in the works...with some thoughts about time management

The current EtsyBlogger Carnival is hosted by Edi of memoriesforlifesb.  Here are the topics:
1. How do you prioritize your time? How do you get more hours out of the day?
2. Are you a multi-tasker? Or do you prefer to finish one project before starting another?

I wrote a hub last month about this topic: Time Management Strategies and Techniques: How to Find Time For Your Hobbies and Personal Goals.  I am constantly asked, "How do you find the time for this?" about a number of my different projects.  This hub is my way giving people an honest answer because truthfully, there is no way to answer it in 2 sentences.

However, the basic answer I do give people is that I get a lot done while I'm watching TV, and I don't do a lot of random online browsing anymore.  I am constantly amazed how many people watch 2-3 hours of TV every day after work and don't get anything else accomplished during that time.  If you don't know where to start, cut out half that time or start getting something done while you watch.

As far as multitasking goes, I'm sure that you can tell from a lot of my "in the works" and "sneak peek" posts that I almost always have at least two beading projects going at one time, if not three or four.  I enjoy working up shorter projects in the middle of longer ones to help break things up.  I give myself plenty of time for the deadlines I do have, such as the EBW Challenges, so I don't get stressed out.

With all of that being said, here's a look at what I've been working on this past week.

I have been assembling my button magnet supplies this past week.  I haven't done a craft fair in almost a year, and it's been a long time since I worked on magnets.  I'm also going to try to develop some button tacks and button pins for my next show in November.  Does anyone have any ideas for how I could display pins?

I got out an old color combination when I remade this pendant recently.  I originally made a peyote cuff to match that I sold a while back.  I decided to make a herringbone piece this time.  It will be part of my new line that I'll release in 2012.

I've also been making a few purple/red pieces.  This is a brand new one that I'll be listing sometime this fall.

I have all of the pictures done for my clasp pattern and new right angle weave pattern (which I'm using my Picasso piece for).

I'm on track to list both the Picasso piece and the pattern for it well before the October 5 deadline.  I'm planning to release the clasp pattern before the end of October.

EtsyBloggers Carnival: fall recipe

I'm hosting one of the EtsyBlogger September carnivals.  The topics that I chose are:
1) Do you have a favorite fall recipe?  Share it here.
2) Have you been working on any new fall designs?  Post some pictures and talk about these new designs and/or post a tutorial.

I knew that I wanted to share a recipe, but I'll also briefly share my newest fall earrings with you again.

They are now available here.

I can't believe that I hadn't taken a picture of this recipe before now.  Normally these muffins get eaten so quickly that it's hard to take a picture until there are only one or two left.  But I remembered this week just for you guys.

 (The recipe for the other cookies in this picture is available right here.)

This recipe is from The Comfort Table by Katie Lee Joel.  It has been a staple in our house for the last couple years.  They are perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert.  We eat them all year round, but they are especially fitting for fall.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Muffins

This recipe includes nutmeg, which I don't add, but you can if you want.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup canola oil

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

one 15 oz. can pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling)

Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

In a medium bowl, beat together the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add the pumpkin puree and mix well. Add the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

Pour the batter into the muffin tin. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the muffin tin cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove the muffins.

EtsyBloggers Carnival: back to school fashion

Treasury round up will return next week.  I wasn't able to collect treasuries while I was out of town this week, but I'll gather them up and post everything next week.

One of the current EtsyBlogger Carnival topics is to talk about back to school fashions from my shop.  With a jewelry shop, there are tons of different options for back to school.  Of course pieces with fall colors are always a good choice.  (Click on the photos for the listings.)

Search fall in my shop for a few additional pieces.

I also be listing these sometime next month. (Yes, listing a seasonal piece in the correct season!)

Another fun consideration for a lot of the skinnier pieces in my shop is layering.  I know that this is not everyone's style, but I have always enjoyed stacking several bracelets together.

A lot of my narrower right angle weave bracelets are perfect for this.

Browse my right angle weave section for more choices.  There is no end of possibilities for different color combinations, themes, textures, styles, etc.

Does anyone else enjoy layering their bracelets?  I would love to see your techniques for this.

EtsyBloggers Carnival: Summer Recipe II

Before I get to the carnival topic, I have to post this picture that I forgot to include in yesterday's post. A few of you mentioned how nice the trees are in our neighborhood, which is definitely true.  There are lots of large trees.  This is something else that I missed in our newer neighborhood in Iowa.

Moving on, Deb (storybeader) also picked the topic of favorite summer recipe for the Blog Carnival.  I posted earlier this summer about how I love iced tea when I did my tea feature.  I also love iced coffee.  I don't drink it very often because I don't want to start a caffeine addiction.  But it's a wonderful treat once in a while, especially in the summer.  My brother stayed with us over the weekend and made coffee.  There was a little left over so I jumped on the chance to make some iced coffee at home.

I don't keep a lot of beans on hand.  We used some Hy-Vee brand beans that I got back in Iowa.  I stuck the leftover coffee in the fridge so I didn't need to add a ton of ice.  I also added a little bit of milk and a couple spoons of sugar.  Recipe Girl has a wonderful iced coffee tutorial with photos here.  I came across it through foodgawker a couple weeks ago.  I was going to use it for a future link list but you all get to enjoy it a little earlier than that for this carnival.

EtsyBloggers Carnival: Summer Recipe

I know that this topic was actually from last month, but I didn't want to skip it.  Two of my all time favorite recipes for any time of year, but especially summer, are tuna salad and chicken salad.  It took me a while to get Jake to try them, but now he loves them as much as I do.  Of course, Angel does as well!  I've developed a set of ingredients that I use for both.  I wrote it up as a hub.  Check it out here.  Enjoy!

June EtsyBloggers Featured Seller

The EtsyBloggers featured seller for June is tamdoll.  I honestly don't know her very well because she isn't very active on our Etsy forum, but she has a neat shop.  Of course she has a blog, too, which you can visit by clicking here.  She has a lot of fun with fabric making jewelry, dolls, and bags.  She has patterns available for a couple of her dolls, too.  Here are a few of my favorite items from her shop.

Don't Be Blue Trendy Plaid Handbag - Upcycled Wool Scarf

A lot of my teammates have featured these little hearts this month, too, but I can see why.  They are really adorable.

Fabric Jewelry Heart Charms - Cotton Love to Share

Lilac Oak Leaf Tiny Pin - Brooch of Wool Felt

EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival: Summer Colors

One of the topics for this past week's blog carnival was summer colors (yep, I'm a couple days late, but only because I've had so much other stuff scheduled here).  Of course I couldn't pass up an opportunity to talk about color.  This topic also fits in perfectly with the July EBW Challenge theme, which is sizzling sunshine and soothing water.  You can read more about it here.  Yep, I just finished and listed my June piece and I'm already thinking about July.  That's how it goes with these challenges!

I took my time ordering beads for this challenge because I was having trouble tracking down some seashell or fish beads.  I had it in my head that I wanted some really sea tiny beads for part of the embellishment and just couldn't find what I wanted that was in my price range and was in a color palette that fit my piece.  I was going to order some seed beads from Shannon at beadsandbabble anyway, so on a whim, I searched shell beads there.  As you can see from the results, that's what I should have done in the first place.  It was so hard to pick, but I finally settled on this set.

They're a little bigger than my original vision, but that's okay.  I am still not entirely sure how I'm going to structure the embellishment for this piece, but it will have a R.A.W. base that represents sand with the water, shells, and sun layered over it.  Sand is not a requirement for the challenge piece, but I'm a huge fan of sand dunes so I had to include sand in my piece.

I'll be supplementing this new stash with some seed beads in my current collection, but you can get a pretty good idea of the color palette.

In general, I definitely think of bright colors when I think of summer.  Yellow always comes to mind because of the sun.  I'm still stuck on green from the spring and haven't made any new pieces specifically for summer yet.  As I mentioned last week, I will be making some Fourth of July pieces during the next few weeks.  For now, here are some summery pieces from my shop.  Click on the photos to go to the listings.

treasury round up

Thank you as always to the wonderful Etsians who include my work in their treasuries!  There are several new ones this week.

Cathy (DanglersBeads) included my Beaded Bangle Bracelet - Dreaming of Hawaii in her Somewhere Over the Rainbow treasury.  Thanks Cathy!

12mm African Jade Round Beads - 16 Inch Strand

Edi (memoriesforlifesb) included my Beaded Cuff Bracelet - Summer Stripes in her Summer Lovin' by the EtsyBloggers treasury.

GRANDPA Word Album Mini Chipboard Scrapbook

Connie (AsteropeBC) included my Square Stitch Cuff Bracelet - Embellished - Summer in her Spicy Hot Beadweaver Summer treasury.  I am honored to be included in this stunning beadwoven selection of items.  Thanks Connie!

Colorful Star Flower Handmade Bracelet

April EtsyBloggers Featured Seller

The EtsyBloggers featured seller for April is Linda (lindab142).  Linda is a great teammate and a wonderful blogger.  I like her Etsy shop, but I really love her blog.  (You can find her on Twitter, too.)  Linda goes out of her way to feature other great Etsians and to relay tips and advice.  She gives us a peak into her personal life and works in progress and shares other thoughts about her crafty endeavors.  She also does a weekly Top Etsy Finds post.  Blog readers can vote for their favorite find.  The winner gets an interview on her blog.  I've enjoyed getting to know her the past few years.

Here are a few neat finds from her shop.

Beige Pearl Earrings

Yellow Spring Glass Earrings to match Bracelet

Blue Glass Beaded Bracelet

April EBW Challenge

Voting for the April EBW Challenge Spring Around the Corner is up and running!  You can vote on the right hand side of the blog today through April 15.  Here's my entry again.

As always, there are lots of stunning entries.  Please go check out all of them.  Here are a few of my favorites.
Leafing Out by njema

Spring Awakening Beadwoven Necklace EBWC by njdesigns1

Raindrops on Lilacs by HauteIceBeadwork

Also, Margaret (SplendidLittleStars) included my Beaded Dangle Earrings - Lime Green Leaves in her Etsy Bloggers Team: the softness and sweetness of Spring treasury.  Thanks Margaret!

I linked this post to Erika's Creative Friday Features -- Easter Tutorials post for her seasonal items related link party.

favorite gemstone - EtsyBloggers Carnival

One of the March EtsyBloggers carnival topics is to talk about one of your favorite gemstones and why you like it.  Aside from my wedding ring, I don't wear a lot of gemstones myself.  If I do get another high end ring at some point, it will almost definitely also have diamonds.  I don't work with a lot of gemstones in my own jewelry making either, but I do like incorporating chips or small rounds sometimes.  In the last year, I've made several pieces with jade and malachite.  I've always loved the look of malachite and have really enjoyed working with jade recently.

I finally listed one of my new green pieces.  At least I'm getting them up while it's still spring!

This piece is part of my rock garden series and is available here.  This newest green version has some wonderful Czech glass components from Art Beads, vintage green leaf beads from Shannon (beadsandbabble), and of course malachite chips.  I am still working on the rock garden pattern.  I'm not promising a projected date at this point with everything going on with our move in a couple months, but it will be up at some point.

And here are my jade pieces.  I sold the first one.  The second one is available here.  And yes, the clasps for the first two are Lisa Peters buttons (LisaPetersArt).  I made the third one shortly after completing the first two back in the winter but still haven't listed it.  I am VERY tempted to keep it for myself because it looks awesome with a dress I got when I was in my cousin's wedding party a couple years ago, but I will most likely part with it.  I already have a cuff that I specifically designed go with the dress so you know...how many coordinating bracelets do I really need?  If you'd like to claim it for yourself, please let me know.

And as always, if you'd like to see anything else with jade or malachite or have any specific requests for similar pieces with other gemstones, don't hesitate to leave your suggestions or contact me.

March EtsyBloggers Featured Seller

The March EtsyBloggers featured seller is Karen (mysticwynd).  For any of you who follow my Facebook fan page, you may remember that Karen featured some of my pieces on her blog a while back.  Karen posts lots of wonderful features.  I'm honored that I've been included in some of them.  Karen includes other EtsyBloggers in her features as well as in her treasuries.  I don't know her very well, but the exchanges that I've had with her have always been great.  I know that many people reading this are as ready for spring as I am so I'm going to feature a few pieces from her shop with that theme in mind.

Gardener's Copper Charm Bracelet w Flowers

Green Apple Turquoise w Pearl Necklace

Spring Flower Necklace w Love Quote Charm - Nature of Love