Lovely Produce

Our gorgeous peaches

We have an amazing peach tree right in our garden that is simply laden with fruit. Such a luscious fruit a peach is... I am totally enamored with this tree, I've been bringing baskets of peaches to everyone in my life and they are blown away that we have this juicy, beautiful fruit growing right outside of our door.

Fruit and vegetables are such an inspiration to me. I have made many a fruity necklace- cherry and plum just to mention a few. I went to etsy this morning looking for more fruit inspiration and I wanted to share some of my favorites.

These earrings by Diffraction are so cool! Actually all of her stuff (lemons, kiwis, violets and more) is just as gorgeous- I had a hard time choosing which picture to use. She takes the photograph and then mounts it so you can wear it. What a neat idea! I wish I could take vibrant shots like these.


Let's talk about luscious...I envision having one (or all) of these beauties on display in my house and it makes me shiver. Revo hand blows these objects and they are available in seasonal color palettes. This is truly covetable art.


When I was a little girl I would have killed for these little veggies to play with. How perfect for cooking in a little play kitchen. Look Mama Made It has so many other things that are PERFECT for little people (and are made in eco friendly fabrics and filling) and would look really cute on a table too.

scavenger hunt!

The Red Apple




My apple necklace made it into the scavenger hunt at Smashing Darling- whoop whoop! If you find the shops that these cool red items are in, you win something from the Student Smash up Store. This store is full of cool apparel that printmaking students design and silkscreen on garments. I am the proud owner of the green mermaid and the orange zebra...I am so in love with my zebra...Good Luck!

Going Green

Life Circle Earrings made with recycled sterling silver


Boulder Colorado is one of the original "hip to be green" places in the country and having been born and raised here, I feel like those principles were ingrained into me by my family at a pretty early age. I've shamed many a friend into recycling, always buy non toxic cleaning products, walk when I can, carry canvas bags etc. Recently my lovely friend Shannon Sunderland of Hot Mama Jewelry Designs mentioned that she wanted to start an eco friendly Hot Mama line. It got me thinking...what am I doing to ensure that my studio and my jewelry is as green as it can possibly be?
A few things I have started doing...
1. replaced lightbulbs with earth-friendly fluorescents
2. use wind powered energy
3. use recycled package and packing materials
4. recycle scrap metal
5. keep everything on a power strip and turn off entire strip when not in use

I've started the list but I want more ideas.
Please leave me comments on more things I can do, and things that you do in your life to make it more sustainable. My sister has a brilliant email signature, it reads What have you done today to decrease your ecological impact? Good question.

Walk for the Cure

Want to win this necklace? Get to donating!

Recently I was approached by a woman heading a team of walkers, "The Sunday Strollers" who plan to complete the 2008 Breast Cancer 3 day walk. I've donated a necklace to their cause and you have a chance to win it along with some other really cool prizes. The info on how to do that is below, so check it out and help them get to their fundraising goal for a great cause.

The Sunday Strollers are walking 60 miles in this Septembers Seattle Breast Cancer 3day walk. This mini-team is comprised of two young local women,required to raise $2,200.00 each. These ambitious walkers are trying to change this world for the better, one step at a time.

Team Captain Wally Marquez, takes the cause very personally.
"I lost my mentor to Breast Cancer. When she got really sick at the end, she asked me not to be angry, but to take all that energy, and DO SOMETHING WITH IT. I've walked over 160 miles to fight Breast Cancer, raised about $12,000.00 for the cause and donated more than 40 inches of my hair to Locks of Love since that day. So, here I am, walking again! I believe she would be proud of me."

Starting Sunday, July 20th the Sunday Strollers will be accepting $5 donations, each will get you a chance to win an assortment of amazing prizes, including a necklace from the Windows Collection, from Luscious Metals by Natha Perkins or an overnight stay at the Alexis Hotel in Downtown Seattle, or Spa treatments at Etheria Spa and Salon and more.

For more information on the Sunday Strollers and their progress or to make a donation and get entered in the drawing, please visit their webpage at: http://tinyurl.com/56nums. If you have questions for Wally, her email is wally.marquez@kimptonhotels.com or for more information on the Breast Cancer 3Day Walk, go to www.the3day.org. Best of luck ladies! I'll be thinking about you!

Finally!

Flames

Poetry



I just sent out my newsletter and below you will find a few tidbits for your reading pleasure. If you haven't already, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter so I can send you special deals and keep you up to date on everything.



Luscious news
New Collections have arrived!
Happy Summer!

* There is lots of excitement going on over here at Luscious Metals! My first year anniversary of being online is coming up in august and to celebrate I am offering 15% off of any piece in my online store at SmashingDarling.com...if you see something on my website that isn't over at Smashing, email me and we can work something out. The sale will run through August 31. Use coupon code 1year



*Horray!! The new collections are here-there are amazing new Fairy tales, edgy Petite Hearts and the lovely KellyBella, a line of jewelry with little prices that is very close to my heart...I am just in love with all of these new pieces. Have fun!

Inspiration

People are always curious about inspiration. I took these picture in my garden of things that I find beautiful because pretty things inspire me- Rich color variations, organic beauty, interesting shapes... Take a look at the way the colors shift in the mint leaves- the transition from bright spring green to the dark forest green is just mouth watering. The delicacy of the poppy petals contrasts with the sturdy seed pod while the lovely salmon color is an unexpected match with the black half moons that make up the bottom of the petal. Amazing isn't it?


Another favorite way to find inspiration is through fellow artists. One such artist Sarah brundage of ThistleDowns wool designs tagged me and asked me to answer 6 questions and then tag 5 more artists- how fun! I'll show you the original 6 but I'm going to make up new ones just for fun...


The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answers.

1) What was I doing 10 years ago
2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?
3) Snacks I enjoy:
4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
5) Places I have lived:
6) Jobs I have had:
7) Bloggers I am tagging who you will enjoy getting to know better

NEW QUESTIONS
1.Favorite ethnic food
SUSHI!
2.something you've always wanted to try
absinth
3.Favorite color
green, orange, red (can't pick just one!)
4.Something you collect
magnets
5.something you do to relax
massage
6.something you never leave home without
my H2O bottle
7.bloggers I am going to tag
Hot Mama Jewelry Designs
Jen Skelley
Avocado creations
little lotus designs
stela bird

Vote for Me!

For anyone that hasn't visited Style Bakery, you should. Actually, here is how you should do it: the next time you are bored and in front of the computer and wondering how to use up the next five minutes, go peruse the site (but do it before july 31, 2008!). It's filled with lots of wonderful ways to kill time. While you're there VOTE FOR ME! Follow this link and fill out the (really simple) form. My official business name is Luscious Metals by Natha Perkins and my website url is http://www.nathaperkins.com If you don't wish to be tied to them forever just uncheck the three boxes at the end of the litle form and Walaa! I'm one step closer to becoming rich and famous (teehee) and you are one step closer to winning a $500 shopping spree...