Happy New Year 2010!

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas! I must apologize for the lack of posts lately. With all the kids descending upon the household in the last couple of weeks, it has been rather hectic around here. Some days I am cooking for 5, some days it's 9. Of course getting some time on the computer has been a bit of a challenge as well. It has been wonderful having all the kids home for the holidays, and we have enjoyed playing games, chatting, watching some great movies, going for wintery walks in the snow and just hanging out enjoying each others company. Now we approach a new year, a new decade and of course new resolutions for a fresh start. I want to thank all my readers for visiting and actually reading my blog, and I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year for 2010!
Susan
(aka Hot Rocks!) Pin It

Walking in a winter wonderland....

Sleigh bells ring

Are you listenin'?

In the air, snow is glistenin'

A beautiful sight

We're happy tonight

Walking in a winter wonderland.


Today I took some pictures that around my area. It is very white and Christmasy outside right now, and is like walking in a winter wonderland!





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Clean slate

The last few days have been spent wrapping Christmas gifts and decorating the house for the holidays. Now that my Etsy shop is on vacation for a few weeks, I have finally had time to get around to cleaning up my creative space. It was quite a disaster after being busy with the Christmas craft shows, I had beads and supplies everywhere! My desk was cluttered with tools, wire, receipts, tags, etc. it was really a mess. I am normally quite an organized and tidy person, so you can imagine that this was literally driving me nuts. My studio, also doubles as a gift wrapping room, as well as having a hide-a bed couch, becoming another spare room for guests or family members when they come to stay. So being that we will have company over the holidays, and the fact that all the wrapping of presents is complete, I thought it was time to get it ship shape! So I put on some good tunes and got to work! After alot of effort, it was finally perfect. Here you can see my mannequins, Betty and Lucy taking some time off too! See my desk all organized...now I can be inspired to create once again! I now also have a nice clean slate and fresh start for my work in the New Year.

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I Believe in Father Christmas

This is my all time favourite Christmas song. Written by Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and recorded in 1974. It was apparantly written by Lake in protest to the commercialism that surrounded Christmas. Enjoy!
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You know its cold when..........

You know it's cold when you go outside and your nostril hairs stick together when you breathe!
You know its cold when you can feel your legs freezing right through your jeans!
You know it is cold when your hair and eyelashes turn frosty white in seconds!
You know it's cold when the snow squeaks as you walk on it!
You know it's cold when you have on your warmest down jacket done up to your face, a hat on, your hood on over your hat, your mitts on, and after 5 minutes outside you are still freezing cold!
Temperature today -31C or-24 F! Pin It

Oh, Christmas tree...oh, Christmas tree.........

We put our Christmas tree up on Sunday, and I am enjoying that lovely fresh pine scent, that fills the room , it is so Christmasy! This year we put our tree in the basement, since we have a walk out, it makes it easy to get the tree in and out of the house without dropping needles through the whole place. Also the boxes of decorations are also stored downstairs in the basement, which make sit easy to haul them out for tree decorating. For the past 25 years or so, whenever I have purchased a special ornament for the tree I have tried to buy something in either a white or silver color. Now I can change my color scheme for the tree easily by adding in some basic inexpensive ornaments in another color...this year it is blue! I purchased 2 large boxes of blue ornaments a month ago that were on sale at 50% off! As you can see, the white and silver always work in with any color, and I enjoy switching it up each year. Last year, our tree was on the main level of our house and it was red and gold with white and silver. One year it was completely just silver and white. I think next year I would like to do something funky like purple and lime green!



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"Hazy Shade of Winter"

This past weekend, I spent several hours taking photos of some new jewelry pieces, that I was getting ready to list on Etsy. It is quite a time consuming process, as I always take many, many pictures of the same item, trying different angles, close up shots, on the mannequin, off the mannequin, different props, different lighting and different backgrounds etc. It is only when I finally get the photos uploaded onto the computer screen, that I can actually see which ones are good enough for the store listing, and which are trash! Most are trash! Then I have to crop and re size the pictures before they are good to go. This simple little pendant was a bit of a challenge because it is a clear crystal, and you can see through it, plus it is quite basic, and it was difficult to get it from looking boring! I called it "Hazy Shade of Winter", a song written by Paul Simon, and recorded by Simon and Garfunkle in the 1960's, but I think maybe more popular and more memorable is the Bangles cover version from the '80s! Anyhow, I wanted to show you the different background shots that I took of this snowflake pendant so you can see the difference. Which ones are your favorite, and why?


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7.You can see which ones that I chose for the listing here!

Hazy Shade of Winter

Time, time, time

See what's become of me...

Time, time, time
See what's become of me
While I looked around
For my possibilities
I was so hard to please

Look around
Leaves are brown
And the sky
Is a Hazy Shade of Winter

Hear the Salvation Army Band
Down by the riverside
It's bound to be a better ride
Than what you've got planned
Carry a cup in your hand

Look around
Leaves are brown
And the sky
Is a Hazy Shade of Winter

Hang onto your hopes my friend
That's an easy thing to say
But if your hopes should pass away
Simply pretend
That you can build them again

Look around
Grass is high
Fields are ripe
It's the springtime of my life

Seasons change with their scenery
Weaving time in a tapestry
Won't you stop and remember me

Look around
Leaves are brown
And the sky
Is a Hazy Shade of Winter

Look around
Leaves are brown
There's a patch of snow on the ground
Look around
Leaves are brown
There's a patch of snow on the ground
Look around
Leaves are brown
There's a patch of snow on the ground

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A cold and frosty morning!

It is still dark outside this morning as I write this. I am enjoying my cup of coffee, while waiting for my son to finish getting ready for school before I walk him up to the bus stop, at the end of our neighbors driveway. We had a big winter storm pass through here on Friday, closing highways and playing havoc with drivers in the city and rural areas as well. The storm has since passed but it is now terribly cold outside, today is minus 27 C, or minus 17 F for my American friends. Even for us Canadians, that is cold! So today I will hunker down by my fireplace, with a good book, and relax without feeling guilty, enjoying my day...because today is my birthday! Pin It

Here is a brand new listing in my Etsy shop today!
Perfect for the holidays with that little black dress, and just as cute with jeans and a white t-shirt or pretty blouse. Suspended from sterling silver chains loosley woven together, is this beautiful sparkling deep red Swarovski crystal heart. Nothing dazzles in the light like genuine Swarovski crystal. The larger link chain has a hammered effect and is just one of the most gorgeous chains I have seen in a long while! Inspired by the Twilight movies, this is my version! Priced at $80.00 USD. A fabulous gift for girls and women of all ages. Shipping deadlines are fast approaching too! Europe and Australia have now passed the deadline for guaranteed shipping for Christmas.

Here are Canada and USA deadlines:

To the USA-Dec.14

To Canada-Regular Parcel post Dec.11 -Xpress post- Dec.22

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Rutilated Quartz

With the holiday season quickly approaching, what could be prettier and more festive than golden Rutilated quartz! Sure the name isn't so pretty, but this natural crystal is one of my favorites. Also known, as the hair of Venus, this crystal has tiny golden colored needles that are actually crystals, that have formed within a crystal...cool! Rutilated quartz is said to contain sunlight, which alleviates depression and is also believed to slow down the aging process! It is also said to have a calming effect on the wearer, promote good sleep, stimulate self healing and symbolize truth.

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Our Snow Village

Every year at Christmas time, we put out our "Snow Village". Snow village is a collection of little retro buildings and accessories that captures the nostalgia of towns, cities and country life from the 1950's era. The Dept.56 Snow Village collection, began in 1976, with 6 houses in the original collection and now has hundreds of buildings, in several village styles which have become highly collectable. Each year certain buildings are retired, no longer being made, and new houses and accessories are introduced. Some people go nuts with the collecting! I have tried to keep the collection under control, as one only has so much room to store these little houses when they are not on display! So yesterday, my son had the day off school.so I enlisted his help with setting up the village for the upcoming holiday season. It is a huge job, and every year, I wonder what the heck I am doing.....but after several hours of unpacking tiny houses and little people from their styrofoam packaging, and dealing with a mess of electrical cords, plugs and extension cords it all is worth it when you see the result. I love placing the people and animals into position...it's like having control over your own miniature world. Click on the pictures to get a better view of this little world!

I would love to be a visitor in this Snow Village! A magical, retro world of Christmas! Back in the good ol' days when times were simple...or so they say! I love them all but have my favorites, such as the Merry Christmas Trailer, Long Haul Truck Stop with actual spinning donut, and the little boys making their the skating rink
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