June Top Droppers and Commenters and July News

We're already several days into July!  I'm so glad to be through with June and to have gotten a nice start to July.

TOP DROPPERS:

Here are the top 10 for May.  Thanks so much to those of you who also take the time to leave me comments!

TOP COMMENTERS:
If you're new to this blog, you can check out my Top Commenters widget on the right side of my blog.  It's under my blog roll.  I will feature an item or give a shout out to everyone on that list in this monthly post.  I really appreciate those of you who take the time to leave me feedback!

Thanks to Ann of Ann's Snap Edit & Scrap and for stopping by and commenting regularly!  Here are some lovely items from the ladies on my list who have Etsy shops.

1) Shabby Chic Laundry Bag. Lingerie Bag. Sweet Rose Medallion.  Polka dots. Pink by PeriDotbyDuni
2) Engraved Wooden Wedding Invitation - Real Wood Invitation - Double Heart Design Joined Heart Design by memoriesforlifesb
3) Flowers with Fern Green Swarovski Crystals Beaded Sterling Silver Earrings by BeadedTail
4) Mr. Random Dude is hiding on the Beach - ACEO OOAK Original mixed media painting by tapestry316
5) Handwrapped Florentine marbled paper beads by storybeader
6) Unicorn Warrior - Fridge Magnet of Steampunk Art - Brass Armor by aquariann
7) SILK SCARF, hand dyed, Under the Sea, blues by SplendidLittleStars
8) Handmade Journal -- You Are Meant to be Whole, Tell Your Story -- Custom, Personalized Sketchbook by ArtfulRising
9) Long Pearl Necklace - cluster, beaded, crystal, gunmetal, antique silver, thin, vintage inspired, 1920s, flapper by OhNostalgiaDesigns

CHRISTMAS IN JULY:
I'm running a Christmas in July sale all month.  Check out all of the sale items right here.  I have all Christmas items marked down as well as lots of red and green items.  Everything in the sale section is 15% off with free shipping.  Prices are already adjusted accordingly.  I debuted two Christmas charm bracelet bell designs for my 2011 Christmas shows and added them on Etsy for the sale.

Blog Sponsors and June Advertising:
I have an awesome round up of blog sponsors!  These lovely ladies all have Etsy shops and/or blogs.  Check them out on the left hand side of my blog under "Private Sponsors."  Don't forget to visit my newest sponsor, Valerie of additionsstyle.  I love her shop!

Would you like to join them?  It's only $3 per month or $10 for 4 months to advertise with me.  Check out all of the details about it right here.

Bring it on July!

•  The HubPages Apprenticeship Program is going well.  It has forced me to overhaul the way that I write articles there for the next 5 months, which will hopefully be for the best.  My article National Holidays in July: The Food Holidays which I wrote during the first month was picked for the site's Hub of the Day on July 1.
• Somehow I got everything together and am hosting an Etsy Milwaukee open house in 2 weeks.  I'm still in shock that this is happening and that I have a handful of enthusiastic ladies on board.  If all goes well, there will be more of these in the future.  If you live in the Milwaukee area and would like an invite, leave me a comment.
• Jake started his residency program July 1 and will more or less be working a M-F schedule.  I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing this is after the craziness of this past year.  I've revamped my own work schedule to coordinate with his.  I'm striving to increase the amount of time that I spend writing each week and take more time off on the weekends.  For the first time in months, we have a lot of social activities planned, and I want to fully enjoy them.
• I have five holiday shows scheduled with two more applications pending.  I'm doing my best to keep devoting a little time each week to non-jewelry projects so I don't have to spend every possible second during October and November creating show inventory.  

What's going on with your business and/or blog for July?

Happy Fourth of July!

(Click the photo to view the recipe.)

Happy Fourth of July!
 I hope that everyone has a chance to spend time with the ones that you love, enjoying good food, fireworks, and whatever else makes this holiday complete for you.

One regularly scheduled programming will return tomorrow.

Where I Linked Up Today:

special birthday feature for my husband

Happy birthday to my husband Jake today!

Earlier this year, Paige put together a Pinterest list for her husband's birthday.  I loved the idea and made a note to do the same thing for Jake.  If I didn't make notes, I would never remember these things months later.  But I did so here it is.  I've pulled items from both Pinterest and Etsy.  Thanks for the inspiration, Paige!

Jake is a huge fan of Lord of the Rings (and was long before the movies came out ten years ago).

The Hobbit - Lord of the Rings A3 poster by colorpanda

I'm sure that most people don't get this, but it's a popular humor phrase for people who play games with lots of dice and/or many sided dice.

That is How I Roll Pin Button Badge 1.25 inch by boxinghobo

Jake is a big fan of funfetti cake.  He requests it every year for his birthday.  And no, I don't make it from scratch...but now maybe I will.

Birthday Cake Recipe: Funfetti Cake from Scratch from thekitchn.com

Jake loves computer games.  This is an old classic.

Jake enjoys grilling in the summer.

Garlic Shrimp in Foil from The Food Network

Jake just started his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation

Peace Love PM&R Onesie Organic Tees from zazzle.com

Finally, Jake is a big fan of Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation.  This is one of the two Ron Swanson items that I got him for his birthday this year.

Ron Swanson Breakfast mug by PeachyApricot

What items would your significant other enjoy?

Newest articles:

How to Find Inspiration and Stay Inspired: Tips for Writers and Artists

Daily, Weekly, and 30 Day Photography Challenges

Milwaukee Bungalows: Craftsman Style Homes

Where I Linked Up Today:

Scavenger Hunt and I Heart Macro on Monday (7/2/12)

Welcome to another edition of the photo Scavenger Hunt and I Heart Macro! I've also included my weekly update about my monthly photo challenge progress. Enjoy!

1) Sunset

I'm going way back in my archives for a couple of my photos today.  All of my best sunset photos are on trips.  Usually I see the sun set in the city behind buildings, and it's always inspiring to see it set behind the water.  I know that I shared a sunset photo from this trip a while back.  This is another sunset photo from a Mexico/Honduras cruise Dec 07/Jan 08.

2) Sweet

I made a peach crisp/crumble this past week.  I use the apple crisp recipe from How to Cook Everything.

3) Hanging Around

Angel is always checking out new areas of the house.

4) Funny Face

This is another way back in the archives photo.  Jake and I had disposable cameras at our wedding reception.  This was one of the best things ever.  We have so many priceless moments that our family and friends captured for us.  My bouquet kind of completely came apart when I threw it so all of the girls got to take part of it home with them.  Apparently it proved pretty inspirational.

5) Space

I've been getting back into gluing mode so I have some new items for my non-jewelry lines for the open house later this month.  When I took this picture, I had completely run out of space on this tray.

Check out Ashley's blog to see what other people submitted for the themes this week.




Here's my shot for I Heart Macro.

I'm pulling another photo from my Father's Day flower shoot.  You have to click on this photo and view the larger version to really appreciate all of the detail.

 The Monthly Photo Challenge Update: 

I wrapped up my June Photo a Day Board over the weekend.  Check out the final photos.  I'll get July up and running later this week!

Where else I linked up today:

Treasury Round Up - 7/1/12

Happy July!

I hope that this month is getting off to a good start for everyone. Some of you know that I'm really excited to be done with June and for all the possibilities for July.  I'll be posting my monthly shop news and top droppers/commenters on Thursday the 5th.

This has been another great week of treasuries!  There are some really gorgeous collections here.  Please help me thank the curators who featured my work this past week by visiting their shops and checking out their treasuries.

Kim (Kimity) included my Button Charm Bracelet - Sea Green in her Sea Greens treasury.  You know how much I love color themed treasuries!  Check out Kim's Crochet Cotton Lunch Bag.

Kaili (clockworkghOst) included my Beaded Bracelet - The Leaf Series - Turquoise Blue in her Feeling Blue treasury.  This collection has a great mix of items.  Check out Kaili's Moon Rising Bookmark over Ocean Photo Print.

Erika (ArtfulRising) included my Beaded Cuff Bracelet - Dagger Fringed - Pink Garden in her Nothing shabby about it treasury.  There is definitely nothing shabby about this sweet collection.  Check out Erika's Handmade Journal -- You Are Meant to be Whole, Tell Your Story -- Custom, Personalized Sketchbook.

Kathy (tapestry316) included my Beaded Bracelet - The Leaf Series - Purple/Pink in her I'm thinking PINK! treasury.  Kathy put this treasury together for her fourth granddaughter who is arriving this November.  Isn't that sweet?  Check out Kathy's Sunflowers are summer favorites - ACEO OOAK mixed media painting.

Margaret (SplendidLittleStars) included my Beaded Pendant - Peyote Triangle - Ocean Stained Glass in her take me to the sea treasury.  She was inspired by our Under the Sea June BBA Challenge.  Isn't this collection stunning?  Check out Margaret's SILK SCARF flowers, hand dyed, Summer Blossoms.

Sarah (MagnoliaSurprise) included my Beaded Bracelet - Red in her Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue! treasury.  I always enjoy these seasonal collections.  Check out Sarah's Crochet Flip Flop Pincushion in Red, White, and Blue.

Sharla (BeadedTail) included my Button Charm Bracelet - Valentine's Day in her Fill Your Heart with love, Friends, and Furbabies treasury.  We are all mourning the loss of her dog Sadie this week and are spreading the love in every way that we can.  Check out Sharla's Red Hot Hearts - Crystal Heart Sterling Silver Earrings.

Anna (Eleganceforyou) included my Beaded Bracelet - Red in her Reds.... treasury.  I never get tired of red!  Check out Anna's The Michelina Necklace.

Thanks to those who linked up with me last week!  Here are a few of the items that they featured last week.  Click on the photos to check out the product listings.

I am really touched by all the people who I have inspired to start their own treasury round ups with awesome shop features and write ups!  Please link up with me and grab a button for your own post.  I know that not everyone posts these rounds ups on Sundays, which is fine.  I will leave this link up open all week.  The most current post is now linked at the top of my blog, just under my header so you can find it easily at any time during the week.

If you link up, take the time to visit and comment on at least one other post.  No one benefits from linking up if we don't all support each other.  Thanks!

 

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