Grow your blog!

Welcome blogging friends!  It’s likely you’ve arrived at this post since you also have a blog you want to share (cool me too!…wait you know that).  Ok, at this point you know the address but what the heck goes on here? That’s what I’m about to fill you in on. 

My name is Emma, I make things.  It’s the way it has always been.  In April 2012 I started this blog and here is what I pitched in that inaugural post:

“There will be handmade polymer beads and jewelry, inspiration and process. There will likely be pics of my almost 2 year old girl, since who can resist? There will be lots of me trying to learn how to use all those fabulous online tools. I've been watching everyone else growing their online businesses for so many years now from the sidelines. I love watching the success, don't get me wrong, I just really need to join in the fun. I've had a case of the "if I can't do it perfectly, I don't do it at all" - it is time to outgrow that thinking.”

As it turns out, that has been pretty accurate.  I live in beautiful Ottawa, Canada with my husband, our daughter Averleigh and three cats.  I take part in a weekly photo challenge each Saturday called Focus on Life and this has probably tipped the scales towards more and more Averleigh photos.  However, If you scroll down to last week’s focus on life you will see my (rare) photo of me.



Here’s Averleigh chatting with some Hissing Madagascar Cockroaches this week at our Museum of Nature.  One of the many ways I use my iPhone is as a “baby book” of sorts.  The video I took was her encouraging the “guys” not to be shy but hiss loud for her, it’s hilarious but probably only to me, so I’ll spare you that.

I also take part in a variety of other blog hops and challenges as the mood strikes.  I’ve often said that the case with polymer, when it can be almost anything and you have the whole rainbow at your disposal, it can be hard to know where to start.  That’s the joy of taking on a certain inspiration point or limiting parameter to drive the creative process.  Here’s an idea of what I’m talking about.



You can read all the nitty gritty in the full post from the 6th Bead Soup Blog Hop reveal but in essence I would have never dreamed up those floral wing like polymer pieces, nor this design, had I not been gifted such a gorgeous pendant as a starting point.  Thank you blogging!

Tomorrow, right here, will be the first post of the CC7A series.  A group of seven ladies, who have all met through blogging, and we will have jewelry to share with you!  You can have a sneak peek at my starting point for this month’s challenge right here.  I have shocked myself by already having my piece complete a full day before the deadline, now just to catch the light for some photos tomorrow and I’ll be all set.

Sometimes I use this blog to think out loud and I always welcome conversation.  Perhaps you have had the “how long does it take you to make that” question yourself – do you have an answer?

There is so much I could share but I will restrain myself today as we have all been invited to view a whole big bunch of wonderful blogs.  Many thanks to Vicki of 2 Bags Full for gathering creative souls together on this occasion for one heck of a party!

Thank YOU for stopping by today for a little taste.  I’d love to have you follow along by any way you enjoy, find all the options on the right-hand sidebar. 

focus on life–week 33–in season

Kittens! Yes, the cats do enjoy the short summers in Ottawa and the Humane Society fills up with kittens.  It’s probably not the answer Sally Russick of the Studio Sublime would have guessed, but hey that’s why we do this!

Now in your best Bob Barker: “Remember to spay and neuter, do your part to control the pet population” well something to that effect, I can remember was his closing line on the Price is Right.

Really, I’m just doing my part, at 2 months old he even came neutered.



Since he is now the third kitty in the house, I joked to a friend that I had already mailed in my crazy cat lady membership! I mean, just look at that face!  I have always wanted an orange cat.  After seeing his photo online, I went on my own to visit - see if he was family material.  I walked in to the enclosure that is about 5 x8’ with glass walls and spotted him in a pile of sleeping kittens (about 6  per enclosure).  He popped his head up and a few mews later he was on my shoulder head butting my cheek and purring like a freight train. 




This is our Rufus.  He knows how to keep his people happy.

We also spent the week eating the most juicy and delicious Ontario peaches, so you could say it’s orange season around here.

Oh wait, I forgot this one. I'm not sure if the blue around the outside of his eyes will stay or if it's on its way out - but it is beautiful.

Now to travel around and see all sorts of seasons