photo share: Atwater Beach

Are you ready to take another trip to Lake Michigan with me? I got to visit a new (to me) Milwaukee beach a few weeks ago, and of course I might have taken just a few pictures while I was there. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy.

Have you been taking pictures at the beach this summer, too?

Treasury Round Up - 8/11/13

It's been a treasury filled couple of weeks! I'm still really enjoying all of the summer collections. Please help me take a couple minutes to thank these curators by checking out their collections and shops.

Judy (JNOriginals) included my Beaded Cuff Bracelet - The Allure of Sand - Sun Water Turquoise Blue Yellow Ocean Beach in her Beneath the Sea treasury. If this collection doesn't make you want to go to the beach, I don't know what will. Check out Judy's Turquoise Crochet Scarf.

Sharla (BeadedTail) included my Button Charm Bracelet - Hearts Girly Pink Purple Red White Valentine's Day in her Love in Beautiful, Cuddly, and Furry, too! treasury. This collection puts a big smile on my face. Hopefully it puts one on your face, too. Check out Sharla's Hot Pink Bead and Hoops Sterling Silver Earrings.

Anne (LittlePrincessPea) included my Button Bracelet - Fall Autumn Red Orange Yellow in her Warm Autumn treasury. I'm not ready to start thinking about fall yet, but I do love this warm color palette. Check out Anne's Warm Rainbow Chevron Hair Ties.

Natasha (StalkingTheWildSnark) included my Beaded Bracelet - The Leaf Series - Leaves Winter Light Blue White in her Summer Breeze treasury. This is such a whimsical collection with a fun mix of items. Check out Natasha's Blue Sailboat Bermuda Sloop Dollar Coin Pirate Necklace 1988 Sunken Treasury Shipwreck.

Natasha also included my Beaded Bangle Bracelet - A Material Girl's True Colors 80s Neon Bright Multicolored in her Indian Summer treasury. The colors here are so rich and varied.

Sarah (MagnoliaSurprise) included my Beaded Cuff Bracelet Skinny Birthday Cake Yellow Pink White in her Pretty in Pink treasury. This is such a sweet collection. Check out Sarah's Crochet Potted Flowers Amigurumi Stuffed Toy Play Set.

Laura Lynn (DesignsByLauraLynn) included my Button Dangle Earrings - Bright Colorful Multicolored Rainbow in her Color Explosion treasury. I love meeting people who enjoy bright colors as much as I do. Check out Laura's Bright green millefiori necklace.

Duni (PeriDotbyDuni) included my Beaded Pendant Necklace - Peyote Triangle - Spring Green in her Celebrating the end of summer treasury. Duni is right that we have to make the most of these final week of summer! She's off on a lovely vacation right now, so you'll have to check back with her shop in a few days.

Sarah (ACatLikeCuriosity) included my Beaded Cuff Bracelet Black Magenta Pink in her In the pink treasury. I love the mix of items in this whimsical collection. Check out Sarah's Pink At Heart Art Print.

Dana (Annikaloveforwraps) included my Beaded Bracelet - Winter Light Blue White Rock Garden in her Light Blue Collection treasury. The color here is brilliant. So magical. Check out Dana's 3X Wrap Bracelet - Blue and Turquoise Suede and macrame cords and a nickel chain.

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Friday Feature: camera gear / accessories

I know that I've featured camera gear items in several recent features. But I can't get enough of all things photography lately. So bear with me for another week.

Camera Bag, Purse in Black Ikat Dot with Adjustable message strap...modern, fun, and girly by DarbyMack

DSLR SLR Padded Camera Strap - Kathy Brown and Teal Leaves with Light Teal Backing by TheQuiltedValkyrie

Designer Camera Wrist Strap Bubble Gum by LuciFayeDesigns

Memory Card Wallet and Lens Cap Pocket for Camera Strap - Photographer Gift Set - Made to Order by CraftyStaci

Camera Insert - Adjustable Divider - Padded - crafted from water resistant nylon - Made in the U.S.A. by CopperRiverBags

Business card holder, handpainted hedgehog, beige by HahnStitched

 

Vintage Polaroid Land Camera 250 Bellows Camera, Zeiss Finder, Industrial Styling by TreasureTroveDepot

Have you been shopping for any camera gear lately?

L is for Lilies

Are you ready for another round of Alphabe Thursday? Let's go!

I love lilies. They seem to have been more abundant than ever this year. Maybe that's just my biased point of view because I've been all happy getting to photograph so many beautiful flowers, but it seems like they've been everywhere. Here are just a few of my lily captures from the past month. Enjoy.

Old World Wisconsin, July 2013

Dominican University, July 2013

Greenfield Park, July 2013

The Froedthert Hospital / Medical College of Wisconsin Campus, August 2013

 

Have you been photographing lots of flowers this summer, too?

Check out what the other Alphabe participants posted this week for the letter L right here!

a new collaboration

Do you remember how I featured summer buttons on my blog last month? One of the artists that I featured also lives in the Milwaukee area. (She actually lives literally blocks away from me. It's a small world sometimes.) When she replied to my convo about the feature, she asked if I'd ever be interested in collaborating. If you've been following my blog and/or shop for a while, you know that I love to use handmade components in my jewelry.

When I have the opportunity to collaborate with a talented artist and receive free items in exchange for promotion via blogging, social media, and Etsy, I'm not going to say no.

In no time at all, I received this lovely package. I was blown away. This was way more than I was expecting. That's a good problem.

There are so many possibilities for these lovely ceramic buttons. I've taken something of a jewelry making hiatus this summer, which has been a refreshing change of pace. I've been putting a lot of energy into keeping best sellers stocked this year, which was one of my goals for 2013, and it's been going well. I'm really ready for mix things up, though, and these new buttons will be the perfect excuse to do a little bit of that.

This batch of buttons has so many great colors. I feel drawn to start with one of the blue ones, largely because I have such a large stash of blue delicas on hand already. I haven't gotten a close up of that large red button yet, but it has the shape of Wisconsin etched into it (pretty cool, right?). The University of Wisconsin-Madison colors are red and white, and I'll most likely make a red and white cuff for the button. I've wanted to make some Wisconsin sports team color themed items ever since we moved here, and this will be an excuse to finally do a little bit of that, too.

This artist has very generously provided a 20% off total purchase coupon for me to share with my readers for her Etsy shop. Enter code FaithAnnOriginals20 when you check out. Thanks, Faith Ann! I'll keep everyone updated on my new pieces with her lovely buttons.

Have you been doing any collaborations lately?