Special Feature!

Last week I was contacted by Marcy Lamberson from StudioMarcy on Etsy. She asked if she could feature me and my Etsy shop on her blog. I am so flattered! I have admired her and her work for years now and it's such a wonderful compliment that she would want to feature me.

I had been frequenting Etsy long before I had a shop there and Marcy's beads always stood out. They are fun and endearing and I admired them from the start. Every time I went there I would always come across her beads and I would say to myself, "who is that?" and every time I would check and it was Marcy. In my opinion, she is the first lampwork artist that was really successful on Etsy. I remember thinking, if she can do it so can I.

I truly enjoy reading her blog, to be featured on it, is an honor! So please stop by and take a look. Tell me what you think!

Make Your Blog a Book!

I was recently reading my friends blog, she blogs about her family. It's such a wonderful thing because she is able to capture her kids lives so conveniently. Blogging is so easy, she can immediately post the funny things they say and she won't forget them. She blogs about the wonderful trips they take, milestones and special days, and her whole family, even her distant relatives, can keep up with how they are doing.

While searching the internet recently, I came across Blurb.com. They will print your blog in book form. How wonderful is that!?! It lays everything out nicely and even prints the comments people leave on your blog. You can edit it as much or as little as you like and it's really affordable. I sent the link to my friend, what a wonderful keepsake for her!

As for me, I am still getting the hang of blogging so I am not sure I will be turning my blog into a book yet but I might someday. I think it would make a great portfolio for artists and craftspeople and a great dolly diary!

You're Buggin' Me Treasury

You're Buggin' Me Treasury, originally uploaded by EmbellishYourself.

I just created this cute bug treasury on Etsy. There are so many talented artists on Etsy and making a treasury is so much fun! Stop by and click and comment if you like.

Go Etsy!!

Since recently deciding to put all my energy into my Etsy shop to earn income for my family, I was really inspired by this article featured on Good Morning America about Etsy and some very successful sellers. With a lot of dedication and hard work, I know it can be done! Please take a moment to check it out, it's very motivating!

New Items!

New Items!, originally uploaded by EmbellishYourself.

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day Holiday! I have been busy this past week and want to share the new Blythe accessories I have added to my Etsy shop. Take a moment and stop by if you like! www.embellishyourself.etsy.com

Not only have I been adding to my shop but I finally got the courage to do some dolly surgery this weekend. She is getting 2 new sets of eye chips , a sand matte and some freckles! I can't wait, I will post some pictures of her when I am done. It has taken me forever to get the courage to do it, I have had the supplies for months. I have been so afraid of messing her up, come to find out, it was so much easier than I thought! Now I'm ready to tackle the hard stuff, like opening her up and rerooting her hair I am also saving up for an Obitsu body so she will be posable and better able to model for me, how fun!! I feel like a mad scientist! Dr. Frankenstein better watch out he has some competition!

Trying to make a go of it!

I was recently laid off from my job as a city goverment employee, it was a job a really liked and I was sad to go. My husband being wonderful and supportive has told me to try to make my Etsy shop a success so I won't have to find another job. How awesome is that?! So I will be working diligently making beads and necklaces to try and get things going. This is something I have always wanted to do and I am very excited about it! Any prayers and well wishes in my endeavor are greatly appreciated! So, without further ado, I have listed 4 new "Jewelry for you" necklaces in my shop and have more coming so stay tuned!

8 Things

I saw this list on my friends blog. In an effort to make my blog a little more interesting I thought I would give it a try! She said it's harder than it looks so here we go.

8 things that I am looking forward to:
1. Seeing my husband when he comes home, he works out of town a lot and I love spending time with him.
2. Going out for a drive to see wild flowers and taking a family picture amongst them!
3. Completing some creative projects that I keep putting on hold.
4. More sales in my Etsy shop, they truly make my day!
5. Listing more things in my Etsy shop.
6. Taking more creative pictures of Shawna, they are so fun!
7. Getting over how embarrassing it is going out for photo shoots of her (I'm a 38 yr old woman who plays with dolls!)
8. Yikes!! this is hard! Umm.....getting my back yard weeds cleaned up (I am not looking forward to doing it but can't wait till it's done!)

8 things I did yesterday:
1. Took my son to school
2. Promoted my shop online
3. Re-listed some Blythe necklaces with better pictures
4. Laughed quite often at my new twitter friends and their witty tweets!
5. Looked at my beads to try to making something, didn't get very far
6. Played Montezuma on my phone, I am hopelessy addicted to it!
7. Cooked dinner, I hate cooking so that was pretty major!
8. Spent some quality time with my husband

8 things I wish I could do:
1. Go on a really cool vacation
2. Move closer to where my husband works, he works 2 hours from home
3. Stay home forever to be a homemaker
4. Make my Etsy shop so successful that I don't have to worry about going back to work
5. Make my husband happy with his job
6. See my parents more often
7. Get an Apple computer and laptop
8. More creativity, I can always use that!

8 shows I watch:
1. America's Next Top Model
2. What not to Wear
3. Amazing Race
4. Tori & Dean Home Sweet Hollywood (starting at the end of this month, I just love Tori, she makes me laugh!)
5. Project Runway (starting again in August I think, I love that show!)
6. TLC's multiple kid shows Jon & Kate plus 8 and 18 Kids and Counting (I have a morbid curiosity)
7. Real World/ Road Rules Challenge
8. Weeds

This was challenging! Why don't you try it, I love learning about people!

Recent Outings and Belated Happy Mother's Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! I recently bought this tutorial from one of my favorite lampworkers Cynthia Tilker. She is an incredible artist and I absolutely love her beads and talent! I have been trying my hand at making some of her Keeper beads and let me tell you, it's a lot harder than it looks. My mom loves celestial things so I put a spin of my own on the technique and created a smiling sun for my mom for Mother's Day.

We spent the day in Solvang, California with my parents. It is the half-way point for both of us and we met there for lunch and some shopping. It was a beautiful day and we had a really nice time. I even brought my Blythe doll Shawna with me since I knew it would be a great place to get some pictures of her. No one batted at eyelash when I brought her out, I was afraid they might! I have more pictures over at Flickr!

Earlier this week, my family and I went to the drive-in to see Wolverine and Taken, both excellent movies! I didn't want to go at first because I am more of a chick flick kinda gal but I am glad I did. I really did have a good time. Can you believe there are still some drive-ins in existence? I love going there, it's inexpensive and really casual, no worries about bothering people or them bothering you. Plus you can wear your PJ's!! Once again, I could not resist a photo opportunity and brought Shawna with me, isn't this the cutest picture?