Better Late Than Never!

It sure has been a while since I have had time to post. Where did the summer go?! I kept thinkwhen the summer is here and i have more time I will blog a bit more... What the heck was I smoking?!? Things only got busier and busier. With the launch of my new jewelry line and taking it to the street markets this summer am fall, I haven't had time to breathe, much less blog. So here I am at 12:47 in the morning running on the last traces of caffine from my Dr.Pepper.

I just thought it would be nice to let everyone know a little about where they can find me locally as I sell my wares. It has been so much fun participating in this years Ogden Farmer's Market. It grew about ten fold this year! It is held every Saturday from 8:00 - 1:00 on Historic 25th Street in down Town Odgen Utah. So many talented artists are vending this year. There is definately something for everyone. Not to mention the very popular Harvest Moon Festival this year on the 26th of September. Lots of family friendly activities and an all day street festival and bike race to boot! Don't miss it!!! I will be there just below Rooster bar and grill.


I am also looking forward to a few more fall and winter shows, but I will blog more on those in the coming weeks. For a small taste of some of my newest creations, please see my Etsy Store.

RefreshingDesigns.etsy.com

THE BIG WINNER!!!

Congratulations to Aik, the winner of my recent giveaway on Joyfulmoneysaving. She won the Alice Cullen Choker.

Be on the watch for other fun giveaways in the future!

TWILIGHT GIVEAWAY!!!

I have teamed up with Joy from Joyfulmoneysavings.blogspot.com . She is hosting a giveaway of one of my Alice Cullen chokers just in time for the movie release! So be sure to check out her blog : http://joyfulmoneysavings.blogspot.com/ and get a chance to win it for FREE!

There are lots of ways to enter:

1) Go to my Etsy store http://www.refreshingdesigns.etsy.com/ and comment on her blog about your favorite item of mine.

Extra Entries:

2) Become a follower of her blog or follow her on Twitter.

3) Make a purchase from my shop! I have lots of other fun Twilight things. (Each purchase is worth 3 entries)

4) Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Joy's blog.

5) Put Joy's blog button on your blog.

Make sure she has some way to reach you with your comment.

The contest goes until March 29th 11:59 PM PST

She will randomly pick someone and post the winner March 30th.

Good Luck!!!

Fellowship of the Twilighters

This goes out to all my fellow TWILIGHT fans. I have recently added a new section to my Etsy store. I have been feverishly working to create some new book and movie inspired jewelry pieces. I have Alice's slick, Gothic Cullen Crest choker, an omage to Breaking Dawn necklace with red and white chess pieces, Edward's Gift Swarovski heart bracelet (minus the wolf, sorry, I'm not a huge Jacob fan), Bella's turquoise bracelet from the movie and many other exciting things in the works!!!

I have had way too much fun creating this new line. I am almost obsessive (my husband would beg to differ on the word almost) about the books and I'm passionate about my Jewelry work. So the two combined has been an ultimate joy.

I wear a lot of the jewelry myself around town and to work. I get an unbelievable amount of complements and "hey that is from Twilight, right?!" Then I strike up a conversation about the books and movie with a total stranger, it's great!

Be sure to check out all my new pieces. I am even getting a few things listed from the new movie CORALINE. Great book, AWESOME movie. I highly recommend it.

"Not all those who wander are lost"

To any readers I might have, this blog is part craft and business matters along with artisan features and commentaries, but also part therapeutic journal writing. Hopefully, this jumble of thoughts and bits of info come across in a slightly cohesive manner.

I love this quote by Tolkien. "Not all those who wander are lost." It gives me hope that I do have an ultimate destination in life, even if I'm not quite sure how to get there.

Things have been moving slower and slower in the economy and my family is not the first nor the last that will feel the impact. I was unable to retain my position in the financial services field and have been looking elsewhere for employment. I wish with all my heart that I could make a living doing what I love from home, and be here for my two boys at all times or even volunteer at their school. But unfortunately, this will probably have to wait. I am currently on the prowl for a new job and at the moment, I want as far away from the financial realm as possible!
So I have applied for teaching positions, particularly in the area of special needs.

My sweet little 5 yr old son, Caleb, has autism and this just seemed like a natural area to start looking. I felt very strongly that this is where I was supposed to be, but I have really struggled finding a position as a staff assistant. I am so tired of hearing "well, we narrowed it down to you and so-and-so, but I'm afraid we have decided to go with so-and-so." AHHHHHHGG!!! I am going to completely lose it if I hear it one more time. Why would I feel so strongly about it yet have no doors open? Sometimes I am not sure if I am "wandering" or if I am really just "lost". Maybe I am both?!

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.” -Tolkien

January's newest creations

Now that the holidays are over and it is still very cold an snowy outside. I have spent more and more time indoors coming up with fun new designs for my jewelry lines. Let me know what you think!


See more of my latest work at http://refreshingdesigns.etsy.com/

In The Beginning!

Well, here goes nothing!

Maiden Voyage - Dec. 30th 2008 http://refreshingdesigns.etsy.com/

This is a first for me. I have never blogged before so I apologize for the excitement I have over the novelty of it all. I can be a bit naive and not so tech savvy when it comes to this type of thing. I am a good old fashions pen and paper sort of gal. I love doing and creating with my hands even if it is just sitting down to journal a little bit or write a note. I am also very visual and pictures say more than a whole book could sometimes. So I imagine once I figure out how to do it, I will be posting a lot of fun pictures.

I have to admit, this whole blog thing does seem a bit cold. Just sitting here in the evening typing my thoughts, staring at my monitor, sending my message out into the grand abyss. Who will be there to read this?

Hopefully, there is someone who will enjoy what I have to say out there. I don't really have any profound thoughts or insites. I live a simple life with my wonderful husband of 9 years and two sons. Life is good.

Even now as I type in the night, my 8 year-old woke up from a bad dream and came into the room crying. While still sitting, I hugged him around the waist. He towered over me, my 8 year-old! Then as I calmed his fears and sent him off to bed, I pondered for a moment on how much he has grown, but how young he still is. I love that my boy can still come to me when he has a bad dream and that I have the power to sooth his troubled heart. Oh, the joys of motherhood! I hold those things dear forever.