The Beehive Is Thinking Pink

Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Well, it is! I know I'm a little late, that's the way I tend to be with birthdays and holidays and the like, but I think it's important enough that it's better late than never. The Race For The Cure happened this past weekend. I always think I'm going to take part, "next year!" but maybe this can be my contribution. That and I want to start buying those "I slept in for the cure t-shirts" every year! So hopefully this will help a little in spreading awareness, inspiring you to find out how you can help find a cure and most importantly stir up a desire for all you ladies to read up on how you can detect breast cancer in yourselves early and therefore increase your chances for survival. 5 min. once a month can be all it takes to save your life!

To celebrate this month I've compiled some etsy finds that I think are super fantastic. They are all made to help spread awareness and are great items to boot! Take a gander at these great things, the great sellers that made them and their shops and then take a gander at the Breast Cancer Awareness buttons on my blog's sidebar. Click away to learn how to give yourself a monthly once over and how to help the cause!

Limited Edition Breast Cancer Awareness Sock Monkey

by The PettiCoat Pirate who makes all kinds of unique plushies.

Only 100 of these touching sock monkeys will be made
and a portion of each sale will go to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

Hope Fabric Coffee Sleeve
by What's Up Your Sleeve who makes coffee sleeves for all your hobbies.

"In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month I am donating $2.00 from the sale of each Hope sleeve to my sister's fundraising efforts. She is taking part in the Making Strides walk in October in Conway NH in honor of our Mom. Her Team name is Team Tiny."

Horray For Boobies Pink Bottlecap Magnets
by The Little Red Door who has tons of pottery cuties and crafts in her shop.

"Show your support! Free shipping! The entire listing price of this item will be donated to the cbcf (Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation) :)"

Octopus Breast Cancer Awareness Card
by Chelleline who makes all kinds of adorable collage cards for all occasions.

"A portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation."

Breast Cancer Awareness Blythe Necklace
by Blythe Couture go visit her shop for all of your Blythe Accessories.

One dollar from every necklace sold will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (www.cbcf.org)

Hope Wallet for Breast Cancer Awareness
by zaibboo Look at her shop for other wallets, tissue holders and bags for breast cancer awareness.

Click on her shop link and read her shop announcement for details on how to win one of her breast cancer awareness items!

The Mary Ann Ribbon and Charm Armwarmer that you customize for your survivor
by Tricky Knits who makes beautiful armwarmers, scarflettes and wraps.

"10% of sales will be donated to the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville."

Awareness Ribbon Stud Earrings
by Cherry Creek who makes jewelry featuring fine and sterling silver, copper and gold.

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

And The Butterfly Award Goes To...

me! I got a lovely surprise while on vacation, Michele from Little Red Cottage bestowed an award on me and my blog! Thanks Michele!

The rules for the Butterfly Award:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate 10 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

My nominees:
Diana Crites at a muted palette
Sarah at Keep it Simple
Carl at cyeagerLMT: Online
Shelley at The Wood Between the Worlds
Idyll Hands
On Dogwood Lane
The Twisted Purl
ekio art
punkinhead at Junque Rethunque
Snappy Bibs

Warm Fuzzies

I just discovered this really cool little movement thanks to Heather Knitz. They're brought to you by The Handmade Movement and are called sneak attacks. I think it's a brilliant idea for supporting fellow crafters and spreading warm fuzzies; those little wonderful feelings that go out into the world, breed like mad and make the world a better place. This is the description of a sneak attack from their website:

"Every few days a new or relatively undiscovered Etsy shop is chosen as a "victim", and at a given time multiple buyers all visit the site and buy one or more items each, resulting in a whole slew of surprise business in a very short time. In the past week a handful of shops have all been "attacked" and both the shop owners AND the buyers have had GREAT experiences." --thehandmademovement.com

How great is that?! And even more wonderful, anyone can participate and help spread the love! If you're interested in being part of a sneak attack you can find a schedule here. You not only boost someone's spirit but you get to shop! I plan on participating in the near future, it's just too wonderful to pass up!

Looking Into The Light

When I learned how to set the white balance on my camera I was over the moon excited and the results were fantastic! Then about a week later I set aside some time to redo all of my product pics using my newly found white balancing skills. Somehow the magic was gone and I COULD NOT figure out how to get good photos. I couldn't believe it. I guess maybe it was beginner's luck. Well, with The Bohemian's encouragement I kept trudging through the frustration and I think I'm slowly getting improvement in my photos.

The light box: I made mine from a moving box, tracing paper for the light defusers, craft paper for the back drop, and a couple old desk lamps for my light source.

Today I took the next step and built a light box. With my initial white balance results I was hoping a lot of light manipulation wouldn't be necessary but it was a constant problem for me. So now I'm trying to force my lights into submission with this contraption. I was lucky enough to stumble across a fantastic tutorial on Strobist on how to build the thing. If you're interested in making one of your own visit the article How To: DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio. My photos could still use some work. I think will just come with time, patience, practice and more learning. For now, here are my light box results.

Above are my re-shot product pics for my Contemporary Asian Inspired Mini Album. In the left hand column are the dark old pics with color issues, on the right are the new and improved, brighter, whiter pics with fewer issues. I'm excited!

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

Here is how it effected the look of the listing in my etsy shop for this item:


Above is a screen shot of the way the listing used to look with the old pics, below is the new listing. Mmmm, the sweet taste of improvement!

A Trees Worth Of Boxes

Today the UPS guy came to my door carrying this obnoxiously large bundle of boxes. Yesterday I ordered boxes because I received a request to make one of the albums in my shop in a 12 x 12 size and I wanted the right size box to ship it in. I discovered ULINE where you can buy mega quantities of anything you could ever need for shipping in any size. I don't know that it turned out to be tons cheaper per box than buying locally but it's not more expensive, even with shipping, and I can get exactly the size box I need brought to my doorstep! Another thing that I was ridiculously excited about was the fact that they sent it to The Beehive, I feel like an official business! I know, I'm excited to a nerdy degree! Now, where do I store the other 24 boxes until they get used? Hey, I can't help my overwhelming optimism, I think I can start making this little hobby into a full fledged business! Or Maybe the boxes are emitting some kind of drug-like fume that's getting to me.

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

AREtsy Autumn

I've been honored in a beautiful fall treasury by katzetsy called AREtsy Autumn. My Fall Flowers clothespin magnets are on the second row down, far right. Thanks for the honor katzetsy! Stop by her shop and check out her design work, she does it all!

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

Tag, I'm It!

I got tagged by Stephanie of Three Loud Kids

The Rules:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are 7 random facts about me:

1. I've lived in 6 different states
2. If I had been alive and old enough I would've been a Doors groupie
3. I am freakishly skilled at picking things up with my toes
4. One of my favorite books of all times is The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall because it breaks my heart
5. I'm a slightly overbearing perfectionist
6. I think one of the best songs of all time (not just my favorite but one of the best ever) is One by Metallica
7. I wish I was the lead singer of a rockin' chick band

Here are the 7 people that I am tagging:
I'm a pretty good sport but not that good! Sorry Stephanie I'm a tagging party pooper!