Something Beautiful and Unexpected

Hidden Treasures of Lake Powell

It's hard to find a better day than one spent exploring a quite side 

canyon of Lake Powell by paddle board.

Lake Powell is Arizona's grandest desert lake formed by the Colorado River and Glen Canyon Dam. Some say the beauty of the  many canyons that form the lake, 96 separate canyons in all, easily rival the Grand Canyon found further south. I tend to agree.

One narrow canyon waterway leads to the entrance of Rainbow Bridge National Monument. The Bridge considered sacred by Navajos and other Native Americans for generations. Visitors may view the bridge from a distance, they are not allowed to walk under it. 
The area is only accessible by boat or difficult hiking trails.

A tranquil morning looking out over Last Chance Bay,  
no cell phones, no computers, just everything you can imagine.

Special thanks to:

Kathy

Nancy

Cousin Tom

Cousin Daryl

Desert Blooms

Beauful Cactus Flowers were seen everywhere this Spring.

Most blooms only last for a very short period of days or weeks, appearing in stages 

throughout the early spring and rainy season.

 

Most blooms are now gone along with temperatures that eventually moved higher.

- On to Another Normal Summer -

95, 100, 105 ...

Something Old and Something New...

  
 The Heirloom Bead Necklace

Beautiful cobalt blue and pink murano heirlooms reinvented into a new necklace with the addition of czech glass seed beads, swarovski crystals, and various gold findings.

This jewelry piece was created in March 2018 for a kind friend.

Piestewa Peak Trail

A view from the hiking trail along Piestewa Peak in Arizona. 

Downtown Phoenix is seen in the background. 

Piestewa Peak stands 2,610 feet at its highest point and was named in honor of Lori Ann Piestewa, the first known Native American women to be killed in combat during the Iraq War.

Cairn Rock Piles vs. Trail Markers

These cairn rock piles seem to be popping up everywhere. Here is one I came across at the end of a trail nearby. They are kind of interesting to look at but really don't see the point unless they are placed as a marker to help guide the way.

Functional art?

Free Bird Necklace

New 21 inch copper necklace shows off a variety of glass, jasper and iron pyrite beads from my personal collection. The necklace will be included in a silent auction at the Taste of Foothills Fundraiser on March 23. Funds will benefit Foothills Caring Corps in Carefree Arizona.

For more information about the March 23 event
click below to go to their website:

Foothills Caring Corps

Special Effects for Classic Tubular Peyote Stitch

The Bronze Beaded Necklace

Using glass triangle beads with a classic tubular peyote stitch pattern creates

 added texture and dimension in this necklace.

 In more subdued light you can see the added sparkle of tiny delica beads

 over stitched onto the necklace.

New for fall.

Clouds Building

Technically speaking, our Arizona summer monsoon rains begin during mid-June. By early August big storm clouds can be seen building up nearly every afternoon. Some days it rains and some days the clouds pass along to drop their precious water in other places. On this particular afternoon we saw beautiful sunbeams but missed the raindrops.

Wouldn't you love to see what's on the other side?

Let's try to imagine.

The Green Beaded Cuff

 Flat Herringbone Stitch

Flat herringbone stitch makes a beautiful cuff bracelet. This cuff was stitched together with 

glass triangle beads trimmed with cubic hematite along the edges.

Its very flexible with a soft touch and wonderful to wear.

Recycled Gemstone Americana

Fordite Pendant

Fordite (sometimes also known as motor agate) is an interesting material that I have just been made aware of over the past few years. It is actually the cut and polished result of many layers of baked paint enamel left over from an old manufacturing process for painting cars. Various sized cabochons and beads can be found in a beautiful array of colors and swirling patterns. You can even pick out which layers of paint are flat among other layers with metallic flecks within each polished "stone". Compared to other stones, it is a soft material so be sure to avoid harsh chemicals and potential scratches. Treat in a way similar to how you might care for a pearl.

This fordite pendant comes on a 40 inch beaded rope necklace made with 

tiny 15/0 seed beads and a matching copper clasp.

Love That Long Necklace

What can you do with a 44 inch chain?

Opera Length Plus

Wear it Long...

 

Or Double It ...

Of Course.

This one can even be knotted, if you like.

Getting Ready for Summer...

Even if it's only April.

Two connected strands of glass and shell beads in shades of beige with a touch of blue.

Blue Sari Silk

Little White Elephants

Perfectly Fun for Summer

Stop by for more at my shop.

Life in Chains

Some things take time and you have to love the elegant drape of this big beaded chain over a wide cuff.

Silver and gold glass seed bead chain sewn onto a flat herringbone stitched cuff in metallic dusty lilac. 

Add pearly glass beads to make a lovely button clasp closure that fits snug to the wrist.

The  perfect fit for a 6 1/2 inch wrist.

 A one of a kind piece. Find it and more at my Etsy Shop.

Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and did you know that one in every eight women will experience the disease at some point in her life? Early detection is important and organizations like the National Breast Cancer Foundation are working hard to help women get early diagnosis and treatment.

Wear pink in a big way and support breast cancer awareness.

All profits from the sale of this  necklace will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Shop CAREFREE JEWELRY BY LISA

Freshwater Pearl Earrings

I am always amazed by the variety of colors and sizes of freshwater pearls that are available on the market today.  And have been adding quite a few to my inventory but don't expect to be holding on to them for very long. These deep grays are perfect for a simple pair of sterling silver earrings.

And then there's those little green coin pearls... so delicate.  Sigh, if only I had the whole strand for a necklace. But the earrings are nice too!

 I am working on a pearl necklace with even more different kinds of freshwater pearls.  But that one is more of a project so I hope to show it to you soon.

 click here:

Czech Glass Bead Bracelet and Earrings

Colorful triangle shaped Czech glass beads are a great start for a simple patinated copper wire bracelet.

And then I had to go and make some earrings too!

You can stop by my shop to see them anytime.

OPEN 24 hours!!!

CarefreeJewelry.Etsy.com

Summer Garden

 A few things from my garden.

Meyer Lemon

Lady Slippers

Moss Roses

Succulents

(specific name unknown)

How is your summer growing?

Click here for more great shots:

           

A Good Ol' Swap...

My blogging friend Kathy over at KathyinOzarks had run across some lovely blue green Czech glass picasso finish beads that she wanted to have made into a bracelet...and we decided to do a swap. I would make her some form of wrap-around style bracelet adding beads and materials from my personal collection and she in turn would provide me with some of her wonderful handmade soap.

I decided to try working with memory wire, adding a variety of different spacers and a few complimenting Czech beads of my own. Here is the result:

Can't forget the pressed coin beads used at the ends and tied off with sari silk ribbon. Such lovely beads, and a fun project to complete.

Now onto the soaps! I received two bars and a moisturizer which I absolutely adore. The butter moisturizer is made with sweet almond oil and has a wonderful light clean fragrance. The consistency is like whipped butter -and I am using this moisturizer every night. The soaps are also sure to be favorites. One is glycerin with dried calendula petals and the 2nd is a goat milk with pink Himalayan salt (for abrasive). The fragrances are amazing, my favorite is the goat milk bar which smells like honey.

I love the idea of trading different kinds of handmade goods. It was an awesome swap!

Thanks Kathy

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KathyinOzarks Handmade Soaps

Yellow Bead Earrings

Extra long Sterling Silver Earrings

measure 3 inches in length.

Hand hammered Sterling Silver,

I am going for a primitive look...

 New.

Stop by my Etsy shop.

July-Oween !

Getting ready for Halloween early this year.

Have you ever celebrated Christmas in July?
                                                           ...well just think of this as another variation.

                                                                           Cute,  

       and a little creepy.

"Tis the Season" beads by Cousin

Find them at A.C. Moore