Time sure flies when...

By Patti Vanderbloemen

you are busy!  Since my last post - over 3 weeks ago...sheesh...so much has been going on.  I spent a week in Florida - Captiva Island, to be specific.  Several of my family members rented a very nice, very large house that sat smack dab on the Gulf of Mexico.  If you are not familiar Captiva Island, it's located just west of Ft. Myers in Southern Florida.

Map Source

The house was beautiful, complete with requisite palm tress and grasses.

Front of the house, which had a very long secluded driveway

Back of the house, which faced the Gulf of Mexico.  It had a roof top deck too - way too hot for me!

It truly did not matter the time of day...the views were always spectacular!

Down in Florida - well every "vacation" spot I have been to where homes are rented - the houses have names.  The name of this house was appropriately named Paradise.  

Bird of Paradise - poolside!

As I have mentioned before, my folks lived in Florida - just south of Tampa - for 25 years, so I have been to the beaches before.  I will say this, the sand in St. Petersburg is "softer" and much, much whiter.  The sand in Sanibel/Captiva is actually quite rough.  Perhaps it is the abundance of sea shells!  The area is known for its amazing sea shells!  Amazingly, Gavin did not seem to mind the roughness of the sand!

 I, on the other hand, preferred this water...under the umbrella, of course!

As much as I despise the heat, it was very nice to spend extended time with my family.  I was the only one to return home with pasty white skin! :)

I have managed to make a few pieces of jewelry, and am especially smitten with silver bezel setting lately.  Each one I make gets a little bit easier than the last!

Druzy

Kingman Mine Turquoise

Love this one, too - an agate donut suspended in copper with NO solder! :)

I made this custom necklace for a friend - gorgeous pewter cross from Inviciti - and a hand wrapped, copper chain that took forever ... but it was worth it - I love it!  She must have changed her mind about purchasing, as it is still sitting in my shop.  Hopefully, someone else will claim it and give it some love!

More spinner bangles!  Gosh, these are a blast to make!!

In June of this year, I sent a bunch of jewelry to another horse rescue - B&C Equine.  She has sold quite a few pieces to her supporters right off of her Face Book page - yeah!  A few years ago, B&C Equine assisted Miracle Horse Rescue (MHR) in providing temporary food/shelter/etc. for two special horses acquired by MHR - Bradylynn and Pava.  Brenda took such good care of these ladies until their final transport to MHR.  I will be forever grateful for her efforts!  So this week, I am sending off a few more items with hopes that the proceeds will yield another bale or two of hay.

So - it has been a busy Summer and I am SO LOOKING FORWARD to Fall and Winter - my kinda weather! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today - enjoy your weekend!!

xo

Patti