I'm alive and well

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...at least not yet! Life has been full. I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving? Our's was peaceful. We decided to go out to eat this year...something I've never done. It was SO nice to be waited on and to be able to enjoy family without all the work. I missed having leftovers though, lol. I was able to sneek a plate of my sister in laws' sweet potato casserole the next day. She knows it's my favorite!

I've been in the studio making some new pieces. I'm working towards stocking up my Etsy shop for the Christmas holiday. There will be new items posted regularly for the next 3 weeks. Check back often! I may run a sale soon or do free shipping, not sure yet. I'll post when I decide what I may do to make the holiday spending a little lighter for my buyers.

How was your holiday?

Have you started/finished your Christmas shopping?

How much of your purchases are going to be HANDMADE? (after all, it is the only way to shop, you know!)

Swap Anyone?

You see this lovely painting? Well, I first saw this little beauty 2 years ago at one of our local beads shops. It immediately caught my eye. At the time I could not afford to buy it, so I paid for my beads and went on my merry way.

Fast forward 2 years. I was blog surfing a couple of months ago and saw a blog button on a blog I was checking out (can't remember which one). I saw the name Catina Jane Arts on the button and vaguely recognized the art on it. So, I hit the button and headed over to the website. Lo and behold, Catina was the artist who painted that little beauty I had seen in the bead shop 2 years prior. I commented on one of her blog posts, she checked out my blog and we are now Facebook buds. Catina and I both live here in Jacksonville. She is a talented painter as well as beader and jewelry designer.

A couple of weeks ago we got to chatting about doing a trade. She mentioned a couple of my things she wanted and I told her that I adored that original painting. That little beauty is now hanging in my studio and Catina is sporting some original 2 If By Sea jewelry. Thanks Catina!

Goodies from Jen!

A couple of months ago I sent my friend Jen Swift, of Art as Usual, a little gift. In turn she gifted me her lovely creations above. She knew of my affinity for anything "pear" and couldn't have sent me a better gift. She made the brooch from an empty thread spool, ribbon and flannel and the pears are made with wire, fabric and embroidery floss. The brooch will be adorning my new grey wool winter coat this year.

Jen is a talented artisan who just happens to have a new book out this month called Creative Bloom. Hop on over to Amazon and check it out.

Thank you, Jen!