THIS BLOGGING LIFE...

I received a blog award yesterday which got me to thinking about this blogging life. Before I started a blog, I didn't even know what one was. I might have stumbled upon a few in my net surfing while researching different topics, but never thought much about how much a person's heart and soul is poured into it. Blogging is its own little world, a social network of people who link their lives through their daily writings that I had no idea existed. I think that's why we bloggers treasure your comments so much. We like to know that we are providing interesting, relevant content and most of all to be acknowledged that someone is actually reading it!

When I started selling my jewelry online, I kept hearing, "You need to start a blog to drive people to your shop and so they can get to know the artist behind the product". Well, since then I believe it has become more than that to me. I've met some wonderful people, some of them who faithfully read my blog and leave comments. I look forward to their posts and seeing what is going on in their lives. When I started, I vowed to never post pictures of my child, my husband or myself, and I haven't done much of it yet, but I may dare to venture into that territory just because all of the people I've met so far are so sincere.

Now, for the "Love ya "award. GinabeeCreations and Musings gave this to me saying that my blog is interesting to read, thanks Ginabee!

Now I'll pass it on to two fellow bloggers who have blogs that are a great read and always leave me with a smile on my face:

1. Sharla of Beaded Tail

2. Beki of Pampering Beki

One more thing...A Photo Meme:

A while back I was tagged with a photo meme by Beaded Tail and Sally's Cards. I was to go to the sixth picture folder and find the six picture. This is what I found and actually blogged about it before, but it's worth posting again. When I lived in Kansas City for a year and half, the weather really intrigued me and I frequently shot pictures of the sky. This was a day in June around 5 pm when all of a sudden a beautiful sunny day turned into a very nasty rain storm. You can read about it if you click here. This is one is a series of photos I took of the deteriorating weather.

Here's to happy blogging, whether you're a reader or a writer!

YIKES, I've been tagged!

Now what to do?
First I'll give thanks go to a gal I've just met through the world of blogging named Magriet Moss. She has her own website named Babushka Jewellery Design. Yes, I did spell "jewellery" right. That is for the UK! She lives in Kent and designs beautiful handcrafted pieces from her own home based workshop. She has left me some wonderful encouraging comments on my blog which I so appreciate! You will find her blog by clicking here and her website by clicking here.

Okay... now the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write six random things about yourself
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person know they've been tagged

Here we go with the six random things (oh, where do I start?):

1. Both of my parents are British and I grew up in Canada. Sometimes I feel more British than Canadian. Now that I'm living in the US, I really miss the great biscuits like Peek Freans (I mean cookies for Americans) and the wonderful candies you can get in Canada like Licorice Allsorts and Maynard winegums. For my birthday and at Christmas, my family usually gives me a "care package" filled with all of these rare "delicacies" which I really appreciate.

2. I love Math! I know it's really strange but I just love numbers. I am able to do calculations in my head and I seem to remember number related things very easily. I'm not sure how useful this is except my son thinks I'm really smart when I help him with his Math homework and he's a pre-teen!

3. I don't like to cook. There are so many other better things to do, don't you think? I do enjoy cooking special dinners for entertaining guests and trying out new recipes but the everyday kind of cooking is mundane and I'd rather be creating something else.

4. I always have to have a project going. Whether it's knitting, sewing, home decorating, digital scrapbooking or keeping up with jewelry designs for my shop, if I'm not creating something I feel like there is something wrong with me.

5. I definitely got my creative gene from my Mom. She sewed all of my clothes for me and my sisters while growing up. I think she must have bought yards of the same fabric because she would dress us in all the same outfit but just in different sizes. Since I was the smallest I could wear the same outfit for years! Seriously though, I don't remember getting a lot of hand me downs! I would sit and watch her sew until I could start making things myself.

6. I've had my jewelry shop online for almost 9 months now and I still get so excited when I get a sale! I get such a thrill when someone buys one of my designs because it is something that I just love to do. I've heard it described as a "transfer" of delight". I delight in each piece of jewelry I make and my hope is that each person who receives their purchase shares the same delight in wearing it.

Well, there you have it! Thanks Magriet, I was wondering what to blog about today...

Here are the six blogs I will tag:

1. Shi of Shi Jewels
2. Sharla Of Beaded Tail
3. Rozanne of Scrap Girls
4. Kim of ForeverWherever
5. Julie of Oak Leaf Hollow Primitives
6. Jennifer of Deckled Edge Bindery

This is a great way to get to know one another!

Random Thoughts, Knitting and a New Lightbox

As of Christmas morning, I am a proud new owner of a lightbox and 2 studio lights, compliments of my darling husband. Since this is the last day of 2008, I was thinking that this time last year I had no idea what a lightbox was! I have learned a lot about taking good pictures of very small objects since I started selling my jewelry online. The important things you need are a good camera with macro zoom (already had that, also compliments of my husband), good lighting and a lightbox which eliminates nasty shadows and glare.

Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, where there isn't a lot of sunshine, I have taken my photography outdoors and have had great results. The cloudy days here are perfect for giving just enough light without a lot of glare, and editing is kept to a minimum. However, we do get a lot of rain here and I really would like to take pictures anytime of the day and not have to wait for the rain to stop! A couple of weeks ago, I was even outside taking pictures in the snow during our bout with cold weather in temperatures of 20 degrees F. Brrrr....

Here's a few pictures I thought I'd share of my first experiments with it. Granted I shouldn't be taking pictures in a red dining room (I've since moved it)! Here's some beautiful yarn, I bought at our local yarn shop, and a sweater I'm knitting. Oh, how I love knitting but haven't found the time since I really should be making more jewelry. Look at this gorgeous sweater, from Nora Gaughan Collection Vol. 3 in Berocco yarn. I bought the pattern book last August and now I finally got around to getting the yarn. But I digress!

The last photo shows a comparison of two necklaces, the left is a photo I took outside (in the cold) and on the right, a picture I took last night in the lightbox with the lights. I think I'm pretty satisfied, but I'll try taking some more in the daylight where I'll have just a little more natural light to add.

I also wanted to say, thanks for reading my blog this year. My goal is to post more often next year. It has been fulfilling, challenging and discouraging all at the same time to try to think up things that people will actually want to read. Your comments make it all worthwhile and I'm excited when I discover that a new one is added. I am so flattered by all of you who are following and that have signed up for email updates, thank you.

So with that I think I'll go back to my knitting and wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. Take care everyone!

Debora