Always Be ready to Try Something New!

Ok, here is what is happening...I had a lady contact me and she asked me to do a special custom order. I love custom orders, and I am not afraid to give something new a try or take a go at it.

What sort of startled me about the request is that she wants me to use real human hair...she is a seller of little hair pieces for such purposes. So, she sent me some samples to use and to try.

Have I done it yet? No....but being one to at least give it a try, I will. Not sure how using real hair and getting it to stay on a little wooden clothespin head is going to work out, but hey, if you don't try you will never find out....

So, stay tuned to this saga and maybe I will let you all know how it worked out....I at least will give it a chance just to see! If you try something new, you are always learning in some way!

You Need a New Purse!

What woman doesn't need a new purse?

Now, I am not talking about the kind that you see in run of the mill type stores. Everyone and their mother has one like those! No, you want to stand out, you want color with fabulous style. You want a purse that will get second looks and be oohed and aahed over when you go out.


You need to check the beautifully hand made purses from Multiple Pursenalities When you see just a few of the gorgeous fabric designs that are used in making these, you will want to buy more than one, too!

Look at the colors and the pattern in this one! Made from Amy Butler fabric, the quality is obvious and unlike what you would get in any store by far.







And take a look at this one.... Now I ask you, where will you find a such a roomy purse with the cutest owl fabric you've ever seen? Think of how you will be envied with a design like this one! I would be willing to bet you will get more compliments with these purses than any others that you have had!




If you are going to buy a purse, then get one you will be proud to show off! And with the holidays coming, you are sure to please a few ladies on your Christmas list with one of these hand sewn and designed , roomy purses made by Monika at Multiple Pursenalities. Take this link and see what all she has to offer!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5267159

Colors in the Sky

My husband and I were out on the porch one evening after a storm had passed through.This sky was what we saw, and it was so strange in color and formation that I urged him to go get a camera and take a picture before it disappeared . It was evening ,yet we were facing south and it almost looked as if the sun had set and was behind the clouds. Very strange yet beautiful!

Now, I know this has not a lot to do with arts and creating in some minds, but to me- well, it sort of did. You can find inspiration in the oddest of things... the colors of the sky , patterns in a piece of wood, a tiny flower, the curling on a baby's fingers around yours, the list goes on and on. The biggest reminder to me was that the simplest things can bring the biggest inspiration and make you realize that beauty really is found all around us if we look for it!

Treats From Autumn!

Who doesn't like the autumn season? If you live where I do, autumn means leaves changing colors, a bit of nip in the air, and eating things like hot soup, cider, and sweets like spice doughnuts and candy corn!


Speaking of candy corn, don't you just love that cute little candy? I don't mean just the taste, but it's appearance, the bright colored stripes that look cheery and make fall seem a little special.

I found some cute little items when browsing Etsy today and I just had to tell you about them!





These sweet little guys can be made from a pattern that you can order from Homemade Zen .
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15514076


If you like candy corn but can't afford the calories, this is the way to do it! They stand a mere 2 inches tall and the pattern makes 3 of them. Can't crochet? Then learn how or get the pattern for someone who does!


Another candy corn item I discovered was this absolutely scrumptious looking, candy coated gourmet apple by Double Dipped Sweets :


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15515175

It's a delicious , fresh, Granny Smith apple coated in colored white chocolate...and they will even add candy corn pieces in the coating if you want! Just think of how good it would taste... why not start off the fall season with a tasty treat?


The perfect fall accessory to your autumn wardrobe is this candy corn bangle resin bracelet by
CherriesRockMy Socks :


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15326868

You aren't going to find a bracelet this cute just anywhere! It has the candy corn right inside and think of all the outfits that it would go with!


Finally, I found some candy corn crocheted coasters designed at Crafty Cupboard:


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15326868

These would be just what you need to sit those cups of hot apple cider on and herald the coming of the fall season! These are wonderfully priced at only 4 dollars for the set so get some while they are available!


There are lots of fun fall items available at these Etsy shops and more, so make sure you take a little bit of time and do some fall shopping. And while you are browsing, eat some candy corn to get in the mood!

Looking for Something Different for Christmas?

• 
  Are you looking for something a little different this year for Christmas giving? I have a shop that you should take a look at...Designs by Kim.
  

This lovely little shop has all kinds of wonderful goodies that stand out because they are hand beaded. Kim has been doing bead work for over 18 years now, and her creations reflect the skill that she has obtained through all the years of practice and learning of technique.

The tiny little amphibians you see in the picture are as cute as they can be, and at an extremely reasonable price! But, they are only a small sample of the intricate work that Kim can do.

She has a wide assortment of beaded jewelry, handbags, little critters, bookmarks, and lots more , and the designs and beadwork really make them special! I think you could find something great for a lot of people on your list, so make sure you visit this shop and have a look around!

Just follow this link!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5821737

Finished at Last!

Whew! I finally did it...I worked all week on it and just finished my Wizard of Oz Dream Set.

I have just about all the main characters in it....I decided to add a munchkin in there because that was a big reason I found the Wizard of Oz to be so cute!

I love challenging myself, and although I have bombed a time or two in my challenges, (such as making good chicken and dumplings,) I usually conquer what I set out to do. Now I have to think of another one!

( I love getting commissions for that very reason, the challenge!)

Wizard of Oz, Coming Soon!

(Ok, this blogging is admittedly hard for me to keep up with, but if I do think of it, I post something!)

I was sitting at my work table and pondering my brain for inspiration when a thought occured to me...I should attempt a Wizard of Oz set! I had toyed with the idea before, but put it off because I felt it was going to be too hard.

I was sort of right on that, but I decided to challenge myself because that is how we expand our horizons, right? So, I have begun the project after a lot of thinking, and I have to admit that it is going along better than I thought! I have lots of ideas, and it is a work in progress. I can't wait to post it in my shop, but I have a few more characters to add to it

Stay tuned, you never know when I will get it done!

The Smell of Falling Rain

I woke up this morning to the sound of pouring rain, and it was REALLY pouring! It came down so fast and basically it fell all day long, so the field behind our home was filled very quickly with water. It looked for awhile like we had a big lake behind the house!

I tried to walk the dog during a lull...that was a mistake! It started raining and the wind picked up- I am sure the people in our small town of Illinois were most likely snickering at the ridiculous picture I made of trying to get a big dog to walk faster so I wouldn't get too wet. (It didn't work, by the way...)

Anyway, days like this are nice for doing something in a dry house. There's something cozy and soothing when I sit by our large picture window designing another creation for my shop while listening to the sound of the rain hitting the glass panes and watching it fall. (If the wind isn't blowing, I like to raise the windows and smell the rain, too! )

It makes you realize in those moments how sometimes the simplest pleasures can really bring you the most enjoyment. What are some of your favorite simple pleasures?

Add Some Color and Soothing Comfort to Your Life !

Take a look around your house with a critical eye...now, could your decor use some spicing up?

I am not one for outlandish, bright colors on the walls and bizarre looking statues that make you stand there and guess what they are, but I do appreciate bright and colorful splashes of color mixed in with calming neutral shades. That is why I love the hand made pillows from the Homegrownpillows shop at Etsy.


The fabric colors are perfect for adding that just right bit of oomph needed to brighten a room without overpowering it. If you have been to the stores lately, it is really hard to find unique pillows that stand out , not to mention the fact that their quality is not so good for the price you have to pay.


HomeGrownPillows makes the most gorgeous pillows that I have seen in a long time.
And knowing that they are hand made from specialty fabric makes them really stand out. You just can't beat a handcrafted item for quality and uniqueness!


This lovely shop also has a wide array of products that just about anyone could use, including flaxseed and herb filled soother packs that are perfect for being used as heating packs or ice packs. The shop owner and creator of HomeGrownPillows has specialized for years in the use of herbs and other natural materials to be used in products for healing purposes, so you can select an item that not only is attractive, but functional and very useful. And with the holidays coming up, you are bound to find something for someone on your shopping list!

Visit at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5562706

Staying on Task

Ok, I admit it, I have a hard time staying on task for a long period of time until it's done. So, I am sometimes actually surprised when I finish an art project. ...

I don't know why I am like this...but haven't you ever been working on something that needs to be done, and done well, and suddenly in the middle of it you think..."I am tired of this, I want to quit and do something else.."? Ok, so I am perhaps the only one, (smile) but I doubt it!

What to do? My cure is to walk away from something I have been working on and am getting tired of , and just go do whatever calls me...a book I haven't touched for a few days, eating a cupcake that has been calling out to me (fitness gurus would tsk me on that one!), laundry that is mocking me every time I walk by it, and sometimes just going outside and sitting on the steps-soaking the sunshine. Or, my favorite, going out and getting a few new and exciting supplies to jumpstart my creative juices! Oh yeah, I also get on my bike and peddle madly throughout the town until I start feeling I have burned off the calories from the chocolate cupcake I succumbed to!

Whenever that happens, and to all of us it does, have a list of things that you can do that will get you away from the work table, (or whatever it is you are disillusioned with), so you can energize yourself and be all the better for the dry spell that you run into. Don't drive yourself to do artwork when your heart isn't in it, you just won't do your best. I guess the same could be said for a lot of other things too, but I do add that sometimes you can't walk away from just anything..(There is something to be said for stick-to-itiveness).

Now, I am running a dry spell with my blog today, better go do something else........

A Must Visit For Austen Fans

I really enjoy the Regency time period. The clothing worn, the language used, the novels written during that time period...ah, so much fun!

That is why I really enjoy Jane Austen's writings, they conjure up all kinds of thoughts and images in my mind. I love it when I find some one who shares the enjoyment of Jane's engaging novels, and that is why I am delighted to discover Austentations.

Austentions is a newly opened shop that features items that will please any Jane Austen follower! This shop features lovely notecards that feature witty quotes from Jane herself, and novel items such as a handmade reticule that really does look like what any of Jane's characters or herself would have carried. Austentations also features prettily made boxes that have tops that can be custom made in colors of your choosing, and they are covered in snippets of Jane Austen's most famous novels! How great is that?

I recommend giving this shop a visit,, it is sure to please an Austen fan! Visit Austentations at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5993103

Whimsical Fine Art Paintings by RozArt

Look carefully at this beautiful painting I saw on RozArt at Etsy...it caught my attention the very first time I spotted it.

Why? I think, several reasons. ..The first was the subject matter. I love just about any kind of farm animal and this is a wonderful painting of a magnificent rooster. The colors used are perfect and the textured paint is really unique . Roz has been using this special technique of painting for over 20 years, and I really admire not only the way she captures the whimsy of farm animals, but the out of the ordinary way she paints to immortalize them.

(Not only does she paint animals though, but this wonderful artist also does landscape paintings, people, and more.) If you want to see some beautiful paintings that really stand out , then you must come see the shop of this very talented artist. No quick browsing at this shop, you'll want to pore over all the colors and details in each wonderful piece she's created!

Visit her at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5503919&order=&section_id=&page=5

You Gotta Have This!

Take a look at this absolutely gorgeous bracelet designed by Holly at Bijoux d' Odalisque:



Doesn't it make you drool? I know I did! The combination of light aqua, pale lavender and creamy gemstones is so eye catching, it's just a beautiful blend of colors. I could just see it being the perfect accessory to an outfit where you want people to notice when you walk in the door!

Most of us think jewelry this elegant would be only for those rare occasions out when you dress to the nines...not so, according to Holly, the designer at Bijoux d'Odalisque.She says that you should dress up in your jewelry even on a trip to the grocery store! That sounds like fun to me!
So, never put yourself in a box, style wise. If you want to wear high heels to the grocery store, then do it! Hey, if you have to do something routine, why not spice it up? And if you love beautiful jewelry, (which most of us do) , then wear it when you feel like it.!

A final word:

You just have to visit Holly's jewelry shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5133492

You won't believe all the colors of beautiful gemstones she uses in her one of a kind pieces-But I warn you, you will need a kleenex while viewing because I promise you that you WILL drool!

No Calorie Dessert

Browsing Etsy is a fun way to pass the time, you wouldn't believe how many interesting shops there are!

Which leads me to introducing one of my finds- See the yummy cake above?

Would you believe it is a necklace pendant? Neither could I! You can see more at this link below:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_20&listing_id=13810620

This is one of many wonderful items from CuteAbility, a shop on Etsy that features the most realistic food pendants I have ever seen, and more!

The items look so real that it makes your mouth water doesn't it? I just think the detail work is amazing, and what a perfect gift for someone who loves jewelry that is really different! Make sure you check out all this shop has to offer!

Take a Peek!

View my page on LolliShops Guild

Fall is Coming!

Can you believe it? Fall is not far off. I can't believe how fast the summer has gone either....

Our family of 6 had to move last year to Illinois due to a job change. I have to confess, it has been a little hard for me to make the change. Why? Well, without giving away my age, (ha, ha)

I lived in Indiana all of my life. That is where all the trees were, my other family, members, my friends, and we lived in a suburb area where there was every kind of shop and other things within easy, fast driving distance.

Now we live in a very small town, it has two small restaurants, a small , small grocery store, and a small post office the size of my walk in closet, give or take a few feet. The nearest bigger city is a good 20 minutes away, and we live in an upcoming neighborhood that is surrounded on almost all sides by corn and fields. Very different for me, I do say. I am trying to like it, but secretly I pine for living where there are a few trees in the yard, a hill or two, however small....and some bigger stores nearby that don't take forever to drive to. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that we have it as good as we do, but boy, do I hate change sometimes!

I guess that is why in the evenings when things are quiet, I settle to do my art work. It passes the time in a good way. I enjoy handling the fabrics, putting together an idea, and seeing it take shape. I have some ideas on the back burner, but would welcome some more on my ever growing list. Feel free to mention your ideas if you like!