Everyday Beauty

An Affaire at Downton

I'm so happy to announce that registration for An Affaire at Downton opens tomorrow, Saturday, November 2! The event will take place in Los Angeles, CA on May 1-4, 2014. If you've ever been to one of Kim Caldwell's art retreats, you know how fabulous they are! She has an incredibly creative way of making every detail beautiful and inspiring.

The collage photo at the top of the page shows a peek at all of the workshops that will be taught during the event. I'm honored to be one of the instructors this time, and will be teaching a necklace workshop called "Her Ladyship's Heirloom Necklace".

All of these gorgeous photos were taken by Tiffany Kichner-Dixon. Here is a closer picture of the necklace project I'll be teaching.

And the line-up of lovely ladies who are teaching!

Other workshops include an embroidery project with Charlotte Lyons, a beautiful petite fabric dress garland with Pamela Huntingon, a lace keepsake journal taught by Karen Valentine, and a mini workshop with Hope Wallace Karney.

You can get all of the event details and registration information by clicking here. (or click the "Affaire at Downton" link on my sidebar). I do hope you will join us for a weekend of crafting, laughing, shopping, tea parties and so much more!!

xo Andrea

Let Me Call You Sweetheart KITS & Necklaces

I just returned from a wonderful time at Sweethearts on the Homefront in Atlanta, Georgia! I taught a jewelry workshop called "Let Me Call You Sweetheart". The necklace I designed was inspired by the Sweetheart Jewelry that servicemen would send home to their darlings during WWII. I was so thrilled that all the ladies in the class completed their necklaces and wore them throughout the weekend. It's always inspiring to be surrounded by fun, creative gals at art retreats, and this weekend was no exception!

I realize it's not always possible for everyone to attend these events, so I decided to make extra kits to sell for those of you who may be interested. Each kit contains 58 beads & findings, everything you will need to create the necklace as shown above. You only need jewelry pliers and wire snips! Kits also include detailed step-by-step instructions with photos.

 

I also made up a few necklaces. Both the kits and the necklcaes are available in my Shop. The best part??? 100% of the sales of these kits and necklaces will go to Operation Stars & Stripes, to support our servicemen and women, both home and abroad.  Click here to shop. Thanks so much for your support of this very worthy organization!

Sweethearts on the Homefront

Hello Friends!

I am really excited to share some news with you today! In October, I'll be teaching a jewelry workshop at a Creative Retreat called Sweethearts on the Homefront. My dear friends, Rosalyn-Sue Smith (you may know her as The Patriot Girl) and Jennifer Hayslip are hosting the event, and it's going to be a wonderful time! It takes place in Atlanta and the theme is the 1940's Homefront. (what a perfect theme!)

UPDATE: The price has been changed to $220, to make the event more accessible to everyone. Three great classes and lots of fun, food and festivities! It is sure to be a memorable weekend! All proceeds go to support our troops.

There are so many details and you will want to go to the event website to check it all out. I'll be in good company, as the other workshop instructors are Jenny & Aaron and Heidi Meyer. All of the projects we'll be creating have a 1940's feel and style. Personally, this is one of my favorite eras. Love the fashion, the style, the resourcefulness and of course the patriotism American women on the Homefront showed while so many men were away at war.

The BEST part?? All of the proceeds will go to Operation Stars and Stripes, a non profit organization that supports our troops both home and abroad. For more information, to see all of the exciting details, and to register, CLICK HERE.

We will be spending Friday together in Atlanta at the Country Living Fair. (perfect timing!) I know I've always wanted to go and never had the opportunity, so this is the icing on the cake! We will begin our Country Living morning by attending an exclusive coffee and breakfast hosted by Jen O’Connor and Earth Angels Studios. We'll meet the talented artists of Earth Angels and shop their delightful handmade arts and one of a kind treasures. Jen will have goodie bags and discount coupons for every attendee.

On Saturday, grab your pearls, pin curl your hair and wear your loved apron. You will get to enjoy a day of blissful creating! The classes will conveniently be held at the Marriott Courtyard Buckhead.  Lunch will be served, and there will be plentiful foods fresh from the victory garden.  The day would not be complete without a Homefront mercantile, where sweethearts will offer their handmade wares and rationed supplies.  You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time while being surrounded by vintage sweetheart memorabilia from the Homefront  and old swing music tunes from the 40’s.

A little peek at the workshops projects and instructors:

A Wise Woman Knows Her Baking

Using an array of mediums and skill sets each class member will create their very own recipe scrapbook from scratch. Inspired by old fashioned cookbooks and kitchens, fabulous Golden Age advertising, and the soft pastel tones of vintage wallpapers and fabrics…this recipe book is a visual treat that may even be sweeter than the favorite recipes kept inside. Combining your love for paper craft, art journaling, scrapbooking, and baking, all together to make an artful album that’s sure to fill up with recipes that hold all the ingredients to a warm, loving home.

An American Beauty

From blooms growing beside victory gardens to Sunday hats brimming with millinery, American sweethearts adorned many things in their homes and clothing with beautiful flowers.  Using new and vintage materials, we will be making a vintage inspired millinery bloom with delicate lace, netting, and lustrous pearls.  This American Beauty can be pinned to an evening clutch or clipped to a special spot in the home to bring some of nature’s beauty indoors.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Inspired by the romantic soldiers, sailors and airmen of the 1940’s, Let Me Call You Sweetheart is a fresh twist on the popular  “Sweetheart Jewelry” that thoughtful servicemen would send back home to their wives and girlfriends during their WWII deployments.

In this workshop, we will use basic jewelry-making techniques as well as wire-wrapping, to create a nostalgic necklace in beautiful shades of blush pink, antique gold and pearl. We will combine faceted Czech glass beads with shimmering glass pearls, vintage brass findings and gorgeous vintage rhinestones for some good old fashioned sparkle. The classic heart-shaped brass locket which dangles from a vintage “Sweetheart” stamping is the perfect place to keep a cherished photo of your love.

Workshop kits will include everything needed to make this necklace just as pictured. Feel free to bring along any special beads and baubles you’d like to incorporate from your personal collection. Please bring jewelry pliers (chain nose and round nose) and wire snips. And of course don’t forget the most important part…. a picture or two of your sweetheart to nestle into the brass locket, so he’s always close to your heart!

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It is going to be a wonderful event, and I'm so honored to be a part of it! I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones! CLICK HERE to read all of the details and register.

It's only $220 to register and will surely be a weekend packed with fun, friendship and of course creativity! I would love to see you there!

Have a great day!

xo Andrea

 

New Jewelry in the Shop

Hello! I wanted to let you know there are some new pieces in the shop today. I spent many hours during many days creating these pieces. It's always so much work, but so much fun at the same time.

I pour the love into my jewelry designs, and I always hope each piece brings joy and a blessing to the one who wears it.

Thank you, as always for your support and encouragement! xoxox

Click to shop!

Candied Pecans

If you're looking for a quick and easy little homemade gift to give, I don't think you can go wrong with these Candied Pecans. But be careful....you might find yourself eating them up before you can package them and tie the bow.

You will need:

4 cups (1 lb.) pecan halves
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt

directions:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Spray a large metal baking sheet with non-stick spray.
Place pecans in a large mixing bowl. Beat egg whites and vanilla in a small bowl, and pour the mixture over pecans. Mix well until all the pecans are coated. In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon and salt, and pour over pecan mixture. Toss and mix well to evenly coat.

Spread the pecans on the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 1 hour, turning and tossing every 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before packaging them in small tins, bags or paper-lines boxes.

Now that there are only 4 days until Christmas (YIKES!) I am off to bake some more. And wrap. And bake. Oh, and I'm thinking of finishing the stockings I started making years ago......I'll let you know how that goes!

xo Andrea

Chewy Sea Salt Caramels

This week I made some Chewy Sea Salt Caramels that I wanted to share with you. Since I can't give you each a piece, I thought I'd give you the recipe so you an whip up a tasty batch for yourself.

You will need a candy thermometer and a bit of patience, but it's worth it. They are chewy and delicious, and I have yet to meet someone who doesn't enjoy them. I'll be including a tin of these with the gifts I put together for my children's teachers. The babysitters in the nursery at church will also be getting some, as well as famiy and friends.

 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1 pound light brown sugar

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup light corn syrup

1 pinch of salt

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 to 2 Tablespoons coarse sea salt

 

DIRECTIONS

Generously butter the bottom and sides of a glass 9x13" baking pan.

In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients EXCEPT for the vanilla. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Heat until the temperature on your candy thermometer reaches between 235 and 24o degrees F. Continue to cook for 2 more minutes at this temperature. You have to stir constantly, scraping the bottom so the mixture will not burn. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Carefully pour the VERY HOT liquid caramel into your buttered glass pan. Wait about 1 minute and sprinkle coarse sea salt on top of the caramel, using your preference of how much salt you want to add. The contrast of the sweet caramel and the salt makes for a wonderful combination of flavors.

Allow it to cool completely at room temperature. Then remove the caramel slab from the pan and cut into squares using a large sharp knife or strong kitchen scissors.

Wrap each piece in waxed paper and twist the ends.

Enjoy!

Visions of Sugarplums

In the midst of the wonderful hustle and festive bustle of the season, I decided to make one last collection of jewelry in time for Christmas delivery. There are new Ear Drops and necklaces and lots of winter sparkle.

As long as orders are placed by Sunday, Dec 16th, I will ship in plenty of time for Christmas gift giving!

I hope you're loving this wonderful season and enjoying the company of family and friends as we prepare for December 25......only 14 more days!

A Pair of Bracelets

Just a little post to let you know I made a couple of new pieces that are now in the Shopette. You can find them here.

It's amazing what can get done when I wake up at 1:30 in the morning and can't get back to sleep!

xo Andrea

New Goodies in the Shopette

Hello Friends! Just wanted to let you know I have some new necklaces, bracelets and ear drops in the Shopette now. Click here to take a peek! Thanks, as always, for your support and sweet words about my designs.

xo Andrea

Back to School Baubles

Well hello! It's been awhile. I hope you enjoyed Summer and all it's carefree days and beauty. We had a great time at the beach and hit just about every festival, parade and fair within a 5o mile radius. But, alas, all good things must end eventually. And so it's back to school for the kiddies and a little more "free" time for Mama.

I've been making time to create jewelry these past few weeks, and plan to have these pieces in the shop in the next week or two.

See you soon! Enjoy this day! :-)