Getting Close...

Photo courtesy of:  http://bluepueblo.tumblr.com/

Hi everyone! My London trip is only two short weeks away and I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I do have enough to keep me busy until then and have been swamped with things to do and ship this past week,  so I know that the time to leave with be quickly upon me. I have, however, had time to plan and daydream about my upcoming trip a little here and there and these are a few "must do's" I'm planning ......a MUST Do is to ride the London Eye, I hear you can see all of London's great monuments from this attraction and the photo 'opps' are beyond great.

One thing I did not get to see last year and is at the very top of the To Do list for this year, is......

Harrod's!

Photo courtesy of:   http://pinterest.com/pin

I am dying to have 'high tea' in London so  Mary Kay and I have already booked ourselves for High Tea at Harrod's on the very day we set foot in London! The photo below is an actual tea service at Harrod's....

Photo courtesy of:    http://travelerswhotea.blogspot.com/p/des-tea-nations.html 

Another "MUST SEE" this year is.... St. Paul's Cathedral

Photo courtesy of:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St_Paul%27s_Cathedral,_London

I absolutely love big cathedrals, and I want to see and stand where Diana stood on her big day.



And there is definitely going to be a return visit to....

Photo courtesy of:   http://travelingcolors.tumblr.com/post/23946229781/the-union-bowlers-in-portobello-road-market 

Portobello Road!

There were so many lovely antiquites down this long road and market, that we are definitely going back again this year to this awesome shopping destination!

And here are some new pieces I have been working on lately...

My new collection "Divine Love"... features bracelets and earrings made from old religious medals and crosses accented with gorgeous freshwater pearls and gemstones....

The "Divine Love" collection will start to debut in my Etsy shop tonight!

Thank you all for stopping by to visit, I must run now, because we have a hurricane a coming!!!

(Hopefully I can get some good pics of this one!)    ;-)

Ready to Create...

Hi everyone! I am back from a few days of driving the southeast and it seems as if that is all hubby and I managed to accomplish on the last few days of our "drive-fest" getaway. It was A LOT of driving, try like, 30 hours of it, and we passed through 5 different states trying to get to our destination. Not lost, just picking up music equipment and transporting it to my hubby's new recording studio he's building in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. The good thing to come out of the trip for me??? ANTIQUING!!! Yes, I got to undergo some antique therapy at one of my favorite little antique spots in North Carolina. 

And here is part of the score....

...I found some exquisite old cameo earrings...

...and an old vintage hand cut citrine gemstone strand...

...and lots of deco and nouveau rhinestone bling...

...and a gorgeous old Edwardian belt buckle...

...and yes, I just had to have that sweet little old doll head! Don't know what I am doing with her yet, but I just fell in love that sweet, sweet face. And check out the "ultimate score" to the left of her head...

Real, vintage, genuine, gorgeous seahorses....LOVE!

I think all of that driving and riding stirred my creativity because I have managed to create a little upon returning...

You know me and those old lockets! I have to fill them with something...so I filled it using an old prayer card image that was in a box of vintage goodies I bought last year from Petite Michelle Louise, (she has an awesome selection of vintage French ephemera and religious memorabilia). I also added vintage silk and a vintage holy medal for an extra surprise inside.

I've always loved antique St. George and the Dragon medals. Here's a necklace I just finished that features a gorgeous old detailed one...

And finally, I just have to share these pictures I snapped of this really cute automobile we passed on the interstate coming home from our trip...

...check out Miss Barbie and her hair blowing in the wind!

Seeing this on the way home gave me such a great laugh right when I needed it most. That last leg of our grand southeast tour was about ready to get the best of me!

Okay, off to work on some special orders!The new necklaces are coming to Etsy tonight! New earrings and holy medal bracelets coming mid week. Take care, and see you back here in a few days everyone.

French Cuffs...

Detailed vintage French embroidery, soft supple leather, cool old buckles, a bit of bling, and sweet vintage religious charms....

 

...make up my latest collection of one of a kind vintage cuffs...

"Sweet Faces"...

...and old "Top Hats"....

...All coming to my Etsy shop this evening!

Going to my 'happy place' this week! Hope to do some antiquing, will see you back here in a few days my friends. Thank you for stopping by!!!

Something Different....

Bonjour blog friends! Hope everyone is having an exciting and fun weekend. As for me, it has been full of 'sewing' (yes, I said sewing) and the Olympics. I must admit I have a bad case of Olympic fever this go around. All the athletes participating are so talented and inspiring! They are so motivating and moving to watch perform, and they have the amazing ability to "dig deep" in the heat of the moment. I am so in awe...

Anyone else enjoying them as much as me?

...also, I have managed to create a few new pieces with the antique French embroidery I acquired last week. The pieces have required a lot of sewing, which is very time consuming. But I don't mind, I happen to love sewing and have known how since I was a little girl. Here are a few of the pieces I have managed to get finished while glued to the Olympics....

....and how about these two U.S. Olympic teams this week.....

photo courtesy of Fitsugar.com

...The boys of our U.S. Swim team, what cutie pies and more importantly, such gifted athletes!!!!

....and how adorable are the ladies U.S. Gymnastics team?...

photo courtesy of savvysugar.com

...these girls really know how to handle the pressure of competition and are such incredible young athletes.

And oh my, the runners of the Olympics!!! Their endurance, power, and athleticism on the track leaves me speechless and awe-struck!

Congratulations and 'job well done' to all of our incredibly talented Olympians.

Okay, off to watch more Olympics!  ;~)  

See you in a few days with more one of a kind, French embroidered pieces of jewelry!!!