Pluggers United Team / BlockHeadRadio...

So, I am a new member of this awesome Etsy Team called, Pluggers United BlockHeadRadio...We are a team of Etsy artisans for artisans...Plugging and promoting each other on our blogs, blockheadradio, Etsy forums and anywhere where else our hearts desire...

This is my first post promoting some of the talented artisans on the Team...Introducing

PLUGGERS UNITED IN BLUE...TheChainmailleLady

BeadedTail

TulipsTreasureBox

solsisters

RoseWorksJewelry

Hanukkah - The Festival of Lights...

Hanukkah is a beautiful holiday, one celebrated with lighting the menorah, eating potato latkes, singing festive songs and sharing presents...I searched Etsy and here is what I found relating to the Hanukkah celebration...

I found this beautiful menorah in TamarGibley...There are some beautiful ceramics in this shop...Worth checking it out...

Dreidel is a fun game played at Hanukkah time...We usually play it with chocolate Hanukkah Gelt (chocolate money wrapped in gold foil)...I found this awesome handcrafted dreidel in StoryBlox's shop...Great wooden toys in this shop...

This beautiful wall hanging would make any Hanukkah party room a festive one...This was found in Sieberdesigns...Some beautiful and very colorful wall hangings in this shop...

I hope you enjoy the Hanukkah items I found on Etsy...A world of beautiful handmade items...Don't you just love it!...

SPOTTED COW SOAPS - EtsyBloggers Featured Artist

Ok, so I have been really bad about blogging this month...I realized that it's time I post for EtsyBloggers Street Team featured artist...Hoping that this will be the kick I need to get posting again...

OMG...Have you seen Spotted Cow Soaps lately...This shop is the yummiest soap shop I've seen in a very long time...Soaps, scrubs, spa goodies, even cupcakes for the kids...

Vanilla Whipped Sugar Scrub

Gingerbread Soap

Cupcake Bath Set

Organic Spa Bath Set
Visit Spotted Cow Soaps for an awesome soap experience...

A THANKSGIVING PRAYER...

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

EtsyBloggers Featured Blogger for November... STORYBEADER

The EtsyBloggers team Featured blogger this month is Deb who has an awesome Etsy shop called Storybeader and a unique blog as well, Stroll Through Storyland ...Deb has a unique way of creating some awesome wearable art pieces with beads, natural stones, and crystals...I've never seen a piece in her shop that I haven't admired...Deb also is a creative writer and her blog proves her talent...When you purchase one of her creations from her Etsy Shop you will be pleasantly surprised with an original Haiku written especially for that piece...One day I hope to own one of those original Haiku's for my own personal collection...Enjoy some of these beautiful items from the Storybeader...

WE HAVE A WINNER...

CONGRATULATIONS to Stephanie of CupriCat...
Stephanie won my Day of the Dead lampwork skull, Skull Rock, by commenting on the Baltimore By Hand blog...She answered the question about me correctly and her name was drawn out the hat as the WINNER...Check out Stephanie's Etsy Shop...She has some absolutely STUNNING jewelry I think all my readers will love...Here is just a sample of what is in Stephanie's shop...

LEST - Beads for Food...

HELP US...

HELP OTHERS
My LEST Street Team is having an awesome food drive for the next month...Here are the details... Through the month of November, participating LEST members are selling beads for food. Each participating member will be donating a can of food or a dollar amount ~ each time they sell a bead/bead set through their Etsy shop...

I am donating ONE food item and ONE clothing item to an awesome Women and Children's Shelter in my hometown...Hannah More House in Reisterstown - for single women and families with children...My husband and I have donated to this shelter before and let me tell you, they are so appreciative and grateful for the help...
Please visit my Etsy Shop and help me to donate as much as I can this holiday season...
Here is the link to see the list of participating Etsy Shops...
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5886544

Baltimore By Hand Blog...Check it out...

I am the Featured Artist today for the Blog Giveaway in the Baltimore By Hand blog...I'm not giving away any secrets...You need to go to the blog, read my article and see if YOU can win one of my Day of the Dead skulls...

GOOD LUCK...

October's EtsyBlogger's Featured Blogger...

This month the EtsyBloggers Street Team is featuring Jen from Mama's Magic Studio...This gal is very creative with her bead style...She runs 2 Etsy shops, the second being Baby Friendly Beads...Both shops have some unique and creative items...You should check them out... You can also read more about Jen and her shops on her blog Mama's Magic...

Fresh Basil Pesto

OK...So the groundhogs didn't distroy the entire garden this summer...I have lots and lots of basil...My favorite thing to make with basil is homemade Pesto...OMG...It is to die for...I would love to share this easy recipe with you...I would share my abundance of basil but that would be difficult over the web...Anyway here goes...

First you start out with fresh basil...Wash it well...Cut off the leaves and you're ready to make your pesto...

Fresh Basil Pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts

3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Method
1. Combine the basil and pine nuts in a food processor or blender, pulse a few times...If you are using walnuts make sure they are chopped before adding to the basil...Then add the garlic, pulse a few times more...You may need to scrap the sides a few times in between your pulsing...

2. Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on...Stop again to scrape the sides with a rubber spatula...Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended...Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste...

Makes about 1 cup...

YUM YUM YUM...Serve with pasta, over baked potatoes (my fav) or over a toasted baguette slice...Trust me, this is good on anything!...Enjoy...

Skully Magazine Cover -- Very Cool...

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com ...

Featured EtsyBlogger of the Month

Joey & Aleethea is the Featured EtsyBlogger for the month of September...I am a member of this awesome Stree Team called EtsyBloggers...I'm actually a member of several awesome Street Teams on Etsy but this one in particular keeps me up and posting on my blog...It's a committment that I appreciate and enjoy...I knew I had to do something active when I started my blog...I was so afraid of the committment of posting...Since I joined EtsyBloggers it has been nothing but fun fun fun...I now enjoy my blog rather than look at it as another chore or thing I have to do...
Now, back to the Featured EtsyBlogger...Joey & Aleethea has the most adorable childrens clothes I have seen in a long time...I especially love the "Monster" series...So cute and fun...Their bibs are fun too, reversible and made with some unique material, not just babyish...I have to also mention that the models used to show these adorable fashions are the cutest...

So...If you are in the market for anything for baby, toddler or a special little one...Joey & Aleethea is the shop to visit...Oh...Did I mention that Joey & Aleethea is also the Admin and Team Leader for EtsyBloggers...Ooops...

Skulls In My Closet

OK...By now most of you know that I love making my Day of the Dead Skully focals...I am an old time Dead Head and have always had a fondness for skulls...After many visits to New Mexico I learned that "Day of the Dead" is actually a celebration, where family and friends gather to pray for and remember loved ones who have passed on...

One of my lampwork friends, Amber, whose Etsy Shop is Naos, gave me encouragement and help when I wanted to make my first skull after seeing one of hers...I started making my skulls for Halloween but realized shortly after several sales that they can be worn anytime of year...It just so happens that this time of year they seem to be most popular...I hope you enjoy my Skully creations...

Childhood Memories...

EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival - September 1

I thought and thought of a childhood memory that some of you could relate to...Food...that's it!...In thinking back to my childhood, I remember all of the fun NEW foods that were becoming available to the public...Take Fizzies, for instance...Does anyone remember adding 2 tablets to their glass of water, watching the tablets fizz into a colorful, flavorful?, soda?...I sure do...I used to LOVE the stuff...
Then there were the delicious and so yummy T.V. Dinners...I remember Swanson making them...At least one night a month my Mom would make everyone their very own T.V. Dinner...What a special treat that was...No dinner dishes to clear or clean...How cool was that...What was your favorite T.V. Dinner?...Mine was Salisbury Steak...

And of course we had to have some delicious ice cream for dessert...Oh, now that was my favorite part of the instant meal...Chocolate was my favorite...How about you?...

Let's not forget the after dinner bubble gum cigarette...Now tell me that wasn't promoting cigarets to kids...Thinking about it now makes me sick...I can't believe we actually pretended to smoke those things and then chewed them and blew bubbles?...Who remembers that?...

OK...So now I'm getting totally weirded out...Are these my favorite childhood memories...NO THEY ARE NOT...I thought this would be fun but now I think I better stop because this is really freakin' me out...

I'm sure lots of you remember these crazy convenient and wacky food items hitting the markets...We thought they were the greatest thing ever...Now look where we are...

With that I say...Feel free to leave comments...I'm curious how you feel about this kind of nostalgia...

How Cool Is This!...Thank You Patti...

OK...So you all saw my post about me, Dorset Hill Beads, being the featured "Evening With" last Sunday night with the Etsy Artist Lounge...Well, the awesome, Patti, of Peacoxcreations created this beautiful Treasury in honor of my chat and the people who participated...Thank you Patti...I am truly grateful...

An Interview with Maia from Maiart...

I was so excited when I met Maia through her Etsy Shop - Maiart ...

Maia is such a wonderful person and extremely talented artist...I fell in love with her art work...So peaceful and serene...I knew I had to purchase some of her cards to share with my family and special friends...Maia is a very special person and will always be close to my heart...

I am honored to have the opportunity to interview Maia...Now, let me get on with the interview...
1. Tell me a little about Maia…
My home is in the beautiful Pacific Northwest,I am grateful for this everyday! I am a single mother with grown, wonderfully kind boys!

2. Where do you get your inspiration for your work…
My inspiration comes from many places. Nature, children, spirituality. Sometimes when I am doing a custom order I tell the person it will take between 2 weeks or 2 months. It is such a joy to see how the inspiration comes for that piece. Sometimes it is in a dream, and I get up and draw. Sometimes it is just a feeling. Working as a Douala has been very inspiring!! Things that bring a peaceful feeling, that is what I wish to pass on. It is as the saying goes "One Planet One People". Anything that can show our sameness instead of all of our differences is Inspiring for me!
3. How long have you been sharing your talents with the public…

Gourds have been a passion of mine for over 20 yrs.!! Painting is a new adventure, it has been a wonderful way of expressing what I feel and see.

4. What other interests or hobbies do you enjoy…
Etsy is my newest interest!!! Rocks, I love rocks!! Walking on the beach, Kayaking, dreaming.... Animals have always been a big part of my life. Meeting awesome people like Eileen is a great joy in my life!

5. Where can people find your creations…
At this time my work is on maiaart.etsy.com. Or just email me at maiaart@olypen.com ...

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions...It is a great joy to have you as a cherished Etsy friend...