Gifts From The Sea: Collecting Beach Stones and Pebbles

Each year when I visit the beach (usually Cape May, New Jersey and every few years Assateague Island, Virginia) one of my favorite things to do is walk the beach and look for unique and unusual stones and pebbles. 

I even like the word pebble - it has a soft, gentle sound that's calming. There's nothing harsh, loud or brash about the quiet pebble. 

My daughters and I stroll the shoreline, picking a few out of the sand as we walk, collecting a handful or two of favorites. Suddenly they're not just pebbles, but treasures. 

My eyes search for unusual shaped and textured stones, and I sometimes I get lucky and find a small piece of petrified wood, volcanic rock, or fossilized coral.

But I think my favorites are the plain white, completely smooth oval and egg shaped ones. They're soothing to hold and turn over in my hand and they make my fingers happy. They're truly a gift from the sea, and for that I'm so grateful.

I hope you have a great week! 

Love, 

Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

article and images ©Laura Beth Love 2016

Come To My Window

I've been seeing tons of woodpeckers in my trees and yard this spring. So far I think I've seen three different types, but I haven't had a chance to look them all up yet. They're surprisingly tame and come very close when I'm working outside, but this guy was the most surprising so far. I noticed him from another window - the large window in the background - where I saw him clinging to this window screen. After watching him a few minutes I thought I'd take a closer look and see if I could check him out from the other side of the window that he was clinging to, but I figured he would probably fly away when he saw me. 

He didn't. I watched him for a few minutes and he just sat there - then I realized why. My daughter was in that room playing her electric bass guitar, and she had it turned up pretty loud. So loud, that it made the room and windows vibrate. And that's what attracted this young woodpecker - the vibrations! 

It turned out that woodpeckers have an amazing sense of hearing and they often find their food (mostly insects & larvae from trees and from inside cracks and pieces of bark on trees) from the sounds and vibrations that the insects make. Ha! So this guy was most likely attracted to my house by the vibrations of my daughter's guitar playing. I actually made a video of him sitting here on the window screen listening to her play - and you can hear her playing in the background - and once I get it up on my YouTube channel I will add the video to this blog post. 

I hope you have a great week 

Love, Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

article and images ©Laura Beth Love 2016

New Artist Crush {Laura Dro Designs}

Happy Monday All! A short week for many of you and I am sure you are looking forward to the holiday weekend. Can you believe that tomorrow is already July? Wha What? I can't believe it. I have a feeling that summer is going to fly by. I sure don't want to wish it away.

Today we are talking art. I love all different kinds of art from abstract, to portrait paintings to landscapes and photography. If I was rich I would spend a lot of money on artwork for sure. I think it brings such character to a home. Displaying meaningful photos and artwork can really show others what inspires you. Artwork is also a perfect starting spot to grab colors from when decorating a space.
I have learned over the past couple of years that you don't have to be rich to have fabulous artwork displayed in your home. You may remember my abstract artwork for less post a few weeks ago or the Etsy's kids artwork post I did last year. These are both great ideas for artwork on a budget.

source

I was recently contacted by Laura Dro Designs to choose a print of my choice for my home! Let me tell you how hard that decision was. I am in love with the colors and texture Laura brings to her pieces. They are perfect for any room in your home. She creates abstracts as well as watercolor animal illustrations (which would be perfect in a nursery).

Abstract, Watercolor

I decided to choose the Peony in Coral print for my bedroom. I knew it would add a little summer touch to our master bedroom.

I love how this print adds a bit of a feminine touch on my side of the bed. It makes me smile!

The colors are so vibrant! You wouldn't even guess it was a print. It looks and feels like an original. That makes me wonder how brilliant the colors must have been on Laura's original design.

So Laura is officially a new artist crush of mine. How about you? You must check out her original paintings here and get a print for your own here.

Have a fab week my friends!


**This is not a sponsored post. Just wanted to share one of my amazing finds with you. Thanks to Laura for sending me this beautiful print. As always all opinions are mine and always mine.**

{Sweet Summertime} Mantel Decor

If you have been following along for a while you know that I like to change up my mantel decor for the holidays. My Fall Mantel this year was pretty simple with touches of gold, while my Halloween mantel can be quite spooky. My favorite holiday to decorate for is Christmas. This year I also kept my Christmas mantel simple and cozy.

After the New Year I usually get burned out of changing up the mantel and it stays pretty simple with a couple of vases, layered pictures and candles for the rest of the Spring and Summer. This year I had the urge to create a relaxing and "sweet" summer mantel. I was inspired by the song "Summertime" by Kenny Chesney.

I used my Silhouette cutting machine to cut out "Sweet Summertime" onto white vinyl. I brought some books down from my office. They are wrapped in old flight maps from my husband's uncle who is a pilot. I thought turning the books around to show the pages gave it more of a natural feel. The small air plants are from West Elm. (Who knew plants could be so easy to take care of!) The driftwood was found on the beach at my childhood lake home. The little lady is a gift from my mother-in law. She usually sits on my dresser (the bust, not my mother-in law..hehe). The fiddle fig stem is cut off from my indoor plant and the vase is Nate Berkus from Target (old). The little gumballs or sweetgums were sprayed gold at Christmas time and I felt the mantel needed one more element. Love these little cuties.

So that's it my friends! Just a little quick and easy summer mantel pulling items from around my home. Now its time to enjoy all the pleasures of Sweet Summertime!

Confession Time...what is on your mantel right now? Do you change your decor with the seasons or do you leave the same items up all year?