Back to Business

Well, Folks, I did it.  Yesterday afternoon, around 3:30, I reached my goal of 50,000 words and became a NaNo winner.  Actually, my grand total was 50,162 words, and I did it in 27 days - not to brag or anything...

Oh, heck.  Who am I kidding.  Yes, I'm bragging.  But I like to think I've earned it.  =P

The funny part?  I had my whole plot outlined beforehand, but before I could get to the main plot, I had to do some setting up and explain some things.  In the process, I discovered a whole host of new characters and subplots, and I didn't wind up getting to the plot I had planned until a couple of days ago, about 45,000 words into the story.  So it's starting to look like I might be writing a trilogy rather than a single book.  Which would be pretty cool, actually.  I kind of have a thing for trilogies...

But I digress.  I bet you're wondering what's happening on the crafty front.  More than you might think, actually.  Yes, I've been focusing on my writing, but I have made a few things as well.  And I took a lovely trip to Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago to stock up on supplies, so I have plenty of new stuff to work with.  And boy have I got ideas! Here's a peek at what's coming:

• Zipper Pulls & Keychains - I'll be listing these in the next day or two, and I'm quite excited about them, so I'm keeping the details secret until then.  Suffice it to say, they're another dose of geekery for the shop, and I think they're really cool.  

• New Polymer Clay Pendants & Necklaces - I say polymer clay because that's what the base will be, but I'm actually envisioning these as sort of a mixed media mini-collage.  They look really cool in my head, and I can't wait to actually experiment.  Hopefully, I'll be able to whip one up in time for the holidays!  

• Monthly Freebies - This is an idea that's been bouncing around my head for a while now, and I've finally decided to do something about it.  In fact, I'm going to get to work as soon as I've finished writing this.  As a way of saying "thank you" to all the awesome folks who read my blog and/or subscribe to my newsletter, I'm going to offer up a themed set of printable freebies every month.  One sheet will be up for grabs here with a second available only in the newsletter - so be sure to subscribe!

So there you have it - a taste of what's to come and proof that no matter how busy I may be with other things, I'm always thinkin' crafty.  :)

Now tell me, how was your November?  Did you eat too much turkey?  Go turkeyless?  What have you got planned for the holidays?  Talk to me people!

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Thursday Threads: Happy Halloween!

Ok, so it's not quite Halloween just yet, but it certainly isn't far off.  And you know what that means...

Candy!

Oh, yeah.  And costumes.  It's the costumes we're talking about today.  Etsy's full of 'em!  As I discovered when I started looking for items to feature today.  An hour later I remembered, "Oh, yeah!  I'm supposed to be writing a blog!"

So.  The usual disclaimer applies here:  there are oodles of cool costumes on Etsy, and you really should go have a look yourself.  These are just my favorites.

Now, without further adieu, here are my picks...

For the ladies...

Gorgeous "Dracula's Bride" Dress by kambriel

For the gentlemen...

Awesome Wraith/Reaper costume by redthreaded

For the kids...

Cute take on a classic - Ghost Poncho by izzybstuff

And finally...

For the web-savvy comedian...

Upcycled Umbrella Skirt by WenchWear4Less

Get two of these, give one to a friend, and party like a double rainbow. Intense!

Now let's see your faves. Leave 'em in the comments!

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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Wicked Wednesday: Eco-Goth

The terms "eco-friendly" and "goth" may not seem to go together.  After all, gothic fashion - particularly certain sub-genres - seems to focus on the man-made and mechanical.  To say that nature plays no role, however, would be incorrect.  Nature finds its way into gothic fashion in beautiful gemstones adorning elegant jewelry, colorschemes that remind us of the sky at midnight or a rose garden just after the rain.  Nature's influence is there in all sorts of ways that we just don't think about.


But one of the most prominent places you'll find it is in the wonderful array of unique gothic beauty products that is available today.  One such product is this fantastic lip balm from the amazingly cool perfumery, For Strange Women:

 This lip balm (which contains no actual poison ivy, thank goodness) is packed with natural - and only natural - ingredients, like vitamin E and cocoa butter.  And it's flavored with essential oils, including basil, marjoram, and petitgrain.  Doesn't it sound wonderful?  Quite a nice change of pace from the usual fruit and mint flavors, I think.

But if that wasn't enough, this lip balm has an added bonus.  The packaging is totally eco-friendly.  It's completely biodegradable and compostable, contains no plastic, and it holds 40% more than a regular lip balm tube.  Sweet! 

I'm totally sold.  The only problem is choosing between this and one of the other awesome flavors For Strange Women has available.  And that's not to mention the perfumes, bath salts, and candles.  You really must go have a look.