The Kentucky Oaks...Fillies and Lilies

Saturday is the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Derby is the first race in the Triple Crown and is dominated by 3 year old colts. I haven't missed watching the Derby more than a handful of times in the past 30 years. I love the excitement of the race, the beauty of the animals, the thrill of a win (or not!)

What you may not know is that today, the day before the Kentucky Derby, is the 136th running of The Kentucky Oaks. While the Derby is open to both colts and fillies, this race is just for the ladies. If you think the fillies aren't contenders, last year's winner, Rachel Alexandra, went on to win The Preakness against all those colts :o)

Colored Petite Ball Chains. Love them!

Wow, these are 1.5mm petite and beautiful colorful chains for your pendant creations. Not clunky or chunky, and not plain at all. Choose from 10 fabulous colors. Closures included in matching colors.


Shown are black and gunmetal on a 7/8" pendant using a small Aanraku bail.

Chains available in my shop anniehowes.Etsy.com

Mighty Strong Magnets! Super Strong Rare Earth Magnets!

Crafters unite with Mighty Strong Magnets! Wow, these magnets are super strong. So strong that they hold a soda can to the top of a car going 70mph! I have these magnets available in my shop on Etsy, but will soon have them available on www.anniehowes.com. Available in 3/8" and 1/2" sizes.

Glamour Glue Back in Stock for the Season!

I'm so happy to announce that Glamour Glue is back in stock now that the temps have risen, and is ready to ship! You can find Glamour Glue at www.anniehowes.com and in my Etsy shop in the Glaze and Glue section.

Glamour Glue is a non-toxic, safe to use, PVA adhesive used in book making and other fine craft projects using paper. Archival quality that dries crystal clear!

Resin Pendant Kit Makes Debut on Etsy. Finally!

After over a year of launching my first kit, and after many requests from loyal customers, I finally have the Resin Pendant Kit listed in my shop on Etsy. The resin kit contains enough materials to make 8 pendants, and more if you have extra bezels or wood tiles, such as Scrabble, Bamboo, Mah Jong, and such.

If you love the look of resin coated jewelry, and have been intimidated by the process, then this is the kit for you. Jam packed (and I mean JAM packed), this tin contains 6 wood tiles, 6 genuine silver plated Aanraku bails, 2 bezel pendant settings with attached bails, 2-part resin mix, a sample size of my exclusive Glamour Glue, and a professional tutorial with photos for each step of the process. If you have ever seen my tutorials, you know I don't bloat them with fluff. I get right to the point in a clear and concise manner. If you're like me, you want the facts and you want them now. You can't go wrong with this kit, it has everything you need in one small package.

Personalize Your Cuff Links, Man! Finally a Gift for the Guy in Your LIfe!!

Oh, yeah! These are finally in! I'm so pleased with the quality of these gorgeous cuff links! They're so easy to customize with your very own image. Simply unscrew the cap, place your trimmed image (15mm) and screw the cap back on! A protective plastic disc is included to protect the image from scuffs.

Who wears cuff links today? Any man who wears a suit! Interviews, weddings, funerals, work, and a hot date!


Ways to personalize these cuff links are endless:
- initials
- photos of children
- photos of pets
- photos of those remembered (great for weddings)
- monograms
- decorative paper
- a splash of color
- reflective material
- fabric
...and the list can go on forever!

These are solid cufflinks built to last. You'll like the feel of them, and the look can't be beat.

They'll soon be available on www.anniehowes.com, but for the moment they're in my shop on Etsy in the BAILS / RINGS / BEZELS / CUFF LINKS / KEY FOBS / DOG TAGS section.

Create a Triptych. 3 Gorgeous Birch Wood Blocks.

It's been a long, crazy summer with lots of fun and lots of work mixed together. It seems that I haven't been as diligent about sharing all the new goodness here on blogland. Perhaps you haven't noticed because instead of being indoors reading blogs, you've been happily crafting or enjoying the great outdoors.

One of my favorite new products are these gorgeous solid wood blocks made from Birch. These measure 2.5" on the face and the sides are 1.25" thick with a pre-drilled hole on the back. They're ready to decorate and hang on a single nail. Each set contains 3 blocks. Not sure how to decorate these? It's simple: print your favorite photos, brush on Glamour Glue, press the block onto the glued surface and smooth with a burnisher for a bubble-free seal. Apply a weight to the top, like a stack of books or a clean jar of coins. Wait 15 minutes, turn upside down, trim along the edge to remove excess paper, and hang on your wall. So easy, and these blocks are only $8 for a set of 3!

The photos of the horses on these blocks were taken by my then 9 year old daughter.