To blog or not to blog....

.....that is the question.

Looking back over the last few months, it seems I have mainly blogged about other people. This is all fine and dandy because I do like to support my friends on line and it's easy when they have lovely stuff to promote! There is also the psychological shove in the back. I do it because I promised I would. I can't seem to do that for myself, though.

I recently read (in yet another e-book I purchased to help me get off my arse and do something) that, if I'm only going to blog half-heartedly, then I shouldn't do it at all. Oh dear.....

I am asking all seventy three of you lovely people to give me a hint here. Should I carry on? And what, if anything, should I write about? Do you want to read little amusing snippets of my life? Shall I attempt some in depth philosophy? Would you like me to feature some more lovely things I find out in cyberspace? How about some work in progress shots (that I always forget to take) of my jewellery? Tutorials? Not that I know much.

If you have any input for me, just leave a comment below. If there are no comments, then I shall take that as a "no"!

Here is the obligatory photograph:

I made this - no, I threw this together for a recent craft fair at which I sold next to nothing. It's a bit boring. It's a charm on a chain. I have decided to embellish it a little.

So, there will be at least one more post. I shall try to remember to take pictures of my efforts as I go along! There, I've just said I'll do it so it must be done! Perhaps I should do this more often!

Black Friday, Cyber Monday Weekend Deal

Just popping in to give you the heads up. I have set up free shipping on all items in my Etsy Shop until the end of Monday, 26th November. Well, Tuesday morning on my end of things!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a very American institution, stemming as they do from the US Thanksgiving Celebrations. However, when in Rome....or when on Etsy, in this case....do as the Etsians do!

Cascade Earrings Pink Pearl

Evidently, an awful lot of on line shopping is done on Cyber Monday, hence the name. Perhaps some of it will get done in Bluetina's shop! Here are some of the over eighty items you can buy and have shipped anywhere in the world for free:

Mixed Metal Bracelet Silver & Copper

Kyanite Necklace with Sterling Silver Spikes

There's lots more where they came from and, if you order now, they should be with you in plenty of time for Christmas!

Artful Lise....

It's that time again. This week, we have the talented Lise Winne to spotlight! Her Etsy shop is filled with beautiful images of unicorns, angels, bunny rabbits and birds.

Acorn with Oak Leaves

This is an original painting by Lise. It is small at 4" x 6" but perfectly formed! I just love Lise's style.

Bunny Rabbit with Moon & Gate

Lise also sells limited edition prints of her artwork, such as this ethereal painting of a rabbit sitting by an ornate garden gate. This is one of my personal favourites!

Christmas Horse Greeting Card

Greeting cards and tags are another way one can buy Lise's work. Who wouldn't love to display this beautiful winged horse on their mantelpiece? 

Heart Trinket or Jewelry Box

Hand painted little wooden trinket boxes are yet another expression of Lise's talents. The boxes are completely hand painted and each is one of a kind. 

If I thought it wasn't going totally over the top, I'd tell you that she sings, too! Oh, I just did! Lise is in to Renaissance Music and you can purchase her CD's through her Etsy shop. 

A multi-talented and very interesting person is our Lise!

A Makeup Artist.......

It's Nora's turn this week! In her lovely, yummy Etsy shop, Leonora's Cosmetics, she has the most gorgeous array of mineral eye shadows and foundations I've ever seen.

They are all handmade and exceedingly high quality. The colours are something else!

Mia Mineral Eye Makeup

Ice Blue Mineral Eye Makeup

Dahlia Metallic Eye Shadow

Rosie Mineral Eye Shadow

Nora sells samples, of course, so you can find out which colours really suit you. Getting one's blusher right can be tricky!

Mineral Cheek Blush Samples

She also makes many shades of foundation.  Looks like an ice cream parlour in here, doesn't it?

Mineral Foundation

I suggest you pop over there and have a look around. A new shade of eye shadow would make an excellent gift for a girlfriend this Christmas!

A complication of rings....

Today's blog post features my Etsy team mate, Lehane.

Lehane does very complicated things with jump rings. Anybody who can do that chainmaille stuff has my utmost respect and admiration. I tried it once. Nearly went blind and threw my pliers down in disgust.

Aquamarine Amethyst Chainmaille Bracelet

Let alone doing it in a straight line, she can do it in circles, too!

Holiday Chainmaille Ornament

Lehane is also into using those amazing dichroic glass pendants in her jewellery:

Pink and Black Necklace

An eye for colour is also evident in Lehane's designs:

Amethyst Rivoli Crystal Pendant

Go have a look at her shop, it's packed full of more lovely pieces like these!

Beautiful Bead Crochet....

And here is another skill I haven't the patience to perfect! Nona, of Lanmom Originals, crochets with beads. That's a bit of an understatement really. Just look:

Southwestern Necklace - Sedona Dreams

Nona explains how it is done in some of her listing descriptions: 

"There are four steps to creating a piece of bead crochet rope jewelry. The first step is design, which includes determining the look of the finished product and breaking that pattern down to a straight sequence of beads. The second step is stringing, where each individual bead is strung on thread in the correct sequence. One mistake here will destroy the pattern, so I take great care! The third step is to crochet each of these tiny beads into a beautiful, strong and light bead rope. The fourth and final step is finishing with joins, findings and/or accent beads to complete a lovely and unique piece of jewelry."

Nope, can't do it!

Breast Cancer Awareness Necklace

That is a most beautiful piece of jewellery!

ReCycladelic Pop Top Bracelet

Nona says these are much simpler but they still look mighty complicated to me!

And, to top it all, Nona takes beautiful photographs and makes her own soap!

Lemon Lavender Castile Soap

I'm beginning to feel inadequate, so, for the sake of my ego, I'm stopping there! LOL

Dear Santa....

This post is supposed to be publicity for my Etsy team mate, Cat of JewelryCatSupplies but it's more like a personal wishlist for Christmas!

I'm just going to post some pictures and you can drool over them with me, if you want!

Turquoise 4mm cube beads

That's an amazing photo, isn't it?

Terracotta Red Leather Lace Braided Bolo Cord

I could do lovely things with that!

Teardrop Focal Bead Zebra Jasper

Isn't that teardrop gorgeous?

Bamboo Coral Bead True Red

Just spotted these! Wow, what a colour!

There is loads more heavenly stuff but I'm going to have to stop now because I'm salivating all over my keyboard.

Soap, beautiful soap....

My Etsy team mate, Kellie is a clever lady! In her shop you will find all manner of handmade, natural soaps, balms, scrubs, lotions and other things that smell good!

Pumpkin Soap

Some of them even look good enough to eat:

Oatmeal Soap with Chocolate Chips!

Some have rather exotic ingredients:

Raspberry Patchouli Soap

And some are for the man in your life:

Manly Man Soap! 

There's loads more where these came from. They would make excellent Christmas presents, too!