Treasured Tuesdays

I am so, so, SO sorry for the absence these last few days - I've not been feeling well, and I've been very busy, partly with a wonderful surprise that came from my friend Jen, from Epic Farms and WYSIWIGS on Etsy:
Ohhh! Let's see what it is, shall we?Woooo it is so pretty! I hardly want to wreck the paper (and look at the cute thank you tag!!), but I have a feeling this is only the beginning of the goodies to come!! Arwen, please help me open it :)Now that she has made sure everything is safe for me......Let's take out all of these goodies!!! First are the beautiful tags that Jen made me to order; the pink booklet tags, 2-sided Egg tags (with a rhinestone on one side - how cute is that??) and the 2 layer damask tags. She can make similar tags for you - great for gift-giving, thank you's and SO much more! These are going to be thank-you's for when people purchase from my store:
Next is the wonderful print of her horse, Shadow, with his security blanket (we've all felt like this before!), printed on paper made from stone:She also included some of her business cards for me to pass out to help support her newly 501(c) Charitable approved farm (FINALLY!):....But wait! What's all this???

Ohhh! a wonderful stamped horse card (available soon from her Epic Farms Store), a card with her folding origami on the front, and some garden-themed die cuts (available soon from her WYSIWIGS Store)!

AND one of her famous bookmarks (available from her Epic Farms Store), a handmade cross, and a beautiful horse charm, just like the one on her other horse bookmark (available from her Epic Farms Store)!!

Well, as usual, Jen has outdone herself and I am still grinning from ear-to-ear 4 days after getting the package! Please do visit her shops on Etsy and see even more beautiful items, where the proceeds go to her horse rescue farm (and did I mention Epic Farms is 501(c) approved?) You know it's a great place!

Thankful Thursday - Rethinking Genius

Click on the picture to go to the TED2009 Video of Elizabeth Gilbert. Also, the video is embedded at the bottom of this blog permanently and you can see it there :)

This video has seriously rocked my world. For so long I have been the stressed out, depressive artist that she is describing that it might take a bit to change my mindset, but with her advice, I can see the light....I can see that art can be fun and successful and inspirational....anyway, I can't describe it properly, if you have the time I HIGHLY recommend this video to anyone involved in creating anything (ok, so everyone should watch it!).
Tune in tomorrow for a (spoiler alert!) contest!!

Wordless Wedensday - New Treasury!

Tuesday's Treasures - An Hilarious Video That Anyone Will Love

Ok, this is the funniest video with cats that I have seen in a VERY long time. Maybe it's because I'm a nerd, maybe it's because I am a cat person, despite not having a cat anymore, but in any event it is FUNNY! Please click on the picture to go to the YouTube video - You'll be glad you did!

Spring-Like Sunday....Another Treasury!

I managed to snag another treasury last night and really wanted to share it with you! I featured items from sellers on my Etsy teams: EFA, CASTTEAM and Capital Crafters. Please check it out and be sure to comment and click on the items to see more from these fantastic sellers!

Sweet Saturday - Beads That Make You Go Awwww!

~Bunkee~

~Easter Monkee~

I have posted about my good friend Louise, from Fireseed, here before, but she keeps inventing new and exciting (and CUTE!) beads so I suppose I will keep having to feature her until she stops :)
Her newest beads are an addition to her line of famous Monkee Beads, sold on her Etsy Store and her ArtFire Store; the newest additions are Easter Monkees and, most ingenious, Bunkees - Monkees dressed and Easter Bunnies! I saw them and almost fell off my chair...I don't know how she does it, but her work keeps getting better and better and I wish her many monkees new and happy homes :)
All of her work is digitally annealed so that they are very durable, and all are hand cleaned for a professional, smooth finish. These beads have a hole running horizontally through the back of their head, so it will be easy to string on a simple cord, or incorporated into a more elaborate project.
I have worked with her beads on many occasions and I have always been amazed at the quality and attention to detail in each bead, no matter how small. Each of her stores are different, so I do hope you'll visit Louise in each of her different shops and see all of the beautiful goodies she has to offer.

Fabulous Friday - I'm Featured on the EFA Blog!

What a Fabulous Friday! I am currently featured on the EFA blog! Please go and visit the blog to read more about yours truly and read more about EFA :)

Thankful Thursday - I Got an Award!

I woke this morning to find that Mishkat had given me a Lemonade Blog Award!!

Here is the text of the award:

The Lemonade Award is given to sites which the giver show either great attitude and or gratitude.
The rules for these awards are:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate 10 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

Thank you so very much!! I'm going to have to give this award to a few people whose blogs make getting up in the wee hours of the morning very enjoyable - they are a joy to read and I always look forward to their updates:
Fireseed
Circling My Head
The Fantail
Gypsy Mare Studios
BeadedTail
FriendsFurEver
An Explorer's View of Life
TheLetteredCottage

Thank you again Mishkat, and I hope to continue to earn this award every day in the future as well :)

Wednesday With a Few Words - I Got A Treasury!

Check it out by clicking on the image above to see these artists up close!

A Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here's a Gaelic Blessing for you on this fine St. Patrick's Day:

I arise today
Through a mighty strength:
God's power to guide me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's eyes to watch over me;
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to give me speech,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to shelter me,
God's host to secure me.

first millenium - Bridgid of Gael

Have a happy, safe and healthy St. Patrick's Day!

Monday Madness - Pardon the Interruption....

Sorry for being absent today...I had a doctor's appointment as I believe one of the screws in my left knee is coming loose...so much fun! So I'll be off to have x-rays this week and we'll see from there...I hope to be back full force tomorrow!

Soulful Sunday - Feels Like Spring!

~One of the Streams Crossing Our Road~

~Another, Wider Stream I Call It a River, (But I'm Pretty Sure It's Not)~~

~The View From the Top of the Hill On Our Road - I LOVE This Land!~

Hallelujah, Spring is almost here! It was a 'balmy' 10 degrees Celsius today (that is 50F for my Imperial friends) and Brennan took me on a quick 4-wheeler ride up our road to see the thawing taking place. The Canada geese had arrived back home after their stay down south for the winter and I really wanted to make sure that there was a place for them! Needless to say, the streams and river near us are thawing (or starting to) and the vantage point from the top of the road shows that most of the snow is gone from the fields! And although I am a little concerned about one point of the road possibly washing away - the culverts are much more noticeable by a few feet on each side - the fact that the snow and ice are melting are great signs of spring and summer coming soon - Woo hoo!

Sweet Saturday - A Bookmark for the Horse Lover!

As an avid reader and confessed horse fanatic, I think this is just about the best gift I can get, aside from books! This is a handmade bookmark from my friend Jen at Epic Farms - made with heavy paper and a jute tie, this stamp is done with indelible ink so that you can leave it black and white, or color it to match your favorite horses! AND it is a steal at under $3. I know I'm going to be getting a few for myself - after all, you can never have enough bookmarks :)

Thankful Thursday...Err Friday!

A great big Thank You! to all the great ladies who came out to my latest jewelry-making class, "Wire, Wire, Wire!". We made earrings like these, a bracelet and a necklace using beads we hand wrapped in silver wire. It was a great success and I hope to see everyone next month!

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday - Oh I Have Spring Fever!!!

~Yellow Crocus, Red Trillium, Purple Crocus~

~One of My Young Robins, Yellow Daffodil~

Oh I am in BIG need of spring - we've had warm weather interspersed with cold, snowy weather and I want spring to stop teasing me and get here already! I miss my flowers, I miss my big, fat bumble bees, my dragon flies, my butterflies and walking on my deck in the sunshine in bare feet and not freezing! I have such big plans (well, okay, maybe mediocre plans, as my budget will only allow mediocre spending!) and I really want to get out there and get my hands dirty with wonderful country dirt. I love that smell - fresh earth just after a good spring thaw....just inhale and ahhhhhhh! all your troubles are gone.....until you smell that other smell....ooh dear, I missed a few dog woggles during the winter.....okay, maybe I don't want that part of spring, but I will welcome the rest!! What are your plans for gardening this year? Balcony planters? Big country garden?? Small kitchen garden??? Photos of other people's gardens????