MIA for Awhile

Hi guys!! NO I haven't forgotten my blogging. I finally got my first nerve block put in about two weeks ago and have been resting a lot and taking it easy. Either I conveniently got sick at the same time as my nerve block or I had an allergic reaction to the block. I really cannot complain. I am game for anything that works at this point and if a little inconvenience of an allergic reaction is necessary to have a chance of feeling better, then I am all for it.

I have many blogs to read and catch up on and I have much to share on my own blog too. :) I'm still in the middle of Alaska and then will be contacting the next state for shopowners who would appreciate some free advertising via my highlighting. :)

A sweet new friend on Twitter tweeted about my shop last Friday and I honestly believe that she sent me a buyer for two of my postings on Etsy. How neat is that?? Needless to say I had two sales last Friday. So, I turned around and won an auction on Ebay tonight with part of the money earned - have decided that buying my son's wardrobe on Ebay is very beneficial and frugal. I bought the current school year's wardrobe off of Ebay last summer from a mom for $91 including shipping. Everything was designer. There are still pieces he hasn't worn. It was a ton of clothes and I priced them out and they would have cost me $1500 if I had paid retail at a department store.

We almost had a fire this past weekend. Luckily having a randomly overly sensitive sniffer and asthma paid off as I smelled the smoke before my family did. Not a single smoke alarm went off, but I'll save that story for another posting. We're minus a very good Wearever pot, but the kitchen, family, and pets are all ok. It took my lungs a few days to recover from smoke inhalation, but alls well that ends well.

A neighbor offered us deer meat tonight. I am so glad I told the hubby that we weren't turning down deer meat anymore as I wasn't expecting an offer for deer meat before fall. Hopefully we can go fishing this weekend. There are no fish in the freezer. Sitting in a chair on the side of the lake is not a bad way to spend a day.

Keep us in your prayers, I really must be well enough to work asap and find a job. I rather enjoy having electricity and hot water among other things like having a roof over our heads etc. I'm hoping I can be approved for a second nerve block. I've heard that it sometimes takes two blocks to really work and then if they work, then you are good for quite some length of time. You can have two blocks a year. I could deal with that if they work.

Well, I will be posting more soon. :)

Have a great weekend.

Mignon

50 States Tour - Alaska #4: Artisan Soaps and More

http://www.swanmountainsoaps.etsy.com

Wasilla, Alaska
This gal needs no introduction as clearly she has been found with 888 sales to date in the 13 months since opening her Etsy shop. I'm still dreaming about 20 sales and am in awe over 888. Congrats Swan Mountain!!!! The soap has these great extra touches that make them look like artsy little pieces of marble. From a few unscented bars (for all you allergy folks out there), men's soap (yep men have to bathe too), whipped shea body butter (I totally need that one after the cat shampoo), lotions, and even wedding party favors.

Here's a little excerpt from the home page. :)

Is your skin dry and tired, longing for a little attention? You're in the right place. We specialize in luxurious hand-made artisan soaps and body products, all made completely from scratch in small batches to ensure the highest quality and attention to detail.

Our products contain no detergents, fillers, or lather boosters, no formaldehyde, and no parabens - just naturally-good, skin-loving ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter and olive oil. Let us pamper your skin with a little taste of luxury!

Combined flat-rate shipping on up to 6 soaps is only $5 within the US, $11 for Canada and Mexico, and $13 for everywhere else ... We will gladly refund shipping overcharges.

So, why does the lotion label look so professional and like it came from Las Vegas?? Here's your answer:

We will customize the labels to say whatever you want - from "Welcome to Paradise!" to "Thank you girlfriend." Or, we can simply put the wedding pair's names or initials. We are happy to match your wedding colors.

That just definitely seals the deal as to why this shop has 888 sales to date!


Wasilla?? Need I say more?? I must say it! My favorite politician and soccer mom lives there!!!! Go Sarah!!! Really..... couldn't resist. :)

If you are one of the few people in the world who hasn't discovered this great shop, then don't you think it's time you did?? Check it out, grab a bar of soap for $5, plus a very reasonable $2.50 in shipping, so for $7.50 you have artsy artisan created soap and you never even got in the car. Tell her Mignon sent you - we'd love to know my highlighting of shops is working. :)

http://www.swanmountainsoaps.etsy.com

Enjoy! ;)
Mignon

....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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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