Mmmmm…
I should not look at The Mouse Market when I’m hungry! These new burrito earrings are making me wish I hadn’t packed a lunch today. I love this artist’s work! It’s so detailed and beautiful. Everything she makes looks good enough to eat, except for the non-food items, of course!
This fall I bought some little pumpkin earrings from her. They’re very pretty and sweet. I can’t wait to for fall to come around again so I can wear them! In the meantime, I’m going to drool over her other creations…
My Pursuit of the Right Path
Girl on Pathway by PhotographyArtPrints
Life isn’t a simple straight-forward path. There are curves, side journeys and sometimes even u-turns. Many times in my life I’ve put myself on a particular path and thought, This is it –this is the path I belong on! And I’ve talked it up and pushed myself to reach success on that path. I’ve convinced family and friends to support me.
But then I hit this point where I realize I’m not happy. I’m stressed and burnt out. That path I was so excited for and poured my energy into might not be the right one. I’m feeling less and less excited. But knowing that all ventures require hard work, I keep pushing. And I push until I break down completely. Then I’m sitting there wondering, Should I quit this path? Is forcing myself along this path killing my happiness and creativity? Then, Maybe I just need a break?
So I take a break and re-evaluate. After some time away, just sitting next to the path and forgetting about it for a little while, I can look again and choose to get back on that path or start trailblazing another direction.
When do you know it’s time to take a new path?
As some of you may already know, I’m working on creating a new path for myself now. I’m starting a new business, Margie’s Mark. I’m still going to make paper goods (I really love paper too much to do anything else!), but I’m planning to focus on party invitations. You’ll be hearing much more as it progresses.
Who knows if this is the right route for me? What I do know is it feels authentic, so I’m going for it!
Rest
Sometimes everyone just needs to stop moving and rest.
I’m addicted
I love glitter! So when I was reviewing the guidelines for Etsy’s Special Delivery: Share Your Love 2011, I realized I have a problem. The first rule is NO glitter. Oops! The cards I was planning on sending are full of glitter! Now I’m looking at the cards I’ve made so far… glitter, sparkles and bling all over. There are worse things to be addicted to, right?
I’ll be making some new cards over the weekend to send to Share Your Love!
Etsy Greetings: Love is Handmade Event
The Etsy Greetings Team is running specials on Valentine’s Day Cards from January 17-21! Look for cards tagged: EGLOVE
Left & Right Creations is participating by offering 15% OFF on all cards in the Valentines section of the shop! Just use the coupon code: 15LOVE2010
Check out our team blog for all participating shops!
Happy Valentine’s Day from Left & Right Creations!
Recycled Greeting Card Boxes
With Christmas around the corner, I think it’s about time I shared this with you! These cute little boxes are great for wrapping small gifts or to give as gifts themselves.
So keep those cards you’re getting in the mail and get crafty! Click the following link to access a PDF of the instructions. Recycled Greeting Card Box
CIC Saturday – Fall!
My favorite season is in full swing! Here are some beautiful items from my Crafting in Color teammates:
6 Autumn Wool Felted Acorn Ornaments by greenbaboondesigns
AUTUMN HUES WASHI PAPER AND WIRE CIRCLES NECKLACE by PaperDemonJewelry
Pretty Autumn Flower necklace by dinafragola
AAAAAAAAALLLLL-VVVVVIIIIIIINNNNNN print 8×10 by youwannatalkjive
Hand Dyed Fabric Journal Cover by rubymountaindyeworks
Pumpkin Orange Glitter Oval Resin Bobby Pins by stuffbyxtine
Upcycled Tangerine Vintage Circles Necklace by brandyfisher
Three Waldorf Star Lanterns – Autumn Spice by greenbaboondesigns
a touch of autumn in my neighborhood
Fall is starting to show!
I snapped this photo a couple of days ago while walking Rand. I love all the color in this tree! It’s a beautiful natural gradient!
I’m participating in We Scout Wednesdays on Scoutie Girl
My Tattoo
Autumn Light by DLTaylorArt on etsy
I didn’t understand tattoos for the longest time. They were a mystery. As my best friend showed me the process she goes through and reasoning behind her tattoos, I started to learn about the culture. Still, I never thought I’d get one myself. I couldn’t think of anything I’d want permanently inked into my skin.
Then one fall I was on a week-long camping trip. It was so relaxing to be out in the woods, especially during my favorite season. The trees were beautiful in the campground and surrounding park. The whole experience just opened my eyes. I went camping so much as a kid. I used to take those camping trips and that time in nature for granted. But once I got married, it became less and less often that I would get to go on a hike, let alone a camping trip. I was walking down the path in the campground, enjoying the gorgeous oak trees and scooting my feet through the fallen leaves. That’s when it hit me: what if I had a leaf tattooed on my foot? It could be a constant symbol of the calm I feel when I’m in the woods and also remind me to go take a hike more often. I decided it would have to be an oak leaf, my favorite tree, in autumn colors.
After thinking about this idea for about four years, I decided to get it. I collected leaf images and pondered exact placement. And it was very important to me to find an artist I liked. My friend let me tag along when she went to get a beautiful lotus tattooed on her ankle and once it was done, I was confident that I’d found the artist who would be able to capture what I wanted for my leaf.
Here are some photos of the tattoo in progress and then finished. It’s healed well, but I need to go back for a touch up in a couple of weeks. There are parts of my skin that didn’t retain the color as well and that was expected. In the overall, I’m very happy with the result and I love having a beautiful piece of nature art with me at all times!
Back in the Saddle
Well, I’ve been back to working on projects again! I just threw myself back into it and it worked. The other night I was working on organizing some of my clear unmounted stamps. I’ve been putting them in clear CD cases according to theme. I found the idea on Crafty Storage. It’s a great blog that features different storage solutions and workspaces for crafters. If I’m trying to figure out what to do with a certain type of supply, I head there first for some creative ideas!
MargieMark 
