Spooky Inspiration

I love to design, and I love to be challenged. Sometimes, it can be very difficult, but it helps you to grow. In this post, I will show you what I came up with using this very "creepy" picture.

Each month, SJ Designs Jewelry has a challenge. Her husband, for the past five years, has been giving her a challenge to get her out of her comfort zone and also help her use some of her bead stash. They call it Honey Do List.

This month's Honey Do List is a "creepy" picture of some skulls. This photo was taken in Czech Republic, at Kutna Hora which is "bizarre bone church" they visited. This was definitely a challenge for me.

Well... I don't have any skull pieces I could use, and I don't work with bone. I did remember, I had some white howlite that might look like bones....sorta. I wrapped the howlite bead with brown copper wire and added some dangles for more interest. 

As I studied the picture, I saw reds, oranges, golden hues, dark brown, and copper. I remembered, not long ago I received dark brown Brecciated Jasper beads from a Bargain Bead Box subscription, and knew they would be perfect in this piece. In October 2020 Bargain Bead Box, I received some faceted garnet crystals I knew I wanted to use. The only thing...they were teeeeeny tiiiiiny, which meant ity bity holes.

I gathered red jasper, sesame seed jasper, golden crystals and copper and started creating. 

Funny thing is, when I'm creating, things get changed quite a bit. I went from having a long necklace to a short one. I went from one clasp to another, and some of the beads changed a bit. 

I chose this bamboo looking toggle clasp, because it reminded me of bones. 

Oh! I had to make some matching earrings...

I'm actually working on a video that will soon be posted to my Tappingflamingo YouTube Channel. It shows how I went about putting it all together. Hope you go check it out and let me know what you think. 

No, this pieces is not that creepy or spooky, and it, honestly, it was not really that challenging. I find, that once I get started with a piece, things just kind of fall in to place. 

My Morning Smoothie

                                       

Just about every morning, I have a smoothie.

It's a very healthy smoothie. Fruits, veggies, and no, I do not add any sugar to my recipe. Here is what I do...

It is important to put the ingredients in proper order. I am using the Pampered Chef blender with the smoothie attachment, so when I blend it, I will be turning the cup upside down. First, I put about 4 ice cubes from my ice maker, into the cup. 

I then add frozen fruit. My favorite fruits are cherries, bananas, pineapple and dates. Today, I have half a small banana, two dates, and about 3/4 cup of mixed fruit consisting of strawberries, pineapple, mango, peaches. 

A little tip on the bananas. I freeze them. I peel them first, then put them (with OUT cutting them up) into a freezer bag and freeze. When I am ready to make my smoothie, I just take one out, cut it in half and plop it into the container. Sometimes I will cut it up, but not always.

Next, I add about 1 cup almond milk. Today, I am using chocolate. YUMMMMM!!!!

Next, I add all my powders...

1 tablespoon flax seed

1 tablespoon pea protein

and Doterra Trim Shake...vanilla today. 

I love using the vanilla with chocolate almond milk!

The next thing you do all depends on the blender you use. I had a Vitamix for 17 years, and I LOVED it. It took about a minute or so to blend everything up to a smoothie consistency.

Sadly, my Vitamix died, and, since I was having a Pampered Chef party, I decided to try their blender. I got it for 60% off! So far, I love it. The smoothie attachment is really nice. 

After I get it all blended, it's time to enjoy.

It is sooooo yummy!!!!

I am a Bohemian Hippie!

I grew up in the 1960's and 70's.

I guess that is why I love the Bohemian Hippie look.

Natural fiber ,

wood,

 

crystals,

recycling,

and stones are thing things I love to work with.

It is a very earthy, organic look...and that's what appeals to me.

What appeals to you?

Are you a Bohemian Hippie?

More of a modern type?

Trendy?

Or, something else...

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...

The Tappingflamingo is The Bohemian Hippie

I love my Florida upbringing. It is part of who I am. 

I am The Tappingflamingo

and...

I am also The Bohemian Hippie.

why am I Tappingflamingo?

well, Florida has a lot to do with it. The sandy beaches; the warm, tropical breezes; the sunshine; the palm trees; and even the beautiful colors of yellows, blues, browns, greens, purples, oranges, pinks. I love colorful things.

Tappingflamingo also because of my dance background. I love dancing, and yoga...

Why The Bohemian Hippie?

I play the mountain dulcimer.

I love to dress comfortably. Dresses that flow, layers, lace, Birkenstocks, denim, beach wear, long/easy going hair, etc...

oh, and of course...jewelry

I love jewelry. I love to wear it and make it.

Crystals, feathers, sea shells, hemp, wood, recycled guitar strings, paper, sari ribbon

Oversized earrings, layers of necklaces, bracelets that stack up and down the arm, and anklets

A lot of my friends tease me about being such a hippie. I don't mind, because I know I am. After all, as soon as I graduated from high school, our family drove all over the country for six weeks pulling a pop up camper with our red VW Van. Can't get more hippier than that, lol...

anyway.....I've made nature inspired jewelry for quite some time. In my research of the style I make, I have learned the style is bohemian hippie. I love the bohemian style, and as I have researched what that is, I have learned that I am A Bohemian Hippie...tropical style, of course...

I Miss You, Sox...

 

Three months ago, we were getting ready to celebrate your 14th birthday. Yes, that is pretty old for a dog...about 98 years, but you sure did not act like a 98 year old woman.

You had your good days and you had your bad days, but they were mostly good. You loved to go outside and lay in the hot sun. You loved to run around the backyard. You especially loved to lay in the corner in the middle of the yellow Iris's.

Those have become my favorite flower...

You hind legs were getting tired...probably arthritis, but you didn't seem to be in much pain. Your hearing was not what it use to be, but one good thing about that, you didn't get scared, anymore, when we would have one of our major thunderstorms we get quite frequently here in Louisiana. Your eyesight was not what it use to be, but you still could see me, and always got excited whenever I came into the room.

Because your hind legs were weaker, you could not longer jump on the couch or the bed, but I would sometimes lift your 50 pound body to sit or lay next to me. I remember the Sunday before you got really sick, snuggling up close to you at the foot of our bed. We laid there for a long time. I knew then, that you didn't have much time with me. I wanted that moment to last forever. 

I miss your snuggles, I miss you smelling my breath. You seem to do that a lot. I miss you greeting me with excitement when I come home.  I miss your smile...yes, you had a cute smile. I miss your sassiness whenever your water bowl was empty or food was gone. And yes, I even miss getting up at 3 a.m. to let you out to do your business.

It has been 2 months, 4 days and 8 hours since you crossed over the rainbow bridge.

Will I ever get over you being gone?....I don't think so.

Soon after you left me, I left to visit with my daughter and her family in Virginia. With your dad working a shutdown and 90+ hour weeks, and the quarantine, it was hard to be here, all alone, without your companionship.

Then I came home to pack and leave again to visit two of our boys...one in Colorado and one in Utah.

Now I'm back home again, and oh so very lonely. 

I think of you all the time.... 

I miss you more than I can say....

Some may say I'm silly, and that I need to get over it, but I can't.

I want you to know, my dearest Sox, that I am trying to be good so that I can be with you again when my time is up hear on earth.

Sox Anna Carter

23 May 2006 - 16 June 2020