Breaking Bread

 

 

For the last few years my family has been turning tradition on its head and embracing new ways to celebrate the holidays. Last year my mom and I baked Easter bread. It's an old Italian tradition that we've often enjoyed at our Easter table but never attempted to make ourselves. It's a sweet bread made with milk and sugar with an Easter egg in the center. It was a delicious--and attractive--addition to our Easter spread.

 

 

 

 

Let it Bead,


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What are some of your culinary Easter traditions?

Easter EGG-Stravaganza

With the holiday just around the corner, you may already have your Easter decorations out front and center. However, if you're anything like me and still have your Christmas tree up--did I just publicly admit that?--an easy way to update your home decor is to switch out the contents decoratively displayed in apothocary jars.

I added an assortment of colored plastic Easter eggs and Easter egg shaped malt balls to my jars. The apothocary jars also provide an in-plain-sight hiding spot for an Easter egg hunt.

To make Easter a true EGG-stravaganza, use the plastic eggs for more then just decoration--use them to throw a 21 and older Easter Egg Hunt. An indoor adult Easter egg hunt is a fun way to celebrate the joy of the season, even if you're too old to receive a basket from the Easter Bunny.

Easter Egg Hunt Prizes for the 21 and Older Crowd:

• mini anti-bacterial hand soap
• Listerine breath strips
• folded $1, $5, $20 and $50 bill(s)
• coins
• individually wrapped teabags
• Starbucks Via coffee straws
• magnets
• nail polish
• seed packets
• golf balls
• hair ties
• mini bottles of alcohol

Let it Bead,


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What was the best prize ever revealed during the Easter egg hunts in your life?

My favorite goodies were the candy lipsticks and press-on red nails.

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Beading with BSOEPA

Every year the Bead Society of Eastern Pennsylvania (BSOEPA) has a bead retreat weekend for its members.

This year we had the lovely Kimberly Stathis grace us with her presence to share her elegant beading designs and teaching skills.

 

 

The retreat was held at the Kirkridge Retreat Center in Bangor, PA. It's a serene place a little off the beaten path where the population is sparce, offering a picturesque and perfect locale for the purpose of a retreat.

The Nelson Lodge where we lodged and beaded was nestled atop the Appalachian Mountains and provided a breathtaking and inspiring view.

 

 

Once I made it to the lodge--which was at the end of a winding road that took me further and further into the woods--I unpacked my bags (only two!) and settled into my beading station.

Friday night kicked off the retreat with Kim's Victorian Pillow Earrings. My color palette included sea foam pearls, indigo crystals and purple and gold seed beads.

 

 

Saturday we worked on Kim's Heart's Desire Necklace. My color palette included platinum pearls, rose crystals and pewter and gold seed beads.

 

 

Stephanie selected creamy gold pearls and fuschia crystals for her Heart's Desire Necklace to pair beautifully with her custom-made knitted sweater.

Sunday we worked on Kim's Piazza Bella Bracelet. My color palette included hematite pearls, gray crystals and silver and gold seed beads.

I didn't make much progress on my bracelet, but I'm excited to finish it as the accent colors will make the bracelet a permanent fixture for both my silver and gold arm parties.

 

It was a fun, relaxing, bead-centered weekend shared with friends.

 

A big thank you to the BSOEPA and Kim Sathis for an incredible "beadtiful" weekend!

Let it Bead,

Snowflakes

I thought I missed my chance to post this bracelet and earring set since the weather seemed to be getting warmer and more Spring-like. But today Pennsylvania turned into a winter wonderland; a perfect interlude to share this snowflake jewelry before we transition seasons for good.

 

 

I made these snowflake accessories as a wedding present for my friend who had a December wedding last year.

 

 

I used Swarovski pearls and crystals to create a matching  bracelet and earring set for her to wear on her special day.

 

 

Even without the snowflake jewelry, my friend was the ultimate snow princess.

 

 

Let it Bead,




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Do You Believe in Magic

You will when you discover how easy it is to recreate this necklace.

I'll be teaching beaders to make a variation of this necklace at The Bead Hive in Coopersburg tomorrow, Saturday, March 2 from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. If you are in the area and have some free time, stop by and make some magic.

For more details about the class, click here.

Let it Bead,