Goodbye Champlain Bridge

If you've lived in the North Country you've probably used the Champlain Bridge. It's sad to see it go today but kind of fun to watch Bridge Demolition

Also to commerate the event one of my dearest friend's father's wrote a song about it. Speedy's Song

Farewell Champlain Bridge!

AFTER CHRISTMAS SALE STARTS TODAY!

AFTER CHRISTMAS SALE STARTS TODAY!

Any 3 pairs of earrings for $30.00!!!! Save big on what you really want! (difference refunded via paypal)

My Shop

Preparing for the big day

I've been making christmas crack(sooooo good you should try it), jewelery, soap, and wrapping like crazy.
The cats have been spinning around on the tree skirt (see picture of Etta playing innocent). Almost there- just a few more things to get ready! How are you coming?

Front Page of Craftster!

My towel made it to the front page of craftster :)

Haven't checked it out yet? It is a great place to share ideas, learn new techniques, and get to know other crafters.

craftster check it out!

Stitch in time

I'm so proud of my latest embroidery adventure. This hand towel was for my grandmother in law for Hanukkah. The pattern is from sublime stitching. Hopefully she loves it :)
Happy Hanukkah!

Saratoga Craft Fair Tonight

If you are in the area you should swing by!
7pm at the Putnam Den http://www.putnamden.com/index.html

crafty wares and a place to buy drinks, oh yes this will be fun :)

My 12 days of Christmas 2009

Last year I made a list when I found out that the 12 days would cost 21,000 dollars to round up (it’s probably 25,000 this year). Mine isn’t that rich but it’d work for me!
So here is what would make me sing this year:

12- Bottles of Riesling (repeat to the list- I love wine, I don’t see the issue)
11- Batts of Fiber (I will learn to spin in 2010)
10- New Embroidery Patterns (I’m in love with Sublime Stitching)
9- Skeins of Embroidery floss (to go with the patterns of course)
8- Balls of Yarn (Homespun please, just in case I don’t get to that fiber)
7- 7 lbs of soap base (I want to make some for myself for a change- make it Goat’s Milk & Olive Oil from Bramble Berry)
6- Pots of Mineral Eye Shadow (Just fell in Love)
5- Tubes of Lip Gloss (I admit I am addicted)
4- Things that revolve around Sons of Anarchy (can’t believe the season is already over)
3- Pairs of Shoes (Desperate need of black knee boots and who can’t use spare flats and heels )
2- Books (need Charlaine Harris’s latest and the book by the guys in Ghost Hunters)
1- Trip to New Orleans (This is the present my hubby and I are giving each other so I know I’m getting it)

Honey are you taking notes?
I have other alternates, but who doesn’t?! What would yours be?

Party at my Place

The Holidays are right around the corner!


Shopping is lots of fun but lots of stress, so I thought of a way some of my favorite co-workers and friends could do some holiday shopping without the fuss.

I’m opening my house up to anyone who would like to come to a Little Gems Party! I’ll have my work available for sale: jewelry, crocheted pieces, soap, polymer clay, metal stamping, glass pendants, etc (you can see a sample of my work in my online shop http://littlegemsbykari.etsy.com/ ). I can also do most jewelry repairs and modifications if you need anything fixed for the party season.

Snacks and refreshments will be served. Come and shop or just come and snack! Feel free to pass on this invitation to anyone else you think would like to come as well. If you bring a guest you'll get a free pair of button earrings!



Saturday December 12th 1:30pm at my house- send me an email for directions littlegemsbykari@yahoo.com

Back from the City

Every year we go with our inlaws to see the tree and my husband's aunt and uncle for Hanukkah. This year was a particular wet trip but the tree was very pretty. We skipped the windows on the department stores and went straight to visit the relatives. And the champagne tasted the same when everything was said and done :) Any traveling plans on your agenda?

Pop the Popcorn

We are going to the movies!
I love movies. Always have, always will. No wonder some of my pieces are influenced by movies I just love.
Twilight Saga

Harry Potter Movies

Frosty the Snowman


Do your cinematic favs tickle your creative bone?

And the Winner Is......

Eterknity!

Congrats! And thanks to everyone who entered! Eterknity please send me your mailing address and I'll get these cuties on their way to you :)
littlegemsbykari@yahoo.com
Sad you missed them? I have a pair for sale in my shop http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33856306

Happy Thanksgiving and Where in the World

My hubby and I got to have a pre Thanksgiving feast at my sister in laws in North Carolina (thanks Gill)and Thursday we'll be headed to my folks for some good eats.
Fall Holidays are special for me and Friday isn't just a great shopping day this year it's also our 5th wedding anniversary (and of course the drawing of my giveaway).
Then Saturday I'll be back at Tight Knit.

Stop by and say hi if you are in the neighborhood and enjoy your festivities no matter where they take you!

Don't Miss Out!

On my give away http://littlegemsbykari.blogspot.com/2009/11/button-up-earring-giveaway.html

or the chance to see my sister and mom at SUNY Plattsburgh Saturday and Sunday!
Sat. (10-5), Sun (10-4) at the Field House- wish I could join them :( but since I can't you should!


P.S- All you scrappers out there- my sister just became a creative memory rep! Exciting things all around :)

Button Up Earring Giveaway

Welcome to my first Blog Giveaway
Win my new Button Up Earrings

How do you ask? Easy!
1st Follow My Blog
2nd Post a Comment about which one of my shop items is your favorite
Little Gems Shop
Do you want another entry? Blog, tweet, or plurk about my giveaway and post the link and you are in again!
I'll post the winner on November 28th! Good Luck!

Updated Schedule

This Saturday 14th- AVCS High School Craft Fair, Clintonville NY 10-4
(Take I87 to Exit 34. Take a left onto Rt 9N and follow Rt 9N into Clintonville. The school is on your right on Rt. 9N just past the intersection with the Clintonville Rd.)
Come see some amazing handmade creations (my mom and sister will also be at this show so it should be a lot of fun!

November
Saturday 28th- Troy Winter Craft Fair (Tight Knit!), Troy NY

December
Saturday 12th- Home Show, Colonie NY - Leave a message if you are interested and I'll send directions to my house :)
Saturday 19th- Troy Winter Craft Fair (Tight Knit!), Troy NY

SUGAR! (and salt)

A complete success!
I just whipped up my first few batches of sugar scrubs and salt scrub!
Candy Cane Sugar
Vanilla Sugar
Lemon Salt

My skin is so smooth just making this!! Right now I think these will only be going to shows with me, or do you think they should make it to my online shop??

November - December Deal

I love the Holidays and really LOVE giving gifts!
Spend $25.00 in my shop and get a free pair of button earrings:

And again this year, free gift tags with any purchase!


*colors of buttons and design of paper varies (send me a note with fav colors and I'll do my best)

Mark your Calendars

I've got a BUSY November December coming up and I hope you stop in and see me.
November
Saturday 14th- AVCS High School Craft Fair, Clintonville NY
Saturday 28th- Troy Winter Craft Fair, Troy NY

December
Saturday 5th- Home Show, Colonie NY (tentative)
Saturday 19th- Troy Winter Craft Fair, Troy NY

Fall Collection

Fall is such a great time of year and it's fading fast.
Take a peak at my fall collection before they are all raked up.

Halloween!

One of my best friends is ADDICTED to Halloween and it is downright contagious when you are near her. Amanda knows where to get a gallon of fake blood (super amazing for a vegetarian), how to monster mash, and can make a costume like MacGyver (2 toothpicks and a roll of duck tape and she can do it, I'm sure of it).

When asked why you love the holiday my husband says I guess it's an excuse to act silly but I always act silly so maybe it's just the candy.

I've always loved dressing up and yeah the candy is great too!

Why do you love Halloween? Or do you hate it like my poor friend Kristy who is not a fan of people in costume?

A Few of my Fav Etsy Places

I know I am one of many sellers in the etsy family.

Here are some of my favorite sites for checking the pulse of my shop.
Google Analytics- I can track where most of my hits come from and when my page gets the most views
http://www.google.com/analytics/
Craftopolis- helps track if you are in a treasury and when treasuries open
http://www.craftopolis.com/
Statsy- Who's your biggest fan,have I been featured?, among others
http://statsy.org/locator.php
And certainly not least
Craftcult- item hearts, item views, shop hearts, and more
http://craftcult.com/heartomatic.php

Do you have any favs?

METAL.....stamping :)

I am a metal head. The first time I saw my hubby is at a Megadeth show and I officially lost it when Sevendust stopped by the office where I worked. It seemed only natural for me to start working with metal. I'm currently exploring metal stamping and I think I've come up with some pretty original pieces.



So - what do you think?????

Good Goulash Quick

Ingredients
3 Sausage cut into 1/2 in sections
1 lb ground meat (I use ground turkey or chicken)
Jar of Spaghetti Sauce
Italian seasoning
Garlic Powder
Adobe
1 lb whole wheat pasta
Shredded Cheese
Can of mushrooms
Chopped Onion
Olive Oil

Warm Oven to 350 degrees.
Put a bit of olive oil in a pan throw in onions, warm through
Add ground meat and sausage
Season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and adobe
When almost browned add drained can of mushrooms
While that is working boil water and cook the pasta
Spray oven safe container with cooking spray
Put in cooked meat mixture and drained pasta
Mix in spaghetti sauce
Cover the top with cheese
Cook in the oven for 30 minutes or until brown and bubbly

Button Button- How To

I recently decided to try my hand at button making- as advertised I'm hooked! One of my favorite supply stops Three Dancing Magpie's had everything I needed so I said what the heck!

First you need the cover button tool, the button parts, and some fabric (or wide ribbon). I also made a template for how much fabric I needed for super speedy cutting.


Next put your fabric in the white part and slide in the top

I trimmed a bunch off the top after just be careful you don't trim too close.

Slide in your back piece folding in your ends of the fabric. Put your pusher on top and well push.


Pop out your new button! To turn it into a hair tie keep going!
Take a hair tie and slide it in the button wire.


Slide the hair tie through the hair tie so you get a knot


Continue until your little heart's desire :)


Be Warned you will make 50 without thinking about it!

2 New Additions!

I've got 2 new products I am tickled about!
1 my Hooker on the go crochet hooks are now sets!!!!

and now I have stitching on the go markers!!

I'll be updating my shop this weekend with more fun new products as well. So, what do you think?

Oooo Shiny

I've yet to meet a girl that hasn't at one point said "oooo shiny". Something about shiny just makes a girl's head swivel (heck a lot of guys too). I get distracted by shiny every day! That might be why I love swarovski crystals. The way the light catches these babies is out of this world. Brides, movie stars, and my sister (yours too probably) have all worn these proudly. I came across this history of swarovski crystals at Fire Mountain Gems and thought it was a really interesting piece (I didn't know Josephine Baker wore them). Check it out

Wanna Scoop?

If you know me (or have read some of my recipes) I LOVE FOOD! And ice cream has been a special treat that my mom has always had a soft spot for. I've made my own rock salt ice cream at my great aunt's camp, eatten soft serve all over the north east, and am brought to my knees by Ben and Jerry's. Intro the ice cream earrings- Fat free :)

Do you have a sweet tooth?

I Love Lucite

Lucite is a weakness for me. My heart skips a beat when I see vintage lucite anything. So, when I saw these modern lucite mums I had to have some. Thus far they have become bobby pins and post earrings but I'm thinking of combining them with my glass pendants too. I have a new batch of them on the way to me and I can't wait to get my hands on them. Here are my favorite color gracing some silver plated bobby pins!


What do you think?

Latest Stitch

I'm currently being sidelined from most crafting- possible carpal tunnel in my right hand. But here is the latest project I completed before the dr's visit.

The pattern is Sexy Librarian from Sublime Stitching. I'm excited at how quickly I'm picking up embroidery.

Any other carpal tunnel victim's out there? How are you coping and continuing to craft?

Labor Day Freebie

A special deal for my friends and followers- every order from my shop between now and Monday will get a free polymer clay pie magnet. Just say Blog in the notes to seller.

Happy Labor Day!

Found a Giveaway

I just came across this giveaway from homeberries on one of my favorite sites craftster (great place for ideas and talking with other crafty folk). http://www.homeberries.com/2009/09/01/jungle-safari-pattern-giveaway-for-september/

The patterns look fun!

North Country Jelly

Crabapple Jelly is part of my childhood. My parents have a big tree in their back yard and my sister and I spent a lot of time throwing, eating, and all around enjoying the apples every year.
Here is an over-view of making jelly (detailed directions are in the pectin box)

Jelly is hard work I'm not going to lie but it is really fun too.
First go to town chopping up a bevy of crabapples. (plan a couple of hours to make this happen)

Measure it out and boil it down (Crabapples you need 5lbs of apples and 5 cups of water. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer.

Strain the fruit pulp through cheesecloth or a strainer. For this jelly you need 7 cups of juice (easier said then done, it's a lot of squishing).
Boil it up and add pectin, boil it again and add sugar (this one needs 9 cups). Boil it some more (1 min).
Laddle the mix into jars, cap and band. Drop into a boiling water bath that will cover the jars for 5 minutes.
Let it set and you've got jelly!

Zucchini Explosion!

Zucchini's never seem to travel in pairs, more than likely they arrive in bushels. My new found abundance of zucchini has arrived and what is a girl to do?
Make a killer veggish meal? Sure why not.
1 zucchinni sliced thickly
1 can of black beans
Rice
Garlic powder
Adobe
Seasame Oil
Olive Oil

Put olive oil in a pan throw in succhinni and black beans. Season and add seasame oil. Cook until tender and serve over rice. I ate with steamed dumplings and loved every bite!