EtsyBloggers 1st Anniversary SALE...

EtsyBloggers Street Team is having their FIRST Anniversary Sale...5 DAYS ONLY...

Starting this Wednesday, Aug 13 thru Sunday the 17th you will find lots of items on sale ranging from FREE SHIPPING to 10% off to 25% off!...See individual team member shops for their sale details...In the meantime, you can find beautiful items from our team members here in our Team Shop FAVORITES ...

My Shop will be offering FREE SHIPPING on all items, plus, don't forget to check out my SALE Section for lampwork at my discounted prices...

Bright and early Wednesday morning we will have a list of participating shops posted here: http://etsybloggers.etsy.com/

We are "The official Etsy street team for those who love to blog about their craft, the creative process, and other Etsians"...

SILLY SATURDAY...

Silly, Swirly and Smiley...Everytime I look at this set of lampwork that I created I crack a smile...I love when things make me smile...I named with set "BANANA FANA FOE"...You all remember that silly song, The Name Game...I bet that put a smile on your face too...

Tell me what makes you smile on this Silly Saturday...

August Estyblogger Featured Artist - Tulips Treasure Box

I am happy to say that I am a new member of the Etsybloggers Street Team...Each month the Team selects one of their members to be the "Featured Artist"...This month features, Lily, of Tulips Treasure Box ... This unique shop is filled with beautiful creations of wearable beaded art...I especially love her newest series, "Framboise Drupelet Black Raspberry" jewelry...You've gotta check out Lily's shop...There are so many beautiful creative items...It takes a lot of time and talent to create with such tiny beads...Kudos to Lily and her Tulip Box of Treasures...

CONGRATULATIONS...

Links to Tulips Etsy Shop and to Tulips Blog and Octahedron ...

Grilling Yams or Sweet Potatoes...

To me there is nothing like fresh vegetables grilled to perfection (or burnt) to accompany that grilled steak, chicken, fish or burger...The other day I grilled Yam Wedges...I've never tried this before and man were they delicious...You've gotta try them...I served them with grilled scallops which were also scrumptious...

Here's how I made them...
First, I sliced the yams into wedges...
Then, I sprinkled them with a little sea salt,
Rubbed them with olive oil and chopped fresh basil...
I then placed the seasoned wedges on a medium high grill and covered for about 5 minutes...
I turned them, covered again for 5 minutes and kept this routine up for about 20 minutes...

YUM YUM YUM...I didn't take a picture because they were eaten before I thought of it but here is a good example of what they looked like...
BTW: Oh, mine were more burnt as you can imagine...

LOOK at what people are creating with My Beads...

How cool is this?...Very cool...
I get so much joy and pleasure out of seeing what my customers create with my lampwork beads...I would love to share with you some of these beautiful pieces of wearable art...

This awesome necklace is made by Lorelei or Designs by Lorelei...She has some amazing pieces in her shop...A unique original style all her own...Check out her shop on Etsy...

Here is a necklace and earring set called Arktos created by Kristen of Knit And Pearl...She has lots of beautiful jewelry and knitted items in her shop, all handmade by her...


I love this bracelet that Diane from EversoDear created with my "out of the jungle" lampwork set...This bracelet is listed in her shop as "Earth Dance"...



Diane has done a fabulous job with this set of lampwork beads...Her Etsy Shop is filled with an array of beautifully created jewelry...Take a look around...

A new addition to my Customer Creations article...Dawn, from CalysJewelryCreations just couldn't wait to show me what she created with this fabulous set of Aqua Marine beads she purchased from me...I love how she adorned the bracelet with things from the Sea...Kudos to Dawn for creating such a gorgeous bracelet...and...Thank you for sharing it with us...Please visit her Etsy Shop for more of her beautiful work and jewelry supplies...

I would like to take this moment to thank these few customers who have been so kind to share their creativity with me...I am thrilled that the beads I create are findings such amazing and talented artisans...

Have you been in a TREASURY lately?...

I love checking in with the Etsy website...Every morning I update my shop, check the threads and then look for treasuries that I am featured in...I see that little "gold" star and my heart goes a flutter...I try and try to get my own treasury but my timing has been off lately...I am determined and hope to create my own treasury very soon...Here are just a few of the treasuries I have been featured in lately...

Groundhog Relocators

OK...I admit it...WE HAVE A HUGE GROUNDHOG PROBLEM!...They seem to be taking over our pool area and will soon be eating the veggies in the garden we've worked so hard at...We, meaning my husband, my son and my two women partners in gardening have decided to tackle the problem with a friendly animal trap...So far we have caught 3 of the 8+ groundhogs that seem to be living under the pool...


Once we catch them we are relocating them to a safe and groundhog friendly environment...Lots of trees, water and food...I know they will be happier in their new location...The problem is, they keep coming and coming and now are getting smart to the trap...Apple, carrots and broccoli pieces are missing from inside the trap but no captured groundhogs...So, it is a waiting game...

We will take any suggestions anyone has to offer to rid ourselves of these adorable destructing rodents...