Thank you Alaska!!!

I just got back from my first real vacation in about 10 years.  We went to Anchorage, Alaska and while Anchorage is a great town we were definitely wowed when we rented a car and headed onto the road. 

Two days we went south towards Whittier and Seward.  Both were beautiful towns and on the way to both were wonderful views and hiking trails.  Whittier was very charming.  You get into Whittier through a 2.6 mile tunnel through the mountain that can only accomodate people going one way at a time.  So on the hour you can leave Whittier and on the half you can go into Whittier.  The town is very charming with small shops and friendly people.  Whittier is where we hopped on our 26 glacier cruise.  If you have not done one I highly recommend going to Alaska and doing it!  We were very fortunate that it was not very cold when we visited and there was hardly any rain.  We were really spolied!  On the cruise we spotted sea otters, harbour seals and the most beautiful glaciers.

Seward is another beautiful little town with spectacular views.  We visited the sealife center and they had the most lively and adorable sea lion ever!  His name is Woody and we were there at the right time.  It was feeding time!  Woody was performing tricks like sticking his tongue out and jumping on and off his rock.  It was just so fascinating since he was such a large sea lion!

On another day we decided to travel north of Anchorage.  The drive was not as scenic as it was South but at the end we found a quaint little town called Talkeetna.  I guess it is considered the doorway to Denali but it can sure stand on it's own.  It is very small but has many little wonderful shops and our favorite the Denali Brewing Company.  It was fun to sample their beers and then have a nice dinner in their restaurant Twister Creek.  It was so much fun.  And the town was so welcoming and people were so nice.  Hardly anyone driving up and down the road but instead there were kids riding up and down on their bikes and lots of folks just walking about.

I had never had the urge to go to Alaska but decided to tag along on my husbands business trip and I am so glad I did!  It is so hard to explain the true beauty that we saw.  From the wild moose to the bright blue glaciers I will always remember Alaska and I will always encourage others to visit if given the chance!

Bridal Shopping?

Are you or someone you know planning a wedding?  Etsy has many, many items that are unique and beautiful to make your wedding that much more special.

In August will be my husband and mines 10th anniversary.  We had a beautiful wedding in a chapel and my bridesmaids wore light blue.  It was perfect!

Etsy can help you find items to make your wedding perfect.  From jewelry, to hair combs, to wedding favors, to bridemaids/groomsmens gifts, Etsy has it all.  I have featured a few of my favorite sellers so please check them out and see what they have to offer.  If you know someone who is trying to plan their perfect wedding please share with them these fabulous finds.

1.  Recycled Sterling Wedding Ring Set by LouLouBerry

2.  INITIALLY ME - Turquoise Epoxy Resin Custom Initial Monogram Cufflinks by EternallyLinked

3.  Personalized Wedding Favors with Guests' Names (Set of 30) - Engraved stones by sjengraving

4.  Elegant Bride Invitation - Digital or Printed by MemDesignShop

5.  Parisian Princess Gown by clairelafaye

6.  Silk Clutch Purse, Luxury Silver Peacock Feathers by redrubyrose

7.  Custom Cake Topper by CakeToppersStudio

**** FREE SHIPPING WEEKEND ****

Free US and Canada shipping this weekend Friday, May 7, 2010 thru Sunday, May 9, 2010 Everywhere else only pays $3.25 for shipping no matter how much you buy!

Also all orders over $50 before shipping will receive 15% off their total order prior to shipping. I can refund you the 15% through paypal or can send you a revised invoice. Shipping is already set up in listings.

 

So please visit GeniusJewels for great weekend deals!

Staring At Sound

The new album by Nick Dragisic is available on itunes and amazon or you can order it from his website http://www.nickdragisic.com/.  If you have never heard Nick's music then you are surely missing out so please check out his solo album Staring At Sound.

I haven't written in about a week but needed to come on and let you all know about Nick's new album.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.  It really touches the soul.  Be sure to read more about Nick on his webpage and what it took to create such a fantastic album!

Enjoy!

My 100 Items

Ok so I finally have 100 items listed in my Etsy shop!!  I am so excited!  It took a little bit of time but I made it.  So to celebrate I am going to offer free US and Canada shipping this weekend (4/24/2010 to 4/25/2010) to those who put "100 items" in the notes to seller.  I will refund you your shipping through paypal after payment is received.  Thanks for everyone's support!  Happy shopping and have a wonderful weekend!

CLICK FOR MY SHOP : )

Fishing

So the husbands new hobby is fishing.  Of course he has fished before but now he is really getting interested in it.  I think it is great.  It is hard with 5 kids to find time to relax, as well as spend time with all the kids individually.  Hopefully fishing will become a way for husband and our 3 boys to spend some time together outside and without the girls.  Of course if the girls want to go they can but I don't see that happening too much.

So far husband has taken our 7 year old with him.  The 7 year old says he loved it.  Not sure if he loved being with dad or if he loved putting the worms on the hooks or both.  But as long as he had fun and enjoyed being outside I am happy!  Hopefully this is something that will continue and doesn't get too out of hand (if he pulls up in some big fishing boat I am outta here : ).

I wanted to share a few pictures from there fishing trip because they were so excited to go.  Hopefully this is the first of many father son fishing trips!  Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy those loved ones in your life!!!

Childhood

I think alot of us have something that takes us back to our childhood years.  Whether it is a sound, smell or by sight there seems to be something that whisks us right back to where we have come from.

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago I can remember almost always being outside.  Playing ball in the yard, climbing trees (which I did alot of), playing ghost in the graveyard with all our chilhood friends, whatever it was we always seemed to be outside.  In the back yard of our tiny house with the pink awning I will always remember our lilac bush.  While driving with the windows down the other day I caught my first smell of spring.  The strong but wonderful scent of lilac immediately took me back to those times of carefree play and I felt like a child again.  Oh how I remember that smell!

I wanted to pay tribute to the most legendary flower in my memory by featuring some fantastic Etsy sellers.  Within these beautiful shops I hope you will find inspiration and rememberance.  Don't forget mother's day if approaching quickly and each one of these shops have beautiful items that I am sure every mother would love and possibly take her back to a glorius memory that has too soon been forgotten.

Enjoy!

Simplicity, a Fine Art Photograph by JudyStalus

Lilac and Lavender Handmade Soap by seaspritesoaps

Mother's Day Card Lilac Flower by MYSAVIOR

Lilacs by blackleafstudio

Color

I love color!  I have been obsessed with finding color in my surroundings and enhancing the photos to make them even brighter.  You can see in my shop that I love working with several different colors and matching unique ones together.  So I wanted to share with you some more of the pictures I have taken recently.

Taking pictures and editing them can become so addicting.  So be warned if you become inpired by this post to take your own pictures and edit them, I can not be held responsible :)

Enjoy!

Zoo Day

Nice weather over spring break almost always means a trip to the zoo.  We go all throughout the year but this is the only time (besides summer) where all 5 of my kiddos are off.  So I thought I would take this trip to look for inspiration for my jewelry.  I took many, many pictures yesterday but one that really stood out was the gideon. 

The gideons have always been a favorite of ours.  They are always entertaining.  Mostly swinging and yelling but yesterday the one looked rather peaceful and thoughful.  At least for a moment.  Then he went right back to swinging and jumping as usual.

When I downloaded my photos I knew I was going to make an item inspired by the gideon.  I also knew they had to be dangles since our friends our always swinging and playing when we visit.  So here are my new earrings and my inspiration for them.  Enjoy!

Monkey Inspired Earrings

Spring is finally here!

I love spring!  As do many!!  A large part of my inspiration comes from nature so a big part of what I make is inspired by the seasons.  Right now you will find all kinds of flowers and bright colors in your yard and neighborhood as well as in my store!  Also with spring can come the rain!  I always brighten my rainy days with brightly colored clothing and jewelry.  It helps me feel like the sun will shine again!

Here in East Tennessee it has been beautiful.  Lots of playing outside and taking nature walks with the family so lots of pictures!  Recently we bought a new camera and like most I have a hard time understanding everything it can do for me.  I was playing with it yesterday and took some really great pics (well I think so) of one of our dogwood trees and thought I would share.  I am by no means a professional photographer but I like them and hope you will too!! 

So if you are here in the states then HAPPY SPRING everyone!  If you are elsewhere then enjoy your season!  Each one has it's own beauty and inspirational qualities so take advantage and have fun.  I would love to hear about what inspires you.

Welcome to the all new blog for Genius Jewels.

My goal is to share my creations as well as some wonderful finds from the internet.  I know searching and searching can be very time consuming so hopefully I can help you by providing some of my faves!  Watch for featured artists and interviews that will be coming in the future.

A little bit about me, Kelly and why I started Genius Jewels.  I am a stay at home mommy to 5 and I wanted something that I could have as my own.  I have always had a creative streak and love to design and make new items.  I also have a passion for jewelry, but not the expensive kinds!  With 5 kids, expensive jewelry has never been in the budget but I as many want to look good.  A beautiful pair of earrings have always helped me feel like I look my best.  So I began creating jewelry.

My creations are for all tastes.  I create beautiful, big and bold to simple, sweet styles.  My jewelry mood changes from day to day and it is reflected in the pieces I wear and the pieces I create.  I truly believe that jewelry is a work of art.  It can brighten the wearers day or even those around them.

I hope to inspire others with my creations and my new blog.

White Dove Earrings

Bobby Pin Set

Yellow & Turquoise Earrings