~*ETSY*~ ON Saturday Evening... Etsy is taking it's time posting my sales...

Please drop by starting on Saturday evening to see what I will have to share for sale on Etsy.
You might find something you like!

http://www.amberdawn.etsy.com/

The Ties That Bind

Would you like to enter a raffle?
Now thru September, 2009
Ties That Bind: A Very Special Art Doll Raffle
Click here to see!

~*In the making!*~ Hyperion Cantos- the MOVIE! 2010!

I read a long time ago that one of my favorite books was being made into a movie- it is now in production with Warner Bros. and due out in 2010- I cannot wait to see how they produce it!
It is bound to be an amazing movie!

If you've not read Hyperion or The Fall of Hyperion you might like it.
It is SciFi... But WOW!!! Even if you are not a SciFi Fan... flip through it in the book store and see if you might like it.

I did find some of the pages hard to get through, but if you push through them, there are better pages ahead.
I read this over 10 years ago and still rate it at the top of my list for SciFi books.
A book full of fabulous imagery and thought provoking ideas.

~*Happy Mother's Day!*~

There are so many wonderful, fabulous and fantastic mommies out there all over the world who I would LOVE to send a personal HAPPY MOTHERS DAY message to.
But I don't have enough time to email and mail you all so-
I will share it here, for all to see-

Wishing all of the mommies and mums a
beautiful and delightful -
~*HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!*~
From me!
:o)
Amber Dawn

(This includes all of the mommies of furbabies and feathered babies too!)

Looking to trade...

These are the items I am looking for at the moment.
I don't need full packs, but all of the items must be in new condition.

Do you have any of them?
If so- let me know your wish list please.

TIM HOLTZ Charms Fragments (with holes) & Rectangles and Squares
Tim Holtz Keyholes, sprockets and gears, trinket pins, link chains, and ornate plates.

GREEN BEADS- not seed beads or bugles or cheap looking plastic.
I need ~*NICE*~ glass. 48+ pieces 4-10mm rounds, faceted, crystal, pressed, etc.

Scribbles slick and matte fabric paint in the small bottles- Pinks, greens, black, white, purples, blues, yellows, oranges

Sprockets and Gears 1/2 inch or less.No smaller than 1/4 inch.

Assorted cellophane bags and envelopes with adhesive strip

Glass slides and CLEAR un frosted memory glass, in NEW and unused condition.
Memory frames for the glass.

Bubble mailers 8-10 inches wide

Scrabble tiles, all kinds.

That's it for now!

Thanks!
Amber
Just click on comments below this post and let me know- or if you already know my email, please email me.

Rose in the glass (2007)

Not sure if I ever posted this one, but snapped the pictures for Charm Day.

I made it with the torch and glass in 2007... I am self taught so this was just exprimental.

It's a rose, encased in clear.

I love it!

I'm glad that it's May...

I am really thankful that April flew by so fast.
It started off so very painful for me...

The inspiration to start a holiday out of the random blue came to me at a time that I *REALLY* needed a huge distraction. (It was the end of March)

Thankfully, my focus was on getting through the month by looking forward to happy and enjoyable events.

THANK YOU to all who helped me celebrate the first annual International Charm Day.
It was great fun and I met so many more nice and charming artists out there on the *world wide* web.

It was also really nice to have so many good & familiar online friends joining in & being so supportive as well as excited about the idea.

There is so much change going on in this world, in my life, in my heart...
I feel we all need more GOOD days to plan for and look forward to.

Wishing you all a fantastic and healthy weekend.
Remember to be more careful...
Remember to be more full of care.

~*Smiles*~
Amber

Some fun charms of mine that I love to wear and play with.

~*The 2010 Diary Project!*~ WOW 2010 that is so futuristic sounding to me!

It is that time of the year when Lucy puts the call out for all to consider designing a page in a daily International calendar.
I posted about this last year!
"Diary project 2009"

Time keeps on ticking... Into the future...

Today is my last day of being a full 33 RPM (rotations per minute) The following day I will be 10 more than 24... And that is a magic number...(said in sing song)

~*Please join me- An Online International Event Invitation*~4/28

~*I am celebrating art to wear charms, friendship, designing, random acts of kindness, hording, creativity, and my online charm swap and exchange community.*~

~*PLEASE JOIN ME!*~April 28th ALL day
It's free!
You can win some wonderful prizes!
Here is a list- Prizes include charm making supplies, semi precious beads, components, findings, an autographed copy of "A Charming Exchange", Swarovski rhinestones, lace, hand dyed silk ribbons by Pat Winter, sequins, watch parts, laser cut wood shapes from "Pork Chop Show" AND MORE!

There will be blogs to visit that feature entries about charms, photos, tutorials, sales and lots more!

If you want to be a part of the celebration, please go to www.InternationalCharmDay.blogspot.com and join the "Follower" box.
On the right side of the blog, with all of the tiny pictures of other bloggers, who also follow.
You cannot win a prize if you are not a follower.
This will be an annual holiday event, so if you miss out on it this year, you are invited back again next year!

You might win- An Autographed Copy of A Charming Exchange if...

If you are a follower of the International Charm Day blog- (by following on the blog's actual "follower" widget)

You might win- An Autographed Copy of A Charming Exchange

Signed by Kelly & Ruth!

You must be listed on the followers widget on the right side bar on that blog.

Just click it to be added and follow the directions!

Followers using other services cannot be seen, so unless you actually "follow" using that widget, you are not going to be entered into any of the drawings for this event!

If you need help, leave a comment.

~*PLEASE HELP!!!$$$$*~

~*PLEASE HELP!!!$$$$*~ This is for a dear friend's husband. JoAnna Pierotti is such a loving person. Her husband has a massive brain tumor and it MUST be removed ASAP. They lost their medical coverage when he lost his job so they need our help... As much of it as we can share- If you cannot share money, please consider praying for something wonderful to happen.

PAYPAL!!!!
Even if it is just .50 cents or if you could afford more, please let's pitch in to help her in this desperate race for time!!!!!!!!!

Participants of International Charm Day... The link is fixed

If you would like to participate in my celebration of 4/28 as International Charm day, please become a follower on the blog I am setting up for this event-
http://www.internationalcharmday.blogspot.com/

I'll be giving away some amazing prizes to those who follow the event.

I am also looking for artists, crafters and designers who would like me to list them as participants on the side bar.
Do you have a discount to offer on materials to make charms?
I will advertise you!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Do you have charm jewelry that you've made that you would like to share picture of?
How about things around your house that you have embellished with charms?

Do you have a charm making tutorial that you would like to share and be featured?

Let me know!

:o)

Thank you!

Amber

~*Rainy! Wet, & Stylin'!*~

Beautiful Umbrellas- Wish list

Harold Feinstein Tulips
PANSY I love the shape!
Classic Clear Bubble style
Italian Blooming flower in black. ~*sigh*~ $175.00 Pasotti Ombrelli
Renoir

http://www.bellaumbrella.com/

And the two from Cirque du Soliel! Are my FAVES!

Take a minute for an inspiratonal surprise...

WOW!!!!
WATCH THIS!!!! <----Click here.

I am not going to say what it is about, but you have no reason to be disappointed.

Make sure you have your volume on and watch all the way through!
Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I started a new blog for the special event and will be posting about it more soon.
Keep passing on the news.
Giveaways, a gallery of charm photos, links, tutorials, fun fun fun!
4/28/09-
~*International Charm Day!*~

Let's see if this works! Charm button/link Please read the linking directions...

In celebration of International Charm Day, I will be giving away handmade art charms and charm making supplies on 4/28 and 4/29

I will be posting special blog posts in the weeks ahead for all to enter a chance to win some FUN giveaways of charm supplies, chains and findings!

If you post about "International Charm Day, April 28th" and or you post about your own handmade art charms to your own blog on 4/28 you can be entered to win some of my own handmade art charms!

More details will follow.

Pass on the word, the more who join in, the merrier!

You can copy the picture I use for the event and use the web address to link it-
www.InternationalCharmDay.blogspot.com
;o)Amber Dawn

International Charm Day blog! <---Click me!

Getting back into the swing of things!

OK, after the intense stress and grief over the last couple of months, I am feeling quite myself again and just got back into my own swing of things again today.

The funeral was actually nice, and the weather Sunday was wonderful considering that it's been windy, wet and cold for most of the other days.

Seeing most of my family was the best part.

Both my husbands grandmother and my own grandmother died withn 24 hours of one another.
They also had the same first name...

So it's been one of those matching things in my life again.
(Happens very often)

Anyway-
I've tried to design a cool blog button for the Charm Day advert, but I want to redo it.

I'll be posting info about the event as soon as I can.

Thank you for the sweet emails and lovely comments.
I appreciate it very much.

~*Taking a deep breath... To heal... To LIFE!*~

...

"Since you've been gone"
"I can *now* breathe for the first time"
By, Kelly Clarkson

...

My life has just drastically changed.

I now am able to take some time to reflect &
make choices for myself and decide upon things
that I've never, in my life, had the freedom
or room to do prior.

I finally feel that I can be myself.
To grow up and finally be *Me*.

(Charm lDay lBlog ...<---click me

4/28
International Charm Day

Click the title of the post to get there.

You MUST be a follower of that blog to be eligble to win anything.

It's over

They are both passed now.

April 28th ~*International Charm Day!*~

Wouldn't it be fun to have a special day for wearing and gifting special charms?
It sounds like fun to me, so I am going to make it happen!

What will this day be about?
Maybe giving some of your own handmade charms or ones you've gotten from a swap, to good friends, family and anyone who makes your day to day lives brighter, better or just more fun!
(Examples- postal workers, nurses, teachers, sales girls, waitresses (when leaving a tip), secretaries, children etc.)

Each charm could have a special meaning or feeling behind it.
Or, you could just make a general set and hand them out randomly!

You could add on a tag that mentions they are being gifted a charm on International Charm Day and add in your name or contact info if you feel comfortable enough to do that (for the ones you give to those who are not so familiar.)

It's not just a gift of art but also one of cheer and also inspiration!
Imagine if each person who gets one feels like making more of them to give others?


If you would like to celebrate this day with me and if you blog about your charms I will be posting a little banner tag for everyone to add to their blogs soon.


I claim April 28th as "International Charm Day"
www.InternationalCharmDay.blogspot.com
:o)
Amber

~*Pretty Pillow Charms for my fabric charm swaps*~ Made 2/09-3/09

I will be posting some to ebay for a fundraiser in April.

And I would like to sell some on Etsy as well.

It was so rough... But it's over now. (I edited this post today 4/23)

My personal life has been super stressful lately, and my nerves are on edge.

My heart and nerves are in need of calm.

My question is this- Other than prayer, is there something that you know works, that does not involve drugs, drinking or pretending to be someone else, or rather, should I say, disconnected from reality in any way, that helps you keep your composure when seriously painful and stressful situations occur?

Is there a trick that you know of that keeps you calm when your body starts to shake and your heart races out of control, when you are dealing with a medical emergency of a loved one?

I feel so useless when I start to lose my bearings. And it's something I must overcome.
On my walk home just now, from being out since around 3am I started to feel more relaxed, but my body is still on high alert.
I must get some sleep right now.
But I will log back online later, hoping to maybe read about something someone can share that helps.
There is nothing like the support of prayer, and I know that firsthand... But I think I need to find a new way of thinking or reacting to life's emergencies... So that when I am needed, I am there, solid and strong, and not spinning out of control myself, physically.

The above was written the day that my grandmother was rushed to the hospital. She was fighting cancer, and had a heart attack the morning I was talking about.
It was obvious she was not going to make it here on earth much longer. That was the last day she was ever at home.

I got the call after 2 am to go to the house to stay with my youngest sister while she slept, I heard unfamiliar voices through the phone of the other people at the house, and that is what started the panic.


Yes, maybe this is TMI but I needed to vent.
The way I counteracted my nerves that night was to rush around the house to get dressed -without waking anyone and I wrote my husband a note to explain why I would not be there when he got up in the morning.
I drew little pictures on the note and tried to keep my heart from leaping out of my chest.
To keep my stomach from feeling sick. I gathered up parcels I had wanted to mail that/next day.

During the taxi ride I concentrated on how calm the night was, how comfortable the Lincoln Town car was.

The weather was nice and calm yet chilly enough to breathe. (It was humid)
The police, firemen, and EMS that had been in the house to assist my grandmother had gone.
The others went with her.

I went into the house- worried about what I might find, but my sister was back asleep.
So I went outside to calm down
I was alone in the night, standing under a clear and starry sky.
It was a little after 3am and I had no thought at all.
My mind was completely blank.

I stood there, looking at the sky, in silence for 45 minutes.

Not thinking.
Just looking.
Up.

No emotional feeling.
I was just numb.

Because I hadn't slept much the past few months prior, I was not doing so well myself.
But I held it together and was standing there, strong like a guard.

I couldn't really sleep that night, but I had enough energy to get my sister up, ready for school, and walked her there.
She shared with me what had happened the night before and we talked about it.

It was really nice that morning.
The sun was shining and it helped to cheer us. I hadn't walked her to school in about 7 years so it felt good to spend the morning time with her like that.

I took a train and mailed over a dozen parcels of charm swaps that I had prepared a few nights before. There was some good mail waiting for me at the PO that I got that day for a circus theme swap I am hosting and it cheered me.

The rest of the week was spent caring for my family and taking care of my sister while the rest of the family stayed at the hospital.

Time passed, days passed, not too long though.
Just a week.
~*~
She didn't want to live anymore.
She demanded to die.
~*~
And she did.


I had been feeling her pain.
I had been feeling her misery.

I am glad that it's all over.

I couldn't take it anymore.

Some of my ~*Charms*~ of January, February and the beginning of March.

These are just some of the many charms that I've made in the last two months.

~*Art with Moxie*~ Cory Celaya

~*Art with Moxie*~ Cory Celaya

You won a door prize in my OWOH give away.

Please send me your mailing address so I can mail you out a parcel of hardware for you to play with!

What is wrong with that girl? & Cool Dolphins!

I am really enjoying this feed of Dolphins being artistic!

Amazing, in a world where pop stars can get on my nerves by singing nasty lyrics that should be banned from our planet, there are creatures living beneath water using their breath to create something worth watching.
Click here to see real Dolphins doing something really sweet, intelligent and totally creative!

(Shaking my head and making a stink face)
It's been bothering me so much for the past few days-- that I just have to vent this... I just want you to know in case you don't, and you have little girls who sing along with the new Britney music, there is a song that is being played on the radio that is SO vulgar I cannot believe the FCC is allowing it airtime during the day. I couldn't believe my ears and had to look the lyrics up online to confirm what I thought I heard, but didn't believe was possible that I heard...

I am really disappointed with B. Spears and feel that the "Amy" song should NOT be played so freely on the air during the day, if at all.

Hearing little girls saying/spelling "F''.'.'.' me" while singing along to a pop song makes me very angry.
I am far from a buttoned up church lady, but come on?!

That girl could be writing and performing content that lifts her and her fans up, not pinning herself to the ground.
What a waste... I say a big loud *BOOOOOOO!!!!!* to that song.

I'd rather pay $100.00 to see a live Dolphin perform a 5 minute show, like that in the video I linked to, over a live concert set of that pop chick prancing around in high heels singing what she sings.
Keep yours and your little girls' ears safe from this "Amy" song, nothing good will come of it!

I really needed to vent this...

$$ ~*Lady K*~ opened another online shopping venue! $$

I was happy to see that Lady K., AKA Karen L., opened another shop to peddle her vintage goodies. I've been a happy customer of hers for almost a decade!

She sells so many retro components that are either hard to find or just too cool to pass up.

If you are looking for something classy, jazzy, or just plain novel, check out her sales.
Many items that were made in the 1980s for that magical time in history can be found in her virtual warehouse too!

Oh and did I mention? Her prices are pretty good!

~*PLEASE TELL HER I SENT YOU!*~
It might make her smile!
:o)

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=24428.LadyKjewels.artfire.com
She also sells on Etsy and has a broader selection for you to browse through there-
http://www.ladykjewels.etsy.com/

And if you want, check out her blog too!
http://expressionsofladykjewels.blogspot.com/

It's been a while...

I had previously posted the nest charms pictured below and now I am adding in some pictures to show how small they really are!

This one doesn't have the leaves on yet,

but it is the same as one of the ones pictured above.

Back in November I was playing some card games for fun to

pass the time. I was dealt the cards below, although I traded in a 10 of hearts or diamonds

to see if I could draw another king or queen.

It wasn't until I got the ace that I noticed the matching suits.

How odd/random/serendipitous is that?!

It was so unbelievable that I took a few pictures!
We don't play for money or bets, just for fun.