Fall, Giveaways, Winnings, and a Treasury!

      It's Fall Yall!!! :-) You might not have known that except for the amazing color of the trees around Holyoke yesterday though! After the rain took off, the temperature went up to around 70 degrees!! (Fahrenheit) It's suppose to be beautiful today too...right before more rain comes in for Wednesday! But unfortunately I don't think I'm going to enjoy it today.
    I hardly got any sleep last night. My C-Pap machine, the machine with the mask that I put on to sleep, wasn't working correctly. For some reason the pressure inside the mask kept dropping every time I put it on. So, I was up and down all night! And this morning...I have a terrible headache. UGH! Machines!!! Hubby is going to take the whole machine over to have the pressure checked in it today, so hopefully I'll get some sleep tonight. What do I need with sleep anyway?!....Said by the "Nap Queen" of Massachusetts!! LOL
    Okay, a couple of "house-keeping" things to tell you...As a reminder, the drawing in the Giveaway for the green and white afghan...

    ...will be on Monday, November 1st!! You can find out information about the Giveaway and the Afghan HERE! I've been putting your names in the box every day you made a comment! I'm excited to find out which one of you will be babysitting this "baby" in a little while! :-)
   And just so you know, I'm not the only one having a Giveaway! Nicole, over at the blog--> Nicole's Homemade Treats is also having a Giveaway. A really GOOD one too! This is what she says: "...CSN stores has graciously donated a $45.00 gift card for one lucky winner, in the USA and Canada, to use as they wish in any of their stores. CSN stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from cookware to fitness equipment to nesting tables. Check out CSN here."
    And then she invites us to look at her favorite,available in the CSN cookware store:

      It's the  Rachael Ray Bubble and Brown 4.25 Qt. Oval Covered Casserole in Green
I love this casserole dish!! I'm already thinking about ways I can use it!! LOL So if you want it, instead of letting me get it...and I won't be mad at ya if you do!!...you better head on over to Nicole's blog and see how you can enter! I know that for one entry all you have to do is visit her Etsy shop here and tell her your favorite treat & why you love it!...That was kind of hard for me. She's got so many delicious treats to choose from!!...But I did it! ;-) There's all kinds of ways to get more entries too! The Giveaway ends Friday 10/29/10 at 12:00 midnight EST. So, you better get on it NOW!!
    I've been doing pretty good in Giveaways lately! Remember the necklace I won last week?! Well, guess what? I just won another one too! On SnowFlakeDreams1's Blog I won a year's subscription to Country Living magazine...

    ...Oh! The recipes I'm going to have!!! :-) ... AND, as if that wasn't enough, I also won a choice of any item from her shop! YAY! I can get my hand on this!--↓

     I love her acetate tags!!....I love sharing all of my goodies with you guys too! I hope you don't mind me spouting off about it! It may sound kinda corny, but I enjoy talking about good things...Yours and Mine!!! :-)
    Okay, one more good thing and then I'll shut up...after the poem, of course! ^_^  My little Up-Cycled Doo-dad Dangle Crochet Brooch was added to RustlsVogue's Treasury entitled Recycled into Flowers and Brooches!

    You can follow the link to check out all of the creativity of the etsy shop owners! That saying about 'a mind being a terrible thing to waste' doesn't have to worry about etsians. They aren't wasting a bit of theirs!!
   Okay, a poem, and then I'm off to nurse my headache. I won't be able to go to sleep...which is REALLY what I want to do! Got no machine!! UGH!!

Logging All My Blogging

What will I talk about?
My camera's ready all the time!
Seems that everything's a subject,
whether ridiculous or sublime.

I upload all my pictures;
Head my post with one I like.
Put the title in the spot
that makes my story come to life.

Then I start the easy part,
talking til my face turns blue!
A little humorous bit of 'ME'!
(Is this what other bloggers do?)

After all my work is done,
and all my photos fit right in,
Then I hit to "Publish Post",
Well, first a "Preview", and a grin.

All that's left is constant checking.
Does anybody even care
that I'm nervous what they think,
and that my heart's all just 'Out There'?!

In the end, I have to like it!
Because it's done, won't hit "Undo"!
It's all fun and being me!
I leave the comments now to "YOU"!

Fall and Wuglyees Is Popping Out All Over!!

    As you can see from this shot hubby took right before the rain hit us...AGAIN...the other day, Fall is popping out all over here in Massachusetts!! The strikingly colorful trees up against that ominous sky just looked beautiful! I'll show you a few more shots of my backyard and around town in a minute, but first I want to show you some beautiful Fall colors that popped out on Etsy.
   Patti, of pattichic on Etsy, included my new Pumpkin Orange and Brown Brazilian Citrine Crochet Necklace...

    ...in her new Treasury, entitled I Think I've Fallen For You.

     As soon as I saw it it made me smile! All that beautiful Orange and brown Fall happiness!! :-) If you follow the link you can check out each of the items yourself! I have my favorites in there. No surprise...the photography immediately caught my eye!...Thanks a lot Patti, for including me!!
   Now, as for my backyard, I have a lot of the kind of greenery in my backyard that doesn't change color that much in the Fall.

     But even in my backyard, and a little ways back, in the woods, you can see the little pops of color!

 
And I don't know what this is,...or what it's trying to do!! ^_^ Hubby says it looks like cotton puffs on top of the stems! But the stem also has those little dried pea pod looking things on them too. The ones that look like little helicopter blades floating by when the wind blows them.

     So, as you can see, not much color in the backyard. But in the neighborhood, a stone's throw away.....

     Even the cemetery is beautiful at this time of year!

    And you already know that the sky is!

     I know it's not gonna last. It never does. In fact, I'm surprised that the trees have held their leaves this long!! The wind hasn't been that friendly. So, I'm going to enjoy it as long as I can....and tolerate the chill that's floating in...and the rain! I can always go somewhere warm in my mind...or on some of your blogs! ;-)
    For instance, Look where I was just yesterday-->

      What. No Mints? took me on their Florida trip!! They didn't even know I was in the suitcase! ^_^ If you want to get a peek at their vacation too, go on over and check out their blog. They have lots of pretty pictures of the vacation. I'm trying to figure out how to become a follower myself.....*New-fangled computer!!!* :-]
http://whatnomints.wordpress.com/
     Okay, I'm done talking for today. But I just have to show you one more picture! Look what my one of my favorite-est customers is wearing!!

    It's the Pistachio and Moss Winter Scarf I was working on recently!!! Doesn't she look beautiful?!...And my "baby" around her neck doesn't look bad either!!! ^_^ And to her I say: "Thank you so much for letting me share!!!" :-)
     Now, poem! It's one you've seen before if you've been reading my blog. But it's very appropriate today!

Fall Is The Tree

Fall is the tree,
with its colors all set free
in the orange and red you see,
and the golden leaves in the
honey-colored harmony
of a busy bumble bee.

Its so beautiful that we
don't even have to pay a fee
for the stark tranquility
that just fills our heart with glee.

Fall is the tree,
and it makes us hit our knee,
and thank God so humbly
for the unlocked door and key
to our visual memory.
All the other seasons flee,
but the fall is the tree.

Boo To The Rescue Too!!

      I thought that this Hammered antiqued copper heart pendant with rainbow fluorite dangle would be the perfect thing to show you to describe my feelings for the maker of this beautiful necklace! The maker is Boo, of boojewels on Etsy.
     In yesterday's post I mentioned that while Shannon of gifteddesigns did everything she could...and then some...to help me fix my 'picture situation' on Etsy day before yesterday, I actually didn't get the revelation of how to initially fix my pictures from her. The help actually came from Boo! I went to the forum on Etsy and found a chat thread that was talking about the new format layout and expressed my frustration about not knowing how to fix them.
         Then Boo left me this message:
"....I don't have a current version of Picassa to give you accurate detailed instructions (so the details may vary from what I've described), but in my very old version, if you go to crop and select 'manual' it allows me to drag the mouse over the image and choose the area I want to crop from the original. You can move that selected area around to your satisfaction and tweak the shape by dragging the sides of the square with the mouse, then 'apply'. Then if you go to 'Export' the photo, it asks you what size you want it - the original or Resize, so choose Resize and you can select your final size, say 800 pixels, there and save it ready for upload."
      I was like a baby with some candy then!!! I went to Picassa and did exactly what she said....Funny, but while I upload pictures with Picassa all the time, and hit 'Upload', I had never even SEEN the section where it asks you if you want to 'resize' or whatever!!! DUH! I would go through this whole process, hit 'Upload' and then....TOTALLY ignore the sizing thing so that I can MAKE SURE the date on my pictures was correct!!!
    I mean when I focus, I FOCUS baby!! LOL So, anyway, I want to thank Boo from the bottom of my heart for that invaluable information! If there are any of you that never knew this either...I KNOW!...I hope this makes your life as easy as it has made mine!!...I've got a LOT of pictures to fix....gradually....but I've already been at it, a few at a time. Easy, Peasy!!!
    But now I want to show you her shop so you can really get to know why I took her photo advice so seriously! Her shop announcement says that 'she carefully hand crafts her jewellery in Sterling silver and copper, also using semi-precious, crystal and decorative beads. She's in the UK, but loves shipping globally, wrapping for all orders and UK postage being included in her prices, with a modest postage supplement for overseas buyers.'...I'd send WHEREVER to get these! ↓

     They're Honey opal briolette earrings on gunmetal oxidised copper loops...and they're gorgeous!! And if you want to see some gorgeous photos of a product, click on the link and look at the other 4 photos too!!...Oh! One day,...one day, my photos are gonna look like that...all grown up! :-)
      And as if we needed more assurance, she also says in her announcement that 'all her jewellery items are hand made by her - in a smoke and pet free home. And that if you don't see exactly what you want, or would like a slight modification, please feel free to ask.'...I think that's great! But, no worries, I don't think anybody would ask for a modification on this Antiqued copper ring and fossil coral bracelet!

     If you click over there and look at the other photos of the stones, up close, you'll see that it looks like it has little flowers on the stones! And you know how much I love a flower!!! :-)
    So, now you can see why I'm sporting a much calmer, non-ranting spirit on this lovely Sunday morning. Thank you Boo!!!...After my meeting this afternoon I'll be spiritually fed, smiling from ear to ear, and ready to continue the work on my crochet set I've been working on. I showed you the mitten yesterday...

    ...and I asked for your thoughts on whether to add buttons or a flower. Thank you, because I did get a couple of good suggestions, but...I had already finished the mittens by then! ^_^ See if you like what I added. ↓

    I put a green dragonfly button on the cuff of the left hand one!

    With my "Creator's Brain" I decided to put the dragonfly on just one mitten. The left hand one, so that when you go to wear them you don't have to do that thing that people do...putting both gloves on before they figure out whether it's the left hand one or the right! With the dragonfly...you know which one is the left! :-)
    And what did I do with the other matching dragonfly?!

     I put it on a brooch flower that can be worn with the scarf I'm making to complete the set!.... ↓

    I know....it's a lot of blue! But I'm hoping someone will like it, if not LOVE it!...Would you sell the whole thing as a set, or do you think that's too 'matchy, matchy'?! Maybe I should just sell each piece individually. I'd love to know what you think.
    Okay, Tomorrow I'll show you the Fall foliage pictures that hubby took around our neighborhood. I think we're at peak now...or close to it!! It's like a picture post card around here now!
     And while I finish my lovely breakfast hubby just made me, sauteed cube steak, grits, and home fries, {are you drooling yet?! I AM!!! LOL}...I'll leave you a poem. A poem that any parents with teenagers will totally understand! ...Have a great Sunday everyone!!

Its Not What It Seems

Embrace their quirks
(they just seem like jerks!)
Forgive their thoughtlessness,
and their rooms-always a mess!

"Why did they say that?!"
"Do I really look fat?!"
They didn't  mean to let that come out.
And there's no reason for them to pout!

So-they act a little silly;
Did you expect something else-Really?!
Just remember where their heart is,
though their words, like bullets, whiz!

Embrace their quirks.
Look, not at words, but at their works.
Look past the mire, and the muck;
Oh Yeah-and don't  forget to duck!

Gifted Designer To The Rescue!!

    I owe a lot of people my thanks today, for coming to my rescue yesterday when I was rashly considering closing my Etsy shop for good. I was taken off guard by the new photo format on Etsy, and I wasn't handling it very well. I just couldn't see myself going through another round with the photos!!!...Yeah! You've heard it here before! :-] But I'm here today to report that Wuglyees remains in business, I am now in a much better and...calmer mood, and that you guys are GREAT!!
    By your comments you make me think, you make me smile, and you had me howling with laughter....at things in general, and at myself! THANK YOU!...And special thanks is going out to Shannon of gifteddesigns on Etsy. Her shop announcement says that she has 'necklaces, earrings and bracelets to enhance your gorgeously chic, timelessly elegant or classically cool nature'! Boy is she right! I'll show you a couple of her other pieces, besides the Repurposed Vintage Antique Brass Pendant with the Czech Glass Beads in my header picture, in a minute.
   But first I want to tell you what a great PERSON she is! She saw my rants somewhere, either here on my blog or on Twitter or Facebook yesterday, and convoed me on Etsy and said: "...I may be able to help you understand what you need to do to fix them..." That started a back and forth that went on for almost 6 hours yesterday, ending with her emailing me a tutorial of exactly how to fix the problem, using the specific camera I own!!
    I just want to say to her that I know how much energy it takes to invest that kind of time in a stranger...well, a kind of stranger. And I am extremely thankful and reassured to know that there are still good people like her out there!! :-) ...With full disclosure I have to say that I actually didn't get the revelation of how to initially fix my pictures from her though!...I'll tell you about that tomorrow. But in the long run, after I fully check out the tutorial she arranged for me, I'm going to be much more knowledgeable, and much more comfortable with my picture taking!!! That makes my encounter with her lovely self Priceless to me!!
   So, you know she's a great person, but what about her as an Etsy shop owner?! Take a look for yourself at her shop HERE!...I'm specifically partial to a few pieces. One is this Rainbow Moonstone and Sterling Silver Necklace with an Asymmetrical Toggle!

     I have an affinity for things that are a bit off center and not like everybody else's! That's probably also why I love these Baltic Amber, Mexican Turquoise and Copper Dangle Earrings!

    They're gorgeous...and unique!!!
    So please, go by and give her shop the 'once over'....Awwww! Give it the twice over if you want to! ^_^ And again I say sincerely Shannon...Thank You!!!!
    Okay, before I go I have to show you what I've been crocheting in between the photo stuff to keep my brain slightly calmer. Remember this yarn?!

     Well, I haven't known what to do with it besides making a scarf. Which I'm planning to do in the next couple of days. But I started with these...to match the scarf. ↓

     Mittens!!!...I'm debating about whether to add some buttons or a flower for embellishment. Any thoughts?!!
    Two more quick things. AWM team member. ↓

    Her Etsy shop is Weyakin. She has a variety of items, including this Sleepy Sheep...Flannel Cotton Herbal Heat Pack Eye Pillow!

    Now that's something you don't see every day on Etsy! I probably could have used this too to rest a bit yesterday!!! :-) ...Please take a look at the other cute items she has in her shop!
    Tired of me yet?! Then a poem about being tired might be in order! ^_^

Tired


Sapped, low,
weary, slow.

Dragging about,
plum tuckered out.

Fatigued, spent,
No power surge sent.

Depleted, drained,
almost empty-brained.

Pooped, sucked dry,
out of gas, can't try.

Exhausted, fried,
 done in, mopey-eyed.

Tired? There's no doubt!
'Cause I'm all petered out.

It's A Gray Etsy Day!

    If you're wondering what this is, it's ME! Well, one part of me, my gray hair. It's kind of in a rat's nest right now, but it's early and I haven't combed it. Also, I took it myself...blindly, with my arms over my head. I did it as a joke because I was wondering how gray I was getting. Yikes!!! ^_^
    Whatever! I earned every one of those curled up gray swirls too. And Etsy is going to make me grow some more, I'm sure! UGH!!!! I went over to the site this morning and all of my photos are all off-sized!! Apparently they "IMPROVED" the photo upload section on the site and now your items are SUPPOSE to show up larger and more professional looking. Mine now look worse than ever!!!
   Just to show you what I mean, look at the new photo of my Pistachio Razzle Dazzle hat that I just uploaded to my shop--> HERE. See how much smaller it is in the space now?!!
   But look at how gorgeous Cindy's earrings look--> HERE! They're so pretty!! Well so is the rest of her shop, CinLynnBoutique. ...Honestly, I just feel like crying this morning. As if my photos weren't bad enough!!!
   I went to the Etsy Forum to chat with some other shop owners about the new change. There's lots of complaining going on, but mostly about why this change is taking place and not some of the others they've been complaining about for so long. Not very many are complaining about the look of their photos.......from the forum thread I was reading anyway. I asked what dimensions I was suppose to be using now and they gave me some gobbledygook about 800 to 1000 pixels, as if I know a pixel from a hole in the wall!!!! Grrrrr! I asked if they could tell me in simpler, lame-O terms. UGH! Bottom line.......I'm taking my pictures at the wrong size. I need to re-take the photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;'_'; I'm not kidding, I am so frustrated right now!! I may end up closing up my shop.
   I just don't think I can go through re-taking 250...almost...pictures, which I can't stand fiddling with in the FIRST place!!! I just barely had them looking at least decent, and here comes Etsy and burst my little delusional bubble!.....Yep! I can feel another gray hair growing right here...↓

      Oh Well, at least I know what day it is!!! LOL And that's going to get a lot easier pretty soon. Mariann Rea of LittleFoxPhotos has a beautiful NEW Calendar coming out for 2011!!! ....{Okay, so that wasn't the smoothest segway I could have done!!  But anyway...^_^}

        ...Isn't it beautiful!!! I love that she has the info about the little Swan right on the front of the Calendar. And guess what?! You can start pre-ordering your Calendar right now if you'd like. She's offering a bargain on them that will go up later.You can follow and chat with her on Facebook, on her blog, or on Twitter about it now. Or you can just keep an eye on her Etsy shop to see when it's actually here!
    Okay, So it's suppose to rain again today and tomorrow here. With the way I woke up feeling this morning, either I need to go back to bed and grow some more gray hairs, or develop the attitude of this little ant, from the Etsy shop becmudd... 

      ....Just don't let it get me down, turn on some music and start Dancing In The Rain!!!
{The poem today is from my archives! I realized that I hadn't shared it on this blog yet...and frankly, there will never be a GOOD time to share it. But since I'm not in a very good mood today....THANK YOU ETSY!!!...why should my poem be in a good mood!!! So, today it is!! ^_^ But I don't really remember why I wrote it in the first place!  :-)}

Insidious

When the people that you love
leave you-just like Noah's  dove;
When the ones you care about
expect your trust-But cater doubt-
you don't  give out!
When the ones you take care of
don't  reciprocate the love;
When you cry-they hear the sound,
but want to push you further down-
you stand your ground!
"I love you" is what they claim.
Taking advantage is their aim;
They may claim to be your friend,
but they want something in the end-
you don't  give in!
You just give them a little nod,
and put your total trust in God.
Even if they go too far
you don't  let them change who you are-
or leave a scar!