Spring has Sprung! Finally...

While it seemed that Spring would never get here, the calendar has moved steadily on from Winter and officially become Spring. and not a minute too soon, either. I don't know a single person who hasn't felt just totally beaten down by the weather here so far this year.

So, to celebrate the fact that there are Spring flowers blooming somewhere, I've posted some of my pics from the annual New England Flower Show held in Boston. There's also a few of my other pics here that make me think of Spring.
Enjoy!

Winter Wonderland Challenge ~ Vote & Win!

The voting for our Winter Wonderland Challenge is still going on, so you STILL have a chance to VOTE and be put in for a FREE chance to WIN a WONDERFUL PRIZE PACK!

Registered Etsy members get FOUR votes each (not each shop). It's so easy to register, you just need an email address!

Each of the 4 top-hearted items have one of their voters chosen randomly to win a FANTASTIC prize pack put together by the members of EAST (which includes soap, earrings, ornaments, and a lot more!),


So get your votes in before the contest ends on January 7th! You can see all 22 of our entries by visiting our Team Shop's favorites: Here's the link to our team Favorites

Just click on the piece you want to vote for and "Add Item to Favorites". See how easy?

And all thru the Blog, not a new thing stirred...

I'm making amends here, on Christmas day, to you, my poor readers who have had nothing new from me in a very long time. For some reason, blogging has seemed a bit overwhelming lately. There have not been too many personal things that I could share, and business has been quiet. I felt stuck trying to come up with something useful, or funny, to say. I haven't had too many new pretty pictures, either.

I want to get back to blogging regularly, in the manner to which you have become accustomed. Know that there will be the usual mix of magick and medicine, business and pleasure. There will be, for awhile anyway, probably more business things. I owe ALOT of people posts about their shops for the Etsy 90/90 day challenge. It's now more like the 90/180 day challenge. Sorry about that! If you blogged about Summer Sea Herbs, know that I will blog you back~really.

Speaking of Summer Sea Herbs, I have been very busy getting some new products up in the Etsy shop, new packaging, and tending to EarthPath Artisan Street Team business.
I also tried my hand at a new mixed media piece for a promotion that the EAST team is currently running.

Personally, I wanted to let you know that I'm doing ok. Sometimes lately, Life has been challenging, but I'm hanging in there. I'll try to keep you up to date, and try to get some pics from the past season up here for you.

Tim & I made Chocolate-dipped pretzels for stocking stuffers this year! Yum!



Take care, and I'll be back really soon!
Merry Christmas & Blessed Yule!
~tracyw

4 of 90 Featured Etsy Shops: Liz Staley's Realm of Nerdiness

I'm a bit of a nerd~ I admit it! Undernearth my hippy,dippy, herbalist exterior is a nerd who loves Star Wars, used to play D&D in college, and watches Adult Swim late at night. I like computer geek stuff, although I'm not very good at it. I no longer game anymore. OK, so I haven't gamed in over 25 years. BUT, I can get my nerd fix just by stopping by Liz Staley's Realm of Nerdiness on Etsy! Liz is one of my favorite people on Etsy, and a member of my EarthPath Artisans Street team.

Currently living in Greenville, NC, Liz makes cool chokers out of PC keyboard keys, crochets fabulous and sexy fingerless gloves, and makes fun buttons! She has also figured out how to make wallets out of keyboard circuitry! Now, you won't find those anywhere else! Liz is not only a Star wars fan, but caters to FireFly/Serenity fans as well. She's got a new line of buttons and magnets with fun quotes from the series.

You can also find Liz blogging about her life here.
Stop by the Realm of Nerdiness to read all the fun buttons, and indulge your inner nerd! She's currently making some new "Geek Paks" for us which will make great stocking stuffers for those geeks or gamers on your list!

Franklin County Fiber Twist Festival

This past weekend, my Mom and I went to the Franklin County (MA) Fiber Twist. It's a county-wide celebration of all things wool and wool-related. The main vendor halls and the demonstrations were held in Old Deerfield Village in Deerfield, MA. Then various farms had open studio hours where you could visit. After spending most of the day at the vendor halls, we set off for the studio tour.

The weather on Saturday was typical of the worst that New England has to offer in October- cold rain and fog, all day. However, being the intrepid souls that we are, we managed to make it to two of the farms to visit. The farms were located on back roads, well off the beaten path. When we got to Springdelle Farm in Shelburne, they were having a shearing demonstration on the sheep. The farm's studio, Foxfire Fiber & Designs had incredibly soft hand-dyed yarn spun into the most beautiful colors!

Springdelle Sheep

After we left Springdelle, we headed to Moonshine Design at Keldaby. Here the focus is on Angora goats. The mohair from these gentle animals is so lush! We got a tour of the barn, and visited the shop there. I covet the hand-dyed Sport socks made at the farm! They were the thickest, softest and most colorfully dyed socks I have seen!

Back at Old Deerfield, we met vendors from all over the Valley. Each booth was full of wool rovings, batts, finished hand-crafted items or related things. We even went to a demonstration of felting. My new obsession is now making felt (wet felting) and needle felting! I'll be sure to post my first piece I finish.

Here's some of the pictures from the hall, with links if available:
Woollies of Shirkshire Farm, Conway,MA (413.625.3236)

Jaeger Farm Icelandics

Sojourner Designs

Journey Wheels

Day 3 of 90 Featured Etsy Shops: Earmark Invitations

Are you obsessed with cards and stationary? Can't resist the racks of gorgeous cards and journals, even when you're late to get someplace? Yeah, me too!

If that's the case, Earmark Invitations's shop on Etsy is a place you should see. These custom stationers have great graphics, clean crisp designs, and a sense of humor. I love that they print all of their designs on recycled paper. Bridgette and Mike will also make a custom birthday card or stationary for you at very reasonable prices. If you're near San Diego, stop by and see them at their weekly booth at the Ocean Beach Farmers Market. Tell them you're from Etsy and get a free card! Free cards for the paper obsessed! What could be better than that?

Day 2 of 90 Featured Etsy Shops: Wanderlust & Pixiedust

I found GLITTER!!!!!!

You all know how much I like pretty, shiny things, right? Today's featured shop in the 90 in 90 Etsy promotion is Wanderlust & Pixiedust. Not only is there have real vintage glass glitter, but also nice supplies for making your own paper arts such as collage. There are pendants and other things ready-made, too. Vintage is her thing, and there's some fun items to choose from!

You can read more about Wanderlust in her blog.

Day 1 of 90 Featured Etsy Shops: Giftbearer

Cool Contemporary tribal jewelry from Etsy's Giftbearer offers something different!

Pippit Carlington has been creating art ever since she was old enough to pick up a paintbrush.
She works in several mediums;including acrylics, watercolor, drawing, clay sculpture, and jewelry. A multicultural influence is evident in her work reflecting a diverse heritage of Iroquois Indian, Hawaiian, Russian Jewish, and French Canadian. She is strongly influenced by nature, political and social issues, and uses her art to educate the public.

Putting her money where her mouth is, Pippit has mentored artists with mental illness in a psychosocial rehabilitation program she developed called Artvision. Artists in the program received help and guidance in learning all aspects of how to run an art-based business. This prepared them to earn money using a talent they already have.
You can find Pippit's blog here: http://artlifenewsblog.blogspot.com/

EAST Autumn Challenge Winners!!!!

Yesterday our "Autumn Colors & Falling Leaves Design Challenge" was judged by Etsy Labs! There were 40 wonderful and crafty entries.
The winners are:
Funky Devaz


Ravenshold


RachealAnilyse



Azurefire



I'm amazed at all the creative entries, across many different
mediums. Thanks to everyone who participated! To see all the listings for the Challenge entries , search AutumnEast as a tag, or you can go look at the favorites here in the team account,
http://www.etsy.com/favorite_listings.php

Here's the article that Etsy labs did for the winners and about the event!
http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/spotlight/article/etsy-earthpath-
artisans-design-challenge-winners/431/

Nice job, Everyone!
blessed be,
tracyw, SummerSea

EarthPath Artisans Autumn Challenge Event

****EarthPath Artisans Autumn Design Challenge****
The EAST team has issued a challenge to all members to create an item that falls in the theme of Autumn Colors & Falling Leaves. Etsy Labs will be judging the winners on Oct.16th!
You can view all the entries here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/earthpathchallenge/pool
Look for the AutumnEast tags Etsy-wide for member shop challenge entries!
You can also see the original listings for the items entered in our challenge by looking here on Etsy. That will take you to our new shop on Etsy. All the favorite items listed are in the Challenge!Here's my entry:

New Incense and Flower Essences Arrive!

I have been VERY busy this past week or so, and have finally gotten a few new items listed in my shop. I have FIVE new flower essences available for the first time ever, and two new incenses for your magickal needs!

First, the flower essences: Iris, Lady's Mantle, Echinecea, Mallow,and Valerian.
This is the first time I have offered the essences individually. I will make more of the single flowers and gemstone elixers available soon.

For my current selection and to find out more about flower essences, please click the link.

I'm also offering two new loose 100% Organic herbal incense blends:

Lucky Stars, and Prosperity & Abundance .

These are made to assist with spells and rituals.

Please vist my Etsy shop, Summer Sea Herbs, to see everything I have to offer! I have a full selection of herbal incenses, essences, bulk herbs and magickal items!

Tagged Again! ~ The Name Game

OK, SweetSpice tagged me back with this new game: the Name Game.

I guess I deserved it, and you know I'm gonna pass it on!

So, here we go:

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)~ Max Corolla

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)~ Phish Food Oreo

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)~ Twil

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)Blue Cat

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)~ Ellen Hackensack

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)~ Wiltr

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)~ The Purple MaiTai

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)~ Joe Sid

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)~ Warm Vanilla Kisses

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )~ Ellen Joseph

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) La Puff Phoenix

12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)~ Yule Peony

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)~ Cherry Tankie

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)~ Coffee Birch

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)~ The Stamping Wind Tour

Tag! You're It!

So it finally happened! I got tagged!
I was tagged by Xiane.
Tagging means I'll tell you 6 random things about myself, and then in turn, tag 6 others to do the same. Mmmm, so who should I tag?

Completely random things about me, which defy explanation:

1~ I love artificially blue food. The blue raspberry slushy, blue candy, blue tropical drinks, etc.

2~ Fast cars= fun. Pagans for Nascar! Woo-Hoo! If I could drive a race car for a living, I'd do it in a minute. Go, Junior, #8!

3~ I have an impressive collection of stuffed animals.

4~ I can't watch scary movies, because I get too scared and can't sleep. All my friends know this, and will tell me if I can/can't watch a movie. My own in-house ratings system!

5~ I have a cell phone, but have no idea how to use it beyond making calls.

6~ I love to go freshwater fishing. I can catch them, but I can't clean them. I'm too squeamish.

Now, let's see...I'll tag:

Blackstar

SweetSpice

SeaSprite

MLee

Meredith Dillman

KreativeMindz

North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival

On Saturday, I went to the Garlic festival which takes place about a mile from my home. It's my favorite fall festival, here in the Pioneer Valley. The day is a benefit for Seeds of Solidarity Farm's education programs. It's full of farmers selling organic vegetables, crafts vendors and healing arts providers, as well as demonstrations and music! I see quite a few people I know and it's always a fun time.

Here's some photos from the day:

Cheshire Garden makes the most wonderful preserves, mustards and vinegars! I look forward to stopping by the booth every year.

Tom Ricardi, Wildlife Rehabilitator, was there educating the crowd about the magnificent birds of prey!

And the Winner is...

Wow! What a successful Wickedly Chic contest! There were over 330 entries to win the Summer Sea Herbs gift box of magickal goodies.The winner is Lisa G. of Auxvasse, MO! Thanks for playing, Lisa, and your gift box will be shipped to you shortly.In case you missed all the action, you can shop for those magickal goodies yourself, at Summer Sea Herbs on Etsy.com!Don't forget to sign up for the Wickedly Chic newsletter to enter more weekly contests!

Win my Gift box on Sunday Night!

I'm giving away a gift box of Summer Sea Herbs Magickal products to the lucky winner of Wickedly Chic's weekly Sunday Night Giveaway contest. You'll win all the products pictured here! A $40.00 value! The box includes three loose herbal incense blends, two Journey pouches, a bottle of Earth Magnet flower essence, and a roll of Three Kings Charcoal!
To be eligible to win, all you have to do is go to the site, and sign up for the newsletter here:
http://www.wickedlychic.com/index.php?id=6

It's a great site to find Indie craftswomen! There are alot folks from Etsy over there as well! Every week, a different set of shops and products are featured.
Thanks, Liz, for the opportunity to sponsor the Sunday Night Giveaway!