12 Days of Valentines Day: Day 3: Sentimental Jewelry

12 Days of Valentine’s Day. Day 3 Go to your jewelry box and pull out some sentimental jewelry and wear it. You’ll think of that person all day. This roadrunner pin was a gift from my Great Aunt Wezie. She lived in Arizona near her only sister, my grandmother Anne. She bought this and sent it to me, wanting me to have something distinct from the area where they  lived.  #womeninmyfamily #beautyofeverydaylife #12daysofvalentinesday #valentinesday #day3

Living Necklace: Accessorizing with Air Plants

Have you ever seen a living necklace? I was a fan from the moment I saw it. Of course, it will require a gentle life and a little TLC, but it is a really great conversation piece. This beautiful air plant (Tillandsia) is glued into this simple vessel which hangs on a chic leather cord. Once a week you should soak the plant in lukewarm water (read more about caring for Tillandsia here).

This necklace by LiveTrends was a gift to invite garden writers to attend the Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE), a trade show for foliage and tropical plants, which is a  held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on January 16-18, 2019. Wouldn't I love that!

Garden writers and communicators from around the country (GardenComm) were at their national conference this summer when we received the living jewelry. The enthusiasm for this necklace (and buzz about the TPIE show) spread quickly and I saw happy attendees wearing their new accessory with pride throughout the day. 

Once I  returned home, I found the perfect spot with bright light for my air plant. She now hangs on my cookbook holder in my kitchen. Visually, this dangling air plant seamlessly blends my kitchen into Joanna Gaines' kitchen - doesn't it look like it is part of the cookbook cover? 

The idea that a necklace can be living aligns perfectly with my goal to highlight things that are beautiful and interesting. This is delight.

#TPIE #livingdesign #airplants #airplant #unusualjewelry #living #tropicalplants #fortlauderdale #beautifulandinteresting #livingnecklace #gardencomm #gwa #2019 #gardencommunicators

Statement Necklace: Jewel Tone Buttons

A button can do more than hold things together. I want to make everyday objects more beautiful in the eye of the beholder. This is my colorful button necklace in my online Etsy shop. As I meet new people and make friends in Washington, I am learning how to articulate my brand and condense my world into a sound byte.

When I speak at a book signing, the audience doesn't realize that I made my purse and jewelry. When I deliver a cigar box purse to a customer, they often don't know that I have published 3 books. It's fun, in a way, because I can direct my comments and suggestions to the part of my business that interests them. 

But in an effort to expand my reach and build familiarity, I am going to bounce between topics a little more in the blog and be more flexible about information in "real time." 

Have you seen my Bobbin Necklaces? Did you know that I specialize in reasonable and preppy Ribbon Watches? I know, I need to speak up more, they're super cute!

Summer Fun Bracelet: One Fish Two Fish

I couldn't resist these ceramic fish and it turns out you couldn't either.

Due to popular demand, I am selling a limited number of ceramic One Fish Two Fish bracelets this summer. Available here on my Etsy site.

It's summer and they are ridiculously cute. Ships immediately.

The Charmed Life of Neighbors: Our Major Sources of Fun

Last week it became official, my husband and I sold our house and moved from the street where we have lived for 19 years. We are not retiring, far from it. In fact, the possibilities seem endless in our new turf on the east side of Seattle.

Yet having to pack up and move away from our next door neighbors has been hard on everyone. They are the family that we have watched grow from ages 5, 3, 0 to 18, 16, 12.  They welcomed me into their lives and invited me to attend everything from school plays and art shows, to the new school year Open House (You should have seen the principal's puzzled face when I introduced myself as "the neighbor," as if all neighbors come to meet the children's teachers.) 

We baked apple pies on Halloween (Trick or Pie) and one year I taught a jewelry making badge for the Girl Scouts. We invented an annual one-house Garden Walk and I helped with early morning French Braids and craft projects whenever I could. We had fun together every chance we got and they were always curious to come in the house and see what new art project I was working on. Their mother felt like a sister to me, sharing honest moments and coming to my rescue when I needed it most. Their father was always willing to stand on the street and chat. No hurry, no rush; offering help as I methodically packed up our entire life.

We have spent a lot of time together over the years and they gave me the incredibly thoughtful gift of a charm bracelet to represent our major sources of fun. A cupcake for all of the baking, a flower pot for the Garden Walk and time spent in the garden, a pumpkin for spending so many Halloweens together, a slice of pie for our Trick or Pie tradition and a teapot for the impromptu parties we held.

I told them that we will see each other again and for now, their job is to teach the new neighbors moving in (with children ages 7, 10 and 12) what I taught them. I said, "Show them just how much fun it is to live on Roseglen Court." 

And then I hugged them too many times and cried a little too. Because even though it is not goodbye, I will miss the little moments that you can only have when you are a neighbor. 

Inspired by Royalty: Wood Beads and Faux Pearls are Glamorous

I am not a thin gold chain kind of girl. I like a statement necklace that turns a simple t-shirt into something worthy of an evening out.

My best friend is very supportive of my jewelry making binges, but she had to lay down the law last year. "No more wearing a new necklace, until you have 2 more of the same thing at home that you can sell!"

You see, she has been with me time and again when someone loves the necklace I'm wearing, but I have to disappoint them with, "Yes, I sell the jewelry I make online...just not this one." 

I get inspired, make a one-of-a-kind piece and then show it off with no inventory behind it. Great for my outfit, not great for business.

It happened again last month with this simple wood bead and faux pearl necklace. I wore it before I made more and had to tell people that it would be available on my Etsy site soon.

Problem solved. I have posted it online and I have 2 to sell. Are you interested?

Etsy: An Art Fair Online: The Room Where I Create

I have been a busy bee lately! I've just expanded my Etsy store (an online marketplace for handmade, one-of-a-kind items) and added lots of new purses, jewelry and even my decorative matchboxes. I make one or two of a lot of different items.  Since I don't have a bricks and mortar store, I use Etsy as my online Art Fair

This blue purse (Sunrise #11195) is lined with a fabric I bought in Paris.

This is what you see when you open your purse!

I've added a variety of necklaces - this necklace is made with tan linen fabric covered beads and champagne faux pearls.

Here are little pieces of art: a set of my mini matchboxes. 

I love this Strawberry Oilcloth Envelope! I keep my point and shoot pocket camera in this when I travel.

In addition to writing, blogging and taking photographs, I love to create accessories that are beautiful and interesting.  Take a peek at my Etsy store and then tell me what you think!

Ribbon and Faux Pearl Necklace

I have been working on the computer a lot lately.  (I'll tell you what I've been up to soon - it's exciting!)  Since I have been writing and thinking so much, I find that the perfect way to relax is to make jewelry.

I am particularly fond of this ribbon necklace that I made from narrow taupe and brown ribbon woven back and forth between faux champagne pearls and hung from a metal chain.  It is interesting and beautiful; sophisticated yet simple. 

I have listed in for sale in my Etsy store, but it may not be there long.  Have you seen my "ANA customs stamp?"  I use it to signify that something has been stamped with my approval...literally a stamp from my territory.

Do you know what the cursive "I.K.I" stands for?  It means: "I'm Keeping It!" That is how I know when a design is ready to sell, when I find myself wanting to keep it!

Jewelry Management: Snapware

I am organizing this weekend and when I was in Joann Fabric, I noticed that all of their Snapware storage containers for "ribbon" are half off.  

These clear Snapware containers are the ones that I use for my Jewelry Management (click the link to read more). I highly recommend buying yourself a few to organize your necklaces, bracelets and baubles, oh my. They are great when you want to take your jewelry on the road on vacation, or when you need a system to keep off season pieces under control in your closet.  I absolutely love them.

Anne Reeves' bobbin necklace on Etsy

One of my favorite designs, a necklace made of bobbins that I wound in the colors I love: light plum, cement and gray.  This is where my love of sewing and jewelry making intersect - I call it when "World's Collide".

My jewelry making philosophy has always been "One for me; one for my mom, a few for Etsy." Most every piece of jewelry in my Etsy store is limited edition. Etsy is an online marketplace for artists.  It is a wonderful website that allows individuals to have their own little shop of items they have made.  I spent the last week loading my Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/annereeves) with my favorite necklace designs to sell for the holidays.

What spurred all of this?  I wore my "World's Collide" bobbin necklace to a book signing of my friends, Josh and Brent, and Brent urged me to sell it on my store.  He loved the shine of the thread and the unusual materials. He's right, it is fabulous and it is time to offer it to the world.

When you are shopping around the store, some of the necklaces are one-of-a-kind and some I can "make to order" and ship within 1-3 weeks.  I'm excited! Are you?

Ring Bling

Look what else I found at the West Palm Beach Antique and Flea Market! Ring bling!  I stared at these gems and cut glass masterpieces sparkling in the sun for so long that the vendor thought I was in the market for a new bauble.  I was just entranced by the collection as a whole.  

This kind of girly grouping is so effective.  Take any of these items away from the rest and they aren't quite as magnificent.  But en masse, they shine.  

Wouldn't this make a terrific puzzle?

Button Necklace

It is sew simple, but sew effective!  Yes, I am going through a button phase.  I made my mom a chunky necklace made of all gold buttons (the kind you find on a blazer) and it is fabulous!  She wore it to a luncheon over the holidays and caused a stir.  That is what I love about jewelry making.  I like "whipping something up" that will makes people feel beautiful.  Of course I never make more than 2 or 3 of any one design.  I can't focus long enough to really make a lot of any one thing.

This necklace has large gray and tan buttons (some stacked) that are held together by a new favorite thing, DMC Memory Thread. I'm sure it is fabulous in needlework, but I put it to use making jewelry!  It is beautiful fiber-wrapped copper wire that adds stability for when you, say, want to "stitch" buttons together.  After connecting the buttons, I clipped off the excess memory wire, twisted the end back onto itself and tucked it under another wire in back.  Then I was able to attach a connecting loop to the wire and attach the grey chain from there.  I love it! 

Have you ever made jewelry from buttons?

12 Days of Valentine's Day: Day 3, Heart Necklaces

Now is the time to pull out your heart necklace and wear it!  Is your heart pendant crystal, metal or glass?  My friend, Corinne, fell for this lovely koa wood heart that was hand-carved by a craftsman in Hawaii.  Koa wood is the second most common tree in the Hawaiian islands and is used for making exceptional ukuleles, guitars and jewelry.

Happy Day 3:  Find some Valentine-inspired treasures in your jewelry box and wear them.  Every outfit could use a little love.