Pinterest

If you're not on Pinterest, now is the time to join since you no longer have to wait for an invite! Open registration was anounced yesterday. You can advertise your items for sale, find a new recipe, collect your favorite photos/websites/blogs, learn how to make a new craft, shop, or make new friends. Beware, it is addicting!

You can check out & follow my Pinterest boards here.

Another heat wave!

Wow, we are under yet another heat advisory with triple digit temps and high heat indexes. Boo hiss!

I guess I've been taking an unofficial break from beading and have been spending alot of time with family and doing fun outdoor activities. We've been to the Boerner Botanical Gardens, Chicago Botanic Gardens, Old World Wisconsin, House on the Rock, a few art fairs, and to the lake front. My husband and I have been walking every morning for a few miles before the sun and heat of the day. I've also been reading, playing with nail art, visiting the outdoor market, cooking, and (still) decorating our new home.

I've always been into nail art, and have recently been trying out some tutorials and using some of the cool new designs & polishes. I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to nails if anyone cares to take a peek...Manicures. While I am not as proficient as some of the artists there, I have been practicing and here are a few manicures I did recently-

My first attempt at a gradient featuring Sally Hansen Sorbet & Sweet Sunrise, Wet n Wild Black Creme, and FingerPaints Purple Palette with Cheeky-m70...

My husband said this one was his favorite, and reminds him of Mehndi/Henna designs. I used two colors from the Hunger Games collection; Dress Me Up & Foie Gras with bm-314...

Finally got my hands on a holographic nail polish, which the picture really does not do it justice. I used Hi-Res & Black Creme with xl-E...

I visited a few local bead shops and picked up some more lucite cabs and other cool finds. I sketched a new necklace idea this morning and hope to make time to bead soon. Now that I am all unpacked and put away, I have no idea where anything is (yikes)!

Update

Just a brief update...I'm taking a slight break (from Etsy, blogging, etc). I will be back sometime next week (hopefully) with more treasuries, Saturday Shops, promotions, and listings.
We've received some very sad news and I've been kinda lost in contemplation and haven't been feeling up to much other than pinning (boy has Pinterest been a much needed distraction! Anyone else on Pinterest?).
I have started a new project; a necklace that is both bead embroidered and beadwoven. It should be finished within a day or so, I will post a preview when it is done. I'm trying a new type of embellishing and it is a very fun piece.