Etsy Treasury and second sale! Yippee!!!

I'm so psyched...it's been a good night on Etsy. First, I snagged a treasury. It's hard to explain, but it's a gallery of other people's stuff that you put together...and then hope it's featured on the front page of Etsy. Anyway, if you have a minute, take a look, click on some of the items, cause it will help me get to the front page.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=23227

Second, I sold another necklace! So weird too...cause I accidently relisted it so someone might see it for their treasury. (I meant to relist a different necklace). It's one of the first necklaces I listed.

I'm not sure I'm going to sleep tonight!

James Taylor singing "River"

Just a little holiday treat for folks...it's not exactly a holiday song, but it's on JT's holiday CD...anyway, it's peaceful...this performance of Joni Mitchell's song was performed by James Taylor at a tribute to Joni (with whom he had a little fling at one time, but that's ancient history)...anyways, enjoy.

Monday, Monday

It's been sort of a wild, crazy Monday. So far. The good part of the day was waking up, checking my Etsy shop (a morning ritual that I take part in every morning over oatmeal) and discovering that my Etsy shop is being featured on another Etsian's blog. How cool is that? I'm hoping it will bring some viewers to my shop, but if you have a minute, please wander over to this blog and then visit dragonfly's store. She features practical, but stylish baby items. Her blog site is:

http://www.dragonflyfinedesigns.blogspot.com/

I plan to be promoting some other Etsy artists over on my site from time to time, so please check that out as well.

So I blissfully head off to work and when I get there discover a gruesome site within 5 feet of my desk. A mouse had been caught (and killed) in a rat trap, which created a bloodbath. Fortunately the trap had flipped over, but it created an ugly scene nonetheless. I found someone who removed the mouse, but the mess... No, I did not clean that up...but hid it by the strategic placement of a large garbage can. (Thank you Susan for doing that nasty job).

You may ask why my work is using rat traps. I work in a very old building that was once a convent. It's a beautiful building, but old and the little critters find there way in...even up to the 4th floor where my desk is. A few folks thought they saw a rat, not just a mouse...hence, the rat trap. I refuse to believe that there is a rat in our building. I can barely deal with mice.

After that it's been a crazy day of running around. I'm hoping for a peaceful evening at home.

Modpodge

All right, I know I've been on a bit of a blogging hiatus. Not exactly, really, since I've written a few posts on my art blog.

Part of it is that I'm sick of the gray. The gray that has been our sky for the past few weeks. Whenever there has been any sun, it's been gone by the time I get home...because then it's dark. Weather-wise, this is my least favorite season.

But on the other hand, the next 6 weeks or so is one of my favorite seasons...the holiday season.

I've been busy working on holiday crafts. Much of my free time of late has been spent over at my workshop, um, I mean studio. There at one table I'm working on a few new paintings. Then, when I need a break from painting (or something needs to dry), I flip to another table where I'm working on holiday crafts.

I'm working on several sets of holiday ornaments...the kind I've been making for years with tissue paper and modpodge. I love modpodge. And tissue paper. My hope is to have these featured in my Etsy shop soon.

Have you seen my Etsy shop yet? It's been slow going. I've had 2 sales. Only one sale shows because I sold a necklace to my sister-in-law (thanks Claudia) off of Etsy. When I'm not working the 9-5 gig or at the studio, I'm sitting in my recliner beading. I have new necklaces I'm getting ready to list on Etsy. Take a look, please. I don't really care if you buy anything, but if you stop by "heart" me...it's a mood lifter. Think about checking out some of the Esty shops...it could lead to some holiday shopping right at home!

So that's it for now. I'll let you know when the new items are up on Etsy.

Vacation Wrap up

Sorry for my tardiness in writing about my trip to Arizona. I guess writing while I listen to election coverage is as good a time as ever.

It was a wonderful trip...good to get away. And Sedona is inspirational on many levels. First off, geographically it is a fascinating area. The red rock canyons are spectacular...and unlike any other part of the country I've seen. Sedona is the center of red rock canyon land. The colors of the rock are something to behold, coupled with the bluest of skies...amazing. I couldn't take enough pictures of the red rock...and I don't think my pictures really do them justice.

And then, Sedona is a very "artsy" community. The town is filled to the brim with various art galleries/shops. It also boasts a very nice Community Art Center. We tried to take in as much as we could, but battled sensory overload much of the week. The weather...outstanding. It was a little warmer than average when we were there...and I was thrilled. Highs in the mid-80's, no humidity (making for good-hair days!), no clouds, crisp air. We managed to set aside a little time to sit by the pool!

There were lots of bead shops in/around Sedona...and my favorite was actually going out of business, so I scooped up lots of good deals. I did manage to make a few necklaces while in Arizona (and they're up on Etsy already!).

One of the side trips we took during the week was to an abandoned copper mining town named Jerome. The town is now "inhabited" by various artists...basically they have taken over all the little shops...there are still a few saloons set up as such. It was a lovely town to wander through and see alot of original artwork...often with the artists present. We actually stopped to watch a glass blower do his thing. I actually enjoyed viewing art in this venue much more than in the overpriced galleries of Sedona.

It was hard to return home...in the sense that it's hard to return to the reality of "real life", which includes juggling work, the chores of keeping a home running, family obligations...I am relieved that Minnesota bounced back from it's brief interlude of cold weather to grace us with a few more warm days. I hear that more winter-like weather is on it's way soon. I think I'll be pulling out those "warm" Arizona pics quite a bit this coming winter.

I VOTED

DID YOU?

Sedona

A shot of the hills near where we were staying

The red rock canyons are incredible

The variety of vegetation surprised me...there were trees with leaves changing colors. This shot was taken by a creek near Montezuma's Castle.

Montezuma's Castle...mistakenly named Montezuma's Castle because white discoverers assumed it had been built by Aztec Indians (it was built by a much smaller tribe). I don't know how they managed to build this...or live there...it was a straight climb up these rocks to their homes in the rocks---and they were not close to the ground!

Another shot by Montezuma Castle...the sky was so blue!

Another rock formation...don't ask me the name!

A few shots of the red rocks at sunrise. Truly amazing!

A few shots of where we were staying. I loved all the adobe homes.

Cactus!

So I've returned from Sedona. It was beautiful...highs in the 80's, no humidity (resulting in good hair days), no clouds, beautiful red rock canyons, lots of art and bead stores...a little bit of heaven.

I'll share the pics for now...details later.