Cyber-Monday Free Gift with Purchase

LAST SALE DAY - As an added bonus for Cyber-Monday, I will be including a free gift with every $35.00 purchase from any of my shops on Etsy. I will automatically add to all purchases over $35.00 (for today only and prior to shipping) a free 7Gypsies bracelet kit valued at $9.95 MSR. This is a DIY charm bracelet kit (similar to one in above photo). I will automatically include one bracelet in all $35.00 Cyber-Monday purchases (prior to shipping) from any of my shops on Etsy. Here are links to my shops on Etsy:
Seasonal Vignettes
Dion Designs
Simply French Designs
The Artists Closet
The Seasonal Cottage
The Paper Source
Great Finds Boutique

The Cost of Christmas 2009 - Monday Musings

The tongue- in-cheek economic analysis by PNC Wealth Management was released for 2009 today and is based on the cost of gifts in the holiday classic, "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

The 2009 price tag is $87,403 for the items in the carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”( purchased repeatedly as the song suggests). The cost of buying each item just once increased this year to $21,466. Not bad considering the price is up a just a bit at $794, or less than 1 percent, from $86,609 last year. Jim Dunigan, from PNC Wealth Management, which has been calculating the cost of Christmas since 1984, attributed the modest increase to lower energy costs and fewer wage increases.

How has the price of the Twelve Days of Christmas changed over the last year? Watch their pageant and explore the updated 2009 PNC Christmas Price Index to find out. Click on the illustration below to be taken to their website:
Links:

PNC Christmas Price Index: http://www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com

Quote of the Week

"Each day offers us the gift of being a special occasion if we can simply learn that as well as giving, it is blessed to receive with grace and a grateful heart" Sarah Ban Breathnach

Alice in Wonderland 2010 - Saturday Film Feature

"When Alice tumbles down, down, down a rabbit-hole one hot summer's afternoon in pursuit of a White Rabbit she finds herself in Wonderland. And there begin the fantastical adventures that will see her experiencing extraordinary changes in size, swimming in a pool of her own tears and attending the very maddest of tea parties. For Wonderland is no ordinary place and the characters that populate it are quite unlike anybody young Alice has ever met before."

I'm so excited that Tim Burton (Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare before Christmas) will release an new film in March of 2010. He will work his Gothic magic on Lewis Carroll's classic 'Alice In Wonderland' . This unusual tale tells the story of a young girl, who after following a rabbit down a hole, is transported to a strange world where she encounters "a savagely violent Queen, the Lachrymose Mock Turtle, the laconic Cheshire Cat and the hookah-smoking Caterpillar, each as surprising and outlandish as the next..." Here is a teaser of the upcoming film starring one of my personal favorites, Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter:

Pre Holiday Sale through Monday!

Black Friday is here! It's the official beginning of the Holiday shopping season. I will be having a sale in my Etsy Shops all weekend.

I will also be offering free Worldwide shipping in my Jewelry shops Dion Designs and Simply French Designs . Free shipping is automatically calculated in all the listings/transactions. Click on the avatars below to be taken to my jewelry shops.
Dion Designs ~ Eclectic and Original Jewelry Collection. Featuring Seaglass, Sea Inspirations, French Themes and Youthful Trends.



Original French inspired jewelry at Simply French Designs.




Supply Shops on Etsy:
I will be offering free shipping on all orders over $50.00 (product total prior to shipping) The Artists Closet , The Paper Source and The Seasonal Cottage. I will refund your paypal account automatically. See shop announcements for further details. Click on the avatars below to be taken to my supply shops.
For all your Mixed Media, Book Arts, and Altered Art supply needs at The Artists Closet .





For a large selection of Dresden Trims and Victorian Scraps Imported from Europe, Midori Ribbon and eco-friendly hand made paper, visit my shop The Seasonal Cottage.




For a unique collection of antique letters, postcards, ephemera,digital vintage postcards, 7 Gypsies products and my original collage kits at The Paper Source.

Neti Pot - Item of the week

My son came home from college with a second sinus infection from the dorms being too warm. So rather than getting another antibiotic, I decided to give the Neti pot a try. (You can purchase them at most Health Food stores). It is a simple, natural way to clean and flush out your nasal cavities. It apparently works by utilizing a warm saline solution (non iodized salt and water) and gravity to quickly and easily flush out the 4 nasal passages. I even found a video that shows you how to use one. It looks pretty easy and is just in time for the dry winter weather! I purchased my "Om Neti Pot" at Whole Foods which features products made in Maine. (Coryell Clayworks-Neti Pot) Click on the pot to be taken to their potters website.

Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday Sale in my shops on Etsy!

It's that time of year again! Thanksgiving to Black Friday through Cyber Monday Sale. It's the official beginning of the Holiday shopping season. I will be having a sale in my Etsy Supply Shops all weekend, from Thursday - Monday. I will be offering free shipping on all orders over $50.00 (product total prior to shipping) The Artists Closet , The Paper Source and The Seasonal Cottage. I will refund your paypal account automatically. See shop announcements for further details. Click on the avatars below to be taken to my supply shops.
For all your Mixed Media, Book Arts, and Altered Art supply needs at The Artists Closet .





For a large selection of Dresden Trims and Victorian Scraps Imported from Europe, Midori Ribbon and eco-friendly hand made paper, visit my shop The Seasonal Cottage.




For a unique collection of antique letters, postcards, ephemera,digital vintage postcards, 7 Gypsies products and my original collage kits at The Paper Source.



I will also be offering free Worldwide shipping in my Jewelry shops Dion Designs and Simply French Designs . Free shipping is automatically calculated in all the listings/transactions. Click on the avatars below to be taken to my jewelry shops.
Dion Designs ~ Eclectic and Original Jewelry Collection. Featuring Seaglass, Sea Inspirations, French Themes and Youthful Trends.



Original French inspired jewelry at Simply French Designs.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Enjoy your day!

Through My Lens ~ Blue Skies in Stonington Maine

photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe

My neighbor a few miles down the road has a cranberry bog and in the late Fall I look for the Open sign on his small cart loaded with bags of cranberries. For $6.00 you can buy a five pound bag. Nothing beats buying local and organic!

Cranberry Sauce
2 cups water
2 cups of sugar
4 cups cranberries

Wash cranberries well.

Mix 2 cups water and 2 cups sugar in pot.

Heat to boiling;boil for 5 minutes (sugar will be clear).

Stir in 4 cups of cranberries.

Heat to boiling.

Boil rapidly for 5 minutes longer.

Cool; cover and refrigerate for a least 8 hours.

Bon Appétit!

Help a Homeless Child and Change a Life ~ Monday Musings

It is the job of every child in America to go to school and learn. The same is true for the most forgotten children in our society, the homeless child. School on Wheels welcomes everyone to lay down differences and come together to bring hope to thousands of homeless students - from kindergarten to grade twelve - one by one. Hope is strong; hope is optimism; hope is self-reliant.

Agnes Stevens, Founder

There are over one million children who are homeless in the United States. Homeless mothers and children are now the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population, and the percentage of kids who are homeless in the U.S. is greater today than at any point since the Great Depression.

Every week an organization called School on Wheels provides hundreds of volunteer tutors that give educational assistance, support and most of all hope, to thousands of homeless children. They do it all with no government funding but through the generous donations of people who believe that every child has potential. The mission of the School on Wheels’ programs is to reach out to homeless children, to mentor them, and assist in their educational life. I invite you to visit their website this holiday season for ideas on how you can help them achieve their goals. Your donation can be a simple as collecting supplies for backpacks, committing to a donation, or perhaps joining them in their mission and becoming a volunteer tutor.
Click on the links below for more information:
Student Wish list and Backpack donations
Scholarship Fund
Become a Volunteer
Other opportunities
Founders Challenge

For more information on the organization School on Wheels ,visit their website by clicking on the bus below.

Quote of the Week

People who work with their hands are laborers.
People who work with their hands and their heads are craftsmen.
People who work with their hands, their heads, and their hearts are artists.
~ St. Francis of Assisi

Saturday Art Feature - The Top Ten Artists Colonies

"No cars, paved roads, or streetlights mar the scenery on Monhegan Island. Perhaps that's why it has attracted artists for more than a century―there's beauty to capture at every turn. Plan to devote a day to visiting, because the island is accessible only by boat."

The top 10 Artists Colonies - Share the creative spirit and find a great memento in these coastal artists havens. Click on the photo to be taken to the original article from Coastal Living and don't forget your paintbrush!

Featured Item of the Week - Apple Peeler

After making applesauce with my Mom yesterday and peeling bags of apples, I realized how nice it would be to have one of these:
Of course I haven't personally used one and wonder if they work but I found the idea quite "a-peeling". (sorry couldn't resist). I haven't been able to find them in local shops but there seem to be quite a number of places where they are available on-line. This particular one is available at the website - Sur la table Have a great Weekend!

Winterize Your Home-Save Energy and Money ~ Thursday Thinking Green

It's not too late to green your home with new stimulus money incentives. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act does include incentives to fix those drafty windows, old heating systems, and other home energy drains resulting in high energy bills. The savings can be rewarded in this 2009 tax season if you make these improvements to your home before the end of 2009. You could also improve your home and realize the savings in the coming year.

These new incentives increase the size of tax credits for homeowners who buy qualifying products. For example, those who invest in new energy efficient replacement windows, install duct seals, insulation, and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems can now receive a tax credit worth 30 percent of the upgrade cost (maximum credit value: $1,500). The tax credit for switching your home to renewable energy sources is even more attractive. Congress did away with previous caps on renewable energy sources which now means a 30 percent tax credit is available for homeowners who install solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, or windmills. For more information on products and the types of records you need to keep on your purchases, visit the IRS website by clicking on this link: Go Green!

Image from Google Images

Through My Lens ~ A Beautiful Day

view from Strawberry Island by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Wish Upon a Shooting Star

The annual Leonids Meteor shower will light up the skies on November 17-18. Meteor showers are named by the constellation from which meteors appear to fall, a spot in the sky astronomers call the radiant. The radiant for the Leonid meteor shower is located in the constellation Leo. Astronomers are predicting one of the most dramatic shows this year, with dozens of shooting stars visible between midnight and sunrise. For the best view, head to an open space away from the glow of streetlights, then watch upward for the gorgeous bright white, blue and green streak the night sky...and don't forget to wish upon a star!

Links:
StarDate Online
NASA

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week - November 15-21, 2009

• One of the fastest growing segments of the homeless populations is families with children. In some Cities, family requests for emergency assistance rose as much as 15% in one year.
• At least 1.35 million children are homeless during the year; 200,000 are homeless on any given day.
• 200,000 veterans are homeless, and 400,000 veterans will experience homelessness during the course of a year.

Each year, one week before Thanksgiving, The National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness co-sponsor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this week, a number of schools, communities and cities take part in a nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness. For some great ideas on how you can get involved visit The National Coalition for the Homeless website, click on the banner below:Or Visit this link for helping out at your local food pantry, soup kitchen or shelter:
http://www.hud.gov/homeless/hmlsagen.cfm

Quote of the Week

I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen. Frank Lloyd Wright

image from Google images

Saturday Etsy Finds - November Treasures

It has been a glorious Fall with warm November Days. I was searching on the Artisan site Etsy for jewelry with November inspired themes and came across some wonderful treasures. Click on the photos to be taken to the featured shops!

ChrDesigns

Zion Shore

Human Kindness

Rain Cloud Studio

Art Wark

In My Hometown - Grey Barn

I love the weathered wood of old barns,
the blending of the Fall trees with the silvery grey.

Serve Organic and Local Food for Thanksgiving Dinner - Thursday Thinking Green

Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. Start planning now on serving a green Thanksgiving dinner by buying local, organic food. Serving local healthy, organic food for Thanksgiving helps you go green because...

• The Global food trade,via air, land, or sea, adds to levels of greenhouse gases.
• Local, smaller farm meats reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, and other chemicals from polluting waterways.
• Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are absent in organic food.
  

Here are some great resources I found on a site called Green Your, to help you find local and organic Thanksgiving food:

• The Eat Well Guide offers a free online directory of almost 9,000 farms, restaurants, stores, bed & breakfasts, and other outlets that offer sustainably farmed meat, poultry, and dairy products in the US and Canada. Enter your zip code or use the advanced search feature to look for antibiotic- and hormone-free animal products, as well as those raised via sustainable production methods, including organic, pasture-raised, and heritage.
  

• Eatwild, a site devoted to information about grass-fed meat and dairy products, lists more than 800 grass-based farms and claims to be the most comprehensive directory in the US and Canada. Click on your state or use the alphabetical list of states. Producers listed guarantee they meet Eatwild's stringent standards. If you can't find products in your area or want products shipped, Eatwild also has a Farms that Ship directory.

• Search for Farmer'sMarkets in your area. This site provides state-by-state listings that include address, phone number, and hours of operation.

• The FoodRoutes Network sponsors Buy Fresh Buy Local chapters throughout the country. These chapters find ways to connect consumers to local food vendors via outreach education, community events, festivals, and farmers markets. Check for a BFBL chapter in your area to see where to buy locally grown produce, flowers, meat, and other foods.
  

  Find organic, sustainably grown meats, dairy products, and other foods at local farmer's markets, community-supported agriculture co-ops (CSAs), family farms, and restaurants in your area. Local Harvest provides nationwide directories. In addition, the organization offers locally grown meat and animal products from family farms around the country via its online store—everything from bison and emu meat to duck eggs and sheep cheese

For original post and more tips on Greening your Thanksgiving visit the GreenYour site by clicking on the turkey below:

Wordless Wednesday ~ Down by the River

photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan