Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Snowflakes & Wine: What Could Go Wrong?
YOU GUYS!!!! I'm teaching a snowflake class at Oceans5 in Shoreham. Here's the deal--you get a glass of wine on the house (or a virgin specialty drink if you like instead) and the bead kit and my class! You get to leave with a very pretty snowflake made with Swarovski crystals! Hang them on the tree, windows, or adorn a present with one. All you need to do is register (in person, call, or online). It's Thursday, December 7th--don't wait!
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Summer Classes Announced!
I have a bunch of classes coming up soon and will be at the Huntington Library for the first time! The classes at Huntington should be really great as they're letting me do a 3 part series. So the more difficult projects people are always asking for will be an option as we have more time to get the projects done. (Not limited to a single 2 hour session).
Tue Jul 76:30–8:30pm | West Babylon (Downton Abbey Necklace)
211 NY-109, 211 New York 109, West Babylon, NY 11704, USA
 | ||
| Wed Jul 15 6:00–9:00pm |
Northshore
(Project to be determined) | ||
| Wed Jul 226:00–9:00pm | Northshore (Part 2) | ||
| Mon Aug 3 6:30–8:30pm |
Huntington
(Project to be determined) Huntington Library, 533 College Road, Farmingville, NY 11738 | ||
| Mon Aug 10 6:30–8:30pm | Huntington (Project to be determined) Huntington Library, 533 College Road, Farmingville, NY 11738 | ||
| Mon Aug 17 6:30–8:30pm |
Huntington
(Project to be determined) Huntington Library, 533 College Road, Farmingville, NY 11738 |
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Irish American
(I realize this is not about jewelry. I wanted to share this with you for St. Patrick's day. It was originally published in the East Hampton Star).
My father used to roll his eyes and say, “Everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s day.” For the most part, being a Mick wasn’t something people bragged about. It immediately makes you think of potatoes, famine, sad songs, and beer.
My father William (Billy) McCormack was the oldest of three boys from
Brooklyn and about as tough as they came. My grandmother was frequently
told to 'wake up Billy' in the middle of the night when he was a young teenager so he could help his
father, a police officer, who would have found himself in the
middle of a bar-fight and needing some extra muscle. When he was 16 he
enlisted in the Navy under a false name (that his World War I veteran
father gave him) to join the fight in World War II. For two years he
stood on the back of a destroyer looking for enemy submarines, dropping
bombs into the water with his bare hands. He was court-marshaled at 18
when it was discovered he wasn't who he said he was on his enlistment
papers. In light of his courage he was granted honorable discharge after
fulfilling the rest of his contract with the government under his own
name. Later, he settled on tending bar as a career. It was as close to
being on stage as he would ever come.
Billy, a classic Irishman, answered most questions with a story or a joke. He'd lay out the joke slowly, as if pouring a drink desperate not to spill a drop. Taking a long drag on his cigarette, he'd review his audience to ensure they were all paying attention. As he let out the smoke from his lungs, he'd reveal the punch line and survey the laughter. He died when I was a young girl and the grief nearly destroyed me--I really loved being Billy's daughter.
My Mom had a French father but her mother was a direct descendant of
Ireland. I did some family tracing a few years ago. I was able to find
my family roots as far as 1600’s for my grandfather, the Frenchman, but
my grandmother’s roots stop very short.
My mother's great-grandmother Katherine Cane was seven years old when she found herself alone on the banks of the Isle of Orleans outside Quebec. Her family, along with the majority of passengers, had been wiped out from typhoid fever on the ship escaping the famine and disease of Ireland in 1847. The stories are varied, but she may have had a sister who also survived. They were separated and adopted by different families. My grandmother said the two sisters once saw each other in town while shopping but were pulled away immediately and never saw each other again. We can only verify the existence of Katherine. The ship burned shortly after arriving to Quebec. All was lost, including the ship's manifest. The only thing left are the stories.
Even though he was not that great of a husband and made questionable parenting decisions, my mother has always spoken very fondly of my father. I doubt my mother knows about the many Sunday afternoons I spent spinning on bar stools while my father drank, feeding me maraschino cherries for lunch, and quarters for the jukebox. My mother tells me that the first thing she noticed about my father were his big blue eyes. My middle son, Max, reminds my mother of him and she always says it with nothing but admiration.
I made a big pot of corned beef and cabbage over the weekend. While it cooked in the slow cooker there were a lot of turned noses and whines, “What is that smell?” I know none of them like it but I decided I didn’t care and made it anyway. Once it was ready and gave myself a hearty portion. I mashed the potatoes into my cabbage and put butter and salt. I put a big dollop of yellow mustard on my plate to dip the corned beef. I took a bite and closed my eyes. For a moment I was five-years-old in my mother's kitchen. My parents weren’t divorced and we were a family. We were the McCormacks.
(This was previously published in the East Hampton Star, 2010)
My father used to roll his eyes and say, “Everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s day.” For the most part, being a Mick wasn’t something people bragged about. It immediately makes you think of potatoes, famine, sad songs, and beer.
My father William (Billy) McCormack was the oldest of three boys from
Brooklyn and about as tough as they came. My grandmother was frequently
told to 'wake up Billy' in the middle of the night when he was a young teenager so he could help his
father, a police officer, who would have found himself in the
middle of a bar-fight and needing some extra muscle. When he was 16 he
enlisted in the Navy under a false name (that his World War I veteran
father gave him) to join the fight in World War II. For two years he
stood on the back of a destroyer looking for enemy submarines, dropping
bombs into the water with his bare hands. He was court-marshaled at 18
when it was discovered he wasn't who he said he was on his enlistment
papers. In light of his courage he was granted honorable discharge after
fulfilling the rest of his contract with the government under his own
name. Later, he settled on tending bar as a career. It was as close to
being on stage as he would ever come.Billy, a classic Irishman, answered most questions with a story or a joke. He'd lay out the joke slowly, as if pouring a drink desperate not to spill a drop. Taking a long drag on his cigarette, he'd review his audience to ensure they were all paying attention. As he let out the smoke from his lungs, he'd reveal the punch line and survey the laughter. He died when I was a young girl and the grief nearly destroyed me--I really loved being Billy's daughter.
My Mom had a French father but her mother was a direct descendant of
Ireland. I did some family tracing a few years ago. I was able to find
my family roots as far as 1600’s for my grandfather, the Frenchman, but
my grandmother’s roots stop very short. My mother's great-grandmother Katherine Cane was seven years old when she found herself alone on the banks of the Isle of Orleans outside Quebec. Her family, along with the majority of passengers, had been wiped out from typhoid fever on the ship escaping the famine and disease of Ireland in 1847. The stories are varied, but she may have had a sister who also survived. They were separated and adopted by different families. My grandmother said the two sisters once saw each other in town while shopping but were pulled away immediately and never saw each other again. We can only verify the existence of Katherine. The ship burned shortly after arriving to Quebec. All was lost, including the ship's manifest. The only thing left are the stories.
Even though he was not that great of a husband and made questionable parenting decisions, my mother has always spoken very fondly of my father. I doubt my mother knows about the many Sunday afternoons I spent spinning on bar stools while my father drank, feeding me maraschino cherries for lunch, and quarters for the jukebox. My mother tells me that the first thing she noticed about my father were his big blue eyes. My middle son, Max, reminds my mother of him and she always says it with nothing but admiration.
I made a big pot of corned beef and cabbage over the weekend. While it cooked in the slow cooker there were a lot of turned noses and whines, “What is that smell?” I know none of them like it but I decided I didn’t care and made it anyway. Once it was ready and gave myself a hearty portion. I mashed the potatoes into my cabbage and put butter and salt. I put a big dollop of yellow mustard on my plate to dip the corned beef. I took a bite and closed my eyes. For a moment I was five-years-old in my mother's kitchen. My parents weren’t divorced and we were a family. We were the McCormacks.
(This was previously published in the East Hampton Star, 2010)
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Fall 2014 Classes
Since I’m asked often when and where I’m teaching next, I thought I’d make a list for you. I know, it really IS so thoughtful of me. If you want me at your local library ask your adult education coordinator. They LOVE it when people do that! (actually, I'm not sure about that--but it can't hurt). Or, email me and I'll hit them up, too.
If you can’t make the class and would like to try it on your own, I sell the patterns and kits on my ETSY shop. Patterns are sold for immediate download on ETSY and my CRAFTSY pattern shop.
If you can’t make the class and would like to try it on your own, I sell the patterns and kits on my ETSY shop. Patterns are sold for immediate download on ETSY and my CRAFTSY pattern shop.
Current Schedule
Oct 29, 7:00pm – 8:30pm @ Northport Library ETSY
All about ETSY. Do you want to open an account, learn how to list, get payment, make millions of dollars? Okay, I can't help with the millions of dollars but I can show you the rest. ;)Dec 1, 7:00pm – 8:00pm @ Longwood Library Snowflake Ornament
Want to make one of these cool snowflake ornaments? You can use them for more than just the tree--they look great in the window and make nice teacher gifts (if you LIKE the teacher). ;)Monday, June 30, 2014
Make a Fast and Pretty Hair Tie
Anyway, I came up with some hair ties that she likes and I enjoy making them for her. They're easy to make and if she loses them I'm ok with it because I'll just make more (and I honestly just don't stress about that kind of thing anyway).
If you know how to crochet, you can do this in a snap. If you don't know how to crochet there are some youtube videos to show you how and this uses the most simple of the crochet technique of single crochet and double crochet.
Here's what you need:
 |
| Supplies |
- Plain pony tail tie
- 1 mm Cording
- (You can use lots of things like elastic cording, cord, thick string, or yarn. Experiment with what you like to work with and what you can easily string beads on).
- Crochet hook (Size depends on the size of the cord)
- Beads for embellish
- I use lots of different things.. acrylic is best as it's not as expensive and if it breaks you don't have broken glass everywhere. I'm very often trolling the clearance racks at craft stores).
Step by Step
1. String all your decorative beads on your cord/yarn/thread. | |
| String Your Beads FIRST |
3. Attach your thread to the crochet hook. Go under the pony tail tie, pull the cord from the other side through the tie, wrap the cord around the crochet hook (to do a double crochet) and pull thread through your loops.
 |
| Crochet Around Plain Tie |
4. Continue around the pony tail tie until you have it covered. (You can pull the stitches over a little to fit more in. Depends on how much you want to cover up the hair tie in the base).
 |
| Double Crochet To Cover Plain Tie. |
5. Do a single crochet into the first row of crochet you did. Chain one.
6. Pull a bead towards your hook. Chain one.
 |
| Row 2: Add Beads |
7. Single crochet in next hole on the first row of crochet you did. Chain one.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 til all the beads are gone.
9. Single crochet around the entire base.
10. Remove hook and secure your thread with a knot. I normally like to drop a dab of bead glue on the knots to make sure they're secure. Just make sure you don't USE the hair tie til you're sure that glue is dry. ;)
 |
| Just Add Hair |
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
In the Lovely Month of May
 |
| Me and my mom. |
There. I'm done now.
Mother's day is COMING!!! For Mother's everywhere (hey--that's me too!) I am offering discounts on jewelry! 20% off anything in stock. I can make things for you too (custom) but it does depend on what it is (some stuff takes time to make and I want to make sure there's time to get it to mom--you don't need THAT kind of guilt trip when your gift doesn't arrive on time, right? You know the sigh I'm talking about, "Oh... sigh.. it's alright... I don't need a gift...sigh")
So the coupon code is MOTHER20. Shop it up!! -->Belle Jewelry Designs
Saturday, April 19, 2014
I'm Hiding Easter Eggs Full of Calorie Free COUPONS
So I have four main places you can follow me; Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. I'm hiding coupons in each of these locations and they are all different values. So far, only one has been published. I will publish the other two later this morning. All coupons will be published by 10am EST.
Follow me for your special egg of savings in my ETSY shop. These won't rot your teeth, add calories to your diet, or melt in your hands. I'm not saying you shouldn't have chocolate though--that's pure insanity. Life is short--eat chocolate and wear lots and lots of jewelry.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Follow me for your special egg of savings in my ETSY shop. These won't rot your teeth, add calories to your diet, or melt in your hands. I'm not saying you shouldn't have chocolate though--that's pure insanity. Life is short--eat chocolate and wear lots and lots of jewelry.
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