My Funky Little Houses Hit the Big Time!

A few months ago, I was contacted by Interweave to do a "how to" for Handcrafted Jewelry magazine.  I was thrilled to do it!  Little did I know, they would put my humble little houses on the cover!!!  I'm shocked, thrilled and totally freaked out!  My hands were shaking and I couldn't think straight for at least two hours!  I'm so grateful for the exposure, for the cover...and that something I made is considered good enough to show the masses.  It's humbling and fun!

Too many dictionaries!

I've become a collector of vintage dictionaries.  Not because I particularly love dictionaries, but I do love making these pendants out of old glass watch crystals...which requires fabulous dictionary illustrations.  So I pick them up at yard sales, thrift stores, antiques shops...and its very hard to throw them away.  What if I discover another word that inspires me and I want to extract it from every dictionary I have?  If I throw them away, I won't have them.  What if I overlooked a fabulous illustration?  What if I find a use for the incredible aged pages that were rejected for this project?  And the arguments go on as the books pile up!  Did I mention that some dictionaries are very big?  They are.  They take up lots of space.  Have  you seen the humungous ones that are literally 10 inches thick?  I have a couple of them.  They're actually pretty cheap to buy...because people can't find anyplace to PUT them...trust me on this!  I don't really know what to do.  Yes, I know, I could bite the bullet and chuck 'em....but what if....?
See my dilemma?
:o)

Featured!!

One of my funky little house charms has been featured on Jenny Doh's blog!  You can see it here!
Thanks Jenny!

Aaaaaaah...

She stepped outside..., originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

Getting ready for a much needed break...
Two of my three kids are home...my boy is at Airborne school...jumping out of perfectly good airplanes.
We're all going to be together soon and I'll be taking a week off for fun.
SO....I will be offering a vacation discount in my shop starting Friday, August 12th...until Monday, August 23rd...mind you, I'll be completely ignoring my shop during that time so you'll have to be patient for your order!
To get a 15% discount on your entire order, use coupon code: funinthesun
at checkout.
Don't you just love discounts?

Friends...

A good friend is hard to find.  My best friend came to visit from California last month.  It was SO FUN to get to spend time with her...laugh...talk...laugh...giggle...laugh...we laugh a lot!   We have history...we've known each other for 35 years.  We love each other's kids...know each others secrets...bear each others burdens...help each other see clearly when things get foggy...
I cherish our friendship...guard it...treasure it in my heart and I get greedy when she's here....because time with her is precious...
We forgot to take a photo of us...so this one will have to do.  (Truth be told, we didn't shut up long enough to pose) These gals look like they're reading each others minds...remembering the time they...(fill in the blank).  They look like they're about to bust up laughing because one of them said "click...click...click..." and the other is about to snort with utter glee!!  (It's a long story...)

10 Pounds Lighter!

Us, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

A little update...I finally hit 10 pounds lost in spite of a little vacation, family dinners, celebrations and chocolate. Back on the wagon!
I'm going to add more exercise to my routine this week...gotta get moving! Up to this point, exercise has been minimal.
There is 8 weeks left until our cruise...and the absolute certainty that I will be wearing a swim suit...in public...
Wish me luck!

WeightWatchers update!

I'm down 8 pounds...and counting.
A few things I've discovered:
I can live without cookies.
Raw veggies are VERY good dipped in hummus.
Watermelon fills you up.
Sugar is overrated.
You don't have to be a "points nazi" to stay on program.  I'm guesstimating and it's working fine.
A few bonuses I've experienced:
I sleep better when not hopped up on sugar all day.
I don't beat myself up for having that second through fifth cookie ...or piece of chocolate...or cake, etc.  every day...because I'm not having any!
It is MUCH easier as time goes by to tell myself no...and I don't dwell on it.  It's becoming a lifestyle.
My pants are looser...but I'm not quite ready to go down a size...