Bella Vita Jewelry in At Home Arkansas

 These earrings are 100% my design, I hammered the copper, sawed the round shape and sawed out the middle then filed it smooth... then I added the semi precious stones. These beauties rest in my friend Sarah's jewelry box.

So, I was flipping through the rest of the magazine to check out what is hip in Arkansas right now and I stumbled upon this ad for Glo Cosmetics. Most of you probably know that I have a Bachelor's in Interior Design... so, when I did my internship at Julie Wait Designs I got to help design this cosmetic counter under Aubrey Mitchell Pate. She basically gave me the foot print or the "floor plan" of the millwork she had in mind and let me work out all the details and do all the drawings. It was one of the most exciting projects because I had the freedom to add storage and work out all the details and over come all the potential problems... you know, working the puzzle!! I have looked at this project in my design portfolio for 3 years now and it has always gotten attention when I've interviewed for jobs. It was so great to turn to the page in the magazine and see something that I got to be a part of. This really makes me miss designing space... not the office though!

Couple of new things...

This is my anklet, just for me! Made of Cubic Zirconia's and Sterling Silver

This is what I made my Mom for Mother's Day, it is my brothers and my initials and our birthstones on a sterling silver chain.

This is a Boulder Opal I found in a box of stuff my Grandmother gave me. I have had it for years and was finally able to get it set this week. I LOVE it! Thanks Grandma!

This is another stone, unknown, that I found in my Grandma's box of "goodies" a long time ago. It is set in sterling silver.

I got my application packet completed for the Arkansas Arts Council's Individual Artist Fellowship awards. I could potentially be awarded $4000... So, cross your fingers and say your prayers for me, awards are determined in mid-September. I am relieved to have this done!!! I had to make an artist resume, artist statement and document 10 pieces of work... It doesn't sound that hard but I am not an accomplished artist yet so I found it hard to talk about my work and find information for my resume. But it is all done and about to be turned it!

I had to reward myself after all this hard work with the application and show prep. So I splurged on a pedicure today! And let me tell you it was FABULOUS! I went to this new little spot by Pizza D's in Hillcrest, the name is of the shop is Lady Fingers and I highly recommend you make an appointment here. They use essential oils and the massage is magnificent! Lets support local business, especially all these new and old businesses in Hillcrest. If you haven't made it to the Station yet you better scoot on down there. They carry all sorts of local foods and produce and even have a salad bar and deli! Then there are all the old stand by's the D and the Oyster Bar! 

Been busy working for the show this Saturday... wanted to share a few things I have made!

Recycled Jewelry Class

The necklace in the lower left corner of the table is what Marcia created. It turned out really nice!

Last night at the Argenta Bead Co. I taught a class on how to recycle your old, unworn, broken jewelry. Each student sifted through their jewelry boxes and found pieces of sentimental jewelry that they wanted to be able to wear. So,  first we started by going through it all and deciding what pieces they really wanted to redo, since we only had a couple of hours we had to narrow it down to 2-3 projects. They told me their likes and dislikes about the piece and what they envisioned it turning into so they would be able to wear it again.  We had piles of jewelry, beads, broken costume jewelry, Grandma's costume jewelry, jewelry from ex's, jewelry from world travels, we had it all! The end result was: 

Donna: 1 pair of earrings, 2 necklaces, 1 bracelet

Angie: 2 bracelets, and a pair of earrings (Made from her Great Grandmother's faux pearls which she is going to give her Mother for Mother's day.)

Marcia: 1 necklace and the start of another necklace

And probably a new addiction to jewelry making!

One of the ladies in the class works for the Democrat Gazette, and she asked me if I would be comfortable with a photographer stopping by last night, and of course I said "I would love it." So she told me if nothing major and news worthy popped up then the photographer would stop by, and sure enough he did!  As soon as I find out when they will print the story/photos I will post it on here.

This is all of us hard at work!

Here I am sizing up Angie's new bracelet to make sure it fits her.