Are you in North Carolina and want to see Shore Debris in person? My jewelry is available at this Sanford location:

Divine Designs by Nancy, 92 Amarillo Ln

You can also find my jewelry in this Southwest Florida gallery:

Elizabet Bryant Art Gallery, 200 West Dearborn Street, Englewood, FL 34223

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Friday, November 26, 2010

Holiday Baking - 1 - Pumpkin Bread

My holiday baking has begun... and the Thanksgiving ritual since I left my parent's house - start with the pumpkin bread. (Yes, that is my diet pepsi in the background... only #2 for the day.)pumpkin bread loafIn my new gigantic mixing bowl - Thanks, Susan! - I mixed up the double batch for 6 loaves of bread. (1 for Thanksgiving, 1 for my parents, 1 for the in-laws and 3 for those impromptu hostess gifts I seem to always need).
pumpkin bread batter Here's my family recipe:
3 eggs
1 c. oil
3 c. sugar
2 1/2 c. pumpkin (can or fresh)
5 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3 tsp soda
2 c. walnuts
1 c. raisins

Blend eggs, oil, sugar, and pumpkin. Sift in flour, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt, and soda. Add chopped nuts and raisins. Bake at 350 for 1 1/4 hours for loaves or 45 min for muffins.

pumpkin bread loaf, side view Ahhhh... and I've sniffed the nutmeg, so now I'm in the spririt!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Durham Art Walk Holiday Market

This past weekend was the Durham Artwalk Holiday Market. I was in the Durham Armory where we had live entertainment both days. My favorite group was the Durham Divas - they were great - all between 50 and 85 and cheering everyone into the holiday spirit.Durham Divas Cheering at the Durham Artwalk on November 20, 2010Here was my booth - an 8' x 8' space. I've finally spray painted all of my display items black... last year I still had some unfinished wood in the display.Shore Debris' booth at the Durham Artwalk Holiday Market 2010And here's a closer view of my new favorite necklace: Close up of Shore Debris' jewelry at the Durham Artwalk Holiday Market 2010
center - paua shell and cultured freshwater pearl double strand necklace. I finished it last week just in time for the show. Now only one more show to finish out my year!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Holiday Shopping...

I love it when the stores get ready for the holiday season... The things that appear like peppermint mochas (really, now why can't these be made year round?), fresh peppermint bark, apple cider,

This week my grocery store had a "Naughty and Nice" bottle from my favorite winery - the Duplin Winery. I thought it was cute and needed it for my kitchen counter.Duplin Winery Label for Naughty or Nice Sweet Table Wine What seasonal favorites are you rediscovering?

Monday, November 1, 2010

Shopping in Fayetteville

This summer, I discovered the "Arts Alive at 4th Friday's" events in Fayetteville and decided they are lots of fun. I did lots of shopping down there and have just gotten out a pile of stuff that is making me drool all over again :)

This first piece is an agate I got from the Cape Fear Mineral and Gem Society Showing in August. I have dreams of wrapping him in gold and making him my centerpiece at the Durham Artwalk.Brazilian Agate CabachonThese beads I got from my new favorite store downtown... The Twisted Jeweler. If I had no job and if they also had a coffee bar in the shop... I'd probably live there!

Pearls, Amethyst, and Garnet Beads from the Twisted Jeweler I love scouring the antique shops for pretty pins, too. They make such an addition to a beaded necklace!

Broaches from an antique store And finally, the other bead store - Strung Out on Beads. Who could believe that 13 months ago there wasn't a single bead store in Fayetteville, and now there are two!

Paua Shell and Crystal Quartz Beads from Strung out on Beads