Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Team Edward!

I am slowly foisting my addiction off on friends, one by one, mwahahahahaha! I gave Amy the Twilight books...she read them just as quickly as I did. Another friend of mine tracked the first one down in Ireland and is half way through it.

In honor of us Twilightaholics, I browsed Etsy today and want to share my favorite items that are inspired by the story.




This Twilight scrabble tile pendant by Raychelham is simple but completely awesome!

This Twilight Cuppie from sugardreamsbakery looks divine...I bet it tastes as good as Edward imagines Bella tastes!





What better to wear to see the movie than this Tee from nekoknickknacks?

And finally, because it made me giggle...



The Jasper scrabble tile pendant from designsbyappletree.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Myspace

I've created a myspace page for Heathen's Hearth and thought I'd post here on the blog and see if anyone out there has a myspace page for their business. If so, I'd love to add you :).

You can find us here!

♥ Fabulous Friday ♥

A fantastic offer for our friendly blog readers on this fabulous Friday!

If you spend $15* in our Etsy shop today through Sunday, we will include a free regular size bar of soap (normally $4.50-$5.00).

If you buy $30* or more, we will include 2 free bars of soap. This is a great way to get some stocking stuffers or heck, a free way to try out some of our delicious scents for yourself ;-).

All you have to do is use the code "fabfriday" in the comments to seller section when you check out!

*this amount does not include shipping costs.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

A new treasury

I just love it when I get lucky and check the treasury when it's about to open up. I was able to snag one this morning. I call it Autumn Elegance.

Yet another way to network

While browsing the Etsy forums the other day, I ran across a thread about Plumdrop.com. I had never heard of it, so I checked it out. The reason I hadn't heard of it is because it's brand new. Simply put, it's a networking site for online sellers. I'm pretty happy with the user-friendliness of the site and like it so far. I've uploaded about half of our items in the photos section (it's slow going since my work computer is tempermental) and hope to finish the rest today.

You can find us there at http://www.plumdrop.com/members/heathenshearth

Does anyone else out there have a plumdrop page? If so, let me know, I'd love to add you :)

-Misty

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Hey Everyone

Things were definately slow around here this week. I was completely without internet access from about the middle of last week, and was unable to keep up on how things were going. I'll post details and other musings later (and probably some photos of my husband's family farm - which was where I've been the last 5 days), but I just wanted to pop in quickly and apologize for not being able to keep up.

I hope all is well with everyone out there.

~Amy

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Warm Apple Crisp

I finally got pictures of our newest clean creation, Apple Crisp Creamy Goat's Milk Soap.

Warm green apple, spicy cinnamon and clove with the sweet undertone of vanilla and brown sugar. This soap is delicious! Can you think of a better way to start a cool Fall or Winter day?

Friday, October 17, 2008

Update

Sorry that things have been a little quiet on the Hearth front. Amy is in Ohio through the weekend for a family issue and I have been wrapped up in some other stuff, but we're still "here", so to speak.

We have some new soap ready to be listed in our shop...Apple Crisp. I'll have some pictures posted for you tomorrow so stay tuned!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Twilight

Saturday morning found me at the Mall of all places. The honey wanted a new CD and I figured I'd look for Pride & Prejudice on DVD. I didn't find it but what I did find was the first 4 books in the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer-- Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn.





I had heard good things about them, despite the fact that they are geared toward a teenage audience....and really, who can turn down a vampire romance? Not I. I bought the first two books; I figured that they would be a good distraction during a college football weekend. I opened the first one in the car on the way home and didn't put it down except to sleep. I read them both by Monday afternoon and had to go back to the mall to get the 3rd and 4th.


Addicted. I am thoroughly addicted. I am almost through Eclipse (it's slower going because I have to stop reading to go to work, damn it) and I am aching to know what happens! I want to keep Edward. Can I have him? ;-)

The coolest thing is that the movie for Twilight is coming out in November or December. I can't wait to see how it plays out on the big screen. After watching the trailers for it, I've already noted some discrepancies, but I suppose that can be said for any book-made-movie.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Monday's Featured Artist - CherryBerryBunny

Today's Featured artist is another member of the Etsy Queers Team. I'll be doing a spotlight sometime later on the team as a group, but for now, the interview with CherryBerryBunny:

The featured item from Cherry's Shop is: Josie 2 Leopard Guitar Pendant



What inspired you to create it?

I saw a package of leopard pendants in the store one day and knew immediately I would use them to create something, though I wasn't entirely sure what. When the mood struck me, I just took the pendants out and started playing around. I had a page of kawaii skull/music stickers and thought that the guitars would work well.

It had a retro 80s vibe to me and reminded me of Josie and the Pussycats, so that's where the name came from.

What materials did you use?

I used a plastic pendant, stickers, rhinestones, glue, resin, jump ring, and chain to create this necklace.

How long did it take?

The bulk of the process took about an hour. Including playing around with the design, gluing, mixing resin, brushing on the resin, and then adding the jump ring and chain. The resin has to dry for at least 24 hours in bewteen though.

What is your favorite form of art?

I love mixed media visual art! I also paint and am really drawn to using lots of different techniques and textures and colors. I love seeing things in new ways and in mixed media there really are no rules! I think that influence can be seen in my jewelry as well.

How long have you been crafting?

I have been creative for as long as I have conscious memory of myself. As a child I was always drawing and making things. I started creating my own jewelry in my early teen years and then I taught myself to draw and paint in high school.

Do you have a blog, if so, what is the address?

I do have a blog. You can find me at http://www.juliejewl.blogspot.com/

What do you think is the best thing about Etsy?

For me, the best thing about Etsy is all the amazing artists and crafters. Every single day I find someone new whose work I fall in love with.

Can your work be found anywhere else?

My artwork can be found on Etsy at http://www.juliejewl.etsy.com/.



That's all for today, but be sure to check out her shops at Etsy. Lots of fun, funky, and playful art to be found. You can see some of her other works in our Etsy Mini Spotlight to the right side of our blog.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Lazy Saturdays

Its Saturday! And I'm feeling decidedly lazy.

The season is definately turning. Misty is at home making Pumpkin Bread (I'll have to have her add some pics when its done), and I am out of town at my second home feeling the chill of the season start to really set in. Would you believe it got below 50 last night?!? I was shocked. The last time I looked it was full on summer, and here we are heading into the very height of fall it seems.

I've never been big on cold weather. Usually because its associated with lack of sunlight. I'll be the first to admit being a night owl, but I do require at least *some* sunlight to get me through. And in winter there never seems to be enough of it.

So today for dinner I am making comfort food. It helps being here, and not at home, since the only person at home who really likes my style of comfort food is my son. :-) Comfort food for me comes directly from my grandfather. He was born in 1931 in the midst of the Great Depression, something all of us are hoping we're not going back into. But I learned a lot of my cooking from him, and also many habits he was raised with--habits culturally ingrained by being raised in a poor family during troubled times.

Everyone knows what skillet meals are. Hamburger helper has made them pretty popular. But at 2.00 and more a box with barely 2-3 real servings, they're not really all that cost effective. The following is a recipe for Fried Macaroni - a staple comfort food for my family. Its ultimately customizable, makes enough to feed a family of 4 about 2 meals, and it can be doubled up fairly easily. When my husband goes out to sea, I've been known to live off it. It's inexpensive, tasty, and with a little creativity, the same base meal can be changed to suit whatever you are in the mood for. This is how I most commonly make it.


Fried Macaroni - From the Kitchen of Alfred Muncey 1931 - 2003

Ingredients:

1lb macaroni (elbows or small seashells work best - I prefer shells)
1 large bottle of Tomato Juice
1 can of corn
Worcestsire Sauce
Tabasco Sauce
Italian Seasoning


Directions.

Boil Macaroni till its Al Dente. You don't want it cooked soft, it should still have a bit of firmness to the noodles - for small shells, about 6 minute boil time.

Rinse well after boiling, and put it in the fridge to cool. It fries best when its cold, however, room temp will work. If you over cook the macaroni, or fry it starting warm, it will not crisp as well, and will have a tendency to fall apart. This is wholly aesthetic and does not affect the taste.

After the macaroni is cool:

Pre-heat a Cast Iron Skillet with a small amount - 3-5tbsp - of oil (I've never tried this in anything else. There were actually family squabbles over who was to inherit my grandfathers cookware. For him, there was no other cookware but well seasoned cast iron, and he had his for many years). The skillet is ready when a drop of cold water will skitter across the surface. You don't want it overly hot though, or your macaroni will burn instead of browning.

After the skillet is pre-heated, add the cold macaroni. The trick to frying macaroni, is not to fuss with it. Every 2-4 minutes you'll want to use a metal spatula to turn the macaroni in chunks. You are looking for a fairly good brown, crispy texture, and the frying should cause multiple noodles to stick together in chunks.

After the macaroni is browned (about 15-20 min, turning every 2-5 depending on how crispy you want it--some of us fight over who gets the crispy parts), pour enough tomato juice in the skillet to cover the macaroni and allow it to cook down. At this time you can also add other things to the meal - corn, ground beef (or other meat), shredded cheese, etc. Its only limited by what you have on hand (my preference is just to add the corn). Season to taste at this time. We like Worcestsire Sauce, a bit of Tabasco, and Italian Seasoning.

After the juice is absorbed into the macaroni, brown again, turning every 2-3 minutes, for about 10 minutes, or until it reaches your desired crisp texture.

In a separate pot, while you are browning the macaroni the second time, gently warm the remaining tomato juice. You can add more seasoning to this. Muncey always used Worcestsire Sauce and Italian seasoning. *Do Not* Allow the tomato juice to boil. Keep it on very low heat and allow it to simmer slowly until it is hot.

To serve, divvy up the macaroni into bowls, cover with warm tomato juice, season to taste.

I've been told its a bit like Tomato Soup meets Chicken Noodle. I've also been told its one of the weirdest meals a person has ever tasted. Its probably an acquired thing. I grew up on it though, and it always makes me think of my grandfather and childhood.

I'll post pics later when I start cooking :) In the meantime, what's your favorite comfort food?

Friday, October 10, 2008

And the Winner Is.....

Its time again to do our drawing. Thank you Random.org for your assistance in this endeavor.

The winner of our Halloween Giveaway is ~dianem~!!!

Congratulations Diane, you'll be recieving the Halloween gift set in Eucalyptus Spearmint.

As a special thank you to all players, for making it such an excellent give-away, we're offering the following to *everyone* who commented on our give-away post.

Each participant can take 10% off any order from our Etsy shop, found at http://www.heathenshearth.etsy.com/... and any order over $50 will recieve free shipping on top of the 10% off. (Offer valid through October 31st, 2008.)

Please leave a note in the notes to seller section mentioning the Halloween Giveaway and the name you entered under (most likely your blog name) during check out. Upon reciept of your order, we will either send you a revised invoice, or if you don't want to risk your purchase getting away, you can pay at the time of check out, and we will reimburse your discount (and shipping charges if applicable) through the PayPal refund feature.

Thank you again to everyone who participated!

~Amy

I am shocked and amazed

I'm a regular reader and would like to think a semi-regular poster in the Etsy forums. Lately, though, I'm reevaluating the intelligence of participating there.

No, the world is not all rainbows and butterflies, but the negativity in the threads is becoming overbearing and ridiculous. And not just the "oh woe is me, why aren't people buying?" but the level of rudeness and closemindedness is unreal.

Vintage is allowed. Get over it. Supplies are allowed. Get over it. And yes, psychic or tarot readings are allowed as long as a handmade chart or something equivelent is mailed to the buyer....so says the admin. Get over it.

What is it so hard to understand? Why does it have to be a battle of who thinks who has more right to sell on Etsy? It doesn't matter if you agree or not...if ETSY says it's ok, it's ok. I'd prefer Etsy only let open-minded, NICE people sell, but it's not my call, is it?

And while I'm on a roll with the complaining, I'm so sick of reading "you're calling out" to almost every question a seller asks...even when there isn't a specific buyer, seller, name, item referred to. Someone used the term Hall Monitor today and it is so fitting for a few people.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

I can't make up my mind...imput needed!

The next scent on our soap list is Apple. Perfect for Fall! I have a fresh and tart green apple fragrance that is lovely all on it's own, but my mind is going beyond that...which is where I am running into trouble, lol.

Do I keep our newest soap a simple Tart Green Apple? Do I add some cinnamon and clove essential oil to the mix and create Spiced Apple? Do I go one step further and add some ground oats to it and make it Apple Cobbler?

What would you all prefer?

Monday, October 6, 2008

All New Monday Feature

So, to cure the Monday Blahs, I've decided to start running a Monday Feature Presentation. I haven't yet determined exactly how I'll go about picking who will be in our Monday Spotlight on a regular basis (nor apparently have I picked a name..lol)

For now, I have chosen one of my favorite etsy shops at random: Starrydance! Clicking her name will take you to her Etsy shop.

For the Monday Spotlight, she chose 3 Mini-Bookmarks:



Size: Approx. 2 7/8" x 3 3/4"
Media: Luster/Satin Print with 8 Color Printing, Acid Free Soft Vinyl Bookmark Holder, Tassel
You pick THREE Bookmarks! Pick any of the art in my store, its all available even if its not listed! <3



So here is a brief interview from Starrydance herself:

What inspired you to create these bookmarks?

Bookmarks are my favorite item, its ART in books! How amazing is that! <3>

What did you use?

I use the finest archival paper for my prints, and thats what I use for my bookmarks - they are truly mini prints! Then I slip them into archival acid free sleeves and tassel em up and they are ready to go!

How long did it take?

Each bookmark takes me about 10-30 mins to put together from printing, trimming carefully, putting in the sleeve and then finding the perfect tassel! The original process took about 2 months finding the right sleeves, and the right paper =3

What is your favorite form of art?

My favorite form of art for myself is obviously watercolor animals! To purchase is totally jewelry - I love it and can NOT make it myself. It amazes me how people can constantly make so many amazing things from beautiful gemstones, beads, and metals - even if they use the same ones its totally different from the next necklace!

How long have you been crafting?

I've been drawing really forever, but I have been painting in watercolor for about a year and a half, almost 2 years now! I have been selling at conventions for a year, and Etsy just a month - so far so good!

Do you have a blog, if so, what is the address?

My blog can be found at: http://starrydanceart.blogspot.com/


Do you have a favorite etsy shop (or 5...lol)? Care to name names?

Ooh, Favorite Etsy shops?

I really love Faeridtreasures jewelry its always fun, beautifully written and photographed and its something I Cant stop collecting!

My favorite fun-soap-omg-is-that-SOAP? shop is Treatsoap - I really love her soaps!

My favorite artist(s) are Meredith Dillman Shadowscapes -

Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

and my "someday I will have this" is Plumevines stunning artistic jewelry!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Amethyst and Turquoise

I must have really good luck. That's the only explanation because I refuse to admit I sit staring at the treasury screen waiting until it opens.

Anyway, I nabbed another one! This time in Treasury West.

I based it entirely around one piece....Aztec Queen from The Damned Muse. It's my very favorite piece in her shop...it's absolutely stunning.

For more beautiful and stunning items, check out my treasury!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5994404


Halloween Give-Away!

So, having just finished up with our September Give-Away, its time to announce and get going with our October Give-Away!


This one is much simpler than the last. All you have to do to be entered into the drawing, is answer the following question:


What is your favorite way to celebrate Halloween?


Winner will be selected next Friday, so you will have your gift before Halloween.


So, what will you win? This Boo-tiful Gift set, the same style as those offered in our Etsy shop's Holiday Section. A 17.50 retail value, this ceramic dish comes filled with Eucalyptus Spearmint goodness. You'll get a full size 8oz Luxurious Body Cream, and a full size 4.5oz bar of Eucalyptus Spearmint Silky Shea Butter soap. So, be sure to tell us what your favorite way to celebrate Halloween is!






Screw calorie counting!

We won 2nd place in Steel City Bakery's blog giveaway! I've spent most of the morning drooling over her delicious creations in her Etsy shop.

I think this is my favorite....

Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Cookies

Oh...and I forgot...I discovered Pounce today! How cool...

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

I was creative today!

For the first time all week I actually felt pretty good today. Which, considering the afternoon weather, is absolutely amazing. But, I will not look a gift horse in the mouth. It was a good day, and I'll take as many of those as I can get!

So, creation of the day... Milk Bath! (Well, and fresh Shampoo and Conditioner for the September Giveaway)

Its an excellent formulation containing dried milk, dehydrated yogurt (for extra protiens which are *excellent* for healing skin, and extra alpha hydroxy acid, which, as most of us know by now is really good for helping to rid yourself of excess dry skin, firming, toning, and de-wrinkling), powdered honey (which contains an enzyme called glucose oxidase, that when combined with water, is a mild antiseptic. Honey is also a natural moisturizerizing humectant, that draws in moisture to your skin and helps retain it as well. The biggest benefit, is that it does all this without making your skin feel oily or greasy, which is especially handy during the winter months. And because it’s so gentle, it is suitable for sensitive skin. ), and colloidal oatmeal (to sooth dry irritated skin, and leave you feeling soft and silky!).

We've decided to leave this product all natural, because it doesn't need anything extra to be oh so good for your skins health and well being.

We can however, recommend, that if what you're longing for is a good long soak in all this milky goodness *and* a great scent, plus muscle relaxation, try the next item up, which is a great pre-blended formula using our amazing milk-bath and sea salts.

Our original salt soak is made with European and Dead Sea Salts containing natural water (and skin) softening minerals that are great for moisturizing. It also contains Epsom Salts, which as we all know, is an excellent soak for sore muscles.

Because it is recommended that you not soak in Epsom salts more than two or three times a week, we highly recommend using those other days to soak in our luxurious milk bath! After all, if milk baths were good enough for Cleopatra, they are definately good enough for the Queens in all of us!

May I Have Your Attention, Please!

I would like to announce the winner of our Gift of the Month Giveaway for the month of September!

But, before I do, I would like to let you know how we went about choosing our winner.

Each person who commented on this blog (1 entry per person) was listed out. A second entry was made for those people who follow our blog (2 entries for each of those people).

I then went to Random.org, entered the list into the randomizer, and had Misty pick a number between 1 and 58 (the total number of entries). Since Misty was at work at the time she had no access to the list, so having her pick a random number seemed to be the most equananimous way to select a winner.

(For future reference, this will be how we will be pick all winners of contests on this blog.)

Now that we've gotten the technical information out of the way...

*Insert Drumroll here*


THE WINNER FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS: Three Fates Design!!!!!
Soon this lovely set of bath and body gifts will be arriving at her doorstep!




Congratulations!
And to everyone else...don't forget, we'll be doing another giveaway at the end of October, and you can always find our luxurious bath and body products in our etsy shop!

OH! I almost forgot!

Amy and I were both able to nab treasuries yesterday (I think if we continue, we are going to become very unpopular, indeed, lol).

A little help from my friends


Juciy Pomegranate

I think I need to join Etsyholics Annonymous

Seriously. So many gorgeous items....and my dwindling bank account, lol.

Here are my purchases today: