Happy New Year 2012 !!

Hi, all, Happy New Year!!  Please, how about doing different this year.  I stopped this years ago, but still, 'everybody' likes to make New Years resolutions.  No more sweets, start exercising, loose 40 lbs., and on and on and on.  We all know the usual dozen that have been used to death and never last long enough to reach their final commitment.  lol. 
So, here is an idea for you.  As humans, we tend to dwell on the bad news or spread the bad experiences.  One bad meal at a restaurant, the whole neighborhood knows about it by morning.  One good meal, doesn't spread very far.
This year, I am suggesting you make a 'Good Memories Jar'.  This idea is not my brainchild, but I like it and wanted to share it with you.  All you need is a jar, any jar will do, a pen, and a little piece of paper.  Every time you do something that was fun, or do something that has left you with a great memory, jot it down on a piece of your scrap paper, then drop it in your 'Good Memories Jar'. 
A year from now, sit down with your family or spouse or whoever you make your memories with, and start going through everything that you wrote down and stuck in the jar.  Can you imagine how that could regenerate the laughs, bring back the happy feelings, remind you of the fun that you had?  I love this whole idea.  I don't think it would be as hard to stick to, for the whole year, because unlike the resolutions that everyone breaks and has to accept that they 'failed' at, your Good Memories Jar is all about happiness and good times. Do you like this idea?  Are you ready to try it?  I think it would be fun to see how many of us start this and how many can do it for the whole year.  Any takers out there?  Let me know if you are willing to do this, I might feel a contest coming on.  If you want to do this, leave a comment and if enough of us do this we well see who can go the longest, or who has the funniest story, etc.  Let me know.  I think that this could be fun!!
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Today's Tidbit
     For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.
     For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness.
     And for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are
        never alone.
                        ------ Audrey Hepburn --------
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Beautiful Bows

Hi, everybody,

Did everyone enjoy their holidays?  I hope that they turned out just like you expected them to. All of you young families are probably thinking that your holidays top them all because you have young kids, but I hate to bust your bubble.  Holidays are great with your kids around but, you haven't seen nothin' yet.  lol.  Wait until you have grandchildren.  Then you can say that your holidays were the tops!  (Really, by all rights, great holidays just need kids, any kids, they make a holiday so good.)  I don't know why there is a difference, except maybe it is knowing that you didn't foot that bill.  Well, I think we can at least agree, holidays are great when you have kids around.  They are so sweet, so excited, and so happy when they see the gifts that they have been given.  Most of them get so loving and thankful.

Speaking of gifts, lets talk about bows.  Big, beautiful bows and perfect little bows.  I wish I could have run across this before Christmas, but you have birthdays and next Christmas just around the corner.  This tutorial is by Eddie Ross and actually he taped this a few years back.  Mr. Ross is a wonderful designer and has been on all the best decorating shows and published in lots of the best magazines.

                               

  Check out his video, he makes it look so easy....

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Well, I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and now you can have the nicest wrapped packages at whatever the function is!

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Todays Tidbit:

Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful.  It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life, no matter what.

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When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.      -----Chinese Proverb

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Who Likes Beautiful Jewelry?

Hi, all.  Boy, that is one stupid question!  Who doesn't like beautiful jewelry would be more like it.  Two things help my world go 'round...beautiful jewelry and great people.  Well, I have found them both!  Tucked away, way, way, way up in Maine is home to this wonderful friend that I have made and her great jewelry.  I love her jewelry because she has some wonderful pieces that are dressy, but she also has some super casual, semi-dressy pieces, too.  Fitting the season, her name is Santa!  But, being born in Puerto Rico, she does not pronounce it like the big, red, round-bellied man we all like.  Her lovely shop is Black Owl Jewelry, http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBlackOwlJewelry 

or http://www.facebook.com/BlackOwlJewelry .  I must give you a warning, from what I can tell, when you see something you like you better grab it then because if you don't it may be gone by the time you come back.  lol.  Just like hotcakes!  lol.

Look at how pretty these are...

 

I also like the variety of styles she uses, she says that she just goes with the idea that strikes her.  With her many, many years of experience her ideas seem never ending.

In earlier years she did photography and other things but she says that after some time she would get bored with what she was doing.  Jewelry doesn't do that to her because of all the variety in stones, beads, styles, and looks.   I am addicted to her work.  I think she makes beautiful  earrings, which is right up my alley.  lol.  A girl never has too many earrings!

       Santa is a self-taught artist, starting with beads and learning as she went.  I think that she is probably her hardest critic but she says that is how she pushes herself to do better and better.    She says that she works with what is in front of her, letting her hands take over while she works and thinks little on how things should be, just what feels right.   

Santa says that she is a free spirited, free thinker and I believe that she  is as genuine as a person can be and has a heart of gold!          

Be sure and check out her 2 sites and you will love what you see.  I certainly have.

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Today's Tidbit

     You may think you have challenges, but you have so many blessings.  Sometimes it takes only a moment of conscious effort to recognize these blessings.  Once you focus on the gifts instead of the problems, your whole perspective will change and you will see blessings everywhere.

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The Newest Listings from my Shop

Hi, all!

I think you probably know but just in case you don't...I have got my own handmade gifts shop.  This is my shop link :http://www.etsy.com/shop/Specialhandmadegifts .

So, today I want to take a minute to show you my newest listings.

These are Earring Keepers.  They are handmade and designed so you can easily keep track of your earrings and backs.  The keepers can be set on a dresser or vanity etc. or hung on the wall either horizontally or vertically.  You can use these for dangle or post earrings.

• To make these Earring Keepers, I took 4 x 6" , wooden  picture frames and decoupaged them with very nice, high-quality cardstock.  A piece of sturdy, plastic mesh has been mounted in the center area and is perfect for inserting earring wires or posts. 

I think that these would be great for yourself or for a gift exchange .  So, try one out and ENJOY!!

  

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Today's Tidbit:
    Here are 2 quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson.  He says so much with so few words...

1.   What lies behind us and what lies before us are small  matters compared to what lies
       within us.
2.    For every minute you are angry you lose 60 seconds of happiness.
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Meet 'Dream Version' and Evangelia from Greece

Hi, friends!  I am so anxious about telling you a little about a new Etsy friend and a super person and her wonderful shop, http://www.etsy.com/shop/dreamversion .  The shop, Dream Version,  belongs to a lovely lady named Evangelia.  She and her shop are located in Greece.  I want to first give you the breakdown that Evangelia gave me on her name.   As you know, Greece is a very ancient and historical area.  Also, you probably know that some areas, in a certain era, paid alot of attention to the name given to a new baby.  The name 'Evangelia', in Greek, loosely means 'good + news'.  Angelica, as well as other similar names means 'Angel'.  It also refers to the action of annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, by the angel Gabriel, that she would become the mother of Jesus.  A good news angel...what a sweet name to give a baby girl. (Of course, there is a male version to the same name.)  What a great name!

Along with such a great name, Evangelia has a great talent and shop.  She is an illustrator and graphic designer.  Her shop is partly made up of digital downloads of circles and 1" squares for everything from stickers, jewelry, magnets, bottle caps, scrapbooking, etc.  These are created from prints of her original watercolor artwork.  Evangelia also has created some beautiful digi's for printable ornaments and cards decorated with a mobile and/or pop-up illustration, again made from her original watercolors.  If purchased, you will usually receive within 24 hours and they are re-printable a billion times. 

In this shop, you will also find Zodiac signs that are unique, 3D, originally handmade watercolor and mixed media collage artwork for canvas, wall or desk.    Each Zodiac card shows a conceptual painting, a calligraphic rendition of its sign, the latin number in the sequence of the zodiac and the name, date and element represented. 

So, as you can see, I think you should take a few minutes and give this shop a look .  It is one of my favorites and I think that Evangelia is quite the aritist.  I love her work and it could be something special to you, too.
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Today's Tidbit-
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
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My new Martha Stewart Craft Station

Hi, everyone.  I am one happy girl tonight!  I just received the brand new, not on the shelves yet, Martha Stewart Craft Station.  My family ordered it for me, for Christmas, online and it came today.   So, all day long I have been playing and experimenting with my new "toy".  I love it!
This Craft Station is a must-have for any paper-crafter, card maker, scrapbooker, etc.   It is a multi-use tool that is a cutter, a light table for tracing, an embossing table and has a guide that helps you line up stamps or anything else that you want lined up straight and in an exact spot.  I am the one that can't stamp straight no matter what, so this alone will be a life-saver for me.  There are several templates, that are included, with scrolling, sentiments (like 'Thank you',  'Celebrate',  'Thinking of you', 'Happy Birtday', etc.) and letters and numbers.  It also has tools for embossing and cutting.  With just a little practice, I am going to be scrolling and writing phrases like I am a natural.  I am very impressed with the number of tools and templates that came with this kit.  This whole set-up is very well designed and put together.  It seems to  be "heavy duty" and not fragile at all.  The Craft Station is a little expensive but with coupons from Michael's, Joann's, or Hobby Lobby, you can get 40% off one item almost weekly.  That puts the price at a very reasonable spot. 

Thank you to my family for my wonderful, early Christmas present.  I love it and you♥.

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Today's Tidbit
       If ever there is a tomorrow...there is something you must always remember:
             You are braver than you believe,
             Stronger than you seem, 
             And smarter than you think.
      
       But the most important thing is even if we're apart...
              I'll always be with you. 
                                            --- Winnie the Pooh ---
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Hi, All!

I'm just stopping in to let y'all know that we are back from our impromptu trip that we took.  We had a ball and , of course, it just wasn't long enough to see everyone and everything that we wanted.  However, there will always be another trip.  So, anyway, we had a great time, everywhere that we went.  We got to see alot of friends and family, again not all of them, and just didn't have enough hours in a day to accomplish everything.  The things that we did get to do and the people that we did get to see made all the hours in the car worthwhile.  I am just sorry that neither of the grandkids got to go with us, but on the other hand, that allowed us to stay gone longer.
In the meantime, I have a couple of blogs in the making.  They  are both on people that have beautiful shops and are also wonderful hearted.   I can't wait to get them done and posted, but it will be soon!
For now, I am out of here.  I hope to sleep like a baby and wake up feeling like a million dollars!  Hope all of you are doing great and had super Thanksgivings.  Talk to you soon.