Show and Tell Monday

Well, I finally feel like its time to get back to business. For the last three months I have been so busy with selling my house and moving and getting ready for the Make Mine PInk Retreat. I am all settled in my apt. and happy as can be. The retreat has been a week ago. I just dont know why time goes soooo fast. I had the best time ever. Now its time to take what I learned and put it into practice. I have had so many good ideas and I have already started working on them. I have added a couple catagories to my website and have been adding new items. So check it out if you get a minute. http://www.gailfrienddesigns.com/ Also I had a few pieces of jewelry published in a publication called Jewelry Creations and its finally hit the stands. I am over the top happy with it. Magazines are done so far in advance and when I submitted these I didnt have a website yet, but I am hoping it will still be good exposure.

I have decided to do some really small, but sparkly earrings. I have called them fairey sparkles. They are perfect if you prefer a smaller earring. I made this dragonfly neclace today. This crown necklace was something I came up with for the business recognition display I did. These are now on my website. And last but not least my magazine post. You all have a great and creative day. Until next time..........gail

Pink Friday ~ A stitch in time

Wow, its Pink Friday time. Our theme this week is a stitch in time. So many of the Make Mine Pink Boutiques will have beautiful items for this theme. By clicking onto this link, www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday you will have one stop, convenient shopping to all of this weeks participating boutiques. But hurry, its one day only. This Friday, the 25th.

Williamsburg VA ~~ Part two

I just wanted to post a few more pictures of my fabulous weekend at the Make Mine Pink Retreat. I just cant say enough times how much fun, inspiration, and information this weekend was. Plus these women are very good friends. As the year goes on I will post about next years retreat and I hope you can join us!

The first picture is a teddy bear I made for Joyce Lucas, the founder of MMP. I posted a partial picture hinting a few posts ago. LOL Its made from a Make Mine PInk Tshirt. I loved these pumpkins that were painted pink for out table centerpieces at dinner. Too cute! During the retreat we had a business recognition award compititon. I only got a few good pictures, but I would love to post a few examples of the talent in this room!!! These ladies, and everyone else went above and beyond for this compition. First is my friend Carolyn of http://www.theoddsparrow.com/. Her pink pinecones are scented with a peppermint and white chocolate..absolutely delicious! Then is Janet with her adorable pillows. You can find her at http://www.janetscreativepillows.com/ and then there is our cute little Michelle. This was a stunning display. She really outdid herself. You can find her at http://www.rosepetalsandblooms.com/ I hope you enjoyed a little trip to Williamsburg with me.....Until next time...gail

Williamsburg VA Squirrel

I have just returned from the Make Mine Pink Conference in Williamsburg VA. It was the most fantastic trip I have made in a long time. The speakers were awesome and we took away so much useful information for our business. The food was excellent and there was ALOT of it. Especially the chocolate. I got to visit old friends and make lots of new ones. This event is life changing and I would encourage anyone to consider this event next year.

We got in Williamsburg on Friday with a few hours to look around. We went to Colonial Williamsburg. Now keep in mind, I am from the Southwest. The Desert. The green and all of the history was mind boggeling to me. Something else we dont have in the desert are squirrels. Every time I go somewhere and I see them, I am facinated. I think they are the cutest things ever. They always seem happy and they are always running around and they look like they are having fun. Now, the people I am with find this odd. From what I understand they find squirrels kind of a pest. They really cant figure out why I chase them around with my camera to take there picture. Everytime someone sees my vacation pictures, someone always says "why did you take so many pictures of the squirrels.?" So ya all can think I am a little off, but I like this little guy!

Next are a few pictures from my display that I entered in the Business Recognition Award compition. The entries were beautiful. The compition was very stiff and the winner was Eileen of Forget me not Dreams. Her display was just so pretty and inspirational. Everyone did a great job and they were so professional. I plan on having a few posts this week, so stop back by. So until next time.......gail

Show and Tell is for the birds and the bees...

Well, this is the week so many of us has been waiting for! This friday is the Make Mine Pink Retreat in Williamsburg VA. I have been working really hard to get ready for this event. I have entered the Business Recognition Award compitition. I am as ready as I ever will be. This will be a great experience and the winner is going to be one lucky and talented lady. I am really, really looking forward to seeing my pink friends again and meet all the new members who will be going. The speakers are going to be a huge influence on my business. The food will be awesome and there will be a ton of chocolate! Next week I will have awesome photos and stories for sure.

This week I have been inspired by birds. Just a couple new pieces. Next is my plane ticket and the required box of chocolates to enter the hospitality suite for the party. LOL Alot of people are bringing pretty fancy chocolates, I love Russell Stover anyway :) Hey they are lucky I am not bring hersheys. (my other favorite) And finally a glimpse of a suprise I have been working on. I promise to show the whole thing next week..... So until next time........gail

The Autumn Home for Pink Friday

This week for the Pink Friday theme its Autumn Home. I am so happy that its soon going to be fall. Living in the desert its always so welcome. By August you just cant stand it anymore of being 115 degrees. For that reason (and my birthday being in Oct.) Fall is my favorite season. I love the colors of fall. I love Halloween and helping the grandkids come up with there costumes. From October until the end of the year its all about celebrating and being with friends and family and not burning your hands everytime you try and get in the car! :)

You dont want to miss our weekly shopping event at Make Mine Pink. All of the participating members will be offering all kinds of wonderful products for your fall decorating and entertaining. From wreaths, candles, vintage tableware and linens. And its only for one day only. So dont miss out: go to www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday on this Friday the 12th and enjoy all of the beautiful things with convenient one stop shopping.... Until next time.............gail

Happy Monday ~ anyone showing and telling?

Hi everyone... I have been soooo busy and I have been able to get so much done. I cant post alot of it just yet because its for the Make Mine Pink Business Recognition Compition and it top secret. (sshhh :) ) Creatively I had been a little stuck,but this has been an awesome week. It was just clicking and I am pretty happy with everything. I havent done too much else, just in the zone and I like it there. LOL

The first thing I am posting is this little babyshoe pincushion I made. I have seen these pop up once in awhile, but I thought they were so cute, I just wanted to try one. Next is a necklace I made using one of Cindy Houot's ceramic roses. I love here roses for my jewelry.http://www.angelheartdesigns.com/. The next things are a little different for me, but I like to mix it up sometimes. These are my pirate girl earrings. Its a carved bone bead. If nothing else, halloween is just around the corner. These next earrings are holding the planet in your hands, the sun and oceans, its up to each of us! The last thing is a simple necklace, but has an elegance to it also. So thats what I have for you this week. I will have alot of new stuff to show in a couple weeks and tons to add to my website. So keep posted. Until next time........gail

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Happy Labor Day ~~ show and tell holiday edition

I hope everyone has Labor Day off and will enjoy a nice relaxing, peaceful and creative day. I have off too. I dont get alot of the holidays off, we save them for Christmas and get two weeks off paid. So that works great for us. We like that arrangement in my office. Its a small place and there is only 4 of us.

I have been hard at work and have completed quite a few pieces but I am saving them for the most part for the Make Mine Pink Retreat business compition I am entering. But I will share one bracelet I made. This flower and two cala lilys are frosted glass and so pretty. I love the button for the closure. Next is something very special that I thought was lost. This is a box of old quilt patterns my Grandmother cut out of the Kansas City Star Newspaper and they are dated from 1936 to 1951. The paper is in incredibly good condition. The old box she had them stored in says 5th Avenue and a jewelry store name. Makes me wonder??? I thought I lost these when my apartment burned down a few years back. I lost most everything but every once in a while something surfaces and I was thrilled to have these back. The next thing I found in the same box is the collection of sea shells. I have gotten these on trips to my favorite place of all : Morro Bay California. There is a store on the embarcadaro called The Shell Shop, appropriate enough. I have made mermaid dolls and teddy bears in the past and I have bought these very specialy picked out shells to use for mermaids. I am very excited to make some more now that these really pretty shells have been found again. (one of my mermaid teddys is on the right side bar if you scroll down a little.) So look for some fancy sea gals and bears later this year,,,after the retreat. lol If you ever get the chance to go to Morro Bay, I would highly recommend this trip. Its a small fishing village and for the most part hasnt changed too much since I was a child. Just up the coast is the Hearst Castle, the beautiful drive up HWY 1 , Big Sur, Carmel and Monterey. You can have Southern California, this is beautiful country. Well, have a wonderful day, until next time........................

A few of my favorite things ~ Pink Friday

Hi everyone, I hope ya all are doing great this week. I have been getting some much needed rest and actually back in the studio designing. Of course the fur kids are really trying so hard to help. (NOT) Its nice to settle back into life. And life is great when Make Mine Pink has Pink Fridays. If your not familiar, each friday is a different themed day at the members online stores. Its one stop shopping that is easy and lots of fun. When you go to www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday you will have a direct link to each participating boutique. This weeks them is "A few of my favorite things." So there will be alot of variety. Dont miss out, its one day only. Until next time..... gail

Hi, Show and Tell,,, I have alot to show~~lol

Hi everyone,,, ok I am over the top excited to be done with all of my moving. Every last thing is unpacked, put away and hung up. Now I can finally get busy on my website again. I am really looking forward to that. Please be patient with me,, I have alot of pictures of my new place. I will be by to visit you all during the day. I cant wait to see what you have been up to.

OK, first is Monkey Man playing like ET. Then a corner of my living room. Next is my office/studio. There is a chest that I wanted to put in the closet and it didnt fit so I bought a Shabby Chic shower curtain at Target and made a cover for it and the window valance. This is my work table, and my vision board. Next my favorite things I own,, my books, the dining room and cupcakes from the kitchen. Then a couple photos of my bedroom. Thanks for indulging me. I will talk with you all later.........until then,,,,

Finally I have a show and tell monday!

As I have mentioned, I have been moving and its been a really long and drawn out move. I think its just that I am not as young as I used to be. LOL One time I moved, had two small kids, completely unpacked, hung pictures on the wall AND hung wall paper all on the day I moved in. I have no idea how I ever did that! I feel like this is never going to get done. My boyfriend Jeff has been so much help though. Thanks honey.

So I have a couple pictures to post of the new place. My bedroom and my studio are not anywhere near done, but these rooms are. Its my living room and dining room, and the wall across the whole living room and dining room is all window, and I have a great view.Very private and green with trees. Ya dont get that too much in AZ. lol

I hope to have more jewelry to post next week and add to my website. I am looking so forward to creating and getting down to business again. I have missed it so much. I am looking forward to visiting all of your blogs during the day!!!! Until next time....

Moving Day and Join me at the Make Mine Pink Retreat

Hi everyone, its been crazy as heck around here. And to top it off i got food poisoning this week. I am finally back with the living again. Tomorrow I get the keys to my new place. Its very bittersweet. I am looking so forward to getting this move over and getting my new studio set up so I can get to work on all of my new ideas! BUT its like 110 degress and high humidity, so I just dreat it too. So I am not too sure how long before the cable company will have me up and running. I dont know if the bedroom that will be my studio is wired for internet yet, so I may be away for a few days. But come back and check. I plan on having a blog give away to celebrate!!!

I also want you all to know about the Make Mine Pink Retreat that is being held in Colonial Williamsburg VA on Sept 19, 20. If you own your own business online or brick or mortar or are thinking of starting a business this will be a great oppurtunity! Its in a beautiful setting. The speakers are fabulous and the food is to die for!! We are going to have lots of fun and contest with fabulous prizes too. This is just a perfect event to jump start your business. For all of the information go to http://www.makeminepink.com/ and in the top right corner of the page is a tab labled MMP Retreat. Check it out.