New Year, New Direction and a Giveaway

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.  THE WINNER IS MIKAYLA MAGER.  WATCH FOR MY NEXT GIVEAWAY IN FEBRUARY.

It's been a while.  I guess I have been busy elsewhere.  It's 2014!  What does this new year hold.  New years are great because it's a time to clear the slate and start anew.  We look back at our year, make adjustments for the future and then we should forget about our mistakes and failings and look ahead with great hope and resolve for the year ahead.  This year I plan to put my Etsy shop on the back burner and focus on my walk with the Lord and how I can be a blessing to others.

Psalm 19:14

The scripture art above is from Google Graphics on Etsy

This is a new thing for me --not that the Lord hasn't been in my life but as for the past 4 years my shop has absorbed much of my spare time and energy.  I feel the Lord is now requiring more of me.  Should I resent that?  I think not.  I might if I continue with my shop and don't have the time for it.   I don't want my shop to be competing for the limited time that I have for what the Lord would have me doing.

Printable Scripture
The above printable scripture is from Amen Printables on Etsy

  Let's face it -- my time is limited.   I work a part time job outside the home, attend church 2 nights a week along with Sunday morning and night.    Something has to go.   Looking back over 2013, I feel that my time has been compromised and at times, I have been called to other things when I wanted to be working on my items for my shop.  It has been a tug of war for my time.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Bible verse art above by Branch and Vine Prints on Etsy

Here is my 3 point focus for 2014:

1. Spend quality time with the Lord each day.

2. Focus on helping others -- by expanding and leading our church food and clothing ministry.
I have been involved with this ministry but I am realizing that it needs much more time. 

3. Diversify my blog -- making my posts not so single-minded.  Post about other things that are important to me like my family, and what the Lord is doing in my life.

Will I return at some point to focus on my Angels-n-Everlastings Etsy shop?  Who knows.
For now I am tired and unmotivated and I am bored with everything in my shop.

So, I think I will give it away - at least some of it.  Here is a good listing to start with:

Beach Seashell Wreath

So lets see, I won't make you jump through hoops to enter.  If you are interested you can find my links at top of page.  OPEN TO US/CANADA ONLY To enter just do 2 things-everyone will get one entry.

1.  Follow this blog if you haven't already.

2. Leave a comment.  Tell me what you plan on focusing on in 2014.

Entries close at midnight on 1/17.   A winner will be chosen some time that weekend. 

Beach Finds at Rockport, MA

I spent a few days recently at Rockport, MA.  I have some beach photos to share later but here is a quick post of seashells and sea glass finds on the beach. 

 My family helped me collect bits of sea glass and seashells along the beach in Rockport, Ma.  You can find bits of sea glass and if you look carefully you can also find rarer little bits of sea pottery.

Check out the pottery piece with the imprint in the photo above.  Below there are a few deep cobalt blue pieces which were rarer and if you look closely a small piece of beach pottery with a blue imprint.  

I am going to use some of these for myself but I will be using some of these finds in creations for my Angels n Everlastings Etsy shop

Savvy Deets Bridal - A Wedding Blog: {DIY} Seashell Wreath Tutorial | Guest Post from A...

 I'd like to post a link to a DIY guest blog post that I did this week at Savvy Deets Bridal.  Here is the wreath:

This wreath is available in my Angels-n-everlastings Etsy Shop but if you would like to make your own beach keepsake wreath -- check out the tutorial at Savvy Deets Bridal.  If you make your own I would love to see it!


Savvy Deets Bridal - A Wedding Blog: {DIY} Seashell Wreath Tutorial | Guest Post from A...: We are overjoyed to be bringing you this delightful DIY tutorial today from Etsy artisan Judy with Angels N Everlastings ! Judy's s...

Beach Finds This Week

This week I found a mixed bag of stuff on the beach.  Here is someone doing some fishing off of Revere Beach.  It was somewhat of a grey morning.  If you look closely you can see a lighthouse off in the distance.  I collected some seashells along with some driftwood and one pine cone.  

I'm not sure what I will do with the pine cone or the driftwood but I will use the seashells for beach home decor for my Angels n Everlastings Etsy shop.  Click here for one of my newer listings: Decoupage Wooden Plaque with Hymnal Music and Seashells

My Beach Photos

I have been trying to spend as many mornings at our local beach as possible this spring and summer.

I try to take a few photos each morning and was really anxious to share them but my computer died recently so I was unable to post them. I finally took my computer to be looked at and it was determined that it was not worth fixing.  

This week I purchased a ASUS Laptop which I really like.  It is really difficult to live without a computer these days. 

One thing about the beach is that it is new every morning.  The tide is different -- the sun is in a different spot.  What washes up on the beach is slightly different too. 

  You never know what you will see.   These seagulls were having their breakfast and were rather annoyed with my presence.

 The colors are different depending on whether the sun is shining or if it is grey and overcast. 

 

 These photos were taken at Revere Beach which is just north of Boston.  It is a 5 minute drive from my house. 

 I try to collect seashells or sea glass each time I am there which I use in my Angels n Everlastings Etsy shop.   I use these finds in my beach theme wreaths, photo frames and wall hangings.  Sometimes it's nice to find a perfect seashell but I also like to find a seashell that has been tossed and broken and polished.  It makes it a unique find. 


 
 
 

 I have some other photos taken at Rockport, Ma. which I will post next time. 

  

Summer Sale - Angels n Everlastings Coastal Decor

Use coupon code "google20" for 20% off these listings or any listings in my Angelsneverlastings Etsy shop.  Here are a few unique one of a kind items - click on my shop for others.  Coupon code is good through 7/31/13. 

Seashell Heart Twig Wreath

Beach Themed Photo Frame

Ocean Scene Diorama

Beach House Seashell Mirror 

Favorites from the Weekend Cast Team Help Thread

 

Wood Sign with Seashells

If you are familiar with my Angels n Everlastings shop -- you know that I love anything coastal, so of course,  here is a favorite by Elaine of Sharing Seashells.   She has other interesting seashell creations - check them out here.

Personalized Wedding Coaster Set

 

Planning a wedding?  Etsy is full of unique handmade items that can be personalized especially for your day.  Here is a nice coaster set by Prayer Notes by Cynthia which could be used for favor or wedding party gifts or even a special gift for the bride and groom. Check out the other listings here.

Crocheted Infinity Scarf in Teal Blue

 
 
My last choice is this handspun infinity scarf in a beautiful ocean teal blue.  Joanne of Heaven Spun Creations hand spins the yarn for this scarf from the highest quality merino and local wool.  Check out her other listings here.



Click here to check out the other Cast Team listing on the "help one another thread".  If you are a member of the Cast Team - there is a new thread every weekend -- join in! 

New at Angels n Everlastings

Wall Hanging Beach House Decor Topiary

 
Here is a new listing in my Angels n Everlastings Etsy shop.  It is a topiary that hangs flat against the wall. Fragrant eucalyptus and lavender are added to the seashells to create a rustic nautical home decoration. A few little bits of sea glass finish the piece.  If you like beach home decor, this is perfect for you. This nautical themed topiary measures aprox. 20" tall by 7" wide.  

Coastal Decor Grapevine Wreath

I also have some wreaths decorated with seashells and green moss.  A 6" grapevine is decorated with seashells, and sea glass. Fill a small bare spot with this nautical piece for a soft touch. Sometimes little things can add a lot of character to your decor. 

Nautical Heart Wreath with Green Moss and Seashells

 Here is a heart shaped wreath with assorted seashells and sea glass on a bed of green moss. This heart wreath measures approximately 18" across.  If you love the beach and coastal living this wreath is for you

Beach House Mirror

Here is a decorative mirror, embellished with seashells and sea glass.  

Ocean Theme Photo Frame

Some shells used in my photo frames or wreaths were collected on local east coast beaches. The sea glass is all natural and was collected by Lorrie of Wits End Design from the No. California coast. Visit her shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WitsEndDesign?ref=pr_shop_more The frame can hang or stand -- horizontal or vertically. 

Visit my Etsy shop for more beach theme listings here. Here are my other social links - facebook, twitter, stumbleupon, pinterest.

Local Shellin!

Photo Frame with Seashells and Sea Glass

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The best part of creating wall hangings and seashell embellished photo frames is that it gives me an excuse to be at the beach collecting seashells. 

I've been spending some time on Friday mornings -- hitting the local beaches to collect shells.  Here is a landmark on Revere Beach - Kelly's Roast Beef.  It's a great place to get fried clams, lobster rolls and fish.  I stopped there for a breakfast sandwich and coffee before hunting for shells. 

Here's the sun shining over Revere Beach one morning. 

Well, this is what you have to choose from on Revere Beach.  Not a lot of interesting stuff but if you look closely you can find some gems.

Of course, these seagulls are permanent residents along Revere Beach.  Lot's of them hang out by Kelly's and feast on not only what washes up with the tide but also what people will share of their Kelly's dinners.  You really need to be careful because if you leave your food unguarded -- they will come and steal it. 

 . 

 These seagulls prefer fresh over fried seafood.

 Here are some of the seashells I collected this week.  Some of them are just bits of broken seashells that some would pass by.  I love these though because even though they are broken -- they are tossed and their rough edges are all smoothed out. Each one is unique.

Visit my Etsy shop here to see where I have used some of these collected seashells to the embellished photo frames and other nautical themed wreaths and wall hangings. 
Here is my facebook page -- my twitter, google+ and pinterest. 

Janeen T.of JT Web Marketing on Etsy

I was approached recently by Janeen T.of JT Web Marketing with an offer to edit some of my pictures in exchange for a blog post about her shop and services.

Press release writing for your Etsy shop

She is an internet enthusiast with over ten years of web experience who just recently opened her Etsy shop. Having quality photos in your Etsy shop is so important so I was thrilled with the offer and anxious to see what she could do to improve my photos.  I send her 5 of my product photos and she edited and lightened up the backgrounds in each.  Here are some of the before and after photos.

Edited photo

My original photo

 Janeen offers various services in her JT Web Marketing Etsy shop.  Besides photo editing, her other services include Banner and Logo Designs, Website and Blog Header Designs, Product Description Writing, Video Advertisement Creation, Press Release Writing and Submission, and Article Writing.  I don't know about you but I know I could use help with all of those.  Click here to view her listing for photo editing. 

Beach House Decorating

Since I love anything about the beach I thought I would search around Etsy to see what I could find in beach decor.  Here's my Etsy beach finds:

a sweet little "Life's a Beach" sign for your entryway. 

Primitive Country Sign

Shell collection in an antique soda crate

How about a seashell collection?

This beautiful seashell collection is made using an antique soda crate and carefully selected shell specimens. The "cabinet" is an antique find: an old Pepsi crate. The outside is a grey color, almost whitewashed with a red Pepsi Cola logo. Each of 24 "cubbies" holds a unique seashell specimen. Perfectly worn and rustic.

Seashell Table Lamp

 Here's a nice table lamp decorated with seashells and aqua blue glass.  This would be really pretty in a beach house. This seashell lamp is made using the traditional stained glass method. Every lamp is a unique creation. Soothing Aqua glass gems are Interwoven throughout the shade.

Starfish Watercolor

 
 
Who doesn't love starfish?  Here is a lovely print to decorate your beach house walls. This print is a reproduction of an original watercolor painting by Kelly Bermudez. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art paper which is high quality, beautiful and Certified Archival. The print looks very much like an original watercolor painting

Heart Twig Wreath with Seashells

Here is a twig heart wreath from my Angels and Everlastings Etsy Shop with assorted seashells and sea glass.  This heart shaped twig wreath is embellished with seashells and sea glass and measures approximately 18" across from tip to tip. This wall hanging is perfect for rustic home decor. If you love the beach and nautical decor this wreath is for you

Jewelry Holder or Key Rack

Seashell jewelry holder or key rack.  Brighten up your vanity, bathroom, bedroom, closet, mudroom, or home with this beautiful jewelry or key holder. Use It as a fun, stylish jewelry rack to hang up your most treasured, or well-worn pieces. No more digging through a box to get just the right one!
This also can be used by the front door or in the office to hold your keys. Easy to find when you're rushing out the door!



For those that are unfamiliar with Etsy, it is a on-line marketplace for handmade items.  There were so many beach decor choices on Etsy and it was hard to choose so I know that this will be the first of many Etsy beach posts I will make.  I hope you enjoyed my choices.  Take a look on Etsy here for more beach listings.  Check out my Etsy shop for  seashell and sea glass embellished photo frames, silk and dried flower wreaths and wall hangings at Angels and Everlastings.