Free Shop Tours Going On Now!

As we gear up for the holiday, I will be sharing some marvelous treasures from a few talented shops on Etsy. All of these finds would make excellent gifts for someone on your list! I can honestly recommend you checking out each and every one of them as I am familiar with them all!  I'd love for you to follow me as I give you a glimpse through their front door. C'mon... let's go! They are waiting for us! Please be sure to check out the name of the shop! It will open up all kinds of possibilities for you!

First up on the tour is a lovely shop called EarthlieTreasures. The shop owner's name is Jen and she offers some very neat curtain tiebacks, among other things! You'll find a wide variety of colors and themes to suit just about any taste! Her red fairy tiebacks are in the very first photo of this collage. I wonder what kind of fairy dust that fairy sprinkles. I bet it's full of big smiles for the new owner!

The next shop we'll be stopping at is SamIamArt. The shop owner, Samantha, offers a variety of home decor focusing on art. Her first passion is art and you're going to find some marvelous personal artwork of hers on coasters (as shown in the second position above), keepsake boxes, greeting cards, and more! She has a rooster painting that I know my mother-in-law would love!

Right next door we will find the shop of SerendipityWorld. Melissa's shop is centered around positive living, so you can live your best life. She focuses on inspiring the heart and soul through aromatherapy soy tarts, novelty wax melts, glycerin soap (shown above), bath bombs and more! There's a wide variety of neat gift items in her shop! Especially if you're looking to pamper someone!

In the corner of the block, you will find the shop of FunWithWreaths. The shop owner, Carey, originally started out in her craft field with the intention of keeping the wreaths for her own front door. Over time, as more and more creative people saw the wreaths, requests came flowing in for her to reproduce them for others. Carey has a lot of different fun wreaths on display! Be sure to check them out!

The next stop on the list happens to be a wonderful photograph shop called PhotosbyJerryCowart. Jerry, the shop owner, has graciously agreed to let me borrow some of his photographs for jewelry inspirations, and I have used quite a few. Many times, his inspiration comes from his adventures into nature and he sheds a whole new light on the simple beauty of it. He offers a size and style for everyone! Be sure to browse inside!

As we stroll to the next shop, I think you will find many fun gift ideas! This shop is definitely for the young at heart! LiveLaughLooloo. Even the shop name is fun! Lauren, the shop owner loves to paint flower pots and glassware. However my favorite thing in her shop is the lollipop bouquets she offers. You have to check them out! They would make a wonderful centerpiece for a party!

As we wind down this tour and make our last stop, I'd like you to take a look inside the shop of StitchWench. The shop owner, Jodi, has recently even been published on the cover of a local magazine in her area. Jodi specializes in embroidery and applique needs. She has some adorable applique t-shirts and holiday items! From babies to adults, she's got you covered!

Thank you for sharing this opportunty with me. I do hope you'll go back and check out all of the marvelous items being offered in each of these shops. Until we get to do this again.... have a wonderful time browsing!

Keys to Organization, Is There Such A Thing?

Lately, I've been playing with the idea that I am going to conquer a new organization project in my craft room. I recently found some good deals on a bookcase and a china cabinet, which I plan on converting to a storage areas within the room. Notice I said I've been playing with the idea? Napoleon Hill said this about organizing and I think he may have been on to something. "First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination". I'm at the stage where I had the thought, in my mind organized the thought into ideas and plans, and now am in the process of transforming those thoughts into plans. What a job that has become! 

We've all seen those cute little pins on Pinterest where everything looks so neat and clean. As I have now learned, they were put there to antagonize "ordinary crafters" into believing that everyone else has a neat and tidy craft area. It's super simple to achieve this if you make a place for everything and put it in that place. Right? Wrong!!! Did I mention it looked simple in my mind when I was trasforming this into reality? What happened? 


I can think I may have figured out part of the problem! Well, there are many, to be perfectly honest. One is I have too much "stuff". I'm finding things that I forgot I even bought! When I do find them, and get re-introduced to them, I suddenly remember why I bought the item in the first place! Fond memories come flooding back, just like remembering a childhood friend.There was a project I was going to make and now I'm reminded that too had not gotten past the "transforming an idea into a plan". Beginning to see a pattern here? <smile> I think, it is safe to say, I need to stay focused and work on ONE project from beginning to end! 

One of these days I'm going to surprise even myself! One day I'll get to the bottom of my "stash". One day, I'll complete all projects before starting another, even though that will be a big adjustment for me. One precious day, I'll be able to one day, walk into my craft room and put up a "Do Not Disturb" sign. One day, I'll be able to look back on all of this and say that this was all made possible because I had stuck with a project from start to finish in determination to one day get myself organized.

It's A Shower Head Kind Of Day

We've all seen them. I'm talking about those entertaining quizzes that ask you something about yourself to determine what kind of personality you have. Of course, there is no right or wrong answer to the question.

You may not know this about me, but I love to take a nature picture and use it to get inspired for a jewelry design. In fact, here is a great example of what I'm talking about. This collage shows some designs that were inspired by a photo, used with permission, by VBeaudry Photography. 

I try to look deep within the picture and find something that the photographer did not see or perhaps even took for granted. This particular one is full of associations!

Where am I going with this? Glad you asked! Just as I associate beautiful nature pictures with jewelry, there are many other ways to associate every day items with something else that may not be related to them in any way. Such an occasion came to me recently so I thought I'd share it with you!

A revelation came to me in one of the strangest places! I just never know when I'm going to be hit in the head with one. It's sort of like the V-8 commercials on TV! My last revelation, or at least that is what I'm calling it, came to me in the shower!
Yes, I know that is a strange place to do any associating but it happened, quite unexpectedly! By the way, this post is not about to take a turn into "mature audience" mode! It will still be OK for the children to watch over your shoulder as you read this! I am only going to share shower head associations with you as they relate to every day life.

It's not uncommon for shower heads to have multiple pressure settings. For instance, mine has four. Let's associate the pressure settings with your every day life pressures! We all have pressures. Juggling a career and family life can be pressure. Perhaps it's daily struggles with the kids that you find challenging. A weak economy could even put some in a crisis mode! No matter what the challenge may be, it's important to remember your shower head settings!

We will have days where our daily life situation may hit us full force, like a power washer. You know this setting on your shower head! It's often a pulsating force, which sometimes is also used for tension release. I know I've stood under the strongest setting of my shower head to ease neck and shoulder tension. Yes, tension that was caused because of a hectic or trying day. A day where things just kept flying at me from all directions! A day where I found myself often wondering why I even bothered to get out of bed. This is my power washer day.


Then we move on a slightly different, but yet common, type of day we have all experienced. This is a normal day where we feel at ease with our daily surroundings. A day that we would consider everything to be going fine. All is in harmony and everything feels peaceful in our own little world. It would be great if all of our days could be like this, wouldn't it? But in reality, we know they can't all be like this, but we do have the power within us to think positive, and make it through the days that are not. This is how I associate life with the normal setting on my shower head.


The next type of day on my shower head is a drizzle day. These days are not really hectic and stressful, in a sense of things coming at me from all directions. Nor are they what I would call normal days. My drizzle days could be a day where I am not patient, where I want things to happen faster than they seem to be. Perhaps sitting in a doctor office or standing in line at the grocery store will produce a drizzle day for me. Perhaps trying to accomplish certain tasks will multiple interruptions would cause this same effect. There's basically no reason to get stressed but a faster pace would be appreciated. You know what I'm talking about! We've all had a drizzle day! This is the setting on the shower head that doesn't hit you full force, but let's you stand there wondering why you even have it set on that in the first place. It just comes at you at a slower pace, which may be exactly what you need after all.


I'll close this out by sharing my misty days! Yes, perhaps the most laid back type of day there is. These are the days where I stand there and just let things roll of me, with no second thoughts. These are the days where it is what it is and I know there is nothing I can do about it. My only choice is to take a deep breath and know that things will eventually come clean and work out. In fact, I love the misty effect! Even on the hottest summer days, a good mist feels calm and refreshing!

In closing this out, I wish you many misty days! As the saying goes, "Don't Worry, Be Happy"!

What Does Success Look Like?

I recently read an article on success and what it means to different people. How many times have we seen graphics with the word success on it with an arrow pointing straight up in the air? Or, what about the steps that go straight up in the air that are often associated with the word success? To me, those aren't true depictions of the word at all. Success to me isn't a straight line. It is a series of squiggly lines eventually pointing in an upward direction. The circle of success, to me, is pretty much summed up as the graphic on the left side of this page.

Each of us has our own belief of what success looks like. That is because we are thinking about OUR success! Your success will not be that of any other person. Just because your neighbor Harry has done this and this to be successful, doesn't mean that will work for you! We each need to establish our own BELIEFS about what it is that will make us successful. We must determine the feelings we will have when we achieve this challenge and why these feelings are important for our success. All this is followed by understanding the POTENTIAL available in all of us to achieve this. What can you do today that will trigger the feelings you want when you're feeling "successful". Take the ACTION to work towards doing things that will give you joy, or whatever feeling it is you are seeking. It won't be easy, but after a few twists and turns, you will see RESULTS!

Cynhumphrey Is Holding An Awesome Sale

I came across a quote from Bill Gates today that certainly hit home. Here it is:

"Well I think any author or musician is anxious to have legitimate sales of their products, partly so they're rewarded for their success, partly so they can go on and do new things."

Even though Bill was referring to authors and musicians, I do think it also applies to small business owners. I have been on a mission to get more organized in my Etsy shop and soon realized I should rotate some inventory as a means to make room for new designs. The best way I could figure out how to do that was to have an awesome sale, and that I have done!  Does this mean I am giving up on similiar designs as those being on sale now? Not at all! I just have a lot of different ideas and this special sale will just give me a chance to do new things.

As you can see in the above announcement, I have implemented a SPECIAL COUPON code that will be good until July 31st. By using this code, you will receive a 40% discount on any total purchase of $20 or more. This is an AWESOME sale on some truly one-of-a-kind designs! Hurry on over to the shop of Cynhumphrey by clicking here!

It Started Out As What?

I love to take something ordinary and turn it something completely different! Many terms for this obsession of mine would include recycling, upcycling, or even perhaps the phrase repurposing comes to mind. A lot of my jewelry designs started out, or were, inspired by something of this nature. 

Today, this cute picture was resting in my FaceBook feed and I thought that I'd share this concept with you! Sometimes you can take the simple things and turn them into the most useful items. Our little feathered friends would feel so special when they see you've made something for them! 

Can you guess what this bird feeder was made out of? If you guessed a slinky, you're right! It looks like they bent a wire coat hanger for the base, slid the slinky over the hanger, and added peanuts! How simple!  I bet you could find the materials to make this rather inexpensively too! It's definitely going on my list of things to do!

National Scrabble Week

It's National Scrabble Week! Did you know that the original Scrabble game was just played with tiles and no board? It's also been said that somewhere in the world there are over a million missing Scrabble tiles! Guess what?! I have some of them turned into necklaces! You can check them out here: www.etsy.com/shop/cynhumphrey

           

A resident in an UK senior citizen home was thrown out when she admitted she didn't play Scrabble. Maybe she could have stayed if she had one of these necklaces!

   

How Was Your Pearl Formed?

Do you know how pearls are really formed? They  are formed when a tiny bit of sand gets trapped inside an oyster. The oyster then produces a "nacre" (rhymes with breaker) as a defense mechanism that coats the intruder, layer after layer. A pearl is only found NATURALLY  in 1 in every 10,000 oysters.

This all sort of reminds me of the saying, "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." Just like the oyster, we too have the ability to produce our own type of pearls by coating our "life intruders" with a persistence to overcome set backs. We too can appear to be tarnished on the inside while we are growing into something much more beautiful and stronger. I would encourage you all to take your sand and polish it into something you can be proud of!

Creative Recycled Pillow Gift Boxes

February is Creative Romance Month. For me, when I hear the word romance, I don't necessarily think of the bold red hearts associated with Valentine's Day, but I go to a softer place with Victorian images.

These pillow boxes are what I have been working on this weekend. They were created for a Victorian theme challenge I committed to doing on one of my Etsy teams. The team is an upcyled / recycled team too so making something that qualified for that was also part of the challenge.  You can find out all the details by checking them out here!

I found this clever saying today and could certainly relate to it so I decided to share it here on my blog.

A lot of my jewelry designs are inspired from photos of nature. I love to look deep within the photo and perhaps find something that most cannot, or choose not to see. The whole time I am designing the piece, I am thinking about the photo inspiration. Wondering what really is hidden in a crevice? What was the special thing in the photograph that inspired the photographer to take the picture in the first place? Or, in the case of the artist, what were they trying to achieve in the artwork? Is there a certain mood portrayed but yet hidden unless you know the story behind the picture? How does all of this relate to what I create? Can I do the photo any justice at all with the creation I design?

When I am looking for a my next photo inspiration, I immediately know when I've found just the perfect one. It seems all of the above factors come into play and I get so excited to start working on my next project. All of the above questions have been answered, or at least in my mind, with the exception of the last one. Can I do the photo any justice?

That is where the creativity all begins! That is when the sleepless nights start. That is when I almost get giddy with excitement. I know what I want to achieve, yet now need to figure out how to do it! Which brings me back to the topic of this post. The more I use creativity, the more I find it keeps flowing, hence the sleepless nights. The ideas just keep coming. It's like I am feeding a baby and watching it grow! Although beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I may never know if I'm still answering the last question about doing the photo any justice, I do know that something beautiful is blossoming and that beautiful thing is called creativity! I urge you to continue to be creative in all you do, but watch out - you too will see the signs I've described above!

There is a quote from Erma Bombeck where she says:

For years it has done its job.  It has led me not into temptation.  It has reminded my husband numerous times at parties that it's time to go home.  It has been a source of relief to a dinner companion.  It has been a status symbol in the maternity ward. 

She was referring to her wedding ring. Although this is sweet sentiment  and it does compliment jewelry (which I always appreciate), I'm wondering what do you have that deserves a "Job Well Done Award"?  Please feel free to comment below!

It's Not Forty Shades of Gray, But.....

Did you know that Johnny Cash wrote a song for his Irish friends called "Forty Shades of Green"?
Well, this one of a kind green necklace doesn't have forty shades but it is certainly worth forty compliments! St. Patrick's Day and Spring would be perfect times to wear this necklace. It's being displayed in my Etsy shop. You can click right here to find out more details!

How Nice

How nice of you to visit my blog today! I can see you have GREAT taste! I know that you're sincere about showing support to those you love!

OK, yes, you've been able to see right through me. The reason why I have started this blog out like this is because tomorrow is National Compliment Day & I'm going to throw out a challenge to you!

Everyone has something good in them. Yes, I said everyone. It's always easy to compliment your mom on her cooking (if indeed it is good) and other loved ones are right there with her as being easy to compliment. My challenge to you tomorrow is to dig deep (if you have to) and say something positive to at least three people who you come in contact with & make sure these people aren't family members or close friends. Are you up to the challenge? Of course you are!

Productive Long Weekend

Here it is, the end of a long weekend. I had been looking forward to it for so long. Looking back on the whirl wind of activities that went on around here, I can honestly say, despite the interruptions, it was a productive one as far as my shop is concerned.

I introduced a bunch of  items showed in the collage at the right. It's almost a shame the creativity has to end tonight for tomorrow will find me heading back to my desk job. It was such a therapeutic weekend!

The links to the items can be found here:
Multicolor blue, brown and white necklace
Brown and black beaded necklace
Puppy dog earrings
Green iridescent earrings
Brown silver cap earrings

It was one of those strange Virginia days today so this was the perfect photo inspiration I could have picked (last week) as my design project for this weekend! You could look out the kitchen window and see sunshine, which I soon learned was a false illusion of warmth. It was definitely very windy and cold when we went out to attend a family lunch to celebrate my sister-in-laws birthday.

I have been going back and forth between this picture and my stash of beads all week and was anxious to get this one started. Working outside of the home during the week, I tend to only have "design time on the weekends. I have many sleepless nights tossing and turning while I try to figure out how I am going to do these photo inspirations any justice at all. I think I nailed this one right on the head.

I can definitely see this necklace being worn with a winter outfit, perhaps because of the frosty looking blue beads and common winter brown colors. However, I think it would also be perfect for those tank tops in the summer because of those same light blue beads and hints of white.

A full sized picture of this necklace can be found in my Cynhumphrey Etsy shop. All you have to do is click here and it will take you directly to the listing.

Cynhumphrey Turns One

The Etsy shop of Cynhumphrey opened one year ago today. During the last year there were a lot of lessons learned and I know there are many more waiting for me. Overall the experience has been fun because of super customers and faithful supporters. For which, I am thankful for them all.

When friends and family finally persuaded me to open my own shop, I would have never dreamed that the experience would be so.... well.... interesting and challenging, to say the least. However, this experience has confirmed that I can function with little sleep, I can successfully think outside of the box, and I've figured out that challenges motivate me. Not only that, but look at me now! I've started a blog! Who would have guessed?

The Cynhumphrey shop is still a work in progress, that I know. I'm looking forward to seeing the shop grow during the next year and can't wait to see what my post will look like this time next year. However, for the moment, I'll try to keep my feet on the ground and will add these "fun facts" as a base to measure my growth. Now keep in mind, I'm not sure how these facts measure up to "successful" shops but I've had fun getting this far and that's all that matters to me! I choose to look at the glass as half full.

So, without further ado, here are my stats for the last year.

• 8,688 shop views
• 5,054 favorites 
• 38 orders (from Etsy, not counting friends and family)
• 100% positive feedback from customers
• my items have been featured in 126 treasuries
• I'm in 128 circles
• member of many Etsy teams, and actually a captain of one

So, what do you think? How did I do??? 

New Today! Nature Inspired!

I have been busy designing this morning and again would like to thank Earl Branham for ThoreauFair for allowing me to use his photo for an inspiration. 

I seem to be doing a lot of designs using the color red lately! I guess that's OK! After all, garnet is the birthstone color for January, ruby is the color for July! Red is not only popular in February and December, but it's actually a favorite color among many for year round use! 

You can find these items now being displayed in my Etsy shop. Links are here:

Cynhumphrey Etsy Shop

Red Swan Murano Lampwork Glass Necklace

Red Chandelier Beaded Chain Earrings

Red Stone Beaded Necklace

I've Been Featured!

I have 4 more items being featured  in some neat treasuries. Be sure to check out all of the neat items by clicking the links in each description below!


The pink feather earrings can be found here. Thank you Emma Cotter for showing them off in this collection!

The purple necklace can be found here. Thank you Sophie for including them in this lovely collection!

The red rose earrings and blue / aqua butterfly set can be found here. Thank you Anastasia Noelle!

Ladies, you all did a great job!

Looking Forward to February

Being a shop owner, I try to stay one step ahead of the fast approaching months. I try to be sure  I have something designed in the birthstone color. Next month, the birthstone is amethyst. C'mon, we all know February isn't ALL about Valentine's Day and the color red, don't we? I'm excited about being able to design with this color! It should be fun since one of my favorite colors is any shade of dark purple.

So Much To Do So Little Time

Is it just me or did the holidays wear everyone down? I have so many designs that I would like to introduce but so little time, it seems, to actually sit down and do it. I actually find myself having a hard time falling asleep because all these little "images" are floating around in my head and when I go grab them, they sink like a fishing bobber on the water. Having a full time job outside of the home finds me living for the weekend. By the time the weekend gets here, I'm too tired to remember what I wanted to do! With that being said, I'm looking forward to the weekend! I have some photo inspirations I'd love to complete!

It never ceases to add a little excitement to my obviously boring life when I see someone has chosen one of my designs to be featured in a treasury they are making! This time I would like to thank Jo from foundforyousupplies on Etsy for including my puffy green owl pendant. Please be sure to check out Sweet Pinks and Greens to see what I'm talking about! (Click the links).


I would also like to send out a quick THANK YOU to Barbara Shea for including my brown and black lampwork glass heart necklace in her Going Black treasury!

Treasury Contest Help Needed

SPECIAL FAVOR REQUEST: I have entered an Etsy treasury contest with a theme of hearts & flowers. I would love to be able to at least "place" in one of the three winning spots. The winner is chosen by the amount of page views. The contest ends at the end of the month. If you would click on the link below, I'd appreciate it!!! The link to the treasury is here! There are some pretty neat Valentine items on display! Your help is appreciated!

My Heart Loves Flowers!

Featured In Some Treasuries!

A BIG THANK YOU goes out to a BUNCH of Etsy shop owners for taking the time to include a few of my items in their treasuries! Please take a moment to show the collections some love! You might be surprised at what you will find once you open the door!

Please note: you will be able to see my item AND the total treasury collection by clicking on the links in each acknowledgment.

• Gayla from TheChickyHouse has included my red and black bracelet  in her Black and White and Red All Over  treasury!
• Earl Branham from ThoreauFair has included my red double heart earrings in his Springtime in Paris treasury!
• Polymerclaybeads has included my dazzling green dangle chandelier earrings in the treasury called Just Dazzling Darlin'.
• Rosy from KnitBlossom has included my elegant purple beaded chain necklace in her Purplicious treasury!
• Kristen Twyman from ChubbaChunkDesigns has included my brown and orange beaded chain necklace in her Apples and Oranges treasury!

What a GREAT JOB everyone! 

Emerald Green Color of the Year

This fun photo challenge is courtesy of a fellow Etsy team member from the shop of ThoreauFair. He has consented to me using a few of his photos & this one caught my eye right away. You can see his entire shop by clicking on the link above.

The two items I chose to design for this inspiration are actually showing off the emerald green color of 2013 too! Additional information can be found by clicking the links below. See the true beauty by looking at the bigger pictures! Here are the links!

Gemstone Stretch Bracelet            Green Earrings

This photo inspiration brought back many "warm" memories of happy times at the beach. You can find the full details of each item by clicking on the links below. Which one is your favorite?

The link for the owl charm earrings is here!
The link for the butterfly earrings is here!
The link for the two toned silver chunky necklace is here!

The challenge for this month's Upcycled Clothing 'N Things team was to create or design something with a bird theme. It's early in the month but I was able to just introduce these feather and chain earrings in my Etsy shop. I may have to work on another design since I completed this one so early! Would you like to check them out closer? Click here!

My creative challenge this month in my Etsy team is to produce something with a bird theme. It can be something made from a picture of a bird, bird fabric, feathers, or even something for a bird. The possibilities are huge! I've got a few ideas in mind so if I can pull off completing one early in the month, I MAY just have to do more than one project!

Do you have any suggestions on what I could make?