Hubs Threw Duct Taped Tent Out

Remember the old tent a few postings down........ That one didn't make it past the dumpster when we left the campgrounds for the last camping trip. One would think that sane people would like to camp less after Chinese water torture invaded our tent via the gully washer thunderstorms. What did we do?? We came home, researched tents, and found one on serious sale within days of the last camping trip - apparently most folks don't buy tents this time of year. We've been sitting on this tent for a month or so and found out that we will be putting it to use immediately. Wee one's cub scout's troop has monthly camping trips. There's one in December called the Polar Bear or something. R u kidding, they get badges for camping out in December.

I'm a confusing mixture of tomboy and girly girl; however, primitive camping is something new to me. We camp where I have running water at a camp site, camp very near the bathroom, and have numerous cords running to and fro for airing up the air mattress, running the fan, giving energy to the toaster oven (this is a must on nonprimitive trips - nothing like brownies baking at the campsite), and of course there's a cord for the camping lights to light up tree roots, critters, and whatever else that may need lit up. We leave the camp lights on all night so we can watch the racoon open up closed rubbermaid containers and steal our entire loaf of bread that was to be the morning toast kind of thing.

Speaking of bathrooms and primitive camping and finding out there was a hole in the ground for such needs.......I quickly told the hubs to return my new battery operated air mattress pump and buy me my own personal ummm, well, portable potty thingamajig err thing - there is such a thing at Walmart for those of you who don't go to the camping section - think 5 gallon bucket with a cushioned seat. The scout leader did let us know that there was an actual bathroom and not a hole in the ground farther away than where the scouts typically camp - guess who is camping out by the REAL bathroom. That's the girly girl with requirements. I get to keep my battery powered air mattress pump for the mattress AND get a real bathroom. I'm a happy camper.

Asked Hubs to please pack my open-cast reel - that's the tomboy side ready to bring in some catfish. I'll keep you posted on what fish I bring home the next trip. Then, I love fishing so much that a no-keeper/no-catch day is still a good day. They call it fishing, not catching.

Mignon

Lovely Stationery Giveaway

http://dawncorrespondence.blogspot.com/2009/09/booth-6-womens-fall-business-expo.html?showComment=1254152627763#c6396303598324463683

This charming artisan is having a giveaway on her blog. I just found her blog and started following, added her to the fanpages I follow, added her on Twitter, checked out her shop (obviously), and love her shop and blog.

Spectacular Talent On the Rise

I have the distinct pleasure of introducing you to a charming shop and its charming owner from http://www.sweetlimes.etsy.com





I will refer to her as S.L., aka Sweet Limes. I met S.L. back in probably the winter of 2009 - we clicked so quickly that we had no choice, but to become friends. I get to claim some of her pieces just before she went public with her etsy shop this month. I have the most beautiful purse, cuff bracelet, and business card holder all sewn by S.L. Somewhere in there we crossed the mutual giveways we had followed and won on each other's blogs and made each other what we would make our friends. Her sewing skills are spectacular and what really amazes me is how she can look at something and work it out in her mind and into a pattern on her roll of paper. From her paper drawing, she turns a creation into her own and what comes off of her sewing machine is nothing short of magical. It would be impossible to look at her work or in my lucky case - hold three pieces of her work in your hands and not smile - absolutely impossible.
What you see pictured are the amazing things she can do with scraps - she turned scraps into cloth cards and inserted cardstock inside for writing your special note. How creative can you get?? I cannot wait to buy my own set - having to play it close the vest right now or I would have already bought the gorgeous blue set. I'd suggest hurrying up if you plan on getting them before I do.
Also in the photographs is one of her cuffs. This particular one I predict to go off with fireworks with the recycle, reuse, folks as this cuff is a recycled piece of fabric - very creative indeed. So, add her to your favorites. I wait in wonder like a kid at Christmas wondering what she will put in her shop next. I've seen an outfit she's sewn for a wee one and the creativity just flows from every seam.

Mignon :)

Autumn's Alluring Secrets Earrings

Autumn's Alluring Secrets Earrings


I don't know what it is about wood, it's just something that connects me to nature - reminding me of camping trips I've been on where the fun, peace, and pleasure obtained could not be contained... reminding me of hikes on nature trails and trips to the beach where drift wood rolls onto shore from the waves. One has to find silence to hear God speak the clearest and on my lone walks down the beach or while sitting outside a rented cabin or our tent, I can find the silence that lets me listen the most intently. My favorite church is the one I go to alone when I have a moment to be alone with nature and 'be still' and listen.

May you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed designing them.

Mignon

Autumn Earth Element Wood Necklace

I've had some requests to do some jewelry designs in wood. Tell me what you think?? :)

These round rings aren't perfectly round anymore as I sanded each where the copper wire wraps - see how they fit just too perfectly? Hah, they didn't start out that way - this necklace was my first in this design so it was totally trial and error to get everything to work out as simple as it now appears. Funny how simple isn't always simple.

The cotton cording I use is colorfast and once I knotted the ends closest to the rings and used end caps at the clasp end, I also sealed them with jeweler's epoxy - no half jobs done at my design table - that's a promise.

The copper wire and the fabulous copper toggle will aquire that beautiful, although infamous, rust-brown copper penny color.

Do a search for shirts on Etsy and you are sure to find the perfect shirt to go with this superb earth necklace.

Mignon :>)

Camping and Duct Tape

So, we packed Ole Bessie with all our camping gear and fishing gear. We all had a great time.

However, have you ever heard of water torture???? Lol. Well, apparently our old tent of 6 years finally had enough withstanding the elements of extremes as we've camped when it was really hot and we've camped when the weatherman was really wrong and April had a last drop in temps down to the 40's and there's been quite a few storms while the tent was put up here and there. So, the old burgundy tent took her last stand this Labor Day. Hubs got sprinkle splashes on his side of the air mattress, while I was under the water torture corner. Splot splot splot all night long. Strangely enough my beach blanket is water resistent so I spent the night fully under my beach blanket. Some time in the middle of the night in the midst of thunder boomers, our wee one pushed up against me and I held the cover over both our heads with my hand over his ear blocking the thunder. We awoke to the only dry section of my pillow being precisely where my head lay.

A mixture of 99 cent table cloths I had from the Dollar Store and a roll of Duct tape was our saving grace. However, hubs elected to chunk the old tent at the dumpster on the drive out of the park. I must say that as we drove through the park that there were many others with all sorts of plastic concoctions covering their tents and canvas ends on pop-up campers. We weren't the only ones. We'll be sure to spray the water proof spray on the new tent, but really, 6 years for a $50 tent is pretty good and we're ready for our next tent.

Winner's Choice Jewelry Giveaway

Read the post below for details. This is a blogger's thank you giveaway! :)

The winner gets their pick of any jewelry listing in the shop.

Winner may choose from my Jewelry By Mignon Art Fire Shop, Jewely By Mignon Etsy Shop, or the DragonSlayer72 Bonanzle shop. Winner's pick. :)

Mignon

Special Giveaway Just for Jewelry By Mignon Blog Followers

This giveaway is just for followers of this blog. It is your thank you for following, reading, leaving comments on the blog, sometimes leaving suggestions for improvement, leaving caring words and more.

If you aren't following and would like to, then do so, I will take down a list of all followers, including new followers, at the end of the giveaway, use the random.org box at the bottom of the blog to generate a winning number and the winner gets to pick any ONE pair aka one posting of earrings in the shop.

Rules and rundown of requirements.

1. Follow this blog and comment.

2. No purchase necessary.

3. Just covering whatever legal (ness) there needs to be. No one under 18 may enter the drawing.

4. The giveaway will end September 18, 2009.

5. The winner will be announced in the days that follow. If the winner does not contact me in return within 7 days, then a new winner will be selected using random.org 's box at the bottom of my blog.

6. Leave a comment about your favorite posting or what you like about the shop etc. gets you an additional number in the giveaway.

7. Post the giveaway on Twitter with an @JewelryByMignon so I get it too, then you get another entry.

8. Blogging it on your blog gets you another entry when you come back here and leave a comment with the link so I can count it.

9. The photos included in this posting are simply samples of earrings in the shop. The winner gets to choose from the listings that are available in the shop, at the price of $20 or less, at the time of the winner being announced and the winner choosing.

Note: I reserve the right to go back to using the old hat and numbers on paper method should the number of entries go over 100.

That about does it, so get following, commenting, tweeting, and blogging and make sure I know it so I can count it. Remember the winner gets to pick their choice of any ONE jewelry posting that is $20 or under.

Mignon :) Happy Blogging.

First Facebook Winner :)

So, how does one choose a winner when one knows and is attached to those who entered the drawing???????? Hmmmmm. Well, there is a box at the bottom of my blog where I can enter the minimum and maximum numbers and the program chooses a number for me and this is just what I did. It's fair and I don't have to think about it.

The winner is #2. Now, I have to go into Facebook to find out who is number 2. :)

Congrats to you!!!

I will be doing more Facebook giveaways in the future and you guys who entered this one will be included in the next one. :)



Mignon

New Props

I've been trying to come up with my own unique backdrop that was more than changes in cloth etc. I've seen what various other shop owners do, but I had to find my own unique quirky thing to do. Copying others is not exactly what I had in mind, so when I came up with using the driftwood I had brought home from the coast, then I knew I had found something I could claim as my own. Even though I already like using my seashell collection from time to time as a prop too.

I think it really adds life through texture and contrast to the photography and we'll just have to see how this changes or improves my photo shoots.

Labor Day Sale

My first Labor Day Sale started last night! :>)

Over 20 jewelry pieces are on sale throughout the shop. "Labor Day Sale" has been added to the title to each listing that is on sale and the price is marked accordingly. There are earrings on sale starting at $5 and there are pendants and necklaces that have never been on sale before. It's a perfect opportunity to grab a great sale on some handmade artisan-created jewelry pieces. Many are OOAK.

If you aren't following the blog yet, you may want to do so now. A giveaway just for blog followers will happen soon. An exclusive first ever facebook giveway is ending this week. :)

Mignon

Free World Wide Shipping Today Only

Free World Wide Shipping purchases over $25 thru 8/30/09 Mention N Checkout I'll refund.... #etsy #jewelry #handmade

Click the title and it will take you straight to my shop. :)

Or here's the url: http://www.jewelrybymignon.etsy.com

Rejuvenate Aqua Sterling Silver Earrings

I love Amazonite, probably directly due to it reminding me of the ocean, the skyline, the waves hitting the shore, and then I'm off daydreaming about sailboats going by (remember my painting)and my mind has me listening to seagulls overhead, my son digging a huge hole while hubs scoops water to make the sand castle.

This pair of earrings is part of the Rejuvenate Aqua line, but are being sold separate of the necklace for those wishing to just buy the earrings. They are lovely all by themselves. I enjoy them so much that I may have to make me a pair even though I already have a pair of Amazonite earrings..........

Clicking the title takes you right to their page in the shop. :)

Get Out of Doghouse Jewelry Set

JewelryByMignon
http://www.jewelrybymignon.etsy.com

Artsy Swirls in Sterling aka Get Out of the Doghouse Jewelry Set

If your hubs or boyfriend or significant other has never been in the doghouse, then move right along as you don't need to read the post, so just skip the posting and click the title to go right to the shop. :)

It's getting harder and harder for hubs to use jewelry as a 'get out of the doghouse free card'. Why??? I can pretty well make and design most of the jewelry I like, want, or wear.

Nearly 7 years ago when I was drawing jewelry and hubs was making most of it, he would make me pendant or pair of earring when he got in the doghouse, but as the years went on, my designing has flat turned to my also creating jewelry too, so oops on his part, lol. I like flowers, but not in mass quantities of store-bought flowers that go in a vase. They just don't last, but so long, you know. So, what can hubs buy me now when he gets in the doghouse???? Suggestions??? New jewelry tools? Nah, not smart to give a woman tools when she's mad.

Have a peaceful day tomorrow. :)

Mignon

Custom Request :>)

I do love custom requests. :) Getting a request means they like my design style and want me to create something just for them. Love it. These earrings are per a request. Aren't they great, and if one is into current colors and shades, then yellow has been in since the spring and it is one of the colors to look for this fall. Of course, I'm a browns, golds, ambers, caramels, silvers, and grays kind of gal anyway - so there's more in my closet that these would go with than not. :)

They just look like spheres of sunshine...

Mignon :)

Artsy Swirls - Earrings in Copper and Steel

One of my first designs, if not my first design 6 years ago was a swirl drawing I did 6 years ago for a pair of earrings. I never get too far from my swirls.

These artsy swirls are shaped by hand (by me of course)and then hammered to complete their shaping. No two will be exactly alike and each set will be different from the next set.

Of course now I see swirls everywhere, lol. Walter Anderson even used swirls in his art. Imagine that.

http://www.jewelrybymignon.etsy.com

Mignon :)

Sweet and Simple Hoop Dangle Earrings

I was in the middle of designing something complicated and looked down and saw a loose hoop and a french hook lying near it and decided I had to make a pair. I love the over simplicity of them - that is what makes them.

Copper and surgical steel. Simple, easy, and goes with everything. Imagine that.

Mignon :)

My New Bonanzle Shop

I was finally talked into Bonanzle. :) A contact on Twitter talked me into it - Renegade. It just makes too much sense not to at least try it. It's a mixture of Ebay, Etsy, and Craigslist all in one. Technically, I can post my art, my jewelry, my eclectic vintage mixture, wee one's clothes that don't fit and more all in one location. However, thus far I'm just posting his clothes that don't fit and things of that nature. Please check me out on there. :)

There's no store front fee aka you get your site for free, BUT there is no posting fees at all for anything you post. If you sell something up to $10, then you only pay 50 cents in fees to Bonanzle. If up to $100, then you pay $1. How cool is that?? No calculating, just sweet, simple, cut and dry.

So, you can just click the title, it's linked to my new shop. I am DragonSlayer72 on there. :)

Barn Painting is Done

One of my dearest friends whom I've known for 24 years come this Autumn when she promptly took a photo of me on a seesaw, 24 years ago, and has held that picture as blackmail for 24 years now. Anyone know of someone with sticky fingers who could swipe the infamous picture for me........she always has it put away when I come over.

Anyway, Robin asked for a country painting, so I painted my first barn, and the photos are a print of the original for a matte high quality greeting card aka her birthday card. I've already printed some for the shop too. The painting has a larger scene, but zooming in on the barn made such a nice shot for a card.

So, let's hope she enjoys her very time-consuming birthday card.

Painting in Progress

I have to wrap my mind around finishing this painting. There is so much to be done, yet there's always that fear of messing up something that took so long to get this point...........This is my first barn painting and this one was a request. I've shot a lot of barns to paint at some point, but never got around to the point of painting one. This one is per a request. Will I ever get over feeling like sharing my paintings would be like someone else sharing their diary???