This Week's Blog Post

Freeform Wire Earrings
I had some time to play around with wire! I love the look of freeform designs. These findings were made with 18 gauge sterling silver filled wire and hammered flat. Since they are for myself I used inexpensive steel ear wires!

Eventually I will get around to making findings like this for the shop!!! The various loops are great. The findings look pretty solo but all sorts of beads could be dangled to make unique earrings or pendants!

More Etsy Stuff!
My 10 year old niece is into One Direction! More fun things to shop for on Etsy! If you do not know what One Direction is, they are like the new New Kids On The Block or the new Nsync.

Niall Horan is her favorite One Direction band member.  This bracelet is from iccgiftco. It came with 2 different bands so she can change out the look with outfits!  You can find all sorts of fun bracelets here.

This Mrs. Horan 1D necklace is from Tag Soup. This is a great shop for personalized hand stamped jewelry pieces.

This unique nightlight is from Cheryls Creative Block. Each side has a different photo of One Direction! This shop also carries a variety of other fun nightlights for any obsession.

This personalized water bottle is from On Your Mind Designs.  This shop has cool tumblers, water bottles and more!

I also made her a necklace using zebra print beads. I could have sworn I took a photo of it but can't find it!!!

It is time to say Happy New Year! I hope you all have a brilliant, prosperous, happy 2013. ~Val

This Week's Blog post

Made in the USA!
I am excited to announce my new inventory additions. Made in the USA beading wire from The Soft Flex Company! I have been wanting to add USA made products to my store for a while now as I think it is important to support the country’s struggling economy. In 2013 I plan on searching further for more great USA made products that I can offer at affordable prices (another thing that is important to me).

I hope to have the new spools of beading wire listed in my shop this coming week (if time permits!). The inventory includes 12 different spools of different widths, drape, lengths and strand counts!

Fort McClary     
Jim and I made this stop the same day as last post's stops. Fort McClary was used for almost 275 years to protect the approaches to the Piscataqua River in Maine. Its history dates all the way back to 1689!

This includes the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I.

I really dislike war and feel it is a waste of human lives and resources, but that is just my opinion! This is the Blockhouse in the center.

The narrow windows are of cut granite. It is cool looking out of them!

The upstairs was built from squared logs.

Today this area docks many boats.

Hollywood Again

Remember a couple of weeks ago that I mentioned Hollywood filming in the area? Well this week Larry David (Seinfeld creator and Curb Your Enthusiasm dude) was in my hometown where I lived my first 27 years and my parents still live! The filming took place at an unfinished mansion in town.

This will be an HBO film written by and starring Larry David titled Clear History to be released in 2014. It is sure to be funny since the cast also includes Kate Hudson (who I am loving on this season’s Glee!), John Hamm (Love), Michael Keaton and Eva Mendes.

The majority of the movie will be filmed at a mansion in the next town over in Andover, MA. The newspaper shows this photo inside this home with a waterslide (yes, inside)…..ridiculous! Yes I grew up in an area with 1 percenters but let me add that my family was never anywhere near that category. If you are from outside the U.S. a 1 percenter is basically a super rich person.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great week!!!  ~Val

Eggplant Parmesan With a Twist!

Jim and I made this amazing eggplant parmesan with a twist!

I was never into eggplant but I think that was due to the skin. Jim peels it before slicing! Then the slices are dipped into an egg and Italian breadcrumb mix.

Then the slices get fried up in olive oil until golden brown!

Then the oils is soaked up with papertowels.

Time to layer the eggplant with red sauce and mozzarella!

Now here is the twist! The plan was to make a caprese salad so we had the ingredients. Instead we placed the mozzarella, fresh tomato slices and fresh basil on top before baking!!!

Since we are both huge margherita pizza fans, this was perfect....like a combination of eggplant parmesan and our favorite pizza!!!
We enjoyed it with this great inexpensive bottle of red called 14 Hands, Hot to Trot. This is a blend of merlot, cabernet, syrah and petit verdot from Washington state. Mmmm!

Emmett stayed out of our way most of the time. But his obsession with the kitchen sink did tempt him at one point!

This little cutie was hanging out, enjoying the grass one day when I was pulling into my driveway. He was so adorable stuffing his face!

New this week in my shop is sterling silver filled wire! This item is becoming popular since the price of silver is at an all time high. It is created with a copper alloy that has been coated hundreds of times with sterling silver so it is tons better than plated wire! Available at Miss Val's Creations.

Have a great week!!!! ~Val