My Bookmarks Were Featured on the Hearts and Hands United Blog!!!

So thrilled that my supercool bookmarks, made with semiprecious stones, were featured in the Team Project for Back to School.  Please check out this terrific post!

http://heartsandhandsunited.blogspot.com/2010/09/team-project-no-4-back-to-school-part-3.html

Friday, September 10, 2010

Team Project No. 4: Back to School, Part 3


As the last of the students and teachers head into their respective classrooms, we come to the end of our Back to School challenge. This week, we have some helpful classroom supplies and some pretty trinkets to make you feel confident as you study the day away.

I am sure every student will have plenty to read. Make sure you don't loose your place with this pretty bookmark by Mickstonedesigns.

There were also some terrific items by FairyTale Paper, JewelsbyTrish, and Shoshipo.

I'm so honored to be included in this feature, because I really enjoy the members of this Etsy Team Hearts and Hands United (HHU).  They welcome new friends and treat everyone so nicely.  Members are kind, interested, and supportive.  They're great, and I love being associated with them!

Be sure to check back next week when the blog hightlights all the entries from our August Challenge- Going Green! 

CIJ - CHRISTMAS? OR CHANUKAH IN JULY!!!

Come by my Etsy or Artfire Shops through my website http://www.mickstonedesigns.com/ for savings and the chance to win a FREE Starbucks Gift Card!

It's easy to win!  Do either of the following between July 15, 2010 and July 31, 2010 to be automatically entered to win!
1.  Make a purchase in person, or through my Etsy or Artfire Shops between July 15, 2010 and July 31, 2010. You'll also receive 15% off your purchase!
2.  Tell someone else about my unique jewelry designs.  If that person makes a purchase, you will both be entered for the drawing.  (Tell them to let me know at the time of the purchase that they referred you.)

Drawing will be random and will take place on August 1, 2010. One entry per person. Gift card will be mailed (USPS) at no charge to the winner! Discounted savings will be refunded through Paypal.

DO DADS LOVE VEGETABLES?

They do when they taste like this.  This morning, I baked Glorious Morning Muffins for my husband.  D. is a wonderful Dad, kind, caring, patient and loving.  He and my teenage son play together as friends, but he is also firm when he needs to be.  I tell my son that my hope for him, is to grow up to be the same kind of Dad as my husband.  In fact, these muffins are a lot like him - sweet, hearty, unassuming, and healthy...ish. 

Give them a try for your favorite Dad.  (I guess I should make them for mine,too).

Sift together in a large bowl:

 2 1/4 cups of flour

1 cup of sugar

1Tbsp. cinnamon

1 Tbsp. ginger

2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Stir into mixture:

2 cups grated carrot

1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a separate bowl, whisk

3 eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup applesauce

2 tsp. vanilla

Pour this mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients.  Blend just until mixed, DO NOT OVERMIX.  Spoon into muffin pans until full (I use the fluted paper cups, because you won't have to grease the pan,  so clean up easy). Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8 - 16 minutes (the range is great, because cooking times vary.  It took me 18 minutes, but the way you tell if they are done is to sink a toothpick into the center and it should come out clean, with very few wet crumbs.  Plus, you'll know because the tops are nice and brown and they smell wonderful.  Feel free to add your favorite ingredients for extra flavor.  They'll be a hit with your Dad!

Happy Father's Day, to all the wonderful Dads in my life, including my Father-in-Law, because I am his favorite daughter-in-law, and with a very special Happy Father's Day to my own unique, smart and funny Dad, who I am so lucky to have in my life, and who loves to cook, just like I do!

Love ya', Dad!  Cheerio'!

YOUR COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!

Thank you for following my blog. As you can see, I have made some changes, which I think, I really like. But, I would love to know what you think. Do these changes work for the Armchair Studio blog?

• Does it look more professional?
• Does it look more eye-pleasing?
• Does it make you want to read?

Does it make my photos stand out?  Please leave a COMMENT when you visit.  I appreciate you and your feedback.


 

Computer ring by Creativedexterity@artfirehttp://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=234221

SUMMER READING

There are a few books I plan to read this summer, and one I want to finish.  I have a thing for first novels - I love to read them!  

• 
  
     The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
• 
  
      Girl with the Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier
• 
  
      Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay
• 
  
      The Feasting Season, by Nancy Coons (1st Novel)

 and I really want to finish:

• 
  
      Queen of Beauty, by Paula Morris (1st Novel)

And I will definitely have to show off one of my new bookmarks, as I read and sip my dry cappuccino with my blueberry scone (available in my etsy shop) http://www.etsy.com/shop/mickstonedesigns!

 

    

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WORLD TRAVELER

I've started doing some serious thinking about taking my online jewelry business global.  I love to travel, so my reluctancy has nothing to do with a lack of desire for different cultures.  On the contrary, that's the part of going global that really appeals to me!  My reluctancy is simply fear.  Fear of complication, fear of completing a customs form incorrectly, fear of something costing more than I anticipated, fear of something not arriving and having a unhappy customer halfway around the world.

But, after researching through the Etsy forums, I am beginning to wonder if I am missing out on a huge market that could be both rewarding, and lucrative. 

I do love chatting with artisans from other countries, why wouldn't I want to include them among my customers, as well?  I may have to plan a couple of visits to the post office to see if I can get a handle on this.

Follow me to see if I take the plunge...  

How did you find me?

Recently, I feel like I have been neglecting my blog (which I really enjoy), but have been spending time working on trying to market myself more effectively and I noticed that people are finding me, in spite of myself. I have been pretty inactive lately, so I assumed that people would have forgotten all about me. But, thanks to statcounter (which I recommend and just love) it seems that some of my readers haven't completely given up on me. For that, I offer you a hearty and heartfelt - THANK YOU!

Please leave a comment and tell me how you found me. All the best for a happy weekend.

 

Just Sitting Here Unwinding...

Just sitting here, thinking about some things I love, things that bring me joy

• Tucking my son in for bed
• Reading my husband's true feelings, even those that are not really "fine"
• Sipping a hot cup of freshly ground coffee on Saturday morning
• The feeling of having nothing to do, even just for that one moment
• The sense of truly falling, into sleep

.....These things are rare and wonderful

 

Lessons Learned at a Neighborhood Craft Show (Sweetheart Fest)

1.  Nothing is as it Seems

When I arrived at 8:15 a.m., the temperature for an area that is usually always sunny and hot, was an unseasonably cold 45 degrees.  The wind was making the tents sway so significantly they had to bring in concrete blocks to stabilize them.  My hair was whipping violently across my face as I was standing in the parking lot, waiting for the shuttle to bring me to the set-up area.  At that moment, two thoughts occurred to me:

    1.    I don't know that my light folding table won't just topple over with a strong gust, throwing my jewelry onto the asphalt, as I am trying to set up and,

    2.    Maybe I should blow-off what will, obviously, be a useless day

Lesson Learned:  Although it was so cold that my nose stung with each gust of icy wind, I stuck to my commitment and everything stayed in place. Plus, since it wasn't our usual humid weather, I had an excellent hair day!

2.    It's Nice to be Told that People Like your Work

Selling online is very difficult because if you are not selling regularly, you aren't getting any feedback about your work.  It's hard to stay motivated to create, without that positive feedback.  As I was setting up my jewelry, I had people walking up complimenting my pieces, saying....

    1.    "how pretty"

    2.    "what beautiful stones" 

    3.    "well worth the price"

Lesson Learned:  My jewelry really is beautiful and it feels good to be told how much people like it!

 

3.    How you Measure Success, Determines if You are Successful

Being a part of the event, participating, bringing joy to people through your work, can make a sales experience successful.  Meeting people who fall in love with a piece you have created and choose that piece as their Valentine's Day gift, is a meaningful and significant honor that is very rewarding. 

    1.    Having someone else love my favorite piece feels good and,

    2.    Making a few sales during what seemed like a lost day is very exciting

Lesson Learned:  As good as it feels to make that sale, you do miss the pieces that you have put your heart into...but it still feels real good!

Additional Lesson Learned:  I can't wait to do it again!   PS...ALL 3 OF THESE PIECES SOLD AT SWEETHEART FEST!!!

What lessons have you learned?

I Know It's Been a While

 

Hi, bloggers and followers.  I hope you are still there, waiting for me to write something awe-inspiring and fabulous.  Well, here it comes.  I wrote this next post after my experience at Savannas Preserve State Park and it should give you some insight as to how to make the most of a craft show experience that appears, at first, to be anything but ideal.  Stay tuned....

Undiscovered Etsy Feature

Currently, Etsy is asking for new and undiscovered shops to feature (in some way and some how - we don't yet know).  But, as I am one of those shops, defined as less than 15 sales, I thought it would be nice to do my own Undiscovered Features.  Maybe we will, very soon, become discovered by customers who just LOVE what we design.  Take a good look at these fabulous handbags by http://www.etsy.com/shop/naturalknitsandgems 

            

Aren't they great?

Savannas Preserve Craft Show.....Uncharacteristically Cold!

Unseasonably windy...bitterly cold...OK, so we were only in South Florida, but still, it wasn't just me. Everyone was freezing. Even people from up north...Really (see, I'm all bundled up). And, I didn't have any Starbucks. And, I had to sit in one place, selling my favorite necklace. But, it was Valentine's Day, Sweetheartfest, and, as you can see, it is a beautiful State Park. And I had an amazing hair day. But, it was hard...Really...

OK, I can't wait to do it again!

Featuring Beautiful Bookmarks by Joyous Treasures!

When I saw Johanna's bookmarks, I thought they were beautiful!  For those of you who know my story, I love to read, and so does Johanna!  She also loves to make Crochet Jewelry,Crochet Bookmarks,Crochet Pincushions, and Crochet Hair accessories,
she also plays piano, and, of course, loves to read.  All her bookmarks are so great, but I think these one is my favorites...

 

How touching is it that Johanna carries on the legacy of her grandmother's talents in her own works! She says she likes to crochet flowers and butterflies, and other things that remind her of nature. Her grandmother was a great crocheter, and she left her many things when she passed away.  She says that she is always working on new projects created with her grandmother's supplies to keep and remember her by. ...and she even wears her beads all the time! Keep up the beautiful work! Check her out at her Etsy shop and keep an eye out for new bookmarks coming in March! http://www.etsy.com/shop/joyoustreasures or on her blog http://www.etsytreasurechest.blogspot.com/ 

Check Out My Website: www.mickstonedesigns.com!

Here is a peek at what it looks like. Log on, leave a comment and take my quick survey!

 

My Necklace was Featured in an Etsy Treasury,

Called Lush!

In case you are unfamiliar with Etsy, one of the most coveted places to promote your work is in an Etsy Treasury.  A Treasury is a collection of items, curated by an Etsy Artisan with a keen eye and a heavy dose of patience, and they are very hard to get.  Loveartworks curated this dynamic Treasury, of which I am a featured artist.  See her lovely Repose ceramic bowl below!

Armchairs Worthy of My Studio

In my quest to feature chairs that appealed to my sensibilities and that I felt represented what was important to me, I found these representations, by very talented and generous Etsy artisans.  I hope you like them as much as I do. This Item Has a Very Cute Description and Benefits Cancer Research. 

It is done by loveartworks, and says ahhhhhhhhh...

Take a load off.....Have a seat....Rest your weary bones....Relax and stay awhile...repose.....

This is a unique black, white and 1 color "doodle" bowl, born out of a need to SIMPLIFY.  The artist says it is like a warm little hug that you hold in your hands....ORGANIC COMFORT BOWLS!  The inside of the bowl is a stunning deep reddish/orange with a black curlicue! On the outside is 5 little chairs: a super comfortable recliner, 2 different straight-backed wooden kitchen chairs, a thoroughly modern Eames design, and a caned rocker! Underneath... the word REPOSE and signed and dated. It measures about 6.5" in diameter and is 2 1/4" deep.  All proceeds from the sale of this bowl will be donated to the American Cancer Society for 'etsyprojectembrace' in support of fellow Etsy seller, Laura. Proceeds go to charity, and you know how much that means to me! This is a good sized bowl! I thought it would be great for my Nanny's cabbage soup (if I could ever find the recipe)!  There is nothing more comforting than that!

      

This Print is So Sweet and Benefits a Homeless Shelter! 

This one is a little print that was made to honor the Wellhouse Community and Homeless Shelter in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This cause is near and dear to my heart!  All proceeds from these prints are donated directly to Wellhouse, done by theantibride! It is a limited edition, hand-pulled linocut print. The print comes unframed, measures 4.5 x 5.5", and is run on white archival paper.

These Just Sold!!!

These one-of-a-kind glamorous yellow quartz and sterling silver earrings just sold! Stunning, classic and sure to bring tons of compliments.

Other fabulous earrings are still for sale, or contact me to make you a custom pair!

New Year Resolutions - Belated

Ok, so it's not January 1st, in fact, it's not even the beginning of January any more. But, here goes....
1. I will not procrastinate.
2. I will mail out all my holiday gifts (yes, there may still be a couple that haven't gone out yet)
3. I will not procrastinate.
4. I will try not to judge others (humfff - see above)
5. I will not resolve to exercise (If I do, it's a sure bet that I won't)
6. I will not put off cleaning the house (this one is not about proscrastinating...I just hate to do it)
7. I will not let leftovers get green and fuzzy in my refrigerator.
8. I will learn how to make perfect jumprings (they are the little circles that you open and close to connect jewelry pieces - it's really the easiest thing to do, but I rush through them and can't seem to get them perfect)
9. I will not be a perfectionist.
10. I will post regular entries onto my blog (which I love to do, but sometimes get busy doing other things)
11. I will not procrastinate.

Happy (Belated) New Year!