Friday Favorite: Regina of Vivatregina

Today I would like to introduce you to a wonderful crafter and fellow CAC (Christian Artists and Craftsmen) teammate, Regina, and her beautiful shop Vivatregina. Here is her story, told in her words.
My name is Regina and I'm married to a wonderful man named Joey who is a Youth Minister. We live a very busy, but wonderful life. We got married after only knowing each other for 3 months but we've been married for 3 1/2 years now and I liken our marriage to wine--It gets better with age.
 
  Right now Joey and I have no children. We have 1 golden retriever, and 1 1/2 cats. I say that, not because we have half a cat but because she's only around half the time. She comes in, eats, drinks, sometimes sleeps, and then she's gone again. Those are our children for now BUT, we have started the paperwork for adoption and we're just hoping that goes quickly and smoothly. :)

 We live in Levelland, TX. It's pretty much the perfect town for me and I absolutely LOVE it! The only thing I would change is for Levelland to be closer to Oklahoma and my family. I work from home for an online high school. I was EXTREMELY blessed to get this job when I did and I am EXTREMEMLY blessed to have it now.

I like to stay busy. I'm not a person who just sits in the evening and watches TV. I like to be doing something. SOOO... If I am watching TV (which I usually watch crime shows or reality TV) I'll work on jewelry or something. Joey tells me I have more hobbies than Hobby Lobby, because besides making jewelry I like to sew, scrapbook, take pictures, read, write, draw, paint, knit, shop, play games, watch sports, play sports, cook, bake, garden, talk and drink coffee with friends, help people plan weddings, and follow our Youth Group around going to their activities. :) Like I said, I like to stay busy so I'm ALWAYS doing something. :)

I've only been making jewelry for about a year now. I celebrated my Etsy-versary in June! :D For inspiration I like looking at jewelry online or in magazines and adding my own style or design to something. I also make jewelry for specific outfits and occassions. Also buying new beads or finding new beads or bead stores inspires me to create! Right now my favorite item isn't in my shop. haha. I made a necklace yesterday and I'm so in love with it I don't think I can sell it. That's the hardest part about creating something to sell on Etsy--Sometimes you fall so in love with an item that you can't bear to part with it.

Come visit Vivatregina on etsy and take a look at all the beautiful items she has to offer (the ones she was willing to part with, LOL).

Party Time!

Come join this week's party. Rory the tool guy is doing it again. It's another "Times are Tough Thursday" party for sellers of handcrafted items. If you're a seller, you can post links to as many as 3 of your items. If you're a shopper, you've come to the right place. There is a huge variety of things from a fantastic array of wonderful shops to tempt you! Don't miss out, come join the fun going on from now through Sunday.
http://toolsareforwomentoo.blogspot.com/2010/07/link-party-time-times-are-tough.html

Wednesday Wanderings: My Little World

Today I thought I'd give you  a glimpse into my little world of crafting. I have a wonderful craft room at our house where we go on the weekends, but during the week we live in our small one room apartment near my husband's job. Even here, though,  I have been able to set up my "creative niche" that seems to work well for me. Here is an overall view of my craft area (formerly the dining area):

My computer armoire and it's left side door that I turned into my message center:

Some "tools of the trade"...my mini apartment sized ironing board and my terrific Cricut cutting machine:

 

and lastly, my "work area" table, with a tshirt work-in-progress (you can see my oil paintstiks on the right in the last picture): 

And there it is, my little world of crafting in a nutshell!

Monday Memories: Giraffe Kissing 101

Okay, so it's not Monday. I meant to do this yesterday...does that count? My walk down memory lane today takes us to Africa...well actually "Out of Africa", a wonderful wildlife animal park in Camp Verde, AZ. Last spring I went with my mom, sisters, aunts and cousin for a "girls’ day out" to this wonderful nature attraction. While there we took the tour bus through the "Serengeti", an area where the animals roam freely and the people just watch from the bus (no "man eaters" like lions, tigers, or hyenas in this area though). When we got near the giraffes, they would come right up to the bus and stick their heads in the windows or the door. They were looking for the treats (sort of  like hard, thick cookies) we each had been given to share with them.

Our guide showed us how to put the edge of the giraffe treat in our teeth to entice the giraffe to "kiss" us as they took the treat from our mouth. Those brave enough to try it were warned that we needed to be sure to keep our lips closed or that long, slimy giraffe tongue would smear giraffe slobber across our teeth! My oldest sister and I both braved the giraffe slobber (I'm the second picture)!

My kids could not believe I actually DID it...I kissed a giraffe! Good thing I had a picture to prove it.

We did and saw many other wonderful things at this awesome park, too many to recount in one blog post. I will relate those adventures in future blog posts.

Come Join the Party!

It has been a looooong time since I've done a blog post. What better way to make a comeback than with a PARTY! I have just discovered a wonderful blog called Tools Are For Women Too. The subtitle reads:

Tools, Tool Reviews, Tutorials, And DIY Projects For Today's Craftswoman from Rory The Tool Guy
 
Rory has graciously set up a blog "party" titled "Times Are Tough Thursday" where those of us who sell handcrafted things can post up to 3 links to items we have in our shops. The party started yesterday and will run through Sunday. If you have a shop that you'd like to promote, you can add 3 of your items to the ever-growing collection of terrific products. If you are wanting to purchase a special handcrafted item for yourself or someone else, this is the place to shop. Come join the fun! http://toolsareforwomentoo.blogspot.com/2010/07/party-continues-times-are-tough.html

MOVING DAY!!!!!!

We are in the process of moving (TODAY!!!!!) to a "second home" and I don't yet have a computer or internet service at our new apartment, so I won’t be doing blog posts for a bit. Here's the situation: we have been trying for a very long time to figure out a way to eliminate the loooong drive my husband has to and from work every day (56 miles, (one hour) each way). By the end of the week he's so exhausted and stressed! God has provided us a way to get an apartment in town (Phoenix) that is only 4 miles from Ralph's work. We will stay down there during the week and come home (Black Canyon City, north of Phoenix) on the weekends. I hope to have a computer and internet service at our new home soon so I can keep up with blogging, my online friends, and my etsy shop, but until then, I probably won't be around much. I will post again as soon as I am able.

Friday Favorite: Alicia of "Anycards"

Today’s favorite shop "Anycards" is one in which I could go crazy buying up everything in the “organizer” and “trinket/jewelry boxes” sections. I love having little spaces for everything to keep things neat and tidy…”a place for everything and everything in its place”.
By featuring her on my blog today, I’ve gotten a chance to know a little more about the lady behind the shop. Alicia lives in sunny Florida with her wonderful husband of four years and, in her words, “a pack of dogs…3 to be exact. All rescued and all sizes (small, medium, large).” Both she and her husband are very involved in church ministry, serving as leaders and doing a variety of other things including praise and worship. Her interests include a love of photography and anything to do with nature, walking, bike riding, being outside in general....even if it means napping out there.
Alicia has been crafting for close to 8 years and has been an etsy seller for 2 years. Regarding the source of inspiration for her work she says, “Since most of my crafts involve paper, that seems to be where I find my inspiration. I love standing in the paper section at my craft store or browsing paper selections online until something really catches my eye.” As far as her favorites she states, “I love my poppy pieces. They aren't my big sellers, actually they rarely sell, but I love forming them together and seeing what the final product comes out to be. I love that no matter how hard I try I cannot make two exactly alike.”

Some of Alicia's personal favorites from her shop include:

Mini Poppies altered canvas art

Set of Decorative Organizer Boxes

Polkas and Posies Wooden Dresser Storage Box

As I said earlier I like all of her organizer and trinket box items but here are a couple that top the list for me:

Orchid Paisley and Floral Desktop Organizer

Upcycled Trinket Storage Box

And this adorable frame would look great in my living room or on the night stand by my bed:

Beauty in Ordinary Things Wooden Picture Frame

Come visit Alicia's shop Anycards and find some special treasures to brighten up your home.