Creating A Headchange

2011-09-13T05:55:00.002-04:00

Found on Joke Of The Day
Wonder if I am the only one who really does have days like this?

A.A.A.D.D. – Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.
This is how is manifests itself:
I decide to wash my car. As I start toward to the garage, I notice
that there is mail on the hall table. I decide to go through the
mail before I wash the car.
I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash
can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the
trash first, but then I think that since I’m going to be near the
mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills
first.
I take my checkbook off the table and see that there is only one check
left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, o I go to my
desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking. I’m going
to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I
don’t accidentally knock it over.
I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the
refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the
counter catches my eye–they need to be watered.
I set the Coke down on the counter and I discover my reading
glasses that I’ve been searching for all morning.
I decide I’d better put them back on my desk, but first I’m going to
water the flowers.
I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water,
and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.
I realize that tonight, when we go to watch TV, we will be looking for
the remote, but nobody will remember that it’s on the kitchen table, so
I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I’ll
water the flowers.
I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor.
So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up
the spill.
Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day; the car isn’t washed, the bills aren’t paid,
there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren’t
watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook,
I can’t find the remote, I can’t find my glasses, and I don’t remember
what I did with the car keys.
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I’m really
baffled because I know I was busy all day long and I’m really tired. I
realize this is a serious problem, and I’ll try to get some help for it,
but first I’ll check my e-mail.
Do me a favor, will you? Forward this message to close friends you
know, because I don’t remember to whom it has been sent.
Don’t laugh – if this isn’t you yet, your day is coming! And if I have
sent this to you before….well, now you know why you’re getting it again.

New Direction

2010-08-10T09:42:00.003-04:00

Where has summer gone? Somewhere along the way I finally grew tired of sorting through vintage illustration and antique maps. I have brought back out my paints and resin. I have been hiding from the heat getting lost for hours in color combinations finding interesting bits of nature to preserve in resin molds playing with pattern.

My time in the woods has given me an odd assortment of butterfly wings, moss, wildflowers, bones and even another snake skin.
None of these things fit in very well with the old maps and ephemera, at least not when I am done with them. I have put it off for a long time but think now is the time to split off into a second shop.
I plan to open in late August.
Pics of the new stuff will be on flickr later this week if anyone wants a sneak peek.

2010-07-19T09:47:00.000-04:00

Time

2010-05-14T12:36:00.005-04:00

"Like sands through the hourglass"
Remember that old soap opera? My granny never missed it. Makes me think of simpler times. Back when people had time to stop for an hour during the day to watch "the stories" Wonder if anyone even still dose that. For sure no one that I know.
I have been away much longer than I thought. Time speeds by these days while I struggle to keep up.
I have playing drums again. Naturally I am trying to work on too many songs too quick. It is going really well though. We have our recording system set up now. That helps TONS because I can go lay out my tracks whenever I want.
My amazing daughter had senior prom last week. I can hardly believe she is about to graduate. Where did the years go?
The shop is finally starting to do well. I try very hard not to neglect adding new listings. So many ideas so little time. I have managed to add some new maps and collage kits. I have tons more in the works. I tend to put off the photos for as long as possible. Probably because I am not yet very good at that part.
All in all it's looking like a very busy summer at our house.

2010-03-24T09:17:00.003-04:00

A big thank you to all who found and followed me on the last Friday follow. It was lots of fun and I found some great new blogs to read.

The days have been warmer here so I have been outside in search of things to use in some organic resin pieces. Maybe it comes from being indoors all winter but I am feeling really inspired to use lots of organic materials in all of my creations lately.
I now have a nice selection of moss and tree lichen for some backgrounds. Maybe in another couple of weeks there will be some nice flower petals to add to the mix.

Maybe I should do a how to post this summer for those unfamiliar with resin technique. It is so much fun to take a bit of nature and preserve it for years of enjoyment.
For now I am still sanding up some Maple branch. I also have some Cherry, and some Cedar wood to work with. The maple is turning out to be wonderful for pendant tiles. I can't wait to see how the cherry turns out.

2010-03-05T08:41:00.002-05:00

I have been inspired in a big way by Nancy over at Treasures of the Heart.
Not only is her blog beautiful and packed with great content, but she is one of the sweetest people I have met.
Since meeting Nancy and following her blog I have been truly inspired to put more attention into my own little corner.
Today she invited me to participate in the Friday Follow. I decided that would be a grat starting point. So here we are. Since I am addicted to reading blogs I am sure to find some new treasures on this list.

Renewal

2010-03-05T08:16:00.005-05:00

At last the sun has reappeared and with it an increase in energy and motivation.
Though I still struggle with time management I feel I am getting a grasp of it.
I have been putting together lots of collage kits for the Etsy shop. I may actually do something with the poor neglected Artfire soon.
I still can't wrap my head around all the social networking. I see others juggle Twitter Facebook and a blog with ease, I think they hire elves to run their shop. If I ever figure that one out I will have it made.
For now I am still busy sorting through mountains of antique maps and old books and papers. The real trouble is to decide weather to list or keep for my own projects. As always there are more ideas than time. Guess I better go out and find some of those elves for myself.

Ready For Spring

2010-02-08T14:54:00.004-05:00

Yes bunnies already. The days have been so cold and dreary. I have been staying inside making collage kits. I am so ready for spring.
The weather man says there is another snow storm on the way. I guess if I am to be snowed in I may as well use the time clipping out the bunnies and chicks.

A Heart For Tanya

2010-01-19T10:21:00.002-05:00

Since I joined Facebook I have neglected my blog quite a bit. I spend too much time on there I am sure. Like everywhere else I lurk a lot post a little. I really love getting to know so many sellers and looking at the shops and listing from a more personal perspective.
Aardvark Silver has been a favorite of mine from day one. I think because I sense a genuine love and caring coming from this person. I recently was made aware of the fact that she has a very big problem. Tanya the lady behind the Aardvark is in desperate need of a medical procedure to save her life. You won't find this in her shop announcement or profile, but if you would like to know more of the story you can follow it here. There is also a pledge page for any who would like to help out.
It is my hope that even one person will read this and want to join all who are working to help. Just one person who would help spread the word or make a donation could make all the difference.

Year End Update

2009-12-30T14:46:00.003-05:00

Life has been hectic to say the least. With the holiday chaos coming to a close I have been working to build up the etsy shop. I finally got over 100 listings. Much to my surprise this really did increase sales.
Right now I am putting together some things with a valentine theme. I decided to do a whole line of organic pendants. I am really having fun with that. I have been working with maple,douglas fir, cherry bark, cedar, and for valentines rose petals. Maybe with new years over I can get settled back into a more productive routine.
I fear I will never be much good at the blog thing. So many of the ones I read look so polished and professional. I think I will just be happy with my little laid back chatty blog. Maybe next time I will even have an interesting pic to throw in.

2009-12-19T13:13:00.000-05:00

A bit of hippie bling.

Etsy,Artfire,work in progress

2009-12-10T08:38:00.003-05:00

I finally did something with the snakeskin. I like how these are shaping up. Since I only have 3 I am trying to decide if I should do them all the same as a set or do 3 different pieces.
They are deep enough to add other materials in resin. On the other hand if I run them as supplies they would be really unique blanks.
In other news. I still haven't done much with the Artfire shop, don't like ebay much at all these days,running lots of vintage ephemera on etsy, and need a clone so I can have time to create.

longer weeks

2009-09-25T08:31:00.005-04:00

Very weird indeed. It's Wednesday and I wonder if anyone else ever wishes for an extra day in the week? Maybe I should learn to not set so many goals on a weekly basis. It seems the week is half gone but I am NOT halfway through my list.
On the up side I decided to try for an average of 1 sale per day in the Etsy shop each mouth.
The last day of March dawned with me still 2 short. I squeaked by with one extra so far.
Now to get back to the weekly list so I won't be working on it Sat.
I would much rather be napping like Alice.

2009-09-24T06:56:00.002-04:00

Still going through old books and papers. I thought this childrens underwear add from the 30's was adorable.
Still feeling a need to find more balance between activity.
Since I have managed to get face book and twitter under control I am thinking of flicker. Maybe in a couple weeks I still have that Artfire shop sitting all lonesome and empty.
The cyber side of keeping up shop still seems to be taking too much time. I'm ready to break from it some. I kinda feel like just reading some blogs ,and making some new stuff for a while.

When do these people sleep?

2009-09-18T13:52:00.002-04:00

Do a listing
post it on face book
tweet about it
post in the forums
visit the chat rooms
read blogs
comment blogs
maybe even write a blog
retake photos
renew items
I know I could make more $ in less time picking berries with the migrant workers
We really HAVE to love what we do.

2009-09-14T05:51:00.003-04:00

It will soon be too cold to take the bike out. I have been trying to enjoy as many times like this as possible before winter comes.

Looking at a productive week

2009-08-30T19:06:00.003-04:00

A new week new goals, another opportunity to start fresh. Let's see how it goes. I've made a lot of progress since last time. I got facebook up and running, manage to maintain around 60 items in the etsy shop, joined and been very active on the poe street team, and managed to progress some with my music.
I have been putting a lot of vintage ephemera on etsy.
This week the goal is to hit 70 items and maintain that get some things listed on artfire, work on my blog more and catch up with all the ones I follow. I feel like I missed a lot of good stuff last week.
I can't wait to make the rounds and see what everyone's been up to.

2009-08-20T16:19:00.002-04:00

just a couple more. Call me morbid.I really love this place it's miles from nowhere. I find it to be a retreat.

Summers End

2009-08-20T05:34:00.003-04:00

I have neglected my cyber life this week. It's been a busy time with family and home. I have been in the studio some to reorganize and winterize.
I am still rummaging through the attic. Been pulling out lots of old books and ephemera type stuff. Much of this I will use myself lots is headed to Etsy.
Artfire is still on the back burner for the moment. I still hope to fill that shop with my own creations. I hope to have time to do some woodwork pieces this fall.
For now we are loving the last bit of summer. We took the bike out Sat went to the old family graveyard. It is already becoming chilly in the forest. But tranquil like no one had been there in forever.

more good deeds

2009-08-13T09:04:00.010-04:00

So I've been over at Nature With Me enjoying the misadventures with chickens,bees and snake invasion. Since I have been on this big karma collecting binge recently I was thrilled to find this.

Craft and Hope, Together

I think it's wonderful to see people out there adding to the good in the world.
If you have a moment check it out.
It involves making sock monkeys and helping kids, whats not to like.

This givaway ends today

2009-08-09T10:18:00.003-04:00

There's still a day left on this one.
It's a really nice give away.
Winner gets a prize a month for 6 months.

so what is it?

2009-08-07T23:00:00.002-04:00

Come in out of the darkness
to a room with some lace and paper flowers
dig your grave but you never cry out loud
when you see your reflection in the snow covered mountains
till the land slide brings it down
dreams unwind.......
but still its hard to find
name that artist......
anybody?
google works again

Well this is bad

2009-08-07T15:35:00.002-04:00

Looks like I can do a post. I just can't get in to see my blog or comments.
This could be rather embarrassing. Wonder if other people can get in. Is it just me that's locked out?
Oh well maybe I will eventually get it figured out.

Test

2009-08-07T14:37:00.001-04:00

google is acting weird so I am testing to see if I can post

goals progress & a scrappy temptation

2009-08-05T05:43:00.003-04:00

Thanks guys, for all the support on those goals. A bit of encouragement really dose help motivation.
Monday I spent taking pics got most of them edited. I was so happy with progress. Monday night puter crashes lol. What can you do but laugh and start over. So Tuesday I loaded everything into the laptop,got Photoshop installed, and began again. I guess Artfire is just going to be back burner for a bit.
Here's my temptation for this week.
http://justjingle.blogspot.com/2009/08/time-to-get-your-creativity-on.html
I keep wanting to do one of these challenges. And my daughter just gave me a huge box of scrap book stuff. And naturally I am thinking of all my little salvaged and found objects that would work perfect in the project. I have never done much of this. Something new would be a nice break.
I think I will try to be good and stay on track.
I think they are looking for some new people maybe some of you will want to give it a go. Let me know if you do I will come check it out.

Paying It Forward And Back

2009-08-04T16:28:00.005-04:00

I am always on the lookout for new ways to be of service to others. And since recently my focus has been to establish an online presence, I have thought much about how I can be of some small assistance to fellow sellers.
I tweet and retweet often, if it's something I like.I try to follow and comment blogs, especially newer ones. And I am big on doing treasury comments.
Don't start thinking I'm all fluff bunny goodness or anything. I just know what I put out comes back, usually multiplied. Who couldn't use a bit more good in the day.
Anyway, I just met a fellow seller who gave me the greatest idea. She picked up one of my pifs last week. She left me great feedback.That alone was enough. But then to top it off she listed her own pif with a link to my shop in the listing!!!!
I thought that was a wonderful idea. I plan to do the same for someone in the near future. Just think if we all were to do that how much more exposure we could gain for ourselves as well as others. What a creative way to pay it forward and backward all at once.
Check her out. She is a dear.
echoart

Goals

2009-08-03T06:04:00.002-04:00

It's Monday again.
This week I want to get over 50 items in the Etsy,start getting a few things put in Artfire,add Canada,Australia, and U.K to shipping,and begin the destashing of some excess junk.
Maybe if it's laid out in black and white like this I will stay more on track.
Wish me much luck, maybe I won't get distracted and end up making some totally random creation.

collecting and creating

2009-07-30T08:51:00.006-04:00

I didn't begin to create in order to sell. I have always created for the joy of creation.
I sell to justify the time spent creating. There is never enough of that.
It's the same with collecting. I am captivated by the potential of things I find. Many of witch the people around me find useless. This month alone I have brought home the skin of a snake,the bones of a small animal, a jar of broken windshield glass, an old broken chair with beautiful wood carving and 3 dead butterflies. I'm sure that many of my findings will end up in future creations. Others may one day be listed in supplies. Either way I can at least have an explanation for the compulsion, other than being that crazy lady who saves up weird stuff.

Another attic salvage

2009-07-30T06:27:00.010-04:00

While going through the attic I came across 5 old wallpaper sample books. Once again I got inspired and side tracked. But it's all good.

Divider pages turned into these folders. The perfect size for mailing out full page ephemera. I think anyone who orders the vintage pages will like the antique feel of the images. Maybe they will even save or reuse the folders. I count it as one more thing I have managed to save from gaping mouth of the landfill. I got 9 of them in all. Then started thinking of what to do with all the pretty wall paper.
My family never threw away anything. So I have ended up with a huge attic full to overflowing. I hope to be sending much of this off to good homes through the winter and spring months.
I have been very slowly converting the Etsy shop over to more vintage and supply items.
I want to set up the Artfire for my creations. One more project that I feel I am behind on.

Etsy ,Google,Artfire and works in progress

2009-07-23T09:16:00.015-04:00

More work in progress.I have been working on several ACOE' this week I'm also working on setting up at Artfire. I am redoing my Etsy shop leaving in and adding mostly supplies. I found myself using up way too much of my time learning about SEO when I need to be creating. I had just started up my Google feed. Could find myself on Google with ease,and actually started making a couple sales. Then I started getting my alerts every day saying "no items inserted" Silly me spent way too much time working on that. Then I discovered that if I list on Artfire they do all of that for me. I am thrilled I so need to use that time in the studio creating new things. I waste far too much time online anyway. So this week I have been concentrating on creating more. I put finishing touches on the vinyl record charms,worked some on these little art cards,started putting together some supplies for listing,got some Pifs (give away items) in the works, and began contemplating what to do with some snake skin,yeah I do tend to like playing with odd materials. So now the week is almost gone. I still want to get the Etsy shop redone,and the Art fire set up. If I am real lucky I can get in some time to play in the band room too.

More work in progress.I have been working on several aceo this week.
I'm also working on setting up at Artfire. I am redoing my Etsy shop leaving in and adding mostly supplies.
I found myself using up way too much of my time learning about SEO when I need to be creating.
I had just started up my Google feed. Could find myself on Google with ease,and actually started making a couple sales. Then I started getting my alerts every day saying "no items inserted"
Silly me spent way too much time working on that. Then I discovered that if I list on Artfire they do all of that for me. I am thrilled I so need to use that time in the studio creating new things. I waste far too much time online anyway.
So this week I have been concentrating on creating more. I put finishing touches on the vinyl record charms,worked some on these little art cards,started putting together some supplies for listing,got some Pifs (give away items) in the works, and began contemplating what to do with some snake skin,yeah I do tend to like playing with odd materials.
So now the week is almost gone. I still want to get the Etsy shop redone and the Art fire set up.
If I am real lucky I can get in some time to play in the band room too.

Iced Vinyl In progress

2009-07-15T08:18:00.007-04:00

Life is good.
My wonderful caveman decided I should have a laptop.
He was right. I already see how much time I can save by having it with me in the studio or where ever.
This is a perfect example. I can now take quick shots of what ever is going on, do a quick post and be done.
These are just a couple pics of some pendants I am doing with record vinyl.It's just a big pile of work in progress. I hope to get the whole pile finished up today.

Blogger Brainfreeze

2009-07-03T10:43:00.004-04:00

Sooo, I have a blog, I have some followers, One would think I would actually post something right?

I could tell you about how I broke our Molly Hatchet album,turned it into pendants,and suddenly found myself with possibly every single record any of our friends have ever broken. (and I am labeled pack rat?)
I could tell you about all the mishaps,blunders,and general mayhem that comes of me being turned loose with a pile of vinyl and some power tools.( I will spare you the pics)
Shucks, I could even put up a nice little how to piece on all I have learned this week about the least troublesome ways to carve and shape vinyl (Am I the only one crazy enough to think this could be fun?)
But I truly am quite swamped at the moment. It seems I have managed to accumulate quite a collection of treasures headed for the trash.
I am very eager just now to get a couple records worked up and out of the way.

You see I have this welder that I can only play with in summer(too dangerous inside)
and I have saved up piles of discarded metal bits.
If I spend less time online and more time creating I just may manage to have some interesting little metal creations, and the misadventures of creating them to blog about before fall.
I can hardly believe its already July.
I will leave you with a peek of what I did last week. Just a little fairy charm made from an old CD. I've not yet decided weather to put her in my shop or not. The CD pendants don't seem to be getting much attention.
Oh well I'm off to make more messes. So much trash so little time.

2009-06-17T20:00:00.002-04:00

Just a peek into grandmas attic We spend so much of our time these days on Etsy,Twitter,and now Artfire For those of you who follow us there.
Here is a glimpse into what we're up to when not online.
I sometimes wonder what Grannie would say about it all.
This week we are learning REO Speedwagon- Time For Me To Fly.
Brian is in the other room right now getting the chord structure.
Think I will go now and get the rhythm down. High hat remains my weak point. But I,m killer on toms. A bit backward huh? ~~~~~~~ I know it hurts to say goodbye .........

The Music In Grandmas Attic

2009-06-04T13:40:00.000-04:00

Well here we go. Time to finally begin posting.
This blog has been sitting here haunting me for days as I try to decide what to write. Then it finally hit me it doesn't matter so very much there are no readers:) Kinda takes the pressure off.
Just in case someone dose pop in at some point I will start with background.

We live in the Appalachians in a 150 yr old victorian monster of a house. The place has a true grandmas attic feel to it.

This is where all the vintage things in our etsy shop are coming from.
We turned a big chunk of the attic into a music room. Now space is cramped. The fact that the attic makes 3 stories tells you something about just how much stuff has accumulated.

I being raised by a grandmother who lived through the depression, have it ingrained in my being to throw out nothing ever. Needless to say a couple generations of this can drown you in boxes and trunks of god knows what.

Thats also had a hand in shaping how I create. If I can make somthing with it I feel justified in keeping it. The trend toward upcycling and reclaiming is right up my ally.
I am blessed with one of these huge old rooms for my studio. The room is large enough for me to use a salvaged car hood for a work table. And 12 ft cealings make for terrific storage shelves.

The band room is pretty nice too it just needs room to grow some. The drum kit, 3 keyboards, assortment of various string instruments, plus all the amps, mixers, recorders, and various sound equipment takes up a bit of space. Add in putting together a group to play with out being too cramped the space gose quick.
Speaking of going quick so is time,and so must I.

In the beginning......

2009-06-01T22:36:00.000-04:00

So here we are in the night typing into cyberspace.

The beginning of a new journey just knowing the path will twist and turn.
It all starts here a path laying open before us.
Soon we will tell our story who we are ,what we're about.
for this moment I'm feeling the endless potential of the days ahead.
Wonder what will come of the words witch cross these pages.