Old African Carnelian

A new creation, I tried using a new material this time.  Rubber tubing!!!

I went through several design changes before I finally hit it just right!!!

It all started with this beautiful piece of Old African Carnelian I found at a local bead store. I used short pieces of Rubber Tubing wrapped around a Bone Ring and wound bronze wire around the ends. Then I added tiny little Natural Bone Beads, Turquoise Squares, Faceted Carnelian Nuggets and one of my favorite Antique Bronze Chains. It hangs nice and long which is also something I rarely do.

This necklace is listed in my Artfire Studio along with some wonderful Red Leaf Jasper earrings that go very nicely with it.

Old African Carnelian Necklace

Faceted Red Leaf Jasper Earrings

Thank you to my wonderful friend Memoree who has been kind enough to agree to do some modeling

 for me. So much easier to take photos of somebody else wearing jewelry.

Kristi
http://dreamsome.etsy.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

Thank you 2010

2010 was very good to me! Although I didn't even come close to my sales goals in just about every other way I couldn't be more excited about all the happenings in 2010!!! Long and lots of pictures, I hope you enjoy!

In no particular order...

I got a new Nikon DSLR camera for Christmas and I'll be taking a photography class soon!!

I had fun setting up my new camera and waiting
 not too patiently to get a humming bird picture.
 I'm all bundled up in my jammies lol!!

Got the little nipper having some breakfast!!

Got married in June in Las Vegas, just had our 6 month anniversary lol!

I've been working hard on my beaded jewelry and opened a new Artfire Studio, having lots of fun with Ceramic beads and pendants, beads and stones, making more of my own components.

Started entering blog challenges...



Art Bead Scene December Challenge




Lorelei's Michaels Blog Challenge




Art Bead Scene October Challenge



Art Bead Scene November Challenge

Love My Art Jewelry Call to Create

Gave away this Copper Filligree Necklace in my first Blog Giveaway



Had Foot Surgery which means I had to set up
 a temporary Couch Studio so I could continue to play.



We moved and completely re-vamped my studio
http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/12/stu-stu-studio-part-4.html

I found an amazing Printer Drawer cabinet
and now I'm happily filling it with beads!

I worked hard to post regularly on my blog and found lots of other amazing and inspiring blogs to become addicted to. I check my list every day, at least once a day! Here are just a few of my favorites!!

http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/
http://beads-of-clay.blogspot.com/
http://copperdiem.blogspot.com/
http://kelleysbeads.blogspot.com/
http://kelleysbeads.blogspot.com/
http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/
http://mairedodd.blogspot.com/
http://missficklemediacom.blogspot.com/
http://karenrussell.typepad.com/my_lifejust_not_on_the_ro/
http://paintingwithfireartwear.blogspot.com/
http://paintingwithfireartwear.blogspot.com/
http://cerebraldilettante.blogspot.com/

Ok, more than a few!! I told you I was addicted, I had to leave many great blogs off the list. Maybe I'll share more of these in a later post.

Well I think you get the picture, I had lots of great things happen for me in 2010!! Bring on 2011 and let's see what's in store for us all!

Thank you for reading this very long post and thanks to all of those who read my blog and give me wonderful comments along the way!!

Kristi
http://dreamsome.etsy.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

Last day for sale prices

December 31st 2010, will be the last day this year for 15% off and free shipping in my Artfire Studio and 30% or more in my Etsy Shop!

Here's a few new items for you to take a look at!

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2684125

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2665684

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2686328



http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2671115

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2686799



Kristi
http://dreamsome.etsy.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign






Blog ping

And the Winner Is!!!

This morning I am pleased to announce the winner in my After Christmas Give Away!!!!

The winner is Jenni M, she was number 10! She chose my Copper Filigree Pendant with Filigree Ruby!!! Contratulations Jenni, I'll be in touch by email and get all your information!! Will get your prize to you right away!

Copper Filigree Pendant with Faceted Ruby Briolette

That was fun and exciting, I'll have to do that more often!! Thanks to all who played!!

Kristi
http://dreamsome.etsy.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

I was in the mood to bake yesterday and poured through my cookbooks. Funny thing is there was this cookbook in there I don't remember seeing before. It has an inscription in it from "mom" but neither my husband or I have seen it before. It's absolutely chock full of recipes...no pictures, just recipe after recipe.

I poured through them and found several I wanted to try but when I searched the cupboard I was missing 1 or 2 key ingredients and did not want to make a run to the store.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies!

So I settled on Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. I've had store bought and they were pretty good so I thought these were right up my alley. Anything with Pumpkin and anything with Chocolate Chips so the combination seemed a sure thing, I was not disappointed. I rarely use a recipe without tweaking it so I've included my tweaks in italics, you can use them or not. So without further adieu...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 Cups (3 sticks) butter, softened

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin

1 egg
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract (I doubled the vanilla)

4 cups all-purpose flour (I used about half ww flour and half all-purpose)

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon (I also added a teaspoon pumpkin pie spice)

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups (12 ounces) chocolate chips (I used 3 cups)

Beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated suger in a bowl until light and flutty. Add the pumpkin, egg and vanilla and mix well. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and mix well. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart on to a cookie sheet. (I always make gigantic cookies so I dropped them with a large spoon, probably at least double what the recipes suggests.) Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. (because my cookies were so much bigger they cooked for at least 15 minutes, but I kept an eagle eye on them. I also decreased the temp to about 325.) Cool on the cookie sheet for 1 minute. Remove to the wire rack to cool completely. Yield: 10 dozen cookies. (I got about30 gigantic cookies from this recipe, it's quite a big recipe.)





We're melting!!!!

BIG cookie!!!



Good enough to EAT!!! Grab a glass of milk!!

I hope you enjoy these as much as we did!

The name of the cookbook is

Sweet Endings published by Favorite Recipes Press.

And don't forget my After Christmas Give Away!!
 Last day to choose your favorite,
 tomorrow I will randomly draw the winner!

Kristi

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/

http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

Merry Christmas!





Artfire Studio Update

I've added 2 Necklaces, the first is made with a wonderful Handcrafted Ceramic focal by LadyBrook Designs. I was lucky enough to with this pendant through the Beads of Clay Blog a few weeks ago. I've combined it with beautiful River Rock Lampwork Glass beads by Beeboo.

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2662295

 



This next necklace has a Wood Focal bead Strung with Lampwork beads by SilverFish Designs,

and a variety of ceramic and glass beads in neutrals and fresh citrus colors.

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2663610


Don't forget about my After Christmas Giveaway and yes this necklace can be included. I'll be giving away the item of the winner's choice. That's right ANY item in either my Etsy Shop or Artfire Studio. See this blog post for details.

Thank you!
Kristi
http://dreamsome.etsy.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

Playing with my new Christmas Present

Yes I got it early!! My husband threatened...I mean offered to wrap it for me to open on Christmas but I gave him "the look" you know what I mean. He didn't offer again, thank you honey.

I am super excited to have gotten a new Nikon camera from my hubby!! I also signed up for an online photo class that starts in January, I'm really looking forward to that. I hope to improve my jewelry photos and also be able to take great pictures of the world to share. My most favorite things on blogs are pictures so I like to post them as well. So with that said, on with the pictures!!

Little Shasta patiently waiting for breakfast!

Ginger also patiently waiting!

Santa Claus, Mrs Claus is in the box waiting to join him!

Some of my favorite little decorations in a grouping.
Finally getting some decorations up,
 now that we found the boxes!

A beautiful Star Ornament made by my sister in law.

My girls are going to get tired of having a camera in their face,

 but they are so cute I love taking pictures of them!!

Don't forget my After Christmas Give Away!! You get to choose what you want to win!!

Kristi

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign