The Blog Guidebook

I just discovered a new blog this morning! Many of you may already know about it, but for those of you who don't, here's the link. There is a wealth of information there for all bloggers!

Lyndsay and Sarah are the lovely ladies behind this fantastic blog. This is how they describe it:
"The Blog Guidebook is the vision of two women who want to see the blogging community grow in friendship, creativity and beauty. That's really what blogging is all about.


Established in 2010, The Blog Guidebook encompasses all bloggers, be they crafty, creative, cooks, bakers, teens, moms, dads, children in need, pet lovers, home stylers, antiquers, flea marketers, homeschoolers, doctors, lawyers, in any country, and on and on. You name it, you can blog it. And we want to read it!

Blogging is a new form of journalism. It is a way to self-publish your dreams, hopes and stories of your world. The Guidebook offers a way for others to find you, in a friendly, happy, easy to navigate, safe environment.

The Guidebook offers Spotlights and Features of notable blogs and bloggers, Free Listings for your blog, Blog Tips, Video Tutorials, and a live Help Desk. You can ask the Guidebook questions and get an answer. The Blog Guidebook is real people, not just a computer with an automatic reply. We want to help your blog the best it can be." {excerpt from the About Us page}

When you have the time, be sure to head over to The Blog Guidebook and check it out! :)

Have a lovely day!
Lana
~*~

Changes are a comin'...

...to Honeysuckle Lane's blog!

Before you get all excited, it's not overall HUGE changes. I wish it were. I'd love to get a blog makeover, have pretty buttons for this and that, have everything look all neat and tidy and pretty, but I don't have the time or the know-how. Where's my fairy-blog-mother when I need her???

I do think the changes, or additions, are very exciting though! I am going to feature other bloggers, readers, and artists at least a couple times a week.

Now, when you come to visit, it won't all be about me and my work. It will also be about other people who inspire and encourage and create. Those people need to be recognized, too, don't you think? :)


So... check back Wednesday. I hope to have the first guest blogger for you to meet.
 
Take Care & God Bless,
Lana
~*~

Paper Wreaths Revisited

{wreath, snowdrop pillows & glass glitter cones made by Lana Manis}

I was thinking back to when I first began selling my wreaths online... back in November of '08. I'd made them before, but I wasn't sure if everyone would like them so I waited a while to offer them online. Sisters and daughters and nieces usually tell you all sorts of nice things about your handmade items, so you can't really go by what they say. ;)

{sheet music wreath, Christmas cones, & Victorian stockings made by Lana Manis}

I first offered sheet music wreaths at Simply Primitives and TDIPT Mercantile, and then I began offering more of my vintage book wreaths on my website and in my Etsy shop, HoneysuckleLane.

{children's vintage book wreath made by Lana Manis}

I am so fortunate that someone out there, somewhere, liked my paper art and continued to buy it so I could continue making it --- because I love working with paper... old book pages, old sheet music, parchment paper that's been stained, aged, painted... just about any kind of paper. I love cutting it, folding it, rolling it, weaving it...

{soldered heart in hand charm necklace made by Lana Manis}

 

{angel wings made by Lana Manis}

{puzzle purse valentine made by Lana Manis}

Although I work in other mediums, too, I always have a paper project going.
Lately, I have been busy with custom orders and I haven't been able to make many items for my fairly new website, Simple Joys Paperie, as I'd hoped. I should have all orders finished and on their way by the end of October and that leaves me with just under two weeks to have new items made for SJP by the 15th of November. I'll have several items for holiday decorating, as well as plenty of creations for gifts.
So please don't stray too far away... I have the ideas and sketches, I just need to find the time. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Take Care & God Bless,
Lana
~*~

~ Blessed ~

I was going to title this post Lucky, but I really don't believe in luck. I believe things happen for a reason.

We are blessed in so many ways, spiritually, physically... blessed with peace in our hearts, blessed with family and friends, blessed with homes, blessed with food, and even blessed with little lovely frivolties and things that make just us smile.

I want to share with you a few of the latter blessings I've received in the last several months. None of these were necessities, but they either make me smile or make life just a bit easier. All of the following were won via generous, talented, sharing bloggers (and a store). :)

{lovely gift from Beth @ Gypsy Fish Journal ~ just my style!}

Back in March I entered Beth's giveaway at Gypsy Fish Journal. <<< Click that link to see the giveaway post. I've admired her jewelry and other creations for quite a while and was so surprised and very, very happy when I got an email from her telling me that I'd won! Beth sells her lovelies in her Etsy shop, so be sure to head over there when you are finished here.

{the gorgeous charm that Beth sent to me}

Another wonderful giveaway that I won was over at Faded Plains. <<< Click the link to the left to see the giveaway post. Andrea has such a lovely blog and a lovely Etsy shop to match! I can't tell you how thrilled I was when she emailed me to tell me I had won... well, yes I can.... I was utterly thrilled!!! :)

And last but not least was the giveaway over at Susan's Hometown Girl blog. She also has a wonderful Etsy shop that you need to visit. Susan sponsored a giveaway for CSN Stores. To be honest, I had never heard of them until then. I am now a big fan!!! I won a $60 gift certificate from CSN and this is what I spent it on:

{image via CSN Stores}

http://www.csnstores.com/asp/show_detail.asp?sku=CUI1183&init=1

We had been using a cheap $10 coffee maker for quite some time after our Black and Decker under the counter model kicked the bucket. With the cheap one, the coffee tasted scorched, the pot got stuck when you tried to get it out to pour coffee, and then when you poured coffee, it leaked around the spout. Roger said "you buy cheap, you get cheap" and he was right, but don't tell him I agree with him! ;)

Susan emailed me the info to contact CSN, and then the rep emailed me the code to use. I got my coffee maker in less than a week. What took so long was me trying to decide what to purchase! :) I will definitely be shopping with them again… and again… and again...

Thank you so much CSN Stores!!!

So...... those are just a few of the blessings that came my way... nothing needed, nothing I couldn't do without, but they make life so much nicer!

I am blessed...

and I wish God's blessings upon you and yours,

Lana

~*~

Decluttering

I'll be posting again over the weekend, but for now I wanted to let you know about a couple of sales.

You may purchase anything in my Vintage Honeysuckle etsy shop for 1/2 price.
PLEASE email me first to let me know which item(s) you want so I can mark it down for you.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vintagehoneysuckle

I'm also having a MAKE AN OFFER sale on the Junk Sale page of my website.
Things have got to go and I'll accept any reasonable offer on each item.
http://www.honeysucklelane.com/Junk%20Sale.htm

Both of those shops / pages will be emptied late Sunday night. I've got a lot going on here and don't have time or the space to keep vintage items stocked for a shop. I've tried to resist shopping for vintage items at thrift stores and estate sales for a while. :)

Some of you have been patiently waiting for me to list Christmas ornaments on the Junk Sale page.
I haven't forgotten, I have just been so busy that I haven't had time to dig them out of the boxes in the basement. I hope to do that soon. :)

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be posting again tomorrow if I don't forget.

Take care and God bless,
Lana
~*~