Halloween Costumes and New Jewelry

Is anybody else sick of hearing about Halloween costume?
My kids have been talking about Halloween for 3 weeks! Shoot me now. Ever since the Halloween costume catalogues started arriving in our mailbox. Note to self: get the mail before the kids get home.

Way back when, we didn't have Halloween catalogues brimming with costumes. We actually had to use our noggins to dream up costumes to create out of nothing. Or visit Kmart and buy one of the prepackaged costumes with the plastic mask. The plastic masks were so hot, your face would steam up from your breathe. Remember those?

My son wants to be Harry Potter. That's easy enough, right? The robe, glasses and wand. Plastic wands are 8 or 10 bucks. Why can't he whittle a wand out of a stick? Oh yeah, because he cannot use a pocket knife. He's 7. What with all the explorer sticks out on my deck, I would think he could find a super cool wand out of that pile. This way, he's recycling and green. But, no, now he wants the broom, owl and other props after perusing the blasted catalogues! These costumes are ridiculously expensive too. For one night? I don't get it. If I'm buying a $50 costume, I want to see it out in public more than once.


The other spectrum is my daughter. "I don't know what I want to be", she says, several times a day. My idea, look in the back of your closet, and find the costume from last year - in mint condition! I have a nice, clean white sheet...

On another note, new jewelry! My kids are obsessed with Halloween costumes and I'm obsessed with new jewelry designs. I had to share these with you.

The necklaces on the right is made with dumorteriete, a deep blue gemstone considered to enhance organizational abilities and self-discipline. It is believed to release fear, bringing courage to one's life, and to boost creativity and expression. I should wear this one daily just to stay organized! Two beads are wire wrapped and hang from sterling silver chain and accent a round sterling silver pendant that has been hammered for texture. I love my hammers!

The necklace on the left is hand beaded with dyed mother of pearl nugget beads in a milk chocolate brown. I've added an oval sterling silver piece that I roller printed to add texture, then wire wrapped a blue turquoise nugget in sterling silver to dance atop the silver piece.

Look for these on the website by tomorrow. More to come...