Tiara for the garden...

Garden Fairy Princesses Love This Tiara

 

 This whispy tiara piece was made from some very old and very special beads and buttons.  It has a secret destination, so I am packaging it up tomorrow, ever so carefully, for its maiden voyage.  Sigh.

The charm in the center reads, "Let us be grateful for people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

by Marcel Proust

My Yellow Rose of Fairfax friend passed that wonderful quote onto me, so I am sure the garden fairy princesses will love it just as much as I do!

how to make an art charm bracelet

 Art Charms Are Simply Pretty Stuff To Wear Anyday

This fun bracelet is made in an afternoon as you are reminiscing.

Here's the how to.....

Everyone has an old bracelet, maybe tarnished, which is the character base!  With the findings available at the local craft store such as AC Moore, Michaels or Hobby Lobby, pick up some "jump rings, crimp ends, and two pair of jewelry flat nose pliers."

Break the backs off old earrings and drill a small hole through the remaining piece.  Add the jump ring, using your flat nose pliers to pull apart, attach to the bracelet, then close. 

Or, unearth old charms from other bracelets or from those dusty souvenir boxes and add those jump rings as well.  If you collect feathers, as I do, glue the end and put that end into the crimp finding.  Squeeze with pliers and let the glue dry.

If you are feeling more artistic, you can draw a picture on heavy card stock, use a small hole punch, add your jump ring and, Voila, a true "art charm" for you bracelet.  Mix and match your media and wear away!

Nature Trail In The Making

First you have to sweat and chop up stuff, and then you have to sweat and move all that stuff around, and then you have to sweat some more to lay the trail.  Sweating is also something that will attract nature, the biting kind, as well.  To insure safety during the chopping, moving and sweating process, technology and electricity must rule.

As the project at Chris and Joanna's place proceeds, the fruit of their labor take form.

Beyond the mulch, lurks the poison ivy.  That is another day where chemistry comes into play.  The trail will continue!  Meanwhile, elsewhere on the property, blueberries need to be eaten!!

Crowns and Tiaras

Did you know?
Crowns and Tiaras Are Part of The Simply Pretty Stuff Inventory

Feeling left out as a princess without her tiara or a queen without her crown?  Well fret no longer.  There are a few new fabulous designs that will be sure to please the most particular of tastes at http://www.simplyprettystuff.com/  Just click the tiara and crown link ~ voila.  There is always something sure to please at Simply Pretty Stuff.  Check out the other new item posts while you are there.

Starbuck's Coffee Time

Now Wearing  Starbuck's

Everyone who knows me will know that I love my

coffee, decaf or high test, depending...

I had broke down and bought a Starbuck's porcelain travel mug awhile back to save the planet and save me a dime a cup on refills.  Imagine my disappointment when the cup shattered, in an unfortunate dishwasher episode, one day. 

Seeing opportunity for unique jewelry pieces, I scooped these two from the pile and went to work.

How wonderful these are on a chain!!  I love them.

SIMPLY PRETTY STUFF STEAMPUNKED?!

 How very cool is this?  There was a whole lot of patinization going on is all I will say ...

Look Out World

Suprock Technologies is an American engineering company started in 2007 by our son Chris.  This is his signature logo piece, created by none other than moi, at Simply Pretty Stuff, to be placed on his new line of sensor tool holders.  Check his company out at www.suprocktech.com  He will be showing off his products in Chicago this fall at the IMTS conference.

Stiletto Style

But no .... I did not make these ou ~ la ~ la stilettos!! However, these and other funky things to be found on this unusual web site  http://nikkicrumpet.blogspot.com/

Check it out!

Taste of Nature

Lately, I have been enjoying a wee bit of quiet time, walking around the yard, just before the sun sets (and before those teeny weeny biting bugs begin their foraging).

The flowers were magnificent this spring and the berries........oh my, the berries!  They are bountiful. 

They are also so inspirational for this designer, both in the studio and in the kitchen.  Yummy pies are being baked and eaten at lightening speed.  This week's favorite............MULBERRY PIE.  Take a look at some of this mouthwatering Simply Pretty Stuff inspiration.

Mmmm.

Ceramic Hearts

These gems will be some of the things Simply Pretty Stuff will have ready for the upcoming Summer in Paris event and summer retreat in Harpers Ferry, WV in August.
www.papergoddess.typepad.com/retreat
Ou la la!

Queen of The Universe

What princess or would ~ be ~ queen of the universe would leave home without her crown?  Well, maybe if that would be princess or queen were on her way to Zumba class at her local YMCA.  None of us princesses wear our crowns during shake, shimmy and sweat sessions like that. 

These crowns are just simply pretty stuff, eh?

They will be featured at the big grand opening of Foxxy Moxxy, A Gettysburg Boutique, this Friday, June 11th.  Come on by to check out the merchandise!!

                                                                  

Swinging

Those lazy, hazy days of summer.  Remember the sandbox, the swimming pool, the smell of fresh cut clover, and most definitely.....the swing?

Memories of summer magic.  How wonderful these memories look in a custom ornament.  Now how do I get some freezer pops?

A Simply Pretty Bride To Be

Scones, tea and jam make for a sophisticated and delightful afternoon for a bridal shower.  Joanna and I pose for a memory photo before heading out  with friend's and family to Higinbotham's Tea Room in New Oxford, PA 

http://www.higinbothams.com/

Studio Cats

There are folks who like cats, then there are folks who LIKE CATS!   I suppose its because they inspire, calm and entertain us.  They give full attention when roused and give the unconditional love we all seek.  sigh......I mean, purrrrrr.

Those darn crazy cat folks seem to cross paths eventually or serendipity gets to playing a role in bringing them together, whether it be in the same town or from opposite ends of the universe.  I do believe it is the same with dog people, with parrot people, with fish fanciers, and the like.  How many crazy cat people do you know?

In the homes and studios of many a friend, family or artist, these satisfied felines have found the perfect places to eat, sleep and play...........

Check out what's new on this cat lovers web site,

http://www.simplyprettystuff.com/

Graduation Day

Yay!! Graduation Day.  'Tis the season for unbridled youth to step into the world ahead and take charge, armed with knowledge and brimming with confidence.  This is a day not to be forgotten.  That said, go ahead and put some of those special moments into beautiful ornaments.  Just visit me on the web at:

http://www.simplyprettystuff.com/47_Ornaments_1.html 

Alice In Wonderland

Is Simply Pretty Stuff

Everything Alice is hot now.  Me, I like the cat perhaps a bit more than Alice...but I like cats.

Check out these two new additions to the Simply Pretty Stuff collection.

click here to purchase

A Special Rose...

The vibrant, sunny color of the yellow rose is reputed to evoke feelings of warmth and happiness. The warm feelings associated with the yellow rose are often akin to those shared with a true friend. As such, the yellow rose is an ideal symbol for joy and friendship.

This all explained by Pro Flowers online.  Sigh.  I would have said the same thing. I just rediscovered a very special Rose, after 35 years.  How wonderful.  

Rosemary was my run around fun friend, my scheming friend, my friend in the best of times and in those awful...break up with the boyfriend...times in high school. Yep, my yellow rose was...Rose !!

Well, time was kind to us as we don't look a bit over 18 then eh? ....check us out.  We met up in Washington DC this week and acquainted the hubbies as well.  There was so much to talk about, and so many new things, that it will take us, undoubtedly, 35 more years to catch up.  And that we will certainly plan to do.

These two are simply pretty stuff!!  If you haven't visited for awhile, go to it....and gather some of your high school memories to make an absolutely beautiful momento charm or ornament.  We did!!

http://www.simplyprettystuff.com/

Variety Adds Spice

The rest of my New York trip found the usual variety.  Well, oxymoron or not, variety is usual in the city.  Where else would you see a flying iguana, cool glass buildings, or a bazillion dollar chandelier all in one place, in one day?

This trip I was also lucky enough to connect with three special ladies....yes all in one short trip.  I met up with my friend, Mabel, from Nature Publishing, http://www.nature.com/ as we have continued to keep in touch these past few years.  

I then met a new friend, Anne Marie Paolucci, founder of ChemoComfort, http://www.chemocomfort.com/  which is a worthy non-profit in the city.  Each year ChemoComfort has a fundraising raffle which enables them to send much needed comfort boxes to women who have had chemotherapy for breast cancer.   Anne Marie will have a booth at the Greenwich Village festival ....just around the corner this month.

Last, but not least, I reunited with a most wonderful old friend, not seen for many, many years.  There was no loss for words here!  Susan Demark developed an excellent website about New York's history, photography, architecture and more, called the Mindful Walker.  Check her out!  http://www.mindfulwalker.com/

How wonderful and dynamic are these women?  ....rrrreal wonderful and real dynamic. 

Icing on the cake for a perfect week was being able to head up to Lexington Ave, where one of the street fairs was in full swing.  There was eye candy and real candy... lots to see and do too.  Such artisans and crafts people!

And even a celebrity spotting!!  Ah go on!

New York Threads

There are few brick and mortar places left in this shrinking economy where you can actually still retail yourself to death. New York remains one of those iconic places, even though tourism dipped just a bit last year.

The choices....the choices!  Eating, drinking, sleeping, shopping, hopping, and topping the list...people watching.  New York remains one of those Mecca Destinations for me.   I assume perhaps for most people, as well.

This trip was both business and pleasure as there were fashion trends to scout, ribbons and chains to buy and friends to find, both old and new. More to come on that after you have had the chance to...

Feast ye eyes on the most fabulous selection of threads, threads, threads, in a one block radius.

M&J Trimmings on 6th Ave, between 37th and 38th Streets, is THE supermarket of buttons, trim and bows. 

Mokuba, on 38th Street, boasts nothing but trims which are even more exquisite! 

Uptown off Lexington there is a very very old and well known buttons only store called...what else but.....Tender Buttons.

SIMPLY PRETTY STUFF, not kidding.

Mokuba

M&J Trimmings

Tender Buttons