Sea Glass

Well...if you have been wondering where I have been, I have a new love in my life. Sea Glass!

Now that my son has started attending high school, we are donating our time to service projects more than ever. One is our monthly 'Beach Sweep' (where the city gets a bunch of people to clean the beach for free!). One aspect of this monthly event that I have come to look forward to is collecting shells and now, Sea Glass. For those who are 'not in the know', Sea Glass comes from a variety of sources. One being, glassware and/or bottles that end up in the ocean (for one reason or another) and gets broken up and tumbled in the sand and surf until it becomes a beautiful frosted lump of deliciousness resembling candy.


Beach Lust

 People make an astonishingly abundant amount of crafts and jewelry with Sea glass...

 
Sue Gray Jewelry

Someday, I would like to try my hand at this, however for the time being, I will be content to roam the beach... searching for my new love...

Be sure to visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy Shop!


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Making Space

It was with sadness in my heart today that I closed my online business and sister company to Handmade Jewelry Haven....Kidcessory Haven. It was a company that I started seven years ago as a way to fill time after my first child went into grade school. Like my kids, I watched my little enterprise grow and then flourish, and then eventually start to flounder as the demands of raising a family grew. After having to seek full time employment after my divorce, my time grew even more scarce and eventually I found it was just not a joy to maintain my business anymore. I am hoping that with this minute relief from having to run the online company, I will now have more time to devote to writing posts in this blog that I have kept. Looking forward to rediscovering you all again, and also a bit of myself too.



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Wordless Wednesday

Here are some more wonderful examples of lampwork beads. Enjoy!!

To see more beautiful lampwork beads, visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy Shop Here.

Gulf Coast Oil Disaster: How you can help

As a lover of all things that have to do with the ocean, and a resident of a state that is surrounded on three sides by it, the Gulf Oil Spill has had a particular interest for me.
As I watch the spill near the shores of Florida and the Florida keys, I wonder how I can be of help....so, being the true 'Google Master' that I am...I found a link to the Audubon society that had a lot of tips on how to get involved. I want to share that with you here.

Audubon is inspired by the many people who have contacted us to find out how they can help the birds and other wildlife threatened by the Gulf oil spill. Your commitment to their health and safety during this crisis is greatly appreciated – and it underscores how much you value the natural world. Audubon is working with many other public and private conservation organizations to coordinate volunteers and connect them with oiled-wildlife response leaders to help in the recovery effort. Hands-on work to protect and save birds and other wildlife will be a complex and potentially dangerous process, and first and foremost it is important that only trained volunteers participate on the front lines. Untrained volunteers can pose a risk not only to themselves, but to the birds and wildlife they are trying to save. If you would like to receive updates on Audubon's response efforts and be notified when volunteer opportunities arise, please fill out our volunteer registration form.

Attention, Gulf Coast Birders! Your help is needed to help document bird distribution at Gulf coast sites, and the effects of the oil spill. Learn more.

Here's another way you can help. Urge Congress to fully fund restoration efforts in Coastal Louisiana. Restoring habitat is key to the survival of that region and the people and wildlife that depend upon it.

Your donation will support Audubon as we address the oil spill disaster affecting birds and other wildlife in the Gulf Coast's already-fragile ecosystem. Your gift of any amount helps provide important resources for our volunteers and for the vital work being done on the ground. Thank you for your support!Kids Are Already Helping! The spreading Gulf oil spill threatens birds and wildlife on Louisiana's coast. Save Them! Help Audubon rebuild the healthy habitat they need.

Other ways to report oiled wildlife, call 1-866-557-1401 and leave a message. Messages will be checked hourly. Even if you don’t live in the Gulf coast region, you can provide healthy habitat for birds, especially migrants, by taking some of these simple steps from Audubon At Home.

Handmade Jewelry Haven is donating 10% of all sales in the month of July towards the clean-up effort in the Gulf. Please visit our website and know that in addition to purchasing a beautiful piece of jewelry, you are doing a little bit to help those in the Gulf Coast area who have had their livelihoods destroyed by this disaster.

To see all of our beautiful Handmade Jewelry, visit our Etsy Shop here.

source; Audubon.org

Why You Should Be Wearing Agate Jewelry

Agate is a variety of chalcedony formed from layers of quartz which usually show varicolored bands. It usually occurs as rounded nodules or veins.

The term chalcedony is derived from the name of the ancient Greek town Chalkedon in Asia Minor. Chalcedony, which is found worldwide, is the name for a group of stones made of a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline variety of quartz, which means the quartz crystals are too small to be seen without high magnification.

Agate is believed to discern truth, accept circumstances, and is a powerful emotional healer. Legend says that Agate improves memory and concentration, increases stamina and encourages honesty. Agate is said to be particularly beneficial to people born under the sign of Gemini as it helps them to remain calm and focused.

It is believed to prevent insomnia and insure pleasant dreams, to enhance personal courage and protect one against danger. Agate provides a calming influence, improves perception, concentration and helps to develop and increase one's analytical talents.

Agate is also listed as a birth/natal or star stone in the following birthstone tables:
Mystical - SeptemberAyurvedic - MayZodiac - GeminiSun Sign (Star Sign) - CapricornSun Sign (Star Sign) - AquariusSun Sign (Star Sign) - GeminiTalismanic - LibraHebrew - MayRoman - MayArabic - June

To see a beautiful example of Agate in a jewelry application, please check out Handmade Jewelry Haven's ArtFire page where you will see our very elegant 'Blown Sand' Agate Necklace.

Wordless Wednesday

Please enjoy this weeks gorgeous Lampwork Beads....

To see lampwork jewelry visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy Shop Here.

To Keep Them In Our Hearts..

This blog post is dedicated to my dad, Grant Haven, who passed away a little over 3 years ago and served as a Naval Radioman aboard a PB4Y2 Aircraft in WWII.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May.

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies



Cherry Blossom Lampwork Beaded Bracelet

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

Why not celebrate Memorial Day this year in style by wearing Handmade Jewelry Haven's 'Cherry Blossom' bracelet, a beautiful red lampwork bead bracelet and 'Cherry Blossom' matching earrings? Find them both at our Handmade Jewelry Haven Etsy Shop Here.

source; US Memorial Day