Friday Finds #5 | A Walk on the Property

I've had quite a few people mention to me personally that they love seeing the cool things I find on the property. As such, I made that this focus of this week's Friday Finds.

We had some wonderful, glorious warmer weather the other weekend. While Pat worked on some projects, I decided to do some exploring.

The first things that caught my eye were the flowers. Azaleas are prolific in this area. However, they are usually a Spring bloom. Anytime we have a glimmer of warmer weather, they start to bloom no matter how deep in to winter we may be. We always proclaim how silly they are, "Those dumb azaleas don't realize it's still January!" The new house has tons of LARGE azalea bushes. I can't wait to see them popping with blooms once it's actually spring (of course at this rate, they may run out of steam before then.)

As well, we discovered some Carolina Jasmine on the property. I was told that this yellow one is Confederate Jasmine, but my limited research proves otherwise. We have an overabundance of jasmine on the property and have been trying to get rid of it. However, we only have a small area with this type and are debating keeping it. We'll see.

After smelling the flowers, I decided to hike into the woods and check out a clearing that Pat had mentioned to me the day before. There, I spotted a small cluster of rust and couldn't help but check it out.

This scrolly piece has a little handle on the top as though it's some kind of lid. However, I didn't see a bottom for it anywhere in that area. There's the possibility that it's buried elsewhere.

Next, I dug up this little shelf. Other than a little rust and dirt, it seems to be in good condition. Now, I just need to figure out where to put it. For now, I left it in the woods. . .so I can find it again.

I had a hard time getting a picture of this. But, it's one of those baskets for plants that you hang on the side of a structure. Again, it looks to be in okay condition.

This metal container had a few more flaws than the other pieces and was almost buried in the leaves and dirt.

As I came out of the woods and surveyed the area, I couldn't help but notice how shabby the pole barn looks, especially from this side.

And, since I was digging the rusty vibe, this hook with pulley on the side of the building caught my eye.

After that, the hubs and I chilled in the yard and enjoyed the nice weather together. Y'all.....even though I found all these 'treasures', there's still so much to share! I keep thinking were coming to the end of the discoveries, but I think it'll be years before we unearth all the surprises out here. I definitely love that prospect!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter where I often share the discoveries as I make them.

What have you found lately?

January's Southern Antiques & Accents Features ARE today's Friday Finds

Okay, okay, okay. I know I'm cheating a little here by combining these two features, but it works doesn't it?

If you head over to Southern Antiques and Accents, you'll FIND these pieces showcased in my booth.

For the life of me, I couldn't get a clear picture of this one. Here's another shot of it (not in the booth)

You'll find all of these and more at Southern Antiques and Accents in Fairhope. My booth is located just behind the register when you walk in the door. Oh, and January 19th from 6-8 is Ladies Night! You'll find discounts and markdowns throughout the place. Come check it out and see what else you can find.

Friday Finds #2

I hope my American friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope everyone all over has had a great week. It's officially the start of the holiday season! I took some time today to retrieve our Christmas decorations and set a few out around the house. Now, to get and decorate a tree for the first time in many, many years.

Anyway, I'm popping in to share some more Friday Finds. If you didn't see my first Friday Finds post last week, let me clue you in on what I'm doing. I want to share some of the coolness I find in thrift stores, on my property, or wherever.

This time around I simply want to share some of the beauty and awesomeness I found while Pat and I hiked our own property last weekend.

This pink camellia bud spurred the whole hike. I spotted it and wanted to explore. So, explore we did!

Just inside the woods, I spied an old downed log, or tree stump, or some other kind of wood with a beautiful green mossy cover.

On the other side of the log, stump, wood thing was this large critter hole. In fact, we found holes like this all over the property. We've got a serious armadillo problem I think.

Just past the hole was this gorgeous oak tree, with a little magnolia on the side. I've admired it from the yard, but it's even more beautiful up close.

On the way to the other side of the property, we stopped to poke out heads into one of the sheds. Way at the back was this scale on a shelf. I LOVE IT! I had Pat grab it for me, and I drug it over to the barn to clean up later.

As we hiked and explored and checked out old trails at the back of the property, I looked down to see this delicate skeleton leaf. I scooped it up and carefully carried the fragile foliage through the woods as we finished up our adventure.

Before we left the woods, I quickly snapped a picture of the beautiful day we had been blessed with so I could share it with you wherever you are.

What have you discovered lately in your own back yard?

Lazy Friday and Linkage

My to do list is taunting me today. It doesn't look like much, and it probably isn't. However, it just feels like it's dragging me down. Of course that might just be the weight of my own body urging me to go get back in bed. I'm not sick. . .no worries about that. Just tired.

And I will get to the items on my list. . .soon.

Let me delay the inevitable just a bit longer with a Link post

First, Catherine at Not Dressed as a Lamb has some tips for creating professional looking product photos with (almost) no equipment. I know I'm always looking for ways to improve my photos. I'm definitely going to have to go through through this post of hers thoroughly.

I'm often stumped over what to talk about here and am always looking for new ideas. Daily Blog Tips has offered up this great list of content topics and ideas for your blog. It's a list of 15 topics and has really opened my eyes to some new subjects. I think this one's getting printed out!

While we're talking about blog posts, here's a article from Spice Up Your Blog with 28 ways to write reader-friendly posts. Looking down this list. . .I see that my blog still needs some improvement in order to be more reader-friendly. Oops! Sorry y'all.

My sewing skills leave much to be desired. In fact, I think learning to sew is going to be one of my goals for next year. For now, I can just save up links like this one from How About Orange with a list of cases, bags, and buckets to sew. Aren't those just spiffy? One day my friends. . .one day.

It's time for me to hit up that list before the day slips away from me. How's your Friday looking?

A Little Link-a-palooza and a Laugh (at myself)

It's really a shame how much the weather affects my mood and motivation. It's overcast and dreary here today and I'm really having to push myself to get anything done. Sigh. Am I the only one with this malady? What affects your motivation?

I really want to mention the great laugh I had Wednesday evening. Here in the states, the Fourth of July is our Independence Day. It's a day of bar-b-ques, watermelon, and fireworks.

Tons of people flock to their favorite firework-watching spot over the course of the day. Once the show is over, they all trudge back to their vehicles and homes.

This was the middle of the road. . .there was a car to my right stuck following the people walking.

As we joined the masses in this trek, I couldn't help but imagine that this is similar to what it would look like in apocalyptic scenarios, or that it's what a zombie hoard would look like. It really tickled and frightened me at the same time (I kinda like to be scared.)

It just goes to show you what an overactive imagination I can have and how easily amused I am.

Anyway. . .since my motivation is running low, it seems like the perfect time for

**Cindy at Sweet Bead Studio offered up this pretty sweet spiral wire clasp tutorial a few months back. I'm finally getting around to sharing the link. Maybe someday I'll get around to actually trying it out!

Cindy's Spiral Clasp Tutorial

** Handmadeology gathered up a pretty neat list of 25 Things to Do on Your Lunchbreak to Further your Handmade Business. Whether you have a lunchbreak or not, I think this list is a really great example of some tasks you can do pretty quickly to get inspired, manage your business, and think outside the box.

**Mary & Patch has a tutorial on altering plain metal bangles with macrame. I really love all the color it adds.

I've a PILE of videos to watch saved up. See. . . .I've got no speakers and heaphones don't seem to work on this desktop. As such, I really need to sit down with the iPad and the Apple TV and get to watching. Maybe soon I'll have a list of those for you.

For now, I'll leave you with the three items I put on sale today. The first two are from the Suor Angelica collection. Please note that although I've marked those items down, Melanie will still receive the 50% of the ORIGINAL price, not the reduced price.

Cross My Heart Necklace

Music Dreams Necklace

Bright Blossom Necklace

The bottom has finally dropped out of the clouds. Maybe once the rain passes I'll get my sunshine. Wishful thinking?

Link-a-palooza: Mostly Giveaways and BSBP reminder

I was all kinds of lazy yesterday and just wanted to read through my jewelry friends' blogs. That's exactly all I did too!

In my huge pile of blogs, I stumbled on quite a few giveaways and whatnot.
I do love me a good giveaway. In fact, I just received a package of goodies I WON from a recent giveaway. When Genea and Staci Louise had their Curious Design Challenge (an Alice in Wonderland-themed challenge), both each had their own giveaway. I was lucky enough to win Genea's pack of Alice inspired goodies. Here are some phone pictures of my package. The ones on Genea's blog are MUCH better though. (I was too excited)

The pretty packaging always gets me!

Genea's hand stamped notecard

The GOODIES!!

Now that I've got your moth watering for free-stuff, how about some of those Giveaway links?

**First up, Marsha Neal is hosting another Silk Color Palette Challenge and is having a giveaway of a set of ten silk strands.

There's loads more info on her blog post. In addition, you can even make your own silk color palette for a chance to win. Here's the one I've made and will be linking up. I've got a thing for rainbows and bright colors. This Palette covers the rainbow, plus a white, brown, and black. The necessities, you know! I've named it Full Spectrum (aka ROY-G-BIV plus some).

Full Spectrum (aka Roy-G-Biv plus some)

**Cindy at Sweet Bead Studio shows off some of her items from Easy Wire 2012 and is even giving away a pair of earrings from it.

**Jenni of Jenni's beads has a great collection of handmade components that she is giving away. it's some really beautiful pieces!

**ArtBeads' Blog for Beaders is giving away a Nunn Designs prize package. You just have to complete a short survey on what you would do with the supplies.

**Mary Harding has the cutest ceramic asparagus pendant that she's giving away. Leave a comment about what YOUR favorite vegetable is to be entered!

**Lastly, this isn't a giveaway so much as a reminder that sign-ups for the Bead Soup Blog Party are now open. You only have this weekend to sign up. Hop on the party train! Do it, do it. . .
 no peer pressure or anything ;)

I also placed four items in the shop on SALE this morning. So if you're up for clicking ANOTHER link, you can check out my On Sale section of the CraftyHope shop.

There's another storm heading in now and the thunder's booming so I better get off this computer. I hope y'all have a GREAT weekend!!

Finally Friday and Some Links

I awoke this morning with a rather bland outlook on the day. It's supposed to rain for the next week and the sun is being rather modest as it hides behind the clouds. Lack of sunshine always puts me in a subdued mood. Nevertheless, I pushed forward with my morning. Not long after logging into the computer did I remember that Shannon at For My Sweet Daughter had offered up a beautiful palette for Finally Friday. Her palettes come from Design Seeds and are full of all kinds of eye-opening and kick-you-in-the-pants inspiration.

Just take a look at this week's palette!

It's called Beaded Brights and can be found at Design Seeds.

Sure enough, one look at this palette and I was waking up to these brights. The hardest part for me was that pinky, peachy, coraly color below the blue. I had NO beads in that shade. I did find some buttons that came close though.

This was the closest I could get to the colors in the palette.

As I looked at my collection of beads and buttons in the above teacup, they seemed so very sweet, not to mention how tiny the beads were. So I knew I wanted to make just a sweet little bracelet.

I used gold-tone wire to give it that classic look.

Shannon's palette prompt was a great motivator for me this morning. Thank you Shannon!!


While I'm here, I finally decided on a name for my Link dump posts. Introducing. . . .

Yup! Link-a-palooza.

I'm still working on my goal to get in a publication and found that I saved a bunch of helpful links on the subject.

• Lorelei offered up a few tips as well as links to popular beading magazines' submission guidelines.
• Heather at Humblebeads wrote a similar blog post with tips and links. She also has a link to Lorelei's post and one from the illustrious Lori Anderson of Pretty Things.
• Lastly, Cyndi at Beading Arts offered up her own (longer) list of links to magazine submission guidelines.

Now I just need to eke out some time to click through all those helpful links!

Since those links are all business and no fun, let me add a tutorial to this list.

•  Malin at Beading by Malin de Koning posted a great tutorial on how to make a paper box. I've made similar ones but they're always been too tall and not wide enough. This short, wide one is perfect. Thanks Malin!!

Lastly, here's a new and a sale item in the shop.

Blue Penny Bracelet

Garden Enchantment Necklace - SALE

So that's all the news for this Friday. Now I'm off to see what other trouble I can get myself into! What are your plans for the weekend?

Finally Friday

I'm not just saying that because I get to head out of town to go play with one of my best friends tonight (woot!), but also because Shannon over at For My Sweet Daughter is doing this thing called "Finally Friday". Basically,  she's sharing a Design Seeds palette and giving everyone a week to make something inspired by it. I've spent most of my week in front of the computer (catching up) and have been itching to create something. Shannon's 'challenge' seemed like the perfect opportunity to get out of my funk and stretch my crafty wings a bit.
Here's the palette she shared.

Boating Tones from Design Seeds

I looked over the Boating Tones palette for this week and pulled together beads that seemed as close as I could get them to the colors on-screen.

The colors looked like a dark grey, light grey, light pink, dark pink, and a violet on my iPad. Here though. . .they look like shades of blue and purple. Hmmmmm. Oh well. Here's the necklace I created in any case. I'm pretty pleased with it.

The shell beads had both of the greys as well as some of the lighter pink and violet. I just needed a pop of what I thought was the darker pink. But then I wasn't quite happy. . .I needed more color. Therefore, the purple beads got added to the mix.

I played around with design ideas for a little while before settling on the layers. I liked how the layers almost looked like the water and the boat. They keyhole is just for fun since it was laying on my desk with no other purpose. It works.

Now, jump over to For My Sweet Daughter to see what Shannon created and who else played along.