JustJaynes

Growing out my hair

2012-01-20T21:11:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure when I decided to grow my hair long. Maybe a year ago.

Here are some comparison pictures.

I also decided to lighten up the base and add highlights. A lot different in only a year!

Do you have any tips for growing out hair?

2012-01-20T16:30:00.000-05:00

This is my giant furry cat, CC. Almost every afternoon around 3:30pm, he comes into my studio area, meows, walks around, and meows some more until I pick him up and cuddle.

New Today

2012-01-16T18:51:00.000-05:00

A few new items in my etsy shop today!

New in the Studio today

2012-01-13T17:28:00.001-05:00

Just BE necklace

XO Hugs and Kisses necklace

Queen GG necklace

This guy always lets me know when it's time to quit working!

Happy as a Peacock on a Branch

2012-01-09T13:28:00.002-05:00

Peacock necklace

Peacocks have a special meaning in our family. We were touched that my sister bought this necklace for my sister, mother, and me for Christmas. My mom wore it the other day with a bright teal sweater and it looked wonderful!

It's Monday, have a great week!

Love,

CathyJayne

Thank you

2012-01-06T15:09:00.003-05:00

Stickers by Kawaiigoodies

Thank you!

For making 2011 a successful year here at JustJaynes.com!

New stamps!

2011-09-11T12:14:00.002-04:00

It was pretty exciting to get my new stamps on Friday! Here are a few of my new creations. They can all be purchased in my Etsy shop.

Hot off the stamping block!

2011-09-07T21:02:00.000-04:00

I've been stamping out new jewelry almost daily. Here's today's creation.

Sometimes a simple word is all you need to convey your message. A sterling silver bar is hand stamped "BELIEVE."

At only $22 it's an affordable piece of jewelry whether for you or for gift-giving. You can personalize it with any custom phrase, name, or initial.

Order yours today HERE or contact me at Cathy{at}JustJaynes{dot}com.

Love,
CathyJayne

My favorite garden accessory!

2011-08-29T21:34:00.002-04:00

First thing I did this spring was put out my toad houses. I check them about once a week and have found evidence of use.

Sunday while working in the yard, I peeked in one of the toad houses and found it occupied. He must not have liked me peeking because he barricaded himself in that night. Hubby said he did that because it was cool. Maybe.

After the yardwork was done, I came in and made my favorite summertime lunch. Tomatoes and fresh mozzarella!

Hope you had a great weekend!

Love,
CathyJayne

2011-08-24T17:56:00.002-04:00

I made several new items today! View them in my Etsy shop!

Love,
CathyJayne

New items!

2011-08-18T20:52:00.004-04:00

With silver and gold prices rising and rising, I've been looking into some less expensive alternatives. I love the look of two-tone, so here are a couple of bronze and sterling pieces.

These are only $19 each!

Click on the pics to go directly to the Buy Page!

Love,
CathyJayne

A Day Off

2011-08-17T14:25:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I took the day off work. It was girls day, so I joined my mom, three of my nieces and one of my sisters for a day of fun!

We started at the Children's Museum where the little girls played and explored! Then lunch at One Trick Pony. Next we were off to the Public Museum, which is where I took this fun photo.

The ladybug is my sis, Ashley. And then caterpillar is my niece Cristina.

Today is back to work!

Love,
CathyJayne

Things I Want

2011-08-15T14:47:00.012-04:00

Hanging my head in shame, I realize that I haven't blogged in a WEEK!!! There's really not excuse except that I haven't had the motivation. So I peeked at my blog schedule and Monday is "Things I Want or Things I Buy" day!

So here are a few of my new Etsy favorites!

I love aprons. I love ruffles. Need I say more?

My grandfather passed away this spring. When anyone asked him how he was doing, he'd say "Happy as a Peacock on a Branch." I love peacock feathers.

I love quilts, pink, green, flowers! This is a double favorite!

Interested in any of these items? Click on the picture to go to the Etsy listing.

Love,
CathyJayne

New items on my Birthday!

2011-08-08T18:08:00.004-04:00

My birthday is pretty easy to remember. 08-08. This year is my 40th, but it feels like any other day! Three years ago, on 08-08-08, my hubby and mom threw me surprise party. So I wasn't expecting one this year.

We went out to breakfast with my parents and three nieces then came home so that I could work on jewelry orders and new items. With vacations and golf keeping me busy, I really needed to spend some time in the studio.

So here are a few of my latest items.

Love,
CathyJayne

Back to normal!

2011-08-02T21:15:00.008-04:00

I always look forward to getting back to normal after a vacation! I love working from home, and am a routine-kinda-person. Here are a few new items that are only on my main website. As I list more new items, most will only be on my site, not in my Etsy shop. Why? Because the fees are much lower, saving YOU and ME $$ !!

Both of these necklace are $29 each.
That's a great price for sterling silver these days! Click on the pictures to go directly to the listings.

I don't share many pictures of myself. As I age, I am less photogenic. Here are a couple pics. Back in the early spring I decided to grow my hair out. It's much lighter, too! No more showing off earrings until I can pull it back!

Love,
CathyJayne

Day 2 & 3 of Vacation 3

2011-08-01T21:16:00.008-04:00

Our second day of vacation #3 turned out to be cloudy, so we hit the road to explore the northern coast of the Upper Peninsula. I fell in love with Whitefish Bay. We visited a lighthouse and a roadside park on the bay for a snack.

The further north we went, the clearer the sky! It really was cloudy back at the cabin! I love the sand, stones, and blue water of Lake Superior and Whitefish Bay.

Day 3 of Vacation #3
Taquamenon Falls

Love,
CathyJayne

Day 1 of Vacation 3

2011-07-30T16:49:00.010-04:00

Our last vacation concluded on Wednesday. I'm finally getting to pictures and catching up on laundry and un-packing!

Last Saturday we packed up the Suburban with 4 people, a dog, and all our stuff to head the Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Along the way, we stopped in Clare to visit a new customer, Anne, at Coffee Talk 505. Her shop is adorable, the coffee yummy, and the flatbread pizzas AMAZING!

From there we continued north to stop in Cheboygan and visit family. Cheboygan is one of my favorite northern Michigan places to visit. Mainly because family is there, along with water, smoked fish, and fudge!! The onto the Big Mac! It's always fun to approach the Mackinac Bridge, see Lakes Superior and Huron and enter the UP. We met up with my sister and her family in Strongs at a cute cabin on High Banks Lake.

Here's a picture of my husband, father, and nephew. The very first thing they did when we arrived at the cabin was grab fishing poles to catch some fish!

More photos later!

Love,
CathyJayne

An Instagram week of camping

2011-07-18T22:25:00.006-04:00

We spent the week in Northern Michigan at Interlochen State Park. Interlochen is also known for it's music camp. If you've seen the movie American Pie, "band camp" is based on Interlochen Music Camp.

Anyway, the campground on Duck Lake. It's big and great for fishing. This is the first time we took our dog with us, so we weren't sure how he'd do, but he was sooo good! Of course, he's 9 years old, so he was mellow and slept most of the time!

As you can see, we tent camp. Our tent is 10x12 which started out being a good size, but now that we have a cot and an air mattress, it seems too small. So we are shopping for larger tents. Cheaper than a camper!

It's always nice to get away for a few days, but there's always a lot to be done when I get home. Laundry. Jewelry orders. Laundry.

I'm ready to pack all the camping gear away until next year, but we are taking off one more time this summer! So the totes and equipment will linger in my dining area a few more days.

Have a great week!

Love,
Cathy Jayne

Giveaway winners!

2011-07-06T13:03:00.004-04:00

The winners are!!

CelebrateToday
Kendra.
LindaD
Amanda
Frogeaze
Jennifer.

I'll contact you each in order and let you know what is still available!
Love,
CathyJayne

Weekend recap

2011-07-04T21:20:00.009-04:00

I hope you all had a great holiday weekend, whether you made it a grand celebration or enjoyed a relaxing 3-day weekend.

Saturday we stayed home and I caught up on some much-needed yard work. I've shown my toad houses before and I'd seen evidence of life but did not see any toads in them. Saturday, while pulling weeds, I couldn't resist taking another peek! And there he was! Half buried in the dirt. Luckily, my new iPhone4 has a flash and that's how I was able to get this picture of the toad inside the house!

The last thing I did Saturday was plant some flowers in my deck planters. I picked out some purple and white petunias. Should've done it over Memorial Day weekend, but it's done and the deck looks much better!

Sunday we went to visit friends at their cabin on Rock Lake. Sun, food, swimming, and fishing. Sounds like a perfect summer day!

Today I worked on some orders to send out in the morning, sat on the deck and finished my book, did some laundry, made biscuits for the potluck at golf tomorrow.

Hope you have a great week!

Love,
CathyJayne

Purple Giveaway Day!

2011-06-29T10:55:00.014-04:00

Purple is the theme for this giveaway!
That's right. I'm giving away all of these. Even better, I have TWO of each to give away.
So there will be SIX winners in all!

1. Purple chrysanthemum post earrings. On surgical steel posts.
2. Purple tea rose flower ring. On adjustable base.
3. Large purple ruffle flower ring. On adjustable base.

The first two winners will get first choice, then each winner after that.

I will use a random number generator (Random.org) on Wednesday morning to select the winner.
Get your entries in by Tuesday, July 5, midnight (Eastern time).

LEAVE a comment on this blog post then visit my
Facebook Page and "Like" it if you don't already. It's that easy!

Make sure I have your contact information so that I can get in touch with you!!
A great way to leave your email is this format: cjmeinke{at}hotmail{dot}com

International shoppers are welcome to enter.

Good luck!

Love,
CathyJayne

Camping Trip 2011

2011-06-28T15:23:00.022-04:00

We've been married for 9 years. And our first camping trip together was just last year! Hubs had camped at Interlochen State Park many times with his family and hadn't been back in many years. The park is between two large lakes, Duck Lake and Green Lake. The park is on Duck Lake. I didn't see any ducks, but they do have loons there!

When we arrived, I was thrilled with the view of the lake from out site. It looks down and across the lake. It was cloudy and cool, but the sun popped out as it was setting and lit up the trees!

Of course where there's a campfire, there are smores! I found the new marshmallows that are flat and square to fit the graham cracker and create the perfect proportion of chocolate to mallow.

The next morning Hubs took this photo of the beautiful sunrise then I took a photo of hum and our nephew out fishing.

My idea of camping is RELAXING! This includes a hammock and a book! I finished this one and started another. If you want to read a great book, I highly recommend "The Silent Gift" by Michael Landon, Jr.

We have another camping trip planned for Interlochen and are looking forward to it!!

Where do you love to camp?
What are your favorite things to do when camping?

Love,
CathyJayne

Chex Mix

2011-06-22T18:43:00.002-04:00

Today I made Chex Mix for our camping trip. Nothing fancy about this. It's the basic recipe that is on the back of the Wheat Chex box. And it goes like this:

3 cups Corn Chex cereal
3 cups Rice Chex cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
1 cup mixed nuts (used the fancy mix, no peanuts!)
1 cup bite-size pretzels (used sticks cuz that's what hubby likes)
1 cup garlic-flavor bite size bagel chips
6 Tablespoons butter (mmm... butter)
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1-1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1. In large microwaveable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.

2. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

It was pretty easy, but I had to buy all the ingredients, except butter and seasoned salt!!

Love,
CathyJayne

NEW in my shop!

2011-06-21T14:26:00.005-04:00

Tuesday is "New Items Day." Watch every Tuesday for my latest creations!

I ordered some Thai Hill Tribe blank charms to stamp letters, numbers, flowers, hearts! And like most of the charms in my shops, they are 1mm thick. A thicker charm means it will hang better because it has more weight to it. You also will feel like you're getting what you pay for!

Find them HERE!

Love,
CathyJayne

Things I Buy

2011-06-20T16:51:00.002-04:00

I love sharing my recent purchases! Lately I've been buying rings from Little Bug Jewelry.
This is my latest gift to myself.

Isn't it amazing! And NO, it's not a diamond, but wouldn't it be cool if it were a rough-looking diamond!? It's faceted crystal quartz set in sterling silver. She offers it in bright silver or oxidized. I chose the bright to go with my channel set diamond wedding bands.

Do you have any purchases to share?

Love,
CathyJayne

Cowboy Caviar

2011-06-15T20:05:00.004-04:00

I made this veggie side dish to go with our grilled salmon for dinner. It's a yummy and healthy summer salad! And I love the name!

* 1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, drained
* 1 (15.5 ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained
* 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
* 2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed
* 1/2 medium onion, chopped
* 1/2 cup chopped pickled jalapeno peppers
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
* 1 cup Italian salad dressing
* 3/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions
Mix beans, peas, tomatoes, corn, onion, and jalapeno peppers in a large bowl. Season with garlic salt. Add dressing and cilantro; toss to coat. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until ready to serve.

*** NOTE: I drained and rinsed all the canned ingredients and used a whole bag of the frozen corn.

It was a lovely evening to grill. We went to my parents and ate on the patio. At 9:34pm it was still light and the moon shone brightly!

Love,
CathyJayne

The early bird...

2011-06-15T13:16:00.003-04:00

Karlee was the first entrant for the book giveaway and Random.org chose #1! Congrats Karlee! I'll be in touch!

Love,
CathyJayne

What lives in my garden?

2011-06-13T18:36:00.010-04:00

This evening I went out to pull weeds in my flower garden. This spring I put in two toad houses! I know there are toads that live there, so I thought they might enjoy their own houses!

I peeked inside and they were empty but there was evidence that they'd been used!

This little guy gave me a scare while trimming my Bleeding Hearts. He found safety in the Rhododendron.

Love,
CathyJayne

Book Giveaway

2011-06-11T23:10:00.004-04:00

This week I want to change things up a bit and give away a book I just finished. And rather than have it sit on my bookshelf and collect dust, I want to pass it along. I hope that after you read it you will do the same!

For those of you who prefer jewelry, I'll give some away next week!

Love,
CathyJayne

Recently divorced Birdie Cousins is busy planning the September wedding of her older daughter, Chess, at the family house on Tuckernuck, a privately owned island near Nantucket. Birdie hopes to spend some quality time with Chess on Tuckernuck in July, but then Chess breaks her engagement to her consummate Ivy League golden boy fiancé, Michael Morgan. Michael fatally plunges off a Utah crag just when Birdie acquires her own new beau--a married man with a wife stricken with Alzheimer's. Birdie, Chess, and their support team--Birdie's computer-guru younger daughter, Tate, and Birdie's bohemian widowed sister, India--hare off to Tuckernuck. There hunky handyman Barrett Lee flutters hearts and dampens underwear in a breathless month of supercharged estrogenic imbalances. This never-never land portrait of the rich and randy will please those looking for a satisfying beach read.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (source Amazon.com)

I will use a random number generator (Random.org) on Wednesday morning to select the winner.
Get your entries in by Tuesday, June 14, midnight (Eastern time).

LEAVE a comment on this blog post then visit my Facebook Page and Like it if you don't already. It's that easy!

Make sure I have your contact information so that I can get in touch with you!!

International shoppers are welcome to enter.

Golf

2011-06-10T11:16:00.004-04:00

As many of you know, I spend much of my summer on the golf course. This year will be a little different since Hubby had knee surgery and can't golf until mid-August. We found this out AFTER we paid for our membership and each signed up for two leagues. We are teammates on one of the leagues. My Tuesday ladies league is no problem, but we had to get a sub for his Monday mens and our Thirsty Thursday couples.

Our new brother-in-law golfs, so we asked if he could help us out and he accepted! Last week we golfed together, I beat him by 1 stroke (50-51) . Last night, he beat me by 1 stroke (48-49). So now we are even!!

I'll keep you posted with next week's results!

Love,
Cathy Jayne

Jungle Kitty

2011-06-09T10:11:00.003-04:00

I took my hound dog for a short walk yesterday. Walks are great when I need to re-focus. When we returned, I saw the cat lounging in the neighbor's creeping myrtle!

This is CC. Many of you see him on my Facebook pages. He's a lounger, a cuddle-bug, and he loves the heat.

Love,
CathyJayne and CC

NEW in my Etsy shop

2011-06-08T12:31:00.003-04:00

A few new items will be posted in my Etsy shop.

Watch for another giveaway soon!

I'm thinking of giving away a couple of books. I read them once and they are still in perfect condition. What do you think????

Love,
Cathy Jayne

... and the winner is...

2011-06-07T14:29:00.001-04:00

Barb! From GardenPathQuilts!

Congrats Barb! I'll send you an email to get your mailing address!

Love,
Cathy Jayne

SPRING20

2011-06-05T11:29:00.005-04:00

Spring has finally arrived. Or have we gone right from late winter to summer? Spring means cleaning, planting, organizing. Getting ready to spend time outside after being cooped up for months!

To celebrate, use coupon code SPRING20 in either of my 2 shops:
On Etsy or from my website.

Love,
Cathy Jayne

June 7 Giveaway

2011-06-01T10:45:00.007-04:00

Win these lovely sterling silver earrings. They are hammered, oxidized, and have a slight curve for added dimension! They measure 2-1/8" long including the sterling earwire. Wear them with anything!

I will use a random number generator (Random.org) on Monday morning to select the winner.
Get your entries in by Sunday, June 6, midnight (Eastern time).

Go to my Facebook page then LEAVE a comment on this blog post.

Make sure I have your contact information so that I can get in touch with you!!

International shoppers are welcome to enter.

Good luck!

Love, Catherine

And the winner is...

2011-06-01T09:19:00.000-04:00

Laura!!

I'll send you an email so that I can get your contact info!

Thank you!

Are you ready?

2011-05-26T13:13:00.011-04:00

Are you ready for another giveaway!

I have this fantastic 46" long lariat made with black onyx and sterling silver beads. It is handmade. Lariats are fun because you can wear them in several different ways. Here are a few examples.

The Rules

1. I will use a random number generator (Random.org) on Tuesday morning to select the winner. Get your entries in by Monday, May 30, midnight (Eastern time).
2. You may enter by leaving a comment on this blog post for each completed task:

-Like my JustJaynes Facebook fan page (You can also comment if you are already a fan.)
-Share my Facebook fan page with your FB friends

-Sign up for my newsletter from my blog or JustJaynes.com (you'll get a coupon to my shop, too!)
3. You may leave up to 3 comments per day, that's a total of 15 entries!
4. International shoppers are welcome to enter.

Good luck!

Love, Catherine

We have a winner!

2011-05-25T11:02:00.004-04:00

Jennifer is the winner of these cute little earrings! I'll contact you for shipping info.

Stay tuned for the next giveaway!

Love,
Catherine

A JustJaynes Giveaway!

2011-05-22T11:25:00.007-04:00

This is my first giveaway EVER!! I hope there will be many more!

The Prize
These little lilac rose earrings. Dainty and sweet. Perfect for wearing with a sundress and your hair up. The little roses are on surgical steel posts. They will ship to you in a cute gift box.

The Rules
1. I will use a random number generator (Random.org) on Wednesday morning to select the winner. Get your entries in by Tuesday, May 24, midnight (Eastern time).
2. You may enter by leaving a comment on this blog post for each completed task:
-Like my JustJaynes Facebook fan page (You can also comment if you are already a fan.)
-Share my Facebook fan page with your FB friends
-Sign up for my newsletter from my blog or JustJaynes.com (you'll get a coupon to my shop, too!)
3. You may leave up to 3 comments per day, that's a total of 9 entries!
4. International shoppers are welcome to enter.

Good luck!
Love, Catherine

Things I Buy

2011-05-18T11:20:00.003-04:00

Things I Buy is my favorite blog topic! I love sharing my favorite purchases with my readers. Hopefully you'll find something you love, too!

I love jewelry, especially rings. I purchased the peridot and ruby solitaire rings from Jane at LittleBugJewelry. The outside sterling bands were a previous purchase from Ash at UnicornsGarden. They go together perfectly!

Happy Shopping!

Love,
Catherine

My Heartsy results

2011-05-01T18:44:00.002-04:00

I've had a lot of questions about Heartsy.me. Why I did it and my results.

It was only a few days after I discovered Heartsy that I signed up to be featured. I watched jewelry sellers sell 100 or more items in a day. What would that be like? How much money would I make? How much would be in my PayPal account? I had lots of questions but was more excited about the opportunity. Opportunity for exposure and to gain new customers.

My Heartsy goals:
*Sell off discontinued inventory
*Gain exposure and new customers
*Build up my PayPal balance

Results of selling $30 vouchers for $12:
*Started at 300, listings. Currently at 220.
*On the day of my feature, there were 2,712 unique visitors and 24,334 total visits to my shop.
(2 days earlier was 245/806)
*I won't know if I gained any new customers for a while.
*Sold 292 vouchers at $12 = $3,504 plus payment for any orders over $30

According to my calculations, approximately 1/2 of the vouchers purchased have been used. I suspect that many more will be used after Mother's Day. Hopefully not all in one day!!

So that's the quick version. If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I'll answer you!

Love,
Catherine

Do you Heartsy?

2011-04-25T19:38:00.004-04:00

I do! It can be addicting! Some Etsy.com sellers offer great discounts on their items. So far I've bought 2 deals. One from Flytrap and one from Whimsy and Ink.

This Wednesday, I'll have a special offer on Heartsy, so sign up now!

Love,
Catherine

New product photos

2011-04-20T19:49:00.003-04:00

Spent most of the day re-taking product photos and updating inventory for something big happening next week!

Here's a clue.

You can find these items in my Etsy shop.

Love,
Catherine

New for Mother's Day

2011-04-19T19:32:00.004-04:00

The new 3-charm Mother's necklace is available in sterling silver or gold vermeil. Don't need three? I also have it in 2 charm silver, 2 charm gold. If you only need 1 charm, contact me!
Cathy {at} JustJaynes {dot} com.

Love,
Catherine

American Coot

2011-04-18T14:26:00.003-04:00

I'd never seen this bird until yesterday. Often mistaken as a duck, the American Coot is a common waterbird. They have black bodies but you can see they have a white beak!

These birds are fun to watch, because unlike a duck, the AC will go completely underwater! They also peck at the ground, like a chicken!

So if you see these black birds on the water this summer, remember, they are not ducks!

Love,
Catherine

Cruel joke?

2011-04-18T14:19:00.003-04:00

Mother nature played a cruel joke on us today and put down a blanket of snow. Today is the day that I'd planned to start the Couch to 5K program.

I used to jog, used to love it. But for many years, I've been a couch potato. And I want to restart something that I'd once loved. I'm also a fair-weather jogger! I was discouraged by the snow, but still am committed to starting an exercise program. So I hopped on the exercise bike! (I hate the stationary bike.)

5 minute warmup
1 minute fast
1 minute normal
1 minute fast
1 minute normal
117 calories burned

That's was enough for me! I hope Wednesday will be a better day to hit the road with my running shoes!

Love,
Catherine

New chat charm necklace available

2011-04-14T20:06:00.002-04:00

These fun necklaces are now ready to ship! Find them in my shop!

Love,
Catherine

New charms

2011-04-12T12:30:00.003-04:00

Sometimes ideas pop into my head and they don't leave until I act on them. Last night, after I'd finished working, the idea to make Chat Charms came to me. No, I did not write down the idea, that's probably why the idea never left me.

In case you're not familiar with these chat terms, they are:
LOL: Laughing Out Loud
IKR: I Know Right
OMG: Oh My Gosh
WTF: What The French? (We use "french" as a substitute for the 4-letter F-word.

I hope they'll be a big hit at the show tomorrow. Regardless, they'll be listed in my shop soon!

Love,
Catherine

Vacation recap

2011-04-11T21:23:00.006-04:00

While most of my friends, family, and colleagues headed to warm climates for spring break, we headed East and only a little South. First stop, Gettysburg, PA.

Abe Lincoln sits outside the Gettysburg museum. On a non-rainy day, you can sit and have your picture taken with him! The cyclorama inside is a MUST SEE!

It was a cold blustery day, but there were still some photo opps. I like this red barn behind the wood fence, and might frame it to commemorate our visit.

We may go back again when the weather is better and spend a few more days. There are lots of great shops in the downtown area and lots of old buildings to tour. Great architecture in Gettysburg!

After arriving at the resort and getting a good nights rest, we drove a short distance to Atlantic City. I was excited to walk the Boardwalk! We didn't see all of it. Again, it was quite windy and cool. The ocean reminded me of Lake Michigan. Here we went off the Boardwalk to get a closer look at the ocean and pick up a few shells. You can see some of the shop behind us. That's me in the middle with my husband and mother-in-law.

You may be wondering why we went east and not south. The Reading Terminal Market is "why." Downtown Philadelphia has a wonderful indoor market. Poultry, beef, flowers, produce, books, seafood, cheese, bread, sweets. Almost anything you desire can be found at the market. Plenty of food stands and eating areas. One-stop-shopping for downtowners.

A 5 block walk from the market, through Chinatown, is the historic area. The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, US Mint, Betsy Ross' house, lots of halls and architecture. Philadelphia is another city that requires 2-3 days to take it all in.

We returned to Michigan and our first 80 degree day of the year! With nearly 40 orders to package and prep for shipping, loads of laundry to do, I snuck out for 20 minutes of raking the yard before I felt the pain of a nice blister!

Tomorrow I'll finish packaging orders and will work on prepping for a spring craft show on Wednesday! After that, it's back to business as usual. I hope.

Love,
Catherine

New items from the studio today

2011-03-29T17:57:00.003-04:00

Worked on a few new items today!

I love making keychains because they're great for men and women. This Diabetes Sucks has made a comeback. It's hand-stamped on hammered brass.

I'd been thinking about the "Cute As A Button" necklace for a while and made that today.

This morning while drinking my coffee, "Toes In The Sand" came to me while pondering what to do with the Adirondack chair charms.

Find them here and use Coupon Code JUSTJAYNES to receive 10% off!

Love,
Catherine

Baby It's Cold Outside

2011-03-24T19:40:00.003-04:00

Freezing Rain. Sleet. Rain. Hail. Snow. In that order, we had it all in West Michigan over the last few days.

Today, clear blue skies reveal the ice coated droopy branches and make for great photos.

Love,
Catherine

Contrast

2011-03-22T18:31:00.001-04:00

Originally uploaded by JustJaynes

I took this photo in a parking lot in Greenville. It was one of our mild sunny days. If there weren't snow in the photo, you might think it was taken in summer! But it was actually taken on one of the last days of winter.

Today, two days into spring, we have snow and freezing rain. Next week should bring the turnaround. Above freezing temps that will gradually warm everyday!

How's the weather where you are?

Love,
Catherine

New in MY shop

2011-03-18T11:23:00.005-04:00

My newest items have been added to my website. These are available as keyrings or keychains. You can also request a custom phrase. These special introductory prices will end Monday.

Everything in this site is a few dollars off my Etsy shop because my fees are so much lower. I hope you'll take advantage of the savings I've passed on to you!

Love,
Catherine

Cupcakes and New Items!

2011-03-17T16:36:00.006-04:00

CUPCAKES

The cupcake is just for fun!

It's a golden butter cake with butter cream frosting.
Hubs needed a treat for the girls basketball team that he coaches. The domestic goddess that I am (not) baked cupcakes. Luckily there were a few left over that I was able to enjoy. (3 so far today. Should save the last one for Hubby!)

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICING

This fun keychain is on sale for $10 through the weekend.
Get it while you can!

Love,
Catherine

New CANCER SUCKS keyrings

2011-03-15T07:44:00.003-04:00

New in my shop, two CANCER SUCKS keyrings. I think copper and brass work great for keyrings. You won't have to worry about the charm getting scratched or dented when you toss it into your purse, pocket, or drawer. Hammered version also available. (Click on the photo to go directly to the non-hammered keyring.)

Both are currently at an introductory price of $9 each. After this weekend, they'll be $14 each. Get one while you can!!

Love,
Catherine

Share the Road!

2011-03-14T16:54:00.004-04:00

This is a custom order that went out today.

If you have a favorite biking phrase, lay it on me! I'm always trying to think of new phrases to stamp on these blanks.

To order your own custom bike necklace, go here.

Love,
Catherine

Spring Cleaning sale

2011-03-14T12:39:00.002-04:00

I'm marking down some items to make room for new. Today's specially priced item is this Peace necklace. It would normally retail in my shop for $48. Only 1 left, so get it while you can. It won't last long at this price!

Click here to purchase.

Love,
Catherine

New items from the studio today

2011-03-11T21:10:00.006-05:00

Can you guess what these are? You might think they are earrings, but they are not. This is a completely new items in my shop. They are cuff links. I may start adding more cuff links that can be for men or women. I envision these on a groom. The one day his new wife will get him to wear flowers!

Speaking of weddings... These little 1/2" button earrings are made of white felt. I can just see them on a bride!

This butterfly necklace is new. I've had these charms for a while but wasn't sure what to do with them until today. The birthstone charm can be any stone you need, whether for you or a gift. It's available in 16" or 18" length.

Want to see more? Visit my shop and use coupon code JUSTJAYNES to save 10%

Love,
Catherine

What made you smile today?

2011-03-10T14:09:00.003-05:00

These adorable sock monkeys arrived today. I ordered them from my friend, Dulce, of The Monkey Shop. As I tugged each one out of the box, I couldn't help but smile!

What put a smile on your face today?

Love,
Catherine

Bold Subtle or Neutral options for bridesmaids earrings

2011-03-10T10:55:00.012-05:00

BOLD
As promised, here are some earring options for your bridesmaids. If you're a bride planning your own wedding, there are so many little details to track. If one of those is bridesmaids accessories, maybe I can help.

These fun earrings add just a splash of color. They'll just peek through up-swept hair. Earrings are a great option if a necklace won't work with the dress neckline.

SUBTLE

Don't see the color you want here?
Contact me Cathy {at} JustJaynes {dot} com and I'll find it for you!

Love,
Catherine

NEUTRAL

Bold Subtle or Neutral options for bridesmaids

2011-03-09T21:16:00.012-05:00

BOLD

If you're a bride planning your own wedding, there are so many little details to track. If one of those is bridesmaids accessories, maybe I can help.

If you're wedding is casual or you want to add a touch of whimsy, take a peek at these fun colorful rings. Whether you're going bold, subtle, or neutral, these flowers may add just the splash of color you're looking for.

SUBTLE

NEUTRAL

Not thinking rings as the bridal accessory? Check back tomorrow or go to my shop to look for some lovely little earrings!

Love,
Catherine

White Chicken Chili

2011-03-07T08:48:00.002-05:00

A quick and easy recipe for you!

1 large jar northern beans
1 jar mild salsa
1 can chicken broth
1 block pepper jack cheese
1 cans diced chicken (drained)

That's it! 5 ingredients! I used chicken that I already had thawed and cooked. You could tear up a rotisserie chicken, too.

I bought Vienna bread and the pepper jack slices to make grilled cheese sandwiches to go with it!

Love, Catherine

A new item

2011-03-06T19:44:00.002-05:00

Need a splash of color?

This bright orange carnelian bead is on a delicate sterling chain. Wear this when you need to spice up a neutral outfit!

A lovely photo

2011-03-02T20:48:00.003-05:00

I just came across this photo on my old laptop, which I'm using right now. I think this is my cousin Rebecca, when she was just little! Not sure who took it, but I think it's really a lovely photo!

Love,
Catherine

Etsy Fashion

2011-03-01T14:43:00.002-05:00

When I opened today's Etsy Fashion email, it looked familiar.

First. Date. Flirt. Yup, sounded familiar.

Ah Ha. Those items are from my treasury!

Kinda cool. It won't bring any traffic to my shop but it's nice to be featured in some little way!

Love,
Catherine

Fun with Instagr.am

2011-02-28T12:25:00.002-05:00

These are my pets, Chuck the dog and CC the cat. Chuck looks like he wants these kids out of his seat! And CC is covering his nose because he's cold.

This photo app is fun to play with; you can use your current photos or apply the filter to new pictures.

Do you have a favorite Instagr.am filter?

My latest Etsy treasury

2011-02-25T17:49:00.002-05:00

'I'll share with you' by JustJaynes

Shopping my favorites again!

White Wooly Poncho ... larimeloom $52.00	Gypsy Babydoll Vint... FLIRTvintage $46.00	Boho Headband-Musta... SugarBlossomBo... $25.00	Hand Built Sushi se... dgordon $42.00
Midnight Sky - Bobb... jellytoast $8.95	bremer collection. ... cottagefarm $32.00	Heather Handbag cayennepeppyba... $65.00	Modern Beauty III -... MomNMiaQuilts $285.00
Orchid in Wine Red ... charmdesign $32.00	Personalized Birdie... AngelEllie $18.00	SALE 2011 Illustrat... Gingiber $17.00	A Little Butterfly ... mybutterflyhea... $25.00
ON SALE - Pavone Ea... elainehaydonje... $80.50	One Large Vintage W... MonkiVintage $14.00	Round Stacking Ring... asterrisk $12.00	6 oz Stainless Stee... whimsyandink $18.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Larkspur

2011-02-24T18:57:00.004-05:00

This Larkspur is a yard of fabric designed by Alexander Henry. I'm not a fabric snob, but this is beautiful! I haven't been sewing much, but I need to have this! I've been wrapping fabric around frames to use as wall hangings and this is perfect for spring!

This yard of fabric comes from VenezieDesigns. She has many more fabrics available in matching bundles, fat quarters, or by the yard. Check out her shop and you may be "Fabric Drunk" like me!

Love,
Catherine

New model

2011-02-23T15:33:00.002-05:00

My new dress form arrived today! I'd wanted one for quite some time. I finally realized that I didn't just want one, I NEEDED one! Model shots are so important when selling necklaces.

This photo shows the difference between the 16" and the 18" necklaces.

I was thinking about naming her. Any suggestions?

Love,
Catherine

My little helper

2011-02-22T18:21:00.005-05:00

After 12"of heavy snowfall on Sunday, nearly 2 hours of shoveling on Monday, the skies cleared and the sun shone all day Tuesday. CC the cat loves to lay in the sun and found this warm spot on my studio floor. He's a big boy but casts a cool shadow!

Love,
Catherine

Ready for spring!

2011-02-22T13:08:00.001-05:00

'Take a Hike' by JustJaynes

This will get you in the mood for a hike or your next camping trip. We have one of our trips scheduled already!

Forest edge - 8 x 1... gbrosseau $20.00	NewMoon Fingerless ... NewMoonCrochet $28.00	pogo backpacks - ec... pogoshop $10.00
A Day At The Beach-... heartworksbylo... $40.00	Take A Hike 8 x 10 thewheatfield $15.00	Road trip (stop num... BDleatherdesig... $25.00
Mr. Bear at the Mus... alshunk $10.00	What Dreams May Com... OurPerspective... $18.00	Tree Bark Copper Ba... monkeysalwaysl... $32.00
The Stag Sweater elineof $199.00	Handmade Brown Lac... reflectionsbyd... $28.00	Snowfall Symmetry 5... CountryDreamin... $15.00
Fall into daisies ... LAccentNou $12.00	Women's VINTAGE... zenthreads $17.00	It's oh so quie... irenesuchocki $30.00
In it for the Long ... paperparasol $

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Inspired by an EtsyWMi team member!

2011-02-21T16:42:00.006-05:00

Meet LEFTright. She makes organic cotton baby items. While chatting in our team thread, she mentioned expanding her line with some new items. I was hoping that this design would go on a woman's tee shirt.

A little later while sitting at my work table staring at charms, blanks, photos, beads, not feeling inspired, I picked up the bicycle charm. I thought about LEFTright's design and here's my take on this popular term!

You'll be able to find it here.

Love,
Catherine

A romantic etsy treasury

2011-02-21T10:15:00.003-05:00

'A romantic taste test' by JustJaynes

I tried to select a variety of romantic items! Hope you like them and find some new favorites!

Pearl drop - pale p... edor $19.00	Vary ... Brown Coc... aftershowersho... $42.50	Buttercream Lusciou... dennisanderson $3.00
Italian Bergamot an... pipertate $25.00	Vintage 1940s Hard-... TheFancyLamb $78.00	ADELINE - Luxury Co... Silvia66 $113.00
Coffee Break Number... YannPendaries $22.00	Blue Birds - Earrin... annarubyking $13.00	Let it Snow Bookoo ... kanokwalee $85.00
Sweet Cinnamon Pump... bovinebubbles $5.00	Vintage Quilt Bunti... monkeypuzzle $16.00	At Any Moment - Fin... AmeliaKayPhoto... $32.00
Sugarplum Glossy Li... FlourishBathBo... $6.00	Flower Child Polaro... jerseymaids $30.00	Pink Mohair Hittite... trendyknitting $95.00
Embroidered Perpetu... BySaraLynn $86.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Sunday in the Studio

2011-02-20T16:15:00.006-05:00

After spending most of Saturday working on the computer, I spent some time this morning in the studio. One project I’ve been wanting to work on is re-using some beads and components from some old jewelry I have and don’t wear anymore.

This turquoise bead came from one of those necklaces. There was only the one bead, so this is a One-Of-A-Kind necklace. The sterling pendant is new, hammered just around the edge, brushed, oxidized, and lightly brushed again. I love adding a white pearl as an accent. Lots of my necklaces have them!

You can find the turquoise necklace and the earrings here.

Love, Catherine

Spring is just around the corner

2011-02-19T09:02:00.001-05:00

Now to just find that corner.

We had a big thaw here in Michigan. Two days of temps near and in the 50s melted a lot of snow and ice. But now the winds have turned bitter cold and snow is on its way.

This pendant makes me yearn for spring. The magazines are already publishing garden articles. People in other parts of the country see crocus’ popping up and buds on trees.

Until I can get out and work in my yard and flower beds, I’ll look at the magazines and gather my ideas for my flower beds. If you are also waiting for the final thaw and want to know more about this necklace, you can find it here.

Love, Catherine

Stamping gone wrong

2011-02-17T14:25:00.003-05:00

I love my new lowercase stamps.
I hate my new lowercase stamps.

It looks like a 5-year old child stamped this. That or someone purposely stamped like this for effect. Neither are true.

One trick I often use is putting down tape on the pendant to create a straight line. Probably should've done that here!

Back to the drawing board!

Love,
Catherine

Priorities

2011-02-16T11:17:00.005-05:00

My #1 priority has been to work on my jewelry shop. I have big goals to reach.

On a daily basis, I'm sending out orders, creating new items, taking photos of those new items and creating the listings. In addition, I re-take photos of existing listings, always trying to improve the photos, descriptions, tags, etc. Then there's promotion. Facebook. Twitter. Blog. Newsletter. Forums.

There' s a lot more to selling online that just creating cool stuff.

Today I'm feeling that I need to work on some household projects. Of course I fit in a little laundry, dishes, sweeping in between work, but that's just the minimum maintenance. One of my goals is to sell enough on a daily/weekly/monthly basis to hire my cleaning lady again.

So now that orders are packaged and ready to go, I wanted to get in this quick blog post before I head out to pick up groceries then start on housework.

Basically, I'm taking the afternoon off work.
This makes me nervous, but I'll keep telling myself to
Keep Calm
Carry On!

Love,
Catherine

St. Patrick's Day necklace

2011-02-15T19:33:00.002-05:00

IMG_0266
Originally uploaded by JustJaynes

St. Patty's Day will be here before you know it! I made the perfect accessory for your green outfit!

Find it here.

Love,
Catherine

Things I Want

2011-02-10T08:55:00.010-05:00

When I can't think of anything interesting to blog about, I like to fall back on my "Things I" series. Things I Want, Things I Make, Things I Buy...

Here are few of my newest favorites...

These washcloths are made by Lona of ShadySideFarm. I own another set of her washcloths and I love them. They are sturdy and won't fall apart anytime soon. (Like some others that I have.)

I came across this shop, joeseppi, while browsing my latest Marth Stewart Living magazine. I love to see Etsy shops featured in publications! I've been decorating some areas in my house and I think these would be great in my casual dining area!

Another item I love for wall decor, these vintage French music pages. In a set of 5, wouldn't they look great framed and hung?

I think so!

Watch for a new post soon, featuring Things I Buy. I ordered something for another wall hanging project!

Love,
Catherine

Who really makes the jewelry?

2011-02-08T18:41:00.003-05:00

Really, I do make the jewelry!

Here I am attaching a jump ring to a chain. I finish all my necklaces with a jump ring so the charms won't come off.

See that black cross hanging low? It's for my hubby. In the 8+ years we've been married, he's never worn jewelry. Not even a watch or a wedding band. So I was surprised when he asked me to find a charm for him and he liked this one. None of my sterling chains were right, too feminine I guess. I ordered some surgical steel chain and it looks great. Could he be onto something here? Should I make jewelry for men? Something to think about.

Love,
Catherine

Fun new stamps!

2011-01-31T16:47:00.001-05:00

IMG_9960
Originally uploaded by JustJaynes

Two fun new stamps arrived today. The funky bird and the birdcage. I tested them out and they stamp very nicely! They’ll be available for sale as necklaces very soon!

Love,
Catherine

Updates

2011-01-29T20:11:00.001-05:00

IMG_9994
Originally uploaded by JustJaynes

Updated lots of items in my shop today. This bike makes me yearn for spring!

Also worked on making my regular webiste, JustJaynes.com, a shopping site! It'll be lots of work but can save me a lot of money in etsy fees if I can direct buyers to my site!

Have a great weekend!
Love,
Catherine

Easy artwork

2011-01-26T09:34:00.001-05:00

IMG_9962
Originally uploaded by JustJaynes

I made a quick and easy wall hanging yesterday. Using a blank pre-stretched canvas and some scrap fabric. I tacked the fabric on the frame (using flat tacks because I couldn't find the staple gun!), overlapping since there wasn't a piece large enough to cover the whole frame.

Voila! Instant artwork!

Love,
Catherine

Mosaic for fun!

2011-01-25T10:40:00.001-05:00

Mosaic for fun!
Originally uploaded by JustJaynes

I know other bloggers discovered how to make these fun mosaics long ago! These are some of my flickr photos that I've put into a mosaic. To make your own, visit http://bighugelabs.com/mosaic.php

Love,
Catherine

Vintage mini forks

2011-01-20T13:29:00.001-05:00

Vintage mini forks
Originally uploaded by JustJaynes

Visit my new vintage section! http://www.etsy.com/shop/lydialayne?section_id=7742541

Love,
Catherine

Back on track

2011-01-05T07:04:00.005-05:00

After the holiday weekend binge, my weight has stayed at 136.5 for two days in a row! I've been good about tracking my calories. Yesterday's exercise was shoveling the driveway.

I spent most of the day making new jewelry. Here are a couple of my favorites!

Monday January 3

2011-01-03T08:33:00.002-05:00

A new year, a fresh start.

I really need a fresh start now! After a weekend of over-indulging, I stepped on the scale today. I wasn't going to, but did anyway. After 3 cups of coffee I weighed in at the dreaded 140 lbs.

Here's how I'll get back on track this week:

1. Throw out the cupcakes! I bought a babycakes maker and went crazy making treats for NYE. I can't resist the chocolate cupcakes with strawberry filling. So rather than continuing to tempt me, they must go.

2. Walk the dog and do a little Wii Fit Plus daily.

3. Drink lots of water.

4. Track my calories on SparkPeople.com

Wish me luck!!

xoxo,
Cathy

I keep plugging away!

2010-12-30T09:55:00.003-05:00

Today's weight: 137
Yesterday: 136.5
Yesterday calories: 1433
Today's exercise: 25 minute walk

I don't expect to lose everyday. My weight fluctuates depending on what time of day I eat, too. Last night I was feeling like a snack and ate some more sausage stuffing. The good news is that it's gone now!

The fridge is full of eggs, ham, turkey, cheese. Sounds like the makings of an omelet or quiche. I even have a pie crust but no pie pan!

Blogging is much more interesting with pictures, so I'll try to get some today!

xoxo
Cathy

Why wait until tomorrow...

2010-12-29T12:15:00.003-05:00

When I decided to start my weight loss program of tracking my calorie/carbs/protein intake, my husband said why not wait until after the New Year? I said why put off what I can start today? I never understood the concept of waiting to start reaching for your goals.

And so I share my results!
Weight: 136.5
Previous weight: 137.5
Yesterday's calories: 1300
(a big improvement over the previous day's 2400!)
Yesterdays exercise: 15 minute walk with the dog.

You may think that 15 minute's exercise is not much. But to go from ZERO to 15-30 minutes per day is attainable for me, whether it's walking the dog or getting on my Wii Fit.

Today's off to a good start. Walked the dog for 25 minutes and had a good brunch. (I slept in late.)

xoxo
Cathy

Getting back on track

2010-12-28T09:06:00.003-05:00

Good morning.

It's not quite the new year, but I'm ready to get back a routine of watching what I eat and exercising. Over the summer I was walking my dog everyday, but once the cooler weather set in, the walks stopped. Today we are going to start walking again. Our neighborhood is hilly, so it's a great little workout for me. AND hubby bought me the new Wii Fit PLUS so I'm excited about it because I can do pre-set workouts!

Another important part to losing weight is tracking the food I eat. I went back to my SparkPeople account and entered my consumption yesterday. Over 2400 calories. That's WAY to many, especially with no exercize. We had a big breakfast and ate out for lunch and dinner. Very bad but is not part of my regular routine.

In addition to tracking on SparkPeople, I'm going to return to blogging, revealing my weight, weight goals, and what I've done to reach my goals.

I didn't weigh myself today but yesterday I weighed in at 137.5.
Todays goals: Drink lots of water; 30 minutes of exercise.

I hope to have a good report tomorrow!

xoxo,
Catherine

Things I Want

2010-10-05T06:08:00.007-04:00

HEADWEAR!

It's early October and I'm thinking about headwear. While the temps are going to be in the low 70s later this week, the mornings are quite cool and, well, it's October. Here are a few of my favorites!

The top two are by Australian seller Zwilling. I've been following her shop for quite a while. The red hat is convertible! It ties at the top but can be untied and worn as a neckwarmer!! And I love the blue and white beanie hat with the ball. It's just adorable!!

The pink rasta hat is made by my friend, Dulce, and it's on SALE! So I'll buy one of her hats today.

The red slouch is by seller MsSunflwr. You can also buy the pattern from her shop. I really like this style.

I hope you'll enjoy browsing these hat shops as much as I have!

Love,
Catherine Jayne

Goodbye Jennifer

2010-09-22T21:31:00.003-04:00

Today I said my goodbye to Jennifer Adams. She fought Multiple Myeloma for 2 years. Sunday evening she passed away, at home, with her family nearby. Jennifer was a kind, gentle lady. She's survived by her devoted husband and 3 beautiful daughters, but she'll be remembered by so many.

In the last few months I've been selling CANCER SUCKS necklaces to help her family with medical expenses. I've redesigned the necklace and love the new look!

More designs are coming so you can have fewer charms, a hint of gold or an accent bead. With each sale, $20 is donated to the family.

Love,
Catherine Jayne

Today brings change

2010-08-23T10:49:00.003-04:00

Today the alarm went off at 6am. That's the earliest we've been up since mid-June. Working at a school has few advantages. The time off is one of them! Since I'm working full time from home, we had a summer filled with golf, a camping trip, hanging with friends and family.

And I don't mind getting up early. Today I played The Good Wife and made coffee and blueberry muffins to send him out the door! Then I packaged all my orders, showered and walked the dog, all before 10:30 when I sat down to update my blog. This afternoon I will either work on new items and photos for my shop or work on some projects in the yard. Maybe I'll do both!

In the wee hours of the morning, my light pink flower ring was featured on Etsy.com's front page. It didn't sell, but did generate some custom requests!

Have a great Monday!

Love,
Catherine Jayne

Charm bracelet

2010-07-28T18:20:00.004-04:00

Charm bracelets tell a story. Each charm represents a memory or a person. My charm bracelet reminds me of my mom.

She bought me my first and only charm bracelet many years ago and added a new charm every year for several years. For whatever reason, I stopped wearing it. Tonight I decided to add a few more charms and beads to it, and I plan to wear it again.

If you have a daughter, buy her a charm bracelet and start your own tradition. The charms may represent her, but it will remind her of you!

Love,
Catherine Jayne

Camping

2010-07-11T22:01:00.002-04:00

I'm going camping this week for a few days. My last trip was a 1-night trip with my niece and 60 of her classmates and 40 parents. It was a busy trip, not exactly my definition of "camping." Camping for me is relaxing on the beach, reading a book, dinner outdoors over a fire.

This is also my first camping trip with my husband of eight years! That's right, we've never camped together. So this week, we reserved the site and bought a bigger tent. Our list is written out and we'll start packing! We're also taking the fishing boat and hope to also see some local sites.

Will post pictures after the trip!

Love,
Catherine Jayne

On again?

2010-07-05T19:56:00.005-04:00

I admit it, I'm an on-again, off-again blogger.

This summer has been busy and June 2010 will go down as the WORST month ever. I had to put down 2 of my beloved pets. First I took in my cat Sammy then 2 weeks later my husband took in our dog, Lucy. Both were sick and suffering, so it was time. I miss them terribly but still have CC the fat cat and Lucy's brother, Chuck. He seems to be adjusting okay to her absence. They've been together since birth, 8.5 years ago, and have only been separated once when they were puppies to be spayed and neutered. He goes almost everywhere with us now and goes for walks multiple times a day. Mostly he naps, which is normal for him.

I mentioned busy, yes, the summer has also been busy! Hubby is off until late August now so we'll be golfing, camping, fishing, and doing a few projects around the house. I've also been making more of my fun and colorful rings and earrings. They seem so summery and I love making them! The large flower rings are especially fun!

Love,
Catherine Jayne

Packaging

2010-06-23T18:48:00.003-04:00

I've always considered my packaging above average. I use boxes with white filler tied up with string or ribbon. Sometimes accented with a free gift or handmade paper flower. Over the past year, I've used different colors: Green, Purple, Kraft, Blue. Today I searched and found a very cute "Thank You" stamp to stamp on the new Kraft boxes I bought. At one point I had an ink pad, of course could not find it. In the process of my search, I found a bag full of rub-ons. I'd considered using them to decorate my boxes, but it's a timely process. But once I started rubbing, I couldn't stop!

I hope my customers will also think they are lovely and will decide to keep them. In case they do, I'm including a sticker with my website inside the lid!

Things I Win

2010-06-21T16:43:00.004-04:00

I don't win things very often, so it was quite a shock to win this item! Last Thursday I stopped at my favorite locally-owned deli, Jorgi's. They had this lawn chair surrounded by Summer Shandy. Well I had a 6-pack of Summer Shandy for golf that night so I entered. Saturday, got a call that I'd won!

Speaking of winning, if you'd like to win this Spool of Thread necklace from my shop, enter at this blog: http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2010/06/silver-spool-necklace-giveaway.html

Things I Buy part 2

2010-06-14T17:50:00.007-04:00

Yesterday at FSAM, I also bought this loom. Handmade by Jennifer Ackermann-Haywood, owner of CraftSanity.com and CraftSanity.etsy.com. I was going to find some old tee-shirts to cut up, but I want to get the neat little template cutter that Jennifer used in her demo. She also showed how to use fabric, and I remembered that I had some cool left-over fabric.

I'll post more pics as the project progresses!

Things I Buy

2010-06-13T16:39:00.003-04:00

Today was opening day of FSAM, the Fulton Street ARTisan Market. I chose not to sell, but did go down to promote the EtsyWMi team and of course, shop. These are just two of the items I purchased:

A set of 2 drink coasters from Delainie.etsy.com

An asymmetrical clutch from bySaraLynn.etsy.com

Will show more next time!
Love, Catherine