Time for a rest...

So much has happened since October 31 this year.  My father-in-law whom I loved passed away.  We had a wonderful few days celebrating his life, seeing family and thanking God for the salvation and eternal life that he has promised.  We know where Dad is and will see him again some day.

The same day my father-in-law passed away, my sister got hit by a car while crossing the street.  She's OK and healing, but it has been a long, painful road for her.

I have been creating when I find time and the need to release anxiety and stress, but will be taking it slow to catch up on the house during the holiday's and Amelia's birthday.  I will be updating my living room and posting photos of the progress!  Check back often to see my Etsy purchases and you can follow my living room idea board on pinterest here http://www.pinterest.com/puffluna/living-room/

I truly appreciate all of the notes that I've received from my Etsy customers encouraging me to keep creating.  Thank you all so much.  Your support of my love of creating is invaluable to me.

Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!  (I will be creating at least once a week for a couple of hours!)

Julie

Wear This With That...

I decided to dream a little...

If I could get any outfit to go with a necklace that I made... mmmmm

Here are some ideas of what to wear with the Long Crystal Necklace that I made.

Wear me this Fall!

I made this necklace yesterday and I really like how it turned out.  It will look great with your fall sweaters.  Don't forget to enter Puff30 at checkout to receive a 30% discount!

Seeds and Summer (coupon code too!)

Maybe my obsession with creating seed bead necklaces this past summer had to do with the lack of a vegetable garden this year!  We are redoing our backyard ourselves and did not finish the new vegetable garden in time to plant.  I've been planting like crazy in the studio!

Please take advantage of all that I created this summer by using this coupon code in my store during checkout.  Puff20  (20% off!)

I'm baaaaaack!

I've reopened my Etsy store www.puffluna.etsy.com and I am very excited to start creating jewelry and other crafty things! Please stop by and keep checking back for new blog posts. Thank you!

Jumping for Joy!!

My first item is listed in my Etsy store and I am literally jumping around! I am so excited to be creating again. I am looking forward to hearing from some of my customers! As one of my favorite customers called herself... hoping to see some "pufflunatics" soon!

Coming back to puffluna.etsy.com!

This is one of my favorite bracelets and I found enough supplies to make another! Coming soon to puffluna at puffluna.etsy.com!

Agate Slice and Zinc Necklace ... coming to puffluna.etsy.com soon!

I made this necklace with a gorgeous slice of pale blue agate and antique zinc colored metal beads. Coming to www.puffluna.etsy.com soon!

Vintage Glass Necklace... coming to puffluna.etsy.com soon!

This is made with brass wire and vintage glass beads. Caramel colored glass rounds and unique vintage white glass beads with an interesting, run design. Will look adorable with your brown v-neck sweater this fall!

Puffluna is reopening!

1958 Vintage Advertising Token (what will I make with this??)

Stone Necklace

Scripture Necklace

Vintage Parts Earrings

Yes, it's true! I closed my store in October of 2009 and now, almost 2 years later, I will reopen! I am really looking forward to the reopening and you should too since I will have many items on MAJOR sale plus many new items to choose from.

Things will be a little different than before since now I have two other jobs. This will be my place to have fun and create! I am really looking forward to it.

More details will follow, but wanted to give you a heads up! My goal is to reopen by the end of September 2011.

If you'd like notification of the actual grand reopening, email me at puffluna@hotmail.com. Check my blog often for sneak peeks at what will be coming (some vintage, some stone and many one of a kind!)

Also included an updated picture of Amelia who is almost 11 years old now!!

Amelia

New Items in my Store!

Finally... a sunny day that I'm at home and had a moment :) I added a few things to my store. Please stop by and take a look!!

Strangely therapeutic

Not sure why... I've never been one to write in journals, now I wonder if I should. Why does writing in my blog feel like a sort of therapy to me. I was just looking over my blog and realized that on the day that my dog, Bandit, passed away, I actually wrote a blog post about it! The day is a bit of a blur to me... I don't recall thinking "hmmm... go write a post about this". Maybe I just wanted the world to know how sad I was... why did it matter that the world know though? Does the world knowing make it easier? Does having more people feel sad make it easier? It's interesting to me how therapeutic blog writing is. I'm sure if I google "why does writing in a journal make one feel better" I'd come up with a lot of answers... I won't google though. I'll ponder this thought until I come up with some ideas of my own.

(photo of a pretty flower at the park)

The Sea Monster

then suddenly she appeared on the surface. From the depths of the ocean she rose. Coming to play with the puppy.... Ahhhhh!

You know how you take a million photos on the digital camera... then you come home, sort through and save a couple of the good ones? Well, as I was sorting through, I saw this photo. Amelia's posture is hysterical and I didn't even notice it when I was taking the photo. haha

This photo was taken at the Fairport Harbor dog beach.

Almost Giving it Away!

Square Locket Necklace (above)

(had to throw in a photo of Ruthie leaping over the creek!)

Free shipping on top of the sale prices on the items in my store! Free shipping until Mon. AM. :)

Almost All on Sale

Take a look at the sale prices in my store! I'm working on many 1-of-a-kind pieces, so clearing out to make room :)

Floating Down the River

Amelia, Sydney and Phil (I was in front... the navigator)

Waiting for the bus

705 lbs.


Eating



Getting shot at!

What could be better than a canoe trip on Labor Day? I say nothing :) That's what my family and my friends did this past Monday. It was a nice day... the rain missed us. Of course we saw turtles sunning themselves on the logs... a few lilys and just the beauty of the trees and river. It was relaxing and rejuvinating.

We went to the Camp Hi Canoe Livery in Hiram OH. We've been going there for years, but it was Amelia's first time.

Oh and almost forgot to mention this! We docked at a clearing along the river. Before kids this is the place that we used to dock to eat and drink... we walked up to a clearing and saw a farm. It was very picturesque... you can see it in the background in the close-up of Phil. This is where the farmer yelled at us to get off of his property and fired a shotgun up into the air!! wow... now I can say I've been shot at! haha

Eat all of the cantaloupe.

Over the past few days, since Bandit's soul has left the Earth, I've moved through various stages of grieving. The first (now these are not textbook, I'm sure) was shock. He's gone... how did this happen so fast?! Then, I moved into pure sadness. My Bandit is gone... I miss him.. I'm cutting a cantaloupe and he's not at my feet begging for some. I'm walking outside and he's not running to be with me... the cats are running around like crazy and he's not coming to check it out... oh... there's some of his hair in the corner... where's his blanket? his food bowl is empty... I just ordered Advantage for him, it hasn't even come yet... where are all of my pictures of him... where's his leash, his collar, his toy? It was so strange and empty not having him here. Then I was mad... why did the vet leave me in the room for 1/2 an hour believing we could fix him!? I imagined him on the trail in the park.. walking him to the square... healing from surgery with my loving touch, hugs and kisses. How could they do that to me? Then guilt... I should have spent more time with him. I should have brushed him the other day.. if I'd known it was his last day eating cantaloupe, I would have given him the whole thing. If I'd known it was the last day that we'd walk to the square, I would have walked for hours.... if I'd known it was his last night sleeping next to our bed, I would have pet him longer before falling asleep. Then ... OK ... he's taught me so much about life and death. My little Bandit, without even knowing it... has reminded me to never, ever, ever take for granted the relationships that I have. Never go to bed angry... always pray for my family and friends... call them more... love them more... less anger... more joy and time spent together. Eat all of the cantaloupe. I love you Bandit! Thank you for all you've done for me. You made my life so much better by just being in it.

Bandit - My Love

Bandit - 1994 - 2009

My beloved friend passed away today.... here's a letter that my mom wrote to me

Dear Julie, Phil and Amelia-

My heart is sadden with the passing of our special friend Bandit. I remember him as a springy little young guy running like a gazelle around my front yard. Running as fast as he could, jumping as high as he could, running, running, running - jumping over our beloved Shadow - so high it looked like Bandit was flying. We would laugh so hard. The more we laughed the more he would fly through the air.

I remember how he loved Tucker. You would ask Bandit do you want to go to see Tucker - he was off and running to the car. And making happy sounds as he rounded the corner of the street heading to our house.

I remember just the other day how every time I would come over to your house and Bandit would hear my voice he would pick up his tired little body and come over to me. He would look up at me smiling waiting for me to say - “Hi, Good Boy! How are you today”

God has taken Bandit into his arms. He has taken Bandit’s tired little body and made it so he can run and fly again like he used to in my front yard. He has put a smile on Bandit’s face by lifting all his soreness and stiffness - he has taken away his cloudy eyes and made them clear again so he can find his friends Shadow, Emma and Mr. Bunny. Bandit is running in tall grass, through clear streams - running with his friends - he is feeling joyful with his newness in God’s hands.

We miss ou dear little friend - he made us all smile. He gave us many years and then hung in there a little longer. My love and hugs are with you all today as you work through this sadness. When you’re able go through your photo’s - and look for all those special moments with that crazy little dog Bandit and smile again.
Love,
Grandma (mom)

Overwhelmed With Joy

I was baptized in Nov. of 2008. Even though at the time, I was fully aware of my decision, I had no idea of the joy and blessings that accepting Jesus as my saviour would bring. I am so filled with happiness, filled with the feeling of love and filled with a sense of purpose... more so than ever before in my life. This is not something that I can explain... it's just something that is inside of me. Based on my studies, I'm pretty sure it's the Holy Spirit at work :) Never before has a tree looked so beautiful and intricate. Never before has an apple tasted so sweet and looked so artfully made. Even a glass of water tastes better than ever before. Realizing that God has put this all on Earth out of his love for me overwhelms me at times. God's creations continue to inspire me... I am in awe.

(the photo is of a moth that Amelia spotted during a walk in the woods)

My Peace Lovin' 3rd Grader

3rd Grade!?! When did this happen!? Today is Amelia's first day of school. She's starting the 3rd grade and gets to go to a special class once a week for gifted kids (don't like the name of that.. but that's what the government calls it). The morning was wonderful. It's a beautiful day, Amelia had her outfit picked out (we even did her toes and nails to match on Sat.). We walked to school through our little town square. Picture perfect :) I'll pick her up and bring Ruthie with me to surprise her after school. Can't wait to hear about her day....