My Latest Designs

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

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!