I Am Taking the Chatelaine Fresh Start Contest! And Other News

Ok, Ok, before I get to that, some of you asked for some wedding photos so here is one - I have to go slowly, lol. Thank you all SO much for your congratulations and well wishes, you made us smile with each comment.

Also, praise God, all of those miners are either out of the mine, or are on their way out right now in Chile. Praise to the rescue workers and God be with the miners and their families as they recover from such a scary ordeal.

Now for the Chatelaine contest - I have blogged in the past about trying to exercise regularly, and usually I do it, but here is a cool incentive, in a contest from Chatelaine, called the Fresh Start Contest. Basically, you make a pledge, sign up on their site and then follow through with emails each day from them filled with encouragement. There will be prizes and I hope I win!

After just getting married I realized that it isn't just for me that I need to be healthy and exercise - I need to be healthy to support my husband too, so that we can have a happy, healthy marriage for "as long as we both shall live". Therefore, I am pledging to exercise at least 3-5 times per week and I will post (pinky swear) each time I do. My page is here: http://freshstart.chatelaine.com/entry/3318699

Today I spent about an hour shoveling and moving large wheelbarrow loads of soil around my yard. That was hard! Later on I will be doing about 40 minutes of yoga to make sure I'm not too sore from all the soil-moving. Yay! I did it! You can sign up too, and make all sorts of pledges at Chatelaine's website at: http://freshstart.chatelaine.com/home

What's your pledge?

Have a great day!

Terrific Tuesday: A Great Contest!

My good friend Louise from Fireseed.ca is having a phenomenal giveaway where you could win one of 4 prizes, including a bracelet made by me with some of her fantastic beads. Head on over to her website, fireseed.ca to get the details...Good luck!

Fabulous Friday Features: The House of Mouse!

Welcome to the newest installment of the Fabulous Friday Features, where a new artist is featured each week! If you are an artist, or if you know an artist on Etsy, Artfire, iCraft, or another online venue who should be featured, please leave me a comment with their name and their website.

As no one has given me new artists to feature, I would like to do a surprise feature on one of my favorite artists on Etsy, TheHouseofMouse. Anna is the genius behind these adorable critters, and, take it from me, will be very famous for them one of these days (are you listening, Hollywood??). Living in Holland (she is originally from England), she started making mice for fun, but after a few smart people said she should sell them, she did, and really hasn't looked back!

~Gandalf the Grey Mouse~

Her inspirations come from all over, but some of her newest creations are from some very popular movies, such as The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter and more.

~Yoda Mouse - How Can You Not Smile at Him?~

Each mouse is individually hand made with great care and attention to detail. She also does custom orders, just in case you don't see exactly what you are looking for on her site (that may be hard, however, as she has just about every base covered with her mice!).

~For the Vampire Lovers in Your Life, Vladimir the Vampire Mouse~

Each high quality little mouse is lovingly packaged and comes with it's own certificate of authenticity, stamped with a wax seal. She also ships all over the world (so those of you purchasing my presents for Christmas are well warned of what I would like!!). The two mice below are some of my very favorites, though I do think I will have to save and collect the Harry Potter Collection, the Lord of the Rings Collection, and most of the Star Wars Collection (okay, okay, I'm a movie nerd).

~Two of My Personal Favorites, the Hermione Mouse and Heather the Artist Mouse~

Right now on Anna's Blog, Life, Craftiness and Everything Else, you can enter to win a free mouse of your choice (up to $40 in value)! She is giving one mouse away each month with this contest, so be sure to pop by her blog often.

That is all for now, I have to pop by Anna's blog and tell her she is newly featured!

Fabulous Friday - Contest Winners!

I am sorry for the absence yesterday - Brennan decided to rent a cottage for us and I've been trying to get everything organized to go there. It is only 15 minutes away, so thankfully I'll be able to come back home every day (or almost every day) to check emails and blog and tell you all about it. Don't worry, I'm not into those weird half-focused shots of hairy guys in teeny swim shorts (I think I'd divorce him if he wore those), but you'll probably get more shots of Arwen at her first cottage than you could ever think possible!

Now! Down to business! Way back in July I asked you for ideas on how to make this blog and my stores more appealing and I have had some really great comments. Thank you so much for putting some serious thought into your answers! I am trying to put as many of your ideas into practice as I can, and I hope you like the new additions.

To determine the prize winner, I used a random number generator and came up with Theresa from Theresa's Treasures, Congratulations!!! Please go to my Etsy store, pick out your favorite ring and then contact me with the convo feature to give me your mailing address and the name of your favorite ring.

Also, I've decided that when you sign up for my newsletter, you'll be entered in again for another prize for subscribers-only! Each month the winner will be chosen at random and will receive a gift certificate to use in my Etsy store. This month's winner is.......Sharla from BeadedTail! You win a $10 gift certificate to my Etsy store, congratulations! I have to say, I was so incredibly pleased when the number generator picked her, she always has the nicest things to say and is on my comments almost every day. Congratulations on this well-deserved gift :)

That is all for now...oh wait...here is Arwen, as almost everyone has requested! This is one of my favorite photos - she loves this poor little green pepper toy so much that, even though she has repeatedly ripped all of the stuffing out of it, she still carries it almost everywhere (unless she has the deflated seal or deflated crab!). On this particular occasion, she brought it with her to sit on my bed, looking out the window. Seriously, I didn't pose the green pepper - she got up on the bed and spent a few seconds arranging the pepper to sit next to her on the pillow, looking out at the backyard to watch the birds and squirrels....I love my dog!

Keep checking back for the next contest, and if you want an extra chance at winning a prize, why not sign up for my newsletter if you haven't already done so??
and Arwen

It's Sale Time!

That's right everyone, get 20% off everything in my Etsy store (before taxes and shipping) from August 25-31, 2009! I will refund through PayPal after you have paid.
Get great deals on rings, necklaces, accessories, destash items and more!!
See the Capital Crafters Blog for a list of participating stores and their sales.

While you're here, why not sign up for my newsletter to get advance notice on sales, specials and other goings on?

Remember to sign up for this month's contest, time is running out!

Creative Blocks: How to Cope

Much has been said on this subject before, and much will, I am sure, be said of it in the future, but I thought I would share a small selection of what I do when I get some form or another of creative block.

As an artist running your own business, it is important that you have some sort of new product on a regular basis to show your clients and this can be one cause of creative block: pressure. Never has one word had so many meanings and been so reviled! Pressure and other stresses can be a major cause of creative blocks and should at all times be put in perspective.

If you find you are suffering form a creative block, try and look at how you are feeling and why. Are you stressed due to finances? Are you stressed trying to plan a wedding? Are you scared that no one will like your work? Try and figure out what is bothering you...really bothering you. Look deep down and find that source of uneasiness. Sometimes your heart may be telling you that it just isn't into what you are doing. Perhaps you are bored with what you are doing or need a shake-up with your materials or methods.

Once you have found your particular type of stress, get rid of it! Are you strapped financially (who isn't)? Worrying about it won't help! Figure out a financial plan and then think positively about it. Then forget it! Whatever your stress, figure out a tentative positive solution or helper, and then put it away.

Now we need to get into the creative thinking mode and make some art! To get into your creative head space, find something you really love to do. Is it walking in a forest? Baking some really good cookies? Singing as loud as you can to your favorite song? Playing with your materials? Do it! Get relaxed and let the creativity come! Sometimes I find that looking at jewelry magazines helps. Other times I need to put it all away and watch a favorite movie or read a good book. Anything to get me relaxed. Once I know I am relaxed, I know the creativity will come.

So here is my advice: take a relaxing bath, listen to music, play with the dog, heck, even take a short nap to recharge your 'batteries'... sometimes you need to be away from your element to feel closer to it - as the expression goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and as long as you are doing something you love, your heart will lead the way. You just need to be patient and not pressure yourself!

Good luck and have fun getting back to creating.

Remember to enter the newest contest! Only a week left to enter. See HERE for details.

Sweet Saturday: Endless Whimsy Feature!

I am sorry for my absence yesterday and the accompanying absence of the "Fabulous Friday Feature" I normally do each week. Brennan had an appointment at a hospital in the city (nothing serious, don't worry), but it was at 7:50AM, which meant we had to be up at 5:30 and out the door by 6:30 AM (insert collective shudder here). By the time we got back I was so sore I couldn't do much more than sleep.
However, today is a new day and without further adieu, I present the belated Friday Feature, on Saturday.

~I Had to Include Her Dog Sculpture!~

Endless Whimsy is a fantastic artist whom I found when I joined the Etsy for Animals Street Team last year. Renovia makes beautiful sculptures and when my cat Gandalf died in November, I knew that her tribute sculptures would be perfect to honor and memorialize my special little guy. Sure enough, they turned out fabulously well (I got one for my mom too). When my parents' cat, Sheeeba, went over the rainbow bridge a week or so ago, I knew that I should call upon Renovia once more to make us some tribute sculptures in memory of her. Read on to find out more about this great artist.

~One of Her Gorgeous Tribute Sculptures~

1. How you got started doing your art:
A couple of years ago at the school where I teach the administration was on a 'wellness' kick. So the teachers got roped into taking classes taught by other teachers in the district. I signed up for a clay class with one of the art teachers. I was so incredibly excited about it - I took notes at night before bed about what I wanted to use my precious class time for. I knew I wanted to make a cat sculpture that was modern. So after a couple of sketches, I came up with a pose, the stretch pose. After class I went out and got some polymer clay because I just kept thinking about poses. I made about 20 cats in a couple different poses and loved all of them. Then I just figured the next step was to see if anyone else would like them. The polymer sculptures really took off and after a while I decided to make the jump into porcelain.

~Sitting....Scheming: A Pomegranate Kitty~

Porcelain offers detail that you just can't get in polymer. Sure you can get detail in polymer, but the way I pull the sculptures into shape, it eventually distorts some of the details. Plus I love having different price ranges and different mediums because everyone likes different things.

~One of the Beautiful Porcelain Sculptures Available~

2. Your inspirations:

My inspirations are my cats; Stoli (a Russian Blue) and Luxor (an Egyptian Mau). They both have crazy personalities and antics - and photographing them was just not enough. So when I see a new sleeping position or a playful pounce, I try to capture it in clay.

~Left: Stoli, Right: Luxor - Available in the Stationary, Cat Art section~

3. Your favorite pieces:
If we're talking about my favorite pieces I make, I have a love/hate relationship with tributes. Next to solid black cats, they are the most popular thing I make. It's difficult to begin because I know some one's heart is hurting from the loss of a pet and it makes me sad every time I have to make one of these sculptures. But I love doing it because I know that this special sculpture is going to mean so much to someone and hopefully it will make them smile and bring back many good memories.

~Small Porcelain Feeder Dish~

4. Are you involved with any animal or other charitable organizations and, if so, how that came about:
My husband and I volunteer for the Homeless Animal Rescue Team in Cumberland, Maine, a no-kill feline shelter. We decided one day after we got Stoli and Luxor that because we had not taken in shelter cats (and we were limited by our living conditions to only 2 cats) we would do what we could to help cats still living in shelters.

~A Ring Holder~

I feel very thankful that I have been able to pursue my passion for cats and art in a way that is satisfying and rewarding to more than just myself.

~Cat Ornaments~

Thank you so much Renovia, your art is simply sublime! Please do visit her shop to see some of her fabulous works.

Also, don't forget about my contest, see HERE for details.

Wordless Wednesday, Or, What Happens When I'm Bored

...yeah...

....I got bored!

Don't forget to enter my newest contest! See HERE for details.

Monday Updates: You're In My Every Thought!

~Who, Me?~

Yes You! Thank you very much to all of you who have left comments in my new contest, I am taking every suggestion very much to heart. I would welcome more feedback though, so please don't be shy! Tell me how I can make your experiences, both here and in my Stores, better for you. You could win your favorite ring - see HERE for details :)

As an update to the comments, I am going to try to include photos of Arwen most days, and more Arwen-only posts. I am also going to go into my techniques a bit more. I have just this weekend placed an order for a remote sensor for my camera and a mini-tripod, both of which will allow me to take photos of me making jewelry so that I will be able to make tutorials for sale, but also to show you the 'how' of some of my pieces.

I am also working on getting better photos of my shop items, as well as putting a few more items in my Artfire store.

That is all for now, but please, let me know how I can be better for you. After all, I am here for you.

Thank you again, and have a great day!

and Arwen

Sweet Saturday: Contest Winner!!

Congratulations to Sonia ;) for winning the contest on her favorite $30 and under item in my shop! She chose the Turquoise Saturn Ring, and this little beauty will be flying to her next week!
Please contact me within 72 hours to make sure you receive your prize :)

My other contest is still going strong - tell me how I can serve you better and you'll be entered to win! Details HERE.

300 Posts! And, A Giveaway!

300 Posts, Holy COW! I can't believe it's been over a year and 300 posts since we started this blog. I am listening to every comment and suggestion I am getting from you to make this blog bigger and better, so please keep the suggestions coming! I am still asking for suggestions to make my blog and business better for you - you could even win a ring from my Etsy store, so please see THIS post for details on how to win - INTERNATIONAL BLOGGERS WELCOME!!

To thank you all for being here on this incredible journey and making every step so enjoyable, Arwen has put on her party hat and we have decided to do ANOTHER giveaway in addition to the contest that started yesterday (see Tuesday's post for details on that one)!

Here's what you have to do: Go to my Etsy store and pick out your favorite item for $30 or less. The winner will be chosen at random and will win their favorite item! INTERNATIONAL BLOGGERS WELCOME! This is for ONE DAY ONLY so make sure you comment today to get into this giveaway.

Good luck everyone, have a great day, I know we sure will :)

and Arwen

Tuesday's Treasures: It's a Contest!!

I promised a contest and you're going to get a contest, but beware: you'll have to work to get this fabulous prize! What is it, you ask? Well, it will be a ring! Any one of the gorgeous rings in my Etsy shop will be yours for the taking! These (above) are just a few examples of the rings I have available.

Now, what will be your job, you're asking? Tell me how I can serve you better! What can I do to make your shopping experience better? Would you like to see more gold? Lower prices? More or Less items in any of my 3 shops? More dog blog posts? More jewelry blog posts? Let me know!

I will draw one winner at the end of this month to win a beautiful ring of their very own. INTERNATIONAL BLOGGERS WELCOME!

Thank you for your input, and good luck to everyone!!