Summer, where do I begin?....

I've been very remiss in blogging, but I have been busy with lots of little projects throughout the summer with the kiddo.   I never really expect to create tons of jewelry throughout the year, so when I have burst of creativity I'm thrilled and when I have long dry spells I'm okay with that too.  I've always said my family comes first, hence the reason I quit my corporate career to take on my Mommy career. 

Summer has been a whirlwind of activities for our family; summer camps, swimming lessons, day trips, ball games, birthday parties, gardening and crafts with a handful of jewelry projects tossed in.

July was our busiest month, but I did manage to produce a few new pieces of jewelry;

I've also been doing lots of projects with the kiddo and we have enjoyed spending the time creating little works of art that can be used around the house.  The kiddo also sold the Suncatchers at a little Craft Market for Kids (all but 3 sold!).
 

We've have been doing some Urban Farming using planters on our deck.  We have enjoyed growing Tomatoes, Carrots, Brocolli, Strawberries, an assortment of Herbs and Rhubarb.  We are already planning next years crops and hoping to expand a bit, we're definitely thinking Peas, Cucumbers and Lettuce will need to be added next year. :)

So, I hope your summer is as much as fun as ours and that you are making lots of special memories.

All the best,
Traci

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www.facebook.com/DowntownGlam

Thankful Thursday...

Its a rainy Thursday here, but there is still so much beauty in the day.  Stepping outside this morning you could smell the freshness of the clean air, the sweetness of fragrant blooming trees, the lushness of the greenest grass and feel a slight coolness on your skin.  Just a gorgeous, rainy day!  All these little gifts make-up a beautiful package and opening the front door this morning was like opening this natural, wonderful present that was filled with so many small surprises that made a spectacular larger present to please the soul. What a great way to start the day (with a "gift")!

Hope you have a wonderful Thursday and are thankful for your many "gifts."

Take care,

Traci

Visit me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/DowntownGlam

Visit my Etsy Shop at: www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam

Thankful Thursday

There are days that are more trying than others, then there are the days that seem like pure perfection.  Life has a way of balancing itself out even when we don't always appreciate the subtle reminders that we are not always in control of what happens.  However, I find Spring time refreshing and renewing and a time of new beginnings.  

Spring time brings so much wonderment to everything.  Watching the leaves push out of the branches, the flowers popping up (and yes, even the dandelions, I love dandelions!  They were my grandfather's favorite flower because he figured they had to be God's favorite too, why else would he make so many of them.  Seemed like wise words to me growing up. :)), the smell of freshly cut grass, a soft rain, the freshness after a rain,  baby birds chirping for their momma's, everything is so alive.  I try to focus on all these amazing, naturally occurring wonders that we are blessed with and I am thankful for yet another year to witness new growth, new life, new beginnings. 

I am thankful for life, thankful for God's many blessings, 

thankful for the reminder that there are always new beginnings.

Have a beautiful day and remember to count your blessings.

All the best,
Traci

A little of this, a little of that...

I haven't been working with art beads lately, as I have been having lots of fun with wire work.  However, I took on a little challenge with a very good friend and we decided to each make a pair of earrings to jump start each others inspiration (it was actually a good kick in the butt). :)  I didn't make anything too fancy, but I did come up with some great everyday earrings that could be worn with just about everything throughout the summer.
 

Once I finished the earrings, I started looking at my ever growing art beads.  I have bought from a few new (to me) artist and have really been wanting to make something with their beautiful art beads.  Again, inspiration has been lacking the last while, but these two designs came about quite quickly and nicely (in my opinion).

Yolanda's Clay Art Beads

Gaea Pendants Art Beads

Thankful Thursday....

I haven't posted in a VERY long time and well, today is the day I snap out of it!  I've been really down in the dumps and its certainly not because I have a bad life.  I have everything I need in life.  I've just been having some inner-struggles lately and certainly don't mean to upset or disappoint my family or friends.  Its funny, I watch so many young people think they are the only ones trying to find their way in this world, when the truth of the matter is, we all are.  It doesn't matter how how old we are, how young we are, we all are looking for something, something that makes us matter, makes us feel, makes us special, makes us feel accepted, makes us who we are.  

Yesterday, I spent a lot of dedicated time with my little one and we had so much fun (and yes, I spend lots of dedicated time with my kiddo, yesterday I was more aware of the value of this time than I have been in a long time).  

Lately, I have felt like I am only known as the mother of my child or my husband's wife and I completely know its who I am.  People don't phone to see how I am doing, they call to check in on my family and I get that if you want to know about our little family I am probably the best person to ask because I am the one who knows how everyone is doing, what everyone's schedule is and so on.  So, I've been feeling pretty invisible lately, kind of insignificant, not saying I need to be the person in the spotlight, cause that certainly isn't me either, I'm good blending.  

However, yesterday after spending an incredibly fun day with my kiddo, I realized I am special because of these two very important people in my life.  I am special because they honor me with being a part of their lives.  They trust me to keep them organized and ready for the world I send them off into every day.  They know I will be there when they need a shoulder to lean on.  They know I will listen to the great accomplishments they have or the incredibly bad day they may have had.  They know I love them and my life is not complete without them. 

What I do may not seem so special or glamorous to some.  Yes, I do a lot of laundry, I clean the house, I clean the toilet, scrub the shower, I don't go to a so-called "9-5" job, but my job is important.  I work 24/7/365.  And yes, I may complain a little (or a lot) some days, but who doesn't complain about their "9-5" job.  Some days I feel like Bill Murray in Groundhogs Day, I live the same routine over and over again, but its this routine that makes my family feel secure, loved and taken care of.  In all honesty, I could have gone back to work full time after having my kiddo and I could be very successful in the corporate world, I could easily pay for childcare, but we made choices.  Some people agree with our choices, some people do not.  Some people don't think I contribute to our lives because I'm not earning a wage, but I think what we have is beyond what I could have earned in the last 6 years...

We have a happy child.  We have a good life.  We are healthy.  We have a roof over our heads.  We have 2 cars (more than some people who work have).  We have family hugs.  We go on family "adventures".  We have respect for one another.  We say please, thank you and bless you when someone sneezes.  We comfort one another.  I don't remember any of these points in any of my past work contracts.  So, yes, I'm pretty lucky.  Although, my job is sometimes repetitive and feel like its invisible, it also comes with incredible perks.  So, yes, I have a lot to be thankful for and I do know I matter and that I do have a purpose.   I just lose my way every now and again, the tunnel becomes very narrow and I can't always see the light at the end.  However, when I do have my A-Ha moment its very real and most often very sweetly in the form of a hug from my boys.

So yes, I am thankful today and every day for the boys in my life that make me important.

A little project me and my kiddo worked on yesterday. :)

Have a wonderful day and I hope you spend a little time counting your blessings like I have. :)

All the best,

Traci

 

Thanks for listening as I ramble on. :)

Contest I'm entered in...

(Click on picture to enlarge it)

The Beads of Clay group is running a contest, the person who creates the banner they use next wins some awesome bead goodness.  I created this banner.  Hope you vote for it when the time comes to vote. :)

Thanks,
Traci

Thankful Thursday....

I am thankful for great big monkey hugs from my kiddo.

I've been having quite a few down days lately and nothing picks me up more than having his little arms wrapped around my neck.

Hope your Thursday is filled with lots of hugs and happy moments.

All the best,

Traci

Visit me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DowntownGlam

Shop Online at www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam

Thankful Thursday

(iPhonography by Downtown Glam)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am thankful for a simple heart drawn on a piece of paper given to me from my kiddo.  

No Hallmark or Carlton card could top that.

Hope you have a terrific Thursday.

All the best,

Traci

Follow me on Facebook at Downtown Glam.

Shop in my Etsy Store.

Busy, busy, busy...

I have been so busy with special projects and family stuff that it appears February is flying by, but at least its all been fun. :)  Here are a few of the special business projects I have been doing so far this month.

I have created a one-of-a-kind necklace for The C eFfort - Conquering CF Foundation.  They are holding their annual fundraising gala on April 12, 2013 and the theme this year is a Masquerade Ball - "Behind the mask a hidden illness lives."   The amazing Elaine Ray created the ceramic mask for me to start with and I am quite please at the end result of this piece.  This necklace is for auction online, hop over and have a look, maybe place a bid, ships worldwide. :)  You can also buy tickets to the Masquerade Ball, all proceeds go to Cystic Fibrosis Research.

 

The other thing I've been working on is 50 copper buttons for a Bead Cruise.  I am a sponsor and have donated my copper buttons for the bead cruise and they will be used in a project on the cruise.  Hope the ladies all have fun! :)

You can purchase my buttons in my online shop.

OK, well, that was a quick update of work stuff happening this month.  Have a great day!

All the best,
Traci

Come follow me on Facebook at Downtown Glam.

Thankful Thursday...

(iPhonography by me)

Another Thursday and another day to be thankful.  

Today, I am thankful for each day that I wake up, take another breath and have a beautiful, happy & healthy family.

Have a great day and remember to reflect on your many blessings today.

All the best,

Traci

Come follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DowntownGlam

Where you can find my jewelry: www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam

Happy Friday Giveaway Winners...

The winners are (as per random org);

 Giveaway 1: Charms - Cheri

Giveaway 2: Buttons - SomethingUnique

Congratulations to the winners.  Please send me an email with your mailing address at gettagift at shaw dot ca.

Thank you to everyone who participated.  Buttons and charms are available for purchase in my Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Traci

Thankful Thursday...

(iPhonography by me)

Today, I am thankful for my Mom, she's always there when I need her.

 

When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
Tecumseh

Have a wonderful Thursday and remember to reflect on all the blessings this day brings to you.

All the best,

Traci

www.facebook.com/DowntownGlam

www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam

STOP! Hammer time...and Giveaway!

Somehow I feel like I should be wearing really baggy pants and doing some MC Hammer dancing.  I've been spending a lot of time at the hammer and torch this week.  It started as an experiment and I am really enjoying making these new hammer copper penny buttons and charms.  They can be ordered either heat patinaed or not (just plain copper). 

And of course, I have made some plain hammered copper penny buttons.  

Below is a finished custom order.  The customer wanted the charms to just have designs and no words, she also wanted some heat patinaed and some not.

I can see a lot of uses for these little buttons, sweaters, jewelry, shirts, hats, etc..  So, to kick things off I'm going to have a little giveaway.  I will select 2 winners, 1 will win a set of 3 charms (picture below) and the other will win a set of 2 plain buttons.  I will choose the winners from the comments left on this blog post by random picker.  

 GIVEAWAY 1: Set of 3 Charms

GIVEAWAY 2: Set of 2 Buttons

How can you win?

1.) Leave a comment on this blog post

2.) Share this blog post on your Facebook Page

3.) Tweet this blog post

4.) Follow my blog

For each item you do leave a separate comment. 

Have fun and I will choose the winners on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. (MST).

OK, I am off for a little more Hammer Time.  Have a great day and thanks for visiting.

All the best,
Traci

You can purchase my buttons and charms in my Etsy Shop at Downtown Glam.

www.facebook.com/DowntownGlam
www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam

Experimenting....

Things got a little back to normal today, so I decided it was time to try a few new things.  I have been hammering a lot of copper lately.  I thought I would try using a flame to the copper to get that lovely patina look and I LOVED it!  Then I got a crazy notion to try stamping and then take the flame to them, OH MY!  I'm hooked.  Here's a sampling of what I started to do today.  

 

 A couple hammered and patina'd sets, I think they will make great earrings! (picture above)

Then I decided it was time to try stamping them and made these charms. (pictures below)

Ok, so if I could make earring charms and these fancy little stamped charms, then why not BUTTONS!!

Here's where it gets really crazy for me, STAMPED BUTTONS!

So, I was thinking of adding these to my Etsy Shop. Let me know what you think?  I had a lot of fun today and can see a lot of possibilities for me.

All the best,

Traci

www.facebook.com/DowntownGlam

www.esty.com/shop/downtownglam

A little of this and a little of that...

This week has been a little all over the map.  I've had a sick kiddo all week, home from school all week, so my time making jewelry has been limited (which is perfectly fine).  I did have some time to come up with a few new things.

(www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam)

I've been playing around with metal a little more and seeing where that takes me, here are a few of my new pieces.

 (www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam)

 (www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam)

(www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam)

 (www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam)

 (www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam)

(www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam)

I've also seen a lot of spring colors popping up in my designs and colors I really haven't been drawn to in the past are more appealing to me now.

 (www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam)

(www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam)

 (www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam)

 Finally, I had an opportunity to create a Custom Keychain for a local Charity, The C eFfort.  The C eFfort is a great local charity in Calgary that is focused on 'improving and lengthening the lives of those suffering from Cystic Fibrosis while raising the awareness and education about this horrible genetic and always fatal disease in Alberta and beyond.'  You can visit their Facebook page - The C eFfort, give them a like, let them know Downtown Glam sent you and check out their upcoming fundraising event on April 12, 2013 (Dinner and Silent Auction with guest speaker), its a very inspirational & worthwhile evening. 

That's been my week in review, may you have a great weekend and I'll look forward to catching up with you next week.

All the best,
Traci

Come follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DowntownGlam - stay up to date on all new jewelry.