Focus On Life - Week 30: Catch The Sun!

This week, Sally's prompt for the

Focusing On Life: 52 Photos challenge

was to

 

"Catch The Sun!"

 

 

This week, we were to capture the beauty of the sun as it glistened off the skin, sparkled and danced on the water or as it was shining on the beauty of the day.

 

I'm in the White Mountains of Arizona this week,...during the rainy season. 

 

Not much sun here,....

 

Not much sun here,...

 

But, when we had a little birthday gathering at the local park during our family reunion and it was sunny for a few hours, I captured my oldest nephew as he was playing basketball.

 

 

 

Half in the sun, half in the shade,....the only shot I could get that really captured the sun as it touched some one.

 

Now, we're just waiting for the sun to come back out. 

 

During the Annual Nutrioso BBQ (which is this weekend) it always rains with out fail, so the chance of sun is about 1%,.....not a very 'bright' forecast if you ask me!

 

Hop on over to The Studio Sublime and see how every one else has captured the sun this week!

 

Until Next Time,

 

Peace, Love and Waiting for the Sun!

 

Cheers,

~Shel~

**I'm still up in the mountains (as you can tell!) on vacation for my family reunion and so again this week, I do apologize for not hopping around to many blogs or commenting as much as I normally do, but I want to spend quality time with my family and will get back to my normal routine next weekend! I will try to look at everyone's posts though - I just love seeing what everyone has captured each weekend!!***

On Vacation!

I'm here.

 

 

 

Enjoying the cool mountain air.

 

It's our family reunion this week / weekend and we're hanging out, enjoying the cool mountain air and the summer rains, chatting, laughing, sharing stories, hiking, making jewelry (well, us girls are anyway!) sitting in the hot tub, enjoying my sister's fabulous cooking and my brother's funny jokes and singing along with my other brother, my nephew and brother-in-law's musical concerts.

 

We're enjoying out time together,...

 

Gordy giving Jenny and Shelly Bunny Ears

 

Being silly!

 

I love my family!

 

I'll catch up with you all next week.

 

Until Next Time,

 

Peace, Love and Family Fun!

 

David, Marsha, Shelly and Gordon

 

Cheers,

~Shel~ 

Focus On Life: 52 Photos - Week 29

This week, Sally over at The Studio Sublime, prompted us with:

 

 

 

Routine!

 

She asked us if we had a daily routine that we looked forward to each day and this week we were to focus on the beauty and comfort of our every day routine.

 

Well, it's summer. So there's not at much routine early in the morning as there is during the school year (yeah!) but there is one thing, no matter what time of year, that I do consistently each morning.

 

As the hubs is asleep in my office (yep, my studio/office got moved into the bedroom a few years back when we moved into this house) I bring my laptop out, fix a cup of coffee, fill my pink water cup, read over and add to my 'to-do' list for the day, enjoy a magazine or book of some sorts (usually a beading magazine or book) and catch up on emails and blog posts/comments.

 

I broke down and used my phone for my photo this week because, yes, my camera was in my office (aka-the bedroom) and as I sat here today I realized that this was the one thing I do, religiously, every single day, so I had to capture it or the day would go by and I wouldn't get the chance until tomorrow morning. And, tomorrow morning, I'd be in the same boat with my camera in the bedroom, still on my desk, and my phone out here,....waiting to be used for picture taking.
 

 

To-do list, bead mag, water, coffee and my trusty computer with it's
'old' Windows 7 technology and no 'touch-screen'!!

 

 

Some of you know that I don't have a very good relationship with my iphone camera like some people do. I can never seem to snap a good pic. And, since everyone else takes amazing pics with their iPhones, it has to me me,...the user,...not the phone or app or any thing else.

 

I played around with the camera, the apps, etc. and decided it wasn't too bad. So there you have it.

I've officially gone off the deep end and actually used my phone as it was intended - as a camera!

:-)

 

 

Now, hop on over and check out what everyone over at the Studio Sublime has posted for their "Routine" today, won't you!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Clinging to my Routine!

Cheers,

~Shel~

**I'm enjoying 'Family Time' from now until the last week of July as my brother's have flown in and we're having our Brothers/Sisters Family Reunion with everyone.

Please forgive me if I don't make as many comments on everyone's blogs as I normally do. I'll try - but the internet in the mountains can be a pain when everyone's trying to use their smart phones to post pics, etc.

It's not like the big city!!
LOL!
;-)

A Reminder and A Change On The Horizon

Just wanted to send a little reminder,...

I'm having a Summer Sale over in my Etsy store this week.

Click HERE to Go Shopping Now!

 

 

20% off your total order upon check out with
coupon code JULY20 -  good until July 19th.

 

 

We've got family coming to Arizona this week and we're having a brother/sister reunion this weekend through the end of July. 

 

I'm really looking forward to some great quality family time and I'm super excited to see all my Great Nieces and Great Nephews - they're growing up so fast!

 

After I return from 'Family Time' I'll be changing things up in my Etsy store just a bit.

 

 

All the finished jewelry will be for sale as normal, but my ear wires and components will be changing to a 'Monthly Shop Update' as far as listings and availability are concerned.

 

 Because I do so many custom orders for ear wires and things of this nature, it's been challenging to keep certain findings in stock or to regularly stock new jewelry designs to my store, which in turn has caused me to fall behind on things that need attention in both my business and personal life.  

 

 

So to remedy this, I'll be putting up listings for specific styles of ear wires and specific amounts of ear wires and findings each month, I'll make the announcement that they're over in the store and then, when they sell out, they're gone until the next month when I re-stock. 

 

 

Every month I'll announce the 'Shop Updates' on my social networking sites each time I have a new batch of findings listed so people will know they're in stock.

This should keep me on a more organized schedule, make shipping a couple of days faster and allow more clients to try various styles of ear wires and other findings.

A win-win for every one.

 

 

I'll be sending out an announcement about my first shop update sometime the 1st week of August here on the blog, over in my Etsy store and over on Facebook as well, so be watching for that.

 

 

And if you have any questions, you can message me on Etsy, over on Facebook or email me at Shel@asicj.com as always!

 

Thanks for continuing to follow along and for your patronage over in my Etsy shop - I truly do appreciate it and I think these changes will be better for everyone!

 

Have a great week!!
 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Happy Summer!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focus On Life: Week 28 - Pretty Patterns

For Week 28 of the 

Focusing On Life: 52 Photos

Challenge hosted by Sally over at

The Studio Sublime, our prompt was:

 

Pretty Patterns

 

 

 

Sally told us to "Get the camera out and explore your surroundings! Focus! And find some Pretty Patterns!"

 

 

 

 

I immediately saw patterns all around me.

 

 

The shell that sits on my desk has a really cool pattern

 

Mother Nature LOVES patterns,...and she does them so well.

 

I love the little 5-point star inside this tiny blossom on my bougainvillea.
Not to mention the lovely pattern on the bright pink petals.

 

Don't you think?

 

 

Butterfly Patterns.  Wish I could have gotten a shot w/her wings open!

 

 

Now hop on over to The Studio Sublime and see what Pretty Patterns every one else was able to capture this week!

 

Until Next Time,

 

Peace, Love and Pretty Patterns!

 

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

 

Black and White Jewelry Challenge Reveal!

It's time for the
Black and White Jewelry Design Challenge
hosted by the ever-so-talented Sally Russick with
The Studio Sublime!

Those of you who know me or have followed my blog for awhile know that I LOVE Black and White Jewelry!

You can check out my post here that I did when I got back from Italy last fall with mention of the B/W trends to come and see a couple of other pieces I've done in Black and White here, too!

When Sally, who's also the host of the fantastic
Focusing on Life: 52 Photos
weekly photography challenge I participate in each week, sent out a call to participate in her Black and White Jewelry Design Challenge, I signed up in a heartbeat! 

Here's what Sally's instructions were for us:

The Challenge:

  Design a piece of jewelry that uses only black and white in the design. 
It can be elaborate or minimalist but only in black and white.

Exceptions To The Rules:

1.  wire, metal or chain in silver, copper, brass, bronze, white or black can be used.

2.  crystal or crystal AB color beads can also be used to ACCENT the piece.

 

 

I kept it pretty simple, but this is what crept out of my mind and through my hands.

 

 

I was in a "60's Mod Mood" designing these black and white hoops and ovals
that I created using sterling silver wire and black and white seed beads.
They're fun,...and they feel good on.
 

 

I'm not sure why I enjoy Black and White Jewelry so much.

 

Maybe because it's 'safe', as I call it.

 

It goes with everything, you can't really go wrong, color-wise, using black and white.

 

Or maybe it's the mystery of black, the purity of white, and the contrast of the two.

 

 

I did a bit of 'hand-crocheting' with
white freshwater cultured pearls, faceted clear quartz
crystals and moonstones on some Black C-Lon Cord.

 

 

It catches your eye.

 

It's dramatic.  It's got flair.

 

It's just pretty!

 

 

Black and White - Czech glass beads, pearls and a rustic pewter cross
knotted on black Irish waxed linen.

 

 

Thanks Sally for creating a blog hop that has flair and drama!  It's been a blast creating Black and White Jewelry!

 

Now, hop along down the list of participants below and check out all the Black and White jewelry they have created for this challenge - I'm sure it'll be an  eye-pleaser!

 

 

 

 

 

Until Next Time,

 

Peace, Love and Creating in Black and White!

 

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

 

 

 

List of Participants:

 

Sally Russick

Monique Urquhart

Patti Vanderbloemen

Veralynne Malone

Duane Clark

D Lynne Bowland

Michelle Buettner

Pam Sears

Therese Frank

Dawn Doucette

Nicole Rennell

Cynthia Machata

Alice Peterson

Carolyn Lawson

Evelyn Shelby

Ailsa Cordner

Michelle Escano

Mischelle Fanucchi

Jess Green

Adrienne Berry

Lynsey Brooks

Kashmira Patel

Ann Schroeder

Marlene Cupo

Susan F.

Susan Kennedy

Kathy Lindemer

Paula Kramer

Lisa Johnson

Sandi Volpe

Donna Bradley

Karin Slaton

Jasvanti Patel

Stefanie Teufel

Liz Engriser

Christine Altmiller

 

 

 

 

Focus on Life: Week 27 - Textures

It's week 27 of the Focusing on Life: 52 Photos challenge and Sally from The Studio Sublime gave us the prompt:  Textures.

 

"We touch a lot of stuff through out the day.  Ever notice how many different textures your fingertips feel?  Probably not.  Unless you're purposely feeling something for its texture we really don't pay attention. This week focus on how things feel, and then snap a picture of that texture!"

 

 

Texture from the 'moss' on the rock wall inside the kitchen at the cabin



 

 

I'm up at my sis's cabin hanging with my family for the 4th of July weekend and there's tons of textures around here - really cool textures, too!

 

 



Close-up of the tree that Logan and Mike helped cut down

 

Logan cutting up the tree that was too close to the
cabin and had to be cut down
 

 

Now, hop on over to the Studio Sublime and catch a glimpse of all the wonderful textures every one else has captured this week!




And, then here's some texture from Italy,....you know I couldn't resist!

 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Texture Happy!

Cheers,

~Shel~


**I'm having trouble with the internet up here at my sis's cabin, so I'll be sure to comment and visit everyone's blogs this week after we return!! **Sorry about that**
 

Happy Independence Day!

 

 

 

To all those who are currently serving or have served our country, thank you for the sacrifices that you and your family make each day. You allow us to live with a freedom that so many across the globe only dream of.

 

 

 

To all my family and friends (yes, you!) here in the United States, may you have a safe, happy and fun filled

Independence Day Weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

Until Next Time,

 

Peace, Love and Honoring our Independence!

 

Cheers,

~Shel~

In Our Thoughts and Prayers

Our sympathies and prayers go out to all the families and friends of the 19 Firefighters who lost their lives in the Yarnell Hill fire this past Sunday, June 30, 2013.  Words cannot express our sadness.

 

To our friends who live in Yarnell, we're so very happy you are okay and will continue to keep you and your friends and neighbors in our prayers as well. Yarnell is a beautiful little place and our hearts ache for those who have experienced the loss of their homes and property.  

 

To all the brave men and women who are putting their lives on the line each day to fight this fire and all the other fires here in our state - you have our sincere gratitude and we pray for your safety.

 

 

 

 

If you would like to help or show your support for these fire fighter's families or families of any fallen firefighter in our country, please visit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at www.firehero.org