The Birds and the Beads

I would have liked to have posted these on the website before the Christmas sales period (they make great gifts), but time just didn’t permit. So I’ve spent the last month burning them every day, and the Chai Spice (my favorite) is almost gone. That’ll learn me!

It’s been a slow, rainy weekend here – perfect for some quiet office work – and the candles are photographed, priced and listed – ready to delight someone else with their unique, crystallized wax and wonderful aromas. They’re available in several different styles, scents, and configurations:

Pure Essential Oil Scented Jar Candles

Pure Essential Oil Chakra Votives & Pillars

Mini Jar “Trip Light” Candles

We have been seeing a lot of interest in Marvy LePens lately, which I know makes Erin happy (she and Owen both LOVE their LePens). I don’t know if it is from a general renewed interest in these colorful pens, or if more people simply know we carry them. We were recently featured on the Domino Mag blog “Daily Dose”, so maybe thats part of the reason.

In any case, we’ve been ordering them in ever larger quantities. I thought the array of boxes waiting to be opened and turned into 18-color sets made sort of a fun picture.

Sunny received a blue raccoon squeaky toy for Christmas. Here he is holding on to it while drifting off for a post-Christmas breakfast nap.

Ok, so I missed Friday Beastblogging this week AND last. Sorry. But to make up for it, I’m posting two separate photos of Burt and Sunny. Here is Burt, holding down the sofa on Christmas morning.

The Christmas gifts are spread over the living room floor – a gentle sea of books, toys, and socks, but here in the office, I’ve already got Valentine’s Day on the mind. This is the crafter’s role – to be thinking ahead to the next holiday. I’ve spent the day reorganizing the TierraCast® Heart Beads, Charms & Findings page on the website to include copper versions of all our silver and gold beads and charms, plus a few new goodies for February 14th.

95% of our orders ship through the US Post Office, and our wonderful mail carrier picks up those packages every day without fail or complaint. I wanted to do something special for her this year, and having heard her talk about wanting some hematite jewelry, I sat down a few days ago and made this necklace for her.

The focal is about 1.5″ in diameter, and is made from hand made a heavy gauge wire, shaped and hammered fairly flat. I used a lighter wire to wrap the beads on in with a dream-catcher style pattern with black diamond Swarovski® crystal, sterling rounds, and of course – hematite! The faceted hematite looks so dramatic and sparkly! I was really pleased with the way it turned out, and one of these days when I have the time, I’ll put up a formal jewelry making tutorial on my projects page.

Yesterday was the Winter Solstice, and the official last day of shipping for delivery on Christmas Eve. Hallelujah! The past six weeks have been one big adrenaline rush, and it feels so good to relax today – to putter around the office, catching up on my favorite blogs, doing a little picking up and putting away in between blog articles. The biggest question on my plate today is how I’m going to make my famous pumpkin cheesecake for Christmas, when the local grocery no longer sells plain cans of pumpkin. It feels good to be worrying about cooking, and not inventory, shipping deadlines and rush orders!

On Christmas Eve, we’ll have an early dinner with Eric’s parents in Kilmarnock, followed by an evening at home baking cookies for Santa, and watching Christmas movies. If I can find my tuner, there may be some Christmas harping by yours truly.

My mother is coming to visit on Christmas, and will stay a few days, which is always one of the best parts of Christmas. On the day after Christmas, she spends most of the afternoon in the office with me, making sample bags, putting together TierraCast mixes, and generally reveling in all the beads and goodness. After a good afternoon’s work, we’ll go see the sights and sounds of Kilmarnock, and visit our favorite restaurant for our annual day-after-Christmas dinner.

I’m looking forward to our holiday with friends and family, and excited about what 2008 will bring! Wishing everyone Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year! — Erin

For years, Oberon Design’s hand-tooled Celtic Leather Wallets were one of my most loved Celtic items, especially around the holidays. But a few years back (2004 I think), they took them out of their catalog. I’ve been hearing about it from my customers ever since, and I can’t blame them – those were cool wallets! My husband loves his, and has been accidentally running it through the washer taking tremendous care of it through the years.

Every time I order from Oberon, I mention that I’d love to buy the wallets if they ever decide to bring them back, and much to my delight, when I ordered a month or so ago, I was told they’re doing them on a limited, special order basis. After doing a happy dance around the office, I put together a large order with my favorite designs. My first batch arrived earlier this week,and I sold two of them before I could even get pictures taken and up on the web.

Pavo the Peacock (aka “Peabrain”). Age: four months.

Hello folks! Eric has been doing the Christmas shopping this year, and I sure am glad because I’ve been mighty busy. Or as one of my Aussie friends suggested — I’ve been “flat out” (like a lizard drinking)! While this time of the year is always exciting (and I’ve been reveling in it), I will be ready for a break soon.

Sending wishes of holiday joy and peace. — Erin
http://www.123bead.com

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It seems like many of our favorite blogs participate in “Friday Catblogging”, which never fails to entertain Erin and I. We decided we’d like to participate, without limiting ourselves to cats.

So without further ado, here is our first post in the Friday Beastblogging category: Sunny is Festive. He gets very proud of any “accessories”, and tends to prance if given a bandanna, new collar, etc. Here he is showing off his jingly bell ruffle.

Here are a few more photos, just because I had a hard time picking…

2007 is nearly over, and what a wonderful year it has been for our little family. Eric and I celebrated our eleventh wedding anniversary this year, and Owen is growing (and growing!) into a kind and inquisitive six year old. Befriending so many animal (both in our home and at neighbors’ farms) has given him a wonderful “way” with furred and feathered beasties of all kinds. He was quite the advocate for our newest feathered friends: Ostara the Lovebird, and Pavo (or “Peabrain”) the Peacock.
http://www.lythastudios.com/birds/index.html

Beyond my window the feeders are busy with bluejays, wrens, finches, and cardinals — just in case those gray clouds actually produce some snow. Inside, the mail-bins are laden with cheerful red and white boxes eagerly awaiting the elves at the USPS!

From our family to yours, best wishes this holiday season.
– Erin
http://www.lythastudios.com

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