Color....Color....Color

I just received these wonderful polymer clay beads from Aslan Crafts. These are so rich in color, some are matte and some are polished to a nice shine. Can't wait to start working with them.

Celebration of Summer Challenge

Cindy over at Cindy's Art and Soul is having this great summer challenge...This is what she has to say...

I've decided to change it up a little this time! It's still "Wednesday's Words" but I'm posting this today since I will be gone on Wednesday! :) This round will end July 8th. With the winner to be announced July 9th.

Instead of doing three more $10 challenges...I will be doing one more challenge worth $30 spendable in either of my Etsy shops- so yo may choose to spend it on Jewelry or Supplies!

There will still be a final challenge in Augustst worth $50! Again- spendable in either shop! So- please have fun and play along and share share share!

How do you enter? There are several ways to enter and increase your chances! You will have your name entered for each way you participate~

First- please leave your "Wednesday's Words" answer (see below) on this blog post

Then ...

Join my "fan" page on Facebook or
Spread the word and mention this give-away on your blog or
Sign up for my newsletter or
Follow me on Twitter or
Join my Google Friend Connect on the LEFT

Please let me know which way/s you are participating and be sure to provide your contact information. Thanks! :)


**Please finish this sentence....

Nothing says America like______________


I hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday! See you next week! Blessings, Cindy

A Jeweled Gem

A jeweled necklace rich in color created from rejuvenated antique jewels, an old amethyst brooch is given new life as a pendant. An antique faceted blue glass gem is added and sparkles from every angle. I oxidized the brass chain and hand forged a brass hook and eye to finish out this simple but elegant adornment. You can find this pretty on Etsy.

I am blushing with pride...

My friend Sandra over at Worlds End Farm This and That has graced me with the Uber Amazing Blog Award. This award was started by Mommawannabe to honor bloggers who stand out and are simply amazing! Wow...isn't that a great honor!

I certainly appreciate this award from Sandra who is a horse breeder and tells life like it is. I enjoy reading her blog and I think you should check it out as well.

Well off to award 7 fellow bloggers....here's to you...

Livewire Jewelry

A Robin's Nest

Emmas gems vintage

Backyard Beads

Moody and Sanquine

unDeniably Domestic

Lily Shays Style

Flea Market Friday

Today I went to the Nashville Flea Market known as one of the top ten flea markets in the country. I went to purchase beads from the ever eccentric Mary and her husband Larry. I knew that I would not walk around much in this terrible heat (104)... I looked a little outside then flew inside to the air conditioned booths. Thankfully Mary is set up inside as it takes me well over an hour to pick out my gems. No antique finds today, I just could not bear the heat as most of the good stuff is to be found outside. Here is my booty for today....just love the large faceted deep red beads. Larry was not sure what they were and thought they were Carnelian, I will need to check on that.

My summer winter has began....

I hate to complain, and I do not do it often but it is damn HOT, 99 degrees ! My summer winter has officially begun! I am treating summer like winter, I can not tolerate this heat and humidity it wilts me and makes me cranky....... I am staying inside where the air conditioner can keep my house a comfy 74 degrees. I have lots to do while I am in my cool shelter...make jewelry, clean, paint...and many other projects I have been putting off. I will only venture out for necessity's like food,playing poker and to check my garden...oh and if my neighbor asks me to swim in her new in- ground pool but that is it!
Well you will know where to find me, I will be the cool calm and collective girl in her clean organized house wearing her bathing suit (just in case).
Judy

Thursday's Thoughts

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.
-- George Eliot


Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.
-- Samuel Johnson


To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.
-- Confucius

Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.
-- Jonathan Swift

Premio Meme Award

Julie of Gypsy Moon Designs has awarded me the Premio Meme Award. I am blushing with this honor! Thanks so much!

The rules of this award is that I am to give 7 facts about myself and pass it to 7 people. Here we go!


1) I have been married for almost 28 years!! Wow!

2) I love playing Poker, especially Texas-holdem

3) I raised two baby squirrels that our cat brought home one spring

4) I sleep with four down pillows.

5) I am a (former) nurse and use to work in the newborn nursery...where at times I took care of 25 babies at a time.

6) I love pajamas!

7) I had Lyme Meningitis 4 years ago, from a tick bite.

Now to pass this award along to 7 deserving blog owners :

BlackStar

Julie Haymaker Thompson

Llyynn

Particularly Pretty

Boylerpf

Woolies

Worlds End Farm This and That

Chunky Australian Chrysoprase Necklace

Chunky Australian Chrysoprase make a great statement... full of rich deep color and texture. I love the irregular shape of these pieces and they pair nicely with faceted Carnelian beads. This is a chunky substantial piece with antiqued brass findings and a tiny brass hand stamped tag "HOPE" dangle in the back. You can find this on Etsy.

Feel Your Boobies

Are you doing it? Feel your boobies...Just a reminder for you ( or someone else...) to do. Be sure to share this post your friends and family. Have you had your mammo this year? I just had mine last week....all is A OK. Yahoo!

Name that Horse

I came across this blog today Woolies ...and guess... what she is a knitter, cute name.
... Anyway, she is having a "name that horse" contest. She recently adopted/rescued a horse and she needs a new name. Check out her blog and see if you can come up with something fitting for her new girl. I suggested "Lilly Belle".

More pearls...

I have been playing with pearls these last few days...after all it is June's birthstone. I am a ruby girl myself (July's birthstone) but I do love pearls in all it's variety's. I wanted to share with you one of my favorites. I purchased this watch fob in Massachusetts last year and have been hanging on to it for something lovely one day and here it is. A variety of antique watch fob chains have been used, as well as coin pearls, ivory freshwater pearls, shell nugget and some iridescent czech glass beads. I also hand forged the brass hook. Measures: 16" with an additional 1 1/2" for the fob drop. You can find this at JudithB.Designs.com

Tell me what you think and would you wear this?

Handmade Town Hall Meeting

Handmade Town Hall Meeting: Etsy SEO (Finding Traffic Alternatives)
I sat in on this informative meeting tonight offered by Timothy Adam Designs. It is a lot of great information so be sure to check it out.

Pearls....

From one of the humblest of life forms, the mollusk, comes the pearl -- a gem of unsurpassed beauty and elegance. This the month of pearls...it is not only June's birthstone but a favorite among brides to wear...a classic elegance on their special day.

Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child. Pearls are nature's perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown.

Here is my take on a classic pearl necklace....a marriage of many mollusks in form and color.

Jack-n-The Box

I just wanted to share this photo of my little "Jack Daniels". He is one of my sweet tabbys. He has been using this shoe box for a little nest since I brought home a new pair of shoes about 4 months ago. I think it is like his "safe" place, he will be running all around and then suddenly jump in his box as to say "You can't touch me in here"...He is a sweetie and follows me everywhere. One summer I was terribly sick with Lyme meningitis and my little kitty was always next to me knowing I needed some soft company.
Purr...

Etsy Summer Sale

I am dusting the shelves and making room for some new pieces and that means "Summer Sale" visit my JudithBDesigns Etsy shop to see what has been marked down.

How does your garden grow?

Well, it is coming along nicely...the garden that is.
Just a little update on my square foot gardens..some before and now pictures.






Don't you just love the hydrangeas? It's funny when first planted they were all blue and then we moved one and it turned pink. I love it!
The bugs are starting to be pesty. Last year the bugs ate all my squash plants and I am not going to let them have them this year. Any suggestions on bug killers to use? Needs to be environmentally safe ,my kitties are always around the garden (Jack likes the gardens too much....thinks they are big litter boxes) anyway I sure could use your ideas.

Flax and Spindle June Giveaways

Over at the beautiful blog Flax and Spindle, they are doing a June giveaway. There will be three winners! one for each item. Here are the fantastic goodies up for grabs...

A chic vintage style woven cotton apron, this is thick and durable with adjustable straps and oh so French! Couldn't you see yourself in this?

Lori from White Flower Farmhouse has donated one of her beautiful 8oz. hand made soy candles for the giveaway. The scent is Salty Sea Air and it is so true to it's name! Check out her web site, she has some new images up of her shop and new goodies come in all the time.

And last but not least, a set of two vintage style handwoven blue striped grain sack place mats. Perfectly rustic. These measure 19x13".

So visit Flax and Spindle to enter. Giveaway ends Sunday 10pm est.

Old Glory

Did you know?

Our first flag had 13 stripes, red and white, and 13 white stars on a blue field. In 1791 and 1792, stars and stripes were added for the new states of Vermont and Kentucky. So the flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes until 1818. The rules changed after that. As more states joined the union, each flag had only 13 stripes but an added star for each new state. Since the Smithsonian flag was flown at the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, it has 15 stripes and 15 stars.

Happy Flag Day!