Updates!

I really have to get back to a regular blogging routine. Both this blog, and my homeschool blog have been severely neglected. Some of it is just from the busyness of life. Some is because I was very ill for a lot of January, and some is because I am trying to do inventory, remove old products, and update images. I will never remove my gemstone rings, no matter how old they get. They are one of the most popular searched items in my shop, and my biggest sellers. They are stored well, and taken care of. However, other items go out of style, or out of date. Updating my shop with new pictures, tags plus keywords, takes a really long time. Plus, I would like to get at least one video done for my shop, just can't decide on what I want to do it on, and of course squeezing it in with everything else.

 I have started creating some new pieces, jewelry, wood burned, etched glass, and maybe some new crochet projects. I really want to learn to hand sew, just for small projects like reusable napkins, bibs, etc that would be convenient but still be good for the environment. I hope readers have been checking out the Polyvore sets I have been sharing. I try to do one a day, and share them everywhere. Such a nice way to make a treasury of beautiful items, from different sellers. If you haven't seen any yet, scroll down to see a few. I will be making some sets using the new Spring color pantone, such beautiful colors.

 Below is a new pair of earrings, just a couple of weeks old. I really dislike making earrings, lol, and I have no idea why. They are not hard at all, just always something I just don't want to do. This pair, done in lilac purple glass beads, and lime green acrylic beads, on sterling silver fish hook dangles, are just lovely. Simple enough for wearing to work, and lovely enough for evening wear too. Perfect for Spring, Easter, Mother's Day, etc. There is a leather wrap matching bracelet too. Look for it in my shop.   I have some lovely Easter items, with more to come soon.

Easter Treasury

This is a multi team Etsy treasury. The teams are, All About Blogspot, Team Support and Promote, and Team FEST. If you are on Etsy and would like to join any of these groups, just look them up. Click here to go to the treasury page, and buy one of everything.

Spring Bunny Painted Napkins

Last week I painted glass bunny plates, this week I painted napkins to match. There are actually six napkins, but I only got two done. That is because it was also art night for homeschooling, and we painted Blue Footed Boobies. I had one plate that I did not like. So, I left it unsealed, washed the paint off, and will redo it. As you can see, I painted both bunnies Sable, I love sable bunnies, and the clouds are slightly different. That was on purpose, lol. These napkins, I believe they are cotton, were found at a local thrift store.  I have had them for a while, unsure what I wanted to do with them.   These, along with the plates, will adorn my dining room table, until Easter, or after even, since they are a Spring theme. I have not had much time to play with my resin, or crochet. So, hopefully one day this week, I will get to that. I really want to finish the blanket I am making for the fire dept.

2 New Hand Painted Gift Bags for Easter

I got two more gift bags painted, for Easter. He is Risen and the flower adorned cross, are both available in my Etsy store, with free shipping to USA buyers. If you are looking for a more Faith based gift wrap, rather than the Easter Bunny, these are perfect. They can be re-used or framed and hung on the wall. The other bag is one my daughter painted for her friend's birthday next week. We still have to add her name, with micro beads, and she forgot the unicorn horn, lol. We will be giving her a frame in the bag, to frame it after her birthday is over. If you would like a custom bag painted, just contact me through my Etsy store, or leave me a comment here with a way to contact you.

Hand Painted Bunny Tail Glass Plate for Easter or Spring

This is my first post using Google Chrome, and man oh man, it is so much faster and better than, Explorer and definitely Firefox which has had so many issues lately. Anyway, I got so much done yesterday. I think I met all my goals for yesterday. I am nearing completion of the firehouse blanket, and I can not wait to share it, and offer as a made to order piece in my Etsy store. But, I got to paint, a lot, last night. I typically paint on Monday evenings, but last week due to 4H, was not able to. Caitlin painted a gift bag for her friend's birthday coming up. I did not share it, because I don't want anyone to see it before her birthday. We bought a frame so when she is done with the bag she can frame it. I love these gift bags, that I choose to paint on. They can be re-used or framed and enjoyed forever. One of the things I painted was glass plates. Caitlin, and I, realized that we have tons of Fall and Christmas decorations, but hardly any Spring or Easter. I had seven glass plates, so I decided to do six. These are not for sale, but if anyone is interested I can do a custom order in my Etsy store. Glass is very expensive to ship, and these plates are heavy. You can see my favorite one below. A couple did not come out good at all, and I can just wipe it off, and redo those two.That is the nice thing about acrylic paint, you can just wash it off, and do over. At least until you seal the paint on, lol. None of them were painted the same colors, and all are from the back so you can the cute bunny tails. When you paint on glass plates, or trays, you have to paint backwards. Normally you always paint your background first, and then everything else. With glass you do the opposite. This means, for the bunny tail to show on the side you would eat on, I had to do the tail first, let it dry, and then do the rest. Painting on glass plates is a challenge, I can tell you that. I also got two Easter gift bags done. I will share them in another post, but you can always visit my Etsy store and see them there. My banner will take you straight to my store.

2 New Hand Painted Gift Bags Easter and Pink Robin

I finally got to paint some new gift bags. I had run out of bags, and with me working every other weekend, I just couldn't get anymore. I will be doing two more next week as well. The first one is a cute Bunny hugging his carrot with a purple ribbon. It is perfect for an Easter gift, baby shower or birthday party. All my bags can be re-used or framed and hung as art work. I love how this one came out, and I can do it in other colors, so just contact me if you want it in other colors, by clicking the highlighted link. The second is a Pink Robin sitting in some leaves. For some reason my birds look better when I paint them looking to the left, rather than the right. I have no idea why this is, but his head is a little longer than I like, and he should technically be slightly more round. I may try this one again. Both of these bags are available in my Etsy store, and remember I take custom orders, so contact me through the message system or at melissaruede@yahoo.com Please do not spam my personal email account with other stupid things, I will flag them as spam. Those of you who do this you know exactly who you are.

4 Upcycled Jars For Easter Baskets/Candles

These are four jars of varying sizes, that will have candles included with them, but could be used as a small Easter basket first. These are jars that I have cleaned and sterilized, then painted on with acrylic paints. There are four colors of bunnies, white, brown, sable, and lavender. The lavender one is not yet listed in my store, but it will be in the next day or so. The white bunnies have a basket of jelly beans, no cross. The others all have one bunny and then a cross adorned with flowers on the other side of the jar. Check them out in my Etsy store by clicking the widget above.

February Contest Win This Silver Cross With Blue Pearl

Okay ready for a Contest? This is the first one I have had in a while. This will be added to the top of the blog, to remind you to enter. It will be awarded to my top Entrecard dropper, in the month of February. If there is more than one top dropper, their names will be put in a hat, and one name drawn. This lovely pendant is silver, with a Freshwater Blue Pearl, that I wire wrapped to it, using very thing sterling silver wire. Just in time for Easter. You will need to supply a chain for it. Sign up to follow my blog, so you can not forget to drop on my Entrecard. If you do not have Entrecard, you have plenty of time to sign up, and get your site approved before the contest begins. Contest officially starts on Feb 1st at midnight, and will end on Feb 28th at midnight. Winner will be announced on March 1st. Only USA droppers are eligible to win. I will not ship internationally. Good luck, and dont forget to make your drops.