I am a terrible blogger.

In fact, I am not sure I AM a blogger. It is really hard for me to remember to blog! Going to try to actually start blogging again!

Check it out, a giveaway from Handmade Reviews!

Handmade Reviews is doing a giveaway in which 2 lucky people will each win a piece of jewelry from Jewelmint. Link to enter is here!: http://www.handmadereviews.net/2011/04/jewelmint-giveaway.html

I'm Almost There!

.... sung in "Princess and the Frog" style, of course. That is, I've almost finished with my graduate career! As far as my MS goes, at least. And it's the reason for my lack of updating, again. I actually have so much to post about; just no time in which to do it! Also, I joined Fine Art America, so in addition to my original artwork in my Etsy shop, you may now purchase prints of my work from my FAA shop!

I've several paintings in the works, been altering practically my whole wardrobe, making jewelry, and I've a couple of knitting projects to show you, including a finished one! AND this blog is getting a long-and-much-needed makeover! But all this must wait until the week is over and I have turned in all of my work. So expect some posts with actual content soon. :)

I just noticed that this new template apparently colors some of the links in black, which blends in with the black background... bummer. So, if it looks like a link should be in a particular spot, it probably is!

XOXO,

Crystal Nicole

Edited: Fixed the links!

Oops!

As may be apparent, there has been a lack of updating for longer than usual. I have had a busy summer that has mainly consisted of conducting my graduate research. Not much in the way of crafting has been done, although I have done some artwork. However! I am going to be updating more frequently as I have begin the initial planning for my Mardi Gras costume. I even painted the "brass slippers" yesterday! I'll end this post with a photo of shoes in their current painted-but-unfinished condition.



*Note: these are not spray painted, but hand painted with acrylic paint mixed in a medium designed for fabrics. So, they are not any more stiff after being painted than they were before. Actually, they seem quite comfortable. I bought these shoes as "damaged items" from Vintique Online. They are REALLY beautiful in person, but I do not recommend attempting to tea dye them, or heating them in any way. Suffice to say, I almost ruined this pair trying to dye them. The heat melted the glue and I had to super glue them back together in places. Now I am hoping they will hold up to a day at the French Quarter! One of the heels feels a bit weak.

Also in the works is redecorating a hat inspired by Anthropologie's Topiary Hat.

Announcing The Opening...

Of my Etsy store! When I first signed up for Etsy, I never gave a thought to having a store, hence the boring user ID I chose. But I finally decided that I really can't keep every thing I paint or make. I give handmade gifts to almost everyone, but still I just don't have the room for it all. So, I opened Color Enthusiast, so that others, who love the same freedom, color, and joy in art as I, now have the option of owning one of my original works!

Shipping is free for US customers unless stated otherwise (currently, all of my listings have free shipping). International customers will need to PM me so that I can give them the best shipping option possible and a credit of $20 for artwork! All paintings will be shipped with insurance as well.

Additionally, I will be donating 10% of each sold painting (minus shipping costs) to charity. My preferred charities are St. Jude's, thehungersite.com, Nothing But Nets, America's Wetland Foundation, and the ASPCA.

Bella Lili Jewelry Giveaway!

Just a quick post about the giveaway at http://bellalilijewelry.blogspot.com!

She has such gorgeous stuff! I often rock one of her fairy cameos, and now I am particularly loving her winged designs such as Someday My Prince Will Come and, being that we know how obsessed I am with Steampunk right now, the Chaos Theory in Brass.

I really need to update, I know... I just have been so busy, and time that could be spent blogging, I'd rather spend crafting. But I do have projects to post about, nothing finished, though. I won't be updating any more today because I have a Forensics exam tomorrow, yikes! Time to get back to studying.

Favorite Thing Today

My favorite thing of the day is not a material item, but the website GivesMeHope. Truly beautiful and inspirational!

A busy, yet laid-back day

Today has been busy - I've been planting my Bhut jolokia seeds (oh, how I hope they grow!!), replanting my passion flowers, cleaning my apartment, and I dyed a top. The top was a gorgeous lace top, but stark white. When I put it on, I just felt it should be softer. So, I used my "40% off one item" Hobby Lobby coupon to buy some Rit dye in Taupe (it was the closest color I could find to what I had in mind, which was antique lace). The top came out, not quite as I hoped, but cute - a light, rosy tannish color. It was a rayon/spandex blend, and I'd read that rayon should dye, but spandex would not. Apparently part of it was also polyester, which of course doesn't take color, and that part is still white, but I think it actually looks cute that way. I'll post photos when it dries. I know I could have tea-dyed it and possibly gotten more of an antique lace color, but I've read that the tannic acid in tea can weaken fabrics and I didn't want to risk it with this top.