Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Toby and Max Jewelry, Oscar Noodles the Poodles and Corky!!!!!

All our best wishes to everyone who has loved us throughout the years and shared in our giving words with their friends. Our family, both dogs and people, wish you everything you desire, and a world full of hope, contentment, strength and wisdom to be yours not just for the holidays, but for everyday forward...

May we all help a little to make the world a brighter, more loving, gracious, and giving place to live in, to share, to enjoy and to inspire.

xoxo from all of us here at Toby and Max. We love you too...

I have many requests for these words

I have had so many requests for this phrase that I decided to add it to my line. A plain and simple truth. More info click here

New..."Stay Strong"

A new design that speaks for itself. This piece has a bumpy texture and looks very nice stacked with other bracelets. For more info...

New DogBone bracelet with Pearls and Flowers!

                                           

A great combination! Flowers, pearls, and Dogbones to wear! Bones and circles are sterling silver and flowers are bronze. Two small hearts, one in bronze and one in sterling with my name stamp and made in USA on it. I can put as many pearls on it as you would like. I have some very beautiful pearls in all kinds of colors! Nice round ones in brown (or coffee latte as I like to call them) and pink and a beautiful burgundy garnet pearl, rich goldens and copper and a 'sea mist' teal color. I also have some real big fat round beautiful whites for the traditional in you. This bracelet is easy to size larger as I can add an extra flower, or loop. This piece is brand new and is not on my website yet, so if you want it for yourself or a dog loving friend just email me and I will make it for you and ship it right out. $120.00 with up to 4 pearls Sandy@TobyandMax.com

This Holiday Don't Forget Your....

Let them know they're special! Says "Thru Thick & Thin" on the inside! Click here for more info

TIME HEALS Pendant is Forever

Its all in the timing. A nice reminder that the old saying is true,

time does make things better, or at least gives you a little breathing room. Beautiful 2 piece sterling pendant with TIME HEALS handstamped on one side, and what looks like an old clock or hourglass piece on the other.
Click here for more pics and order

Sterling silver hangs 1 1/2" long. $89.00

Dog Therapy -- PRICELESS!!

Who calms you down with a big smile and happy face when you get home from a hard day? Who sits next to you and listens to all your woes with no interruptions, just understanding. We all know, it's your DOG. Our Dogs give us comfort, and help us to heal. And they are certainly cheaper than a therapist! And so much more fun too! $79.00 BEFORE 10% DISCOUNT BELOW!


"Dogs are cheaper than a therapist" sterling silver cuff.
Click here for more pics.
And for you folks that need some 'dog therapy' a 10% discount when you put "BLOG" in the coupon code when ordering!

Say it like you mean it! ...... LIVE BOLD

Very cute all sterling earrings with an always popular 'Fleur de lis' design on the front and the words LIVE BOLD stamped on the back. Earrings hang about 1 1/2", sterling square is just under 1".
Makes a great gift for that hard to buy for friend. $49.00 Click here to see

I love little boxes! How about you?

I just felt like making something different. Sometimes when you work with metal and stamps all the time, you just get an itch to get out the paintbrush and color away! I just found these really cool boxes with hinges! and they are bare-naked wood before I begin.

I had so much fun working on this box. It is not finished as you can probably tell. I thought, 'what should I put on my box', well, my favorite things of course! I love flowers, and I love bees. Well, bees that don't sting me, but thats another story. I am allergic, but I know we need to help the honeybees now as they are having trouble keeping themselves alive and healthy with all the contaminants around. Well, I am chattering here, but I had fun coloring this box, and then I etched out with a sharp wood tool the words before I went back and blackened them. I was disappointed you really can't see the carved out wood part. The bee was a large rubber stamp and then I hand painted the flowers. Sometimes it is just fun to take a breather and do something different!

Is this the sweetest pic, or what!!!

Ok, I couldn't resist! I had to post this picture. I have had it for awhile, and while I think it is the cutest pic ever of my boy Oscar Noodles the Poodles, I thought maybe it wouldn't be enjoyed by others. But then, I say to myself, how could others not fall in love with him. So here it is. I just love my boy!!!!

Fun DOG Bracelet

"Remember the Important things, friends, family, and my DOG"!!!! After all our Dogs are our family!! Great looking all sterling link bracelet for people who have Dogs and Style!! Length is adjustable from 7 1/2 to 8". Looks very rich on the wrist. Style # 1050. $97.00

Found Objects used as Gift Wrap!!

I was wrapping a birthday present for a good friend of mine (actually my newly ex-husband) (seems so weird to call him that), and I needed something to wrap around the present as a decoration. I wanted something different, and something kinda manly looking and something that I had around the house so I could get it wrapped quickly and in the mail.

I decided to try a found object collage type thing and see how it looked. I went to the garage and found several old fun, cool pieces. (matter of opinion I know) These were all in bins saved by my ex-spouso for forever; for who knows what, and I thought "Perfect"!! I think it turned out kind of cute in a funky, junky kind of way. I added a few black beads and some have tiny gold stars on them, and then an orange heart and the only thing I could find with a word on it was the label 'cold'. When he got this his first question was ' was that a message to me?'. 'NO, its not, it was the only thing I could find. If I could have found a 'hot' label, I would have put that on there'. Made him feel better I think. Anyway he liked it and I was happy with the way it turned out. I wrapped the whole present with copper wire and just wired on the accessories! I especially like the little springs that are cone shaped. It was an especially fitting decoration as the book that was inside was on how to make stuff out of 'recycled' objects! It would be a fun project for anyone to try.

Copper Tile CLIP earrings

Nice clip earrings seem to be hard to find nowadays and I just found this pair from my past collections. This is a LARGE earring, just under 2" square. It has 9 copper squares handcut and soldered on the sterling base. It reminds me of the the satillo floor tiles I had when I lived in Phoenix. I have a few more large CLIP earrings in different styles, email me if you would like to see them and I will put post the pics. For more info on this pair of copper/sterling earrings click here.

This is the lovely little town high in the mountains in Panama where I spent some time last year. Nestled in the mountains and surrounded by coffee plantations. It is common to see people on horseback and everyone has a friendly "Hola" (hello).

(BELOW) This is 'Donato' a Kuna Indian who I met in the town square and he is making beaded bracelets. Notice the "loom" which he works from, a wooden board with nails that he ties the bead string to and then beads a beautiful design one tiny bead at a time. The Kuna Indians are known throughout the world for their famous "Mola's". There is one hanging in the background. Mola's are many different colorful layers of fabric cut into beautiful designs and all handstitched.


I discovered this beautiful spot on a drive through the countryside.

It was an almost magical place.

God Bless ME (and YOU)

What a great idea for a keychain!! I made this sterling silver design with a sun in the background and a 3-dimentionial spiral on top. This spiral means 'long life'. I handstamped the words "GOD BLESS" on the front and on the back there is a small star with rays flowing down to the word "ME". I thought it would make a great gift for anyone who drives and for anyone who wants a little extra protection. Can also be hung on a chain or cord for a necklace.

The actual sterling silver rectangle is 1" long and 3/4" wide. I am offering this piece on SALE for a limited time!! The regular price is 39.50, but right now it is 38% off and is only $24.50! Click here for more info and picture of the back.

I LOVE my COFFEE!!!

Did I say "I LOVE my COFFEE!!!" Oh yes!!! And I mean Yes, Yes, Yes! If I didn't have good coffee in the morning waiting for me (well not waiting for me, I have to make my own) I would never get out of bed!!!

I visited Panama last year and spent time up in the mountains where it is cool, and where they have all the beautiful coffee plantations. Oh my, what a good time!!! Here is a pic of a coffee adventure I had. I was sitting in this wonderful little outdoor patio at a local coffee house in Boquete and I couldn't make up my mind if I wanted a latte or an expresso. So what does one do when that happens and you are in coffee country? You have both!! Yum Yum Yum.

This picture is of a beautiful farming area not too far from the coffee plantations. Too gorgous for words so here's a picture. If you would like to know more about my experiences in Panama let me know and I will post more pics that are great fun.

Are you a "Hopeless Romantic"?

One of my all time favorites and a classic piece of my earlier designs where I used mixed metal, sterling and brass. This piece has a black onyx stone and I handstamped the words "HOPELESS ROMANTIC" on the front. Also on the back is another brass heart and more handstamping. I used many different stamps and hammers to give an organic textural feel to the metal. Alot of love went into the making of this piece and I believe you can feel it when you hold it in your hands. This is a nice size that shows you wear 'artist handmade'! It is 2 1/2" long and about 1 1/2" wide. I only have a couple of these left, for more info click here.

Time to BREATHE

This sterling round pendant has bubbles on the front, and the words BREATHE on the back. A nice reminder to take a minute and stop what your doing and BREATHE! Enjoy what is happening around you, notice the little things, the sounds, the smells, the expressions on peoples faces around you. Just another reminder to be 'in the moment' and to stop rushing about with everything we do. For more information on this piece click here.

CHOOSE FUN !

I do have to say that this bracelet is very special to me. I received an email one day from Stacey, who wanted two of these bracelets custom made with her words CHOOSE FUN. One for herself and a matching one for her daughter. She explained that it's their favorite saying! Her daughter was going on to bigger things and she wanted her to have it for her new journey!!! Great gift mom!!!! And something I am sure your daughter will treasure forever.
When Stacey received the bracelets she wrote this to me:

"i am speechless!
they are absolutely PERFECT.
it made me teary, because they are very special to me...
it is" our slogan", you know.... : )
i am especially glad that you were a part of it all.
i wish we lived closer to one another...i feel like i know you, sandy.
i will send you photo's when i give them to her.
thank you very very much, friend.
you are a gem." :) Stacey

Wow, I am so happy to have been able to make these for you!! These two women, mom and daughter, are living life out loud!!!! You go girls!!!

Who feels like they could use a little extra strength right now?

I know I do. Sometimes the way things are going, different events in your own life, or in the world in general just seem overpowering. I just went through a divorce. Although it was fairly amiable, it is still a miserable thing. I find it hard sometimes to get out of bed and do what I need to do to get through the day. Can anyone out there relate? And watching the news on tv, I just want to bury my head under the covers. Sometimes I just make myself not turn the darn thing on.

I am making a new bracelet design and it will say "Stay Strong" on the top. I will put it on and never take it off. At least that is the way I feel right now. I know I can use an extra reminder to refocus and "stay strong", and that 'this too shall pass'. (I think I might make something that says that too!) If you have any tips or words that have brought you through tougher times, if you like, send them on to me. I would love to hear them.
Thank you my friends, xoxo Sandy

Isn't this Beautiful !!!

 

This gorgous Hydrangea plant growns in my yard and I had to take a picture so others could enjoy. I just love it everytime I walk by and see the beautiful flowers. I wish it would last forever. I am thinking of making a painting of it. Wonderful colors! Wouldn't that be gorgous about 3 x 4 foot hanging on the wall??!!! Big~Bold~Beautiful.

9 day old African Dwarf goats

Are these the cutest little guys you have ever seen!!! I just had to share these photos. My neighbors (who just loves their animals) are now the proud parents of Princess and Rowdy, 2 baby dwarf goats who will only get a little bigger than a large cat when they are fully grown. Makes you want to move to the country doesn't it!!

Check out my Slide Show!

NEW!! "You are Appreciated" !!!

A new design with "You are Appreciated" on the inside has been requested by so many, that I decided to make it with a couple beautiful flowers on top, just like a small heartfelt bouquet to give to a friend or a deserving person in your life. Now available on my website at http://www.tobyandmax.com/html/newdesigns.html

Celebrating Good News with friends and family!!

Hi Sandy, I will be delighted to fill you in on what sister is wearing which bracelet. I am wearing the "I don't need a therapist...I have my sister" bracelet. Christine on my left is wearing, "You are very special to me", and Jeanette on my right is also wearing, "I don't need a therapist..." bracelet, and my sister Joanne (not pictured) is wearing the "many blessings" bracelet".

Note: The other night, I celebrated my good health news with two dear friends; Darlinda was wearing her "I believe in happiness" bracelet and Kelly was wearing her "Yes I can" bracelet (she is a pastry chef and starting her on-line gourmet dessert line).

You are my "go to" gal for special gifts! Arlene

Thank you Arlene for sharing Toby and Max with your sisters and many friends! I am so happy to hear of your improved health.You indeed are a very special person! xoxo Sandy

Showing off Dolly and her favorite jewelry!!

Just got this picture from Tish H. and her
baby, Dolly, all dolled up with their
Toby and Max jewelry!! Tish just loves
wearing her collection just a few at a
time, or all at once! Her 3 neck pendants
are heavy solid sterling pieces with
words on the back saying "Protect Me"
"Brave Soul" and "Bless this Woman".
The bracelets she's wearing are 3 dome
bangles (shown below in blog) and a
link dog bracelet, "Life should be as
Good as your DOG makes you feel".
Looking good, you Go Girls!!!