Giveaway - Win this Seashell Topiary at linkouture.com

 I've been talking about doing a giveaway for quite some time so if you have been wondering when I would get around to it -- here it is.

I decided to team up with other handmade artist at linkouture.com and offer my seashell topiary.  There are some great things offered - jewelry -- fashion accessories -- home decor -- all handmade.    So if you would like to win this unique seashell wall hanging along with the other handmade offerings -- enter here or at linkouture.com.   Here is the link to the giveaway:
 http://www.linkouture.com/2013/11/2013-holiday-sale-and-handmade-giveaway.html 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Favorites from the CASTTEAM Weekend Help Thread

Each weekend the CASTTEAM on Etsy opens a promo thread. If you belong to the CASTTEAM and are looking for a way to promote your items -- visit the thread here. You need to be willing to promote other posts if you want to list your items in the thread. Please read full instructions before participating.

Here are my favorites from this weekends posts. Click on the links below the photos to take a closer look.

Embroidered Necklace, Black Cat Pendant

Lil Twister Mini Quilt Table Topper

Christmas Countdown Calendar Garland

Candy cane Christmas reversible apron

Favorites from my Beach Decor Pinterest board

Here are a few of my favorite pins on my Beach Decor Pinterest Board.
I recently spend a few days at Rockport, Ma. It is one of my favorite beach spots and fortunately it is close to where I live. Each year my mom and my sisters get together and we stay at The Captains Bounty. It is right on the Atlantic Ocean at Front Beach. Each morning my sisters and I searched the beach for unique finds to use for my Angels n Everlastings shop. It was creations like this driftwood mirror from CottageandBungalow.com that inspired me to bring home a big bag of driftwood this year.




Here is a color pallette from Thecoastaltouch.com I found recently on pinterest.



I like it because it is different than the aqua beach palettes that are so common. The green is outstanding and so true to life. Check out this photo



I took while at Rockport showing the same green tone.

Here is one more pinterest find from houzz.com I love the neutral tones here! These tiles are by Wet Dog Tile Co located in Alstead, New Hampshire. Visit their web site here.

Traditional Bathroom by Alstead Tile, Stone & Countertops Wet Dog Tile Co.

Well, these are just a few pins from my beach home decor pinterest. Check out the rest at http://www.pinterest.com/judy_russi/beach-home-decor/ Kindly leave a comment or share your favorite beach finds.

CASTTEAM Weekend Promo Event

Each weekend the CASTTEAM on Etsy opens a promo thread. If you belong to the CASTTEAM and are looking for a way to promote your items -- visit the thread here. You need to be willing to promote other posts if you want to list your items in the thread. Please read full instructions before posting.

Here are my favorites from this weekends posts.

This is just the cutest baby hat and what a great photo:

How about this gluten free playdough:

And one more -- I love this beach themed treasure box:

Take a moment to visit these shops and listings -- You'll be glad you did. If you are a Christian and have an Etsy shop and are looking for a team, I recommend joining the CASTTEAM. It's a great group of supportive Etsy shop owners. Someone is always available and willing to answer questions or offer suggestions on how to improve your shop. It's also a great place if you need prayer or are interested in Christian fellowship from around the world.

Castteam Themed Treasury Event Winners

The Castteam on Etsy had their first themed treasury event this month. The theme for September was Autumn or Fall. There were many good treasuries that were posted in the event thread. You can view them here if you'd like.  The first one I will share was the one with the most views called The Color of Autumn. It had 182 views this morning and 100 admirers.  

Green Earrings light Aventurine by JunrylGems

This one was created by JunrylGems on Etsy. Tess of Junrylgems designs unique and one of a kind jewelry. Here is one of her earring listings: Visit her JunrylGems Etsy shop
to see her other one of a kind jewelry listings. 

The second one I will share is the Castteam leaders choice. There were so many great fall treasuries that it was really difficult to choose just one. The one we chose was titled Sights and Sounds of September made by Dianna Wood of The Woods Secret Garden on Etsy.

Hand Painted Jacket By Dianna Wood

Dianna uses her art to decorate shoes, leather jackets, boots, vests and handbags with Christian themes. Here is just one of her unusual listings.  You should visit her shop to see her other creative art. It is a real treat.
Her other links -  www.DiannaWood.blogspot.com
www.IWillSingANewSong.blogspot.com
www.TheWoodsSecretGarden.blogspot.com

Beach Finds at Rockport, MA

I spent a few days recently at Rockport, MA.  I have some beach photos to share later but here is a quick post of seashells and sea glass finds on the beach. 

 My family helped me collect bits of sea glass and seashells along the beach in Rockport, Ma.  You can find bits of sea glass and if you look carefully you can also find rarer little bits of sea pottery.

Check out the pottery piece with the imprint in the photo above.  Below there are a few deep cobalt blue pieces which were rarer and if you look closely a small piece of beach pottery with a blue imprint.  

I am going to use some of these for myself but I will be using some of these finds in creations for my Angels n Everlastings Etsy shop

New at Angels-n-Everlastings

One of my newer listings at Angelsneverlastings.etsy.com is the beach scene diorama.  I really enjoy putting these together.  Each one is unique.

I enjoy painting the background as I find it more creative than putting wreaths together.  I carefully go though my beach findings to choose just the right seashells or driftwood to finish each one.  A sawtooth hanger can be added to the back if you would prefer to hang rather than display on a tabletop.

Here's a new wreath just listed today.

It has eucalyptus, seashells, dried roses and deep blue larkspur.  Here is the link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/160918420/seashell-wreath-spanish-moss-covered?ref=shop_home_active

A sheer ribbon bow surrounded by dried roses and seashells creates a soft focal point.









I love to walk the beach early in the morning, many mornings I take some photos as the sun rises.
Here's one from a recent morning.

On a recent morning, I found some interesting driftwood pieces.  What did I do with them?

Here are some Christmas tree ornaments or small wall hangings, made from the driftwood, seashells, moss and sea glass:

.  

This one is a larger wall hanging with seashells, sea glass and green moss.  It measures 17 inches long.  Watch for the driftwood pieces to be added soon to my Etsy shop.

My links:
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AngelsNEverlastings
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelsNEverlastings
Twitter: https://twitter.com/judyrussi
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/judy_russi

Dried Roses Part II

Here are the photos of the dried roses that I hung to dry a few weeks ago.  Click here for my first post about how to dry roses.  Here are the photos once dried:

They dried really well and as you can see the pink color went from a pale pink to a more vibrant deep pink.

 I used some of these dried roses for the heart wreath DIY guest blog post at Savvy Deets Bridal.  Click on the link to check out my grapevine heart wreath tutorial and find all sorts of bridal inspiration at Savvy Deets Bridal.  Here's a picture of the wreath and the link to my Angels n Everlastings Etsy Shop:

Beach Theme Heart Wreath

Here is another wreath that I just finished with these roses - It hasn't even been listed in my Etsy shop yet:

Thanks for visiting Angels n Everlastings.  Kindly visit my other links:                 https://www.facebook.com/AngelsNEverlastings
https://twitter.com/judyrussi
http://pinterest.com/judy_russi
http://wanelo.com/judyrussi

Savvy Deets Bridal - A Wedding Blog: {DIY} Seashell Wreath Tutorial | Guest Post from A...

 I'd like to post a link to a DIY guest blog post that I did this week at Savvy Deets Bridal.  Here is the wreath:

This wreath is available in my Angels-n-everlastings Etsy Shop but if you would like to make your own beach keepsake wreath -- check out the tutorial at Savvy Deets Bridal.  If you make your own I would love to see it!


Savvy Deets Bridal - A Wedding Blog: {DIY} Seashell Wreath Tutorial | Guest Post from A...: We are overjoyed to be bringing you this delightful DIY tutorial today from Etsy artisan Judy with Angels N Everlastings ! Judy's s...

Beach Finds This Week

This week I found a mixed bag of stuff on the beach.  Here is someone doing some fishing off of Revere Beach.  It was somewhat of a grey morning.  If you look closely you can see a lighthouse off in the distance.  I collected some seashells along with some driftwood and one pine cone.  

I'm not sure what I will do with the pine cone or the driftwood but I will use the seashells for beach home decor for my Angels n Everlastings Etsy shop.  Click here for one of my newer listings: Decoupage Wooden Plaque with Hymnal Music and Seashells

Drying Roses

Roses are really easy to dry -- Look for ones either in you garden or to buy that are fairly fresh -- and not too past peak.   They need a place where the air is fairly dry -- you have to be careful that they dry out before rotting.  Do not leave in direct sunlight as the sun will fade out the color.   I find my house is perfect in winter months for drying -- when the air in the house is dry and harsh but we will see what happens here in July. 

While at trader Joes, I found these roses on sale called "Savoy".  They are a creamy shade, with darker pink around the edge.  They looked like they were in decent shape. 

The smaller tea roses dry better since there is less chance of rotting because they dry faster.  The pink shades dry really nicely.  The color intensifies as they dry so a pale pink might become quite vibrant when dry.  These are not the smaller tea roses and I'm not sure how the creamy shade will dry so we will have to see how they come out. 

 So, all you do is take off wrapper -- hang in a dry spot -- out of direct sunlight.  Here are mine hanging in a corner of my kitchen.  You might want to group them into smaller bunches so that they don't touch one another -- or separate by stuffing some tissue paper in center of the bunch.  A fan might help also to dry them more quickly.  Check on them in two weeks or so and make sure the stems are completely dry and stiff before taking down.  You then can arrange in a vase will some kind of filler like baby's breath or dried greens or break buds from stems and use to decorate a wreath or wall hanging.  Check back here in two weeks to see how these come out and see what I plan to do with them.  You can visit my Etsy shop here to see some of my wreaths and wall hangings.

Sand Sculpting Festival Photos

Here are my photos from the completed sandcastles at the festival this weekend on Revere Beach.  Visit Reverebeach.com to see their photo collection and read more about the artists who created these works of arts.  

It was a beautiful morning on Monday when I took these photos.  The weekend had been unbearably hot but this morning the air had cleared and it was cool and comfortable with a beautiful sun rise.

Sometimes the sandcastles last for quite a while, although we had such torrential downpours this afternoon that they might have gotten destroyed.  If you are in the area you can check them out. 

Sandsculpting Artists at Work

The sandcastles are starting to take shape at the Revere Beach Sandsculpting Festival this weekend.  Click here for a more info on the festivities and information about the participating artists. 

This sculptor resembles Santa Clause -- maybe that's what he does off season.