Yes, it is Angela Lansbury.

So Angela Lansbury might not be your first choice of who you'd like to see in a bottle cap but that's okay - you can pretty much pick anyone you'd like. Of course I already have some classics - Tom Selleck, Raymond Burr, Richard Dawson, Dolly Parton, James Garner - pretty great, huh? But if you want, oh, let's say Richard Simmons (he he!) I can do that! And the other cool thing - all of the bottle caps are on sale for $5 throught the end of the year. These make awesome stocking stuffers and are also super cute tied on the top of presents. Check 'em out on http://www.metalsgirl.com/

Every girl could use a big green bauble, right?

About a year or so ago I found these funky, cool, random, vintage charms on etsy. I think the first one I bought was a copper camel. Totally random, huh? I thought they were pretty fun and wanted to find a way to use them. My sterling silver bangle charm bracelets are pretty popular (if I do say so myself) and people also like the plain brass bangles. So why not brass charm bangle bracelets? These vintage charms are just perfect for that! And I've since found some vintage colorful beads to add too. So each one has a vintage charm - like a camel or cat or rooster, or "I love you. Please don't smoke.", or an owl, or a donkey, or a chickadee, or a lightening bolt...plus a vintage bead, and a resin and herb charm.

They look great alone or piled on by the ton! They make a great gift for just about anyone. Check 'em out on www.metalsgirl.com

Your pooch on a pillow!

Every year we struggle with what to get my husbands grandmother. She is as sweet as she can be and it's not that she is hard to buy for - it's just that she doesn't need anything - you know? But she has this dog that she absolutely adores - Belle. Belle is the light of her life. So anything that involves Belle is usually a pretty good gift idea.

So I stumbled across Bonnie on etsy a few months ago and voila! Grandmother Christmas gift solved! All you do is e-mail Bonnie a photo of your dog (or cat) and she puts his or her likeness on a pillow. And let me tell you, the pillow is even more beautiful in person. The craftmanship is perfection. The resemblence is uncanny. I just could not have been happier when I got my pillow. The only problem? I want one of each of my 11 dogs now! Yikes! www.mybonnie.etsy.com

Boy gifts! Finally boy gifts!

It has taken me forever and a day to start a men's line - but I finally have a few things just for the boys! And these cuff links are the lastest addition. They are sterling silver and you can choose just about any color combination your heart desires. I really love 'em!! They are already available in my etsy store http://www.metalsgirl.etsy.com/ and will be available soon at http://www.metalsgirl.com/ Check 'em out and lemme know what you think!

Yummy to the Tummy!

Don't know what to take to that holiday party you're going to? Well here's just the thing! These carmels are soooooo good! I've tried several of them - the vanilla, the pecan praline, the key lime, the chocolate, the rasberry! They are all good. And I just ordered the egg nog! I can't wait to get them!! so if you are looking for something new and delicious this holiday season check out www.simplyseasonal.etsy.com

The gift for the impossible to buy for...

What feels better than giving a great gift knowing the money goes to a great cause?!?!?! Not much in my mind! So check out The 2009 Texas Howlers Music and Mutts calendar! The calendar is filled with 12 months of Texas musicians and their dogs. It's the BEST solution for everyone who is impossible to buy for and for the person who has everything - I mean, if you don't know what to get 'em it might as well be something where the $ goes to a good cause, right? And of course it's also great for the dog lover on your list, music fans...well, just nearly everyone. 100% of the proceeds goes to Blue Dog Rescue. Now let me give you my Blue Dog Rescue schpiel so you know just who your money is going to. Blue Dog was started back in 2000 and to date has rescued over 1,600 dogs. It is made up of a network of foster families and volunteers. The 501c3 non-profit organization runs entirely on donations and fundraising. There is no state funding whatsoever. It is a well respected, well run, caring group of people who want to help save dogs that would otherwise be euthanized for no better reason than lack of space. Our local city shelter euthanizes more that 12,000 dogs and cats each year so every penny Blue Dog gets helps them to save some of these dogs! So go to the web site http://www.bluedogrescue.com/ and check out the calendar - get one for yourself and for someone else and do something to help out this holiday season!! Some sweet dog out there will be very grateful!

My EVERYONE gift!

I love this bag! First of all it's super cute. Second, it's just enviromentally responsible to carry a bag like this with you to carry your purchases instead of using the sotres plastic or even paper bags. I still have a few friends and relatives (MOM!) who have not quite caught on to the reusable bag thing. So I figure if I give them these bags for Christmas they just have no excuses anymore. So this is my go-to gift for everyone this Christmas. *I hope they don't all read my blog* And the other great thing is that this is one roomy bag. And if this design isn't quite right or if you want to, like me, give different ones to several people you can choose from several cute, Cute, CUTE designs. There are new ones that say "give love", "give hope", "give peace" and more at http://www.melissavest.etsy.com/ Love it!!!

Oooh fun, I've been tagged!

This is super fun! I've been tagged by fellow metalsmith and jeweler, Danielle Embry, and need to write seven random facts about myself. Here goes...

1. My Dad wanted to name me Permella after some character in a book he was reading. But he and my mom got a dog right before I was born and named her that instead (thank goodness).

2. I have a crush on Richard Dawson circa early to mid 1970's.

3. I've had the same best friend since the first grade. We used to pretend we were the characters in the Trixie Beldon books and actually wrote notes back and forth in character. I was Trixie.

4. About five years ago I was at a New years Eve party and David Byrne was there and I kissed him at midnight!!!

5. I sometimes can't wait to go to sleep at night so that I can get up in the morning and get in my studio to start working...I love it that much!

6. My husband and I have full on conversations for our dogs. One even has a lisp. One is kinda gangsta. ;)

7. I have three framed Andy Gibb albums in my studio.

Is that random enough? :) And now, for my list of those I have tagged:

Kim Maguire
Kelly Holmes
Whimsey and Spice
Mary Smith
Beth Carls
Lauren
Studio Mela

THE RULES AND REGS: *Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.* Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.* Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as links to their blog.* Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Who doesn't love a sock monkey

I love the idea of buying handmade. And this year, with the economy what it is, it feels even better to buy from "the little guy". So check out this adorable sock monkey I bought! Isn't it just the cutest?!?!? As soon as she came in the mail I decided I would get them for all of the kids in my life. Check 'em out here www.friedokra.etsy.com And these itty bitty square resin necklaces are a great option for the little girls in your life. They hang on a 16in. sterling silver bead chain. So they will be long on young girls but the they won't grow out of them. And they're cool for adults too - great for layering!! You can find them on my web site www.metalsgirl.com