My Bella Colle My Beautiful Life

Emotions Of France

Well, I just received my copy of the 'Les emotions de La France' book swap! I am so excited! I've only been a part of one other swap and it's like Christmas when you receive your package in the mail!!

There are soo many talented ladies that took part in this book and I must say I am honored to be apart of this! I love each and every page but so I don't bore you too much, I've shown just some highlights..

Isn't this the coolest glitterfied Eiffel Tower ever?! lol...Looove it!

If you would like to see more, just follow the link to the Flickr group! Merci beaucoup Rhonda!

Happy Friday everyone!

XO

Sea Wed.

Here is the necklace I am working on from the goodies I found while we were camping. I have added round antique buttons and attached three vintage clasps.

I will be making some smaller soldered pieces and adding them to this piece as well! Stay tuned! lol

So, want to know my new fascination? Sea glass! I think sea glass is soo uniquely beautiful. Soo appropriated for Summer don't you think? I acquired these above pieces recently and will be creating something lovely with them.

{ Courtesy of Naturalseaglass.com } Each little piece of glass in the bracelet is authentic beach glass! I loove the color combination of this wonderful bracelet.

{ Courtesy of SweptfromtheSeaDesigns } This is actually a wonderful bracelet! There are three silver charms and three pieces of sea glass.

{ Courtesy of SweptfromtheSeaDesgins } Aren't these earrings Hot?!! I love the wire wrap! I wish I could learn how to wire wrap like this!

A little 'Sea' inspiration for ya this Wed.

XO

Belles of the Garden

Well, the 'Belles of the garden ' this year are my peonies...Their fragrance is filling the yard and our home now..

I love the 'Sandra Bernhardt' variety...the delicate pink petals remind me of my favorite flower..Roses..unfortunately my beloved roses have been attacked by spider mites because of my neglect! Shame on me! lol

These are the only other blooms right now... holding court in two planters on the side of the house...

I was able to create this weekend! I have made this wonderful collage "Sisters"... there are times you want to wring their neck...but always the first one you call when there is something going on...

Any thing you want to share about your siblings? I'd loove to hear some stories!

This is actually a larger 8"inchx7"inch collage.. I will be shrinking it down to put in some charms... I'm even thinking about making some cards with my collages.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

yay for warmer temps and sunshine!

XO

New charms & New Shoppe section!

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I have busy busy... I was able to make some of my collages into fun charms! Each one is unique with a different phrase on the back like "Tres chic" "Tres jolie" and " I gotta be me.."

This is My Affirmation fairy! This one is mine... for some reason the Diamond glaze melted a bit so it's a little blurry.. But if one were to order from the boutique Your charm would be crystal clear...

This one turned out to be my favorite! I have also added a Carta&Papier section, stop by and tell me what you think! I have lots more paper items in mind... These charms are all listed in the boutique and more new designs I didn't list here...

Here is a thought for today...

"To freely bloom-that is my definition of success." -Gerry Spence

more blooms

I have more blooms for you guys!! These are acrylic on a 4"x5" inch canvas. Didn't they just turn out the cutest?!! I will definitely be making some collage soldered charms from these!! Anyone want to pre-order any? =) ...of course they wont have BellaColle scrawled on them!

This one was inspired by the tiny grape hyacinths in the front garden bed! They do look like funny little ladies peeking out from under the looong tulip stems...

Can you see the fun trim on this one? Over the top..yes... but fun!!

This one is trimmed in actual bird feather ribbon I found! Ohh la la! lol!

More blooms on the way! These two will eventually be listed in the Store.

Thoughtful Quote for today..." The world is but a canvas to the imagination.."- Henry David Thoreau

Have a wonderful Wed!

XO

Fun Monday

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I did...didn't do anything, that's what was nice! Just able to catch one's breath... I was able to work on some custom orders... and a new necklace design and this new collage in a series I have swimmin' around in my brain...

I guess I'll call the series "bloom". Things are really starting to blossom here in my garden and it's inspired me to do some collages....

You've seen this charm before, but I decided to play around with some necklace designs and this is one I came up with... Only one design flaw...it's top heavy. So, I'll just go back and add a jump ring and some charms on the bottom. Keep an eye out! I'll be adding necklaces to the store in the up coming month.

Turquoise is such a fun stone to work with right now for me... I don't know, I think is fresh and 'Summery'.. You can really wear silver and turquoise with so many things... it can be dressy or casual.

I will keep working on my sketching.. I am going to challenge my self to some new things this summer... get out of my comfort zone so to speak.. artistically and personally! I think one thing we might do soon is going camping! Aggh... I'm not real big into that... I kinda like having my own potty and shower near by...lol! But, like I said it's the summer of new things.. and this will be a start! What are some things you've wanted to do but never really tried? Anything that would stretch you this summer that would help you grow? And 'Bloom'?

Wonderful Monday evening everyone!

XO

Friday

Okay...here's the thing... I've been trying to get this cleared up for a week now! Someone stole some personal information from me and used it to pay their cell phone bill! Can you believe the nerve? Needless to say, the bank has been alerted as well as the authorities... I would just like to caution everyone to monitor your accounts and change your password regularly!! I just learned the hard way...ya think "oh, it will never happen to me.." Yup! Thankfully the scum has been caught early and didn't steal much..I feel like screaming "Go get a life and stop stealing other peoples!" It's just a shame that there are scum out there masquerading as people with evil intent that pray on the honest folks. Ruins it for everyone!

NOW...TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT.... on the lighter side.. I dug out my water colors to day and set about painting! I don't think I've watercolor since High School... I do love this medium though..

It gives the completed work wonderful shading and texture! My subject was a simple wedding cake. I can tell now with the finished work... I have a lot of practice to do... but in all...

Not bad! It's kinda cute in a "Whoville" / Dr. Suess kinda way...LOL...As I had stated in my previous post, I'm captivated with sketching! Something fun and new for the Summer to work on.

I hope everyone had a wonderful week! Only 4 more school days left for the boys!! yayaya!!!

XO

Cuppa

                                         {Cuppa my charms waiting for their jump rings}

Hello! I wanted to share a wonderful magazine I found while browsing Barnes&Noble. I have been on a quest for what is ... authentic...joyful living.. a creative life that isn't shaped by its circumstances but a life that can rise above the now... I was moved by this post as well on Melissa's The Inspired Room... So, grab a 'cuppa' and let me tell ya about some of the stories in this magazine.

I have never seen this magazine before...Duh! Where have I been I'm sure some are thinking.. The caption under the title truly says it! La Vie Claire

I think everyone can live creatively! Why get stuck in what a mold of what is considered creative..art... beauty. The below story, 'The Art of Travel' really spoke to my heart. A wonderful artist named Mari Le Glatin Keis believes that even the "wrong color" has its place... I quote the author Jennifer Sperry " The only rule artist Mari le Glatin Keis upholds is that there are no rules." She speaks of embracing and looking at things the way children so innocently interpret the world around them every day.. How did we lose that?

Mari is a traditionally trained artist from the L'Ecole de Beaux-Arts in Paris.. she shy-ed away from teaching because she felt art school was "depersonalizing and constrictive"..But now after many years of listening to her heart has taught hundreds of adults on her traveling workshops the joy of letting go of expectations through sketching!

Granted there are a lot of wonderful mixed media/collage/art charm creators/antique boutique owners out there...but I'm here too... so long I've been paralyzed with the fear of failure and criticisms of others.. but from what I learned in collage, art is getting people to see something in a new and interesting way.. the pure and simple act of taking a thought or idea and translating into some for of medium like painting or printmaking or even interior design is joy to me! Why do it if your stomach is tied in knots every time you sit down at your work station to create?...

This story is about a woman who participated in an art retreat called "Artista creative safari" in Carmel California. Again the resounding message in this retreat was to 'quell the pressure to perform and simply to enjoy"... And so... this message has become concrete in my heart.. I WILL live a creative life! Because it is my life... joy first in my heart that will overflow to those around me... I thank the good Lord that He is helping me grow...

I embrace this saying! Joie de Vivre!! The joy of life!! How about you? What brings you joy in this life? Is it your family? Your creations... Lets find joy in the here and now...

Lastly, this story is about a cooking school in France run by Patricia Wells at her home Chanteduc. Patricia teaches her students to embrace the joy of cooking..they learn professional techniques... as well enjoy 'field trips' to surrounding areas learning about French cuisine.. she even has an oven owned by Julia Childs... According to the story Patricia has infectious laughter which her students can't help but catch...a memorable experience I'm sure!!

Simple things can bring joy to ones soul... Living a creative life is an art in my opinion and there are some who have become masters! I would say I've become a student on that quest, I'm by no means perfect, but there is no turning back now! lol!.... how about you?

Hope your week is goin' wonderfully...

XO

Emotion of France

Here is my contribution to the 'les emotion de la France' book swap. Now... I just have to print out twenty four pages...glitterfy and send in!! When I was able to visit France..it was wonderful!

I just wanted to share real quick... #1 has an appointment in a couple of hours to take his drivers test to get his license! It's kinda weird how they do it here...we actually have to go to another city because there were no appointments available in the city we live. You have to make an appointment months in advance! I remember just walking in and takin' it.. gosh..that was a long time ago!lol!!

Anyway..wish us luck! I hope he passes..just for his sake.. it will give him some self confidence.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week!

XO

Texture

Happy Monday... Busy weekend.. I have been painting and sprucing up to get the house ready to sell our selves... I just had to pause as I was packing some odds and ends away... with the wonderful textures around me.. I'm constantly looking for inspiration around me and I didn't even stop and realize I had inspiration right in my own bedroom... This is one of my bedside table lamps.. I smudged my self out of the reflection..but I just love the silver sheen these lamps have.. smooth and cool to the touch.. mini gazing balls.

This is a beautiful white rose wreath that hangs over our bed. Now with the chocolate froth walls and white trim..soft pristine folds right above our head...

Here is an antique picture that hangs on our door... simple.. the gilded frame adds a beautiful ridged trim...

Now to my favorite! I love birds nests... something about the intricate weave of the grass and fibers makes me feel all cozy.. Aren't the smooth eggs lovely? The colors are a wonderful tan and the faintest of blue... wonderful inspiration for my blog colors! I'll have to play around with that later.  So lets see we have; smooth, ridges, soft, thread like...

This is the inspiration for the Mothers Nest available in the Shoppe

Here is a new charm available there as well... Only one available...when it's gone it's gone..

Here is the front...

Have a great Monday!

What wonderful texture can be found in your world?

XO