Win a FREE Necklace!

  It is time for a Facebook Drawing!!! If you "Like" my Facebook page and share the photo you can win a free necklace! (You pic one from the picture if you win). The Labradorite stone necklace could be made for a male or female. All you have to do is:
1. Go to Facebook.com/artfulparadox (make sure you are logged into Facebook)
2. Hit "Like" button
3. Scroll and find the picture that looks like this:

4. Hit the "Share" button.
And that is it! You are entered. You are able to to share once a day. The drawing ends
Monday 4-14-14

 Spring has finally (mostly) arrived! There are few cold days here and there, but the great thunderstorms I love have started and the flowers have started blooming.
   There is a small pond in walking distance from our house and we just love walking there. A few weeks ago we just happen to walk there at the perfect time! There was a tiny patch of sand with some freshwater shells! They are pretty big for that tiny pond, I was impressed.

  I also have been inspired to try different styles for spring. I made a "shabby chic" style necklace, that I actually really enjoy with the Amethyst Cluster I bought from a wonderful gem show we went too. I have not posted it on Etsy just yet, but if you private message me on my Etsy or Facebook and still order it or a custom order like it.

I have also done some more Fluorite stone necklaces of course. They are available on my Etsy page. Etsy.com/shop/artfulparadox. Of course there are other items available that are new as well. Follow my Etsy page to keep up on new items available. 

Now I am off to try to work on my booth for some upcoming shows I would like to join! I need to set up my booth and take pictures of it before I can send it an application. With as picky as I am, this will be tricky. =P Wish me luck!  

I AM BACK! Finally!!!

So, it has been awhile since I have written. I was having issues with my blog and couldn't get pictures to work so I just gave up…..for a long time. BUT, I am back! Hopefully all is better now! 

You would think I would have tons to write about, but life as a stay at home mom in a small country town doesn't exactly make like the most adventurous. Ok, I take that back. I get plenty of adventures with my kids, some I would have preferred not to have but they are there nonetheless. 

I have been working nonstop practically trying to make enough items to open a booth around town. I have lots of new items to show. If you know me at all you know I am obsessed with stones, and fairies. I haven't quite figured out my preferred way to incorporate fairies into my jewelry yet. Though I have been finding BEAUTIFUL stones to use for my jewelry and I am LOVING THEM! Most of them are available at my Etsy shop, so please go look! 

Etsy shop: Clay Section

Polymer galore!

For some reason my blog hasn't let me post lately but here is another try!

I haven't had much time to write, I've had back to back birthdays! Sheesh! I've also been working on polymer like crazy! Here are a few items. Most are up at my etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125615578/purple-and-green-polymer-flower-clay?ref=pr_shop

The rest you can see at my Facebook page:

Facebook/artfulparadox

Go like it!

New items

New items up at my etsy shop!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121522056/small-polymer-pendant

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121523044/small-polymer-pendant

I also made some custom orders (robot). One is shipped and one is almost done so no pics... Yet ;-)

Kale Chips Anyone? Pinterest Experiment

Sickness still roams around the house. It seems it will never end let me tell ya. I was so sick the other day when I came back from my Dr. Appointment I left my keys in the ignition and now my car is completely dead. So obviously I guess my errands will have to be put on hold for a day. Of course today it's in the 50's and tomorrow it will be back to freezing. Go figure right.

I did have a little bit to get some jewelry making in though. Most are up at my easy store, some not quite yet. I also have a custom order I will be starting soon too. Soon if I ever get the time and patience I will do a tutorial. :)

So Official Pinterest experiment #1Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips http://www.foodess.com/2012/01/salt-vinegar-kale-chips/#more-3414

This time I give them a 5 (scale 1-10).

Let me say this first in my defense. I might be Italian, but I was never raised to cook or clean. The fact that I even attempted is a Martha Stewart Miracle for my family. I don't know spices, oils, or anything really. So this experiment was not a great success BUT given my lack of cooking experience it is worth trying again.

I will admit I changed a few things. Instead of Olive Oil I used Healthy Balance Oil (because of course that sounds healthier than olive oil.. Right?) and I put a sheet of foil under them instead of coating the pan.. Hey less cleaning... Anyway, the recipe called for 2tsp of vinegar. Since my stomach has been a little upset I only used half of that (1tsp) and ground Sea Salt instead of Kosher salt (I didn't have any).

Ok, so the taste was great. Just fine, my issue was getting them crisp. I did two batches to make sure they weren't piled on and cooked for 6 minutes then flipped and another 3 minutes at 350. They were still limp. So I put it in a few more minutes, same result. I got impatient so I put them all on there (the 2nd batch was cooked and had the same results) and bumped it up to 425 for about 3 minutes. They burned.. Of course. Though they didn't burn enough not to eat so I will eat them anyway! So like I said next time I might actually follow the exact directions (to be honest I'm not sure what I could have done wrong to result in them not being crisp though). No foil? We shall see

Quick post

I have finally been able to finish and post my polymer pendants, a few men's bracelets, and my painting! Yay!! Busy momma here!

Etsy.com/shop/artfulparadox

Men's jewelry

I have been slacking big time on posting my men's jewelry on etsy. I have many,
Just haven't taken pictures yet. I guess I know my plans for the weekend!!

You can still look on my Facebook page and find some or custom orders. Here is one ready to send!

Life is a blur

I will admit, the last few weeks have been a blur! I waited until the last minute for all of my Christmas preparations. Before I knew it, here it was and my family was over. By the way, I will never understand the reason I decided to start Christmas every year at my house! Well, at least it was only Christmas and not Thanksgiving too.

Oh, and for the new cookers out there. Leaving the neck in the turkey is a bad thing... Even if it won't come out. You find a way! Hah fail on my part. Oops?

Aria is sick yet again, coughing and runny nose. Her fever has finally broke, but the girl is coughing constantly. I kept Rainah from her for the first few days, but it was apparent yesterday that it wouldn't last any longer when Rainah would try to use her butt to push through the door when I would open the door to check on Aria. Then she proceeded to scream hysterically and cry calling "Aria!!" when I shut the door on her. Since her fever broke the day before I decided to give in. Now the trouble brews again in the house. =)

Besides being Dr. I have spent the last few days making some orders for clients and revamping my whole FACEBOOK page and adding to the ETSY site. All of my items on my etsy page now have a link from my facebook page to make them easier to browse and buy. Yay! Also, TONS of new earrings, and items are still on sale for the last few days.

Facebook.com/artfulparadox
etsy.com/shop/artfulparadox

A few weeks ago I was reading through my friends blog Threeblindwives.com  and saw she made a tutorial for baby leggings from pinterest. HOW CUTE! I have wanted to start trying different "Pinterest" DIY projects and blog about them. See if they work, are worth the time etc. Sooo, why not start here! I ended up using older socks that were wearing out on the bottoms and didn't want them to go to waste. Still super cute though!

Here is the tutorial.:

http://threeblindwives.com/2012/12/16/diy-no-sew-baby-leg-warmers/

Rainah with her leg warmers =)

New items

Lots of new items (mostly earrings) up on my etsy page! Please go look and please let me know what you think.

Etsy.com/shop/artfulparadox

The Onion

Ok let me be the first (ok, so not the first) to say... The onion remedy has failed. I guess I am crazy. You know that tickle in the back of your throat? That has been me the last few nights, coughing non stop. No sleep for this Momma :( if you have any remedies besides syrup or honey let me know!

Now to the good stuff.
My paintings on etsy are 20% off for the holidays and new items are up
Etsy.com/shop/artfulparadox

This weekend we put up Christmas decor. It's so nice to see as much as I didn't want to do it. And I got to use my panoramic on my phone! It's like you are standing in my front door!
No pics of the outside yet, soon though.

Does anyone watch Sons of Anarchy??? What did you think of the finale??? I won't say details yet for those who haven't seen it yet, but I will next time so be warned! :)

Saturday Events

It has been almost a month since I have started being sick. I have caught everything from everyone else being sick. The joys of Mommyhood.

I read something about onions helping cure sicknesses. Has anyone ever heard of that??? You slice the ends off an unpeeled onion and place it next to your bed at night. I know my fiancé wouldn't be too thrilled with the idea, but at this point I'll take that risk. Has anyone ever tried it? Call me crazy but it's on my to do list.

On a better note, more items up at my etsy store! I will have even more up in a day or so. Go check it out.

Etsy.com/shop/artfulparadox