Congratulations to.....

Lori. She is the lucky winner of the Artbeads gift certificate. Thanks to all who participated and Happy Shopping, Lori :)

Attention All Jewelry Crafters Out There....

If you are looking at this post, this contest is just for you. It's simple and easy and you could win a $25.00 gift card from Artbeads.com, which is one of my favorite places to get beads, findings, and unique pieces for my jewelry creations.

So, this is what you have to do:

1) Sign up to follow my blog (1 entry).

2) Sign up to follow a WEDDING in a BOX blog (1 entry)

3) Become a fan of a WEDDING in a BOX on Facebook (1 entry)

So, that's a total of 3 entries. Make sure you leave your email address in the comment section. A random drawing will take place on December 18, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. EST. I will contact the winner to get their address to pass along to Artbeads.com.

Good Luck Everyone!

Shimmery

The beauty and brilliance of diamonds has been admired throughout history. However, in past centuries their use was reserved strictly for royalty. Today, thanks to remarkable diamond substitutes like Cubic Zirconia, almost anyone can afford to dapper up their accessory collection with dazzling, eye-catching jewelry.

This is why I was so excited to participate in this round of Blogging for Beads with Artbeads.com. I would get the chance to create something shimmery, sparkly, and beautiful and could be worn for the upcoming holidays or even for a bride walking down the aisle. Artbeads.com had such a huge selection of Cubic Zirconia beads that is was hard to choose. But, ultimately I went with some classic beads that paired nicely with sterling silver and Swarovski Pearls that I tend to use quite often. Just with 8 mm round crystal cubic zirconia, 10 mm Swarovski platinum pearls, sterling silver bezel set cubic zirconia links, and a few odds and ends I had around the house....I created this beautiful, sparkly masterpiece:



I can't wait to wear it to the holiday parties that are coming up....quicker than we realize!

Disclosure: I participate in Blogging for Beaders with Artbeads.com and have received the products free of charge from them. I am honestly reviewing the products and have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Share the Savings Code

Woo-hoo. I just received a great discount code and I wanted to share it with all those crafty people out there in bloggerland. The code is for one of my favorite places to buy beads, findings, and other craft accessories. Artbeads has it all and there is never a charge for shipping...that's right shipping is free within the USA. You can't beat that.

So the 10% off code is SCF10P-ARTBEADS-0424 and it's good through December 31, 2009.




Happy Crafting!

Tess' Necklace

The owner of Kaleidoscope Angels, Tess Jensen, offered up some really beautiful green Fluorite nuggets to me. She said I could use some for myself and create something for her. There were 18 or 19 nuggets on this strand she gave me and they were super heavy. I took 3 of the nuggets and wire wrapped them. I paired them with Chinese sea glass in a seafoam color and voila...this is what I came up with:



I LOVE this necklace since I (and so does Tess) wear a lot of green and turquoise shades. I just think it's a really pretty statement piece.

Don't hesitate to contact me at carriegrab419@hotmail.com if you would like me to make YOU a statement piece too.

Vintage Inspired Necklace

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm trying to come up with some unique pieces of jewelry art for a craft show that is on November 7 from 9 am until 2 pm at the Grace Assembly of God on Rt. 23. I have my domino pins and magnets and now I've come up with some necklaces using vintage art.

I used archival ink to color the glass and then I found some great vintage clip art and inserted it between the 2 pieces of glass. I think these necklaces turned out great and here are a few of my favorites.



These are great layering pieces and are fun to wear by young and old alike. I'd love to hear your comments! Thanks for looking!

What a Great Stocking Stuffer For All the Ladies On Your List....

I'm gearing up for the holidays and the craft shows that go along with them. I have never done a show so I'm going to give it a whirl this year. There are TONS of talented artists out there who make jewelry. I plan on trying out some of my more unique items at the craft show I plan on participating in. I will have LOTS of sterling silver earrings and an wide assortment of necklaces. My unique pieces will be:

Holiday Domino Pins:


Holiday Domino Magnets:


I will have some that are specifically holiday and others that are fun for all year round. I hope that they sell since they are so unique and a great way to re-purpose domino tiles.

Happy Shopping!

October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Not everyone knows this about me, but before I was a mom and a jewelry creator I was working in the public health arena. I got my master's in Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, GA...adjacent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Cancer Society (ACS) headquarters. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, I thought it would be a natural fit to combine both of my passions....health behavior and education with jewelry making. Sounds odd, but it can work.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is a little less than 1 in 8 (12%).

The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States are for 2009:

* about 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women
* about 40,170 women will die from breast cancer

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman's death is about 1 in 35 (about 3%). Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.

Screening refers to tests and exams used to find a disease, such as cancer, in people who do not have any symptoms. The goal of screening exams, such as mammograms, is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. Breast cancers that are found because they can be felt tend to be larger and are more likely to have already spread beyond the breast. In contrast, breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be small and still confined to the breast. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are important factors in predicting the prognosis (survival outlook) for a woman with this disease.

Most doctors feel that early detection tests for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each year, and that many more lives could be saved if even more women and their health care providers took advantage of these tests. Following the American Cancer Society's guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer improves the chances that breast cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully.

American Cancer Society recommendations for early breast cancer detection include:

Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.

Current evidence supporting mammograms is even stronger than in the past. In particular, recent evidence has confirmed that mammograms offer substantial benefit for women in their 40s. Women can feel confident about the benefits associated with regular mammograms for finding cancer early. However, mammograms also have limitations. A mammogram will miss some cancers, and it sometimes leads to follow up of findings that are not cancer, including biopsies.

Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a periodic (regular) health exam by a health professional, at least every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year.

CBE is a complement to mammograms and an opportunity for women and their doctor or nurse to discuss changes in their breasts, early detection testing, and factors in the woman's history that might make her more likely to have breast cancer.

There may be some benefit in having the CBE shortly before the mammogram. The exam should include instruction for the purpose of getting more familiar with your own breasts. Women should also be given information about the benefits and limitations of CBE and breast self exam (BSE). Breast cancer risk is very low for women in their 20s and gradually increases with age. Women should be told to promptly report any new breast symptoms to a health professional.

Research has shown that BSE plays a small role in finding breast cancer compared with finding a breast lump by chance or simply being aware of what is normal for each woman. Some women feel very comfortable doing BSE regularly (usually monthly after their period) which involves a systematic step-by-step approach to examining the look and feel of their breasts. Other women are more comfortable simply looking and feeling their breasts in a less systematic approach, such as while showering or getting dressed or doing an occasional thorough exam. Sometimes, women are so concerned about "doing it right" that they become stressed over the technique. Doing BSE regularly is one way for women to know how their breasts normally look and feel and to notice any changes. The goal, with or without BSE, is to report any breast changes to a doctor or nurse right away.

Chances are we all know at least one person who has faced breast cancer. Why not honor their fight for survival with this great bracelet I created to help spread the work about the importance of BSEs and mammograms in the early detection of a disease that is all too prevalent.

Just a few things I've been working on...

It's been super busy here lately. I made a bunch of yoga inspired and chakra stone/color jewelry for a holistic shoppe that is opening up in the next few weeks. I made 30 pieces of jewelry in a week and a half. You will need to stop by the shoppe to see those pieces. I know the suspense is killing you. I also restocked Patsy's Potpourri of Gifts and also made a few new pieces for High Street Yoga. It's been a very busy past couple of weeks for me, but in a GOOD way!

I have managed to make a few new pieces for my own collection. They might wind up on consignment or co-op in the next month or two. I still haven't decided.

The first piece is created with Labradorite and gunmetal. The labradorite shows an iridescence or play of colors and makes it really pretty to design and create with.
Labradorite is a power stone, allowing you to see through illusions and determine the actual form of your dreams and goals. It is excellent for strengthening intuitions.



The next piece is created using the most adorable square paisley charm. I paired the charm with fire polished amethyst and hot pink glass beads. The Bali toggle clasp is stunning. This is a great piece of jewelry for the Fall.



Thanks for taking a look. As always, if you see something that you like on my blog, the style can be translated into other pieces using different colors or different stones.

Mom Made That and Type A Mom Blogger Conference

I've been give an awesome opportunity by Amy over at Mom Made That. She is headed to the Type A Conference September 24-24, 2009 in Asheville, NC. Type-A Mom Conference is a unique mom blogging conference designed to help bloggers take it to the next level. The conference will feature some of the most influential, admired and insightful mom bloggers talking about topics like power social networking, branding, blogging, finding your voice, and turning your passion for blogging into a real paycheck. I am very excited that Amy is setting up a table and offered to sell some merchandise for people who are involved with the Mom Made That website. She suggested that anyone who was interested could pick out 4 or 5 items, ship them to her with some business cards along with pricing information. This is such a great chance to get Hammi Jammi Jewelry out of good ole PA and might open up some doors for me.

If you happen to be at the conference, please do stop by the Mom Made That table and support all those hard working moms!

Business Highlight: Patsy's Potpourri of Gifts

While walking into Patsy's Potpourri of Gifts one can see the store has something for everyone. Hand-made items such as jewelry, folk art paintings, cards, candles, scarves, baskets, food products are just some of the many things available at the store.

Patsy's Potpourri of Gifts offers items made by local artisans and everything is made in the United States. Some of the products that are featured in the store are made by people from Bally, Boyertown, North Coventry and Pottstown. With everything going on in the economy Patsy thought it would be really neat to have all things made in the U.S.A. and local artisans. She says that we need to support local artists and we need to build America up again to the way it used to be.

Some examples of "different things" customers can see in the store are bowls that are made out of burrells, dripless candles and gourd birdhouses.

The jewelry is for a variety of ages. The store offers many pieces from kiln glass pendants to funky jewelry for high school girls, she said.

People are looking for different and this wonderful shop offers just what people are looking for.

If you live in the area, I urge you to check out this great shop. I have been selling my jewelry there since it's opened and I am always impressed by Patsy and her other local offerings.

Library Fundraiser

The Pottstown Public Library is having a "Hidden Gems" fundraiser November 7, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. I was asked by one of the organizers to donate to this event. I don't know too many details, however I do know that it's a wine tasting event and there will be baskets of wine paired with jewelry to bid on. I believe the price is $40 a person and all funds go to help make the library a better place for the community. Please contact the library for further details of the event!

I wanted to create something on the fancier-side since the pieces will be paired with a lovely bottle of wine. I created a black onyx and Swarovski crystal double-stranded necklace and a pair of matching chandelier earrings. Here is a sneak peak at my creations:





I don't know where you live, but I hope you all support your public library. They have such a great variety of programs for all types of people. I know I take my kids there for storytimes and they always do a fantastic job keeping my kids engaged. My older son also like to use their computers, get new books to read at home, an take out videos. My younger son loves to play with the train table and castle and figurines. I love to read (when I have spare time) and they always have something new for me to take out! I encourage you to see what YOUR library has to offer!

Heading to Consignment

Here are a few Fall pieces that are heading to consignment this week. If you live in the area, head on over to Patsy's Potpourri of Gifts. It's all USA made merchandise!!!!

Just the other day, I noticed....

signs of FALL! It's been getting dark earlier and the nights have been cooler. I also noticed a few red colored leaves on a few trees! I'm ready to buy some mums and get rid of my plants that are no longer looking so healthy from this long, hot summer! Back to school starts next week, football season is coming soon too (Go PSU!!!), and yes, the colors are changing. Here's a necklace I came up with to wear while the seasons are changing:

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

I love the look of turquoise for the Fall months, but it also reminds me very much of Summer. The blue green color reminds me of sitting at the beach looking at the peaceful calm of the ocean. This first necklace is my interpretation of the ocean and saying goodbye to the Summer months.



I love the color orange for the Fall. It reminds me of the changing colors of the leaves. These earrings remind me of how seasons change and life changes along with it.



All of my jewelry is creating using Sterling Silver chains and wires.
Thanks for taking a look!

Thinking about Indian Summer

I don't know about you but as a mom of two boys who are constantly at each other all summer long, I am surely ready for school to start up again. My youngest is in the midst of potty training too. He looks so innocent, but he's been giving me quite a run for my money with the bodily functions all over the house. I'm pretty much going insane around these parts...ask any of my friends! Look at this innocent little face, but he's quite the handful:



I'm also in the process (amidst my chaos of shampooing rugs and cleaning up poop) of creating some really fun jewelry for Indian Summer (which if you aren't from around these parts is when it's Fall but feels like summer...it's a short burst of heat to remind us of all the fun we had in the summer months). Here's a sneak piece of an item I created yesterday using a really great leaf focal pendant and paired with orange jade nuggets and yellow round jade.



I'm always interested in hearing from people about what they think about these pieces I create.

A Few New Items

Just trying out some new techniques. What do you think of these pieces?

Just listed....

I just listed a few new items in my shoppe:

Oh Baby!

I just created this adorable bracelet for little baby girl. It is going to be a baptismal present. I think it so adorable (and tiny) and is a lovely keepsake. A client of mine showed me a few pictures with elements that she liked and I came up with the bracelet.



I love when clients come to me with ideas and pictures. It helps with the creative process and everyone is happy with the finished product.

Crystallized with Artbeads

Those of you who know me personally know about my love for Penn State University. My husband and I both went there for undergrad, as well as most of my extended family. So, my kids do not have a choice in the matter. Even though they are ages 6 and 2 they will be going there. It's a family tradition. I'm only partially joking here...LOL!

The bracelet I created for Artbeads' Swarovski Month is inspired by tradition and Penn State University colors (blue and white). I used various sizes of faceted crystal roundels, small white crystal pearls, a filagree crystal lily as a charm, and a sterling silver crystal toggle. Since, I create jewelry for bridal party attendants, I thought this would be really stunning and different colors could be used to match bridesmaid dresses.











Let me know what you think and We Are.........

Penn State

The Whole Package

The Whole Package

You could say that five designing women were thinking outside the box when they came up with the idea of packaging their talents inside a box.

Specifically, “A Wedding in a Box.”

The friends’ services and products — custom jewelry, honeymoon planning, photography, makeup consulting and yoga/massage — don’t literally come packed in a box, of course.

But for the time and frustration the one-stop shopping can save, the concept itself might seem like it’s gift-wrapped and tied with a bow to a detail-oriented bride-to-be.

“It all has to do with branding,” said Carrie Grabowicz, the jewelry crafter of the group.

“We do give out a jewelry-size bracelet type box that has our cards inside explaining all about our services. So everyone sort of can remember us as ‘those box people.’ The idea just makes it all easier for brides, with everything in one place, neatly packaged up for you.”

The idea for A Wedding in a Box evolved from the successful businesses of the five women, who found that the synergy of collaborating ultimately enhanced the experience for the entire bridal party, Grabowicz noted.

“Brides can benefit from our combined expertise. We combine our talents and treat brides the way they should be treated, with custom and personal touches that are top notch.”

The partnership helps each of the A Wedding in a Box businesses grow independently as well, she added.

“We’re all separate entities and function separately,” Grabowicz said. “ But ‘A Wedding in a Box’ is a way to have five people promoting you, working together and trying to offer you the best.”

Should photographer Melia Rios-Lazo’s display at The Court at King of Prussia, promoting her own business, Priceless Moments, drum up some new clients for her, it could well bring some of those wedding dollars to the other partners’ endeavors as well.

“Everything we offer can also be purchased a la carte,” Grabowicz pointed out. “So people aren’t obligated to take everything we offer.”

With Hammi Jammi Jewelry, Grabowicz creates brooches and other pieces of “wearable art” from sterling silver, copper and even domino tiles.

“My company name comes from a name I gave my kids when they’re acting goofy,” she said, laughing. “I customize everything according to what the bride wants, like earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Many brides tend to wear pearls, but sometimes they may want something a little more bold, like a ruby color.”

The jewelry items can be for the bride herself, or for the bridesmaids to wear the day of the wedding, Grabowicz said.

Squaring off “A Wedding in a Box” enticements are stress-relieving yoga and massage by therapist Barbara Kosciewicz, who tends to both “the bodies and minds of the wedding party,” makeup and skin care attention by Clare Herkendaal of Arbonne and honeymoon possibilities offered by CruiseOne’s Danielle Weber.

Though most of the women live in Pottstown, they are all “very mobile” and available to present a mini bridal show throughout the area, Grabowicz said.

“A bride and her attendants can have a massage, try on make-up, enjoy a high fashion photography session, learn about honeymoon destinations, try on some one-of-a-kind jewelry ... while enjoying camaraderie with friends — and some chocolate.”

Guess What People Are Sayin'????

I thought I would let all my faithful readers out there know what people are saying about Hammi Jammi Jewelry:

"I have several of Carrie's creations and always receive so many compliments! I also bought a necklace and earrings for my mom for Christmas. She is IMPOSSIBLE to please! But, when she opened her gift she was so visibly pleased. She only seemed disappointed that it didn't match her outfit!" --Anna

"Carrie's jewelry is beautiful, unique, and well-made. Carrie is an absolute pleasure to do business with...she will work with you and figure out exactly what you want!!!" --Kristin

"Carrie makes very unique brooches from domino tiles and wire wraps them in a charming style. Love these pins because they are larger than the current trendy scrabble tile pendants. They stand out when worn. I know I get a lot of comments about mine! Carrie is quite a clever designer." --Ally

"Carrie does just beautiful, quality work! I am proud to wear her pieces and always get compliments on them! I would highly recommend Carrie and Hammi Jammi Jewelry!" --Jean

"Carrie's jewelry is creative, beautiful, and well-made. She does personal consultations to create special pieces designed to your liking. I highly recommend Hammi Jammi jewelry for gorgeous everyday pieces - as a treat for yourself or a gift for someone special. You will not be disappointed!" --Shelley

"I have several pieces of jewelry from Carrie and I LOVE them all. She made a custom grandmother necklace for my mother in law, and has customized pieces for me. Her customer service is excellent, her jewelry is made to order and done quickly and the prices are affordable. I would highly recommend Carrie for gift ideas, special events or for something special for yourself!" --Barbara

Do you want $40 towards custom jewely?

I haven't had much of a chance to blog lately. School's out for the summer and although the kids are enjoying some free time, Mom doesn't have too much free time to do the things she likes to do. I like to blog, make jewelry, read. I like to spend time with my children, however taking a toddler to the pool everyday is pretty exhausting. I'm sure you all know what I mean....LOL!

Well, in honor of the summer months, I am doing a giveway for a $40 CREDIT towards custom jewelry. This is what you need to do to be entered into this giveaway:

1) Tell me what you LOVE about summer or something special you are going to do with your children this summer (1 entry)

2) Tell me what kind of jewelry creation you would like to have especially let me know color palette (1 entry)

This contest will start today and go through Sunday, June 28.

Happy Summer!

A Tribute To My Father

Happy 60th Birthday, Daddy!!!
****************************************************************************************

Sunrise, Sunset

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day
They look so natural together
Just like two newlyweds should be
Is there a canopy in store for me?
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

****************************************************************************************

Daddy, I know that this is a song about a wedding, but it has special meaning for you and I. We danced to this song at my wedding and it really has a nice message. It talks about how the years are full of wonderful memories and to appreciate all the special times that people share together. I wanted to share a few memories I have of things that we did together that have impacted me.

•As a little girl, I would “help” you chop wood outside at our old house. I was little but you let me pick up wood and set it in place for you. I think I really was just outside so Mom could get Little Shelley to rest, but I thought I was really helping. You always paid me a few quarters for helping. I think this was one of my first lessons in working for money. Thank you for money lessons!

•I also have great memories of getting up bright and early to go fishing on Lake Jamie with you. I felt so special doing this. I also remember you teaching me how to throw and catch a baseball. I was a girl, but you never taught me just girl activities. You wanted me to achieve anything my heart desired. Thank you for self-confidence!

•You never let me give up. You made me follow through with the things I started. I remember many nights working on homework or doing a special science project. If you didn’t already know, my mind isn’t exactly mathematical or overly scientific. These subjects were difficult for me to comprehend, but you always made me finish the problem or the project. You always reminded me to “have fun and work carefully.” Thank you perseverance!

•I have great memories of going on family vacations and having extended family dinners. Even though sometimes it’s a little crazy, I really appreciate your dedication to family. I hope I can continue many of the traditions with my own kids and teach them that family is the center of it all. Thank you for family!

•Because of all you have taught me and instilled in me, I found a man to marry who has many of the same characteristics as you do. They say that for little girls, the daddies are the first men that they love. Then they try to find a man like their father to marry. I really believe that this is true. Brian is a hard worker and dedicated to his family and so are you. Thank you for showing me what to look for!

•You were present when both of my children were born. It really is special to see you with my boys. You have become such a wonderful grandfather and I love how my children love you. You do all the things you did with me and the cycle continues. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

With these few memories, you have molded and shaped me into who I am and who I will become. You have imparted great advice on my husband, my children, and myself. You are respected and honored more than you ever will know. I just want you to know that you touch my life in so many ways and I love you with all of my heart.

Golden Horizons

I just created this necklace last night. A dear friend purchased the pendant for me while she was traveling. It might not have actually been meant to be a pendant, but that's what I used it for. I paired it with some polished glass beads and bali style spacers and a clasp. I think it's really stunning and wanted to share it with everyone in the blogosphere.



I also wanted to remind everyone that I LOVE to make custom jewelry and put lots of ideas up on my blog. I don't add a lot of new stuff to my shoppe because I like to have input from the customers when I create. With that in mind, if you ever see something you like on my blog, I can create it in a different color or change it around to suit your needs.

Happy Weekend to Everyone!

Do you LOVE Venice????

Do you love Venice, Italy and all that goes with it? It's such a romantic place with it's canals, gondolas, it's beautiful architecture and art. How can you NOT love it? I personally think that the venetian glass is phenomenal. For me, the artistry is first rate. I wanted to create some fun jewelry that could be worn everyday with shorts and a t-shirt or that could be dressed up for a night on the town. Venetian glass is so sparkly, so it wasn't too hard to accomplish.



To create the necklace, I used a 30 mm Aquamarine Venetian Glass Coin from Artbeads. Then I paired the focal bead with a sterling silver chain, a bali silver toggle clasp, jasper rounds, and 6 mm Czech fire-polished Madeira Topaz beads.

For the bracelet and earrings, I used 14 mm Aquamarine Venetian Glass Rounds.

I got most of my jewelry supplies from Artbeads. I can always count on Artbeads to help me create beautiful pieces of art.

BOGO!!!!

Just listed in my shoppe:




For a short time I will be offering a Buy One, Get One FREE special on these domino pendants. If you don't see one that suits you in my shoppe, contact me and we can discuss creating something special.

Hurry, this offer won't last long.

Wacky Kracker Giveaway Winner Is......

Here is your random number:

7

Timestamp: 2009-05-23 00:55:06 UTC

Congrats to jemscout425. You are the winner of 5 sheets (that's a whopping 100 personalized round address stickers). All the labels must have the same design and personalization. Please redeem your prize within 30 days.

Thanks to all who participated.

A WEDDING in a BOX-Hammi Jammi Special

Mention this ad when you call and you will receive 15% off your entire order.

Why not give your attendants jewelry that they will wear again and again?

Give the perfect bridesmaid gift! Show your bridal party your appreciation with a special personalized gift from the heart. Friendship charm bracelets are perfect gifts to thank bridesmaids for being part of your special day. They can be done in almost any theme you would like using the color combination of your choosing. Made out of sterling silver chain and rhodium plated charms (friend charm is sterling) with Swarovski cystals. These are really are nice presents for someone special.

New Find

I am always looking for good deals on beading supplies and new websites for inspiration. Recently I was was approached by a company (I was not aware of) to do some blogging for them. This company is Aunties Beads. I was really quite impressed with their selection of jewelry supplies, beads, and findings and really encourage you to check out their site. They have tiered pricing (so the more you buy the more you save) and they also have a Beaders Advantage Club where you can accumulate points for your purchases, get free shipping, and get 10% off all your purchases (including sale merchandise). There is a physical store located in Southlake, TX.

I wound up getting several products from their online store and have created some really beautiful (in my opinion) pieces of jewelry. The first is a turquoise and coral necklace, bracelet, and earring set. To make these items I used 10mm turquoise rounds, 12mm red bamboo coral carved diamond stands, and 4 mm flat bali spacers.



The next pieces I created using 12mm lampwork glass beads. I think black and white is so classic.



Then I also made 2 different bracelets using 14mm ceramic round beads and 17mm ceramic square beads.





So check out all the great jewelry supplies at Aunties Beads. I hope I provided some inspiration!!! Happy Beading!

Wacky Cracker Stationary Giveaway

Whenever I need birthday invitations or announcements the first place I look is the Wacky Kracker online store. Casey and her husband who creates and draws the majority of the stationery designs have a wide variety of products in whimsical designs available for your purchase.

Casey has graciously offered to do a giveaway. Do you want to win these awesome circle address labels? She is giving away 5 sheets of these stickers (that's a total of 100 stickers). All the sheets must have the same personalization and design. This contest is only open to US residents and the free products must be redeemed within 30 days of the contest ending.

Are you wondering how to win? This is what you need to do for a total of 3 entries:

1) Go to the Wacky Kracker blog and become a follower (1 entry)

2) Leave me a comment about what products are your favorite from the Wacky Kracker online store (1 entry)

3) Sign up to follow the Hammi Jammi Jewelry blog (1 entry)

The contest begins Saturday, May 16 at midnight EST and will end on Friday, May 22 at 8 pm EST.

For The Hip, Young Mom

Everyone seems to LOVE my domino pendants and pins that I've created. So, I thought I would make one to celebrate motherhood. I hand stamped a mother and child figure onto a painted domino. I added sterling silver 18 gauge half hard wire wrapping and then I have a Sworovski crystal dangling from the wrapping. This crystal symbolizes the month of January. I can add up to 5 crystals to a pendant. Here's a picture of what I made.



I'd love to hear your comments. If you are interested in one of these for yourself, you can contact me through this blog and I will set up a listing for you in my shoppe. I'm thinking these cool, hip necklaces will range in price from $35-$40 depending on how many crystals you need.

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Mother In Law

I know that I am lucky and blessed to have a mother-in-law that I love and get along with. She is such a strong lady...stronger than she gives herself credit for. She raised the man who I love to be a caring father and wonderful spouse. She helps us whenever she can with our children and her grandchildren. She has a devoted and supportive group of friends, many whom she's had for 30 years or more. She truly is a special lady which is evidenced by all the lives that she touches.

So when trying to think of something to give her for Mother's Day (because I think of her as my mother too). I wanted to make something that was as vibrant and beautiful as she is. I think I came up with something appropriate.









Too bad she doesn't read my blog. Maybe I'll let her read it after she gets her gift. I think she knows how I feel about her but I bet she would like to see it in writing.

Happy Mother's Day to all the special woman out there.

Just listed....

This was just listed in my shoppe. I thought it would be perfect for bridesmaids or for Mother's Day!

I would love to know what you think!

Simple Woman's Daybook...Saturday, May 2, 2009

For Today, May 2, 2009...

Outside my window... Nightfall

I am thinking... I can not believe 6 years has gone by since I had my first baby. The time has gone so quickly.

I am thankful for... a wonderful family, a successful birthday party, and just being surrounded by my sister, brother in law, and little nephew.

From the kitchen... It's all cleaned up from our family party...meatball sandwiches, salad, chips and of course, cake!!!

I am wearing... jean capris and a maroon long sleeved shirt with a domino pendant.

I am reading... Nothing at the moment. I need to get to the library.

I am hoping... that I get a good night's sleep tonight. I'm tuckered out.

I am creating... the favors for the MOMS Club banquet coming up.

I am hearing... Brennon and Aunt Shelley talking about football positions.

Around the house... everything is pretty much in order. I have some wash to do (but that's a never ending cycle).

One of my favorite things... seeing my husband interacting with my boys.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Brennon has off from school on Tuesday so we'll do something fun, Yoga on Tuesday night, MOMS Club banquet on Friday.

Picture Thought of the Day: