"Easter Bell"

 My little interpretation of the dandelion.
I think this picture just doesn't do the bracelet justice!
I love the gradation of color...
I think it's very sweet & delicate in person.
Will be on my Etsy soon !

A Few from My "Casablanca" Theme

Scroll on down a few posts to see my "inspiration board" for these:  

They'll be up & available for purchase on my Etsy soon! 

Email me if you see one you want in advance :)

A Little Easter Preview

Here's what I currently have cookin'. 

Still looking for charms...

Candy Jade & Agate 

I think they make a lovely set! 

Kendra's Poster!

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was creating a poster for the nursery (based off of the invitation I designed):

It was surprisingly a lot harder to do than I thought! - - to make the background interesting, yet not overpowering. I printed it 11x17 & plan on putting it in a simple, white frame. What do you think?

I Can Only Imagine

Today I am making a few bracelets because I FINALLY received these very specific heart beads I wanted. The bracelets are actually for my step-mom, my cousin & my aunt.
This past January my Grandmother, Ruby, had a stroke & passed away. Since her name IS a gemstone, I think it was already predetermined that I was going to be creating a ruby bracelet in her honor. When it came time for choosing the rest of the components, I struggled. My Grandmother was a simple lady of God. I thought a dove would be nice or a cross but both seemed a little too predictable. Finally I found the PERFECT charm!

We had a tough time with Granny in the end... we knew that death was inevitable and that it was just a matter of moments before she passed. We were all there (for the most part) around her bed singing and praying and crying and telling stories and even laughing a little... It went on for hours and hours and hours and we were all at the point of emotional exhaustion when my 2nd cousin, Rusty, thought of playing "I Can Only Imagine" (Granny's fave song - it really helped her get over Papaw's horrible and traumatic death). It wasn't even completely into the first verse when she took her last breath . . . 

So, now, we all can "only imagine" her and my Papaw in heaven, dancing and rejoicing :)

Business Cards

Just made a very, very, VERY simple card for Sid.
He is doing a lot of consulting & really needed his own, independent card.

I think the generic type looks all M.D., don't you? 

Here's the top choices. Do you think that he picked the right one?

Magically Creative Hiatus

I have found that I work in these sort of shifts. What I mean is I don't just do some paper work, send out emails, make a bracelet, ship one off, etc, etc. I tend to do nothing but make bracelets for 2 straight days, spend a day packaging & shipping, another day to market, research, respond & reorder & such. Maybe this isn't the best approach but I have found that it is a process that seems to work for me right now!

So now I have lots of fun, new bracelets to photograph & start trying to sell. In fact, I already sold a lot of them! My ENTIRE cherry blossom series is gone already! :) 

Stay tuned & I will share them soon!

In the meantime, check out this one I made for myself - - >

As my friend Kass says. "there's a little girl in all of us" & I just couldn't resist :) 

The Sunshine is Glowing & Growing

I have been a bit overwhelmed so my cute buddy, Senaida, has been coming over every other Tuesday & has been like a little intern/right-hand-man/best buddy/business partner/bracelet maker/administrator / / . . .I could go on & on with the slashes.

Just having her around has really, really REALLY helped me out so much. Working all alone can be a little lonely & ideas & goals can get abandoned easier. She helps me in so many ways - mentally, physically, and emotionally! 

Special thanks to my little Puerto Rican Princess, Senaida Santa! 

Mum

So early today I was thinking about all of the upcoming holidays & celebrations that are around the corner... Because most of my customers really like to buy bracelets that personalize each occasion (i.e. shamrocks & hearts & snowflakes, oh my). Fun, little, festive gifts, if you will.
It made me think of my "Soul Shine" bracelet & how great of a Mother's Day gift it would be. Especially considering it has the mum flower charm ! 

go here to buy it for your Mum :)) 

What are some other unique charms/themes/ideas for upcoming holidays that you can think of?? 

المملكة المغربية - Casablanca {#002 - INSPIRATION BOARD}

المملكة المغربية 

(translates to "The Western Kingdom")
Here's my "inspiration board" for my bracelets I plan on working on this weekend...
I hope that my little life's journey takes me over to that magical place someday!

Did you notice all of the lions? Well, my Moroccan researching took me to an interesting place. Those lions are supposed to represent the now extinct Barbary lion. The Barbary lion is often considered the national emblem of Morocco.

"The Barbary lion is a subspecies of lion that became extinct in the wild in the 20th century. The Barbary lion formerly ranged in North Africa from Morocco to Egypt. The last known Barbary lion in the wild was shot in the Atlas Mountains in 1922.The Barbary lion was believed to be extinct in captivity as well. However, possible Barbary lion individuals or descendants have been located in zoos and circus populations within the last three decades. The Barbary lion is the heaviest of the lion subspecies"

The lions & the colors are just so regal. I look forward to making the bracelets & learning more about Morocco. .. As well as the earlier wish of one day traveling there!

Fatty Boy Domino Admires the Beads

Team Spirit

Now that I am getting started with this, I feel like I have so much to share!

Here's a project I was "commissioned" to do a couple of months ago. A good girlfriend of mine's (Carolyn) sister Kimberly requested - keep following me here - 3 Penn State bracelets for her & 2 of her buddies.

I can't wait to see them all decked out & rockin my bracelets this fall!
"Lets Go P-S-U"

The Whole Bead Show

So this past weekend Sara scored some free tickets to "The Whole Bead Show". It was so much  fun... I was - forgive the corniness - like a kid in a candy shop. It was almost TOO stimulating! 

To repay her for her access, I had her pick out some beads & I made her a bracelet.

She had JUST bought a cute sundress & picked out beads that matched it perfectly... I look forward to seeing her wear them both this summer!...I chose the fleur de lis because she has one of those tattooed on her body so I figured she must love them :) ... It made me take a peak at what the thing actually stands for. You should look into it sometime, it's interesting!

Here's some of what I found -
"In medieval England, from the mid-12th century, a noblewoman's seal often showed the lady with a fleur-de-lis, drawing on the Marian connotations of "female virtue and spirituality"

"... it is said to signify perfection, light, and life"


- -> Sara & I at my Birthday party this past year
For the past 2 years she's made my birthday cake.
Love this girl!

Baby Nate & Some Monkeys

As many of you may know, I am a graphic designer. In fact, that's what I have my B.F.A in...
So when my cousin, Kendra (she's more like a little sister to me), needed some invitations for her shower designed, I was more than thrilled to do it for her.
She chose a monkey theme & pretty much just let me run with it. She's so easy to please - I just adore her!
I think the little monkey is so freaking cute!

They're just simple, double-sided & small. I plan on doing a little illustration for the nursery & will share that one day too :)

I couldn't resist finding a monkey charm!
MONKEY LOVE!

I just love the blue opal. Something about it just says "tiny baby boy" to me. :) 

桜 Japanese Cherry Blossoms - My Latest Little Creations

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. 

~William Shakespeare

Crazy Lace Agate & Candy Jade

Candy Jade

Candy Jade, Crazy Lace Agate

Rose Quartz, Candy Jade

Turquoise, Candy Jade, Rose Quartz

I had all these brand new, bright beads & was searching for inspiration. Most of the charms I already had! 

Needless to say, I was moved by the tragedy in Japan & wanted to pay a little homage. I am also deeply attracted to the lovely trees; I always have been. The colors, the delicate blossoms. Who DOESN'T love cherry blossoms?  

And I just love how the rose quartz represent the tenderness of the blossoms so well. And of course the pictures just do not do the bracelets justice. I am in love with all of them! It's going to be hard to part with them he he.. .What do you think about them?? They'll be up & available on my Etsy  soon !

  

If you have the time, go ahead and scroll down & check out my "inspirational board" (it's the next post). It was a lot of fun finding all of those beautiful pictures of the cherry blossoms. 

"Under cherry blossom- - 

Blue sky and gentle breeze"

Love&Sunshine,

Shannon  

-----

Currently working on a little "Casablanca" theme. So excited! I love all the purples & bold colors... Stay tuned! 

桜 Japanese Cherry Blossom {#001 - INSPIRATION BOARD}

Against the Spring, Clear, Blue Sky 

Cherry blossoms are the flowers most beloved by the Japanese. Because cherry blossoms have short blooming times and are fragile, they have been used to symbolize the transience of life; this symbolism meshed well with the teachings of Buddhism. Also, since cherry trees blossom en masse, they have also been used as metaphors for clouds. Fallen blossoms, not to be ignored, are likened to snow and later, as a metaphor for a warrior killed early in life.

On the other hand, in China, cherry blossom is the symbol of feminine dominance, female beauty and sexuality. Additionally, the cherry blossom is the Chinese symbol of feminine principle and it also symbolizes love in the language of herbs. Interestingly, cherry blossom is the flower of the April in China, whereas in Japan, it is wisteria

source 

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. ~William Shakespeare

My heart that was rapt away by the wild cherry blossoms - will it return to my body when they scatter? ~Kotomichi

I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. ~Henry David Thoreau

I believe in God, only I spell it Nature. ~Frank Lloyd Wright

In the cherry blossom's shade there's no such thing as a stranger. ~Issa