Its Been A Long Time!

Its been a very long time since I've blogged! I just, well I gave up on it for awhile. No one really noticed me here. I tried visiting other bloggers, but only one two would politely visit in return. I decided I don't really have what it takes to be a blogger. But now I'm rethinking that. Maybe I'm not one of those fancy bloggers, or "out there" bloggers. But I think I might be able to hold my own and say what I want to say here. If anyone listens to me fine. If not, fine.

So what do I see from the sidecar? I'll have to start looking harder and share it with you.

Until next time!

Wendy

I want to take a moment in my blogging to tell you that I'm a member of the ONE Campaign. You have probably heard of it. Many famous people from all walks of life are members and from different sides of the political aisle. Its mission is to stamp out Global Poverty and AIDS which is a major cause of poverty. I was asked today to sign a petition as part of the ONE Campaign and I agreed with it and signed it. Here is part of that email request:

Only two questions about global poverty have been asked in the history of modern presidential debates, going back to Kennedy-Nixon in 1960. That’s less than 1% of all questions asked.
To change that shockingly low figure, ONE is launching a new campaign to get “Just ONE Question” about the fight against global poverty asked at the 2008 presidential debates.
The first debate at the University of Mississippi at Oxford, Mississippi, will focus on foreign policy and is only 10 days away. Take action now by sending the message below to debate moderator Jim Lehrer.

At the presidential debate, please ask John McCain and Barack Obama just ONE question about their plans to fight global poverty.

If you would like to learn more and add your name to the petition to Jim Lerher, go here:
http://www.one.org/debates/?rc=debatestaf

Getting on to another subject, I am currently taking stock of my beads and other materials. I'm starting to work on some Christmas projects, both for selling and for gifts. I have to keep reminding myself not to get too many projects going. If I do, I will just get too overwhelmed and then nothing gets done!!

Currently, I'm making a set of mother-daughter necklaces with Santa Claus beads as the focal point. I'm going to contribute them, as a set, to my church's craft fair in November. I'm also making Hang-Its, for my shop and for the church craft fair. They are fairly easy to make in that I can make on in about an hour. I just finished a very beautiful necklace that is just right for the holidays, but is great all year. It has dark cherry red, glass beads with a slight aurora borealis finish to them. I paired these with round gold beads with largish link chain in between each grouping of beads. As soon as I get pictures, I'll post them here. I just don't know whether or not to sell it in my shop or donate it to church!

That's what's going on here in my little corner of the world! I hope your corner is busy and fulfilled!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wendy

Of blogs, beading and anniversaries!

I've been out visiting some of the blogs I have listed below. There are so many more that I wish I could list. I do add to the list when I find one that is really special. I enjoy reading what other bloggers have to say. Some are very eloquent and other very down to earth. Its very different as you go from one to another. I think that's why I enjoy it so much!

I've been doing a lot of beading lately, but most of it is going to be donated to my church's craft fair for the Women's Group table. I would love to have my own table, but there just isn't enough hours in a day for me to bead that much. Besides, I'm working on some Christmas presents too!!

Hubby and I finally have plans in place for our 39th wedding anniversary in October. We are driving to Montana, just outside Glacier National Park. We will be staying at a very comfortable inn, The Izak Walton Inn. It has no phones, no tv, and it sits back from the road in the woods. Last time we were there we had bear sitings! Not that we don't have them here in Colorado, just not as many as close by. We are going to go for long walks, do some geocaching, visit the Park again and just be together without interruption! Wow! I wish we could leave now!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wendy

Doing a bit of catching-up!

I don't know where the time goes! I think I'll blog every day, but the days fly by. Hubby and I did get to Mt. Evans and Echo Lake. We had a wonderful time. The weather was beautiful for it. We set out to find 4 geocaches and found all 4 of them. Then we spent the night in Central City and did a little gambling. We won some and lost some and in the end we broke even. All-in-all it was a nice get away.

I've been making quite a bit of jewelry recently too. I haven't put much on my Etsy.com shop, though. I'm saving some of it for the craft fair at church that is scheduled for November 8th. I'd like to take a table, but I really don't think I'll have enough items. I'll probably just donate my pieces to the women's craft table. That's what I did last year.

On a brighter note, I have sold a few pieces recently. Mostly my smaller, less expensive items. I'm just glad to be getting noticed a bit. I do wish someone would take notice of my more expensive pieces. I work hard on them and I have improved so much. Most people who see my work "in person" like it and buy it. I'm still struggling with the pictures, but those are improving also.

I joined another etsy group the other day, Christian Artists Street Team. I've introduced myself on the team forum thread twice. It seems hard to get yourself "heard" there. I think I'm going to have to try to introduce myself on their regular message board. Maybe its less hectic on that board.

I really like the socializing on etsy overall. For me, its another way to meet people, though its not quite the same as being with them. I like the people and my Lupus keeps me somewhat home bound or at least limited in my socializing. Most of the people I've met on etsy are very friendly and helpful. Its a bit like taking a walk in a neighborhood.

Thanks for stopping by my neighborhood!

Wendy

Blogs, Etsy.com, My Shop Sale, Geocaching

Today I've been visiting other blogs that are written by my fellow etsy.com shop owners. There are a lot of them out there!! Someone posted a thread in the etsy forums about being new to blogging and sharing blog sites. Since I don't get a whole lot of traffic, I thought it might be a good idea to share my site and look at some of the other's sites. It would be impossible to look at ALL of the ones that got listed, but I did look at quite a few. I added some of them to my list here and I added two new shops to my list of Favorite Etsy Shops. I hope you will check out both my blog list and my Etsy Shop list.

The blogs I have chosen are all different, though many are related to etsy.com shop owners, they offer insights into business, crafts, personal thoughts, etc. Also, not all of the blogs are from etsy.com shop owners so you might find other interesting things to read about.

The shops I have chosen for my favorites list include those I have bought from and those I have not. They include etsy.com shop owners who have been helpful, unusually friendly and kind, carry a product that I find interesting or unique or are a shop that I have bought from and find to be a dependable owner with a quality product.

Currently I am having an END OF AUGUST SALE!!! All items that are on sale are listed in my sale section with their sale price. Original prices are listed within the description area. The sale ENDS at MIDNIGHT August 31, 2008. At that time the prices will return to their original amounts. SO DON'T WAIT!! HURRY IN!!

On an all together different subject, tomorrow hubby and I are heading out for a drive to the mountains. I think we will head up Mt. Evans and maybe picnic at Echo Lake before or after our trip up depending on what time we get started. NO, we are not hiking. My Lupus prevents too much strenuous activity at this time. We will be driving all the way to the top of the big Fourteener. For those who don't know, Mt. Evans rises to 14,000 feet and is one of several peaks that do in Colorado, which are known as the Fourteeners. Echo Lake is near the entrance road to the top and a picturesque place for walking, hiking and picnicking. We plan to do some geocaching on our way there. I have checked the geocaching.com site yet to see what is in the Mt. Evans/Echo Lake area yet, but there is sure to be something. We are looking forward to a nice quiet and peaceful day together!

Don't forget to check out the sale in my shop!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wendy

Sale In My Shop, Family News, Shout Out

Friday, my daughter turned 23 years old! When did that happen? Her husband of one year decided to throw her a birthday party because last year her birthday was kind of a "dud". His family never really celebrates birthdays and ours makes a big thing out of them. Her birthday fell right after their wedding and honeymoon. Even after being around us for a couple of years before they married, I guess he just didn't realize how important it was to her. This year he went all out! Only he turned it into a kids party with everything in a pink princess theme, napkins, streamers, tablecloth, paper plates, cups, etc. He couldn't surprise her completely, but he did surprise her with the decorations and he managed to get her best friend there. They haven't seen each other in six months due to work and college schedules. Any men reading this, he made such a hit with her, I can't even put it in words. She was so happy that he took the time and caring to put together a fun and funny birthday for her. It meant a lot to her.

As for my shop, I'm having an END OF AUGUST SALE! It Ends Midnight August 31, 2008! All Items in the Sale Will Return To Their Original Prices!! I currently have 11 items On Sale, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and sets. All are 20% off or more!!!!!! Don't Miss Out!!!!!

!!!!! SHOUT OUT !!!!!

for Goshen Girl

I haven't done a SHOUT OUT for awhile. I'd like to do a SHOUT OUT for a great etsy.com seller, Goshen Girl! She is a seller of handmade jewelry, lanyard badge holders, scrunchies, vintage items and she also carries hand tied flies by Cory. Her shop is at http://www.goshengirl.etsy.com/ What I really like about Goshen Girl outside of her shop, which is terrific, is her generosity to her fellow etsians. Goshen Girl started and runs a Promotion Thread on etsy that is a BNR (Buy and Replace) that is very active and friendly. I believe it stays active and friendly because she herself set the tone for it. Along with the BNR thread, she trys to acquire Treasury Slots to promote those who are on the thread! Goshen Girl is active, friendly and has a great shop! Why not check it out?

Thanks for Stopping By!

Wendy

Relaxing Making My Jewelry

My company is gone and I've had time to rest. I picked up my trays of beads and started making jewelry again. It feels good too! I find that it can be very relaxing once I have a design set. I love the creating process of the design too, but its not as relaxing as actually making the piece.

Choosing the colors, choosing the types of beads is very satisfying and allows my creativity to really escape and run away. I often make jewelry that is bolder or brighter than I might wear myself. I think that in creating I am letting a bit of the "real me" out. Its the bolder, less conservative me that I haven't always allowed out. That's what is so great about art and I do consider jewelry making art, you can let yourself really go with what's inside you. The design process really wakes me up.



On the other hand, once the design is laid out, I relax. I feel somehow released and I just sit back in a way as I put the pieces of my design together. My mother, who paints, calls it putting my sketch to canvass. Its somewhat true. I make little adjustments as I put my design together and find I don't like it as much once strung together. My mother makes adjustments to her painting as she finds the painting doesn't come together quite like the sketch. I don't duplicate many of my jewelry pieces, so most are unique and one of a kind. I seem to have developed a kind of style, though I do think I'm still growing. Here's one of the latest additions to my etsy.com shop:

This necklace is make with Black Diamond Swarovski Crystals, Jet Swarovski Crystal Rondells, 14k gold plated beads and chain. It just seemed to come alive as I handmade it. I hope someone will find an elegant event to wear it to!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wendy