Snow Day and Christmas Goodies!

Around 10.30 this morning the winter storm that has been making its way across most of the northeast arrived here in northern NJ. The weather channel says snow is falling at a rate of about 1 inch or more per hour. Total snow expected 7-12 inches. As an optimist i prefer to look on the bright side of things, that is instead of saying %*&#%* about having to shovel the snow i just say- It's great cardio! and if you use the squat and lift technique its just as good as an eliptical machine! The photo was taken around 4.15 pm from the front door.

Between snow shoveling this afternoon i made my chocolate dipped pretzels to give out to everyone. I hope we can all stay out of them so there is enough to give as christmas gifts :/ I bought 2 bags of UTZ pretzels and a bag each of white chocolate and milk chocolate chips. I made up my usual double boiler (glass bowl on top of a pan of water) I did all different combinations white with chocolate drizzle, chocolate with white drizzle, chocolate with hollyberry sprinkles etc. Although my white chocolate and crushed reeses cup idea didn't work out too well im very pleased with everything else. You are no doubt jealous right now? Don't be! Next time your picking up some groceries pick up a bag of pretzel rods, some chocolate chips, sprinkles and don't forget the waxed paper! Put on some christmas carols and enjoy the sweet, sweet smell of being able to create some delicious treats to share with your friends and family this holiday season.
xoxo
Julia Catherine

And the winner is...

Kari of Wide Eyed Musings! The winner of a pair of my famous apple green drop earrings. Thanks so much to everyone who joined my mailing list and this giveaway. My next giveaway will be announced the first week of January. If you joined my mailing list you will be receiving a short email the day when it is announced.
xoxo
Julia Catherine

Drawing Today for My First Blog Giveaway

The winner for my first blog giveaway drawing will be drawn this evening at 8pm Eastern Time. The winner will receive a pair of my famous apple green earrings free. The winner will also receive free shipping on any other purchases they would like to make from my shop. If they spend over $25 that shipping will be upgraded to priority mail for no extra charge. Keep in mind that all items received from Julia Catherine Jewelry are boxed and wrapped with a gorgeous burgundy ribbon, ready for gift giving. Wrapping paper can be added as well at your request, for free. So its really effortless holiday shopping, the easiest this whole season!

So how do you qualify for this giveaway? Simply join my mailing list to the right of this post. By joining you will be entered to win tonights giveaway, notified of other giveaways as well as future amazing sales and upcoming events in my shop. So make sure you join and check back later on today to see if you won, also take a peek at my shop to peruse my amazing handcrafted jewelry, i have a ready to ship section and orders over $25 before shipping get a free upgrade to priority mail.
xoxo
JuliaCatherine

Cha-Cha-Cha CHIA- Cat grass planter

As tacky as it might sound I have been thinking of buying a chia pet for some time now. So this year when i saw the advertisement for the new Chia Pet Cat Grass Planter i was very excited. See we have this cat who likes to go outside and walk on a leash and eat grass. Since winter is here that is just not an option for him. This planter costs $15 and i found it at my local rite aid while picking up some cold medicine. It comes with everything. The planter is made from ceramic and has tweety bird and sylvester the cat on it. (looks a bit like our guy mittens!) It comes with just the perfect amount of dirt and two packs of seeds. The grass itself is a mix of oat grass and wheatgrass. The only thing it does not come with is the plastic they ask you to over it with after you plant your seeds. So tonight in about 10 minutes i planted my cat grass and it says the seeds have an 80% germination rate in about 4 days. How exciting! I will let you know how it turns out!
xoxo
Julia Catherine

Mosaics!

My mosaic candle holders are finally completed! I think they came out amazing. I made them by color. I did reds, oranges, yellows and a hint of purple and those are my 'sunset' colors. Then i did shades of blue and green. It only took me a couple hours each day for about 3 days to complete these projects. I bought the glass holders at walmart for barely $1 each and the glass is scrap glass from my moms stained glass. I think what took the most time was 'prepping', which was cutting the glass into small mosaic type pieces. The next step was gluing them onto the candle holders with an adhesive. The one i used was specifically for mosaics, you can use E6000 if you have that. I let them dry overnight after placing the mosaic pieces on the glass candle holders. Then it was time to grout.
I have tried grouting both ways. The first one i spread out the grout with and old butter knife and squished it into the crevices and scraped the excess away. On the packges it says to put on a glove and do it with my gloved hands. I must say the gloved hand was ALOT easier, and goes by much quicker. Then you wait about 20 mins and come back with an old green scrubbie pad and kind of buff off the excess. Wait overnight and go back with a moistened sponge and voila!
I think when the 3 are lit they look a bit like christmas lights but they will be given as separate gifts in a gift set to different people. Looks amazing!

xoxo
Julia Catherine

(P.S. Don't forget to sign up for my mailing list to the right! To get amazing sale notifications and qualify for my giveaway in only 5 days!)

A gift for the musician in your life & what i did on my day off.

So today I created the perfect gift item for the musician in your life. It's a guitar pick necklace. The guitar pick is handsawn from thick 20 G sterling silver. Then it goes through a series of filing and polishing to round and smooth the edges and create a near mirror shine. This particular item can be engraved with 'let the music guide you' or can be made plain, with or without the 16 inch sterling silver cable chain. I chose for this one to hang from its side to be a bit different from your average guitar pick necklace.

Yesterday i decided to take a day off and work on some little gifts for friends and family. I bought these little glass votive holders in the crafts section of my local store for about $1 each then took some scraps from my mothers stained glass projects and sorted them by color. I decided to do blues, sunset colors and greens. I spent quite a bit of time selecting colors and cutting them into little rectangle and square shapes. Then using tweezers and some adhesive i carefully placed each shard into place. I let them dry overnight and i plan on grouting them with white grout later today. I will check back in with more photos as i complete them.
Thanks for stopping by! Dont forget to join my mailing list to the right of this post to be entered in my giveaway for a pair of my most popular apple green earrings!
xoxo
Julia Catherine

Etsy Shop Review: Spoiled Kitty Cat Toys & Accessories

Every year for Christmas I like to get a little something unique for my fur babies. You know- the four legged ones with pointed ears? I had been looking at SpoiledKitty and the crochet cat ball toys for a week or 2 and i just decided i HAD to have them or rather, THEY had to have them. It didn't really matter the color, i dont think they are picky. I decided on the peacock purple. I chose these toys because

#1 They are handmade by a cat lover who I know is looking out for my pets!
#2 They might cost a bit more but are well worth it because its not mass produced crap, that may kill my little loves.
#3 Im supporting the handmade movement
#4 They are made from 100% acrylic yarn which I knew my kitty kids would love because it gets stuck on their little claws.
#5 Packed in is 100% certified organic catnip!

I recieved my package in the mail today. My cats knew EXACTLY what was up the second I set the package on the table. They all showed up! I cut the envelope and took out the little organza type drawstring pouch with the catnip and toys inside and started distributing them. My cats did exactly what I had thought they would. First they investigated, then they played! Miss Anne did that little put the toy into the mouth and kick it deal. Big Lou is more of a toy flicker. And Callie is a trouble maker because while i was taking this photos she was right behind me spilling the catnip is the baggie all over the floor. Typical! I highly reccomend you visit Sonya over at SpoiledKitty and get some of these for your fur babies this holiday.
xoxo
JuliaCatherine