Pattern Review, New Look 6094

I really love this pattern and thought it would be very flattering on me.

Pattern Description: Misses' dress with sleeveless or cap-sleeved bodice and slim or flared and pleated skirt.

Pattern Sizing: 8 to 18

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved the princess seams in the bodice but disliked the bodice fit.

Fabric Used: I used a cotton stretch sateen.

New Look 6094

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I did necessarily alter or make any design changes but I made View A with the added details of View C. I did not put the stripes on the bottom of the dress as seen in View C.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, but I would make sure I paid close attention to the sizing of the bodice. I also recommend it to others.

Conclusion: This dress was very easy to make. I have issues with the fit in the bodice of most garments, its either too tight or too lose. But I will make this dress again with the full skirt with the sleeveless option for the summer.

Pattern Review: McCalls 6320

M6320

 I love this pattern. I like the Tarzan look, it's a classic trend that can be done for all occasions. I like this so much that I have made this dress twice. Here is my review of the first dress.

Pattern Envelope M6320

Pattern Description: Misses' Dresses and Belt. Close-fitting dress has lined bodice. A: Optional belt loops. A, C: 13/4" wide purchased belt.

Pattern Sizing: 6 to 20, plus A/B, C, and D cup sizes.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like the different options available. I dislike the bodice fit.

Fabric Used: I used a Polyester Georgette and a Polyester Satin as the lining because the Georgette was see through.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: As I mentioned above because I used a fabric that needed a lining for the entire dress I had to line both the bodice, as well as, the skirt.
I also liked view A without the band outlining the top of the bodice. So, I made view A minus the band.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, but I would make sure I paid close attention to the sizing of the bodice.

My version of M6320

Conclusion: I’ve made this dress twice. The dress in this review was the first one that I made. I finished it and tried it on only to have about a three inch gap on the side under the arm of the bodice. So, I had to remove the zipper and re-do the lining to adjust the fit. I adjusted the fit and actually made it too tight but I decided not to touch it again. I’m glad I didn’t adjust it again because it was fine when I wore it out for the first time.

We are now accepting...

CREDIT CARDS! 

I finally got an android phone which now allows me to accept credit cards when I'm out and about. I signed up for Square Up and received my So, when You have your Earring Luncheon know that we also accept credit cards as well.

iN Bloom, Flirty Fun Earrings and Bracelets

These are the earrings and bracelets that I made from the beaded bucket I bought from "Hobby Lobby". I call this collection; iN Bloom. The colors are so bright and vibrant, it really makes the earrings POP!

This collection will include such things as Jax Color Dangles named after the infamous game Jacks. Did you know this game is also called Knucklebones.

iN Bloom Collection

♥ Serena Trent

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop

This blog hop is both for Marianna and for those people in our lives who mean a lot to us -- a mom, a friend, a brother -- anyone who has meaning to us.  Create a piece of jewelry that tells that story.

For instance, Marianna loved red and cardinals, so if you would like to make something in honor of her, you could use red, or you could use beads of birds, leaves, trees, nests, eggs -- things like that.  If you have a friend you want to remember and thank and she's a painter, you could make a necklace full of the colors she often uses in her paintings.

If you would like to join this Blog Hop please click on the "blog button" above and it will take you to Pretty Things to sign up.

Lori Anderson ( creator of this blog hop) creates jewelry and bead kits as well as collaborative mixed media art with her son, Zack.  Visit her shops by clicking here.  She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party®   and author of the book Bead Soup.

PS. You need a blog to participate in this hop.


♥ Serena Trent

30 Days of Gratitude

I have decided to follow this group on Facebook and do 30 days of Gratitude. I may not post on my blog everyday but I will be on Facebook. I'm 6 days late joining this group but I started mt own Gratitude Journal on Halloween. It's been a nice reflecting on the day and things I'm grateful for throughout.

This is what was posted on Day 1 for the 30 Days of Gratitude page listed on FB:

Click here to join on Facebook

Welcome November! The designated month of Thanksgiving. For the next 30 days, I will be posting something on this page and inviting you to share a gratitude. You are also welcome to create a 30 Days of Gratitude Project on your own wall. Here's to hoping your November starts off with a great day..

Today 11/06/2012:

I am grateful for the ability to VOTE!

Joann Jewelry Demo

Today I had three jewelry demos:

Forever Friends Bracelet, Skill level 2

Agate Friendship bracelet

This bracelet is suppose to be seven to eight inches long but I had to keep demonstrating how to include the beads in with the square knots. I was supplied with paper jewelry cord which is okay but I would have liked a waxed cotton cord or imitation leather.

Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet, Skill level 1

Mixed Metal Chain bracelet with gemstones

I like this bracelet and it was one of the favorites for today. It is a very easy bracelet to make, as well as, adjustable due to the inch and half toggle. This can be done with any two different types of chain. I like that a light and a dark chain was supplied for this bracelet. The variation of grey hues in the beads added the right touch.

Champagne Gold Necklace, Skill level 1

The sparkle and glamour of this gold accented necklace was a BIG HIT today. Many of the guest thought that I made some of the beads myself. I could make them and I'm thinking about adding it as a class. I like this necklace too but would LOVE it if the necklace was about  seven to ten inches longer.

Halloween 2012

My nieces and Savon waiting in line at the Haunted Mansion

The line for the Haunted Mansion

I had fun again with my children and nieces this year. We went to a suburb of Detroit, Northville. This was our third year going and it has now become too much. There are too many people now so many that the children are standing in line for candy. These aren't just 5 people in line but 20+. Though some lines are for attractions people have set up (like the picture listed to the right). The porch of this house was haunted and as you should in line people would jump out ate you. The children really don't get that much candy in a two hour period because they spend most of their time standing in line. But I am grateful and had tons of fun.

Iron Man (Savon) with Thor

My son, Savon, got tired after about an hour of walking around and needed to take a break until he saw his cousins continue to go door to door and get more candy. He also saw Thor and wanted to take a picture with him. He took off his coat and asked for his mask, all I could do was laugh, it was sooo cute!

25 years of decorating

We also saw quite a few costumes (pictures are posted at the bottom of this post). There is also a family that has been decorating their lawn for the past 25 years and this year was the last for them. So they had most of the props in the year for the previous years.

Out trick or treatin'

After getting home

Then there is my little lady bug Olivia. She has gotten so big. This year she could actually wear her costume. I'm going to start planning now for next year because I want to dress up and maybe have a party!

Noted candy left on porch

I forgot to mention this but I found it very unusual. One house we went to had a basket with instructions to take two pieces of candy a piece. I was surprised because where I come from you could never do this...the whole basket would be gone!

Thanks for reading!

♥,

Serena Trent

Weekly Updates...

This is something I’m going to start doing on my blog. I decided to do this because even though I like to write I find it hard to post on my blog especially for business purposes.  I’m always trying to figure what to actually write that will keep my customers and fellow colleagues intrigued with my jewelry, wit and personality.

The conclusion being that I will post at least once a week. This way it can seem like I care a little bit about this blog, my business and the jewelry I try to create….yes I said try! I care a lot for my business. I LOVE MY BUSINESS!

So for this past week I’ve been brainstorming new and different ways I can re-invent myself so that I don’t become stale.

A lot of times I get into things on a whim. It’s not something I truly plan to do. But I was in Home Depot getting prices for a new craft show display that I want to make. And I passed the paint department. I love color so much that it’s a wonder that I even have a favorite color (blue btw).

The display of the color palettes for paint has such great lighting that I couldn’t resist grabbing a few brochures. In looking through the brochures I began to think if I ever get stomped on a color combination all I have to do is look through the paint brochures. So now I’m going to create a color reference book with my newly found discoveries.

Not only that Its a great way to come up with new names for pieces using the names given to the colors by the paint companies. For instance, I found pink colors such as, Sugared Pansy Pink, April Blush, Pink Punch, Candy Coated and Bridesmaid. I'm happy about my new reference book.

Craft Show appearances seen in PinkIce Jewels future...

I have also made up my mind to start selling at craft shows again. I started back in 2004/ 2005 but stopped and didn't do another show until Summer of 2008, when I was 9 weeks pregnant. After that experience its been history ever since.

It's a bit overwhelming trying to figure where to start to get this thing rolling again. I have so many ideas and not sure if I can pull them off. I plan to do a lot of designing/ construction/ and carpentry myself. I will start off small doing a couple of craft shows at churches and such. Then I will build to bigger show throughout the year.

Sometime during this weekend I'm going to post pictures of some of my first shows including the one I had at my home. I just have to go digging for the pictures. Hopefully, I make progress and post it here for all to see...you know hold myself countable. We shall see!


New Product (s):

I have new and very colorful items that I will add to my Etsy Store this week. As I was making these necklaces, bracelets and earrings I was in such a good mood. The colors are so bright and vibrant that it makes you smile just like a rainbow. 

I bought a box of beads like the one listed below. I knew they were plastic beads but I just loved the colors and the unusual shaped beads. I came up with some cool creations that I will soon share.

I want to thank you all for reading my blog post. Please join me on Facebook.

♥,

Serena Trent

The Bright Future

I finally have come to the conclusion that my future is so bright it's blinding! 

I have so many ideas running through this brain of mine and most of the time I have no idea what to do with them, probably because I think too much, at least that's what I've been told. But most of my family and friends tell me I should never want for money because of all the ideas and talents I have...I don't see what they see but I'm trying. 

I have been so depressed over these past few years, just living in a funk. It's been over legitimate things happening all at once but I can feel and know that I'm coming out of it. And yesterday, I was on my way home, traveling west. The sun was setting and so bright I couldn't see. And I kept thinking this is so beautiful but I cant see to drive, so I took the picture above and pulled over to the side. The beauty in that bright sun made me marvel in the AWE of GOD! He is so Magnificent and Excellence is His name in all the earth!!!

I wake up this morning and looked at that picture and the voice within me said "This picture is a representation of your future. It's so bright it's going to be blinding!" What a revelation! I am so excited about what is to come for me and my children. I look forward to every second it comes to pass!

Joann's Jewelry Classes

I'm not sure if you all know or not but I now teach the jewelry classes at the Joann ETC in Novi, Michigan. This past Sunday, September 9, 2012 I taught two classes. It was so much fun that we had church! I loved it!

You can view some of the pictures of the finish earrings of what my students made, just click the picture and/ or link below.

 

See other pictures here.

 

View September and October Class Schedule

4th Annual Extravaganza Sweepstakes

PinkIce Jewels presents our 

4th Extravaganza Sweepstakes 2012.

You could win a twelve month supply of beautiful jewelry and other handmade items created by PinkIce Jewels. The Winner will receive a free jewelry valued at $30.00 or higher. To enter our contest just click here and join our email list. You can earn more entries by "like us" on facebook. And of course each purchase is worth two entries.

Best of Luck to you all.

Contest Guidelines

No purchase necessary to win prize. There is only one entry per email address. Participant must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Participant must remain on the email list for the duration of the contest promotion (twelve months). Deadline to enter contest will be January 31, 2013. Winner will be announced February 8, 2013. Winner will be notified by email nor later February 15, 2013. If the winner does not submit a physical address for postage within seven days, then another winner will be selected at that time. The winner will began receiving their prize in March and will continue through February 2014, for duration of twelve months.

Book Review: The Modern Witch Series

This is wonderful collection by author Debora Geary. I've read two out of the four books for this series The Modern Witch and The Hidden Witch, both books are excellent. Hopefully, I can get to finishfinish  this series in the next couple of months. I read so much that I've filled my Kindle up with tons of books both digital reads as well as audiable.

Currently, I'm listening to  Fifty Shades of Grey, another series of books. Others series I'm trying to finish are "The Westmorelands" by Brenda Jackson and "In Death" by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts).

Hoop Dangles :: New Items

Hello all...

I got new earrings...here are three pair!

Hello All...It's been a while!

It been a while since I've posted on here. I have had some medical mishaps that have occurred and it has taken me a while to get back to Serena. I'm taking it one day at a time.

I'm posting this to let everyone know I'm back. If I promised to send you jewelry and haven't I apologize but you will get it soon!

Anyway, Hope all is well with you all! :)

PS. My little princess turned ONE two weeks ago!

Candy Coated Ears ~ Earring Challenge Reveal



Fantasy Art Print - Love Letter 2 by Jamie Best

I sooo love this print. I created beads and charms of this color palette. I've made a large array of things that I decide to host an earring challenge. I have decided to just host this one! This is the color palette that everyone had to use at least
three of the colors.

Here are aour participatants:

Check their earrings out!

Green Shoot Jewellry Designs

Beads by the Day

http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

http://crowstealsfire.blogspot.com/

Http://renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com

Happy Hopping!

Candy Coated Ears ~ Earring Challenge



Fantasy Art Print - Love Letter 2 by Jamie Best

I sooo love this print. I created beads and charms of this color palette. I've made a large array of things that I decide to host an earring challenge.

The challenge rules and timeline go like this.

1) You must make a pair of earrings using this color palette
2) You have to include wire and/ or chain in your earring design
3) You must have a blog as well

You can of course make as many pair of earrings as you like.  Please sign-up by leaving a comment; list your email, as well as, your blog's link.

The BIG Reveal day will be March 25th.

Any questions please email me, pinkicejewels@gmail.com

The Winner is. . .

Collen Roush! Congratulations!

Collen won the Frosted Vintage Blossoms in Gold earrings and bracelet.

I apologize for not posting the results until today. I had to tend to my daughter whom I've had to truck back and forth from the doctors to the hospital. She has bronchitis and is doing better with treatment.

Savon, 2 yrs old

Oh BTW this handsome dude pulled the winning number out of a plastic bowl.

BTW - Frosted Blossoms in Vintage Gold

I love these...so much that I'm going to part with them (there is a bracelet too). The bracelet isn't finished though. But there are a few steps that you HAVE to complete.

1) You have to follow this blog. 
as a member of our email list you will be entered into drawings for members on a monthly basis.


2) Spread the word by blogging, tweet and/ or post on facebook this giveaway. Everytime you spread the word please leave a comment so it can be counted as an additional entry for you.

3) Leave a comment and tell me everything you did to help spread the word about this giveaway.

This has been extented until Tuesday, Jan. 31st @ 11:59PM

Teffific Tuesday!

Lucite Flower Earrings, Snowflake Fairy Blossoms LFE122

I think these are some beautiful earrings! CLICK HERE to purchase. 

Tomorrow is BTW...Bead Table Wednesday. I don't normally participate but whatever I decided to make tomorrow I will be giving away. So stay tuned to enter and win your chance to WIN!!!

Happy New 2012 Year!!!

I know I'm late in my salute to you for the new year! But HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I learned alot about myself this past year...I know who I am in Jesus! I know that faith goes beyond the boundaries of our small minds especially if you move SELF out the way. I know that I have the strength of my ancestors...yes I do! There is nothing that is impossible for me! And this year's events gave proof to Hebrews 11:3!

It's going to be a wonderful year! I have high aspirations for myself and my business for this year. I have really enjoyed posting earrings on a everyday basis, so I've created a new blog that I feature a pair of earrings everyday. These earrings aren't just my creations but those of others. The blog is titled Ear Candy 365. 

Please visit EARCANDY365 and follow my new blog....

Featured earrings today....