Music Boxes & Giveaway!!!

I recently joined a Swap Shop & Blog group. We were all assigned a partner. We swap items from our shops and blog about each other. My partner wrote a lovely piece upon receiving her items, for which I am extremely grateful. I received my amazing gifts in the mail just days ago and was so excited. I adore the sound of music boxes and the music box pendant is so unique. Rather than try to explain her work in my fumbling way, I have asked her to do it. After reading, I urge you to visit both her fabulous shops! (And make sure you read to the bottom for details on her giveaway...)

Hello,

I sent you an item from each of my shops. The first is from my supply shop, Tuned Teeth Music Box Supply. It is a clockwork music box mechanism with a plated winding key.


The song it plays is called Anniversary Song and it's a famous Romanian tune and very old. In Europe it's called Waves of the Danube and in Korea it's known as The Psalm of Death (probably because of how soft and sad it sounds). Music box mechanisms are normally used by crafts people and other artists to put into traditional handmade boxes, sculptures, bears and stuffed toys or sometimes to repair old items.




The second gift in your package is from my studio site, Clockwork Fantastica. It is a miniature music box pendant from my "Fascination Collection". It's called Crossed Hearts (I think you can see why). I finished it by setting it with double brass bails on a reddish copper necklace. From start to finish it took me about 4 days to make and it's meant to last.

On the reverse side of the pendant there's a little brass key for you to wind. This operates the musical element and it plays a little waltz called Love Story.

I started making my musical pendants (as well as pins, pocket music boxes and other small items) shortly after my love affair with music boxes in general started and I began learning everything I could about them. They are a continual enchantment for me and I think for most people. There's something nostalgic and even a little bit mysterious about them, you know?

My music box jewelry is all designed and made by me and is created in small numbers. They are mainly available on my site and in person when I do shows.

The best way to get a jump on which shows I'll be attending and what new items are available is through my blog Plucked Pins where I announce everything like that.




The Giveaway
The winner of this giveaway gets one of these little Daisy music box pendants from the Clockwork Fantastica studio store (the winner gets to choose)!

http://clockworkfantastica.bigcartel.com/product/daisy-chain-miniature-music-box-pendant


You can enter this giveaway twice and double your odds by,

1. Commenting here about a particular item in the store that you like.

2 Following the Plucked Pins blog and posting comment here about what type of content you would like to see on Ola's music box blog.

This giveaway ends on Weds., November 11, 2009.

The Card Fairy

When playing poker, it's very VERY important to protect your hand. What better way than with The Card Fairy?

Duck Duck Goose??

Anthony and I went to Mesquite (NV) for our weekend. The highlight of our little trips there are the ducks and the whole goose family that we visit at the pond in front of the Casablanca. In fact, we go every May specifically because it's baby duck season.

On this visit we were dismayed to find all the ducks and geese were gone! Anthony believes they put someting in the water that keeps them away. He says they used to have ducks at the Marriott in Summerlin and they got rid of all of them there too.

Why, why would you do this Casablanca??? It's not enough you've closed the Oasis and put all those people out of work, you had to get rid of the ducks too?? Why...WHY???

Memories for Life

Memories For Life is the August featured Etsyblogger Team Member. Edi Royer is a scrapbooker and paper crafter extraordinaire. Wonderful albums. notebooks, etc. can be found in her Etsy store.

Memories For Life blog is where you can keep up with it all.

Food For Thought

August 28 Blog Carnival

1) Your favorite food. What is it and why? If it's something you make please share the recipe.

2) Back to school. What does it mean to you?

Since back to school only means I have to drive 15mph on Gowan on my way to work I will choose option #1.

I have many favourite foods so this is a toughy. I love and collect recipes for Sugar Pie, a Canadian treat that is as sweet as the name implies, and Shoo Fly Pie, an Amish delight I discovered whilst visiting a small town in Pennsylvania when I was 16. (On a side note, I also discovered what a taco was on that trip and I love those too!)

I also thought to share a couple of recipes that have been made by my mom (and now by me) my whole life. A lovely banana cake (not bread, cake) and a scrumptious coffee cake. Then there are my grandmother's Butterscotch Curls (drool) and my aunt's Cherry Wonders (which I can't make because the dough must be refrigerated overnight and I really cannot be left alone in the house with raw cookie dough ALL night.)

But you know what? Soup season is approaching, carrots are cheap and healthy, and would it kill us to talk about something that is actually good for us?? So here's a simple carrot soup I make that is delicious, easy and I've discovered, also good cold (in case soup season drags it's feet.)

FRESH CARROT SOUP WITH HERB MIX

1/2 cup minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
Nonstick cooking spray
4 cups nonfat low sodium chicken broth (I just use powdered usually.)
1 lb carrots, sliced
1 teaspoon lemond juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chopped cilantro (I DO NOT use this. Cilantro....blech.)
Chopped basil (dried works fine for me.)
Crushed red pepper flakes

Saute onions and garlic in medium saucepan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in broth and carrots and heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until carrots are tender 25-30 minutes.

Puree carrots and broth in blender (I use Magic Bullet) until smooth. Blend in lemon juice and salt.

Spoon into serving bowls (I eat it straight out of the pot) and sprinkle each with a little chopped cilantro (again, blech) and basil. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes for spice before serving.

4 SERVINGS, EACH SERVING:

152 calories;475 mg sodium;5mg cholesterol;1 gram fat;26 grams carbohydrates;11 grams protein;1.16 grams fiber.

Where Have All The Good Times Gone?

In a few months, the holiday season will be in full swing. What are you planning for: increasing your inventory, festival hopping, networking?

Yes, the subject of the next Etsybloggers Carnival. The holidays. When I first saw this on the schedule I thought "Sh*t...the holidays? AlREAdY???!?!?!?

Well, yes and no. We're a few months away but everybody knows (except for people under, say, 20) how fast the time goes. And crafters need the time to make holiday stuff and get it out there so that it can be purchased on time for gifts and personal wear. Last year I wanted to make myself a pair of those adorable Swarovski tree earrings, but try to find the components for that in December...fuggetaboutit. So I made mine in January.

Now I'm in my "all about resin" phase so I'm on the lookout for holiday pictures and paper to turn magically into super cool bracelets, pendants, rings...

I made one pendant which is at the top of this page. I love her!!

a place of felted and fabric goodness!

Miesmama's shop on Etsy really is filled with felted goodness! Headbands, bag, bowls...just a whole lot of really cool stuff made out of felt. Who'd have thunk it?

Check it out, and then visit Miesmama Blog:
a creative journal of a mother's passion for things handmade.