Take a Look at My Etsy Shop!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

New Addition to our Family





As of this past Monday, July 6th, we are the owners of a 10 month old Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (we think she's a purebred) named Marlie. She comes to us from a rescue organization in Washington State. What a sweetie she is! We're in love with her already and she and Fergus get along famously. Joe has been looking for a Grif for some time now, but the price was an issue. So we thought we'd check out rescues and we found Marlie!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Our ongoing garden saga



Our garden is growing like gangbusters! We are eating our own lettuce now. The tomatoes are reaching for the sky. My carrot seeds are just sprouting. I bought some of those seeds for the little short, stubby carrots. We have raspberries on our vines now. It won't be a bumper crop, but they are all ours (and the birds). Our blueberries really took a hit with moving them last summer and our terrible snow and wind storm last December. I don't think we're going to get much from them this year. They're my favorite!

I just posted some new additions to my Etsy shop. Check them out!

I keep waiting for my daughter to get proficient at lampworking so I'll have another source of beautiful lampwork beads. Check out her shop, http://www.junipergems.etsy.com. She is just learning the trade, but I know she will be excellent at it. She has such a creative mind.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Garden Time!






It's been a while since I last posted on my blog. I started working part-time and with my Etsy shop, I just ran out of time to work on my blog.

The weather finally turned nice and my husband built two raised beds in our backyard for veggies. Two of our neighbors came to our rescue and helped haul dirt from our driveway down to the backyard for the beds. Don't know what we would have done without them (we'd still be moving dirt)! Last weekend we bought some plants and seeds and got everything planted. Now we have to wait for the produce! With 4 tomato plants we'll be begging our friends and neighbors to take tomatoes.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

My Ouchee!




Last Thursday afternoon, I had surgery on my right foot to fix a hammertoe. Sooo, I've been sitting around for the last 5 days with my foot elevated and iced. Not being able to do much has really cramped my style. Of course, our weather just changed and it's been in the 70's for the last three days. I can't go out and do any gardening at all. It's breaking my heart. I have been able to bead and use the computer by placing myself in a very awkward position. I'm attaching pictures of the "lovely" boot they give you to walk around in. I think it's going to be this way for about 4 weeks, Yuck! I have a wonderful little friend (Fergie) that keeps me company when my husband goes off to do his thing. He's the same light chaser from a previous post.

Featured Items from Bastille Bleu


One of the artists that I purchase lampwork beads from has featured me (PG's Gemspirations) and my daughter, Audrey (Juniper Gems), in her blog. I am so honored to be there. Nikki from Bastille Bleu Designs makes gorgeous lampwork beads in her Milwaukee, Wisconsin shop. Take a few minutes to visit her Etsy shop at http://bastillebleu.etsy.com. I am posting the bracelet I created from her beads in this article.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Buy One, Get One



To get things moving in my Etsy shop, I have instituted BOGO (Buy One, Get One) offering a free pair of matching earrings with some of my bracelet listings. It's my hope this will jumpstart some more sales for me.

One of the BOGO listings is "Pink for Emily" dedicated to my gorgeous granddaughter, Emily. She always loved pink growing up and so I thought it appropriate to name this lovely pink bracelet for her.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Softest Pink Necklace


I am about to list a new necklace on my Etsy site. It is made up of pink and white seed pearls all braided together with a dangle of coin pearls and Swarovski crystals. I love how this turned out. It is absolutely gorgeous and would be awesome for a bride! Here's a sneak preview of that listing.

Spring has sprung ..... Trees are going!






We moved into our house last May 2008. There are 3 trees in our backyard that have these ugly, spikey seedpods on them. These "spikey" things drop all over the yard, making an mess, so...... As you'll see from my pictures these trees are on their way out. Wahoo! My husband has de-limbed them and we are in the process of cutting up the limbs and filling up our yard debris container. Being a Oregon State Univ. Extension Master Gardener this goes against everything I believe in, but...... These are really ugly trees and they block our very spectacular view of the mountains in Washington State. We are planning on some raised beds for our backyard this summer to grow some of our veggies. The tomatoes we grew in pots last year were wonderful so we're going to expand out to other vegetables.

Spring is starting to pop out all over here in Western Oregon! We have sweet little miniature daffodils in the front and forsythia in the back. My bleeding heart is almost ready to bloom and the trillium's are just starting to bloom! Even if the weather isn't what I'd call spring weather, it's beginning to look that way. Our neighbor's flowering plum is blooming too. Yeh!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

In My Little Corner of the World




I have help when I'm beading.... Fergus (my Cairn Terror (oops! Terrier) has a facination with lights. So whenever I turn on my lamps to bead, he goes into his "looking for lights" madness. See pictures......

I wanted to show where I do all my beading.... (see pic) A very small space. My husband has twice the space and only spends a few hours a week at his table. I know, I know, quit your whining! It actually is plenty of space. If I had more room, I'd probably just use it all up and want more.

On the days that I take Fergie for a walk, I've noticed some little green plants beginning to stick their little heads up to see if it's warm enough yet. I even have daffodils coming up! I can't wait for Spring!

Monday, February 9, 2009

Sale in my Etsy shop!

I am offering free shipping on any of my Valentine, Heart selections for this week only. I'm excited! I haven't done anything like this before.

Speaking of the Lampwork Beads I was so interested in

Speaking of the Lampwork Beads I was so interested in
One of my first attempts at using Lampwork beads in my jewelry
 
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