Summer Elements Blog Hop

I feel so lucky to participate in a SUMMER Blog Hop!
My favorite season is summer.  Probably because I live in Alaska and love the long summer nights we enjoy, and favor them as a response to the dark, dreary winters.  And this year summer took so long to arrive!  Seriously, we had snow only a month ago... It snowed the first two weeks of May, and that is NOT NORMAL!!!.

I am so thankful for summer here in Fairbanks.
I love the flowers that grow here, I love spending time with my family outside, I love my camping memories.
My dad was a forester, so as soon as August would hit and the tree-culling season was over we would go camping.  Some of my favorite childhood memories are of camping and exploring the woods during late summer.

My dad, my sister Beth, and me

Now, I love biking with my girls and hanging out on trails with them.  This is one of my favorite pictures of my girls and me.  We're watching ducks on the river walk in Fairbanks.

Deborah, Abigail, and me behind Pioneer Park several years ago

The best way to welcome summer is with a barbecue, friends and s'mores.  We got to hang out with our Life-group a couple of weeks ago, and just enjoy the arrival of the mosquitoes and the sun.

This great photo was taken by my friend, David at our Barbecue

Maybe because I grew up with a botanist for a daddy, maybe because I love to garden, maybe because God has continued to use butterflies powerfully in my life to remind me of His plans for me...  for whatever reason, I am drawn to Botanical imagery.  Flowers, leaves and butterflies are a constant theme in my jewelry and in my personal life.

I finished this one this week, and it sold within a couple of hours of putting it out.  

I didn't even get to take a decent picture.

I love Lucite flowers, particularly combined with Swarovski crystals.

Flowers and butterflies, leaves and outdoors...  That's what summer means to me.

These earrings are my latest summer project.

Silk flowers, Swarovski crystals and butterflies.

I'm still in the process of deciding if I like them enough to make more but I think I'll be making a few more just to see what happens.  I have a yellow pair, and a pink pair. They are certainly a fun mix of high/low elements, and they have wonderful movement and sparkle.

Thank you for hosting the Summer Elements Blog Hop, Toltec Jewels!  Thank you for allowing me to participate. =)    

Dear reader, Go forth and discover some other wonderful Summer Blog fun!

The Summer Elements Blog Hop Participants: 

Toltec Jewels (Hostess)     http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/

Marlene Cupo                   http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed                        http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/

Ailsa Cordner                    http://www.bramalfiebeadsetc.co.uk/

Nan Smith                         http://www.wirednan.blogspot.com/

Sherri Stokey                     http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/

Christie (Charis Designs)    http://charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Carolyn Lawson                 http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com/

Susie Harris                        http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/

Andrea Glick-Zenith           http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nelly May                          http://smellynelly.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger               http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/

Dini Bruinsma                     http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Kathy Lindemer                 http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Cory Tompkins                  http://tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com/

Robin Reed                       http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/

Gina Hockett                     http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/

Karen Martinez                 http://www.fairiesmarket.blogspot.com/

Liz                                    http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel                     http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com/

Solange Collin                    http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com/

Gerda                                http://gerdascraftsblog.blogspot.com/

Karla Morgan                    http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/

Anindita Basu                     http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache                http://www.allprettythings.ca/

Andrea Trank                    http://heavenlanecreations.com/

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Fanucchi             http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Tanty Sri Hartanti               http://tjewellicious.blogspot.com/

Shaiha Williams                  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Mary Govaars                    http://mlhjewelrydesigns.com/

Becca Sirevaag                  http://godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com/

Lennis Carrier                    http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Regina Wood                     http://www.gina-design.blogspot.com/

Sue Kennedy                     http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Breeding             https://www.facebook.com/99BOBOTW