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...

TONIGHT, Sunday, August 17...An Evening With Me!...

The Etsy Artist Lounge is featuring me as their weekly Sunday "An Evening With..." thread...It is a Q & A with Etsy Artist Lounge artists...Feel free to ask questions, chat, shop and admire everyone's artist talents...The featured artist will answer questions and be available for chatting...It's a great way to get to know your fellow artisans who buy and sell on Etsy...

This fun and wonderful event, takes place in the PROMO FORUM on Etsy at the following times:
7pm(pst)
10pm(est)
9pm(central)
12pm(australia)
3am(uk time)

Come join in on the fun...Tonight it is an Evening With Dorset Hill Beads, that's me!...Here is the link...

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5761867&page=1