Mar 30 2009

Manic Monday

Category: LifeRaevyn @ 6:57 pm

Well it has been awhile since I have written in my blog about anything other than Etsy, and I think it is time.

I have been keeping myself very busy. I am really loving making cards. I love picking out patterned paper, and being able to play with colors. I have also been getting some custom requests from people for their events, which is very exciting to me! So I am getting a lot deeper into making cards than I ever thought I would. But it’s great. It also lets me be distracted from manically making earrings and things. However, it is difficult for me to keep up with all three of my shops at times. I have been able to establish sort of a rhythm though. The down side is it keeps me busy pretty much 24/7. I don’t let myself relax, and I think I am starting to get stressed out.

I am not sure if my mood lately is a bipolar thing or a stress thing. But I think it is a combo of both. I am snapping pretty easy lately. A quick example: The other day I stubbed my toe on a mostly empty laundry basket, so I picked up the basket and threw it against the back of our closet. Now don’t get me wrong, snapping is not a new thing to me. I have had an anger/rage issue for as long as I can remember. I just have not had a big problem with it in awhile. I really hate it, it makes me feel so out of control. I also worry if it will change the way my fiance looks at me. He is an amazing man, and he has been so accepting and supportive of me since the day we met. But I still worry. I am not worried I will hurt anyone, my family and friends are not in danger. As a matter of fact the person I tend to hurt is me. I just am so afraid of how it makes me look to others. And I am so sick of apologizing about it.

In high school I would punch brick walls, and I remember one event when I was meeting with my guidance counselor that I picked up a chair and threw it. Now I do not do these things to intimidate people. I think that the fact that I do these things just as often, if not more so, when I am alone then when I am with other people is proof of that. I just get filled with such anger, that I have to do something. When I punched walls I would look for the brick walls instead of the “softer” plaster walls. I am not writing this to say I am afraid I will start doing small things to hurt myself. I have no urge to punch a wall or anything like that. I just hate feeling such anger inside, and it is usually for no reason at all!

I am also crying a lot these days. I don’t just sit on the couch and cry. But I cry over just about every show or movie we watch. Once again, it annoys me because it just makes me feel so out of control. It is weird, because I really like where I am. I love being here in Texas, I love being with Paul, and I am very proud of the progress I have made with my Etsy shops. But I still have all of this inner turmoil. I know, that sounds so totally emo. But I really don’t know how else to explain it.

I think what I just need to do is get back to my shrink. I am having a really hard time making myself leave the house, and appointments almost worsen that because all I do is think about the fact that I have to leave from the time I make the appointment, until the time I go. But I really just need to buck up and do it. And I need to get myself on a medicine regime. Well not get myself, but work with my shrink to figure out what will be the best path. I am 32 now, and this is really not cute anymore.

Anyway, those are thing things going on in my head the past few days. Like I said, things are good. I am just going crazy :p But I love where I am, I love Paul, and I love the business I am trying to build. So I know I can make this better, I just need to take the steps to do it!

Well thank you for reading my ramblings :) Talk to you soon!
:w

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Mar 25 2009

WINNERS ANNOUNCED! Shamrock Challenge and Prize Drawing

Category: Everything ElseRaevyn @ 1:47 pm

Challenge closed at midnight ET, Tuesday, March 24th

Final Entrants
#1 wimsy.etsy.com
#2 Goshengirl.etsy.com
#3 indulgentcreations.etsy.com
#4 PrimitiveJunkie.etsy.com
#5 SimplyStacyJewelry.etsy.com
#6 twobsmith.etsy.com
#7 chaoticcurios.etsy.com
#8 odditiesofdirtydirk.etsy.com

Congratulations WINNERS!
Random numbers generated Mar 25 2009 at 7:4:4 by www.psychicscience.org.
Free educational resources for parapsychology, psychical research & mind magic.
Click Photos to Enlarge
#3 indulgentcreations.etsy.com Prize Package #1

#4 PrimitiveJunkie.etsy.com Prize Package #2

Congratulations! Thank you for participating.

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Mar 17 2009

Shamrock Challenge and Prize Drawing

Category: Everything ElseRaevyn @ 2:36 pm

This St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, will kick off the
1st Annual Search for the Shamrock Challenge
and Prize Package Drawing.

Please stay tuned for prize pack #2 photo.

The prize packages are comprised of items donated by participating shops from the
?¸.·´The Dedicated Beaders & Jewelry Makers BNR?¸.·´.

Challenge Rules

The challenge rules are simple.
Please read to the bottom as there are details for Additional entry opportunities there.

1) Search the following shops for the shamrock photo. Each shop has one (1) shamrock listing. It can be found in “any” photo in “any” listing.

AllThatGlass.etsy.com
CreativeSpirit.etsy.com
CreativeSpiritToo.etsy.com
DesignGal.etsy.com
DsignsByMelissa.etsy.com
Gallagj.Etsy.Com
GlassDezignz.etsy.com
PeculiarParchment.etsy.com
PimpMyPaperDesigns.etsy.com
Raevyn77.etsy.com
RhisBitsAndBeads.etsy.com
SimplyRaevyn.etsy.com
SlidingAlong.etsy.com
Yndigo1.etsy.com

2) Jot down the listing ID number when you find each photo with the shamrocks.. Remember, it can be in any photo in any listing. The listing ID number is found at the end of the url in your broswer. Tip: open the listings!

3) Once you find a shamrock in every shop, submit your entry HERE. Please note that e-mail addresses will be used only to contact the winners and will not be shared or used for any other purpose.

INCREASE YOUR ODDS
Make a purchase from any of the participating shops above and get ADDITIONAL ENTRIES. Each item purchased = one entry.

Challenge Entries will be accepted beginning March 17th through midnight EST on Tuesday, March 24th. Two lucky challenge winners will chosen by random number generator and announced here on March 25th.

Have fun and good luck!

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Mar 08 2009

March Blog Contest

Category: Monthly Blog ContestRaevyn @ 1:52 am

Well, time for a new contest I think! This one centers around this week’s Etsy Featured Artist. Since she has two shops, that means there are two contests and two prizes! And entering is easy as can be :)

Prizes:
$20 gift certificate to Painted Pets
$20 gift certificate to A Treasure Forever

How to enter:
To enter, all you need to do is visit Holly’s two shops. Then comment here on your favorite item from her shops. She has two shops, so that means two chances to enter. Leave a comment about Painted Pets, and you are entered for that prize. Leave a comment for A Treasure Forever, and you are entered for that prize. Comment on both and you will be entered for both prizes!! Make sure to include your email when commenting. If I don’t have a way to contact you if you win, then you can’t win.

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Mar 08 2009

Etsy Featured Artist - Painted Pets and A Treasure Forever

Category: Etsy Featured ArtistRaevyn @ 1:16 am

Holly is the owner of both of two amazing shops. I actually first met her when she bought from me on Ebay. She then ventured over to Etsy to take a peek at my shops, and decided to set up her own shops as well. And I am so glad she does. She has two beautiful shops, both with very different items.

Her first shop is Painted Pets. This shop immediately caught my eye. I am an animal lover, and I have always had pets that I love to death, and tend to spoil. This shop is filled with Holly’s beautiful paintings of animals. She paints them on rocks, accessories, jewelry, and any other place she can think of! She has told me that she also loves doing custom work. As soon as I saw her shop, I ordered from her! This is what I got:

Her second shop is A Treasure Forever. In this shop she has beautiful handmade jewelry! Her chandelier earrings are gorgeous! You should really take a look.

Although Holly keeps herself very busy with two shops, she did take the time to answer a few of my questions.

Name: Holly Cicchirillo

Age (if you don’t mind): The Last Age of the Baby Boomers
Where do you live?: The High Desert Plateau of Arizona, a mile high and up!

I know you have two very different etsy shops with very different products in them. Which is your favorite to work with?
I can’t decide, really. When I’m beading, I want to paint. When I’m painting, I want to be creating jewelry. I’m beginning to see some up sides to this cloning thing, or anything that would satisfy the old adage about the need to be in two places at the same time.

What inspires you most?
The beauty of God’s creation - animals, the plant world, colors, textures, aromas, sounds. A trail ride on a mountain path. Watching baby animals discover the newness of life. Leaves falling. The dogs swimming in a pond. Taking a nap with the horses (which is NOT the same thing as sleeping with the fishes).

What do you do in your spare time?
Paint and bead, of course! And spend time with the husband and animals - dogs (all black chows or chow mixes - we’re addicted), cats, chickens, and a seriously deranged Siamese Fighting Fish named Bruce.

Tell us a little known fact about you.
I’m a licensed pilot, with a college degree in Aviation Science. I usually don’t share this, as it leads people to have false expectations of me, like, I’m smart or something. Flying is fun, but much too stressful. I’d much rather be painting or planning my next piece of jewelry.

What are you working on now?
Painting Memorial stones for dog friends who have gone on. Trying to organize my beads. (Is that even possible? Even if you get the current stash organized, what about the beads who haven’t come home yet? My stack of organizers is getting higher, and there’s no end in sight.)

What is your favorite all time piece? If you have a link to the picture for it, please include it.
So far, my favorite painted piece is a memorial stone I painted for my best friend Liz, of her Siamese cat Sapphire. Not just the technical aspects of the painting, but the cat’s personality really came through. It helps to know one’s subject when painting, I can attest to that.(Bethany, this will be one of the pics in the banner, so you can word this how you like) As far as jewelry pieces, I love wire spirals, whether they’re one dimensional, or 3-D spirals. As long as it coils, I’ll like it.

Do you twitter, flickr, facebook..or anything else where people can follow you? Please feel free to list all of your “social networking” addresses.
Huh? Yeah yeah, I have heard of those things, but really - if you do those things, doesn’t it take time away from the real fun of creating?
Sorry, I’m something of a hermit, cyberspace-wise and in real-life.

All I can say is Holly’s shop are what Etsy is all about! Talented artists offering their handmade, amazing goods for sale! Take the time to look at her two shops, you won’t be disappointed.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
PaintedPets
Etsy
Buy Handmade
atreasureforever

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Mar 07 2009

KReATIV Blogger Award!

Category: Everything ElseRaevyn @ 8:55 pm


This ‘Kreativ Blogger’ award was given to me by Lady V’s Beads n’ Things Thank you so much!!!

Here are the rules: List 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 people…tagging them and letting them know they won! You can copy the picture of the award and put it on your sideboard letting the whole wide world know you are KReATIV!

1. My fiance! He is the best man I know!
2. My little sister, she is my angel
3. My cats, they are spoiled, but I love them!
4. My Mom! We are so far away from each other, and I miss her.
5. Beading. It keeps my mind busy, and I love creating.
6. Coffee, self explanatory I think :p
7. My friends. They accept me for me, and that is not an easy thing to do.

I pass this award on to:

AllThingsTangled
debralinker
MillieDogDesigns
Creative Spirit Too
SynopticVisions Studio
Country Meadow
Lady V’s Beads n’ Things


Mar 01 2009

February’s Blog Contest Winners

Category: Monthly Blog ContestRaevyn @ 7:29 pm

Well that’s it, the February blog contest is over! There were 36 entries, and I have drawn the 3 winners.

3rd Place - $10 gift certificate, good in any of my 3 shops: zomb
2nd Place - $15 gift certificate, good in any of my 3 shops: prettypionidesigns
1st Place - $25 gift certificate, good in any of my 3 shops: shellydelight

Congratulations to the winners :D And thank you to all that entered :) I really enjoyed looking at your favorite artists and items.

Tomorrow I will post the new contest, as well as a feature on an amazing new Etsy artist!

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