Under the Tuscan Sun

My lovely friend Christine Altmiller created me a beautiful necklace.  I am completely in awe of Christine's talent this detail and intricacy that it took to create this piece left me flabbergasted.  Christine has been such a dear friend to me we have shared many things and one of the best parts is we celebrate our birthdays on the same day.  Christine is such a down to earth, honest, warm, kind, compassionate, eclectic music lover, and fabulous jewelry designer.  I feel so honored to have become her friend as well as own a beautiful piece of jewelry that she created with her own hands.

Christine didn't name the piece that she sent me, so I hope she doesn't mind that I gave it a name myself because this necklace really does conjure up wonderful images of Tuscany for me.  My ultimate dream vacation would be to travel to Italy, so little did Christine know she helped bring those lovely images to my mind.

I hope everyone is having a lovely day! 

Much love,
Penny

Some New Year Wisdom

Written by a 90 year old

This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!! Make sure you read to the end!!!!!!

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 42 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it..

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

11. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

12. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it...

14 Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

15. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

16. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

17. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

19. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

20. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

21. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

22. The most important sex organ is the brain.

23. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

25. Always choose life.

26. Forgive but don’t forget.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does..

31. Believe in miracles.

32. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

33. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

34. Your children get only one childhood.

35. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

36. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

37. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

38. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

39. The best is yet to come...

40. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

41. Yield.

42. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Its estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title '7%'.

I'm in the 7%. Friends are the family that we choose

It has been so long since I posted anything on my blog I was wondering if you all thought I feel off the face of the earth!  I have read this post before but I love some of the advice this wonderful lady gives and how can someone who has lived 90 years not have some wonderful wisdom to bestow on us younger generation.  Some of my favorites are 19, 27, 28, 29 and 35!  I love them all but these ones resonant with me.

What are your favorite's!  Please share and if you any any other wisdom that you can share with me please do, I am always looking for new ways to inspire myself and for spiritual healing.

Have a wonderful day!

Much love,
Penny

3rd Annual Challenge of Color Blog Hop!!

So excited for today, it is the reveal for the 3rd Annual Challenge of Color Blog Hop, hosted by Erin of Treasures Found and Brandi of Brandi Girl Blog.  I haven't participated in this hop before and I was very excited, because Erin is always trying to stretch herself and us creatively and help us expand our horizons.   All of the participants were given two palettes, with the colors so beautifully pulled together by Brandi!  I loved both of my palettes when I received them, and in honor of challenging myself I chose to use both and create something from each.  I am a lover of color but I have realized that I definitely stick to certain colors when I design, mostly earthy colors, but brown, blue, green and orange. 

The pictures that were used to create the palettes were from the Earth As Art exhibit from the United States Geological Service taken from the Landsat 7 satellite.  They are phenomenal, I have only seen what Erin has posted and my own so I am very excited to see the others and look for some further inspiration.

My first palette was the Atlas Mountains, aren't the colors so beautiful and who would have thought that Chartreuse, Navy and plum would look so lovely.

The piece that I created for this was actually something that I designed previously that was sitting in my jewelry box because I wasn't completely satisfied.  The focal is a lampwork bead that my mom purchased for me while visiting the Maritime's a few years ago. The finished product turned out very light and airy!

My second palette was a bit more challenging for me because I really wanted to try and incorporate all of the colors in my design, and I wanted an eclectic feel for my piece.  The inspiration for this piece actually came from a Silpada catalog that I was looking through and found a necklace that I thought captured what I wanted to achieve.

I love red, it isn't a color that I wear often or use when designing but I love the rich vibrancy of red!  It always looks stunning when paired with blue tones. The Colima Volcano had me dancing with glee.

 Thank you to Erin and Brandi for putting this wonderful blog hop together, I can't wait to start hopping.  


Please check out the other participates and what they created on the 3rd Annual Challenge of Color Blog Hop!

Erin Prais-Hintz    http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Rebecca Anderson    http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Kris Auderer    http://strandedinthecity.wordpress.com
Chrizette Bayman    http://beadsoupmix.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud    http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Courtney Breul    http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com/
Lynsey Brooks    http://yellowunicorncreations.blogspot.co.uk
Stephanie Buss    http://maxandlucie.blogspot.com
Iveth Caruso    http://www.creativeatelier.net/
Shannon Chomanczuk    http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com
Lisa Cone    http://inspiredadornments.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier    http://thebeadingyogini.com
Lori Dorrington    http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com
Dawn Doucette    http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com
Jeannie Dukic    http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/
Kim Dworak    http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/
Beth Emery    http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com
Janice Everett    http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com
Pam Farren    http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Donetta Farrington    http://simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com
Gloria Ferrer    http://judetaama.blogspot.com.es/
Cherrie Fick    http://designsinthelight.co
Therese Frank    http://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Patty Gasparino    http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com
Tanya Goodwin    http://pixiloo.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Ambra Gostoli    http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/3rd-challenge-of-color
Jess Green    http://tabbiekoshka.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle Hagerman    http://somebeadsandotherthings.com
Mary Harding    www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Karla Hartzog    http://www.karlakrafts.com
Kim Hora    http://www.kimmykats.com
Brandi Hussey    http://brandigirlblog.com
Emanda Johnson    http://ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com
Jennifer Justman    http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/
Sue Kennedy    http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Ema Kilroy    http://emakaye.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman    http://Stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Linda Landig    http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com
Kirsi Luostarinen    http://kirsiluokorut.blogspot.com
Cynthia Machata    http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache    http://www.allprettythings.ca
Beth McCord    http://www.ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com
Mary K McGraw    http://mkaymac.blogspot.com/
Karen Mitchell    http://www.overthemoon-design.com
Cheri Mitchell-Reed    http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Aimee Moisa    http://threecatsdancing.blogspot.com
Karla Morgan    http://www.texaspepperjams.blogspot.com
Penny Neville    http://copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake    http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Kashmira Patel    http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Alice Peterson    http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
Kayla Potega    http://www.teejewelry.blogspot.com
Debbie Price    http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk
Bobbie Rafferty    http://beadsong.blogspot.com
Caron Reid    http://caronmichelle.blogspot.com.au/
Nicole Rennell    http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Cynthia Riggs    http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Andrea Ross    http://silvermapledesigns.blogspot.com/
Sally Russick    http://thestudiosublime.com
Annie Scherz    http://www.studioluma.ca
Pam Sears    http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano    http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Sandra Stein    http://sannipanni.wordpress.com
Kristen Stevens    http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman    http://www.tracystillmandesigns.com (had to bow out due to a wrist injury)
Sherri Stokey    http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/2012/11/challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Lola Survillo    http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Kay Thomerson    http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Jo Tinley    http://daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com
Emma Todd    http://www.apolymerpenchant.com
Cory Tompkins    http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Pam Traub    http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Melissa Trudinger    http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Michelle Tucker    http://michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com/
Shelley Graham Turner    http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart    http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/
Rachel Van-Walsk    http://balancedcrafts.com/blog
Patti Vanderbloemen    http://www.myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com
Lesley Watt    http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Lynn White    http://lynnwhitejewelry.com/Lynn_White_Jewelry/Lynns_Jewelry_Blog/Lynns_Jewelry_Blog.html
Joan Williams    http://www.lilrubyjewelry.com

Happy Friday!

Much love,
Penny

Michael's Toast of the Town Blog Hop!

Today is the day for the reveal for the Toast of the Town necklace that Erin Prais-Hintz, Tresori-Trovati, Treasures Found Blog!  Erin is a true inspiration and such a kind and encouraging soul!  I am always inspired by her blog posts, she is a very thoughtful writer and encourages you to reach for the stars!  When I first seen Erin's necklace Toast of the Town, I feel in love, it is beautiful and it combines layers, one of my favorite things.  It is stunning to look at and I believe perfect for the holiday season.  With the announcement of a blog hop, and for us fellow bloggers/designers to try our hand and making one too, I couldn't resist.  I actually made two necklaces, one with a more earthly feel using some of the same components that Erin used in her Toast of the Town necklace and my second necklace is in gun metal, silver and glass.

Everything but the toggle from the earth tone necklace came from Michael's.  I had a good time picking out my beads for these two pieces and I was really lucky to take advantage of there great sale and coupons.  Thank you Michael's.

I would like to try another variation of this necklace using chain and beads I think that is would look really cool.

Check out the other participants,

Michaels Toast of the Town Variations Blog Hop

Tanya - A Work In Progress

Lee - Strega Jewellery

Elisabeth - Beads for Busy Gals
Molly - Crafting A Life in Indiana

Pam - Re-Maker

Beth - EB Bead & Metal Works

Emma - A Polymer Penchant

Michelada - Micheladas Musings

Penny - Copper Penny Designs

Kay - Kayz Kreationz  (Note: Kay had to go out of town. Do check back for her reveal!)

Mallory - For the Love of Beads

 

Thank you very much for your wonderful inspiration Erin and for hosting this blog hop!

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Much love,

Penny