Tuesday, February 17, 2009

What DO you do with a charm anyway?


One of the items I enjoy making is the charm. They are small and pretty and delicate and affordable among other qualities. Most people think, "Charm=Charm Bracelet" and that's very true...BUT there are many other things one can do with charm.
Below I will list a few ideas:
1. Turn the charm into a pendant
2. Tie charm onto a teacup handle (check out the "All Dolled Up" post for the picture) with pretty organza ribbon for bridal shower or tea party favors
3. Attach a lanyard clip and clip onto, well, anything...a cell phone, a purse, belt loop, etc.
4. Use that lanyard clip and attach to a zippered sweater for a sparkly accent
5. Dress up a present by tying the charm onto the bow
6. Put on a silk cord and use as a bookmark
7. Attach to a ribbon and tie around a napkin for a napkin ring/gift for your dinner friends
What are your ideas? I'd love to hear them!

Monday, February 16, 2009

The All Dolled Up Charm Winner Is....

...Sadie Lou that's who! Congratulations, Sadie! Your name was chosen via random.org. Can you tell me the name of the hidden item? Thank you to everyone who came to the party and participated.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Lollishops All Dolled Up Party



This is a Valentine's Day progressive blog party featuring Lollishops vendors. Fabulous giveaways will be offered during this event. You will find a list of all the participating vendors on the Itty Bitty Birdie blog.
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Here are the rules:
1. Visit each blog listed on the Itty Bitty Birdie blog.
2. Find the "All Dolled Up" picture on each blog. In each vendor's picture is something from that vendor's Lollishop (go ahead and look at the vendor's shop to make sure you found the right thing).
3. Make a comment under the doll-themed post at each blog saying "I found it!" (make sure we know who you are in case you win).
4. If you win, you must tell the vendor what it was that you found in their picture.
5. Oh, check out the Lollishops blog too--a gift basket is up for grabs and a TREASURE HUNT too!
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Above is my doll (it was my grandmother's) having a Valentine's Day tea party. Look closely at what she is wearing then check out my shop at www.lollishops.com/glassbeadtreasures to see the item from my shop that I have hidden in the doll picture. Leave a comment below saying "I found it!" and a way to get a hold of you.
On the teacup picture above is the charm that I will be giving away to whoever tells me "I found it!" and whose name I draw. (Sorry, the giveaway is for the charm only!) The charm features a delicate, milky, light pink glass bead flower beside small iridescent white glass bead flowers and glass olive drop beads. Best wishes to everyone. Have fun!


Romancing the Swap Charms--They're Here!


They are here--the charms made for the Romancing the Charm Swap sponsored by Trish of The Tattered Rose (check out her blog). The charms were to have a Valentine theme (which was very open to interpretation) hence the haste in getting this post up before tomorrow. Mine are not included in the picture, but, of course, you have already seen them in an earlier post about this swap. Charms were made of soda tops, a butterfly wing, beads, felt, paper, fabric, metal, wood, clay, string,...I'm sure I left something out--AMAZING! Each creator is amazing and creative with great ideas! I hope I'm not spoiling it for those who might not have received theirs yet. I have been looking forward to today for many weeks. This was a fun swap to create for, and it was equally as fun (if not more so) to actually get the charms in the mail. Many, many heartfelt thanks to those who worked hard and contributed to this. I tried to personally thank each person but some I could not get an e-mail through to--Bobbi, Kelley, and Barb, for instance. I really like the charms and will enjoy them. Many thanks again to Trish and to each person who contributed. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Cupcake Extravaganza Winner

The Cupcake Extravaganza hosted by Mammalicious Finds is now over, and we have a winner of the cupcake brooch! The winner is Mary Beth and here is her blog>>>>http://misaacmom.blogspot.com. I will send out your brooch probably today. As for everyone else who entered...I'm so sorry you did not win (I truly wish I could give each of you one) and THANK YOU very much for your kind and helpful comments. I treasure each one and really learn from what people have to say. Many thanks also to Amy at Mammalicious Finds for hosting this. It has been such a fun extravaganza...how can anything dealing with cupcakes NOT be fun?!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Catnip Studios--Lovelies Just for Participating!

Check out these darling butterfly tags from Kathy at Catnip Studios. She hosted a giveaway, and although I was not a major winner (*sad*), she sent a little treat to the rest of us just for participating (*very happy*). Wow, now how many people do that? How very kind! Thank you, Kathy! DO check out her shop at www.lollishops.com/catnipstudiotoo. Her things are truly beautiful. I like flowery, feminine things, and hers definitely fit that description. Besides, I think "spring" when I look at her shop (aren't we all in the mood for spring?) Thanks again, Kathy!

Little Tokens of Love--The Valentine I Received


I have already blogged below about what I sent to my "Little Tokens of Love" Valentine Swap partner...and here***drumroll, please***is the Valentine I received from Emily of Edge Gallery. It is a light-weight, paper heart that is painted in many beautiful shades but predominantly gold, red, and sky blue. Thank you so much, Emily, for taking the time to create this for me!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Do you want to win a Cupcake Brooch?


I made this brooch especially for the fabulous and fun Mammalicious Finds Cupcake Extravaganza. My brooch is being featured today. Please stop by their website to enter if you are interested in winning the brooch. While there, please check out the other adorable cupcake-themed items being offered as well.

Noelle Garrett Designs--My First Lollishop Purchase

My first experience buying something from a Lollishops vendor was fun, easy, and a great experience! One of my sisters-in-law is a music teacher, so I looked up "music" in the search part of the Lollishops front page. I scrolled through a few pages looking at many pretty things relating to music and came upon these file folders on the Noelle Garrett Designs page>>www.lollishops.com/noellegarrettdesigns. Bingo! Perfect for a music teacher! I wanted to buy them before someone else did. When I hit the "add to cart" button, I went to the website of these designers (through some vendors you go straight to Paypal) then proceeded on to making the payment. I at first thought that shipping was a little too high, but wanting the folders I bought them anyway. THEN, they REFUNDED me a big amount of the shipping cost because they didn't NEED all the shipping money once they figured it all up. KUDOS! When I received my package, it was prettily wrapped (notice brown wrap with light brown bow in picture) which you know really appeals to me and included a nice thank you note, a coupon for a percentage off my next purchase, and a little gift! Now, I'm not sure if they will include these things with all their purchases (we should never EXPECT little gifts, now should we), but I was QUITE impressed! I was delighted, and I'm sure my sister-in-law will be too. Thank you ladies for the nice experience!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

The Romantic Homes Survey...

...and I'm putting "Lollishops" and/or Sadie down for #6! Well, I figure, "Why not?" The last two issues of Romanitc Homes magazine have a survey for readers to fill out. Number 6 asks, "What would you like to see in a future editorial feature?" I put--an article on Lollishops (www.lollishops.com) or Sadie who started it. Perhaps if many people did the same thing, the editors just might look into it. Just a thought! *wink*

"Little Tokens of Love" Swap--What I Made!




The Prim and Whimsy s--Sweet B and Jeanne--hosted a fun, sweet Valentine "Little Tokens of Love" Swap. My swap partner was Emily of Edge Gallery (adorable artwork!). We were supposed to make a Valentine that would could fit into a 5"x5" box and no bigger. So, I decided to decorate a Valentine AND a box, "Why not?" I said to myself. I had the greatest fun. It reminded me of when I was a young child. I had a snow day from school. It was snowing furiously outside, and I sat at our kitchen table for much of the day making Valentines (which I usually did growing up). Thankfully Mom had all the stuff available so that I stayed busy that snowy day. Anyway, here are the pictures. Emily has received her Valentine, so no surprises will be spoiled by my post. On the Valentine itself I put a little envelope (I love multi-layered things that contain little treats) and, of course, put a little charm inside the envelope as a special treat for Emily.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

The Thrill of the Hunt--Collections!





I have several collections, and this tea strainer collection is one of the them (my other collections have and will come in other posts). It isn't exactly a huge collection right now, but each piece is special to me. When I collect something I have my own little rules I've made for myself, some of which are 1) it HAS to look great/pretty/classy, 2) can't be too pricey, 3) must look good grouped together, and 4) absolutely MUST "speak to me". So, this collection is small and particular, but I'm thrilled with the discoveries thus far (and I'm certainly keeping my eye out for more only in different shapes, sizes, etc.). I love tea and little houses and hearts, so these are perfectly suited to what I enjoy. My husband is convinced that I'm part raccoon because I think it is great fun being on AND I am always on a hunt for something at all times...the quest...the thrill of hunting, you know how it is, and I will scavenge just about anywhere to find what I like (as long as there is a little extra cash to actually BUY what I find if I look in a shop). What do you collect? I'd love to hear about it. ; )