Scarborough Seashells

Work In Progress Wednesday, just a quick one!

2012-05-02T15:15:00.001-04:00

Hey all! Still crazy busy trying to build up my inventory for upcoming events. These are some of the pendants and earrings I'm working on today...

Hopefully things will settle down a bit soon and I'll have much more time to post regularly again, I miss my blog!

Happy Earth Day! Making art with my kids...

2012-04-22T16:19:00.002-04:00

Hi all! We've been busy here at Chez Beaulieu- mostly cranking out jewelry and windows for an upcoming show- but more about that at a later time.

I thought it appropriate this Earth Day to share a quick couple of photos of the art piece my 6 year old made for his "recycling invention" project for kindergarten.

He made a mini sea glass window. Not really an "invention" per se but definitely recycled and it is useful- it makes any window look pretty, especially on a dreary day like today!

It was his idea to make the turtle and he picked and placed almost every piece of glass, I just helped him plan out the basic shape of his turtle and then I dropped some of the teensie pieces in to fill in gaps at the end.

He's his mama's boy I think.

He's so darn proud and so am I!

More things I'm working on today...

2012-03-05T12:56:00.000-05:00

I wish I had the time to blog about life in general but I've been so busy with work that this is the best I can offer for now (not that I'm complaining mind you, I am SO happy to have orders coming in!)

I promise I do have some lovely pyrex to show off, craft stuff I'm making for my house and even a few new recipes to share, but for now I have to get back to work and try to finish these pendants so I can move on to the next batch!

FYI the shell and sea glass pendants at the top are all sold, the bracelet focals in the middle are sold/mine (mine is the round one, I'm having Mickey at Nicholas Landon Jewelry make me a leather and pearl bracelet for it, yay!)

The bottom section of pendants will all be going over to Etsy once they're set and polished. Happy Monday, everyone!

New Jewelry Added to Etsy!

2012-02-27T12:59:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't get it done over the weekend as I'd planned, but I do finally have some new pieces listed to Etsy today!

Aqua/Teal Sea Glass Pendant

-UPDATE-Sold!

Cornflower Blue Sea Glass Earrings

Lime Green Sea Glass Pendant

Cornflower Blue Sea Glass Pendant

-UPDATE-Sold!

Cobalt Blue Sea Glass Earrings

And finally, Whooooo doesn't love a cute little sea glass owl pendant?!

A Quick Works in Progress Post!

2012-02-23T14:05:00.001-05:00

These are almost finished and will be available in my shop this weekend!

It's been a crazy week with all the kids home on winter break from school, we've been to indoor playgrounds, outdoor playgrounds and the zoo trying to keep busy, more photos tomorrow!

Scarborough Seashells and Nicholas Landon Jewelry Come Together!

2012-02-15T20:58:00.000-05:00

As promised, a first look at my newest collaboration! Last December, Mickey Johnson (the super talented designer/owner of Nicholas Landon Jewelry) and I began talks of coming together with our jewelry. Using my bezel set pendants and her intricate and unique style of leather braiding, wrapping and beading we've come together on a new line of necklaces that are now for sale on her website!

These first pieces are available now for immediate purchase as she continues to work tirelessly to complete even more one of kind pieces with the latest pendants I sent to her. Her next round of necklaces will include my starfish

and seahorse pendants

-for which she's using a new technique- even I can't wait to see what they'll look like!

Credit to Nicholas Landon Jewelry for all the necklace photos in this post.

Stay tuned for even more details and photos as our collaboration (hopefully) continues to grow!

I HEART Sea Glass and other lovelies

2012-02-14T19:49:00.000-05:00

Newly listed to my shop:

Sterling Silver Heart Pendant with English Multi Sea Glass Piece

Kelly Green Sea Glass Starfish Pendant

And Made to Order Seahorse Pendants... these take a LOT of time and silver, so I decided instead of premaking, I'll make them to order using whatever color glass the buyer chooses like I do with my custom pendants

And tomorrow, I'll finally be announcing what my newest collaboration is... it's amazing! Stay tuned!

A couple new pieces for sale!

2012-02-12T19:23:00.000-05:00

Just listed to my Etsy Shop:

Sterling Silver Seashell Bangle

Sterling Silver Pottery Shard Pendant

Sterling Silver Sea Glass Bangle

A little sneak peek..

2012-02-10T19:15:00.000-05:00

these pendants were all finished this week and are headed to an exciting new life...

You'll be seeing them again soon, but they won't look quite the same... stay tuned!

Works in Progress Wednesday for Feb 8

2012-02-08T15:41:00.000-05:00

I've been working my fingers to the bone today. Drawing, sawing and filing!

One starfish and the heart heading to my Etsy shop!

Both seahorses and the second starfish heading to a client... I have an exciting new collaboration coming soon, stay tuned!

Sigh! How can something so small

2012-02-08T11:52:00.000-05:00

make me feel so immensely happy and satisfied? I bought a $25 shoe rack from Wally World and it made my Sunday night! Especially after a certain team (who shall remain nameless failed) to do ANYTHING remotely wonderful to please me...

Our closet is ridiculously small. And we seriously don't have that many clothes or shoes. It is small for ONE person, muchless the two of us who share it.

I cleaned out my closet around this time last year but failing to find something to organize our shoes resulted in this...

which is always a fabulous look. After I purged 4 pairs of loafers (who needs that many loafers?!), a pair of worn-once wedges, some old slippers and 3 pairs of flip-flops our shoes looked like this

A bonus is that the useless old shoe shelf I had on the floor before fit perfectly on the top of the closet to lend a little organization to my bags, wallets and purses. It's not perfect and I can't wait to buy an entire closet kit to really deck this baby out, but for now, it's loads better (although doors would be nice)!

Are you organizing anything at your house? Are you buying lots to do it or trying to work with what you already own? Any good tips to share?

Finished, sold and for sale!

2012-01-24T17:40:00.000-05:00

Just finished a batch of pendants- the first is available now in my Etsy shop

These are sold,

but I'm working on more!

All you need is love...

2012-01-19T08:00:00.007-05:00

Inspired by the LOVE sign in the city of brotherly love

I created this Valentine's mantel for less than $20

I used 12" solid wood letters on sale for $2.99 each at Joann, leftover spray paint and some strips of a clementine crate stapled onto the back to hold the pieces together.

Add to that a couple of picture hanger hooks from the junk drawer and a $7 bouquet of tulips split up into several clear glass vases I already owned.

The bunting is simply card stock and yarn, both pulled from my craft stash.

I don't usually "do" Valentine's day. I often feel like so many of the decorations I see in stores are frilly, sparkly and too pink for me. But I'm digging the color red lately so I figured why the heck not? Red is so very Valentine's and the pop against the white brick and turquoise chair lets me feel like my house still maintains it's vibe (i.e. not getting too foo-foo)

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day?

Oh, and a BIG OL' HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my girl Lexi!

Giveaway Winner!

2012-01-17T17:06:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone, sorry I've been so busy I forgot to announce the winner of the bangle bracelet giveaway! I used random.org and our winner is...

Commenter number 10- Lavender Dreamer who said:
"What beautiful jewelry! I just hopped over from Kim's! We decided, since no one was coming to visit....that we would pack a picnic and spend the day on the beach on Christmas day! I think we've started a new tradition! We would love to do it every year! ♥"

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated!

Work In Progress Wednesday for January 11th

2012-01-11T16:03:00.000-05:00

Just finished the soldering process on these beauties- most are for two different clients, the top one will go into my Etsy shop.

Tomorrow I have to set the glass in all of these and get them polished up. I'll do some glamour shots on Friday!

Speaking of Friday, there's still time to enter the giveaway

for one of my sterling silver bangles!

Happy New Year, Works in Progress, Where the heck have I been? And a Giveaway!

2012-01-04T08:00:00.018-05:00

Hello everybody! Sorry I've been AWOL for so long- autumn was just insane with, well, life! Birthdays, holidays, craft shows, custom work, new clients, etc and something had to give, so I gave myself a break from blogging.

We've celebrated Thanksgiving

Watched sunrises

And sunsets

We've done craft shows

We've celebrated Christmas and New Years

(looking for the pickle)

and also my 36th birthday (dinner at a Japanese steakhouse followed by a movie, with a pit stop to the photo booth in the lobby)- just to name a few!

Today I'm back to work making new pendants

And it just so happens that my Work in Progress Wednesday post is also my 300th blog post. So to celebrate that milestone (as well as all the others that I've passed in the last few months) I'm doing a giveaway. It's been a long time since I've sent one of my readers a piece of jewelry in a giveaway, so I thought now would be the perfect time!

If you'd like a chance to win one of my new bangles, read on! They are sterling silver, hand forged by me, featuring a sterling silver sand dollar or scallop shell charm.

They are a standard 8.5 inch (large) size but I do have a few that are smaller, so if you win and need the smaller size, just let me know!

Here's the lowdown on entering to win:

1. As usual, leave a comment telling me a recent milestone you've celebrated.
2. For 1 additional entry, tweet about this giveaway and report back here with a separate comment linking to said tweet.
3. For a 3rd chance to enter, blog about this giveaway or post it to your sidebar. Again, come back here and leave a separate comment linking to your blog.

That's up to 3 chances to win! Deadline for entry is Friday the 13th of January (eek!) at Midnight, ET

Aidan's Birthday Cake

2011-10-21T15:30:00.000-04:00

Sorry I've been MIA for so long, it's crazy busy around here. Today Aidan turned 8 and I just finished his cake. We're going to a local science/toy store to have a LEGO zip line party so I made him a LEGO cake. Thought I would share a photo with you all!

Work in Progress Wednesday, a plethora of pendants and earrings!

2011-09-28T15:43:00.000-04:00

On deck this week- pendants and earrings, mostly of the seashell variety.

I'm attempting to make my first pair of post style earrings instead of my usual dangles. Wish me luck!

Fancy and Finished and For Sale!

2011-09-21T12:18:00.001-04:00

This little guy is now available in my Etsy shop.

I'm loving this new design!

Work in progress Wednesday v2.0

2011-09-07T13:00:00.002-04:00

Now that the kiddos are gone all day at school, I am trying to get back to work full-force. Today I'm fulfilling a pendant order for a local retail shop.

And the little seahorse in the bottom left corner is going to go to Etsy when he's finished.

More photos later this week!

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Back to school, etsy and other blah blah

2011-09-06T15:26:00.001-04:00

Well between Hurricane (Tropical Storm) Irene, loss of electricity for several days and school starting last week, it's been chaotic around here to say the least.

Last Wednesday Aidan started second grade and Avery went in for his Kindergarten orientation.

On Thursday, I put my baby on the "big kid bus" for his first full day of school. Aidan was so cute. "Come on, Avery, I'll show you what to do" taking him by the hand...

With the kids off to school and several hours all to myself each day now, I have begun a real and true full time work schedule for myself. Difficult for a WAHM.

Today I shut down my website and in the process moved another 30 some odd items over to my new Etsy shop.

I also listed some items to my original Etsy shop. (now the proud wearer of my domain name www.scarboroughseashells.com)

I was supposed to start running again today. I had been running 4 miles a day, about 5 times a week. Then I broke my toe. And, well, that ended that. I've been two months without a run.

So I had it all planned out. To start with, I will run Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays immediately after the kids get on the bus and I'll be back home and ready to work by 10:00. This morning I woke up, suited up with my new sneaks

and came out to the kitchen to see it was torrentially raining. And it's supposed to do it ALL WEEK LONG.

I guess there's no harm in waiting another week, right? Ugh.

In other news, I saw a great tutorial for making these little felt flowers to put together a wreath today.

photo courtesy of Home Stories A to Z
I'm going to make one for my fireplace mantel that should stretch me through until Christmas time.

It's now entering the 3:00 hour- which is my draggin hour.

photo courtesy of Corporate Wellness Magazine
I could just crawl into bed and sleep til dinner. What do you do to stay awake when the mid afternoon drags hit you?

National Grid finally found us!

2011-08-30T15:41:00.001-04:00

Hopefully we'll have electricity tonight! Camping out at home is only fun for so many days!

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Thankful for running water.

2011-08-30T09:52:00.001-04:00

Still no electricity, but at least with water I am able to percolate some coffee on the grill and use our solar shower to keep everyone clean.

The kids asked when we were going camping when they saw me take out this stuff. I told them we already were! :)

Maybe we'll pitch one of the tents tonight if the power is still out...

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In anticipation

2011-08-27T14:17:00.001-04:00

We are packing up and moving to higher ground. Due to our proximity to the water, we're in a mandatory evacuation area and have to be out by 10am tomorrow morning.

So we picked every last veggie we could see

moved all the plants and furniture into the garage

and took some farewell shots of our 2011 garden as it may well be ruined when we come home on Monday.

Stay safe everyone!

I give you my heart

2011-08-18T13:31:00.000-04:00

Finished and listed to my Etsy shop

Handcut sterling silver heart with genuine red sea glass bezel set to one side