Monday Muses: Bento Bento Bento

... I have a new obsession...

 Felt Food Play- Bento Box by kenshop

Green Bento- Original Watercolor Painting by lucileskitchen

Kawaii Bento Box Bookmark by bookmarksnrings

Oh bento boxes... they're just so... pretty. Blame Mêh Blog. I saw a link to her site on one of my favorite webcomics and sat up til 1am reading her comics... and then... well. She mentioned JustBento.com and well... 1am became 2am. Lol.

Still no real word on the job front. My third interview is supposed to take place tomorrow. But I do know that I'm going to try and pack a bento box for lunch if I get hired. Lol.

Hope you all survived this Monday! <3

Monday Muses: Hooooot...

Orange Owl Print by OrangeOptimist

Night Owl Jewelry by BethMillner

I LOVE that ring...

Burrowing Owl by rctees

Brown Bird Bag by retrofied

Owl Stationary Cards by Ringocrafts

I love owls. They've been pretty popular in design for a while now and it seems they'll be popular for a while.

They used to frighten me. Nightmares of owls swooping over me in the dark of night... but then I saw an owl one night in high school. It's hooting woke me up which was strange because it didn't seem that loud. I saw it perched on the brick wall separating my parents' house from the neighbors. Not sure how long I stood staring at it but was just so beautiful.

I made these earrings today. I really love the pair with the seed beads.

I'm a happy girl today.

Monday Muses: Buttons

 Beautiful Blue Vintage Buttons from oritodan

Gold Flower Shank Buttons from ButtonFinder

Vintage Amber Topaz Glass Buttons from yummytreasures

I've been playing with buttons again. They're just so adorable. Here are some pretties from Etsy. Loving the amber buttons.

Monday Muses: Cherry Blossom

 Copper Blossom Branch Cuff by HapaGirls

Gun Metal Cherry Blossom Earrings by beladonnajewels

Whimsical Cherry Blossom Ring by LolaAndCash

Cherry blossoms are so dainty and feminine. I'm not sure if it's their color or their shape but something about them is so beautiful. So cute. Precious. And delicate. Love them.

I'm currently at my brother's house absorbing the love his family has. I've been having trouble sleeping lately and last night was the first night in weeks I slept 7+ hours straight... once I actually managed to fall asleep, that is. :P I think it had something to do with the yummy chicken soup my sister-in-law made. I had two bowls of it... lol.

My baby nephew. He's going to be 5 months old in a week. Isn't he adorable? He looks just like his daddy. 

My brother, the baby nephew, and his big brother... I stole the pic from my sister-in-law... SHHH!!! :P

I'm recharging my batteries. My baby nephew's giggles, me playing with his big brother, eating my sister-in-law's good food, and watching how my brother just loves his family- this is what I will think of when I hit a low spot, which has been a lot lately. And when I think of what I want when I "grow up," the happiness and love they have for each other is what I want... but don't tell my brother that. Siblings don't admit that stuff to each other :P

When I go home tonight, I'll be ready to tackle my magazine submissions and plan an open house (hopefully).

Happy Monday, all! Let's have a good week this week, k?

Monday Muses: Flappers

 Fashion Illustration by JessicaIllustration

 Peacock Feather Flapper Headband by BaroqueAndRoll (I LOVE that name, btw)

Flapper Girl Necklace by zipluxe

My boyfriend is in the middle of this amazing painting and my fingers have been itching to paint something. My sketchbook has little doodles of a flapper girl. I want to just break out the gouache paint and GO!

Hope everyone has a fantastic Halloween! Happy Monday!

Monday Muses: Gypsy Love

Tarnished Gypsy Coin Earrings by siphonophoria

Turkoman Headdress by AbsintheDancer

Grecian Double Finger Chain Rings by grigio

Last night was a nightmare for me. I'm struggling with insomnia and got less than an hour of sleep last night. There was a minor freak out as sleeplessness has been a constant these past few weeks and today, I'm a bit off my game. BUT, while staring at the ceiling last night, I have decided that I will be a gypsy for Halloween.

Usually, the boyfriend and I go looking at costumes at the end of September, beginning of October but have yet to go this year. Money is tight having lost my job but I already have the corset, a flowy white shirt, and a long velvet burgundy skirt! I just need to add some finishing touches.

I'm thinking a headdress, some earrings, rings, and bangles. Maybe even an awesome necklace if I have the time. Just searching for "gypsy" in Etsy brings up a treasure trove of inspiration!

I'm going to try and sleep a little more as my head is pounding. Hope everyone has a fantastic Monday!

Monday Muses: Honeydew

Dupioni Silk Rosette Ring by bluebirdchic

Honeydew Glass Beads and Leather Bracelet by Afterdarkdesigns

Bewitched Garden Long Flower Necklace by soradesigns

So I'm sitting here, watching Rachel Ray chop up some honeydew and my brain goes "WOW! Look at that color!!!" These pieces are some of my faves from Etsy. Loving the simplicity of the rosette ring, the beautiful handmade lampwork bead in the bracelet, and the combination of purple and honeydew in the necklace.

Color me inspired!

Happy Monday!

Monday Muses: Czech Glass Beads

Turquoise Pressed Wheel from allthingsbeaded

Paisley Coins from OldWorldBeads

Window Ovals from MayaHoney

Orange Green Rose Teardrops from BobbiThisnThat

Herbed Turquoise from BeadBead

African Violet AB 3 Petal Flowers from dreamgirlbeads

This Monday Muses is a bit of window shopping. I have such an unbelievable weakness for Czech glass beads. Their colors and finishes make me giggle with happiness.

Monday Muses: Amber

Burnt Orange Amber Earrings by by TatianaG

Amber-Filigree Cuff by badkarmacreations

Antique Owl and Leaf Necklace by HandmadebyTinaB

I have been doing a lot... A LOT of purple and pink pieces. Right now, probably because it's fall, I'm loving amber. It's such a deep and beautiful color. And pairing it with copper or antiqued gold or brass is just lovely.

Monday Muses: Threading

... and by "threading," I don't mean the very painful looking eyebrow treatment. :P

Thread Wrapped Bangles by soursalt

Brass Pendant with Colorful Thread Pattern by thepigandpear

Tiger Lily Threaded Earrings by PairOfDragons

Thread comes in so many lovely colors. SO. MANY. COLORS. I swear, I was walking through JoAnn's Sunday and about flipped when I saw all the colors. AND I had to touch all the bobbins! I must have looked silly, touching all those bobbins and spools. Silly, I know, but sometimes I just have to touch.

I picked up some thread to play with, too. Woohoo!

Happy Monday!!!

Monday Muses: Beeeees

Two years ago, the first vacation my boyfriend and I took together was to Monterey, California. So beautiful. So lovely.

One of those mornings, we were walking down a street and I was smiling and laughing at something he said when a bee flew INTO MY TEETH, bounced off, landed on my shirt, and I freaked out.

I was thinking of this earlier. Even though they freak me out, bees are really quite lovely creatures.

 Victorian Bee Wax Seal Necklace by englady

 Honey Bee Earrings by JarosDesigns

Steampunk Bee Cuff by billyblue22

Monday Muses: Vintage Feel

 Purse necklace by kikosattic

 Vintage measuring tape bracelet by DuctTapeAndDenim

Vintage lace and key earrings by mytatteredwhimsies

Lace and muted colors. Brass and silver. Loving the vintage feel today.

Monday Muses: Beautiful Bracelets

Summers Studio

 Lana0Crystal

JMW Silver Jewelry Design and Artisan Works

I'm loving this style right now. Especially the last one. It's a decadent wrap bracelet. Simple and beautiful. Every one of them.

I think I'm going to try this with waxed linen cord.

Monday Muses: Happiness in Inspriation

Woo. The last three days have been intense with my store closing. Been a roller coaster of emotions. And absolutely no time for jewelry making. I feel drained and am searching for inspiration. So, I've decided that every Monday, I'll post pieces from artists who inspire me. My muses.

 

Turquoise spinner ring from Balanced. These days, I find myself spinning my bracelets on my wrists. I've never had a spinner ring before, but I imagine it would calm my nerves as much as spinning my bracelets would. I love the color. And I have a ton of these filigree pieces. I'm itching to try weaving on them.

Mohala Woven Flower Ring from smittenforyou. I've seen roses made from fabric but not leaves before! Love this idea. And it's such a beautiful story behind the plant.

Enter the Serpent from gailavira. I can see myself wearing this as a thumb ring. I love that it's adjustable! And this design would probably work as a bracelet as well! Love it.

I think I'm going to start making rings soon. I want to try my hand at woven rings. I've amassed a lovely collection of seed beads because of my wrap bracelets. I should use them to make beautiful rings! 

Now... just to find the time... :P