Fair Trade

A few months ago another Etsy seller jarck101 (a.k.a. Lisa) and I made a trade. I had chosen many of her items as birthday presents for our daughters and she found a bracelet of equal dollar amount that she liked. It happened to be one of my favorite pieces in composition, colors and photography. A bittersweet trade. I was happy to see it find a home though.

Upon receiving her new bracelet, Lisa wrote me this message...

Hi Misty!
The bracelet came in the mail today and I put it right on. I LOVE IT! Oh, I really love it! It is perfect in every way///the colors the style the crafsmanship. The colors look great on my tawny skin, and I love the chunky, funky beauty of it! I used to buy wonderful jewelry like this 20 years ago, but haven't since then as I went through a divorce, was a single mom, my new husband retired and then had health problems...you know...life just got in the way and I lost touch of this "fun" side of me. Girlfriend...I think you just woke up the fun part of doing something for myself! Thank you, thank you!
I was feeling guilty after I agreed to trade because I was doing this for me and me alone.......but no longer! Thank you! I think I got the better end of the trade! I hope your daughters like the bags...but they collectively can't possibly be as happy as I am with this beautiful bracelet! I love it, thank you!

Lisa

I've heard wonderful things about how people like my jewelry before. I love pats on the back and the enjoyment people have in wearing their new, unique piece. But this letter, made my day, week and month! I know what it's like to have life take over and forget about being pretty, or doing something just for myself. It's hard to think of that when our lives are encompassed by children, spouse, and daily "to-do's".

Warm Summer Flower - Jewerly Pouch by jarck101

So far, our daughters DO love their birthday presents. They go so well with last years gift of interchangeable earrings and each one was selected with their individual personalities in mind. Maybe "they collectively can't possibly be as happy" but that is alright with me. This one trade made Lisa happy and will continue to do so everytime she wears her bracelet and will make our daughters happy all through the year as we deliver their gifts and hopefully as they continue to use them.

Doodles and Dreams: Crafty Monday - Reuse old Jewelry

This is a wonderful article on ways to reuse old jewelry. I think haunting Estate and Yard Sales this summer is going to take on a whole new dimension now!

Doodles and Dreams: Crafty Monday - Reuse old Jewelry

Thanks for coming to my blog to check out this awesome bike! Help me win one by clicking the picture below and seeing what they have to offer!

Social Networking

I realize I haven't updated for a long time. Seems the more I "network", the less I get done.

If you have found your way to my blog, please also find me at Twitter. I update there a couple of times a day generally. Usually with shop updates of new listings or things I want to share from my selection.

As for my design work. I continue creating new pieces and listing on Etsy. Cycling through stages of typewriter key jewelry, beaded pieces, lampwork beads and the occasional odd inspiration.

This summer looks to be busy. We've just bought a home and will be moving. That is a real stressful time, especially where beading is concerned. I have to put away all my trays and dishes of work in progress, pack up the lampwork station, and basically add boxes to my out of the box way of working. I like to have things where I can see them. So that when I am passing by or happen upon a "palette" of beads gathered for a project, I can ponder it and think about how I'd like to see them together. When things are packed up and boxed neatly away, well, I miss them.

Hopefully this will be the home we see our last two children grow up in, where we can look forward to many visits from grandchildren and grow old together in. Pursuing our passions, finding new ones and not boxing up our creativity.

Etsy :: GemmaBeads :: RESERVED Custom Order for SeatOfMyPants

Etsy :: GemmaBeads :: RESERVED Custom Order for SeatOfMyPants

My First Blog Award

I am very honored to be chosen by Dhea of Javabead... Fire and Glass Designs for this award. Thank you Dhea!

Here's the story behind this award: The authors say that blogs who receive this award are exceedingly charming. This blog invests in the PROXIMITY in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that even more friendships are propagated. So, now it's time for me to pass on this award and 'propagate' some friendships!

I'd like to pass this award on to...

Roganomics
Brilliant Beads
Llanywynn
Mama Devine
JC Herrell

Etsy Front Page 12/4/08 littlebirdesigns

Etsy Front Page 12/4/08 littlebirdesigns
Originally uploaded by Etsy Front Pagers
Yippee! My first Etsy front page! (That I know of - lol). Found a wonderful group on Flickr called Etsy Front Pagers, thanks to my teammates at Idaho Indie Works, that shows all the front pages, who curated them and who was featured. What a wonderful resource!