Wordless Wednesday

Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry

I originally made a charm necklace for my mom when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the Fall of 2010.  Fortunately her cancer was caught early.  When people started asking her about her necklace, I began listing them in my ETSY shop.  

I receive many touching notes from my customers when it comes to cancer awareness jewelry.  It's very heartwarming.  ♥

Eggplant Rolatini and Proud Italian Cook Blog

Oh I love eggplant!  I never tried making eggplant rolatini until I came across Marie's recipe.  I love Marie's blog, Proud Italian Cook - not only does she post wonderful recipes, but she includes a story with her Italian recipes.  I love reading and looking at the pictures of her days filled with making pasta with family and friends.  Be sure to check her blog out for this recipe as well as others.

Frying up the eggplant slices.... I set up my electric skillet outside on our patio. 

All the rolls waiting for sauce!

Topped with marinara sauce and cheese.... yum!  I pack them up in individual containers, pop them in the freezer and they're ready for a quick dinner with pasta.

Enjoy!

Ivory Pearl Awareness Bracelet

A new bracelet in my ETSY shop.  Ivory Swarovski pearls dangle from a sterling silver chain.  I added 2 sterling charms - an awareness ribbon and a puffy heart.  This is the perfect bracelet to show your awareness for a special cause.

Simple Tomato Salad

This is an easy salad and always a crowd pleaser.  Balsamic glaze is so concentrated and sweet.  The perfect accent to tomatoes.  I simply cut up my tomatoes and toss with extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle or two of balsamic glaze.  Add some kosher salt and black pepper, give it one more toss, and you're done!  The glaze is also good on bruschetta or a caprese salad.

New Pearl Dangles

Just listed in my ETSY shop - these earrings are made with freshwater pearls and sterling silver.  Perfect for a special occasion or any time you want to add a pretty flirty earring to your outfit!

Interchangeable Dangle Earrings

I made these earrings for my sister-n-law as a birthday gift. I've been wanting to make interchangeable earrings for a while.  For hers, I made dangles of a freshwater pearl, blue howlite and a peridot green Swarovski crystal, her birthstone color.  It's easy to slide the dangles on and off the earwire.  I love the swirl of the earwire too.   I think I'll make some of these to list in my ETSY shop.

Pearl Designs

Just sharing some new freshwater pearl pieces now in my ETSY shop.  I say pearls are a girl's best friend!

Pretty dangle earrings:

Bracelet and earrings made with coin shaped pearls:

Garden Tour - Community Garden

This year our city used some extra land for community garden plots.  We only plant tomatoes in our garden at home.  Everything else we've tried hasn't done well.  So I planted zucchini, cucumbers and pumpkins in my community garden.

I've picked a few zucchini and cucumbers.  But I'm most excited about my pumpkins!  We had 3, but a pair of groundhogs munched on one.  So now we're left with 2.  Aren't they cute?

Even the pumpkin blossoms are pretty!

Happy Gardening ♥

Garden Tour - Tomatoes

Like everywhere else, it's been a hot, dry summer.  Keeping the plants watered and happy has been tough.  But we're starting to see lots of red, ripe cherry tomatoes.  We just had some tonight, roasted in the oven with olive oil and garlic, then tossed with angel hair pasta.  Topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese... yum!  Easy and delicious.

I'm anxiously awaiting for the Beefsteaks and Big Boys to ripen.  I can't wait to have a BLT or slice one and sprinkle with some salt and pepper.


Check these roma tomatoes out!  They're a hybrid variety named Big Mama Hybrid.  They look like peppers with their pointy bottom:

Happy Gardening ♥

BAYarts

I'm excited to announce that Sweet Bird Designs Jewelry is now available in the BAYarts Gallery Shop!

The BAYarts Gallery shop is where regional artists of all disciplines sell their hand-crafted, one-of-a kind work. Painting, photography, jewelry, fabric, ceramic and everything in between.

BAYarts offers a variety of classes and summer camps for adults and kids.  The day I was there a bunch of girls were spending the day at the campus.  They were just coming in to pick up their clay turtles.  So cute!

BAYarts is located in Bay Village, OH and makes its home in the Huntington  Reservation, the western-most member of the Cleveland Metroparks.  The campus is filled with shady gardens, perfect for hostas.