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!!

The Tale of the Blue Icicle Lights

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, known as Los Angeles, there lived two roommates, in a village called The Valley. One holiday season Lord Tom, the taller of the two, gave Lady Elayne, the...shorter, a box of blue icicle lights as a gift. Ah, thought Lady Elayne, blue because it is my favourite colour, and because it matches my eyes, and because I celebrate Hanukkah. But alas, Lady Elayne, being unhandy and lazy, found the task of hanging the lights rather daunting. And icicle lights in a condo? She found that idea rather questionable.

And so the fair lady put the lights away for another year. And another year. And another year.

And so it came to pass that Lady Elayne moved to a land 4 1/2 hours away if you don't drive during peak traffic. A land of dry air, cactus, heat and slot machines. Las Vegas. And in this land Lady Elayne purchased a house. As the first holiday season in her new home approachethed, Lady Elayne decided that this was the year of the blue icicle lights. But alas it was not meant to be. She searched high (upstairs) and low (downstairs) but the lights would not be found. (Did we mention Lady Elayne was a slob as well as being unhandy and lazy?)

Sometime later, on a warm summer's eve as the lady rooted around her storage area (aka garage) she stumbled upon them! The blue icicle lights had returned! Lady Elayne waited anxiously for the days to shorten and the temperature to drop. She vowed she would have her blue icicle lights hung by the chimney with care this year.

Lady Elayne penciled the day in to her planner, and on that morning, in the month of December, she awoke, bushy eyed and bright tailed. As the scent of the fresh brewing coffee awakened her senses she sat with the box, carefully opened it up and found...

Maple syrup and pancake mix.

Craft Show Dec. 7 & New Listing

Pictured is one my latest works, now available in our Etsy Shop. It's a bracelet inspired by the Leather Pride Flag. I'd never heard of this flag, but someone looking at my gay rainbow bracelet suggested it. We found pictures of it online and I had to give it a go. I think it came out very true to the actual flag. I'm not going to go into details about what the flag represents (partly because I'm not sure I'm clear on it.) I will say that while it's not for everybody, it sure is for somebody.

We are only doing one show this holiday season. It's this Sunday, Dec. 7 9AM-3PM at Temple Beth Sholom in Summerlin...Las Vegas NV (Town Center, 1 block north of Desert Inn. 10700 Havenwood Lane.) Given that our only show is at a Synagogue it's just as well I never got to my Christmas specific designs. Next year I'll have to plan earlier for that. I have no excuses for my lack of preparation, I'm pretty sure this season comes around the same time every year.

Hope all you Americans had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I was fortunate in that it fell on my day off and nobody cooks a turkey like my mommy!!