Mini Fridge Magnet Frames - Display your Favourite Picture to the Fridge

I'm always looking for new ideas; trying to combine practicality with aesthetics.  I don't know about you, but I seem to use the refrigerator as a magnetic board where I post my messages, appointments, kid's drawings, pictures of the dog and such.  That's how I came up with the idea the "Mini Fridge Magnet Frames."  They serve a duel purpose:  use as a magnet to hold your appointment note while displaying the cute little picture of your grandson, grand-daughter, dog, your hubby (oops!  I shouldn't have put dog before hubby... lol), or whatever cute little picture you want to see every day while working in your kitchen.  

These cute little frames are 2" square and have a protective, plastic pocket for your picture.  All you do is slide your picture under the protective pocket and add to your magnet collection on the fridge - there you have it:  a beautiful display, a work of art arranged and organized on the door of your refrigerator... They make the cutest hostess gift.  Click here for more info.  Don't forget to check out my Treasure Hunt Sale- Read about it in my Announcements -

Treasure Hunt Sale of the Day in my BaySupplies Store

I decided to extend my Treasure Hunt Sale of the Day to my BaySupplies Etsy Shop as well as my Bayside Wire Designs Shop.  Save up to 40% off in my Bayside Wire Designs Shop and save up to 20% my Bay Supplies Shop.  It's well worth the time to check out my great Treasure Hunt Sale on Etsy.  Go to my announcements to read all about it.  Here are some items you can start with from my baysupplies shop and my baysidewiredesigns shop:

Save up to 40 Percent with Sale of the Day Treasure Hunt in Each of my Categories

This is an exciting sale - Almost like a treasure hunt for sales.  That's right, in each one of my shop's categories I will have a "Sale of the Day" item with a special savings of up to 40% regular price.  This special sale of the day may also be combined with the extra savings of coupon code in the announcements of my store.  Plus you get to save shipping on most of my small items such as jewelry.  Remember, you need to search through the categories in order to find the special sale of the day in each category:  Women's jewellery; men's jewellery; Photography / Art; Vintage Home Decor; Glass n Recycled Bottles; Wind Chimes / Sun Catchers; Buttons.  To start you off, here is one of the items included in the "sale of the day":  beautiful 14k gold filled, wire wrapped cameo pendant.  It's quite intricate and has lots of gold filled wire on it.  Remember that gold-filled is not gold plate and is therefore very, very durable and will not wear off like gold plate usually does. Please read the information, about gold filled, below:

About 14K gold-filled:

Heat and pressure bonding a layer of gold to brass make 14K Gold Filled or “Rolled Gold”. Unlike Electroplated, Gold Filled will NOT wear off. Electroplating has only a microscopic layer of gold compared to that actual LAYER of gold in Gold Filled (100 times more gold in 14k gold-filled than electroplate and will not wear off).

Basically, gold-filled wire is a good metal for a good price. I know of old wire jewelry pieces in which several have actual dates on them. Gold-filled jewelry can really stand the test of time. In fact, I’m so sure of the product that I’m offering a Lifetime Warranty on tarnish (under normal use, of course), or I’ll replace your piece FREE.


Go to my etsy store to see more variety of unique silver and gold jewelry such as earrings, rings, necklaces, pendants, cuff links, anklets.  

Featured Item of the Day!! Sale Glass Vase Candy Dish or Votive Holder

I decided to have a "featured item of the day" sale and I started it all off with this beautiful, metallic, rainbow coloured vase, candy dish, votive holder.  It's hard to believe it's glass because at first glance it really looks more like raku or pottery.  This item is signed and dated by me.  It's an item that is both suitable for a man or woman.  This beautiful piece is both beautiful and versatile.  You may use it for candies, for flowers (it can hold water), use it for a candle, a tea light or a votive or just let it stand all on its own; it's completely up to you.

Click here for more info on this great piece of unique, handmade glass work or see more glass works here.

Recycled Bottle Glass Picture Frames Green

A few years ago, in an attempt to recycle wine bottle glass, I came up with the idea of making various glass home decor items with the discarded, bottle glass.  I came up with a few designs that really turned out quite nice and I think you will enjoy it as well.  I sell these particular picture frames mostly as gifts for those who appreciate everything handmade and for those who appreciate wine as well.  

Each frame is a labour of love.  With much patience I must assemble each piece together as a jigsaw puzzle and fuse them at  a very high temperature in order for them to become one solid piece.  These picture frames are my unique creation.  They're classy and elegant and they make great gifts for him or her.  Click here for more information.  

Handmade Jewelry for the Hair

As a jewelry designer we often focus on whatever is normally classified as your typical jewelry, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and anklets.  But if we step back for a moment and look outside the box, there is another facet of jewelry making that can be explored, such as hair accessories and tiaras.  We don't always think about hair accessories as being jewelry, but it is.  In fact, hair accessories may be made with the same materials as jewelry designs are made up of:  pearls, gemstones, precious metals like silver and gold.  There is no end to what beautiful hair jewelry you can design.

I've done just that with the hair barrette below.  I used thick .925 sterling silver wire and after forming and hammering and adding gemstone beads to create this sterling silver hair vine accessory.  The gemstones are petrified wood with red sponge coral.  It's a beautiful hair accessory.  Great gift for a lady with long, thick locks. For more information, please click here.

Handmade Fused Glass Napkin Rings Set of Four

My first love, a part from my husband, is by far jewelry making, but I have come very fond of glass work as well.  In some instances, I'm not too sure which I prefer.  It fascinates me to see the changes that happen when glass is introduced to high heat.  Although my goal is to one day learn more about blowing glass, fusing glass is a wonderful introduction to me becoming better acquainted with its properties.  Working with glass can be very tricky and your piece easily ruined if you don't know what you're doing.

The technique used for making the napkin rings below, is quite interesting.  It's actually made in different steps with multiple fusings in the kiln.  The brown decorative part is made separate and then added to the main ring.  In order to make the napkin ring rounded, I needed to work in the kiln with heat resistant gloves and special a special tool to form the strip of glass; let me tell you it's quite intimidating at first.  How often does one stick their hands in a heated kiln??  It is a long process.  I can only work on one ring at a time, because each ring needs to be at a certain temperature, which I need to hold, before forming (curving it) and then, each individual ring needs to sit in the kiln, with the cover, to gradually bring down the temperature up to the cooling time.  I do admit, it is quite a feat, but it's so worth it in the end, don't you think?

This beautiful set of four shiny napkin rings in warm tones of green and light brown are very classy and would make anyone receiving them happy as can be. Absolutely lovely for the person who loves to entertain!!  Click here for more info- 

Decorating my Guest Room

Finally, I'm just about finished emptying out my "Cat-astrophy" room (that was the name given to one of my work rooms.)  The room was originally my son's room, and I haven't painted it since he left a few years ago.

This year, in between my business and my life, I've succeeded to gain control over certain aspects of my life, such as my arts and crafts rooms which were just way out of control; they were taking over my house...  It has taken me a few months, but little by little it's all coming together.  I must say, it's so refreshing to have almost everything neat and tidy again.  I often asked myself: how did this happen?  I was the type of person that couldn't stand a cushion to be out of place... Never let your business take control of your life - that's all I have to say.  Take control and with discipline keep it in subjection.

Anyway, we decided (hubby and me), that it would be lovely to have a nice, cozy guest room, because we love to have people over. I'm very excited about designing the whole thing from scratch.  I've chosen the paint colour which is just gorgeous:  Colonial Aqua. I've added a colour swap for you to see - Isn't it beautiful??

 I want to give the walls an antique / Tuscan feel by lightly adding joint compound all over with a trowel before  adding the primer and then finish with the Colonial Aqua.  I'm beginning tonight and I will keep you posted as to my progress.  I will add pictures of the end product.  As of now, the room is dark kidney bean colour... it'll be quite a change!!

Full Moon Photograph - Supermoon of March 2011

Do you remember that night?  The night where everyone was in expectation because something special would be in effect; something we would have the privilege of witnessing only a few times in our lifetime.  Do you remember now?  No.  It wasn't an eclipse, and no, it wasn't a flying saucer...  It was when our beautiful luminary, our moon would be a "Supermoon" as astrologer Richard Nolle coined it.

Interesting facts about that particular night of March 19th, 2011:  Usually, the moon passes by the earth every orbital cycle at a distance of 364,397 km, but on that night of March 19th, the moon was much closer at a distance of 356,577 making the moon appear much larger and brighter in the sky.

Being from Eastern Canada, I had anxiously watched as it slowly, but steadily climbed up over the horizon,  as if a giant lampadary, illuminating everything for miles.

The first thing I did was gather up my camera gear and tripod and headed for the back yard.  After setting everything up, I was able to capture one of nature's incredible phenomenons, both beautiful and awe inspiring!!  I've decided to share this beautiful photograph with you.  Please click here for more details.

Great Memories from our Newfoundland Trip!

Last year, we had the awesome privilege of visiting Newfoundland- It was the most fascinating trip of my life!!  The rugged terrain varied from one end of the island to the other.  Although we did not get to make it to St-Anthony because there were no icebergs at that time (weather was too warm), we did get to see Gros Morne which was breathtakingly beautiful!  A drive definitely worth our while!

With my brother and his family, who have been living in Newfoundland for over six years now, we walked on the main streets of down town St-John's, which was cold, even at the end of June.  It was interesting to have the down town life to one side and the ships in the harbour on the other; in a distance we could see "Signal Hill" reminding us of St-John's rich history.

My brother and me were walking side by side with our cameras strapped around our necks and our gear firmly attached to our bodies and held our cameras at all time ready to shoot that one shot we would boast about later. Being a newbie, I didn't really know what I was doing.  Nevertheless, I think I got some really nice shots and this particular one is from a bronze sculpture representing different facets of the arts.  I photographed two of the representations, and this is one of them:  The Violinist-  I love this picture!!  It's a wonderful interpretation of classical music!!  This is a perfect gift for any classical music lover!!    Go to my Etsy Shop to see more of my photographs.  As of now, I'm offering 10% off my entire store with coupon code: BAYSAVE10 at checkout.  Click here to go to my store.