I saw a birdy up a tree... Etsy Bloggers Team Blog Carnival for April 28, 2008

There's something about spring that brings out the poet in me. I don't know what it is but if we could bottle it what an interesting planet this would be?

Long, long ago in a place not very far away I wrote poetry, reams and reams of it, on a daily basis. It sprang from my pen like a live thing. In fact at one time I thught of publishing my poems. I did do a little chap book to give to friends and family. Some friends! Some Family! Not one copy remains of that book today!!! For my excuse, we had a few sewer back ups that flooded our family room. There's something about wading around knee deep in fecal sludgewaters that kind of makes you toss everything floating in it into a trash bag (no literary critique inteneded).

I also had one poem published in a professional magazine. What a thrill! No money. I thrilled easily in those days.

I took a poetry class one summer while still at university. The professor was amazing. He made medieval poetry come alive and have meaning for us. He showed us how to find the passion, the flavor in the poetry. The class was filled with teachers and student teachers.

I especially remember one personal story he shared with us that summer. He was blind and listened to the sound of shoes worn by his students as they entered and left the classes. He talked about the thickness and sturdiness of shoes always being worn by those who were well grounded in life and the flimsy, fragile soles of the shoes worn by those with a more fragile soul (pun intended). He recalled for us a time when he sadly, had to help out in a case where a student had committed suicide. He said it struck him then, as he picked up the shoe worn by that student. The sole of her shoe was paper thin with only the thinnest of straps supporting the foot. As he told us this story he held his hand and looked down as if he were seeing the shoe there.

Now, thirty-um some years later, I haven't forgotten. I wear flip flops now because my feet are so painful I can't bear anything touching them. But I wear flip flops with a thin strap supporting my feet. At least, the sole of the floppies are thick.

I think of all the poems I've read or written, this line from Robert Frost's poem, Stopping by a woods on a snowy evening plays continually through my life ...

...and miles to go before I sleep

...and miles to go before I sleep.

Make this week a good one. Remember to tell someone you love, that you do. Before it is too late.

Other blogs You might enjoy

http://ImpawsibleToResist.blogspot.com

http://ImpawsibleToResistKnitMe.blogspot.com

Treasury West is up and I got one!

Go here to check it out!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=5932

Etsians on Review - Invoke Photography

This is the second in my series Etsians on Review. I would like to introduce you to Invoke Photography. Invoke Photography is the shop belonging to one of Southhampton Creations' two daughters.

Born and raised in Cambridge, Ontario, Invoke graduated from the University of Guelph. Travelling to Japan she learned to express her thoughts and feelings through the lens.

Her first exhibition, Japanese Soul, premiered in Tokyo in 2001 to rave reviews. It embodied the traditions of spiritualism and the aesthetic that is Japanese. The exhibit has shown in Toronto, Windsor, Cambridge, Ontario and Vancouver, B.C.

She has won a number of awards including, first prize in the Leamington Art Center's Anything's Possible photo contest and the Editor's Choice Award from The International Society of Photographers. Two of her photographs were chosen to be published in a book called "Endless Journeys".

Of her work, this is what she has to say,

Life stands still when I look through my lens; it is a form of meditation for me. Photography is my way of celebrating the beauty I see in the world and allows me to capture it moment by moment. I feel that my images speak where words fail me. I take pictures that move and inspire me… I hope they invoke as deep a response in my viewers as they did in me when I captured them.

Her work does indeed invoke a deep response in the viewer. I find many of her photos stir within me a sense of peace, of stillness of the calm beauty that surrounds us. As a Reiki master, I meditate daily. Any of these images could serve as a place to go when I go within to seek the healing pool of calm that is the centre of this universe.

Do please visit Invoke Photography on Etsy. You will not be disappointed.

Visit Invoke Photography  on Etsy

Etsy Buy Handmade InvokePhotography

Etsyblogger's Featured Blogger of the Month - Stormy Designs

Stormy Designs is a polymer clay artist who creates stunning jewelry, art, and home decor items.

Check out her shop on Etsy - http://stormydesigns.etsy.com .

The following link goes to a rather whimsical "I love dogs" charm in her Etsy shop. Too cute!

 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10649582

Stormy Designs comes from a family of artists. She lives in Virginia with her dog and two ferrets. She has three grown daughters and eight wonderful grandchildren. WoW!

A friend from Australia 'pushed' her into trying polymer clay and she hasn't looked back since. Starting in April 2007 Stormy creates unique one of a kind items for you to enjoy.

Her art shows her love of life and are imbued with a delightful touch of whimsy.

Do check out her Etsy shop, website and blog. You'll be very glad you did.

Stormy Designs on Etsy

Stormy Designs web

Technorati Tags: Etsybloggers, featured blogger, stormy designs, impawsibletoresist, polymer clay

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Stormy Designs Blog

Etsy Buy Handmade StormyDesigns

Diamonds and Daisies For the Month of April 2008

Diamonds are a girl's best friend ... you bet! Diamonds in April, May moons to spoon followed by weddings in June. Well I don't have any diamonds and I don't have any weddings about which to croon but here are a few interesting shops on Etsy that I found.

Diamonds are forever by OriginalsbyLynnette.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10658911

Pin and Green Diamonds - Original Painting on Canvas by Kipi
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9613838

Sassybellaboutique - lacy, diamond crochet trim

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10657228

Now when it comes to Daisies you can count me in. I have this gorgeous single strand necklace with a daisy in a flowerpot charm as the focal point. How many of you remember pulling the petals off of a daisy while reciting this little ditty, "He loves me, He loves me not...". I checked. If you could pull the metal petals off this daisy, you would finish with, "He LOVES me!" Right on. Follow the link below to check it out.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10447071

As we close the door on March and open the window to April, it is so nice to think of the cold weather, the ice and snow leaving too. We've had enough this year! So let's welcome April and her fields of daisies with arms open wide. And tonight, dream of fields of diamonds headed your way!

Etsians on Review - Southampton Creations

This is the first of my reviews of artists and artisans on Etsy. For those of you not familiar with Etsy, it is an online venue where artists, crafts people form a virtual marketplace for shoppers interested in purchasing hand made work.

I'd like to introduce to you Southampton Creations. Southampton Creations is operated by a delightfully  charismatic lady named Patricia.

Pat is a retired grandmother living in a small town on the shores of Lake Huron in Canada. Pat is adept at crochet - hats, ponchos, sweaters and mittens. She also makes bib clips for children and adults. What an amazingly practical idea! They are the perfect item to have handy for those spaghetti dinners. Bright and cheerful ribbons and clips that are just the thing to help hold that napkin in place at the dinner table or for someone in the hospital or nursing home. At $2.99 each, you can afford to outfit the whole family!

Here is a link:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10483937

You can find unique and interesting gift card sets in her shop. If you are looking for something to please the most difficult person on your list, I'm sure you can find something here. Pat's gift card sets always have a little something extra. For instance one of the current gift sets listed is a Japanese Tea Set. The set includes a beautiful photo greeting card (blank inside) with envelope, a packet of loose tea (the packet acts as the tea bag so no worries about loose tea leaves floating around in the pot), a card with instructions for making a perfect pot of Japanese tea and a gift card. Plus you get a sticker in the shape of a kimono (fabric sticker) to seal your gift.

Here is the link to the item:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10229109

Pat has two talented daughters, each of whom has their own Etsy shop. I'll be reviewing their shop in this blog later on.

To visit Southampton Creations simply click the link to the right of this blog or copy and paste the following link:

SouthamptonCreations.Etsy.com

Have a wonderful day! And remember, BUY HANDMADE.

Etsy Buy Handmade SouthamptonCreations

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! And a fine day it 'tis too.

Starting this week I'll be reviewing shops on Etsy.com. For those of you unaware, Etsy.com is a wonderful online venue for artists and crafters to sell their wares. It is therefore a wonderful place to shop!

Please check out the links to the right of my postings. There is a set of links to fabulous shops on Etsy. And as well a set of links to venues where my work can be seen.

I expect the first of my reviews will be posted on Thursday, March 20th so do check back in then.

The list of shops to be reviewed in the coming weeks is as follows (as of 11:00 am, March 17th):


Southampton Creations
Invoke Photography
From Japan With Love
Soapdeli
Handmade by Annabelle
Artnjoy


If you are a shop owner on Etsy and would like to be added to my list of upcoming shops to be reviewed please post here:

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5522529

Ta Rah and Toodle d oo
Mau

Spring is coming

Today the sun is shining and the temperature is 1 degree celsius. Not that warm really but oh it does feel like spring!

I've been working on several projects this week trying to get caught up before Easter. As Easter is early this year I'm burning the midnight candles. The pain in my legs has also been bad and has kept me from sleeping so having the projects to do helps to distract me from the pain.

Finished my butterfly and turquoise necklace last night. It has the tiniest little metal butterflies black seed beads, silver lined crystal seed beads, turquoise coloured bicones, clear bicones, silver lined bugles and turquoise coloured cat's eye balls. The butterflies are silver coloured and burnished with black. It has plenty of bling to it. It would be gorgeous as either daytime or nighttime wear.

Sally was very interested and was watching me closely as I beaded away. As I put the finishing touches on my iridescent ebead and butterfly necklace she came right over and was raising her paw to 'help me out' when I screeched. She also thought it might be fun to sit on my bead tray! LOL! This is a cat who won't sit on anyone's lap. Right!

I spent 3 hours working on a colonial fashion doll outfit (Barbie (C)tm). It is a pale dark blue. I want to say dusty blue. I finished the overskirt and crocheted a white picot edging around it. Still to go are the arms, neckline, underskirt and slip.

On the drawing board is a yorkie puppy. A lovely lady wearing a bright pink bow in ther forelocks. Charmed!

I've been exploring all the wonderful shops and people on We Love Etsy. What a talented group!

Keep on Crafting!

Mau

Shop Opens on Etsy

Impawsible to Resist, a cornecopia of treasures opened on Etsy in February 2008.