Featured Slider

Butterfly Garden 2011

It's been a very dry summer, so far. It's been so dry that our grass looks like hay. As a result, we haven't had much activity in the butterfly garden this year. On one lucky Friday evening (July 22, 2011), I happened to catch the fluttering wings of this beautiful White Admiral butterfly in our garden.
It contently stayed put, eating away at the butterfly bush nectar, while I snapped numerous photos. Generally our first visitor to the butterfly garden is a monarch, but I really haven't seen many butterflies at all. Although, in fairness, I haven't been outside much either...too darn hot!

Just as I was finishing pictures of the butterfly, I heard this faint buzzing by my head. Figured it was a bee, so of course, I went
crazy waving my hands around my head as I didn't want to get stung. When I finally got out of the garden and looked back, I kept hearing the buzzing but almost didn't catch this little guy fluttering around as well, on the other butterfly bush.

I've nicknamed him, George.

This is the second year I've spotted a hummingbird hawkmoth. When I first saw one I thought mother nature messed up on this thing. But, thinking logically, I knew it had to be something, so I did some searching and found out it was a hummingbird hawkmoth. It flies like a hummingbird but has the body of a moth, the coloring almost of a bee. Very strange indeed, but interesting as well.

My neice was fascinated to be able to see both these lovely garden visitors. In fact, this past weekend she also was able to see a hummingbird and at least a dozen tiny monarch butterflies feeding on the butterfly bush. It was quite impressive how they flew around in a tangled weaving type pattern, yet never bumped into each other.

I've got some baby robin photos to share as well. I didn't know there was a nest under our deck but once I figured it out (in truth...it was my dog, Lucy, who figured it out), I started snapping pictures to see how long it would be before they flew away. But the last few pictures have been, well...life threatening. :-) Mama Robin is NOT happy for me to be around her babes and she's pulled in some backup. So, I haven't been able to get daily pictures but will share soon the ones I did get.

Custom Crystal Transplant Awareness Earrings

One of my sweet customers, Beverly, contacted me to see if she could get a coordinating pair of earrings designed for the Organ Transplant Awareness BREATHE Bracelet (B195) that she was planning on purchasing.
Swarovski Crystal Transplant Awareness Ribbon Earrings (E272, E273)
Swarovski Crystal Transplant Awareness Earrings (E272) -and-
Swarovski Crystal Transplant Awareness Ribbon Earrings (E273)
While on the phone she asked if it was possible to also have a pair of beaded earrings designed to go with the bracelet she had already purchased, the Transplant Awareness Ribbons Bracelet (B105). Of course, I was more than happy to custom design these crystal awareness beaded earrings for her!

On the day we spoke, I just happened to be having a not so great day (you know how it goes..Murphy's law..). Well, I sent her a photo showing four sample pairs of earring design options and in her reply she said, "I would have never known that you were having a bad day, you were so pleasant and kind to talk to." A few other kind comments she made included: "you are very good to your customers", "you are just as beautiful as your jewelry is..", "I love your jewelry and will wear them with much pride..", "I am so happy thanks to you!", "you are an awesome person and so very very kind" and, "the meaning behind your awareness jewelry is so beautiful and so true!".

I am sharing all these comments with you because I am always so very grateful for each and every comment a customer sends me. Your comments guide me on how well (or maybe not so well) I am conducting business, as well as, how well received and meaningful my designs are.

BREATHE Organ Transplant Awareness Bracelet (B195-II)
BREATHE Organ Transplant Awareness Bracelet (B195-II)
As my gift to Beverly, I added a sterling silver butterfly charm to her BREATHE bracelet and here is what Beverly had to say after she received her much anticipated package of sparkling awareness jewelry:

Hello Stephanie,
I received my awesome jewelry in the mail yesterday afternoon and I just absolutely love them all! You truly did a super job on coming up with the idea of your jewelry. It's all so gorgeous and the charms on the bracelet are so adorable. I love the meaning of the butterfly, what a beautiful way to express the new lungs taking their first breath.

Well, thank you again Stephanie and thank you for keeping in touch with me. Thank you for the pen, the beautiful card you wrote and the beautiful jewelry. Obviously...the beautiful jewelry comes from a beautiful person!!! :)

Hugs and kisses to you and may God Bless you always!

Thank you ever so kindly,
Bev


You are very welcome Beverly! And thank you for your continued business. Enjoy your new designer jewelry!

I WANT ONE! Kelly Moore Bag

This was not the planned blog post for today, but once I read about a contest to win one, I simply couldn't resist sharing.

What girl does not have a personal (ok, border-line, downright, freaky) attachment to her purse/bag?! Come on now, admit it...you know you do! Today, I was introduced to Kelly Moore Bags through the SITS blog and fell in love with the purple classic bag design (it's SO mine!). Kelly Moore bags are perfect for carrying your camera and accessories -but with a Kelly Moore bag, you do it in style!

I've had my Canon Rebel camera, oh, 3 years? And have yet to get a bag to carry it in, mainly because all the bags available looked so...well...blah. What I also think is so fab about a Kelly Moore classic bag, are the two front pockets which I'm sure will fit my new IPhone (when I get it...yes, the official count down to "I can finally upgrade my phone to an IPhone" has begun...only 39 more days).

on a side note: all this hype for getting an IPhone leaves little room for disappointment, right?!

So, I will now add a Kelly Moore purple classic bag to my wishlist (Christmas in July, did you say?!). But first, I think I'll try to win it by entering the contest over at the SITS Girls Blog. Head on over for your chance to win one FREE! If you win, come back and let me know what bag you chose. Good luck!

Godmother Godchild Crystal Bracelets (B200)

Celebrate Your Special Bond: Godmother-Godchild Matching Beaded Crystal Bracelets
Celebrate Your Special Bond
There is a special bond that exists between a Godmother and Godchild. It is not something that anyone else can understand -unless you are a Godmother. But, I know it because I am a Godmother.

When you are asked to be a Godmother, it fills your heart and you hope to become that person that your Godchild will look up to for guidance, love and support.

These Godmother-Godchild matching bracelets were inspired by that special bond and are a beautiful gift idea that celebrates that bond.

I have received numerous requests for Crystal Allure original Godmother-Godchild bracelets and they have finally arrived! It's been a long time coming but I couldn't be more proud of the designs.

Due to the limited availability of the crystal channel components used in these designs, the bracelets colors cannot be customized. It is possible to adjust the sizing or if you wish to personalize with names, feel free to contact me for availability and details.

Purple Amethyst Crystal Godmother Bracelet (B200-GM)
Purple Amethyst Crystal Godmother Bracelet (B200-GM)
Contact Us on availability

A cherished keepsake bracelet designed for that special godmother and godchild! Our exquisite design features a combination of either rich purple amethyst Swarovski Crystals (Godmother) or delicate light purple lilac Swarovski Crystal (Godchild) paired with aurora borealis (AB) crystals accented by sterling silver Swarovski Crystal channels, beads, Bali and letter beads that spell out either Godmother or Godchild. Finished with an complementary crystal dangle charm and our signature jewelry tag. Bracelet measures 7-1/2".
Light Purple Lilac Crystal Godchild Bracelet (B200-GC)
Light Purple Lilac Crystal Godchild Bracelet (B200-GC)
Contact Us on availability

It may be possible to mix other crystal colors (in place of the amethyst or light amethyst crystals) with the purple crystal channel beads. If you are interested in a custom crystal color, contact us to discuss the possibilities.