Atlantic Coast Blog

Grace in Small Things 54.365

2009-06-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

[Monday 3.30.09]

1. Finding a few houses online that we are excited to see in person

2. Star Trek: The Next Generation

3. Rummikub

4. The snuggly nature of the cat when it thunders

5. Daily thunder!

Oh hi!

2009-06-07T17:29:00.001-07:00

It's kind of depressing how far behind I fell on Grace in Small Things, because I still think about it every day. As I am not quite sure what to do with myself this evening, maybe I will just do a bunch right now?

//

On a completely unrelated note, I made a bracelet today, and it was one of those pieces where it actually looks just how I thought it would in my head. That doesn't often happen to me (I think it's one of the reasons that I'm not so good at drawing). But this bracelet is definitely one of my favorites. It's got a turtle charm in the middle, and the chain is made up of tiny Swarovski crystals intertwined with larger silver chain. I really have to take pictures and get it listed!

//

Now I must go sneeze. Please excuse me.

Grace in Small Things 53.365

2009-05-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

[Sunday 3.29.09]

1. The screened in balcony in our apartment

2. The Sims

3. Bubble wrap

4. Flower pots

5. Vintage Disney graphics

Grace in Small Things 53.365

2009-05-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

[Saturday 3.28.09]

1. Blue Swarovski crystals

2. Purple pliers

3. 1.00 packs of scrapbook paper

4. Handmade Mother's Day cards

5. Colorful maps

Grace in Small Things 52.365

2009-05-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

[Friday 3.27.09]

1. Piggy banks

2. Alan Tudyk

3. Bookmarks, even though I often forget to use them

4. Bubble wrap

5. Knowing the names of a lot of Florida birds

Grace in Small Things 51.365

2009-05-08T08:42:00.000-07:00

[Thursday 3.26.09]

1. Etsy chat

2. Baseball

3. The anticipation of a new-to-me camera

4. Pictures frames

5. Velveeta mac and cheese

Grace in Small Things 50.365

2009-05-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

[Wednesday 3.25.09]

1. Sunshine

2. Giant puffy cumulus clouds on the horizon

3. Kittens names after LOTR characters

4. The headband I ordered from AnnabelsAprons

5. Brightly colored hair ties

Grace in Small Things 49.365

2009-04-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

[Tuesday 3.24.09]

1. Tic Tac Bold (mint flavored)

2. 3D butterfly stickers

3. The guinea pigs running around in their "playpen"

4. The cat's healthy fear of the squirt bottle as she tries to sniff at the pigs

5. Publix brand pizza

Motherly Love

2009-04-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Not to get all Hallmark on you, but I made this bracelet and it seems to fit rather perfectly with Mother's Day, which, as you may or may not know, is upon us.

I was inspired to make this bracelet by my best friend's new(ish) niece, who was born in November. Avrie is pretty much the most adorable baby ever, even if she does cry every time I get near her. I was thinking of her when I found the focal point of the bracelet, which is a heart-shaped "open" locket - the picture isn't covered up. I thought it would be great in a bracelet because then the person wearing it can also appreciate it. I went a little above and beyond on this one by using a Swarovski toggle clasp. *swoon* I do so love a little sparkle!

Grace in Small Things 48.365

2009-04-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

[Monday 3.23.09]

1. Athenianaire.etsy.com - Gorgeous work with real butterfly wings, and she donates part of each sale to Conservation International!

2. chyrls.etsy.com - Amazing origami and artwork, and she's a wonderful person to boot!

3. annabelsaprons.etsy.com - Another awesome person that I've met through Etsy chat! Her aprons and headbands are made with the most beautiful fabric. I can't wait to get my hands on one!

4. Doodlage.etsy.com - Doodling is a HUGE understatement for this shop! The artwork is so original and imaginitive - I'm sure you could find something that ANYONE would love in this shop.

5. Glass2Class.etsy.com - This is another shop (full of stained glass items in varying styles and prices) where you could find something for almost anyone. Needless to say, I want pretty much everything in it.

Grace in Small Things 47.365

2009-04-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

[Sunday 3.22.09]

1. Paisley

2. Polka dots

3. Playful cats who fall asleep on one another after tumbling around for 3 hours

4. Pipe cleaners

5. Pacific blue Swarovski crystals

Grace in Small Things 46.365

2009-04-21T17:30:00.000-07:00

[Saturday 3.21.09]

1. I got to see a kitten get adopted today!

2. We had an awesome thunderstorm yesterday (well, 4.20.09 anyway).

3. I discovered that taking 95 home saves me about ten minutes on my commute.

4. Our lake is once again full due to the return of the rainy season.

5. I just hit the delete key, which took my whole stupid screen back, but when I hit forward, this was still here! Victory is mine!

Grace in Small Things 45.365

2009-04-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

[Friday 3.20.09]

1. That was the view from my front door the other night.

2. It manages to include many of my favorite things, including

3. palm trees,

4. sunsets,

5. and sky-wide rainbows.

Grace in Small Things 44.365

2009-04-19T17:12:00.000-07:00

[Thursday 3.19.09]

1. I'm a month and a day behind on GiST, but I'm going to catch up.

2. (Because I have a lot to be thankful for.)

3. One hundred and thirty people attended my husband's grandfather's 90th birthday party.

4. The drive up was totally worth it, because he was so happy and surprised!

5. The weather that day was GORGEOUS, which worked out well because lots of people hung out outside.

Oh hi!

2009-04-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

*Ahem.* So! How are you? I'm just great, thanks.

I was ignoring my shop for a little while, which, as it turns out, is NOT the best way to make sales. Motivation is less than forthcoming when sales get slow. Jewelry is so common on Etsy that it's hard to break into being a seller...Plus, I don't have a good bead store that's both close and in a good neighborhood. I could spend hours in Micheal's, but I don't want to feel like my things are the same as anyone else's. (Or that they could be easily recreated I guess.)

I finally started working on some things, and I took pictures and listed a necklace and a pair of earrings today. I'm really happy with how both things came out; the earrings are my take on a style that seems to be popular lately, and the necklace is an attempt to break out of my comfort zone.

I've been so busy for the past few weeks - hopefully I'll be able to get back to writing here often, as well as adding things more frequently to the shop! :)

Woe

2009-03-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

Alas, I am woefully behind on Grace in Small Things. I hope no one minds if a post a bunch of them over the next few days. You guys are pretty forgiving, yes? And quiet. (Cough.)

//

I've posted a few new things in the shop! I'm kind of, uh, running out of beads...There are definitely perks - it forces me to work with things that I've brushed over. But it also stifles creativity sometimes! Luckily, when I move back to NJ in a few months, I will be able to steal from my mom's stash. Mwahaha!

//

Did anyone do Earth Hour tonight? Dan and I turned off everything - computers, lights, tv - as well as the power strips. We read on the balcony by candlelight for the hour. It was quite lovely, although I think Florida summer is on its way back (not that I am complaining!). We turned a lot of stuff back on when we came in, but I'm trying not to feel too guilty about it and hoping that enough people participated to make a difference.

//

Back soon with more GiST!

Grace in Small Things 43.365

2009-03-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

[Wednesday 3.18.09]

1. Beaded heart coasters

2. The cat's disdain for They Might Be Giants

3. The new setup in the office

4. complete with the cat's bed under my desk.

5. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Leaving On A Jet Plane

Grace in Small Things 42.365

2009-03-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

[Tuesday 3.17.09]

1. Happy birthday to my little sissy!

2. I made friends with some new cats at the animal shelter.

3. I honestly think I might have missed my calling because I love animals so much. However, it's nice to find another thing to be passionate about.

4. Stickers

5. 49-cent hamburgers at Mcdonald's on Wednesdays and Sundays

Grace in Small Things 41.365

2009-03-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

[Monday 3.16.09]

1. Animal shelter interviewer called me back!

2. The loads of rain we've had this week

3. Library books

4. My shiny blue bicycle

5. Me: Good news! Erin said she'll watch our (non-existent) baby when we go on our road trip!
Dan: Babe, you miss the cat when we go to Disney for the night.

Cat Lady

2009-03-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Guys! I had my second day of volunteering at the animal shelter today. Want to meet some of the (adoptable!) cats that I worked with? Good!

This is Cinnamon. He's super cute, and adorably shy. After we cleaned his cage and put new papers down for him, he immediately rustled them around and hid underneath them. (The crazed puppy that was yapping nearby probably didn't help! :)

Isn't Phoenix gorgeous?? He's a very handsome guy who loved chasing the broom as I swept underneath his cage. He's a little shy, but I think he'd be a great pet for a family with older kids or maybe senior citizens.

I'm pretty sure that her face says it all.

Ok, I will spare you more cats...for now! :) More reports to follow, I'm sure!

TREASURY

2009-03-15T23:11:00.001-07:00

You guys! Insomnia has at last paid off: I landed my first treasury!

For those who don't know, treasuries are just groups of items picked by members of Etsy. They're a great way to a) get exposure for your shop, b) introduce you to new shops, and c) network with people across Etsy! I worked really hard on this treasury, and I think I did a pretty good job with the colors/layout. PLEASE check it out! Thank you so much! :)

(Screen shots tomorrow!)

Grace in Small Things 40.365

2009-03-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

[Sunday 3.15.09]

1. The glorious blue water of the (southern) Atlantic

2. at a new-to-me beach

3. with amazing rock formations

4. that have been in the process of forming for who knows how many years.

5. Also: abandoned sand castles.

Grace in Small Things 39.365

2009-03-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

[Friday 3/14/09]

1. Pancakes for breakfast!

2. The cat after a bath

3. Orange Gatorade

4. My two-strand necklace turned out how I hoped it would, which is always nice.

5. Grocery shopping tomorrow

Grace in Small Things 38.365

2009-03-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

[Friday 3/13/09]

1. I woke up early!

2. But then I went back to bed, where it was warm and cozy.

3. A trip to the movies where no one around us talked/used their cell phone/acted as an in-house commentator!

4. Diners

5. Perfectly crispy bacon

Grace in Small Things 37.365

2009-03-15T11:01:00.001-07:00

[Thursday 3/12/09]

1. The hubs made me a bacon egg and cheese sandwich, even though he didn't want any.

2. He also came home early from work!

3. Aveeno chapstick, which I got for Christmas

4. Lexulous

5. House-hunting online

Grace in Small Things 36.365

2009-03-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

[Wednesday, 3/11/09]

1. Summer Glau in Firefly

2. When the cat tries to jump onto the couch, and all I can see are the tops of her orange ears swaying back and forth at the edge while she makes her decision

3. Matching sheets & pillowcases all being clean and on my bed at the same time

4. The way ducks waddle their behinds when they are angry/happy/hungry/annoyed/excited

5. Baseball hats

Grace in Small Things 35.365

2009-03-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

[For Tuesday, 3/10/09]

1. Neon green hair ties

2. Long rolling booms of thunder

3. Knowing that I never took this place for granted

4. Already being reintegrated into Jersey plans, even though I won't be back for a few months

5. The bit of color I got whilst reading outside today for literally about 8 minutes

Grace in Small Things 34.365

2009-03-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

1. Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues Live at Folsom Prison

2. Living near family again come July or August or September

3. The happy squeaks of the piggies in their clean tank

4. The negative attention the cat seeks, thinking it will remind me that she should be fed

5. This conversation:

Paul: hey

Auto Response from me: cat for sale!

Paul: what make, model, and year?

me: extra wide/red tabby/2004ish

Paul: and the reason for sale?

me: she's too...helpful?

Paul: i dont get it

me: i might be lying.

Paul: about?

me: her helpfulness.

Paul: i see

Paul: hows the mileage?

me: welllll she's kind of a sunday driver.

me: so the mileage isn't so bad.

Paul: any sudden starts/stops?

Paul: sputtering?

me: only when it's chilly, and only once in awhile.

Paul: ok

Grace in Small Things 33.365

2009-03-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

1. Walking around the corner of my apt building and seeing a duck in the lake with its butt in the air, searching for grub

2. Triscuits with cheddar cheese

3. Opportunities

4. Nathan Fillion's smirk

5. Primary colors

Fire Power

2009-03-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

So! I've posted a few new things in the shop. They include: earrings (a few pairs) and a bright and shiny bracelet. Oooh, ahhh!

I'm also dealing with the somewhat annoying issue of my listings starting to expire. At Etsy, you pay 20 cents for every listing you create. Each listing lasts for 4 months. I have at least ten listing now sitting in the "expired" section of my shop, which is really kind of a bummer. A lot of the items are very simple, and they are from when I first started. Don't get me wrong - I love everything in my shop, or I wouldn't post it. But I don't think it's worth it to repost such small items, especially since buying this sort of thing seems to be slowing down. It's still anoying to deal with it though!

Anyway, I've added a few new items, as well as new pictures for most (if not all) of my necklaces. I've love it if you'd check them out!

Grace in Small Things 32.365

2009-03-07T16:12:00.000-08:00

1. My new stuff! Is here! Which means

2. better pictures and new items in the shop!

3. Pandora.com (specifically, typing "Jack's Mannequin" into Pandora)

4. Hubs and I getting our crappy, busted phones replaced (finally!)

5. Hemp thread, so I can make stuff for my Chester

Grace in Small Things 31.365

2009-03-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

1. My Fire Mountain beads are on the truck for delivery!

2. Walking for an hour yesterday

3. Seeing a HUGE Coast Guard boat turn around in the middle of the intracoastal...I still can't believe the boat made it!

4. My deal-seeking hubs

5. The terrible/awesome acting of Keanu Reeves

Grace in Small Things 30.365

2009-03-06T11:44:00.000-08:00

1. The AWESOME corniness of HSM3 (What?)

2. Tricking the cat into sleeping on my legs

3. Dance numbers (um, see #1)

4. MY BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES ARE IN HSM3 - Hilarious!

5. Hubby's early return from work on Fridays

Grace in Small Things 29.365

2009-03-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

1. I finally made some new earrings. Shockingly, they have to do with palm trees.

2. My freak out-of-nowhere cold from yesterday seems to have disappeared (for the most part).

3. Seedless watermelon

4. The much needed rain we had today

5. The cat's distinct response when I catch her being evil.

New Beads

2009-03-03T19:15:00.000-08:00

Hey peeps,

I just wanted to let everyone know that although I appear to be taking a brief hiatus, I do in fact have several things in the works. I purchased some beads for a custom order, which also led to me buying some things that I can use to better showcase my jewelry. You'll see what I mean when my new things arrive and I add new items to the shop!

Hopefully everything - especially the new beads!! - will be here soon, because I am eager to have more work to share with everyone. Thanks for checking in!

Grace in Small Things 28.365

2009-03-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

Grace in Small Things 27.365

2009-03-02T14:42:00.000-08:00

1. Liz Lemon

2. Tracey Jordan on Larry King Live

3. Fine: 30 Rock

4. Not dealing with a 8 inches of snow like everyone in Jersey

5. Snuggling in a fleece Yankees blanket anyway

Grace in Small Things 26.365

2009-03-01T16:53:00.000-08:00

1. My hubby's AWESOME friends came to visit, and we all had a blast.

2. Beating another level on Little Big Planet without dying on my first try.

3. Spot's satisfied smile after a bath. (Well, a cat bath anyway.)

4. Beaded heart coasters from my mother-in-law.

5. Find a new park (well, to us) in the area. (Pictures coming soon.)

Grace in Small Things 25.365

2009-02-28T22:50:00.000-08:00

1. Beach-themed charms

2. Scrabble tile pendants

3. Aloe

4. Twenty minute conversations about Star Trek

5. Twitter!

Grace in Small Things 24.365

2009-02-28T22:43:00.001-08:00

1. The ability to get sunburned in February

2. iPhones, even though I do not have one.

3. Spot's greetings at the front door

4. A1 chicken

5. Michael Westin

Grace in Small Things 23.365

2009-02-28T22:40:00.000-08:00

1. Cat vs. man snoring contests

2. City Place

3. Balloons

4. Barbecues in February!

5. Pelicans

Grace in Small Things 22.365

2009-02-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

1. Coffee with whipped cream on top

2. Perpetually blue skies

3. Bead catalogs

4. The library

5. Learning how to make wire wrap rings

Grace in Small Things 21.365

2009-02-24T20:44:00.000-08:00

1. The cat snoring at my feet

2. My dad's hilarious comments here

3. Rainbow stamp pads

4. Almost two hundred visitors to my shop today!

5. Reorganizing my crafting area so I have more space to store things

New stuffs!

2009-02-23T19:33:00.000-08:00

You guys, I posted so much stuff on Etsy today. Much of it sparkles:

Abalone makes me drool.

I really like these because they are so much funkier than anything I could pull off. The main bead is amber in the middle, with green edges. I used a prepackaged combo of Swarovski crystals for the bottom half, and I really like those colors together. Plus! They are all wire-wrapped, which means they were a huge pain in the rump. But they look pretty!

I enjoy seeing things in pairs.

Grace in Small Things 20.365

2009-02-23T19:12:00.000-08:00

1. Peppermint hot chocolate

2. Bender, the alcoholic robot from Futurama

3. Any line uttered in The Princess Bride

4. Odd coincidences

5. Cinderella's Castle

Grace in Small Things 19.365

2009-02-23T19:10:00.001-08:00

1. Nathan Fillion

2. Well, the entire cast of Firefly, really.

3. Polka dots

4. Faeries, especially those with glittery wings

5. Tattoos

Grace in Small Things 18.365

2009-02-23T19:07:00.000-08:00

1. Custom orders

2. Two-hour marathon of Scrubs on Comedy Central (even though I watch it all day whilst I bead).

3. Knowing how to spot Floridian locals.

4. (We wear hoodies if it is under 80 degress.)

5. More Swarovski crystals than I know what to do with

Grace in Small Things 17.365

2009-02-22T20:17:00.000-08:00

1. Danny Boyle is kind of adorable winning his Oscar.

2. Being inspired by movie star jewelry

3. Root beer

4. Flowy sundresses

5. Kate Winslet. I mean seriously.

Grace in Small Things 16.365

2009-02-22T20:10:00.000-08:00

1. Sequins!

2. Montages!

3. Musicals!

4. Singing!

5. ...Exclamation points?

Grace in Small Things 15.365

2009-02-21T17:11:00.001-08:00

1. Throw blankets

2. Hearing the bell on the cat's collar

3. Ghosts

4. Owls

5. Left-handed guitars

Grace in Small Things 14.365

2009-02-21T17:06:00.000-08:00

1. Winning at Risk (twice!)

2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

3. The new beads I ordered

4. The color pink

5. Wedding pictures

Oops

2009-02-20T19:41:00.001-08:00

Yeah so, I'm a teensy bit behind on Grace in Small Things. I had a bit of a rough week, but things are looking up so hopefully I can start being a little more grateful!

//

You guys, I got my stamp from Blossom Stamps today, and it's GLORIOUS. It's small, but so intricate! It's a fairy with butterfly wings and lots of flowers around her. I can't WAIT to use it. I might even do it tonight, even though it's already getting kind of late.

I really love shopping at Etsy. I know how great it makes me feel when I make a sale, and I love feeling like I could have made someone's day with my small purchase. And who can complain about having something that is one of a kind (or OOAK, as they say there)?

I'm off to get some things done. I hope to have new items listed in the shop very soon!

Grace in Small Things 13.365

2009-02-16T19:15:00.000-08:00

1. The awesome randomness of Futurama

2. I have an interview tomorrow!

3. I made a few cute sets of cards today, which I will probably put in the shop tomorrow. :)

4. Tiny new star charms

5. The stamp I ordered from BlossomStamps.etsy.com!

Grace in Small Things 12.365

2009-02-15T19:49:00.000-08:00

1. Winning a game of Risk!

2. Much needed rain

3. A sparkling clean dining room table...I honestly didn't know it could get that clean.

4. Guitars

5. The possibility of a February thunderstorm

Grace in Small Things 11.365

2009-02-14T18:35:00.001-08:00

1. The amazing blue water in Miami

2. Family request for jewelry from my shop!

3. Root beer

4. Valentine's Day hand towels from my MIL

5. Christopher Titus on Comedy Central

Grace in Small Things 10.365

2009-02-13T19:31:00.000-08:00

1. Remembering to label this post already

2. Being at the right place at the right time

3. Barbecue chicken pizza

4. Being asked to be part of a fundraising auction

5. Twilight on the cover of Entertainment Weekly (I know, I know.)

Grace in Small Things 9.365

2009-02-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

1. A freakishly snuggly, snoring fat cat

2. The return of 80-degree temperatures

3. Textbook pictures of lightning and flowers

4. Having new jewelry to photograph...All my staring at beads finally paid off!

5. Every season of Scrubs on DVD

Grace in Small Things 8.365

2009-02-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

1. The awesome goofiness of pelicans

2. dive-bombing the water, seeking fish

3. in a hidden estuary in my apt complex

4. (complete with tiny crabs

5. and, of course, palm trees).

Google Analytics

2009-02-11T11:42:00.000-08:00

I signed up for Google Analytics about a month ago; basically, once you sign up, you put a code on your page and it gives you visitor stats. You can see where people clicked from both Internet-wise (sometimes they just click right into the shop, and other times people come from my Twitter account or random places that I haven't head of) and geographically. I kind of forgot that I had it for awhile, so imagine my surprise when I checked yesterday and had visitors from all! over! the world! Countires include: well, the US, obviously, Canada, Honduras, Argentina, Vietnam, Thailand, India, China, Taiwan, Mongolia, Japan, Sweden, the UK, Italy, Netherlands, and Greece. AWESOME.

Google Analytics provides a TON of info, and I'm pretty sure that I don't understand most of it yet. But it's pretty exciting to see how many people are viewing my page and where they are from.

Grace in Small Things 7.365

2009-02-10T10:50:00.000-08:00

1. DIY Valentine's Day cards

2. The deep purple blooms on the trees around the lake

3. Etsy Chat, for giving me a boost when I need it

4. Watching airplanes getting ready to land

5. An updated resume

Grace in Small Things 6.365

2009-02-10T10:48:00.001-08:00

1. Shells that already have perfect-sized holes drilled into them.

2. Turtles sunbathing on the fountain in the lake in our apt complex.

3. The cat hunting ducks from a balcony three stories up.

4. Coffee.

5. 77 degrees in February. I will never, ever get sick of it.

Mmm, shiny.

2009-02-09T17:20:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. Try not to look directly at it.

Made with sparkly black, clear, and pink Swarovski crystals (even the crystals on the spacers are Swarovski!). You can find it here!

I don't want to set the world on fiiiiire...

2009-02-08T21:21:00.001-08:00

So I've been working on this complicated (for me, anyway) three-strand necklace that uses turquoise beads and large white shell beads. I still can't get one of the strands to sit quite right, which is SUPER annoying, because I don't know how to fix it and I'm really proud of this necklace and I want to show it off! My perfectionist tendancies preclude me from photographing it just yet.

I do, however, plan on finally taking some pictures of the sparkly pink and black bracelet I made the other day so that I can post it on Etsy. I hope it sells quickly so I can justify making more, because I love it!

//

The Fallout soundtrack is making my brain cells rot. That is all.

Grace in Small Things 5.365

2009-02-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

1. A fellow artist (hehe) complimented my large silver flower necklace, hurray!

2. I have my volunteer interview tomorrow at the animal shelter tomorrow, and I'm way more excited than nervous.

3. Turquoise beads

4. My inspiration board, which houses cards from my sister and my best friend, pictures of friends and actors, and things from fellow Etsians.

5. Wood Wick candles, which smell and sound delightful.

Grace in Small Things 4.365

2009-02-07T22:12:00.001-08:00

1. FINALLY attending the volunteer orientation at the local animal shelter so that I might talk to cats who are not my own.

2. Meeting a dog who was more calm in a large social setting than I am.

3. Hours and hours with no obligations, just playing video games with my hubby.

4. Seeing several twins of my cat, one of whom I named Buddha.

5. Moving the plants back outside because it does not stay cold here in south Florida. :)

Grace in Small Things 3.365

2009-02-06T19:17:00.001-08:00

1. The hubs working from home today

2. Fresh clean sheets and comforter

3. Making a pretty bracelet that turned out the way I wanted it to

4. My guinea pig's giant bottom teeth

5. It being just cold enough outside to warrant wearing a scarf here in south FL

Grace in Small Things 2.365

2009-02-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

1. Janitor rants on Scrubs

2. Shiny beads with blue and white stripes

3. The satisfaction of adding new things to my shop

4. Creating wire wrapped shells (free materials!)

5. Dr. Cox rants on Scrubs

Grace in Small Things 1.365

2009-02-04T09:20:00.000-08:00

Because we can all stand to think a little more positively, I've (finally) decided to do Grace in Small Things, created by Schmutzie.

1. My fat cat (perhaps I've mentioned her?) is snuggling next to me. She's my own personal space heater.

2. The guinea pig cage is clean, and I feel like a good (pet) parent.

3. The palm tree outside is swaying violently in the wind, which means it catches my eye every six seconds.

4. I have a new light box with which to take pictures for my shop!

5. My parents just visited, and I am so lucky to be so close to them.

Etsy Chat Team

2009-02-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Oof, sorry for the blog slacking. My parents were here for a week and I couldn't take pictures of my stuff, so I was highly unmotivated.

However!

My light box arrived, and it is GLORIOUS. I got it from ThinkGeek, a website I could pretty much live at. The light box itself folds into a tiny little compartment in the bag that it comes with; I was worried that it would be super small, but it expands quite a lot when you unfold it! Somewhat unfortunately, it becomes about the size of the cube my cat loves to sleep in...She jumped into the light box twice within seconds of my opening it. I really hope she doesn't ruin this one, so I'm keeing it folded up (even though that means it's a bit wrinkly).

The lights that it comes with are also very handy; they have built-in stands, so it's very easy to position them. They are much brighter than the lamps I was using previously, so hopefully that will save me some editing work in Picasa!

In other Etsy-related news, I am now part of the Etsy Chat Team! I'm very excited to be part of a team, especially one with people I have already gotten to know and whose shops I truly love and admire. I'll be linking to these shops in a blog entry very soon, once I get myself a bit more organized!

Treasury!

2009-01-22T10:15:00.001-08:00

I know, I know; two blogs in less than an hour is pushing it. BUT LOOK!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=34251

My first treasury! I am so beyond excited!

The Death Of My Light Box

2009-01-22T10:02:00.000-08:00

Yeah so, the cat? She killed my lightbox. Siiiiiigh.

It was sitting on top of the three plastic drawers that hold a ton of my crafting stuff (uh, when I actually decide to put it away), along with two desk lamps that I used as my lighting source(s?). I went over to the dining room table to start working, and I noticed that both lamps were on the floor, one of them twisted and bent in an unfortunate manner. As I was fairly certain that I had not left them like that, I looked on top of the drawers and noticed that the lightbox was tilted and suspiciously covered in cat littler. She has ruined the poster board that went inside the box, as well as further distorted its shape. I sighed, admitted defeat, and threw it in the trash.

So! Now I am in the market for a new cardboard box. Anybody wanna help me out?

Bracelets and Earrings and Necklaces, Oh My!

2009-01-19T09:50:00.000-08:00

Yeah, so there's lots of new stuff in the shop! I experimented with a big flower pendant, and I really love how the necklace turned out. I also became obsessed with beads that are clear in the center and have dark edges, which I learned are called Picasso edges. I have lots of different types of these beads, so I hope you like them! There are also funky heart earrings, perfect for Valentine's day!

Turtle Power

2009-01-14T18:52:00.000-08:00

In furthering my turtle obsession, I've added another pair of turtle earrings to Atlantic Coast Art. I realized today that I hadn't added them despite the fact that I made them a few weeks ago becauuuuse I love them so much! The turtles are super cute and I'm also kind of in love with All Things Swarovski, especially shades of blue and green (lately; I'm sure that'll change). I've added a few other things to the shop as well, and there are still new items waiting to be posted!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

New Necklaces

2009-01-08T17:51:00.000-08:00

I finally sat down to make some new things yesterday, and I got a lot of work done! I felt most inspired by the handmade African beads - I used them to make a purple and brown necklace, and I love how it turned out. (Clicking on the picture should take you to the Etsy listing.)

I absolutely LOVE those beads. I wish I had gotten more! (Or that the store had been in Pitman when I was!)

I'm hoping to visit a bead store in West Palm Beach soon; I checked out the website and it looks like it'll be the type of bead store that I am looking for. I definitely hope so, anyway!

I always forget to add a title.

2009-01-06T11:12:00.001-08:00

Between the beads I purchased at various bead stores in Jersey and the stuff my mom gave me, I have enough new materials to make approximately 8 bajillion new pieces of jewelry. Unfortunately, my desire to Organize My Apartment is sort of beating out my desire to bead. I am super excited about these beads I got at the Pitman bead store. They were handmade in Africa, and they are pretty shades of purple and brown. (It doesn't help that I am in a purple phase lately!) I hope that they set up their e-commerce site soon, because it's by far my favorite of the (relatively few) bead stores I've been to. I have to grab 5 or 6 bags when I enter and tell myself that I will only fill that many, or I'd walk out with beads from every bin in the store!

Another thing I got (inherited, really) that I'm excited to mess around with is different colored wire. I don't know how difficult it is to twist it around and make it look like I actually did something on purpose, but I'm hoping it'll be easier than I'm imagining. There are so many fun things I could do if it's not too hard to use!

So, hopefully I will be adding some new things to the shop very soon. I'm trying to focus on getting rid of some stuff in the apartment (as always!), and then perhaps the creative juices will return.

Rose Necklace

2008-12-11T20:12:00.000-08:00

So I just made this necklace that I am SUPER proud of, so I thought I might share it with y'all. (I really wish y'all would start seeping into my vocabulary, but everyone who lives here is actually from New York or New Jersey, so I think Florida is actually just making my Jersey accent worse.) Anyway, I bought the pendant for this necklace during one of my first rounds of bead shopping, which my bank account can tell you was many, many moons ago. I love it so very much, I might just keep it for myself (or, uh, make another one). The pendant itself is big, at least compared to my usual tastes, and the the necklace is made of various types of beads in shades of pink and brown. There are also eight million clear/silver seed beads, because I cannot help myself. I love them.

Additionally, I've discovered the joy and wonder of Picasa 3. My pictures are still the bane of my existence; sometimes I get shots that I think turn out really well, and then when I see what they look like after I edit them in Picasa, I realize that they still have a loooooong way to go. I know that many people probably edit their photos, but I still wish my originals would be a bit closer to what I want in the first place.

There are a few other new things in the shop - go check 'em out and tell me what you think!

Thanksgiving/Christmas in Florida

2008-12-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

Mmm, Thanksgiving dinner. I helped with the chicken! And I made the green bean casserole. Yum!

It looks a little better here.

Again, still morally opposed to the fake tree...But it does look quite fancy. :) (If you can see the ornaments, you will see how nerdy we are.)

A little brighter.

The light is placed behind the ornament, in order to make it extra enjoyable. The apple does not fall far from the tree.

Comments

2008-12-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to say that I fixed the comments, so if you'd like to comment despite not having a Blogger account, you can. :)

Additionally, I took pictures of the Christmas tree to share with everyone who might be interested, but they are still on my camera. I have a lot to do today.

I like your moxie, Sassafras.

2008-11-26T17:54:00.000-08:00

I made 8 pairs of earrings the other day. Seven of them are for sale at AtlanticCoastArt.etsy.com; the eighth is waiting to be repaired. (One of the tiny little beads on it broke, which was kind of a bummer.) I used a bunch of bright, random beads, and I think they all came out really well.

//

In other news, I have the Twitter. I don't actually know how the links work, but my user id is llrjerseygirl, and it's also on the right there, at the top of the page. Usually it's just me bantering with the hubby, or our friend Mike, but I find it immensely entertaining.

//

I am SO BUMMED that Pushing Daisies is canceled!! It's so colorful and weird and adorable. Uhm, with a little dash of gross, sometimes. I've read that it's going to end with a huge cliffhanger, but the story will be finished with a series of comic books and possibly a movie. I don't really understand why they would make a movie if they are not getting the audience they want on tv, but I would certainly see it!

Free Bird

2008-11-22T18:08:00.000-08:00

I made these today:

I kind of love them. Unfortunately, I tend to make things that are way bigger than what I am used to/comfortable wearing. Which is sad. Because I love all of the stuff that I make.

Actually, it's probably good, because otherwise I wouldn't be willing to sell, whiiiich would sort of defeat the purpose.

Anyhoo, those are up at AtlanticCoastArt.etsy.com...Feel free to check them out for alternate pictures (or, you know, to buy them)! :)

The Crazy

2008-11-21T17:44:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed, whilst traveling the aisles of your local craft store, how many people are talking to themselves? I don't mean like, muttering about cost comparisons or trying to choose one thing over another...I mean like, exclaiming loudly how CUTE something is, or voicing their complaints about the way things are arranged on the shelves. I go to Michael's, um...a lot, and I always see (well, hear) at least one person doing this. I'm always startled--do they want me to respond? Can they just not help themselves? I'm also really hoping it's not contagious, because I've already got Crazy Cat Lady thisclose to being added to my resume.

//

I bought a ton of new stuff today, and I'm waiting for some bulk orders from Etsy to come in. Expect lots of new stuff in the store soon! Oh, and business cards are also on the way. This is what they look like so far; I'm not sure if I want to move/add/subtract any of the information yet. Also, I know the font is super light, but I don't know how to bold it and other colors weren't working for me. Your thoughts?

Herod

2008-11-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

You guys, I'm totally re-obsessed with Jesus Christ Superstar. What's not to love?!

Is there anything better than that? No. No, I think not.

Light Box

2008-11-13T14:08:00.001-08:00

Ok so...I've been using a light box (and I use the term loosely) that I made out of a cardboard box and tissue paper, and I'm still not really sure what I'm doing with the lights. My method of figuring things such as that out is to screw around, get mad that I don't know what I'm doing, and accept what I've come up with as the best I can do. I know, super productive, right?

Well, I've come across some websites (and a book that Dan has about photography), and I'm still not entirely sure what I'm doing. I don't have bright lights to use on the sides, so I've been using two like, bedside, adjustable lamps. Perhaps that is my first problem? I move them around to experiment with the shadows and such, but I'm still not super happy with the results. I also have a dinky little Kodak, but I'm hoping that that is not the problem since I cannot afford a nicer camera (even though I drool a little when I see them).

Any thoughts/suggestions would be great...I promise to actually read them and not just throw a temper tantrum. :)

Pets

2008-11-11T21:51:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wish that I had pets whose main goals in life were not simply Eat, Sleep, or Poop. Alas, here they are (in Eat, Sleep, and Poop order, actually):

(Sure she's pretty, but her plans for world domination are almost complete...When the opposable thumbs she ordered arrive, watch out!)

(If she can't see me, she can't pick me up! Run away! Run away!)

(Yeah, she's actually doing a somersault to get away from us. Flaily Von Flailingston.)

Of course, as I am writing this, the cat is stretching and making silly sleepy noises at me. Perhaps she does have an Affection setting; it is just buried beneath layers of Evil.

Animal Rescue

2008-11-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

So yesterday, Dan and I went to the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. We went because I was (am?) thinking about volunteering there. They have something called Cat Companions (I know, I'm becoming a crazy cat lady super early in life); I figured since I take care of Spot, it wouldn't be that much different to take care of pets in need. Who might actually be nice to me.

First impressions were less than stellar; there's a lot of construction to one side, and it doesn't look like the best area. Also? One of the buildings looks like an above-ground bomb shelter. It was...well, it was terrible. And hideous. Obviously that's not important in terms of working there, but still.

We walked up the counter, and I told the woman working there that I was interested in volunteering. She started to talk, and then interrupted herself to ask how old I am. That's right. She wanted to make sure I was old enough to volunteer. I laughed, and explained that I am in fact 25. She then proceeded to tell me that adult orientation for volunteering is the first Saturday of every month at 10:00. So I missed it by literally 5.5 hours. For the whole month.

So that was that.

//

I made a Facebook page for Atlantic Coast Art. Perhaps you would like to be a fan? That would be enjoyable. Also, if you'd like to help me figure out how to post a little Etsy widget thing there, that would be lovely.

Am I Becoming A Morning Person?

2008-11-08T22:03:00.000-08:00

You know those ideas that float into your head right before you fall asleep, the ones that seem like, so obviously awesome that it's hard to imagine that you've never thought of them in your fully conscious hours? Well, I totally had one of those as I was waking up this morning. I mean, how perfect is THAT?!

I've been trying to make dangle earrings for awhile, having both purchased materials and scoured the Internet for methods/inspiration. Finally, though, it all just sort of came to me, and I ended up making four pairs of earrings this morning. I really love how they turned out, too! It was one of those great, rare moments when the idea in your head actually translates to your intended creation.

Why Hello

2008-11-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

As much as I love both writing and reading other's people blogs, the little white box always intimidates me. Why did I sign on again? Why do the ideas I have waiting in my head never quite materialize on the screen?

But I've decided to stop being so obsessive compulsive about my words, because I love blogging. I've met some really cool people through blogs, and it's sort of awkward not having one. Plus, it's pretty sweet to have an autobiography of yourself, especially when you have an epiphany that causes you to wonder what your younger self may have been thinking, or to peer in at those hard-to-remember details of your past that seemed so important at the time.

Another reason that I have this blog is because I just opening a shop at Etsy.com, and I'm kind of obsessed with it. Etsy is a site that allows people to sell their handmade items, from (in my case) jewelry and stationary, to clothes and candles and beyond. There is an absolutely endless amount of stuff to look at there, and knowing that it was handmade by someone just makes me feel happy. People are so creative!

Anyway, my shop is called Atlantic Coast Art, and you can find it at (surprise!) AtlanticCoastArt.etsy.com.

That's all for now--thanks for stopping by!