St Maarten

Well I know it's been awhile since I last sat down to blog about my thoughts and what has been going on in my life.

Sometimes as you all know life gets in the way.

I was caught amidst the hustle and bustle of baseball , summer activities , vacations, family illnesses and other chaotic nonsense called life.

As I feel the end of summer approaching I cling secretely to the coming of the school schedule. You know the happiness a mother feels when life goes back into the normal mode of school, homework etc.

I can't wait. With each fall I feel a renewed sense of creativity.

Maybe it's the fall leaves, the crispness of the air but I am looking forward to it.



I have just returned from our summer vacation to St Maarten. It was lovely and much needed. I took all 4 of my children, which by the end of vacation my 21 yr old(the only girl) felt the need to remind us that she will never be doing this again.....

Michael's communion

I have not been on to post lately since my every waking moment has been consumed with preparing my 7yr old Michael for his 1st Holy Communion.

It was this past Saturday May 9th. I have to say I am exhausted. It was more like a wedding than anything else.

I have 4 children and my husband that I needed to find outfits for. Not including myself (which for several days before I was planning on wearing my birthday suit) I always save me for last as most mother's do.

Table seating charts, place cards, balloons, favors, banners to make. EXHAUSTED.

But I am happy to report everything went smoothly and effortlessly.

AND ITS OVER.........

Now life has returned to quiet nothingness, which I am enjoying.

He was a perfect angel that day and I stressed over nothing. But I am typically a worrier by nature and somewhat of a perfectionest...

I actually had time before the communion to design 3 new pieces. I will show them tommorrow.

Well have a great day....

Mother's Day is May 10th

With Mother's Day fast approaching I have been working feverishly trying to get new designs finished. I have been working with alot of bright colors for the Spring and Summer. I always seem to want to add color this time of the year. I guess with all the trees and flowers in full bloom it puts me in the mood.

I have also been experimenting with a few new designs. Feeling extra creative these day.

Well, my son's teacher is getting married this Saturday. I decided (since I must be the only one in the class that knows how) to bake a mini wedding cake to bring in and share tommorrow. I am throwing her a Wedding shower in the class. So cute. The kids will get a big kick out of it.

I am also going to have them each work on a scrapbook page for her and then assemble it at the end so she will have a scrapbook made by her students for her wedding day.

Hope it's not to corny,. But should be alot of fun.

Well have a great Tuesday everyone.

Spring Zaniness

Well I know I haven't posted a new blog in about a week but trust me it's literally a zoo around my house.

Just to fill you in, Baseball season has begun. So having two little boys ages 7 and 11 , each having 2 practices a week, add in CCD and homework and my son's biweekly visits to the Dermatoligist (poor baby has Psoriasis) it's litterally insane.

Oh and by the way did I tell you my 7 year old broke my camera last week. My poor husband bought me an expensive camera this Christmas specifically with my jewelry business in mind. And last week "My little angel" decided to make a video of him and his little cousin with their robots and he dropped it.

Needless to say I feel like someone cut off my arm. I have been working feverously with all my new designs for Spring with no camera.

Anyway, the "little angel" is making his 1st Holy Communion in 2 weeks and I have been running around getting favors and suits and shoes and ties.......I'm delerious.

I found the most gorgeous amber pendant with Mother of Pearl flowers, I am making myself a beautiful necklace to wear that day. I will post the picture when I am done.

Well thank you for allowing me to vent. I feel much better now. Continue to watch the crazy antics as they unfold in the next 2 weeks. It should be interesting.

Have a great Day...................<3

Did you ever have one of those days? Well for me today was one of them.

Not to mention the fact that today is Uncle Sam's favorite day.

Well I thought we could all use a laugh.

Don' t think my Weight Watchers leaders would laugh as much but who cares....

It is day 7 of the children being home on Easter break and they do not go back until the 20th.

Well I plan to bury myself in beads and designs and hopefully the won't see me......

Happy Beading....................

Well now that the hubbub of Easter is over we can all get back to work.

I recently discovered that this year is the anniversary of the Peace sign. So in honor of that I designed this necklace which all ready sent my neices in a tizzee.

I used lampwork beads in shades of turquoise along with copper and silver spacer beads.

My neices already have two orders in from their college buddies so I guess I better get busy.

Have a great day everyone.......

I have to say getting back into the groove this morning was a little tough. We had 18 people over for Easter dinner yesterday.

But after all the china and platters went away and my hubby helped with the cleaning, I woke this morning to a beautiful sunny day here in New Jersey. Recharged and ready to go.

I love Spring, the trees budding with flowers and the grass filling in with the most vibrant shade of green.

I feel I am most creative in Spring and want to bring those Spring colors indoors into my jewelry.

The necklace you see here is perfect for those breezy linens outfits of Spring. Its light and airy and strung on tri colored cord.

It is featured in my etsy shop at www.JacquelineVDesigns.etsy.com and there is an etsy mini on the bottom of my blog.

Have a great day...

I had the honor of having an article written about me and my business from a local journalist.

To actually have my work recognized I have to say is a real kick.

I truly enjoy what I do so for me it does't seem like work. Although I think I have put more hours into this business then anything I have ever done.

Between the research for designs and the networking between other bloggers my website , twitter, facebook, and flickr the list is endless.

But again very rewarding. I try to get my name out there any way I can.

At the bottom of this blog is a link to nominate mom bloggers so please take a moment to access the link and nominate me.

Thanks so much.

Here is the link for the article.

www.longislandexchange.com/articles/family/moms-running-business032509.html

Spring Fling

My Spring charm bracelet is being featured today in www.DZFantasy.blogspot.com where she has featured alot of etsians who have embraced spring.

This charm bracelet features enamel flowers and heart charms and turquiose and natural colored jasper stones. I used a copper bracelet to showcase the charms. It can be found in my etsy shop at www.JacquelineVDesigns.etsy.com or look at the bottom of my blog for my etsy mini.

Happy Spring!!!

Well here is another addition to my Spring line. I was trying to think of something fun that I would like to wear and this idea popped into my head.

I see alot of enamel jewelry out this spring and I love it. It is colorful and fun.

So I took enamel flowers and other springlike charms and hand knotted them on tricolored cording.

Such a great piece.

This is available for purchase at my etsy store. www.JacquelineVDesigns.etsy.com or see my mini store at the bottom of this page.

Have a great day.

I've been working on new designs lately for my spring line.

I am using earthtone colored stones, natural beads such as turquiose and jasper, pearls and sterling.

I have also experimented with cording and it has come out gorgeous.

Spring is such a fun time of year for me. I seem to get a burst of creative energy.

I have so man fun and colorful ideas for my jewelry.

Please visit my shop for my newest listings. I post daily.

www.JacquelineVDesigns.etsy.com

Well here is my latest creation. I used turquoise and jasper stones and hand knotted the sections along the brown cording.

Pewter charms added that extra whimsy.

I had so much fun designing this necklace. It is versatile enough to be dressed up or down.

I just ordered some sterling silver charms to make a more expensive version of this necklace.

It is featured in my shop at www.JacquelineVDesigns.etsy.com and is listed for $35.00.

Have a productive day and thanks for visiting my blog.

Well, I have to say I am having a great couple of days. I sold the necklace from my previous post on Saturday, and this necklace pictured I just sold today.

I have made and sold about 6 of these necklaces so far. I have done them in brown cording and in black cording. Although it is extremely tedious since the charms are all hand tied, it seems that this necklace is so popular with my customers.

I use different charms in silver and pewter, hearts, crosses, pictures of the Madonna. And I string amber glass beads for depth of color.

This necklace sells for $50.00. Well, have a great and productive day.

This is my newest piece. Just for fun. I happen to adore costume jewelry. Its fun, colorful and versatile. This necklace features a faux amber pendant. I strung amber and gold seed beads with copper tone accent beads and natural stones. The toggle clasp is shaped like a heart.

So cute and fun. Great to dress up an outfit in the brown or ivory family.

It's listed in my shop for $35.00. www.JacquelineVDesigns.etsy.com.

Well off to design more jewelry... Have a great day....

This is a lovely necklace. It features a large mother of pearl and marcasite pendant. I used black onyx and opal swarovski crystals surrounded by sterling silver bead caps for extra depth and versatility. In the center of the necklace on either side I featured a grey Swarovski pearl surrounded by sterling silver bead caps. I like breaking up the bead strands I happen to think that it gives my necklaces more character and make them unique. Not to mention that I just happen to like the way it looks.

You can find more of my work of course on my website: www.JacquelineVDesigns.etsy.com

Have a great day everyone.

Now that Spring is almost here, I have a burst of creativity. I have been working on some new desings over the winter and had a lot of fun designing them.

I tend to gravitate towards Marcasite and Onyx in the winter. I like the elegance and versatility of it.

Now that Spring is fast approaching I will start designing some necklaces and bracelets with more "SUN KISSED" qualities.

Citrine, amber, quartz will make beautiful jewelry. I always like to have fun pieces in the summer. Lots of whimsy...

Well, off to work....

Well I spoke to soon, now it is snowing were I am. Oh well, now I guess I have to be productive since I am inside all day. I am sure my children are staring out the window in school today instead of paying attention.
I don't know what it is about winter but I usually get most of my creative energy in the winter. I can't stop working. I guess that's perfect for this time of year.

Well, I am going to enjoy the snow and get some work done. Keep warm out there today.

Could it be any colder outside. It has to be in the teens here in New Jersey. Instead of the greenhouse effect warming us up, it's another ice age out there.

Any way just another excuse to sit at my desk and work on some designs.

Last night I did a few repairs on some jewelry. Just to make you laugh.... Did you ever have a costumer that just rubbed you the wrong way.

For example I am a firm believer in the costumer is always right. However, I made several bracelets in a collection I created sold alot of them locally. One costumer bought a bracelet from me and told me the bracelet kept falling off. Now I have the same bracelet with the same toggle. I sold about 8 other bracelets locally to women I see all the time. I wore her bracelet the day she gave it back to me all day. I went food shopping, cleaned the house etc. Needless to say the bracelet never fell off.

SO I offered to put a different toggle on knowing full well there was nothing wrong with the bracelet. My point is yes the costumer is always right, but sometimes............well, I should just let you use your imagination.

Well, back to work.

Well, thank god the holidays are finally over. Between the shopping and getting the house ready. I do Christmas eve and Christmas day. My 11yr old was born on Christmas day so a new tradition was born.

Jewelry orders needed to be filled. rush, rush, rush...

Just took the tree down yesterday.

Back to normal hopefully.

My newest project I think will be watches. I am trying to create a stretchy band for my marcasite watch faces. Trial and error will prevail.

I'll keep you posted on how I do.