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A summer essential....

One thing I know I couldn't make it through the summer without is my Reef Slap flip flops, they may not be beautiful but they truly are like walking on clouds. I have put a lot of miles on these babies, they have been to many museums, the park, the beach and long walks with the family. Yeah I think I love them.

What is one of your summer essentials?
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Stouffer's Gift Pack winners!



The winners are:

Issy of Swimming on Dry Land and Luckycat1818 luckycat1818@yahoo.com

Congratulations!
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Home Shows

Hi Everyone. I just wanted to remind all my customers and the people that see my work at art shows, that I am available for home shows. They would need to be scheduled ahead of time, especially as we get closer to the holidays. If you like the idea of casual shopping at your own pace, then email me to set up a fun evening of shopping.

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Lisa Hawthorne Jewelry

Sometimes it’s all about color.
Bright, joyful, exuberant color.
certainly fills the need -
it’s bold in style and bold in color.

Lisa's work is readily recognizable
by her detailed
cloisonné enameling technique.
And so many of her pieces feature
shimmery-smooth, eye-popping color –
some pieces are downright luminescent.

Whether she is working with cool tones
or a warm palette of color,
we have to admit that each piece
consistently brightens our day.



There are so many pieces to see and admire -
here's a necklace we simply adore.







 Here's an example of a belt buckle.





 
Here's a fun cuff.





Here's a bold neckpiece that
features a cooler palette.


 
 
 
  and this one is truly a showstopper!
 
 




After all that vividness and vibrancy
we have to admit we are definitely
 feeling awake and energized.
And inspired.

How about you?
Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts.

 
Enjoy!
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Oh the simple things...



Give a boy some water and goggles and it = FUN!!!
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Michigan Cherry Chicken Salad


Did you know that Michigan represents about 75 percent of the tart cherries and 20 percent of the sweet cherries grown annually in the United States. Right now we are in the peak of our Cherry season and boy are they yummy! I love dried cherries in my oatmeal, in my cookies, I love cherry salsa but I especially love a Cherry Chicken Salad!

Cherry Chicken Salad:

2.5 ounces baby spring mix
2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced
1/4 cup dried cherries (and especially good with Michigan cherries!)
1/4 cup candied walnuts
4 Tbsp blue cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup Raspberry Vinaigrette (I know it is a cherry salad but I love it w/ Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing I like either Ken's Raspberry Vinaigrette or Newman's Vinaigrette)

Divide baby spring mixed lettuce between 2 plates. Top each plate with grilled chicken breast, dried cherries, walnuts, and blue cheese. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salads.


Bon Appetit!!!
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One day he may kill me for this...


These goggles are just about the silliest things I have seen, and one day he will kill me for posting this. Will has been taking swimming lessons and we are still on the hunt for the "perfect" goggles, these didn't cut it but they did give us a good laugh.
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Jill Hurant Jewelry

Jewelry created by Jill Hurant  
is exquisitely detailed,
elegant, and truly one-of-a-kind.
Her masterful use of the ancient technique
of fusing and granulation results in
22k gold jewelry that is warm and rich,
with an intricately detailed, delicate effect.

Each of her pieces is stylishly
handcrafted and showcases her
patience and superb craftsmanship. 
They simply exude panache.

This 5-Link Bracelet is one of our favorites.
The asymmetrical placement of the pearl
sets off the design superbly.




We adore her Double Chain Bracelet






And her Gold Crochet Bracelet is utterly mesmerizing.
The gemstones contrast powerfully with
the lacy effect of the bracelet,
while the granulation adds just
enough visual interest without
overpowering the overall effect.
 
 



We are enthralled with
the richness of the 22k gold
that this artist uses in
her work, and we're
inspired by the fact that
she takes this ancient technique
and gives it a contemporary edge.
Each piece is truly more
lovely than the last.


Enjoy!
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New in the shop





Just a few new necklaces in the shop, all in fancy script font and the matching script number font is now available. I have been having a lot of fun creating pieces with the new matching number font, it is so fun and compliments the lowercase font so nicely. You can view the entire collection at Kristen's Custom Creations.



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The Favorite Shirt


This is Will's favorite shirt and if he had his way he would wear it every single day. He especially likes to wear it for special occasions which doesn't always go over so well. I am sure he will be heartbroken when it is too small.

Do you have a favorite shirt too?
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Giveaway: Stouffer's Gift Pack!


One thing I think is more important than anything else is eating dinner together as a family. As a kid we had dinner together as a family almost every night and this is something we do in our household too. I am pleased to bring you a giveaway sponsored by Stouffer's!

Stouffer's would like to help families get closer through regular family dinners too and is offering 2 of my readers a coupon for a free family-sized dinner from Stouffer’s, a Family Dinner Box of Questions to get the kids talking and the limited-edition “Let’s Fix Dinner” book by award-winning artist and author Todd Parr.
Stouffer's is also donating 100 percent of the net proceeds of each book purchased to Habitat for Humanity for the Let's Fix Dinner book, the books are currently on pre-order and will be shipped out in August.



To enter:

Leave a comment that you would like to win (yes that simple)

Extra entries: (please leave a comment for each extra entry)

Follow my blog 2 extra entries

Tweet about this giveaways 2 extra entries (can be done daily)

Contest is open to the US only and will close on July 27th at 11:59 PM. Please leave a valid email address if you do not have a blog that links back to you. Once the winner is selected you will have 48 hours to claim your prize otherwise a new winner will be chosen. I received the very same gift set from Stouffer's. Good luck!
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Diana Widman Jewelry

Jewelry created by Diana Widman
evokes a sense of movement and a
great deal of texture. Of all her styles
of work, our favorites revolve around
her Linen Collection – a collection
of fabricated jewelry that actually has
the look of rippled fabric.

With a background in printmaking
and bookbinding, Diana has long held
a love for paper and fabric, as well as
 the tools and processes one uses
 to work with them.

So, it’s understandable that when she
discovered metalsmithing, her passion for
paper and fabric would become extremely
evident in her metal work.
By using a technique such as fold forming
she creates rippling surfaces and 
roughened textures that look like undulating,
silky fabrics. It's jewelry that provides
 a sense of movement and
an impression of texture.


Here are a few examples
of her work.
This cuff is made with sterling silver.




 

Here we see a
14KT yellow gold cuff set with diamond accents.




 
These earrings are made from 18KT green gold
 with diamond accents.




 

We are inspired by artists who develop work
based on the cross-pollination of ideas
and techniques.
Something new and different emerges
from these fascinating efforts.
In this instance, by making hard metal
 look like soft fabric
we cross a threshold with the artist
into a new realm of beauty,
style and discovery.



Enjoy!

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My favorite spot and YUMMY Blueberry Muffins...


I made these yummy Blueberry Muffins, from The Pioneer Woman's site. They are super easy to make and a crowd pleaser. I like to eat them at my favorite spot and of course with a cup of coffee.




Do you have a favorite spot?
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Julie Jerman-Melka

The first time we experienced
jewelry created by Julie Jerman-Melka
we had an emotional experience.
The sensuality, the delicacy,
the tenderness we saw in her pieces
resonated with us immediately.
This jewelry is inspired by the artist's
childhood memories of the natural
world around her.
She takes those memories,
renders them in metal,
and from those humble beginnings
there emerges jewelry of
such delicacy and charm
that we are enchanted by
every piece.
Our favorites revolve around pieces
from her Flora Fauna Collection.
While not specifically modeled on
any particular flower, each piece
is merely reminiscent of the
floral ambiance that the artist
recollects from childhood
experiences and remembrances.

Using sterling silver and 18K gold
she creates each design by 
traditional metalsmithing techniques
and incorporates gems along the way.
The effect evokes a Zen-like purity.

Here is an example of a
brooch from her Flora Fauna Collection.



 
We love to admire the subtle colors found
in these Flora Fauna earrings.


 

This Flora Fauna pendant
is absolutely charming.



We find this jewelry
inspiring with its delicate
colorations and textures.
It's light and almost lyrical.

What do you think?
We'd love to know your thoughts
and reactions, too.

Enjoy!

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What'cha reading?


Sadly I have to admit that I haven't read one adult book this summer, but hey the summer isn't over yet. We have been reading with Will the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and we are quite enjoying them.

So tell me what is the best book you have read this summer? I am looking for that blockbuster hit that I won't be able to put down.
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Summer fun...




Over the weekend we visited The Henry Ford and it was HOT, and if I had known how refreshing Will's spray fan was going to be I would have let him get it when we got there not when we left. The boy was right it really was refreshing. I never have quite understood why someone would like stilts.... am I missing something?
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Patience.....



Patience:
The capacity for calmly enduring difficult situations.
2. the ability to wait calmly for something to happen without complaining or giving up.

I designed the "Patience" necklace for those trying to conceive. As someone who had great challenges becoming pregnant this piece is near and dear to me. Both of these pieces have a rose quartz dangle charm, it is believed that Rose quartz is a bead of love and fertility. It is said to help promote pregnancy and to protect the mother and unborn fetus from miscarriage. Both necklaces are available in my shop Kristen's Custom Creations.

But now that Will is 4.5 this serves as a reminder that I need to be more patient, he is still learning and things just take time.

Are you a patient person?
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Jacqueline Cullen Jewelry

We are intrigued whenever we see
an imaginative use of
an unusual material in jewelry.
One jewelry artist we have recently
become aware of is Jacqueline Cullen
who is noted for using an ancient material
and transforming it with modern techniques.

Her specialty is Whitby Jet.
Jet was used (and popularized)
in Victorian mourning jewelry.

By using one specific type of jet,
that found only along the shoreline of
Whitby in England, Jacqueline honors a
material that is now rare and might easily
be forever lost to us. With every piece
presenting itself in a raw and ragged state,
what might be considered detritus
to someone looking with a casual eye,
to this artist every crevice and
every imperfection becomes a source
of potential beauty. It is in the
 cracks and fissures
that the artist labors to
create her beguiling jewelry.

By inlaying precious materials such as gold
or gems or crystals, she transforms the old,
the worn and the ragged into works of
elegance and creativity.

It is precisely these imperfections
that eventually become
lovely works of art.
The deep, lustrous shine of the jet
becomes a rich background for the
detailed and minute embellishments
that the artist creates.
Here are a few examples of her
finely-crafted work.

From her Fine Gold Collection we see
a hand-carved Whitby Jet pendant
inlaid with 24K gold.







Here is an example of a pendant from her
Swarovski Crystal Collection.






From her Granulation Collection, we can see 
earrings with 18K gold granulation.






          And here is an example of a 
bracelet with 18K gold granulation.




There is so much here to inspire us.

The idea of making such wonderful
handcrafted jewelry
by using what may be considered
a rather mundane material
and then transforming its simple nature 
by adding precious metals and
other materials is both 
imaginative and inspiring.

Share your thoughts with us.
We'd love to know what you think.

Enjoy!
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I better start loving this....


I am thinking if I don't want to spend my summer weekends alone I better start enjoying going to Mustang car shows, since the older Will gets the more he enjoys going to car shows. This weekend we went to a Mustang car show and after about 5 minutes I was really bored it must be how John feels when I drag him to the mall.
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Happy Birthday Old Man, (Daddy)!!


I can call him old man since he is 1 year older than me. Birthdays are a big deal in our house and we tend to celebrate them for a few days. We have some fun things planned this weekend dinner out and a car show (his choice). I hope you enjoy your special day even though you have to work!

So tell how do you celebrate Birthdays for your loved ones?
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Cousins.....


Will and his big Cousin Owen. These two boys thoroughly enjoy their time together even though they sometimes fight like brothers! Growing up I never had a cousin around my age to play with so I think these boys are very lucky!
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Hot off the soldering block!



These are 2 new designs that I`ve been working on and am glad to add them to my portfolio. You can click on any image on this page to better see the detail and textures.
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Thank Goodness for...




Air conditioning and swimming in the lake. What a hot 4th of July. We spent it either in the lake or in air conditioning. We had a restful weekend and hope you did too!

Is is HOT in your neck of the woods?
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