Monday, September 27, 2010

News + Giveaway!

Howdy, Folks!  I've got a few announcements to make.  First off, I wanted to let everyone know that I've decided to extend my Autumn Equinox Sale for another entire week!  That's right.  You've got until Oct. 4 to get 10% OFF everything in the shop.  And don't forget, shipping is always FREE on any order of $50 or more!

Also, in case you missed it, there's a new item in the shop!  In honor of my favorite season (and true, geeky accuracy), I've done a gold version of my mallorn necklace:


And now, my dear readers, you have a chance to win this necklace (customized to suit your personal taste, of course).  How?  Simple.  All you have to do is sign up for my way cool and totally unobtrusive monthly newsletter.  In addition to being entered in the giveaway, you'll also get news about the shop, sale announcements, and exclusive discounts.  So what are you waiting for?  Sign up right here, and be sure to come back here and leave a comment to let me know you've done so.

Tweet, blog, or post a link to this post and get a bonus entry!  Just don't forget to leave a comment and let me know where I can find your link.

Giveaway ends Oct. 27.  Winner will be announced Oct. 28.
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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

In case you missed it...

 

The sale is officially on!  So head over to the shop and grab yourself a great deal.  Or snag something for someone you like.  Christmas is coming up, you know.  ;)

But don't forget to come back here and sign up for our newsletter!  If you do, you'll automatically be entered to win my next giveaway!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Autumn Equinox Sale

John Everett Millais, "Autumn Leaves".Image via WikipediaWell, Folks, a new season is upon us, and you know what that means.  It's time for an Autumn Equinox Sale at The Ash Grove!


Starting tomorrow, everything in the shop will be 10%  OFF!  And don't forget - shipping is always FREE on any order totaling $50 or more.

In other news, I've got a new item coming later today.  So keep your eyes peeled!

And if you haven't already, be sure to pop your email in that box to your right and sign up for my newsletter.  You'll get first notice of sales like this, news about upcoming items and events, and special deals and discounts.

Plus, you'll be automatically entered to win my next giveaway!  More news on that later...  

Have a great day, dear readers! ♡


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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Thursday Threads: Tea Party Attire

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before or not, but I love tea. Love it. And not just tea itself, but all the accoutrements - tea cups, tea pots, canisters and tea-making appliances... And food. A good cup of tea is vastly improved by the addition of a nice biscuit or tiny sandwich. Put all these things together, throw in a sunny room or pretty garden, mix well, top with a few roses and a smashing hat and you've got... a tea party!
Now, what are you going to where? Don't worry. Etsy's got you covered.

For starters, how about this lovely tea dress by Loliposh:



It's made with a vintage Laura Ashley fabric and features hand-dyed lace trim and waist ties for a custom fit. Add a cute white apron, and this would be the perfect ensemble for any hostess!

And for an extra touch of elegance, how about these gorgeous beaded cuffs by TianaCHE:



They're made with felted merino wool and are accented by crocheted silk lace and faux pearls. They feature a corset-style lace-up fastening, so you can also wear them as spats or lace them together and wear them as a neckwarmer. Beauty and versatility. You can't beat that!

Last but certainly not least, no tea party ensemble is complete (in this blogger's opinion, at least) without a fabulous hat. And this, my friends, is a fabulous hat:



 
This awesome cocktail hat by daisyhere is perfect for today's tea party - and plenty of other occasions! It's chic and modern with an undeniably retro flair. It's made with white sinamay accented with crinoline, netting, ribbon, and curled ostrich feathers. And it would look smashing with a martini.

These are, of course, but a few selections. Just a tiny-sandwich-sized nibble of what Etsy has to offer. Do share your own finds, if you'd like. I would love to see them! In the meantime, I'm off to the tea cabinet to decide what to brew next...
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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Update

Hi, folks.  It's been a while, hasn't it?  If you saw my shop announcement last week, you know where I've been.  But in case you didn't, allow me to explain.

My grandfather died rather suddenly about two weeks ago.  He had been ill for some time - COPD and emphysema - and lately he had gotten worse.  I was trying to arrange a visit, but not rushing too much about it in the hopes that he would improve enough to leave the hospital and I could visit him while he was home.  And then I got a phone call from my mother informing me that his heart was in bad shape and they were going to try a rather risky procedure the following morning to fix it.  But there was a good chance he wouldn't survive the operation.

I spent the rest of the evening frantically searching for a way to get there that morning.  I thought I could just catch a late flight.  Nope.  There weren't any.  Anywhere.  Everyone stopped flying at 10:00.  It was already almost 9:00 and it would take 2 hours to get to the airport.  Flying was out.  And I fared no better with my other transportation options.  The bus didn't leave until 11:00 am.  The train would take 2 days to get there.

I called my mother back and she informed me that they'd postponed the procedure until the afternoon.  We were both much relieved.  Obviously, things were not quite as dire as we had initially feared.  I had someone willing to drive me halfway in the morning, and a friend willing to pick me up at the halfway point and bring me the rest of the way. It had all worked out nicely.  So I finally ate something and relaxed a bit.

Just a few hours later, I got another call.  They were doing CPR.  His heart had stopped.  I can't say I was devastated because, at that point, I still had hope.  He had always had a way of pulling through.

I don't remember falling asleep after that, but I must have because I woke up at around 3:00 am and groggily answered the phone.  My mother told me to go back to sleep and not worry.  He went peacefully and he was resting now.

I cried for a while, cursed myself for not getting there in time, and then suddenly, the pain in my chest eased up, the tears stopped, and I felt this sudden, strange peace.  This happened several times over the next week, and strange as it may sound, I can't help but think it was him, wrapping his arms around me and comforting me, just as he always did.

I went ahead with my plan to drive up the following day and spent about a week there making preparations and attending the services and then (the hardest part) coping with the calm that comes after when there's nothing left to do, to keep you busy and keep your mind off things, and you finally have to really face it.

I've taken my time with things since I got home, trying to stay relaxed and not stress myself out by trying to do 150 things all at once like I usually do.  So my postings here will likely continue to be erratic for a bit.

I've missed you all, my dear crafty friends, and I hope you're all doing well.  Now do me a favor.  Go grab your nearest loved one and give them a big, big hug.  Hold them close.  Tell them you love them.  Make the most of every moment you have.