Great Service Comes from the Heart

This morning I received an email from www.GiftBusinessOwners.com . I subcribe to their email newsletters. Please take the time to watch this wonderful video, http://www.stservicemovie.com . Make sure you have a tissue. If we all took the example of this sweet young man this world would be so much more beautiful. Am I surprised that this idea came from a person with down syndrome? No. They most often think with their heart. I have learned that if we listen with our heart we will always choose the right thing to do.

When I mail out my orders I always write a note written from my heart. I also say a little prayer while holding the jewelry in my hands to bring love, good health, and wisdom to the buyer.

Happy Mother's Day!

This sweetie-pie picture of my son was taken many years ago by my dear friend Pat. Although, this is an old picture it is still one of my favorites. Happy Mother's Day!

"There is only one pretty child in the world and every Mother has it." Chinese Proverbs

Have a lovely day...

Mother's Day Sale 20% off purchase

To Be Me Jewelry is offering a 20% discount to celebrate Mother's Day!
Sale ends May 9th.

Happy Earth Day 2010!

Well, beadheads...it's Earth Day! Let's face it, we're certainly not perfect when it comes to taking care of our earth. It's impossible to do everything right. We should once in a while sit back and think about what can I do for the earth. It may be something simple like starting to hang out the laundry on a sunny day. Yes, that's my laundry - be thankful I don't have any gotchie draws out there! Sheets that are dried outside smell wonderful and come alive. Think about how lifeless your clothes are after you use the dryer time and time again. I guarantee you will sleep better with fresh air dried sheets.

Did you ever wonder how Earth Day started? Read this - http://EarthDay.envirolink.org/history.html And...hey there Al Gore do you hang laundry out? Saves energy....I'm just sayin'

I hope you all enjoy the day. Go plant a flower, look up at the sky, count your blessings for all you have. Never take it for granted.

What's In a Photo?

What's in a photo? Quite a lot sweeties! My website will be taking on (slowly) a new look. In the coming year I will be experimenting with a new look and new designs. I have so much "stuff"

inside me I feel like I'm going to explode into fireworks! Stay tuned beadheads...

The Sunshine Award!

There are several jewelry artists that I admire and inspire me. One of them is Angela Walker of http://www.angelawalkerjewelry.com/ . Angela has a style that is unique and all her own. It's a thrill to have Angela nominate my blog with the Sunshine Award. Please check out Angela's designs on her blog - http://www.angelawalkerjewelry.blogspot.com/ and also on her website.

Now it's my turn to nominate a few blogs. Truly all the blogs I follow are so outstanding!

Natasha - http://www.5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/

When I read Natasha's blog it relaxes me and makes me realize to take the 5 minutes just for me.

Serena - http://www.thefarmchicks.typepad.com/

I love anything about farms and barns. I also love little prints of anything and Farm Chicks certainly love small prints too! The writing, baking, all inspires me and just makes me feel good.

MaryAnne - http://www.starlightblog.com/

I was nominated before by MaryAnne but had no idea what to do - now I do! MaryAnne was the first person to comment on my blog and always gives me good vibes. A real sweetheart of a person! ....of course talented too!

Kerin Rose - http://www.kerinrose.blogspot.com/

An amazing talented jewelry artisan. Kerin Rose has a wonderful spirit and beautiful ways of looking at life. Kerin Rose uses the lost wax technique when designing her jewelry.

All my followers here on this blog I think highly of all of you! Such talented people who share their knowledge, feelings, and life. I appreciate and enjoy all of you.

To the Nominees: If you were chosen for the Sunshine Award you may pass it on to some of your favorite bloggers.

- copy the picture

- let them know you gave them a ray of sunshine

May the sun shine on your blog for a long time Angela! Thanks - you made my day!

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring! Time for renewal ...
Time to put away the turtleneck sweaters...
Time to think spring colors...
Time to be light hearted...
I designed the Amethyst goldfilled earrings while the sun was bright and I felt light hearted ...

These earrings can be purchased on my website, To Be Me Jewelry. Timeless Lux Hoop Earrings #2079.
Amethyst delicately coiled with goldfill - length one inch.







Walking in my backyard this afternoon I found some wild crocuses. Beautiful little purple spring flowers only to stay for awhile.

My inspiration for my Timeless Lux Hoop Earrings...

Little Girl's Jewelry Birthday Party

I was asked to do a Girl's Jewelry Birthday Party for 11 girls ages 5 to 8 yrs. old. Thanks to Rena Klingenberg's wonderful advice on http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/ I was able pull this off and have loads of fun with these great kids! The favorite colors were pink, blue and purple in this order. I must admit I was fearful of not having enough pink! Today's girls love things that are truly sparkly and bright. I used mostly glass beads and rose quartz hearts/stars. To keep the expense down I used sterling silver plated clasps. Several bead containers were placed on the floor and I had the girls sit in a circle taking serveral minutes to look over the beads. We talked about colors and designing a bracelet. I had the girls pass out the bead boards and pink pouches. It was fun helping them and certainly they did not need much help in designing - they were fantastic and creative! I never had the opportunity to be with a group of little girls. Each one had their own personality starting to emerge. I just adored them and had so much fun. My husband did ask me what's going to happen when they all finish their bracelets at once and come at me with their little bracelets to be finished? They did form a line and waited patiently for their turn. I am amazed at how much the girls enjoyed having this jewelry birthday party!

I took the photo of all the girls finished bracelets. It's truly a friendship photo that will make memories.

And the Winner is...

Happy Valentine's Day!

The winner of To Be Me Jewelry's Valentine Day contest is Susan W.!

Susan please email me your address so I can mail the turquoise earrings to you.

Enjoy!

Let it Snow...let there be cookies!

The snow is piling up here at the Jersey Shore. Near blizzard conditions. We are flip-flop people not boot people.

This photo is a house across the street. The trees are huge.

Snow has reached about 16 inches and it's still snowing!

Oh my, I just realized - I bet schools will be closed for the rest of the week - cabin fever setting in.



Let it snow, let there be cookies. Time to bake chocolate chip cookies. I think I made too many!

Contest for Free Turquoise Earrings

Ok, Beadheads - here's the deal...To Be Me Jewelry will be giving these Turquoise earrings away on Valentine's Day, February 14th. Yes...I hear some of you whispering in my ear, "Claire, you should be giving heart earrings away for Valentine's Day". I say-baloney! Turquoise reminds me of warm weather and that's where we are headed soon in the coming months.

Contest Rules:

1. You must be a fan of To Be Me Jewelry on Facebook.

2. To be in the running email me privately by February 13th with the message - HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

3. Contest will close at 7:00 p.m. on February 13th.

Your name will be placed in a container and my son will pick out the name. Easy enough!

The winner will be announced on To Be Me Jewelry fan page on Valentine's Day.

Contest will be open to USA, Canada, UK residents only.

Sandy Beach Bangle

The inspiration for the Sandy Beach Bangle came from making the silver caps with my Pepe Disk cutter. After making the caps I sat looking at them trying to brainstorm a new bangle.

The Sandy Beach Bangle is a limited edition. Designed with sterling silver, goldfill, lampwork beads. The lampwork beads are light tan with tiny silver balls. Quite outstanding.

Pepe Disk Cutter

Love this tool! The Pepe Disc Cutter has 11 punch sizes to play with. This cutter will allow up to 18g metal to produce round discs.

I use my regular 16 oz. hammer to punch. Next time I will try the rawhide hammer to see if there is any difference. The edges are a bit sharp so a quick sanding will be needed. I may try to tumble the discs first before sanding to see what happens. Once tumbled I may not even need to sand.

Since, this is my new tool from Santa I still need to really play and experiment. Santa had so much to do that he placed the order with Otto Frei.

The question now is - will this tool be cost effective?

Happy New Year's 2010

I love this hat! This hat was happily created by my son who is challenged. He attends an adult program at Children's Center in NJ. This hat represents so many thoughts to me. It brought me smiles from my son, myself and the staff as they watched him talk to me about it. It also made me think how lucky I am to have my son in my life...just the way he is. Because of him I have been blessed with knowing so many people at the Children's Center. The staff there go beyond their jobs. Their hearts feel the emotions of these young adults. This hat also represents the New Year of 2010 which sadly we will miss a staff member - Kathy who recently passed over. A lovely, intelligent person, Kathy was truly an Angel to the students, staff, and also to the parents. She was a wonderful role model to all. To me, she was Children's Center. Now, in 2010 we must learn to adjust without our Kathy. It will be hard. I know she is now truly an Angel and will watch over us. We will always keep her in our prayers.

I wish to all may you feel the love you need, acquire the wisdom so in your life it can be shared, happiness in your heart and a few more bucks in your wallet! Happy New Year 2010!

Love,
Claire
xo

Can I Go Back...Please?

I recently returned home from a relaxing vacation in the Shenandoah Valley. We stayed in a condo at the Massnutten Resort on top of a mountain. It was wonderful to wake up in the morning and look out at the beautiful view of the mountains.

I thought I would share a few photos of places we visited. These places inspired me to create a couple of designs. The earrings remind me of the colors I saw during the vacation. Gemstones of peridot, amethyst, citron complete the goldfilled handcrafted earwire.

The Luray Caverns were so amazing! The Luray Caverns are the largest caverns in the USA. The colors of the caverns are so beautiful in various golden shades.

We also visited the White Oak Lavender Farm in Harrisonburg, VA. The farm is so serene and beautiful. My sister and I picked our own lavender while the guys sat on the porch in rocking chairs. How relaxing is that? We met David at the farm who was gracious enough to tell us about the farm and area. There was a petting area for the kids. We met Nilla the rabbit who is bigger than a small dog! Horses Sunshine, Isabella and Brownie were so sweet and friendly. Next to the Lavendor Farm was a few black angus cows. Of course, had to get a photo of the cows.