Foxy Findings Created ArtFire!

Maybe you already know this, it was a suprising discovery for me this morning. Foxy Findings, "At Foxy Findings we are committed to your success and the support or your business. We work tirelessly to lower prices and ensure your complete satisfaction. We want you to know that your investment in Foxy Findings, by choosing to purchase your beading and craft supplies with us, is an investment in your further success!

To support you as a designer and business owner, we have built ArtFire.com to help deliver on this promise to you. ArtFire is a complete market place and community for handmade artists where you can list your jewelry and handmade crafts for sale, absolutely free of charge! "

How did I find out? Go to ArtFire and click (see below):

100% STERLING BRACELET OR ANKLET - HANDWOVEN

Woven 100% Sterling Silver Bracelet or Anklet. Custom made individually to your measurement (length) specifications.

In message to seller: Please include total length including clasp and I will create one especially for you.

Please allow up to 3 weeks for delivery, however you likely will not have to wait this long I just want to be certain that you will not be disappointed :)

Will not tarnish!






$70 includes shipping & delivery confirmation

Sunday Sunset

Spur of the moment is unusual for my dear husband. Though Saturday evening, at his request, we went out to the beach camera in hand. I would love to share the sights with you...

^^Perfection^^

^^Protecting the unborn sea turtle habitat^^

Deep breath, a sigh of peace

BLOGGERS UNITE 04/29/2009 FOR HUNGER & HOPE

All you have to do to help end world hunger is to join thousands of others bloggers on April 29 and write a post about world hunger.

• Even in the United States, 46 percent of African-American children and 49 percent of Latino children are considered chronically hungry.

• Join this event and add a badge to your blog before April 29.

• Post about world hunger on April 29 with links to solutions all over the world.

Click on either banner to join the fight

Have A Heart Fundraiser

Here's a chance to help an artisan's family and win a beautiful handmade quilt in the process.

JoAnn, of Pieceful Afternoon, is trying to raise the $25,000 copay that is required for her husband Don's open heart surgery.

To raise the money that is needed for the surgery, JoAnn is actually holding a raffle which gives everyone out there the opportunity to win a gorgeous quilt. A quilt which just happens to be Don's all time favorite quilt.

One look at this quilt and one cannot help but smile! "Grandmother's Flower Garden" will fit a double sized bed and was created using tone on tone bright cheery colors A quilt like this is sure to become the favorite in any household. Imagine snuggling up beneath this beauty made from 100% cotton.

Not only are you getting the chance to win a gorgeous quilt but you're also helping a fellow artisan's family! Now that is a true reason to smile.

Head over and find out how you can be entered into the raffle. One major way you can help is spreading the word! Blog about it and pass the word along (this will get you some entries by the way)! Feel free to copy and paste this post.

Wednesdays Fun!

Yesterday was a wonderful experience. Several of us were invited to a friends house (my former teacher of the past 12 Fridays) for some beading fun. Six of us sat around Judy's dining table in her museum of a home, as she and her retired neurologist/psychiatrist/accomplished cellist have traveled the world extensively.

Judy is a retired art instructor, handles all of the grants for The Van Wezel Performing Hall, is involved in elder-hostel, and maybe only she knows what else. That woman rarely stops, though for the several trips she and Jack take every year.

We chit-chatted, got to know one another a bit, had snacks, took the home tour, had show & tell, and created. The mixture of ages and backgrounds were a various as were the faces making for an "stinkin" awesome afternoon.

Last to leave, I was invited to come back next Tuesday to display some of my jewelry pieces while Judy brings in a group for lunch, using this as a segway (guise) for future students to take her 6 week jewelry design course...*clears throat* while giving me the opportunity to sell.

etsyBloggers Blog Carnival for April 24th, 2009

BLOG CARNIVAL


^ SPONSORED BY ^

Topic's to choose from for this Carnival:

1. Now that spring has sprung, it's planting time. If you're into gardening, what would your dream garden look like? What flowers/bulbs/herbs would you plant? What about garden doodads or statues?

2. Your Own Space: describe your dream studio (or if you already have one, give details!). Decorating, supplies you wish you had, size, etc.

The house we live in has a small cottage on the property with a huge front room, eat-in kitchen, and full bathroom (shower only). For many, many, many years it was used for extra income as a rental. Many family members have lived in it. After the last tenant left, it was decided that I would move from our daughters former bedroom and into the cottage, and make it into my studio.

Already a dream come true, my goal is to reorganize to make the space a better place for me to work, and to add a television.

My studio space has a huge desk, this computer, loads of storage with loads of inventory, a nice size work table, lighting, shelving galore, and display cases. Boxes for shipping, a few antiques, and enough other "stuff" that is has become crowded, and grown into disarray.

Funny that I used to be the perfect homemaker, however since becoming empty-nesters, and realizing that perfection is overrated, I have become a perfect procrastinator! This space is a dream, and needs to look like one again.

Maybe writing this will help me to achieve my goal.

dittle doop diddle doop diddle doop: This just in...motivation struck and I just finished a long awaited organizational project. One down, eons more to go...

EARTH DAY - IS EVERYDAY!

Earth Day 2009, April 22, will mark the beginning of the Green Generation Campaign!

This two-year initiative will culminate with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. With negotiations for a new global climate agreement coming up in December, Earth Day 2009 must be a day of action and civic participation, to defend the Green Generation’s core principles: Family with windmills: Renewable energy for future generations.

Nelson viewed the stabilization of the nation's population as an important aspect of environmentalism and later said:

"The bigger the population gets, the more serious the problems become ... We have to address the population issue. The United Kingdom, with the U.S. supporting it, took the position in Cairo in 1994 that every country was responsible for stabilizing its own population. It can be done. But in this country, it's phony to say 'I'm for the environment but not for limiting immigration.'"

(Click above banner to join and participate)

And while you are here, check out these shops from my Pay It Forward series.

What better way to celebrate "our" and feel Smoopy at the same time? Looking for a great Mother's Day Gift? Here you go, for the side of the tub during a giant bubble bath, on the dinner table eating dinner by candle light, in the bedroom for some ambience... let your own imagination create the possiblities...

Candles by Donald

CozyCottageCreations

Tiny Trees Boutique

Bags By G

BlogFire April 24th Blog Carnival

(click photo)

"APRIL SHOWERS"

We could use some here, however we were able to enjoy a lot of nature this weekend without rain. Saturday & Sunday my husband & I went "catching" (fishing) bringing home four sea trout, a bluefish, and a mackrel. You know what we are having for dinner tonight!

One of our life's greatest pleasures is the ability to enjoy the beautiful gulf and its bounty. The rising or setting of the sun while on the water, dolphin eating or dancing on their tails. Birds that live on the salt waters generousity, huge starfish, seahorses, stone crabs aplenty, shrimp to fish with/leftovers if any a delicious treat, and water of color some only imagine.

As usual, my camera is attached to me like another apendage. At anytime during our visits to the water we are apt to see a variety of sea birds, pelican, varieties of crane, and others that I do not know the name of. However, I will share a few photographs...

Last weeks catch - 8 sea trout

FREE UNTIL JUNE 1st

( click on above banner)

Pricing:
250 x 250 (pixel) ad (with imbedded to link to your website or online store) Free Until June 1st

Who We Are
Well, it is not so much a We as it is a Me, Me is Paula Picard.

I am a collage artist and graphic designer. I have also been in the retail industry for over 25 years (yes, I am old). My personal philosophy is "keep it simple stupid" and "where is the beef?" When I want to shop, I want to shop. I do not want to read all kinds of articles or skip all around a website looking for something to buy.

What are you selling? That is what I want to know. I personally think there are more people out there like me. So, I created this simple little website with that philosophy in mind. Links at the top have some basic information as well as links to category pages. If you want a candle- you click on the candle link- and there are stores that sells candles! Imagine that!!

You can link to your Artfire shop or any other shop that you wish.

I created this website in the hopes of gathering up some other indie artist to share some advertising and promotional space. Advertising is expensive when you are paying for it all alone. So, I figured- if a bunch of us got together and put up our ads on simple website (no bells and whistles, chat rooms, forums, complicated links etc) we could get some exposure and promote our work.

ArtFire has show starting on BHR!

Behind the Beta April 15

Posted by sara on 2009-04-15 15:10:31

Happy mid-week artisans!

Inside Handmade

Next Thursday (April 23) the first ever Inside Handmade Radio Show with John and Tony will air at 1:30 p.m. eastern time on Blockhead Radio!

Inside Handmade will feature John and Tony giving behind the scenes information about the site, including tips, contests, trivia, and much more!

We plan to have this special ArtFire show feature once a week, with our CEO and COO coming on the air to share business expertise and ideas, so be sure to check it out!

TulipsTreasureBox

Easter Sunday We Went Catching...

A gaggle of sea trout, and our boat limit of 4 per person, per boat. Dinner was delish!!! Umm... Enough for 8 meals, though hubs has someone in mind to give one to. It was a GREAT day!

Blessings....

Happy Hour!

Borrowed from SassaLynne and Blogland Junkie

byhand.me - a "MUST" for all!

Enter to win one full, free week of advertising for your shop, website, or blog on byhand.me!

The winner will receive a FREE 200x200 pixel ad in byhand.me

Interested? Click on the banner on the left.


And, for beautiful, quality, handmade jewelry, check out my friend "Elegance by Mode". Just click on the banner above.

EC Advertisers Listen Up!

Hopping on the bandwagon after reading the following post here: Life's Perfect Pictures

EC Experiment:

I accepted 21 of the billion paid ads for experimentations sake and here is what I found!

First let me say that my scientific methods were not very scientific and included only hitting the refresh button 20 times and here are my findings:

Of the 20 time I hit refresh the person who paid credits to show up on my widget was there 12 times or 60%! Paid ads showed up the rest of the time but not in any kind of equal rotation.

One ad showed up twice, one showed up three times and then three different ads showed up one time each! SO, what happened to the rest of the 16 paid ads in my que that did not appear at all when I hit the refresh button?

Another thing I noticed is less EC dropping and virtually NO EC ads to my site that paid credits to me! (note by this blog owner: I AM HAVING THIS SAME SITUATION) So my solution is as follows:

Since I am not sure how to feel about the new EC system of paid advertising I have decided to do my own version! Starting tomorrow this is how I will handle all paid ads!

If you want me to accept your paid ad you MUST FIRST sign up for a normal advert that you buy from me using EC credits! Once this is done I will approve your paid EC ad, however, if you cancel your advert with me before it runs I will also cancel your paid ad. I think this is a fair deal!

Just so you know, this is a business blog so I will not accept just anything to run on my blog! This will continue, so if you want me to run your paid ad you will pay me ECs to run on my widget the old way too!

~Lily

etsyBloggers Team - Feature Blogger of the Month

(click banner for transport to shop)

Mama Z, "I am a SAHM of two silly zany kids. They keep me busy and on the brink of insanity. I am trying to find a balance between kids, husband, self, housework, scrapbooking, sewing, and selling things on etsy. I love being with family, having fun, the outdoors, and being creative. I have an adorable but challenging toddler and a precious baby girl. Their zany personalities keep me going and inspire me on a daily basis."

So this is kinda how I pictured things!

However, this is really them!

Mama Zany has been one of my favorite team comedians since the very beginning.

Her wit grabs you and keeps you enthralled.

See for you self: "I have officially become "that person"!

Mama Zany has been one of my favorite team comedians from the very beginning. Her wit and ability to express it keeps you enthralled.

See for yourself: "I have officially become "that person"!

Congratulations Mama Zany, you deserve the spotlight. I hope the bulbs are energy efficient!

Entrecard Paid ads free.

Just as "Is a Mans World" I have decided not to accept paid ads on Entrecard. The reason for this is because i believe Entrecarders like myself put a lot of time and effort into promoting our blogs and if people are paying me their hard earned EC to advertise with me then it should be honored by me to promote their site to the best of my ability during the 24 hours they are there.

This is not the way Entrecard should make money for themselves, They are decreasing the value of EC by doing so. I have no problem in helping Entrecard to make money but not at the expense of my advertisers.

No offense to any of those ive declined as paid ads.

etsyBloggers Team April 10th Blog Carnival

Our host is Lilbees for the April 10th etsyBloggers Team BLOG CARNIVAL

(click banner for transport to shop)

Choose one of the following topics to write about & submit your published blog article to Since

April 22 is Earth Day... Let's Go Green!

1) What is green in your shop? (this can be something literally green in color, or something eco-friendly)
-OR-
2) What do you do (or what can you do!) to make your etsy business or home a little bit greener?

Choosing #2: What we do to make our home a little bit greener?



1.) Rain barrels
2.) Use a dish pan to wash dishes and use the water on your plants and landscaping. When not washing dishes, keep the dish pan in the sink for rinsing things, washing your hands, etc...collecting the water to use the water on your plants and landscaping.
3.) The hot water heater is turned to a lower temperature.
4.) We are on a plan with the power company. They have the ability to turn off certain electric using items in our home, for limited periods of time. This saves us money, and we earn $ credit.
Examples: Hot water heater, a/c units, and swimming pool pump.
5.) Hang washed laundry on the clothes line.
6.) Changed all light bulbs possible to the energy savers.
7.) Compost.
8.) Shopping for clothes at 2nd hand stores such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army who has 1/2 all clothing every Wednesday!
9.) Buy as much organic fruits & veggies as possible from our local farmers market.
10.) We recently tried recycled paper toilet tissue and found it to exceed our expectations.
11.) Cut back on the amount of groceries we keep in the house...
12.) Leading to us being able to shut down the extra refrigerator/freezer we used.
13.) Recycle used computer paper (when available). Cut up for notes, regular for lists such as a grocery list.
14.) Use totes when shopping, and return any plastic to the recycle bin at the store.
15.) Buy and use handmade soaps.
16.) Use our cities weekly curbside recycling program for plastic, glass, and paper.
17.) Put a water filter on the kitchen faucet to refill glass bottles instead of buying bottled water. Paid for itself in the first 1/3rd of usage.
18.) Use our fireplace and wood burning stove in lieu of electric heat.
19.) Drive more conservatively and try to only run errands when more than one can be done at a time.
20.) Added insulation.

I am certain that there is more, if I think of more I will come back and add it to this list.

Excellent topic choice. This is not something that you can put off any longer. Reduce your footprint on our earth today. Your children will thank you. You will feel better.

BLACK-N-WHITE NECKLACE & EARRINGS SET ONYX, MOTHER OF PEARL+

"Black-n-White" Necklace & Earring Set

Earrings: 1 1/16" x 5/16 Sterling Silver, Black Onyx and Mother of Pearl

Necklace: 13" total length from top of clasp to bottom of Faceted Black Onyx & Sterling Silver Pendant.

Black Onxy, Faceted Toramalinated quarts, Czech Glass (small amount), Sterling Silver. Black Onyx, Mother of Pearl & Sterling Silver Slide Pendant (above bottom pendant). Sterling Silver & Black Onyx Clasp.

This is a beauty!

$299.00 set. Worldwide Delivery Included.