Amy Hanna

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

   

What can you do to make a difference in someone else's life????

 

I ask my self this question quite often, however raising three active children I find that I have very little extra time.  But if only we could all give just a little bit of are selves to help others.  I belong to a couples bible study group and we recently painted the interior of a local women and children's shelter.  I must say that it was very rewarding.  I have been very blessed in my life and I need to be more of a blessing to those around me, even those that I do not know.  I took this photo of are small group, our children went with us on that day. It is a good reminder to them to also be grateful for their family and what they have. What a wonderful experience.  With the holiday's coming and a lot of people having hard times. Take a moment to think of a way maybe you can make a difference in someone else's life.  Believe me it will not only bless them, it will make you a lot happier! I love elderly people, I always have .  One of my fondest memories was listening to my Grannies stories when I was growing up.  We can learn so much from are elderly.  I always tell my self that I am going to serve them in some way I think I am going to challenge myself with finding a way to serve them this holiday season.  So I challenge you to serve someone in need during this holiday as big or small of a way that you can manage.............

 

I was at the store yesterday...........................

...and guess what I saw on the shelves?!?  The November issues of both Somerset Studios and Belle Armoire magazine's.  It was fun to see some of my work inside the issues.  I worked with Jenny Doh and Michelle Taylor on the Belle Armoire article.  It was so much fun!! Jenny gave me complete freedom to style the jewelry for the photo shoot.  Michelle was great to work with she is an amazing photographer who really gets what you want her to capture.  The Somerset Issue shows another side of me that alot of people do not know.  I am a big fan of mixed media arts and love to dabble in them. I hope this article stimulates others to make their own canvas houses with found items from there homes.

 

 Here are a few close ups of one of the house canvases featured...

 This Eiffel Tower charm is actually one of my favorite things. It is actually a stanhope and shows pictures through a small window of the Eiffel Tower during an exposition in Paris.

 

details, details I love small details....................

  and here are some snip-its from the November issue of Belle Armoire.

There is a great article about Daniel Vosovic the winner of Project Runway a fellow Michigander.  I guess growing up in all that cold weather stirs up your creativity.

Now for a peak of a very special birdie that is seen in the issue.  The bird was a gift from my sweet friend Maija, isn't she a beauty! I will always treasure it.

Snipits of the Future

 

 

 

 

  

 

LIttle Miss This and That!

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Marina Collings and seeing her wonderful work in person when I taught at Artnest earlier in the year with Pam and Anahata.  If you are not familiar with Artnest it is a wonderful art retreat that Marina's mother and Julie and her dear friend Candice host.  There is something special about Marina's work and I am sure she is going to rise to super stardom one day!! 

 

If you have not checked out her etsy site I suggest that you do she has promised to put out some new goodies for Christmas.  I bought these for my daughters stockings for Christmas.  She made the cutest monsters at Artnest and my girls treasure them.

 

I absolutely love this photo of Marina and her talented mother Julie.  You must check out Julie's new book that has just come out.  This is one amazing family...  Here is another adorable and talented family!

 

Look at how sweet Candice's girls are!!!

Here are some more shots of all the gals at the Artnest retreat. This was such a wonderful experience all the girls were beautiful, talented and so fun to hang out with.   It was so gorgous in Utah, I have never been to the Utah mountains and let's just say it was breath taking. Candice's husband was such a cool dude he brought sledes and snowmobiles for us girls to ride , it was a blast!! 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Where is Waldo the Hermit Crab

 

Yesterday was beach day!! Yeah!!!  We have had beautiful warm days here in sunny California and yesterday was a perfect day to go exploring at the tide pools.  I  got some great shots of the local ocean life.  If you look closely at this photo you will see a bunch of hermit crabs crawling around. 

 

My daughters had a fun time hunting for unusual things with there girl friend.  Here a few of there finds..........

 

and here is the funniest thing we saw, is it a turkey?!!??

  

Oops, yea I know that is a turkey but is this?????

 

Isn't that just freaky!!!!

 

until next time........................

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL

My Granny had a shelf next to her sink in her kitchen.  She always keep an old dish on one of the shelves along with an old bisque vase with a beautiful cherub on it that her brother had given to her.  The dish was full of small trinkets and one day I asked her to show me what was on the dish.  She carefully brought it down and showed me each item.  I was intrigued by this small handmade ring with a  hand painted drawing of a deer on it.  To my absolute delight, my Granny gave me the ring!  She must have seen my little eyes dance when I looked at the ring.  This was a huge deal because I was one of forty grandchildren and my sweet Granny could not just give special things away every day.  Things that were given or made by her were greatly treasured belongings.  She taught us all the gift of appreciation.  I think that my Mothers only brother may have made this ring for my Granny when he was a little boy.  I was never told the exact origins of this mysterious little gem.  All I know is that every-time I look at it, it reminds me of being that little girl, and I wonder who created it.  I alway thought that maybe there was a secret message stored inside...

When you look at a child, don't you sometimes wonder what makes there heart skip a beat, what strikes up curiosity in them!?  It can be the simplest of things.....

SOMETHING FABULOUS IN THE MAIL

One of my favorite things in life is to get fun mail and yesterday was one of those days.  I received my copy of my friend Janette Schuster new book titled, Mixed Media College Jewelry:New Direciton In Memory Jewelry.  I am so excited for her!!!  The book is fantastic Janette has some fabulous pieces in there along with some other incredible artist.  I highly recommend this book for those of you who love to create jewelry it is full of inspiring ideals.  Hats off to you Janette for a job well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

  

I am honored to have one of my pieces in her book and her is a peek at it........

 

NEW GIRLS HAVE BEEN ADDED

 I like to refer to my  necklaces as girls and I just wanted to let you know that I have been adding some new girls to my etsy site.  Great pieces to add a little glitter or just a bit of funky to your holiday outfits!!

 

DON'T YOU WISH...................................................

 

everything could be a little bit French and dirty........................................................