New Toys (and some creations)
16 February 2011
11 February 2011
Some of my HAF Friends
First let me start by telling you about the HAF (Handmade Artists Forum). It is a great community of men and women who create all manner of art and artisan products by hand. It was so easy to slide into the discussions and activities there — everyone made me feel so welcome. They give tips and suggestions, encouragement and critique. They chat about art and life. And the overall support is awesome. The forum actively works to promote handmade and artisan products around the Web. I’ve been participating in Twitter rings and blog rings — the purpose to help get each other noticed. The HAF site even has its own shop where members can display their wonderful creations. If you create, stop by the HAF Web site and join up. If not, stop by anyway and see what everyone is up to, maybe find some unique art for yourself or a gift.
OK, now here are just a couple of the wonderful people I’ve met on HAF!
T.Rusk4u
She is a jewelry artist who displays on Etsy. Her pieces are fun, elegant and unique. Check out these Spring Origami Pendants. She actually transferred the pattern from origami paper onto shell cabochons. I don’t quite “get” the process, myself, but it is totally gorgeous!
Spring Origami Pendants by T.Rusk4u
Easter Bunny Necklace for Girls
Dragonfly Necklace for Girls
And then there are these totally sweet necklaces for girls. TRusk4u made them with magnetic clasps so the young wearer won’t choke should she get the necklace caught while playing. It also protects the necklace because the clasp will open rather than snap the cording. The colors are just beautiful, too. Sunny pastels for the Easter bunny — looks like spring — and sky blue in the dragon fly — just perfect for sparkling wings flitting by.
I would be negligent if I didn’t mention T.Rusk4u’s blog. Stop by and read her artist spotlights, learn about some of the things she likes, and take a peak at her own art. It’s a good read.
iknitandbead
Baby Hat by iknitandbead
Flower Pendant w/Knit Cord
Knitting and beading — what an awesome combination, and you will find both at iknitandbead’s Etsy shop.
She knits the “traditional” items — scarves and hats — and absolutely beautiful ones at that! With lots of care. Like this sweet baby hat in soft colors and soft cotton yarn. Then she reaches out of traditional knitting and makes jewelry with her knitting skills. She has several cool bracelets for sale in her shop, but I love this necklace with a knit cord and floral shell pendant.
We can’t miss her beading, which is just as pretty as her knitting. She makes bookmarks, necklaces and earrings in bold and eye-catching designs. My favorite, the Sunburn Beaded Choker. The colors are just gorgeous and work so well with the pendant she chose.
Sunburn Beaded Choker
Beyond her shop, iknitandbead has a great blog where she shares her love of both knitting and beading and much more. You can read about featured artists and upcoming contests, check out favorite quotes and Etsy treasuries, or just enjoy getting to know a wonderful artisan.
Etsy Treasury: A Birdie Told Me So
‘A Birdie Told Me So’ by impressionsbyheidi
Spring is sprung
The grass is riz
I wonder where
The birdiez iz?
My friend in junior high used to say that poem. I don’t remember where it came from. Maybe she made it up. But on this not so spring day in February, it came to mind and so here is a treasury of birds from the JET team.
 Golden Bird, Grey Moonstone,… $15.00
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 Sparrow in the Tree Paper We… $20.00
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 Black Bird and Butterfly Clo… $25.00
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 Love Birds – Adjustable Chin… $20.00
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 Fine Silver Birdie Pendant N… $62.00
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 Birds in Blue Necklace $15.00
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 lovebirds earrings $12.00
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 Sterling silver birdy neckla… $47.00
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 Moss Garden Bracelet – Choos… $20.00
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 Sterling silver charm bracel… $94.00
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 silver bird, red crystal dan… $16.00
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 Nostalgic Bluebird Soft Jewe… $9.95
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 Two Little Birds in a Tree N… $20.00
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 Blue Green Gemstone and Bras… $28.00
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 Black Sparrow Dangle earring… $12.00
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 Wire Wrapped Vintage Royal B… $26.00
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Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.
12 January 2011
Jewelry by Janelle
Janelle is a fellow jewelry artisan, but her chosen medium: exotic wood. And let me tell you, her work is to die for. She’s also a great person and blogger who spends lots of time blogging about other artisans. If you take some time to read her blog you’ll learn about hand crafters who create socks, soaps, wall art, candles and more with every conceivable technique! If you’re looking for something, Janelle can send you in the right direction.
OK, now I have to show you some of Janelle’s beautiful pieces. Like these exotic wood bangle bracelets:
Zebrawood, Purpleheart and Rosewood Bangle Bracelets
Madrone Necklace and Earrings Set
The colors and patterns you are seeing are all natural to the wood. Janelle buffs them with oil, and some are finished with a light coat of paste wax, but these are not colored in any way — Not even the purple one!
But that’s not all, check out this necklace and earring set:
Each bead is made individually by hand. I can’t believe the amount of work that she had to have put into it. It is strikingly beautiful.
Beaded Rosewood Hairstick
And then there is this gorgeous hairstick. The combinations of the dark rosewood stick and the white and red beads is magnificent. Attached as they are to the loop at the end, the beads will get the slightest movement in your hair. I think I want this one. OK, I know so!
Do stop by Janelle’s blog to learn about lots of great artisans and her store to see, and purchase, her beautiful work.
11 January 2011
Briskmama, the Blog
Plum and Chocolate Jam
Warning: Do not read Briskmama’s blog with an empty stomach! Or you may find yourself drooling on your keyboard. Among other good information on her blog, Briskmama shares some of her favorite recipes along with photos like this one — good enough for any cookbook, and my table!
In addition to her positively scrumptions cooking, Briskmama shares some great DIY projects and tips, reviews of other artisans, a look at her gorgeous artisan products and thoughts from her own life.
Briskmama’s blog is a great read with lots of enticing pictures and a good dollop of humor. Be sure to stop in to read, and visit her Etsy shop to see some of the beautiful items she makes and sells as well.
Hand Embroidered Tote w/Green Flowers
8 January 2011
My Diet Revelation (now we’ll see if it works)
The Plate Method
Several years ago I learned of dividing my plate to estimate proportions of food: 1/2 the plate for veggies (and/or fruit), 1/4 for carbs, and 1/4 for protein, as this image from Rice University illustrates. OK, that’s fine. But who wants to eat a half-plateful of salad or steamed broccoli night after night? I know I don’t, especially while my family enjoys a large portion of a tasty main dish, and thus I was never able to sustain this pattern of eating.
Don’t get me wrong. I like salad and steamed broccoli (and other veggies) just fine, but it is dull eating after a while.
So finally it hits me: put the cooking effort into the veggies so they become the tasty main dish instead of the meat.
Maybe not a huge revelation, but it felt very enlightening to me! So while planning my meals for the week I decided to do work several of them with fancy veggie dishes. I found some recipes at MyRecipes that I hope taste as good as they sound because I’ll be filling my plate with Green Beans with Caramelized Garlic tomorrow, then later in the week Parmesan Broccoli with Cherry Tomatoes and Braised Zucchini and Leeks.
My kids are all old enough to fill their plates as they choose, but I’ll be making my hubby’s plate a little closer to the ideal than his usual 2/3 meat, 1/4 starch leaving just a little wedge of space for veggies. He may be a little tentative about it, but I’m hoping by making the veggies tasty he’ll come around. Even if he doesn’t, I think I’ll enjoy eating this way and be a healthier, lighter me. At least that’s the plan.
5 January 2011
4 January 2011
New Jewelry for Me
Witch's Knot Pendant
Your Author
Following a friend’s suggestion, I made myself this cool symbol as a pendant.
I was looking for something for a little self-expressions and a wonderful PaganTeam mate suggested this symbol. Thanks AlsoMrsB! It’s made with 18 gauge copper wire. The outer “floral” is Celtic knot style, made from one piece of wire woven around itself. Then the circle is woven around the middle.
I hammered it so it would lie flat, and of course the hammering creates a really cool texture, too.
My daughter insisted I model it, so here’s a picture of me, too.
20 December 2010
This Blog is Eye Candey
This one is truly a LOL read. Eye Candey’s “about” page really sums up her humor, personality and intensity:
It’s like this – I’m a plucky gal with a young indie company that sets it’s own trends. Be wild with me! I believe in the entrepreneurial dream, I believe in independence – and I’m risking everything I have to pursue it. I believe in chasing your goals and working hard to achieve them. I work hard & play hard. Hang out with me!
Plucky.
Cupcake Wall Decal
Wild.
Independent.
So obvious in her blog.
But don’t think her blog is fluff. It’s not by any means!
Eye Candey writes about products, web sites, and blogs; shares recipes, fun facts and tutorials. Plus, as you might expect by the name, her blog is bright, colorful eye candy!
While you’re reading her blog, you’ll notice she’s an awesome graphic artist, too. So be sure to stop by the Eye Candey store or visit her on Etsy for everything from wall decals to jewelry, from fabric to edible cake images. You can buy from her fun and yummy stock or design something that she will create for you.
- Eye Candey, the blog
- The Candey Store – Eye Candey Custom Designs
- Eye Candey on Etsy
19 December 2010
How to Get it All Done and Look Good Doing It!
As the subtitle of the blog points out, I am a wife, mom and artisan. It doesn’t mention that I am also a part time employee doing merchandising stuff and I just took on a contract position piecing books together. Needless to say, good time management skills are a must. Looking good at the same time, well since I make and sell jewelry, a must also. Wanna know how I accomplish it?
First, and most important, each day actually starts before bed the night before. I go through my plans for the next day, check appointment times, set goals, and schedule my projects. Then, when the alarm goes off in the morning — yes, I set the alarm even though I work at home — I know what I need to do. It works like this:
Plan vs Actual
- 7:51am alarm goes off, I hit snooze – 7:51, hit snooze
- 8 am get up, bathe, dress, etc - 8:00, 8:09, 8:18 hit snooze, 8:27 drag outta bed, grab sweats and t-shirt
- 8:30 make tea and breakfast – 8:30, make tea and breakfast
- 8:45 have breakfast with husband - 8:45 breakfast with hubby
- 9:00 review messages, respond to important ones - 9:00 review messages, see who sent gifts and requests supplies. Respond.
- 9:30 work on business projects – 9:30 harvest, upgrade franchises, tend animals, 10:00 drag self away from games and start real work. 10:30 answer phone call from school, brush teeth, pull hair in scrunchie, run to school still in sweats to pick up sick kid. Return home at 11:15. Make another cup of tea. Sit down to work.
- 12 noon lunch – 12:00 reheat tea, stare in cupboards
- 12:30pm make phone calls – 12:3o make first phone call, leave message, decide to wait for answer and not make another call and tie up my line (yes, I have call waiting). Wander back to cupboard. Make lunch. Reheat cup of tea that is now about 1/2 gone.
- and it continues like this until
- 10:00 plan for next day – 10:00 open calendar to plan for next day; go cross eyed; make sure crops, animals and stores are set for the night; grab a glass of wine; join a team chat; refill wine and go to bed.
If you haven’t guessed, I have no idea how to get it all done, much less look good doing it. I’m easily distracted and get caught up in cute and silly things. I hate solid schedules.
Recently, I’ve been putting together some tools on my browser that I’m trying to figure out how to integrate into my life to help me keep track of things and get them done. The more I take on, the more desperately I need it. Here are 2 tools I have found that work great — when I use them:
- Remember the Milk – No, I’m not kidding. It’s a Web site where you can set up, sort and prioritize your to-do lists. It allows for repeating tasks, personalized lists, tagging, and more. If you have a phone that accesses the internet you can access your lists on the go, which is awesome. There is also a Chrome extension that allows access to your own Remember the Milk page direct from the tool bar. Nice! The paid “Pro” version is a bit expensive in my opinion, but if you get it you get access to sync Outlook, Windows Mobile and Blackberry plus aps for Android and iPhone.
- Remind Me, which is an extension / add-on for the Google Chrome browser. It allows you to set reminders that things need to be done. You type in what, ie “make phone calls” and then choose how many days, hours and minutes. When the time expires, you get a reminder in the browser that it’s time. It’s great for scatter brains like me. My biggest problem is I can be so scatter brained I forget to use it. If you aren’t using Chrome, look through the extensions on your browser to see if you can find something similar.
One of my big problems, I think, I setting and keeping goals. I just now found 2 more extensions for Chrome that I’m hoping will help. The first is Goal Reminder which randomly displays life goals and Time Tracker which tracks time you spend on various Web sites. I’m hoping by seeing where my time is going and being reminded of my goals I will make some progress!
Well, I’m of to set some goals and have a productive week. I think I’ll work on getting it all done first and looking good later!
