Thursday - My Etsy Finds – 5 Hot Picks!

Happy Thursday everyone!

From now on, every Thursday, I will share 5 hot picks from my favorite shops on Etsy… and without further delay, here’s tonight’s “hot 5” – posted on my new blog!

Enjoy :)

Wordless Wednesday – My Etsy Art Treasury

Every Wednesday from now on, I will be featuring Etsy Photographers and Artists on my new blog in my own little private treasury (sorry, but I’m transitioning over from Blogspot to Typepad – I have too many problems with formatting posts here and comments notifications, etc).

I’m a visual person, and I love photography and fine arts. There are so many super talented artists on Etsy, we have to give them as much exposure as possible... A picture is truly worth at least a thousand words. Visit today’s private treasury on my new blog, and start following me over there… thanks!!!

Tuesday Video Break – Empire of the Sun “Walking on a Dream”

Hi everybody!

I’ve decided to do a weekly video/song/music feature to share either some old favourites of mine or new songs that I come across and really enjoy.

So, every Tuesday, make sure to stop by and take a little “video break” with me – Music is a big part of what inspires me when working on my jewellery creations and heck, it just feels great to relax and listen to a good tune, don’t you think?

Without further delay, I’m sharing today a video that my wonderful friend Cindy (she makes awesome jewellery – check out her shop!) shared with me tonight and it’s a really nice song. It’s from an Australian Duo called “Empire of the Sun” and I had never heard of them before today. I’m really glad you told me about it Cindy! Thanks my dear :)

You can view the video on my new Canadian Rockies Art Typepad Blog (blogger just gives me too many problems, so I will be mainly posting on Typepad from now on, you can follow me there!)

Cheers!

Happy Mother's Day Eseta!

First I want to wish all the Moms that I know a very happy fun-filled Mother's Day!

We've started a new tradition this year at our house since I discovered Kiva and today is part of this new tradition.

Instead of my husband buying me a bunch of flowers that will fade away within a week, and with my many food allergies, I stay away from restaurants as much as possible now, we donate $25 to help someone on Kiva.

Flowers (& restaurant dinners) are great, don't get me wrong - but I prefer perennials that I can plant outside in my garden and enjoy all summer long, year after year - and so I get a nice plant (much cheaper than a bouquet of cut flowers)... and we invest the rest of the money to help someone else instead.

So, today, I would like to wish Eseta in the South Pacific a very happy Mother's day... with love, from our family to hers, with the help of a $25 donation towards her agriculture business fund.

Eseta is 28, married and a mother of 2 children. At this point, she still needs some money to fully fund her loan - She grows produce that she sells a few days a week to locals and visitors, so feel free to pitch in too if you can!

You can also purchase Kiva Gift Certificates so that the person you give the certificates to can choose which person they want to help. It's a wonderful gift idea!

Happy Mother's Day everybody!

May's Animal Rescue Donations will be going to...

Time just flies, flies, flies...

I can't believe we're already into May with Mother's Day coming up this weekend... my gosh!

I apologize for being late again to post the May Animal Rescue Group that I have selected for my monthly animal rescue support/donations. This month, 5% of May's sales (plus the 5% match by my family) will be donated to Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Foundation in Red Deer, Alberta.

During the past six years, Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Foundation has made a considerable difference in the quality of life for many animals on the reserve. They have placed over 800 unwanted puppies and dogs in loving homes. These are canines that would have been done away with, not always humanely, or died from disease, hunger or exposure. They have provided tons of food and some vaccination clinics to help stop the spread of distemper and parvovirus, provided medical care, etc.

My family matches "dollar-for-dollar" all the money raised from my jewelry sales, so that we can give 10% each month to my rescue group of choice.

Thank YOU for helping me help others!