Treasury Thursdays

I thought that today, instead of showing you all a treasury that I had made, I would show you some treasuries that my Etsy friends have made in the last week or so, that just so happen to feature yours truly ;-) Please note that you can click on any of the images above and it will take you to the item directly, for your shopping pleasure! Or, you can click on the title of the treasury (above is "It Was a Wondrous Day...") and it will take you to the treasury page, where everything is larger and easier to view.

The first treasury is one that shows the volunteers for my Etsy for Animals team on Etsy. I love the colors and how soft everything is. I'm the Yahoo administrator for this group, so I was lucky to be featured too :)

  This treasury is from a woman in my Plurk team. If you don't know what Plurk is, see the left column of the blog...just a bit lower, and check it out. It is like Twitter, but better! Joy created this treasury with items from a few of her Plurk buddies :)

This treasury was created by another fellow Etsy for Animals member, in the vein of hoping for spring (aren't we all hoping for spring at this point!). It has some really stunning paintings and prints in it...I've added a few things from this list to my wishlist for sure!

This is another treasury from an Etsy for Animals member (boy are we active, or what??). With a variety of items, ranging from dog harnesses to catnip toys to ceramic mosaic, there is something for everyone on your gift-giving lists (Mother's Day is coming up soon, you know) :) Have a great day, be sure to come back tomorrow for a fantastic featured artist you won't want to miss!

Magpie Love Treasury

Check out my latest treasury, featuring all Team Etsy for Animals Members in shades of red and black! Click the image above, or here to go directly to it, and don't forget to give these great artists some love :) http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjEwMTAwMXwyMDIxNzc4NTYw/magpie-love?index=0

Thankful Thursday - So Glad it Turned Out the Way it Did

An Unexpected Visitor

 You know those days that start out so well, anything could go wrong? You know those days that start out well, and then go wrong, but then right themselves so you can go on and have a great day anyway? Yesterday was one of those days. It all started out so innocently. It was humid, hot, the kind of day that quickly becomes incredibly hot and melty, but in the beginning of summer is still very welcome. I got out of bed with only a little help from the alarm and managed to get the dog fed and watered, Brennan's lunch, breakfast and tea made, got myself fed and watered, and all in good time. I was laughing that the dog had gone back to (my) bed, and I was about to sit down to write yesterday's blog post when I heard it...
Ting, ting-ting-ting. scratch.
It came from the top of the chimney. I wasn't worried, but Brennan immediately thought that a squirrel had climbed onto our house and was in our chimney.
"Don't be ridiculous! The squirrel would have to climb twenty feet of siding, and then another 2 feet of smooth metal to get into the chimney. It is just another bird catching bugs on the top of the chimney, I've heard it before." I grab my tea and a glass of water and put them beside my laptop, which is in the living room, right in front of the fireplace.
"Babe, I'm telling you, it is in the chimney!"
"Brennan, it is not in the chimney, it is at the top of the chimney. If it was IN the chimney, you'd hear a Whump and a clatter" My last words are, of course, interrupted by a "whump and a clatter" and then a little screech and flapping sounds.
Crap. There's a bird in my chimney, right above the flue if I am hearing things correctly.
Brennan says, "QUICK! Grab a box to grab it!" and gets a shoe box (which I'll have more details on later, LOL) for me to put in the bottom of the chimney to "catch" the bird. How I'm going to close the lid on it, I have no idea. But, I put the box in the bottom of the fireplace and then close up the doors.

The Unexpected Visitor Tries to Get Out

 I pray a little bit, something along the lines of, "Please God don't let this actually be happening," and then, "Please God don't let me kill the poor little bird," and then, "Please God, don't let me get my eyes pecked out or get rabies from this damned, poor little bird."
I open the flue.
A rather sooty little black bird comes clattering into the fireplace and starts to panic as it finds its way blocked by the doors and screen of the fireplace.
Okay, next plan.
"QUICK!" I say to Brennan, "Grab a big recycle box, close all the curtains, get the dog into a bedroom, close all interior doors, and open all the exterior doors!" I'm telling him this, of course, as I'm doing it, and he is staring at me like I'm crazy.
"If we close the curtains, and the interior doors, it won't have anywhere to fly but out the doors!"
Comprehension dawns on his face.
I grab the giant recycle bin and my gardening gloves, just in case. I curse myself for not being fast enough to grab my sunglasses so that I don't get my eyes pecked out, or rabies, from the poor, damned bird.
I pray.
"Please God, don't let this poor little bird die from stress in my house." and
"Please God, don't let this bird crap all over my house."
I open the doors to the fireplace...

The Unexpected Visitor, Gone

And he flew right out the door, no scrabbling or freaking out at all. Just flew out like it was the way it was supposed to be all along.
Which it was.
And it allowed us to have a really good day after that.
Especially because I didn't get my eyes pecked out or get rabies from that poor, damned bird ;-)
Have a great day,

Arwen The Wonder Dog

Arwen in Profile

Ok, I missed yesterday's ArWednesday post, so here it is Thursday, just for you. I'm playing with my ancient manual macro lens on my digital camera body and of course, Arwen is a great subject. She did, however, put her ears back when I took this one, probably not liking the clicky-thing being so close to her, but I still like the shot anyway :)

Mystery Mondays - er - Thursdays Part 2

Ok, ok, I've been bad, I haven't posted in a while, but I've been busy. Here is the next installment of my book, Hidden. Please remember all work is copyright 2011 Meghann Gervais! For the first page, see here: http://meglittlestudio.blogspot.com/2011/03/mystery-mondays-part-1.html

“Michaela, you’ve got every i-Gadget known to the human race, why don’t you join the twenty-first century and get e-books?” I strike a horrified pose, eyes wide, mouth making an O-shape.
“Because I, unlike you, like to live in the Stone Age; I like the feel of the paper in my hands, you know that. And besides,” I tell him, hands-on-hips, in a mock battle stance, “not all books are published electronically, and there might be a good one that I haven’t read yet.” I walk away before he can make fun of me further and say that I already own almost every book ever published. It is a definite over-exaggeration, though I had managed to fill yet another tall bookcase... So I was addicted to reading, there were worse habits, right? At least I was always learning something new.
With these thoughts I am carried to the book rack at the airport canteen. I have read most of the books. Damn, my habit foils me again. I had just turned to the next rack when I feel as though I am being watched. Looking up, I can see a tall man with dark hair under a dark cap glaring at me. Kind of creepy, but it takes all kinds, I think and turn back to the books.
“Rachel? Rachel! Oh my God, how did you get here so fast? I was, like, turned around for two seconds and you’re all the way over here? Shit!” I noticed the glaring man turn around and leave the canteen from the corner of my eye, and when I turn and look at the girl speaking, I can sort of understand why.
She is a very tall, bleached blonde, skinny young woman wearing clothing more fit for a jeans fashion shoot than an airport. Sky high heels, low-slung, tight black jeans and a bubblegum pink shirt is really just the beginning. She has on enough makeup and jewellery to drown a drag queen, and a handbag in black-lacquered nailed hands that costs almost as much as some people’s cars. She is also now staring at me with her jaw dropped, and eyes comically wide.
“I’m sorry, were you talking to me?” Sounds odd, but this really does happen all the time. Toronto is a big city, and when you’re five foot eight, blonde, slim and blue-eyed, you get mistaken for other people, or at least I do. Maybe I just have one of those faces.
“Oh my God, HA!” This last was shrieked in an almost sonic note. “Holy shit, you look just like my best friend! Hold on one second, ‘kay? I gotta bring her here to show her. HA!” With that, she totters away, hand bag swinging wildly, to find the best friend, apparently named Rachel. Shrugging, I return to the books, almost immediately finding one that I have not read, and find interesting. I am paying for the book when the clattering of heels turns me around. I drop my change in astonishment.

That's all for this week's page, tune in soon to see the next page!

Thankful Thursday: A Dog With a Sense of Humor

She must have heard Brennan and I discussing how much we want to go and see the new Alice and Wonderland movie...she is doing her impersonation of the Cheshire Cat...er...dog. You have no idea how much I had to lighten this photo to get her to stand out from the background, she literally was blending in just like the Cheshire Cat would have.

Alice in Wonderland, eat your heart out :)

Incidentally, I had JUST cleaned the window when she decided to smush her nose all over it, trying to catch flies (one remnant of Gandalf's teaching). I am rather embarrassed that you can see the streaky nose marks on the window to be honest, it looks like I never clean my house, which I do, I swear!

Sorry for the short post today, but I have my CT scan for my tummy issues today, and we're rather pressed for time. See you soon!

Thoughtful Thursday: Prayers for Renee

Months ago I met a woman that should be known by everyone. Renee is an inspiration to anyone who has any sort of illness, who wants to be courageous, or who simply wants to tell it like it is. Renee writes a blog, CirclingMyHead, about her battles with cancer, general family information and many other fascinating things. Please check it out, you'll soon realize just how special Renee is.

Renee has final stage breast cancer which has spread to her stomach and bone marrow. She is in her final battle, in hospital to control the pain and allow her to get fluids and nutrition.

Renee is an incredible woman. Her forthrightness with everything, including her illness and her thoughts, fears, hopes and wishes is commendable to the utmost.

Renee is from a large, loving family that is also dealing with the recent loss of one member to a very rare cancer (Sheldon, in his 20's), she just lost her mother, and her sister is also struggling with terminal brain cancer.

Please keep Renee and her family in your prayers, they certainly need and deserve them.

Renee, in the short time I have known you, you have become invaluable to me. I love you and I salute you as a free person. Go with God in peace.

Thoughtful Thursday: Ringing Bells for Barry

~We Don't Have Bells, But Arwen's Collar Jingles and That is What We're Using to Support Barry at 2PM Today~

It's been a rough year for Barry, over at An Explorer's View of Life. He first found a problem with his throat upon choking on a chicken bone at a restaurant. Fast forward nearly a year, he's been diagnosed with incurable throat cancer which has metastasized to his spine and hip, his mother in law passed away, and his own mother is very sick. Through it all, Barry has come through with raised spirits, positivity, and a unique glimpse into the life of someone dealing with their own mortality in a very unique situation.

However, today gives Barry something to cheer about, and allows us to cheer him on. At 2 PM today, hundreds of people will be ringing bells to commemorate Barry's last dose of Chemotherapy and Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. The hospital erected a bell in their lobby for cancer patients to ring when they finish their last treatment, and so hundreds of us from around the world will also be ringing bells to cheer Barry on.

Arwen and I will be ringing Arwen's collar, since we don't have a bell. Arwen wanted to get in on the action so we will be shaking her collar, resplendent with metal tags that make a jingling sound every time she moves.

Here's to you Barry, keep fighting, we'll be right here in your corner, ringing bells for you!

and Arwen

Thoughtful Thursday: Sea Glass

~Image from North American Sea Glass Association~

I was perusing a few blogs (as always) and came across a post of an interesting article by the North American Sea Glass Association. Apparently there are some unscrupulous sellers of artificial sea glass and so the thoughtful people from the Association have come up with this incredibly informative page of information. As I've considered buying sea glass before (though I haven't yet), I'll be doubly careful who I buy from now! Please do check it out, even if you aren't a jewelry-maker, if you wear sea glass jewelry, you'll want to make sure it is the real thing to avoid potential exposure to chemicals: http://www.seaglassassociation.org/GenuineVsArtificial.php

Have a great day!

Thoughtful Thursday: New Year's Eve

One of My Drawings, Siochan Leat (Means Peace Be With You)

Another year over, this wants thinking about. Many things have come, some have stayed, some have gone. Brennan and I are planning a quiet night with just the two of us. We bought a bottle of wine (nothing crazy expensive, just one we haven't tried), and I'm going to make a simple but nice supper. We'll probably watch a movie, maybe play some video games.

I probably won't stay awake to ring in the New Year...I know it sounds weird, but I'm more into fixing things as they come up, making plans throughout the year instead of making a bunch of resolutions at the beginning of the year. I don't know, it always sounded weird to me...how is the new year going to make me more determined to do something?

I don't think we should get all uptight about 'turning a new leaf' for the New Year. We need to relax a bit and put less pressure on ourselves. Make peace with ourselves. We are good as we are, even if we have beer bellies or worry a bit too much. Self-improvement is good, but not for the sake of it. Needless to say, I don't do "resolutions" each year...I think that is setting myself up for failure and more unnecessary guilt. I do try to set goals throughout the year, and yes, I re-evaluate at the New Year, among other times. I like goals - they are reachable, but if I don't stick to them, I'm not going to beat myself up about it (okay I will, but it isn't as bad, I swear).

Here are a few of my goals for 2010:

Walk Arwen every day it is above -10C and below 35C (we are getting boots in early January, more about that later)

Spend more time with Brennan

Give away more jewelry/drawings/photos. I like to do it. Hopefully you like to get it!

Make at least 2 pieces of jewelry per week, blog them, photograph them and list them for sale

Work out more. I know I like it....eventually

Entertain more. I love to cook. I love to cook for people.

Crochet/knit/draw/sew for a few minutes each day. Just a couple of minutes. I can do that!

Relax. Seriously. I'm driving myself nuts with how uptight I am. I can't imagine what I'm doing to everyone else around me...have I driven you nuts yet? Probably.

I could probably go on and on, but I won't bore you further. These are GOALS after all, and not essential to being kept, though I know how good I'll feel when I do keep them. Which I will...

I hope.

I wish you all a very safe, happy, healthy and FANTASTIC New Year. May you be blessed with laughter, joy and the very best of what life can bring. Just for being you.

Peace Be With You.

(and Arwen too!)

Thankful Thursday: Happy Turkey Day!

On this very Thoughtful Thursday I wanted to wish all of my American friends a wonderful Happy Thanksgiving!! I am very thankful for all of my blogland friends, all of my family, and everyone on Plurk, Twitter, MySpace and Facebook who has followed or fanned or chatted with me.

Arwen also wants to let you know how thankful she is for all of your wonderful compliments and comments that are directed to her. She sees every one and wags her tail as she receives them.

What are you thankful for? We wish you a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving!

Thoughtful Thursday: New Project Update!

Here are a few interim photos of the new project I'm working on. This is a modified version of a project from my new chain mail book. In this bracelet, I am making my own rings (yup, all 200 of them), and then weaving them into a loose Byzantine chain mail weave...
In between the Byzantine weave units, I am attaching bead units that are actually a part of the chain weave. These are Czech glass fire polish beads in Crystal AB that are strung on small pieces of wire with their ends hammered flat. Then I take the other end and twist it into a double ring and attach it into the weave of the chain. After 3 hours of ring making, filing and chain making, I have about 6 inches or so done. I should be able to get the rest done today.

Tell me, what do you think (honestly)? Would you like it in silver plate or sterling silver, or 14karat gold filled? With different colored beads? Let me know, I value your opinion!

That's all for now, tune in tomorrow for a Fabulous Friday Feature.

Thoughtful Thursday: What Can You Do?

With Christmas around the corner, the advertisements, window displays, catalogues and spam will be filling our senses with the need to spend, spend, spend, and another year may go by with us feeling empty, empty, empty. Things don't mean love, friendship or any of that. Our actions, thoughts and feelings do. To remind us all what kindness really is. And think to yourself...what can you do for someone, instead of what can you buy for someone? Some thing small, like holding the door for a person with a stroller? How about giving a can of just bought food to a local food bank? Think about it, and post it here when you've done it. You might just win something :-)
My thoughtful thing today is to share Arwen's favorite dog biscuit recipe. Here it is (it is easier than you think!!):
Arwen's Favorite Biscuits
2 Cups Meg's GF All-Purpose (Bread) Flour Mix click the link for the recipe for that)
1/2 Cup Garfava Flour (or bean flour)
1/2 Cup Pumpkin Seeds (raw, unsalted)
Dash Organic Garlic Powder (optional)
1/2 tsp Salt
3 tbsp Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Unsulphured Molasses
1/3 to 1/2 Cup Milk
Preheat Oven to 350F.
Mix all dry ingredients together in a medium-large bowl. Add wet ingredients and mix until combined. Mixture should be slightly tacky.
Roll into tablespoon sized balls, place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and press lightly with fingers, until 1/4 inch thick.
Bake for 1/2 hour. Turn the oven off and let sit in the warm oven for another 15-30 minutes. Allow to cool thoroughly, then place in resealable container to store.
To serve: break cookies in two (smaller pieces for smaller dogs) and serve 1/2 at a time.
Cookies will stay fresh for a month, more if placed in a freezer or fridge.
Enjoy!!

Please try and do something thoughtful today. Try and do one little thoughtful thing each day and encourage others...it might not change the world, but it can certainly change someone's day for the better :-)

Happy Thursday,

Thoughtful Thursday: Bracelet Update and More

Here is the fourth layer started on the bracelet. I am using an Amber colored glass seed bead for this layer, and as it is built up it will look more like amber and less green, since the blue beads underneath are trying to show through right now. I am currently working more amber beads in between the rows of these amber beads, to give a cross pattern effect. More to come next Tuesday!

In other news, a good friend of mine is in need of prayers and/or positive thoughts. She is a breast cancer survivor, and is now being looked at for ovarian cancer. She had "minor" surgery on Tuesday to do some tests and the results won't be back for a bit. I say "minor" because no matter how minor they say it is, it is still painful and a real inconvenience! Please keep her in your thoughts, and pray that it is nothing so serious as more cancer, but, if it is, please pray that it has been caught early and can be cured. Thank you.

That is all for now, see you tomorrow for a Fabulous Friday Feature!!

Thankful Thursday: Cooking Class Success and Award

I am happy to say that my first ever cooking class was a terrific success! Partnered with RHN Melody Busuttil, in conjunction with Nature's Way Select Foods in Kemptville, and hosted at the Kemptville college, we had over 12 students and a fabulous time.

This past class was all about Quinoa (keen-wah) and many delicious and gluten free recipes were made (and eaten!). More classes are on the way, thank you to everyone who came out, I hope you will come to the next ones!
Also, Audrey from Audrey's Country Crafts gave me this award! This award focuses on friendship, and Audrey certainly deserves it as well. Please check out her blog to see her shop, as well as all of the fabulous artists she features each week.
I am passing this on to anyone who reads this blog - you all deserve it! Also, I don't want to single people out, as I give out awards to many people and don't want to over do it :-)

Arwen wishes me to thank everyone for their overwhelming responses to yesterday's post - she would blush if she could from all of your praise, and I certainly did over your liking the bracelet I am working on. Thank you!

Until tomorrow,
and Arwen

Thankful Thursday: At Last - New Couches!

Whew! I can't tell you how happy I am to get rid of our old, embarrassing couches. They had been a gift from my parents when Brennan and I first moved in together 8 years ago, but at that time, the couches were already 10 years old! Not that I minded - you know how tight finances are when you're first moving out, and they have definitely served us well over the years. However, we had noticed that lately, every time you sat in them, you tended to sink slightly lower than the time before, so we knew what was coming...

For the first time ever, Brennan and I bought new couches! We got a call on Tuesday telling us our delivery date, and they arrived yesterday! I can't tell you how excited we all are here. We purchased them from a Canadian store, The Brick, in late September and we were not supposed to get them until after the 20th of this month, but surprise! They came yesterday. Brennan and I spent all of Tuesday night cleaning the living room and using an at home floor refinishing kit to get the floors nice and shiny again (not that you can see it in these photos!) before the couches came. We were very fortunate to get these on sale ($200 off each!) and even better - they are made in Canada! I thought for sure that couches at this price would have been made in China (not that there is anything wrong with that), so it was nice to be able to support a Canadian business and manufacturer. Brennan also got some nice quilted blankets to protect the couches from Madame Arwen, and they just happen to go perfectly with our curtains (did my man deliver or what??). Unfortunately, the living room is ripped apart in these photos - we had a fabric protector kit come with the couches and I spent the majority of last night applying that so the couches had to be pulled out from the walls, cushions taken off, etc. It is a non-toxic, water based protectant, not that cancer-causing stuff, so that was a relief (though it still smelled icky).
Of course, as soon as I got up this morning and let Arwen into the living room (we kept her out of it to avoid breathing in the protectant while it was drying) Arwen was up on the couch, trying it on for size. Success! She loves it, and, as you can see, seems quite happy with the size. What is great is that we got two full sized couches, not a couch and love seat, so that if Brennan falls asleep on one couch, Arwen and I will both fit on the other one!

That is all for now, Arwen and I are going to go and sit on the new couches, and marvel in the fact that we don't sink up to our eyeballs in them!
and Arwen

Thoughtful Thursday: Bracelet Update!

Thank you all for your well wishes. I am hanging in there, thanks to Arwen and Brennan. I am having a nice time watching my favorite movies and working on my newest bracelet. Here is the result of about 6 hours of work....well...interrupted work. I still need to move around quite frequently, so I have maybe 3 hours uninterrupted on this so far. This is the bracelet with the first 2 layers.
Here is the bracelet looking down to show the cross sections. You can see the thread. It is funny, the beads are very tiny, yet, with this new macro magnifying lens they look huge. The beads are in fact only about 1.5-2mm in width!
Here is Arwen, doing her Night Watchdog thing. There are many birds, squirrels and chipmunks hurrying around to prepare for the winter, which is fast approaching. Arwen likes to make sure everything is in order and everyone gets their share.

Until tomorrow, we wish you all the very best of health and happiness.
and Arwen

Thoughtful Thursday: A Few Changes

First, Arwen and I would like to thank everyone for their very kind comments yesterday and Arwen wants to reiterate that yes, she does looooove deer, as was evidenced by her frenzied barking this morning as two massive does crossed the road in front of our house. When asked what she'd do with them if she ever caught up with them, she said that she would try to play with them, doing her little bows and body wags (when the tail wags the dog, so to speak), and then try to lick them. Thank you to everyone who reads these blogs, and I hope we can continue to keep you all entertained :)

In an effort to streamline things, I have decided to make a few changes to the blogs. Entrecard is really becoming a pain, trying to make it more difficult to earn credits, and trying to keep paid advertisers on top of dropper ads paid for by credits. Therefore I am getting rid of Entrecard ads from my blogs, and will be using only Project Wonderful to accept ads. I will try to drop on my favorites, and possibly advertise through Entrecard until my credits run out, but I will not accept ads from them anymore.

This allows me to rearrange the items on the sidebars, giving my Project Wonderful advertisers more visibility. You can see the long bar on the left hand side is for Project Wonderful ads, so if you are interested in advertising here, please click on the bottom of the bar. Please do take a few minutes as well to click on the ads - you'll find some really delightful artists.

In the meantime, I am finishing up this month's newsletter, hopefully to be sent out today (have you signed up to be in on the inside scoop yet?). And Arwen is sleeping. Again.

Have a great day!
and Arwen

Thoughtful Thursday: Planning Ahead

Hello everyone! I, Arwen the Wonder Dog, have taken over the blog again today to help with a serious issue here. Before I do, we wanted to thank everyone for all of their comments on our blogs - we might not answer them all, but we read and love every one of your wonderful comments!

Now, back to business! A little while ago, mommy asked you all how she could improve the blog and her store to keep you interested and coming back. Many of you wanted to see more of me (but of course!), and many of you also wanted to see how Meghann, my mom does what she does - how she makes her fabulous jewelry pieces, what she uses, et cetera. If truth be told, mommy is a little shy so she asked me to help her plan some lessons. The top photo is me looking apprehensive - I stated previously that holding pens in my paws is difficult, but I thought I should give it a try...
Well, OK, I'll write, but I don't want you to see it until it's done!

OK, I can't be that mean, but here are a few of our thoughts so far:
-Jewelry how-to's will be done on Mondays and will be called "Monday's Methods"
-We'll cover the basics; tools, how they are held properly, what they are used for
-Different wire types and how they are used
-Different Bead and stone types, their differences, why it's important, and how they are used
-Techniques; basics, wrapping, hammering, stitching
-Works in Progress
...And much more!

We are also working on trying to clean and organize mommy's office. It is hard because she doesn't really have a good working space, but we are working on that too!

Please let us know if there is anything else you would like to see so that we can make sure you are always happy visiting us. We want to make you happy and keep you interested!

Ta-Ta for now,
and Arwen

Thankful Thursday: SURPRISE SALE!!

As mentioned yesterday, I have a big announcement today, and that is a surprise 2-day sale! My birthday was last week (the 10th), so I thought I would celebrate it a little late (hey, it's better than never, right?) by having a sale in my Etsy store.
For Thursday and Friday the 17th and 18th, everything in my Etsy store is 20% off! I'll refund you the 20% after you pay, or send a revised invoice, whichever you choose. Discounts are on the items only, and do not apply to shipping or applicable taxes. There are no discount codes to worry about, you'll get 20% off everything in my store :-)
What are you waiting for?? Get shopping and take advantage of this great deal!