Bonnin Designs Blog

Published - Wow, Twice in One Year

2008-04-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

Finally, and it appears true, 1000 Jewelry Inspirations, but I shouldn't get my hopes up until I see the inside of the book. As I've been failed before. But then again, why would the publisher email me to tell me that the book is coming out soon if I didn't get my work in it. Originally I was asked to submit 5 pieces, so we'll see how many made it into the pages. So, published, twice in one year. First it was my six words for my six-word memoir which is pretty hilarious since I am so far from being a writer, but now it's my jewelry, it's what I do. So it's pretty exciting. So that's 2 books with my jewelry in it. I've had my jewelry published in a book in 2006 for DIY's "Jewelry Making" . I guess I may be official now.

Vacation Dress Rehearsal

2008-04-07T15:38:00.001-07:00

The kids are growing up so fast, I realized, it’s been years since we went on a real family vacation. Next year my daughter will probably have a full time summer job, so this has got to be the year for that next vacation. I put together a trip to Maui for a week in the summer and we’ll stay in a condo. That will be a first for me. But damn it’s so expensive to eat out for every single meal, especially in Hawaii.

Sneakily I thought we’d do a mini-vacation run-thru dress rehearsal this past weekend. I wanted to see how they act together and with parents. Typically they fight, I get a headache, and life goes on. It’s rare to tell the kids to “get in the car, we’re going to do something as a family”. Usually they are hanging out doing things with their friends on weekends and don’t want to be seen with ‘parents’. So off we went on a day trip to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. It was a really nice day. Great weather, only a few spats, we did and saw it all. I think we’ll survive our vacation for 8 days.
The only thing was when I got back and downloaded my photos from one of the cameras I brought (I had 2, more on that in a minute), I noticed we had a problem. The camera was not working right and the memory card was damaged. The photos that were in the distance were all pixelated. Great. (None are on this blog entry). This was one of the first digital Olympus cameras made. The other camera I brought was my little KonicaMinolta Dimage. It’s great for closeups, but doesn’t take photos in dim light unless there’s a flash, and distance shots are pretty lame. I typically use it for my close ups of my jewelry.

Good thing I went to test out the camera situation. By Sunday, I purchased my necessary and new camera for our trip and all of the time. It’s a Canon DR XT and I got an amazing deal from Adorama. Adorama is an electronics store that specializes in cameras in NYC and has been around since 1975. They pump out the cameras so you can get a great deal.. I actually called and spoke with Frank. He was fantastic. My camera was at least $100 lower than anywhere I’d priced it and even $200 cheaper than Walmart where I saw it there today.

Spring Wakes me Up!

2008-03-27T08:00:00.001-07:00

I just love the weather right now. I’m able to wear flip flops and short sleeves. My nose isn’t running from the cold and my hands aren’t freezing on the computer mouse. I got inspired to make anklets because they are the perfect summer jewelry. I love wearing an ankle bracelet with my flip flops. I picture myself with an anklet and my toes running through the warm sand at the beach. Yes, these are available at my etsy shop in all sizes for only $20. FREE shipping to the USA. And they match everything!

Yesterday I discovered a farmer’s market which is great because it’s on a Wed when I’m still buying food to cook for the week. The one I usually go to is on Thurs and I don’t buy much because by Friday I’m done cooking since I don’t cook on weekends for the most part. I picked up some amazing tomatoes yesterday and forgot to serve them for dinner last night. I hope I remember for tonight. That’s why I’m blogging this so it will help me remember.

Which brings me to my next point and that is getting old. I’ve never had a weight problem. Well, I’ve never been the weight I wanted to be but my weight always remained the same. I didn’t gain. Lately I’ve gained weight and it just kills me. I don’t fit into more than half my pants. They aren’t comfy. So as one solution, I’ve been hitting the gym and doing aerobics twice a week and cardio before yoga twice a week. We won’t talk about food however. That’s a whole other story…..But I must remember, it will be reality once I have to get into a bathing suit.

It's Already March?

2008-03-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

Ok I admit I’m a slacker with regards to blogging. I just can’t pull my thoughts together lately to make it worth anyone’s while to read them. So today I’m going to give it a whirl. I’m currently consumed with kid stuff; keeping on them for assignments, getting their college funds pushed a bit, getting them to and from activities and school, and oh yeah, someone backed into my moving car in a parking lot 2 days ago, so my entire driver’s side of my less than 1 year old car must be repaired. Not like I have nothing else to do lately. Don’t you love those added bonuses?

I’m also taking time for myself. I’ve been trying to take aerobics and yoga at least 3-4 times a week. I need to fit into my pants, which all currently are tight. I refuse to buy bigger clothes since I should just get off my butt and move, but I hate how tight the crotch is when I sit down. SO uncomfortable. So what do I do? Wear sweats and the one pair of jeans that I do have that fit. Skirts too but I hate that my thighs rub together. Ok, TMI. But there it is, out there for the world to read. Thank God for body shapewear. I just bought the Barely There brand of shorts that are a bit high in the waist and are bike short length. They suck it all in. I highly recommend them, but not for everyday. You gotta breathe once in a while.

So you ask how my Etsy shop has been going. Thanks for asking. It’s going. Etsy is tough for jewelry because there are so many jewelers. I have some lower priced and more fun items listed. The Couple earrings are doing great and so are the Flower Hair Pins. I’m on my second batch of totally one-of-a-kind Couple earrings. Please help me promote these $15/pair cuties.

Crafty and My Daughter

2008-03-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

Jenny Ryan of Craftzine.com Blog featured my 15 year old daughter's super crafty Science fair project, on the Craft blog today. It's a crocheted periodic table of the elements. It's so unique and she created it as she went along. It's the length of a bed and I'd have to say it's more of a wall piece than an afghan type piece. It took her 5 months to finish. Yay Emily!!! A+++ or bust.

The Best Damn Cake

2008-02-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

About that chocolate cake I was writing about yesterday. It was the first time I made it and realized that the only thing chocolate about the cake itself is 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder and the fact it looks like a chocolate cake. So I can't really qualify it as a chocolate cake by the taste. It's still the best damn cake I've had. The recipe is a Seventh Day Adventist recipe. The SDA's are typically vegetarian, so the key in this recipe is that they substitute prunes for butter. However, there is dairy in the buttermilk, so I don't really understand this. This cake is only sold in one store in Loma Linda, CA, which has a large population of SDA's. I was introduced to this cake by some co-workers at a hospital I used to work with by Loma Linda. They were SDA. Here's the recipe: Loma Linda Chocolate Prune Cake.
I'll tell ya how it turned out when I taste it tonight

Hope your Valentine's is Special

2008-02-14T06:45:00.001-08:00

The red knitted heart is my latest mini-project. I beaded it as well and gave it to my friend Jennifer of Textile Fetish .

Valentine's is pretty special around here because (hold on to your laughter at this cliche') my husband proposed to me on Valentine's Day 17 years ago.....in our car.....in the garage. All of it, so predictable. But really he is a pretty good guy. My plans for tonight's dinner include cornish hens and I don't know what else. For dessert though, I've been meaning to make this particular chocolate cake for many years. I hate chocolate cake. I hate chocolate ice cream. I only like chocolate in the pure form of candy, however, this chocolate cake is like none other. I'll explain why in the next blog post. Stay tuned. And Happy Valentine's Day.

Can you Relate?

2008-02-07T07:25:00.000-08:00

Many years ago (uhhum, in the 80's) I made myself some earrings like this and just loved them. Recently I was thinking about them and decided to make a variety of them to share with you all just in time for Valentine's Day.

Are you the Flirty Couple? The Look Alike Couple? The Spank Me Couple? Couples Earrings available now at my Etsy site http://www.shopbonnin.etsy.com/
Now go have some fun.

The Look of an Author

2008-02-05T06:17:00.000-08:00

Do I look like an author? I'm sitting in a leather chair with books behind me. Even if it is only 6 words, they are more than 6 words I ever would have expected to be published in a book. Any of my words actually as I'm not a writer, I don't strive to write, and no one has ever said that should be my life's ambition. What are the 6 words? They are on page 47. You'll have to buy the book, which I just received from the publisher yesterday. The book is Six-Word Memoirs and on the Amazon link there is a cute video which goes with the book. I'm pretty happily smug with myself.

So the book tally is this: I have a jewelry project in a book that was published 2 years ago, I almost had 4 projects in another book then I didn't, I have 6 words in a book, and I will have one of my jewelry pieces featured in a book coming out this summer--for that I will keep you posted.

What else is new? I usually don't bake, but my father in law loves bread pudding and it's all he talks about these days. He orders it at every restaurant we go to whether they have it or not. So, Superbowl Sunday I made it because I knew he was coming over. I got the recipe from Epicurious.com and it was written by Maya Angelou. He is not a sweets person really so now I know why he likes a basic bread pudding--because it's not really sweet. To tell you the truth, I think it smelled better than it tasted because it has a whopping 2 Tablespoons of vanilla.

Yesterday I got my March issue of Bon Appetit magazine and there is a recipe for Dulce de leche and chocolate chunk bread pudding. Now that is more my speed, but my father in law wouldn't touch it. I may have to try that ooey gooey and chocolatey goodness sometime.

A Different Angle

2008-01-31T09:02:00.000-08:00

I've been playing around with oxidation (darkening sterling silver with a chemical process) for a while and have made a couple of pieces for my shop in recent years but I just came across these beads in my stash that were just screaming for attention. So I set forth to create. The oxidation is a wonderful dark color and provides a contrast which, to me really brings out the color and shape of the stones. It highlights the stone into front and center. I put a mini collection together and it is now available at my Etsy shop with Free Shipping.

You know, it's been almost a month with no sale at my Etsy site, so the promotion stands. With each purchase, I will send you a free flower ring from my main shop site. It's really hard to get attention at Etsy with so many sellers and that first sale is a tough one to get because who wants to be the first buyer at a shop with no knowledge of how recent purchases went. But you know me, and you know I've been around a while (8 years now), so give a girl a break, please.

Touched

2008-01-28T13:17:00.000-08:00

My friend Chris Franchetti's jewelry making book, Teach Yourself Visually, came out and she sent me a copy. She put my name in the 'Acknowledgments'. I am so touched. That's a first for me.The story goes, we met on the DIY TV show "Jewelry Making" a few years ago. I knew she wanted to write a jewelry making book. A publishing company contacted me a while back wanting to know if I wanted to write a jewelry making book and since it wasn't really my thing, I gave them Chris's name and everything came together for her! Yay.

Buy her book! It's thorough and amazing and almost 300 pages. It covers many different jewelry making techniques with wonderfully clear photos. I can't wait to sit down and plow through it. I'm sure I'll learn a thing or two.

I Should Have Vacuumed Instead

2008-01-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

Not bragging, but it's not often I have a disaster in the kitchen. I usually can salvage the dish, no matter what. But baking is sorta foreign to me and I was craving cookies. Inspired by this, I set off to the store to find my ingredients to bake cookies from scratch. Well, I only needed the chips because I had everything else. I was just asking for one little thing. But of course that was not to be. All I could find was the regular semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips. To me that wasn't enough. I like gooey. I also like raisins or berries, but the family isn't into it. So mini -marshmallows would have to do.

I went home and used the recipe from the back of the Hershey's chocolate chips that I bought. I added the mini-marshmallows at the end and as I mixed them, it hit me. This wasn't going to work but it was too late. It was going to be a mess as I was thinking of the 100's of times I made Rice Crispy treats. I checked the time to bake and I opted for 8 min. Maybe the marshmallows would just get soft in 8 min. I made a batch. Wrong-O. I got them out and it was a sheet of cookie dough and marshmallow spread all over the cookie sheet. Great. I waited for it to cool and chipped it off the tray in little chunks. My daughter said to save it because it would be good on ice cream.

Alrighty, attempt #2. I had the remainder of the batter and I sprayed a baking pan with PAM and spread the dough in the pan. A thick cookie, pan cookie, cookie-cake, whatever you want to call it. I cooked it. And you know what. I really thought it turned out. I cooled it and you know what? It didn't. Because there were so many marshmallows in there (I think I used a large 16 oz bag), it was mush. Eat with a spoon or fork mush. But it taste good. Problem is, I promised my neighbor some cookies. Now what do I tell him? "I suck at baking and wouldn't want you to laugh, so you're going to have to wait until my next batch"? I believe that to be so. And how often do I bake? About 2 times/year.

I think I may be turning into my friend Julie and her many tales of Bad Home Cooking.

Free Stuff

2008-01-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the opening of my new Etsy store, I am giving away FREE, a flower ring to the first 10 customers that complete a purchase. (color of my choosing.). The Flower Rings are found on my regular website, but the purchase must be made at my ETSY store.

Oh, and shipping is FREE to the USA!

So get shopping!

Only 2 More Weeks for Free Shipping and 70% off

2008-01-17T08:11:00.000-08:00

Just a quick reminder that there are only 2 more weeks left for FREE SHIPPING at my website: Bonnin Designs and my Etsy Shop: shopbonnin.etsy.com

So hurry over for some great shopping deals and see our new Flamenco items as well. Perfect for Valentine's Day and any day really. Many items have been discounted up to 50% off at both shops and if you use this discount code YUMMY20 (at my website only) you can take 20% off of anything, including sale items and savings can be a whopping 70% off + Free shipping. You really can't beat that! But hurry, because this discount will expire Jan 31.

Soon to be a Published Writer

2008-01-14T07:08:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have news. Now don’t laugh too hard and spit coffee out your nose onto your monitor. Just take it in and nod and say to yourself, “I knew she could do it”. You see, I’ve had a couple of my jewelry pieces published in books, well, once for DIY and soon again supposedly for another book (news for that to come later) but my actual words are going to be published in a book! (Don’t laugh). I know you absolutely know I’m not a writer, but for some reason, someone thought my words were good enough to be put into a book. Well, only six words actually, but it’s all about six words. It’s called Not Quite What I Was Planning: And Other Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Obscure and Famous. So you see, my words along with some famous six-word memoir authors will be together in a book. How odd and fantastic is that! This is what they’re saying:
· "Will thrill minimalists and inspire maximalists." – Vanity Fair
· "If you have only 30 seconds, skim the pithiest of life stories." – Oprah Magazine
· "Will make you value the words you speak and write—no matter how few or many" – Penthouse
It will be released Feb. 5. You knew I had it in me, didn’t ya? Oh, and what is my six-word memoir you ask? You'll just have to buy the book to find out....

Celebrations and Rememberances of all Kinds this Week

2008-01-13T07:56:00.001-08:00

The circle of life has definitely come before my eyes this week. In just one week we celebrated life, and mourned as well. It started with an adoption hearing to officially make my friends legally parents of their almost 1 year old adopted son. I was so honored to be part of that. I was just gleaming at the judge and the great role she plays on Tuesday mornings when a group of 15 adoptive parents, their friends and family line up waiting for their turn to be official. How cool is that!

When I got home, I opened a birth announcement from a friend. That explains why I didn't get a Christmas card from them. They were busy having a baby. They're excused this year. He is so cute too.

Later in the week, we heard news that a friend of ours passed away after a long illness. It was expected but it's still tough, knowing the pain she must have been in and that she left a husband and 2 adult sons that are just starting their independent lives. The funeral is today.

But today we also celebrate for it is Flick and Summer's 9th birthday. I couldn't believe they were 9. Last night I had to dig up puppy pictures and try to find a year they were born. We didn't get Summer until she was about 5 years old, so I don't have any puppy pictures of her. As for Flick, the only one I had on my computer was this cute one. His brown eye patch has faded and is mostly white now. Whippets seem to change color constantly. He added more spots in other places. So Happy Birthday to my sweeties. We will be celebrating as we can throughout today. I got them doggie treats shaped like lobsters because when our family celebrates special occasions, we eat lobster and drink wine. No wine for them though.

Warmth Saves Time

2008-01-09T16:30:00.000-08:00

You know how I spend most of my day if I'm home? I hear a bark. I ignore it, over and over these single barks. Does Flick want to go outside? Of course not! Sillies, he wants to be covered by his blankie. I spend my day over and over repeating this ignore-the-bark-then-get-up-and-cover routine. How annoying after a while, but no more. I finally crocheted him a sweater that I will call his blankie-to-wear. He stopped barking. Amazing! I'm so well trained I tell you. This should save a good full hour or more of my day, seriously....until he wants to go outside then I have to take it off then re-apply, and that goes on all day as well.....I'll never get a break. And don't say doggy door. We can't put one in anywhere. GRrrrr.

By the way, this is dc except for the neck which is sc and my own pattern based on his size as I measured him as I went along.

They're Baaack

2008-01-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

The always popular Flower Hair Pins are back in stock, but on my Etsy site at http://www.shopbonnin.etsy.com/ Same price as they have been at $10/pair and free shipping through January. They are available in pink, mint green and a new color: red.

More Output, Less Input

2008-01-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

Wow, I feel like I was thrown face first into 2008. Now that I’m scraping myself off the floor, not because I drank on New Years. I only had a glass of wine, but because I wasn’t prepared for it. There’s just so much to do.
I found myself caught up in knitting and kinda put life aside for a while. A little break I guess you’d call it. Now I’m off my break and having to go full guns.
I already fulfilled one resolution and it’s only Jan. 3. I opened an Etsy shop. Because I had decided to focus my website on Flamenco items more, I still wanted to be able to offer current inventory and some of my faves. Now they are my Etsy shop.
My other resolution (and typically I don’t make resolutions) is to sell stuff more than buy stuff. Over the holidays I’ve just been shopping tooooooo much. Done with that. So when I say sell stuff, I not only mean jewelry. I want to get rid or cleanse this house a bit. I have things I need to get rid of to make more room, like an old bike, like some flamenco dresses and more. I think Craigslist and Ebay will be the way to go.

Oh, and use code YUMMY20 for 20% off including sale purchases. And FREE shipping is extended through January. After that, there will be a shipping charge.

The Importance of Handmade

2007-12-14T14:10:00.000-08:00

This is really, the only good thing I can think of right now. (see above)
The minute I clear my Thanksgiving plate, the panic set in. The holidays are here! Oh crap, I’ve done nothing as far as shopping for gifts and I hate crowds and, and, wait! I’ve made a pledge to buy handmade, (and make and give handmade gifts this year). So it won’t be so bad. I’m not only a jewelry designer these days, I’ve accumulated many other craft skills along the way. This year there is knitting and crocheting to go on that list. So guys can benefit from my handmade skills as well. Or not. Granted, some of my gift recipients aren’t going to appreciate a handmade gift, so tough on most of them because they may be getting one. And, some recipients, in order to make their handmade gift, I should have started, well 3 years ago. Thank goodness for my local Target and my internet.
So here’s a sampling of what I’ve done, without naming names. And if you read my blog and are in my family, read no further, click your back button and wait until after the holidays to read this. I have not listed all of them, but enough to give a feeling of accomplishment.
So
Don’t
Go
Any
Further
If
You
Are
Family!!!
I’ve knitted this wonderful scarf for one lucky gift getter guy. It’s nice and warm and since he lives where it’s cold and windy, this should be a fabulous gift and he will be forever indebted to me….yeah, like that’s going to happen.

This is a half handmade gift. I bought these amazing little keychains that you can download pictures on. I’ve accumulated pictures from family members and uploaded them onto these nifty contraptions, so the guys in our family will be getting these. Shhhh, don’t tell them.
Then there are the knitted mini-mittens. As a little extra, I’ve knitted these adorable little guys for packages and little extras.
Resin glitter flower rings were a brief obsession and experiment which I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed with. I like the results of the ones that turned out but that was about half of the ones that I made. They aren’t easy and let’s just say, air bubbles are not my friends. I may make more, but it’s very time consuming and messy, because I always find a way to get messy. And this resin doesn’t come off easy when wet. Have you ever silicon sealed your tile? If so, it’s that same feeling. Yucky. Oh, and these rings are for the nieces, plus tanks handmade by Rebe who I found at Felt Club XL Holiday this year. Theirs are a different design and color.
“Fame, I’m going to live forever.” Yes, that’s what keeps playing in my mind because I knitted these legwarmers for my daughter. I used the easy legwarmers pattern from “Last Minute Knitted Gifts” by Joelle Hoverson. The book has some great ideas. I’m also working on a scarf for a friend from this book.

With a feeling of accomplishment as stated above and a continued panic, I’m currently in the middle of required and necessary 4 projects and another of no significance which is costing me a fortune and is so time consuming (that will be another post.)

We have a Beauty Queen

2007-12-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

I entered this photo of my girl, Summer in a contest to win a handcrafted pastel dog portrait on Flickr and guess what....she won. Marlena of Smiling Dog Studios does wonderful likenesses of people's doggies from their photos. Please visit her website. Summer has lots of friends that voted for her and she totally appreciates it. I do to! I can't wait to have it hanging on our gallery wall in our entry way. I have a wall of paintings done by my grandmother and also a friend of mine and this one will fit in perfect. It's a special wall and I love that I'll be adding to it.
So Summer thanks her friends, I thank her friends and my family is so thrilled.

As Seen on All Things Cupcake

2007-12-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

The cupcake rings are back in time for the holidays at Bonnin Designs and who noticed? All Things Cupcake blog did. Thanks to Jess for the mention. Go check out her blog for many adorable and yummy cupcake items.

Avoid the Crowds with Free Shipping

2007-11-20T09:53:00.000-08:00

Why deal with the crowds this holiday season. Shop Bonnin Designs with most items 30-50% off and get free shipping to the USA.

Free Shipping is a perk we've offered for 8 years, but after this holiday season, free shipping will be no more I am sorry to say. So hurry up and get your jewelry fix in the comfort of your own home. Heck, keep your slippers on. I surely don't mind a bit.

Kick up your Heels: Jaleo Necklaces are Here

2007-11-08T16:20:00.000-08:00

So these are the Jaleo Necklaces that I was alluding to in my last entry. Currently they are only sold online at Bonnin Designs

The passion of Flamenco can be now be worn as day to day jewelry. Four typical phrases of encouragement; “Ole’"(great), “Vamo’ Ya” (let’s go), “Guapo” (good looking), and “Eso Es” (that’s it), that are called out as a flamenco dancer performs are now embodied in a beautiful hand stamped 1 ½ inch long oxidized sterling silver pendant with a ¼ inch diameter red porcelain rose charm adorning it. It comes on an 18 inch long black rubber necklace cord with a sterling silver lobster claw clasp.
No two are exactly alike as they are each individually handcrafted.

As Seen On Indie Fixx

2007-11-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

Jen of Indie Fixx was so sweet to feature the Maria earrings yesterday. Thanks Jen.
This is a little confirmation that flamenco style is mainstream as well. Which is important because I have a little surprise and I can't tell you right now, but I will be soon. Just waiting on a custom shipment of supplies. I'll give you a hint. Flamenco enthusiasts will be able to wear their duende.
What is Duende, you ask?
All through the Flamenco world people speak constantly of duende, and recognize it with unfailing instinct when it appears. "... duende is a power and not a behavior, it is a struggle and not a concept."
"Duende...a mysterious power that everyone feels but that no philosopher has explained". GOETHE