Balance

Sometimes life becomes almost effortless, ebbing and flowing like the ocean's tide with seemingly no conscious effort. A piece of jewelry feels like it almost makes itself, and when done is even better than originally imagined. The sun is warm, the hummingbirds are fighting outside my studio window, my bichon is asleep at my feet, there is a little Tori Amos playing in the background and I revel in the joy of this life. In one instant you hear the news that a good friend has just passed away...described appropriately by his mother as a friend of friends, and the balance shifts, breaking the flow. How do you maintain the balance when life so frequently spins out of control? When someone you have known for years and have been through dark and turbulent times together to pursue and share in the joy of truest love found,and now has just lost her true love?

Her true love, this friend of friends taught us who were watching, many lessons through the living of his life. I know he would want these lessons to be his legacy. It really is all about balance. Living life to its fullest by fully experiencing each and every moment. Work hard....play just as hard. Don't miss an opportunity to pick up the phone and connect with a friend....or walk across the hall to connect with a co-worker for just a moment. We used to work together, and no one was busier, and yet in the midst of the twenty things he was juggling at any given moment, he would come into my office, slap me on the back and plop into a vacant chair and say, "Tell me what's new today deaah."..(he loved the Maine accent!) He would always find a way to get to the important information in a heartbeat and then be up and off to show some property or play a quick game of racquetball.

So I am off today to rediscover my balance. To get back into that zone of a gentle and effortless rhythm to accomplish all that needs to be done, to make that necessary income while at the same time, having some time to create. To have time to love, and enjoy those I love so much, to cherish the companionship of my animals, to take a moment to pull a few weeds in the garden, check on the growth of the tadpoles in the pond, get lost in a little music, write or talk to a few friends, and just be. My life is not all about the accomplishments anymore. Say a prayer of thanks that I grew away from that years ago and thankfully while I still had one child at home. And say a prayer of thanks for knowing you, Wayne. Be well.

Maya Brenner's New Book

Available Here Through Amazon.com




Beaded Jewelry By Maya Brenner:
This book is full of great designs and great tips. The photography is wonderful, and overall, inspirational. Maya is a great designer whose work can be found in over 80 stores nationwide. I came to be aware of Maya through Luxe Jewelry, where you can find several of her exclusive designs in a kit format. I am very pleased to have Maya's book be the first jewelry book that I am featuring here.

Crystal and Chrysocolla Necklace

I just can't get enough of the beauty of Chrysocolla. Thanks once again to Sybella Designs for providing the chrysocolla pieces. (http://www.sybelladesigns.etsy.com) Light and airy gold filled oval chain is wire wrapped with 6 mm teal swarovski crystals and daisy spacers, interspersed with wire wrapped 6 mm round chrysocolla beads. The pendant drop is wire wrapped with the chrysocolla disk and a faceted rectangle of chrysocolla. This 18" necklace features a single drop at the lobster claw closure of a teal swarovski crystal. One of the nice features of an oval chain is the ability to change the length of the necklace to suit a change in necklines. This great color combination will take you right into your fall wardobe. This item features free shipping!

This necklace can be purchased at http://www.sachacottagestudio.etsy.com

Wooden It Be Lovely

A great combination of mixed elements. Wood, copper, yellow jade, and teal faceted quartz. Surprisingly light and oh, so summery. Here is what you get....rosewood dice beads that are 15x15x20mm, 6mm round yellow jade beads, 8x10mm teal faceted quartz beads, copper 24 gauge wire, copper jump rings and a lovely copper heart closure. This necklace measures 18" in length.

This necklace can be purchased at www.sachacottagestudio.etsy.com

Summer, Summer I love Summer...

It's hot...it's steamy....it's full of creative inspiration.
Here's to summer!






Mussels Marina Necklace
I could have named this necklace and the matching earrings lots of things, but let's face it....they remind me of mussels marinara. Why? The blue shell beads are exactly the color of beautiful Maine Coast mussel shells, and the fire polished 8mm red beads are the color of....you guessed it, marinara sauce. This light weight necklace is constructed of oval sterling chain from Luxe Jewels, antiqued sterling silver daisy spacer beads, and sterling wire wrapped shell beads and fire polished beads. The focal point is stunning with the blue shell beads surrounding antiqued sterling silver beads and a wire wrapped drop measuring just under 1 1/2". There is one more wire wrapped drop in the back at the sterling lobster claw closure. If you can't be in Maine this summer...you can wear this necklace and matching earrings and FEEL like you are on the beach in style.

This necklace and the matching earrings can be purchased online at: Sachacottagestudio

Vintage Copper Swirls Necklace

These unique vintage copper swirls were found in an old warehouse...no one quite knows what they were meant for...so of course, I say... make jewelry out of them! They have been paired up with 6/0 seed beads that are somewhat turquoise, somewhat greenish, and a few tan ones thrown in for interest. There are also fun metallic drizzle cube beads and a couple of cut copper beads as well. The closure is a copper square toggle. This choker length necklace measures 16" in length. It is meant to be ever so slightly longer than a choker due to the interesting components of the copper swirl. For a little bit of interest, I have added a wire wrapped drop between the two copper swirls with seed beads and the cut copper beads. The drop is wrapped with copper.

You will stop them on the street with a white tee, little denim capris and this necklace....

To stop 'em on the street, this necklace can be purchased at:
sachacottagestudio.etsy.com

This necklace has been purchased. Visit my online shop for other artisan crafted jewelry. I love custom orders, so if you have a vision, but don't know how to create it....we can collaborate!
I can be reached at lgreg@tidewater.net

Here's to Health, Happiness and Bustin Your Fanny

This necklace can be purchased at sachacottagestudio.etsy.com


There hasn't been much action here lately. In my absence there has been a quantum leap of change in my life in almost every way.

Most importantly, I received the results from medical tests that had me, my family, my friends on pins and needles. I had been having a series of physical problems for several months, and to an outsider it would apppear it may all culminate in a very scarey result. To the contrary!! I got great news and although not definative as to the root of some of the symptoms, subconsciously I believe that I chose in that moment to be healed. I don't expect that to make any sense to anyone but perhaps myself. All I know is that since that day, my life has been changing in more ways that I can even relate here. I started two new jobs, both in the catering field. Anyone who caters or has catered, knows the demand that it puts on the body physically. Long hours on your feet, incredible heat, mental intensity, and lots and lots and lots of heavy lifting. There have been 8-10-12 and 15 hour days in the last few weeks. I may have felt like I was hit by a bus, but I did it, and then got back up the next morning and did it again. I feel 10 years younger than last month at this time. I know that I am one of those people that has truly been blessed with a second chance. I have never taken things, or people or health for granted....but this truly is like a rebirth of self, and I will never forget it. Right now down to my core, I know that all things are possible. My jewelry business is beginning to take off in the midst of all this wonderful physical healing as well. I have no idea where this all will end, and I don't need to know. Right now...I am just lovin the ride.

Foggy Beach Treasures Necklace

Choker style two-strand necklace features yellow quartz chunks as a focal point on the shorter choker strand. Also incorporated in random throughout both strands are 6/0 seed beeds in matte sandy beige, and matte metallic appearing purplish seed beads, brass twisted beads and unique metal drizzled cube beads. The toggle closure is brass with the shorter necklace measuring 15" and the other strand one inch longer in length. Will I adjust the length to your desires? You bet!

This necklace can be purchased at www.sachacottagestudio.etsy.com

Congratulations, Jarred!

Today was graduation day for my daughter's boyfriend.
After days and days of cold rain, this afternoon the sun came out and the breezes died down to offer up a beautiful outdoor setting for high school graduation.

What are the things that a Mom hopes for in a boyfriend? Someone who is kind and considerate, well mannered, friendly, comfortable, and hardworking. Being totally adorable doesn't hurt the picture either. He has been all those things and more, and I feel blessed that he is a part of my daughter's life. I watched a young man who had real questions about whether he even wanted to play basketball his senior year, follow through because he knew how happy it would make his family. He turned into one of the most aggressive and certainly the most composed and mature members of the team this year. They had the pleasure of going all the way to the State Finals where they came very close to moving up in the ranks. The pride that I felt in him during the course of the season grew and grew, and I can only imagine what his parents and grand parents felt.

He walked down the isle today wearing the gold scarf of an honor student with plans to attend college in the fall to study fire sciences. I saw a mature, fun loving, and perhaps a little bit anxious man walking down that isle this afternoon. For him I wish all the best in life, but know there will be heart ache as well, for there always is. I do know that he has a loving young woman by his side, family that loves him dearly and who will support him all along the way.

Jarred, we are so happy to have you as a part of our family. We love you....here's to you!

Afternoon Garden Party Earrings

Lovely, dainty sterling silver drop earrings.
Sterling french wire, sterling silver fine chain with ivory pearls, peridot green 4mm swarovski crystals, opal pearl 4mm swarovski crystals. Drop measures 1 1/2" from bottom of ear wire. I put these earrings next to white, black, green, red, denim, khaki and they go with everything!

These earrings can be purchased at my online shop:
http://www.sachacottagestudio.etsy.com

I Heart Chrysocolla Necklace

This double strand necklace measures 16" for the inner strand, with the longer strand being about a 1" drop. Featuring beautiful chrysocolla gemstones from Sybella Designs, it also has cut copper beads, wooden oval beads, olive green faceted beads, and seed beads in the same color families. The chrysocolla drop measures 1 3/4" in length with the focal being a beautifully striking chrysocolla briolette. The colors in this necklace remind of the deep woods just before sun down when all the colors are muted, green and coppery with shaft of spectalular unexpected light.

This necklace can be purchased at: http://www.sachacottagestudio.etsy.com