Sweet treats ♥

Look what arrived for me yesterday!

 Gorgeous beaded hairpins, some cute little "Made with Love" charms, an adorable little crocodile and some scarab cabochons.

I was lucky enough to win the beautiful hairpins, made by Jana of Stories of the Secret Garden  via a giveaway hosted by Lelanie at To Sew with Love but Jana was so kind to surprise me with the other treats!

How cute is that crocodile.
Jana recently created a gorgeous pendant using one of these little fellas

which you can find HERE in her Etsy store.

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Also arriving today is my gorgeous loot from Artbeads for my "Winter Enchantment'' piece as part of their Design Partner Blogging Program.

You might recall that it does not snow here in Queensland during Winter so I decided to use this gorgeous Winter blooming Eucalyptus Ironbark Gum blossom as the inspiration for my piece.

I think the beads I chose below will work beautifully and I have something quite different in mind.

(please excuse the dodgy photo...I didn't want to have to take the beads out of the bags)

What do you think? 

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I am excited to announce that this year I am entering not one...not two... but three pieces in the Fire Mountain Gems Seed Beads, Glass or Acrylic category.

I have a piece in mind for their Gemstones category as well but will have to think about that one.

I am also working on a few other pieces which I am hoping to enter into some challenges so the next few months should keep me busy from a creative perspective.

Which is just how I like it!

♥

Want to win a pendant?

Jana of Helmitarha is having a giveaway to celebrate 100 followers on her gorgeous blog, 

Stories of the Secret Garden.

I've been a fan of Jana's for a little while now. 

Her bead work is perfection. 

She has a sense of style that is reflected in her beautiful pieces. 

She collects thimbles.

Loves visiting flea markets.

and.....

I consider her my friend!

Be sure to visit her beautiful blog showcasing her gorgeous bead work and be sure to tell her I said hello.

But be warned... I want to win that gorgeous pendant too!

♥

A snowflake to touch my heart

Believe it or not I am 37 years old and I have never seen snow. 

Hang on ....did I just tell you how old I am...eeek!

Never seen snow!!!

For years my hubby and I have been saying we must take a trip during snow season. 

He being English has of course seen snow many times. 

Me, I can't even imagine what it would be like or even how cold it would have to be for it to be snowing.

A friend in Finland updated her Facebook saying that it was snowing. I then made a comment telling her I'd never seen snow and jokingly asked her if she could she send me some (remembering I am in Australia).

Look what she sent me!

My own little snowflake. Isn't it gorgeous!

What a sweet thing to do... it really did touch my heart and made me feel all warm inside!

Thanks Jana, you made me smile. 

xo

By the way Jana is a fellow beader and creates amazingly gorgeous pieces so be sure to check out her blog

Stories of the Secret Garden with links to her Etsy store.

♥

Cherry Pie

I just had to share this beautiful necklace, Cherry Pie, made by Jana of Stories of the Secret Garden.

Jana was one of the winners of my recent Cab Giveaway a few months ago winning the cabs below.

I was absolutely busting to see what she was going to create with the cabs as her pieces are just stunning and I was blown away by this stunning piece. 

I love how she has included the blue beads to bring out the very discrete splash of blue in the cab.

If you haven't checked out Jana's blog be sure to pop on over and say hello. 

Or better still check out her Etsy shop where this beauty is for sale!

Thanks Jana... 

I am happy to have found you!

♥

A beautiful brooch from a beautiful girl

I recently came across a wonderful blog, Stories of the Secret Garden, which is now one of my favourite blogs to follow. 

The lovely Jana, creator of Stories of the Secret Garden, recently held a Summer Giveaway offering one of her gorgeous creations and I was the lucky winner!

Here is my gorgeous brooch I won...isn't it precious!!

Jana's work is impeccable and it is obvious she has an eye for detail. 

She is such a creative soul and produces the most gorgeous pieces. 

I especially love her funky earrings and rings!

I love this amazing world of blogging. I have met so many wonderful people from all around the world and their generosity, such as Jana's, still overwhelms me.

If you haven't visited Jana's blog be sure to drop by and say hello and don't forget to tell her I sent you!

Thank you Jana... 

♥ Rufus sends Liisa big hugs ♥