Yay! Sales and Treasuries :)

Well, taxes have been keeping me busy - not too much beading going on around here lately. It doesn't mean that people haven't noticed, though. I've made a few sales which is ALWAYS nice and my friend Katheryn from katherynmd has featured me yet again (Thank you, Kath, you are TOO good to me!!) in a couple of fabulous treasury collections. I can't say enough how much I enjoy the custom blend coffee and fantastic loose leaf teas I've gotten from her shop. Do yourself a favor and be sure to stop by.

The first is treasury is "think...G.R.E.E.N" and makes me wish for Spring to get here.There are several items in this one that I adore but the sweet pet hat from xmoonbloom made me laugh out loud (something I need to do more of during tax season!) - so I added a shot of that, too.

The next treasury also made me laugh - I'm not sure why. It's not particularly funny but the combination of wild browns and textures reminded me of the jungle and the title is perfect - "LIONS TIGERS Bea... oh my!" - only the "Bea..." stands for BEADS instead of bears. Anyway, I loved it!!  Here it is along with a shot of the Mocha Latte beaded cuff bracelet from Nancy of NEDbeads. Be sure to stop by to see Nancy's beaded creations - pure eye candy, for sure!!

 

And finally, I woke this morning to find that two of my art necklaces had sold!! Yay! Blue Moon and Remembrance are on their way to a celebrity client in NYC. 

Taxes...

That's it... taxes. 'Nuff, said.

GRANDMA'S ATTIC Inspiration Kit Give-away for February

It's time for another monthly give-away! Here is another inspiration kit full of vintage goodies. This kit is called "Grandma's Attic" and includes everything in the photos. To win, just leave a comment anywhere on my blog during February and you will be entered. The more comments, the better your chances so visit often and comment away!!

 

Good Luck!!

Mountains out of Mole-hills

Here is my quote for the year:

"Having the ability to make mountains out of mole-hills does not make you a landscape artist."

- Cindy Caraway

Yep, that's mine. I wrote it this morning. I'm thinking of sending it into Hallmark to see if they would like to use it on a greeting card or something. Maybe they would like to start a new line called "Humble Pie" or "Suffering Fools".

To say that I was not at my best yesterday would be a supreme understatement and this quote pretty much sums things up. What I hate most about situations blown out of proportion is that I am the one typically doing the blowing while no one else seems to even notice that anything is amiss until the great wind named "Cindy" comes barreling through. I wouldn't be so disappointed in myself except that this sort of thing has happened to me too many times before. It's silly and I hate to be a fool. Only fools make the same mistakes twice and I am a fool many times over for the same reason. There are just times when I don't think, when I don't try to figure out what's really going on, when I just assume what others are thinking (because I know it all, you see...) and the worst of my personality traits come bubbling to the surface and I do rash things. Luckily, this type of situation doesn't happen very often - every few years or so - maybe that's why I forget that I told myself "Never again..." the last time. In every instance my foolish ways have been forgiven by friends and loved ones - I am a lucky girl, indeed - and so I am vowing to never push my luck again. We'll just have to see how it goes...

Another lesson finally ingrained in my little pea brain after way too much personal experience: Email is dangerous. Emails do not have vocal inflection, facial expressions or body language. Even with "emoticons" things said in an email can be read many ways. What to do instead?? Call. Pick up the freaking phone and call. Find out what's really going on before you let your imagination run away with you and you make a fool of yourself...again.

The Winner of my first blog Give-away!!

And the winner of the "Victorian Treasures" inspiration kit is...

Veroque!!

Please email me at cindycarawaybeadwork@yahoo.com with your mailing address and I will get your collection of vintage goodies sent off to their new home! Thanks to everyone who commented on my blog during the month of January! :)

I will be announcing the February give-away later today - another vintage inspiration kit. Be sure to stop by later to see the goods and comment for your chance to win!

Welcome, February!

It's the first day of the work week and the first day of February. February has always meant to me that Spring is that much closer to being here and I can't wait. This winter has been so frigid cold that I will be happy to see my first robin ASAP!

I was happy to wake this morning to find my Amber Bear Cuff was featured in a new treasury. My friend Kath of ThingsOldeAndNew is TOO GOOD to me! I am honored to find that she has included me in yet another treasury collection - this one entitled "A Walk In The Park".

Photo by Lori411 - "Rain Drops" - also featured in the treasury.

"A Walk In The Park" is dedicated to Cancer Awareness. Here is a shot of the Tie A Ribbon necklace and earring set from Kath's shop.

This treasury is so pretty - the color combination of orange and turquoise blue has always been a favorite of mine. Past pieces of my beadwork have used variations of this theme but never with a truly saturated shade of orange. This collection might be just the kick-start needed to get going on a new project! Here is a shot of the treasury along with some of my favorites from the collection.

 

Flames and Flowers necklace from enchantedbeads and the Louise dress from malam.

Makin' Love in a 69 Chevy

My friend Kath of katherynmd put together a super fun treasury - Makin' Love in a 69 Chevy. Kath sells the most delicious custom coffee blends! I am sipping a cup of Black Opal as I write this and am enjoying every last drop. It is luscious and dark - so flavorful and rich. It is just one of many custom blends she offers in her shop. All of the coffees are roasted to order in small batches and are fair trade and organic to boot! Want to do something good for yourself and the world? Buy some of Katheryn's fantastic coffee!! I mean it!

This cool (and HOT!) treasury is dedicated to Ileana of enchantedbeads. Ileana's artwork is absolutely enchanting, so the shop name definitely fits. Be sure to stop by to see her beaded creations. Here is a shot of the treasury along with a favorite of mine from Ileana's shop: Complementary Contradictions - Le Rouge et le Noir Freeform Bracelet