4th of July in Jim Thorpe

Here's to a fabulous 4th of July in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. On our way into this lovely, little town, I caught a glimpse of the rafters making their way down the Lehigh River. Look at that blue sky!

Here's a nice shot of the Asa Packer mansion in the distance.

When in Jim Thorpe, we always stop at The Emerald Restaurant for onion soup or JT's Steak House for shrimp. Today, the onion soup won.

As we made our way up Broadway Street, I had the pleasure of meeting Ruth Bush, a talented artist from Lehighton. Her artwork has a romantic, old-world feeling to it. She licenses her artwork for use on consumer products, and her prints are available online at a variety of places including prints.com and imagekind.com. For originals, be sure to visit her gallery, which is located at 84B Broadway in Jim Thorpe. The selection of artwork is unbelievable.

I love walking down Race Street. Check out some of these cool pictures.

Another favorite stop is The Country Cottage, which is located at 37 Race Street. The owner makes the best pickles I've ever tasted. That's the honest truth. The pickles are $8.50 a jar, and they're worth every penny! Last year, John and I bought a case of them. That's how good they are. Since returning home, I've already eaten five of these tasty delights, and I'll guarantee that this jar will be empty by night's end. The good news is that the owner will ship these pickles to you.


Chiseler knows a good pickle when he sees (or smells) one!

I also picked up some old buttons at The Country Cottage. For $2.00, you can purchase a generous scoop of buttons. They're perfect for jewelry making and all those country crafts. The Country Cottage also has a nice selection of country decor and candles.

While on Race Street, I stopped by to see Debbie at Homespun, where fellow artist Christine Altmann and I sell our artwork. Homespun sells a variety of prim/country home-decor items, furnishings, artwork, stationery, candles, and soaps. If you're looking for something unique for that special someone, be sure to stop by Homespun.
I couldn't resist these hand-made soaps by Parsonage Soap in cinnamon oatmeal, lemongrass, and lemon poppy fragrances. I just opened the lemon poppy, and I love it!

Christmas in July

Get an early start on your Christmas shopping at Home Again's first annual Christmas in July shopping event on Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lynn Catnes and I will be showcasing our artisan jewelry, mixed-media artwork, and handcrafted goods. Artist Christine Altmann will be selling her spooktacular Halloween artwork and Maria Livrone will be showcasing her wonderful, whimsical pottery. Many more talented artists will be at this event. You'll definitely find something unique for the gift-giving season.

Home Again is an upscale resale boutique that features an exclusive line of vintage and modern furniture, home decor, accessories, and original artwork. Home Again is also pleased to offer a variety of workshops, such as jewelry making, mixed-media art, and seminars for women dealing with inspirational, motivational, business, and self-help topics. Home Again is located at 69 Main Street in Luzerne, PA. For more information, call(570) 283-2425.

The Country Register Cover Artwork

I'd like to thank publishers Amy and Dave Carter of the The Country Register for choosing my artwork for the cover of their magazine (Virginia edition; July-August 2009).

Last year, this same artwork titled Country Flag, graced the July 2008 Pennsylvania/West Virginia edition of The Country Register. I'm thrilled that this painting was chosen once again for the cover of this wonderful, well-respected magazine. It truly is an honor.

This magazine is a statewide guide to shopping and events. It features great articles, fantastic recipes, and lots of interesting information. Be sure to check it out, or visit http://www.countryregisteronline.com for more information. To go to the specific edition with my cover artwork, visit http://www.countryregisteronline.com/download.html, and choose the Virginia edition. You'll find my bio on page three as well.


Be sure to check out the blog at The Country Register by clicking here.

Studio Time

It was another productive weekend in my studio at Arts YOUniverse. I'm almost done with another textile design that I created yesterday. I work primarily with watercolors, but when designing textiles, I love to use gouache. I also like to paint on the block of Arches watercolor paper because I don't have to tape the watercolor paper down when I'm working.

My experience designing wedding runners certainly comes into play when designing these textiles. I love all the swirls and flowers that go into making each design.

I also started working on a new Halloween design. I'll have to post a picture of that design when I'm done.

Go Fish Bracelet in July 2009 Bead Trends

I just received my copy of the July 2009 issue of Bead Trends today, and I'm thrilled to learn that fellow jewelry designer, Sharon Borsavage, is also featured in this issue. I had the pleasure of teaching Sharon a few years ago, and she has gone on to become a great designer who creates beautiful, unique, and sophisticated jewelry.

My Go Fish bracelet is featured on pages 100 and 101. A picture of my bracelet is also featured in the table of contents. As always, the photographers did a fabulous job with the pictures. Be sure to check out Sharon's projects on pages 116 through 119. To learn more about Sharon, visit www.livewirejewelry.blogspot.com.

Recycle With Style™ Earrings

When creating my Recycle With Style™ earrings, which were featured in the earrings, earrings, earrings! book by Barb Switzer, it's important to remove the sharp edges from each pull tab. In the book, I recommended using a metal file, but if you want to speed up the process, use a Foredom Flexshaft or Dremel rotary tool. I usually polish each pull tab individually, but check out the cool contraption my dad created so that I can polish several tabs at one time. He's a genius! He missed his calling as an inventor. Although, it's never too late.


So many aluminum pull tabs, and so little time!

Celebrating Flag Day

Yes, I'm celebrating Flag Day today.

Egyptian Earrings Win Favorable Review

My Egyptian earrings project in the new earrings, earrings, earrings! book received a favorable review on Amazon.com. This is a nice surprise.

Wilkes-Barre, PA's New Inventor

Congratulations to artist and inventor John Pacovsky. His inventions (Corner Canvas and FloatTM Canvas) are now available online and in stores. I saw the FloatTM Canvas in A.C. Moore today, and I had to swing by John's studio to tell him.

John showed me the prototypes last year, and it's so exciting to see the actual products in the marketplace. Actress Jane Seymour is the spokesperson for the FloatTM Canvas. Wow! I love it when good things happen to nice people. Keep up the great work, John. You're an inspiration to us all!

For more information about John, click here. To learn more about the canvases, click here.

In Response To Margot Potter's Bead Dilemma

I've posted this picture in response to Margot Potter's post about what she should do with one of her hand-painted beads. I could definitely see incorporating the bead into a bead-embroidered pin/pendant. My bead-embroidered pin pictured here was featured in a magazine article I wrote titled Cross Over: Multi-Disciplinary Designs, which was featured in the October 2008 issue of Simply Beads.

Hopefully, this will give Margot an idea of what I was talking about when I commented on her post. For her future project, I'd probably opt for a simple beaded border to highlight the bead. Actually, the options are endless. Good luck with your project, Margot!

Bead Trends June 2009

I just received a copy of the June 2009 issue of Bead Trends, which features my three-strand knotted bracelet on page 24. Celebrate the month of June by creating your own pearl jewelry.

New Textile Designs

Here's a peek at some of my new textile designs that I completed this weekend. I had tiles, coasters, and trivets in mind for these designs.

Artwork at The Osterhout Library

Here's a peek at some of the artwork I have on display at the Osterhout Free Library through June 30. Be sure to stop by if you're in the area. The library is located at 71 South Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre.

Calling All Halloween Enthusiasts!

Christine Altmann's Web site is officially open for business. If you love Halloween, visit Christine's new Web site to view a vast array of Halloween and seasonal artwork, which is charming, folksy, and fun. Check back often as Christine constantly adds new artwork to her product line. Her Web address is www.ChristineAltmannArt.com.

The Life of A Cat

I took this picture the other day of Julius snoozing on the bed. What a life!

Recycle With StyleTM Earrings on Etsy

The earrings from my Recycle With StyleTM jewelry line are now available on Etsy.

This line of jewelry has caught the eyes of several book and magazine editors. Most recently, my Recycle With Style™ jewelry has been featured in the book titled earrings, earrings, earrings! by Barb Switzer, which is published by House of White Birches. Two pieces of jewelry from this line are scheduled to appear in the October edition of Bead Trends magazine. I also spoke about this jewelry while appearing on television during the WBRE Morning Show (an NBC affiliate) on March 4, 2009.

Be sure to check them out here.

Christine Altmann's Web Site Coming Soon!

Halloween artist, Christine Altmann, will soon be launching her new Web site. I'll keep you posted. Image titled "Keep Running" - copyright Christine Altmann

The Colors of Spring

Spring is such a wonderful time. John spotted this beautiful, little patch of color outside as we were returning from our walk yesterday. Thanks for the photo, John!

New Jewelry Workshops at Home Again

Be sure to stop by Home Again at 69 Main Street in Luzerne to learn more about my jewelry workshops. Home Again offers a quaint and cozy setting for those who want to learn in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Here's a sneak peek at one of the jewelry workshops that I'm offering in June. This project was featured in the November issue of Bead Trends, and I'm pleased to be teaching it at Home Again.

Call Home Again at (570) 283-2425 to learn more.

Jewelry Making at The Banana Factory

It's always a joy to teach at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem. The drive down was a bit rainy, and when I arrived in Bethlehem, it was still raining. Here's a picture from the jewelry studio overlooking Third Street in Bethlehem.

The students did a fabulous job with their jewelry projects, and I've posted a few pictures here. Laura liked my Egyptian earrings that were featured in the earrings, earrings, earrings! book, so she decided to make a pair for herself. I think she did a great job.

Bev and April also did a great job making their own versions of my circle-link earrings.

Jewelry Making at Salem Elementary

My good friend Lynn Catnes invited me to teach a jewelry seminar at Salem Elementary School in Berwick. The kids were real troupers, and they made some fabulous jewelry. Lynn (pictured here) has been featured on the Carol Duval show, and she creates beautiful origami ornaments, artist trading cards, and jewelry. Be sure to check out her blog here.

Spring Bling Update

Artists Cathy Laskaris and Angela DeMuro will be joining us for our First Annual Spring Bling at Home Again in Luzerne on Saturday, March 21 from noon to 4 p.m. Cathy Laskaris designs beautiful silk scarves and accessories, and Angela DeMuro is an illustrator, writer, and medium. Home Again is located at 69 Main Street in Luzerne. Scroll down to the February 28 post to learn more about Home Again and this event.

A Clip From WBRE's Morning Show

In case you missed WBRE's Morning Show yesterday, click here to see the second segment of my jewelry-making feature with Kristi Capel. Once you're on the page, look for the jewelry-making clip. I'm thrilled that I was able to show Kristi a basic jewelry-making technique in this short segment. I have to admit I was wondering how much I could really show the viewers in two minutes, but it worked out great.

My First TV Appearance

I'm pleased to say that my first television appearance went well. The folks on WBRE's Morning Show were wonderful. They made me feel right at home, and I really enjoyed the experience.

Yesterday when I spoke to Ben, the producer for the show, he briefed me on what I needed to do. Not knowing exactly what to expect, I made sure that I packed a lot of jewelry supplies, tools, and samples. We were taping live, so it's best to have more items on hand than not enough.

I arrived at the televsion station at 5:45 a.m., and Ben escorted me to the studio. It was fun to watch Kristi, Eva, and Doug interact with one another both on air and off. They all have such great chemistry.

Kristi Capel and I talked about jewelry making for the first two-minute segment, and I showed her some jewelry samples. As I was getting comfortable, it was time for a commercial break. My second segment didn't start until approximately 6:40 a.m. In the meantime, I enjoyed watching what went on behind the scenes. There was a lot of energy in the room.

If you're looking for a good morning show, be sure to check out WBRE's Kristi Capel, Eva Mastromatteo, and Doug Currin. You won't be disappointed. Also, if you're on Facebook, be sure to become a WBRE Morning Show fan. Just click here to learn more.

TV Debut

Be sure to check out WBRE's morning show tomorrow beginning at 6 a.m. I'll be demonstrating some quick and easy jewelry projects anywhere between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. I'll have 2 two-minute segments to accomplish this task, so I designed some projects that would work well in this time period. The picture above shows a few projects I put together for the presentation. See you soon!

Home Again Spring Bling

Get ready for Home Again's first annual Spring Bling shopping event on Saturday, March 21 from noon to 4 p.m. Lynn Catnes and I will be showcasing our artisan jewelry, mixed-media artwork, and handcrafted goods, and personal chef Bev Taylor will be selling gourmet goodies and sharing her cooking secrets. We'll also be demonstrating jewelry-making techniques, and we'll be available to answer any questions you may have about making your own jewelry. Seated in this picture from left to right are Mary Homza, owner of Home Again, and Bev Taylor of Bev's Cucina. Lynn Catnes of the Cat's Meow Designs and I are pictured in the back.

Shop for some unique gifts while enjoying light refreshments, and be sure to enter the raffle to win some fabulous gifts. Since we're all animal lovers, part of the proceeds will be donated to the SPCA. So be sure to shop with us to help support this great organization.

Home Again features an exclusive line of vintage and modern furniture, home decor, accessories, and original artwork. Home Again is also pleased to offer a variety of workshops, such as jewelry making, mixed-media art, and seminars for women dealing with inspirational, motivational, business, and self-help topics. Home Again is located at 69 Main Street in Luzerne, PA. For more information, call(570) 283-2425.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the neat things in the store. This lovely Valentine's Day tree looks great all year 'round. Mary carries the latest collection of Bella Taylor's quilted handbags and accessories.


Gotta love this shabby-chic table and chairs.


This corner of the store is so warm and cozy.


Here's a look at some of my artwork currently on display at Home Again. If you're looking for some old doors, windows, and wooden objects to turn into functional pieces of artwork or home decor, be sure to see Mary. She gets new pieces in all the time.


My original, miniature watercolor paintings graciously sit on an old, wooden chair. The chair is actually hanging on the back of an old door. Mary definitely has a good eye for decorating.

Tune In

I've been invited to appear on WBRE's morning show on Wednesday, March 4 to talk about jewelry making and to showcase some of my jewelry designs. I'll demonstrate the tools and materials needed to create affordable and quick-and-easy-to-make jewelry. This should be lots of fun, so be sure to tune in!

earrings, earrings, earrings!

I just received a copy of the book titled earrings, earrings, earrings! This book features my Egyptian Earrings, Recycle With Style Earrings, and Daisy Earrings. I'd like to thank editor Barb Switzer and publisher House of White Birches for choosing my designs for their new book. If you're looking for some "earring" inspiration, be sure to pick up a copy of this new book. It's packed with lots of fabulous projects.

I took some photos of the earrings and wanted to share them with you. The Egyptian Earrings are based on an original design I created in 1990, which were much longer and featured etched bronze pieces hanging from each earring. The original earrings were soldered; whereas, these earrings were fabricated using cold-join connections. My good friend and author, Rosemary Goodwin, owns the original pair.


John and I have been recycling for years, and aluminum pull tabs are great for jewelry projects, which I refer to as my Recycle With Style™ line of jewelry. Aluminum is wonderful to work with because it's lightweight and very pliable. I used a dapping block to place a slight curve in two pairs of these earrings. This project appeals to both children and adults.

The Daisy Earrings are featured on the back cover of the book as well.