Told you...

That she'd love the box more than any other gift she got! She's too stinkin' cute! I got a new camera for Christmas and it has some fun features, so I gave her wings and a crown. She's a Fairy Princess!

Christmas is going to be soooo much fun this year...

because of this cutie petutie! I can't believe my niece is 6 months already...and she's just too darned cute. She's sitting up on her own now and she has so many more milestones ahead of her, I can't wait. She'll have so many gifts this year but I'm sure she's going to be more interested in the wrapping paper and the boxes than anything else. I remember how my kids could care less about the gifts, they just wanted the boxes...LOL It's amazing how fast they grow!

Tough Day

It's been a tough day...I'm not sure if it's exhaustion catching up to me or what. I'm just feeling a little down, so I thought that I'd come here hoping that writing it, typing it (whatever you would like to call it) might help clear my head a bit. I haven't been sleeping well at all, I've been averaging about 3-4 hours a night and that's just not cutting it. On the brighter side, I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. I mostly just have stocking stuffers left....yay! One of the gifts I got my mom is a digital picture frame. I've downloaded mostly pictures of the grandkids, but I've also added pics of the rest of the family. I hope she likes it!! Well the longer I sit here, the more tired I'm feeling so I think I'm going to go drink some chamomille and sit down with a good book and snuggle with Raven, I think that just might do the trick.

It's definately that time of year....

when everything is hectic and life is moving at mach speed! I'm enjoying this holiday season, even though I'm starting to feel a little run down but Christmas is right around the corner. I still need to make a list of everything that I've bought and all the things I still need to buy...eeek!

Here's a bracelet that I've listed this week. I used Charoite, Amethyst, purple Kiwi Jasper and sterling silver. I haven't had alot of time to make new pieces, I've been working on orders for my co-workers which has kept me away from my computer and my Etsy store *sigh*

Speaking of which, I've got to go make more snowman pendants for my co-workers, hopefully I'll have more time soon to pay attention to my blog, create and list some new pieces on Etsy, but until then I'll try to post something every other day.

A little something...

for my co-workers! I'm making these little snowman charms/pendants and a fun Holiday Bag of Magic. These turned out to be the cutest little things. I used Swarovski Crystals and sterling silver to make these little guys. I do wish I could've found some red crystal rondelles, but the green will do!

Another bracelet!

This is my newest bracelet, a simple yet eye pleasing design. It makes a great gift for someone with an August birthday, or for those of us who love the color green. To make this bracelet I used Peridot gemstones, green Pearls and Sterling Silver. Green represents wealth and abundance, Periodot helps to release "old baggage", burdens, guilt or obsessions. Pearls represent honesty, purity, wisdom and integrity.

December's Featured Etsy Artist

As some of you may remember, I have decided to do a monthly feature on a fellow Etsian. This month I have picked Recycledideas. I met the owner of this lovely and interesting shop while in the Etsy forums. I loved her store so much I wanted to feature her and she kindly agreed.



Gorilla, in the photo to your right, is my favorite item among many in her store. She's a bona fide ape made from a new pair of white tube socks. Her nose, ears and the tips of her limbs are made from some scrap madras print fabric. She's stuffed with fiberfill fuzz. Such sweetness for an affordable price of $28.00.

1) What type of products do you offer?

I offer two broad type - handmade paper and primates. I make handmade paper out of junk mail, newspaper advertising inserts, and whatever else I have hanging around that might make an interesting texture. Lately I've been adding lavender. It makes the paper smell like it too; I get a lot of mileage out of that. Even though we humans are largely visual creatures, scent remains a vital sense.

2) You obviously have a great love for primates, when or how did your interest in primates start?

That is a great question that I am often asked, and depending on how revealing I'm feeling and who is asking, I give different answers. He he. To students and professional researchers I tell them about a great book I was given before I went to graduate school: Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language by Robin Dunbar. He's a psychologist and primatologist. The book inspired my dissertation research. But really, between you and me, it was this stuffed gorilla my husband-to-be had sitting on his shelf when we first met during college. The gorilla is still with us, and although he blogs, he prefers to remain unknown outside of his primate troop.

3) Your handmade paper products are wonderful what motivated you to start making them?

When I couldn't find a job after I graduated from college I spent time reading (about primates) and learning French so that I could study them one day in the wild in francophone Africa. While studying, I often kept the TV on for stimulation (I can't function if it's too quiet!) and saw a QVC advert for a paper making kit. I had no money, but the idea of making paper grabbed me, so with the help of my soon-to-be-husband I made my own kit. I still use it today.

4) How did you get started in this business and what brought you to Etsy?

My husband! He received a press release from the Etsy company where he works.

5) What inspires you?

I am continually inspired by other artists and scientists. Nothing I do was my original idea. Not even my "original" dissertation research was conceived in isolation. That's why I call myself Recycled Ideas. I get inspiration from others, incubate my ideas, and then hatch my own take on them.

6) What do you enjoy most about crafting?

I love that my small hands can create something beautiful and desirable out of what is essentially garbage. Even my new line of felt monkey ornaments (called OrnaMonkeys) were once plastic bottles.

7) Finally what advice do you have for someone just starting their own Etsy shop?

Be passionate about what you make. Strive for quality craftsmanship. Photograph your items to show them in the best way possible. Write informative product descriptions. Set a price that is fair for you and your customer. Don't list all of your items at once. Participate in the forums. Market outside of etsy. And, stay positive and professional.

Another one of my favorites offered by Recycledideas. This is the Fall Foliage Sampler (2 Hearts and more), Embossed Organic Leaf Cards (set of 4) for $8.00

Look what I got today...

My dad gave me these rock specimans today! The top one is petrified wood and the bottom one is Amethyst. It's so awesome to have a dad that used to be a rock hound. I have so many great specimans including a Cathedral Rose Quartz, Garnet, Blue Chalcedony, Jade, Azurite, Carnelian, Chrysoprase, Cinnabar, Citrine, Iron Pyrite, Jasper, Mahogany Obsidian, Rhyolite, Desert Rose Selenite, Tektite, and too many types of Agates to list along with a few other specimans that I'm sure that I've forgotten. All of these are cut but in raw form. He has so many more, but he's slowly giving them to me :D I love surrounding my house with all of these lovely treasures. One of these days I'll have to take a picture of each one.

I Love My Danes!

I just wanted to share a few pictures of my danes. In an earlier post I put a picture of Raven, now it's time for Kula. Here she's all sprawled out on the couch. Though she's a year old, she still has such a puppy face and is so child like. I couldn't figure out why I've never had to clip her nails until I saw her chewing on them, she's just like my kids. She is so sweet though.

Here's a picture of Luna and Kula. Kula gets along with all of the cats...she just likes to chase them but she doesn't nip at them like Raven does. In this pic Luna is sneaking up on Kula.

Here's a picture of Raven and Kula together, they love to chase the light from a Laser Pointer. They are like cats in so many ways....and when they see the pointer come out....it's on and the house is rumbling like we're having a major earthquake. The cats scatter. I don't blame them a bit, it hurts me to get stepped on by these two. But I so love these majestic animals!