Canada Day July 1

Happy 143rd Birthday, Canada!
1867-2010






Officially beginning on July 1, 1867, the Federal Dominion of Canada was formed with the new provinces of Ontario and Quebec (until then together comprising the Province of Canada) along with two other British colonies, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, which also became provinces.



This motley group are the guys responsible - known as the Fathers of Confederation. The guy sitting on the step was John A MacDonald, Canada's first prime minister.



Being a British Colony, Canada flew the Union Jack.




Every morning school started with singing God Save the Queen (see she does smile!)



Then the pledge of allegiance:

We pledge allegiance to the flag
And to the Queen and Commonwealth
For Which it Stands

Then we sang the Nation Anthem

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.


And then the Lord's Prayer

That was before any of the above started to offend people

Then in 1965 Canada got her own flag!



It was a controverisal issue. Some did not want the Union Jack to go. Some did not like the look of the new flag. The maple leaf was designed by George F. G. Stanley and John Matheson based on the flag of the Royal Military College of Canada. The flag made its first appearance on February 15, 1965. This date is now celebrated annually as National Flag of Canada Day.

Below is a picture of Canadian flags decorating the Veteran graves at the local cemetery. Because of their selfless actions



along with these men (Canadian armed forces in Afghanistan)




I am free to write this post. Godspeed guys!

"The Maple Leaf Forever" is a Canadian song written by Alexander Muir (1830–1906) in 1867

The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!



Proud to be Canadian, eh!!!!!

Bracelets Fresh from the Bench

Made from *Argentium Sterling Silver all the links have been hand formed by me, fused closed by me and then tumbled for strength and shine. And then, finally, all the links are assembled into jewellery by me. All in all a timely process.

Part of the Peony Collection this is a 7 ½ inch handmade bracelet with 3 mobius charms attached.







Round links of 15mm diameter attaches to the next with a jumpring. Securely closed with a lobster clasp.







Small 11mm oval links separated with jumprings. Would make a lovely charmbracelet.







Large and small oval links alternate for a stylish lightweight bracelet.






Medium size oval links joined together for a stylish wrist statement.







Small oval links make this an easy-wearing everyday bracelet.






All Gracie Jewellery is handmade in my smoke and pet-free home studio. Each piece arrives in its own storage pouch. Gracie Jewellery is available in my shop.

*Argentium Sterling Silver is sterling silver with less of the copper alloy. Copper is what makes sterling silver tarnish. Argentium is 92.5% pure silver with the balance a mix of germanium and copper. This makes Argentium silver harder, brighter and more highly tarnish resistant than traditional sterling silver. While Argentium silver is a bit more expensive than traditional sterling silver, it is well worth it.

Pink Saturday June 26

The last Pink Saturday in June! Where did the month go? Thank you to Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for hosting our weekly gathering of Pinkaholics.



This week my entry is short and sweet

A bracelet using one of my favourite pink stones - rhodocrosite



Button shaped beads hand wired to hand formed Argentium Sterling Silver links that have been fused closed. I love the variation of pinks in these beads.

Last week while randomly clicking on all the Pinker Links listed at How Sweet the Sound I found Olivia at Olivia's Romantic Home. I had a lovely visit.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you next week.

Pink Saturday - June 19

Hey, it's Pink Saturday thanks to our lovely hostess Beverly at How Sweet the Sound



Some of you may have noticed I was AWOL for Pink Saturday last week. That's because it was my birthday weekend and there was just too much going on.

It started with this pink birthday card from my sister.



Then my office mate gave me this lovely pink rose. She said it is the most fragrant one in her garden and the bush only gets 2 flowers a year. And she gave one to me, wasn't that sweet? After a day in our hot stuffy office the petals started to wilt. Interesting how a flower that likes the hot sun can't take the heat in our office. And they wonder why we complain. The air conditioning stops at our office door as the does the heat in the winter. And they wonder why we get crabby. Ah, but I digress.



Then came a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday from my co-workers. Along with a delicious chocolate cake that disappeared so quickly I didn't have a chance to take a picture of it. But the card they gave me had a pink birthday cake on it.




When I was a little girl I always had to have a pink cake. My mom would put it on this plate. She received it as a wedding gift.




I received the plate a couple years ago along with the matching cake server I didn't know existed.



Since I have matured (in years) I like these for my birthday.



Look at this bunch of freesias from my husband and son. They are so fragrant, the whole house smells wonderful. If anyone from the Glade company is reading this, you need to make a Glade plug-in with this scent. Just this scent, no mixing it with vanilla or any other scent. It will be your best seller. You're welcome.



And then I received -drum roll please....




Oh yes! a jewellery torch!!!!!



So now I can make lots more of these!



Now please go and visit all the Pink Saturday Pinkers, and be sure to drop by and visit Rosemary at Random act of Grace

Thanks for dropping by today. Hope to see you next week. (Including you, Mike!)

Handmade Sterling Silver Jewellery

Nothing looks better with a tan than Sterling Silver!

Made from *Argentium Sterling Silver all the links have been hand formed, fused closed and then tumbled for strength and shine.


10mm links make up this easy wearing bracelet. Fits an average size wrist. Closes with a sterling silver lobster clasp. Put it on, then forget it!






A basic chain with 8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 18mm links. Closes with a sterling silver "S" clasp that blends right in. Total length 32 inches.





A mobius is made up of rings woven through the centres of each ring to look like an endless spiral. They also look like flowers.


The Chrysanthemum Collection -Handmade chain consisting of 8mm links and a 7 ring mobius. The outer diameter of the mobius is 15mm and total length is 17 inches. Securely closes with a sterling silver "S" clasp.






A Chrysanthemum Flower Mobius charm hangs from the lobster clasp of handmade 8mm links.





Part of the Peony Collection - Five - 5 ring mobius join 8mm links form this necklace. Closes with a sterling silver lobster clasp. Total length 17 inches.





Sterling silver earrings made up of 5 - 8mm rings attached to sterling silver lever backs. Finished diameter is 13mm. Total length top to bottom 32mm (1½"). Part of the Peony Collection.





The Dahlia Collection - A bracelet full of mobius! Each station is made of 3 - 8mm links joined with 2 jumprings. Closes with a sterling silver lobster clasp. Total length 7½ inches.





A necklace to match! This one is 16 inches in length and closes with a sterling silver lobster clasp.






All Gracie Jewellery can be made in whatever length you need.

These pieces will be listed in my shop by the end of the week.

*Argentium Sterling Silver is sterling silver with less of the copper alloy. Copper is what makes sterling silver tarnish. Argentium is 92.5% pure silver with the balance a mix of germanium and copper. This makes Argentium silver harder, brighter and more highly tarnish resistant than traditional sterling silver.

Pink Saturday-June 5

Well where did this week go? It is Pink Saturday already! Time to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for the entire list of Pinkers.




This weeks stone is the Tourmaline.



Believe it or not, all of these stones are tourmalines.


Tourmalines are gems with an incomparable variety of colours. The reason, according to an old Egyptian legend, is that the tourmaline, on its long journey up from the centre of the Earth, passed over a rainbow. In doing so, it assumed all the colours of the rainbow. And that is why it is still referred to as the 'gemstone of the rainbow'.




The name tourmaline comes from the Singhalese words 'tura mali'. In translation, this means something like 'stone with mixed colours', referring to the colour spectrum of this gemstone, which outdoes that of all other precious stones. There are tourmalines from red to green and from blue to yellow. They often have two or more colours. There are tourmalines which change their colour when the light changes from daylight to artificial light, and some show the light effect of a cat's eye. No two tourmalines are exactly alike. This gemstone has an endless number of faces, and for that reason it suits all moods. No wonder that magical powers have been attributed to it since ancient times. In particular, it is the gemstone of love and of friendship, and is said to render them firm and long-lasting.




These are watermelon tourmalines. The colours vary from green to pink, just like watermelon.

Now that you are almost an expert on tourmalines please be sure to visit the pink glass lady. She shares my passion for pink depression glass.

Thanks for visiting. Have a great weekend!

Credits
picture 1-grouping of tourmaline egemsource.com

gorgeous pink tourmaline ring www.faycullen.com

information on tourmaline www.gemstone.org

watermelon tourmaline Gracie Jewellery