Something Sublime

Holiday Open House Etsy Sale Offerings

"Wanderer" (Sold)

"Schoolboy" (Sold)

I hope you're enjoying my holiday open house as much as I am.  I'm checking my laptop every 30 minutes to see if you are.  Yes, I should be doing laundry and decorating my house but it's so much fun to see you here!  For your holiday enjoyment...I added some new pieces to my Etsy shop and I'll be adding more during this week.  For the first time ever, I'm offering some of my Crowned Gem pieces...tiny antique tintypes (gemtypes) embellished with sterling rivets and vintage brass trim...charming little things.  Don't forget about my gratitude sale...all of my jewelry is 20% off.  Make sure you use the coupon code SUBLIMEHOLIDAY at checkout for the sale price.  Scroll down to the previous post to join my blog party and leave a comment for my giveaways.  Oh yeah...tomorrow is Dec. 1st.  You know what that means?  The first ornament of my 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments swap will be opened and posted here.  Ho ho ho!  Happy Christmas!

A Sublime Christmas Open House

Welcome to my Christmas open house!

Come on in...grab a cup of eggnog and a cookie.  There's a cozy fire in the fireplace...the tree is decorated and the lights are twinkling...

So, let's get this party started with a little giveaway...

You may have seen my crystal icicle ornament in this post.  The tutorial for it was included in my friend, Amy Powers', wonderful online publication, Inspired Ideas: 

 For you, my visitors, I'd like to give away one of my crystal icicles. Leave a comment on this post and I'll draw the names of one lucky winner.  

And, another thing...

I'm also giving away one of these nifty 1 oz Ice Resin applications, as seen in my previous post. If you've never tried Ice, this is a great place to start!  While I won't be able to personally answer each comment as I usually do, please know that I'll be reading each and every one of them and leave my own comment, or two.  Good luck on the drawing!

And now for a really big, exciting (at least to me!) announcement:  to celebrate the blessings of the Christmas season, for the very first time...I'm offering a 20% discount on all jewelry in my Etsy shop through noon this Friday.   Please enter the coupon code SUBLIMEHOLIDAY in order to receive your discount.

Among the pieces I'm offering is this adorable little snowman necklace.  I made just a few of these pieces and all of them sold, except one.  I fell in love with this little guy but, like my own almost-grown guys, it seems he might be ready to go to a new home.

("Glad"--sold)

I've loaded up the shop with lots of new pieces so, if you've ever wanted a piece of my jewelry, or are looking for a gift for Christmas, now is a great time!  

"Swing" (Sold)

Shibuichi Heart (sold--thank you!)

"Drusy Pearls and Rhinestones" (Sold)

These are some of the fab new pieces...click HERE to see more.  Make sure you enter the coupon code SUBLIMEHOLIDAY to get the 20% discount at checkout.

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is my 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments swap. The swap was featured in the Nov/Dec 2007 issue of Somerset Studio.  Every year, for about the last 6 years, 12 artists participate in the swap and the ornaments are nothing short of amazing.  For a little Christmas ornament inspiration, check out past posts on my 12 Days of Christmas ornament swap, here.

This year, for the very first time, I'll be offering, a few...a very few...of my all time favorite 12 days ornaments, my Christmas cartes de visites.  To me, they are the essence of a vintage Christmas.  I'm putting the finishing touches on them now and am hoping to find time to complete more than the few I have in progress.

For this year's ornament, I got a little carried away and made extra so I'll be offering a few of those, as well.  I can't reveal what they are just yet (because of the swap) but they're fabulously whimsical! Look for the ornaments to appear in my shop next week.  This year's 12 days of Christmas ornaments swap begins Wednesday so watch for those posts.

As promised, I have another terrific cookie recipe for you.  This is one of my favorite "go to" cookies...so good and so buttery bad, at the same time!

Butterscotch Lemon Cookies

1 1/2 c flour

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

3/4 c sugar

1/2 c butter, softened

1 egg

2 T milk

1 T lemon juice

1 t grated lemon rind

1 1/2 c butterscotch morsels

Preheat oven to 375. In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.  In large bol, combine sugar and butter; beat well.  Add egg, milk, lemon juice and lemon rind; beat well (mixture will appear curdled.)  Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in butterscotch morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes.  Allow to stand 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets.  Cool completely on wire rack.  Makes about 1 1/2 dozen.

Make sure you check out Food Network's online 12 Days of Cookies.  Today is day one and you can opt to have it sent to your email, newsletter style.

You may be noticing, by now, that I'm a bit of a freak for Christmas.  While I know that it can be a difficult time of year, I admit that it's my very favorite.  I believe the trick to enjoying it is to keep focused on what it's really all about...

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Lk 2:10-12

I hope y'all enjoyed my little Christmas interlude...I thank you for joining me! 

Ice Chips-Ice Resin 1 Ounce Application

Did you know that Ice Resin now comes in this very handy 1 ounce size?  The plunger measuring mechanism is what makes this so convenient.  Now you can accurately measure out just a little bit of resin for those small, quick jobs.  Take a look at how it works:

 

I love the fact that you don't have to mix up a big batch...less waste!  And, when you're finished, you pop the lid back on and save the rest for later.  If you've never used Ice Resin, this is a great way to give it a try.  Look for Ice Chips at the Objects and Elements Shop, on sale now for the holidays.

As a thank you to readers, Objects and Elements is giving away one of these nifty Ice Chips applicators on the O&E blog...check it out, here!

You're Invited-Sublime Christmas Open House

You're invited

A Sublime Christmas Open House

What:  A cyber celebration of Christmas

Where: to be held at the blog and Etsy shop of Deryn Mentock

When: Monday, Nov. 29th, 2010

This year, I am please to ask you to join me in my little corner of the web for a Christmas kickoff celebration!  This down economy has been tough on some of us so, for the very first time ever, I'll be offering a discount on all jewelry pieces in my Etsy shop.  If you've ever wanted a piece from me, this is the time!  I'm going to be adding lots of new pieces...necklaces and earrings, especially...perfect for gifts.  Plus, I'll be announcing a special offering related to my yearly 12 days of Christmas ornament swap.  There will be a giveaway, a Christmas photo tour, a yummy cookie recipe, and...well...other fun holiday happenings.  I hope you'll join me for the party...grab your cup of eggnog...have a cyber cookie...celebrate!

A Grateful Heart

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

Grateful for:  a strong hand to hold, doggie kisses, blessings to count, warm sun, family game night, salt and white sands, the peace that prayer brings, the love of my three guys......you.......and so much more...

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Glimpses

We're All Geocachers Now

A couple of weekends ago, over halloween (doesn't that seem an age ago?) Wife Whisperer and I felt the need to camp.  It happens quite a few times a year, especially in the fall, but it's hard to break free from everyday life and hit the woods.

The weather is too beautiful here not to go and WW  has a new agenda...geocaching.  Has anyone heard of this activity?

Apparently, it's quite a big deal.  It involves hiking (so far, so good,) treasure hunting (love that!) and a bit of bushwhacking (not so fond of that.)  The idea is to locate the hidden cache, using a fancy, shmancy GPS gadget and some clues left, online, by the one who hid the cache.  When you find it, you get to sign the log and brag all about it online to your geocaching friends.  Sounds right up WW's alley.  Our first try involved quite a bit of bushwhacking so I,  being afraid a spider might leap onto my person, waited on the main trail whilst WW dug around in the bushes.  We came away empty handed from that one but I had fun taking photos...

 

Our next potential find was called "Walk the Pine" and seemed like it might be a fairly easy acquisition so, off we went.

Said pine was found...

...and walked upon.  But, no cache...until I started to think like a mom.  What have I always told my guys when they're on the hunt for that lost cell phone or ipod?  Pick things up...look under things...move things around.

Sure enough, there it was!  Can you see it?

Miss Maggie got all excited and wanted to investigate but WW graciously allowed me to open our very first geocache.

Inside, we found the rules of the road...

...and the log, which we signed.  But, I have to say that the rest of the contents was a bit anticlimactic!  Although, it was obviously put together and hidden by good boys who used the advice of their mothers for finding things, in reverse.

Our treasure was obviously aimed at a different audience than two old people and their dog!  But, hey...it's all about the thrill of the hunt and the joy of the find.  Right?

I was really glad to see this at the end of the day.  We ended up hiking a total of about 7 1/2 miles.  Not much for some, but plenty enough for geo-wife and geo-dog.  Nothing like dutch oven cooking in camp!

Save The Date

Save the date...November 29, 2010

Come party with me on Monday, Nov. 29th, here at my blog.  I'll be holding a Christmas open house with some special goings on and giveaways and a holiday sale.  'Tis the season!

Who's Got The Button?

Remember these gorgeous antique buttons, rescued from what remained of Galveston's historic Strand District, after Hurricane Ike blasted us?  When I got them, I had the idea in the back of my mind that they would make great molds for casting.  I knew my friend, Lynn Davis, would appreciate them like none other so I sent them off to her capable and creative hands.  Sure enough, she molded, melted, poured and did them justice in a beautiful way...

If you're not familiar with Lynn's cast pewter work, you really should check it out.  I have many of her pewter pieces and they are simply gorgeous.  They make the perfect elements, mixed in with leather, sterling, gemstones and crystals:

Lynn's lovely pewter pieces, including a selection of pieces cast from my buttons, can be found at her blog or here, at her Etsy shop.  It's always fun for me to work with Lynn.  There's a collaboration story here, not to mention the story of the buttons.  Look for it in the future!

Featured Favorites

A few of my favorite things...  Most have been sent out into the world to new homes.  Some are still here, with me.  Sometimes, I like to open the photo album.

And, something new...