Brand New Family Pics

I have been lax in updating my blog. A gentle reminder from my sister that she woull like to see the new pictures of her nieces and nephews has spurred me to action. So here is the clan:
Lets start with DJ. He has been working with his Dad on the kitchen. It looks so much better. I may even have countertops by Christmas. *does a little happy dance* DJ is the muscle of our family. He also supplies a lot of heart. I couldn't make it without him as he helps so much while his Dad is at work

Now we have Keegan. She is a doll with a soft heart. She is the official shipper and reciever for JewelledTrellis. She is also my right hand gal.

This is Trellis. Yes my store is named after her. I wanted to find jewels that my not so girly girl would like to wear.

My mother says she looks like I did when I was younger.

Zerrick is my youngest son. He is as much of a character as he looks. It is so much fun to see him and his dad together as they are so much alike. Zerrick is my husbands "mini me"

Haven is the baby of the family. She is full of energy and fun. She completes our family with lots of personality and charm.

So now you have met the crew that resides in our home and our hearts.

Until next time.

Often luking in shadows, behind closed doors, and in mysterious twitter posts dwells a STALKER. They are mysterious, magical, and myth???? Nope. They are a great bunch of Artfire Artisans devoted to choosing a "VICTIM" studio and plurking, tweeting, facebooking, myspacing, blogging another artisan's shop contents.








This week it is time to stalk the stalkers. Browse through our stores for the following picture :










Participating Studios
TAK Unique Jewelry Designs
Grah-Toe Studio

The Chain Maille Lady
Jewelled Trellis
PinkCloudsandAngels
She’s Batty Designs
Meant 2B Cherished
Rose Works Jewelry
Il Mare
Unique Garden Essences
Bad Ink Clothing
Huckleberry Arts
Glasstastic Treasures
Jennuine Candles
essensu holistic skincare
Cutthroat Designs
The Copper Cauldron


To see the details on what fantastic prizes you can win by stalking the stalkers check out our Guild blog here:
http://thestalkersguild.blogspot.com/
Happy Stalking!

You Are a Mosaic

You are worldly and cultured. You draw inspiration from many sources. You appreciate vivid colors and busy scenes, but you like a bit of order too. You believe that art should have many layers. It should be beautiful up close and from afar. The best art gets more interesting the longer you look at it.

What Type of Art Are You?

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

The search continues....

So I went looking for some fantastic stocking stuffers for Christmas and I found some that are fantastic!

These lump of coal guest soaps from Allegheny Hearth are awesome. I used to be able to find black liquorice candy that looked like coal. This is even better.

This cute little crab would look adorable peaking out of a stocking. EddysPressies did an outstanding job on this little cutie!

I have a real addiction ot scented candles and I love this one for a kitchen. kickinskreations did an outstanding job...you should check out her root beer ones too!

I'm off to continue to search out the best of the best for stocking stuffers this year.

Featured!

I was featured at my favorite suppliers online catalogue today. She is a great inspiration to me. I shared with her what brought me to my designing and jewellery making.

Here is my story:

When I was fourteen I was diagnosed with PCOS. This disease left me with an endocrine system that barely functioned and little hope of having a family. We beat the odds and have five children. They range in age from 7 to 15 years old. We are a close knit family due in part to the fact that I have homeschooled them all (10 years now) and the trials we have overcome as a family. Thirteen years ago ,after the birth of my second child, I was taken to the oncologist with a large lump in my breast and armpit. I was scheduled for surgery and given the comfort that there had been great strides made in the treatment of cancer. Judging from the location and the size of the lump the doctor was certain it was cancer. I was only 21 years old. The lump was benign. I was very lucky. Five years ago I began to have severe health problems. After 72 days of uncontrollable bleeding I was scheduled for surgery yet again with the council of my doctor to “put my affairs in order”, and a kindly inquiry as to weather or not I had made out a will and given a standing appointment for chemotherapy the morning following surgery. This time uterine cancer was suspected. I was terrified. When I went in for surgery the doctor reminded both me and my husband that if cancer was found he would perform radical surgery to remove any affected tissues. I was in surgery for hours. When I awoke in the recovery room I was stunned to hear that there was no cancer found. The doctor had burned away a large amount of tissue and that it would only buy me a few years before I would need more invasive surgery again. After this second brush with cancer I decided to change how I viewed life. I grew up. Quickly. I stopped waiting for tomorrow and decided to live for today. I found the strength to work with my doctors and to get healthier. In December of last year I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Many things that I wanted to do I now physically couldn’t do. One thing that was a dream for me I could do however. I had always wanted to design jewelry. I was what my mother called an ”old soul” I watched black and white movies, read historical biographies and was fascinated with ancient history. It was then that I found you ( my mentor and filigree supplier). Suddenly here was someone who had done the research and found reputable suppliers and manufacturers and was willing to share their knowledge. I was hooked. I could recreate the stunning jewels worn by famous women, black and white movie stars, historical figures, and ancient legends. I may no longer be able to travel to far away places or scuba dive or even drive some days, but I could make beautiful things that made other people smile and perhaps dream. I now sell some of my work online but most has gone to adorn my daughters, sisters and mother and my sons already have jewelry for their future wives. Thank you so much for a beautiful site that allows me to create small works from the heart. You have helped me fulfill a life long dream.

She decided to share my story with the rest of her clients and sent me this message that made my day:

Dear Robyn,

Your story is such an inspiration to me. That is one email I will always keep. It makes me so happy when I learn that the decision to share my experience with making jewelry has enriched someone's life. Thank you very much for taking the time to write your story. Your strength and dignity shows through in the way you've managed your life through all your trials. I'm so glad that you have your children and husband to share your life with. A family is such a precious gift.

May I use your photos and some of your story on my web site? I know that there are many other people who would also be lifted up by your story and the beautiful jewelry you have created.
I admire you tremendously.
Susan

With Christmas approaching I find I am looking more and more for unique gifts. I have blogged in the past about our family's desires to make this Christmas a handmade Christmas. So shopping for handmade gifts for my immediate family has been fairly easy. Shopping for my siblings and my parents not so easy. They require unique gifts as different and colorful as they are. I am the oldest of 8 children. There are 5 boys and 3 girls. We are all so different from each other. I have a brother who is very creative artistic and musical. He has a gift with the piano and a voice that makes angels weep. I have a sister who is a gifted hairdresser with the most loving open heart. She was a lifeguard and is a remakable athlete in her own right. I have another brother who is very intelligent and driven. He reminds me of what I was like when I was younger. He will succeed. By sheer force of will if necessary. My other sister the youngest girl is a dental hygenist by day gifted painter by night. She does amazing things on canvas. She hasn't begun to sell her work professionally yet but I'm sure she will in the future. My youngest brother who is the baby of the family is 17 years younger than I am. He is loving and sweet, though he tried to hide it, and shows promise on the basketball court. I have another brother who is dynamic and full of life. He has an aptitude for drama and the arts, a lovely voice and a beautiful soul. He has yet to realize himself all that he can do if he only applies all of his talents. When he does the world will be his oyster. My brother closest to me in age was my confidant as a child, fellow mischief maker ( along with a beloved cousin), and dearest friend. He is a kind a loving soul. His courage and determination to take care of his son is humbling. Add to this mix my Father, an exceptional teacher whose ability to touch lives continues to be far reaching. He can build houses and mend a broken heart with equal skill and love. He is a rock for the whole family. My mother is a fireball of energy. She will giggle with you into the wee hours of the morning and still be up at the crack of dawn ready for a new adventure. She will laugh or cry with you and always be just a phone call away. This is my remarkable family. Now I have to find unique gifts for them for Christmas. This is a daunting task but an adventure too.
Stay tuned for the rest of the saga.....

So last night I worked into the wee hours of the morning. I woke up tired and a bit cranky then I got my email and it made the whole day a little brighter. Andrea of AndreaWDesigns featured me in her blog
http://http://andreawdesigns.blogspot.com/
She does her promotions for free, just because she wants to pay it forward.
What a great gal.
Thank you Andrea. You made my day!!

Artfire.com is rolling out the "Holiday Free For All" promotion.

Here is a sneek peek of the Monday press release:

ArtFire Gives Away Free Unlimited Listings for the Shopping Season

Everyone gets free unlimited listings for the holidays on ArtFire.comTucson, AZ – ArtFire has just announced that they will be giving away unlimited listings completely free for all sellers during the holiday season. This means that everyone can sell and list as many items as they wish for absolutely no cost or fees. When they first launched, ArtFire revolutionized the handmade marketplace by making it completely free for users to sell online. Site members were able to list and sell up to 12 items at any point on the site, and could have unlimited listings with customizable features for the flat rate of $12/month. However, due to the current economic situation and the upcoming holiday season, ArtFire has decided to remove this 12 item limit for the shopping season, giving everyone on the site the option to list unlimited items for sale. To make things even easier for sellers, ArtFire has also launched the Etsy Importer, allowing members to import all of their Etsy listings onto ArtFire quickly and easily. To help manage these imported listings, ArtFire is allowing free access for the month of October to their Global Product Editor, which gives sellers the chance to make batch edits to hundreds of products in their inventory at once. “Regardless of marketplace or venue we’ve found that sellers who list more items have a much greater success online,” said Tony Ford, COO of ArtFire. “We want to give everyone the chance to be successful, and free unlimited listing will help our artisans obtain more sales during the fourth quarter.”“Many of our sellers are concerned about the shopping season due to economic issues, and cannot afford to promote and advertise as they had last year,” said John Jacobs, CEO of ArtFire. “This Holiday Free for All will allow them to sell more items than ever before completely free.”This Holiday Free for All Promotion is the first ever of its kind, and expected to completely change the craft marketplace.

For more information, please contact:

Tony Ford, COOArtFire Inc.

1-877-688-2323

1-877-688-2323

http://www.artfire.com/

To quote Tony Ford COO and EVP Marketing, ArtFire.com

"For the holiday season all accounts (both Basic and Verified) will have the ability to list unlimited listings. There will be no listing fees, no final valuation fees, no commission fees, and no catches. We have decided that the economy is too tough for artisans and we believe our Verified accounts are worth $12 per month regardless of the number of listings.

As a Verified member you have access to all unique site features such as:

+1 search weighting (verified members always win a relevancy contest where the tie is with a basic member)

The Facebook Kiosk (worth $12/month all by itself by monetizing your fan page)

Coupon codes and gift certificates4) Free featured spots for every verified member on the category, trend and gift guide pages (randomly selected)

Artisan Guilds

Artifacts

Sticky Cart

Global Product Editor

Multiple quantity listings

Fully customizable colors and layouts for the Fusion Studio

The Gallery on your Fusion Studio

Larger Super banner

Advanced Artisan Bio with multiple pictures and links

Studio widgets capability for ads, video, or other html and flash widgets

10 pictures instead of 4 on items.

No advertising in your studio or items.

No promotion of other (verified) sellers items on your item listings.

Up to 99 studio categories

We have even more Verified features that will roll out throughout the 4th quarter. We will continue to make this deal even better for Verified members. But here is why we want to make listings free and the secret every other venue does not want you to know. Listings have value. The act of listing adds value and reduces costs for Artfire.com. You see the cost to host and transmit a listing is almost nothing ( a fraction of a cent). But for every 2 listings on Artfire.com we get more than one google visit per month from a buyer. We have worked hard to optimize our Google SEO and that means tht with about 400,000 listings on Artfire.com we are getting over 250,000 Google visits alone (out of nearly two million total unique visitors this month). These Google visitors are highly convertible buyers. These are people who go multiple pages deep, spend time on the site and move throughout the site (mostly landing on verified items because of the exposure bonuses mentioned above).In order to get 250,000 targeted quality buyer visits from advertising we would have to buy an additional 50,000,000 ad impressions (assuming a.5% Click through rate). The going rate for targeted ad impressions is between $5 and $10 CPM (cost per thousand impressions). That means the listings on Artfire generate monthly traffic equivalent to an advertising budget spend of $250,000 to $500,000. More items = more buyers. Every site that charges you a listing fee is asking you to pay them for the priviledge of giving them free advertising. At Artfire.com we believe Listings should be free for Artisans. We will subsidize the fraction of a cent via small ads or verified members who get exposure on the page. If it costs you time and work you should not pay us. If we save you time and effort or give you tools and features that add value to your business you should pay us. In order to test this theory. We are going to run the "Holiday Free For All" promotion. We believe we will lose some verified accounts who will downgrade. Although those folks will miss out on a lot of extra features, promotion, exposure and the new things we will continue to add for verified members. However, this will create the maximum possible chance for the most artisans to be successful for the least amount of risk.We have always said we want you to be a successful seller. Our research shows that a lot of listings is the critical key to selling. We are going to put our money where our mouth is. We are going to tell the secrets of the marketplace and start a revolution to reject the 1990's model that a seller should pay to have the privilege to give us free advertising. We are going to partner with each of you to give you fantastic tools for verified accounts and a no risk business opportunity for those getting started.

Happy Holidays Sellers - Our gift to you came early."

Go Artfire! This is the best venue around!!

http://http//www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=power_up&refuid=14988

Tag you're it!!

I have been officially tagged. This is a way to get to know outstanding artisans. Some of my favorites are at the bottom. Please take the time to visit them and get to know how great they are. Thank you to http://shinelikecrazystudio.blogspot.com/ for tagging me. Now I get to tell the world 10 things about myself.

1. I am a stay at home, homeschooling, mom of five fantastic kids. ( how's that for a mouthful)

2. I was born in Nova Scotia I have lived in Alberta for 25 of my 35 years but I am still an Easterner and I miss the coast like crazy.

3. I have multiple crafter disorder.....and I love it. I paint, sew, knit, crochet, embroider, cross stitch, bead, make jewellery, and can fix the kitchen sink.

4. I am in the middle of completely renovating my kitchen from top to bottom. I actually like doing renovations.....sometimes.

5. I suffer from Fibromyalgia, PCOS, Raynaud's disease and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Thus I work from home making jewellery for my store JewelledTrellis. I am usually do this around midnight because I don't sleep well.

6. I play the harp and play around a little on the piano. One day I would love to play my little harp for my grandmother watching the tide roll in on Cape Breton Island.

7. I have a degree in Interior Decorating.

8. I love to read. I read historical biographies, popular fiction, egyptology, epidemiology, fantasy, mystery, I have to admit that I don't read horror at all. I don't sleep very well as it is.

9. I love to dance. Ballroom. My hubby hates to dance so I have to hope that one day one of my sons will love to dance so I can have a great partner.

10. I am terrified to be in public. This is rather ironic as I was a great public speaker and debater in my youth. Now I prefer behind the scenes work.

Now that you have endured 10 things about me it is time to find out more about these other great bloggers.

1.http://yourstruli.blogspot.com/ Beautiful period reproductions

2.http://frogprincessdesigns.blogspot.com/ Jasmine is a gem and so is her jewelry

3.http://blog.mamaslittlemonkeys.com/ I love these monkeys!!

4.http://craftedbylindy.blogspot.com/great cards and tags

5.http://delightfulstitches.blogspot.com/ fun shop with great textile creations

6.http://alterityart.blogspot.com/ victorian wonder and founder of Artfire Victoriana Guild

7.http://bellissimadesigns-sherri.blogspot.com/ beautiful paintings

8.http://kaysommers.blogspot.com/ creative designs and so fun to read

9.http://www.HansenSoapCo.blogspot.com fabulous soaps

10.http://ashillustration.blogspot.com amazing artist a must see.

Christmas is coming....are you ready?

Wow! School has already started and I am begining to see progress in my store. My digital camera is overflowing with pictures that I need to crop and put into listings. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed....excited but ovewhelmed. I didn't realize that when my family decided to have a handmade Christmas that I would need to be working on it last January. I love the idea of a handmade Christmas but I should have been more organized. So I am working on my Christmas gifts for all and hoping that I can finish them in time. Wish me luck.......

I had a great laugh today compliments of this article
http://www.soloseo.com/blog/2007/11/03/what-the-customer-actually-wanted/

I think that this cartoon really hits the nail on the head. How many times do we have communication issues (see what the customer wanted first and last frame: tiered swing instead of tire swing), under budget for all those great projects, and get caught up in crazy marketing strategies or sales pressures?

We all must live in a media saturated world. Everyone must promote themselves be they doctors, lawyers, tradesmen, or small business owners. The big questions are, for me and anyone with a small business: How do we compete with big business? How do we market ourselves? How do we gain exposure? How do we show the value of what we do for a living?

I'm personally not a competitor. I'm a fighter if I think I (or my family and friends) have been wronged( my husband would say tenacious, driven, protective). But I hate competing with others. A competitor is defined as any person or entity which is a rival against another. I hate rivals. I like friends. I hate being a business rival of my friends business. And yet that is where I find myself. So I looked into many venues when I started. Some have great exposure, some have great tools for the sellers and others have great people.....can you guess which is my favorite?

I am lucky to be in a selling venue where people not profits are valued most. Don't get me wrong everyone is gearing up for the holiday season and hoping that sales increase. What I mean is that while I sell jewellery and so does the next person we work together on problems, marketing, sales tactics. There is still competition but not at the expense or detriment of another. So, I am learning how to be a competitive business. I am using a unique yardstick. I am competing against myself. Can I design a better piece? Can I bring up my sales? I am a difficult boss and I am not very good at all of the technological aspects which irritates me as I am usually pretty okay at most things that I attempt to do. Maybe that is why I get bored with them so quickly. So here I am lousy at marketing, a technological newbie, hates being in competition with others, and I start my own jewellery business one of the most saturated competitive areas of the handmade movement. Not to mention the competition from low quality, inexpensive (dare I say cheap), mass produced big box store offerings. For me there is no competition. A handcrafted one of a kind unique item is worth a packing box full of mass produced offerings.

So what do we do when we are pushing for that sale, gunning for that promotion, wanting to get ahead? Do we mud sling, defame, undermine others? Or, do we employ honesty, camaraderie, and support? Maybe the mud slingers and defamers will get ahead in the short run but there is no better way to be able to look yourself in the mirror than to show honor and integrity. Let your work speak for itself, work harder, work smarter, and don't get caught up in the" I have to be the best to be happy at all costs mentality."

Today I was featured in Kim's blog http://vabeachquilter.blogspot.com/2009/08/jewelled-trellis.html

I thought I'd put a copy of the article on my blog. Please check out Kim's blog it is nothing short of fantastic!

Thanks Kim for your support!

Jewelled Trellis
Robyn owns the "Jewelled Trellis" shop on Artfire.She specializes in "period" piece jewelry but also makes more contemporary pieces. All of her items arrive packaged in a gift boxed and tied with a ribbon.She has cameo pendants and earrings;

mother's or grandmother's family necklace (with customized birthstones); earrings; necklaces; and more! I just think the cameo set is simply BEAUTIFUL!
Posted by VaBeachQuilter at Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Looking for a unique gift???

Around this time of the year I have to start Christmas shopping. I know it seems really early but as a mom of five kids the earlier I start the better especially when I'm looking for something original. I also hate the Christmas crowds. My extended family has also made this the handmade Christmas. We are only allowed to give each other handmade gifts. No big box stores allowed. I love the idea of a more traditional Christmas full of thoughtful handmade gifts. Even if you can't make it yourself there are lots of crafters available to help. Anyone who feels like I do and wants a more handmade gift selection really needs to look no farther than Artfire for unique gifts for the upcoming holiday season.
If you are looking for handmade jewellery look no farther than my artfire store http://jewelledtrellis.artfire.com.

Sunburn and Smiles

Whew. I have all my plants bought for the year. I'm not going to mention what they cost...eeek....but they are mostly fruit trees and bushes so they are a one time cost. I have a wicked sunburn on my nose and cheeks but I love looking out my windows and seeing all the new baby trees. Now I need to plant the rest of my garden......I must plan.

It's Hailing

Today was a little cool but our rain has misread the seasons. It is hailing. It isn't enough to linger but it sure made an impression on my garden beds. They may not look large...about pea sized but boy do they sting. My oldest and I had quite the time tarping the tomato patch and covering the cucumbers and peppers. I love that you can see the hail in the last picture falling.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Okay I love snow as much as anyone but it is May......May and we have snow flurries. Sigh....only in Alberta.
How could you explain frostbite in the spring????

Anyone who left for work this morning wearing seasonal atttire and forgot their parka is in trouble now.

I hope it doesn't stay. My poor flowers can't take it.

Homeschooling

I agree with this homeschooling mom 100% I too am tired of well meaning family, friends, clergy, strangers on the street who think they know what is best for my children.

Here are her comments on homeschooling. I hope she doesn't mind me reprinting them here:

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Reader Tired of Getting Slack for Homeschooling

Submitted by a reader.
Dear Anonymous Mom,
I am a homeschooler. I have been teaching my children at home for 5 years. I guess I should be used to it by now but I am so tired of all the questions and unkind remarks my family gets on a weekly basis for homeschooling.

Yes, people it IS legal.

NO it is NOT a form of child abuse!

Why should my children be quizzed in public at the store to see how much they know? I don't go around quizzing your public school kids, asking them what their IQ is!

My children are more "socialized" than the kids of my family and friends. They are more active and are involved in many programs and community volunteer projects then any of the public school children we know.

Stop assuming I am what you call a "religious nut". Yes, I am a Christian, but my reasons for homeschooling are more academic then for religious reasons.

Stop assuming you know why we do what we do!

Yes my children will be able to go to college, we get transcripts and everything!

When we decided to homeschool our children it was not an easy decision. It was not a decision we made lightly and I really do not think it is anyone's business, especially complete strangers.

I do not understand why people seem to think they have a right to tell me how to raise my kids but would be pissed if I told them how to raise their own children.Spend more time worrying about how you are raising your kids and let me raise mine. I have done a terrific job so far without any help from you!

Anonymous

ReaderProudly sponsored by Moms United in Business, LLCDedicated to supporting you as both a Mom and Business Professionalhttp://www.momsunitedinbusiness.comhttp://joinmomsunitedinbusiness.blogspot.com

The full blog is located here: http://bloggingmomsanonymous.blogspot.com/2009/04/reader-tired-of-getting-slack-for.html

My first Etsy sale

Hooray! I finally got my first Etsy sale. In a market saturated with jewellery makers and designers it is really hard to get a following. Last night I got my first etsy sale. Hopefully more will follow. Here is a pic of what sold:

Aren't they great!
I'm off make some more jewellery designs.
Ciao

Learning Moderation

"If everyone of us would sweep their own doorstep, the whole world would be clean," observed Mother Teresa.

"Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try." Yoda/Star Wars

"Anything worth doing is worth doing well." unknown

My childrens ears ring with these little tidbits of wisdom. As I sit here trying to dicipher the paperwork piles on my desk I find that little tidbits of anything are the best. How did I ever become the do or die person I am now? I am a PCOS survivor ( that in no way means that the battle is over but I have found ways to survive) and Fibromyalgia sufferer. I can't say survivor yet as I am still trying to work out what kind of treatments and what kind of lifestyle changes work for me. I have found that I used to put my all into everything I did. Now I find that my all isn't half of what it used to be and it leaves me weak and in pain for days. Moderation has to be my new bit of wisdom. Moderation in all things: diet, excercise, hobbies, travel, large gatherings, driving, medication, water therapy everything. I am horrible at it. I still try to give everything my all and feel like a failure when I can't live up to my own expectations. I have found that my hobbies of my youth are now what keeps me sane when I am confined to my bed or chair or the house. I love to cross stitch ( I will be posting some of my free patterns soon), paint, knit, crochet, sew, quilt and make jewellery. I know I now seem really old fashioned but it is the old fashioned things that soothe me. Gardening is going to be my project to learn this summer and as I learn I hope to share some of my experiences with you.

An Amazing Woman!

You know there is an old saying that you can't judge a book by its cover. When I quote this I add my own spin that you can't judge a book by its cover or its publication date. An amazing woman had illustrated it. If you haven't already heard Susan Boyle you need to take the time to experience it. This link is to you-tube and here performance. Watch the judges and the audience and experience the magic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnmbJzH93NU

Suddenly......

I've been off for a while. I lost my uncle suddenly and it kind of shook me up. One minute its pneumonia and the next its terminal inoperable cancer. He lasted a week. Life is so fragile, so short. I love you Unk. always. I'll miss your emails and your pokes on facebook. I'll miss your quirky sense of humor and how you love your family. I'll miss your teasing.

Outraged!!

Okay today I am livid!! Livid!! I am a bibliophile. I love books. LOVE THEM! I have a lovely collection of books that my mother read when she was young and I still love to read them and my girls love to read them. Now aparently they are dangerous. According to the notorious Consumer Protection and Safety Improvement Act
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML
Books printed before 1985 have too much lead in the ink. Libraries are now being forced to remove vintage book from their shelves. I would rather my children read Trixie Belden, Donna Parker and the like than Captain Underpants or other such rot thank you very much, lead ink or no lead ink. I found this article and it sums it up in a nutshell. http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/20/old-books-a-new-source-of-lead-poisoning/
I am amazed that anyone of us who were born before 1985 survived to adulthood what with strings on our hoods, lead paint, walkers....need I continue. Don't get me wrong I am for keeping our children safe but this is rediculous in the extreme. The US government missed the boat on this one. Keep high lead products form overseas out of the hands of our children. Yes please. But watching second hand stores shut down beacuse they can't afford to test every button and zipper and filler in a North American made winter jacket is ludacris. WHat about all of the not so rich and famous who need access to second hand stores?? Sorry uys you will have to do without because there is a 1 in a million chance that the North Americian plant that made that coat might have used a snap cover from China. Even though I live in Canada where these laws are not on the books I am still affected by the crazyness in the States. I can't sell my used books on ebay unless I am sure they are printed after 1985. Even if I use the disclaimer that they are intended for adults over the age of 12. What if junior gets a hold of mommy's "new" first edition Jane Austin and tries to eat it??? I am now libel and can face up to $100,000.00 in fines. I thought we did away with book burning/banning???? Maybe Big Brother has just developed new tactics??? Aren't we enlightened yet?? Better luck next time boys. Lets make laws that really work.

Treasures

I was featured in a treasury on Etsy by lindabutterfly.
She did such a great job ! All of these fine artists are found on www.etsy.com

I'm in the Spotlight

As most of you know I have been trying to get an Etsy store up and running. The marketing aspect is not my cup of tea. Well today I am in the spotlight. I'm in the new members spotlight from www.byhand.me . I'm the filigree flower on the bottom right corner. Thank you Rebecca for featuring me. The link to the spotlight is here: http://www.byhand.me/component/option,com_spotlight/Itemid,73/action,view/id,554/task,show/
and you can also see it on the homepage. If any one is interested it is still available for purchase in my etsy store. That link is on the left hand side of the blog. What a great thing to wake up to. I'm doing more photography today. I'm going to try to use a black background and see if my colors pop a little bit more. Thanks Shel for the idea. I'll post some of the pics later today.

$20.00 ....a lesson for everyone

A friend of mine Annie from one of the Yahoo groups I'm in, it's not really a group but more like a family, sent this out. I really liked it
$20.00
Sometimes we just need to be reminded!
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by: holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, 'Who would like this $20 bill?' Hands started going up. He said, 'I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, 'Who still wants it?' Still the hands were up in the air. Well, he replied, 'What if I do this?' And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the dirt with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. 'Now, who still wants it?' Still the hands went into the air. My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE and WHOSE WE ARE. You are special - Don't EVER forget it.'

Thank you Annie.

The flu is finally over

Finally we are over the flu. My husband is still suffering with a cold but the flu is gone. Yippee!! I can hear the sounds of my children humiliating my husband at Mario Kart so all is right with the world. I have very little time to design lately but I do have several new pieces that will be released next week. Right now I am lamenting that I agreed to put up my favorite piece for sale. It reminds me of the rainbows you see on asphalt parking lots when some oil has spilt. Okay I know potential environmental damage is not wonderful but we are looking for the visual here. Black rainbows, that's what it looks like to me. You can see better pictures in my etsy store

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6794650

I love it. Swarovski crystals and pearls in purple velvet and antique silver filigree. I should really go and do something productive right now like organizing my office. Maybe after lunch.....

What a great day!!

I woke up this morning with the flu....ewwwwww......how does that become a great day? Very good question. I decided to check out my email in between teaching my kids school. (oh yeah did I mention I home school my 5 children) I received an email from a wonderful lady I knew almost 20 years ago while I was an exchange student in Sweden. She and her husband were like a life line to sanity during a very eventful and many times stressful year. Sissel if you read my blog...thank you for your message today you really made my day!!
It is amazing that after so many years you can meet your some of your greatest influences in life and feel like you have never been apart. I love it when that happens.

Saga of the carpet layers

So after a crazy morning of exams with my oldest son the afternoon has arrived. The carpet layers are here!! Yeah!! I will finally be rid of the echoing cavern we call a basement. Beautiful ocean blue. My hubby is a green person normally but I think he is slowly being converted to more oceanic colors. We tried last year to move out East (where I am from originally) but alas our home would not sell. So now we are making this one work for us again. I will post a picture when the furniture which now adorns my ever cluttered front room gets moved to the new family room in the basement. Ahhhhhh space glorious space.
I finally got a couple of listings up in Etsy. Not my favorite pieces but they were the ones which photographed the best. I hope to have a few quiet moments to add my favorite pieces later tonight. I'm still really nervous. I love to make jewelery. I really would like my hobby to be abe to pay for itself. It doesn't need to make money just pay for itself. I'm kinda nervous that what I think is beautiful will be stomped on by the public at large. Each piece is a part of an artists soul, a baby of their psyche. It has taken me a month to even te my Mom about my plans. I tried this once before with my candles and I was squished by a friend. It was harsh and so contrary to what I had been hearing from others about the quality and marketability of my work. I will work on my self confidence ...... I will work on my self confidence.

After trying to do some work on my store and talking with a few other etsyians I decided to add to Jeff Foxworthy's statments:

If it's cheaper to ship a parcel to someone in Japan than to your grandmother in the next province. You definately live in Canada!!

I was nothing short of amazed that it would be less expensive to ship something to someone in the UK or Florida than it would be to send something to my Grandmother in Nova Scotia Canada!! How crazy is that.

Well....my kids are sick with the flu so I am trying to get my cyberspace act together. This is my first attempt to enter the world of blogging so we shall see where it leads. I thought I would share a funny mail that my Father sent to me as it is very pertinent today.
Now I am not normally a Jeff Foxworthy fan but this made me laugh.

Subject: Jeff Foxworthy on Canada


> Forget Rednecks,
> Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Canucks.
>
> If your local Dairy Queen is closed from
> September through May,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If someone in a Home Depot store
> Offers you assistance and they don't work there,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation
> With someone who dialed a wrong number,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If 'Vacation' means going anywhere
> South of Detroit for the weekend,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you measure distance in hours,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you know several people
> Who have hit a deer more than once,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C'
> In the same day and back again,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow
> During a raging blizzard without flinching,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you install security systems on your house and garage,
> But leave both unarmed,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you carry jumpers in your car
> And your wife knows how to use them,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you design your kid's Halloween costume
> To fit over a snowsuit,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If the speed limit on the highway is 80 km --
> You're going 90 and everybody is passing you,
> You may live in Canada .

> If driving is better in the winter
> Because the potholes are filled with snow,
> You may live in Canada .

> If you know all 4 seasons:
> Almost winter, winter, still winter,
> And road construction,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you have more miles
> On your snow blower than your car,
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you find 2 degrees 'a little chilly',
> You may live in Canada .
>
> If you actually understand these jokes,
> And forward them to all
> Your Canadian friends & others,
> You definitely live in Canada .

Yep I soooooo live in -35 degree celcius frozen wonderland Canada!