Beach Glass Bracelets

Where has 2012 gone?! Or more appropriately, where I have been? The holiday season was quite the blur, but I loved every moment of it. A big thank you to everyone who stopped by my Etsy shop to pick out something special for a loved one this Christmas.

I've been busy with my Etsy shop orders, making sure each and every customer receives the detail and attention they deserve. I recently switched jobs and couldn't be happier - I'll finally have more time to design new pieces, update my blog, and dive back in to everything The Glistening Pearl (and not to mention a job I love!). The weather is finally starting to warm up again in the desert, so it'll be much easier to have routine photo shoots for all my new designs. And last but not least, I now own my very first sewing machine. It's been years since I've used one, but I've been dying to have one to fulfill my endless DIY inspirations. More on my sewing machine and those crafty projects later (:

I don't know how long I've been wanting to make beach glass bracelets but just didn't have the tools and space to do so. Probably ever since my very first beach glass necklace. Nonetheless, I am so excited to finally present these beauties:

The incredibly supportive boyfriend purchased all the tools I needed to work on beach glass designs in Las Cruces for my birthday a few months ago, and my parents shipped my beach glass collection to me from Hawaii. Voila ~ a heart hand-drilled into one of my first beach glass bracelets.

Heart Beach Glass Bracelet

SHOP

The funny thing was that I'm actually not able to bring myself to sell my very first beach glass bracelet that I made. Each and every piece of beach glass brings back memories of the day I found that particular piece - what beach I decided to stroll along the shoreline; the friends or family I was with who wanted to partake in the search; and the excitement of the vision I had when I chose to keep that perfectly frosted piece rather than toss it back into the ocean. I keep my collection neatly organized in little ziplock baggies with tiny labels noting the date, name of the beach, and people who kept me company. Sea glass are little treasures to me - sweet memories and little bits of Hawaii, the place I will always call home.

There was one piece of beach glass that I distinctly remember wanting to make into a bracelet. It was a vibrant royal blue slice, slightly curved, making it the perfect shape to sit naturally on a wrist. My mom and dad (I'm sure both would like to claim they were the one who actually spotted it first) found it the last time they decided to go on a shoreline hunt, just for me. They woke up bright and early, and my dad quickly washed their finds from the morning when they got home just so he could send me a photo. Can you spot the one I picked out?

As I carefully drilled the two holes for the bracelet, this little piece of glass made me feel so sentimental. It's now been over a year since I've been back to Hawaii, and it makes me miss them, especially because they're always so supportive with everything I've done, from my jewelry to my school or work related relocations from city to city.

Here's that special piece, in all its simple glory. I initially thought I could part with it (it made it in the photo shoot and up as a draft listing on my Etsy), but who am I kidding. It was love at first sight, memories and all. I'm planning on taking it apart and putting it back together after I drill a little heart in it. I'm going all out for this one.

But not to worry; I have more beach glass bracelets in the works. I have a few up in my Etsy shop right now, and I'll have more listed as I experiment with new designs. I hope you'll be able to pick out a special Hawaiian treasure for yourself as well.

It was great blogging again, and I hope I'll be able to update you again soon.

Take care!

Loving My Newest Display

I spent this past Saturday at the Mesilla Valley Christian School Blazer Bazaar selling my jewelry for the first time in Las Cruces. It was a lovely sunny event; not too hot at all, especially with the shade from my brand new patio umbrella. Best purchase yet.

Here is my latest set-up, featuring many do-it-yourself projects, including my newest addition - a custom-colored seafoam green framed chalkboard!

I'm definitely loving my new signage and the way all the colors fit together. The boyfriend loved my chalkboard so much that he requested a large custom-colored chalkboard of his own! I'm looking forward to seeing what fun color he picks out for himself.

A view of the event before it started.

I also had a little bit of time to bust out a few new beachy bangles! It's been a while since I've had these available. They'll be up on Etsy as soon as I'm able to photograph them individually. I can't decide which one to keep for myself: feather, sand dollar, seashell, or seahorse? Which would you choose?

Speaking of adding to my own collection, I also started making a pair of Island Paradise Earrings for myself. I couldn't resist them any longer. They were swaying so beautifully in front of me throughout the entire Blazer Bazaar, teasing me as though they were saying, "wear me, wear me!" I'm so easily persuaded by my own designs sometime (:

Blazer Bazaar @ MVCS

Come visit me at my first show in Las Cruces supporting Mesilla Valley Christian Schools! I've donated a Moonlit Ocean Earrings and Necklace set to their silent auction, so take a look and bid for a good cause!

Did you see that they're advertising breakfast burritos??! I'll be getting one of those for sure. I'm hoping I'll get a chance to check out the rummage sale too!

Cannon Beach, OR

A friend from college invited the boyfriend and I to his family's beach house at Cannon Beach while we were in Oregon this summer. It was my first time making it out to Oregon's coast - so breathtakingly beautiful.

I woke up early one morning and walked along the water's edge to Haystack rock while it was still low tide. The tide exposed all the little sea critters clinging to the rocks, like this extremely large orange starfish! There were even purple ones too. Can you believe it? I don't think I've ever encountered such a massive starfish in its natural habitat. It probably could have covered my entire face. Squish squish.

As the tide started to rise again, I turned around and headed back to the cabin. I stayed near the water, hoping to find a few treasures as the waves lapped up against the sand. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted something white glistening just under the surface of the water a few yards ahead. I held my breath and ran over -- a sand dollar! A real sand dollar (no longer living, of course), completely intact and waiting to be picked up by a lucky passerby. Me!! I couldn't believe it. My very first sand dollar.

Summer has now come and gone, but at least I have a little souvenir to remind me of my wonderful summer road-trip adventure. This sea critter also inspired my newest collection of jewelry featuring sand dollars - head over to my Etsy shop to check it out.

My first show in Las Cruces is coming up this weekend! Stay tuned for more details!

Updated Blog

If you haven't already noticed, my blog has an updated layout! 

I felt like it was time for some improvements so I searched the interwebs for a new free Blogger template. My basic middle school knowledge of HTML and high school Photoshop skills allowed me to customize my layout preferences and update the color scheme from sunset orange to seafoam green. It was challenging but I loved every moment of it; I kind of forgot how much I used to enjoy doing this kind of web design/photo editing kind of projects.

My section tabs have now moved to the top of my blog - 

Inspiration: The page you're currently viewing, which contains all my blog posts and updates

Etsy Shop: The tab takes you straight to my online jewelry boutique

Jen's Jewelry Box: My newest section featuring my personal jewelry collection

About Me: Tidbits about me; similar to my profile page on Etsy

Have you noticed my starfish icon I designed?? (:

Any categories that blog posts have been listed under are now linked below my palm tree header -

behind the scenes: jewelry photography, designs in the works, my workspace

events: descriptions of any local arts and crafts events I've participated in - the most current events are listed in the right sidebar

featured: links to places The Glistening Pearl jewelry has been featured

love: features purchases I've made through Etsy or other local artists that I absolutely adore - yay handmade!

Finally,  I have a little slideshow that shows up right below my category listings and above my most recent blog post. I'll be updating those pictures from time to time and keeping you posted about the latest Glistening Pearl news. However, the slideshow may not show up in your browser if your Javascript hasn't been updated. Update it so you don't miss out!

I'm off to make homemade vegetable stock in a crockpot! Enjoy the rest of your week ~ hang in there; Friday is just around the corner! (: