Oldies but Goodies - Sunshine

It's mid-December and so far we didn't have any of that **** in my neighborhood. You know what I mean. That stuff in winter that I don't like. I'm not going to name it because I don't want to jinx it.
Instead we have rain and we have sunshine.
Now I know those beautiful photos of **** glistening in the sunshine, and I'm the first one to say that they look gorgeous. As photos. Not if I have to walk around in that stuff, not even with sunshine.

Of course this was just supposed to be a very smart (this is irony in case you didn't notice) introduction to this week's Jewelry Artisans Community Oldies but Goodies Challenge whose items are inspired by sunshine.
They may not warm you, but maybe they'll make you smile a little :-)

1 Cat's Wire
2 and 6 RioRita
3 and 4 Jewelry Art by Dawn
5 Bijou Bead Boutique

Oldies but Goodies - Regal

I'm sorry, but time has been running from me, so without further ado - meaning there won't be any rambling from me ;-) - here's the new Jewelry Artisans Community Oldies but Goodies Challenge.

1 Bijou Bead Boutique
2 Jewelry Art by Dawn
3 RioRita
4 MC Stoneworks
5 Cat's Wire

Oldies but Goodies - Green

This week's Jewelry Artisans Community Oldies but Goodies Challenge didn't ask for Christmas green specifically, but I thought I'd pick the ones that fit the season best colorwise - and the frog. Because I love the frog. The one in the bottom row, that is.
As a bonus I added some Christmas frogs. No, don't ask me why Victorians felt a frog killing another over a bag of money is a good image for the season, but they came up with many more hilarious ones, believe you me (or if you don't, go ahead and google for some Victorian Christmas fun ;-)).

1 RioRita
2 Cat's Wire
3 Bijou Bead Boutique
4 Jewelry Art by Dawn
5 MC Stoneworks

Zibbet finds of the week - Christmas lights

This year I didn't manage to make one of my blog advent calendars, but I'll try to bring up something for the holidays every, now and then when I can make it.
I put up my hallway Christmas decoration up today and also my little tree with my handmade ornaments, and like every year I have been struggling with the lights. I don't even have a long cord to wrap around my tree, but I'm not sure if that is the problem or if it could be even worse ;-)
The lights make me happy with their soft glow in the darkness. My little Moravian stars are in the windows and I also have some LED candles (I don't trust the furry mister with real ones) on the window sills.
Of course Christmas is not the only holiday connected to lights. Diwali which took place in October this year is the Festival of Lights and for Hanukkah the Menorah is lit, but unfortunately I didn't find much when strolling through Zibbet, so my topic for today's finds of the week is Christmas lights.

Christmas light bulb earrings by Nataliya Cute Ceramics

"The little snowman decorates the tree" card by Torn Paper™

Cross stitch pillow ornament by Lexidh

"Baby hanging Christmas stocking" collage card by Cards by Colette

Wooden tree shaped Christmas lamp by By Lamp

"The Christmas Story and The Dear Old Tree" 1927 antique illustrations at Petit Poulailler

Oldies but Goodies - Topaz again

At the Jewelry Artisans Community Oldies but Goodies Challenge we have been showing you topaz as the birthstone for November before.
I still can't get over the fact that there are topaz crystals that weigh kilos. Why exactly don't I have some of those?
They would make nice pendants ... ;-)

The entries for this week don't weigh kilos. Again. And again I don't have topaz for you, but topaz colors. I hope you'll love my little selection, anyway.

1 Cat's Wire
2 Jewelry Art by Dawn
3 RioRita
4 MC Stoneworks

Zibbet finds of the week - The Color Red

It's raining outside and it's hard to tell it's actually morning because it's so dark in here. As I said before, I don't mind the rain or darkness myself. I have a big black furry head on my left wrist and hand that keeps purring away, apart from that it is quiet, all I hear is a car splashing through the rain outside.
I know people, however, who hate this side of the season, and for those I want to brighten up the day and give it some color - red.
So here's a selection of items that I found on Zibbet and which show you the amazing palette of autumn reds.

Autumn fox wedding cake topper by Anna Clay Creations

Early Victorian garnet locket brooch at Clan Kelly Designs

Burgundy slouchy crochet hat by Vikni Designs

Autumn red wood and metal wall sculpture by Diva Art69 Studios

Burgundy embroidered autumn beret by Zora Art

Large custom red leaves tree acrylic painting by Nathalie Van

Boho red wool coat by classydress

Copper cage necklace by Cat's Wire

Oldies but Goodies - Timeless

This week the topic for the Jewelry Artisans Community Oldies but Goodies Challenge was "timeless".
What kind of jewelry is timeless to you? Are there any stones, metals or other materials that never seem to go out of style? Designs, patterns, combinations?

My first thought are always pearls - a single knotted strand of beautiful pearls. Such a classic design, and even if some may think such necklaces to be the style of grandmothers, you will always see them. They go well with a more conversative look like a costume, they spruce up the famous little black dress, but they will look just as beautiful with a shirt and jeans, maybe in a smaller size.

Another possibility are diamonds. I'm not going to start the discussion about how diamonds were only pushed by the industry with the notion that an engagement ring should cost three months salary, I find that just as ridiculous. I also often hear friends of mine say that they don't like diamonds at all. So I'm outing myself here now. I do like them, but I like the look of a classic ruby, aquamarine or amethyst solitaire as well, too. I have chosen very different - also in price - stones on purpose, and that is not the complete list, either.

There is so much more, though. Eternity rings are timeless, many chain designs are timeless, hoop earrings are timeless, necklaces from round stone beads - graduated or not - of all kinds are timeless, and I could go on and on.
Beading, wire or metalsmithing techniques have been around forever (almost ;-)), and many designs are so old, it's incredible.

Here are some challenge pieces now that we JAC members think are timeless.

1 Jewelry Art by Dawn
2 Bijou Bead Boutique
3 RioRita
4 Cat's Wire

Zibbet finds of the week - The color of gold

After showing you fall leaves last week, I will celebrate the season by highlighting its colors throughout November.
For today I chose the color of gold.

I have always said that I'm a silver tone girl myself, and it's true I hardly own any yellow gold jewelry, but I really enjoyed my "gold digging" trip on Zibbet. Obviously all that glitters is not gold, but it doesn't always have to be the real thing, just look at the beauties I dug up, all of them so different!

"We tried but we didn't belong" golden scene art photography print by Shashamane Dream Photos

Art photograph metal print of a golden dragonfly by Steider Studios

Gift card "Kiyv Golden Gate" by Colibri Gift

Golden yellow linen purse by Jenny Karlsson Design

Dragonfly and golden ferns photography by The Butler's Creations

Antique embossed scrap of Victorian Lady at Sandy Creek Collectables

"Bee kind" vegan hair and bath care products by HP Soapcraft

Oldies but Goodies - Earrings, earrings, earrings!

Guess what our topic for the Jewelry Artisans Community Oldies but Goodies Challenge was this week ;-) You got it, earrings!
I know, it's not the first time that I've shown you earrings from the Oldies but Goodies, but earrings have always been a big favorite with humans and that hasn't changed one bit. I said humans because earrings have never been just for women even if there were times when men were looked at somewhat suspiciously by some people if they wore earrings.
Who thought of taking something sharp and run it through an earlobe to hang something on it? No idea, but at least that method has changed a little. Maybe I am just a wimp, though. The thought of a needle and a potato doesn't make me happy, I probably still wouldn't have pierced ears if that had been the only option!

And here's my collage for this challenge now, beautiful earrings crafted by my fellow JAC members.

1 Bijou Bead Boutique
2 Ganison Atelier
3 MC Stoneworks
4 Cat's Wire
5 The Crafty Chimp
6 RioRita
7 Jewelry Art by Dawn

Zibbet finds of the week - Autumn leaves

November has come. When I look out of the back window with Ponder, it's easy for me to point out the birds in the pear tree to him because it has already lost allmost all of its leaves. The sky is grey and cloudy today and the street is so quiet.
I love autumn, therefore I thought that for today's post I'd have a look at items that show the beauty of it. What is probably the first thing people think of in autumn? The beautiful colors in the leaves.
I picked up some beautiful leaves for you on my stroll through Zibbet and hope you will love them as much as I do.

Table runner Fall Leaves by Patchwork Mountain

Copper oak leaf ornament by Wirestorm Creations

Amber autumn crown by Thyme2dream

Autumn leaves banner by Enchanted Craft

Eco friendly leaf earrings by Honey's Quilling

Tape measure autumn leaves by All About The Buttons

Bead loomed fall leaves earrings by Cat's Wire

Zibbet finds of the week - Pumpkins, ghosts and more

Only three more days until Hallowe'en! That means this is my last countdown post. Since I started late, I couldn't cover much yet, so this will be a great mix of fun Hallowe'en items that I found on my way through Zibbet!
Can't do without pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons and black cats, can we?

Do you like to have skeletons dancing or are you a talented pumpkin carver? Why don't you tell me which your favorite decorations are?
Happy Hallowe'en! :-)

The Intruder greeting cards by Elinor Sethman

Skeleton Jack Pumpkin box by Just Believe Creations

Calling Them print by 3 Cats Jewelry and Art

Boo Bones Halloween card by Torn Paper

Halloween Boo ghost doily by Stitches of Creation

Black scary Halloween cat pendant by Cat's Wire

Oldies but Goodies - Harvest

What do you connect with harvest?
One of the things that comes to my mind comes from church when I was still a child. Around the altar there was this huge display of fruit, vegetables and grains, beautifully arranged, in beautiful colors and so rich looking.
I see long ladders leaning against apple trees and tractors on fields of wheat (don't ask me why it's always wheat to me). I am feeling the first chill in the air. I see people picking the grapes on the small vineyards along my train route.

Today I have quite a small selection from the Jewelry Artisans Community Oldies but Goodies Challenge for you, but if it doesn't put you in a harvest mood, I don't know what does! :-D

1 RioRita
2 MC Stoneworks
3 Jewelry Art by Dawn
4 Cat's Wire

Zibbet finds of the week - Bats

Welcome back to my Hallowe'en countdown!
Today I'll introduce you to some bats on Zibbet. I love bats. The only bat I didn't love was the one I had to make from screws, nuts, bolts, and nails when I was in 5th or 6th grade. We had to glue those onto black cardstock. Yes, there's the bad word. Glue. No wonder mine sucked. It's amazing I'm doing anything creative at all because art class wasn't exactly encouraging to me throughout all of my school years ;-)

The following bats, however, do not suck at all.
Believe it or not, I only just noticed that this could be understood as a joke regarding vampires, but it's really not although none of these do look like vampires to me.
I wish we had more of these fascinating animals around my neighborhood. Years ago I kept seeing a few, but after a few weeks they had gone. Maybe they had just visited from the nearby woods.

These bats would gladly come to live with you.
I hope you'll enjoy my selection.

Flying fox painting by Chris Wrinn Fine Art

Bat print bow tie for cats or dogs by Sebby's Corner

The Night Fairy 1985 Amelia Jane Murray vintage lithograph at Le Petit Poulailler

Itty Bitty Bat lacework hair grip by Angels Cave

Bats and moon patchwork kitchen towel by Sewlicitations

I love bats bead loomed pendant by Cat's Wire

Oldies but Goodies - Non-white pearls

When did you last have a dinner Cleopatra style? I'm not talking about nightingale tongues or whatever extravagant meals we think were served there. I'm talking big money.
You remember the story? According to Pliny the Elder Cleopatra bets Mark Antony she could serve the most expensive single meal - 10,000,000 sesterces worth. Mark Antony can't imagine that that is possible, but Cleopatra just drops one of her enormous pearls in a glass of vinegar and drinks it.
Do pearls dissolve in vinegar? Obviously they do, scientists, pearl dealers and ordinary people have tried it out in various combinations. They don't do it quickly, though. I'll leave it to you if you want to believe the story of the Queen's extravagancy, look up articles or videos about it or even try it yourself.
The first time I read about this was in a Scrooge McDuck story. Scrooge put 1,000 pearls into 1,000 cans of pickles for a giveaway to raise interest in his pickles, those cans never made into the stores, though. When he opened them up to get his pearls back out, they had all gone, a just punishment for trying such a dirty trick.

That's not the only story about Scrooge and pearls. I remember his search for rare black pearls, for example. This is a nice bridge to this week's Jewelry Artisans Community Oldies but Goodies Challenge which is all about pearls that are not white.
Although there are natural pearls that aren't white, most of the colored pearls are dyed or glass pearls in the first place, and there are huge differences in luster and quality.

Here's a selection of jewelry with pearls from our JAC artisans. Be prepared for color!

1 Ganison Atelier
2 RioRita
3 Bijou Bead Boutique
4 CymberRain
5 MC Stoneworks
6 Cat's Wire
7 Jewelry Art by Dawn
8 The Crafty Chimp

Zibbet finds of the week - Witches

Yes, it's true. It has been more than three years since I last posted the Zibbet finds of the week, but I thought it would be fun to bring them back on Mondays.
What better way to start with than some posts leading up to Hallowe'en? I still wish it were a big thing here in my town, with dressing up and all that. I don't live in the countryside where turnip ghosts (instead of pumpkins) are still a tradition in some places, and actually it's not a tradition I ever got to participate in myself. I don't know if they did it here in town before I was born, but I can't remember ever seeing any.

Let's start this Hallowe'en countdown with some witches and their gear that I found on Zibbet. Ready? Then grab your broomstick and fly!

"Witch" etched fonts cuff by Feathered Gems

Beaded witch boot earrings by Chickamoo

Mother Goose songs and stories antique lithograph at Petit Poulailler

Little calico witch by Kilkenny Cat Art

Silver witch on a broomstick ring by Zahour

Halloween sign by Sleepy Hollow Prims

Flying witch and cat on a broomstick pendant by Cat's Wire