CIF Goodies!!! (or, Catchin' up post #3)

Where was catchin' up post #2, you ask?  Well, that's the Sale-A-Bration post from earlier.  Yup, playin' catch up in Stampin' stuff, too...

So, last year, I participated in 2 craft it forward events, one on Facebook and one through the Hive.  I'm planning to do another in a month or so, because quite frankly I really like sending random crafty goodies to folk....

What's "Craft it Forward," you ask?  Well, essentially, it's the Pay it Forward philosophy, but with crafts!  

Anyway, I would post pics of what I made, but I foolishly didn't take any pics. Wait, I take that back.  I had pics of the first batch, but they were lost in the Great Mac Crash of 0-10... And the second batch?  Yeah, just never got around to it... 

For the Facebook CIF goodies, I made little plaques with a page from Shakespeare and the birdie ornaments I've been making lately.  They were very cute, and I hope the recipients liked them. For my Hive CIF goodies, I made non-christmasy Christmas ornaments (they were shaped like trees, but the papers and embellishments I used were not christmasy.  kinda fun!)  There was lots of  Mod Podge involved, and I had a blast.  Plan to make more soon.  I also made a little bracelet for each of my giftees... Just a basic elastic beaded bracelet, but cute!

But here's the real purpose of this post--CIF goodies I received!! I like giving things, but I really like getting things... :D

Jessie, of Points for Creativity, made the most adorable little clay mushroom.  He's just too cute!!!! I also watched her make some other clay pieces, and it's a blast to see.  She's got a great eye, and, unlike me, is not afraid of the clay!

 And Faye, from Twisted Imaginings, made the most gorgeous little ring! It's so comfortable to wear, too!  You can find more great pieces in her shop. (by the by, her prices are BEYOND reasonable; in fact, I think she might even be charging too little!)

So there you have it!  Craft it Forward is a lot of fun, and I'll let you know when I do another batch!

12 Things

So, Joni, over on the Hive, wrote a post about 12 random things; things we wouldn't necessarily know about her. And then, she invited us to do the same.  So here goes:

1. I have (well, had) a great-grandfather named Harry Potter.  I think he was a great.  Mighta been a great-great... and he lived in Scotland. :D I love the books, and this bit of trivia is just too awesome not to share.
2. I just took my first vacation out of state in well over 7 years.  It was lovely, and I'm kinda bummed to be home.
3. I have an Master's degree in English, and really wish I'd gotten an English ed degree.  Then I'd already have a full-time job.
4. I'm terrible with money.  And yet, my father is the best money-manager I know.  Poor Dad doesn't know where he went wrong...
5. I'm also a terrible house-keeper, and my mom, while not quite approaching Monica-like cleanli- and orderliness, is still trying to figure out where she went wrong with me...
6. I have wonderful, beautiful, generous friends and family.  I appreciate them everyday, even though I know I don't always show it.
7. I am an unabashed Mac-lover. But I'm not too proud to accept the loan of a PC when it's offered, and my Mac has decided that 4 years of my BS is enough. (I love ya, LaRita!  You rock so hard!!!!!)
8. I teach English, and generally love it, but would really, really, really love to be able to craft all day and make a good living at it.
9. I cannot wait for my Brit Lit class this semester to start.  After 10 years of teaching, this will be the first time I really get to teach in my chosen field.  Thank you, Karen, for giving me the opportunity. 
10. I am also, at the same time, terrified of this Brit Lit class.  What if I bomb?
11. My Christmas decorations are still up, and I'm still enjoying them.  I may leave them up for another month or so, and I'm okay with that.
12. This is the first real chance I've had to blog in far too long, and I wasn't aware how much I'd missed it.  Thanks, Joni, for the prompt!

So there ya have it!  Some random stuff about me!

The Hive 12 Days of Christmas!

It's Day 9 of the Hive 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, and today, you could win my Holly Jolly bracelet!  Yay!!!

You could also win some absolutely adorable Snow Girl ornaments from Marie Patterson, or a hand crocheted ring from Corinna Cambanes (so pretty!)  You can check out all the details here. 

But, if you're not a Hive member yet, you'll need to sign up before you can register to win! (it's okay, it's free!  and a wonderful community!)

Come play with us!

The awesomeness that is the Hive

So, a few weeks ago, I joined this new online crafting community called Creating the Hive. It's a wonderful site, and I've met many really wonderful people.  It's such a positive influence, and it's bringing together crafters of vastly different experience and genre, to trade ideas, pump each other's egos, challenge ourselves, and just generally have fun. So far, I've had one of my projects featured (the table I redid a few weeks ago), I've won a contest and received an awesome mystery art grab bag (see the adventures of Boxie) and I've been inspired to try to craft something (even if it's just a blog post) everyday. Admittedly, with 8 classes, that's been a bit hard.  But I'm working it out.

Anyways, I just found another very cool benefit to having joined the Hive--seeing someone's work that I may not have ever run across any other way, and scoring a BEAUTIFUL piece of jewelry out of it for a very good price!  It's a brooch, made of copper, with beads in fall colours and some gorgeous leaves, and the minute I saw it in Faye's post, I knew it had to be mine.  Now, had I not become acquainted with Faye through the Hive, I doubt I would have thought to ask about the shipping.  'Cause, see, Faye lives in Britain, while I live in Florida... But I did!  And so now, it is mine.... muwahhhahhhhahhhahhhh!!!!!!!! :D  I can't wait till it gets here!!!!

I have to go buy a hat....

RLW

What's been happenin'?

Well, I haven't done much specifically jewelry-related lately, but I have been playing.  I've decoupaged a table and a box, my iPhone's case (twice, actually) and I made a whole bunch of cards.  Plus, you know, there's that pesky "real job" business that I've been trying to take care of.  And, speaking of that, I just got another class!  woot!

So, what's in store for Definitive Designs?  Well, I have this multi-chain earring idea stuck in my head, and I'm dying to try some steampunk-y stuff... And, I want to try making frames for some of my work, so they can be displayed on the wall. It's something I've been pondering for ages for the pieces I have in my own collection, and Melody, over at Brave Girls Club blogged on it a few days ago. So I'm feeling inspired!

I also joined Creating the Hive, and have been very much enjoying getting to know people over there. And thanks to all of your help, I won the Viewer's Choice portion of Beads-n-Blessings' Art with Heart Contest.  So, you know, go me! (and you!!) Cycle 3 of that contest will be starting soon, and I'm very much looking forward to working with that kit, as well.

So, that's just a quick update for you!  Hope you're all well!

R.Wilson

What a week!!

My, my, my, what a week it has been!  And you know, this week started out all sluggishly and stuff, what with the holiday and days off and really havin' trouble getting back into the swing of things.  Some of my students really had a bit of a hard time; and I honestly can't blame them... Long weekends are nice. But, that all worked out in the end.  And now, it is Saturday, September 11th, and we all have to remember the horrible events of 9 years ago. Not that we could forget.  I mean, come on--the first major attack on US soil in how many years?  Yeah, we're not gonna forget that.  So, if you haven't yet, take a few minutes today and think back. What were you doing that day?  Yeah, for my generation, this is like Kennedy's assassination or the moon-landing for our parents' generation--we all know where we were and exactly what we were doing when we heard the news.  And we'll never forget.

Now, on to happier thoughts! And back to my week!  So, this was the last week of Beads-n-Blessings Art with Heart Viewer's Choice contest, and I have awesome friends who helped me win that!!!  And I have to say, I am in some gorgeous (!!!!) company!  I mean look at those pieces!!!  I want the Twister necklace (well, really, I'd rather know how to make the Twister necklace myself...)  So hey, I have bragging rights now!  And as a friend pointed out to me yesterday, I am now an Award-Winning Artist (yeah, I have trouble really taking that seriously... LOL! after all, I'm still working on considering myself an artist!)

And, I managed to complete 3 projects this week!  The new phone case, the patchwork table, and another piece that I'm still waiting on it drying fully.  I'll post pics and the story on that as soon as I get it all done.

And, I woke up today to learn that my little table has been featured on Creating the Hive!  How cool is that!!!!! And people like it !

Okay, yeah, I'm having a "They like me! They really like me!" drama moment here...



And I think I'll just leave you with that.  Have a great day!

RLW