What is Your Style?

I grew up close to the beach on Central Florida's East Coast. Bare feet and casual, comfy attire is what it was all about. 

Recently, I read an article where they described my style perfectly. "...if you are a Steve Nicks fan, spend hours in the ocean, see your home as a peaceful retreat and don't like to subscribe too closely to one specific style..."

Yep, that's me! Well, I don't get to spend much time at the beach, but if I lived closer I would. Living in Louisiana now, I don't really have that option. 

This article goes on to say, "Boho and beach are both laid-back styles, so combining them doubles the relaxing feeling they promote." It goes on to mention how cool whites from the beach provide a great backdrop for bold, bright colors and print combos." 

I love bright colors and fun prints, as well as the crisp whites...especially those white sheers. Love it when the wind blows through the windows, billowing out the light weight fabric. The article actually describes home decor, but usually the colors and style you dress your home in, you also dress yourself with. 

I thought it was interesting, too, that recycling was mentioned. Guess what!? I love to recycle things into fun, unique pieces...hence my guitar string jewelry and ornaments. 

Sea shells are something else I love to have around...

even the broken ones. Something about the shell fragments...they are sometimes more interesting and prettier than the whole shells. It reminds me when we become broken, because of life experiences, we can learn and grow and become a better person.

I not only love to wear sea shells, but I love to decorate with them in my home. 

So....what is your style? Are you a Bohemian Hippie who loves the beach like me? Are you one who loves the Southwest? Jeans and t-shirt type? Or, are you more of the business-professional type of person...dress pants or skirt with heels? 

Whatever your style is, I think it's great. I think it's great because it brings interest into the world. If everyone dressed the same, it would be a very boring place. I'm glad that there are different styles and taste because it makes the world a much better place...

Upcycle/Recycle Old Guitar Strings

Do you play a stringed instrument? How often do you change out your strings? What do you do with your old strings? Well....I'm here to tell you about a fun way to recycle your strings. 

Why not upcycle them into beautiful pieces you can wear? 

When I was a little girl...like about 10, I wanted to learn to play the guitar. My parents got me a guitar for Christmas, and I took a few lessons. My teacher wanted me to learn to read music, and I soon learned that I had a very difficult time with that. Sadly, due to frustration, I quit.

Fast forward 45 years.... A friend of mine invited me to her mountain dulcimer group. Reluctantly, I went, and boy, am I glad I did! Long story short...I was bitten by the bug. A few months after attending the group, I purchased my first dulcimer, and now...four years later, I still enjoy playing the mountain dulcimer!

With close to 30 people in our group in Kentucky, everyone was always changing out their strings. Soon, they were bringing me their old strings saying, "We know how crafty your are...I bet you could figure out something to do with these."

The first thing I thought of were bracelets. These are some of my first pieces.

Then I made earrings...

Christmas ornament....

and even keychains!

There are several companies now that are collecting old guitar strings and recycling them. They separate the metal and nylon strings. The metal strings are melted down and made into new metal alloys. The Nylon is recycled into industrial plastic appliances. This is all good, but to be honest, because of the process involved, this is not necessarily the best way to recycle.

The best way to recycle anything is to reuse it, and the second best way to to upcycle. Now since you really cannot reuse guitar strings, upcycling them is the best way! The brightly colored beads from the strings make great beads for jewelry, by the way....

If you are looking for a fun, unique way to save the planet by recycling, make something out of your old strings. If you are not crafty, or you don't have old instrument strings, and want to support the recycling of these metals....let me know. I can hook you up with a set of strings wrapped in a unique way....

TappingflamingoBling can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and Youbube as Tappingflamingo. She also has a shop! 

Cruise Gift Exchange

Have you ever been on a cruise? The first time I went was back in 2003 with my husband, for our 20 anniversary. We pretty much go at least once a year now. I LOVE CRUISING!!!

There are a lot of people who love to cruise, and there is a wide variety of activities on these ships. Anything from drinking and gambling, to water slides, towel folding, art auctions, and even gift exchanges. 

My mom, two sisters, and I decided one year to take our one and only Disney cruise....back in 2015. One of the things we learned about. was something called Fish Extender Gifts; and yes! we participated.

So, what are Fish extenders? Well a group on the ship gets together, and exchanges small gifts. I have learned that is is a HUGE thing, so I decided to start creating things to list in my shop that would make great Fish Extender Gifts.

My most popular items are my keychains. No, Disney is not the only cruise line that people exchange gifts. We usually sale with Carnival, and since 2016, we have participated in gift exchanges on every cruise. So...I don't just cater to the Disney people.

I have several styles of Princess or Fairytale keychain sets

This set of keychains would be great for anyone leaving out of New Orleans!

Last year, we sailed on the Carnival Sunshine, and I gave these out. Everyone loved them, and they are actually one of my best sellers.

How about some keychains made from guitar strings...FYI...I don't sell the mouse ears, because that would be copyright infringement, but I do sell these and the other style with all types of tropical charms including FLAMINGOS, of course!

How about a guitar string princess ornament?

On our Disney cruise I made everyone one of these Mardi Gras themed guitar string ornaments. We all tried to give something that represented where you came from.

How about a cruise ship guitar string ornament?

Then of course there are my surfer style waterproof bracelets. Perfect for a cruise, and they come in a variety of colors!

We have our next cruise scheduled for May. Stay tuned for more on that later. We are already signed up for a meet and greet gift exchange, and yes, I do know what I will be making to gift....my mom will be participating too, and she has already appointed me to make her items too. 

A Variety of Crafts....Some From Old Things, Some a Bit Newer....

Tammy Powley, of The Crafty Princess Diaries, shows off the quilt that she finished. Her grandmother started it many years ago, and Tammy was able to finish it and present it to her mother. They celebrated by going to their favorite restaurant in Port Canaveral, Florida.

Cyndi Lavin, of Beading Arts, is one talented lady! I admire those who work with the tiny beads in bead weaving. You really need to check out her newest blog on this beautiful herringbone necklace. 

Terry Jeanette, the Tappingflamingo, loves the unexpected. She has designed this fun beaded cruise themed ornament from recycled guitar strings! Keyword here is recycled! Check out her blog to see what else she has made with recycled guitar strings.

HOW DO YOU RECYCLE?

We have been blessed to live on this beautiful planet. The diversity is breath taking. From the majestic mountains right down to the expansive seas and even the colorful desserts! 

It is our responsibility to take care of this place, and one way to do it is to recycle. Most of us are onboard with this, but if you live in an area like I do, you might find it difficult...or is it really that difficult?

If you can't take your bags to the local recycle center, reuse them. They make perfect trash bags. I also like to use them to wrap my shoes in when I travel, or use them to put your dirty clothes in. All of us love to swim while on vacation. Where do you put your wet suites and towels? Try one of the plastic grocery bags. There are endless ways to use those bags!

One other thing I recycle are old guitar strings. I started this back when I first picked up the mountain dulcimer. The group I played with would bring me their old strings. This started when our leader brought me her's and said to me, "Terry, you are crafty, I bet you could come up with something to make out of these." She was right! Ideas started to flow into my head. 

First I made bracelets.

When the holidays started up, I made ornaments

Then earrings and pendants soon followed.

I love to cruise! Usually, our family joins the gift exchange that some of the cruises have, and so I decided to start making keychains.

Funny thing is, after I made a few of my creations, I got online to see if anyone else had made anything with old guitar strings. Well...I guess I was not the only one that had a great idea, because guitar string bracelets were everywhere...but...they were pretty pricy! 

Cleaning the strings is pretty intense, but actually making most of the strings is not.

Except maybe the more elaborately beaded ones...those can be pretty intense too. 

A friend of mine bought some guitar string bracelets (not from me). The bracelets had no beads or fanciness to them...and she paid $60 to $80 for them. I couldn't believe it. I don't even price my fancy ones for that. Of course, she bought them at a retail brick and mortar store, which makes a huge difference. There is a huge mark up on those type pieces so everyone involved can be paid. I  don't have a middle man, so this is why I can keep my prices lower. 

I love creating new pieces from old stuff. I have even taught classes and workshops on how to make guitar string bracelets. Those are always a lot of fun! 

So, why not check out some creative ideas as gifts for this holiday season? TappingflamingoBling offers a new line of Princess and Cruise Ship Christmas ornaments, and even a guitar string bracelet kits!

TappingflamingoBling Princess Ornament

TappingflamingoBling Princess Ornament

TappingflamingoBling Cruise Ship Ornament

Fishextender Gifts and Copyright Laws

Guitar String Keychains from 

TappingflamingoBling

A lot of you know what Fishextender gifts are, but some of you do not. Fishextender gifts are basically a group of people on a Disney Cruise that exchange gifts. I first heard of this when we took our first Disney Cruise in 2015. It was a lot of fun, and we continue to get gift exchanges going on other cruise lines we sail on.

So what do people give as gifts? Well, just about anything...from jewelry, to candy, to first aid kits to puzzles and ornaments and keychains.

Mardi Gras Style Beaded Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

On our last cruise, our group decided to bring something that represents the state with which you live. I made these Beaded Mardi Gras Themed Keychains, and everyone LOVED them. 

Fishextender Keychains 

We are getting ready for another cruise in a few months, and my mom is going to give these pictured above as gifts. Since she lives near the Disney area, and we are also leaving from that area, she thought they would be perfect. I made them for her to give out.

Louisiana Themed Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

I thought about making these Louisiana Themed Keychains pictured above, but then I thought of something else that I plan to share later.

Cruise Themed Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

Something that I would like to share with you has to do with copyright laws. I see a lot of online shops that carry Disney themed gift ideas. This is a huge no, no...unless you have permission from Disney. 

Disney Themed Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

I'll be honest with you. I thought that if you bought, say, fabric that was sold by Disney, that you could make something from it and sell it. Nope, legally, you cannot. You can make something for personal use or as a gift for someone, but you cannot sell it. OOPS!  Time to rethink my fish extender gifts. For the most part the keychains in the photo above are fine, except the Mickey ears. So, I redid them.

Princess Themed Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

I took the mouse ears away, and now I have strictly Princess Themed Keychains. This is ok, as Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Princess and the Frog are all public dominion. Now when I list these on my shop, I have to be careful not to use copyrighted names. 

Fleur de Lis Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

So, next time you go searching for anything that is copyrighted material, be careful. Try searching for items in a different way, as there are a lot of fun creations that are not coming up on your search, because they are not using copyrighted names. Search for "Cruise Fishextender Gifts." Or "Princess Themed Gift Exchange."

Patriotic Themed Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

TappingflamingoBling has all kinds of fun sets of keychains and other gift ideas on  Etsy.  I've even made beaded dreadlocks that are great to wear in your hair for a pirate party or just to have the island vibe in your wardrobe.