lime green modern

Silver beaded hoops......

2012-01-14T11:08:00.000-08:00

Over the past year at lime green modern, I have received several requests for sterling silver beads on my earrings..... so I am introducing quite a few new hoops with beads over the next week or so.

These are simply my classic circle hoops, with the addition of some super shiny round beads, lightweight but sturdy. The great thing is the beads are easily slipped off of the earrings, so if you want to change the look back to the simple hoop, it's very easy.

Currently I have the 4-mm multi-bead series listed, with a larger 5-mm 3-bead series coming soon.

Large hoops, with nine 4-mm beads. (pictured above)
Medium hoops, with seven 4-mm beads.
Small hoops, with six 4-mm beads.

Enjoy!

IKEA love.... modern wrapped canvas

2012-01-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

Last year I purchased this large 48 x 48" thick canvas during the Aaron Brother's penny sale (buy one, get another for a penny....goes on in January and July).

I got as far as hanging it up, with every intention of painting it a fun color, but a year later, a blank canvas still sat there.

Well, with the joy of our new IKEA opening, I get so many ideas from their fabric, but unfortunately I don't sew. At all. Not even a little.

So I decided to wrap my canvas with this awesome heavy decorator weight fabric instead. For the grand total of $7.50 (1.5 yards of Kajsastina large daisy fabric, on sale even!) plus a cheap staple gun and I was on my way.

The secret to this wrap is a lot of ironing beforehand! Get that fabric as good and wrinkle free as you can before you attempt to wrap. Then start stapling the sides a little at a time, pulling very taut as you go. You will have to remove a few staples and readjust a bit here and there, but I had this thing done in about 10 minutes, not counting the ironing.

The result: a modern wrapped canvas for minimal cost, and when I get tired of it, just put new fabric on there!

Happy 2012!

2012-01-07T11:36:00.000-08:00

So the new year is settling in at lime green modern.... a perfect time to start creating some new things!

My ideas usually sit patiently drawn in my idea/design book until I have the time to make them and try them out personally to make sure they work "in real life" use.

So up first are my new half moon hoop earrings. These are great because you just slip them on and go! And for complete versatility, I have made them in a small, medium, and large version.

They are super lightweight and a nice alternative to the classic circle hoop... enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-23T17:18:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!

I appreciate all of my awesome lime green modern customers....and wish you the best 2012!

Huge Giveaway!

2011-11-30T08:13:00.000-08:00

Want to a chance to win over $600 worth of awesome Etsy items?

Check out the 2011 Holiday Gift Guide and Giveaway on etsyfix!

My half wishbone simple silver earrings are part of the giveaway. So comment on their blog and then share away! Good luck!

Free Shipping Weekend starts now!

2011-11-24T18:53:00.001-08:00

So in the spirit of the crazy holiday shopping sales this year, I have decided to do...

Free Shipping from now through 11/28!!

No need for a coupon! All of the shipping at lime green modern has been set to free*. :-)

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Fine Print: Free shipping excludes my large bridal same-item sets.

The ultimate minimalist simple line earring

2011-11-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

So I decided to create an even longer version of my ultimate minimalist earring.... the simple line.

I had previously done this design in a smaller version that's 1 3/4" in length, but decided I wanted a longer version too, 2 1/8". A little more dramatic, but in a very subtle way...is that possible? :-)

I've been wearing my own personal pair every day for a week now.... super comfy yet interesting and modern.

Happy November and shop early!

Unbelievable color this fall!

2011-10-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

So we took a drive to Vail for the day yesterday....our favorite place in the summer for a day trip.

They are saying it's some of the best fall colors seen in years here in CO and this past weekend was the "peak"....lucky us! It was unreal...yellow so vivid it was glowing in the sunlight.

Hit all the favorites....Pirate Ship Park, the deli, Betty Ford Gardens, and of course walked around the town itself.

Now I almost feel ready to hunker down for winter and get ready for the holiday season coming up fast!

Handcrafted mini silver bow featured in Germany!

2011-09-20T11:42:00.001-07:00

What's better than getting an "I love it!" email from a happy customer....when they decide to feature it on their blog too!

I recently sent one of my mini silver bows off to Jana in Germany ....and she surprised me by sending me a link to her fashion blog featuring it. Now since I don't speak German, I had to use Google translation, which can be a bit dodgy, but she loved it!

It makes me happy that not only did she take the time to write the lovely blog and take pictures, but that she supports handcrafted independent artisans like myself. :-)

My newest obsession....Pinterest

2011-09-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

So I have to introduce you to my newest obsession....Pinterest.

I had heard talk of this site on the Etsy forums but hadn't checked it out until my neighbor, T., declared her love for it. Once I saw it, I was instantly hooked. Thanks, T.

Here's my full disclaimer: This will undoubtedly become your newest obsession too (trust me), so don't say I didn't warn you of its full time-sucking capabilities.

So what is it? The quick and dirty is it is a virtual bulletin board for all the things you love...and more. You can customize your "Boards" with any title you want and then whenever you're browsing the web and see a hairstyle you love, a bathroom tile you must have, etc; you just click "Pin It" and save it on one of your boards. Once pinned, to get back to the original site where the picture resides, just keep clicking on the picture and it will take you there.

Here is my personal page with all my customized boards and all the things I love: http://pinterest.com/limegreenmodern/

It's kind of like Twitter, in that you can follow other people you are interested in and "repin" their choices if you like them. And people can follow you back for the same reasons.

First: If you are new, you need to be invited. So either ask for an invite on the Pinterest homepage or feel free to leave your email in the comments here and I'll email you an invite.

Biggest Tip: After you have joined, go to Pinterest's homepage. Then click on About (far right) and then on Help. It gives you all the answers to the basic FAQs for how the site works. I'd read through these before you start....tells you everything you need to know.

Have fun!

Enjoy the long weekend....

2011-09-03T10:30:00.001-07:00

Enjoy the long weekend!

Simple cross with a twist....

2011-08-19T10:18:00.001-07:00

Keeping up with the layered look....a simple tiny cross on a hammered circle background.

I just liked the way these two looked together, as I was looking for something "just a little more" than the basic cross pendant. I had made these hammered circles so I decided to put them together.

Simple and great for the everyday necklace.

Love the layers...

2011-08-16T21:47:00.000-07:00

I can''t believe the end of the summer is nearing!

My kiddos are back in school, so I finally had time to take some pics of a few new layered pendants that I created forever ago.

Today's feature is the everyday necklace: small layered hammered circles

More to post in a few days!

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-03T08:56:00.001-07:00

A little red, white, and blue to celebrate the 4th of July!

Have a great holiday from lime green modern!

Happy Father's Day....

2011-06-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

Wishing all the Dads out there a Happy Father's Day!

I was lucky enough to have my dad out here in CO recently for a visit, where we went up to the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park. Gorgeous!

And since my daughter is very much a daddy's girl, thought it was a great day to post a pic of them going to the Father/Daughter Dance at her school this spring.

Happy Mother's Day...

2011-05-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to wish all those moms out there a Happy Mother's Day!

And thanks for such a successful and busy start to May at lime green modern.

Enjoy your "day off", right?! :-)

My little coin purse....

2011-04-18T19:26:00.001-07:00

When I was little, I had a thing for small coin purses.

I had quite a few...some zipped, some you squeezed, but my favorites were the ones with the little silver ball clasps at the top that clicked when you open and shut them. I would squirrel away my coins and other treasures in them.

So recently I decided to get one that would fit folded cash and coins, trying to alleviate the huge collection of change constantly wallowing around the bottom of my purse. And since the coins were never handy, when I used cash I couldn't ever find the proper change, thus I got more change back. Ugh.

I happened upon this most lovely framed coin purse from the zakka...it is just perfect! It fits the cash and coins exactly how I wanted it to, it is beautifully made, has super cute fabric, and best of all, has the little silver balls on top to click shut. Right back to my childhood memories.

Check out her beautiful shop for many sizes of framed clutches, pouches, accessories, and more!

My awsome find from Accent on Vintage...

2011-04-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

When I was in college and felt like shopping (but only had about $10 to my name), my roommate and I would hit the thrift stores. We would come out with loads of uber-cool stuff for next to nothing.

I loved to thrift well into my late 20s, more for the thrill of a really cool find, but also because an awesome bargain brings a great adrenaline rush...and it's just so fun!

Somewhere along the way once I had my kiddos, I just didn't have the time to do it. Let's face it, a baby doesn't want to sit for hours in a stroller while I poke around looking for treasure.

Well, this is where Etsy enters. Not only is Etsy for handcrafted items like my own shop, it is also a place to buy/sell vintage items (anything older than 20 years).

I was doing a random search the other day and ran across this amazingly cool modern circle belt buckle from Accent on Vintage. I had to have it, and now just a few days later, I do! Put it on my belt right out of the envelope...LOVE IT!

Now I can look for vintage treasures from the comfort of my laptop!

Love a long necklace....

2011-04-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

I have taken to wearing layers of necklaces as of late....love to put a cute necklace that sits close to the neck with a long 26-inch dangle one. I decided on a 3/4 inch hammered circle and a 1 inch hammered circle, each on a lovely long cable chain.

Also lots of requests for more modern heart options! So I decided to make a long angled hammered heart too.

If you love these pendant designs, but do prefer a shorter necklace, I have all three of these in a shorter necklace length too.

Enjoy!

Which earring style are you?

2011-03-28T08:41:00.001-07:00

So what's your earring style...fancy, boho chic, ultra mod, romantic, or simple?

Thank you to the a great blog called The Handmade Gift Guide who featured my skinny black earrings under one of those styles...can you guess?

And if these aren't your style...lots more to choose from in my shop or on Etsy.

Butterflies and hibiscus....

2011-03-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

This week is spring break for us (the first week of a 2-week break), so we decided to head up to the Butterfly Pavilion just north of Denver to check it out. It was nice to feel that 85 degree heat where they kept the butterflies!

I'm always amazed that the most brilliant patterns and colors I see are almost always straight from nature....it inspires me to start making more jewelry with pops of color.

Looking for a certain color to match a spring outfit? I have all my earrings divided in sections by color in my lime green modern shop. Thanks for looking!

Paint Square....

2011-03-22T19:39:00.001-07:00

I love finding things on Etsy that I instantly must have...this is one of them!

This it a super cool abstract wood sculpture from paint square that is now sitting on my desk. Perfect for when I need some modern inspiration.

Love it!

Crochet art with a purpose....

2011-03-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

Saw these crocheted flowers on a job-site fence in downtown Denver at Union Station.

The impressive thing is they were all along the entire fence, probably a block long. Definitely a nice way to spruce up an otherwise ugly fence.

Random art is good for the soul.

Secret inscription bracelet from Noah's Ark Creations....

2011-03-08T16:06:00.000-08:00

You would think since I make jewelry that I may not be into jewelry from others...but that's the fun of Etsy. There are so many great shops with interesting unique items, so I can't help but support them! So fun to get something someone made and personalized just for you.

Being the minimalist that I am, I love the concept of a hidden inscription on this lovely copper bracelet from Noah's Ark Creations. I chose to have my kiddos names stamped on the inside.

Keona has different styles of fonts to choose from....I chose "tiny" and I love it! Such a super nice seller too.

If you love the personalized look of handstamped jewelry, then you should really check out her shop....so many beautiful choices from sterling to aluminum to copper and more.

Enjoy!

For the wine aficionado....

2011-02-05T15:49:00.000-08:00

What to you get for the wine aficionado who already has everything (aka my dad)?

Well...you get this awesome serving tray. I found this super cool tray by d'Pholk Designs, made with a flattened recycled wine bottle. It is carefully cleaned and then put into a kiln. A little touch of copper wire and beads are added, as well as a lovely little wine cork cheese spreader. It was a huge hit and definitely an interesting conversation piece.

Check out d'Pholk Designs for lots of super interesting original glasswork!

Front page on Etsy never gets old....

2011-02-02T17:34:00.000-08:00

It's always a rush of adrenaline when a treasury that you are part of makes it to the front page of Etsy. I am happy to say that my small circle hoops were among those featured today!

Thank you octopurse for your great selections!

The mini bow is here!

2011-01-29T17:47:00.000-08:00

So I have received a large amount of "please make a tiny bow" messages in the past couple of months, so I finally sat down to work out the details (or basically quit procrastinating). :-)

My mini bow is the exact same design as my original, except scaled down to a super cute 1-inch size.

The first one I made I decided to give to my daughter, as tonight is her very first father/daughter dance at her school.

She was so excited to go with him (she is the quintessential daddy's girl) but as she left she whispered to me, "The bow will remind me of you Mom."

So sweet.

My Etsy Holiday Season 2010 Shopping Wrap-Up...

2011-01-23T18:23:00.000-08:00

Why the Santa picture in January you might be asking?

Ok, for most of us the holiday season of 2010 is long over, but many of the gifts I bought for family and friends are just starting to be used.

I love to do a little wrap-up of all the wonderful things I found on Etsy, so let's start with these adorable little Santa soaps from Satin & Birch Soap Studio.

They were just exquisite, came beautifully handcrafted and wrapped, smelled amazing, and were just super cute.

Check out her shop for an amazing array of gorgeous sculptural soap!

A blog from Germany....

2011-01-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

I am always very appreciative when a customer of mine loves the piece of jewelry they got from my shop and writes up a little blog post about it.

Here is a great post from a really cool fashion blog in Germany about a recent gift of my tiny domed necklace.

You can translate it via the Google translator on her blog, though it makes for a funny read, but you can get the idea. :-)

Silber-Kettchen à la mode: http://ouicameplait.blogspot.com/2011/01/silber-kettchen-la-mode.html

The handmade birthday box....

2010-12-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

So my husband's birthday is on December 1st.

My 5 yo daughter asked me for a box that one of my supplies came in and took it off to the kitchen. She would not let me see what she was up to. :-)

Here is what emerged....the birthday box. Markers, tape, colored pencil, crayons....they were all used. Note the number of times she used "so" on the card....do you think she's a daddy's girl?!

Inside she made a giant cut-out snowflake as the actual present. Definitely gives new meaning to the words "handmade with love". She added the pink bow that she had saved from one of her own birthday presents.

By the way, my husband just loved it.

Will definitely go in the bin of things to keep to bring out and embarrass here when she's 16.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

2010-12-04T17:21:00.000-08:00

My 5-year-old daughter brought this little message to me the other day while I was working. As you can tell, it's spelled phonetically but yet it somehow has just the right tone. :-)

So however you celebrate....Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Celebrate Kwanzaa....make it a good one!

FREE worldwide shipping on Black Friday!

2010-11-25T19:29:00.000-08:00

Do you really want to wake up at 3 am to fight the crowds for mass-produced stuff!

Lime green modern is offering free worldwide shipping on all items on Black Friday! No need for codes...all shipping prices have already been adjusted.

So grab your cup of coffee, curl up in a chair by the fire with the laptop, and shop!

Lime green modern at the PONSHOP...

2010-11-14T21:44:00.000-08:00

The PONSHOP......an uber-cool studio, shop, gallery and classroom space in Fredericksburg, VA.

I loved this from their great blog:

"The vision of the owners, Scarlett Suhy-Pons and Gabriel Pons, is to provide a place that embodies what they love: art, design, and creative education. The gallery features a variety of work from artists both near and far. Their studio doubles as a classroom, providing workshops in everything from painting, ceramics, and architecture to street art and skateboard graphics."

I'm excited to announce that lime green modern is part of their shop currently, so if you happen to be in the Fredericksburg area, go check them out.

PONSHOP
712 Caroline St.
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Who gets the wishbone?

2010-11-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

Very clever treasury by Grah-Toe Studio....who gets the wishbone in your family? Thanks for featuring my half wishbone earrings!

Here's to a happy healthy Thanksgiving!

Freedom from the Big Box....Studio Slant

2010-11-03T15:20:00.000-07:00

I am happy to say you can now see lime green modern at Studio Slant, a new Art Gallery and Handmade Boutique in Owensboro, Kentucky!

When the owners contacted me about being in their shop, this really got to me:

"The Premise of Studio Slant is to provide our town and the people who live in it an outlet from the Big Box. Wearing or owning something unique makes the wearer feel unique. We hate to look like everyone else, and so we plan to do our part in combating the oatmealization of the world."

Now that is right up my alley! Studio Slant has just opened and is doing great, so if you are in the area, go check them out.

Studio Slant
412 East Second Street
Owensboro, KY
42303

Happy Trick-or-Treating!

2010-10-31T19:53:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween!

Remember the add-a-bead necklace circa 1984?

2010-10-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

Anyone remember the add-a-bead necklaces popular back in the early 1980s?

I remember loving them, but no amount of babysitting could earn me enough money for one.

Here is my modern version of that necklace... simple, minimal, sleek but delicate.

I decided to different amounts of beads to mix it up a little... a solo bead, a trio, and a 5-bead version.

Fall colors in Vail....

2010-10-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

Took a trip up to Vail just in time for the fall colors. I love going during the off-peak season, before the snow comes. The aspen trees are all such a gorgeous golden color, spotting the mountains with large bright yellow patterns!

Looking forward to our first snow dusting....I'm sure it's coming soon.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket....

2010-09-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

You know you've heard the saying a hundred times...Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I've been thinking about this for the past week, especially after the sudden close down of the 1000 Markets site, so I have decided to diversify my eggs a bit.

So I'm excited to announce that lime green modern will open on ArtFire soon, another great site for handmade items. I've put up a couple of items in there to see their process, but will have a full shop soon!

Coincidentally, the picture of the egg above is actually a sunny side up stress-relieving gadget...how appropriate as I get ready to ramp up for the holidays and add a whole new shop at the same time!

Lime green modern on ArtFire coming soon.....

Controlled chaos....

2010-09-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

Continuing on my posts of how to have a better holiday season....

Step 3: Clean up the work space.

No matter how neat I try to stay, the working surface of my deck always looks a bit like a bomb went off. I like to refer to it as controlled chaos.

Here is a "before" picture of my desk while I'm in hoop-making mode.

As far as the "after" picture...well, it's just not going to happen. I know myself well enough to just live with it like this.

So I'm just skipping Step 3...lol.

Uncomplicated wardrobe...

2010-09-28T23:32:00.000-07:00

I definitely like an uncomplicated life.

That definitely includes my wardrobe...pretty much wear my uniform of black top, dark denim capris/jeans/skirt depending on the time of year, but do occasionally like a splash of color.

Made some fun little mini modern earrings recently...just a little pop of color (or my standard black), super lightweight and small, and easy for every day.

1000 Markets no longer....

2010-09-26T16:15:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm sad to say that 1000 Markets, a wonderful site dedicated to artisan handcrafted work only, has been sold to Bonanza.

So lime green modern on the 1000 Markets venue will be no longer.

At this time, I prefer to keep my work on sites that are dedicated to handmade, so I will not be making the move to Bonanza, as they are a site very similar to eBay, that sells a bit of everything, manufactured and all. Nothing wrong with that, just not for me right now.

Of course lime green modern on Etsy is still in high gear, anxiously awaiting the start of the holidays! If you are one of my 1000 Markets customers, feel free to contact me on Etsy anytime!

I am currently looking into some other handmade only sites, so I will definitely update everyone on what I decide to do.

Thanks so much for your support!

50 pairs of scissors....

2010-09-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I bet if we were able to gather all the pairs of scissors in our house in one place, it would total 50.

But does that mean I can ever find one pair? No...lol.

So this is why I created a packing/shipping station in my studio, and it is OFF LIMITS to everyone, especially my kids. :-)

Everything I need is there...bubble mailer, scale, tape, scissors, bus. cards, thank-you notes, tins, etc. I find having everything right there greatly helps with the shipping process, especially when things get busy!

Even if you just set up a temporary one for the holidays, it will save your sanity if you don't have to hunt for the scissors!

94 days until Christmas....

2010-09-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

Ok...it might be a little early to put up the tree, but believe me, I've been thinking about it.

With my online Etsy shop, I definitely feel the impact of retail Christmas shopping, and have actually already sold my first "going to be a gift" item this week.

Usually international sales really hit in October, then domestic sales in Nov./Dec. Last minute boyfriend/husband sales round it out at about Dec. 18th or so.

So why the picture of ugly boxes? Well, this year I am trying to be really prepared.

Step 1: Getting together a plethora of lime green modern tins...stickers printed and put on, lime green tissue placed inside. Sounds easy...but times that by 1200 tins and it take a bit of time.

Coming soon....Step 2: Packing/shipping station stocked and set up.

It's a Teal Kind of a Day...

2010-09-02T19:54:00.000-07:00

A little love for teal! Check out It's a Teal Kind of a Day by crystal glow design.

Art in Nature : Nature in Art

2010-08-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

Found this amazing sculpture of the Singing Trees in Vail last week at the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.

These trees were killed by the lodgepole pine beetle that has devastated many pines here in CO. The artists (Ben Roth, sculpture designer, and Brad Watsabaugh, creator) dissected the trees longitudinally from the top down with chainsaws, creating benches with the remaining half of the split trees.

Simple tiny hammered circles....

2010-08-25T19:39:00.001-07:00

Added a couple super simple tiny hammered modern circles to my shop.

Love the little touch of bright silver around the neck!

It's done!

2010-08-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

A few "after" shots of our summer project.

It's been done for two weeks, but I'm finally getting some pictures taken.

Definitely a great place to enjoy the great Colorado summer evenings!

It has to look ugly...

2010-07-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

It has to look ugly before it can look pretty again. I keep telling myself that over and over when talking about a landscaping project going on at my house this week.

I've been so preoccupied with the sounds of saws and the color of flagstone that I have not made much this week for my shop. My kids go back to school in a week, so then I will kick it in high gear then.

So here are some pics in the middle of the process.....finished product coming soon!

Etsy Finds email....

2010-07-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

So a couple days ago I'm going through the latest Etsy Finds email and, as always, I scroll through all the pictures to see what cool things are out there.

Then...there they were....my medium circle hoops in the email! I was so surprised and quickly got to work making more of that pair. :-) It was great to have a little sales boost from all the hoops!

Check out the summer jewelry guide for lots of great summer accessories.

Thank you Etsy for the feature!

Like her entrepreneurial spirit!

2010-07-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

So my DD likes to watch me in my studio and bring in her own crafts to work on, unpack tins, organize scrap paper, etc.

She always asks questions when we take things to the post office...Where is it going? What did they order? etc, etc.

So I thought it was quite industrious when she decided to set up her own shop this morning, all on her own. See picture above.

Now I'm not sure if there is such a great market for used shoes sold out of our family room, but I definitely admire her entrepreneurial spirit.

Twist of lime...

2010-07-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

Great treasury..."Sexy with a twist of lime"! Thanks for including my long wispy line earrings ZionShore.

Of course, I am partial to that lime green color. :-)

Cooler than Rio treasury....

2010-07-07T18:18:00.000-07:00

Super fun feature in the Cooler than Rio treasury designed by themefragrance. Thanks again!

You can see the full treasury here and the super cool shop of themefragrance here. Enjoy!

Great summer bag....

2010-06-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

So I was looking for a new summer bag that was lightweight, brightly colored, and modern, when I stumbled upon the store appetite....and there it was.

I'm loving the color and design, plus those large outside pockets for my phone are perfect. The purse is super well made and the screen print design is perfect. Definitely coming back for something else in the fall!

Solving the Rubik's Cube....

2010-06-16T08:10:00.001-07:00

So I just had to put up a shot of my 9-year-old son's handiwork and brain power.

After much diligence using websites dedicated to solving the cube and pages upon pages of complicated directions (that I could not understand to save my life!), he solved it!

Very proud. :-)

New fine silver tribal circle pendant...

2010-06-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

New tribal circle design from my Etsy shop.

Ever heard of precious metal clay (PMC)?

PMC is a really unique and fun material that I love to work with, but the trick with this stuff is you have to work fast! It starts to dry very quickly. Basically PMC is made up of silver particles in an organic clay binder.

This is how I create pendants from it:

-Roll out the thickness I want for the pendant (I like mine chunky, about 14 gauge after fired).

-Next imprint or draw a design . I like to use old buttons or make my own molds out of various textures I find everywhere.

-Let piece dry completely, then sand it using graduated sanding pads until it's nice and smooth.

-It's ready for the kiln so fire away! The organic clay binder is fired away leaving 99.9% pure fine silver, but it comes out looking very white and matte.

-Using a vibratory tumbler, tumble the pieces to strengthen the silver and start shining it up.

-I do a "finishing" polish on it with graduated sanding wheels until it's ultra shiny. Sometimes I oxidize (blacken) the details, sometimes not.

Spent the afternoon last weekend creating some new pendants for my shop...so check out my modern silver necklace section for some fun new summer designs.

Handwritten thank-you notes aren't dead...

2010-05-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of a stickler for the old-fashion thank-you note (just ask my kids...can't you hear them whining about it?).

I like receiving a nice note card in the mail with a handwritten thank you, as opposed to the email thank you. (Not that I haven't done the email thing when in a pinch and they are severely overdue.)

The problem is finding cards that "fit" my personality and modern taste. Then I found a gorgeous shop on Etsy called Sweet Perversion Designs. I had a really hard time choosing a set of cards, since I loved them all! But I settled on the beautiful Grazie cards in yellow.

These cards are just beautifully done, very high quality materials/printing, and packaged so nicely that I could have given them as a gift straight out of the mailer. Now I just have to decide who is worthy of my new note cards (I kid, I kid).

Now as an aside, also make sure you check out her great section, A Little Inappropriate. The one that starts with Crafty is my favorite, of course. :-)

The Japanese wave design cuff bracelet...

2010-05-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the hunt for jewelry that is unlike what I do but still pairs well with my own work. So when I saw this Japanese wave design cuff bracelet I was instantly enamored.

At first glance I thought this was done in leather. Upon reading further, the artist actually makes these out of polymer clay. What a totally cool and modern take on that material is what I was thinking.

This cuff is great to wear, as it is really lightweight and comfy against the wrist. Theshagbag shop has pretty much a color choice for everyone...hip and edgy, but a with a soft side too.

Check out her awesome shop on Etsy for lots of great cuffs and earrings... theshagbag.

Modernism in nature....

2010-05-24T10:19:00.001-07:00

The ultimate modernism in nature...plus one of my favorite colors too. A large succulent from my recent trip to Laguna Beach.

Unofficial Etsy Featured Seller....

2010-05-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

Yay...I'm a featured seller!

Well, not quite THE featured seller on Etsy, but an unofficial featured seller on a great blog.

Check it out here: unofficial featured seller-lime green modern.

Thanks so much alliteration!

Just give me a few days....

2010-05-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

I have to admit my first love is the beach, so when my DH recently had a trip for work in S. California, we all decided to tag along for a mini vacation.

Since we lived there for many years before Colorado, we visited all our favorite hang-outs, with #1 on the list being Laguna Beach.

Here we are overlooking the spectacular scenery, just north of Main Beach. Truly so breathtakingly beautiful, even on this foggy day.

Nothing quite as rejuvenating to me like a few days at the beach.

15 minutes of fame....

2010-05-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

So I'm standing in the drug store line waiting to buy some sunscreen when I get an email from Statsy (a site for tracking your Etsy store stats) that tells me an item from my shop is on the front page of Etsy.....right now!

I quickly head to Etsy's front page and see my modern bow necklace there, with a lot of other great items all found with the keyword "modern".

I'm sure the people in line with me wondered why I was smiling at my phone but, hey, I was just glowing a little for my bow's 15 minutes of fame. :-)

Scrub-a-dub-dub

2010-05-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

When I first started on Etsy, I used a lot of props with my earring pictures, so my dad found some great handmade soap in an amazing green color for me to use.

My "props" phase quickly passed and I decided my earrings just looked better photographed by themselves. But....I really loved using that soap!

Recently I decided I needed some more of that great-for-your-skin natural soap and found a wonderful shop, BeSem Natural Scents. I couldn't decide on a scent, so I decided to order the sample pack where I got to choose 6 scents.

I just love the clean scent these soaps have and I can definitely tell the difference in my skin. Check out BeSem on Etsy for all sorts of soaps, candles, and creams that smell delicious!

The black hole of my purse....

2010-05-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

So I pretty much always buy handbags with black interior lining...so when I forget to put the cap back on my Sharpie no one is the wiser. Black hides a multitude of purse spill disasters.

But the downside is that when I have all those small things floating aimlessly around (lip gloss, small brush, ponytail holder, etc;) I can never find them in the black abyss.

Enter this super cute and bright retro flower pouch I got from JPAT. It is the perfect answer to hold all those little things and the bright colors are perfect to spot in the black hole. What I love is that it makes transitioning to another purse super quick....just grab the pouch and my wallet and I'm done. Love it!

Check out her shop for all kinds of cool little pouches in different sizes and wallets in every imaginable style of fabric... JPAT Purses.

Simply amazing...Kathy Panton

2010-04-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

Anybody who knows my decor style recognizes my love for bright colors.

So when I saw these amazing prints by Kathy Panton, an Australian artist, I simply had to have them! (These are just two of the four I got!)

I can't even describe how brilliant her artwork is...really just love-at-first sight for me. Originally I got them for my studio, but I just cannot fathom tucking them away in a space where I often have to shut the door because of the mess factor. :-) So they are going to be hung somewhere front and center.

If you love these pieces too, check out Kathy Panton's shop on Etsy.

Fresh and clean...

2010-04-24T16:16:00.001-07:00

It's almost here.

Summer....my favorite season.

Felt like sprucing up the blog, so I did a little almost-summer makeover. Clean white background, more modern fonts, and some brightly colored pictures...really makes me hopeful that the winter gray foot-of-snow on the ground days are gone.

Modern meets nature...

2010-04-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

Modern meets nature in the most amazing way.

Happened to be searching modern abstract art and these just hit me...absolutely love them.

And I share a first name with the artist...cool. These tree rings are definitely on my "will buy soon" list.

Check out more really cool work in his Etsy shop Focus Line Art .

Being carefree...

2010-04-02T22:41:00.001-07:00

So last week I was reminiscing a bit with the very first piece of jewelry I ever bought.

It got me thinking about my childhood....that carefree feeling, where excitement meant learning to read a new word, a tooth under the pillow for the tooth fairy, or waiting to hear the hooves of Santa's reindeer...totally, wholeheartedly believing.

Visual things are powerful reminders for me.

The ring above, as you might have guessed, is one I remember wearing on my middle finger as a child. I don't have any idea where I got it or anything about it, but just remember getting to "be a child" wearing it. That feeling of being taken care of...no worries or concerns looming or constantly thinking ahead.

I only hope my 4-year-old daughter (whose hand is now wearing it) can remember those wonderful feelings of feeling loved "just because".

Feel free to leave me a comment about something that invokes one of your best childhood memories...would love to hear it!

This is what started it all...

2010-03-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

I've been a minimalist my whole life, except when it comes to my personal jewelry.

I don't think I've ever gotten rid of any piece I've ever bought or been given. From cheap trinkets I bought as a teenager, to beautiful vintage pieces from my grandmothers, I still have them all.

1990s: Classic silver hoops of all sizes: check.

1980s: Giant obnoxious bright (fake) gold earrings to my shoulders: check.

1970s: The clay pendant that started my jewelry addiction: check.

That's the pendant in the picture above, still a part of my jewelry box. I bought it (with my own money) way back in first grade (circa 1976). ----You don't need to do the math: I'm 40 and am totally OK with that.-----I still love the funky 70's hippy feel of it and don't think I'll ever give it away.

Now if only I had kept all those lovely bell bottoms and 80's sweaters too, I could be doing a vintage store on Etsy...lol. I think I better stick to jewelry.

Thank you...

2010-03-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

Main Entry: thank–you

Pronunciation: \ˈthaŋk-ˌyü\

Function: noun

Etymology: from the phrase thank you used in expressing gratitude

Date: 1792

: a polite expression of one's gratitude

Thank you Merriam-Webster's Dictionary for that definition.

Now my mom always taught me that is was proper to write a thank-you note, and I have passed this tradition along to my kids (though begrudgingly on their end) for various birthday and Christmas gifts. (It may not get done for a month, but it will get done!)

But what about a business? I feel that handcrafted items have a mix of personal and business, so I like to write a handwritten thank-you note (with my favorite ultra-fine Sharpie) when sending out all my items.

I happily personalize thank-you notes to my buyers sending gifts, and I usually get the biggest "thank you" from them for that. No giant-business computer generated sterile gift card message from a mega-store, but an actual pen-on-paper personalization just for them.

So thank you for stopping by my blog! :-)

Need a day at the beach...

2010-03-20T17:32:00.000-07:00

Today I just needed a beach day, since we have a foot of snow on the ground.

This is a difficult task, since I live in CO now, so I was perusing some of our archived pictures from our old stomping ground Laguna Beach, CA. We lived in that area for 10 years before heading to CO.

Found this sweet photo of my son (who is now 9!) and just thought it looked like a good time. Hanging out in the baby jogger with not a care in the world.

Can't wait for May when we are heading out there for a few days. :-)

Lime Green Modern live and in person....

2010-03-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

So I was posting in the Etsy forums one day and "met" another Etsy seller who was talking about their holiday mall kiosk. Intrigued I popped into her shop....it was full of super cute kid's items.

A quick look at her location and I noticed she was located right here in Colorado too. Lo and behold, her kiosk was at the Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, CO, the mall closest to me.

Fast forward a few months....she decided to open a kiosk full time with great mommy & baby items and asked me to have some of my jewelry there.

So if you are at Park Meadows Mall...check out the great kiosk of Mama Always Said, right outside Banana Republic (how convenient, another of my favs).

Her kiosk looks fabulous, and I'm super thrilled my bow is selling so well for her. :-)

Seatbelt envy...

2010-03-01T20:18:00.001-08:00

So I have loved this messenger bag for absolutely forever. Love the cool industrial edge it has, of course the deep black color, and it's great that it's making use of a material in a unique way....seatbelts. Plus it's handcrafted, so a win-win.

I keep hearting it, and rehearting it (Etsy speak for favorites) each time it sells.

The next big milestone I reach...I know exactly what I am buying. :-)

If you love this bag too, check out the ultra cool shop of a la mode.

Update: 3/20/10 Well, my ultra sneaky and generous mom and dad snuck in and got this bag for me as a gift after seeing my blog.

Can I just tell you that this bag is simply amazing in every way! I was so confused when I saw the package in the mail because I recognized the return address -alamode- and was wondering how I was receiving this ultra cool bag out of nowhere. I found the little personal message alamode included in the gift and it all made sense.

Love it!

Simply black....

2010-02-17T19:24:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite combinations...silver and a little dash of black.....simple, clean, modern.

I liked the look of the solo red earrings I recently did for Valentine's Day, so I decided to do an ever-classic solo black pair.

Enjoy!

As Valentine's Day as I can get...

2010-02-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

So I bought some cute little heart beads recently to see if I could learn to love the heart...no luck.

Instead, this is my nod to Valentine's Day....the simple garnet oval. Not sure if Hallmark would approve, but I like them and would wear them, so that's what counts in my book.

Happy Valentine's Day, however you like to celebrate it.

Paralysis by Analysis...

2010-02-01T10:28:00.000-08:00

Okay...so who knew a 1.67" sticker could take such a ridiculous amount of creative energy.

I have gone through a myriad of shop labels in the year that lime green modern has been open...some decent, some adequate, and some just downright embarrassing.

This was my number one priority on my 2010 to-do list, but the problem is that I suffer from this really bad affliction my husband lovingly calls Paralysis by Analysis. I know what I DON'T like, but I have a hard time nailing down what I do like. I just can't decide, so I put it off. Procrastination at its best.

So I had been working on the above label for days....had the lime green modern done, as well as the handcrafted jewelry, but I couldn't find the little edge I wanted for the top.

My DH walks in, tells me to put a small thin line at the top...and poof, we were done. I loved it. I have now promoted him to my Chief Graphic Designs Editor.

Maybe this label idea will stick around..

I love elfa...before/after studio shots

2010-01-29T20:45:00.000-08:00

You know what your room looks like when you decide to clean the closet, get everything out and have it in piles around the room, and then decide you are too tired to finish?

Well, that was a pretty good visual of my studio before its storage makeover. It was a mish-mash of whatever we had left over...2 old desks and a printer stand that's wobbly.

Now I'm an IKEA girl at heart, but unfortunately the closest one to me is 569 miles away...a little too far to drive, and for large purchases I need to see the product before I buy.

So last summer I got the elfa catalog and quietly waited until this January for their twice-yearly sale to snag my 30% off.

Let me just say, it was soooo worth the wait....absolutely love my elfa shelving. Nine feet of glorious counterspace and 30 wire-mesh drawers that hold an incredible amount of supplies.

The upside....kind of like when you get a new bike. You really want to keep it nice and new, so I have been making a concerted effort to keep things clean.

Finally my studio feels more like my minimalist style.

My newest ring obsession....the pebble stacking ring from Spiral Stone

2010-01-25T15:04:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted to visit the other side of the world, mainly the coastline of Australia and New Zealand. I am definitely a "beach" person at heart...I have simply always loved the majestic zen feel about it.

So as I was perusing the ring section of Etsy (a very bad habit I have), and I happened upon this most amazing ring. Besides the beautiful handcrafted work and gorgeous combination of dark/light stones with silver, I also loved the story behind it.

This one-of-a-kind ring, a little piece of wearable art, was created from small pebbles that the Australian artist collected on a "recent visit to a wild and stony beach along the rugged coastline of New Zealand".

As fate would have it, she had made it in my exact size, so it was basically meant for me. It arrived today and I couldn't love it more.

If you love her naturally organic yet modern style, I'd recommend taking a look at her blog and reading about her inspiration, as well as visiting her amazing shop Spiral Stone.

Happy Australia Day! (Jan. 26th)

Etsy reveals....Designs with Attitude

2010-01-23T22:53:00.000-08:00

The last installment on my Etsy Christmas gift spree.....figured I can still write about them since I haven't even finished writing my thank-you notes. Emily Post would be mortified, but I digress.

So what do you get the guy who has everything AKA my dad, especially when what he really wants is $$$ camera equipment. Well, you get him something that works well with his other love....wine.

Saw this beautiful blue glass wine stop at the shop of Design with Attitude-Distinctive Creations in Glass and it fit the bill perfectly. Think I might have found a new theme for Christmas gifts for my dad.

Etsy reveals....LvoffStudio

2010-01-19T15:12:00.000-08:00

So people think because I create jewelry, I wouldn't want to wear jewelry made by someone else, but the exact opposite is true when it comes to rings.

I am not a collector by nature, but suddenly I find myself searching for uber-cool handcrafted rings every time I'm on Etsy. It has become a bit of an obsession and could easily become out of control if it wasn't for me purposely keeping a low Paypal balance. :-)

This blue Peruvian opal ring is one that my mom spotted when I made a comment on Twitter about how much I loved it...and I had also put it in my favorites.

I was so surprised when I received it for a present, because I had actually been disappointed when I saw that it had sold. I remember thinking that person was lucky. But who knew that lucky person would be me.

Check out the great shop of LvoffStudio for some really amazing work!

First anniversary....

2010-01-19T00:04:00.000-08:00

Well, it's officially lime green modern's first anniversary!

Just wanted to say a quick thanks for all the great support all of you have given me this year on this exciting endeavor.

I have started an official newsletter...so if you would like to get the scoop first on special sales for subscriber's only, feel free to sign up in the newsletter box on the right. (Promise they are very occasional and I definitely keep addresses to myself!)

*******Blowing out candle now!*******

Etsy reveals...Duct Tuff

2010-01-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

So I really wanted to do much of my holiday purchasing on Etsy....but I also know the average teenager really wants cold hard cash. After a quick search I found the perfect gift for my nephew.

Enter the duct tape wallet. Yes, it really is made entirely out of duct tape. Super cool, and when you tuck some cash into the new wallet, well, I thought it made a great gift.

I liked it so much that I also bought my husband an all black one and he loves it!

Check out the great shop of Duct Tuff for an innovative twist on the old wallet.

Etsy reveals...Daily Sip Studios

2010-01-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

"I am located in Chicago, where I live with my husband, and our three wine fridges."

Now how can you not buy from someone with a great sense of humor and an amazing modern style?

This is the third gift in my Etsy reveals series...a gift to my brother and his wife. I heard through the family grape vine that they wanted dishes, so I got them a gift card to one of their favorite shops so they could pick some out.

But I wanted something a little more personalized to put the gift card in....enter these super cool cards. I chose the blue/yellow/gray combo, had their names added, and it was perfect!

There are many amazing choices for your modern stationary cravings at Daily Sip Studios. I know I'll be back, but next time, it will be for me. :-)

Thanks again Kimberly!

Etsy reveals...Muse Silk Paintings

2010-01-08T16:57:00.000-08:00

So we are on to the second gift reveal of my Christmas gift buying extravaganza on Etsy! Now that the recipients have their gifts, I thought I would share some great shops with you guys.

These colors instantly grabbed me...beautiful hand painted swirls in turquoise, coral, olive green, to name a few.

What's cool about this piece is not only is it art work, it's art work to wear. I chose this scarf for my mom as a Christmas gift from the great shop of Muse Silk Paintings.

I love the organic feel of her work and my mom loved her scarf! Thanks again!

Etsy reveals...Drawworm

2010-01-02T11:08:00.001-08:00

So this year I decided to buy Christmas gifts for my family from Etsy to support handmade artists. (Minus the Barbies, Legos, and Wii must-haves for my nieces/nephews and my own kiddos). :-)

Couldn't reveal them until now on the off chance that one of them reads this blog!

First up, the most amazing drawing of my kids (a gift for my mom and dad) from Drawworm. I simply emailed her the photo and received the most incredible drawing. It was so spot-on...I was truly blown away. I had it framed and it was a huge hit!

It took her 6 hours over 3 days to do it and she sent me "progress" pics to make sure I liked how it was coming along. If you would like to see this exact picture in progress, check out her blog post.

If you want a fabulous drawing for yourself, take a look at her amazing Etsy shop.

Thanks again Drawworm!!

Have a great holiday....

2009-12-19T14:41:00.000-08:00

What a first year!

I really have to thank all the really great customers that I have had this year. I never would have thought my "little" idea to open a modern jewelry shop would have been so well received by so many great people from all over the world.

Wishing you the best for the holidays....and a rockin' start to the New Year too!

Tracy
lime green modern

Color....one step at a time....

2009-12-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

Anyone who know me knows that I keep things pretty basic for my wardrobe...black, black, and more black...with a dash of dark denim. An occasional charcoal item if I'm feeling lively.

What got me to this point...sort of a mix of laziness, aversion to pattern, and well, black takes out the guesswork if its clean. The rule is black is always clean and matches everything.

So lately I have been stepping it up a bit and adding a lot more color to my earrings...thought I would share a few with you. Maybe it's the holiday spirit and a tree loaded with brightly colored ornaments that sparked this, but we'll see.

For now, all the color I wear is dangling from my ears. Maybe I'll turn over a new leaf in 2010 and wear something red...oh my.

My bow's 15 minutes of fame....

2009-11-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

My bow is having its 15 minutes of fame on the front page of 1000 Markets today.

simple. clean. modern.

http://www.1000markets.com/users/limegreenmodern/collections/14120/products/45358

Just the details....

2009-11-20T09:43:00.003-08:00

Just a few details from our basement finishing....6 months after the fact. :-)

Ode to the Tilt-A-Whirl...

2009-10-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

I'm usually not one for outright campy stuff...but sometimes if it's so over-the-top kitschy, I'm hooked.

This explains my long-standing love for the Tilt-A-Whirl....have just always loved this ride. And who can resist coasting around a man-made lake in a giant white swan or watching the random 3-year-old scream (I think a happy scream?) on the swing ride.

Recently went on a little family outing to this old-school amusement park just outside of Denver...really feels like you are out at some random State Fair, minus the colorful carnival folks that usually run these things. That day we just got a bunch of disinterested teenagers making sure we were seat belt compliant and wouldn't spit off the ferris wheel.

Nonetheless...was fun to see my 8yo DS and 4 yo DD have a blast, while their geeky mom was taking close-ups of the rides.

And in case you are also fascinated by the Tilt-A-Whirl...check out Wikipedia for interesting random facts about the best ride ever. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilt-A-Whirl

Can I blog about a blog?

2009-10-18T21:47:00.000-07:00

Can I blog about a blog? Well, sure I can...it's mine and I can do what I want. :-)

The fun thing about lime green modern is when something unexpected happens, like being asked to do a solo exhibit of my jewelry for the blog Etsystalker.

Too fun I think...but those poor girls don't realize how wordy I can be when asked for an interview...lol.

They were great sports and Violet put together a really cool write-up that I am super honored to be a part of.

Violet and Beatrice, the curators of Etsystalker, have an amazing website, with tons of great photos and articles all about Etsy artisans.

One of the best parts...lots of giveaways!! Definitely bookmark this lovely blog for really great chances to win some really cool things.

And this week one of those things are my up-square-overs...just comment to have a chance to win.

Enjoy! www.etsystalker.com Just look to the right and you'll see my earrings.

Artisan Eye Candy....

2009-10-06T22:05:00.001-07:00

There's this great site out there that combines amazing photography with artisan work of every persuasion, inspiring the soul to push the limits with their art.

A juried site, craft gawker is truly eye candy for anyone interested in artisan crafts, great photography, or both.

I'm happy to say the two items above (from my lime green modern shop) were recently accepted for viewing here:

http://www.craftgawker.com/

My Pink Tutu Observation....

2009-10-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes an observation hits me that just makes me laugh and this is one of them.

I don't believe my need for minimalism has been passed down to my daughter...here is her adorable Halloween costume that she chose from many (MANY) tutu choices that I had hearted for her.

But the kicker is she wanted to know if she could also wear a pink shirt and get pink sparkly shoes for this ensemble. To her, well, more is more.

Maybe I need to loosen my grip for the austere and have a pink tutu day every once in awhile.

Thank you Sweetie Pie Tutus for this adorable fairy princess set that my DD simply loves to death. See her great shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6622893

Closet Barbie lover....

2009-09-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

Ok...this is kind of random...but was searching through Etsy the other day and found these Barbie shoe earrings. So fun!

Wow...intense flashback of how much I loved my Barbies. Complete deja vous of my 17 well-loved Barbies, with varying stages of "haircuts" I had given them, from my childhood.

Sometimes we need little reminders of when life was so simple...and all I had to do for the day was play with my Barbies.

Love these earrings? Check out this shop, aptly named Random Quirks... http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5518557

Which one?

2009-08-31T21:30:00.001-07:00

Here are the choices for the front of my new cards...which one do you like better?

Love these so much...thanks so much Amy from "Bean Sprout Studio":http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6258023

The back is green with my two shop websites...very minimal and clean.

So top or bottom? Leave me a comment or tweet me back!

http://twitter.com/limegreenmodern

Texture and color in man-made materials....

2009-07-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

As much as I love taking macro pictures of nature, I also love to get up-close-and-personal with interesting textures and colors in man-made objects.

Something as boring as a rusty fence, old gate, or playground set can be transformed into something cool when you cut all the mundane and get super close.

Here's a day in Vail...close up....bridge to the gondola lift up the moutain, a Harley engine, and a criss-cross rope at the Pirate Ship park.

Texture and color in nature....

2009-07-02T20:46:00.001-07:00

It is amazing to me how texture and color in nature is always perfect...not too much, not too little.

I sometimes struggle with extreme minimalism...can't even stand to clutter up perfect simple hammered wire with one bead. Other days I'm in the mood for adding a little pop.

Taking a camera out for a stroll in Vail always brings back interesting natural patterned perfection. Gotta love a macro setting to see things you wouldn't normally see.

Inspiring...simple...perfect.

Fresh air....

2009-07-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just need to turn off the computer, get outside, and do some exploring. Pictures from our recent excursion doing just that...didn't even have cell phone reception!

Bear Lake, Rocky Mt. Natl. Park, 1.5 hours northwest of Denver

One Lovely Blog Award

2009-06-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

What a great day....Studio 618 and HJM Art Gallery have both granted me the "One Lovely Blog" award this weekend and many thanks to you all!

Studio 618 is a practicing licensed architect as well as a fabulous jewelry artisan/metalsmith from California. Check out Studio 618 on Etsy http://studio618.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6055023 and Studio 618 blog http://studio618.blogspot.com/

HJM Art Gallery is an amazing professional artist who brings a fresh and unique voice to abstract art. Take a moment to enjoy her gorgeous Etsy shop here http://hjmart.etsy.com/ and a great blog http://hjmart.blogspot.com/

Now I am passing this blog award on. This is what you need to know: Accept the award, post it on your blog along with the person that granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you've discovered and remember to let the bloggers know that you have given them the award.

Here are my nominees:

My Daily Domestic Diary http://dailydomesticdiary.blogspot.com/

moddyboy80 http://moddyboy80.blogspot.com/

azurine http://bijouxazurine.blogspot.com/

kismet1990design http://kismet1990design.blogspot.com/

Paper Cakes Finds http://papercakesfinds.blogspot.com/

Shrimp Salad Circus http://shrimpsaladcircus.blogspot.com/

Studio6or7 http://studio6or7.blogspot.com/

The Daily Sip http://thedailysip.blogspot.com/

The Pink Samurai http://thepinksamurai.blogspot.com/

the rikrak studio http://rikrakstudio.blogspot.com/

trendy cards http://trendycardsblog.blogspot.com/

sweeter than me http://kristinfriesen.blogspot.com/

Indigo Rain-a bit of whimsy http://goindigorain.blogspot.com/

Hands Full, Heart Full, Quiver Full http://www.kellerfamilyof9.com/

Good Dirt Jewelry http://gooddirtjewelry.blogspot.com/

**Pardon all my long visible links...not techie enough to figure out how to hypertext each name** Baby steps!

Ice cream sandwiches....

2009-06-19T22:48:00.000-07:00

I love summer and this is why:

Ice cream sandwiches, a little color to your skin, comfy light clothes in fun colors, sandy beaches, no making school lunches every am, hanging out in the cul-de-sac watching kids play until 8:30 pm, grilling dinner outside every night, Adirondack chairs, heading up to Vail for the day, the smell of chlorine and sunscreen at the pool....

I could go on forever...hope your summer is off to a great start....