Focus On Life - Weeks 43 and Week 44

I missed a week of the FOL:14 photography challenge while I was back home visiting family, but Sally had a little 'oops' moment and so this week's prompts are 'Two For One' - Week 43 and Week 44.

Week 43: Your favorite color 

  I'm not sure what my favorite color is - kinda depends on my mood and my surroundings, or where I'm at, at the time.

When I think of my favorite color(s), images of Sunrises, Sunsets, the Ocean and beautiful fall trees come to mind. 

 

 

So that's basically all colors, wouldn't you say?!!

And now,....

Week 44: An ordinary photo of the extraordinary everyday,...aka take a photo of what ever you would like and post it!

 

 

 This photo was taken on an extraordinary day spent with one my nieces. 

  We had the most lovely time and the beauty around us was anything but ordinary!

Let's see what everyone else captured this week, shall we?

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Extraordinary Beauty!

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

Autumn In My Head!

Leaves and Pearls - Autumn 2009 Design from MiShel Designs

Okay - so I've been thinking of all this "Fall" stuff lately. 

Fall colors, fall designs,...all of it!

Maybe it's because all the stores are spiced with autumn goodies like vivaciouly colored leaves in burnt orange, rust and gold. And maybe it's because the smells are so lovely right now - I mean spiced-cider candles are burning all day in my house!!

Ceramic Beads and Copper Charms
MiShel Designs 2010 Fall Collection

Yep, that's it! And, I've been dreaming of and creating some new designs. 

Now, to find the time to photograph them - yes, that would be nice!

Chaos Wire Wrapped Hoops with Amber Dangles
MiShel Designs - Fall 2009 Collection

In the meantime, here's some Autumn Eye-Candy from years past. Enjoy!

Realm of the Goddess
MiShel Designs Fall 2010 Collection

Cinnamon and Spice
MiShel Designs Fall 2009 Collection

Aumtum Earrings - MiShel Designs 2009 Fall Collection

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Autumn Treasures!

Cheers,

~Shel~

"Autumn in Arizona" - Fall 2008 Collection

Mocha Earrings - MiShel Designs Fall 2010 Collection

Colors of Fall Designs for Artbeads.com

Just when you thought all things Fall/Autum were gone - being that Santa figures, Christmas Trees, Winter Scenes, Shopping Malls and Snow Storms are all the rage right now - I'm finally posting my Artbeads.com blog post for their Colors of Fall assignment. 

I've had this piece for a little while now (just not the pictures), so I'm happy to be able to get this posted but it made me a bit sad, too. 

See, Fall is my favorite time of year,...the colors, the activities, the somewhat cooler temps (although not this year here in the desert - it was still in the high 90's until Halloween!!) and I hate to say good-bye to Fall, even though the Winter Holiday Season and the New Year Celebrations are always fun and filled with excitement!

I really love designing jewelry for fall with all the typical fall colors; seeing how I can maybe combine them differently this year than in the years past and possibly throwing in some new and unexpected colors as well. 

I love Artbeads.com  Trends section of their website. And, their section in their Learning Center section under Seasonal Jewelry has tons of great free designs for you to try and the inspiration you can get from this resource is invaluable!  (Plus, it's loaded with all the lastest and greatest colors of the season, too!)

For my designs I started with Artbeads.com's silk ribbon in Multi Browns.  I love this ribbon!  I'm sure you can tell because the photo at the top of my blog of my  'Midnight' necklace was created using this ribbon in the Blue/Grey Color Combo!

I wanted to mix things up a bit, which is hard for me sometimes as I tend to stick to the same materials, so I added some copper chain and an antiqued copper Leaves and Flowers Toggle.  Both were easy to work with and since the toggle was 'antiqued' it brought the shininess of the chain and the matte colors of the ribbon together quite nicely.

You all know I love pearls and I love all things 'sparkly' too, so I chose to use some Swarovski Crystals and Crystal Pearls in my design in some fall-like colors.  I chose to use the Deep Brown Swarovski Crystal Pearls and the Brown Pearls since they matched the browns in the ribbon so well. I wanted some pops of color, so I chose Swarovski crystals in "Cosmic Olivine" and "Amethyst" and then threw in some really soft "Golden Shadow" for that added sparkle!  

With "Tassles" being so poular this season I decided to do a mini-tassle on my necklace and dangle it from the chain, adding little dangles of the pearls and crystals along the sides and using the ribbon so it would lay in the back; soft and natural on your neck!  (great for those sweaters we wear in the fall - nothing to catch or snag them!)  I used the toggle to connect the ribbon with the chain on the side so it would be easy to get on and off. 

I like how it turned out - although the pictures don't do the actual design justice!  But it does emind me of the rich colors of fall, the greens that are turning to brown, the purple hues of the sunsets as the nights get colder and the browns of the woods as the nights get longer.

Oh,...Fall,....sorry to see you go!

Until next time,

Peace, Love and all things "Falling,.....Falled,....Fell.  (On to Winter!!)

Cheers,

~Shel~
*I have received these products free of charge from Artbeads.com and I am honestly reviewing/creating with these products and have not been paid or compensated for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Treasures Galore!

Wow - I've been listed in another Treasury on Etsy!  Thanks so much to Twisted Feather!

You should really check out these shops - they have some awesome items that would be perfect for gift giving this holiday season - especially for your family and friends who already have absolutely everything and you never have any idea what to get them - these items will be a hit!

And, as you're gearing up for the holidays and since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, remember that  tomorrow is Veteran's Day.

Please be sure to thank all those who have served or are serving our country, providing the opportunity for us all to live the lives we live today!!

And, please remember all the men and women (and their families) who have given the ultimate sacrifice with their lives for our freedom,.....words cannot express my gratitude! 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Good Finds, Great Freedoms and Wonderful Lives!!

Cheers,

~Shel~