a-Pair-a-Day: Float

Inspiration: Float.

I found the vintage pewter drops featured in today's pair at a local flea market on Cape Cod. The engraved seagulls on the drops remind me of a Jonathan Livingston Seagull pendant my mother used to own--very '70s chic.

These earrings feature vintage pewter drops with engraved seagulls. Glass beads, tinted with greens and browns, hang above the drop inside a craft wire hoop. The ear wires are surgical steel. This pair measures approximately 2 1/3 inches in length.

a-Pair-a-Day: Going

Inspiration: Going.

These earrings feature shiny onyx chips and brass rings joined together with gold craft wire. The chips and rings hang from kidney shaped surgical steel hoops. This pair measures approximately 2 inches in length.

The photo today is different than usual due to the fact that I did not make this pair at home.

The Week in Glue

Gabe with cousin ZZ--the only two rested
individuals in the house!

After a week of fun visits with family, I am ready for a break. We've beached it, thrifted it, clam baked it, and movied it. The one thing we haven't done is slept. Between teething and the stimulation of his energetic cousin and loving aunties, Gabe has had war on sleep. We'll return home to Norfolk this afternoon. I'm looking forward to snuggling the cats and sleeping (or at least seeing) my own bed. For now, here's what's keeping my soul glued this week:

Beverage: Black tea with lemon. I drink it whenever I visit my mom. It's comforting and reminds me of watching Murder She Wrote on Sunday evenings together when I was a little kid.

Watching: Still watching Psych and very much enjoying it. 

Nickname for Gabe: For several months, I've been calling Gabe "Chumbareen." I had no idea how this nickname came into play. I've been singing it to the tune of "Bali Hai" from South Pacific. (I sing many, many silly songs to Gabe throughout the day.) I heard my sister, Carolyn, call Gabe "Chumbareeni" this weekend, and I asked her about it. Apparently, it's a name that she and her husband, Matt, came up with for my niece, ZZ. May it continue to live on in its glory!

Way to Waste Time on the Internet: Ok, so this isn't really a way to waste time, but it sure as hell is a time suck: The Etsy Seller Handbook. I've been reading it in preparation for opening my shop on September 1. Every post contains links that contain links that contain links. It's never ending and relatively overwhelming. I opened a link about shipping and, 15 minutes later, ended up with 8 more open tabs, which ranged from taxes to packaging to shop policies. I think I might just need to dive into shop development and reference the handbook as I go instead of trying to learn it all up front.

So much fabulous loot!

Troubleshooting: What to do with all of the fabulous jewelry loot I acquired while on our trip.

Words of Inspiration: I learned about the Creative Rehab website through Rob Brezsny's Facebook feed. The author of the blog, Andrea Balt, has some thought-provoking words to share. Here's a blurb about creativity:

"Creativity is your operating system. It's a free app that came with your original superhero software. It's your intrinsic individual ability to face and respond to the uncertainty and mysteries of life, your essential human birthright, your fuel for rebelling against decay, your irregular heartbeats and your mind's engine. It is the basic force of life, right after love."

Around the House: I have a ton of stuff to put away from our trip. I also need to do mundane life tasks, such as grocery shopping and laundry. All I really want to do is eat popcorn and veg. The afternoon will probably look more like eating popcorn and chasing Gabe, while I try to avoid looking at the bags I need to unpack.

Nature looms. (source)

Craft Idea: My six-year-old niece has been telling me about how there is a loom similar to the Rainbow Loom with which you "can make anything you want!" ZZ does not know the name of this mystery loom, and I haven't been able to turn up anything in my Google searches. I did find this idea for nature looms. Basically, you create a frame with sticks, wrap string around it, and then weave in items you find from nature. The possibilities for this craft seem endless, as you could weave virtually anything into your design.

Want to Learn More About: How I can do everything I want to do without feeling completely burnt. I don't know if it's possible to do everything I want to do--I consistently feel as if I have to give up one thing in order to pay attention to another. I tell myself that it's all about time management, and that if I embrace daily structure, I will get to do everything that is important to me. Maybe, though, I need to reevaluate what's important and what needs to go so that I stop becoming lost in my to-do list. Maybe I need to be more honest with myself about the to-dos and the not-to-dos in my life.

What's keeping your soul glued this week?

a-Pair-a-Day: Root

Inspiration: Root.

Erik and I have been at my mom's house for the past few days. On Friday, we went on a little adventure, visiting a few different thrift shops. At one of the shops, the sales person encouraged me to "root around" a tray of jewelry. While I didn't find anything that caught my eye, I loved the encouragement to peruse and explore. I took that feeling home with me, digging around in an old trunk later in the day. I struck gold, finding my rock collection from about 22 years ago: A Crown Royal bag containing stones from the beach. Yesterday night I went through the stones and found several that could be used in pieces of jewelry, including today's pair of earrings.

This pair features white quartz pebbles, which have been wrapped in silver craft wire. Gun metal discs hang from the pebbles. The ear wires are surgical steel. These earrings measure approximately 1 3/4 inches in length.

The photo today is different than usual due to the fact that I am not at home.

a-Pair-a-Day: Great Link

Inspiration: Great Link

Erik and I are going through another Star Trek: Deep Space Nine cycle. This occurs about every six-eight months when we need a Trek fix. One of the characters from Deep Space Nine, Odo, is able to shape shift his body into anything. He and his fellow shape shifters are part of something called the "Great Link," in which they all commune together in a pile of goo. Today's pair was designed as I watched DS9, and the chain feature seemed to gel nicely with the words "Great Link."

These earrings feature stainless steel chains. Wooden beads and tiny silver discs hang in a cluster at the bottom of the chains. The ear wires are surgical steel. This pair measures approximately 1.5 inches in length.

a-Pair-a-Day: Roar!

Inspiration: Roar!

The colors of today's pair remind me of a fabulous, fierce, growly leopard.

These earrings feature cork spheres and round wooden beads with black spots. The ear wires are surgical steel. This pair measures approximately 1 3/4 inches in length.