It's been awhile...

I've missed this little space... This space to journal and record projects, events, ideas... I know the space has always been here... it's me who's gone missing! Well... here I am! :)

What's going on? ... I've been enrolled in a digital SLR photography class for the last three weeks. I am LOVING it! It's called "Oh Shoot!" and the instructor is Candice Stringham.  It's been terrific! I am taking that leap from only using my fancy camera in Automatic mode to the BIG "M!" I just completed Week 3... This is the week we made the jump to full manual. I've taken lots of photos... Practicing! Here are my favorite three from the week!

I LOVE my orchids! This one just opened a couple days ago... (These are the settings I used when taking this photo: Shutter Speed: 1/80 Aperture: f/2.0 ISO: 200 Focal Length: 50mm

White Balance: Tungsten light)

We got a PUPPPPPYYYYYY!!!! His name is Clark! I've been taking lots of pictures of the newest member of our family! (Settings: Shutter Speed: 1/125 Aperture: f/2.0 ISO: 100 Focal Length: 50mm White Balance: Shade)

My babies!!! I am sooo happy to be taking this class! I've loved learning about depth of field, apertures, shutter speeds, etc. (Settings: Shutter Speed: 1/100 Aperture: f/3.5 ISO: 200 Focal Length: 50mm White Balance: Shade)


It's nice to be back...

What could be better...

...than a delicious meal of hearty soup and crusty bread...

It's just sooo satisfying!

Harmony turned me on to this recipe! I substituted fat free half and half for the heavy cream the recipe called for. It was wonderful! I did have to serve an "appetizer" of lactaid pills for Norm because of the dairy addition, but I think he thought it was well worth it! (Thanks again Harmony!) 

Cameron loved dipping the wonderfully fragrant rolls into the soup. I think I may have to try that dough as a pizza crust one day... I think it would be scrumptious!

I again made this little photo collage with the photos I took on my iPhone along with the app. As you can see I had a shadow on the soup and not quite enough lighting for the rolls... but I think it still looks yummy!

I have a break from cooking tomorrow... Norm's talking about picking up Versailles (cuban food) or maybe ordering some Wood Ranch (BBQ). It's going to be a hard choice!

Mmmmm.....

Today I did a little baking...

They are so very yummy! The Maple Lemon Butter I made to go with these delicious little muffins is wonderful too... It's been kind of gloomy outside today, it's been nice to warm up the kitchen with the wonderful smell of lemon and fresh blueberries. 

A couple of days ago I discovered a new "app" for my iPhone. It's called "Lifecards." It's like having a small Photoshop program in my phone! I took the photos of the muffins with my phone and then made this postcard... all while sitting at the table sipping my tea and enjoying one of these fabulous delights! The app has lots of templates and it's fun to pick and choose which one to use. I think I'll use it often. 

There is another app I've been having lots of fun with... It's "Words with Friends." Leila turned me on to it. She and I have been having fun playing Scrabble with each other on it... I get a little note from the app when it's my turn... I can see if she's looking at the game at the same time (cute little eyeballs show up!) and we can "chat" from within the game. It has been VERY fun to do this with her... although she is totally kicking my butt.... (that's not very nice, Leila...) Although it is very fun, the app has been having some crashing issues. I've had to delete and reinstall the program a couple of times. Hopefully the company we'll have it all sorted out soon so I don't have to do that anymore!

Well... look at the time... I'm off to my chauffeuring job now... 

teddy & giveaway winner

I just walked past Cami's room... I looked in to see her bed so nicely made and "Teddy" with a place of honor. She's been making her bed like this for awhile, it's just one of those moments when how special it is hit me. Special because my little girl is such a sweetheart and it warms my heart to think of how proud she is of all the little things I make for her and her big sister. Special because I made "Teddy" 20 years ago for Leila and after all these years Teddy still gets love and a warm bed to sleep in. (Although he now only has half a smile. Cami refuses to let me fix this.) Special because both of my girls are growing up so quickly. I am so proud of them and their accomplishments. I look forward to sharing in their continued growth... and I hope Teddy will continue to share their hugs and kisses too.

The winner of this month's chocolate tag giveaway is Nathan! Congratulations Nathan! I'll be sending out your set of chocolate tags soon! :)

creative & busy team leader...

It's been about a month since I mentioned who the featured EtsyBlogger is... that means it's time for this month's big announcement!!! The featured EtsyBlogger for September is...

Joey and Aleethea

I have to say that the EtsyBloggers would be nothing without our fearless leader! She is the Admin and Team Leader for our team. I don't know how she juggles it all! Two small children, her busy, adorable etsy shop, the blog, the team.... she must be super woman! :) Look at the adorable items in her shop! (Sampling seen below.) Take time to see what else she's up to at her happening blog! Thanks so much for all you do for our team! :)

a new pincushion

I finished creating a new milk chocolate with white chocolate swirl truffle today for allyegator. (She requested one similar to my avatar.) It's been a month or so since I created a new chocolate pincushion. I really enjoyed sitting down with my needle and thread to create it. Thanks allyegator! :)

I have three finished chocolate tops that are waiting to be made into magnets or bookmarks. I have to decide.... hmmm... maybe I'll do both! A chocolate bookmark and a pair of chocolate magnets. I'll have to look at them again and figure it out. I'm kind of dragging today so I suspect that they'll stay in their current state a little longer. I've been having more good days than bad, but those bad days sometimes just seem to creep up on you. I definitely feel the pressure from it this morning. My next doctor's appointment is on Friday, it will be nice to hear about the results from the test I had last week. In the meantime, today is one of those days that I think I'll need to take it a little easier.

recap & new list

WEEK OF 09/15/08 PROJECTS:
Custom Order - Chocolate Swirl Truffle Pincushion
Flower Bookmark
Chocolate Items

WEEK OF 09/15/08 LISTINGS:
Custom Order - Chocolate Swirl Truffle Pincushion

WEEK OF 09/08/08 PROJECTS RECAP:
Flower Bookmark
Chocolate Items
added: Custom Order - Chocolate Tags Set - Completed
added: Custom Order - "3" Birthday Clippie - Completed
added: Devilish Headband - Completed

WEEK OF 09/08/08 LISTINGS RECAP:
New Blossom Card - Completed
added: Custom Order - Chocolate Tags Set - Completed
added: Custom Order - "3" Birthday Clippie - Completed
added: Devilish Headband - Completed

It was nice to have some custom order requests during the week last week. I always enjoy creating things especially for someone. Today I will begin work on another custom order, a chocolate truffle swirl pincushion. I also have some chocolate tops complete waiting to be made into a set of chocolate magnets. I'm hoping to have those completed this week too.

devilish headband - september challenge

September's challenge for the CCCOE (California Crafters Club of Etsy) team is "Fall Traditions." This theme encompasses holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Rosh Hashanah. I think we'll see a very broad range of items in this theme! :)

My entry for this month's challenge is my "Feeling VERY Devlish... Headband." I first created this headband last year for Cami and her friend to wear to school for a special event near Halloween. I was so happy with how it turned out! Cami loved how comfortable it was to wear AND the fact that all her friends thought it was pretty cool! :) I was going through my box of extra items and came across my prototype. I hadn't written down any instructions so I went to work on recreating the headband... this time writing down how I made it! :) I also made one with white horns that turned out really cute too!

I really would like to add some other variations. (Another item to add to my future "project lists!") I made some cute pig ears headbands last year too... they were for Cami and two other girls who were in the school play as the three little pigs. They were so cute! Click here to see a picture of the pig ears headband.

You can check out the challenge participants here. Go to the last page of the thread to see the most current list of participants. The list of entries will continue to grow until the deadline, September 30th.

I LOVE blue!!!! ...and chocolate tags give away...

I LOVE blue... all shades of blue! (Even my car is blue!!) I decided it was time to make a Blossom Card that had a lovely blue flower. (It helped that it was also an EtsyBlogger carnival challenge to show your favorite color in your work as well! :) ) This aqua blue floral paper just grabbed me when I saw it at a store months ago and it's been patiently waiting in my stash for the perfect time to bloom. I really love how it "pops" against the orangey pink background paper. I just listed this Blossom Card in my shop as Blue Posies Blossom Card.

Now it's time for the September drawing announcement!!! This month's give away is for a set of 3 of my chocolate tags. Drawing will take place on Monday, September 22nd. (Comments counted until Noon, PST on 9/22/08. U.S. residents only, please.) So, leave a comment so I know you’d like to be entered in the drawing and tell me, what's YOUR favorite color! :)

UPDATED 09/22/08 @ 1:30 pm: Drum roll..... The winner of this month's give away is... Nathan!!! Congratulations!!! Thanks so much for commenting on my blog!

chocolates & radioactive scrambled eggs

I made these cute little chocolate candy tags for barneybetty today! It had been a little while since I had put together my little chocolates and I had fun cutting and pasting them into yummy candies. Thank you barneybetty for the order! :)

This morning I went to the hospital for the gastric emptying study. They had me eat some radioactive scrambled eggs (not yummy) so they could watch my digestion (or not). I had to lay still for an hour and a half in a confined space while the machine did it's job. I'm hoping that somehow I've gained some super hero trait through the radioactive eggs... at least maybe I could glow in the dark! :) I'll keep you posted! I'll get the results from this test next Friday when I see my gastroenterologist.

Hmmmm.... super hero traits... what would you choose as yours?

celebrating a new year clippie

I'm so thrilled to have some energy today! I got to work and finished an item that's been on my "to do list" for WAY too long. (Thanks mommab for your patience!) This little hair clippie was a custom order for a mom of a soon to be 3 year old. She's just going to look so precious showing off her newest number/year! :) The number "3" and all elements of this clippie have been hand embroidered.

recap & new list

WEEK OF 09/08/08 PROJECTS:
Flower Bookmark
Chocolate Items

WEEK OF 09/08/08 LISTINGS:
New Blossom Card

WEEK OF 09/01/08 PROJECTS RECAP:
3 New Blossom Cards - Completed
Flower Bookmark
Chocolate Items

WEEK OF 09/01/08 LISTINGS RECAP:
3 New Blossom Cards - 2 Listed

I'm keeping my list fairly simple this week. I still need to work on my office and some of the paper management!

treasury & your chance to vote

Yippee! My Apple Felt Bookmark was featured in another treasury! This one was put together by localcolorist... (Thanks so much for including my bookmark in your wonderful collection of items!) This treasury features some of the entries for the CCCOE (California Crafters Club of Etsy) Team August Challenge. You can vote for your favorites here, until Sunday, September 7th... So please stop by and vote (I'm #31!!!) for your back-to-school favorite! :)

a featured item & new blossoms

I am so happy that my newly made Apple Felt Bookmark has made it into a treasury! Yippee! Thanks so much Katy of KisforCalligraphy for featuring my bookmark!

I've been hard at work today on two new Blossom Cards. This one is the Polka Dot Plum Blossom Card. I love how polka dots make things look so cheery!

This one is so fresh! Chains of daisies on a field of green polka dots!!! I guess I was in a polka dot mood today! I listed this one today as well, it's the Daisy Blossom Card.

I have another Blossom Card that I'm hoping I'll finish and be able to photograph tomorrow. It's always fun to see how the paper combinations turn out. I get a thrill every time I pull the ribbon to open the blossom. When it's fully open is when I can see if it came together like I imagined. Isn't it so fun to create?! I LOVE it! :)

recap & new list

WEEK OF 09/01/08 PROJECTS:
3 New Blossom Cards
Flower Bookmark
Chocolate Items

WEEK OF 09/01/08 LISTINGS:
3 New Blossom Cards

WEEK OF 08/25/08 PROJECTS RECAP:
MORE Blossom Cards! Order of two cards - Completed
Get to that Bookmark!!! Completed

WEEK OF 08/25/08 LISTINGS RECAP:
Blossom Cards
Bookmark??? :) Completed

Ahhh.... A three day weekend! It's so nice to hear Cami playing with a friend in the pool. The BBQ is all fired up too! Yummy!

I am hoping to organize my office a little this week also. Putting up my new computer made me realize how big my stack of "items to scan" has grown. Time to do a little paper management! :)

a brilliant blog award...

Miesmama nominated me for a Brilliant Blog Award... Thanks so much miesmama! She's one of the fabulous, friendly people from my EtsyBloggers group! You should check out her WONDERFUL blog, now that's some good reading! She also makes and sells the most amazing selection of items at her Etsy shop... you can see some of them here. Go check out her shop to see all she has to offer!

Now the best part of being nominated is that I get to nominate seven people for this award... So many choices, I had to narrow it down to some family members and fellow EtsyBloggers. Here they are:

http://twozanyzebras.blogspot.com/
http://adayinthelifeofacox.blogspot.com/
http://hanson5.blogspot.com/
http://afreshtakeonpaper.blogspot.com/
http://tote-n-tots.blogspot.com/
http://storybeader.blogspot.com/
http://designsbyvanessa.blogspot.com/

Here are the "how to's" for those who were nominated! :) It is my turn to pass on this prestigious award.

Here are the rules for the nominees:
1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

an apple bookmark - august challenge

I am so happy to have finished this bookmark in time to have it submitted as part of the August Challenge for the CCCOE (California Crafter's Club of Etsy) Team. I recently joined this team and this is the first challenge I am participating in. The theme for this month was back-to-school. I immediately knew that I was going to have to make a bookmark! I drew up a couple sketch ideas and decided to stick with the good old apple. I love it framed against the black background!

I spent quite a bit of time hand embroidering this bookmark. The apple, leaf, and stem have all been hand cut and embroidered onto the bookmark. "Read" was also hand embroidered. I stabilized the pieces and sewed together the back and front of the bookmark. It's sure to cheerfully keep your place marked if you HAVE to put that book down for a little while! :)

This bookmark is number 4 in my felt bookmark series. I just listed it on etsy as, "Don't Forget to Read - Apple Felt Bookmark." I really enjoy making these bookmarks. They are little pieces of functional art!

an artist to treasure...

It is such an honor to be able to feature another wonderful Etsy artist/EtsyBlogger for the month of August. It's...

Tulip's Treasure Box

She is one of those EtsyBlogger team members who make everyone feel welcome (especially the newbies! I know!). She has very beautiful pieces of jewelry in her shop as well as wonderfully functional, eco-friendly bags... Here's a sampling:

If you check out her blog you will see that she is always “sharing the love” and focusing on other artists. What a kind, thoughtful, creative artist! You can read all about artists that inspire her and other interesting happenings at her blog.

I enjoy checking out her treasures in her wonderfully stocked Etsy shop. Viewing any of Lily’s items definitely makes you feel like you’re looking at treasure!

August winner & new...

The winner of this month's fabulous August "Blossom Delight" give away is miesmama!!! Congratulations miesmama! (Please contact me via an etsy conversation and send me your mailing address.... I'll mail out your card this week!)

I have been very busy doing a S-U-P-E-R BORING job today, all for a VERY good reason. First the job is copying ALL my bookmarks and pasting them into an email to myself. Why? BECAUSE I GOT A NEW COMPUTER TODAY!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!! I'll be able to work on a project without having to step away between each "enter" because it takes too blasted long! I may have had the slowest computer on the planet... or close to it at least! Hip, hip, hoooooorrrrrayyyy! (Thanks honey!) Now I'm copying all my documents to a backup hard drive and I need to copy my fonts next. This time I am NOT going to lose all my fonts because I forget to do this step! :) This is definitely taking lots of time to get all this done... but I can't wait to have everything transferred! I'll actually be able to use photoshop without my computer shutting down on me OR working super s-l-0-w-l-y.... I guess I'm going to have to reinstall all my software too. This is definitely a time consuming, but-oh-so-worth-it, project!

Back to my job as computer geek today! :)

UPDATE: Norm just showed me how to export my favorites! Hallelujah!!! Although I wasted lots of time at least I won't have to waste the time opening all those links on the new computer! I had LOTS of them! :)

recap & new list

WEEK OF 08/25/08 PROJECTS:
MORE Blossom Cards!
Get to that Bookmark!!!

WEEK OF 08/25/08 LISTINGS:
Blossom Cards
Bookmark??? :)

WEEK OF 08/18/08 PROJECTS RECAP:
Blossom Cards - 3 new patterns - In process
Bookmark - Back to School - CCCOE Team Project

WEEK OF 08/18/08 LISTINGS RECAP:
Blossom Cards - Listed 2 new
Bookmark

I knew it was going to be a busy week... and it was! Magic Mountain was a blast with Cami. It was wonderful to have my brother and his family visit. Cami is registered for middle school. Leila was home for a couple of days. B-u-s-y, but nice! :)

School starts on Wednesday. I'll be running out of excuses soon... :)

recap & new list

WEEK OF 08/18/08 PROJECTS:
Blossom Cards - 3 new patterns
Bookmark - Back to School - CCCOE Team Project

WEEK OF 08/18/08 LISTINGS:
Blossom Cards
Bookmark

WEEK OF 08/11/08 PROJECTS RECAP:
Blossom Cards - 2 new patterns - Completed
Bookmark
August Blog Drawing Project - Completed

WEEK OF 08/11/08 LISTINGS RECAP:
Blossom Cards - Listed
Bookmark
Clippie

I have lots I want to accomplish in a very short week! This week is busy with lots of end-of-summer-school's-going-to-start errands! Cami and I head to Six Flags Magic Mountain for rollercoaster fun tomorrow and then my brother, Andrew, and his family arrive at the end of the week for a visit. I better get to work! :)

I'm not ready... & Blossom Delight Drawing

Back to School…

Oh my… those three words have so much meaning. I get excited thinking of having a schedule again with Cami at school. It means I have more time to work on my projects. The flip side is that I’ll miss my sweetie… I love having her help me run errands, do housework, keep me company, make me laugh, hang out together… and all the other wonderful summer time things we get to do. Summer has a sense of freedom: freedom from strict bed times, freedom from “it’s a school night,” and freedom from homework schedules. It’s a break that you really start to long for beginning around spring break, when you get that first taste of summer with a week of freedom!

We’ve had a packed summer. A few trips away, lots of friend sleep over nights, swimming, and relaxing. We have one more get away weekend planned, a day at Six Flags Magic Mountain, and a couple of beach days… then the summer days will be a memory and the back-to-school schedule will begin.

Summer time’s running out and school’s just around the corner. I sense the anxious excitement in my soon-to-be middle school student. It’s time… she’s ready… I’m not.

All right… I enjoyed having a drawing so much last month I have decided to have one monthly along with my EtsyBlogger carnival post! YEAH! :) This month’s drawing will be for one of my Amy Butler - Sparkle n Glitter Wildflower Blossom - 2 in 1 Cards. These cards are reusable! I include extra paper and a nice little explanation on vellum on how it all works. The blossom itself can be used after the card’s life has expired. It can be detached and added as a gift tag or placed anywhere you like. (It’s attached with Velcro!)

Drawing will take place on Monday, August 25th. (Comments counted until Noon, PST on 8/25/08. U.S. residents only, please.) So, leave a comment so I know you’d like to be entered in the drawing and tell me, has summer gone too quickly for you?! Happy getting ready to send the kids back-to-school! :)

UPDATED 08/25/08 @ 3:00 pm: Drum roll..... The winner of this month's give away is... miesmama!!! Congratulations!!! Thanks so much for commenting on my blog!

Miesmama, please send me your mailing address via an etsy conversation. I'll send out your card this week! :)

NEW Amy Butler Blossom & treasury & shopping

YEAH! I'm featured in another treasury! Thanks so much localcolorist for including my Sushi - California Roll in your "Pincushions & Dolls" collection. You can check out the treasury here until 4 am Wednesday.

I had a chance to list the Amy Butler - Art Deco Lotus Blossom Card today... and it already sold. YEAH! (Thank you storybeader! Check out her shop for some BEAUTIFUL jewelry!!) I have one more in this pattern that I'll list tomorrow as well as a new pattern that should be ready to list in the morning.

Cami and I have been busy... We did her back to school shopping and I'm sad to say that she's graduated to the Juniors section. (She could still fit in the girls section but those long legs really work better in Juniors now... so she's a size 0 or 1! My spindly little thing!) She was sooo excited about getting some new jeans, shorts, and shirts. We also got her 3 new pairs of shoes... even her feet grew over night to a size 7!!! My 11 year old is definitely g-r-o-w-i-n-g! I can't believe that school will be starting in two short weeks.

All right.... I better get to packaging up the Blossom Card, it's traveling to it's new home in Oklahoma tomorrow! :)

recap & new list

WEEK OF 08/11/08 PROJECTS:
Blossom Cards - 2 new patterns
Bookmark
August Blog Drawing Project

WEEK OF 08/11/08 LISTINGS:
Blossom Cards
Bookmark
Clippie

WEEK OF 08/04/08 PROJECTS RECAP:
Complete reserved listings for dajellybaby - Completed
Blossom Cards - 4 new patterns - Two Complete
Bookmark

WEEK OF 08/04/08 LISTINGS RECAP:
Blossom Cards
Clippie

I was so happy to send off SEVEN cards to dajellybaby in Australia last week! The new blossom card paper combinations are looking great! I am excited to get photos taken and listings up this week! :)

treasury, blossom, volleyball, & olympics

I am so happy to have been featured in another Etsy Treasury today! Thank you so much storybeader for adding my Sushi - California Roll to this great collection... This treasury is available for viewing until 11:00 pm Saturday night... so check it out and look at all the beautiful items made by my fellow EtsyBloggers! :)

I worked on two of the new Blossom Card patterns today. I completed one that will be a birthday card for one of my friends. I love the pattern combination. I can't wait to get photos taken and the new patterns listed!

I was supposed to play in a Women's Volleyball Tournament tomorrow. I called last Sunday and let them know I wouldn't be able to play.... that S.U.C.K.S... I just knew that I didn't want to let the team down if I wasn't feeling well. I'm glad to hear they have enough players and I know they'll probably win the tournament. It's a bunch of women that I really LOVE playing with AND we won last year. I think I did the right thing though as my stomach is still giving me a very uncomfortable time and I really didn't want the pressure of trying to pretend that I was feeling well and that everything was OK. This way I can look forward to putting in a few games on Sunday with no worry of letting anyone down, plus knowing that if I end up not feeling well I can just take a break or head home. It's depressing.

I am SUPER excited about the Olympics starting today! I LOVE watching, it doesn't matter which sport is on, I will be glued to the television as much as possible over the next couple of weeks! I'm such a geek... I always wished I could be an Olympian.... (da, da, ta-da, da, ta-da, da, ta-da) Can't you hear that music... and wow... to hear the National Anthem play when one of our athletes takes the gold... it's the best! :)

cards getting ready to travel

Yeah!!! Seven cards from my shop are getting ready to head off to their new home in Australia!!! All the Blossom Cards I had listed as well as all the Dress Collection cards. (Thank you dajellybaby for your order!!!) I have had such a great day working on getting the cards all set to go. One reason I was particularly excited about this order is it's the first one where I'm trying out some new packaging for the Blossom Cards. I used to put them in a clear envelope and they looked good but NOW I'm putting them in a plastic case and they look GREAT! I was bothered by putting these cards that I put loads of time into, in something that didn't show them off to their best advantage as well as wasn't as sturdy as I'd like. Now I feel that the case is beautiful enough that the white envelope will never be needed. Just keep passing the card to the next recipient in the lovely clear case. I can't wait to hear some feedback on the new packaging! :) I took a photo trying to capture the side view of these containers too...

I don't have the order completely ready to go out yet... Tomorrow I'll finish packaging the dress collection and then I still need to put together my "extras." Boy! I sure do love putting orders together... It makes me VERY happy!

I do have one more Blossom Card available in the Pink n Chocolate Retro Style that I listed today. So for now it's the only blossom card available in my shop! I have 5 more paper patterns selected so I hope to have some of them made up to list by the end of the week!

I was excited to have one of the photos I posted on flickr yesterday featured in an article. I received an email asking if I would give permission for the photo to be used in an article called, 'The ever Growing Desert's of the World! The Earth is about to become Mars Like!' by Uwe Paschen. I was really happy to be asked to have it included. I love it when my photos are noticed! :)

What a lovely, productive day!

recap & new list

It's been a week since I've posted... where have I been?.... ON VACATION! This is why there was no list or recap last week! I'm starting anew this week, so here goes...

WEEK OF 08/04/08 PROJECTS:
Complete reserved listings for dajellybaby
Blossom Cards - 4 new patterns
Bookmark

WEEK OF 08/04/08 LISTINGS:
Blossom Cards
Clippie
Bookmark

I have L I S T S of items I want to make. I've had a wonderful time on vacation (more on that in a later post) but I'm very happy to be back in my little studio! :)

featured: a keeper's jackpot

July is my first month as a member of the EtsyBloggers team. Every month I have the opportunity to write about one of my fellow team members. The featured EtsyBlogger this month is...

A Keeper's Jackpot

“A Keeper’s Jackpot” is a wonderfully talented and friendly etsian. She opened her Etsy shop in October 2007. She’s one of those SUPER artistic women who creates gorgeous jewelry using multiple techniques such as wire wrapping, wire crochet, and polymer clay to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces. Her newest endeavor is decoupage. I am anticipating seeing some gorgeous pendants using this medium… I’ll be checking her shop often! :)

I chose a FEW of my favorite items from her shop to show here… Unique and beautiful jewelry, lanyards, bookmarks… she has it all! Interested in seeing what she’s currently up to!?! Check out her informative AND interesting blog!

A Keeper’s Jackpot… definitely a keeper! :)

TWO treasuries

I'm featured in TWO treasuries today... YEAH!!! Both treasuries were put together by fellow EtsyBloggers team members. WOW! They're so supportive and I'm sooo proud to be part of the team! Thank you VERY much EcoKate for including my Sushi - California Roll in your treasury. I'm so happy to be included with such beautiful items!
Another "thanks" goes out to spottedcowsoaps.... Her treasury of red hot items is sure to please the eye! She included my Black & Red Blossom Card in this collection. Again... I am so honored to be included with such amazing artists!

Thank YOU so much EtsyBloggers! :)

a l-a-z-y afternoon & bookmark delight

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO READ!! However… I have a hard time putting a book down in the middle of the story, soooo I have to limit my reading. (or nothing else would EVER be accomplished… besides the important fact of not leaving characters in limbo!) Is there anyone else like this? I know my sister, Bethany, is like this too (admit it, Beeper!)!

Well… a couple of Sundays ago after a nice morning of volleyball, my husband had a great suggestion of spending an afternoon out in the Jacuzzi/pool AND maybe I should bring out a book (see how this is all HIS fault… or just his way of guaranteeing that I’d be outside the rest of the day!). It sounded like such a relaxing way to spend a Sunday… so I went to my book stash (books that NEED to be read!) and selected one in a series of three that my mom gave me (I guess we can say this is also her fault!).

The book I selected to read was, “Full House” by Janet Evanovich. (I did get teased and harassed by my husband and daughter throughout the afternoon about the title… My husband kept asking if Uncle Joey was dressing up as Elvis yet, and lots of other things that are just best not repeated… AND it is NOT about the TV series!!!)

If you’re looking for a book that is “light” reading that keeps you turning page after page with crazy characters, “a little” steamy sex, suspense, and funny dialog… well, then, this is the book for you! I couldn’t put it down until I was finished. It was a l-o-v-e-l-y way to spend an afternoon! I can hardly wait for the next lazy afternoon to present itself… that’s when I’ll read the second book in the series! :)
OK… to celebrate my first EtsyBlogger carnival post, anyone who leaves a comment on this post will be entered in a drawing to win this bookmark (appropriate, don’t cha think!). This bookmark is marked #3 in my bookmark series. It’s a new item I wanted to make for my shop. (I’d love to hear what y’all think!) I have made a couple of other similar bookmarks as custom orders and I’m excited about adding more. All elements have been hand cut and embroidered. (I did use a sewing machine to accent the leaves and flower center as well as to sew the bookmark together.) No two bookmarks will ever be exactly alike, as I hand cut and sew all pieces, PLUS I’m not a robot! :)

Drawing will take place on Monday, August 4th. (Comments counted until Noon, PST on 8/04/08. U.S. residents only, please.) Better leave a comment… and tell me, do you get caught up in books too?! Does everything stand still while you “rescue” the characters?! (…and most importantly… what do you think of the bookmark!?!) Happy Reading!

UPDATED:

August 4th @ 12:42 pm.

Here's the winner of the bookmark! I can't even believe it! I had my daughter choose the name out of the container... she mixed it for what felt like h-o-u-r-s... and whose name does she pull out but her Aunt Heather's! (I'll be mad Heather, if I find out that money has exchanged hands!!!) :) I am VERY happy for Heather though, as she could use some good luck right now! Congratulations!

Thank you to ALL who commented... and please check back! I plan on having a MONTHLY drawing! I'm planning for August's drawing now! :)