For Valentines on Etsy

I just posted two enameled hearts I created for Valentine's. I also have stocked my shelves at the Juneau Artists Gallery with some great Valentine's treats. Who wouldn't want jewelry for Valentines Day...ok maybe my boys. They are under the impression that Valentines Day = More Candy.

My True Love Enameled Copper Pendant

Blue Heart

New On Etsy

Thought maybe after posting my harrowing journey for Etsy Photos I would show you some of the new the items on Etsy.

Copper Etch Earrings

White Seaglass Pendant

The Things that Can Go Wrong...

Taking pictures of my jewelry for Etsy.
Simple yes??
I personally think the weathered wood on our dilapatated deck is the perfect back drop for my rustic and weathered over style. Or maybe you just make due with what ya got..right??

Today was taking picture day. Kids out of the house and on task am I. Coffee in hand, with jammies still on I grabbed the closest pair of shoes I had (heels) so that my fleecy socks wouldn't get wet on the deck.

Through the back bedroom door..shut the door (I let the neighbors cat in..she seemed lonely..but didn't want her to follow me.)

Took my Pictures..lots and lots of pictures..great..right?? And I used my new black pebble rock placemat thing my mother sent me from Coldwater Creek.

Brown Seaglass Spiral Necklace

In My Garden Window

and this one..

New Enameled Earrings. Loving the bright colors
Find them here on Etsy

Time to go inside..camera in hand...teetering heels and fleecy socks..cold in my pajamas..

Only to find that..



My six billion year old door knob has failed me. It turns, but just spins and spins
Home alone. No phone in the room. Only a computer.

Desperate emails go out to a potential rescuer.

A bit of panic. It's my turn to work at the Artist's Gallery today. If I'm not there it won't open..arghhhh..

I begin to strategize..

I look around. The neighborhood is empty, but maybe the neighbors are home?

The pebbles from my little photo prop would make the perfect little projectiles to bombard my neighbors house. Just maybe they would hear these little taps and come and set me free



They weren't home
I begin to climb over the railing. It is then I remember, I forgot to work on my upper body strength during those few fleeting months of gym membership. I notice this as I start to dangle off the railing.

I could jump off the deck..

and land into our ongoing landscaping project..



But that would mean two things...either a) jump with heels on or b)jump fleecy footed and risk landing on sharp pottery shards from my failed summer planting experiment. Being ever distracted I begin to make a plan for the summer (must go back to gym and will definitely commit to growing fresh herbs again). Ahh the bliss of a ever wandering mind.

Another desperate email


(the names and other information have been blotted to spare my husband from the sad humiliation of having to rescue me)

Finally I spot my rescuer. My loving prince has responded to my email desperation and come to rescue me.


He also fixed the knob..Love.

A Full Circle. A One World One Heart Giveaway

I want to share with you a little piece of my summer. A special journey that I took to the very western parts of Alaska. I want to share a special piece of the quiet gentle moments I spent on the shores of this rugged and peaceful place I am so very lucky to be a part of.

I want to share with you how enchanted I am with the magic of nature. How commanding the ocean can be. How fragile and yet strong at once. An ocean that can swallow something human hands discarded on the shore. Turn it over and over, tumble it through sand and sea. And then set back on the shore, a jewel.



A jewel that I took home.



The piece then plucked from the sands. The possibilities racing through my mind. How to turn the piece into something anew. Something reborn. A circle..but a full circle?..not yet



Leave a comment on this blog. At 12:00 Midnight Alaska Standard Time February 15th. I will select a random number from the blog comments and turn this piece over to you. I will announce the winner on my blog and send an email to the recipient. I will ship the piece to you via First Class Priority Mail. If you do not respond to the email from me announcing you have won within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.

PS..please make sure you have left your email address. I will not be able to respond to each comment left. But I do read each one.

This Sea Glass and Sterling Silver necklace will be yours. A piece from me to you. A full circle. Have fun and enjoy!

If you would like to participate in the One World One Heart Blog Carnival click here It's an fantastic journey and really just a lot of fun. (Not to mention..I got so many cool gifts in the mail last year..it completely lit up my February).

Craft Hope for Haiti

How precious is this life. How valuable is each and every safe, dry moment I have with my family. How lucky am I to sleep in a warm bed, drink clean water, feel safe in my environment.

I know that I cannot completely eliminate human pain and suffering and I know I cannot control the circumstances or the sadness that others face. The recent devastation in Haiti shows us all how very fragile we are in the world. Watching this tragedy has given me pause to put my life in perspective, evaluate my priorities and achieve the sort of balance that fits for myself, my family and my community. As I go about the daily activities of my life, the birthday parties, hockey practices, school activities, dinner, homework, house work and other activities I know I can be thankful that I can be part of this delicate and balanced life.

Watching the tragedy and trauma unfold this week my heart and mind has been filled with sadness, confusion and a desperate need to help. Out of this sadness, some amazing lights have risen. Projects that have creatively and boldly formed to funnel help to those that need it. One of these projects is Craft Hope for Haiti. The founders of this project opened an Etsy site where crafters, artisans and suppliers can donate their work to the Etsy store.

Proceeds are then in turn donated to Doctors without Borders.

I admire the creators of Craft Hope for Haiti . I thank them for taking a proactive role to do what they can to help.

Check out there website for more information.

www.crafthope.com

My our thoughts and prayers be with the individuals and families facing this horrible tragedy.

I'm getting closer..

Remember I told you with enough plastic bins I think I can conquer the world..well I think I overbought..off task Anji stopped filling the bins and set of to web shop for more stuff to put in the bins....but my studio is getting closer and closer to at least giving me some work space.

About me after the holidays

A friend asked me how my holiday was. I gave her a short recap. After retelling my holiday story I realized I might be in need of a crafting intervention.

Here's the recap. ( I have decided to not include pictures..as this might spin me off into another realm of setting up digitally altering photos for the perfect Christmas feel)

I decided this year to simplify my holiday. Focus on the family, crafting and really make this year special. I wanted our house to beam Christmas. It started off simply enough. A few decorations, a discussion about the tree. Then I decided that my home spun holiday needed a boost with just a small trip to JoAnn's. $$$ later I was sure I had all the things I needed to create the perfect holiday...except...

The perfect red tablecloth..out again...looking for a perfect red tablecloth just the right red..with hand embroidered white snowflakes. Call to mom (with a guilt dispatched from me) "Why haven't you hand embroidered a lovely tablecloth for me yet..am I not your favorite daughter..what will I hand down to my children? My pefect handcrafted Christmas would be so much more if I had this one unique special item"
"Anjanette (real name used only when mother has reached Anji exasperation)...seriously...you want me to embroider white snowflakes on a table cloth in the next week?" Me (Anjanette).."No I just wanted a crafted hand-made holiday."

I started thinking...what if I could take up sewing and get a sewing machine with those nifty embroidery options and I could embroider all my own stuff. Hey I might even become a super whiz..I might start a new hobby..I might except..

When I brought up the idea to husband the look on his face brought me a bit back into reality. A new sewing machine would have to wait (but secretly I have plans..shhh) But if I just had the perfect curtains to match the tablecloth..off to find the perfect color tea towels that I could turn into curtains (because I need to make it myself)...oh...and on my way I will pick up just a few things to make yummy cookie goodness for all my neighbors. $$ later I am home w/o the perfect colored tea towels but I have 10 lbs of flour and 3 large bags of chocolate chips and the Holiday Goodness cookbook. Perfect...except

If only I could find just the perfect way to decorate my tree. A brilliant idea pops into my head. I will hand solder keepsake ornaments representing all the Christmases past. My children will love them and they will be perfect. They will have them forever and ever and never lose them and they will sparkle on the tree..but wait..maybe if they were lit the perfect way. Off to the store for more lighting. Lots more lighting..lots and lots of lighting. $$$. Armed with more lighting I am tempted to hand craft a large 8ft star that could sit on our roof so that everyone would know we have more Christmas spirit than anyone in Southeast Alaska...except...

How will we remember and value this Christmas...what about all the Christmases past..what am I passing on to my family. $$. Must make a family Christmas album digitally put together using all my amazing Photoshop skills which I can then put on my computer..set to music and play on Christmas eve. Off to Itunes for the perfect Christmas back up song mix. Off to every digital scrapbooking place on the internet. ....ahhh Christmas eve...I am tired..but still fretting about not having the perfect snowflake curtains and tablecloth..but much enjoy the day anyway...

New Years...I somehow came down off my Christmas crazed lunacy. I resolved to have a simpler and less complicated year..one that if I was more organized I could greet with amazing resiliency. Firmly believing that all my problems could be solved with enough plastic bins and $$$ later I was off to start organizing....which I am still in the process of except..

Shortest Day of The Year

Solstice to me means the return of the sun. Yes we have a long winter ahead of us. I know the sun will return, the days will grow longer, the darkness lifting. December 21st is a hump day in Alaska. A day we know that we have made it through the longest part of the year. I am comfortable sipping coffee this morning watching the sun creep up the channel. Knowing that soon I will have light in my house again.