Giveaway by Proxy

I'd been thinking about doing a giveaway, but I've got so much going on in my life, most of it not of the good variety at the moment, that I just didn't have the time or the inclination. Luckily for me, my friend Kristina sent me an email telling me that she's doing a giveaway and asking if I wanted to participate. Since she has quite a fabulous blog following (as she's a very funny girl), and much larger than mine, it was a win-win. So head on over to Pulsipher Predilections for a chance to win not only these white jade carved rose bead earrings from yours truly:
but a slew of other prizes too, including more accessories (a purse and hair bows), cute baby stuff and home decor. She's got just about all the bases covered! Her giveaway goes through midnight, June 5.

The Blahs

I've lost my will to blog. I got nuthin'.

Except this:

I'm trying to get in to the Yale Street Art Market next month. Haven't heard back yet, but if it's a go, it'll be on Saturday, June 6, from 6 - 10 p.m. (it takes place in the evening during summer months, most likely to avoid the heat). I'll keep you posted.

In other crafty news, I just learned (from the Heights Life, a blog about local happenings) about a new place in the Heights called Sew Crafty. Imagine a place where you can go to learn sewing, knitting, crocheting and other various craftastic enterprises. I'd like to work on my crochet abilities (not having crocheted since about the 6th grade, they're pretty lame) and implement that into some jewelry-making. So you can take a class or you can just go to sew some random thing and the owner, Sarah Gabbart, is there to help you out.

If I had my life a little more organized and together, I'd talk to Sarah about teaching a class on beginning jewelry-making. I can't believe I used to like public speaking....

The delegate from Tunisia, making an opening statement on the first day of Model United Nations. I'm a freshman in high school.

High school graduation. I think I was the class treasurer and I'm announcing what our senior gift was.

Isn't it great to be young and indestructible and have no fear? Now I'm an old, timid chicken. I need to work on that.

Finally, my little artist in training has her artwork displayed in the front office of school this week. Not sure what the occasion is, maybe just because the end of school is nearing. Anyway, her artwork is one of many that are on display this week. Lots of proud parents, to be sure. Can't believe J didn't muster. His scribbles rival Picasso's.

Forgive the quality. I had to take it surreptitiously with my cell phone; I didn't want to be one of those parents.

She named it "Mad But Fancy" -- yep, she's a tortured artist in the making all right.

More Local Goings On

Sunshine is expected!

Saturday, May 9, from 12 - 5 p.m.

Letter Writing: A Dying Art

I don't know what took me so long, but I've only just gotten into using StumbleUpon to find websites of interest. Every time I hit the Stumble button, I get a little surprise in my browser. Fun! Anyway, while stumbling, I came across this website that gives you a template to print a design on a piece of paper, write your letter on the inside, fold it up and put a stamp on it and away it goes.

These are perfect for little ones who are just learning to write. They get all excited about putting something in the mail. E is into it.

I recommend using a slightly heavier weight paper than your basic copy paper. After my first few tries, I got out E's construction paper and that worked a little better.

Try it yourself. I heard the post office is hurting for money.

Free Snacks & Drinks -- What More Could You Want?

How about a sale, too?
I'll be there; come on by and say hello!

Do Me a Favor?

Go here and vote for my photo. It's one you've seen before so nothing new there.

I've been glued to my computer for the last week or so and it hasn't been to waste time on Facebook. No, I've been looking at design and fashion blogs and have bought some advertising on a couple of them. Can't say as it's paying off in the way of major sales, but they are a large source of some of my latest traffic. I've been surfing any and all things related to selling online. And that's how I ended up at Timothy Adams' Handmadeology site and his photo contest. If you're a seller, go on over there and enter. If you're not, go on over there and vote for me!

I've also been setting up Petals & Metals shop on Etsy (many thanks to Nannette for letting me use one of her photos in my banner!).
I haven't made any major decisions yet -- and please...only 7 responders to my survey in the upper lefthand corner? You can do better than that! -- but I am liking the concept of a name change more and more as days go by.

Your Opinion, Please

When I first started making and selling jewelry and I needed to call myself something, I went with the very original Ann Westby Designs. Once I decided to get a Resale License, open a business bank account, and otherwise become more legit, I wanted to do something else. Something with a little zing, a little verve. Not Ann Westby Designs to go with all the other Joe Schmoe Designs out there. Zzzzz. I was coming up blank, so I called my sister, K, who is the actual real creative one in our family, and she came up with ideas while I searched availability on Godaddy.com. Some contenders were Metamorphosis (not available), Chrysalis (not available) and other butterfly-type names (don't ask me why...I was transforming nature into beautiful adornment, I think). After about a billion false starts, she came up with Beadiful Things. Available!!! I snapped it up right away without a second thought. And it's a nice enough name, if a little...tepid. I'm not thrilled. It doesn't resonate with me. And one thing that annoys me no end is trying to tell other people what my business name is:

Person: What's the name of your website?
Me: Beadiful Things.
Person: Beautiful Things?
Me: No, Beadiful Things.
Person: Beautiful...?
Me: BEADiful.
Person: Beadiful?
Me: Just forget it.

That's effective!

So I am thinking of making a change. To Petals & Metals (since I have a tendency to incorporate flowers into a lot of my designs). Your thoughts?

P.S. Don't forget to vote in my survey (top left)!