A fun time was had by all......

Last night was the Christmas party at my favorite bead store, Tampa Bead Cafe, where I like to shop.  The food was delicious and the gift exchange was really fun.  It was one of those gift exchanges where you could "steal" away someone elses gift if you liked it instead of choosing an unopened gift.  Luckily, I had a high number so I was able to see what most of the opened gifts were before my turn came around. I confess, I did "steal" a gift but it was all in fun.  The pair of Santa Dangle Earrings that I brought were the first gift opened and they were stolen away. Next Tuesday (December 22) they will be having a Bead Exchange all day. We get to bring in any beads that we might have to barter with someone who has beads we like better. It sounds like it will be a fun time, too.

Featured in the Beader's Showcase the week of November 23....

Sooooo.....I finally logged into my Beader's Showcase and saw that I had an email saying that I was being featured in the "This Week's Showcase" during the week of November 23. I totally missed it but it was an honor none the less....LOL. There are so many sites to visit!
This was the bracelet , Summer Flowers Fringe, that was featured. Lots of hours in this piece!

The Elves are working on the Christmas Jewelry.......

I wish I had "Elves" to help me for Christmas. While I love to create the jewelry, it's the picture taking, description writing, and posting that I don't really enjoy. It's just all so labor intensive. Ugh! I'll stop whining now...LOL.
I'm working on posting the last of the Christmas designs in my Etsy.com store and my Cherry Chick website.

Christmas Jewelry Designs

Make a Smilebox photobook

Heather's Penguin & Reindeer

Heather at Dragonfly Lampworks sent me the cutest Penguin and Reindeer this week.  This is the Holiday bracelet that I designed with her cute beads. Tons of glass lampwork beads in this one along with Swarovski crystals. I have it posted for sale on http://www.cherrychick.biz/ if you find that you can't live without it. Sold

The Trunk show was wonderful.......

Thank you so very much to Brenda, Shirley and Mary for putting together the wonder Trunk show this afternoon. Brenda was a gracious host and made everyone feel welcomed. This was my first year for holiday designs and they were well received. Lots of custom orders to put together now. Here are a few pieces that are available.

Art in the Park.......

It was a beautiful day at Highlander Park in Dunedin today. My friend, Paddy, and I went to the Art Harvest Show.  It's put on by the Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin. Held the first weekend in November, it usually draws a crowd of 50,000 people. It was a nice day to take a walk and enjoy the creative sites.

Christmas Jewelry for my Trunk Show on Sunday

I've finally taken pictures of some of my new Christmas Jewelry. I designed this "Christmas Lights" Necklace for my friend Kathy. She told me that she had been wearing a string of plastic Christmas gift wrap bulbs as a necklace. I knew right then that she deserved something much nicer with glass lampwork beads. So this is what I came up with for her. I think it turned out very cute thanks to Heather from Dragonflylampworks. She made me the most perfect Christmas Lights in assorted colors.

Some cool weather and Lunch on Limoges

Finally some cool weather came our way in Florida. It made for the perfect day for my friend, Paddy, and I to take a trip Saturday up to a little town called Dade City. Charming little town with antique stores and the fabulous Lunch on Limoges.  They always have the best flavored ice tea, little muffins, and wonderful food.  You must stop there for lunch if you are ever in the town.

Christmas Lampwork Beaded Jewelry

The first selection of Christmas lampwork beads arrived this week so I've been busy designing for my up coming Trunk Show in November.  Heather has out done herself with the cutest beads I've seen anywhere. I created the Holly Berry necklace with tiny silver stars that I can fit little Swarovski crystals inside to give them that extra sparkle. The Santa Snowballs (lol) bracelet has some magical, crystal looking "snowball" glass beads to make it look extra "cool" on your wrist. The Snowman is tangled up in Christmas lights that wraps around the artisan crafted lampwork bead to the back of his head.  I made a Christmas Tree pendant with a silver star on top so that anyone can slip it on to their favorite silver chain to wear. The last creation is the pair of Peppermint Candy earrings that look like they are wrapped in cellophane.

Cherry Dot Lampwork Beaded Bracelet

Here's the newest creation for us Cherry lovers.  I have it for sale in my Etsy.com store It measure 8 inches from end to end. I've used black onyx beads, Swarovksi crystals beads, and artsian crafted glass lampwork beads to design this one of a kind bracelet. Remember you can click on the image to enlarge it.

Ta Da!!! Cherries Jubilee Necklace

"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!! I'm linking up with, Chari, at "Happy To Design" who is so kindly hosting this meme. Please click over and to see all the Sunday Favorites from many of my fellow bloggers. Happy Sunday!

This is what I designed with some of the darling "Cherry Blossom" beads. It is for sale at my Etsy.com store. There are red polka dots on the back of the Cherry Lentil shaped beads. The necklace measures 17" so it will fit up close on your neck. Click the image for a close up view.

                             

Cherry Blossoms Have Arrived!!

Yes...Cherry Blossoms in October...thanks to Heather at Dragonfly Lampworks. They arrived in the mail today. I squealed with delight when I opened the box. They are just too cute for words. Now I get to be creative...what shall I make??
Heather has an October "giveaway" on her blog until Friday Oct. 9th. Click on the title above to link over to her blogspot. Very cute candy corn pendant piece.

High Tea at Maggie's Tea Room

My friend, Paddy, and I took a drive up to New Tampa this afternoon. We went to have lunch at "Maggie's Tea Room". I had met, Jackie, one of the owners recently at a networking group I belong to. Paddy and I had planned on lunch together today so I suggested Jackie's place. It was delightful, the place was too cute, and everyone was very warm and welcoming. We both had the "High Tea" including cute little cucumber sandwiches. It's a charming place and we both had a really nice time.
We're still trying to make it up to Lunch on Limoge in Dade City. Perhaps, next week.

Free Smilebox this weekend from Smilebox.com...

So Hallmark is offering a free "pet" Smilebox this Labor Day weekend...I put together a few pics of my 'babies' to share.

Don't you just Love T.J.Maxx????

On Tuesday I found these really inexpensive ($3.00 on sale) displays at T.J.Maxx. I bought two, brought them home, and put Cherries and black/white gingham ribbon on them. How cute of a display are they??!! I've been busy working on new designs this week, picked up a few things Friday at the "Down the Street Bead Show" going on here in Tampa, and now I just need the time to photograph, price, and put all of the new stuff up on my website. There's never enough hours in the day.

Missy makes it hard to work.......

"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!!

Please join Chari and all of the other wonderful ladies who are sharing from their Sunday Favorites by follow this link

Missy has decided that she wants to be my "helper" this afternoon. She's making it kind of hard to get any jewelry designing done. Nothing like a Fat Cat to make you stop and smile.

We chatted with Mary!

My friend Christina and I went over to Orlando to the Craft & Hobby Association show on Saturday. We saw Mary Englebreit's slideshow presentation, she autographed some items for us, we chatted with Mary, and we took pictures. We were very happy "Cherry Chicks" when we left.

After the CHA show we went over to the beautiful Peabody Hotel and had some lunch at the B-Line Diner. Cool place, awesome food, and lovely wait staff.

And THEN.....we had Dessert! So yummy!

New Website is up and running.....

Well.....my new website is up and running as of 7/31/09. I've moved all of the Cherry themed jewelry over to www.CherryChickJewelry.com. I'll be adding new items to it and doing some housecleaning at www.CherryChick.biz , too. I created a profile for Cherry Chick Jewelry on LinkedIn this week. Cherry Chick is, also, on Facebook now. Pop on over and become a fan.

Sunday's Trunk Show....

The Trunk Show for Cherry Chick Jewelry was an awesome success on Sunday. Many thanks to Ms. Kathy for hosting the party, inviting all of her wonderful women friends, and for helping me to be successful. The women were all so very nice and I am most grateful for their encourgaing & flattering comments.
I can't believe that I didn't take any pictures of the display table! I even had my camera with me. We're hoping to have another show in October just in time for shopping for the Holidays.
The Gingko Leaf necklace above is Ms. Kathy's "early" birthday present.
Many thanks to all of the wonderful women who came and promised to spread the word about my designs.

New Designs at Artfire.com

As planned the 4th was pretty low key...busy working on designs for the Trunk Show at Kathy's next Sunday. I've just posted these "Queen of Cherries" earrings on my artfire.com website location.

Crystal Cherry Necklace, Too

Having sold the original Crystal Cherry necklace, I now have "too" available for $100.oo. I shortened it up a little this time. It measures 19 inches long from end to end. The Cherry pendants measure 2 inches each and the Swarovski crystals are 10 mm in size. I get lots of "oooh and ahhs" on this piece. Well, it looks like "too" has sold as well. I'm waiting on more cherries to "grow" so I'll let you know when "three" is available.

New Teal Bubbles Necklace

Even though I been sick in bed for a week now with a nasty cold I finally managed to get photographs taken of my latest creations. This Spiral stitch necklace being one of my projects.
Lots more new stuff on my website at www.CherryChick.biz to check out.

Memorial Day weekend trip.....

"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!! Today I am joining Chari and all the other bloggers with a look back at a wonderful and unforgettable trip that I took in 2009. Many happy memories from that adventure and lots of lovely photographs to remind me. Life is good.

Princeton Pansies

Niagara Falls view from the Maid of the Mist

Smilebox of pictures from MacKenzie-Childs in Aurora, NY <------Click there
I'm back from my trip up to New Jersey and New York with the BF. We had a wonderful time. We went to Princeton, NJ on Friday, then we headed up to Auburn, NY where we made "base camp" on Friday evening. Saturday morning we headed to Niagara Falls, NY (so cool!) and Sunday we went to Aurora in the finger Lakes of NY to visit Mackenzie-Childs operations. What a beautiful farmhouse they have decorated with all of the MC furnishings. If only I was wealthy!

Monday we went back to Newark and just chilled for the day. Time just went by too fast but it was all wonderful. Thank you, Bee! <3

Crystal Cherry Necklace

I just finished creating this Crystal Beaded Cherry Necklace. I've received lots of compliments on it. I'll post it for sale in my Etsy shop. It measures 19 inches long. I used 1/2 inch Swarovski Crystal beads to string the Glass Cherry pendants on. The pendants are about 2 inches long each. Click on the Title above to link to my Etsy shop.

Pickford's Sundries Lives On.......

My friend Paddy and I went this afternoon to have lunch at the remodeled Pickford's Sundries that is now the Cafe & Bakery on Hillsborough Avenue. Having lived here in Tampa for many years, I have always thought this was a really cute little pink building that somebody should make into something. Well finally, it has been restored and it's the cutest little cafe & bakery now.
I had a delicious Roast Beef sandwich and a Cherry Coke. Paddy said her BLT was great, too. The sandwiches were so filling that we didn't have room for any of the yummy lookng dessert but we will make another trip there just to have dessert. Their breakfast menu looked awesome, too. The blog title above will link you to their website. They're open Tuesday-Saturday.


After lunch we ventured down to the new IKEA store that opened last week in Ybor City. It's my first trip to an IKEA store. Pretty cool stuff. I'd love a red kitchen like the one pictured above. I'd love a craft room designed with all of their cool storage units. It's a huge place and we did plenty of walking. The temperature was a little warm for our taste but it's a cool place.

Key West April 2009 Smilebox Scrapbook

Please join us all at Happy to Design to see our Sunday Favorites. We share our favorite post from the past.

I am a Winner!!!!

Yes....I'm a winner of a $100 Publix supermarket gift card. Cool! I participated in the POST Return to School Sweepstakes and I'm a winner of a gift card it seems. It came in the mail this afternoon. Awesome! That's the 3rd thing I have won this year so far. :-)

April Adventures with the BF....

The BF came home last Friday and we took a roundabout trip to Key West. First we zipped over to Orlando with the thought of checking out Epcot but it was late in the afternoon before we got there and $75 a pop for tickets is just more than we want to spend. We did pay $12 to park and then took the monorail ride around for a few minutes.

We left there and started the long drive down the costly Florida Turnpike to Miami. We spent the night in a lovely room at the Ramada Inn in Florida City. It's right at the beginning of US 1 that takes you down the Keys.
We headed out early Saturday Morning for the 3 hour drive to Key West where we had a reservation at the lovely Ambrosia Bed & Breakfast (title above links to their website). A wonderful and relaxing place. Ben could not have been nicer. We stayed in the Havana Cabana room. It has a very large jacuzzi bathtub that was just wonderful after our long drive and long day of walking Duval Street.

I'm working on a smilebox slide show with all of our pictures and I'll hopefully have that up soon.
It was such a special trip with my sweet & wonderful BF....Love you Bee ;-)

Tampa Downtown Market

My neighbor Paddy and I ventured to downtown Tampa to check out the Tampa Downtown Farmer's Market. It was a beautiful day, we found an excellent parking spot close by, and we had a really nice time checking out the vendors.
We could not find the actual "Dancing Goat" but the Dancing Goat lady was there selling her handmade soaps. Paddy bought some delicious Focaccia bread and shared half of the loaf with me. I had some this afternoon with some olive oil, salt & pepper. It was very good. I bought some smokey Paprika that I hope to use soon from a women selling spices . I always see Rachel Ray cooking with it on her show. I, also, picked up some fresh green beans and a couple of limes from the produce vendor.
After the market we went over to Channelside for a bite of lunch since Paddy had never been to Channelside. I gave her the short tour and she very kindly treated me to lunch at Thai Thani. It was very good and had just the right amount of spice for my tast buds.

After lunch we did a quick driving tour around Ybor City, then a drive down Central Avenue so that I could show her the beautiful old Hillsborough High School, and then it was back home.
If you have the chance go downtown to check out the Market before they close in May. They're opening from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm each Friday. Click on the Market photo above to link to their website.
Friday evening I went over to Clearwater to join my friends Kathy& Larry. We went to Safety Harbor to participate in the Third Friday Festival.
http://www.cityofsafetyharbor.com/index.asp?nid=317
More beautiful Florida Spring weather. It was a fun evening spending time with old friends, enjoying Lobster Bisque from a vendor, seeing how much attention little Marcel, their dog, got and enjoying some nice wine back at their lovely home. I slept very well last night.:-)