Creative Eye Studio

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T20:29:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day today. Valentine's day is probably my favorite holiday. I enjoy letting my friends and family know how much I care about them. I like that it fell on a Monday this year as we celebrated with our friends and family all weekend!

Here is what the studio looked like a few days ago as I was working on some last minute cards. It's controlled chaos.

These are the pink champagne cupcakes I made yesterday. It was a new recipe for me and I was pleased at how moist and delicious they were! Leave a comment if you want the recipe or just search at bettycrocker.com for "pink champagne cupcakes."

And here are a few Valentine's I made last week. I fell in love with the robot paper as soon as I saw it!

Teambluegrass Holiday Luncheon & Swap

2011-01-24T21:52:00.000-05:00

Our Bluegrass Etsy team met last month before the holidays for our 2nd Annual Holiday Luncheon and Swap Meet. We had a wonderful lunch at Brendan's in Louisville. Thanks to Joey and Kelly Graves for making the reservations for us again this year.

We had a great turnout and enjoyed the afternoon shopping for hand crafted gifts made in Kentucky. We met new team members and saw familiar faces too. Thanks to all that braved the rain to join us.

If you missed it this year, you'll want to be sure to join us next time!

Be sure to mark your calendars for our first ever team retreat in Berea, KY on May 14 & 15. Leave a comment if you would like us to send you information about the event.

A Fall Favorite in Our House

2010-10-05T06:04:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago on a Friday night, my husband commented that Belgian waffles sounded really good for breakfast the next morning. At the same time we pointed at each other and exclaimed "pumpkin waffles!" About 30 minutes later we were on our way to Williams-Sonoma in the mall for a canister of the spiced pumpkin waffle mix.

How did we find out about this? My mom bought us this item last year and we loved the spicy pumpkin taste and the candied pecans in the mix. It is so delicious!

We timed it just right as the employee at Williams- Sonoma had not seen it yet and said they must have just received the shipment. Thank goodness they had it!

While the canister is a bit pricey at $15, it is well worth it for special fall mornings! And you can use the same mix to make pancakes.

Let me know if you try it! I think you'll like it!

Last Glimpse of Summer

2010-09-26T16:34:00.017-04:00

Here are some photos that I took when we went to Cleveland in August. They remind me of the last glimpse of summer.

Sailboat race on Lake Erie.

Lots of interesting architecture in downtown Cleveland. This is a former department store that was based in Cleveland.

Dragon boat race at the Flats.

It's been a very long hot summer in Louisville. Our central air went out last week when we broke records with temps as high as 100. I have to admit that I am ready for fall!

What Brings YOU Joy?

2010-08-03T18:00:00.014-04:00

I love to hear Lucinda Williams singing "you took my joooooooy, I want it back!" So what brings you joy? What makes you happy?

Here are some things that come to my mind:

MUSIC - Music can totally change my mood. If I am not having a good day, there are certain songs that will pick me back up! One of my favorite pick me up songs right now is by Bell X1 and the song is The Great Defector. I also love to listen to Dave Matthews Band Live at Piedmont Park. We have the concert recorded and watch it almost every weekend!

MY HUSBAND - My husband brings me lots of joy and happiness and I am not sure what I would do without him. We love the same things and also have time apart with our friends. A perfect balance. He is a wonderful man!

ART - I have a great appreciation for art and craft. I can't think of a better gift than something handcrafted. Especially from the state of Ky! My favorite place to shop for handcrafted items is Etsy.

Here is a great example of joy on Etsy. Cloudy with a Chance of Balloons by jewelkrug on etsy. $19.99 by Julie Kruger

PETS - Animals bring us so much joy and unconditional love!

Today I was away from the house for 8 hours (normal work day) and as soon as I pull into the driveway, I see my two kitties at the front window waiting for me. Do they sit there and wait for hours? Do they know the sound of my car?

Our older cat Tucker loves to sleep on my pillow at night. There is something about the purr of a cat in your ear that absolutely will melt the coldest heart!

ICE CREAM - How can ice cream NOT make you happy? I prefer the real stuff versus soft serve but really wouldn't turn any of it down. I would have to admit that the Baskin Robbins turtle pie has brought me lots of joy in the past! And probably a few pounds too.

CHOCOLATE - I don't really discriminate against any form of chocolate. It's all good and it certainly brings me lots of joy. A nice box of Godiva or See's Candies is one of life's greatest pleasures!

FRIENDS & FAMILY - How could we get through rough days without the love of our family and our best friends? One of the benefits of growing older is all the friends you accumulate along the way.

I feel very blessed! Sometimes it is good to slow down and think about your blessings in life. So what brings you joy? Blog about it!

“This post is part of SOYJOY‘s What brings you joy contest. Learn more here.”

A Few Creatures in My Back Yard

2010-07-26T20:48:00.011-04:00

Mr. Frog hanging out in the pond, trying to stay cool.

I was watering my herbs last night when I found this beautiful little guy on my dill. On some of the photos you can see the drops of water on him. I hope he is the type of caterpillar that becomes a butterfly. He is beautiful!

Friendly grasshopper. I never realized their eyes were so interesting close up.

Summertime Creations

2010-06-25T22:23:00.016-04:00

The challenge this month from Artbeads was to create something with a summertime theme using glass beads, charms or pendants. My first thought was to do a charm bracelet with some shell or boating themed charms. However, I wanted to do a little something different.

I fell in love with the simplicity of the sand dollar sterling silver pendant. Artbeads has a great selection of pendants to choose from. Normally that is where I start with an idea for a necklace, with the pendant, because it is the focal point in the design. I liked the shades of green and blue in the glass pearls and added some Swarovski crystal for a little sparkle.

My favorite colors right now are orange, red and yellow. I like vibrant colors during the summer. In browsing the selection of glass beads it was hard to narrow it down! I selected a strand of big bright flower beads as they were not something I would ordinarily pick and I thought they might be fun to try. I combined them with some lemon yellow swirled beads I had in my inventory and thought they made a good combination. This is a fun piece to wear on a hot summer day!

My final piece uses one of my very favorite design elements - furnace glass beads. I just love these! I picked the bright citrus package with random beads, some solid and some striped. I really wanted the solid orange bead to stand out so I put in some big bold silver beads. The pinstripes on the other beads remind me of candy. I really like this bracelet!

As always, I really enjoy these challenges as they allow me to think outside my normal style and have have a lot of fun with it!

Disclosure: The sand dollar pendant and glass beads were kindly provided free of charge by Artbeads.com as part of their blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post represents the personal opinion of the blog author.

Masonic Home Show in Shelbyville

2010-06-19T18:45:00.001-04:00

I recently set up with other Bluegrass Etsy team members at the Masonic Home Show (Celebrating Life Through Art) organized by our friend Donna Williams. It was a hot, hot day. Between the chilled wine, some ice from the cooler and team member Carolyn's nifty misting fan, we managed to stay cool! Here are some pics of our booths that day. This is always a fun event because of the constant entertainment and live music. Not to mention the good food and the good company!

Handcrafted clutch purses & accessories from Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave.

My Creative Eye Studio booth featuring jewelry and greeting cards.

Awesome pieces created by Joey and Kelly Graves of Whimsy Beading.

Metalsmithing extraordinaire Carolyn Mallin of Fanciful Expressions.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-16T17:57:00.001-04:00

Rescue Kitties

2010-06-15T06:00:00.002-04:00

Last month these amazing babies showed up at my husband's office out in Eminence, Ky which is a rural area. The four kitties were dumped there (our guess) and there were two pairs from two different litters. They seemed a little skittish but friendly. They were not feral cats at all. Each time the door opened they would sneak inside which isn't good for business and people were annoyed.

Knowing that they might be put down at a regular shelter, we knew we had to do something to help them out. All of the no kill shelters or organizations that we called said they could not take any more kittens at the time. My husband was able to borrow a large crate from a local shelter for several days. We set it up in our garage until we could figure out what to do next. We already have two cats and could not take any more. And we couldn't let the kittens around our two cats because our existing cats were not thrilled to see them in the garage.

We didn't have any baby shampoo or cat shampoo so we bathed them warm water with Aveda Shampure, clipped their nails and gave them a mini spa treatment. They really seemed to like it. And they smelled really nice!

Putting my marketing degree to use, I took cute pictures, gave them sweet names and made little fliers to help promote them. We posted their pictures on Facebook and told our friends and family. One day at work I mentioned our cat Tucker to a coworker and he said he was looking to get a kitten. That was wonderful to hear! At the same time, we had contacted the lady we knew at Shamrock (we worked with her to adopt the two we have) and she agreed to foster the kitties until they found homes.

It worked out that my coworker took the two small ones (Oreo and Pumpkin Spice) because he didn't want to break them up. I am so happy to report that they are doing great! They are spoiled rotten in their new home. And the best part is that I get regular doses of stories about their antics and pictures of them as they grow.

We are hoping that Isabella and Fiona find homes soon. They are beautiful orange, black and white calicos. They are currently at the Feeder's Supply in Middletown and I hear that someone is trying to decide between the two. I am excited that maybe at least one of them will go home with someone nice. I go up to see them on the weekends and sometimes on my lunch hour. I like to think that they remember me or know my voice, but they probably don't. They are just so happy to have someone to hold them and love on them.

So remember to spay and neuter your kitties so that we don't have to work so hard to be sure they find good homes. Ours will have a happy ending, but that is because we took an interest in them and because of great organizations like Shamrock.

To learn more about Shamrock or make a donation, please visit them here. Do it for the fur babies.

Trip to Stream Cliff Herb Farm

2010-06-13T18:09:00.019-04:00

I recently took a trip to a little place called Stream Cliff Farm in Commiskey, Indiana. What a hidden jewel this is! I knew nothing about it until my friend Amy suggested that we take a trip there to celebrate our birthdays. It's about an hour or so from Louisville and well worth the trip if you have lunch at their quaint restaurant.

They have a wonderful selection of plants and herbs. And if you love to take photos, you will find lots of great spots to take pictures. There are gardens and water features, a little sanctuary area for weddings, craft classes, a winery, a restaurant, gift shops, some friendly goats and a baby donkey. We had quite the sampling of food in the restaurant and what is really cool is how they use the flowers on the plates as edible garnish and there are herbs (like lemon verbena) used in the lemonade and tea. Be sure to try the "bird seed pasta" if you go.

If you are looking for a nice place to visit in the country, give this place a try! It's worth the drive!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-26T06:38:00.007-04:00

A Mother's Day Lesson from Birds

2010-05-08T09:06:00.010-04:00

Every year I get two large ferns to hang from our front porch. After about a week my husband noticed a bird flying out of one of the ferns whenever he opened the front door. Upon further inspection when watering the ferns, we found a bird's nest already built. Within a day or two there were eggs. And imagine my surprise to see two different sizes and types of eggs in this nest!

I wondered how this could happen so I did a google search and learned about "brood parasites" What this means is that a mother bird (frequently a cowbird) will find a nest that another mother bird has built (the host bird), then lay her eggs there and she may or may not ever return. In some species of birds, they aren't capable of building a nest so they just find one already built for them. In most cases, the host bird will come back and lay her eggs with the others. She may abandon her eggs when she notices there are other eggs in her nest. Or the brood parasite bird may come back and remove the eggs that are not hers from the host nest.

As you can see from the photo that I took, the speckled eggs are much larger and they tend to be the ones to hatch first. I really had to wonder how 7 babies could even fit in this tiny nest. It is probably about 3" wide.

Unfortunately, I read that when all the babies have hatched, the host mother will feed the babies that are the biggest and have their mouths open first. She may not even realize that the babies are a different species. This endangers the life of her own babies, and she is feeding birds that aren't even hers. Her smaller babies may end up starving because of the competition for food. Or they may get thrown out of the nest by the larger babies. I have read that this practice has possibly reduced the number of songbirds, while increasing the number of (brood parasite) cowbirds.

For days I struggled with getting involved in this circle of life. It didn't seem fair that a "squatter" bird's eggs should jeopardize the 5 blue eggs that were laid by the mom that built the nest in the first place. I considered removing the cowbird eggs myself. But I decided not to interfere with nature and see how this plays out. I hope that all these babies will have a chance at life.

Last night we checked and the 7 eggs were still there. Today I checked and the two speckled eggs have hatched! I hope this new mama can take care of all 7 of her babies. I only see 4 blue eggs now, but hope that the 5th one is under the new hatchlings.

More pics to come in the days ahead, if mama allows it.

Happy Mother's Day!

Trip to Lover's Leap Winery

2010-04-20T17:51:00.027-04:00

On the first day of spring, John and I went to Lover's Leap Winery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky for their Spring Fling event. It was our first visit there and we were impressed. The grapevines had not budded out yet, but you can get an idea of size the vineyard. From what I recall, they will start budding out by May and I believe the grapes are harvested in September. I plan to go back later this summer and take more pictures.

We paid $15 to get into the event and it included a wonderful BBQ lunch, desserts, live music, a tour, wine tastings, and keepsake glasses. We always enjoy trying new wines and picking out a favorite. Many times you go to local wineries and you really don't like the wine, but we really thought all the ones we tried were good. We left with several bottles.

When I saw this hat, I had to have it!

John goes back for a refill on the tour. Actually we had permission to do this!

If you are in the area, you should visit this family owned winery. They support the arts and are hosting an outdoor event called the Vineyard Stroll on June 12 (from 11 am 7 pm) featuring over 50 Kentucky Proud food producers and Kentucky Crafted artists. Admission is $5 and there is live music. Maybe I'll see you there!

Look What I Won!

2010-04-13T20:05:00.007-04:00

Check out these lovely pearl earrings that I won earlier this month from Blair's Wild and Precious blog. These beauties were created by BonnyBeeDesigns. I don't normally enter too many blog contests, but I fell in love with these earrings. I was so excited to win!

I am using Bonnie's photo as hers is so much better than mine!

Check out her etsy shop to see more of her creations.

Another Cool Target Find

2010-03-21T10:16:00.009-04:00

You know you have found something cool when the cashiers at Target get excited about something you have found in the store that they have not seen yet!

I found this very cool jewelry holder in the aisle with picture frames, etc. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it! It was a splurge, and I have tons of props to use at craft shows, but it is an unusual piece!

Had to have it!

The Beauty of Spring Challenge

2010-03-15T15:28:00.025-04:00

Lately everything I have created has a spring theme to it! I am taking photos of bulbs coming up, creating greeting cards in shades of pinks and lime green, and creating jewelry with the same inspiration. Even though fall is my favorite season, nothing beats the anticipation of spring!

I recently received this gorgeous selection of beads from Artbeads. What inspiration! I fell in love with floral glass pendant first, then selected other beads I thought would complement the pendant. When I received my order, I was not disappointed!

Here are some pics of my final creations. First I created the necklace using the floral bead as my focal point/pendant. I added some Swarovski peridot bicones to hold it in place on the decorative headpin. The necklace was created with 4mm faceted glass rondelles in pink and olivine and matte glass beads in white.

I created some coordinating earrings from some pink and white swirled glass bellflower beads, peridot Swarovski crystal and a decorative headpin. They are finished with fleur de lis motif leverbacks. I think this makes a nice set.

Disclosure: The Kalera floral glass focal bead, peridot Swarovski crystal, pink glass bellflower beads and the 4mm pink and olivine glass faceted beads were kindly provided free of charge by Artbeads.com, as part of the Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

To see more selections from Artbeads you can click on these links: lampwork glass beads and pressed Czech glass beads .

Ready for Spring!

2010-03-08T09:09:00.010-05:00

Here are a few new designs. Can you tell I am ready for spring?

Sweet Cupcake Earrings

2010-02-16T13:04:00.003-05:00

I recently purchased these polymer clay earrings from Michelle of Valebella Bracelets and More on etsy. Aren't they adorable? I wore these on Valentine's day when I was out buying and delivering cupcakes to my parents. I think they will be great to wear on my birthday too. Michelle's etsy shop is called heysista if you want to check it out.

I also entered a contest at Megan Rae's blog - TheGreenHaven and was so excited when I won a cute heart bookmark from Valebella. She is a good example of doing things the right way on etsy. Great customer service and very nice to work with! Be sure to check out Megan's blog for lots of giveaways!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T13:21:00.001-05:00

Wishing everyone a very happy Valentine's Day. Be sure to let your friends and family know how much you care! I finally got to visit the Gigi's Cupcake shop and was so excited to give cupcakes to my parents and my mother in law. They were delicious! Disappointed in myself that I did not make my own Valentines this year, but I did make up some treat bags filled with candy. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Back in Time at Schimpff's Confectionery

2010-02-12T21:28:00.006-05:00

For the past two years my husband has indulged me with a trip across the river to Jeffersonville, Indiana. Here we take a trip back in time to visit Schimpff's Confectionery. I always like to go around Valentine's Day as it's my favorite day of the year.

You may not be able to read the date on the door, but it says "since 1891." Yes, it's been around 119 years. Check out the markings on the door that show the water level when the Ohio River flooded in years past.

This is what you see when you enter the front door and it takes my breath away, having a major sweet tooth. Yes, I turn into a "kid in a candy shop."

While there you can see a demonstration of candy making using crank style equipment and antique metal candy molds. As the cinnamon candy cools, it is broken apart and everyone gets samples that are still warm to the touch.

They also have a very impressive museum dedicated to the history of candy. There are vintage candy boxes, jars, containers and other forms of packaging.

Here are a few of the goodies I purchased! My favorites are the Oreos dipped in dark chocolate with candy hearts on top.

To learn more about this historic shop, check out the Schimpff's website. Be sure to click on HISTORY to see more photos and interesting info. If you are in the Louisville/Southern Indiana area, you should take the time to visit!

My Latest Designs

2010-02-10T10:20:00.001-05:00

While everyone else in the world was watching the Super Bowl, I was in the basement working in my studio. This is a custom order for a friend who wanted to surprise his wife after their daughter was born. And the colors are nice for Valentine's Day too.

The chocolate brown jasper "chicklets" work well with the link pink Rhodonite nuggets and light rose Swarovski crystals. I hope she loves it!

And since Valentine's day is right around the corner here is the "My Michele" necklace inspired by a friend that spotted these cool hearts at a bead show in Louisville. I made the heart into a pendant and used faceted garnet rondelles and onyx. I made a similar version for myself, as she bought me a heart too.

Kellibeans Hat Giveaway!

2010-02-08T16:43:00.006-05:00

If you haven't entered our Bluegrass Etsy contest for the month of February, you will want to enter now! This month's giveaway is our biggest yet - valued at $30. Team member Kellibeans is giving away a crocheted hat and an art card (of your choice) from her etsy and artfire shops. Be sure to visit our Kentucky Handmade blog for the details. The prize will be awarded on Feb 28. Remember, you can't win if you don't enter!

Crafty Fun Finds

2010-01-12T11:26:00.006-05:00

As you probably realize from my avatar, I love fleur de lis. I have quite a few fleur de lis in my collection, but I sure didn't have any FDL ribbon. Imagine my surprise when I found this ribbon at Hobby Lobby recently. It was all I could do not to jump up and down in the store! And they were 50% off that day!

Yesterday I went to Michael's and found these adorable stamps. I am on a cute bird kick lately. I really couldn't justify the purchase, but I was able to use two coupons as these weren't on sale. And I like cute birds. So there.

I thought these cute pink flowers would be good for Valentines or spring themed cards. Love the polka dots. And they might look cute with the bird stamps too.

I am planning my first giveaway on this blog and maybe it will have a Valentine's day theme! Stay tuned!

Inspiration by HGTV

2010-01-07T21:14:00.003-05:00

Last week my husband was off work for the holidays and we had some relaxing down time. We watched ENTIRELY too many episodes of shows like Bang for Your Buck and Househunters on HGTV. Since I have this new found "free time" I am really scrutinizing things around the house and looking at things with a different perspective. Before I never had the time to do these things. Now I maybe have the time but sure don't have the money since I am laid off. So to compromise I am looking at projects that won't break the bank. Unlike the couples on some of these shows, we don't have a $50,000 budget to redo the kitchen or $100,000 to finish the basement and install an Irish Pub. LOL! Let's be realistic. But I am hoping that I can just use a little elbow grease, some spackle and paint to spruce things up a bit. That's the plan anyway...

So much of the wallpaper in this house is not to my liking and I'm pretty sure there are two layers of it in most places. And I am pretty sure there are teal colored ducks under the top layer. I've peeled back a corner to peek. Super icky. Not a big fan of the wallpaper. It was here when we moved in. I am really itching to start ripping it down after taking a really long hot shower to steam up the bathroom. And since my son moved out, there is major work in his room to patch the walls, repaint and attempt to clean the carpet. And we still have brass in the house and hollywood bulbs in the bathroom. And there are ugly mirror strips in the living room that are very dated and glued to the wall. Not sure about that...think that's a job for my husband.

See, the more you watch these shows, the more you will want to make changes at your own house! Damn you HGTV!

I am pretty sure that I'll start with a bathroom first. It's one of the smallest rooms and dealing with the walls should be the hardest part. I think.

Wish me luck!

Onward and Upward

2010-01-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

I just love it when my husband asks for tools for Christmas. This happens every year during the holidays and on his birthday. And when he gets tools AND gifts cards for Lowes or Home Depot, you just KNOW there is a project in the works.

In a very short period of time right after Christmas, John took the measurements for the wall outside my studio in the basement and framed it out on the floor. Then we lifted this framework into place under the ventwork and he took a sledgehammer and put it into place. I admire a man that can build things! Granted our basement is unfinished but this is progress! I am hoping that by the time we retire we'll have the basement finished while we can still walk down the basement steps!

I am really excited to see that the project has started and realize that we'll only be able to do small things, a little at a time, as the budget allows. But still!

She Believed She Could So She Did

2010-01-02T20:01:00.019-05:00

So this is my mantra for 2010. At least the first one I've come up with that seems to fit. I was in a hallmark store with a terrible migraine, picking up a card, when I ran across this ceramic tile. It really spoke to me as I love collecting motivational quotes. And this tile was on clearance, so needless to say, I took it home.

It is now strategically placed on my super duper wall cabinet from Archiver's.

Let me tell you, it is quite an accomplishment that it's hanging! I saw this advertised by Archiver's for a fantastic price (I think back around Labor Day??). I called, they were out and were not issuing rain checks past the week of the sale. Left my name and number anyway, just in case. Sale is over, no call till later and how nice, they extend the sale price for me. I picked it up immediately, where it then sat in my studio in the basement for a couple months because I needed help from the hubs on hanging it. He very graciously got it anchored to the wall for me and then I started filling it up! I just love it!

My plan for the month of January is ORGANIZATION. I have been using the same style Franklin Covey planner for about 8 years. I just ordered a totally different style from them that fits in a sleeker cover. So I am purging stuff I have carried around for years that I don't need anymore.

Also, I was very recently laid off from my job of nine years so I now have time for ORGANIZATION. I have already reorganized my jewelry armoire, some drawers and cabinets in the bathroom and am working on cleaning up the studio and getting rid of things I don't use. I measure my success by how much gets sent to Goodwill or goes in the trash. We have a whole cabinet of spices and sauces that is overflowing and needs attention. My recipes are a mess, I have so many that I've collected and can't ever find the one I want when it's time to cook. So next week I am tackling those. I have binders and sheet protectors to put them in. And since I am at home now, I will be cooking dinner more often so I need to find those recipes.

Meanwhile, I am eagerly looking for the next great job with help from monster.com and lots of networking, but am excited about taking care of business around the house and giving attention to some things that really need it. My husband pointed out the cobwebs in the hallway tonight, so maybe I'll start there. I'm sure there's more where those came from.

Holiday Sale!

2009-11-28T13:49:00.014-05:00

I will be hosting a sale in my etsy shop from Black Friday through November 30 Cyber Monday. I am offering free shipping to the US and Canada. Purchases will arrive in a gift box tied with ribbon, ready for giving!

Mention that you saw this post on blogger for a free gift with purchase.

Here is the link to my CreativeEyeStudio etsy shop.

Thanks for looking and Happy Holidays!

I'm Back!

2009-11-03T19:49:00.018-05:00

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
John Lennon

I can't believe it's almost been 4 weeks since I last posted. I have missed blogging but had to focus on some other things in my life lately. I have been traveling for work, doing some holiday craft fairs and recently helped my son move into his first apartment. In the midst of this activity, I am also preparing for a career change, although not a planned one. Sometimes we get comfortable in our jobs and I've felt for awhile that I wanted to do something different. Now I will have that opportunity. Do I know what I will be doing next? No. But I am excited to see how things unfold!

Here are some photos I took on a recent trip to Joe Huber's Farm in Starlite, IN. It was a cloudy day, but that makes some of the pics even more interesting. I LOVE the shot of the tractor. I've never seen a duck as beautiful as the one below, and he was the only one with those markings.

Enjoy!

Bracelet from WhimsyBeading

2009-10-05T06:54:00.006-04:00

I am the very proud owner of this shiny metallic multi-colored bracelet created just for me by my team members and friends Kelly & Joey Graves of Whimsy Beading. Each time I am around them, they are nonstop, constantly creating new things while at the same time socialing with those around them. They certainly know how to be productive and get more time out of their day!

I fell in love with this bracelet and had to have it! I picked out the button after seeing the beads in September and Joey was able to attach it and custom fit it to my wrist at our last team meeting.

Isn't it lovely and unique?

Check out their beadweaving jewelry creations at the WhimsyBeading etsy shop.

Wordless Wednesday - Back to Nature

2009-09-30T12:26:00.000-04:00

Bluegrass Etsy Fall Team Meet & Greet

2009-09-28T22:55:00.021-04:00

Here are a few photos from the Bluegrass Etsy Fall Meet and Greet held on Saturday, September 26. I love these meetings as it is great to speak face to face with people you know online. It's always fun to see what others are making and do a little bartering. And these are great team building activities.

With the past two meetings we've had, we end with a promo swap. Basically you bring a small item that reflects your shop or your craft and swap with others. We also swap business cards and include those in promo bags with our orders. We know from experience that these promo bags work!

Time seems to fly by when we get together. We allotted five hours for the meeting and we still didn't have enough time to socialize and talk business as much as we wanted to!

Joey & Kelly Graves of Whimsy Beading are always so productive when we see them! Wait till you see the bracelet they stitched up for me. (coming soon!)

Team members: Paulena of Polly's Pavilion, Angela of Spool of Plenty and Libby of Maylees Garden (our fearless team leader)

New team members Sherry and LeighAnn from SewFriendzy meet existing team members Toni Johnson with Vernon Ave and Carolyn Campbell of Cowgirl Rosie.
Tina Mackin of SmackinArt and Paulena.

To see more pics of the team in action, visit our Kentucky Handmade team blog.

Wordless Wednesday Floral Style

2009-09-23T08:50:00.002-04:00

Fall Snacky Snack

2009-09-13T09:36:00.002-04:00

Aaah, one of my favorite things about fall has to be the FOOD. I love steaming hot apple cider on a crisp fall day. And caramel apples, apple butter and fried biscuits, gingerbread cake, spice cake with caramel icing, mulled wine, cream cheese pumpkin rolls, and candy corn. Can you tell I have a sweet tooth? Do you have a stomachache by now?

Mixing candy corn and peanuts is nothing new in our household. If you have not tried it, please do! A handful of candy corn with peanuts tastes just like a Payday candy bar but is a lot more fun to eat. A new little twist is to add some of the Halloween M&M's for a little taste of chocolate and some extra color. Very tasty and I have to admit we are on our second batch of this already. I could not find the Halloween version of M&M's at Target but they did have them at Walgreens so I bought several bags.

Enjoy! This comes but once a year!

Thirsty Thursday

2009-09-10T08:00:00.002-04:00

My husband and I were recently in an Irish Pub in Indianapolis called Claddaghs. John ordered a Guinness and when they brought it to our table it was truly photo worthy and I had to grab my camera. What a perfect pour. My sloppy version would have foam running down the sides.

I get funny looks when I pull out the camera these days, but am getting used to it! I just love this photo.

Wordless Wednesday - Insect Style

2009-09-09T06:12:00.002-04:00

Faux Mimosas

2009-09-02T07:50:00.000-04:00

I recently stumbled upon the coolest find! These sparkling Italian sodas are available at World Market. They are only $0.99 cents.

Get them cold first then pour in a nice glass. They taste just like a champagne mimosa to me. Wonderful stuff. And you can have one at work and feel like you are having a cocktail! Decadent!

I have to hide these from my son Andrew as he loves them too. They also had a blood orange version which I have not tried yet. Andrew beat me to it.

Final Days on PurrPrints Giveaway

2009-08-30T08:46:00.001-04:00

I love kitties and I especially love Becca's etsy shop Purrprints.

The giveaway this month is a 5x5" signed archival print of PurrPrints most popular design, Kitty Love, in red and brown. The contest ends on Monday, August 31, so run over to the Bluegrass etsy team blog and enter!!

Five Point Plan (affirmations)

2009-08-29T11:33:00.001-04:00

Five point plan
Originally uploaded by sarah_gardner

I love this!

Great affirmations to think of each day. Created by Sarah Gardner.

Happy Week - Top 10 Happy Things

2009-08-23T18:23:00.009-04:00

I wanted to get my final "Happy Week" post in yesterday, but I was pretty busy with a birthday party for my mom. Better late than never I suppose!

Here is my Top 10 List of things that make me happy:

1. My husband - finding him in my late 30's was the best thing that's happened to me! I am glad to have found him and can't imagine my life without him.

2. Family & Friends - what would we do without them? They love us unconditionally and are always there when we need them. I am also blessed with new friendships made with the Bluegrass etsy team.

3. Art & Creativity - art brings joy to my life and being creative is truly a gift we share to make others happy! Taking photos reminds me of happy moments in life.

4. My art room/studio - for years I worked on my dining room table and had my buffet filled with rubber stamps and papers instead dishes. It was not the best situation and it was visible when you walked in the front door of my old house. I always, always, wanted a room of my very own. When I remarried, and gave up my old house, my husband made this a reality for me in our new home. I am thankful for this each and every day. It's a wonderful place for me to retreat to, lose myself and listen to music really loud.

5. Nature - I met my husband online and the reason I was drawn to his profile was that he mentioned hiking. We enjoy being on the trail as day hikers. Our favorite places so far have been Mt. Rainier and the Smokey Mountains. We were engaged on a trail in the Smokies.

6. Music - I love music! My version of hell is a car without a radio. I sing in the car often, although my family will tell you not very well. Music has a way of instantly lifting my spirits. I just heard about a study researchers did with terminally ill patients. They took vitals before and then played relaxing music, then took vitals again. Not surprisingly, the patients' heart rates were decreased from the relaxing music. Great feel good music like James Brown or Al Green is a favorite of mine. If you like them too, check out Black Joe Williams' song Sugarfoot. It's new but it sounds very James Brown retro. It's at itunes. Check it out and I dare you to sit still listening to it!

7. Pets - there is something to be said about the unconditional love you get from pets. I can't imagine a day without our two kitties. They bring us so much joy. When our cats show affection, the worries of the day just melt way. They are another thing I can't live without.

8. Chocolate - all problems fade for me when chocolate is consumed. You have to keep consuming it though, which becomes a problem. Use sparingly.

9. Bubble baths - although I rarely get to indulge, it is a wonderful feeling to use all the hot water in the house for a long hot soak in a bubble bath. A glass of wine is also handy, along with a good book. Curious kitties playing with bubbles on the edge of tub is optional.

10. Sunshine - The feeling of the sun warming my face is like no other.

11. Autumn - yes, I was only supposed to list 10 but I could not leave off my favorite season. I love pumpkins, candy corn, spiced cider, mulled wine, falling leaves, Halloween and fall color!

So what things make YOU happy?

More Happy Week Musings

2009-08-21T08:00:00.002-04:00

I have really enjoyed the posts this week from others and I've also enjoyed the challenge of blogging each day, and keeping it all very positive!

Something happened earlier in the week that blindsided me and would seriously affect not only me, but lots of other people that I care about. I instantly went into flight or fight mode and thought about the actions I would need to take immediately and considered the worst case scenario. About an hour later, I went to lunch. I got into my car and turned on the radio which was set to Oprah radio on XM. The wonderfully gravelly voice of Maya Angelou came on right at that moment. She said that it is always best to stay in the moment. If you think ahead and worry about what is going to happen tomorrow, chances are it might not even happen and you waste your energy on things you can't control. She reminded listeners to Stay in the Moment. That was definitely an "aha" moment for me. I have not heard that spot replayed again, so I think the timing was just for me, to get me back in the moment. And while I am not 100% convinced that the threat that bothered me is gone, I am not quite as concerned about it.

The quote below is especially good because it reminds us that you have to have some rain with the sunshine and a little sadness to really appreciate the happy times. So true!

"There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness."

- Carl Jung

Finally, I leave you with a clever retro video on happiness.

Watch tomorrow for my final post on Happiness Week - My Top 10 List! :)

Happy Week - RAKS & Surprises!

2009-08-20T08:29:00.000-04:00

I love surprises in the mail and I also love surprising my friends and family with handmade gifts. Creativity is such a wonderful gift we can share with others!

Last month I was collecting funds from our team members that are participating in a local craft fair in September. I received a check from Kelly Graves of WhimsyBeading. Included in the envelope with her check and business cards, was this lovely beaded wish bag. I about fell over from excitement! I was familiar with the wish bags from their etsy site but I had not seen one in person and certainly not one with a fleur de lis in my theme colors! I have shown this off to everyone as it's so unique.

I recently participated in a Pay it Forward type project on Facebook. We simply posted that we would make something during the year for the first five people that signed up. They in turn, would agree to do the same for others, to pay it forward. After doing this, Elayne with ChezChani surprised me with this lovely resin pendant of my logo! How cool is that?? I have it on a purple ribbon and wear it with pride. Elayne's logo is a sunflower and she created one for herself to wear at shows. What a great way to promote your brand!

Our etsy team leader, Libby Goldsmith of Maylees Garden knows I am a big lover of floral scents, especially lilac. She was able to get some lilac oil for me and turn it into a roll-on perfume oil. It's wonderful! Not only because I love the scent, but because she surprised me with it.

So use your creative talent to create a special something for a special someone. Or make little mini art items and leave them at public places for people to find. Stick them in library books, leave them at a bus stop, a nursing home, or in a hospital waiting room. You never know how your creative spirit might lift some one's mood and change their day!

Spread the word about Happy Week and keep the happy spirit alive! For other musings about Happy Week, visit CuriousGirl-Lisa. Her blog has a listing of everyone participating this week!

Happy Week - Day 3 - Sarcastic Wednesday

2009-08-19T08:24:00.001-04:00

Here is your chuckle for the day - this being day 3 of Happy Week.

You gotta love Hoops and Yoyo. They really crack me up.

Happy Week - Day 2 - Humor

2009-08-18T07:19:00.001-04:00

To get your daily dose of humor, sign up for a daily email with great LOL catz pictures and captions at icanhascheezburger. You'll be glad you did.

(For those that love goggies, you will want to visit icanhasahotdog).

The kitties are funnier though.

Happy Week - Day 1 - Inspiration

2009-08-17T07:24:00.010-04:00

A fellow blogger, curiousgirl-lisa came up with a cool theme for us to blog about this week. The topic is Happiness.

I think for the most part, happiness is a state of mind. The power of positive thinking is critical. I find that reading quotes helps me keep my focus. I keep ones that I like in a folder and reach for it when I need motivation or to get back on track. One of the best that I can think of (from memory) is the saying that people are only as happy as they make up their mind to be. How true! Each day is what you make it.

Here is a quote from The Dalai Lama -

"The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy."

One must keep working hard to remain positive. Sometimes its easier to fall into negativity, especially when those around us are that way. It does take work to stay optimistic in a negative environment.

One of my favorite motivators is Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy, also known as SARK. If you have not seen her work, you must check it out. I love all the color and artistic elements tied with themes of happiness, creativity, and living a "juicy" life! See if the library has some of her books or sign up for her newsletter on the web. Here is a link to her fan page on Facebook.

Smiles everyone, smiles!

Mad Men - The Making of the Poster

2009-08-15T18:01:00.002-04:00

This is a cool video about how they shot the poster for Season 3, underwater. I am anxiously awaiting Sunday night and the return of Don Draper!

Icing on the Cake Martinis

2009-08-14T07:11:00.000-04:00

I am a big fan of the Food Network and I came home for lunch one day last week and caught part of the Sandra Lee episode on Creative Cakes. She ended the show with a martini that tastes like frosting. This grabbed my attention right away. Since everyone loved the idea of frosting shots at the cupcake shop in Michigan, thought you guys would like to try this as well. I bought all the ingredients on Saturday so John and I could try them.

Here's the recipe courtesy of the Food Network.

Icing on the Cake Martinis

Ingredients:

1 shot spiced rum (recommended: Captain Morgan's)
1/2 shot butterscotch schnapps
1/2 shot vanilla schnapps (I could not find and substituted vanilla vodka)
1 shot half-and-half
Ice
Candy confetti, for garnish

Add all ingredients, except candy confetti, to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of candy confetti. Makes one drink.

Enjoy!! Beware, if you can drink more than one of these, they WILL sneak up on you. One was enough for me. They are very sweet!

Cool Finds at Target

2009-08-12T08:08:00.005-04:00

Here are a few of this week's cool finds at Target...

This t-shirt was found in the men's department. Don't be afraid to look there ladies! This shirt is "so me." It looks artistic and I love trees. Price $12.99. Score!

You can never have too many decorative glass pumpkins. Just ask my husband. He will vouch that I have too many fall decorations. Did I mention fall is my favorite time of year? And at only $4.99 this had to go home with me.

My son was mortified when I spotted the Hello Kitty pencil bag for school and made a bee line towards it. LOL! This was only $2.99. And it really did not bother me that 6 year old girls were buying the same thing. You are never too old for Hello Kitty back to school stuff. I know Hello Kitty fans will back me up on this.

AND
Only two more months for the new Target location to open super close to my house. Exxxxxxxxceeeeeeellent!

Cool Things in Downtown Louisville

2009-08-09T21:05:00.029-04:00

John and I went downtown to run an errand and had to find something to do while waiting on someone. We drove around for about 30-40 minutes and saw lots of cool stuff! Good thing I had my camera!

Here's a picture of the new arena being built. Kinda neat to see how they do the elevated bleacher seating. 448 days till completion!

Cool painted tires on Main Street. Not sure of the story on these, but they caught my eye.

The front of the Science Center. What a colorful fun, building!

I love this bicycle rack that is in front of the Kindred building. So cool!

There were a couple art cars still parked on Main Street from Art Car Weekend. The limo is a marketing tool used by the 21C Museum Hotel.

I took LOTS of pictures of the painted Gallopalooza horses. But that will be a separate post! I will be curious to see which are your favorites.

Francisco's Farm Art Show in Midway, KY

2009-08-06T06:28:00.001-04:00

My friend Bobbi and I went to the Francisco's Farm Art show in Midway, Ky in late June. It was the first time for both of us and we were not disappointed! I loved how the area was lined with cotton tie dye flags as we drove toward the campus.

This festival was voted one of the top art 10 festivals by American Style Magazine, and I can see why. They have received that award for the past three years and when the 2010 awards are published in February, I am sure they'll be there again. This festival seems to be doing everything right. The quality of the art was evident, there was a variety of live music both days, the volunteers were everywhere and there was a great selection of food indoors in the air conditioning, or outdoors if you prefered.

I know I will plan to be there next year and am glad I made the trip to Midway to experience this festival. Here are a few more photos.

These cute dogs had four fans blowing on them to keep cool and had water bottles on the sides of their wagon. I had to stop to take a picture of them! You can see one of those tie dye banners in the background.

I bought these very cool flat fused glass vase. Very unique and whimsical! The artist is Faith Wickey from Austin, TX.

This piece, I love! I call it my "drinking vessel" as it's not really a glass or a cup to me. Everything tastes better when I am drinking from this! I love leaves and nature based art, and this is now one of my very favorite things. The artist is Jonathan Kesler of Earthly Arts Pottery. He is from Marysville, OH. No website on his business card but I can give you his email if you'd like to contact him.

I coveted these earrings for a whole year. I saw them at Summerfair in Cincinnati in 2008 and was intriqued by them because they were so unique. When I spotted them a year later, I immediately recognized them, which says a lot as there were so many jewelry vendors at this show. After waiting a year, I just had to have them! The artists are two sisters from Alabama and their company is Brennans Jewelry.

If you haven't been to this show, you'll have to check it out next June! Midway, Ky is close to Lexington if you plan to make the trip. Beautiful country!

Wordless Wednesday - or how I love my camera

2009-08-05T06:05:00.001-04:00

My Trip to Michigan

2009-08-02T11:08:00.002-04:00

My mom and I recently took a long weekend trip to Michigan to visit my brother and his wife. They live north of Detroit in Troy. They were kind enough to take off from work and entertain us for a few days. We visited two great towns, Birmingham and Northville. Both were great shopping areas with fun galleries, restaurants and boutiques. And these huge hanging baskets of flowers lined the streets in both areas. They were gorgeous!

This is my brother Jeff, in a trendy dog boutique. We don't have dogs but it was a fun shop.

The sky was very pretty that day. I love the detail in this building and the reflection of the clouds in the glass.

This theater is really neat! My sister in law Pam said when it's lit up at night, it looks really cool too.

This cupcake shop was to die for! They had mini cupcakes which were great so you could try several different flavors. We went there twice in 4 days. Good thing I don't live near this place.

Here is a pic of my family at the cupcake shop - my sister in law, my mom and my brother.

Here is the sign showing they had frosting shots that day for 25 cents! Yes, I had one! Basically they piped the icing of your choice into a small cup. Ate it with a spoon. Cream cheese frosting. Yum!

This picture is for my etsy friends. The baby beanies are too cute!!

When in Detroit, I always wanted to see the big Uniroyal tire and see Kid Rock. But I had to settle for the tire. Took this shot in the car as we were driving down the highway toward the airport.

We had so much fun! Next trip, Indianapolis!

A Trip to the Country

2009-07-31T08:54:00.001-04:00

John and I took a drive to the country on Sunday to pick some veggies! One of John's coworkers has a large garden and way too many vegetables for his family to eat!

We are rookies at this and managed to get eaten alive by bugs, but had a good time anyway. We were able to pick green beans, kale, broccoli, squash, cabbage, green peppers, and tomatoes. In hindsight, I should have taken a picture of our gargage refrigerator as it was stuffed with bags of veggies. In about a week or so the cantaloupe and watermelon will be ready and he has a big pumpkin patch started for the fall.

They say it always tastes better picked right out the garden, and I would have to agree. This week we've had fresh corn on the cob, fried green tomatoes, squash and zucchini for dinner. Yum-O!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-29T20:40:00.003-04:00

Trip to the Farmer's Market

2009-07-27T22:16:00.017-04:00

At my friend Mary's suggestion, I met her at the St. Matthews Farmer's Market on Saturday morning. Wow, was I in for a treat! It was the largest farmer's market I've been to and the variety of items offered was amazing. I saw lots of different fruits and veggies that you just don't see at Kroger. It was fun to talk to the growers and ask them questions.

I ended up purchasing some fresh flowers, kettle corn, zucchini bread, yellow and white corn and some peaches. Mary bought her weekly supply of heirloom tomatoes! There were cooking demos, live music and omelets made while you wait. There were Amish rugs, lots of breads, herbs and flowers, honey, granola, gelato, cupcakes, etc.

Everyone knows I am a big fan of buying local and buying handmade. I get a good feeling when I buy from a local farmer, much the same way I love supporting artists on etsy.

If you haven't been to a local Farmer's Market, try to check one out this weekend. Here is their link if you want to learn more about this particular location. Remember to get there early!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-22T20:24:00.006-04:00

Go Bluegrass Team!

2009-07-16T09:07:00.007-04:00

I am so proud of our team! We have had several members in the spotlight recently and I want to brag about them!

Jama Watts of These Precious Things was featured in the 2009-2010 Fire Mountain Gems Best Sellers Catalog. Turn to page 258 if you have one! Way to go Jama. I am in awe of your work!

Our team leader Libby Goldsmith of Maylees Garden has been named as a writer for Handmade News. You can see her bio here. Check out her marketing articles by going to Handmade News, then click marketing and you'll see her name. If you click her name, it will take you to her articles. Libby has a wealth of information to share with us.

And finally, our team member Rachel Taibi of Rayela Art has reached 1,000 sales on etsy after opening her shop only two years ago. Rayela's very popular blog is a great resource for fiber artists. And her recent blog post gives etsy sellers some great tips on how she made it to 1,000 sales! Click here to read more.

Great job team!!

To see more of our Kentucky team's talent, go to etsy.com, then type teambluegrass in the search box.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-15T07:04:00.000-04:00

A Prize from Glory Be Herbals

2009-07-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

I was randomly chosen as the winner of the June giveaway from Jackie Alberti at Glory Be Herbals. Jackie is a member of our Kentucky Bluegrass etsy team. I won a great smelling roll on scented oil that helps with relaxation and sleep! I love the smell of sage and lavender!

Here is Jackie's description:

This is not a perfume oil (but it does smell good) but a therapeutic oil to help you relax and fall asleep. It is in a base of fractionated coconut oil with essential oils of Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Sweet Marjoram, Petitgrain, and Clary Sage. Just apply some at pulse points, especially near the heart before you go to bed. The smell alone is relaxing but when the essential oils are absorbed through your skin and your nose they will work their magic quickly.

Jackie's July giveaway is a sample size body balm in a "Sunny Day" scent and she says her August giveaway will be her biggest yet! Check out her very informative Glory Be Herbals blog and her etsy shop here.

Thanks again Jackie!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-08T06:19:00.000-04:00

July Team Giveaway from Momosbows

2009-07-06T22:31:00.005-04:00

Our giveaway for the steamy hot month of July is brought to us by Stephanie Key of Momosbows. And very appropriately, her giveaway is flip flops!

One pair of Polka Dot Princess Flip Flops (in pink or white) and a matching bow!

Description:
This style of Princess flip flops are available in pink or white. The sides are braided with pink, green, and white ribbon for that special look. Complete with green and pink polka dots and a tiara, this pair is a great gift for:

-Birthdays
-Flower girls
-Birthday favors
-A Pageant Contestant
-Or any day for that special girl

All of my bows are secured with elastic cord and the ends are heat sealed. There are no pokey wires to worry about here! The tiara is nestled between two bows to ensure that it sits up far enough away from little toes. These are new, quality made, Cariris flip-flops (no cheapos) that retail without the bows for $8-$15.
These are available in the following kids' sizes:
11/12
13
1/2
3/4
and Toddler sizes with a backstrap:
7/8
9/10

They are valued at: $18.00 with the matching bow valued at $7.00

How Do I Enter?

Go to our Ky Teambluegrass blog for the details. It's easy to enter and we'll draw a new winner on July 31.

Good luck!

Oh oh oh, the Sweetest Thing

2009-06-28T22:10:00.002-04:00

I just received the cutest little burp cloth you ever saw!! No, it's not for me. Two of my friends are expecting babies this year!

This darling piece was created by Sara Andrus of the Savvy Stitcher. She is a talented Kentucky artist/crafter on our Bluegrass etsy team. Check out Sara's shop! She has other designs for boys too, and some cool fabric wraps for your coffee cup.

The expectant mom card was created by Shauna Rogers of Lemon Drop Studio. Shauna is from Oregon and I met her through twitter, proof that twitter can get you sales! Check out Shauna's shop for cute cards and tags.

Purchases from the Shelbyville Show

2009-06-25T06:30:00.009-04:00

I neglected to post these pics with the ones of the Celebrating Life Through Art Faire. These are some of my purchases from the show. The red clip on fabric flower is created by Jessica Brown of the Pink Needle. I plan to clip this onto my white cardigan sweater. The beautiful nature photo cards were created by Dawn Shroyer of Kentucky in Focus. My favorite is the bird's nest with eggs. The sample sized vegan soaps are handcrafted by Libby Goldsmith of Maylee's Garden. Note: these soaps are addictive!
The lovely pottery bowl was created by a student at Trinity High School in Louisville. The cherry bourbon jam and pepper jelly were made in Turner's Station, KY. And the UK golf towel and strawberry tea towel were embroidered by Brenda Herp of Iris in Bloom. My uncle loved the golf towel!

What a great selection of goodies! I love BUYING HANDMADE!

JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS.
BUY HANDMADE. BUY LOCAL. YOU'LL FEEL GOOD WHEN YOU DO.

To see more fine art and crafts from Kentucky artisans, go to etsy and search for teambluegrass.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-24T11:07:00.005-04:00

Celebrating Life Through Art - Pics from the Show

2009-06-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Here are some photos from the 2nd annual Celebrating Life Through Art event held on June 6 at the Masonic Home in Shelbyville, KY. There were approximately 30 vendors, six of which were Bluegrass etsy team members. And we managed to recruit some new team members while we were there!

The sun was shining, there was a nice crowd, and Donna Williams, the show organizer is delightful to work with! In addition, there was live music, dancers, and wine tasting from Talon Winery. The very best part was getting to socialize with other Bluegrass etsy team members!

Special thanks to Jessica of the Pink Needle for teaching me how to use Picasa to make this cool collage! You should be able to click on the photos to see them on a larger scale.

To view art and crafts from the Kentucky Bluegrass etsy team, search for teambluegrass at etsy!

Women in Art

2009-06-19T06:00:00.003-04:00

This is a wonderful video if you haven't seen it already. See how many you recognize from famous work of art!

If I Had a Million Dollars...

2009-06-18T06:10:00.007-04:00

I'd buy me this house...

I have been admiring it whenever I travel down that particular street. I love the pale yellow color and the upper porch area. There are flower boxes on each side under the windows and white rocking chairs on the porch. I had to drive by three times to get this shot with my camera phone when there was no traffic behind me. LOL! Normally I am a better photographer than this (the lamppost really bugs me) but I was driving at the time. "The pics are for my blog, officer, really!!"

I think it would be much nicer on a larger piece of land and not facing another house, but that's just me. I might like to sit out on that upper level porch in my pjs with a glass of wine. But I bet that would be frowned upon in this neighborhood!

This photo demonstrates that you cannot drive and take a picture of something on the passenger side of your SUV while attempting to be nonchalant with a car behind you.
FAIL!

My son just pointed out that there is no door to walk out onto this lovely upper level porch. What?? Talk about bursting my bubble. I am going to pretend I don't now that now.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-17T06:22:00.002-04:00

Smokin Hot!

2009-06-15T06:54:00.003-04:00

My husband loves to grill and use the smoker. We just gave away a charcoal grill, so we are now down to four, a smoker, an upright smoker, a gas grill and a charcoal grill. I find it interesting that men LOVE to cook outdoors, but put them inside, and they aren't nearly as excited. Must have something to do with being outdoors. Oh, and the beer consumed while cooking. Think that's a factor??

So the hubs is hard at it with a beef brisket. It's his first time with this - his real specialty is ribs, but we are doing those next Sunday for Father's Day. He has carefully prepared the brisket with a dry rub that he put together from a combination of recipes, a basting sauce with Guinness extra stout and has also made a spicy mustard based dipping sauce for later. Oh, did I mention the dipping sauce also contains beer? Yum-O!

Goodwill Hunting

2009-06-14T00:30:00.004-04:00

Here are some treasures found on my lunch hour at the local Goodwill. The picture frame was $4, the glass dragonfly photo holder was $1 and the silver tree was $6. The photo frames on the tree are going to be removed and I plan to paint the tree and the picture frame. The frame will be made into an earring holder.

*************************************
Here is what I did with the old wooden frame. I put strips of ribbon across the back and pulled them taut and stapled them. I then put a piece of mat board behind the frame. I bought the wooden easel at Michael's when they were 40% off. I think this easel ended up being $20.

I removed all the mini photo frames from the silver tree. I used alcohol inks on the tree trunk and base to tone down the silver. I wanted it to be more earthy looking. I had no clue how to use the alcohol inks - I have had them for years and never opened the packages! I was pleased with how this turned out because I knew if I messed it up, I was only out $6. (note to self - wear gloves next time when using alcohol inks - my fingernails were green for 2 days!)

Here is an image from the back side of my booth where you can see the silver/green tree in use! I used the branches to display earrings and bracelets.

I used the glass dragonfly clip photo holder to display a bracelet made with lavender and green lampwork beads. Looked very pretty but I didn't get a picture of it close up!

How fun to make something cool from upcycled junk!

June Giveaway from These Precious Things

2009-06-13T09:18:00.007-04:00

Our team giveaway for the month of June has been created by the very talented Jama Watts of These Precious Things.

"Ear buds" Valued at $20

Earrings feature dangles of small lucite flowers in light pink, hot pink and baby blue with centers in various colors. Threaded on silver-plate headpins, each with a wrapped loop for extra security. Flowers dangle off sterling chain and hand-made sterling earwires. Full length of earrings is 1.75".

Visit our Ky etsy team blog for details on how to enter! (click the box on the right side of the blog for info on the giveaway)

The contest ends on June 30!

Etsy Yart Sale!!

2009-06-07T22:57:00.016-04:00

Q. What is a Yart Sale?
A. An Artistic Slant to a traditional Yard Sale: Yard + Art = YART

I will be participating in the etsy wide Yart Sale sponsored by Team ESST.

Come visit my Creative Eye etsy shop for some very affordable jewelry.
Free shipping is being offered in my shop from June 10-14!

You can search throughout esty for other Yart Sale items while you're there. Just type in "Yart" in the search box.

Check it out! Just don't show up on my driveway at 5 am, okay?

New Jewelry Creations

2009-06-03T07:31:00.004-04:00

Here are a few of my latest creations!

I just created this hematite chip necklace last night with a mother of pearl shell flower pendant. The second necklace features cherry quartz nuggets, sterling silver mirror ball beads and Swarovski crystal bicones. It was a special order for a customer that bought the bracelet and wanted a necklace to match.

My mom has a bracelet that I made with funky black and white striped furnace glass. She wanted a necklace to match, so I gave this to her for Mother's Day. The pendant is Swarovski crystal with a sterling silver bail. Mom wears a lot of black so this necklace will go with lots of outfits. I wish I had one too!

Here are a few pair of earrings. The unakite earrings are earthy in autumn colors. I sold these at my etsy shop pretty quick. The second pair features harmony jasper or peace jade with Swarovski crystal. Finally there are some pink and green dotted earrings with lampwork beads and a green and white dotted version. Fun for spring or summer! Saving the best for last is my latest creation with one of my favorite stones, rhyolite accented with olive Swarovski crystal!

Your Blog Makes Us Smile Award

2009-06-01T06:56:00.000-04:00

Andrea with Andrea's Paper Boutique presented me with this blog award. Please check out Andrea's blog here. Her whimsical shop has some wonderful art with really great designs. I just love the pretty faces and the text Andrea incorporates in her art.

Here are the rules for the blog award: pass on to eight blogs, who can then choose eight more. Choose blogs that are charming, happy, whimsical. These are the kind of bloggers who aim to find and become friends. They are blogs that make us smile!

Here are 8 blogs that I enjoy following. I hope you will enjoy them too!

Aurora's Garden

PurrPrints

The Pink Needle

Expressions by Devin

The Savvy Stitcher

3 Magpies

Kellibeans

Spool of Plenty

A Birthday Surprise

2009-05-30T22:58:00.006-04:00

I took a day off from work for my birthday recently. I decided to spend the afternoon with my mom, having lunch, shopping, whatever we felt like doing.

Mom and I went to a great place for lunch called the Butterfly Garden which has a location inside Dolfingers (also one on Bardstown Road). If you get a chance to eat there, the food is really great. As we looked around the store while waiting for our table, I picked up an etched dragonfly glass that was really cool. I was saving my money for Frankfort Avenue shopping so I didn't buy it. Several days later we met my parents for dinner and mom presented me with a beautifully packaged gift, which confused me as she had already given me my birthday gift. Inside the beautiful box was a set of four of the etched dragonfly glasses. I stuck the ribbon inside so you can see the etching more clearly.

What a great surprise! To think my mom went back to get these was so special.
I love these!

Here is a cool Gallapalooza horse we saw when we were shopping on Frankfort Avenue. I love spotting these horses all over town. Someday I'd like to make one myself.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-27T18:27:00.009-04:00

Flowering Tea

2009-05-25T18:13:00.009-04:00

My friend and coworker Cathy, gave me this great gift for Christmas. And since I am a little busy these days, it has taken me awhile to play with this great gift. (hangs head)

How cool is this? The tea is compressed into a little ball and it blooms in hot water. There are several different versions included in the set that she gave me. Can't wait to play with the others.

This is so much better than the Sea Monkeys I had as a kid!

The flavor is green jasmine tea. Ahhh!

WHAT is your Quest?

2009-05-20T07:07:00.008-04:00

Remember when you were a kid and you would sneak things into the grocery basket when mom wasn't looking? Because you knew she wouldn't buy them. Hold that thought.

My husband and I are big Monty Python fans. He joined me on a grocery trip to Kroger recently. And when I wasn't looking, guess what showed up in my cart?

We haven't tried them yet but I think they must be consumed when watching the Holy Grail for the 100th time!

Lovin the Lilacs - Courtesy of Concord Soap Co.

2009-05-14T07:58:00.003-04:00

The smell of lilacs is one of my favorite parts of spring, second would be peonies. When I was single, I had a house with a large lilac tree in the backyard. It was wonderful as I could cut as many branches as I wanted to make the house smell good. I could replace them in my vase each day and take them to work, and never run out. Since I moved, we planted a small lilac bush in our new backyard. It's not very tall, the flowers are small and I hate to cut anything from it since it's so tiny. On my route to and from work, I can tell you everyone that has a lilac blooming in their yard. I have been scoping them out and am tempted to put some snippers in my car. Surely they wouldn't mind! Actually I am guilty of doing that in a business park area where there were lilacs a few years ago. Unfortunately, the city decided to repave the road and the lilacs were in the way of progress. One day I drove by and the whole green island in the middle of the two lanes was dug up. My lilacs were dug up and in a heap of dirt and debris. It was a sad day.

Since it will be years before my small lilac does much of anything, I have resorted to other means. I have found a great etsy shop that is able to provide me with my lilac fix. Check out Concord Soap Company located in Concord, Ohio. Melissa makes some great products. I purchased the lilac soap, the lilac sachet and the lilac lotion stick. If you have not tried lotion bars or sticks, you really need to. They are great to rub on your elbows, knuckles, feet, knees, etc. And the scent is just wonderful. I found Melissa on twitter and signed up for her mailing list for specials. She sent me a sample of an almond amaretto body butter and I can't wait to try it too. Check out her etsy shop!

I'm Like a Bird - Our May Team Giveaway

2009-05-12T06:42:00.001-04:00

Perfect for spring and summer days! Check out this Bluegrass etsy team giveaway for the month of May, valued at $25.

I'm Like a Bird - take me in flight or just to the market. This mini pouch, makeup bag or wallet is so filled with charm. Cotton inside and out with hand embroidered edging, and a handmade adornment with embroidery, ribbon, felted wool, shells, and beading for extra personality. The closure is a magnetic snap.

Created by Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave. Check out her etsy shop for more colorful purses!

To enter the drawing, visit our BEST team blog for the details. Good luck!!

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T08:30:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to Everyone!

Hope all the moms out there are being treated like a Queen today.

We are going to a Mother's Day brunch, then celebrating my dad's birthday afterward, followed by a visit to my mother-in-law. A very busy day!

Each year I put together some potted flowers for my mom for her front porch. These colors look great with the color of her brick and are bright enough to show up as you are driving down the road. The second picture is of more flowers that I need to plant around our house, along with some lovely purple colored sage.

Happy Mother's Day to you!

Goodies from Rings and Things Show

2009-05-08T07:03:00.000-04:00

Ah, I love a bead show. Especially one that is about 2 miles from my office that I can go to on my lunch hour. I had to power shop to find these beauties!

It's the first time I've been to a Rings and Things event. I must say it was well organized and I did not have to wait in a long line to check out either. I was worried about getting back to work on time, but I made it!

I absolutely love all these goodies, but I think the most unique find was the round brown dyed mother of pearl beads. Aren't those cool?

RAK from Lori Anderson Designs

2009-05-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

Perhaps you've seen the RAK lists on blogger or at Facebook. Creative types have been posting that they will make something for five people. All you have to do in return it post it to your blog or Facebook and return the favor for five people. So much fun! I posted mine on Facebook last month. We used to do this on some rubberstamping groups I was on years ago and I really enjoyed it.

So here is the first RAK I've received and it is from Lori Anderson Designs. Lori is a talented jewelry designer. She sent me some wonderful beads and I can't wait to make something with them. I especially love the red and black beads that look carved. Too cool! I thought a great way to use these beads is to create my RAK with them. Pay it forward!

A Great Gift from Wilmoth Farms

2009-05-04T06:12:00.007-04:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Rachel from Wilmoth Farms at our Ky etsy team meeting at the end of April. Imagine my surprise when she presented me with this wonderful gift basket!

Check out Rachel's etsy shop to see her latest creations. Besides soap, she also creates body butter, lip balm, lotion bars, bath salts, etc. I love reading her descriptions and she goes into a lot of detail about the ingredients in her products.

Thank you Rachel. I can't wait to try out these goodies. Right now I am hooked on the lotion bar!!

Derby Hat Decorating

2009-05-01T18:55:00.012-04:00

This is the hat I bought last year for Derby week. We typically go to the Kentucky Oaks race which is the day before Derby Day. I liked it because it has an off kilter asymetrical feel to it. I wear a lot of black typically, so I am likely to have something to go with a basic black hat. The flowers are in the front and the back is plain. Last year I wore black and lime green so I added a lime green grosgrain ribbon and it looked fine. So here is the hat without the ribbon.

Here are my grossly overpriced feathers from a local store. I loved the ribbon with the flowers and thought it would look good with the top I picked out.

Here is the final product with some feathers that I love. They move with the breeze and are pretty cool. While we were at the track yesterday I liked all the hats that had these type of feathers in them. It was windy and I like the movement they create.

Have a great Derby Day everyone!

Derby - KY Oaks Day Glasses

2009-04-28T07:45:00.002-04:00

I am a big fan of the Oaks Day glasses. (Oaks Day is the race the day before Derby for those unfamiliar with the Louisville tradition) I love lilies and the glasses are normally in pretty feminine colors. Here are a few examples. Last year's art was really beautiful.

Imagine my surprise this year to see that glass is like a stemless Riedel wine glass. How cool is that? Now I can have wine in my studio and not worry about knocking over the glass!

We have a winner!

New Pretties from the Bead Show

2009-04-26T11:10:00.002-04:00

I went to a bead show in Louisville over Easter weekend. Here are some of the pretties I picked up. Can't wait to start working with these new beads! I especially love the triangle beads. They are black with small dots of blue - so unique. The sterling silver turtles are too cute. I only found two of those. My favorite is the inlay shell pendants. They are lovely! One is round, the other is fan shaped.

See something you would like turned into a pair or earrings or a bracelet or necklace? Let me know!

Cute Find at Target

2009-04-25T17:43:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year. I can't hide my legs in jeans anymore and the toes must be summer-ized. Found these very cute flipflops at Target this week. I love paisley and I like tie dye too. And both were on sale. Score!

I Love Your Art Blog Award

2009-04-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

Tracy Topps from MinisOnTheEdge has presented me with the I Love Your Art Blog award. Thank you so much for presenting me with the Award!

Now I have to list seven likes or loves in no particular order (not including family and friends, because they already know they are #1):

1) Sirius satellite radio - not sure I could give this up
2) my new art room - my husband rocks for helping me achieve this dream!
3) collecting fleur de lis items
4) photography - I love taking pictures and feel bad when I don't have the camera with me and miss some great photo op
5) my kitties - they provide me with much joy & unconditional love
6) pizza and chocolate - my favorite foods
7) spring flowers - lilac, hyacinth and peonies are favorites

There are so many wonderful blogs out there that it's hard to choose. But here are a few of my favorites.(Opening sealed envelope)

The I Love Your Art blog award winners are...

1. ChezChani - Check out her wonderful beaded jewelry, she is very talented! I don't think I'd have the patience for the intricate work that she does!

2. Paper*Cakes - Has the cutest blog ever with cupcakes and pink things. Her cards are wonderful.

3. S&T Creations - Teri is another very talented jewelry artist with unique designs that make a statement!

4. WhimsyByMari - great earrings with beautiful lampwork beads and a great photographer too!

5. Purr Prints - Becca's swirly and colorful designs are wonderful. If you are a cat lover, check out her blog.

6. Dented Halo - Carmen is a whiz at Beadweaving and her work amazes me. Check out her rings.

7. Maylees Garden - Libby's soaps are the best I've tried. Loaded with shea butter to keep your skin from drying out. And the scents are so yummy. She is also a great seamstress.

A Prize from Miss Lilith Jewelry!

2009-04-13T20:08:00.005-04:00

Shortly after we came back from our Spring Break mini-vacation, I received this lovely surprise in the mail!

A fellow jewelry artist and blogger, Miss Lilith, had a contest on her blog recently. She asked people to offer advice on packaging items for sales on esty or just packaging items in gift boxes. Lots of great comments were left on her blog. I was surprised to learn that she picked my packaging as the winner of her contest.

Here is the lovely necklace that she sent to me. Please check out the ribbons and cute packaging she has designed. I love the crystal accent added to the flower. Here is a link to her shop at etsy, which also features lots of great pearl clip earrings. Clip earrings are so hard to find and I am always looking for them for my mom and my mother in law. Please take a look!

Sending out a big thanks to Miss Lilith for the contest and the wonderful necklace!

Packaging & Branding on Etsy

2009-04-10T19:22:00.010-04:00

One of the things we learned in our marketing classes in college was to create a brand relevant to our product and then consistently use that brand. They called this “integrated marketing” – where you have a consistent image with all forms of advertising. While this is more important when you are selling soft drinks and food products, it is also important when you are selling your art/craft related items.

Here are some images of the packaging materials I use in my jewelry sales. The starting point for me was my business card. I collect fleur de lis items and wanted to use that as an art element. I felt the purple and green colors were complementary. I communicated the design that I had in mind and the cards were laid out by a friend. The fleur de lis does not tie me to any particular design or style. It could suggest a European or French style or it could just give the appearance of style in general.

I use the same logo from my business card as my avatar when using online social marketing services such as twitter, blogger, etsy, etc. When I set up at craft shows, I also have a sign with the same logo and color scheme. To prove that this “integrated marketing” works, I had someone recognize my logo first, then look up to greet me! She commented that she recognized my logo from our online communications and made the connection.

Using similar styled packaging materials helps to convey my “brand” even more. I use green and purple tissue with simple kraft tote bags. I stamped a fleur de lis image on the bags in sepia colored ink and used the same design on my kraft boxes. I tie the ribbon with green or purple ribbon, attach a business card, and it’s complete! I printed out small stickers that match my business card in case I wrap something in tissue and want to put a sticker on it. I also use inexpensive organza bags in the same color scheme.

While I won’t go so far to say that it’s “all in the packaging” I do believe that first impressions are very important. As an example, when I first considered online art/craft sales, I made a couple purchases myself to see how the process worked. One item was a one of a kind polymer clay bracelet. I was very excited to get this piece in the mail. I opened the envelope to find it was inside a clear plastic bag that seemed “used” and the packaging materials were a little dirty. Surely this handcrafted piece deserved more than to be tossed in a bag and shipped! I liked the bracelet but was disappointed in the presentation. My expectations did not match my first impression.

From this, and similar experiences, I have learned that packaging and customer service are so important! Make the buyer feel like they made the right decision to buy from you. Thank them, confirm their order, let them know when you have shipped, etc. Then thank them again. All of this is part of the big picture and is so important. It could be the difference in a one-time sale, versus a repeat customer or a customer that provides referrals.

If you have similar experiences in packaging and conveying your brand, and would like to share, I would love to hear from you. The best way to learn is from each other and from experience!

What a Deal

2009-04-05T13:20:00.000-04:00

How cute are these shorts? They say "Art Dept" and even have paint spots on them around the logo. And the tie is made of grosgrain ribbon.

When I saw these shorts (or PJ bottoms?) at Victoria's Secret, I just had to have them. They are not really my size, but I do a good job of shrinking clothes. Just ask my family.

They were $32.50 originally, marked down to $15.50 and I had a VS coupon for $10 off.

Score!! Cute art shorts for only $5.50. I am so easy to please!

April Bluegrass Team Giveaway!

2009-04-04T14:00:00.000-04:00

This month's Bluegrass team giveaway comes to us from Sara at The Savvy Stitcher.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle!

Attention coffee lovers: Help save the planet by using this cute fabric coffee cozy every time you get your to-go coffee!

This fabric coffee cozy will keep your hands cool while drinking your favorite hot beverage.

Each cozy is approximately 3 inches (7.62 cm) wide and will fit most to-go coffee cups. The elastic band keeps it snug and secure around your coffee cup, while allowing it to be adjustable to fit different cup sizes. (Pictured on a 16 oz cup)

Fun, designer fabric is used outside, and I have lined the center with cotton batting for extra comfort and thickness! A fun and funky button is used on each of the adjustable cozies to keep them closed. The others simply slip on the bottom of the cup, but still fit most coffee cups.

Rolls up nicely to keep in your purse or car!

Fully washable. Lay flat to dry.

*See my shop for more choices of color and pattern!*

To enter the April drawing, please visit our Ky Bluegrass team blog!

Wild Kingdom in Our Backyard

2009-04-02T13:21:00.025-04:00

If you refer back to my post from January 23, you can read about the large koi that go missing from our pond each winter. We tried to figure out what was eating them and having such an expensive meal, at our expense! There are so many possible culprits and we never saw anything around the pond. It seems that all the activity happens at night or when we are not watching!

We borrowed a motion sensor camera (that hunters use) from a friend and mounted it to a tree near the pond. Then each morning we would review the pictures to see what happened during the night, or during the day while we were at work.

We captured images of many interesting critters, from doves, blue jays, a neighbor's cat at 4 am, a rabbit, squirrels, a couple hawks and finally a raccoon. While a hawk could be a predator, we figured it would not dive into the water. So we are thinking that the raccoon is our man. Plus, the fur on his belly was wet so we know he was wading in the pond.

On March 27, he walked into the live trap that contained fish flavored cat food. Did we actually trap the same raccoon we saw on the camera on March 21? Who knows! There may be a family. We will be setting the trap again to see what happens. We are hoping that we don't catch a skunk by accident. They've been seen in our backyard too!

In the meantime, we hauled our pal Rocky Raccoon to a rural area about 45 minutes from home. Hopefully he will like his new country environment a lot better than our suburban neighborhood! And as for the pond, we will be buying some cheap goldfish this year and will pass on the expensive koi for awhile.

Hooray for Spring!

2009-03-24T19:15:00.012-04:00

Spring has finally arrived! It was in the 70's here in Louisville and the sun was shining today. I love it!

I especially love moving all the heavy bulky sweaters out of my closet. They take up way too much room and I love packing them away in big Rubbermaid tubs. Off to the attic! That's one of my favorite things about the change to warm weather - getting out my spring and summer clothes.

I also love all the spring blooming flowers, like pansies, daffodils and hyacinth. Best of all is when the lilac blooms! I had a huge lilac bush at my old house and it is one of the things I miss the most. The Bradford pears are in bloom all around us. Unfortunately we lost two from our back yard as a result of the ice storm. The good news is that we are having three new trees planted tomorrow. I can't wait to see how they look.

Here is a birthday card I made for our niece Courtney who just turned 13 this month. She loves the color pink and absolutely loves cupcakes.
I had not made a card in quite awhile and it was fun picking out some spring paper and embellishments. I bought some of the paper stacks in citrus colors and bought some fruit and flower stickers in those same colors. I can't wait to make more cards!

Latest Design Challenge

2009-03-20T08:16:00.010-04:00

A friend from college asked me to create a necklace for her mom with beads that her mom had already purchased. They just wanted me to design the piece using only the beads they purchased and then string it. She brought me a bag filled with chocolate brown and white jasper. There were three different styles of beads: round, flat asymmetrical, and larger faceted chunks.

This was a fun project for me as it's not what I would normally create. Again, sometimes we get into a rut of designing the same/similar styles, or things that ~we~ like because that's what we know! And there is nothing wrong with that. But I love when I get a design challenge as it gives me the opportunity to grow as an artist and try something new.

The best part is when I was finished, I was told that the necklace was exactly what she had in mind. Mission accomplished!

March Team Giveaway - Bluegrass Etsy Team

2009-03-14T10:22:00.001-04:00

Its time for another Bluegrass Etsy Team Giveaway!

This month's giveaway comes to us from Rachel Blanton of Wilmoth Farms. The value of this wonderful soap set is $29. Here's what you can win:

"Very Sexy" woman's soap (Victoria's Secret type)
"Masculine Musk" men's soap
"Oatmeal Milk & Honey" soap
"Soapy Clean" guest size soap
"Very Sexy" 2 ounce Body Butter
"Strawberry" Lip Balm 2 ounce
And thrown in for fun - a natural loofah sponge!

Rachel's ultra-nourishing soap combines Goat Milk and Honey in a base of wonderfully moisturizing saponified oils, unrefined Shea and Cocoa butters, that will nourish your skin from head to toe. Honey is a natural humectant, which draws moisture to the skin, and Goat Milk is a natural skin moisturizer and is great for sloughing away dead skin cells. With all natural ingredients, her soaps are hypoallergenic and mild enough for the softest, most sensitive skin.

All of the Wilmoth Farms soaps are handmade with 100% pure and natural goat milk soap, and lots of love!

Want to get entered in this contest? All you have to do is visit our BEST Kentucky Bluegrass etsy team blog for the details. We ask you to visit Rachel's shop and return back to the team blog post and leave a comment. The winner will be chosen at random from the comments left at the team blog.

Be sure to visit Wilmoth Farms etsy shop to see all this and more!!

Ta Da!! Check it Out!

2009-03-10T06:27:00.003-04:00

Bam!
How's this for a blast of brightness?? How could you be sleepy or bored with these colors to keep you alert?

This is still a work in progress, but I am pleased to show you these pictures. I finally have a place to create again, after waiting for the past couple months! It's seemed like a lifetime. I should share with you that I am pretty organized and anal about some things, so it really bugged me that my stuff was scattered throughout the basement and I didn't know where anything was for about 8 weeks.

This weekend my husband shared with me the alarming news that all art related items *must* fit inside this room. That was after I planned to leave my big tub with wheels that I use at craft shows outside the door, among other things. So if it all must fit, then I must get rid of some of the art supplies I've been hoarding half my life. I am not sure why I had a big bag of turquoise blue and red scraps of suede, but they have to go. And I know I probably don't "need" 25 cigar boxes, but hey, each one is unique and a different shape. Those get to stay. I threw out a laminator from Big Lots that did not work when I bought it. Moving it across town when we bought this house and storing it for 5 more years did not make it work any better. Out it goes! See, I can do this. It's just hard because some day I might need it. While hubs was working on the room, he discovered my two big boxes of shells and rocks which I moved from my previous house. They were not marked "shells and rocks" which is why they were undiscovered for five years in the storage space below the steps. (I am blonde, but not dumb). I think I will now have to downsize my collection.

So here are some pics after I have tried to reorganize. The brown table is my jewelry work space and the laminated table is for paper arts and other crafts I may become infatuated with in the future. (I want to learn felting and I really need to make those soldered glass slide necklaces). I like that the outlets are all at table level.

At some point down the road, we'll finish the other two walls (maybe in lime green & or pink to complete the "citrus" look). We'll wait for now as we need access to the pipes in case we add a bathroom. And we'll put down hardwood flooring and a drop ceiling someday. But for now, I have what I need to get working!

What do you think? Want to come over and create something with me? If you do, you have to promise to take some rocks and shells with you when you leave.

Delayed Gratification - Polymer Clay Pendant

2009-03-08T17:56:00.009-04:00

Last year I went to Kentucky Crafted, which is a show of Kentucky artists and craftsmen. It also includes food growers and producers. It's a great event and one that I look forward to each year. So last year I spotted a very talented polymer clay artist named Sonya Linder with Whimsicality and made it a point to remember to go back to her booth. And I forgot...and told myself that since I had her card, I would just buy from her website. When I checked the website, the pendants I liked were not online.

So I waited a whole year for Kentucky Crafted 2009 to roll around! And this time I did not procrastinate! My friend Bobbi noticed I was having trouble deciding and I had narrowed it down to three pendants. She urged me to buy two, since I had waited so long. (I can't shop with her as she enables me!) But it was sound advice. So I bought these two pendants which I dearly love. I have worn both already, and have received lots of compliments on them. And my friend Bobbi also went back to buy one for herself before we left the show.

I am happy to report that Sonya has some of the pendants at her online store. If you want to see more of Sonya's jewelry, check out her etsy shop.

Studio Update

2009-03-03T22:08:00.002-05:00

Here's the latest work on the studio. John is making great progress! The two walls shown are primed and ready to paint. Didn't he do an outstanding job on the drywall?

My color choices seemed good at the time. I love the citrus combination of yellow/pink/orange/coral/lime. We bought mini cans of the coral-red and a bright but dark orange. Applied to the wall and it was way too dark for a room in the basement without windows. Ack! Back to the drawing board. Good thing we bought small cans.

I have seen so many paint chips from Lowes that my head is swimming.

Here we go! The gallons of paint are purchased. My two choices are taped to the wall and painting begins. One is an orange with a lot of yellow and the other is a really bright yellow. The lady at Lowes was shocked at how much tint went into the can and said "now that's yellow!" I hope I like the end result!! Too late to turn back now...

More to come. You may need to be wearin' shades.