Icy Winter Bracelet

Happy New Year!

I will be sporting this Icy bracelet tonight at a New Year's Eve Dinner with dear friends.

It's wintery and sparkly and goes with festive clothes.

I made it using up some of my crystal pearl stash

along with some shiny sterling silver findings.

I like the look of multi-strand bracelets-
you can see one I made and wrote about last week here.

but I also like them to be "modular"

This one is made of three seperate bracelets 

so I can mix and match them.

First there are Snowballs....

Then Simple Small Pearls...

And finally Alternating Silver and Pearls...

Put them together like this and you get a nice set of stacked bracelets.

Or add a chunky silver bracelet to make a "STATEMENT"!

  This is my favorite combination...

Of course, I added a big, fat pearl charm because I like dangly things too.

I must take after my Darling Daughter, because she says "Sparkly" is her favorite color!

Linking to:

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
A Crafty Soiree at Katie's Nesting Spot
Blog Hop at Adorned From Above
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage
Think Tank Thursday at Joyful Homemaking
Creative Things Thursday at Vintage Farmhouse
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits at Stone Gable
Wildly Original Extravaganza at I Gotta Create
Fabulously Creative Friday Link Party at Jennifer Rizzo
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest
Monday Funday at Uncommon Designs

A Festive Bracelet

What looks like another one of my posts 

about colorful Christmas ornaments-

but isn't?

This post about my festive bracelet!

I've been making jewelry for years

and I have an embarrassingly large stash of beads.

This was a great project for using some of them up.

I made this bracelet using freshwater pearls, crystal pearls, 

"Liquid Silver" and Sterling Silver findings.

Lots of great colors that go with everything...

The "Liquid Silver" is really made of tiny, fluted silver tubes 

that look like a chain when they are strung together.

There are five different strands that are entwined together 

to make it full and a bit whimsical.

Here you can see the oxidized sterling toggle clasp I used 

and the dangly pearl charm I added because, 

well, more is more....

I've made this bracelet in several different color ways, 

and I'll show you more of them soon.

I made a snowy white pearl version that's just right for New Years Eve!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. 

Linking to:

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Christkindlmarket Chicago 2012

My Book Club met last week 

for a visit to the Christkindlmarket in Chicago

and then dinner at nearby Trattoria 10.

It was a sparkly, festive affair on a crisp December evening.

We went to the market first, 

while my friends waited patiently for me to take way too many photos 

of the shiny ornaments in the tiny shops.

I have never seen so many wonderful ornaments in one place, 

and the quality and variety were truly dazzling.

I have a serious thing for colorful glass ornaments that you can read about here.

Or about my insistance on colored lights at Christmas time here.

For me, the Christkindlmarket was a little bit of heaven.

Here's a peek at what we saw.

Bountiful displays of ornaments in every color imaginable.

Hearts, hearts and more hearts.

Christmas Trees 

and pinecones in every color.

Snowy and silvery and woodsy.

Gingerbread boys and girls...

And traditional storybook boys and girls.

Their faces are so beautiful.

Icicles in every color

Including Emerald Green, 

the Pantone Color Institute Color of the Year for 2013.

Gorgeous!

Elegant winter blue icicles.

Rainbow Icicles.

Even Santa Icicles.

Old fashioned "Reflector" Ornaments 

in Gold

And rainbow colors.

These purple ones were so rich and saturated with color.

I think Mr. Grand would like this fish ornament-

he loves to fish.

And my friend Gail would love these Seahorses in tropical brights.

Or better yet, these flipflops...

You might remember our friends Angie and Matt from my Harvest in the Heartland Post.

They would like these corn-o-ments.

And my friend Alice might like this Prosecco ornament. 

We both enjoy a nice cold glass of Prosecco.  

You can read about that in my post about our Italian adventure.

There were flags and boots and bells, in red, white and blue.

Santas everywhere. 

 Rows and rows of every Santa imaginable.

What is with these Santa hats?

These guys sure look like fun!

We should have had them join us for dinner... 

I kept this dark to protect the innocent...

I love these lovely ladies!

Book Club plus Field Trip =

Delightful Evening!

Linking to:

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill
Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Grand Christmas Housewalk 2012

Here's a little peek at some of our Christmas decorations...

Jennifer Rizzo, a fellow Chicago area Blogger

 is hosting a Christmas Housewalk

 and I wanted to join in on the fun...

The outside decorations were done last week, 

thanks to Mr. Grand.

Here are a few shots from that post.

Now, on to the Christmas Housewalk 2012.

Come on in!

The tree is up 

and covered with glass ornaments and garlands.

I posted about our tree last year-

 you can read about it here.

One of my favorite ornaments- a Christopher Radko Cupcake.

Looks good enough to eat!

In the living room, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care...
You know the rest.

Also, in the living room, the Christmas Tree Pin Pillow has been put on it's annual display...

In the dining room, I have kept the buffet simple because it's smallish 

and I need some space for serving!

On the table, a bowl full of colorful glass ornaments

and sparkly green trees.

 Well, that's what I was working on for a centerpiece 

until Mr. Grand came home and did some helpful editing...

Here is the simpler version-

Which do you like better?

On the porch, I put some red beaded cone trees on the buffet, 

with battery operated candles underneath.

I will be hosting dessert after a Christmas party this weekend

and I can use the remote to turn my candles on-

and you know how much I like my remote controlled candles!

 I love how you can see the outdoor lights from inside the porch.

 Who doesn't need a Santa Claus soap dispenser

in the powder room?

A must have....

Love my glass ornaments...

And my NOEL vases, a gift from my friend Kim at County Line Road.

Stop by her blog for some incredible visual treats!  

Merry Christmas!

Linking to 

Holiday Housewalk at Jennifer Rizzo
Tabletop Tuesdays at A Stroll Through Life
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage