Today I moved this blog over to my website so that everything is all in one spot. Follow me HERE ... Thanks! Cheers, Nathalie Continue reading

I know, I know… I said I would load up these goodies to my online shops today, BUT, I had a good excuse: Artfire allowed the Mavens (I’m a Maven) this afternoon to test-drive the new Collection Engine, and man oh man, I HAD A TON OF FUN!!!!!! Here’s one of the collections I made today while testing the new gadget: (click on the image to get to this collection) Here’s the other 3 collections I made: Luscious Purples - Hot Trend for Fall-Winter 2010-2011 Fall for it... Hungry yet? (grab a glass of milk first...) I have to say... Continue reading

There is this ad on TV in Canada about a woman doing all sorts of activities (walk around, carrying one of those Netbooks from Rogers), she sits on a park bench and opens that netbook and starts typing about the fact that she’s sitting in the park, and you see her in various outdoors shots/places, and she’s busy typing on her Netbook keyboard about being in all those places… and the voice-over narration (her voice supposedly) tells the viewers that she has to connect to the web to tell everybody what she is doing, everywhere. That she can’t go through... Continue reading

Loads of new goodies coming up ladies! One of a kind Bangle Bracelets and Fine Silver rings will be loaded up in my NGOriginals Artfire Studio and Etsy shop on Monday… Here’s a sneak peak… I love the focal lampwork bead on this large sterling silver bangle, it looks like hot melted glass draping over the main part of the bead, just stunning in person: This copper bangle reminds me of juicy mangoes and hot summer days: I love the combo of dark teal and purple in this copper bangle – Purple is the Hot-coming color for this Fall/Winter season... Continue reading

I am quite proud to announce that my two studios (Canadian Rockies Art & NG Originals) on Artfire have received an important recognition with an artifact and a Certified Handmade badge that is now displayed in my Studios and on all the handmade jewelry items that I list, assuring all buyers that all of the items in my studio are skilfully created one at a time with my own two hands. Receiving this latest artifact was very important to me, because it is a statement that I, as a seller on Artfire, was researched and it was determined that I... Continue reading

It’s been b-u-s-y… and I’ve made a few things, along with a bracelet design that I’ve had in mind for the past 3 weeks (I finally got around to making it today). I like to read the BeadFX blog, and recently, Jen started having these “Inspiration Friday” pictures and she challenges whom ever wants to play along to make a design inspired by the image that she picks each week. I designed this cuff bracelet inspired by this image on the BeadFX Blog a few weeks ago. It will be listed in my NG Originals Artfire Studio and/or NG Originals... Continue reading

I started working out regularly again this past week, and this time around, I really wanted to make sure that I also worked on stretching my muscles on a regular basis. I’m getting older (yikes!) and I sit a lot all day long, working at the bench or doing various things at the computer, and I feel that I’m not as limber as I used to be. I started working out again this past week with Chalene’s Turbo Jam program from BeachBody. It’s always a favorite of mine with the great upbeat music and Chalene’s unbeatable energy - she always... Continue reading

I’m not finished listing all of these yet, but it’s been awhile since I posted some of my new jewelry work on my blog, so here goes: Artisan Borosilicate Lampwork Sterling Silver links bracelet (will be listed later on today in my NGOriginals Artfire Studio and NGOriginals Etsy shop) – I love the colors of these beads, they remind me of the ocean, a bit of a tropical feel: I’m going through my inventory and making new pieces using what I already have in stock (And I have a lot of stuff in stock! Sometimes I forget that I have... Continue reading

So, do you think that “price-point” is a dead giveaway to see if what you are buying is real sterling silver or if a piece is made with silver plated metal? Have a look at my video on the subject – I have a little story that might surprise you! And, by the way, I only use “real/solid” Sterling Silver (no plated metals) in my designs, which you can find in my various online shops: NGOriginals Artfire Studio and Canadian Rockies Art Studios on Artfire, as well as on Etsy in my NGOriginals & Canadian Rockies Etsy shops. Happy shopping! Continue reading

We use a lot of words and expressions when we make jewelry and we know what those words and techniques mean, but for most people, just like us before we started making jewelry, a lot of the technical terms are foreign to most buyers out there. This series will share information in a way that is easy to understand. Continue reading

I’ve been a very very busy girl these past few weeks. So many things to do, so little time. Here’s a preview of some of my New Work that will soon be listed in my NG Originals Artfire Studio and NG Originals Etsy Shop: Two of the 4 featured pendants here are hand-carved from scratch by yours truly. The Runes pendants (at each end of the picture above) are the ones that I carved myself. These are thick slabs of fine silver (.999 pure) and not only are they really cool to touch, but they have a nice weight to... Continue reading

WRITTEN BY A 15 yr. Old SCHOOL KID IN ARIZONA : New Pledge of Allegiance (TOTALLY AWESOME)! Now I sit me down in school Where praying is against the rule For this great nation under God Finds mention of Him very odd. If Scripture now the class recites, It violates the Bill of Rights. And anytime my head I bow Becomes a Federal matter now. Our hair can be purple, orange or green, That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.. The law is specific, the law is precise. Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. For praying in a public... Continue reading

I just came across this very interesting presentation on what motivates people to do things, to perform, etc. I really enjoyed it, so I wanted to share it here with you. Cheers! Continue reading

All these years that my hubby and I have been together, I wished there was a better way for him to read all of his newspapers (I’m allergic to newspaper inks, and let’s face it, I got tired of wiping off black finger marks all over our interior white doors all the time…). Well today, THE DAY has finally come – click on the link to see pictures of his new device - FedEx delivered his iPad to our home this morning and he has cancelled his regular “old fashion” newspaper subscription so that he could sign up for the... Continue reading

OMG, how time flies! I can’t believe that Father’s Day is approaching so quickly, and when I received a heads-up that my Connor Sterling Silver Chainmaille bracelet was featured in this cool treasury, I figured I should post about it here. Have you gotten your shopping done yet for Father’s Day? It’s not too late… look at this treasury (click on the image to get to the treasury itself) and discover many wonderful gift items for the man in your life! Don’t forget, I accept layaways and reserves on items such as my Connor Chainmaille Bracelet for men. I have... Continue reading

With Mother’s Day approaching, I am holding a Mother’s Day sale starting now (today, Saturday and Sunday) in both my Canadian Rockies Art Artfire Studio and my Canadian Rockies Etsy Shop (Note: I have a wider selection of items in my Artfire Studio as well as a few reduced priced items that are not listed on Etsy). But here’s the SCOOP: YOU can PICK the sale that you prefer – Pick the sale that works best for you: In my Etsy Shop I am offering: Buy 2, Get 1 FREE on all items listed in my Etsy Shop: And, in... Continue reading

Life has been rather crazy at my house lately. With all our health woes, etc, I’m just beat, and with Mother’s Day coming up, my mom’s birthday, as well as Father’s Day – I just don’t have the energy or the time to shop in the malls, and I MUCH prefer to shop online on Artfire to find some really unique gifts ideas for my loved ones! Here’s a few examples of the really beautiful handmade gifts you can find on Artfire these days: Twilight’s Edward scented Shea Butter Souffle Cream from my friend Michelle at CozyMoments on Artfire: Nothing... Continue reading

I’m tired and grumpy and in pain, but it does not matter because MY MOM is doing really well after her cancer surgery yesterday. Yay!!! She had her major surgery yesterday because she had ovarian cancer. They did a hysterectomy to remove the two tumors that were on her ovaries, and they also removed 3 more tumors that they found on the right side (not sure at this point where these were attached), and they removed the layer of fat that covers up the organs in the abdomen, because cancer cells tend to want to hide in there... and all... Continue reading