Are you here for the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Blog Hop

If so it's over here:

Hello Monday...

Hello to our first Monday with a 14 year old son!!!  :)

Hello swollen eye - adult acne sucks!

Hello sore muscles - but I am so glad to have yoga back in my life.

Hello week 4 of  training!!  3 whole weeks and 46 miles down - only 16 weeks and about 465 miles to go!!!

Hello contractor - thank you for replacing that missing piece of siding!

Hello handmade Valentines!!  What a clever idea (his mouth is where the kids will put in the Valentines!!!

Hello aromatherapy classses - I promise to start working on you!

Hello design work...can't wait to make you two realities!!

Hello to a wonderful REAL life, full of opportunities, choices, and blessings!!

 And as always a big thanks to Lisa Leonard for such a fun idea!

A Little Fun...

A little blog post about my studio - over at Where People Create!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE looking at other peoples creative spaces!  Such awesome ideas out there!  Many of the ideas I have incorporated into my own studio have been "things" I have spotted in other peoples spaces!!

Ann has some great spaces featured!!! So go over and check it out - comment if you'd like!  And be sure to check out all the other spaces Ann has featured.  Very cool stuff!!! 

Hey and if YOU have a fun creative spaces - email her - she is looking for spaces to share!!  You might just inspire some organization for another creative soul!  :)

You must go check out.....

my Bead Soup reveal.....

New Look

Shannon at idesignu has been working HARD to create a new image for me!  Just ask her - I'm sure she'd tell you what a pain I've been!!!  TRULY!!!  But I wanted this to be prefect.  Really I am thinking she wishes she wouldn't have accepted my business, but she has been very sweet and super understanding and hard working trying to figure out that image that was stuck in my head.

It has come together so nicely!!!

Check it out:

Etsy banners & avatars:

 

FUN stickers:

 

Business Card Front:

 

 Business Card Back:

Earring Cards:

 

Jewelry Price Tags (love these - look at that sweet little place to add a price):

Postcards:

So what do you think????

Guess what she is going to work on next?  Labels!!  Yes labels!!!  Labels for things like Patchouli Tangerine Lotion and Ultra Cream and Shea Souffle Sugar Scrub and my terrific Lavender Emu Oil Salve!!!  That's right - Star Hitched Wagon Bath and Body has been on vacation for long enough...look for all of these sometime in 2011!

Wordless Wednesday: I got me a new look....

Sale at Star Hitched Wagon™

 
I think I feel fall in the air!!!  And I think I have mentioned before just how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE fall!!!  So let's celebrate!  

I just marked the entire shop 25%-75% off!! I really did!!!  Lot's of beautiful pieces and really great prices!

Maybe you could do some early Christmas shopping? Fun Fun Fun!!! 

Thanks you sweet and loyal customers!!!  Love you all!!

Slowly....

.....trudging back into the waters of blogging!  :)  It's hard to get started again after being gone for so long....
But I do have a ton to share - amazing photos from my most fabulous month long get-a-way to Montana and Wyoming.  Yup - you heard me right - almost 4 whole weeks.  Our journey began on Thursday, June 24th and ended Monday, July 19th.

We visited:

Sheridan

(I love these girls)

Miles City - sadly I have not a single photo from Miles City!!!  :(

Ennis

 

Virginia City

Nevada City

Butte

Missoula - darn it Macey has some good ones somewhere!

Big Fork

Whitefish

Glacier

and Bozeman

All of this equals perfection.....lots of family - lots of fun!!!
I even squeezed in a most successful trunk show at mom and dad's!!!  Woohoo!!!  (Can I just add really quick how great Star Hitched Wagon™ has been doing the last few months - lots of new customers, lots of sales - the dream I tell you.....)
I really miss family being out here in Nebraska.  When we were in Wyoming I didn't go over 6 - 8 weeks without seeing someone in our family - now sometimes we go a full 6 months.  It sucks to be perfectly honest.  So this trip made up for that.
Another big reason I decided to take this trip is that our boys are becoming city boys (Macey does ok)  and that doesn't thrill me.....I see why - we don't live an outdoorsy life much at all anymore.  I wanted to make sure that during this trip they had little game and computer and tv time and tons of outdoor time.  I think I achieved that.  We loved it - we did miss Steve though - a lot!!!!  And our Sadie girl....
And one last thing

(so not a good photo of me - but the only one of the "road trip")
I feel a bit braver now - this trip was a big deal (to me) - I did it by myself (sort of - the kids were great company and great help) I logged a ton of miles on the ole Suburban and I was thrilled to be doing so!!!  Can I just say - dang that Deborah Garmin get's you from place to place easily....:)
More details will come - like an 80's party, deck dancing, ghost stories by the fire pit, 50/50 winnings, 4th of July parade, creeks and rivers and lakes - oh my! And lots of family!!!
I just found my camera cord this afternoon - I have a ton of editing to do and this was about all I could handle.  So much beauty I promise....

The Bright Side Project....

Check out Star Hitched Wagon on The Bright Side Project!!!

Creativity Bootcamp - Day 3

Creative Buzz Kills......Oh I am sure we all have them.  They come in all shapes and sizes.  It could be a person you encounter once or someone close to you.....I do not have any creative buzz kills close - I have been blessed with a very supportive family and group of freinds.  Most get it - if I encounter any that don't to them I say right here and right now.....
.....it's ok that you don't like or get what I do, I respect your opinion, but that is what it is - just your opinion.  Here is fact - I am a creative force with beautiful ideas flowing freely - an artist!

Other creative buzz kills can be silly things like too much time on the computer, getting easily sidetracked or not focusing. 

But the biggest creative buzz kill?  Probably me.  To me I say.....
......Stacey - step out of your own way and believe in those beautiful ideas that flow freely.  Put your big girl panties on and quit worrying about that fear of rejection - it's an opportunity to grow!  Enjoy the process - which is the good and the bad.  GROW!  Organize, dedicate and work through it.  Show you art to all you meet - introduce and celebrate your artist self!  Everyone will love your confidence - everyone that matters that is.  By opening up about your creative self you will network and attract the right people to help you to continue growing as the artist that you are.  You will unlock those treasures within you and your success will be beautiful - everything you dream of and more. 

Hello - my name is Stacey Curry - Artist and Owner of Star Hitched Wagon™ 
Artisan goods for the Girl with Roots and Wings!

 

Creativity Bootcamp - Day 2

 
In creative news......I am participating in Creativity Boot Camp.  Our coach is Maegan of Madeline Bea Photography - my medium of course being jewelry - not photography.  I am really enjoying it - it feels good to sit down and write out thoughts that come from the journal prompts.  The community of support, the prompts, the loads of inspiration from the fabulous flickr gallery, connecting with other artists who are on the right path - those who have found their confidence - which of course inspires me to keep moving or understanding those  who might struggle with calling themselves artists.  It causing me to dream and put my dreams in written form, helping me to set goals, hold myself accountable and get out of my own way.  And the creative prompts - they are stretching me to think of new inspirations....what comes to mind with just one word.....I love it.  If you are interested I have posted my creations on the Star Hitched Wagon™ blog.

So here will be my place to post my journal prompts - read or don't - either way it's all good!  :)

Day 2

I call myself an artist - to myself, also to family and friends.  I am confident enough to put it in my email signature or talk about it in blog posts and on facebook and when surrounded by other creative souls.  However, if I were to meet you today - just a stranger in a bookstore or a fellow mom at a pool, maybe you work with my husband - and you asked me what it was I did for a living - I would respond that I am a part time preschool teacher's aide and there is a good chance that is all I would tell you about what I "do".  Don't get me wrong I love my part time job - it is fabulous - but it is not who I am, it a just a small part.  I am an artist - without the opportunity to create I could not function fully.  This is fact.   
I cannot tell you the number of times that I have missed out on possible growth - growth as a networking artist or growth as an artist who is a business owner selling her art.  I am too meek to hand out business cards - even when there might be interest - unless you specifically ask me one I might not give you it.  Silly - chance missed!
I can't say what other artists have that I think I am lacking - artists come on all shapes and sizes and are successful at so many different levels.  I truly think I have the qualities that make an artist - a passion to freely create what I feel needs to be created!!!  I know am an artist - I guess I feel like others won't care - or that possibly their definition of artist is different so they won't appreciate my art.  Stupid?  SO VERY!!!  These things, these opinions don't make me any less of an artist.
I know what it true - I create because I have to - I create because I want to - I am inspired constantly by the beauty around me - I am an artist.  

Ready????

So if you played along with the giveaway - do you think it's you - do you think you won???  Want to know???

And the winner of a $25.00 gift certificate to Star Hitched Wagon™ is:

Congrats Joleyn - thank you soooo much to everyone who played along!!!

Have a terrific weekend everyone!

Giveaway Extravaganza!!!

 

 

Hello everyone!!!  

 

May is one of my favorite months.....love the springy goodness all around!  The sweet smelling lilacs fill my home with their magic, frogs and birds are singing, long days with lots of play.  Yes it is a good month - oh and let's not forget Mother's Day and MY BIRTHDAY!!!!  :)  Yes today is MY birthday.  This year May has been a most exceptional month - such exciting things for me as an artist - I am so thrilled to be Bead Trends Magazine designer spotlight.  Holy Heck I am excited - what a gift - to see things I have created in print - out there to (hopefully) inspire others - well let's just say it makes my beyond giddy!!!  So because of this wonderful gift - I am doing things a bit different on my birthday - I am giving presents away!!!  Yes I am GIVING the presents, and this is just one of the many ways you can get a chance to win something wonderful.

 

So what am I giving away????  How about this:

 

 

 

Just for you to spend any way you would like!  How fun!!!

 

So what do you have to do to enter?  It's pretty simple and kind of fun - just leave a comment here letting us all know what your choice would be if you win and why!!  

 

Want a second chance?  Easy enough follow the Star Hitched Wagon™ blog: http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com/ just post a second comment here letting us know.

 

How about a third chance?  Very good - become a Star Hitched Wagon™ fan at facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Star-Hitched-WagonTM/10150113641680641 just post a third comment here letting us know.  

 

How cool is that?  Up to three chances to get your name in the "pot".  

 

You have until midnight on Saturday May 29th, 2010.  Winners will be announced on Sunday May 30th, 2010.

 

Can't wait to see if you win???  Want a Star Hitched Wagon™ goodie for yourself ?  OK - how about 20% off your order?  Use code: curry at checkout: http://starhitchedwagon.com/  Offer expires June 22nd, 2010

 

Want to check out the other giveaway's???

 

Visit:

 

http://www.thedigigirl.com/larson/

 

http://www.trishiag.com

 

http://randomthoughtsbybecca.blogspot.com/

 

http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com/ 

and

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Star-Hitched-WagonTM/10150113641680641

 

Best of luck to you all and thank you so much for playing along!  Have a terrific day everyone!!!

 

 

I'm giddy!

 

May 2010 Bead Trends

COOL BEANS!!!!

I am the designer spotlight!  I am not bragging I am just so beyond thrilled and excited and absolutely THANKFUL that I got this spotlight.  I love this magazine and the designers that grace it's pages.  To be featured along with so many other great artisans makes me oh-so-giddy!

You can purchase a copy online  - either a hard copy or a digital download version.  Or you can purchase at Micheal's or Hobby Lobby or Barnes and Noble.  It's a fabulous magazine!

Pssstttt....

I am excited to say that Star Hitched Wagon™ is one of this month's sponsors over at Stephanie Howell's "place"! I LOVE her blog - it is fantastic - I mean the girl is crazy talented. Her scrapbook pages are just FANTASTIC!!! SHe has fantastic style - clothing and flea market finds. She is just fun - weeeellllll I don't actually know her - I really just stalk her blog and now it's your turn!!! She is doing a few drawings this weekend - all you have to do is leave a comment on HER blog post by Sunday!!! Easy peasy - right? Oh and my Calliope bracelet is what you might win!!! Go on over and check it out - good luck!

Falls Here

Sandal weather may be coming to an end - WOOHOO!!! Not that I don't love my sandals - but I LOVE FALL!!!!!!!!!!! I really really do. I love the cold nights and mornings - I sleep like a baby. I love the cool sunny afternoons. The colors of the leaves make me swoon - and giddy! Even the smell is so comforting. This is my season - I just can't help but be happy!

I am not sure if I told you all or not but I have a new job - I have been at it since the end of August. And here is a little secret - I love this job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As far as outside the home jobs - this job is truly the best job ever!!! I am an assistant preschool teacher - I know - I am so lucky!!! This was one of those things I thought might be too good to be true when I interviewed for it. The ladies I interviewed with were beyond wonderful. When I got the call offering me the job I was beyond thrilled. So there ya have I work outside the home now with two bunches of absolutely adorable kiddoes, and alongside some really fantastic teachers. I only work mornings so I still get to create like a mad woman in the afternoons - which also makes me giddy!!!

Life is good!

So I was reading on Scrap Happy her list of things she would like to accomplish in the next few months - and I thought it was brilliant - I have a growing list of things I want to do - so what better than to post them here - maybe some of the items will inspire you to do something different - or maybe not.

Make hot pepper pizza.

Make tomato pizza.

Go to wildlife safari for the Halloween festivities.

Go to Fontenelle Forest for their Halloween festivities.

Make a pumpkin roll.

Make new jewelry - lots and lots of it.

And hoping I sell lots and lots of said jewelry!!!

Do a layout a day in the month of October.

Go make more pottery.

Make squash soup.

Bake a pumpkin for the first time ever.

Learn to crochet - and secretly hoping I am as good as my mom!

Make Christmas gifts for my sisters, my mom, my grandma and my mother in law.

I have ALWAYS (or at least for as long as I have known Martha Stewart (yes we are bff's))wanted to have a beautiful Harvest party outside in the beautiful cool fall weather - with a perfectly decorated table in the yard dressed like it should be inside. Complete with soup in a pumpkin - maybe this year I will get around to it. A girl can dream.....

Umm yeah a date with my hubby would be nice - it's been a while.

VALA's here we come - I love Vala's pumpkin patch - we will be going at least twice possibly three times this year.

Make new friends!!!

Get together with the wonderful friends I have.

Send care packages to my 3 nieces and 2 nephews.

Send a letter - via snail mail - it has been sooooooo long since I have done this!

Read lots and lots of books - like My Sister's Keeper and all the rest of Jodi Picoult's books and The End of the Alphabet.

Watch The Family Stone over and over again and Goonies - cause I LOVE them.

Family Movie night - we are overdue - thinking it will be Where the Wild Things Are.

Go to Halloween 2 with my hubby - cause we like scarry movies.

Rent Trick R Treat - reason see above.

Decorate our house super spooky and ghoulish for Halloween - cause we love Halloween. And we sort of love spooky! Steve had a great idea to put a full sized Michael Myers behind our gate in our backyard - the street light shines right on that area - it would be freaky - might a scare a few little ones but it would be cool - the having it there not scaring the little ones!!!

Make homemade egg rolls.

Run with Connor.

Commit to walk or run at least 3 times per week - ideally 4 or 5.

Read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with my Xanderman.

Complete an altered canvas (like Jayne)

Go to New Moon with Xander!!!! DUH!! We both can't wait! The rest of the family are welcomes to come - the other two boys are just not that in to it and the girl - yeah we are just not cool enough - she will not doubt see it with her friends.

Etch some silver.

Etch some brass.

Make more super cool leather cuffs - I wear mine pretty much daily - love the smell of leather and it looks SOOOOO cool!

Laugh a lot.

Maybe even dance a little.

And love much!!!!!

If you have a list made or will be making please do share with me!!! I love to read these fantastic lists - it inspires me to try new things!!!

I hope you ALL have a beautiful fall.

New Pieces