Best Car Overall!

Well, the boy didn't place in the Pinewood Derby yesterday, but he was going for style over speed! He won Best Car Overall and was one vote short of Best Paint Job. I thought he did a great job!

It's Pinewood Derby Day!

Last weekend was the Powder Puff Derby for the Girl Scouts, this weekend it is the Pinewood Derby for the Boy Scouts. My son has a tough act to follow as last week my Daisy Scout won First Place in the Daisy/Brownie division, and came *thisclose* to winning the Championship Race.

This is her car, The Spark-il-icous:

Last night they were testing the track and her car beat all the past winners! We told him that he should just redecorate her car and race that......I know I know.....that's against the rules! He is going to race his tank. We'll see what happens!

(PS I am *really angry* about what is happening with education in New Jersey....but I can't talk about it right now. Maybe tomorrow.....)

I DO Heart I Heart Handmade!!

Whoot whoot! I am featured over on I Heart Handmade today! That's my sterling Circle of Love custom stamped necklace in the Top Picks!


Click here to see me on I Heart Handmade!

Okay, GREAT. So now I'm addicted......

......to lamp working beads. Something about firing up a torch and melting stuff with it. Awesome.

In case you missed it, I just finished a two day Introduction to Lamp Work Beads class, given by the fabulous Starleen of Starleen's Studio. If you want to see just *how* fabulous she is, click here. Incredible lamp work artist and an instructor que fabulosa.

These are just a few of the beads I had a good ole time creating yesterday. Not very exciting or beautiful, but DANG, a lot of fun!
The pictures
aren't the greatest as I took them with my cell phone camera, but you can get the idea.

The one on the left was the most fun to create. (Well, in yesterday's session, anyway!) Five simple steps to coolness!

GREAT. So now I'm going to have to outfit my studio with a complete lamp work section. Anyone out there want to help out out? HAHA!

Gone Fishin'....I'm making beads!

Whoot Whoot! I am going to be out of commission for a few days......I started my lamp work bead class today! SOOOOOO much fun! I *love* torching and melting things! I'll be back in a few days, hopefully with some photos of my new treasures! (And some new kindergarten stories.....I'm subbing K three days next week.)

In the meantime, here is a bracelet I made with some lamp work beads I purchased at a show a while back. I decided to keep this one!

Kindergartners are Funny

This week is incredibly insane for me. Daisy Scouts, Girl Scout party, CCD, ballet, hair appointments, a 2 day bead class, subbing 4 days, among many other things.

Back in the day I was a teacher of elementary school~~ and a kick butt one at that. So, I sub occasionally, thinking I may want to get back into that one day (although the state of New Jersey is a MESS in that department, so I doubt it. I have been dubbed "too expensive" as I have "too much education" and "too much experience". Don't get me started.) This week I happen to be subbing a lot~~ mostly in kindergarten. These kids are a laugh a minute. Since our kindergarten is a full day program, after lunch they sometimes have "rest time" where they all pull out their mats and are supposed to lie there for half an hour, listen to music, and well, rest. In the beginning of the school year this was a much needed break. This late in the game, not so much. It's torture to get them to stay on those mats. Anywho, they also tap each other to use the bathroom. So, I'm sitting on the rug organizing the pieces for the lesson to be taught after rest. One of the girls is washing her hands at the sink when all of a sudden, we both hear something. I look at her and say, "Sue, (not her real name) what *is* that?" She looks at me and says, "I think it's Sally. (also not her real name) She's in the bathroom." Then we hear it again, only much clearer........"EVACUATE THE DANCE FLOOR......I'M INFECTED BY THE SOUND......." apparently Sally thought she was in her own personal recording studio, and she was LOUD. So, the rest of us are just cracking up. When she comes out of the bathroom, we are just in tears. She says, "What? What's so funny?" I told her we could hear her "concert". She had *no idea* we could hear her. She's also the kind of kid that likes to be the center of attention, so she thought this was GREAT. Too funny. I wish I had recorded it.

PS I have some new pieces debuting in the next few weeks......be on the look out!

I love my Daisy Scouts

When my daughter was in kindergarten, she decided she wanted to be a Daisy Scout. If you were ever a Girl Scout back in the day, Girl Scouts started with Brownies in 2nd grade. Daisies are the newest addition~~ only been around for about 10 years or so. Now, you can start Girl Scouts in kindergarten and continue to 1st grade.

Of course when we went to sign up, there was no Daisy Scout leader/troop in our school. So what happens? Yep, former-teacher-me is talked into starting a troop. Which is fine, I can do that. we are a super active troop. Last year we had 10 girls, this year we have 18 and had to turn some down! We have a lot of fun.

What does this have to do with jewelry, do you ask? At the end of last year, I gave all the girls a sterling silver name necklace with a flower stamp, from pink papillon, of course. They really like them. They wear them all the time to this day! That makes me happy. They are inexpensive, these sweet little necklaces, and make great birthday gifts. My daughter likes to give them to her friends. So, if you ever need a sweet little present for a sweet little girl, think pink papillon!

Let me see those sweet necklaces!

A Public Service Announcement......Let's Talk Mascara

Let's take a break from jewelry for a minute so I can tell you a story. A few weeks ago I am sitting in my dermatologists office, just minding my own business waiting my turn like everyone else. This older woman leans over to me and says, "Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, but can I ask you a question?" Sure, I tell her. Then she says, "Isn't it a big pain to put on false eyelashes every morning? Isn't it time consuming?" I then tell her that my eyelashes aren't false but my own, which leads to the next question, "What mascara do you use?"

I get that a lot. The mascara question. I have been blessed with really great eyelashes. I can use any mascara and they come out incredibly long and dark and thick. I don't know why. They don't start out that way. Without mascara they are fairly long, but fine and light colored. But with mascara, WOW! Transformation. And it really can be any......from the $1.00 Wet n' Wild, to Givenchy. BUT, since I get the question so often, I am going to reveal my top favorites in the Expensive and the Not-So-Expensive categories. Ready? Write this down.

Number One in the Expensive Category: DiorShow Iconic Mascara

LOVE this mascara.....and at 27 bucks a pop, I'd better! Never clumpy, never flakey, doesn't have that "dry" look, if you know what I mean. I've heard this one can run, but I've never had that problem. Super volumizing, and I like the brush. (That's a big thing with me.) You can also sign up to be a Dior Diva, which I just like saying I am, so there's another selling point for ya.

Number One in the Not-So-Expensive Category: CoverGirl Lash Blast Luxe

I like the one in the pink tube.....I don't really see the platinum "luxe" they are talking about, (my 6 year old swears *she* does) but at least the tube is really pretty. Seriously though, I like the pink tube better than the orange tube version, so I guess the luxe does something. This is one is veeeery close to the DiorShow Iconic~~ it really gives almost the same long, lush look, it just takes a few more applications to get it there. This one also has a brush I like. The only thing I am *not* crazy about is that sometimes when I am putting it I get mascara on my eyelids, very close to the lash line, even when I am super careful. That's so not cool. I've learned to carry Q-Tips. The happy part is it is only about $7.00 AND you can buy it at Target, or Wal-Mart, and even Shop Rite. Bonus!


So, there you have it. And by the way, the woman in the dermatologists office was just the nicest person I've met in awhile. We talked about everything and anything. I wish I got her email or something. Maybe she's reading this and saying to herself, "I remember her!!"

Oh, and by the way, I make jewelry. Click the link after the jump to see it.

I make jewelry

That's ME over on www.stylebakery.com!

What an honor! I have once again been named a "Designer on the Rise" for the Spring of 2010 over on www.stylebakery.com! They are describing me as one of "the hottest rising stars" of the Indie jewelry world! Why, thank you! Thank you very much! I hope you hop on over to stylebakery.com and check out the page they designed for me. If you could leave a comment as well, that would make my day! Oh, and make sure you look for the special discount code for 15% off over on my website! It's only for stylebakery.com readers, so you have to click the link in order to find it!
pink papillon is a Designer on the Rise!

I HEART Handmade!

Hey! Check it out! I am in the Spring Show over at I Heart Handmade. I Heart Handmade is a seasonally-inspired handmade marketplace featuring top talent from the world of indie handmade. Click the link to check out my page....then take a minute to browse through all the unique and beautiful offerings of the other wonderfully talented artists featured this season!

I HEART Handmade!