gordon jewelry: February 2013

In My Workshop

I like to keep a bowl of tumbled and polished stones in my workshop.

Rather than keeping them stored away, it's great to have them right on

my workbench where I can see them. Sometimes their colors or shapes

will inspire a new project. Because I'm a visual person and am often

inspired by what I see, I try to keep beautiful things around me, especially

when I'm designing and working. It's a great practice for keeping those

creative juices flowing.

Mind you I said beautiful, not expensive. Some of the things I find the most

beautiful are rusty and old. As they say, it's in the eye of the beholder.

Your thoughts?

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Make Each Day Your Masterpiece

Make each day your masterpiece!

Do the things you really want to do.

ENJOY your life, you only get one...

Make each day count.

Do something memorable.

Do what makes you happy.

It is entirely your responsibility, and your freedom.

Your thoughts?

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I really enjoyed writing The Upcycled Garden blog post I did last year so I thought I'd
do another one (or two) of them this year. Before you know it spring will be upon us
(hopefully sooner rather than later!) so why not get those gears turning and think about
what creative ways you can use and display unique items in your yard and garden
this summer? Take a look at this collection and let me know what you think!

Coffee cans + chain + paint = A unique hanging planter
Can garden via Against the wood grain

Upcycled garden hose door mat by Mark Kintzel

Mosaic wall with embedded teacups for succulents

Painted wash tub garden via Indulgy

Simple birdbath made from a grapevine wreath, terracotta saucer, and rope

Upcycled bottle hummingbird feeder by Dee Luxford via Etsy

Tub settee from CleverJunk via Junkmarketstyle

Chicken wire chandelier DIY from fun.kyti.me

Upcycled water fountain photo via Heartland Gardens

Bicycle lawn mower from Treehugger

Planter made from an old doll by Franglias Designs

Make a ginger-bird house to feed the birds like this one from Backyard Farming

Old sink on sewing machine base is now a unique planter. From Cherry Hill Cottage

Planter made from an old wagon & sewing machine base from Second Hand Rose

Use broken clay pot pieces in your planters to deter digging pests by gardengateenotes

Vertically hung garden fence edging serves as a unique trellis

Birdhouse chandelier

Recycled tin can hanging planters from Poppytalk

Old screen door used as a garden gate

Chicken coop car (It's a Yolkswagon)

Bowling ball + 714 marbles = unique garden art

Outdoor chandelier made with electric insulators by Brian at Gadget Sponge

Old electric glass insulators on copper pipes = unique garden art

Copper pipe windchimes by SarahMc

Flower art via Just Imagine

What do you think?

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Vintage Album Cover Notebooks Are Awesome!

Sometimes I come across something that is so absolutely fantabulous that I just

have to share it with you! This happened recently, when I came across John & Jill's

Etsy shop Records And Stuff while perusing Etsy for some music themed items.

The first thing that caught my eye was a notebook whose cover was made from an

old Led Zeppelin IV album. Awesome! Since my daughter Erica (aged 10 soon to be 11)

plays guitar, goes to School Of Rock, and is a Zeppelin fan, I thought of her right away, thinking this would be a great musical journal for her to use for her guitar lessons

and would just be the perfect place for her to write her musical thoughts and ideas.

She was thrilled when I gave her the notebook, whose inside featured the album

insert along with the song lyrics from the album. What a great gift!

front cover

back cover

inside the cover

page made from the record sleeve

lyrics from the record sleeve - after this page is a full lined notebook

As soon as I saw Erica's notebook, I knew I needed one for myself! Back to Records

And Stuff I went, and was happy to find the Heart Dog & Butterfly and Fleetwood Mac

Rumors album cover notebooks. Sold!

I'm using the Heart notebook as a jewelry journal, where I'm keeping notes
and sketches while I write my jewelry book for North Light. The Fleetwood Mac
one will be going to my best friend Nikki, who is a lifelong Fleetwood Mac fan.

Well played John & Jill! Love your stuff!