Challenging Yourself AND Having Fun!

I'd much rather do something fun then "working". That's why I enjoy hand stamping and making lampwork beads. It's so much fun!! And to add to that fun I'm going to join a really cool challenge over at Making Bracelets. I love that she talks about how doing what you love is healthy for you. I never really though of it as being "healthy", but it sure makes sense. I'm a lot happier, and being happy is a great step towards being healthy. Don't you think? So, if you're up for a challenging 2013, join us! I know it will be fun :D

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The 36th Avenue Blog

Awesome stuff, what can I say?  There are always fun projects and great ideas to be found over there, and she hosts a blog party where you can link back to your blog.  Check it out, there are tons of great ideas posted in this weeks party!

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Valentine's Candy Hearts You Can Wear

Everybody loves candy hearts on Valentine's Day.  You know, the ones with the super cute phrases!  Well, everyone in my house does! ;)  And I love them so much I was inspired to make this cute Candy Heart Necklace.  Sorry, it's not edible, but it is made with love!

You can buy them on Etsy or The Craft Star!  Each necklace has three hearts that can have very small quotes hand stamped on them. It makes the perfect gift for that special someone.  Imagine proposing with this necklace!!  Will U....Marry...Me? How could she say NO  to that??

Here are some actual candy hearts for inspiration!
What will you create??

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Work Shop Progress: Under Construction

My new workshop is coming along nicely.  We've been working about 14 hour days every weekend for a month now.  Everything always takes a lot more time then you expect.  And it's always more work then expected.  But it looks great!

We've nailed the paneling up on the walls and ceiling.  We bought easy maintenance bead board, already coated in a nice soft white.  But it can be painted, which is always good.  I'm a gal who likes change.

I did all the wiring for the lights, which is really very easy to do.  My hubby bought me my own pair of electrical pliers.  He calls them T-5s, but we're really not sure on the technical name.

So here are the latest pics of our progress:

top left: Me

top right: Ceiling fan

bottom left: the window

bottom right: the door and electrical box.

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Make A Great Hobo Style Bag From A Scarf!

This is an amazing idea!!  The first thing I thought of was that this idea would come in sooooo handy when you come across a craft sale or flea market.  You can take a large scarf, which won't take up much space at all, and convert it into a great hobo bag to stuff full of goodies while shopping!!

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A Dream Come True!

Yay! After waiting for years it's finally happening!  I'm getting my studio.  The concrete has been poured.  And in less then two weeks the builders will be here.  Once they start it will take about a week.  Then my husband and I will work on the inside.

I will be using a white factory coated wainscoting fiber board from floor to ceiling, which will be easy to clean.  My dad has some  old wooden cabinets I will be hanging on the walls, and painting them a nice bright purple.  And when I get bored I can choose any color I want.  That's the beauty of having the main walls a nice neutral white.

I should mention that I don't get the whole building.  It's a nice 12x24 feet, and half of it will be for hubby, he wants a sauna.  That was one of the ways I was able to finally get him to agree.  But hey! After all these years of working our butts off don't we deserve something we want? I say we do.

Want to know how we can afford this?  We refinanced to a much lower interest rate.  That was the big push my husband needed.  Our refinancing brought our total interest paid and our monthly payments down.  So the refinancing itself is paying for it.  In the end, after paying for the building we're paying less money then if we hadn't refinanced!

Stay tuned, more to come!

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