what I've been working on...

I'm not sure why - because it wasn't planned - but lately everything I've been creating is slightly ethereal... I guess it started with 'the man in the moon' necklace....

then continued as I learned some basic metalsmithing techniques... with "orbit"
and then 'orbs'

and it's companion... 'mars'and then 'earth'....

I'm not sure what the significance is here... I just thought it was telling that for some reason my sub-conscious has been leading me in this direction for a while.... any thoughts?

my new favorite earrings....

I love these! I love the juxtaposition of the chunky brass (masculine) hardware with the feminine pearls... surprisingly lightweight too!

they're perfect to dress up a t-shirt and your favorite blue jeans, but dressy enough to wear with a business suit.

...and yep.. they're for sale in my Etsy shop... http://monaco.etsy.com/

still in time for Christmas shipping!

Pearls symbolize the best within us. Honesty, Purity, Wisdom and Integrity.
They remind us to walk with Dignity. Pearls can stimulate your femininity and help with self acceptance.

They lift your spirits and make you feel calm and beautiful. When have you not felt ultra-feminine when wearing pearls? - even with your favorite jeans!

prayer vials....

as promised a couple days ago...

Introducing... 'prayer vials'

a simple word of guidance handwritten in sanskrit and captured in a tiny glass vial. The vial in just over 1" long (including the cap) and 1/4" wide. It dangles from an 18" thin, sterling silver ball chain.

Each one will come in a gift box - wrapped up in a ribbon - with a little card elaborating on the word chosen.

words I have so far...

acceptance, hope, prosperity, strength, grace, wisdom, goodness, integrity, love, respect, truth, faith, courage.

I can also try (within reason) to do custom words - but bear in mind that the space is quite small, so multiple words may not fit.

have other word suggestions? I'd love to hear them!!

you can find them here

introducing.... healing vials

Introducing... 'healing vials' .... Fran Henry wrote about them in the Cleveland Plain Dealer - and since then I've had a lot of inquiries... (haven't seen the article? read it here ... sorry for the shameless plug :)

So what are they?

Tiny little gemstones captured in a tiny glass vial.
The vial in just over 1" long (including the cap) and 1/4" wide. It dangles from an 18" thin, sterling silver ball chain.

Each one is chosen for its specific healing properties and will come in a gift box - wrapped up in a ribbon - with a little card explaining the stone.

Moss Agate.... (mottled green)... is considered the most powerful of the agates - helps balance emotional energy. It helps the wearer to let go of anger and bitterness so the emotions are balanced. It also enhances concentration, persistence and success..strengthens in times of stress

The Howlite (deep blue): decreases an overly critical state of mind, selfishness, pain and rudeness. It increases subtlety and tact. It helps bones and teeth and calcium levels and leg cramps. It heightens creativity.
Aventurine... a very cheery orange tone... grounds emotionally & allows for thought that is free of fear, troubled emotions, indecisiveness and anxiety. It is a stone for leaders, protectors and counselors. .. adventurine not only enhances creativity, it grants the ability to see possibilities.... this is the stone for writers, artists, musicians or anyone in the creative field.

Rose Quartz (pink): is known as the love stone. When worn, the wearer feels a sense of self-worth. It gives inner peace and helps in all matters pertaining to love in all its forms. Opens the heart to love.

I'll have lots more stones coming very soon.... and stay tuned for 'prayer vials'!

oh... I almost forgot! You can find them in my little online shop... monaco.etsy.com

A to Z favorites.... Y

Y is for...... Yellow lux... Yellow lux makes beautiful frosted glass jewelry and accessories and also custom items.

I love this cattails necklace... (which can be found here)

and this series of initial pendants that she calls the Narcissist Series - what a great name!
and beautiful Christmas ornaments..... what a great hostess gift! (...hint, hint to anyone coming to my place for Christmas dinner......)

very nice... simple... perfect. And I love her photography!

Yorktown Road... I love these small zipped, pleated bags! Find them here

hmmmm.... and more hostess gift ideas! these coasters are fabulous!

.... and these pop-up Happy Holidays cards!!!

Oh you have to check out this shop and see these wonderful greeting cards!!!

Her name is Tracy Chong and her shop can be found here.
I'm seriously in love with the Rudolph one... Red Nosed Rudolph Pop-Up Card

A to Z favorites...... X

so... I thought the letter X would be difficult, but I was so wrong....

let's start with XO Handworks soldered Map Pendants that can be found here.

Tam, handmakes each one of these in Osseo, Minnesota.

You can have custom map pendants made too!

What a great gift! Perhaps to remind someone far away of their hometown... or commemorate a fabulous trip... or a dream locale that you've always wanted to go to... mine would be Italy. Custom made pendants are only $24! What a deal!

Amber Coppings - from Pittsburg - makes these fabulous Xmittens!!!
They're fingerless gloves - get it? EX-MITTENS??

Xmittens! are practical, yet fashionable fleece fingerless gloves. Each has it's own unique stitched design and machine embroidery around the thumbhole for increased durability.

Apparently, Amber actually started making these because it was so darn COLD in her studio and she needed to be able to use her fingers, but also to stay warm while she makes stuff!

These totally fixed that problem - and stylishly too, I might add.

find them here

XO Designs......

oh I so want to get one of these with my little grandbug's picture!!!!

These make great gifts!! Everyone loves their image in POP Art!

Lisa, from Columbus, Ohio creates these one-of-a-kind POP Art pieces.... just send her a digital image of the person you would like to POP Art and within a week she will send you a printed image with POP!!

I especially love the doggie one!! perfect gift for the hard-to-buy-for person!

find them at XODesigns here.

A to Z favorites.... W

and "W" is for.....
WackyJacky!!

Just look at these fabulous creations! Oh I just have to get my little grandbug one of these!

Each one is completely handmade and one of a kind. And they have their own personality with a little story to match!

To see the Sock Monstahs humble beginnings go to Sockmonstahs.com & learn more about them, the charities they help, and the crazy lady who creates them.

You can also find them in her Etsy shop... WackyJacky

and to top off all this monstah goodness... she even makes Charity Monstahs: Charities are specified in each Monstah's description. 100% of the sales of the item goes to it's specific charity.

And do read those descriptions... they're hysterical!!!

I love these 'any occasion' Window cards by Lucky Duck Designs.....

Lucky Duck Designs is home to a collection of sweet and thoughtful cards for you to share with loved ones near and far.

Who wouldn't rather have a sweet hand-made card as opposed to the mass-produced ones you can buy at any discount store.... and these won't cost you a bit more - in fact, they are LESS expensive... and oh so more beautiful.

She also has a line of customizable holiday cards!! What are you waiting for?

Her beautiful cards can be found here.

Stainless Steel Ball Tip Whisk

Ok... we all know I love to cook.... and I love kitchen gadgets, especially ones that look this cool!

...which is why I love Williams-Sonoma. Check out this whisk!

"Distinguished by its unique design, this 18/10 stainless-steel professional whisk is just what you need for quickly whipping air into egg whites or cream, or incorporating liquids into dry ingredients. The secret to its efficiency? The straight wires are topped with weighted beads that increase the whipping force and also reach into the corners of pans and bowls, at any angle. Dishwasher safe. 10 1/2" long."

find it here

Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz is a Microcrystalline variety of quartz.

Named for its rosy pink color, this variety of quartz can be pale pink to peachy in color.

The gem gets is color from trace amounts of Titanium, and it is commonly included with tiny rutile needles. Usually found in large aggregated masses.

and from my geology class last summer.... this is a member of the quartz family it shares the same properties as the rest of its large family: hardness of 7, white streak, no cleavage.

... so what can rose quartz do for you???

Rose quartz is known as the love stone. When worn in jewelry the wearer feels a sense of self-worth.

Healing properties of Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz has a gentle vibration of love for the owner. It gives inner peace and helps in all matters pertaining to love in all its forms. Rose Quartz opens the heart to love. It also helps as a rejuvenator to the skin. It is a lovely stone for a young person.

and then pair it with sterling silver....

Silver is a mineral that is said to mirror the soul, strengthen the connection between astral and physical bodies, and enhance intuitive and psychic energies. Silver is mystically considered to improve speech, bring eloquence. It is also purported to attract, enhance and store the energies of gemstones, as well as draw out negative energies.

so.... I'm thinking that if you wear this bracelet you'll be able to not only feel peaceful and worthy of love, but you'll be able to express that feeling when it's most important!

I just purchased bunches of rose quartz and this bracelet was the first creation... you can find it for purchase in my Etsy shop by just clicking on one of the photos... but there will be many more rose quartz pieces to come!!!

A to Z favorites... U

Useful Books.... each and every book has been joyfully handcrafted from start to finish by Cindy Leaders of Toccoa, Georgia.

"These books beg to be used. Their greatest hope and desire, like the Velveteen Rabbit, is to be loved into well-worn keepsakes. "

Most of the folios are ripped by hand so pages start out with the comfortable look and feel of a deckled edge.

She makes 'reinvented' journals out of wonderful old books - perhaps she could turn your favorite childhood book into a journal! I'd love to have a Harold and the Purple Crayon journal - wouldn't you? or maybe Goodnight Moon... hmmm...

I think my favorite journals Cindy makes are the ones I've shown here... made from and actual Whole Foods grocery bag!
find it (and all her Useful Books here)

Usona Home Furnishings.... I'm totally in love with this store!!!

Usonahome.com..... of course, nothing has prices.... and you know what that means... but how cool is this shop!?!?!?!

Upholstered Coffee Table
Upholstered low table with castors. Wood frame with removable fabric.

... Isn't this fabulous??? find it here

URBAN FLEA
design is design is design: loving the high and the low since 2008.

I love this blog... I should add it to my "blog roll" which hasn't been updated in quite some time...
http://www.urbanfleadesign.com/

A to Z favorites. ... SSSSSSS

Oh.. I may have to do "S" more than once.... there are just so many fabulous "S" things!!!!

Scribble it .... I love words.... I love word art... Scribble it makes word art for your walls!

Actually they create custom vinyl lettering for your home, business, vehicles... and they can put your sentiments on glass cubes or ceramic tiles too! What a wonderful house-warming gift!!

They'll even create custom designs for you... put your favorite inspirational quote above your workspace.... put a family monagram on your door. How about a nursery rhyme or sweet sentiment for your baby's room? Another great gift idea for new parents!

I just adore these!!!!Find them here or for even more designs... find them here.

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Spotty Dotty Bowl......

I love functional art... why buy something mass-produced, that everyone has, when you can infuse a little art and beauty into your everyday life with products like these?

I've coveted this Spotty Dotty bowl for quite some time now... doesn't it just make you smile???

find it here at chARiTy elise designs or CharityElise.com
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Sorapot.... although I'm mostly a coffee drinker - this has me re-thinking that! I may switch to tea just to have an excuse to get this. Designer: Joey Roth found via DesignSpotter

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Spicy Steak Knives..... Designed by Carlo Contin for Legnoart, they look like a bunch of pens but they're actually knives! I especially like the stainless steel ones.....

found via Contemporist

A to Z favorites... R

Today is all about R

Rachel Rene bath & body products....
just look at these soaps!!! Need I say more? Decadent!
find these soaps and more handmade lovliness here.



Rare Device Home / Housewares / Ceramic

Rare Device is, simply, good stuff for you and your home.

I'm particularly fond of the ceramics found here but they have loads of other cool stuff too!

....and I love this (taken from their "about us" page)
"The storefront is a place to promote designers, artists and artisans plus help them grow by taking on new projects and collaborations. Every object in the store has its own story, and has been chosen because it is either handmade, well-designed, useful, beautiful or all of the above. The aesthetic is modern and quirky while remaining warm and inviting - design that is accessible to all. Influences range from comic book art to entropy in nature, laser-etching to hand-lettering to nautical lore."













RADIUS Design fireplace...... imagine being able to put a fireplace anywhere you want to! How fabulous are these? I love the way the one (above) seems to just float on the wall....

the ones in stainless steel are simply incredible, but I also like these black models.

see them all here