Today's feature:

http://Thatsheadley.etsy.com
http://thatsheadley.blogspot.com

That's Headley's artist does amazing things with metal, stone, and glass. Obviously harnessing some kind of super power from the San Antonio sun, this store offers wire wrapped pieces that make me want to put down my wire spool for good!





Dazzling pieces (and wonderful light box photography!) definitely catch the eye, but do not cross over into gaudy territory by any means. There is no fear in playing with colors here, and the colors always seem to make some kind of magic.





Along with impressing me with sparkles and metals, That's Headley's curator also loves to do custom work, boasts 262 hearts, has 100% positive feedback, and is owned by at least one kitty.

90 Day Challenge

I've joined a challenge to write 90 reviews of 90 Etsy stores in 90 days! I hope I can keep up with it!

Here is my first random choice:

Blue Baby

Blue Baby's curator, Amanda, has a crochet hook and is not afraid to use it! She offers hats, washcloths, jewelry, and best of all: silly little crocheted critters. My intuition must have lead me to write about this store first because I have quite a weak spot for crocheted critters! Hers are immensely hilarious, with choices such as Evil Elmer and Stoner Stanley (complete with bloodshot eyes).





If you're in the mood for something else, her baby hats are adorable, and she does offer some kicky little numbers for adults as well.





Blue Baby is not even a month old, but already has two glowing reviews from buyers and 50 hearts! What an adorable little shop Amanda has.

13 Albums of Pure Love

Instead of finishing my 23948739287 projects I've started, I'm immersing myself in allmusic.com and reading their reviews of my favorite albums.

Americano by Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jbfexq8aldte~T1
4.5 stars

Sing the Sorrow by AFI:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jpfuxqyaldae
4 stars

Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3bfuxqu5ldde
4.5 stars

Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ajfqxqwald0e
4 stars

Relish by Joan Osborne:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:k9fyxqqhldae
4 stars

Songs of Faith and Devotion by Depeche Mode:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fnfwxqwgldje
4 stars

When the Pawn... by Fiona Apple:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hxfyxqwkld0e
4.5 stars

Sweet Revenge by John Prine:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:39fwxqr5ldfe
4.5 stars

Provisions, Fiction & Gear by Moth:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:abfqxqq0ldde
3 stars

Black Market Music by Placebo:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:aifuxql0ld6e
4 stars
*It's seriously difficult for me to chose a favorite by Placebo. Probably my most loved band for very solid, wonderful albums.

Funeral by Arcade Fire:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kifixqtsldje
4.5 stars
*The reviewer totally misses the fact that the songs are sung from the point of view of children, though, and that boggles my mind.

Stop All The World Now by Howie Day:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hvfpxq9aldje
4 stars

Dummy by Portishead:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hifixqthldde
5 stars



These are the albums I'll almost be guaranteed to take on a long trip. Albums I've played a million times, but they still keep showing me new things to love. I'm also pleasantly surprised by the genre variation I have listed up there! Lots of different artists can really reach me. :)

I have two new beautiful pieces featuring beads I got from the Gem Faire:




Click here to view the listing on Etsy

and:



Click here to view the listing on Etsy


I took the photos for both in my lightbox. I need a brighter light source for it, but other than that it's great! Earrings are a little tricky, as they don't want to stay put on the curved card stock. I'll figure it out with some trial and error.

Gem Faire Loot!

Sparklies!

I have taken the day off to raid the Rock and Gem Faire. I am that much of a nut, yes.

I'm so excited about it! I've been saving since April, and now I get to go and hopefully find a bunch of things I simply cannot live without (snark, snark). I'm hoping for some iolite and kyanite especially, since online stores seem to carry only chips, spikes, and unappealingly-colored beads. Either that or they're $130 a strand, and that's just not in my budget.

Other things I'll be specifically looking for:
Carved stone beads
Amethyst (it sells like mad for me)
Carnelian (ditto)
Citrine
Labradorite
Seraphinite
Red tiger eye
Tourmalated quartz

I'm sure I'll return with an armload of amazingly gorgeous specimens. I'll play with my lightbox and see if I can get nice pictures of them (it's dark and raining outside).


In other news, my mature content earrings have 911 views! They'll be my first item to hit 1,000 if nothing goes wrong with the view counters! :D

Autumn

It's my days off and you know what that means? Super crafting and cleaning time!

I'll be walking to the post office to mail out some orders, and (hopefully) walking up to Beads! today in hopes that they have the waxed linen I need for a custom order. I just finished a gorgeous purple choker with quartz beads, but it's too dark outside to take pictures...

...So it's the perfect time for me to get a light box. On the list to buy are: a mostly translucent Rubbermaid/Sterilite/whatever box, grey card stock, and a tripod. I think my two desk lamps will work for lighting as long as the box is propped in the window to get whatever natural light is available. I'm willing to experiment.

A very lovely group of pictures are up on Flickr for the EAST Autumn Challenge. I am amazed at some of the talent in there! The colors are also very awesome, and the whole feel makes me tingle with excitement. Autumn has always been a magical time for me.

Etsy recently got a glowing review from MSNBC, who spoke with our founder, Rob Kalin.

Shouts!

Thanks to Xiane's eye pillow, my irritated eye was so much better today. It was all red and crusty on the outside corner yesterday. That pillow has saved me when I've been crying. My eyes will sometimes swell almost shut, but not any more!

I also got a deal on partially used essential oils from another EAST member, feydesigns. I want to get my hands on some sweet almond oil and make some massage oils. Then I can go out and find someone to use them on me! ;)

The incredibly talented DC Designs gave me a lovely shout out in her blog today! She's the one who custom made all those adorable pumpkins, skulls, and gravestones for me. Everything she makes looks like it has been kissed by the fae. She's currently offering free shipping for orders over $25!

Oh wow!

I just went down to haul up my Halloween stuffs.

I thought it was a couple boxes... what universe am I in again?

FOUR boxes, one large jack o lantern, one large cauldron full of stuff, one large spiderweb, one large gravestone and three 3 liter wine bottles later... I'm soaked in sweat and covered in asbestos!

I need to dig through all of it and toss out anything that's broken/nasty. I haven't had the chance to do that in YEARS. Then when it all comes down, I can pack it a little better.