Ok ladies...

So I've been an avid football (soccer) fan for a very long time and I think it's time to finally share a little bit of the reason why I like watching "the beautiful game" so much. Watching these men on the pitch is quite exciting if you know the rules of the game, but you don't really need to know much to enjoy watching.

When you realize the amount of physical strength, dexterity and stamina these men have to be able to run around for 90 minutes straight with a 15 minute break - it will blow your mind. I consider them the most fit athletes on the planet. So take that into consideration about other areas of their life and, well, you get the point.

Here are a few of the men you should watch for during this most incredible of events happening for the next month called the World Cup. Maybe you've heard of it?


From Paraguay: Roque Santa Cruz





From France: Yoann Gourcuff





From Spain: Migel Torres Gomez



From US: Carlos Bocanegra



and Benny Feilhaber




From Italy: Fabio Cannavaro




And of course many women go crazy for Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (He's the one on the right.) Although he's not one of my favorites, you can't deny that body... He's shown here with Ivory Coast footballer Didier Drogba:





Sadly you won't be seeing these men since they have since retired but do deserve mentioning for sure.

From Switzerland: Raphael Wicky



From Sweden: Freddie Ljungberg



From Spain: Aitor Ocio



There are so many that I have missed, so I guess you'll just have to watch. It certainly brings new meaning to the term "the beautiful game", am I right ladies?

I must say that if I'm going to spend time watching a sport this is going to be the way to do it. It's continuous play so you don't have waste 4 hours of your time watching fat guys stop and start every 5 seconds between watching lame beer commercials.

cheers!
xo diane

Violet Crown Festival

This Saturday Tasty Jewelry will be participating in the Violet Crown Festival. With lots of wonderful new items it will be a great opportunity to pick up some great gifts for Mother's Day! See the flier below for more details.



Hope to see you there!

cheers!
xo diane

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Come out this Saturday May 1st to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf where Tasty Jewelry will be one of the featured artisans. I'll have some fantastic new jewelry including wonderful gifts for Mother's Day!



I hope to see you there!

cheers!
xo diane

So....

So if you looked at the previous post and guessed funky graphic print rings then you were right! These white glass gems were the perfect surface on which I could print my original graphics. They are mounted on an adjustable ring band with 13 different prints available; 3/4" diameter, $12 each.



And a side view:



Click on either of the two pictures above to be taken to the website for ordering. If I get enough interest, I might make them also into magnets. What do you think? Let me know...

cheers!
xo diane

working on something new...

I've had this idea for quite some time and now I've found the perfect medium to make it happen. I like to use my original art on different forms which I can then turn into jewelry. Being able to express myself creatively is something that I've felt driven to do my entire life.

So here are some photos of my newest endeavor...you'll have to wait and see what they become. Do you think you can guess what they'll be?



close up:



So be on the lookout in days to come for the finished product. :)

cheers!
xo diane

limited edition item #3

Limited edition antique brass filigree ring with mini rose accent. Delicate ring form is open in the back to allow fit for most fingers. Available in 18 different colors: $10 each. Only 10 available! Click on the image to be taken to the website.



colors available:



cheers!
xo diane

New chrysanthemum bob pins

New online today are the cutest chrysanthemum flower bob pins. Available in 18 tasty colors, these little beauties are super stylish & hold even the thickest locks of hair.
$8 each




cheers!
xo diane

NEW copper jewelry

I've just listed some new contemporary copper jewelry on www.tastyjewelry.com! Here are some examples of the goodies:

chain chandelier earrings $26:



chain drop earrings $22:



fringe tassel necklace $40:



Check them out!

cheers!
xo diane

Tasty Jewelry in Charlotte, NC

If you live in the Charlotte, NC area make some time to see the latest in contemporary jewelry & hair accessories by Tasty Jewelry at this fantastic trunk show hosted by Nolen Kitchen and Parts & Labour from Austin, TX.

Details below:



cheers!
xo diane

New bob pins online!

I've been making these bob pins for awhile, but somehow haven't found the time to add them to the website until now...

There are two sizes and they come in all sorts of luscious candy colors for only $10 per pair! Each one is hand made and features a Swarovski® crystal rhinestone accent.

The minis measure 1 1/4" long and are great for fine or short hair.



The regulars measure 1 7/8" long and are great for sprucing up your 'do or for when you are growing out those crazy bangs. You all know what I'm talking about...




cheers!
xo diane

Spring has sprung at www.tastyjewelry.com

It's been quite some time since I've updated the website, and now I have with lots of great graphics befitting the beautiful Spring & Summer seasons. I have a few new items that will be added soon so be on the lookout for those....



In the meantime, please head over to www.tastyjewelry.com to see what's new!

cheers!
xo diane

A Day to Remember...

Two years ago today I had a life-changing experience.



There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of my mother. The sound of her voice as she would ask me about my day at school, the way her handwriting looked on recipe cards or grocery lists, her ability to listen and give advice with such love and patience. So many things that could be put into thousands and thousands of words, but none of which would ever be able to express the amount of love and respect I have for her still...

I miss her dearly and know that she will live on in my memory of her forever.

I love you Mom....

xo Diane

SXSW Market

This is the 4th year that I've set up for SXSW and it's quite possibly the last. It has always been such a great experience and I don't think this year will be any different. I have organized yet another local artist's market at Guero's Taco Bar where there will be lots of wonderful handmade merchandise offered.

If you are in Austin during this amazing week please try to find some time to stop by and say hello!



cheers!
xo diane

Um....

Looks like someone is thoroughly enjoying the fruits of my labor...



That's Gunner, he's been enjoying my new chair more that I have this past week! (And no, you don't see a tail since he's a Manx, that's part of the breed...like a little black bear!)

cheers!
xo diane

Before & After...

Six years ago I bought this incredible orange vinyl chair from a resale shop in San Antonio and fell in love with it's unique shape and sleek design.




Well, after years of wear & tear the orange vinyl started ripping near the buttons and I felt it was really in need of a serious makeover. (You can see what I mean in the photo above.)

A few years ago on one of my many trips to Ikea I had found this incredible fabric which was whimsical, geometric and had a real vintage feel to it. I had planned on making something fabulous out of it, so until I was inspired it sat in a drawer waiting for the perfect project to emerge. This chair was that project!



My place has a Danish modern feel to it, and this fabric fit the bill...wonderfully.



The pattern is expressive without being obnoxious. The simple and clean line of the chair is what I feel really made this fabric work.



The project was not a small undertaking by any means...I had to remove all of the vinyl & bottom fabric then I sanded & refinished the legs & created fabric covered buttons. I've never taken any type of upholstery class, but seeing as I create things all day it was a pretty simple project to undertake. I have re-worked lots of furniture in the past and have been inspired & challenged by each and every project I've completed. I love every minute of it, knowing that I will be left with a super cute addition to my living room & knowing that I had a hand in creating it.

cheers!
xo diane

Being Norwegian

This is Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, skier extraordinaire with an amazing back story. He crashed, BIG time, only 2 years ago and now holds Olympic gold. I'm sure you can see why I blogged about him...



He's an inspiration. Lucky me that I am part Norwegian. ;)

cheers!
xo diane

Completely off topic...Dexter

I've been hearing everyone I know talk about the show Dexter, but since I don't have Showtime I haven't made my way to see it yet. Until now....



I signed up for Netflix the other day and have streamed not only the first but second season already! This show is riveting! Great writing, amazing cast, wonderful characters the whole shebang. Now I know that might seem like a LOT of television...but since I sit here working all day I need something to listen to. (I'm accustomed to working long hours anyway so this just keeps me company.) I have written before about several ways on how I pass my "aural" time through listening to podcasts, last.fm & hulu but now I've got streaming Netflix? What a genius idea.

Almost as genius as Dexter.

cheers!
Diane

Olympics!

Anyone who really knows me knows how much I LOVE the Olympics. I don't care if it's the Winter or Summer games I get the fever and am relatively glued to watching as many events as I possibly can. How awesome is it that Vancouver is this year's host for the Winter Games? It seems like such a beautiful place and Canadians are some of the nicest people that I've ever met!

I am always filled with inspiration from the athletes who compete. I love hearing their stories & feeling that anything is possible. What a great way to unite the globe for a few weeks every two years.

Congratulations to all the athletes & GO TEAM USA!



cheers!
xo diane

Feeling a little empty....

Here is a before & after picture of one of my drawers that I've been working on...

Before:


After:



I think it's pretty clear how I feel about it...

cheers!
xo diane

Getting personal....

Lately I have been rifling through what I would call my "life's work" of a bead collection. I wouldn't say that this has been a simple task seeing as I have amassed beads & findings over the past 20+ years. When I say I've been making jewelry my whole entire life, I mean it. I started when I was about 6 years old (maybe even sooner) and I haven't stopped since. Until now.

I realized that as much as I love what I do and that it helps define me as a person, I also have other facets of my life that still have yet to be "polished". So as I figure out my next step I am sorting through thousands of beads and am getting quite emotional about it.

If you have ever collected anything in your life and have continued it past a simple "phase" you know that it can become much more than just "stuff", it can become a real part of your life. Or at least who you think you are at the time of collecting. I have decided that along with my choice of moving to New York City that I will have to pare down about 80% of my belongings and I'm really okay with that. I think the thing that has become difficult for me is that I'll also be changing careers, so I will need to relinquish my collection of beads.

I feel that I need to pass this collection on to other designers. When I originally saw these items I was inspired and saw the potential in them for creating beautiful jewelry. I think they still hold that potential but now it's up to someone else to take that and run with it. I would rather think of it as passing positive & creative energy along than see it as a "loss" for me.

So soon I will be having a huge sale of my "life's work" so to speak. Amazing beads with amazing potential...and all because I've decided to move on and create something new for myself. Not a bad deal at all.

cheers!
xo diane