My Bead Soup Arrived!

Well, here it is! My bead soup from Ann Marie. The picture is not the best because it's very rainy and overcast here today. I am excited to get started on something wonderful with what she sent me.

Check back here on February 10th for the big reveal!

Thanks Ann Marie!

My Bead Soup Party Partner

A couple of weeks ago I entered a Bead Soup party via Lori Anderson's blog. Lori, who makes beautiful jewelry herself, is hosting a virtual get-together for jewelry designers. The unveiling of everyone's designs will be via our blogs on February 1oth.

This morning I mailed out my bead soup to my partner, Ann Marie Hodrick of http://www.heartsdesirejewelry.com/. Ann Marie and I both agreed to surprise one another with our bead trade. I am looking forward to receiving mine and getting started on creating something with it.

Check back here on February 10 for the unveiling of my design...

Sleepless in J-ville

This is what happens when you're up at 1 am in the studio with no idea why you're there, lol. It actually started out as something else and turned into this altered tag.

By the way, I am currently in love with a new craft item called clear stamps by Stampology. They rock!

A Post-Christmas Post

Christmas 2009 was all about the kiddies. When we set out to buy their gifts we tried to come up with things that would serve two purposes, Noah and Seth. You know, toys that they would both use and share. So that's just what we did. We bought the uber-bag of the ever-popular MegaBlocks and to accompany those a MegaBlock table to build things on. Next up was the adjustable Little Tikes Basketball Hoop. It adjusts from 3ft for our little Seth, all the way to 6ft in the event Dad wants to join in on a game of h.o.r.s.e., lol. Then there was the mondo gift of gifts for 2 little boys who covet cars and trucks and things with hitches and trailers. We got them a motorized, ride-on John Deere tractor and trailer. We had it prepped and ready in front of the tree on Christmas morning in all it's green and yellow glory!

Fast forward to Christmas morning. I'm up at 7 am dressed and ready with my new gift, my Flip Ultra HD video camera. I couldn't wait for Noah, our oldest, to get up and see that tractor he'd been eyeing up at Walmart for months. Well, he got up and needless to say his reaction was not what I had hoped for. He stood in the hallway and whispered to me for 5 minutes before I could get him to peek around the sofa at the tree. Then when he did and saw the tractor all he did was say "tractor". I was so expecting yelling and screaming and such. It was not to be. He did love his tractor and hasn't stopped riding it for a 2 weeks now. As soon as I download the video from my Flip I'll be sure to update this post and share it with you.

All in all Christmas 2009 was great, everyone got what they wanted and we didn't forget to celebrate the reason for the season, Jesus' birthday.

More Beady Goodness

Thanks to all the ladies who commented on my new Etsy items that I showed you Sunday!

Your comments mean so much to me.

I've added more new items to my Etsy shop. Go check it out and see if you find something you can't live without...Have a great day!

~ New Etsy Shop Items ~

...Now for sale in my Etsy shop...

*Hope-FULL in 2010*

I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's Eve? Ours was quiet. I had to work until 11 p.m. and by the time I arrived home my hubby had already fallen asleep on the couch. So, I let him sleep, checked on the kids and crawled into bed to dream about my wishes for 2010.

I've never been one to make "resolutions", so this year I decided that I would be Hope-FULL instead. Here is my list of things that I am Hope-FULL will come to fruition in this coming year.

These are in no particular order, lol.

1. Renew my walk with God.

2. Spend less money.

3. Start daily journals for both Noah and Seth.

4. Make a schedule for housework.

5. Create an atmosphere of love, creativity, acceptance and appreciation in our home everyday.

6. Do more art/craft shows.

7. Be a better friend.

8. Apply myself more. I really need to work on this one!!!

9. Start college funds for our boys.

10. Learn to use what I have available to me (art/bead supplies) ~ Don't buy more!

11. Be more serious about my Etsy shop and promoting my jewelry and art.

12. Tell my husband that I love and appreciate him more often.

To anyone reading this I wish you much success in your goals and dreams this year!
Happy 2010!