Shabby Chic Candles for my Etsy Shop

I'm back again! The Day program I'm attending gave us last week off, hence my increased energy. I'm taking advantage of it while it lasts, since I'll be back at it tomorrow!

I got the idea for these candles ages go, and finally brought this little project to fruition. I like how they turned out. I'm trying something a little different when taking my Etsy pictures. I've noticed successful sellers take great pictures and take the time to put together a pretty scene. Well, here we go! Selling on Etsy is a steep learning curve, that's for sure.

Here are the three candles I'm selling:

Good buy for now folks!
XOXO
Ruth

Simona's Christmas Presents from 2012 Christmas Chain Swap

It was a lovely surprise to come home and discover Simona's Christmas presents waiting for me.
She sent me an adorable purple child's dress, as well as a filled Christmas bag as well as some very twee miniature Christmas cards!

She wrapped the gifts in this lovely handkerchief. I follow the "Miniaturists Creed": Never through something out if you think you might be able to use it at a later date!

I was very pleased over the holidays when my lovely generous father-in-law bought my husband and I a dremmell drill which we were able to buy extremely small drill bits for, perfect for minis!

Here is a picture of the drill:

It will come in handy for my very next miniature project, which I'm keeping a secret for now.
Hugs and Happy New Year to all!

Love Ruth

Faby's 2013 Christmas Swap

This year I am taking part in Faby's Christmas swap. I mailed off my Christmas presents a couple of awhile back and hope they have made their way to their recipients!
I have been very busy and have not had much time to read my favorite blogs lately.
 Drora's lovely presents arrived a couple of days ago.
She has sent me some lovely Christmas miniatures, as well as a tiny book of the Psalms in Hebrew, which can be kept as a miniature or used as a talisman to ward off evil.

I was lucky enough to win one of Drora's giveaway last year and will add these presents to my small collection of miniature gifts.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Being Found

It's not such a bad thing to be lost, because it is only then that we can be found ~ Anonymous

A woman at the support group I've been going to said this about a month ago, and it struck me as particularly beautiful. Who wants to be lost? I certainly didn't. It's scary, lonely, and makes you feel vulnerable. Last year a number of unfortunate situations in my life and the flare up of the chronic illness that I live with converged, creating the perfect storm. I was lost. I didn't think I would ever find my way home again.

But sometimes we find that there are forces at work that are greater, more powerful, than our own problems and concerns. It is this force that has rescued me, swept me up in a powerful wave, and set my feet firmly upon the shore again. And I find myself up to my eyeballs in the work of becoming found again.

It's rough terrain. It's exhausting. I fall down a lot. I want to give up. But I won't. Last week I left the support group I've been going to since September. Tomorrow I'm beginning an intensive 18 week Day Program at the hospital which is like having a full time job. It runs Monday to Thursday 9 am to 4 pm and Friday for an hour. I'm nervous, but ready. If I've learned anything at the support group I've been going to it's that diving straight in and dealing with the uncomfortable work that has to be done is much easier that spending so much energy avoiding the issues! This is true. There is relief in surrender.

On to mini matters! I have at least 3 blog posts on mini matters that are itching to be written, but this blog post was screaming louder that it needed to be written. Does anybody else ever have blog posts (or writing of any kind, or art) that just WON'T leave you alone until you attend to them? It's happening to me more and more.

Love and Hugs to all my Beautiful Friends in Blog Land,

Ruth