Etsy additions

I added some more jewelry to Etsy and I am close to adding more!  I get the most time to work on things at night....but have to take pictures of it during the day...alone..with two babies.  So it's slow going.

Thanks for the support I have received regarding the Jewelry for Joey.  Check it out if you haven't already.

Also, I won the Joss & Main giveaway from Danika of Gorgeous Shiny Things.  So exciting.  I can't wait to use it!  If you haven't seen her O'verlays products you must check them out.  She will revolutionize Rast and Malm hacks.  Seriously.

Made it Monday: This is a big day.

Jewelry for Joey

This is a big day for two reasons.  First, I finally listed jewelry on my Etsy store.  This has been a long process for many reasons but mostly because I was scared.  The second reason this day is big is because I am selling jewelry to help raise money for my cousin and her family.

Last year Joey (my cousin's husband) won his battle with Leukemia.  He recently relapsed and is currently undergoing some very intense treatment.  Joey is married to Mitzi and has three sons and a daughter.  Times are tough as he is expected to be out of work for most of the next year while he lives hundreds of miles from home, undergoing the most excruciating sounding treatments.  Mitzi splits her time between Gainesville, FL where Joey is being treated and their home in Georgia where she home schools two of the four kids.  Work?  Income?  In the midst of all of this Mitzi has remained unbelievably positive and faithful.

I have been praying for a few things lately.  I have been praying for Mitzi's family.  I have also been praying to find a way to volunteer/give back with two young children in tow (AHHH) and to figure out the best way to use the gifts God has given me.  I know a lot of women who left jobs to be stay-at-home mom's struggle with feeling like there is some purpose they aren't serving while staying at home...I am among them.  I know my job as a mom is important and it is what I am supposed to be doing as well as what I want to be doing but I can't help the feeling that there is something else I could be doing in addition.  I have always enjoyed making jewelry and have been urged to sell it.  For many trivial reasons I have been too scared...and felt silly taking money for my hobby.  The idea to raise money for Mitzi and Joey almost literally slapped me in the face while praying.  I feet such an overwhelming push to do this.  So hard is the push that I absolutely cannot let my fear of putting my jewelry up for sale stand in the way of what it could be used to do.  The reasons to sell are so much greater than the reasons not too that I can't even remember what was holding me back.  I wish words could better explain what happened once I started praying...this is my best attempt.  Now I just continue to pray that I can be used to help them through this.

As of today, one of the two designs for Joey are available on Etsy.  I have created earrings (pictured above) and a pendant (will be available in the next day or so). Go here to check it out: Jewelry for Joey.  100% of all profits of the Jewelry for Joey earrings and pendant will be given to Mitzi and Joey.  I will also be listing other pieces I have created.  50% of all those profits will be going to Mitzi and Joey as well.

If you decide to buy a pair of earrings or pendant, thank you for choosing to love this family.  If you can't help in that way and are willing, please pray for them.   If you want to learn more about them or donate directly you can visit Joey's Caring Bridge site.

Thanks!

I might be a fan now.

I have never thought much of Nicole Scherzinger.  What I mean is...I don't think about her much.  I have never been a fan of the Pussycat Dolls.  Mostly because of their name.  It seemed too desperate for attention.  So I ignored it/them.  Then Loosen Up My Buttons came out and I kind of silently vowed to be always against anything Pussycat Dolls.  

Then Nicole Scherzinger started a solo career as well as judging/hosting everything.  I mostly had my ears shut off to her over sexualized lyrics and image.  At this point I was just a judge-y jerk.  

So yesterday B and I were watching Ellen and there was a performance by a female singer with background dancers.  B immediately asked for more music when the performance was finished so I turned the TV to a music video station.  Right There by Nicole Scherzinger ft Fifty Cent came on.  Don't worry.  B lost interest and left the room pretty quickly.  I, on the other hand, was hypnotized by the styling of the video.  Her...costumes?...are amazing.  Kind of slutty?  Yes.  But really beautiful layering and textures and colors.  Then I stopped and listened to her voice.  She has a really great voice.  And then I noticed the dancing in the video.  Again....pretty sexual...which I personally find annoying and desperate....but there is no denying she has real talent.

Side note:  I think Nicole's talent was amplified after seeing the performance on Ellen.  I spent most of the time thinking how weird her (the woman on Ellen) background dancers looked behind her.  She was doing half hearted dance moves while they were into it...and it struck me as odd....when did the use of back up dancers start and will it go away?   It's not good when someone can't watch or even half listen to your song because they are distracted by your dancers....and not because their performance is breath taking.

Made it Monday Tuesday: STRIPED chair by my mom

So. I recently posted this chair that my mom reupholstered for me and hinted at the intensity of the next chair.  Well, it is done!

Here is the before.  I found it on Craigslist for $25 dollars.  As-is it wasn't THAT bad but I itch for change and the fabric kind of made me uneasy.  The blue was ok...but the shiny chenille fabric creeps me out.  Also, once the flower chair moved in.....it did not work at all anymore.

Boom.

Thankfully, it doesn't scream as loud as I feared.  In fact, it is just right....for me.  I am sure some of you think I am crazy...or you would go crazy with chairs like these.  But I have discovered I feel more sane with more color.  

I am working on a table that will go between the two chairs.  I also need some art to go on the wall between them.

Simple and Ingenious

So simple but so ingenious.  I am trying to make my brain work like this.  To see the possibilities in...anything.

Liz from Say Yes To Hoboken bought this white dress from H&M and took it from matronly to cute and sweet with a little pink.  She also added pink pockets which you can see by checking out her blog.

This ring might blow your mind.

via

Blown.  

Sean said it looks like a Dalmatian.  Did you ever make those candles in school milk cartons where you pour hot wax in with ice?  Holes are left where the ice melts while the wax hardens.  This ring reminds me of those candles...I wish my ice cubes had melted into sapphires.     

Paint drip mug

I saw this paint drip mug on Bright Bazaar.  Love paint drips.  Love coffee.  Love color.  Can you guess....I love this mug.

via Tate

Ray Ban Wayfarer Acetate Sunglasses

Yes, please.  Here.

Country music, jewelry design, street art, and Incubus

Here is a little example of where my head is at this week.  Yesterday I bought both the new Blake Shelton and Incubus albums.  I have been listening to them on shuffle for hours.  What kind of mix is that?  A good one for me right now.  It's like a pregnancy craving...except a sleep deprived background noise craving.

The sleep deprivation is worth it for this little lady.  I am enjoying W so much.  She is laid back and sweet and growing the most kissable cheeks I have ever seen.  Also, she was born with a head full of her Dad's hair which I love.  It's so soft and cute.  Please don't let it fall out!

I.cannot.stop.thinking.about.jewelry.  It is exciting me so much.  I was afraid I lost it forever.

And because this is how my mind is working this week....I wish I was in LA/going to LA soon so I could see this exhibit:

"Art in the Streets is the first major U.S. museum survey of graffiti and street art. "

What an appropriate city for this exhibit to take place.  Although it will focus on LA's role in street art it sounds like a really well-rounded and complete collection.  If you are in LA...go for me?

Oh man.

I have been staring at this empty box where a post should go for about 20 minutes.  I feel obligated to post something but feel bad posting for the sake of a post.  My mind is so fried from not sleeping and having a cranky two year old.  Adjusting to two kids seems to be getting harder not easier as the number of sleep deprived nights pile up.  As of yesterday I have one hand with two coats of nail polish and one hand with one coat and I don't have the energy to finish.

The good news is that my interest in making jewelry is back.  I totally lost it when I got pregnant.  No inspiration at all.  I got out my beads recently and found numerous projects that I started during my pregnancy that I gave up on b/c I couldn't work out exactly what I was seeing in my head.  I just shook my head in shame as I looked through them.  Sad stuff.

I have made a few pieces and designed a bunch.  Thanks to a combination of inspirational words, friends in need and a kick in the butt I will be actually adding things to the Etsy store I created oh so long ago.  I can't wait to share the full story but I have to wait a about two weeks to do so.

Hopefully I can get a few naps in soon and get back to posting.

1985, FUN, male belly shirts, + lamps...?

pay no attention to the laundry everywhere....shameful picture.

Today I was watching Girls Just Want to Have Fun and spied on Sarah Jessica Parker's desk the exact same lamps sitting next to my bed... slightly different color.  I am still unsure how I feel about that.  I bought them at an antique store this winter and my like for them was at about 85-90%.  My issue is with their shape.  They look like urns.  On the other hand I love them because they are the EXACT shade of blue I want.  Well, now that I have seen them in a 1985 movie (meaning the style is undeniably 80s...not 70s/80s or 80s/90s) my like for them is wavering.  Does the awesomeness of the movie outweigh the lameness of the era's general style?  Not sure.. Helen Hunt wears a space shuttle, dinosaurs and a cricket (or some other bug)  in her hair at different points in the movie.  Seeing as how none of those styles or the lead male's belly shirt + blazer look really caught fire....perhaps the lamps should be replaced eventually.  Just a thought.

Inspirational words.

So I read Tim Tebow's new book "Through My Eyes" this weekend and the mantra he lives life by has been on my mind non-stop since I read it.  I have to share it.

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

So true.  t reminds me of this quote one of my softball coaches used to push us with:

"The player who will beat you tomorrow is practicing today."

That quote has always stayed with me.  I wish I had the intensity to apply these quotes to everything I do!

Rahul on Apartment Therapy. What, what!

I saw the name Rahul in an Apartment Therapy post heading yesterday and it caught my eye.  I have a friend named Rahul who, sadly, moved to New York.  Could that Rahul be my Rahul?  No, I thought....so I just moved on.  Then I got a text tonight...from Rahul...telling me to check out his apartment on Apartment Therapy!  Cool.  It's pretty nerdy that I am excited that I know someone on Apartment Therapy but that's just how I feel.  Sweet apartment, Rahul!

Check it out here: Rahul's Mix in Bushwick

A necklace I'm a little nuts for

Red Egg Boutique

I am a little crazy for his necklace.  I love all the texture going on with the different chains...the braid...the rhinestones...the little leaves...beads.  Want.  Check it and her other great jewelry out here.

Made it Monday: My Mom Made It - Colorful Wingback Chair (!!!)

I have been waiting for this moment for months.  Months!  I bought this Kaffe Fassett (Russian Rose) fabric in March while I was visiting my parents.

My Mom and I decided it would be awesome to cover my Wingback Chair with it.  I just had to wait until she came to visit in...JUNE.  It was a long wait but definitely worth it.  I am so psyched about how it turned out.  She is the BEST!

I picked up this chair at an auction this winter.  $10.  I had no idea what condition it was going to be in but no one was bidding and....$10...seriously...why not?  Luckily, the frame was in perfect condition.  The fabric was just olddddd. And dirty.

Waiting for its glory moment in my garage.

Waiting...

Waiting....

Waiting.............. .. . .

JUNE!

Ka-chow! (B has been making we watch cars everyday.)

I LOVE IT!  The green background plays out muchhh differently against the green walls than I anticipated.  It actually tones the fabric down.  I love it.  It makes the flowers pop without making the entire chair POP off the wall.  That might have been too much.  I am really glad it worked out the way it did.

Having said that, the next chair you will see me post about will probably pop off the wall.  It might jump out of the window.  I am excited.  And scared.

Some detail shots:

Look at how my mom lined all the fabric up to match.  Impressive.

These legs were originally a cream color.  My mom roughed them up, painted them and then stained them.

I just want to thank my Mom!  What a talent.  I wish I could just strip a chair down and recover it like it was nothing.  I really appreciate her taking the time to not only come up here to help out with B and W but to also reupholster some chairs.  I am so thankful for her.

Seek Your Course

One of my friends (who I miss dearly since we moved from Western Mass) sent me a link to this site that her friend started called Seek Your Course.  It is a database...much prettier, though, than database makes it sound....of creative courses and workshops happening all over the country.  How awesome of an idea is that?!  Check it out!