Tibetanelements interview with The INcrowd

I just received word that I was mentioned in a recent blog by the INcrowd Etsy team from Indiana. They interviewed a lovely artist and member of the team, Tibetanelements. Her shop at http://www.tibetanelements.etsy.com/ features beaded and delicate wire jewelry (with many dragonflies - and you know how I love dragonflies!!). Please take a moment to peruse her shop as well as the INcrowd's blog at http://indianaetsy.blogspot.com/, where you will find the interview in full. (below, tibetanelements dragonfly hairpin)



In the interview, tibetanelements was asked to suggest five of her favorite shops, and she graciously listed my candle shop! I am honored to be a part of this list, and I'm off to share the love and check out the other four artists!! I hope you will do the same!

Thanks to the INcrowd and tibetanelements for the compliment and encouragement, and I wish much success to them all.

Coconut Lime candles

It's official. I've given in to color. I made a new set of candles this week, and boy are they bright! Electric lime green with mottling, and scented with coconut and limes. They are adorable, and would make a great accent to a back yard barbeque!

Here's the super mottled tapered hexagon, now available on Etsy:





The pillars and votives:



I'm looking for some other bright and fun scents/colors to make... suggestions? I'm thinking that the next batch may be bright pink watermelon or orange cantaloupe...

jazzed for more

Made some new smellies yesterday, and now I'm jazzed to make more!

These creamy springy green pillars (there are votives, too!) are exactly what I needed to refresh my creative scentenergy!


I'm usually a sucker for any warm, rich foodie-type scent - but this week I was craving something fresh. This mix of Rosemary and Ylang Ylang was just what the doctor ordered! It brightens my day with the clean, refreshing fragrance and the light spring green color.


Rosemary is a woody, fragrant herb that has been associated with improving memory. It is traditionally used in weddings and other ceremonies as a symbol of remembrance.


Ylang Ylang is rich and deep with notes of rubber and custard, and bright with hints of jasmine and neroli. It is a flower derived from the rainforst cananga tree. In Indonesia, its petals are spread on the beds of newlyweds.


This candle set will make a lovely handmade wedding gift!



I'm now offering a free tart with any purchase over $10 (before shipping). There are several scents to choose from, just let me know which one is your favorite! See my shop for details!

1st From the Beach

Living across the street from the beach for the first time in my life, I am now completely surrounded by nature's inspiration. Not to mention an endless supply of seashells! I just can't let this go to waste, and so I'm starting a new collection called From the Beach..

It will be beach inspired goodies that will span both my candle shop and my curio shop. I took the first round of goodies out for a photo op the other day, but it was so damn windy I could only do the heavy glass candle holders. The picture frames and switch plates started to blow away!

So here are some photos of the candle holders.. let me know what you think! The sand has been sealed so that it will not chip or peel off the glass. I test burned one I made for myself and it is so charming.

FLUTED VOTIVE/TEALIGHT HOLDERS:

I just listed these on Etsy and I think they are adorable. I'm not sure what to think of the photos though.. I'm on the fence and think perhaps I should reshoot them. What do you think?

VOTIVE HOLDERS WITH BLUE SHIMMER DUST:
The shimmer got a little splotchy in some areas but I think they are ok. I know better for next time!

SINGLE LAYER VOTIVE HOLDER:

I also made a double layer of sand, but I think the single layer lets much more light through.

As soon as I can photograph the other items I've made I'll post them and let you know. Feedback welcome!

xoxo, h

accidental mail porn

i just got porn in the mail, and omg it was good. so good, in fact, that i even went to the website afterward for more. apparently, the woman that lived here before us had the same fetish as i do: organization.

She put our address on the mailing list at The Container Store, and they just sent a lovely little 47 page catalog FULL of elfa storage solutions that are on sale. closet organizers. shoe bins. clear bins, zipper bins, stackable bins, bins with labels...



but oh, when i turned to page 4 i just couldn't help myself. There before me in all of its airbrushed near-centerfold fantasy stood the most beautiful, well stacked, perfectly organized closet with avocado green walls and clear plastic shelves for each pair of shoes, handbag or hat.. i've never been so lustful.


my hopes for owning my own home are ever so heightened that i just can't stand it. i'm to call family services today to see where i can go for info on VA loans. the home we're looking at is just blocks away and definitely in our price range. i've not been able to see the inside of it yet (only via a few pictures online), so i hope that its closets will live up to my expectations.

i'm going to flip through the pages a couple more times, because i know that inevitably these images will be made into magnets for me etsy shop :) i've been redoing my craft space and trying to make it manageable. as it stands now i am feeling quite overwhelmed by the sheer amount of 'craft stuff' i have lying around. with my new magnets, i will not toss out even junk mail anymore! it is piling up. If only my 'office' looked like this!


however, after a long thoughtful conversation with the hubbs this past sunday, i have decided to forego job hunting and take this opportunity to make something of my crafts. i really will push to get a business going. i've decided to sell my car to cut monthly expenses and get a little spare change, and really try to make this a full time life. school + craft + beach + hubbs = happiest girl on earth.

we had dinner with the hubb's cousin and some of his friends on sunday night and that generated an interest and possible business opportunity to fill their hotel will my candles.. or at least a few. So we'll see how that plays out.

In addition, he gave me the idea to check out local swap meets as a means to sell some goods, and i think that is exactly what i'm going to do. there is a drive-in movie theater up the street that holds swap meets on Wednesdays and weekends, so i'm going to check it out tomorrow and see what its all about. There's a huge swap meet held at the sports arena in San Diego each weekend, and its relatively inexpensive, I just need to have a second person around. I can rent a canopy but need two people to set it up. and it never hurts to have an extra salesman around to keep you company :)

i really miss doing craft shows, getting out there and talking with people (very anti-hermit like, i know). but i enjoy meeting other artists and i really really need to learn to network a little better.

so today i have the goal to revamp my candle shop, and get together some ideas and samples for the merchandising guy at the hotel so i can make some fresh smellies this week.

gotta spread the word!

xo, h