Honey Face Cream

I have been making my own face cream for 3 years now.  I also make it for my mom, mother-in-law and a few others.  Everyone who has tried it, loves it.  Well, I am finally going to try and sell it!  I ordered some labels, which I am in love with.  I hope everyone likes it as much as we do!

I wanted to incorporate some honey in the pictures.

What do you think about the labels?

This is a big step for me!  I never planned on selling it, but it is worth a try.  If they don't sell, I will have great gifts!

There are 3 main ingredients in the face cream that make it so amazing!

Honey ~ Honey has the ability to attract and maintain moisture. The skin's ability to stay moist is an important factor in its ability to maintain softness, suppleness and elasticity.

Shea Butter ~ Shea Butter is known for its softening and restructuring virtues. It also aids in the prevention of stretch marks and delays aging. It is a natural sunscreen.

Vitamin E ~ Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents radical damage to skin tissue. It also conditions and moisturizes the skin.

I am having a Holiday Sale in my studio now.  You can find the face cream listing here http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2417483.

Enjoy!

Friday Feature ~ Diane's Dangles

Meet Diane of Diane's Dangles!  Diane began her crafting journey through making beaded earrings.  She realized it was a great stress reliever from her day job.  Diane creates jewelry that really "pops" and has lots of color.  I love her studio!  It is so bright and welcoming.  It is very hard to choose just a few favorites!  Visit her studio and you will see for yourself!  From her gallery of personal pictures on Artfire, I can see Diane travels quite a bit.  She probably draws a lot of inspiration from these adventures.  I know I would!

Square Hematite Gemstone Fine Silver Dangle Earrings ~ I have never seen a pair of earrings quite so unique.  Add these to my Christmas wishlist!

Brown Tiger Eye Large Gemstone Sterling Pendant ~ This necklace is AMAZING!  It is so rich in color and the sterling silver really brings it out.

Square Seraphinite Gemstone Sterling Silver Ring ~ I love how this ring looks like it has the ocean in it.  I get a calm feeling while looking at it.

Bold Sterling Silver Hammered Cuff Bracelet ~ Can you believe this is handmade?  It is beautiful!  I wish I could make things like this!

I hope you will visit Diane's studio at http://dianesdangles.artfire.com/.  I have enjoyed looking through her shop and finding some amazing jewelry!

Product Images: Copyright dianesdangles 2010, All Rights Reserved

Girl Burp Cloths

Ok, I know this is not my usual thing...I had a double baby shower to go to last night.  Both women are having girls!  I got the idea from a friend to make burp cloths for them.  It had never crossed my mind to make them something.  I was going to go to the store and get something everyone else had.  I can't believe I was going to do that!  I am creative.  I can make gifts instead of buying.  Handmade is so much better!  More personal.  Here is what I made for them.

I was going to give the burp cloths to them matching, but variety is good!  They have 2 different patterns.

The pattern fabric is cotton and the pink fabric is flannel.  Absorbent and it stays put!

Showing off the back with my labels :)

The whole front and back...

Up close...My sewing is pretty good, isn't it?

Folded and ready to go into the baby gift bag.

Unfortunately, one of the ladies was sick.  She will get her gift next month.  The other lady loved her burp cloths!  She said they were too pretty to use...awwwwww :)  Everyone said they were her "going out" burp cloths.  I guess they were a hit!  Now I want to make some boy ones ;)

Friday Feature ~ Charmed Design 1012

Meet Lori, a former lawyer turned crafter!  She wasn't happy being a lawyer, but now loves making jewelry!  She makes these very unique wrap charm bracelets (and most of them double as a necklace)!  So chic and stylish!

Silk Ribbon Wrap Bracelet with Labradorite Briolettes ~ I love the richness of the blue ribbon and the contrast of the brioletes.  This can also be worn as a necklace!  Two pieces of jewelry for the price of one!

Silk Ribbon Wrap Bracelet with Heart Charms ~ This would be the perfect bracelet to wear for Thanksgiving!  Perfect fall colors.  The gold heart charms really brings it all together.

Evil Eye Red Braided Wrap Bracelet ~ Fun and colorful!  I love the braided red cord.  This bracelet will really pop and be the talk of the party!

Peace Sign Charms Burgundy Wrap Bracelet ~ The bracelet looks like several bangle bracelets.  I just LOVE the knotted design of this!

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Lori!  You can visit her shop here http://charmeddesign1012.etsy.com/

Product Images: Copyright charmeddesign1012 2010, All Rights Reserved

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

The inspiration for this blog post comes from a collection on Artfire.  A pair of my earrings are in this collection http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=6863 promoting Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.  I admit, I do not know very much about pancreatic cancer.  The only things that some to mind when I think about pancreatic cancer are that the patients don't live very long and Patrick Swayze.  So, I decided to do a little research. 

Pancreatic cancer is widely understudied and underfunded. 

The pancreas aids in digestion and helps regulate the metabolism of sugars.  Because it spreads rapidly, pancreatic cancer often has a poor prognosis.  Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer death.  Fewer than 5% of those diagnosed with this type of cancer will still be alive in 5 years.  Here are some very interesting facts I found:

I copied the information below from
http://www.pancreatic.org/site/c.htJYJ8MPIwE/b.5050503/k.40C9/Pancreatic_Cancer_Facts.htm


•An estimated 43,140 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the U.S., and over 36,800 will die from the disease.

•Pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers for which survival has not improved substantially over nearly 40 years.

•Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.

•Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. 94% of pancreatic cancer patients will die within five years of diagnosis – only 6% will survive more than five years. 75% of patients die within the first year of diagnosis.

•The average life expectancy after diagnosis with metastatic disease is just three to six months.

•Few risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer are defined. Family history of the disease, smoking, age, and diabetes are risk factors.

•Pancreatic cancer may cause only vague symptoms that could indicate many different conditions within the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract.

•Symptoms include pain (usually abdominal or back pain), weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), loss of appetite, nausea, changes in stool, and diabetes.

•Treatment options for pancreatic cancer are limited. Surgical removal of the tumor is possible in only approximately 15% of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Chemotherapy or chemotherapy together with radiation is typically offered to patients whose tumors cannot be removed surgically. Only three drugs are FDA‐approved for the treatment of pancreatic cancer: fluorouracil (5‐FU), gemcitabine (Gemzar®), and erlotinib (Tarceva®).

•Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer death largely because there are no detection tools to diagnose the disease in its early stages when surgical removal of the tumor is still possible.

•The National Cancer Institute (NCI) spent an estimated $89.4 million on pancreatic cancer research in 2009. This represented a mere 2% of the NCI’s approximate $5 billion cancer research budget for that year.

Source for statistics: American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figures 2010 and NCI Funded Research Portfolio.

This is a very scary disease.  One I hope never to have personal experience with.  Spread the word and lets help further the research so we can beat this thing!

Best,
Kristen