Fun Wrap Bracelet

I always love playing around with new techniques and ideas.  I recently came across a video on how to make wrap bracelets and I thought, "What the heck?  I can do that..."  So I tried and I was successful!  I changed up the design a little bit by using a ceramic button as a closure, but I think that this makes the bracelet a little more trendy!

I wound up using blue glass beads and rectangular shaped green jade beads...it was super easy and really cute.  Take a look at my finished product:

I didn't do to badly for my first try at this technique.  I hope you like my bracelet as much as I do!  I would love to hear what you think!

A Tribute To My Oma

In life, I believe that we encounter many people, all of whom we meet by no coincidence, but because God knows that we can learn something valuable from them. No matter what kind of influence they may have had on our lives, they still leave us a better person in the end. Evelyn Grace Schaffer is one of those people for me; My Oma! Oma, isn’t it is amazing how one word can mean so much. 

Grace, although her middle name, means ‘good will’ and 'blessings.' She has raised a family and has lived through many of the good and bad changing times of our world, therefore has unconditional love for almost everyone she comes in contact with. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her say a bad word about anyone. She has always taught me to be a good person and to respect others.   She is a good Christian in every sense of the word and a model for me to help others!

Many of my favorite childhood memories involve food in some way.  The smell of dinner fresh from the oven; the flavor of delicious home-baked goods; the joy that fills a happy kitchen.  These visceral patterns were imprinted in my mind at an early age and are still with me today.  At the center of these memories is my Oma.  Her food was just not made with love, it was love.  I remember gathering around her table on many holidays eating together as a family; her always serving the men first.  She also taught me how to make pies.  When she would have leftover dough we would make “milk pies” in little tins.  I think that part of my love for cooking comes from my Oma.  I like to put thought and love into my meals and that was learned from her.

Oma is such a hard worker and I remember helping her clean.  During my high school years I would WANT to spend my weekends with her.  I would call her and she would pick me up.  I would help her clean and then we would return to her house for a sleepover.  I would spend all weekend with her and enjoy every moment of it.  We would buy pizza crusts and make our own pizzas.  She always seemed to have little sugary boxes of cereal on hand and would let me drink coffee in the mornings.  I didn’t mind her snoring either!  I just wanted to spend time with her.  On one instance, Oma, Auntie, and I went ‘cruising’ down Main Street in Northampton and they had their babushkas on trying to embarrass me.  No such luck!  Not many high school kids did what I did, but I am grateful that we had these times together. 

Now that I've grown up, for the most part, I can reflect on the knowledge my Oma imparted to me. She encouraged me to do the right things in life. To have a family and to raise them well. She didn't just tell me these things, she showed me by example.

I like to think I inherited some of my best qualities from my Oma: my humor and to not take things to seriously, my work ethic, and most importantly my love of food and family.

Oma, I love you with all of my heart and I hope that when I am 90 years old I have the amount of Grace and love that you do!  Happy 90th Birthday!

Every Mom Deserves Something Special

As part of our MOMS Club of Coventry we are adopting a family this Christmas.  This year it's a single Mom with two young boys.  We are gathering items for the boys that the Mom can wrap and place under their tree this year.  Well, we also decided that the Mom deserves something special this year too.  I created this simple, yet elegant necklace for her.  I used brass and copper rings and created a chain maille necklace.  I also added some shimmery crystals, glass pearls, and some lampworked glass.  Here is the finished product:

If I knew the children's initials I could hand stamp them on the back of the pendant for the Mom.


I surely put some thought into this necklace and I hope that it shows.

"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving." -Mother Teresa-


Merry Christmas to all my readers.  May the spirit of giving bring you much joy, peace, and love!

It's the Nutcracker Time of Year!!!

It's time for the 40th Anniversary Production of the Nutcracker put on by the Schuylkill ValleyRegional Dance Company.  It's going on at the Hill School Center for the Arts in Pottstown on December 3 at 7:30 p.m. and also on December 4 at 2:00 p.m.  Tickets are $20.00 for adults and Seniors/Students are $15.00.  There are discount rates for groups of 10 or more.


The Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company will be performing a brand "new to the area" "Nutcracker" this year to celebrate its 40th Anniversary. Two former principal dancers from the Kirov Ballet, Andrei Ustinov and Elena Martinson, will be setting choreography on the Company based on the original work by Marius Petipa (originally performed at the Kirov in 1892).


The Company performs a "Nutcracker" annually but this year there will be many changes to what people have become accustomed to in the area. For more information you can call the Company at 484-941-0683. This is a holiday tradition not to be missed.


I am helping out with some fundraising for this wonderful arts center by creating a jewelry set for their basket raffle.  Raffle tickets can be purchased at both of the productions of the show.


I created a lovely necklace/earring set...just perfect for the holidays.  It's complete with lots of sparkle.  Swarovski crystals are paired with crystal pearls and some lampworked glass.  Silver plated chain and a lobster claw clasp are used.  The earrings are hung on small kidney bean sterling silver wires.

Holidays are coming

Something shimmery, sparkly, and FUN for the holiday outfits.  Don't forget to accessorize and make a statement!

This set can be found at my Three Sister's Marketplace shoppe here.

I need your VOTES...

I entered Beadaholique's "Falling Leaves" design contest and I was chosen as one of the 10 finalists.  I need your support.  If you are on Facebook,  all you have to do is go to the following link and "like" my bracelet.  It is design number 4.

Oh yeah...pass it on to your friends, too.  Thanks for your support, faithful readers!!!

Wedded Bliss

I was honored to be a part of Jen and Mark's wedding back in July.  Albeit a small part, but nonetheless I was involved.  Jen asked me to create some bridal and bridesmaid jewelry to complement her dress and her bridesmaid dresses.  She was going with an ocean/sea theme and her bridesmaid dresses were greens and blues.

I couldn't wait to get started on these.  I knew I wanted to incorporate genuine sea glass in all of the necklaces to keep consistency.  She showed me an example of what she wanted for herself, so her's was pretty easy to create:

Sea glass highlighted by Swarovski crystals and white seed beads.

For the bridesmaids, I used different green and blue colored beads to highlight the cobalt blue sea glass and the pewter sand dollar pendants.

I worked back and forth with Jen to get the design she wanted.  I also worked with the correct sizing to work with the dresses.  A few of the necklaces needed to be re-sized.

All and all, these necklaces were fun to create, Jen was a great bride to work with, and I was so happy to be just a small part of Jen and Mark's special day.

Congrats to you both.  May you have a lifetime of love and happiness.

Happy Autumn

I love this time of year and created this lovely just because.....

If you have any interest in purchasing this 7.25 inch bracelet made with antiqued silver mum charms and various glass beads, please contact me at carriegrab419@hotmail.com!

What Is Lupus And How You Can Help

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.


Lupus is also a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.


Research estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus. The actual number may be higher; however, there have been no large-scale studies to show the actual number of people in the U.S. living with lupus. It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus. Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age (15-44). However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too. Women of color are 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus.People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus.More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the country. There is no cure for lupus and in rare forms there is so much organ failure because of the disease that the it is fatal.  However, most people do not require hospitalization and can live a fairly normal life if they follow their physician's instructions.  (Lupus Foundation of America).  


I have a dear friend who suffers from lupus and I am starting to help her raise funds for the Foundation.  She is participating in a walk/run coming up in the next month.  I will be hosting a jewelry party for her where 15% of the profits will go towards the Foundation.  I am also selling some awareness bracelets online in my shoppe.  Here is a sample bracelet.  It can be purchased with or without the awareness ribbon.


Thanks for taking a look and helping out this great cause!

Goodie Bags

Next time you purchase from Hammi Jammi Jewelry, you will get an adorable, handcrafted bag with your purchase.  These bags are perfect for gift giving or to just keep your special purchase safe!  Also great for traveling with your accessories!  Just a little special touch of appreciation for your purchase!

Don't forget to "like" Hammi Jammi on Facebook too!

Got Poopdots!

You read that correctly...POOPDOTS!  My youngest son couldn't say POLKAdots when he was 2 and he called them POOPDOTS.  I hope you get a little chuckle out of that.

ENJOY!

Harvest Time Is Coming

With the coming of autumn, the days grow shorter and the nights longer and the temperatures move from warm to cool. The colors of orange and red represent the changing, brilliant colors of autumn foilage. If summer is the period of youth in one's life, then autumn is the adult period.


I have come up with a few pretty new Autumn pieces.  This is one of my favorite times of year to create jewelry...the oranges, reds, browns, and muted greens and the changing colors of the leaves can inspire some stunning jewelry pieces.  I also love the symbolism associated with the harvest.  Nuts and fruits can also pep up creations.


Here are a few examples of things I've come up with to invoke a sense of Fall:

And the lucky winner is.....

NUMBER 64: Congrats to you Diana!  I will be in contact with you via email so I can get your prize mailed out to you!

Thanks to everyone who participated.  Keep looking at my Hammi Jammi Jewelry Facebook and Website pages for new merchandise.

Red, White and Aqua Favorites

Nikki in Stitches has turned me on to the colors of red, aqua, and white paired together.  It's so summery and pretty together!  I love the combination so I did an etsy search and found so many gorgeous things.  Here are a few of my favorites:



Nikki's Berry Breeze Fabric Rosette Headband is featured in this etsy mini.


I also was inspired to create something of my own to include in the red, white, and aqua list.

Swarovski pearls, red faceted glass and aqua wooden rounds
paired with a lovely aqua ribbon!  Focal lampwork glass bead.

What are your favorite color combinations?  I think this one is going to be one of my favorites for a long time!

Back to School Giveaway

Handcrafted ceramic beads by Gaea (http://www.gaea.cc)

That time of year is quickly approaching.  Sending your kids off on the bus for the first time or the fifth--it's still difficult to start back into the routine of school.  All the homework; early to bed and early to rise; after school activities; shuttling children here and there.  We all will long for the lazy days of summer come September or in my case the end of August--the kids in our district are going back to school before Labor Day this year.  I'm sure many of you are in the same boat.  So whether you are new to the back to school routine or an old hat at it, I thought I would offer a little giveaway to ease your pain or help at least with the aching heart if you are sending off a little one for the first time.

This 7.5 inch bracelet is handcrafted by Hammi Jammi Jewelry using ceramic beads from Gaea Handmade.  The ceramic is highlighted with silver plated daisy spacers, a pewter toggle clasp and bee charm.  I added the bee charm for a touch of whimsy--the colors in all these beads are perfect to usher in the Fall yet stay reminiscent of the Summer months.  The bee reminds me of all the bees that are on my sunflowers!!

Entering this giveaway is easy.  

1) Leave me a comment telling me why you would love to win this giveaway.  Would you keep it for yourself or give it to someone? (1 entry)

2) This one is very important--share this contest with others and get them to participate.  You can use any social media you would like--Blog, Twitter, Facebook--Just leave me an additional comment telling me you did this. (1 entry)

3) Become a fan of Hammi Jammi Jewelry on Facebook (1 entry)

Be sure to leave an email address where I can contact you should you be the winner of this contest!

Contest begins Monday, August 8, 2011 midnight EST and will go until August 22, 2011 midnight EST!

Thanks for participating.

Fun With Polymer Clay

Recently, I have begun to play around with polymer clay.  Polymer clay is a sculptable material based on the polymer polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It usually contains no clay minerals, and is only called "clay" because its texture and working properties resemble those of mineral clay.  The great thing about this clay is that you can bake it at 275 degrees in your own oven and it hardens.  There is no need for a kiln.  It is the perfect material to do so many fun projects with your children.


You can purchase polymer clay at your local craft store.  It is usually sold under the brand names Fimo, Sculpey, Kato, Polyform, Amaco and comes in every color imaginable.  It's sold near the modeling clay...make sure you don't pick up this clay by mistake.  Take it from me, if you bake modeling clay is will ooze all over your oven.  


You have to kneed the clay a bit to make it pliable and then you can flatten it out with your own palm.  I like to use stamps to create fun designs on the clay.  Then you can use a pin to poke a 1-2 mm hole where you would like your bail to be placed.  I bake the pendants at 275 degrees for about 20 minutes.  Once they are done and cooled you can use acrylic paint to paint in your designs.  I like to use a lighter ecru or white clay to make pendants then cover the pendant in black paint.  I take a paper towel and dab off the paint and then use some silver paint over that...dabbing off excess.  It make a really neat antiqued look.  Once dried, you can use a polymer clay glaze (also can be purchased at your craft store) to prevent wear and tear on the front of the pendant.  I have found that if you glaze the back of the pendant it sticks to your skin when you wear the pendant.


I like to finish off my pendant by placing a pinch bail in the hole you created.  Then using a ribbon, leather cord, or another fabric cord to make a necklace out of the pendant.


Here are a few necklaces that I created last night.  Let your imagination and creativity know no bounds.  I think this would be a perfect tween birthday party activity.  Have fun and happy creating.

Another Giveaway! An Adorable Applique Onsie

all things for mom is hosting a fantastic giveaway sponsored by Nikki in Stitches.  You don't want to miss out on this one.  

The winner of this giveaway will choose between one boy (blue short sleeve with sailboat applique) or one girl (pink short sleeve with heart applique).  The girl onesie has an optional ruffle bottom that is too cute to pass up!  Three sizes are available (0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months).  This would be a great baby gift if you don't have a child of your own that fits these sizes.

Just go here to find out the rules to participate in this awesome contest!!!!

Bracelets Galore

I have been working quite a bit on my inventory for the upcoming Phoenixville Farmer's Market that I am participating in.  I think I have a great selection of necklaces and LOTS of earrings.  I don't have too many bracelets to display.  I'm not sure why?  Bracelets are a great way to use a few leftover beads to make something beautiful.  Anyway, I did an earring drop off at Kimberton Whole Foods this past weekend and they placed an order for some bracelets.  So, now I can put those leftover few beads to great use.  Here are a few examples of things I came up with.  I am really into the summery colors like blue and green.  I have been using these colors in a lot of my work lately.  I hope you enjoy this sampling and thanks for taking a look.

Green Cat's Eye beads paired with lampwork glass.

Wooden beads with a sterling silver flip flop charm.

Glass with Bali style silver rounds.

African Turquoise paired with Czech glass.

Carnelian nuggets with Czech glass and a lampwork glass focal.

Got Focus?

Do you need help with your meditation practice?  Do you have trouble keeping track of your time while meditating?  Well, I've got the thing for you.  Focus beads can be worn as a bracelet or hooked on to your belt loops and are used as a tool to assist you with maintaining focus, avoid drifting, and give you an idea of time spent in the practice.  

At each bead you will stop and meditate on a topic of choice.  Meditating on each bead

will help you become aware of your thoughts and words in everyday life; helping to choose to

think and project happy positive energy to yourself and to those around you.

Do you need help getting started?  Here are a few positive affirmations to get you on your way:

“Loving myself heals my life. I nourish my mind, body and soul”

“The more grateful I am, the more reasons I find to be grateful”

“I give out Love and it is returned to me multiplied”

“I have a wonderful partner and we are both happy and at peace”

“I am my own unique self – special, creative and wonderful”

“I trust in the process of life”

“My life is a joy filled with love, fun and friendship all I need do is

 stop all criticism, forgive, relax and be open”

“I choose love, joy and freedom, open my heart and allow wonderful things to flow into my life”

Namaste'

Under the Boardwalk

I am so in need of a little R and R.  Lucky for me, we are heading "down the shore" on Saturday.  A week of fun, sand, and surf is exactly what I need.  I'm looking forward to reading my book under the umbrella or on the porch of our house; playing in the sand with my kids; hitting the arcade on the boardwalk; eating some fantastic seafood; and just spending some much needed time with my family.


I have been super busy with custom orders and gearing up for the Phoenixville Farmer's Market in July.  Also, I've begun prep for the items we are creating at Arrowhead Day Camp this summer.  Never a dull moment in Hammi Jammi land.  


Just to gear up for the summer and beach, I changed my playlist on this blog.  I included on of my all time favorite beach songs.  "Under the Boardwalk" by the Drifters always reminds me of my Dad and our trips to the beach when I was younger.  I also created a fun shell necklace and matching earrings that I wanted to share with you, my faithful readers.

Well, ta ta for now.  Happy beach season everyone!