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

And the winner is...plus some other stuff

Robyn! You are the winner of my little blog contest! Yay! Thanks to everyone who voted! I am suprised a little - seems like a lot of people have never seen Miracle on 34th St. You should check it out. It's such a sweet, totally 50's movie. I love that era, the innocence of it. Anyway, it's great. Natalie Woods best movie by a mile. So Yay Roby, you are gonna be gettin' a pair of my new resin drop earrings just for giving me your two cents!

So I hope everyone one had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I for one did my due diligence and stuffed myself until near popping. Which, for future reference, I would would suggest avoiding if you have recently had abdominal surgery. Not a great idea. But the food was yummy and the company was even better.

And last but not least, the holidays are upon us, like it or not. So I am going to try to blog everyday - offering up some holiday suggestions - mostly gift related but possibly some recipes here and there or some invaluable bits of wisdom! :) Okay, maybe not so much on the wisdom, but the shopping/gift buying I know a thing or two about. So, although I will offer up some ideas from people/places other than my own work, this first suggestion is straight from www.metalsgirl.com This is one of my most popular. See it just doesn't matter - young or old, funky or conservative - everyone seems to like these bangles and these skinny stacking rings. Get 'em in sterling silver, brass or 14k gold. And for a personal touch, add a silver charm with initials or a birthdate - your friend-sister-aunt-mom will love it!

Tell me which one is YOUR favorite!!

I have tried and tried and I just cannot decide which movie I like more when it comes to Chrismas movies. Of course I do have it narrowed down to the two - Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life. But that just goes with out saying, right? I mean, what else is there to choose from? Maybe White Christmas, but nah, it's just these two.

So here's the deal. You tell me which one is your favorite. We'll see which one get's the most votes. And on Sunday November 30th I will draw one of the names from the list of voters and that person will win a pair of my brand new Resin Drop Earrings. Sounds fun, right?

Thanks in advance for participating!! Feel free to make arguments for why one movie is better than the other...or even make suggestions of other good holiday movies, understanding none can top these two! ;)

The blues...

I just made these new earrings!! They aren't even on my website yet - hopefully they will be by tomorrow evening. Anyway, I am lovin' 'em!! They look like little pools of shimmering water. In fact they are discs of sterling silver that I hammered into concave shapes that hold a little pool of aqua blue resin. They are dainty and sweet - I might just have to keep this pair for myself. Tomorrow I am gonna make more in red and pink and orange and purple and gold and...

We'll start here...

So when you tell someone that you foster dogs the next questions is always, without fail, "how many dogs do you have?" I have 11 dogs. It's a real lot, I know. And no, we don't live in the country. And we aren't weirdo collectors. :) It's just that after fostering for nearly 10 years a few have decided not to leave. Anyway, the dogs and fostering are a big part of who I am so I thought I would start introducing you to them one at a time. So this is Preacher. My "Big Man". He is a 10 year old Great Dane that we adopted from Great Dane Rescue in Dallas when he was just under a year old. He was deaf and no one wanted him. Well, it was their loss. He is smart, sweet, and handsome as all get out! :)

I know an author! I think that makes me cool!

This is seriously so cool! As long as I have know Fara she has talked about "Jake the Dot" - a coffee table book meets coloring book meets inspiring message. This year "Jake" became a reality! It is a wonderful, wonderful book that you should own. And you can get your very own copy - and copies for great Christmas gifts - this Tuesday November 25th at the Holiday Art Fair @ the Gingerman! I'll be there with my jewelry, there will be cool clothes, baked goods, soft-as-can-be quilts, bags, knit wear for those soon-to-be cold nights, and even more!! We'll be there from aroun 6-9ish! Come see us and get your copy of "Jake the Dot"! Support local creativity!!!

Meet the REAL Willie Nelson!

Let me start by saying that this unbelievably cute dog is available for adoption! I wanted to start with that because if you feel you need to leave my blog and rush over to http://www.bluedogrescue.com/ to find out more about this cutie pie - well I completely understand. I know that I cannot compete with a cute dog and I'm okay with that. His name is Willie Nelson and if you adopt him he will sing Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain to you....okay, not really, but with a face like that he doesn't really need to do tricks! Believe it or not this adorable dog has gotten very little adoption interest. Just blows my mind because he's adorable and he's even enrolled in an obedience class learning everything it takes to be a well behaved boy. If you or someone you know is in the market for a dog make sure you head straight for a rescue dog!! Willie Nelson is just one example of the dogs that fill our local shelters. Millions of dogs just like Willie are euthanized every year for no better reason that lack of space. Now if you're thinking, "But I want a pure bred Pug.", I have three things for you - one: Isn't it more important to save a life than to get a dog because you like the look of it? two: if you have to get a pure bred dog look for a pure breed rescue. Just google "pug rescue" or "standard poodle rescue" or whatever the breed is - I promise you you'll find a rescue group for that breed. and three: why get a dog that looks like thousands of other dogs when you can get a dog that looks like Willie Nelson! Well, he looks a little young for Willie Nelson...oh, you get my point!!!