Finally getting my craft on!

Hello Everyone!!  I have so missed talking to you!  I started the post below several weeks ago. I have a new computer so now I can fairly easily work on crafts and share with you since my new craft space and my desk is in the basement. I truly hope to be better at both posting and crafting so that you wont mind popping by.,.......................................

Okay it's only taken a couple of years of looking at everyone elses blog and seeing the wonderful things created to make me finally try my hand at something!!  Two years.....that's not so bad...is it?  Tehee.
I used to make a little jewelry. Was lucky enough to win several gift cards to a local craft store so I bought beads, beads, and yep more beads!!  I made a few pieces and then all of a sudden I missed a few days of doing it, which then turned into weeks of not doing it, which then turned into months and...,you see where this ends. That is right...with me having tons and tons of jewelry making supplies and no drive to do anything with them.
Until now. My BF made me a little craft table in an unfinished portion of our basement.  I had to do something then right?  I had part of a necklace that had been sitting unfinished on a table for years.  It was in the basement so I rarely saw it unless I was doing laundry and I got really good at ignoring it. 
But with the new table especially for me and especially for crafts (that's what I get for talking about the amazing things I see on YOUR blogs) I had to put up or shut up.  Shutting up would mean that I couldn't mention you guys again and that I just couldn't handle!  It is a ritual for me to come home and grab my ipad and blog hop.  While I didn't have time to post myself, I simply HAD to visit you.
So I grabbed that necklace and finished it.

Yes I did!!!  Woohoo.....I FINALLY finished that necklace! The one that has been eyeing me  with those dejected blue eyes wondering why on earth she had been abandoned...what did she do that was so wrong......wondering what she could do to make me love her again........lol.......(yes, I have a thing for the dramatic!!)

I don't have any before or during pictures.  But I am sure that you guys know how to string a necklace.  Just pick out your beads, grab some jewelry string that reminds you of fishing line (at least that is what I used) along with a couple of alligator clips for the ends so the beads don't slide off as you add them.

 



I finished with a toggle clasp.  I just tied the string to the pieces of the clasp and cut of the leftover string and then applied a little drop of glue to the knot.  I like the toggle clasps because they are so easy to put on.  And they are pretty.

And since this blue eyed girl had been neglected so long, I decided to make her a companion.

I mean no necklace is complete without the matching earrings doncha think?  These were super easy as well.  I threaded the beads onto a head pin ( I think that is what it is called, I've been out of the jewelry making loop for several years ) and then I grabbed a couple of fish hooks.  I took the special plyers and made a loop out of the top of the head pin and attached it to the fish hook.  I really can't remember what that tool is called.  If I do more jewelry making I will look up the correct terms.

In the meantime I will leave you with this last shot of my new babies.

Hope to post again soon.....I've been working on altering glass jars/bottles.  I will share my first results soon even though they are beyond amateurist.

Villabarnes Giveaway

I know, I know....I've been really absent for the last month.  I've gotten a new position at the office and it is keeping me very, very busy.  I am still trying to visit your blogs and leave comments, especially for all of you who are kind enough to leave one for me!!

But I had to repost this giveaway.  I want it so badly!!!  Good luck if you enter and win............without further ado, I give you .Rosemary of Villabarnes.  If you have not visited her before, grab a cup and sit a spell!  Here is her post about the giveaway and the link above should take you there.

GIVEAWAY #9: A Little Romance

Ready for a little romance?  To celebrate my feature in Romantic Homes, because I love my followers so much, and because it's been four months since I gave away one of my vignettes,  I've put together a nice collection for you.  Here is GIVEAWAY #9.

This is actually my 10th giveaway, but I'm staying sequential with my personal vignettes.  Everything you see here was designed, or redesigned by me.  The winner will receive the entire vignette.

Recognize a few things?  Since everyone seemed to like my ,"Shabby Magnetic Board",

, it's included.  The two fleur-de-lis magnets will be with it.  I'm also including my "Frenchy Jewelry Box",

grain sack pillow with lace flower,

romantic lavender sachet/pillow,

a pair of fleur-de-lis decorations, and one of my sculptural birds.  One winner will get it all.

If you would like to enter this giveaway, here's how:

1. You must be a follower of VILLABARNES, and let me know you would like to enter. Leave a comment letting me know if you are already a follower, or if you've just joined me.
2. Follow me on Linky Followers (Located below Google Friend Connect on my sidebar) for an extra entry.
3. Because I so appreciate some of you as customers of my Etsy shop.  If you've ever purchased anything from me, and you're a follower, I'll count that as another entry.  Just let me know what it was.
4. For additional entries, share this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, etc.
5. Leave a separate comment for each entry. Example: If you share the giveaway on your blog, FB, and Twitter, that's three additional entries. Don't cheat yourself out of an entry.

You have till Friday, AUGUST 17th at 12:00 midnight, CST

***TO ENTER***

The winner will be picked by Random Number Generator

***GOOD LUCK TO ALL***

Oregon Coast - Day 3

Thought I would share a few more pictures of the gorgeous Oregon Coast.  This was on our 3rd day there and it was overcast for most of the day.  We drove South of Newport and pulled off at most of the outlooks.

Because it was cloudy the temps were rather cool as well.  So we did a lot of looking and not so much hiking or beach combing.

The views are always amazing where ever you stop.

 

We did end up taking a few little hikes and this is what you go through to get to the beach.

Say hello to my brother Kenny!

So much green!!  If you take a really close look you can see all the moss that is attached to the limbs of trees.  We had a tour guide tell us that this is a rain forest. 

So much beauty to behold.  It was awe inspiring!!

And this is just day three!!

Hope your days are filled with beauty.....

Oregon- Yep More!!

Sorry, I can't help myself.  I LOVE Oregon and want to share the beauty of it with you.  If you are getting tired of these posts, leave me a comment and I will cease and desist.  I can never get enough photos if a place is beautiful.  And these spots were definitely that.  Here is one more picture of the cobblestone beach. 

All of these photos of the beaches and lighthouses of Oregon have not been edited.  They are straight out of the camera.  I could probably make them a little more dramatic by editing but I honestly do not have the time for that or I definitely would.  

And one more at a slightly different perspective.

 

We absolutely loved all the waves rolling in. We especially loved it when the waves would crash against the rocks and go flying into the air.  You don't get that very much on the beaches that I have visited on the east coast.

The top two photos were at the cobblestone beach at Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

We then drove south from Newport and made a few stops before we decided to park and walk around the little tourist area in historic Newport.

 

Once again we missed the low tide and the tidal pools.  This would have been another good spot to have done that.

 Instead we got to do the next best thing and that is watch those waves rolling in.  The sound is mesmerizing.  The water is so blue.  Not Caribbean blue or aqua like the sea gets on the east, but this sapphire blue.  When the sun is shining it is so pretty.

It is a little darker here but look at those waves!  They just keep coming and coming.  These were rather large.  Look at the ratio of the people compared to the waves.  

Love the contrast of the colors...the white of the waves capping, the blue of the ocean, the brown of the sand and then the green of the hillside.

pretty little cove

another lookout

Wildflowers were everywhere.  Daisies and of course dandelions.  They have the tallest dandelions I have ever seen. 

There was also a pretty purple flower that ran wild everywhere. Particularly on the side of the road.  I will try to find a shot of it for next time.  But isn't this spectacular!!!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

On Sunday the day started out a little cloudy but quickly turned to sunshine!  Hooray.  We decided to take a little drive and get a closer look at the lighthouse we kept seeing in the distance.

It is called Yaquina Head Lighthouse.  And this beach you see below is made up of cobblestones.  Black cobblestones.  Believe it or not they are rounded and very smooth.  The roundness and the layers of them on the beach make it a little difficult to walk on without turning your ankle.  Especially if you are wearing wedge flip flops...."just sayin".

Isn't this what you picture when you think of a lighthouse?  I know I do.

Another shot of the cobblestone beach.  It had bits of driftwood here and there, but mostly cobbles!

We missed the low tide, darn it...someone (me) didn't plan very well.....so we missed the tidal pools.  The tidal pools are what you go to these beaches for.  Then you can see the different color starfish clinging to the rocks along with the clams.  And urchins. And anemones.  All the cool brightly colored beauties!!!

So we we wandered back up the 88 steps and went back up to the lighthouse to enjoy it.  My brother climbed to the top but those 88 steps from the beach were enough for me so I stayed outside.

And enjoyed the lighthouse from many angles.

What a beauty she is and so is the day!

 

Even the birds are having a good time.  Look at the color of that water!!  This place is so beautiful it is truly hard to believe.  And every cove or beach has it's own unique look.  We kept thinking we would see the same Landscaping at each lookout but we were wonderfully wrong!!

Newport Oregon - Part 2

How about some west coast sunset shots?  Every night was different from the one before as every hour was different as well.  Our first night......

The sun is just starting to set

Cool clouds but not much color.  (none of these photos have been edited)

Ahh....now we have a little sun peaking through.

A beautiful ending to a great first day in Oregon...

Don't you just love the pink reflection on the sea and sand?  I know I do.

Newport Oregon - Part 1

After seven hours in the air and three hours in the car - we finally made it to our first stop which was Newport OR.  Contrary to the weather reports, the sun was shining and the temperature was just right.  I am in love with "sweater weather".  100 plus degrees back home and I am wearing jeans and my favorite sweaters.  Couldn't ask for better weather!

This is the view from our hotel room.

And these are the ninety steps that lead down to the beach - and no, that's not a typo - there were 90 steps up and 90 steps down.

The view was definitely better once you were down on the beach.  The beach was huge. 

The waves were rolling in nicely - loved the sound of them crashing into the rocks.

Large pieces of driftwood added to the natural beauty of this beach.  I love that the mountains roll gracefully into the sea.  That was definitely new to me.  I am used to the flatness of the east coast beaches.

Things are definitely different here and I am loving it!!

Oregon

Okay, Oregon has the be the prettiest state in the USA.  Everywhere I turned I saw something beautiful.  The coast line is to die for!!  Each time we stopped we expected to see the same landscape that we saw previously and each time we were wrong!  I will definitely post photos on that later.

First I want to share some photos taken during the drive to/from Portland to/from the coast.  I love old barns and buildings and Oregon did not disappoint.

It was a little difficult to get a good shot from a moving car but I never stopped trying!

I would love to just take a drive someday and actually stop at all the barns and buildings that I think are picturesque.

I keep telling myself "someday soon"  Yet someday never comes.  We get so busy that it's hard to slow down and make time for the things you would like to do.

And we were anxious to make it to the coast after spending so much time in the air just to make it to Oregon from Kentucky. 

It was definitely worth all the travel time!

I will be linking to these fabulous parties!

http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/newbie-link-party

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/photo-challenge-favourite-photo-monday.html