New Goodies to Play With

I got some supplies yesterday. I was basically stalking the UPS man. These pretties came from my mailman from Canada. I can't wait to play with all this vintage goodness. The fleur de lis crest & crown don't have holes so I'll have to drill them or attach these to filligrees. The round filigree is a setting for a cab & I have plans for the buckle on the right. Teresa had a cute tutorial on the Bellarama ezine. The flower cabs can be used as is or I can put something in the center. Perhaps some bling :) EDITED: I forgot to tell you. The Canadian goodies came from Paper Valise.

My cousin went to a gem & jewelry show & totally spoiled me. (Excuse these pictures. The UPS man didn't come until almost 6PM. Doesn't he know I need natural light for this stuff) I didn't even take pictures of all the things she sent me. I need to go & look up what the stuff above is. I think the purple/green rocks above are tourmaline.

Amazonite carved flowers ~ These will look cute with the vintage ones in the top photo

Millefiori Beads

Green Wednesday

I just think this is so fun! The Vintage Journal is hosting Green Wednesday. We can either post something crafty in green or go green & repurpose/recycle.

When I go to estate sales or junking I often buy buttons in cute little glass bottles. I spruced this up with some paper ribbon around the body of the glass & felt heart & a glittered die cut crown. I spray painted the lid in a bright glossy pink & put ribbon around the rim. I first saw the idea on Analise's blog. It was awhile back, so I don't have the link. I just tucked the idea in the back of my mind. These can be used to store all sorts of cute embellishements. I have to have cute storage.

And The Oscar Goes To...

Aren't these guys cute? I got them at Pier 1 this week. I got this crown there too. I just want to get anything with a crown on it for my creative space. Part of my challenge is that we move all the time. I love having artwork & swaps displayed & little chotchkies that inspire me. It gets frustrating knowing it's all going to get packed up & I don't know what kind, if any, creative space I'll have. We've moved so frequently the last 5 years that we have not been in 1 place for at least 12 months.
I can't belive this is my 200th post on this blog. I've been kicking around ideas to celebrate. I was thinking of having a show me your crown/tiara party or doing a tag book swap with a crown theme. I've never hosted anything, well, I have hosted a bunch of little kids over for a few birthdays :)

Pink Saturday ~ Feb 21

Happy Pink Saturday! There have been a huge number of participants, so make sure you go to Beverly's blog to say hi & see who else is showing their pink.Here are a few works in progress on my craft table. I'm so excited about where my work is going these days. I keep finding these little tangents & going down those paths. I think I may even have another collection in me. I am such NOT a collection designer, but I'm just going with it. It's wonderful to have all these ideas swirling in my head.

Left to right:

• A faceted button layered with a fish button on a brass setting. A glass & fresh water pearl & Swarovski starfish dangle from vintage chain. I've been playing with these elements for a couple of weeks & finally had a break through.

• The next necklace has pink & yellow Czech glass beads on one side. I think I'm going to put some vintage chain on the other (just waiting for some new supplies to arrive). This bead is so pretty. It has a mix of clear & opaque pink & yellow colors. It has a vintage brass heart shaped lock with a heart shaped key (finished by Patina Queen), a pink Swarovski ring & glass pearls.

• The last one is a "bouquet" of flowers & crystals from an orphaned earring. The bouquet has lots of pink crystals & flowers. It hangs from vintage chain. I had to ask my hubby if it looked alright all on it's lonesome. I have that "more is better" symdrome sometimes :)

Last but not least is the funniest cartoon my mom sent me in my Valentine's package. I immediately thought of my Pink Saturday friends! While I am a proud Florida State alumn, I got a good laugh from this one. I also have to take some pics of some crochet flowers my mom made me. I got a couple of pink ones & used one on my sweater this week.

What I've Been Up To

I've done a few updates on my Lollishop this week. I would have like to have gotten more in, but we've been sharing germs in our household. My oldest son gasped when I told him dad was going to the doctor for eye crap as well. He said "Now 3 of us have it." I've been the lone hold out. Spring, can you get here any quicker?

I was able to list a couple of rings & journals, a bracelet & a pair of earrings. The week's not over yet, so perhaps I'll get a few more things in. Or maybe not, it's now Friday night & I'm beat & ready for bed.

I'll be back tomorrow for Pink Saturday.

Puppy Love ~ Young Love ~ Crafty Love

Thanks to Miss Karla for hosting this wonderful swap.

This is the puppy cover I received from Karla & some of the embellishments attached to my book.

This front & back had no artist listed. If it's yours, let me know so I can add your name or link.

The tag on the left is from Jenny. The tag on the right is from Cheryl.

This tag set is from Carrie.

This tag set is from Marilyn.

Last by not least, this set is by Shawn

If you want to see some other tags you can take a peek at the flickr group or from those who have blogged about it.

Where Women Create ~ Where I Create

Love this magazine. As I do most all Stampington magazines. I have a bit of an obsession with them. My hubby understands it is an addiction with the number of titles I purchase at $15 a pop. I'm so excited that Lollishops is doing its advertising in these magazines.

Within the last few weeks I've purchased Somerset Life, Somerset in Love, Art Journaling, Artful Blogging & Where Women Create. I can't say no. I might the first time I see the magazine, but the next time I normally talk myself into it.

I wanted to show were I create. Ha ha, this is "clean" for me. I'm one of those messy artist people. I'm so happy to even have this area. It's in our living area, so I can watch the kids, do laundry & cook all at the same time (ha ha, not really). We hired an organizer to help us purge all this "crap" we've been hauling for the last 10 years. Because of her, I don't have crafts taking over every room & I have an "organized" space. Yes, it's organized to me. And there's my little Josh. He wanted to be in the picture too.

Like the new blog background? It's from Rhonna's new venture House of 3. I'm in ♥ ♥ LOVE. I'm getting a new header too, but I need to figure out which one :) So many choices

OWOH Winner

Congrats to Tamy of 3 Sides of Crazy (#33 of 730!!) If you go over to her blog right now she has a delicious sherry garlic scallop recipie! Yummy!!

This year has been amazing. I have so many of you to visit & it will take me all year to do so. I can't get over the sheer number of visitors & kind comments you all left. Thanks for participating & I hope to see you all around blog land :)

Happy Valentines Day ~ Happy Pink Saturday ~ A Party!

Happy Pink Saturday & Valentines Day! What a perfect combo. Go visit Beverly to see how many of us are celebrating today. I bet there are quite a few.

Let's Get Dolled Up! Several lollishop bloggers are hosting a virtual party. It's a fun one!

Visit Chelsea Ann's Blog (she's the hostess with the mostest & some of the cutest party favors in her store) Itty Bitty Birdie on February 14th and visit all the participating blogs for your chance to win some fabulous Door Prizes!Each Blog Party will have an item from their LolliShop hidden in their Party Photos. You will find each vendor's item and comment "I found it" to win! If your comment is chosen, you will be asked to name the item you found to win your Door Prize.

If you want to meet more lolli friends go here to the networking site. To see some pictures of the event you can check out the flickr group.

I've been sick off & on this week. I bet some of you know how it is when your little ones bring all sorts of germs home & all of you just share for weeks on end. I'm there! I didn't have a chance to get my party pictures done, so I'm not able to participate as a vendor. I hope you do visit those participating. There are so many talented artists involved.
My sweet hubby got me the cutest pink watch for Valentine's day. I told him not to get me anything & he told me it was a practical gift I needed. I'll post a picture of it later. I don't have one yet! I'm so glad this week is over. Hopefully I'll be back to my well self after the weekend. I miss my crafting & taking photos & stalking flickr.

OWOH Winner Announcement

Hi All
I haven't picked a winner yet & I'm so sorry. I've been sick & have a few things to catch up on for my family. I will have a winner announced by sometime tomorrow.
Thanks
Nerissa

In ♥ ♥ LOVE♥ ♥

Molly, I'm in love with my package!!

My crappy pictures do not do these beautiful items justice. (Darn light left early for clouds) I was squealing while I opened the items. I tried to slow down so I could take some pictures. The light was not cooperating, so I had some dark pics or pics with flash. Molly is so talented & utterly spoiled me. I cannot thank her enough for my goodies.
The kids are already bugging me to make goodies in the baking pan. I also got a Mercury Glass cup (cute stuff headed in there for my art table), Dresdens, Sequins, the sweetest smelling cinnamon candles, a cute Valentine plant (I hope I don't kill it), a glittery pen, a big pink flower ornament... I could go on. Then I opened the heart ornament & found this
It's a knotted pearl necklace & earrings. I have to find out if she hand knotted this. Gorgous!! Thank you my friend!! I love how blogging & swaps brings new friends. Thanks to Heidi for hosting. There's a flickr group if you want to see more pictures.

Lollishop Update This Week

Seriously, can I have more fun on flickr, big huge labs & picnik. I'm not the best at photographing my items, but these things make my stuff look way cute.

The picture above is a teaser of some of the items I'll be adding to my lollishop this week. I'm adding my collaged work for the first time. I've been having a blast adding items to it this past week. I'm really making an effort to stock my store. I have all this wonderful work sitting here collecting dust. I figure I should find some good homes for them. I'm also offering Free Shipping through the end of the month.

I went shopping last week, who am I kidding, I go shopping every week. I found these darling rubber stamps in the Dollar Bin at Michaels. Lately, there have been lots of cute ones; swirls, damasks, birds & even a chandelier. Look at that cute owl. I hit an antique mall & got these onesie pieces of jewelry to play with. The green & blue flower one may end up on a ring & the flower ball with crystals is going to be a pendant. I just love rescuing these things.

Pink ♥Valentine♥ Swaps for Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday! I missed you last week. I was traveling & not able to participate. Make sure you go & visit Beverly's blog. Last week there was a record number of participants (WOW 151)

This wonderfully Pink & "so me" heart was given to me by my Secret Valentine Monica. This swap was hosted by the wonderful Mary Ann. Thanks ladies! Monica sent me some trinkets inside this gorgous box. The picture is just a few of the items. I had to put them away as my kiddos wanted to get into them for their own artwork. I also received a vintage hat, from her collection, some handmade Valentines & the sweetest smelling rose envelope. I love how blogging brings people together. Monica's husband recently joined the Army & it's wonderful to have found another military mom & friend.

I think I've finally figured out that Valentines is my favorite holiday to craft for. I've had such a fun time with the different swaps I've done. The lower pictures includes the heart box I created, a glass bottle I embellished, a mini compostion book & some goodies I hope she'll enjoy. I'm not going to link to her now since the box just went out today.

This is the last week of One World One Heart. My giveaway ends Feb 11 at 11:59PM. I'll be choosing a winner on Feb 12. Click on the OWOH link above or the globe over on my sidebar. If you want to enter my specific giveaway click here. I cannot even believe I've had 650 visitors to this post. Thank you for your kind comments. I feel like I've already found a ton of new friends. It may take me until next year's event to visit all of you :)

Snow Day

I finally got it! FINALLY