Lisa Leonard is an absolute saint. She makes some of the most beautiful jewelry you've ever seen, plays mommy to two little guys, takes breathtaking photos, and brightens our every day with her inspiring blog. She's one of those people who seems able to find the silver lining in every moment, and she's become one of my favorite reads and shops. Lisa's work has been featured all over the place, so you probably recognize some of her pieces.
Q. What's the story behind Lisa Leonard Designs? A. I started the jewelry business when my first son David was born. He was born with a disability and I really wanted to be able to work from home. His birth lit a spark in me and even though I was afraid, I decided to jump in and take a risk by starting my own business.
everyone in the world a little something special, what would it be? 
A. Oh wow, that's a great question. I love photography, I love paper and stationary. I also love weddings. It would definitely be something creative.
I can't tell you how excited I am about this one. Lisa is giving one of you lovelies $75 bucks to spend on anything at all from her shop. Do you have any idea how hard it's going to be to pick something out? Very. This giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday, December 6.
Here it is - the handmade gift personalized by you for the special guy in your life! Of course, this would make a great women's necklace as well, but you know how hard those guys are to shop for! This is another fabulous Tutorial Exchange project with a glass vial provided by the sweetest Angie of Supply Pusher!
Materials
Step 1. Position your first letter stamp on your starting point on your brass disc atop your bench block. Firmly hit the top of the stamp two to three times with your hammer. I've been informed by a very reputable source that it is better for the lifespan of the stamps if you use a heavy rubber mallet. Continue adding your letters around the circumference of the disc. I ran out of room so resorted to 'b/c' instead of 'because,' but it's my first stamped project, so so be it!
Step 2. You could use a chemical oxidizing agent here, but it's much simpler and more accessible to just color in your letters with a black permanent maker. After you've thoroughly filled each letter in, use steel wool or a fine grit sanding sponge to sand off all the marker on the disc. Because they are recessed, the letters will remain darker, and now you also have a nice, industrial look to the disc!
Step 3. Write the same little love note, poem, or whatever comes to mind on each strip of paper. I used a pretty handmade paper since it will be the focal point of the whole piece.
Step 4. Roll one of your notes up as tightly as possible and then drop it into the glass vial.
Step 5. Apply a thin layer of E-6000 around the inside of the vial's cap. Apply the cap and then firmly squeeze it into place for several minute. I blasted it with a hair dryer on high for a few minutes to speed the process along.
Step 6. Thread a jump ring through the disc and another through the hole in the vial's cap and then close the rings.
Step 7. Thread both jump rings onto the key ring. The key ring itself is now complete, but we can't forget the packaging!
Step 8. Put your creation in a little kraft paper box, and wrap the second note around it like a ribbon. This way, he'll be able to read the message in the bottle! Tape the note in place on the bottom of the box. Make sure that he doesn't rip the note off when opening the box! You can then tie a piece of twine or yarn around the whole thing for an elegant but still masculine look.
There you have it - a great gift for that special guy. It's sweet and sentimental enough for him to treasure it but not so mushy as to keep him from using it! Although you do have to make the initial investment in the stamps, you can use them for a plethora of creative projects, so it's well worth it!!!
I would like to issue a resounding 'congratulations' to Mizz Snape of Mizz Snape Lives for a Day, commenter numero 88 and the winner of a $25.00 gift certificate to Polkadile. You should go check out the Mizz's cute blog while you're around! Thanks a million to Adaleta of Polkadile for sharing her life with us and to everybody who checked out her shop!!!
Deanne over at Dream Sequins just had a birthday, and she celebrated in one of the neatest ways ever! She hosted a virtual tea party for all her blogging amigas to get dolled up and attend. Everybody sent in photos in their high tea finery with their menu for the day. I especially love it because it's a great chance to see the faces behind the blogs we all know and love. Head over to Dream Sequins to wish this lovely lady a very happy birthday!
=
I hesitate to tell you about today Blogroll feature... I thought about keeping them all to myself... I considered being an awfully stingy old miser... Lucky for you guys, however, my generosity has prevailed. You can thank me later. : )
The weather and the workload has been a bit gloomy here of late, but I have a solution - The Bright Side Project. The BSP is the lovely brainchild of Miss B. and Miss K. and has the whole internet buzzing about the lemony-goodness. Are you wondering yet what sort of sunshine these ladies deliver daily? I'll keep you in suspense no longer - every single day of the week (Yes - Saturdays included. Sundays too.) The two Misses offer up a new giveaway from one of the finest smorgasbords of good things that you'll ever see. November's theme, 'The List,' is double the fun, with sponsors giving away one goodie for you to keep and one to give. If you need a jump on your holiday shopping, I suggest you head over to The BSP this very moment.
I guarantee it's going to make your list of sites to check first thing every morning; it's been on mine for awhile now!
Q. What's the story behind The Bright Side Project?
A. MISS B-It started as a whim, I couldn't take all the doomsday talk around me any longer. I just had my salary cut 30%, Miss K's husband had been laid off, and people everywhere were losing hope. I always believe you need to learn to appreciate what you have and not focus on what you don't have. I knew that people were still good and generous and that there was beauty and hope out there. The BSP was created with all that in mind on my Blahg, then it eclipsed my Blahg and I went begging my Bestie (and the smartest most witty girl on the internet) to PLEASE bail me out and be my 'partner in shine'. Thankfully she agreed and the project went to an all new level of sunshine. Now the BSP has become the brightest spot on the web.
Q. MISS B. and MISS K. - tell us a little bit about yourselves!
A. MISS B.-My driving desire is to live an extraordinary life versus an ordinary one. It really sums up how I live and who I am.
MISS K.-I am a wife, mother, writer, and attorney, but not always in that order. Because I like so many things and have so many interests, I am also phenomenally indecisive. If I had to pick just one thing that defines me, it would be my love of reading and writing. Technically, that's two things, which actually goes back to the point that I am indecisive. So, maybe it's my indecision that defines me.
Q. Tell us about five creative, obscure, and interesting ways to use a lemon.
1. To clean your garbage disposable throw your used cut lemons in and cycle. Fresh scent + disinfects.
2. Lemon juice + baking soda makes a great natural cleaner for your sinks and counters.
3. Brown spots on face? Lemon + apple cider vinegar compresses help a bunch.
4. To make the whites of your nail bright stick your fingers into a cut lemon, rinse and viola!
5. Make disappearing ink! With the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon, use a watercolor brush to write a message on a piece of paper. Once dry, hold the paper a few inches from a light bulb or small candle and your message will magically reappear.
Q. What's your motto in life?
A. MISS B. + MISS K.: La vida es bella. Translated from Spanish--'Life is beautiful'.
Q. What can always make you smile and make your day sunny, no matter how bleak and miserable your day might be?
A. MISS B: Puppies and baby animals always make me smile as does F* Penguin (Miss K turned me on to them).
Miss K. --my two boys (ages 2.5 and 5) are always good for keeping my head on straight.
Q. What is your ultimate vision/goal for the BSP?
A. MISS B.: To hang out with Oprah of course! Besides that to create an environment of squishy, happy feelings. We love the BSP, everyone wins-contributors, winners and readers alike. It's a fun place. Now all we need is an assistant (or two or three) and to get paid so we can quit our day jobs!
MISS K--I want to continue to promote brands we love, make people happy, and support my family financially while I do something I love.
Q. You've just been given a free vacation to go enjoy the sunshine anywhere in the world. Where are you headed, and why?
A. MISS B.: Argentina of course! Miss K. basically has me convinced it's nirvana and I am down. It's the 'Paris' of South America and I love being around crazy Latins makes me feel like I'm at home and a great vacation always makes me not miss my casa.
MISS K: Argentina! I haven't seen my 88 year old grandmother in over 10 years. She hasn't met my husband or our sons, which is criminal, if you ask me.
Q. Sum up the BSP in one perfectly-crafted haiku.
Is delivered everyday
Q. You lovely ladies are an inspiration to the rest of the web, but what inspires you? What is your favorite shop and blog? (include links please)
A. MISS B.: I am truly inspired by life, this means I am NEVER bored, nope not even standing in line at the DMV can deter me. Too hard to name just one site. I LOVE Martha because the sites I gravitate towards are how-to, d.i.y. + craft, foodie, and it's all there.
MISS K: I would have to say my friend, Nicole Balch, of Pink Loves Brown and Making it Lovely. She's younger than me, but nice enough that I can't hold it against her. Jokes aside, she is that elusive mix of incredibly talented, humble, confident, and genuine. More importantly, she's just a nice person. Mark my words--that girl is going places.
