Blog

It occurred to me this weekend that my notion of "going to the beach" may not be the same as yours...

While I have spent time on tropical, sandy beaches, I am not really a sit-on-the-beach-and-tan kind of person.  While I adore the soothing aspect of being on the beach, I am much more active on it.  I prefer to walk and beach comb and take in sound of the waves, the smell of salt.  I might swim, depending on the location and temperature of the sea.  I get bored if I am just sitting there.  

If I am going to sit, then I prefer a porch on a cottage or a big ol' beach chair, maybe with arms wide enough that I can write on or comfy enough to curl up with a book.  

What's your favourite way to experience the beach?  

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Someone made this awesome driftwood swing at the bead. 

Swinging is one of those activities that can transport you to another time and place.  Perhaps a carefree moment of childhood.  Or in my case, our summer lake cabin.  Makes me smile and relax all at the same time. 

I thought my Martinique necklace was a perfect match for this swing.  You can let it transport you away...

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Did you know that darkness is one of the components that enable you to get a good night's sleep? 

Sometimes, it can be hard to get that total darkness.  There are lights on all appliances these days.  Where I live, sundown isn't until after 9pm, which means it's light out after I got to bed during the work week.  If you live in the city, you could have street or other lights shining in your window.  

I had heard about black out blinds and even rigged up some blankets to make my bedroom dark.  Then I found this mask!  It's silk and breathable and soft on my face. I am sleeping much better now - and that means I can dream up new creations just for you! 

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I talk about how I draw my inspiration from the ocean flora and fauna.  But it's not just what's in the water, it's also what the water casts ashore.  And what the ocean alters.

Like driftwood. Driftwood is pummelled, soaked and tumbled by the ocean and at the same time smoothed and transformed.  Weathered into revealing it's beauty. 

Gathering driftwood gives me a touch stone to the creative ideas that have been tumbling around in my brain for awhile.  Can't wait to see what they turn into.  

I am working on a few new pieces for release later this month.  If you want to be first to shop them, get on my email list!  Enter your email in the space provided below.  

Do you mask up?  I recently received an order of locally made masks from Evercoast Handmade and have begun wearing them in stores and on the bus.

Here, we created bubbles around us and now I feel some days that "my" space is being encroached upon.  So I choose to mask up when I am in situations where the bubble cannot be maintained because you just don't know with this virus. 

But, I do still wear my earrings and I take the mask on and off.  How do you do that with earrings?  Here's how:

Now you can earring up too!

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Canada Day has me thinking about, well, Canada. {Funny how that works} Canada is bound on 3 sides by the sea. Only 2 of our provinces do not touch ocean at all.    

I have lived only in BC and have visited several provinces.  But it's the islands that draw me.  I live now on Vancouver Island in a place where I can see the ocean everyday.  It is the place I have lived the longest.  

Prince Edward Island, on the opposite coast, is in some ways a world away.  It is, however, where my grandmother's family is from and I have a connection with the place.  I visited there in 2004, saw where my grandmother grew up and dipped my toes in the Atlantic Ocean.  

Thus, on Canada Day, I realize my connection to the country of my birth and reflect on how that has seeped into my being. 

I.AM.CANADIAN

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The last few weeks have felt heavy.  Luckily, I have had a few days off this week to recharge.  

It's always important to see and enjoy the simple things around you.  

And a visit to the beach, where ever that beach may be, is one way I get grounded to the simple things.  

How do you enjoy the simple things?  

PS:  The Maderia earrings and Petite Madeleine necklace are available in my shop.

PS #2:  Beautiful card made by Deb Designs

Last week, I introduced my grande coral reef bead and some new designs with a single bead. 

You can see I have been playing with my beads again; now I have designs with two grande beads.  

You can see the grande vs the large bead; the grande is indeed an inch larger!  These necklaces will definitely make a statement.  

I am aiming to release these new designs by the end of July.  If YOU want to be first in line when they come out, do sign up with your email below.  

I am working on some new things.  

These grande beads are 3 inches long (an inch longer than my large beads). I have been playing with single grande bead designs - as a bar necklace.

And as a large and long drop necklace.  

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I was tidying up this weekend and came upon my poor succulent plant pot.  

It's a lovely little pot and I had to decorate it up a bit, considering I killed off the succulents that were the previous inhabitants.  

I kinda like the beads, shells and glass as decoration.  

But I think it's time to get some more succulents and return the pot to it's rightful existence.  

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Last month I mentioned that I went to Norway as exchange student.  I was 17 years old and it was quite an adventure.  

In Norway, Midsummer's Eve is a big deal - it doesn't get dark and there are bonfires all over.  The week that I traveled to the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway for Midsummer's Eve celebrations, I was treated to a phenomenon that I have not seen before - the midnight sun!  

I took these pictures at 11 pm (from a boat).  It was so weird for the sun to be up in the middle of the night and I could see how your body clock would be a bit screwed up.  

As for bronze jewelry going with the midnight sun?  Well I will let you be the judge of that.  

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I have been highlighting the hot tropical colours from a Bali Batik - reds and greens and gold.  

But I have also found a couple more tropical colour palettes. First up, some oranges, pinks and yellows.  

Then some sea greens and blues, with pops of accent colours.  It all depends on your definition of tropical!  

Best of all, my Cayo Coco necklace goes with ALL the tropical colours!  

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