Graceful Leigh goes to the Races

I am very excited to announce that Graceful Leigh is one of the sponsors for the Crossroads Community Ministries fundraiser called Saddle Up with Crossroads. Crossroads works tirelessly for the homeless population in Atlanta. For an example, check out these numbers and statistics. 

If you click on one of the first two links above and scroll to the bottom of the page, you can find the logo pictured above!

If you are in the Atlanta area and can join in this dinner for a worthy cause, I urge you to do so.

Extremely Busy Crafting Week

In addition to the charm bracelet I created a few days ago, I have finished up two more bracelets as well as a necklace.

For sale at Graceful Leigh

The first bracelet in silver tone, includes some of my all-time favorite vintage, religious finds. I used a silver-tone Rosary connector to attach both halves of the medium-weight chain link. I added a bead drop from this. The red cross is a vintage lucite piece. There are other cross charms, an angel charm, as well as some mini Saint Medals.

This is for sale ass well at Graceful Leigh. 

This second charm bracelet features a blue, enameled Crucifix at its center. One of my favorite vintage finds- the Catholic Baptism shell charm that opens to reveal Jesus and Mary on one side and the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the other. Two Milagros charms are also present.

Buy this at Graceful Leigh

My final, recent creation is a statement charm necklace. I love the vintage angel that is the focal point of this statement charm necklace. Her bell moves! Vintage, Italian crosses in red and blue enamel appear beside vintage Catholic Saint Medals. I hung everything from a highly unusual, heavy-weight, vintage chain. I also added coordinating bead drops in reds and blues.

My creative frenzy was brought about because I was almost sold out of bracelets and necklaces. In fact, I still need to craft some more!

Also, it is not much longer now before I head off to Art Retreat in the Desert February 7-10!

How Charming!

Available from Graceful Leigh's Etsy Store

A gold-plated cross of Caravaca (Cara Vaca) is the heart of this bulky charm bracelet design. This cross style is especially popular in Mexico and this one includes angels, a skull, and crossbones. Various, vintage charms adorn the rest of the bracelet, including horses, hearts, a great flower, and vintage Saint Medals. A heart and arrow toggle clasp adds a nice finishing touch to this statement making piece of jewelry. Small, glass beads add accents of color. 

Available from Graceful Leigh's Etsy Store

And just in time, too- my store was almost out of bracelets again!

Many Little Blessings Reviews Graceful Leigh!

In her post, Angie even discusses the vintage handkerchief I wrap each piece I send to buyers!

I am excited and very honored by the review I received from Angie on Many Little Blessings! Angie has had this bracelet for several weeks in order to try the bracelet out and see how she liked wearing it. 

I enjoyed reading the ways the vintage Catholic Medals made her think about who previously owned these items. That is very true for me when I work with each piece as well. I especially liked Angie's insights about the Lourdes bracelet making a statement, which is very true about that design in particular. 

In addition to following Angie's Blog, you can find her Facebook page here. 

Back to the 80s!

Similar to my black and white earrings from the 1980s! From Big Box Shaker on Etsy.

Anyone as old as I am can remember the jewelry we wore in the 1980s. One of my distinct memories is of owning a pair of giant, plastic hoop earrings that were black and white. I cannot now recall if they were striped or polka dotted like the ones above, but they were almost identical in style. I loved those earrings, especially because I wore them with a giant, black and white striped purse I had.

Now, neon is back in style.

1980s Neon Bangles From Claire on Etsy

Not as strongly as the use of neon in the 1980s, but, according to Kristen Tucker from Chapelboro.com, more of a hint of neon is favored.

I know that this summer, I have been consumed with bright, bold colors lately. So, I decided to play with the neon elements in the lampwork beads I found at the bead show I previously blogged about.   

Find this in the Graceful Leigh Etsy shop!

They pair up beautifully with this gold-plated Holy Ghost Medal. The medal is double sided, with the same image on the reverse. I also added a gold tone crucifix charm, and brown glass beads. 

A toggle clasp and hand wired praying hands rhinestone drop finish off this colorful and unique handmade jewelry design.

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway, which ends Saturday.

Graceful Leigh Giveaway!!!

Giveaway Now Closed!!!!

The winner is . . . 

I counted each action as a separate entry, so there were 21 entries. For example, if you subscribed to my newsletter as well as followed me on Facebook- that would be two entries). 

And the winner is comment 16-  Kristin!!!! Congratulations, Kristin! I am emailing you about how to use your gift card. 

Thank you all for a wonderful giveaway! This was fun :)

In celebration of the launch of my new Graceful Leigh email Newsletter, I am holding a blog giveaway. This giveaway is to honor those who become newsletter subscribers.


Benefits to you as a subscriber:

• Get a peek inside my studio at my designs in process. 
• Get a head start on sales and promotions going on in my Etsy store. This includes being able to use promo/discount codes before the general public. 
• Glimpse at what drives my creative process.

The newsletter will come out the first week of every month. An extra newsletter  may arrive depending upon new sales or promotions coming up.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents, and consists of a $15.00 Graceful Leigh store credit, including custom items!

The giveaway is open from Sunday, June 24 through Saturday, June 30 2012 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

Upon close of the giveaway, I will choose a winner suing random.org's number generator.
Please make sure I know how to contact you in your comments!
The winner will have 3 days after notification to claim her/his prize. If I still cannot reach the winner a new name will be drawn.

Entry Rules:
Mandatory
1. Subscribe to my email Newsletter below, or using the box provided on the left-hand side of my blog.

Extra entries:
2. Become a Graceful Leigh Facebook fan.
    Already a fan, let me know that when you comment.
3. Follow my blog.
   Already a follower? Let me know in your comment.
4. Add my Etsy shop to your favorites list!
   Already have my shop as a favorite? Let me know in your comment.

Subscribe to Graceful Leigh's Newsletter

Pentecost and the Holy Spirit

Purchase this Necklace in my Graceful Leigh Etsy store!

My son, Liam, is attending just one camp this summer- the week of Vacation Bible School offered by our church, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, this week. Each day, they are discussing the story behind one of the images in the church's stained glass windows. But, they do not know which story they are doing ahead of time.

Today, while he was at camp in the morning, I felt strongly called to create a necklace using a vintage, Holy Spirit medal that comes from Italy. I was Baptized on Pentecost, so the Holy Spirit always has special meaning to me. I picked up on the blue in the Holy Spirit medal by repurposing a vintage, acrylic-beaded Rosary. The Rosary's original large metal Crucifix pendant is made into a dramatic drop that falls beneath the Holy Spirit medal.

A small, silver cross is hung from silver chain for the shorter of the double strands. The necklace is finished with a vintage, double-strand box clasp.

Upon picking up my son from camp, I discovered that they had discussed the Holy Spirit and Pentecost that day! Considering the way God works, I probably should not have been as surprised as I was.

To The Dogs (and Cats!)

Public Domain Image

Over the past several weeks, I have been contemplating a new product line. My idea is to create pet tags with a Graceful Leigh twist. The idea came to me when I was thinking through a potential dog tag design for one of our dogs, Daisy.

Daisy and I snuggle.

In other news, I have been celebrating the first sales in my Etsy store! I cannot even fully explain how excited I am by my new customers. My hope s that they will become happy repeat customers!

Keys to Heaven and Hidden Heart

I just stocked my Etsy store with two new designs! 


The first is a wonderful statement charm bracelet called Keys to Heaven. This design was inspired by both the Saint Medal keys, which I love, and the stunning, (and rare) vintage Swarovski Cobalt Rhinestone flower chain. I used this on its own to create a double strand. 

The medal key images are of an Angel, Our Lady of Fatima, Madonna and Child, Our Lady of Fatima, and Our Lady of Lourdes. I also added seven vintage crosses of varying styles and vintage heart charms. These all hang from a repurposed heavy link chain. 


You can purchase this bracelet (and see more photos) in my Etsy Shop!


I also finished a new necklace called, "Hidden Heart." It begins with a great vintage cross pendant that has rhinestones and pearls. Playing on the wonderful pearlescent elements of the vintage cross pendant, I added crackle glass beads to a repurposed gold tone chain. The palette of this design makes me think of summer!

The second, shorter strand features a vintage locket. I added a Swarovski rhinestone to the front of the locket to coordinate with the rhinestones on the vintage cross pendant. 


So why is it called, "Hidden Heart?" Inside the locket, I added an copy of an antique sacred heart image and filled the locket with resin and gold craft glitter. 

You can purchase this from my Etsy store as well. 

Ten Years

Our wedding in Sarasota, Florida

Ten years ago today, I married the love of my life and my best friend. To celebrate our milestone, we are going away in a few weeks to The Grove Park Inn in North Carolina. We used to frequent it before we had Liam, and it has been many years since we have been there. I am excited about this rare getaway!

With the grand opening of Graceful Leigh, my Etsy store, I have been extremely busy this week to say the least! I must confess that seeing the items I have created for sale in my shop has been thrilling.

Purchase this necklace from my Graceful Leigh Etsy Shop!

I completed two new pieces yesterday to list in my store. One is a more romantic with an image of a  praying angel. I set the image into a vintage brass drawer pull to use as a center pendant. I then added chain dangles to the bottom. From there, I added a vintage flower charm.

I chose Carnelian and peach glass beads to pick up on the tones and colors in the angel image. The back is finished with a vintage box clasp that matches the peach beads in the rest of the necklace. To finish, I added a cross and a Carnelian drop charm to the back.

My Mary's Graces Etsy team is having a Mary Devotions for May challenge, and I created a pair of earrings for that. I was inspired by the Magnificat, or Song of Mary. This is one of the oldest Christian hymns and one my favorites.

You can purchase these from my Graceful Leigh Etsy store!

I modified a pair of vintage pearl and rhinestone earrings by adding chain dangles and a Miraculous Medal to each.


Don't forget to enter my special grand opening give away! It ends on Saturday, May 5th.