Monday, March 30, 2020



Sharing a post from another artist here with some informative information about hairstyles and appropriate earring styles for them.

https://bluemorningexpressions.myshopify.com/blogs/buy-handmade-from-makers/hairstyles-and-the-earrings-that-accent-them

Hairstyles and the Earrings that Accent Them


There is a bit more to choosing a pair of earrings than picking red earrings for a red dress. What if you have long hair? What if your hair is curly? Let us answer some of these questions and more.

Long Hair

Long hair works with long chain earrings, drops and hoopsLong hair tends to cover your ears and frame your face. That might make it a bit hard to decide what types of earrings to wear.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           For simplicity’s sake, linear drops and hoop earrings are the best choice with long hair. They will stand out from your hair. Fun earrings like tassels and long chains are perfect ways to complement your hair.
Gemstone studs can also be a choice since they will show whenever your hair is pulled back.
Here are more earrings that work well with long hair:
 

Short Hair

short hair and long dangle earrings are a good match Blue Morning ExpressionsShort hair can be really cute, and youthful.                                                                                    This playful hairstyle allows you to make all types of earring choices.                                                                                          For the most part, studs, cuffs and multiple piercing really stand out with this type of haircut.                                                                                                        When going for dramatic, the chandelier earring will really draw attention to your face. You also look great in chunky statement earrings, both long and short.
Here are some more earrings that pair will with short hair.



Shoulder Length Hair

Shoulder length hairstyles work with dangle earrings Blue Morning ExpressionsShoulder length hair creates a stopping point in your appearance as the ends of your hair hit your shoulders. This is a natural frame for your face.                                                                                                                        This hairstyle is perfect for chandelier and statement earrings because those earrings add a point of interest to your face. Smaller earrings may get lost in your hair and not draw attention to your face.                                                                                                                                  You are lucky; you get to wear those trendy, colorful big earrings with your hair.
These earrings pair will with shoulder length hair.


 

Curly Hair

Curly hair works well with large hoop earrings Blue Morning ExpressionsCurly hair presents a problem because it tends to overwhelm your face and draw away from your earrings.                                                                                                The best choice for curly hair is a big pair of hoops since they tend to complement the curves of your hair while not being tangled up in it.                                                                                                                                                           Of course, if you are looking for drama, big, bold pair of statement earrings always look great with your curls.
 

Hair Up, Down and Sideways

Gemstone dangle earrings are the perfect match with upswept hair Blue Morning ExpressionsThe perfect earrings for these hairstyles are drop earrings in bright colors for casual days and sophisticated gemstones for evenings out.                                                                                                                                          The updo and chignon add an element of class to your appearance, and drop earrings are the fashionable touch to accent your face.
 A high ponytail is the perfect hairstyle for large statement earrings since the ponytail is equally dramatic. There is a lot of movement in the ponytail, so there can be an equal amount of movement in your earrings. Dangles work very well here.
A low ponytail is much more casual and less energetic that the high ponytail, so you can wear colorful drops with this hairstyle.
The side swept hair offers one ear to decorate with something elegant since this is a sophisticated hairstyle. Short gemstone drop earrings go well here.
Here are some more earrings that go well with the upswept look:

 
No matter what hairstyle you have, you can never go wrong with choosing the earrings that make you happy to wear.  

Monday, October 29, 2018


Fabulous Fall Finds


Fall is here and it is time to bring out your favorite sweaters and autumn clothing.  You love your clothes but couldn't they use a little sprucing up?  Or maybe you are in the mood to make something as a gift for someone special?  I have gathered items from some fabulous handmade artisans here that I am acquainted with where you might find just the thing you are looking for this season!  I hope you will take a few minutes to visit the shop of all of these wonderful artists.


Tree of Life Yggdrasil Necklace, Handmade Citrine Carnelian Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs

Fall Leaf Pendant Necklace by Blonde Peach Jewelry



 Orange Pillow Beads by Blue Morning Expressions


Pastel Yellow Butter Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads Shiny Kumquat by Covergirlbeads



Womens Convertibles Hand Knitted Hobo Gloves Mittens with Longer Cover by Crafting Memories 1



Gold Silver Heart Charms Swarovski Crystal Silver Chain Bracelet by Dianes Dangles



Red and Yellow Calsilica with Scarlet Crystal 20 inch Necklace by Kats All That




 Owls In Tree Desk Clock Handmade From Cherry Wood By KevsKrafts Woodworking 

Autumn Gemstone Earrings by Linor Store Jewelry



Crocheted Fingerless Gloves Merino Wool Black Victorian Women Small by Magdalene Knits




Single Hand Designed Postcard Thanksgiving Greeting Child on Pumpkin w/ Turkey by Postcards in the Attic





Wood Bracelet for Men or Unisex, Om Charm, Unakite Gemstone Tai Chi Yoga by Pretty Gonzo 


Handmade Fall Color Basket - Orange, Tan, Green, Cream Crochet Art Design by RSS Designs in Fiber





Ammonite Fossil Pendant Necklace by Solana Kai Designs



Topaz Swarovski Earrings, Dangling Crystal Leather Earrings by The Singing Beader




 Amber Topaz Crystal Teardrop Earrings by Treasures of Jewels

Watercolor, Print, 8 x 10, Five different choices Decorative art, home decor by watercolorsNmore 





Monday, August 20, 2018



2018 Fall and Winter Color Trends

Colors are very important to so many areas of our lives.  Whether it is clothes, food, jewelry, art or so many others things, color is a determining factor in our choices.

Every season, the Pantone Color Institute comes up with a Pantone Fashion Color Trend Report.  This report highlights the top colors fashion designers will be featuring in their collections for the upcoming seasons.

The color palette for the 2018 Fall/Winter season features some non-traditional color choices.  The color of the year for 2018 is Ultra Violet.  The colors for fall and winter are Red Pear, Valiant Poppy, Nebulus Blue, Ceylon Yellow, Martini Olive, Russet Orange, Crocus Petal, Limelight, Ultra Violet and Quetzal Green.





The five core colors are Sargasso Sea, Tofu, Almond Buff, Quiet Gray and Meerkat.  These are colors that can be worn all year.


Since these are the colors that most of the fall and winter clothes will be for 2018, it makes sense that jewelry and other items should follow this trend.

Below you will find several handmade items that are made with colors in this collection.  I hope you enjoy them and if you are so inclined, maybe purchase one or two!

Kats All That on Artfire



Shadow Dog Designs on Indiemade



RSS Designs in Fiber on Etsy



Blue and White Stars Doily - Ring of Stars - Crocheted Stars Round Doily - Stars Decor or Decoration - Blue and White Decor Accent

Kats All That





Linor Store on Etsy



Wire Kippah Kippot Yarmulke Purple - Silver Beads - Siam Swarovski Crystals - Headcovering


Magdalene Knits on Etsy




Shadow Dog Designs


Turquoise Silver Necklace, Chunky Southwest Handmade Gemstone Jewelry

The Singing Beader on Etsy






The Singing Beader




Pretty Gonzo on Etsy


Magdalene Jewels on Etsy



Pretty Gonzo





Blonde Peach Jewelry on Etsy





Blonde Peach Jewelry




Covergirlbeads on ArtFire








Thank you for taking the time to peruse this post and viewing all of these lovely artisan made items!


Thursday, August 2, 2018



From Here to Colorado Springs - Memphis, TN to Stone Mountain, GA

The last portion of our journey was from Memphis to Stone Mountain, a suburb of Atlanta.  We left Tennessee early and drove through the state of Alabama on our way home.  Alabama is a very pretty state to drive through.

As usual, a road sign caught my attention.  It read - Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS).  My research found that in 1964, the Presidents Appalachian Regional Commission (PARC) reported to Congress that economic growth in Appalachia would not be possible until the regions isolation had been overcome.  Apparently, roads had never been built in the area because of the terrain and the high cost of building in that area.  Congress authorized the construction of the ADHS in 1965.  The ADHS is currently authorized at 3,090 miles.  As of the end of 2017, 90.5 percent of the miles were complete or under construction.

Here is a map of the Appalachia ADHS area.


We drove through Birmingham, AL which is where my husband's Italian grandparents lived after arriving in LA from Sicily around 1900.  Most of his family moved to the Atlanta area after the depression to find work.  Interestingly enough my paternal grandmother lived in the same area of Birmingham with her first husband at the time his family lived there!

My husband and I are both natives of Atlanta.  We met in high school and married after college.  He worked at the family car business where he eventually became President of the company and then purchased it from his siblings.  He sold the business in 2001 and retired to join me in a life of leisure!

Birmingham is known as the Pittsburgh of the South because of its history of iron smelting.  All of the materials necessary for iron production are available in the area.  One of the city's famous landmarks is the 55 foot cast iron statue named Vulcan that symbolized their steel industry at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904.


Picture of Vulcan statue provided by Yelp.

Here is a picture of a steel bridge in the Fountain Heights area of Birmingham as we drove under it.


As we were driving along I spotted this pickup truck full of watermelons in front of us.  We used to see this a lot in Atlanta when we were growing up but not so much now.


Here are some interesting facts about Alabama:

* The first electric trolley system was introduced in Montgomery in 1886.

* AL is the largest supplier of cast-iron and steel pipe products in the US.

* The town of Enterprise (which is a town we go through often on our way to Destin, FL!) houses the Boll Weevil Monument to acknowledge the role this destructive insect played in encouraging farmers to grow crops other than cotton.

* Hank Aaron (baseball player) was born in Mobile in 1954.

* Joe Louis (boxer) was born in Lexington in 1914.

* Willie Mays (baseball player) was born in Westfield in 1931.

* Tallulah Bankhead (singer) was born in Huntsville in 1902.

* Nat King Cole (singer) was born in Montgomery in 1919.

* At the Battle of Mobile Bay, Admiral David Farragut issued his famous command - "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead." - in 1864.

* The word Alabama means tribal town in the Creek Indian language.

* Hematite is the state mineral.

* The star blue quartz is the state gemstone.

* The state flower is the Camellia.

* The state bird is the Yellowhammer (yellow-shafted flicker)

I think you can tell by this short post that we were really ready to get home after such a long drive!  I hope you have enjoyed and learned something while reading my posts - I know I learned some things!