The Ocean's Emotions - Brown Sea Glass

Brown Seaglass is the most common color of seaglass found next to white and most of the time is from a beer bottle or, in some cases, an old medicine bottle. Brown glass is usually used to protect what it holds from the sun's ultraviolet rays, which can have a negative effect on the contents. The hops in most beers reacts to ultraviolet ray's, causing the hops to emit a bad odor. Unfortunatelym studies have shown that brown is not a very appetizing color and so most beers are bottled in different colored bottles. In a lot of these cases, a special type of non-reactive hops is used so that the beer will not turn when exposed to sunlight.
From a psycological standpoint, the color brown is associated with security, protection, and material wealth. It is a color of physical comfort (think hot chocolate - or chocolate in general), simplicity and quality. Brown sits beside words such as natural, organic, and the great outdoors.
Brown suppresses the emotions, creating a safe haven from the stresses of the outside world.

I have a lot of beautiful wood furniture in my house. I think of it as strong and long lasting. I love to run my hands along the grain of a piece of furniture that has been worn shiny

Wire Wrapped Brown Seaglass

through the years, such as you would find in a pew, in a church. I think of all the history behind that piece of wood. Who has sat there, prayed there, cryed there.

Come and see a beautiful piece of copper wire wrapped seaglass on Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy site.

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12 Weeks Of Letter Writing Challenge - Week 5

Today's post is participating in the 12 Weeks Of Letter Writing Challenge that I was invited to by Mrs. Dash Say's....blog here.

This weeks letter is to someone who has hurt me.

I was tired of always sitting at home alone on Saturday nights. My friends were all on dates with their boyfriends, and the ones that weren't had invited me over to spend time with them.
But I never did. I didn't because I always was hoping that you would call me so we could go out. But you didn't. You would call me the next day, or maybe I wouldn't see you until Monday, in school, where the excuse was always the same. You stayed home because you were sick, or your friend Mike came over and you spent time with him, or your father asked you to do something with him. 
When one of our favorite bands was in town for a concert, you always had an excuse on why you couldn't take me....and then the next day you always had a tale on how your friends and you 'hopped the fence' to get in. Always without me.
Well. I was tired of waiting. 
This time when the band came, I asked you once if you would take me. When I got another excuse, I went instead with my friends. It was a great concert. We all had such a good time, laughing and enjoying being there.
When we ran into one another during a break, you shoved me in the shoulder and gave me the middle finger and walked away. 
You broke my heart again and all I could do was cry and cry.

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Flashback Friday - Why You Should Be Wearing Agate

Today is Michael d'Agostino's Flashback Friday! The idea is to republish an old post of yours that maybe didn't get enough attention, or that you really liked, or that you think others will really like..

As I started this blog in 2010, and then took a few years off to raise my little ones (only getting back into it this past November), I know there are a LOT of you out there that did not see some of my earlier posts.

You can see the original post HERE.

Why You Should Be Wearing Agate 

Agate Beaded Necklace

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 Etsy page where you will see our very elegant 'Blown Sand' Agate Beaded Necklace.

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Wordless Wednesday

Todays Wordless Wednesday is about Teal Seaglass.....Hope you enjoy!

I love to hear about other seaglass hunting adventures. Leave a comment on your favorite seaglass treasure finding experiences here!

Click here for more Wordless Wednesday fun and be sure to visit 
Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy Shop here to see some of my other sea glass jewelry.

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Happy Presidents Day!

Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States, who was born on February 22, 1732. It can occur on the 15th through the 21st of February.

The day is now widely known as Presidents' Day and is often an occasion to honor all persons who have served as president, not just George Washington.The day is a state holiday in most states.
The first attempt to create a Presidents Day occurred in 1951 when the "President's Day National Committee" was formed. The purpose was not to honor any particular President but to honor the office of the Presidency. It was first thought that March 4, the original inauguration day, should be deemed Presidents Day. However, the bill recognizing the March 4 date was stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee because it was too close to Lincoln's and Washington's Birthdays. By the mid-1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term "Presidents' Day" began its public appearance.Today, the February holiday has become well known for being a day in which many stores, especially car dealers, hold sales. Until the late 1980s, corporate businesses generally closed on this day, similar to present corporate practices on Memorial Day or Christmas Day. With the late 1980s advertising push to rename the holiday, more and more businesses are staying open on the holiday each year, and, as on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day, most delivery services outside of the U.S. Postal Service now offer regular service on the day as well. Some public transit systems have also gone to regular schedules on the day. Many colleges and universities hold regular classes and operations on Presidents' Day. Various theories exist for this, when the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill debate of 1968, the supporters of the Bill were intent on moving federal holidays to Mondays to promote business. Way to keep us working!!
Source: Wikipedia

Lampwork Beaded Bracelet and Earrings

Show your Presidents Day Pride by sporting this beautiful Red White and Blue bracelet and earrings by Handmade Jewelry Haven. You can find them on their Etsy page here.

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12 Weeks Of Letter Writing Challenge - Week 4

Today's post is participating in the 12 Weeks Of Letter Writing Challenge that I was invited to by Mrs. Dash Say's....blog here.

This weeks letter is to my ex,

Dear Cesar,

I wanted to take some time to tell you a few things that I haven't been able to since our divorce. So I am going to now.
Being married to you for 13 years had it's up's and down's, like all marriages, I suppose, but I wanted to tell you some words of appreciation.
I want to thank you for loving me during some of the most difficult times of my life, my first divorce, the death of my favorite dog and the death of my father.
You were strong when I couldn't be.  
I want to thank you for giving me the best kids on the planet.
I want to thank you for standing by me on discipline issues when they have come up.
I want to thank you for being my rock when I did really stupid things like locking Bella in the car. 
I want to thank you for making me laugh when you would talk to the kitties, or making babies laugh in restaurants.
I want to thank you for making me feel safe when we were in bad parts of town.
I want to thank you for showing me how strong I can be and not to be afraid to start over.

Although we are apart now, I will always remember these things and reflect back on them for the rest of my life.

To see how I a starting over my business, come visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy page here.

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Kumihimo Origin - Where did it come from?

Samarai Armor

Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braid-making. Cords and ribbons are made by interlacing strands. Kumi himo is Japanese for "gathered threads". 

Japanese Haori

Kumihimo cord was first created by a form of finger-loop braiding known as Kute Uchi style in the 7th Century and was used for making the cords that tied together Samurai Armor and their horses armor.

Kumihimo cords are now used as ties on haori, which is a hip length jacket, and obijime, which are used for tying on an obi (kimono sash).

Kumihimo was originally weaved using just the hands, but later,

Japanese Obi Sash Tie

looms or marudai were developed for ease of use and to make the cords faster.  The

Japanese style marudai is 16" high and is usually used while kneeling or when placed on a table. Unlike kumihimo disks,

Kumihimo Marudai

marudais have no indication of where the thread should be placed; it is done freehand. To create the tension required for the rope to form, wooden bobbins called tama are rolled on the strands of threads, and a bag of counterweights is placed at the base knot of these threads, where the rope begins. The tama are often filled with lead or other heavy metals.

Kumihimo Necklace

Kumihimo has seen a new re-birth with the recent addition to beads, transforming the mostly functional art to a more decorative role in Jewelry.


To see more examples of kumihimo jewelry, visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy page here.



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Valentines Day - When Did All This Gift Giving Begin, Anyway?!!

Everyone is aware of the religious aspect of Valentines day but it was not until the 14th century that this Christian feast day became definitively associated with love. According to UCLA medieval scholar Henry Ansgar Kelly, author of Chaucer and the Cult of Saint Valentine, it was Chaucer who first linked St. Valentine's Day with romance.

In 1381, Chaucer composed a poem in honor of the engagement between England's Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. As was the poetic tradition, Chaucer associated the occasion with a feast day. In "The Parliament of Fowls," the royal engagement, the mating season of birds, and St. Valentine's Day are linked:

'For this was on St. Valentine's Day, 

When every fowl cometh there to choose his mate.'

Over the centuries, the holiday evolved, and by the 18th century, gift-giving and exchanging handmade cards on Valentine's Day had become common in England. Hand-made valentine cards made of lace, ribbons, and featuring cupids and hearts eventually spread to the American colonies. The tradition of Valentine's cards did not become widespread in the United States, however, until the 1850s, when Esther A. Howland, a Mount Holyoke graduate and native of Worcester, Mass., began mass-producing them. 

Cherry Blossom Bracelet and matching earrings

Today, of course, the holiday has become a booming commercial success. Still have not found that 'perfect' way to say I love you? Visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy page to see some of our beautiful and affordable jewelry. 
Express shipping is available and remember that even if you do not have a 'significant' other, there are plenty of special people that should be remembered on this day, such as teachers, mentors, or even that barista that remembers your Choca-Mochalata-Double-Shot-Latte before you even make it to the counter!

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Source: http://www.infoplease.com

12 Weeks Of Letter Writing Challenge - Week 3

Today's post is participating in the 12 Weeks Of Letter Writing Challenge that I was invited to by Mrs. Dash Say's....blog here.

This weeks letter is to my favorite aunts,

Dear Aunt Margaret and Aunt Doris,

You both have been major influences in my life while growing up. I remember when I was very young, going to visit you aunt Margaret when you would winter in south Florida. We would drive up to Ft Lauderdale from Miami to spend every Easter with you. We would spend the morning at your pool or the beach collecting shells, then come upstairs to your

Lil Miss Queen E

condo to change for an early 'dinner'. Your place settings were always a marvel to me with your beautiful bone china and your Waterford crystal glasses, and the piece de resistance was the chocolate Godiva bunnies gracing every place setting! My holiday tables are dressed similarly because of you. Afterwards, the adults would retire to the 'den' to watch football and have 'highball's and I would wander around the apartment, eventually ending up in your closet, where I would find the most beautiful furs, wigs, Jackie-O sunglasses and silver high heels and matching purses. I would dress up in these and prance around feeling much like Queen E at royal events! 
You passed away on Christmas Day seven years ago, and I was so glad that I had visited you not too long before and had spoken to you a few months earlier. It was truly a sad day for me. 

Aunt Doris still kickin' it at 94

The memories of aunt Doris are equally fond if not quite as extravagant. These comprised of yearly visits to the Jersey Shore in my early teens with my dad. We would visit the tiny garage apartment you rented for a millennium and we would sit on a bench on the front stoop and you would tell me about your garden or the upstairs neighbors cats. I would marvel at the fact that you never had a car and that you could walk to the store to buy your groceries and to the library were you worked for so many years. You always had great stories about the family history and you remembered EVERYTHING, from first loves, birth and wedding dates, to the different churches that the family attended throughout the years, and you always had the kindest smile and a nice word to say about everyone. And how we loved the beach! We would sit for hours by the shore listening to the waves crash and I would always fall asleep. You would exclaim, "Its the good sea air! It relaxes you!". I drove the kids up to meet you last year as you are well into your nineties and I wanted them to get to know you, and you them. I do hope we have a little more time with you! 
I love you both - Lisa

As you can see, both of these ladies inspired my love for the beach. Come and see some of my ocean inspired and sea glass jewelry on Handmade Jewelry's Etsy page here.

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A Sea Glass Origin - Story #2

Round and round. Round and round. Spinning continuously until, at last, the life giving breath was given and it was born. Shaped narrowly near the top in order to help keep the bubbles from escaping, getting gradually wider towards the middle, continuing straight

down to the bottom to hold the required pint of golden liquid. The bottle was formed and shipped to the brewery where it was filled with the finest of brews. Along with its many brown brothers, the bottle of ale traveled by truck to one of many pubs along the route and was eventually dropped off. Stored in a cool cellar, the bottle did not have to wait long to fulfill its purpose. Brought up by the bar maid, and perched in front of a burly man who had worked tirelessly at the docks for the previous twelve hours carting trunks from the train to the many different ships that were in port. The porter was tired and glad to sit down to have his customary drink before heading home to the hot meal his wife would have waiting for him.

After the man left, the bottle was collected and washed, to be refilled from the tap that endlessly poured golden life from it, for, it seemed to the brown bottle, that every time someone would drink the ale, they would seem revived from the long day. People grew animated and talkative. The bottle marveled at the transformation and was so proud of his part in it all. He was a vessel of rejuvenation it seemed. 
Days and nights passed with the usual routine of filling, drinking, washing, and refilling. Of countless stories from people and objects of far off lands. Of different languages and strange clothing. Everything from the most casual of handling to pour the liquid into a glass to the firm grip of a sailors rough calloused hands worn thick by shipboard work. 
On his final day, the talk grew loud. Louder it got and he was picked up and slammed down by the angry man with such force that he shattered into many broken pieces. 
That night the bar maid, who was the first in the pub to introduce him to his first patron, swept him up and into a pail with so much other refuse, hauled him outside and pitched him over the bulkhead and into the cold water of the harbor.
For years the glass swept in and out with the tide. Over time being buried in the silt until it could no longer see the distant glint of the sun during the day.
Much time passed. New, and bigger ships were built and the harbor needed to be dredged to make it deeper for these new ocean going vessels. The dredging machine sucked the last remaining shard up and out into the churning water. It finally came to rest on the harbor floor near the moored boats. After a time a diver, who was hired to scrape the barnacles off of the keel of one of the boats, noticed something shiny glint on the dark sea bottom. He dove straight down and quickly collected it and shoved it in his rubber suit for later examination, as he wasn't paid to scavenge off the ocean floor. 

After his work day was at an end, he quickly rinsed and dried off and dressed into clean cloths and went to the tavern to have a drink or two with his buddies. Tonight there was a new waitress and she was the prettiest thing he had ever seen. He remembered his shiny treasure from the sea bottom and pulled it out of his pocket along with some spare wire that he had left over from rewiring a switch earlier in the day. As he sat at the bar he thoughtfully wrapped the shard of glass in the wire, carefully allowing enough to make a bale at the top so that it could dangle freely from a chain. He waited until the bar closed and offered to walk the pretty waitress home and just before he left her, he presented her with his creation. 
She was just as smitten as he.

Come and see a seaglass creation on Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy site here.

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Chinese New Year - The Year Of The Rooster

Chinese New Year is a time of celebration in many Asian cultures. The new year has begun

Lucky Panda Lampwork Beaded Bracelet

and will last until Feb 15th, 2017. The new year, also known as the Spring Festival is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year. 

Symbolism, especially in jewelry plays a large part in the Asian culture. For example, shown on this lampwork beaded charm bracelet are 'lucky coins'. The square inside a circle means the harmony of earth and heaven. The humans carry the heaven and earth and the whole three elements go together to create a 'lucky aura' that brings wealth and money. 

Lucky Panda Lampwork Beaded Earrings

Are you, or someone you know in need of some 'lucky aura'? You can find this beautiful bracelet and matching earrings on Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy site here.

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12 Weeks of Letter Writing Challenge - Week 2

Today's post is participating in the 12 Weeks Of Letter Writing Challenge that I was invited to by Mrs. Dash Say's....blog here.

This weeks letter is to mom and dad,

Dear Mom and Dad,

This letter will be a little hard to write as you both have passed on...and so you probably will read this in heaven.
I miss you both greatly and am so often reminded of you both in so many ways.
Mom, this past weekend I reconnected with Chuck Thornell and his wife Kathy after 25 years! When he heard my voice on the phone he said I sounded just like you, and I suppose I do. Sometimes when I laugh, I hear your voice come out of my mouth. Kinda weird, I know...but I do. Sometimes I wish you were here so that I could ask you about things like going though 'the change'...as I am now, and don't know if the many things I am feeling and experiencing are 'normal' or not. I try to read things on Google or books...but everything is just so vague. You probably wouldn't have been able to tell me as your dementia was so pronounced at the end. But I miss your smile and your positive attitude and your quickness to laugh at every situation.
We also talked about you dad. As always...no one has anything but praise for you.
One of my only regrets is that you did not teach me to read a chart and plot a course.
That would have been something cool to learn from the best boatman in the world! You instilled my love of the sea and were my anchor and I couldn't have asked for a better father.

You both are probably the reason I love going to the beach and looking for seaglass!

Anyway...I will wrap this up with one of the only (if not the only) pictures I have of you two together. I reminds me of what a great time I had seeing snow for the first time.
I love you.

Dad, mom and me circa 1974

To see some of my ocean themed jewelry, come visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy page!

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(Almost) Friday Fictioneers - The Broker

She was furious! Seething mad actually. The shipment was late again! Why couldn't he ever get his act together and just get the crates where they were supposed to be, WHEN they

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

were supposed to be there? She was going to catch hell with the buyers again. Oh where was he??! She paced back and forth in front if the window, watching...waiting for the truck. The old matrons would lament, 'The jewels! The jewels! What shall we wear now? The old ones just won't do! The old ones just won't do!! No...No...they won't!

A big thank you to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers and to Roger Bultot for the picture!


Please visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy shop to see some of the Jewelry that DID make it!

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Kumihimo - Learning Something New

So back in November, some of you will remember, that I drove over to the west coast of Florida with my kids to visit relatives for Thanksgiving. It was a great trip, we got to see people that we haven't seen for awhile and do some things we love to do in new places (shelling and glassing). One of the people we got to see was my aunt Judith. She is my aunt by marriage, my uncle Bob passing a few years ago, and she is just an amazingly creative woman. Ever since I have known her she is 'into' one thing or another. I remember one visit she was into sewing these, literally, award winning quilts. She would make these amazing quilted clothing pieces that had a decidedly Asian quality about them. Her and my uncle used to travel a lot to Japan for business, and he used to live in Japan for many years, so he had an affinity for everything Asian. Anyway...after that visit I, totally on impulse, I went right out and bought a book on quilting intending to jump right in and create these beautiful heirloom quilts that I would give to family members for years to come. Well...if any of you have known me for any length of time, you will know that I have an absolute love-hate relationship with my sewing machine. I can barely hem a pair of pants without the bottom thread getting all bunched up - which you can't tell has happened until either, A: The fabric jams in your machine or B: You take out what you think is a beautiful piece of hemmery (I know that is not a word - cut me some slack here!) only to find this jumbled mess of bunched up thread underneath. Anyway...long story short, quilting never became part of my world.

So fast forward many years, to this Thanksgiving, and we have driven aunt J back to her 

place of residence in Naples, and we are having a nice lunch with her before we drive the last leg back to the east coast and I am just DROOLING over her necklace. I compliment

Kumihimo Bobbins

her on it and am just floored when she tells me that she MADE it! My daughter and I were just stunned! So in the middle of this...she blurts out this funny word...(and I am really praying that she never reads this blog post). Well Bella and I just kind of glance at each other like what did she just say?? See, Aunt J is not from the US, and she has this really strong British accent, plus she just naturally speaks very low. Well...we both just smiled and nodded and life went on.
Some weeks after we got home I was still thinking about that necklace and started googling and low and behold...KUMIHIMO was introduced into my world! Then it dawned on me!! THAT is what Aunt J blurted out! Kumihimo! Now...for those of you that don't know, Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braiding. Cords and ribbons are made by interlacing strands, of thread, and very recently, by adding beads to make very decorative pieces of Jewelry.

Kumihimo Beaded Necklace

 Kumi himo is Japanese for 'gathered threads'. So, I watched a couple of YouTube videos and bought all the stuff and went to work. Now THIS was something I could get into! I LOVE it. Talk about a stress reliever! And now I have something to compliment my sea glass pieces that I am wire wrapping! So, if you are wondering what is happening at our household on Tuesday and Thursdays, you can bet that Bella and I are weaving to our hearts content. Be sure to 'Favorite' my Etsy store at Handmade Jewelry Haven so you won't miss these upcoming treasures! 

Kumihimo is fun!

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