Featured Shop - Connected Elements

Husby and I have an affinity for big water. We're fortunate to be within driving distance of the Great Lakes and have made several long weekend getaways to Great Lake destinations.

During our first trip to Door County, Wisconsin we made a stop at a town called Algoma. It was a quiet little town. We took a walk along the shore and I was simply stunned at the rocks of the beach. All of the rocks were smooth, round, and white. Millions and millions of them. I couldn't help myself and starting picking them up. My pockets were bulging and my hands couldn't hold any more. They were all the same, yet all different. I couldn't stop gathering them. Husby finally ran back to the car and brought back a one-gallon ice cream pail for me to carry my rocks.

That pail of rocks is in my studio, untouched. I haven't figured out what to do with them. Imagine my amazement when I discovered the Minnesota-based artist Candyce Fitzloff-Westfield and her lovely shop Connected Elements.

Candyce uses beach stones, as well as elements such as silver, cooper, bronze, recycled glass, resin, and enamel in her beautiful jewelry. Beach stones! Just like the ones I saw in Algoma!

Lake Michigan Pair

What wonderful jewelry. So beautiful in its simplicity and yet such talent to create such simple beauty. I love the earthiness of it. The pieces look stunning, and yet so natural. Look! More of my beach stones!

Sweet Pebble Earrings

Candyce is living the dream, making her wonderfully unique jewelry in beautiful northern Minnesota. She's captured the grandeur and the simplicity of nature in her work. Just looking at it makes me want to sell everything and move to a log cabin next to the fresh water seas.

Jasper and Texture

Candyce sells her work in several shops throughout Minnesota. Online you can find her at Connected Elements as well as at Trunkt.

Now, what to do with my stones...

Live And In Person

This past weekend I worked my last craft show of the year. Each time I work a show I realize how important it is for artists and crafters to get out from behind the computer and sell their wares live and in person.

The show was a hit. There were lots of people in the mood to do some early Christmas shopping. One thing I was happy to see was the multitudes that brought their own bags to carry purchases, saving the earth from dreadful plastic bags. Yay! Environmentally friendly and so much less cumbersome than carrying multiple different-sized bags. Try it next time you go to a craft show or festival.

I also was happy to see so many returning customers. It always makes me feel so good to know my products are worthy of repeat purchases. A special hello to Miss G who is a candle connoisseur with a very discriminating sense of smell, and Sister J, over ninety years old and the most diligent letter writer who is so pleased to see blank note cards for sale on my table each year. Thank you both, as well as all the others who stop by every year. Of course there were new customers too, finding a new appreciation for the silliness of my bottle cap drink charms or the simple beauty of a pure beeswax candle.

I won’t deny the importance of the world wide web and I continue to be grateful for the wonderful venue it has become for me and many other artists and crafters. We’re able to reach people around the globe with our little computers, and it is indeed fascinating. But whenever I can I like to go out and mingle with the people. They give me ideas and allow me to give them the service of custom orders. Their feedback is invaluable no matter if it is positive or negative. It’s so rewarding to see smiles on the faces of the shoppers whether they buy anything or not.

So thanks, all you people I met and remet throughout the year. You made the travels worthwhile with your lovely comments and your support of individual artists and crafters is so very much appreciated.

Crazy Auntie B

A few years ago someone told me I ought to open up a business on the world wide web and I fought it with all my might. My candles need to be sniffed in person, I thought. My trinkets aren’t done justice by the camera lens. It was only a couple of years after that my Etsy shop was opened and what fun it’s been. I love being online and I’ve met lots of really nice people I wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to meet.

But wait, there’s more! Now, not only do I have an online shop but also a presence on Facebook and Twitter! I know, I’ve stepped into the 21st century at long last. Knowing all of you have been connected to these sites for years I’m just here to say, stop by and visit some time. Give me a comment or two. Tell me what you think. Peek into my life, and let me peek into yours. I love getting to know my customers.

Now for the fun part. Freebies! Here’s all you have to do:

1. Fan my Facebook page and/or Follow me on Twitter and

2. Leave a comment on this post with your Facebook and/or Twitter user name so I can Friend/Fan/Follow you, and also so I can contact you if you are a winner.

If you are already my Fan or follow me on Twitter, you can enter too! I'd never give a demerit for loyalty. Just leave a comment with your Facebook and/or Twitter info.

Ten Fans and Followers will be selected at random to receive a holiday trinket from Auntie B’s Wax in time for Christmas. Enter before November 30, 2009. Winners will be announced on December 1.

Ooh, I can hardly wait to see who I'll meet next! What a fun way to kick off the holiday season!

WWMPD

Here’s a little something to keep around in case you don't know what to do with that tuppence jingling around in your pocket and to remind you that a spoon full of sugar will indeed help the medicine go down. I invite you to ponder, WWMPD - What Would Mary Poppins Do? Because she’s almost perfect in every way, most certainly her solutions will suit you to a T.

Get your WWMPD magnet here. Spit spot!

Happy Halloween

Was it procrastination? Or was it a sign that I am to become a cranky old woman who has no use for the playfulness of holidays? Halloween lurks at the end of October in the midst of a chandler’s busy season. The date is the same every single year, and yet every single year I fail to prepare for the festivities in a timely manner. For two weeks I had written in my daily planner to bring the ghosts and jack-o-lanterns up from the basement and to decorate the house with whimsical scariness. Today, Halloween, I still had not completed the task.

As I was brushing my teeth this morning I thought to myself, if I don’t put out some decorations and get into the spirit of things, I’ll begin to ignore other holidays. Easter baskets will cease to be filled and Christmas trees will be unlit. I don’t want to be one of those people. I don’t want to be surrounded by a holiday without honoring it myself.

I also gave some thought to my brother Diggy, who for many years took such great pleasure in scaring the bejeepers out of the little kids in the neighborhood as his 6-foot 5-inch, 250-pound body cloaked in dark robes lurked on the streets every Halloween night.

As I put out the decorations I wondered why I hadn’t done it sooner. I was reminded of the fun shops where I bought some of the trinkets, and had a renewed appreciation for the ones that were given as gifts. And one in particular, a glowing electric jack-o-lantern taken from the collection of treasures Diggy kept, made me feel especially thankful I pulled myself out of the too-busy-to-bother attitude.

Then Husby helped in turning these ordinary pumpkins

Into delightful jack-o-lanterns.

They were set outside and lit to greet all the Trick-or-Treaters.

If it’s true the wall between this life and the hereafter thins on Halloween, I think Diggy made a little visit to me today. He mocked my indifference for Halloween, for forgetting to seize the day, for failing to retain my childlike joyfulness.

So dang it all, instead of having had all the festive decorations up for a week before Halloween I’m going to keep them up for a week after. And every night I’ll turn on that little jack-o-lantern light and thank my little brother for kicking me into shape. I sure do miss him.

Implants

This is pretty clever. I love it. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month may I present: Implants by Mosaicate.




Keep 'em healthy, girls!

There's No Spooky Like Free Spooky

If it seems I haven't been tending to my blogging responsibilities, it's true. I've been busy treating myself to lots of spooky fun on the internet. There's tons of stuff to entertain you during the chilly autumn nights.

For those who like to read, there's this cool site that has a huge library of horror stories. And guess what? It's free! The site is called HorrorMaster. I'm looking forward to soaking up some H.P. Lovecraft. Ooky!

Maybe you're working around the house or office and want to listen to scary tales. The Monster Club is a great place to download or stream thrilling old time radio shows. It's a free site, but they require you to become a member and get a password before having access to the five hundred free shows.

If you're like my friend MaryAnn you would rather be mesmerized with the visuals of TV and movies. Hulu, also free, is a terrific site that gives you access to full-length movies and TV. For Halloween chills how about tuning into Bram Stoker's Dracula?

No matter if you like to read, listen, or watch, there are hundreds of horrors awaiting for you with a click of your mouse. Ain't the internet grand?