Terrier Tuesday

Well, why not? I've had a wonderful time with family visiting us this Memorial Day weekend which was loads of fun. The house was relatively tidy considering 3 dogs occupy the house with us, so naturally, in true Terrier Form, Angus waited until they had left (about 5 minutes) before he ran amok with a fresh roll of Charmin Ultra Soft (you needed to know that). Please enjoy photos of Terrier Tuesday. :o)

Opening Doors...


Turning Corners...


Tuesday's Muse...

Etsy Street Team FAM Memorial Day Sale!

As an Etsy Street Team, the Fabulous Artistic Moms (FAM) find any reason to celebrate, and this time we're having a huge team-wide sale. Check out the Fabulous savings at these great Etsy Shops!

A Lot of Bull.

I'm guessing Angus.

Yes, I live in the country in Central Kentucky and no, I'm not from around here. It's beautiful and green this time of year, and the weather pleasantly comfortable. But the strangest things happen around here.

What I don't think I'll ever get used to are the cattle that occasionally get on the loose. A little unnerving, this photo was taken from my front porch. On 5 acres of hillside, I wasn't that close to the bull, but still!

He was clearly upset, pawing the earth, and baying (or is that mooing?) all through the wee hours. The farm across the road has over 100 head of cattle, and there are plenty of other cattle farms around, so who knows where he came from in the wee hours of the morning. But there he is. Aren't I nice to share?

Make Your Own Scrabble Tile Tutorial

Brand new in my Annie Howes on Etsy shop is this fabulous and easy to follow pdf tutorial on how to make Scrabble tile pendants. It's such a fun and simple project that just about anyone can make them. The tried and true secrets are revealed in this handy tutorial which I have conveniently packaged together for you with all the materials needed to make your Scrabble tile pendants.

If you're at all like me, you have little time to waste researching materials. And why bother with a ton of materials when you may only wish to create a few Scrabble tile pendants? This new Scrabble Tile Pendant how-to kit with pdf tutorial has helpful tips for troubleshooting and full color photographs that will help you every step of the way. Additionally, there's a handy list of quality suppliers included.

Want more tiles and more paper? Just contact me and I'll create a package just for you!

Thankful Thursday - Yes, I'm Thankful

Thursday seems like a great day of the week to reflect on some of the things I can be thankful for. There are many reasons to be thankful, but I'll keep this brief.

My studio. Oh, yes, it's a mess, but I'm thankful for it, and thankful it's only 50 feet from my back door. I'd love to someday have it somewhat tidied for a little photo sharing, but that'll have to wait for another blog post.

My duplex laser printer. I'm so incredibly thankful to have this monster sitting on my desk. I just wish I could figure out how to implement the duplex feature. See? there are some things I can't do.

My FAM Teammates on Etsy. I just can't express in words how thankful I am to have them in my life. Each day I can log on and find a warm and welcoming group of moms to share my day with. You all are the best!

Take 10 Tuesday!

The Etsy FAM team is at it again with Take 10 Tuesday! Find fabulous discounts and some hidden treasures in some of our shops. For a complete listing of stores, please visit the Etsy Forums tonight, May 13, 2008, between 5:00 PM - Midnight EST! Come visit Annie Howes on Etsy for 10% Savings and Free shipping on all orders over $10 tonight only!

Happy Mother's Day! Let's Celebrate with a 25% off sale!

My Etsy shop is having a 25% off sale today only so come visit Annie Howes Keepsakes on Etsy and take advantage of this fabulous discount on your entire order.

Everything is included in this sale, such great items as all Scrabble Tile pendants and the brand new Create Your Own Scrabble Tile Pendant kit! Have fun shopping! And Happy Mother's Day to all the great moms out there!

Feel Good Friday - Volunteering is Good!

When I first moved with my family to Kentucky last summer, I admit I felt adrift. My town is a small, rural, humble place in the heart of Kentucky. Beautiful, yes indeed. Bucolic is an apt descriptive. A lovely place to live.

However, living in a small, rural town does have its challenges. How is a highly driven graphic designer supposed to earn a living in a town that doesn't have it's own daily newspaper? Or an Applebee's? Or a mall? I've always been employed, either self or otherwise, and typically I would meet people and establish friendships based on my circle of professional acquaintences. This just was not going to happen here.

By a stroke of luck, or whatever your want to call it, my daughter's teacher at the local elementary school recently started a riding therapy center right here in this small town. Last summer during the class orientation she was avidly looking for volunteers to help at the riding center and I knew right then that I had found someplace to give me an anchor to this new and foreign community, an avenue that would fulfil my desire to be needed, and a way in which I could use my skills and my time to help others.

The R.E.A.T.H. Center is a non-profit horse therapy riding center that has grown in the past year from having one horse and a pasture, to 2 horses and a riding ring and a stable. Most of the facility has been built through generous donations of time and materials, and certainly the determiniation of the founders of the center. If you ever wonder where I am on Thursday evenings, this is the place.

Make Your Own Scrabble Tile Pendant. A Scrabble Tile Kit.

I love it when a project comes together, and this one finally has done just that! The "Make Your Own Scrabble Tile Pendant" is just perfect for the crafty person who'd like to learn how to make their own gorgeous Scrabble tile pendants!


The kit includes everything you need to create 5 beautiful Scrabble tile pendants using non-Toxic Diamond Glaze and Japanese Chiyogami papers. For more information, please visit Annie Howes Keepsakes or Annie Howes Keepsakes on Etsy!

All Things Beautiful at Pinkfire Designs on Etsy

Wow. When I saw these gorgeous white blossom earrings at Pinkfire Designs on Etsy I just couldn't get them out of my mind. I simply had to make the purchase. I confess, I'm a glutton for beauty. Made from vintage white glass beads, the earrings have been given a rich verdigris patina by hand. These earrings may be off the market (lucky me!), but Pinkfire Designs has a similar item available just for you.

T10T - Take 10 Tuesday

The FAM's are at it again with Take 10 Tuesday! Find amazing discounts and some secret hidden treasures in some of our shops. For a complete listing of stores, please visit the Etsy Forums tonight, May 6, 2008, between 5:00 PM - Midnight EST! Come visit Annie Howes on Etsy for 10% Savings and Free shipping on all orders over $10 tonight only!

Fabulous Find Friday - Hide N Seek & The Downtown Boutique

This is long overdue, like so many of my Fabulous Finds on Etsy have become lately, but I've been wanting to share this Etsy Artist and this fabulous blog The Downtown Boutique since March of this year.

First, let me tell the whole, but short story. I entered a contest to win a print from The Downtown Boutique. I absolutely fell in love with her blog and realized right then and there she was my true Blog Idol. So I spent awhile reading her entries and looking at the beautiful finds she has. That's how I came to enter the contest and to my great surprise, I actually won it!


My winnings included a gorgeous print and the most beautiful and elaborate packaging I have ever come across from an Etsy seller I've admired since the day she opened shop, Eloise of Hide N Seek.



Talk about boutique, Eloise has it going on with her packaging. It's so decidedly gorgeous that I didn't open it for days, and when I finally broke down and did open it, I was careful to preserve the outer wrapping as best as possible!

Inside is one of the sweetest drawings I've ever seen and is truly one of my favorites in her shop. I'm thrilled to have this print to decorate my studio, and just as thrilled to have in hand the entire packaging ensemble!

Cheers to you both, Hide N Seek and The Downtown Boutique! Thank you so very much!

Indiepublic Member of the Day

Wow! I'm really honored to be the Member of the Day on Indiepublic! It's not every day that I have an honor of being featured in such a public venue. I really, truly appreciate the nominations and the selection. Thank you!