Handcrafted Jewelry by Patricia Bowe Designs

Handcrafted Jewelry by Patricia Bowe Designs: BEAUTIFUL HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY AS UNIQUE AS YOU ARE. Hand Beaded Necklaces, Bracelets. Filigree Metal Jewelry. Wooden Bangles. Earrings, Beading Patterns...

A Honey of a Post: The Benefits of Honey

 

photo by phasinphoto

I was looking to change my way of eating. So I bought some coconut oil, some nutty nibblies, almond milk and some raw honey to start. I have never had raw honey before and I am hooked! Looked up the benefits of eating straight raw honey and I thought I would share my research with you as well as one of my favorite recipes.

This sweet gift of the bee has so many healthful benefits for the human body. Aside from being just a sweetner, honey has more important healing properties:



*It is said that eating honey can strengthen those weakened by illness or stress.



*It can calm the mind and may help with insomnia.



*It is said that honey can also relieve indigestion and treat respiratory complaints and cardiovascular disease.



*Eating honey that is grown locally is well known to help against hay fever and strengthen the immune system against pollen from local trees and flowers.



photo by graur razvan ionut.

Honey Tips:



1. When buying honey, organic is the best. 

Organic honey is honey that is produced, processed and packaged in accordance with USDA regulations and certified by a USDA certified agency or organization. Also buy honey in which the bees produce the honey naturally, without being fed refined sugars. 



2. Get to know the different flavors and types of honey.



Not all honey is the same. Depending on the region, the flowers from which the bees collect their nectar, etc. there are so many flavors, fragrances and consistencies out there. The types of honey are vast. There are at least 300 types of honey in the USA alone! And as far as forms of honey they range from liquid, comb honey,(where the edible honeycomb is in the jar with the honey), crystallized, whipped... then there are honeys that are infused with fruit, herbs...((Whew!)), even honey made by killer bees! (yes, you read that right...killer bees! And it's delicious.) Go on a honey quest and see how many flavors you can find.



3. Important!! 

 Do not feed unpasturized honey to children under a year! Unpasturized honey contains a bacteria that is very harmful to small children but seems to be harmless in adults.



 4. Having trouble sleeping? I love this and use it all the time to relax. Add a spoonful to some lavender or chamomile (or better yet, a combination of both flowers) tea before bed. Breathe in deeply the relaxing aroma of the lavender or chamomile. Sip slowly, letting each sip go down gently. You should feel nice and relaxed by the time you finish your cup of tea.



5. I also like a nice cup of warm milk laced with a little rum, a dash of spice and a spoonful or two of honey at night. You can use regular milk or soy milk(vanilla is better for this - it has a nicer taste)



6. Take a honey bath! Take an ounce or two of honey and add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil. Add to a warm bath to help you relax.


*********************************************************************************



AND NOW...

This is my favorite chicken wing recipe!!

Spicy Honey Wings

2lbs chicken wings cleaned and split into sections


1/8 tsp of each of the following (mix these together):


Salt


Black Pepper


Garlic Powder


Paprika


Nutmeg


Ginger


Cinnamon


Pinch or two of Cayenne Pepper or Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (this is to taste. If you love fiery wings like me, add more. I even go as far as to add Tobasco sauce on top of that!)



1/4 cup honey



Combine the dry ingredients and set aside. Clean and split chicken wings. Take the dry mix and rub a liberal amount on the wings. Whatever spices are left set aside for now. Either broil or grill wings until their juices run clear. 

While the chicken is cooking, take the remaining spices and mix them into the honey. Baste the honey mixture over the chicken pieces like you would a barbecue sauce, let caramelize then baste again. You want a nice, thick sticky coating so people have no choice but to lick their fingers! This is my favorite chicken dish and you can use it for wings, or even larger pieces or a whole bird! Enjoy!!

 (By the way, the spices are very adjustable. If you want more cinnamon, by all means. If you want a more garlicky chicken, sprinkle away.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR MORE BEADWEAVER DREAMS!

Keep Your Jewelry Looking Its Best!

Caring for Your Handmade Jewelry

As you know, I make handcrafted jewelry. When you buy a piece of handmade beaded jewelry, there are a few things you should remember so you can enjoy your hand beaded treasure for a long time.

Please store your beadwoven pieces in a dry place that is protected from direct sunlight and excess humidity.  I use only high quality materials in my creations; however, many types of seed beads, vintage parts and components can tarnish, change, or even lose their color if stored in high moisture, heat or sunlight. Those conditions may also damage the thread, making it more susceptible to breakage.  A soft pouch may help to prevent seed beads, crystals and gems in your woven items from chipping and scratching. Avoid dropping or tossing your beadwoven jewelry onto hard surfaces or into your jewelry box which encourages tangling. Pieces made with beading wire should be gently coiled or hung to minimize kinking.

Pieces utilize materials such as small beads, vintage metal components, dyes, finishes, glues, colorants, etc.  Please do not let children or pets play with these pieces or place pieces in their mouths.  Small beads and components are a choking hazard.  Do not place jewelry in your mouth.

Jewelry pieces are for adult use and wear only.  We are not responsible for the misuse of these jewelry pieces.  If you find that you are allergic, remove the piece and seek medical attention immediately.

Never expose beadwoven jewelry to water, perfume or any other chemicals (including soap and other detergents, crèmes, lotions, disinfectants, etc.) as doing so will reduce the life of the piece. Apply your cosmetics, lotions and perfumes let them dry before putting on the piece.   Do not wear jewelry when doing dishes, taking showers or swimming.  Avoid wearing your jewelry to bed as it increases the risk of breakage, kinking and it is also a safety hazard.

Well, that's all for now. Come back soon for another Beadweaver Dreams post! Visit Patricia Bowe Jewelry for beautiful handcrafted and fashion jewelry designs!

Toodles!!

Shades of Purple Cuff Bracelet

FEATURED PRODUCT: Shades of Purple Pearl Cuff Bracelet

This gorgeous pearl cuff features glass pearls in shades of purple, pink and white. It's a nice, wide cuff with a comfortable weight on the wrist. The clasp is a slide lock which is nice and secure. Available now at only $32.00

Spinner Crystal Pendants!

Happy Autumn!!

Autumn. The air gets crisp and cool, the kids go back to school. The days grow shorter, and the leaves turn a rainbow of colors. There's leaf jumping and Halloween!! 

There's also warm, comfy clothes. Bulky warm sweaters, neck hugging cozy scarves. And a host of accessories to accessorize with them.  Check out these gorgeous pieces!

Colors of Autumn Bangle

This adorable bangle is so comfortable to wear!  Made with a beautiful nylon yarn wrapped around a wooden bangle. Simple but sweet.  Available in 6 colors and more coming!

Autumn Berries Necklace

This beautiful spiral necklace is made with varying sizes of seed beads in autumn colors. Perfect over a nice sweater dress or turtleneck.

Leaf Prints Wooden Bangle

The shadows of leaves that have fallen sometimes can still be seen on the ground long after the leaves have been swept away. This is what I thought of when I made this sweet bracelet.

Well, that's all I have for you now!  There are lots more autumn jewelry pieces available in my shop!

Toodles!

 

2016 Spring Trends in Jewelry

It is a cold, rainy day here in NC. But that cold rain is going to bring up some nice green lawns and colorful flowers.

A tulip and a hyacinth from my garden.

And speaking of flowers, after a little research, I found that this year's Spring trend is leaning towards the natural.  Flowers, leaves, sticks, stones, insects, anything you can find and wrap a wire or bead around.  Getting in touch with your natural surroundings.  What better way to reacquaint yourself with the new growth of Spring than to wear it?

I've seen little flowers in glass bottles, tiny ferns encased in resin, real flower terrarium pendants, so much and so pretty!  So I decided to add my voice to theirs.

Dried Flower Bangle

I took real dried flowers and added them to a gold painted bangle.  Lots of varnish to protect the fragile petals and you have a lovely way to celebrate Spring!

While this piece is not made with real flowers, it still is a very sweet way to bring springtime to your wardrobe!  It is made with a vintage floral porcelain cabochon and is finished with a teeny butterfly that moves when you do! 

So, whether you go for the real deal in flower jewelry, or just a little flower-shaped trinket, there are so many ways to bring in the fresh, new, warm days of Spring!!

Visit my shop, Patricia Bowe Designs on Etsy for more Springtime Gorgeousness!