Happy Birthday to ME!!! Pay It Forward....

Earring Sampling

I really love doing things for others.  I suppose I am a nurturer by nature.  In honor of my birthday, I wanted to do something special for my readers.  But there is a itty bitty, small catch.  I will send you a pair of sterling silver earring in your favorite color.  However, you must send a Facebook request to "like" Hammi Jammi Jewelry to 10 of your friends....especially to those people who like fun, everyday jewelry.  Feel free to send the suggestion to more than ten.  If you don't have 10 people who you think would like Hammi Jammi, then please send the request to as many as you can.

That's not too hard now is it????
Just send me an email at carriegrab419@hotmail.com and let me know your name and mailing address and your favorite color.  This is only a one day event.  Don't delay; participate today!


Thanks for participating in my Birthday celebration!

Renewal of OLD!

I love vintage and antique pieces of jewelry.  I can appreciate the craftsmanship and the history behind old pieces.  I was lucky enough to acquire several pieces of old jewelry that belonged to a great aunt of mine.  One of the necklaces was made out of crystal nuggets of various shapes and sizes.  I'm not sure how old these crystals are but I would estimate around 75-80 years old.  I thought this piece, in particular, would be perfect to deconstruct and create something "new."  The deconstructed pieces have been sitting in a jar on my workbench just waiting to be changed into something more current.  I was waiting and waiting and then an opportunity came to me.

Since I am an Artbeads Design Partner, I get periodic emails about getting products to create with in exchange for blogging.  There current blogging challenge theme is "What's Old is New Again."  Now was my opportunity to use my great aunt's crystals.

I chose some great products from Artbeads.  Typically I stick with using silver-toned merchandise in my creations.  So, I thought I would step outside my comfort zone and use some brass in my vintage-inspired jewelry.  I wound up using some brass artistic wire and also a brass toggle clasp.  I also chose some really beautiful lamp work glass beads.

Without further ado, here are my "What's Old is New Again" creations.  The lariat-style necklace also contains Swarovski crystals, in addition to my vintage crystal nuggets, some Druk beads in a yellow/tan hue.  The earrings are made with gold-plated earring hooks.

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.

Jen Lebo Photography Giveaway

I just met another wonderful photographer yesterday.  Jen Lebo of Jen Lebo Photography captured the amazing first birthday party of Jocie-bean.  She is not my daughter but the daughter of one of my besties...I think of her as my little girl since God blessed me with two little boys.

As it turns out, Jen is doing a Mother's Day mini session giveaway to one lucky Mom.  I entered since I love her photo-journalistic style.  The photos are staged, but they don't look that way at all.  All you  have to do is:

Enter to win by leaving the answer to the following question in the comment section of this blog post:

What's the best thing your child has ever said to you?

Get extra entries by:

1. Tweeting the following about this contest (must include the website link):

Enter to win a free mini session with Jen Lebo Photography! www.jenlebophotography.com

2. Posting on your Facebook profile about this contest (must include website link):

Enter to win a free mini session with Jen Lebo Photography! www.jenlebophotography.com

3. Joining Jen Lebo Photography on Facebook!

Become a fan by clicking on the "Like" button. If you are already a fan, use the "Suggest to Friends" link on the Facebook page to send it to your friends.

Only 4 entries per person.

What's The Buzz....

Honeybee hives have long provided humans with honey and beeswax. Such commercial uses have spawned a large beekeeping industry, though many species still occur in the wild.

All honeybees are social and cooperative insects. A hive's inhabitants are generally divided into three types: Workers, Queens, and Drones. Worker bees are the only bees that most people ever see. The Queen lays eggs and spawn's the next generation of bees.  Male bees-called drones-fertilize the eggs and are killed off in the winter months when the hive goes into survival mode.

The benefits of honey are numerous. Not only does this delectable liquid stimulate your taste buds and whet your appetite, its unique taste and aroma has sprung off many time honor cooking ideas and recipes such as the cannot-be-missed honey baked ham and honey dips. But is honey really good for you? This caramel-like liquid seems to be full of calories ...sure it tastes good and has a pleasant texture that coats the irritated throat, but is it no more than just a tasty placebo?

The fact is, honey is far better than what most people perceive. Researchers are turning up more and more new evidence of honey's medical benefits in all directions. The benefits of honey don't just stop at satisfying the palate; honey also offers incredible antiseptic, antioxidant and cleansing properties for our body and health, hot beauty and skin care tips for ladies, and amazing healing properties as a head-to-toe remedy, from eye conjunctivitis to athlete foot. Its powerful healing attributes have long been used thousands of years ago and known to promote healing for cuts, cure ailments and diseases, and correct health disorders for generations after generations. The renowned UMF Manuka honey, perhaps the tastiest natural medicine, is commonly cited in many discussions on health benefits of honey. This honey not only fights infection and aids tissue healing but also helps reduce inflammation and scarring. In addition, it is often used for treating digestive problems such as diarrhea, indigestion, stomach ulcers and gastroenteritis.

So in light of all the important healing benefits associated with honey the Phoenixville Farmer's Market is celebrating the honeybee at their festival on May 7, 2011 from 9:00am to 1:00pm.  Beekeepers, bakers, gardeners, artists, and educators will join the market with environmentally friendly products and presentations.  There will also be children's crafts, a puppet show, live music and storytelling throughout the day.

In conjunction with the bee festival, Kimberton Whole Foods will also have a display set up with honey and honey products.  Hammi Jammi Jewelry was asked to create some bee-themed jewelry for the display.

bee festival - slide show

Mark your calendars, people.  Support your community by shopping and buying local!

Will You Be There?

Tri County for a Cure is hosting an event next Tuesday night (3/29) to help fundraise for Living Beyond Breast Cancer's Yoga on the Steps.  The event will include a yoga class done to live Harp music by Betsy Scott Chapman.  There will be raffles with great prizes to win, team tee-shirts and jewelry to buy, food and snacks to eat and LOTS and LOTS of PINK!

So my question to you is?
Will you be there?  You can find all the information about location/time on our team Facebook page.  Sign up to "like" the page while you are there.

Here are a few pieces of jewelry that will be on sale at the event.  Of course, 15% of the proceeds will go to our team fundraising efforts.

How To Make Fundraising...Well....Fun???

First, I want to introduce you to an organization unlike any others....Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC)  was founded in 1991 and was one of the first resources to provide information, connection and support to woman with breast cancer who have completed treatment.  Today, it's an organization that assists women at all stages of diagnosis, treatment and recovery at low or no cost.  They cover education and support services to woman who are newly diagnosed, are in treatment, have completed treatment or are living with metastatic disease.  LBBC really empowers woman affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality life.


I am honored to be part of LBBC's annual event "Yoga on the Steps" again this year.  It's an event where a thousand plus yogis assemble and practice yoga all in the name of Breast Cancer Awareness.  It's such an uplifting, powerful event and I encourage anyone in the Berks, Montgomery, of Chester Counties to join our "Tri County for a Cure" team.  This year, unlike last, we have assembled a team and have begun our fundraising efforts to help this worthwhile cause.


I was asked by LBBC to write a short e-blast about how to make fundraising fun.  I thought I would expand on my few short sentences and give you some details on what Tri County for a Cure is doing to raise funds.

"A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go farther than a great idea that inspires no one." ~Mary Kay Ash

Brainstorm with your team and find ideas that inspire.  There's lots of things that you can do that require very little work.  And even if you do have to put some manpower into your efforts, you won't notice since you are inspired!

Our team is having a yoga/live harp music event.  At this event we will have a basket auction with some donated items (Mary Kay products, jewelry, massage/restaurant gift certificates, handcrafted yoga bags etc.)  We will also have a table set up with some items for sale.  Tri County for a Cure is making some tee-shirts with our team logo.  We have a phenomenal artist on our team who has generously donated her artistic abilities to design our logo.  We are getting iron ons and some tee-shirts pretty low cost and the profits of the sale will go towards our fundraising, as will the sale of raffle tickets.

Another idea we have is having a fundraising night at Rita's Italian Ice in Early April.  This is easy to do and requires very little from our team.  We really just have to promote the event and watch the funds roll in.

Additionally, Hammi Jammi Jewelry has created a fundraising bracelet and some other jewelry items where 15% of proceeds will go towards Tri County for a Cure.  The team members have order forms and are getting friends and family to purchase.  

We have another very special project that we are working on that gets the whole community involved, but that will have to be revealed at another date.  I don't want to ruin the fun and spoil the surprise.

I guess my main message is to "do what you love, love what you do" and positive results will flow!

Namaste'!

Mark Your Calendars....

Hi all,

I will be the Featured Artisan at Kimberton Whole Foods in Kimberton on March 19, 2011 from 11-2.  Mark your calendars and I hope to see you there!

Hammi Jammi Jewelry will be there to answer any questions and debut the Spring line of jewelry.  Here are a few of the items that will be shown.  Please, please come on out and support local!

I will have a wide selection of bracelets, earrings, and necklaces in all the Spring/Summer colors!

Hope to see  you there.