Thursday, April 22, 2010

MOVING SALE IN MY ETSY STORES

Going, going, gone. We've sold our house! After a crazy past few months of getting things ready around the house to put it up for sale, we sold in a week, with a flurry of activity, and in 45 days we're out of here!!! Life has been crazy busy and right now I'm on overload.
I'll surely miss my beautiful back yard, but Em's will just have to design me another where ever we land...when she comes home from Brazil, that is. Besides moving in the next 30 or so days, we have a wedding in Brazil in early July...so don't expect to hear from me much...and hopefully that explains why you haven't heard from me much lately.

I do have a few items in my etsy store and I'm having a moving sale now thru May 14th-- 30% off of everything, before I pack it away. http://www.rickitic.etsy.com/


And I'll be trying to clean out my vintage etsy store as well-- http://www.allweneedislove.etsy.com/ buy one, get the second of equal or lesser value at 50% off. Stop by if you're in the market for some real bargains.
More about the move when I find another nugget of time. Now it's off to fill those custom orders and start packing...no rest for the wicked, as they say!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

And another......

I seem to have an excess of riches these days. I did not one, but two destash trades and today my second package arrived, chock full of more delightful treasures. This box was loaded with lampwork and some real drool-ables for sure. Another charmingly decorated box,this one from Nicole Valentine of NValentine Studio-- www.nvalentine.blogspot.com
So many treasures here--love the lampwork flowers and look at the bodacious focal disc with silverglass , some coin pearls, a beautiful chalcedony teardrop briolette, crystals, silver and lampwork to keep me busy for several projects. Thank you Nicole--they are all loverly!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Gifts are always fun---to give and to receive!

Lori, of Lori Anderson Designs http://www.lorianderson.blogspot.com , arranged for another fun activity this month. A bead exchange from our stash for those who wanted to participate. Since I have alot of stash, it was right up my alley. We were to exchange a matchbox full of goodies. She and I ended up partners and here is the beautiful box I got in the mail from her. She went all out with her beautifully decoupaged box that was full to the brim with goodies to get my creative juices flowing---
pearls, swarovskies, gemstones, brass,...

lucite flowers, artisan boro beads, polymer roses, sterling clasp and more...
I sent a box her way yesterday, that I hope she will find as delightful as I found mine. Alas, I forgot to photograph the box or the contents...but I think there were some fun things included. I also did a side exchange with Nicole Valentine of NValentine Designs that I hope she will enjoy. It was fun sifting thru my stash looking for things I thought each artist might enjoy using for her designs.
I can tell Lori put alot of thought into the lovelies she sent me--they were just the little kind of treasures that delight...now to find a minute to play with them!!!!

Monday, March 1, 2010

A MishMash of Stash

Sooo....maybe you're wondering where I disappeared to this past couple of weeks. Not all that interesting, but I've been crazy busy going thru every drawer, closet, nook and cranny around here cleaning up, clearing out and getting rid of all kinds of things. Craft projects gone astray, decor items that no longer fit my style, books I'll never read again, clothes that will never fit again. It seems like I am endlessly 're-evaluating' my needs and wants against one another and trying to detatch myself from the sentimentality of my possessions.
I seem to declutter in stages, only being able to give up so much at a time, then after a bit of a rest, I realize there was more that could/should go and it's back to the destash game for me. It's sometimes amazing the things I find that I didn't remember I had...like the lovely carved goose egg collection I bought several years ago, thinking I would make some fabulous panorama eggs to gift and decorate at Easter with...but they were stashed in a corner and long forgotten, now they are in my etsy store-- http://www.allweneedislove.etsy.com/ hoping they are just what someone is looking for...if not, off to goodwill they will go very soon...

And what about this exquisite handpainted plate from the late 1800's by Carl Thieme...it hasn't seen the light of day for a few years. I just don't use as many beautiful chotzkies around the house for decorating now, but haven't been able to bear to part with it, until this installment of decluttering...so now it's off to ebay to see if someone else can't live without it and give me more cupboard space to fill, lol.

And what could this be??? It takes up lots of room and hasn't been used for at least 10 years or so--a lovely stainless samovar from Russia that I brought back from my travels to Moscow and St Petersburg circa Peristroika. I have two---and I have finally decided that is one too many, so it's soon on it's way out the door--anyone here looking for a lovely Russian samovar (it's electric--with Russisan plugs though). I'm not shipping it back to Russia, but surely it will find a good home,...or not. (what is the market in Southern California for Russian Samovars, by the way?)

And my silk ribbon flowers...brooches, shoe clips and more used to be my passion. I made them like a crazy woman and gifted all my friends, had one in every color to match my wardrobe, etc...but alas they all must go. Gathering dust in box, unloved and untouched for much too long I am finally able to say adieu and off to etsy these go as well.
Now you know---the answer to what I've been doing all these many days---sifting thru memories and letting them go--hundreds of them, all off to ebay, etsy, secondhand stores and far, far away. Moving forward and decluttering my life, yet again...cleaning just a few more cobwebs out of my life and trashing the stash! See you as soon as I can get out from under this avalanche of abundance.




Thursday, February 11, 2010

Wasn't it Lovely!

Here's to you LORI!!!!

A big thanks to Lori Anderson for organizing the Bead Soup exchange and party that culminated yesterday in all our 'big reveals'. It was great fun to see all the wonderful designs and be part of the creativity generated by the exchanges we all took part in. There were some truly droolworthy beauties and it was a pleasure to be one of a very friendly and talented group of designers and artists....now if you haven't checked out the other participants yet, do have a look around--it's a major feast for the eyes! All the links are in my post below so drool away!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Let's Party


TahDahhhh! I made a bracelet with my focal bead(s)--a generous trio, and floral clasp from Jeanette in the Bead Soup Party exchange. I love the colors in the beautiful lentils by artist Dawn White and the substantial floral sterling clasp I received. Blues and greens with a dash of black, flowers and leaves and what you get is a simple, sweet bauble to grace the wrist.






With some unexpected family responsibilities this past month, I haven't had much time to 'play' with my stash of jewelry components, so this virtual party gave me a wonderful excuse to take a few minutes for myself and remember why I love playing with beads so much.


Join me today in checking out all the wonderful bead soup designs by the bodacious list of participants below--I know I'm going to love seeing all the great eye candy and I hope you do too! My first stop will be to see what my exchange partner Jeanette, at Jeannette Blix Wire and Metal Jewelry did with the bead soup I sent her!




2. Mallory, For the Love of Beads
3. Terri, Blooming Ideas

5. Lorelei, Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio

7. Erin, Treasures Found


9. Adrienne, Adrienne Designs


11. Laurel, Rue's Daftique



14. Cassie, The Glass Beadle



17. Lisa, Lo and Behold


19. Judith, Judith B.

20. Debbie, Prairie Emporium




24. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things

25. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa

26. Cristi, 2 If By Sea




30. Leslie, Bei Mondi

31. Loretta, Designs by Loretta


33. Kathie, The Bead Cult

34. Patty, Plays With Fire

35. Nicki, Nicki's Reef

36. Anne Marie, Heart's Desire



39. Emanda, Artemesia's Studio

40. Whitney, Whitney Lassini

41. Marcie, La Bella Joya

42. Suzann, Beadphoria

44. Julie, Credit River Art Glass

45. Janiece, J Birds Garden


47. Laurie, The Mermaid Tale


49. Sue, Sue Beads


51. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse

52. Kristie, Artisan Clay

53. Regina, Regina's Writings


55. Lyn, Lyn Foley


57. Cathryn, Chile Cats



60. Juli, Jul's Beads

61. Julie, RockerJewlz









70. Lynette, Rock Hill Designs



74. Ruthie, Rose Works Jewelry

75. Elizabeth, Turquoise Sky

76. Maire, Maire Dodd

77. Janet, Singing Woods

78. Eileen, Dorset Hill Beads


80. Joann, Jo's Jewels

81. Patti, PJ Clark Designs




85. Dee, Runako Designs

Ready for Tomorrow?

http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/2009/12/bead-soup-party-and-bead-swap.html

Tomorrow is the big reveal day for all the participants in Lori's Bead Soup Party...be sure to check all the links for a dazzling array of eye candy to enjoy!!!!