Happy 2026!

 

Teaching Wire Wrapping

  If you're interested in learning how to wire wrap a cabochon to make into a pendant, you might be interested in the class I will be teaching at the Grand Art Club in January.  You don't need to be a member of the Art Club, but you do need to live (or be visiting with a CAM card) here.  

   Other classes, as well as information about the Art Club can be found at GrandArtClub.org.

   Here's the info that is available about my class:

   

It's Spring!

      Spring is the most interesting time of the year IMHO. Fall is my favorite season because I love the colors and the start of the best weather here in the desert southwest.  But Fall doesn't compare well with Spring in terms of the energy and the new life that comes with this season.  

      I've made a couple of different kinds of Spring earrings to celebrate the Season.  Featured above are my Shell Bird and Lapis earrings.  I make the "nest" out of wire and put 3 Lapis Lazuli beads inside it.

       If you like a sturdier bird, check out these Tan Clay Birds with Red Jasper:

They also come with Blue Sodalite:  

You'll also find Bee earrings and other nature inspired items in my Etsy shop.  

I  hope you'll stop by soon.

Christmas 2024 Grand Boutique

      On December 7 Grand will have its December 2024 Boutique.  Along with 5 of my fellow Grand Stitchers I will be participating.  We'll be joining a fun and growing part of the U.S. craft economy as we show and sell our handmade items this Saturday.

      There's been a growing interest in handmade.  Etsy, the top U.S. marketplace for handmade, has been showing ads and gaining momentum all year.  Their ads are a perfect match during the Christmas season, but this year they even took out an ad during the Super Bowl!  And no wonder--over 75% of Americans said they participated in a craft activity this past year.  It's only natural that they would be interested in artisan made goods.  (That's what me and my friends are hoping will happen this Saturday!)

      Our Boutique will take place outside in the plaza area of The Grand on Remington Boulevard.  In addition to jewelry, embroidered items, and a few felted goodies, there will be glass, clay and paper arts for sale.  It's a great place to shop for something unique and different. The hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

       I know our market can't compete with some of the larger U.S. Christmas fairs.  The Bryant Park Winter Village in New York City has vendors, but also an ice skating rink and views of the Empire State Building. The Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has over 100 vendors selling handmade toys, hand-knit wool sweaters, and traditional German Christmas classics.  

      Shoppers at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco can buy their handmade glass ornaments and more at a Victorian London streetscape created inside the Cow Palace.  And nearly half a million visitors will shop in Carmel, Indiana at their Christkindlmarkt. We're hoping for a nice crowd in Grand, but have no expectation of getting half a mil to come out.    

      We won't be in a Victorian storybook setting, or even a snowy Christmas village, but come and see us anyway.  We'll have lots of handmade items and plenty of Christmas spirit. 

    If you can't come in person, come to my Etsy shop.  I'm a Star Seller this month!

Here's a link to bring you directly into the shop.  https://desertdabbler.etsy.com

Is There Gold in That Pumpkin?

       Nothing says Fall like pumpkins. Last month I showed you my needle felted ones.  This month I want to show you my Goldstone pumpkins.  You wouldn't want to try to bake a pie with Goldstone, but it's great for making jewelry.

See more details about this one here. 

I added extra purple bling to the leaves with Stickles. Hope you like them!

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If you're in the Surprise, Arizona, area on November 16, come out to Grand's Fall Fest celebration.  I'll be inside the Chaparral Lobby with my Desert Dabbler Jewelry.  Stop by and say Hello.

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See the Bracelet sale going on now through November 30 in my Etsy shop.  Beaded bracelets are now 20% off.  There are 6 to choose from.  Here's one of my favorites.

More details are here.

     

Pumpkin Time is Here!

   

     It's hard to believe that October is finally here. It's still soooo hot here in Arizona. We've been under a Heat Advisory for days and days.  Real pumpkins are struggling to survive, but my needle felted ones are fresh and colorful.

     Here are a few that are available in my Etsy shop. 

This one has 2 ribbons. One says "Happy Thanksgiving".

See it here

This one has a copper leaf that I handcrafted from wire.  

See it here

This yellow one has a jaunty feather!

See it here

        There are acorns, too, and more pumpkins.  Stop by my shop and give it a look.

Happy Fall, Y'All

Father's Day - Then and Now

 It took over 60 years for Father’s Day to be officially and nationally set aside as Dad's special day. From tragic beginnings in 1908 the idea of honoring our fathers grew until it was recognized as a nation wide day of celebration in 1972.  

A mine explosion in West Virginia was the tragedy that initially started Father's Day. On July 5, 1908 the deaths of 362 men were honored by this local event.   Over the years other events to honor fathers occurred in various cities and states.  Washington state is recognized as the first state to celebrate the day state-wide in 1910. 

President Woodrow Wilson was the first president to celebrate the day in 1924. The idea continued to grow and become popular until it became a national day of tribute in 1972 during the Nixon administration. The date was set as the third Sunday in June. 

A traditional Father's Day celebration includes his favorite food, a decorated cake, and maybe a gift or two. 

If you're looking for a unique Father's Day gift, check out my Obsidian and turquoise bracelet. It's on sale now until Father' Day, June 16.

However you choose to celebrate, have a great day with your dad.

You can see all Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry here: www.Desertdabbler.etsy.com

Wild West Days

  We’ve been taking a break from the blazing Arizona heat the past few weeks. It’s been a real treat. Cool days with plenty of sunshine. We’re at about 8700 feet so the weather is totally different. I’m loving it, and Tikaan is ecstatic. Here he is enjoying the Yampa River  

   We’re not traveling in a Conestoga, thank goodness. Picturesque though they are, I like my comfy motor home much better.  But if you want to try out a Conestoga, check out Sun Outdoors in Granby, Colorado. They rent out the ones shown above. They’ve been modified with A/C, heat, and a door that locks. Bet the pioneers wished they had had those mods!

     My Etsy shop is on vacation, too, until next week. It should be open on August 24. While I’ve been gone I’ve been needle felting pumpkins and acorns. I hope to have some in the shop soon. 

      Until the, Happy Trails to you!

  

Wire Jewelry

         I've been fascinated by wire jewelry for a long time.  A few years ago I started working with wire and made a number of Tree of Life necklaces.  Next I moved to wire wrapping stone cabochons.  A few months ago I began making pendants, hearts, and other shapes out of the wire itself. 

         There are lots of great resources to teach you how to work with wire.  There's YouTube videos, pdf patterns, e-books and traditional books. The problem isn't finding resources, it's finding the time to make all the beautiful items.  

          Two of my current favorite designers are Nadja, whose shop on Etsy is ImbaliCrafts, and Valeriy Vorobev, who can be found on YouTube and through e-books. I hope to complete a pendant based on one of  Mr. Vorobev's designs soon.  If you're a beginner, it would be easier to start with a tutorial from Nadja or Yvonne Kennedy from Back to Earth Creations.  

           If you're interested in some pendants that are already made, I have five that are on sale (15% off) thru July 16.  Two of them are pictured below. They can be found at Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry on Etsy.  Click the button to the right to be zipped there immediately.   The wire necklaces are in the Sale section.  

           Hope to see you there!

  

Magical Moonstone

MAGICAL MOONSTONE

 

     There's something magical about Moonstone.  The luminous white stone is associated with the moon and its cycles.  According to legend, the ancient Hindus believed that Moonstone held trapped moon beams.  The ancient Romans thought Moonstone's beautiful color came from the stored light of the moon.

                Today Moonstone is considered a stone that can enhance intuition and calm the emotions.

                 It is a "stone of new beginnings", according to Judy Hall in her book, The Crystal Bible.   

                         

 

          Double Heart Earrings

                 Moonstone and turquoise combined with Sterling Silver ear wires (above) or 14 kt gold (below).  

             Moonstone colors include white, as shown above, as well as blue, peach, and cream.

         White Moonstone is said to encourage spiritual growth.  To see more about these earrings in my Etsy shop, click here for the silver ones and here for 14kt gold.  

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On SALE now:  9 Select Necklaces are on sale 

   20% off through June 30.  See them in my Etsy shop

 in the ON SALE section.

 

BRACELET SALE!!!

Need a bracelet for yourself or for a gift?   I'm having a Bracelet Sale in my Etsy shop now through the end of May.  Eight different styles - all for 20% off.   Here are 3 of the 8 styles on sale:
 

I designed and created this one on a loom.  

These two are peyote stitched - leather added on the sides and ends.

To see all 8 click on the I SELL ON ETSY button on the right.  The On Sale section has these and 5 more bracelets - made just for you!

  

STRINGING BLUES

   

    I belong to a beading group that meets once a week here at Sun City Grand.  Recently two of the women were making multi-strand necklaces.  They were very pretty and very different from one another.  When the other beaders saw them, interest in making these long time favorites grew.  Most of us had made multi-strand jewelry before, but not recently.  They're fun and fairly easy.  The only tricky part is getting the cones attached properly.

     Soon the interest grew into a challenge.  Make one (or more) necklaces and bring them to the club in August.  The only requirement is that they have to have more than one strand.   

      I mixed up a blue bead "soup" and got to work.   Here are the two that I came up with. 

       I'm not sure if I'll make more since we're going away for a few weeks.  If I do, I'll make them in different colors.  But who knows???   Maybe being on vacation will be the perfect time to string a few beads.  

 

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COUPON CODE FOR JULY & AUGUST.  

      As a Thank You for visiting my blog, here's a coupon code for 20% off in my Etsy shop:  SUMMER2022 

Use the coupon when you check out at Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry through August, 2022.  

 My shop will be taking a vacation from July 16 through August 12, 2022.  The coupon code can be used before or after this time, until the end of August.  

Moonstone - Birthstone for June

      Luminous and dreamy, Moonstone is one of the birthstones associated with June.  It's one of my faves, as you can tell if you have searched for Moonstone in my shop.  I have 4 pairs of Moonstone earrings in my shop, Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry.   

      Moonstone hearts are paired with turquoise hearts in this pair.  A double treat!

!

Moonstone also comes in pink, as shown in these earrings.  Blue and rainbow are other popular colors.

Moonstone is considered to be the most feminine stone and brings out feminine energy. It's associated with hope, sensitivity, and abundance.  Many think it inspires intuition and enhances psychic powers.  Whether it does or not, it is definitely one of the prettiest stones to wear.

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If you want to see more about the earrings or other jewelry in my shop, click the button in the top right corner.  But before you go, write down the coupon code below.  You can use it on anything in Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry during most of the month of June.  My shop will be taking a short vacation from June 20 through June 23.  

COUPON CODE FOR JUNE

  As a Thank You for visiting and reading my blog, here's a coupon code for 20% off:  JUNE2022 

Use the coupon when you check out at my shop on Etsy.  Good on items from Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry until June 30, 2022.  

Goodbye Spring!

 

       You know summer is coming when the snowbirds start leaving and events begin to end.  We haven't had triple digit heat yet, but we all know it's coming.  So this Saturday will be a day to get out and have some final days of fun.

        This Saturday, May 7, will be the last Grand Arts & Crafts Market of the Season.  Since the weather is heating up, the hours are lowering.  It will be from 8 A.M. to 11 A.M.  Find Desert Dabbler and the other Grand Stitchers on the club side of the Sonoran Plaza.   Look for my turquoise tablecloth and wildlife inspired jewelry.  New wolves will be there!

      We're suppose to have a tent and 6 tables.   We never know exactly where our Community Association Management people will put us.  The good news, however, is that the area is beautiful and not all that large.  If you're in the Surprise area, come on out.  We'll be easy to find.

      We'll be at the Sonoran Plaza, at the end of Remington Drive, inside Sun City Grand, Surprise, AZ.

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If you aren't in the Phoenix area, come and visit me on Etsy.  Click the button in the top right.  But before you go, write down the coupon code below.  You can use it on anything in Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry.  

COUPON CODE FOR MAY

  As a Thank You for visiting and reading my blog, here's a coupon code for 20% off:  SPRING2022 

Use the coupon when you check out at my shop on Etsy.  Good on items from Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry until May 30, 2022.  

Spring RV Trip

 

     

     Our longest RV adventure (so far) just ended.  I put my Etsy shop on vacation mode and off we went. We traveled through New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and finally - Ohio!  

       

     The trip started out great in New Mexico's Route 66 RV Park.  It was a quick overnight stop. No time to visit the nearby casino.  But the park is convenient, and the people are friendly.

From there it was three more quick overnight stops. There were a couple of windy nights, but the drive itself was uneventful.  As we traveled east, we met colder weather. Spring flowers were scarce, and the trees were bare.  

By the time we reached Ohio, I realized that I had not packed nearly enough warm clothes.  Still, it was great to see family and friends.  

The KOA campground in Ohio was large, with two ponds, lots of wooded areas to walk, and even a covered bridge.

On the second day there, Tikaan got to see snow for the first time!

We bought some warmer clothes.  Had great dinners and visits with our loved ones.  All too soon we had to leave and make the trip back in reverse.  We left a day early to avoid some very scary weather that was forecast. (Like tornados and severe t-storms)   

Except for some heavy rainfall for a few hours, we escaped the bad weather.  We were tired but happy campers.     

But we'll all be ready to go off again in a few months!

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My Etsy shop, Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry, is now up and open again.  As a Thank You for visiting and reading my blog, here's a coupon code for 20% off:  SPRING2022 

Use the coupon when you check out.  Good on items from Desert Dabbler until May 30, 2022.  

Dog Stamps Plus Contest Update

      Hurray!!! I received an Honorable Mention, with a $20 gift certificate prize, in the Dog Stamps Plus rubber stamp contest!  My entry "Husky Dreams" was chosen for this honor. 

      There were so many great cards in the contest. I'm sure selecting the winners was a hard task.  The company was very generous with its prizes.  First Place was a $100 gift certificate! You can see all of the entries and winners by going to DogStampsPlus website and clicking on View Entries.  

      This was Dog Stamps Plus first contest. They gave away up to 6 stamps to anyone who wanted to enter the contest. 

       My second entry was made with a stamp that had a Husky pup and a snowman.  A very cute, popular stamp. I think more cards were made with this stamp than with any other one.   

        The contest was also created to draw awareness and support for shelters. A very worthy cause.

       Thanks go out to all the nice people at DogStampsPlus for sponsoring such a fun contest.

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     The coupon code for my Etsy shop for this month is MARCHSAVINGS.  Use it to get 20% off your order from Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry.   But hurry - the coupon expires March 31.  

Going to the Dogs

    A few weeks ago I saw a notice for a stamping contest sponsored by Dog Stamps Plus.  The contest was unique - they gave away rubber stamps plus the possibility of winning gift certificates for more stamps plus the potential of raising money for a great cause, animal shelters.  The contest didn't cost anything to enter and promised to be fun regardless of whether you won a prize.  

     When I took a look at the stamps they were giving away, I was hooked.  The stamps included HUSKIES!  All you had to do in return for the stamps was to agree to send them pictures of the cards you made from the stamps.  I submitted two entries: 

 You can see all the entries on their website, Dog Stamps Plus.  Winners will be announced later this month.  But I think we've all won in this contest.  

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     The coupon code for my Etsy shop for this month is MARCHSAVINGS.  Use it to get 20% off your order from Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry.   But hurry - the coupon expires March 31.  

     

 

     

Howling Wolf Pendant

       When we were in Durango last year I bought this great ceramic howling wolf oval.  I love wolves!  

       I wire wrapped it with copper wire and added a leather cord for the necklace.  It's for sale in my Etsy shop now.  You can find it here.   

        You can use coupon code FEBRUARYBLOG to save some $$$ on this or anything else you see in the shop.  Simply type in the code when you check out.  But hurry - there's only a few more days left to use the February coupon. 

      Thanks for reading and looking at my shop.   Oh---if you go to my shop, please consider favoring it by clicking on the little heart.  Doesn't cost anything or obligate you in anyway, but it helps small shops like mine.   Thanks! 

Tucson Bead Show Update & More

     It was great to be in Tucson again for the bead and gem show.  I only went to two shows this year, but found enough treasurers to last me well beyond this year.  

     I started at "To Bead True Blue" and "Colors of the Stone", held at Casino Del Sol.  The two shows must be made separate for their own accounting reasons.  For us shoppers, it is a seamless transition between the two.  

     The show was smaller this year but still fun and filled with lots of great items.  I shopped at "Filigree & Me", which is one of my favorite shops.  Then went to the Parawire store and bought a huge (for me) amount of bare copper wire.  I'm into wire these days, and this will keep me busy for quite a while.  Found some great jasper beads at Colors of the Stone, and a few more cabs and beads that were just too good to pass up at other shops.

      The next day I visited the shops at Kino.  This venue is totally different.  Lots of tents and outside booths filled with huge slab and uncut stones.  You buy these big boys by the pound.  Since we don't have a place to cut and polish stone, I didn't buy any of the slabs.  However, many of the places have a few cut into cabochons.  Lots of other booths have row after row of cabs.  It's great.  I bought  some lapis, more jasper, a composite called "Mohave Turquoise", Goldstone, and more.  One of my favorite finds is a Cherry Quartz heart that I hope to wire wrap soon.   

      This venue also has lots of other items - unusual tables and furniture, rugs, baskets and other items from around the world.  It's like going into a foreign bazaar without having the hassle of passports and long airplane rides.  I love Kino!

      A final quick stop at the nearby Tandy shop wrapped up this day.  They had left over small cuts of great red and purple leather.  They will be the perfect weight and amount for bracelets and trim.

       On Saturday I participated in the Grand Boutique, the first one I've done in a long time.  It was really cold in the morning, but that didn't stop people from coming out to the newly renovated community square at Sun City Grand.  There was great live music to add to the festival atmosphere.

Cold but fun day at the Boutique!

 Now for a reward for reading this Blog!!! Here's the coupon code for my Etsy shop for the month of February.  The code is FEBRUARYBLOG.  It's good for 20% off on 79 items in my shop from now until February 28, 2022.  Thanks for reading and looking!  

     Click here or on the Etsy square on the right.  

  

Tucson Gem Shows

 I'm heading to Tucson this week to shop at the Gem Shows   My first stop will be at Casino Del Sol, the location of To Bead True Blue and Colors of the Stone.  In the past it's been great, and I'm looking forward to seeing it again.  I really missed it last year when everything was cancelled.  

I had planned to leave my Etsy shop, Desert Dabbler Jewelry, open.  But I've changed my mind.  The new emphasis placed on fast, fast shipping by Etsy causes me some concern.  I had planned to make it clear through announcements and notices that any purchases would be shipped as soon as I return on February 4.  But I'm concerned that this might not satisfy the Etsy protocols.  A delay in shipping can cause your shop to be given less visibility.  Since there are literally THOUSANDS of jewelry shops on Etsy, any dinging and reduced visibility can really hurt.  

So my shop will be closed until Friday 4.  I have quite a few new items to list when I return.  Plus I'll be selling in person at the Grand Boutique, located in Sun City Grand, on Saturday, February 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.   This year our Boutique will be located in the newly re-opened community square.  Lots of artists will be displaying their works and offering them for sale. 

If you're in the vicinity of Surprise, Arizona, I hope you'll stop by Sun City Grand on Saturday, February 5 and say hello.