Yes, Another Jewelry Challenge....

Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry is having a challenge. This challenge is a monthly challenge. For the month of January 2016, the inspiration is "the frosty world around us." The colors were chosen from what we typically think of as winter colors.

I think these colors are absolutely gorgeous, but growing up in Florida, these colors don't remind me of winter, but of summer. So I kinda went out of the box and created beach themed earrings using these "winter" colors.

I used navy and white coral looking starfish beads. The navy starfish I topped with white crystals, and the white starfish are topped with blue aurora borealis crystals. Then we have the sea turtle earrings. They sit upon a blue sea glass looking bead with white dots.

I love creating, and after my little hand surgery almost a month ago, I am grateful to be able to start creating again. These earrings will be available on my etsy shop soon. etsy.com/shop/TappingflamingoBling

This was fun, and I can't wait to see what February's challenge will be... 









No New Years Resolutions For Me!

Happy 2016! It seems the older I get the faster time goes by. I cannot believe it is already 2016. Now that is the beginning of a new year, everyone starts thinking about New Years Resolutions. Not me, though. I am really tired of making goals, and then not keeping them.


Some of the goals I have made have been, loose weight, get fit, get organized....you know the ones that almost everyone wants to accomplish. I've lost and found my weight several times. I've gotten fit, and then unfit several times too. As far as getting organized, well, we move around so much, that I have done that many times too. It has almost been a year since our last move, and I'm still trying to get organized from that move. I use the excuse of taking wallpaper down as the reason I have not accomplished that one....


This year, I decided I was not going to make a resolution. It is just a waste of time, almost a mockery. I think that we should continue to make goals through out the year, not just at the beginning. Small goals are the best. Oh, and goals that are specific and achievable.


So, even though I did not make a New Years Resolution, I did make a goal. It is a goal that I have accomplished on several occasions, but one that I feel I need to continue to do, over and over again.


My goal is....to read the Book of Mormon. To pray about it, and to reconfirm my testimony of this book.  For those of you who know nothing about this book, it is such a good book. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. It is a book that bares witness of His life and Atonement for all of us. Just like the Bible, The Book of Mormon was written by prophets. But these prophets lived in the Americas.


Before I ever read the Book of Mormon and joined the church, my family went to another church. My mom was a Sunday School teacher. When she started to read the Book of Mormon, she found that what she read and learned form this book enhanced her lessons greatly. She did eventually join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.


I look forward to once again, read and study and pray about the Book of Mormon. In our Sunday School class this year, we are studying this marvelous book, and I look forward to the things that we will learn and discuss.


At the end of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni issues a challenge in Moroni 10:3-5:


"3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

This is a great challenge and one that should be used when studying the Bible too. Read with a sincere heart, and real intent, and having faith that by the power of the Holy Ghost, you will know if these things are true.

That is what I plan to do. Read, study, and ask with a sincere heart, real intent and faith. I have done this on several occasions, and I continue to get the same answer that The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. One may ask why read the scriptures over and over? Well, we need to continue to read our scriptures because they guide is in our lives. It is a way for us to be close to God and to know Him. Many times answers to questions will come when we study our scriptures.

A Great Book For Healthy Mom and Baby

What To Eat When You're Pregnant is a weekly guide that will help support your health and your baby's development while you are pregnant. Sure wish I had had this book when I was pregnant (which was over 21 years ago).


I was very curious about this book, since I am starting to have grandbabies. After looking at this book, I showed my daughter in law, and she was impressed. Nicole M Avena, Phd,  author, has put this book together so that it is easy  to understand and read. She starts out by explaining why it is so important to eat well during this time, and takes you through the key nutrients you need. Part Two is broken up into three areas...The First Trimester, The Second Trimester, and The Third Trimester. Week by week, you learn what is going on with your and your baby's bodies, and what nutrients are key during this time....and!!! there are recipes! There is also a food  for the week. This particular food is high in whatever is needed during this stage in your pregnancy, and Dr Avena explains why.


After your baby is born, Dr Avena then explains about what you will be going through, your hormones, and how to loose and maintain the weight gained during this time.


 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

The Big Day Is Just About Here!

I can't believe it's been over a week since I had my thumb surgery! So glad it is over, and I'm getting back to normal. Still not making much jewelry, but I can at least wash and fix my hair by myself....well, sort of...

Speaking of making jewelry....I made several pieces before the big day, and I'm really glad I did. I have actually had several orders this past week and very happy about that! Thank you for your support.

Yesterday,  I dropped the last package off and asked when would be the last day to mail in order for one to receive by Christmas. I was happy to hear that that day is....

MONDAY!!!!

So, you  still have a little more time....this weekend. I still have a few Christmas earrings, ornaments, and not so much Christmas stuff over there too.

Crochet necklaces, lanyards, earrings, Terra Cotta Diffuser necklaces, are some of the other stuff I have over there. So, if you are still shopping and are at a loss as to what to get for certain people, then I hope you go check out my TappingflamingoBling Etsy shop.

And if you are all done, then that's ok too. Just prop your feet up, sit back and enjoy some hot chocolate.

Oh! And stay tuned next year for some new stuff. I still have to have one more hand surgery after Christmas, so hoping by mid January, I will be able to create some more bling. I already have some beachy type beads and cannot WAIT to get started!!!!!

Hope everyone stays safe over the holidays. Have a wonderful Christmas and a VERY happy New Year!!!!





Recycled Greeting Cards

Paliolithic History Blog Hop

Leah Curtis of the Beady Eyed Bunny blog, is hosting a blog hop...a historical one. The time period?

Paleolithic

So what is that you might ask? Well, it is the time period that man began. From his earliest introduction to earth until about 12,000 years ago. Yep, that was a looooong time ago! Here are a few little facts about this period of time:

Paleolithic comes from two Greek words--Palaios; meaning old, and Lithos; meaning stone. So, Paleolithic pretty much means Old Stone Age.

People during this time were mostly hunters and gatherers, which meant that they roamed around a lot. They needed to do much traveling in search of food. Their primary food source came from wild animals, birds, fish, wild fruit, nuts and berries.

The Paleolithic period was divided into three different time frames; Lower, Middle, and Upper. Upper being the most recent, and also the time frame of which my creations represent. During the Upper Paleolithic period, people started to draw, and make sculptures. Shells, copper, clay and wood were more popular during the Upper Paleolithic time. Other materials used at this time were bones and ivory. Clay was used for sculpturing statues.

Now to introduce my pieces.

My first piece is made from something I actually got from my last cruise. It was a freebie from one of the shops...a bamboo necklace. I just took it apart, added some shells and there ya have it! Something I might actually wear.

This next piece I handcrafted using Terra Cotta clay. I love my essential oils, and so I knew I wanted a piece that I could diffuse them on. I love the sun and the ocean, and I figured that since the people of the Upper Paleolithic time ate fish and used shells, they were most likely near the water, and of course there is always the sun, it's everywhere.

During this time, too, copper was used to make tools, so I used copper beads in this necklace. I dropped a shell and sea turtle bead to hang on the clay sun pendant, and also used glass beads that had the colors that were probably pretty common during this time. All this is strung on hemp cord, maybe that could represent sinew that was used a lot for hunting purposes...or...who knows,  they may have had this type of material like the cord I used.

Well, I thought I was done, then I remembered one of the pictures Leah posted on her blog about this hop. It was a beautiful cave painting of a bison, and it was PINK! If you want to see this cave painting it actually is in a cave in Spain known as the Cave of Altamira; Bison in the Great Hall of Polychromes.  I love pink, and wanted to do a piece that represented this painting, so.....here it is!

A memory wire bracelet! I love memory wire. They are comfortable to wear, and most anybody can wear the same bracelet, since they are so adjustable.

I used brown and cream colored wood beads, copper beads, shells, and various glass ebeads made of browns, green, clear and pink. Then I added the final touch of pink crackle beads.

So, there you have it. My rendition of the Upper Paleolithic Period, well, the modernized version of that time period. I hope you like. Now go check out the other creations from this hop...


Leah Curtis (hostess) - Beady Eyed Bunny
Shaiha's Ramblings
Anafiassa
Emmanuelle
Julia Hay - Pandanimal
Rachel Mallis - Mint Monarch
Beadrecipes
Robin Reed - Artistry HCBD
Joanne Tinks
YeeLen Spirit Designs
Karin G. - Gingko et Coquelicot
Dini Bruinsma
Deborah Apodaca
Tappingflamingo Terry Jeanette Carter ***you are here***

Facebook Participants:
Laura Bailey Taskey

More Memory Wire Bracelets and Guitar String Ornaments

The other day, I had a friend ask me about my Etsy shop. I showed her some of my creations, and she really liked the memory wire bracelets. Then she asked me if I could make her one in neutral colors. She specified browns. I told her I'd love to do a custom order for her.

This is what I came up with...brown, beige, clear, green and off white beads of glass and wood. I also added some shells.





My friend then asked me about my guitar string ornaments. She had seen them in my Etsy store and really like the look.

There were a few she really liked, and wanted to purchase several for some of the people she works with.

Since I had some of the ornaments already listed on my site, I went ahead and "reserved" them for her until she could get home and order them.

These ornaments are very unique, and everyone seems to really like them. Over the years, I have collected all types of ornaments for my children. I also collect ornaments for myself, and I know a lot of people who do the same. These unique guitar string ornaments would be a great gift for those who collect ornaments.

I love to create all kinds of fun jewelry and ornaments. I hope you go check out my shop. Maybe you will see something you like. I will also do custom orders...