Is it Friday already? Where HAS this week gone? I guess traveling will do that to a girl. And though the weather here in Milwaukee isn't quite the same as what I had in Anaheim, Long Beach, and Phoenix, we're supposed to warm up to a seldom-seen-in-February-in-Wisconsin 50 degrees Saturday. I imagine the national news outlets will be talking about Milwaukeean's showing off legs that haven't seen the light of day for months. But those won't be my sun-starved limbs, for I'll be heading to the Flatland (Illinois) for some friend and family time. But before I go, let's catch up with my gems.

In jewelry creations this week:

Strands of Beads
Melissa is inspired by dream catchers to create a spring necklace 

Carmi's Art/Life Blog
Carmi creates a brooch using old fashioned rug hooking techniques.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Inspiration comes to Melanie in an unusual form... an earworm and musical artist that she dislikes.

Jewelry & Beading
Seed bead mania hits Jewelry&Beading. Wanna play?

Art Bead Scene
It's cold outside. An art button succeeds as the finishing touch on a handmade neck warmer.

In business and creative ventures:

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is honored to have her jewelry design book, Links, by Jean Yates, get a jolly good review by a really cool beading magazine over in Great Britain!

About.com Jewelry Making
Valentine's Day is a big jewelry day, or is it? For those who sell jewelry, you may find this poll interesting.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Need to get your jewelry business office skills up to date? Check out this source.

Bead&Button magazine
A new design resource for beaders--check it out!

Do you have favorite jewelry or beading blogs that you follow? If so, leave a link to it in the comments below and I'll include one of the nominees in a future Gems blog here.