Sunday, May 30, 2010

Uses for Coffee Filters..Amazing!

COFFEE FILTERS

Coffee filters .... Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing even the large ones.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11.. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds.. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..
25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

OH YEAH THEY ARE GREAT TO USE IN YOUR COFFEE MAKERS

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Beautiful Bling by SparrowsFood

This talented jewelry designer is from the small artisan community in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. A wonderful place to be for inspiration and new fresh ideas.
In her shop you will find her handmade jewelry of glass, pearls, gemstones and anything else that she can drill a hole in. Just little pieces of Art for the ears.
And of course, It's all about Color! An Etsy store you just have to visit and drool!
Here are just a few of her amazing creations!

http://www.sparrowsfood.etsy.com

AURORA EARRINGS


MOROCCO EARRINGS


OVER THE RAINBOW EARRINGS


MELA EARRINGS

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Well..you guessed it!


I went through Etsy looking at different things with a Frog theme, and found some adorable, beautiful finds. I hope you visit each of these talented artisans shops and show them some love!
This frog bow is so cute and would look pretty in any little girls hair. You can find this and more at Addison Renee's Boutique. Visit her shop here:
http://www.angelkajm.etsy.com

Next is a gorgeous necklace by Marta Weaver Jewelry, I think is just gorgeous. A beautiful antique silver water lily leaf with a little patina brass frog on it. Click the link below to see her beautiful Etsy store!

http://www.martaweaverjewelry.etsy.com
How beautiful is this adorable soap?! Handmade soap by "Neat Treats" is made from natural, gentle ingredients that don’t leave the skin itchy, dry or irritated.
This soap is made with goat's milk, known for it's ability to sooth irritated skin. Perfect for even the most sensitive skin. Find this and more wonderful soaps at this wonderful Etsy shop!
http://www.neattreats.etsy.com

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Laurie J. Anderson's Beautiful Art

Usually I always seem to focus on jewelry, but saw Laurie's name on twitter and decided to check out her site. What a talented artist, who's creations just burst with color and personality! I just had to share her gorgeous art, jewelry and cards, and hope you visit her site. This is Laurie in her studio of beautiful art.
Here is a few of her beautiful masterpieces.



http://www.artisticdesignsbylaurie.com

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Las Vegas Trip 2010

Well, Sunday May 16th, 2010 we left for Las Vegas. We've been there many times, but decided this trip to take a few photos. We checked in at the Venetian, and usually gamble right after we get in our room. Well, we checked in, but the room wasn't ready. So we checked our luggage with the Bell Cap, and took off into the casino. We had just started to gamble on the slots, when my cell phone rang. It was Valet, saying my Suburban wouldn't start. So we left the machines and went out front to my Suburban. Well come to find out, I gave Valet Keith's truck keys instead of my keys. Now talk about embarrasing! So back in the casino we go. We always use tracking cards, and that way, with our points, we always get our rooms comp'd. I tried to use my tracking card, but since it's been a while since I went, my card was old. So there I stood, in a long line to get a new one. So I finally reached the front of the line, and proceeded to get my new tracking card. The casino called me on my cell to let me know our room was ready. So Keith and I went over to the invited guests check in, and they told us to go to the other side of the check out area for our keys. So with keys in hand, we proceeded to our room. Beautiful room! I went to the phone to call "luggage" to have them bring our luggage up. I must have sat on that phone for 20 minutes on "hold". :(( They were pretty busy!! You would have never known the economy was in such dire straits..lol..
We decided to go downstairs to the luggage area and get our luggage ourselves. That didn't take too long. Maybe 10 minutes. Well, then back upstairs to the 9th floor to put our luggage in our room.

Down to the casino we go! I hear a slot machine calling my name..lol.. We gambled for a while, but as usual, didn't have any luck. But after all, that's why the Casino's have billions, and I don't. :)

We decided to go to the Grand Lux Cafe to eat. I ordered breaded chicken pieces, breaded, and smothered in a carmel glaze. OMG, that was soooooo good. I will say it's a shame they gave so much, and had to throw the leftovers away. Just way too much for someone to eat. Keith had Rib eye steak and he said it was pretty tasty. So with full tummies, off to the slots we went again. No luck again. By then, we were pretty tired, so we went up to the room to relax and then hit the sack.

The Venetian is a gorgeous Casino with the most beautiful rooms. BUT THIS BED SUCKED! It was almost like there was a "down" mattress cover, which made the bed too hot! And the pillows? They were so fat, we both kept waking up all hours of the night due to neck kink..lol..

Ok, it's Monday. We went downstairs to eat, then off to the Wynn Casino. Now that place is to die for if you want comfort! We have stayed there a lot and their beds, service, food, and employees are 1st rate!! We played some of the slots, and held our own and had a good time there. Here are a few pics I took of a couple of their ceilings.


We went over to check out "Encore" at the Wynn. That too, was gorgeous! But of course, no luck on the slots..lol So off to Treasure Island we went. Played there for a while and didn't do good there either, so off to the new casino!
We took a cab over to the new casino, "Aria". Very pretty, and we found 2 machines, side by side, that we sat at for about 3 hours. Pretty rare, since most take your money FAST. Keith and I each put $20.00 in each machine, and walked away with $300.00 each. Pretty good and NOT THE NORM! Our rears were getting sore, lol , so we left.

Went back to the Venetian to have dinner. If you ever go to the Venetian, you have to eat at Emeril Lagasse's Delmonico Steakhouse. They are a bit pricey, but I will eat there everytime I go to Las Vegas. The service is outstanding, the restaurant is very classy, (we were dressed casual), and the food. OH THE FOOD! Talk about a mouth full of flavor and heaven! The meat is always so tender and full of amazing flavor. The vegetables, the ones we got, had a sauce that was scrumptous! Our Matridee was the most wonderful man. He made sure nothing was overlooked, and really treated us like royalty!

Nothing much after dinner. A bit of gambling and then back to that BED! :( We woke up in the morning, showered, packed up and checked out. But will have to say. We've stayed at a lot of the Casinos in Las Vegas. The Wynn has to be the best as far as comfort. We haven't stayed there in a while, due to a Casino Host, who I won't mention, got stupid on the phone talking to someone about us, (and didn't know we were listening) and I was offended. Guess you have to be high dollar with this woman, to be treated with dignity. If you're middle class, you don't count, and she made that perfectly clear without knowing we heard every word. Oh well. Too many other wonderful places there.

We hit the highway home, and I wanted to go to Primm to gamble one more time. Keith ended parking at Whiskey Pete's. (Nevada and California state line). We went into Whiskey Petes Casino and didn't do any good. But I didn't want to go here anyway..lol.. So we got in the Suburban and drove over to the Primm. We played a few machines with no luck. I sat at a 25 cent Wheel of Fortune and walked away with $375.00. TIME TO GO..lol..

Home on Tuesday and slept like a baby. Love my squishy pillow! :)
http://www.venetian.com/Pages.aspx?id=852

Friday, May 14, 2010

Dean Custom Designs

This woman makes the most beautiful jewelry and is home to the "Purskey". Beautiful bling to adorn any woman's handbag. Would also make amazing bling for a belt loop on those favorite pair of jeans. You'll have to check out her shop to see these stunning creations. http://deancustomdesigns.etsy.com
Here are a few of photos of her beautiful creations!


I'm featured on Dean Design's Blog


http://homeofthepurskey.blogspot.com/2010/05/purple-corner-joanne79.html
How humbling and honored I am to have my Wisteria Earrings featured on Dean Design's Blog. We both are in love with purple, and she posted these to her Purple Corner! She gets tons of hugs from me for being so sweet, and someone I consider a wonderful and loving friend! Thank you Traci!!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

I am a featured artisan on "Designs Inc" blog!

http://designsinc4u.blogspot.com/2010/05/discover-artists-joanne-boyer.html#comment-form
I am the first artisan to be featured on Karens blog and let me tell you, I am so excited and so proud right now. She has a wonderful blog and I am very humbled to be part of it. Please visit her blog "Designs Inc" and follow it, and please leave a comment.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Designer Pens by Randy

I see his pens time and time again on Twitter and love everyone of them. So I went to his Etsy store, and was so impressed with all of the stunning designs of pens he makes. The one I posted is my favorite, but you will be amazed at the gorgeous designs on these pens. Give Randy some love and visit his Etsy store.

RADIANTLY RED EUROPEAN-STYLE PEN



Pen made from a flaming red acrylic called 'Fire'. It shimmers with shades of pinks and reds as you turn it between your fingers. White swirls further enhance the bright colors. The finishing touch is the gold clip, cap and center band.
http://designerpens.etsy.com

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Dreams & Echos by Linda Talbot

Linda is a very talented jewelry designer. I have admired her work for a while now, and felt it was time to share her treasures with you. You must visit her shop http://www.raedawn.etsy.com and see for yourself. Her jewelry has been sold in several emporiums in Maryland and shown in many galleries in New Mexico and Oregon. It also has been shown, alongside her visual art, in a variety of venues. After moving to Lowell, Massachusetts, she is currently focusing on the wider audience that the internet provides to share her jewelry. And yes, She is still active as a visual artist.

SUMMER BEACH LAMPWORK OOAK


BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA NECKLACE



SOUTHWEST DREAM

Beadwork, April/May 2010 - Interweave


Beadwork, April/May 2010 - Interweave

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

A New Bling~~ Chandelier Jeans


I've heard of Chandeliers for your home, Chandelier earrings, but Chandelier Jeans? My b/f found these online and told him to send me the photo. I don't know whether to scratch my head or smile. Hope you enjoy this photo as much as I did.