Review Beadsmith's Liver of sulfur gel

Hello all! I decided to post the review I did over at TAFWT! Enjoy :)
I hope you are all enjoying the start of 2011! Today I am going to review BeadSmith's Liver of Sulfur oxidizing gel. This is a product that I use quite often in my jewelry designs. Creating jewelry with the oxidized or antiqued look has become quite popular and many suppliers even sell oxidized chain and findings now.



Liver of Sulfur is an agent made with potassium sulfide and turns metals brown or black depending on how long metal is left in the solution. Liver of sulfur usually comes in a rock form which you break into smaller pieces and dissolve in hot water. There are many downsides to using the rock form. It has a very short shelf life, is flammable, and poses inhalation hazards from the dust that is created when breaking the rock form into pieces. There is a more organic method that can be used to oxidize metals but one would need to use quite a few hard boiled eggs and results vary. The egg method requires heating hard boiled eggs and placing them in a bag with the metal. This method can be timely and creates a mess from the egg yolks that would need cleaned off.
Because of the drawbacks of the other methods I decided to use Liver of sulfur in a gel form. With the gel form the shelf life is much longer and there are no risks of flammability or inhalation hazard. The main problem with using the gel is the nasty rotten egg odor that permeates the air when mixed with water. As long as you use the gel in a well ventilated area there shouldn't be too many issues.






To achieve best results with the gel make sure that the metal you are using is cleaned with a method that doesn't leave behind a residue or it will effect the process. If metal isn't clean first sometimes the piece you are oxidizing will have different shades and won't have a uniform patina. You can play around with the formula for lighter or darker oxidizing and with the amount of time you leave your metal pieces in the formula. The gel can also be applied directly to metal.






This product is very reliable and is also very easy to do. The gel makes oxidizing metals very quick and safe. Cleaning up is a breeze and storing the product is effortless because it is not effected by light or air. This product offers users a wide variety of patinas from rainbow to black and can be used on silver, copper, bronze, metal clay and fine silver. I would recommend this product to anyone and I love using it myself.

Inspirational

I rarely enjoy reading the newspaper because it it usually such a downer but Sunday I was actually amazed by one story. It was about a local woman who lives in Haiti working as a RN and also as a christian missionary. She is only thirty but she has the strength, courage and wisdom of someone much older.
Her name is Ginny and she has a blog detailing her journey for Jesus and the people of Haiti. Her blog, ginnyinhaiti.blogspot.com, is so vivid in detail and the pictures she provides of the Haitian people and their countryside are stunning. In addition to all the work she does from working to contain a Cholera outbreak to assisting in building a Church for the villagers, she has also adopted a 2 year old, Odessa from Haiti.
Ginny has totally immersed herself in the country and she takes you along with her through her blog. I almost cried when I read about the day she helped pass out shoes (donated by a Church from Georgia) to the school children. I have never seen such joy on the faces of children from such a simple thing that we take for granted.
If you are looking for a little inspiration and a true insider perspective on the situation in Haiti after the earthquake, Ginny provides it. This blog is definitely worth reading, I couldn't stop. God is truly working through Ginny and she selflessly volunteers for the journey!

New Years Resolutions

I can't believe it is already 2011! What happened to 2010? Last year was amazing!! My store on Etsy, Sunset & Vine Jewelry, had some success, I started a blog, my family made following the Lord a priority and we really have so much to be thankful for. I love our church, More Life Church, because of the pastor and the people that attend. My children really enjoy the children's program there is so much to be involved in.



As great as last year was I am determined to make this year even better. The sky is the limit. To accomplish this I decided to make three resolutions. I usually am not fond of resolutions because they are sort of made to be broken, at least in my case, but this year I kept it simple. I don't want to set myself up to fail this early in and be disappointed, right? So here are the resolutions in writing and forever on the web.

1. To grow in my spiritual life.
2. To get fit-not to lose weight.
3. To create and keep a better schedule for my family and to make lasting memories for my children.

I am happy to report that I haven't broken one of them yet! I have already made steady gains in my spiritual life by signing up to volunteer with Heartbeats, which is a faith based organization that aids young mothers. I joined a women's' group at my church and I just received an offer to join a bible study group. It is funny how the Lord works to help you succeed!



As far as getting fit goes I have been exercising daily, well almost daily :) I walk my dog for about half an hour and try to do 100 crunches, 100 jumping jacks and a few push-ups and squats. For all the excuses I have made in the past to not do these things it is amusing that I am actually enjoying myself.



I am mortified to admit to you that I need a family schedule because my three year old, Emi, rules the roost around here. She is a night owl and always has been. This means that my husband and I are always exhausted and never have any alone time. I was nervous to start her 9pm bedtime on Sunday but it went surprisingly well! Yeah!!!!!!! We even had time to start the new family memory part of my third resolution by reading a bedtime story for each of my three children instead of the usual one.



So far so good but I will keep you posted. How about all of you, any resolutions?

Grand Reopening

Just kidding! I worked out my issues with Etsy and I am back up and running again!! What a relief, I sure missed my Etsy community. If you have a moment take a look at my store, Sunset & Vine Jewelry.

Business Update

Citrine glass briolettes wrapped with copper wire that I antiqued and artisan ear wires that I handmade.

Hopefully you all had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! As long as you were surrounded by family and had a meal to eat together you had much to be thankful for. We often get so caught up in what is complicated and missing in our lives that we forget to just thank God for all the simple blessings in our lives that so many others are going without in these uncertain times. I am guilty of this not just daily but from minute to minute. I have to remind myself not to think about the bill that is due at the end of the month, Christmas presents and preparations that need planned for and stresses that inevitably occur in everyday life. But when I focus on being grateful the problems seem so trivial. My family is healthy and generally happy, we have a nice home, my husband has been employed by the same company for over 10 years and has a company vehicle, and I am thankful for the Lord's presence in our lives. When you focus on the good in your life it makes it hard to remember what all the bad things were about.

Czech glass leaves and fire-polished rounds wrapped in copper wire that I antiqued and artisan ear wires are handmade.

Next week I am having my first Christmas Open House for Sunset & Vine Jewelry. I hope to make it an annual tradition. There will be food, music, home decor for the holiday season along with prizes. I am constantly stressing over decorations for the party, the food, the jewelry layout and packaging and gift wrapping. Basically there isn't a thing I am not worried about and I am trying to remind myself that it will all work out and I shouldn't let this consume me. Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for me and I will let everyone know how it goes. Hopefully I will have some good tips to share after it is all said and done.

Freshwater rice pearls and enamel tipped head pins are dangled from antiqued copper links and I made artisan ear wires.

I have a bit of bad news concerning my Etsy shop. I am sharing this with anyone who runs an Etsy shop so they don't fall into the same mistake of renewing without restraint. For the present moment my shop has been shut down because of past due fees. I was trying to be as successful as I could be and keep my items current by renewing them often especially if I hadn't listed a new item for the day which I read on the seller handbook. So for two months I re-listed every item in my shop every day! Apparently this is why some people need business managers and accountants,etc, etc., because in my head I thought "oh it is just twenty cents to renew and that isn't very much". Well after looking at my bill at the end of October I found out just how much it came to be! I had roughly 80+ items that I was renewing at the twenty cents and it turned out to be sixteen dollars a day or more!! Of course I was getting sales but not nearly enough to cover the costs that it took to draw them in. So if you are like me and budgeting and finance aren't your strong suits just remember what I learned about business...if your costs outweigh your sales then it isn't a great business model. All kidding aside I am working out the enormous billing issue...I was shocked when I saw it...and should be back up and running very soon. In the meantime I may be offering some items for sale here on my blog.

Sterling silver wire wrapped into a size 7 ring that is adjustable. Ring is hammered and polished and wrapped with sterling silver wire and faceted garnet stones.

Just a reminder, on Wednesdays I write a tutorial/review post for Tools Are For Women Too! so stop by and check it out! We always have a great time on TAFWT! There are contributing writers on various crafting topics and link parties on Mondays and Thursdays.

Past Present and Future circle links in sterling silver are draped from double strands of sterling silver delicate cable chain. Necklace is completed with a sterling silver spring ring clasp and total length is 18". Necklace can come as a set with matching earrings or bracelet.

Gift Certificate Winner

I am happy to announce that the winner of the October giveaway is Fiona from Fiona Designs. Fiona has an amazing shop on Etsy, I have actually done a feature on her and her store here on this blog and she has some really great Holiday cards and stationary available in her store so take a look if you get a chance!

October Giveaway-Enter Here

This is the last giveaway that I will be doing until Christmas so I decided to make it a good one. October's giveaway is for a $25.00 gift certificate for Sunset & Vine to be used on any item your heart desires!

Follow these 2 easy steps to enter:

• You have to be a follower of Tidbits & Glitz, this blog. If you aren't a follower become one:)
  
• Leave a comment saying you want to enter!!!
  

For Additional Bonus Entries:

• Refer a friend to follow said blog (I will trust you on this).
  
• Pick your favorite piece of jewelry from my store, Sunset & Vine, and copy the link in your comment, telling me you are entering the giveaway and this is your favorite piece of jewelry(if you win you are not required to buy the pick with gift card).
• Also in your comment if you were referred please drop a note so your friend gets credit.

**The more friends you refer to the contest the higher your chances are of winning, because your name will be re-entered for each referral you have!**

Best of luck to everyone!

What Inspires You?

Yesterday I finally got a chance to take the camera outside to take some pics of the leaves. Autumn is my very favorite season in Ohio. In a state where winters are too frigid and visually unappealing and summers are too hot and humid, fall is a welcome occasion. The crisp cool air is just perfect for your favorite sweater and jeans. Pumpkins, gourds and mums adorn front stoops up and down the street and children pick out ghoulish costumes hoping to bag a pillowcase full of candy.





The best part for me though is the leaves. Walking my little Lillian to the bus stop the other morning, the leaves crunching under our feet, I said to her "it sounds like fall, it smells like fall, it looks like fall....it must be fall" to which she promptly rolled her eyes! Every day when we walk home from the bus stop I encourage her to make as much noise as she can crunching through the leaves on our rainbow colored sidewalk. My three-year-old Emi, loves to make me proud by pointing out her colors showing me that the neighbors tree is red while the house across the street has a yellow tree and our tree is now a brilliant orange. She collects leaves everyday on our walks and compares them. Over the weekend they helped my husband rake the yard and jumped in the leaf piles, something that children have enjoyed for many generations.I captured some really great images of the trees and their changing leaves and hopefully you enjoy them too!




The leaves inspired my Circle of Life pendant and I want to know what is inspiring you right now?

Sunset & Vine Featured

Sunset & Vine has been featured by the lovely Fiona, creator of Fiona Designs on Etsy and blog Fiona Designs. The feature is wonderful and left me speechless which is quite hard to do...lol! Please take a minute to hop on over and visit Fiona's blog and my feature:)

Thank you Fiona!!

XOXO-Brooke

Fiona Designs- Featured Etsy Store of the Week

Thank you to Fiona Rohdes, of Fiona Designs for being this weeks featured Etsian! Fiona Designs(FD) offers stationary and greeting cards for every occasion. You have heard the saying "letter writing is a dying art", well I dare anyone to utter those words after viewing Fiona's creative line! She literally has stationary and greeting cards for every happening in your life. I find myself wanting to concoct reasons to send one! The stationary is refreshingly simple just like the shop's announcement page says which is perfect because you wouldn't want anything to detract from the effective delivery of the text.



Fiona is a graphic designer and artist graduating from the Parsons School of Design in 2000 with a passion for stationary, but technically it was a MFA(Masters in Fine Arts). Her designs are inspired by her love of nature, flowers, birds and landscapes. Other ways she gets her creativity flowing is by knitting, painting pet portraits, and photography that is posted on her blog.
Chances are you may have already seen one of FD's lovely items on Etsy. Her designs are favorites of treasury creators which is also another of Fiona's favorite pastimes. Professional accolades are definitely attaching themselves to this darling little shop and it's talented creator. Fiona Designs have been featured in Real Simple, Celebrity Living, People, GD 2006 Design Annual, and Redbook Magazine Online. FD has also recently been selected by the Etsy Marketing Team to include her Halloween cards in an ivillage.com feature.
You can find more information about Fiona on her website or her facebook page.

Santa's Coming!

Thank You Card Set

For your sweetie

Boots, Boots, Boots...Please!

My Dream Boots

If there is one thing on my wish list this season it has got to be boots! Let them be riding, cowboy, motorcycle, or wedge. They can be ankle boots, calf-high, knee-high, or over the knee but let them be many. Color...I don't discriminate, I like them all even the blue leather cowboy boot. Just like a kid on Christmas morn all that matters is that I can have my pick!
The great thing about this seasons accessory staple is that there is a style to fit every buyer. Fashion Icon and designer, Michael Kors, advises women to embrace the great variety and invest in a couple pairs. He says "Ideally, you'll want a few pairs to wear with different-length skirts and dresses". Kors also points out the importance of matching your boots to your lifestyle. Kors says, "Stay true to your personal style". With the amazing options this season finding something to fit your style should be a pleasurable goal.
One other thing to point out is price. Everyone has a budget and just like the array in style there is an extensive range of prices to fit your budget. That is great news for some of us who unfortunately can't afford $290 and up Frye's. Two year's ago I bought a pair of stupendous gray, suede, over the knee boots with awesome buckle detailing. People compliment them all the time and they are $50 boots from Alloy.
All of the boots featured here are from Nordstrom and range in price from under $50 to over $300.


Just Dreaming....$1050.00 Manolo Blahnik's



Frye Styles




Under $100 Styles



Great Shapes



Stay Warm....Have Fun!

Humble Housekeeping-Featured Blog of the Week

My feature blog of the week is Humble Housekeeping! Everyone loves a humble gal, but Carly the creator of Housekeeping has nothing to be humble about. I agree with Carly when she says everyone and their mother is starting their own blog these days... it is a time where finding SAHM's with blogs is comparable to counting the stars in the night's sky. The good thing for Humble Housekeeping is that it truly stands out!



Carly is very easy to relate to in her new role as SAHM and she breathes new life and inspiration into this for some of us who have been in the game a little longer and are needing a bit of a fresh take. Most of us stay-at-home-mothers take on multiple roles and I really appreciate that this blog takes that into account. Her faith based perspective is something many can respect and I really love the call out to Dave Ramsey...a real fave of mine too!


Humble Housekeeping has some awesomely creative tips on redesigning your living space and everything is done on a budget(every project has a cost breakdown) which is a wonderful benefit in light of the economy. I had a hard time picking one project to call my favorite because I want to try them all but The New Touches of Blue Living Room Remodel is fabulous!




Carly has a rockin, comfy, chic, style. If you like Pottery Barn you will love, love,love this blog! You also won't have to break out a table saw to complete any of her projects...that is a good thing for me! Most importantly you will enjoy reading her blog, and she has much to write about in the future. Carly is expecting her second child in May, Congratulations!! Thank you very much to Humble Housekeeping for agreeing to be featured!



Take a quick look at Humble Housekeeping's take on outdoor relaxation!

October Giveaway

This is the last giveaway that I will be doing until Christmas so I decided to make it a good one. October's giveaway is for a $25.00 gift certificate for Sunset & Vine to be used on any item your heart desires!

Follow these easy steps to enter:

• You have to be a follower of Tidbits & Glitz, this blog.
• Leave a comment saying you want to enter.
  

For Additional Bonus Entries:

• Refer a friend to follow said blog (I will trust you on this).
  
• Pick your favorite piece of jewelry from my store, Sunset & Vine, and copy the link in your comment, telling me you are entering the giveaway and this is your favorite piece of jewelry(if you win you are not required to buy the pick with gift card).
• Also in your comment if you were referred please drop a note so your friend gets credit.

**The more friends you refer to the contest the higher your chances are of winning, because your name will be re-entered for each referral you have!**

Best of luck to everyone!

Itz Fitz-Etsy Store Feature of the Week

Occasionally you have the pleasure as a shopper of stumbling upon something truly unique and stunning. That happened for me when I saw the wonderment that is Itz Fitz on the Etsy Harvest Showcase a couple of weeks ago. After popping into the shop to view more, the more I wanted and I was drooling like one of Pavlov's dogs.


Jen, the designer and mastermind behind Itz Fitz, graciously agreed to be featured on my little blog and I am so pumped because you have to check out all her goodies! The line after Itz Fitz in the store's banner simply says "handmade goodness" and if you read further you find that the handmade goodness is spun from "felt, yarn and happiness for you to enjoy"! An apt description because you can't help but feel content and happy when you view the stores line of wreaths, hair accessories, napkin rings, brooches, holiday decor, and other goodies.



Jen welcomes custom orders and also takes wholesale and bulk orders. Recently the store's designs where featured in Southern Flourish Fall 2010 Issue and were also selected for publication in a crafting book! You can follow Itz Fitz on Facebook for all the latest news, and even the occasional giveaway!


Here are a sampling of some more of the wreaths at Itz Fitz.



Here is a sampling of some of the other goodies offered at Itz Fitz.

Emi Turns Three

This week has been a whirlwind of birthday celebrations for my youngest daughter that will end this evening with her third and final party! Three parties to mark turning three years old, a little excessive maybe? Bless her little heart, she keeps telling me that this is her best week ever! She received a birthday card the other day from her great grandma with $10 and she was so excited I thought she would burst. "Mommy, this is my best day ever, I got monies"!
This week is a little bittersweet for mommy. Of course I am thankful that she is growing up happy, healthy and strong but she is my baby and each year that passes is a little sadder. They are growing up so fast. My 5 year old started kindergarten in August and my 12 year old hasn't been my a "baby" for a long time...now I just have my little Emersen and she is not a baby anymore as much as I hate to admit. I know that they will always be my babies to "me" but don't tell them that...they are "big girls" now even Emi!
So tonight we will end our week long streak of birthday parties and cakes(because apparently everyone in the two families can't come together for one party like I wanted....just venting) with my parents coming over to enjoy my hubby's super chili and hot dogs, and this time it will be Dairy Queen Cake number 2 with a Scooby Doo theme. There is an upside to all of this growing up, besides being potty trained and it is definitely the Dairy Queen cake...lol! The Dora one didn't make longer then a day!