Summer Bucket List...

School is almost out for my teens which will be my official kickoff to summer. So what are you going to do with the kids this summer? Mine rather be with their friends instead of with boring mom. There are some things I want to do over the summer, so I made a bucket list. I'm terrible with lists. I make a to do list everyday and I'm lucky if I cross off 2 items that are on my list. But I made a bucket list anyway.



 

 1. Go to an outdoor concert. The picture above is when Lydia and I sat outside at Wine Styles and listened to this colorful girl sing and play her keyboard. Love her tip jar!
 2. Read my 4 summer reading books plus the 2 books that have been in my Nook library for a long time.
 3. Go to the Asheboro Zoo.
 4. Go for a hike.
 5. Go bike riding with my family. My husband pumped air in my tires so my Schwinn is ready to go!
 6. Buy a picnic basket.
 7. Take the picnic basket on a picnic.
 8. Play a game of corn hole. It's a Southern thing y'all! We called it toss across back in the day.
 9. Perfect a pitcher of sangria.
10. Go fishing
11. Run a 5K
12. Take tennis lessons.
13. Invite friends over for drinks and tapas on my patio.
14. Buy a fire pit
15. Make a killer cheese, olives, and cracker platter.
16. Go to an outdoor movie.
17. Eat a snowball with marshmallow.
18. Visit the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh
19. Stop by a Farmer's Market stand on the way back from the beach.
20. Kayak with my husband. This time try not to panic when our kayak faces the opposite of the group.
21. Do a DIY project with my daughter that involves tie dye, rhinestones, or fabric paint.
22. Take the dog to the dog park. She needs a new friend.
23. Make a halo/crown out of flowers, twigs and twine. Wear it and pretend I'm a flowerchild and have my teenagers call me weird.
24. Finally buy a copy of Uptown Saturday Night and laugh like it's my first time watching it.

What's on your summer bucket list? I will be checking in with you guys as I check things off of my list.

The idea from this post came from How Sweet Eats.

New Hip Jewels Sale...

Hey All! If you haven't heard on our Facebook Page or Twitter page, Sydney Austin Designs is having an end of May jewelry sale! Take 25% off all jewelry in our etsy boutique. Enter coupon code MEMORIAL25 at checkout. Hurry sale ends 5/31. Go here to stock up on your summer jewelry! Check out the new jewels below that have recently been listed in our boutique.

I love designing with cowrie shells for the summer. Great for the bohemian free spirit girl.

Rustic rough crystal quartz. Great for wire wrapping. The amethyst is gorgeous!
The long necklace is the perfect layering piece. 

Awesome statement necklace for a summer wedding. The colors are so yummy! One of a kind. 

Beginning Metals...

Hey All!

Last Autumn I took a Beginning Metals class at Sawtooth School for Visual Art located in Winston Salem, NC. It was an 8 week class taught by the talented Brittany Sondberg. Check out her work here. It was time for me to step up my designs a notch. I've always wanted to learn how to solder, saw, forge sheet metal into something beautiful. I learned how to use some amazing tools such as a rolling mill and hydraulic press. I learned some awesome jewelry making techniques such as riveting and  stone setting. I gained a wealth of information from this class. This summer or Autumn I plan on taking another Metals class. Take a look at some of the things I made. I'm hoping one day soon to schedule studio time at Sawtooth so I can make more hip jewels to sell in my etsy boutique.

Results from using a Rolling Mill and Hydraulic Press. Final product: Earrings.

Chain Making.

Handmade pendant using tab stone setting

Completely handmade necklace. So pleased! I wear this a lot.

Copper earrings I made using a German saw, file, and Rolling Mill.