You Capture: Togetherness

Will and I at the grounds of The Henry Ford Estate.

Will and his Dad at Greenfield Village.

I treasure our family outings and the above photos are from a day we spent out for lunch at The Henry Ford Estate and a afternoon at Greenfield Village. What did you capture?

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Naps are heavenly

I don't know about you but I think naps are just a little slice of heaven. When is the last time you took a nap? I took one yesterday.

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Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops Review

Yummy Earth organic lollipops are just that yummy and a new favorite in our household. What I love about Yummy Earth is that they do not have chemical colors, artificial flavors, corn syrup or anything that the creators wouldn't cook with in their own home. They proudly handcraft 21 delicious flavors with real fruit extracts and are just as proud of what is in YummyEarth as what is not; in fact, they even use organic black carrots and organic pumpkin for fabulous color! Everything YummyEarth makes is USDA and EU certified organic, gluten-free, peanut-free and tree nut-free, and has no type of corn syrup, just fabulous award winning taste! YummyEarth organic lollipops and drops are kosher parve as well. YummyEarth was even recognized by Harvard Medical School for our organic mission. The suckers I sampled are available int he following flavors:

Pomegranate Pucker
Too Berry Blueberry
Mango Tango
Strawberry Smash
Googly Grape
Very Very Cherry
Sour Apple Tart
Wet Face Watermelon

My personal favorite is Too Berry Blueberry and my kiddos is Wet Face Watermelon, but all flavors are delicious.

You can find Yummy Earth suckers at the following stores:

Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Whole Foods, Shop Rite, Publix, Meijer, LeGourmet Chef, Stop & Shop, buybuyBaby, Marriott hotels, Earth Fare, HEB, Disney World, Wegmans, Amazon.com, Harry and David, Smoothie King, Sprouts, Borders Books, health food stores, and supermarkets.

We found the Yummy Earth suckers simply delicious and I think you will too.

Disclosure I received a complimentary bag of Yummy Earth suckers to sample.

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Yikes 20 years....

We had a busy weekend with Soccer in full swing, a trip to our local museum and I went to my 20 year class reunion. I can't believe it has been 20 years but I am so glad I went it was so fun. Tell me what have you been up to?

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I still want to learn how to....

Sew.

What do you want to learn to do?

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We have some winners!

The winner of the Sparkling Juicy Juice giveaway is Linda29


The winner of the Nestle gift pack is Deb.

Congratulations to both! If you haven't already please enter for a chance to win a hand stamped necklace from my current giveaway, just click on the picture below!

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You Capture: Flowers

I think I would be pretty content if this was my garden but it isn't. These flowers are from the Cotswold Cottage at Greenfield Village. Aren't they beautiful?

What did you C-A-P-T-U-R-E?

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Cynthia Eid Jewelry

Jewelry created by Cynthia Eid is awe-inspiring.
Sometimes delicate and sometimes strong,
it is always dramatic.

Her sculptural jewelry is created by
various metalsmithing techniques;
her main tools are hammers
and a hydraulic press.

We tend to appreciate an artist's work

better when we understand the techniques

and processes that go into its creation.

As she explains on her website, Cynthia uses

techniques such as fold forming where

a flat sheet of metal is folded in various

ways (she mentions terms like

anticlastic forming and synclastic forming),

and the effort results in a dramatic new

three-dimensional form.

We especially love the addition of a

thin layer of gold to many of her silver pieces,

a process known as keum-boo or kum boo.

And we appreciate the way she expresses

 her love for her work:

The paradox that “soft”, fluid-looking metal has evolved from flat, stiff rectangles though force, determination, and tenacity enchants me. I am entranced by the metal’s progressive transformation --- through hammering, persuasion, and struggle --- from a lifeless plane of metal toward an object of vibrancy, unity and fluidity.

Let's take a look at some of our favorite pieces.

This necklace is called Changing Sides -

made with Argentium Sterling Silver

with 22K Kum Boo, Reticulated Silver,

and 14K Gold. 

 This necklace is called Sea Grass-

made with Reticulated Silver, 22K Kum Boo,

Argentium Sterling and Patina.

 

 

Here is a bracelet called Sea-Ish IX

made with Sterling Silver.

Here we see "3 Floral Folded Rings" -

made with 18K Gold and Sterling bi-metal.

 

We are inspired by her unique jewelry designs.
Each is the result of intricate processes, 

superb craftsmanship and an eye for subtle detail.

Elegant and organic, each piece
is delightful and dramatic.

Are you inspired?
Let us know what you think.

We welcome your opinions.



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Say Cheese!

I was snapping some pictures and Will grabbed his camera and snapped a few of his own pictures. He was especially excited that he got a picture of the trash truck driving by. Happy Wednesday friends!

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Giveaway: Kristen's Custom Creations Hand Stamped Custom Mommy Jewelry And More

I am so excited to offer a GIVEAWAY, share some new pieces and best sellers with you and also share a special discount! {look for it at the bottom} and don't forget the GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Double Stacked A lot of Love necklace is a customer favorite. This piece is perfect to display several children's names or as a family piece where you can include Mom and Dad's names too. Available for $48.90 To view the entire Double Stacked collection visit HERE.

The Grande Fancy Script Initial necklace is NEW and offers simple elegance. This piece would be the perfect gift for a friend, teacher, bridesmaid or young woman and can be worn daily. You can also add additional discs if you would like. I wear a initial for myself, my husband and my son. This piece is available as shown for $26.90. You can view the entire initial collection HERE.

The I Love You More in lowercase fancy font is also a customer favorite. This piece is a simple piece that can show a loved one how much they are truly loved. Available for $38.90. You can view the entire I Love You More collection HERE.

And for some Halloween fun or all year if you like the Bad Witch, Wicked, and Good Witch necklaces. I think these could also serve as mood necklaces! Available individually for $36.90 each.



Special offer:



As a special offer please enjoy 15% off your entire order, please just enter SEPT15 in the note to seller section at checkout and you will receive a credit via pay pal after purchase. This offer expires September 30 at 11:59 PM! Happy Shopping!

Giveaway: One lucky reader will be randomly selected to win one of the above necklaces!

To enter:

Leave a comment and tell me which of the above is your favorite necklaces.

Extra entries: {Leave a separate comment for each extra entry}

Become a Facebook fan (two extra entries)

Follow me on Twitter (two extra entries)

Follow my blog (two extra entries)

Tweet about this giveaway (1 extra entry and can be done daily)

This contest will run until Wednesday September 30^th at 11:59 pm. Once the winner is selected you will have 48 hours to respond otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

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Ribbon Bangle

Hammered and  Burnished Copper and Brass

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Luann Udell Jewelry

Sometimes jewelry tells a story.
A meaningful, soul-searching,
important story.
A story just as transforming
as the experience of
wearing the jewelry.

Jewelry by Luann Udell tells a story

that is as old as time itself.

Inspired by prehistoric art discovered

on cave walls in Lascaux, France,

Luann takes those ancient paintings

and infuses them with modern significance.

Her innovative designs, textures,

and color combinations

bring the spirit of those

ancient artists to life.

We are inspired by the fact that

Luann feels an unshakeable connection to

this archaeological location

and immerses her work completely in

its historical significance.

When she describes the powerful narrative

that runs through her mind as she creates

each of her pieces, we feel her reverence

towards the stone-age images from the caves

and we share her vision to imbue

her jewelry with joy and passion and history.

She says it best herself, 

I imagine myself an ancient artist working in ivory and soapstone. I dream of giving these to people I care about, who wear these totems daily until they are worn smooth by the touch of human hands.

Let’s take a look at some of our

favorite pieces from her collection.


The theme of the sacred horse

weaves through her narratives.

  

We feel as though we are traveling

through the caves whenever

we see this piece.

We find this piece to be

quite engaging.

 

And these pieces continue our travels through time.

 

We treasure the fact that jewelry artists

express ideas and inspirations through

meaningful stories - stories that seek to

explain our motivations, dreams,

and connections to the past.

To have this expressed as jewelry

we can wear on a daily

basis is truly inspiring.

Are you inspired?

Let us know your thoughts

and feelings.  We'd love

to hear from you.

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Cat or Dog person?

Are you a cat or a dog person?

We now are both we just rescued this cute little kitty and we are loving him and I think he thinks we are ok too.

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You Capture: Red

My little guy Will at his first day at preschool. If you knew him well you would know that red is his favorite color.

My favorite red flats, I am a sucker for ruffles!

I am not sure why but my normally blue endless summer hydrangeas turned a redish burgundy this year. This is the first time they have done that. Aren't they beautiful?

What did you capture this week?

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Socks with sandals should be prohibited...

I am just speechless about the socks and sandal look, but Will likes to pick out his outfits and this is what he put together when we went Back-To-School shopping at the mall. I have always found socks with sandals to be a really bad look, if he lands in the Glamour Don't of the day it isn't my fault he is strong willed and I am trying to allow some independence.

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How to make a Magnetic Chalkboard for your refrigerator

I have wanted to turn our fridge into a chalkboard for a while but didn't want to permanently change it nor did I want to spend hundreds of dollars so I created a magnetic chalkboard and you can too.

Supplies:

Magnetic sheeting that you can find at Dick Blick by the foot, I ordered 3 feet for our fridge, so just measure where you would like yours to fit.

Chalkboard Paint from our local hardware.

Paint roller and pan

Chalk

Eraser

First spread out some newspaper and roll out your magnetic sheeting.

Follow the instructions on your paint can. I applied two coats and allowed it to dry for 4 hours in between coats.

Once your chalkboard is completely covered with paint allow it to cure and dry for 3 days. Next stick your magnetic chalkboard to your fridge. Before you use your chalkboard condition it by using the broad side of a piece of chalk and completely cover and then wipe clean with a damp cloth. Finally have some fun and get creative.

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Melanie Muir Jewelry

Polymer jewelry artists are masters of
imitative effects and techniques.
Using an ancient technique
to create modern mokume gane jewelry
with polymer is a creative form
 mastered by Melanie Muir.

Her work process is inspired
by a 17th century Japanese metal-working
method known as mokume gane.
The English translation means woodgrain metal
and refers to the elaborate patterns which
can be created with the technique.
Working with this laborious and
time-consuming method
involves creating multiple-patterned layers
of polymer sheets stacked together
and a blade is used to slice thin pieces horizontally
from the top to reveal myriad layers
of colors rippling and flowing in every direction.
The artist continues until a
desired pattern is achieved.

 

Melanie's work has a
lacquer-like finish that
adds dimension to her work
and we love that her abstract patterns
seem to resemble the natural textures and
colorations of semi-precious stones.


Let's take a look at some of
our favorite pieces. These bangles
are intriguing.

 

This necklace is simple yet complex.

 

And this bracelet has such incredibly vibrant,

attention-demanding colors - one

can't help but take notice of the

 astounding explosion of color.

Her colors are vivacious,
and her patterns are
abstract and random.
In all, her jewelry designs
are remarkably satisfying.

This work is inspiring on many levels.
We are inspired by the
time-consuming effort she
devotes to her work.
We are also inspired by
the spectacular results
she achieves.

Enjoy!

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