Tuesday, March 31, 2009

....I'd Like to Check You for Ticks by Brad Paisley


Yes, that's right - the Brad Paisley song that any proud city slicker would write off as backwoods country and a really funny pick-up line......Not!!!! Any country boy worth his salt knows that he is paying the lady the highest compliment, strangely enough, because after walking through wildflowers, you are going to want to check for ticks. Ladies, let me tell you, you don't want the guys who won't check you for ticks. Yes, there is story. So, I fish right?? City slicker gone country shooting shotguns and such, but I'm also allergic to dirt, dust, pollen, trees, countless bugs, mold, cigarette smoke, cats, dogs, and only the Good Lord knows what else, because I don't remember. Apparently a couple ticks got on my shoes and I didn't realize it until they got hungry, left my shoes, and headed north, and decided to eat me. I'm not real into bugs, probably directly related to being allergic to them, so when I scratched my neck at my hairline and pulled something foreign out of my hair while driving in the rain at 70 mph, imagine my surprise when a brown tick the size of a green pea was attempting to bite my finger. Yep, still city slicker enough to scream loud enough to wake folks in the next county. I couldn't let go of him because then he would find me in my van again as I had dropped him the day before, so what's a city slicker to do?? I found a tissue, drove with no hands while swapping the tick to the tissue praying that I didn't wreck while creeped out over this critter between my fingers. I managed to get it into the tissue, but couldn't squash it. I don't know how much strength that takes, but I sure don't have it. I had to hold the tissue and tick between two fingers and one of them is the finger with the latest purple bruise from my hammering sterling silver for a new S clasp and my bruised finger was weakening from squeezing the tick and I knew I only had seconds left before the tick was wondering around in my van looking for me, so I did the only thing I could think of before I dropped it and that was throw it out the window. I'm one of those folks who won't throw a banana peel out the window, which is why my vehicle is usually packing a plastic bag for trash, but today I had to let that kleenex fly out the window.........I feel guilty about that, but it was either me or the tick, so hopefully there is a gray area where in extreme circumstances like having a tick between your fingers that throwing a kleenex out the window is understandable. I've had Lyme Disease or specifically, Southern Tick Disease and the last thing I want is to get it again.

So, you ask what does the photo have to do with the story??? I pulled a tick off yesterday and dropped it and I am hopeful that it found me today and that it isn't a whole flock of them things lying in wait for me. However, from a person who had to diagnose herself and determine the proper antibiotics, dosage, and duration and take those 150+ pages in to the doctor's office so that the same folks who had told me they didn't know what it was could prescribe me the antibiotics I needed as that was the only part of the scenario I couldn't do myself and I paid a couple hundred for them to write me a Rx. after I diagnosed myself; well, that person being me I chose to soak in cat shampoo. I am hopeful I am not radioactive nor glowing green, but we shall see as the label said to wear gloves when applying the medicated shampoo to your cats, but I rather saw wearing gloves as a moot point considering the rest of me was soaking in medicated cat shampoo. We will now have to wash all 6 of the indoor cats in shampoo as my shoes or clothes may have given them ticks - thought that was supposed to be the other way around.........The good news is that I won't get bit by fleas or ticks for 30 days according to the label.

No, I am never bored.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Alaska Shop # 3 - Hello Petersburg :)




http://www.fivefingerpottery.etsy.com

Sushi anyone??? Sushi dishes, yep, that's added to my want list. The talented artist behind this shop makes sushi dishes among the other fabulous pottery pieces from bowls to plates to beautiful mugs. I love a good mug. It's just comforting to pull down one of my artisan-created mugs from the cabinet late at night to make up a cup of tea or a cappuccino, especially after a stressful day or on a really cold night. Nope, a mug mass-produced from a retailer does not give me the same therapeutic feeling - it must be handmade/handthrown and created by an artist in order for the magic to work. Art calms me and soothes my soul. Definitely add this artist to your favorite shops, go on a tour of the shop, pick up a mug or a fabulous set of sushi dishes for those sushi lovers out there. Sushi is my new pizza. No cook nights equal sushi nights.

Check out Five Finger Pottery and tell her I sent you. :)

Oil lamps, noodle bowls, dragonfly plates, sugar and creamer sets, mug sets...........oh my! :)

Mignon

http://www.fivefingerpottery.etsy.com

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Second Brave Poem Writer :)




I have a second winner for my crazy blog give away. She's tried commenting on my blog, but for some reason it doesn't work - computer glitch of sorts. So, I've acknowledged her existence from afar AFTER she wrote me a poem. :) She'll be getting her own personalized give away happies from me at my discretion. Everyone's may be different or may be the same, but I doubt it. :)
I guarantee she won't know ahead of time.

So, congrats to B. from me. :)

Mignon

Hammered Freeform Pendant and Necklace





Life's a Curvy Winding Road - Handmade Hammered Copper Pendant and Necklace

Life is indeed a curving winding road.

This fun casual pendant started out as a straight piece of copper wire that I shaped and hammered by hand to make a freeform pendant. I really enjoy pulling out a couple pairs of pliers, my hammer, and my anvil and creating a piece of jewelry. It is fun to create something out of nothing. This can also be made in sterling silver. :)

http://jewelrybymignon.etsy.com

Have a great day!

Mignon

Fifty States Tour - Alaska #2





http://www.cuddlebuddies4kids.etsy.com

This Grandma has a flair for style when it comes to great baby items and such. :) Check out her homepage information. She has reduced the prices on some very wonderful pieces that any mom will love.

cuddlebuddies4kids's Shop Announcement
Hello and welcome to my shop. Check out all my SECTIONS! On the first of February 2009, I MARKED DOWN ALL MY INVENTORY- CHECK IT OUT!

~CUDDLE BLANKET BUDDIES: As a young mom, and now a grandma, I know the importance of a great baby/toddler blanket! The quality of blankets you find here in my shop are the very kind I used as a mom and are now used by my daughters. These generously sized, DOUBLE SIDED, blankets are great for swaddling, play time, used as a car seat throw or as a nursing cover-up.
~BOW BUDDIES: ALL BOWS ARE CLEARENCE!!!!!!Having 2 girls of my own, I loved for them to look "girly". We have created bows with ribbon and frill that will dress up any outfit. Each bow has been sewn and fray checked for durability.
~COLORING BUDDIES: Children love these crayon totes. Keeps them busy while sitting, and waiting. Crayons and coloring book are included!
~TAG BUDDIES: Babies love tags and we have made a soft tag toy pillow for them to hold onto and love. Each tag toy pillow comes with a link.
Every kid needs a "Buddy"!

Thanks for visiting! Ü


Double-sided blankets, what a great idea! Coloring buddies are great for both boys and girls. I know crayons are always rolling around in the bottom of my purse and now that summer is coming, this is not a good thing.

Naturally this is another great shop to check out as I handpick each and every shop I post on here, so check out another good one. :)

http://www.cuddlebuddies4kids.etsy.com

Mignon

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Mignon's Greenbeans :)


At the age of 18, I had an apartment, worked fulltime at a restaurant, and went to college. I was bent to make it on my own for reasons unnecessary to discuss. I kept the following food items in my apt. Rice (by the largest poundage I could buy), sphaghettios, popcorn, sugar, teabags, and greenbeans - lots of greenbeans. I was fine, but the man I eventually married, my hubby, who dated me back then as he was my childhood sweetheart and neighbor for awhile became quite burned out on greenbeans by coming to visit me for dinner at my apartment. I'm not sure that it was he ate so many greenbeans as it was the notion of how many cans of greenbeans I ate, lol. I personally was happy as a clam, but my beloved ended up spending his weekend money for our dates in a different way. Oh, he took me on dates................all the way to Kroger and whatever his budget for the weekend was became what he spent on my groceries, lol. So, to rectify this little scenario, I created a recipe for greenbeans a few years ago that hubby likes a lot. :) He still doesn't like anyone else's greenbeans per se, but he loves mine again. :)

Recipes and Favorite Cookbooks Swap


I'll be visiting our local farmer's market sometime in the next couple of weeks in my concerted attempt to support individuals versus conglomerates and in that spirit of giving I came across a great idea on a fellow blogger's blog and thought I'd share....

I thought it would be fun to learn more about YOUR favorite cookbook authors and YOUR favorite recipes. That way for those of us not sure of "what to make for dinner tonight", we can search our friends blogs and come up with some new ideas (and maybe add a few new blogs). If you would like to participate, please leave a comment with you blog address and the recipe name you would like to share so others know to click on your name to be taken to your blog. If you would like to simply share a favorite cookbook then simply put this information in the comments section for others to read. Rememeber to click on comments to read all the great recipes. Feel free to copy this and pass it forward sharing the idea with your readers in the "Blogsphere". Bon Appetit!

My recipe will be for simple ole greenbeans and I certainly have some favorite cookbooks to share. :)

Mignon
The following is an excerpt from an email I received from American Craft Guide about the current spring virtual arts festival. Check it out, sign up for their emails, add them to your Twitter follows, join their social network - there is a lot going on over at ACG - check it out. Support your local artist and artist being the key word. Local is becoming quite the relative term with blogs and social networks, now isn't??? :)

Spring Savings!
Check out these sales offers just for i *heart* handmade spring shoppers
If you're looking to snag a deal (AND some great handmade goods), be sure to check out these handmade artists:

Baby & Kids
Bows & Blankets Boutique - 10% off purchases $20+
Masons Cottage - 20% off
Pick Your Pocket Studio - free shipping on $40+ (plus a free dress for the 10th person to email her about her items!)
Yarncoture - Free set of facial scrub pads with all purchases
Bath & Body
Ary's Naturals Bath & Body - 15% off
Favors R Us - 15% off
Mad Hatter's Pottery - 20% off
Polka Dot Candle Shoppe - 15% off
The Soap Seduction - free lip lush with purchase of $15+
Clothing & Accessories
Botanical Bird - free pair of earrings with purchase of $20+
Designs by Velvet - free shipping with purchase of 2+ items
Foret - free gift with all purchases
Fun Jewelry - free shipping
I Make Cute Stuff - free handmade zippy pouch with purchase
Jacaranda Designs - 10% off
Jewelry Infusions - free shipping
Must-Haves - free domestic shipping
Pick Your Pocket Studio - free shipping on $40+ (plus a free dress for the 10th person to email her about her items!)
The Bead Dreamer - free sterling silver hoop earrings with purchase of $35+ (excluding shipping)
Yarncoture - Free set of facial scrub pads with all purchases
Eco-Friendly
Barker's Herbs & Heirlooms - 10% off
jacistuff - 10% off any item
Jake & Noel Designs - free agua drop earring studs with each purchase
Fine Art
AJ's Designs - 25% off
Bonnie Jones Photography - 20% off
Hot Glass Oasis - free mystery bead with each purchase
Painting Pam & Paper Too - free pack of handmade paper with each piece of matted artwork
Starving Art Student - free pack of postcards and 2 signed ACEOs with each purchase
WillOaks Studio - free shipping, plus buy 2 items get the 3rd at 1/2 off
Home & Garden
Bows & Blankets Boutique - 10% off purchases $20+
Inspiredwithlove - buy any candle holder, get the 2nd at 1/2 off
jacistuff - 10% off any item
LFG Designs - 15% off
Mad Hatter's Pottery - 20% off
Masons Cottage - 20% off
Polka Dot Candle Shoppe - 15% off
RDG Designs - free shipping in the US
Jewelry
Artful Antiques - 10% off
Barker's Herbs & Heirlooms - 10% off
Bohemian Glitz - 20% off and a free pair of earrings with each purchase
Botanical Bird - free pair of earrings with purchase of $20+
DG Designs - free shipping, plus 25% off your next purchase
Fabulous Chic Designs - free shipping plus 10% off
Fine Heart - free regular shipping with purchase of 1 item or free priority mail with purchase of 2+ items
Foret - free gift with all purchases
Fun Jewelry - free shipping
Hot Glass Oasis - free mystery bead with each purchase
I Make Cute Stuff - free handmade zippy pouch with purchase
Jacaranda Designs - 10% off
Jake & Noel Designs - free agua drop earring studs with each purchase
Jewelry by Mignon - 10% off and a free gift with each purchase
Jewelry Infusions - free shipping
JUMA Jewelry - free shipping in US
LFG Designs - 15% off
Must-Haves - free domestic shipping
Nyblaque - 15% off first order plus free shipping
RDG Designs - free shipping in the US
Steel Heart Designs - free gift with each purchase
The Bead Dreamer - free sterling silver hoop earrings with purchase of $35+ (excluding shipping)
WillOaks Studio - free shipping, plus buy 2 items get the 3rd at 1/2 off
Youniquely Chic - free earrings with purchase of necklace set
Papergoods
AJ's Designs - 25% off
Inspiredwithlove - buy any candle holder, get the 2nd at 1/2 off
Nyblaque - 15% off first order plus free shipping
Painting Pam & Paper Too - free pack of handmade paper with each piece of matted artwork
Starving Art Student - free pack of postcards and 2 signed ACEOs with each purchase

So what are you waiting for??? Let's go shopping!

You're receiving this communication because you registered for it at www.americancraftguide.com


Enjoy the art show. There's 50 artisans in the spring show and the craftmanship and variety is fantastic. Let your fingers do the walking and find what makes your heart smile.

Mignon

Friday, March 20, 2009

First Days of Spring


It rained and poured this past weekend, but the sun came out Tuesday and everything was nice and beautiful by Wednesday with balmy 70 degree days and 40 degreee nights. Perfect fishing weather and my son is on springbreak this week, the above photo is from a couple years ago, but it's such a nice one that I thought I'd use it. We've spent a few hours each day fishing. When I was scooping up water for our first fish of the day today I inadvertently caught 3 very very small fish. They went in the aquarium tonight. We were needing new fish and at least these can handle the cold drafty nights in our home during the winter. The eating size Brim and Bass we caught this week are on ice and will be ready for dinner tomorrow night after one last trip fishing in the morning. We've had a great time this week and I have one very tickled little boy who gets to go back to kindergarten and tell his friends all about his fish that he caught and ate and the ones Mommy caught that are now our pets...........which we will never eat. J. caught a frog yesterday on the back porch and was devastated when I wouldn't let him bring it inside. :) I must say that I genuinely enjoy having a son. Tomorrow, after fishing, he gets to go visit Grandma and then on Sunday we'll plant our new flower bulbs. This week proves that a child does not require a bunch of money to be spent on them in order to have a good time - spending time with Mommy all week has been good for the both of us. :)

Now, on Momlogic, there is a contest where you tell what you did the first days of spring and if you leave a comment on the site, then you are entered into their giveaway for a mini video camera. By blogging about it here, then I get to be entered a second time and by tweeting about it on Twitter, then I get to be entered a 3rd time, I think. However, instead of just blogging the above 3 or 4 sentences and no photo, I figured I'd give you the story I left on Momlogic to enter and give you a photo of our miracle child fishing. :)

Here's the site.

http://community.momlogic.com/forum/topics/win-it-spring-has-sprung


Momlogic is not just good for giveways. It's a great social network I have come across that I am already enjoying immensely and it is a great place to swap ideas, stories, what works and what doesn't in the life and trials of being a mom.

Mignon

P.S. I WON THE MINI CAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:)
MIGNON

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Hoops Anyone??





I don't know about you guys, but I get so into Twitter and reading and swapping comments on blogs, not to mention the additional blogs I follow via email, not to mention various social networks I am in, newsfeeds I have opted to receive, entering giveaways, doing giveaways, looking for online craft shows to be in, plus working on the 50 States Tour, having a life, raising a son, looking for a job, that I forget to upload my jewelry photos here...........lol. So, here are my hammered hoops and I simply will have a pair for me. :) My drill bits came in and now I can drill holes into the actual metal, but the bits are tempermental I am told, so no jiggling the drill once drilling commences. A girl and her tools. :)

:)

Mignon

Fifty States Tour - Alaska: Shop





http://www.alaskakreations.etsy.com

www.alaskakreations.com


Hello Alaska and guys these photos are only the tip of the iceberg, no pun intended. I have figured out this morning that I can only right click certain types of photos. So, there are other photos that I saved from their actual www website that I could not open and therefore cannot show you here.

If you find their shop a treat, then go to their website and click on one of the photos and you will see even more postings of items to buy and art to behold. They have these fabulous side tables that are ornately decorated with bears and caribou etc. and they are just awesome. The wood is burned freehanded and not on a computer or with a laser. This takes real talent and lots of practice!

I must say their website, it's a husband and wife team :), is really professional. I now know who to ask when I am ready to do my website as whatever company they went through did a great job.

The level of professionalism here is mindblowing. The beadwork is exquisite. Yes, I love the santa even in March as Christmas is just my time of year. I cannot do this shop justice. You simply must check out both their Etsy shop and their website. The work is just beautiful. I thought the Etsy shop caught my eye in a serious way, well the website really does these two special folks justice. So definitely check out their website. I've already added their website to my favorites on my computer and I'm adding their Etsy shop to my favorites on Etsy.

I just cannot say enough, so while I try to figure out how to grab some more photos to put on here, check them out. :)

http://www.alaskakreations.etsy.com

www.alaskakreations.com

Mignon

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I Won on ACG, yey!!!!


I totally have been telling you guys about American Craft Guide and the virtual craft show and that all you have to do is to leave a comment beneath anyone's shop and that enters you into the drawings - 30 something drawings in 24 days. This past weekend someone won my earrings. Today, on one of my favorite days of the year, I won. :) Yey!!! Happy St. Patrick's Day to me!! I won a very pretty Bunny tabletop centerpiece, which I cannot wait to get. Now, I have a reason to get motivated to clean off that dining room table so I can pull out the Easter tablecloth and have a pretty place for the centerpiece to go. :)

I hope you had a Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Mignon

Sunday, March 15, 2009

ACG Winner of My Earrings :)



Congrats to the winner of my earrings on American Craft Guide. This is Day 3 of the virtual craft show. Some days there will be two winners. All you have to do is leave comments beneath any artisan's listings and that enters you in the drawings. Personally, I'm leaving my comments beneath shops that have items I just love. :)

The virtual show runs through April 5th and there are 50 wonderful artisans.

Cricket Anyone??


The new me is a bit more interested in fishing. I've fished before, started with worms when I was a child, even have my own pole from Bass Pro, of course. This time, though I have a new interest in the whole take a chair and sit by the water's edge notion. No more catch and release. These fish are coming home with Momma and Momma is going to cook them up in a pan - baked or grilled, your choice - don't get me started on the whole economy thing. :) So, self-proclaimed redneck country boy neighbor hears of our fishing expeditions and he tells us to wait because he has something for us. He comes back out with one of those cricket cages. We go home, hubby washes the cage off and puts in a new potato. Crickets eat potato you ask?? Don't ask me, I don't know, but apparently. Then, I find out that those critters, um crickets have to come in the house. RUkidding?? Don't you think 6 cats is enough?? And a cricket cage has a big hole on top and you can't convince me that none of them ever hop out. Apparently crickets don't like cold weather. No kidding. It will be getting warmer the rest of the week after tonight, so tonight after a negotiation that the crickets' cage would be covered in something that would prevent the stray cricket from hopping out - I don't care what hubby says, a hole is a hole is a hole. So, as I sit here typing this, I hear the pleasant sounds of crickets................argh. I like bug noises to be outside and not necessarily hanging out at my backdoor on the inside. Well, the saga will continue as our son's springbreak is this week and I needed cheap entertainment, so I'm taking him fishing. Apparently I am expected to hook these crickets on hooks.............I do have surgical gloves somewhere around here - bet I find them before we take a couple of chairs to the lake. I know the old saying about not looking a gift horse in the mouth, well I'm looking. I must wonder as these crickets came from within the neighbor's house, so I must wonder if his wife wasn't already tired of the chirping from within and was ready for the crickets to be without, i.e. without of her house.

I do know the difference from a grasshopper and a cricket - I could find a grasshopper pic and not a cricket pic, so here you go. Plus, now guess where the crickets are..........my laundry room. They left the back door and gone to the laundry room and are only still safely in their cage with covering because I stayed up late and when it got quiet and the crickets didn't, then Mousie found them and the crashing sounds I was hearing was Mousie trying to get to the top of the baker's rack at the backdoor where the crickets were. Can you imagine?? We never would have gotten them all out of here. I cannot wait til morning when the crickets can go outside. I cannot believe I am housing crickets because they don't like the cold. I am one confused city slicker. :)

Mignon

Saturday, March 14, 2009

American Craft Guide Day 2 of Online Show

Check out the show!! :)

http://handmadeshow.com


You won't be disappointed. :)
Just see the list of artisan shops on the right and click the heading to get all the shops in that category. Leave comments for chances to win artisan pieces donated by the shops in the show. :)

Mignon

Fifty States Tour - Hello Alaska :)


Etsy shopowners from Alaska are currently sending me the 'oks' and sending me photos from their shops for me to upload to the blog for my Alaska tour. :)

Welcome Alaska!!! :)

This is a little work, but it is a lot of fun too. ;)

Mignon

Friday, March 13, 2009

Check out the Craft Festival




You can see some of my latest postings above. :) I'm looking forward to making my own 'V' shaped pendant necklace as this one went in the shop. This is a new design for me and a line I will likely pursue as part of a therapeutic positive energy line as sometimes you just need relaxing jewelry for a hectic day. I wanted one that went well with relaxing and calming thoughts, i.e. finding one's center in the midst of chaos. Then, I must admit I love polymer clay flower pendant and necklace and the pink flower would be a beautiful accessory for some sweet girl out there. :)

Do, swing on over to the American Craft Guide site. I can definitely see myself doing more virtual shows with them. I paid about $13 and that amount covers me being in the show from March 13 - April 5. RUkidding me?? That's the kind of pricing I can do. :) There are 50 artisans in the spring show. I just added a pottery maker to my favorites. The artisan makes the pottery, then pours soy candles into the piece, and to finish it off, adds a bead or vintage piece of jewelry on a string to the piece of pottery. Really beautiful. The costume pieces of jewelry on the pottery are pretty enough to wear!! It's like a 2-for-1.

http://www.madhatterspottery.etsy.com

But, really, please go see the virtual craft show. Many of us are even doing discounts exclusively for the folks who come see us at the show. :)

I must admit my favorite shop thus far is the pottery one. Go on over and let your fingers do the walking and check out the virtual craft festival. Plus, if you leave comments, then you are entered into the drawings for 30 some-odd giveaways that various shop owners are doing, including myself. :) I've already left some comments and I'm heading back over there now to leave some more. :)

Mignon

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Fifty States Tour - Alabama: Shop #7




http://www.VivianLampwork.etsy.com
A jewelry designer can always use some beautiful high quality artwork beads and folks, we have found a treasure here in this shop. These lampwork beads are Spectacular!!! I would love to design a piece of art jewelry with any of these lovely beads. :)

So, even if you aren't a jewelry designer, swing by, as you will feel like you walking through an art show with your fingertips. I can easily string you up a colorfast cord with sterling silver findings for one of these pieces. :)

Enjoy yet another great highlighted shop on my tour.

Mignon

Virtual Craft Show






I am in my first online craft fair and it starts tomorrow. Check it out, tell me what you think, and I'll let you know if I think it is worth doing again. :) Also, I have donated some piece of jewelry, I forget what.....oops.....for the giveaways the ACG is doing. And, if you go to my shop via the ACG, then you will get a discount off either by convoing me during the virtual craft show before you buy or I can credit your acount afer you buy, but you have to tell me you are there from the ACG craft show and how much the discount is supposed to be. :)

Hello everyone!

Hope you all are as excited as we are about opening day for i heart handmade spring, which opens Friday the 13th! (That's a very lucky day, if you ask me.) The finishing touches are being put on the show website, located at http://handmadeshow.com. Visitors to the American Craft Guide website will be directed to the show site by clicking on "Virtual Arts & Crafts Show" in the navigation or on any show advertising. The show will be promoted in various mediums, including e-newsletters, our own virtual community (http://americancraftguide.ning.com), search engines, and a variety of websites. The show will be open on Friday -- so be sure to check it out, hype up your spot to your current customers, and take a peek at your fellow handmade artists! This is a wonderful opportunity to be seen, increase traffic to your online stores and blogs, build on your current customer base, and make sales.

Keep us up-to-date during the show, too! Whether it's to say you made a sale or to update any of your page information (from product pictures to show specials to links - just email us back at american@americancraftguide.com). And be sure to check back each day to see new feautures on our artists, find out about prize giveaways (donated by participating exhibitors), check comments on your page, and more.

Check comments, you ask? Well, our virtual arts and crafts show site allows visitors to leave comments or questions on your page. Don't worry, we'll moderate the comments so nothing spammy gets through, but do keep an eye on your page. In addition to leaving comments, visitors can also forward/bookmark your page using various social networking sites, like Technorati, Stumbleupon, and Digg. We're getting viral here!

If you haven't already, pick up a badge or ad to show your support for the i heart handmade spring show. The more we show off the show, the more traffic we all get. You can find those at http://handmadeshow.com/about or at http://handmadeshow.com (look along the sidebar on any page in the show).

Have a great show everyone! And remember, if you need to update information just email us back at american@americancraftguide.com.

Jessica & DJ

American Craft Guide

Join our virtual community of handcrafters, indie artists, and hobbyists at http://americancraftguide.ning.com


Check it out, you may want to join ACG. Joining is free, it's a social network, affiliated with Ning, I believe, so if you have a Ning account, then you don't even have to create a new account. You can pay to be in the artisan directory, which I haven't done yet, but intend to do. Then, there are the virtual craft shows and apparently they have several a year. Something to think about, leastwise. ;)

Mignon

Fifty States Tour - Alabama Shop #6





http://www.Majo.etsy.com

Oh wow, check out the quality level in the art in this shop. You will not be let down. Plus, it takes one back to one's childhood from tire swings to barns to pastures and just beautiful landscapes.

This shopowner's paintings deserve 5 stars!! :)

She has original paintings, original ACEO's (my newest addiction), handpainted jewelry, ornaments, and magnets and that isn't even all. :)

So, go on over to Majo's and check it out. :)

http://www.Majo.etsy.com
Mignon

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

First Surprise for My One Brave Poem Writer! :)



The shipping label is printed. The surprise is wrapped in my traditional little wrappings inside of one of my cardboard jewelry boxes I use to safely delivery contents to the receiver.

What can it be you may ask???

I wouldn't tell when I started the giveaway, so do you think I'll tell now???? Nope. You'll just have to wait and see and just maybe, the winner or I might blog about it - might. The best part is I'm not finished. I've already picked out her next happy and who knows when I might get in the mood to send it. :)

Mignon

Kitty Drama


So, hubby and son leave to go up the street to the neighbor's house to visit. I'm going to be following on the golf cart in a few minutes when I finish getting neighbor's jewelry together that I had been working on for her - repairs and such. 5 - 8 minutes had probably passed. I get up to leave and the back door is open. The sun has set, it's dark, and God only knows how many cats are missing. I was frantic. The wild pack dogs are still lose out there somewhere and they've already chased a neighbor down the street, yes they chased an actual grown man, but luckily he was on his 4-wheeler. Got hubby to come home immediately while I frantically did a headcount to see who got outside. Syl was at the door when I got to it, so he came back in. Mousie couldn't be found in any of her hiding spots in the house. We went all over our yard. Hubby went all over the vacant yard where the crazies lived. I heard a meww and hubby saw eyes in the dark - we were apparently seeing and hearing two different cats. I go in to relook in the house and when I get to the back door, there's Mousie trying to figure out how to get in the gate. I get her in, chew her out, spank her on the butt, and give her a good talking to and assuming hubby must have gotten her to that point of being at the gate. I call out that I've got her and call for him a couple times and no reply, so I figure he must have gone to the neighbors. I go to the neighbors on the golf cart. No hubby. I call his phone, no answer, the ringer is off. He comes to the neighbor's house in the midst of me calling his phone over and over. He comes in and thanks me for locking the door as it made it harder for him to put Mouse in the house......................what, come again. You put who in the house???? He says he put Mouse in the house??????? I'm like, no, I put Mouse in the house, who did you put in the house??? Hubby says, you're kidding right??? He had managed to catch Mousie's and Sapphire's and late Obsidian's very feral mom and put her in our house. lol. She's very pregnant and 3x as big as Mouse and her eyes are gold and Mousie's eyes are green like her Daddy's were. Our neighbor's laughed so hard they were in tears. Neighbor said he was getting his cat and putting him in the house before my husband came back and swiped him, lol.................I laughed til I cried. Neighbor said we had so many darn cats that we didn't even know what cats were ours, lol...............I know which ones are mine, lol.

So, we get home and the door gets opened again. We already know Syl climbs the back door and now we are guessing he has learned to open it, lol. The handle is one of those lever handles that you can pull up or down and the door opens, which is great for folks with hand issues like mine - very easy to open. Apparently so easy that Syl can open the back door........Since I've been sitting here I've heard him rattle the doorknob again, but this time the door is locked. The funny part is that Syl doesn't even want outside. He's just found a new toy - our door knob........

Mousie is the black one in the photo.......... :)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Fifty States Tour - Alabama #5




I've come across a delightful new shop on Etsy. Give her a warm welcome from all you art lovers out there and tell her I sent you. I am sure she will do well on Etsy. It just takes lots of patience, time, learning marketing, and more time. :)

http://www.illustratedgarden.etsy.com

She has paintings, prints, and handmade raku tiles. Raku pottery is another weakness of mine. I love raku pieces. :) One posting is for Raku magnets for the fridge and my favorite statement is "Caffeine is my co-pilot." I could really use some caffeine right now!! :)

Definitely go visit this adorably sweet shop. I've been needing a fairy picture and I have the inclination that this shop's owner could make me one. It's rather hard to explain to a six-year-old what the tooth fairy looks like.......... :)

Enjoy! And, add this one to your favorites too. I am going to have so many favorites by the time this tour is over!

http://www.illustratedgarden.etsy.com

Mignon

Fifty States Tour - Alabama; Shop #4






http://www.yippihippi.etsy.com

Ha, I've met someone after my own heart. :) Someone who loves tye die!!!!!!!!!! And, let me tell you the best part!!!!!!!!! She has sizes from infant up to Adult 5XL, and that is quite noteworthy. I came across a t-shirt shop yesterday with the coolest shirts and they stop at size Large and their unisex shirts were not nearly as cute. So, to find a shop that has adorable t-shirts that can be custom-ordered to whatever size you need, well that's just worth 5 stars and then she uses colorfast dyes aka they aren't going to fading on you before you wear the shirt in really good. :)

Resin Jewelry, handmade tags, giftcards, and tie dye - what a great selection of fun gifts that would be great for many occasions. :)

http://www.yippihippi.etsy.com

Enjoy!!

Mignon