (Antiquity Travelers) --> http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/

10. Alicia --> http://www.allprettythings.ca/

11. sheilaposter --> http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com/

12. Therese Frank --> http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com/

13. Rebecca White --> http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/

14. Rachel Mallis --> http://www.mintmonarch.com/#!blog/c1jlz

15. Liz E --> http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com/

16. Ana (ACBeads) --> http://acbeads.blogspot.com/

17. Jasvanti Patel --> http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com/

18. Carolyn --> http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com/

19. Nan Smith --> http://wirednan.blogspot.com/

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Brown Pelican

 I love the water, so naturally I adore many of the birds found in the Florida Keys. You know the saying "Birds of a Feather Flock Together".  I want to share some of my favorite seashore birds.

The Brown Pelican is an imposing bird.  This bird can weight up to 12 pounds! Pelicans make a loud clicking noise and love to eat fish.  I have seen pelicans chase fishermen for their caught fish.  I admire pelicans from a far.

Green Heron

I often see green heron walking on the boat lines of our boat slip.  They are very pretty birds.

Great Blue Heron

The great blue heron in a gorgeous bird.  This bird almost became extinct when the ladies in the early 1900's wanted decorate their hats with the beautiful feathers of this bird.  Now, we can just admire the feathers from a distance.

Ibis

Ibis are seen throughout Florida.  They are most well known for their long necks and beaks which help them to get food out of the water. They are found inhabiting areas where there are large amounts of water. These ibis are enjoying life in the Florida Everglades.

Bay Moon Design Sea Gull Necklace and Bird Nest Bracelet

Sea gulls are another bird found by the water.  I got this handsome ceramic sea gull from Moriah Betterly and used to make a necklace.  She also made a ceramic bird nest which I turned into a bracelet.

Bay Moon Design necklace is available for purchase here

This handmade brown seagull necklace is made of vintage wood beads, natural brass chain, and a ceramic seagull and twig by artist Moriah Betterly. This bird necklace has a rustic, woodland look. A great statement necklace for the summer!

Bay Moon Design bracelet is available for purchase here

This handmade art bracelet is made of vintage wood beads, natural brass and a ceramic bird nest.

This bird bracelet will make a great gift to you or someone special. It is perfect to add a splash of color to an outfit. What mom wouldn't want this for Mother's Day!

These are just 2 of my new Spring jewelry.  Visit my online store to see what is new and take advantage of using the code PIN10 at checkout for a 10% discount. This sale runs until Monday, April 6.

There are other sales this weekend.  Every month the AWETeam (Art Walk Etsy Team) hosts First Friday Art Walk --an online event.

Click on over to see the team's April Event Thread where members of our team show off work and discount codes for their Etsy shops.

Happy First Friday of April!