Bead Night Out

Yesterday Suzanne invited me to make a necklace at Beads to Live By. I couldn't say no to playing with beads!

I am really happy with how the necklace turned out.  I'm going to give it to my mom for her birthday. Purple is her favorite color, and the purples, grays, and shimmery pinks make it very feminine. 

Cassandra, the owner of Beads to Live By is a great teacher. I learned some new techniques, and I am excited to take more of her classes to learn new beading skills.

Girl's Night at Beads to Live By

My friend Suzanne invited me to make a necklace at a Girl's Night at Beads to Live By a few weeks ago. Although I did not know most of the women well, it was a fun, intimate night filled with laughter.

The necklace we made was a long, single strand that can be doubled. We were given different glass jars of bead soup to search for our treasures. I choose neutral shades of bronze, brown, and topaz.

Transformation by Sandhill Crane Vineyards

We shared pizza, veggies, brownies, and wine while we worked on our projects. I usually drink white wine, but I enjoyed Transformation by local vineyard Sandhill Crane Vineyards. It was sweeter and less dry than other reds I've tried.

Cassandra, the owner of Beads to Live By, was patient with our frustrations. She gave us design tips and encouraged us to have fun with our bead choices.

With a history of crimp bead failure (and beads flying everywhere) I usually avoid them. Cassandra explained cheaper crimp beads don't work as well, and I couldn't resist buying a few with a couple strands of new beads.

All of our necklaces were unique. I love how mine turned out. I am going to make a purple necklace for my mom's birthday at the end of the month.

Antique Pavers

Second Sunday at Art 634

When Matt's friend Suzanne interviewed me for Events in Jackson (a part of community-sourced news site Jacksonopolis) she found out that I had not visited Art 634. Suzanne is a Jackson native, but she has never been to Art 634's monthly open house, Second Sunday, so we agreed to check it out together.

via Art 634

Jackson is known for manufacturing and the prison, but the town has a unique and growing arts and culture community that deserves attention. Art 634 is located in an industrial warehouse. Suzanne and I met at Art 634's coffee shop, Cuppa. The first thing I noticed is was the paper cranes hanging from the ceiling.

via Cuppa

Cuppa's shop owner, Evan, made my cafe au lait himself. Suzanne and I took our drinks to a couch near the back and listened to Jamie Merritt (of Harmony Garden Music Therapy) play soulful renditions of familiar tunes. Cuppa's walls featured April's artist, Sheri Munce, artwork; I loved the whimsical and feminine paintings.

When we finished our coffees Suzanne and I wandered through the building. We admired the shops and talked to various people about arts and culture in Jackson.

Armory Arts Village, an apartment complex and artist community located next to Art 634 in Jackson's old prison. The artists also participated in Second Sunday, so we peeked in on the artist's studios. We saw a handcrafted train that will be featured St. Joseph Public Art Display from May 17 to September 28.

After Art 634 and Armory Arts, Suzanne took me to the new downtown bead shop, Beads to Live By, and introduced me to shop owner Cassandra. Beads to Live By's has a wonderful bead selection, and I cannot wait to take one of the jewelry classes!

via Beads to Live By

Suzanne is a great tour guide! I am excited for our future Jackson tours.

Gem and Mineral Show

Yesterday was a lovely mix of family and mother/daughter time. After an early dinner at Red Lobster with my family, my mom and I went to the 51st Annual Gem and Mineral Show hosted by the Michigan Gem and Mineral Society at the Jackson County Fairgrounds.

It was our first time at a gem and mineral show. Many of the exhibits featured unique samples from around the world. The show featured a raffles and kid-friendly activities.

We chatted with many of friendly vendors. Mom touched and picked up a bunch of samples. It made me nervous but no one reprimanded her.

At one booth two men used a cast iron pipe snap cutter to crack open geodes. Mom and I split the cost of a geode to watch them in action. They strapped the stone in with a chain. One man held the geode steady while the other pulled down on the lever.

The man with the geode held it in his hands and said, "It took over a million years for this geode to form and you are the first to look inside." Then he revealed opened his hands to reveal calcite crystals.

At another booth a man was using a machine to facet a marble. He invited my mom to come around the table to try it, but the machine was set for right-handed. He unplugged the machine, pushed it across the table, and handed her a chair.

Mom enjoyed it, but she was afraid she'd want to buy one of the expensive machines.

Mom was patient while I looked at beads. She even helped me find a few good deals.

Top to bottom: Faceted amazonite, faceted pyrite, smooth smokey quartz and quartz rondelles, tiny fluorite and chrysoprase, and Czech glass beads

I wish I had taken more pictures. At one booth we watched a man carve soapstone Inuksuk. He told us about their origins and how he'd build real ones in Canada. 

Mom and I had a lot of fun. I cannot wait until next year's show!
 

Vintage Find: Geometric Scarf

I enjoy searching for treasures. So when I found a $1.99 vintage scarf at St. Vincent de Paul, I thought it was a bargain.

Brand: Echo
Made in Japan
100% Silk

The scarf features gray and yellow geometric lines, and it is in excellent condition.

At the checkout, the cashier looked at the scarf. "Is that all you are getting?"

"Yes." I tried to hand her my debit card.

"It's yours."

I wasn't sure I understood her. "Excuse me?"

She indicted the door. "It's yours. Have a nice day."

I thanked her several times before I left.

In the car, I reviewed what had just happened. I am fairly certain she did not want to run the card because of merchant charges. I felt blessed by the cashier's gift, but I knew that I could not accept it. While I do not have a lot of money, I live comfortably. I found some change and went back into the store to put it in the donation jar.

And I will do it again the next time I visit.

St. Vincent de Paul seeks to end poverty through systemic change. Donations provide direct assistant to the local community; they provide aid for those who cannot afford bills such as funeral expenses, job training, and rent. Many Jackson residents struggle with basic needs, and St. Vincent de Paul does its best to serve them.

It is wonderful to snag a deal, but shopping at thrift shops has a greater purpose: supporting the less fortunate. 

We're Almost in the Future

Matt and I were driving through town discussing dinner when he suddenly pulled into a parking lot featuring this:
 

 "Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads." Doc Brown, Back to the Future

Is there a geek alive that doesn't want a flying DeLorean?

Breaking the Silence

It's been a slow week for a Shimmering Star. Our internet went down on Wednesday, and I struggled for 35 minutes to upload my Wordless Wednesday post from my phone. Although the internet was fixed yesterday I didn't post because Matt and I went to Los Tres Amigos for dinner and then saw Prometheus.

Meanwhile, I have been doing a lot of research. My local library subscribes to the Craft and Hobbies Reference Center database. What a valuable resource!

I also borrowed a few craft books.

I am exploring the combination beads and fiber to create mixed media accessories, decor, and jewelry.

Stay tuned for the reopening of my etsy, With Eyes Lifted!

Encourage Literacy

Downtown Heroics