Bad Blogger!

OK, I haven't been keeping up with this as much as I should!! I just have been in a creative funk lately......and my husband just left for a month overseas so I'm a little bummed out!

He has our camera so I am shopping for a newer, nicer one to use for my shops. I have some new barrettes and bobbies made and I can't post them without taking some pictures!! Kristin from Burnt Meadow Beads and I went out on a camera hunt yesterday, but the two we liked best for the price were out of stock! Just my luck! If I ever get out of my PJs today I will go to my local Best Buy and hope they are in stock there...or maybe I will just stay in my PJs all day and shop online!

I got some new vintage parts yesterday...more earrings to come soon! Hoping to get the creative juices flowing again!

What's new?

Hey Blogland! It's been a while and I'm sorry I haven't been around. I haven't been feeling too great, there has been a cold running around and also a nasty stomach virus everyone has been getting and I think I got a little of each. Yuck! I feel a lot better now, though.

I was also absent for a few days because of a mini-vacation to Florida! I flew with Matt and some guys from his squadron down to Jacksonville last week...it was a short but eventful trip. I got to see my darling friend Andrew for the first time since 2002! We went to high school together, and he was my first high school crush, even after I discovered he was gay and would never be interested in little teenaged me =) He's such a sweetheart.

Hugging outside my hotel =) Andrew lives in Daytona now, so he drove up to visit me and Matt. Hooray!

Here's another couple pics, me and Matt on the plane (A C-130 Hercules) and me fake-flying as "Co-Pilot"


What's new in the Etsy World? Well I'm currently making some new bobbies and barrettes for BunnyBaubles, and I just finished up some sweet new earrings for Bunny Beads. I used almost all vintage metals, they're really cool and elegant. Love!


Matt leaves for Japan next week, the day after our anniversary. We celebrate two years of wedded bliss on Mardi Gras...a triple-good excuse for a party night, I think! I'll be sad to see him leave and at the same time I can't wait for next Tuesday! Yikes!

Until next time...

Yikes!

Well I won't be around much this week! I'm making a last-minute trip to Jacksonville, FL, our future home! We are moving in August and we're trying to get there any chance we can to check out the area and find housing that's not terrible. We'll be in the last of about five or six shifts of folks moving down there this year as NAS Brunswick closes and relocates to Jax...so I feel like we are at a disadvantage for finding a home! Yikes!!

And one more YIKES! We just found out I can go about an hour ago...so I gotta pack! I gotta shave my legs! And I gotta RUN cuz we're leaving in less than twelve hours!!

See you Friday! <3

Jackdog

I posted a little while back about my dog's new favorite place: the daybed. That's Jack up there, watching the neighbors walking to their homes, cars, wherever. He's completely entertained by it, and I'm like wise entertained by him.

Jack also likes to play Wii games with us. Well, mainly he likes to try to get the remote from us and mess up our scores. Such a sweet pup =)


Check out Kaholly's blog, where she shows off my Beach Barrette! Everyone up here is so tired of being COLD! Think Spring!

Off to play some Wii Billiards =) I'm not very good, but I blame it on Jack =)

Fresh start

Well, I just finished reorganizing one-third of my crafting and Etsy things. Wahoo! The desk in the office is now 100% clean and clutter-free! This is my "shipping center," so to speak. Tissue, bubble wrap, mailers, boxes, tape, business cards, gift bags and gift boxes (my cool handmade ones from AngiesOthers!), pens, pencils, markers...yikes! It's now also home to all my finished pieces, from all shops...bobby pins and barrettes, earrings, necklaces, bracelets. All the wine charms and stoppers are here, too, stored in wine glasses =)

Everything's nice and tidy, within reach, and not buried under a pile of beads, fibers, and empty baggies. Yay!
Now, how long is it gonna stay this way?? ;)


Now that I have space to THINK, I have three things for y'all to check out!

1. Check out my pal Angie's blog, where BunnyBeads gets a nod: http://sudsnsuch.blogspot.com/

2. Check out ShanaLogic.com, where my Orange Creamsicle Bobbies have been redubbed Tangerine Dream =) 10% of proceeds from the sales of Shana's Fashion Fundraiser go to the ASPCA! I'm glad to have my product in that group!!

3. Check out my shop BunnyBaubles, where I have posted the coolest and craziest barrette and some rockin' guitar pick bobbies. So fun! (They sold!! Good thing I can make more, so I just relisted them! YAY!)

How do I love Etsy? Let me count the ways...A Valentine Gift Guide.

I absolutely love Etsy. I can sell my jewelry and hair accessories there, meet new friends there, buy some of the best items I have ever bought there...and it's time to pay tribute to the makers of those fabulous items. Need a great last-minute Valentine's Day gift? Well check out these shops for some great buys...They've got the Bunny Stamp of Awesome!

First and foremost I have to show some love to Peggy of ThreeBridgesSewingCo and Treasure Scents. I have bought more from her than anyone else, and she makes some spectacular things...I bought my adorable Berry Pleased To Meet You business card holder from her and have gotten so many compliments. Originally made in brown, I asked Peggy if she could make a pink one for me and she did...within a DAY. It is awesome! Kristin also ordered one, a custom-design with polka-dots to match her business cards. How cute?
Peggy is truly wonderful with her designs and custom creations. Her creativity is through the roof, her talent is exceptional, and her work is prize-worthy. On top of all that, Peggy is like a mother hen to us Maine Teamers on Etsy...always helpful, always sweet, always ready to lend a hand...she even sent me a secret family recipe! Shh! Don't tell... =)
My pick for a great Valentine's Gift? One of her pink heart-shaped lavender sachets:


I have one of this design, she also offers others!


Second on my list is the afore-mentioned Kristin, of BurntMeadowBeads. I am a jewelry seller so technically my darling friend Kristin would be competition...but there is just no matching her creativity, quality, and flair! Check out her adorable Fairy Flower line in her shop! Bracelets, earrings, pins...and really sweet magnet sets. Kristin definitely has an eye for color and fun!
My Valentine suggestion? A Fairy Flower Pin:


This beauty is called "Love Grows," and it's easily put on a chain to be worn as a pendant as well as a brooch! Perfect and pretty!


Moving along, here's to the real sweets! You all must know that I am a chocoholic, and I'm not ashamed of it! I recently ordered some chocolates from Denise's shop LittleSnowflakes for my husband's Valentine's gift...I hope they last til Valentine's Day! just looking through Denise's shop makes my mouth water...cookies, candies, fudge...PUMPKIN fudge at that! I need to taste all of these! Denise sent out some freebies to me, as a thank you with my order, and I cannot stop raving aboout these goodies! Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles...these have got to be the best invention ever! The three over-stuffed truffles I got were gone in a blink, and let me tell you that I have a cavity in one tooth that has been killing me but NOTHING could stop me from devouring all three! I want to rip open the chocolates I bought for Matt and have a taste now!
Order yours by February 6th to ensure delivery in time for Valentine's Day! And if you're a cookie-dough lover like me, let me suggest the delicious truffles:


Don't forget Denise's delectable choco-peanut butter hearts, too! Too cute to pass up for Valentine's day!


Do you also know that I am a soap-lover? Angie, who makes my gift boxes for my jewelry, also makes soaps. her two shops are Suds N Such and Angie's Others. Her soaps are fantastic. There's a selection of wonderful-to-smell bars and wonderful-for-your-skin bars and everything in-between! I have started using her facial bars, tomato at night and cucumber in the morning...my skin is definitely improved! Much less dry, much clearer, much better! The best cure for winter-dry skin? Her Calendula bars. Now, I started calling my sister Carolyn, AKA Cal, "Calendula" several years ago, and kind of bought the Calendula Bar of soap as a gag for her this Christmas. But when I got the sample from Angie, I was blown away. This bar does wonders for the skin! I went back for more, getting soaps for my friends and cousins. My cousin Caitlin and I love singing The Pina Colada Song, so what better than Pina Colada soap??
Well, what should you buy your Valentine? Pucker up and buy some of these sweet strawberry-scented "soap pops":

Check out her creative Soaps-To-Go, too! Angie's got a sale going on until Monday the 9th, so buy 'em up quick!


Now, what to get for the arteeeeest in your life? Check out Jamie Ribisi-Braley's shop for some great artwork and encaustic paints! I wish I had painting talent, then I would buy some paints for myself! Alas, I lack the ability to do much more than doodle stick figures.
Jamie's got a series she is working on, Ghosts of the Past. Here's one. She uses Civil War photos from the National Archives, layers wax and pigment over the images, and creates beautiful and haunting pieces. Got a Civil War buff who's also into art? Check 'em out! These are even more wonderful in person. I wonder if I could commission her to do a Civil War/Steelers painting for my Uncle Dan? hmmm...
My pick from her shop for your Valentine? This gorgeous painting:


I recently stayed with Jamie and her husband and her twin sister, Joy, at their soon-to-be artist's retreat B&B in Manchester, Maine. That painting hung over the bed I slept in and it was a pleasant sight to see upon waking up! On a budget? Check out the art necklace in Jamie's shop, featuring this painting.



Whew! That's a long post, so I'll stop for now! With Valentine's Day coming up I've just gotta show the love!

Busybunny

Just another quick post...

Last week I mentioned that I sold a bunch of bobby pins to ShanaLogic.com...



There they are! I shipped them off today, but not before taking a few photos...BOBBY PIN ARMY!! They'll attack you and fill you full of cute!


My office will forever smell like glue =) I love these guys, they are adorable. Kind of like Shana Logic! Where else can I find a bunch of cupcake and bunny items? (OK, Etsy...but a lot of Etsians are on her site too!)


BunnyBaubles now has all the bobbies and other assorted hair goodies brought over from BunnyBeads! I bought up some new cabs today so look for new bobbies and some barrettes soon (like tomorrow!)

America's Next Top Hand Model

What did I accomplish at the Etsy Maine Team's Sweetland Retreat sleepover? Some new photos at BunnyBaubles and some hand modeling. Yup!

Check out my hands here: Helping Hands Pottery. Kim's new diorama rings are a collaboration of Kim's clay sculpture and Jenn of Quench Metal Works' silver rings, photographed by Joy of Constant Galore and RibsMalone, and modeled by me! =)

Lots of fun had by all! Hopefully get some photos up here soon =)