Black Friday Through Cyber Monday Sale & Thanksgiving Potatoes...

Want 20% off items from my MarshaNealStudio Etsy shop?

Wavy Grid Diamond Shaped Pendant

Use coupon code BOCCYBER from Friday 11/25/11 through Monday 11/28/11.

You can even get the above pendant set in any of these colors:

Not into such an angular piece? 

How about this one in any of the above colors?

Gnarly Spiral Porcelain Pendant

It's easy to do…

Jump over to my Etsy shop, pick your piece, use BOCCYBER in your shopping cart when checking out for the 20% off, then leave me a message in the message to seller for what color you would like this in…

And now for a little about my Thanksgiving potatoes:

60lbs of potatoes…

I bought 6 bags on sale one day and didn't realize that my Mother-In-Law had picked up just as many for me to use to make the family's portion for Thanksgiving dinner.

My food contribution to Thanksgiving dinner is mashed potatoes (I LOVE making them)...

I always used to love to peel the potatoes for my mom on Thanksgiving.

It was one of the little jobs she gave me to do.

I loved hanging out in the kitchen with her watching the Macy's parade...

After my mom passed, my sister and I started to make the mashed potatoes.

My sister suggested that I add salt, minced garlic, minced onion and chives to the water during boiling for added flavor - YUM!

My step-mom always made the most tasty mashed potatoes.

For a 5 lb bag, she uses a stick of butter, cream cheese with chives & evaporated milk - salt to taste.

Talk about light and whipped creamy mashed potatoes!

So with those 60lbs of potatoes I was happy to peel and cook three in three different batches so I could make mashed potatoes for my kids school's Thanksgiving lunch. 

Make enough for three dinners with lots of family (we only went to one dinner thank goodness), extras for my siblings so they could have some with their leftover turkey…

And I've got a few potatoes left in the bag that I'm going to cook up in a veggie soup.

Then there is the pumpkin pie (I doubled this recipe and added 1/2 tsp of nutmeg to the doubled batch).

My mom always made the best pumpkin muffins with cream cheese icing.

I'm not quite there yet, but soon I'm sure.

So for now - 6 pumpkin pies in the last couple of days...

I decided that since I had some left over pumpkin puree, that I would check out the website on the Libby's Can for some recipes, and came across this: Pumpkin pie covered with Yellow cake mix & pecans (aka: Libby's Easy Pumpkin Crumb Cake).

The recipe called for 1/2 c. pecans - but I went a bit overboard.

In my world - when there are pecans on a dessert - there are never really enough pecans…

I've got to admit that with all the stuff going on within my family and "health" issues and deaths (3 since August) cooking like this has become a bit of an escape for me.

I really think I need to get out of the kitchen and back into the studio for a bit.

It will help me not get back up that extra size I went down last year…

Which is scarily getting close. Ugh!

I enjoyed every bite as it went in though…

Thank you all so very much for all your continued support!

Hope you have time to spend with family and friends and realize what you are Thankful for in life.

Black Friday Through Cyber Monday Sale & Thanksgiving Potatoes...

Want 20% off items from my MarshaNealStudio Etsy shop?

Wavy Grid Diamond Shaped Pendant

Use coupon code BOCCYBER from Friday 11/25/11 through Monday 11/28/11.

You can even get the above pendant set in any of these colors:

Not into such an angular piece? 

How about this one in any of the above colors?

Gnarly Spiral Porcelain Pendant

It's easy to do…

Jump over to my Etsy shop, pick your piece, use BOCCYBER in your shopping cart when checking out for the 20% off, then leave me a message in the message to seller for what color you would like this in…

And now for a little about my Thanksgiving potatoes:

60lbs of potatoes…

I bought 6 bags on sale one day and didn't realize that my Mother-In-Law had picked up just as many for me to use to make the family's portion for Thanksgiving dinner.

My food contribution to Thanksgiving dinner is mashed potatoes (I LOVE making them)...

I always used to love to peel the potatoes for my mom on Thanksgiving.

It was one of the little jobs she gave me to do.

I loved hanging out in the kitchen with her watching the Macy's parade...

After my mom passed, my sister and I started to make the mashed potatoes.

My sister suggested that I add salt, minced garlic, minced onion and chives to the water during boiling for added flavor - YUM!

My step-mom always made the most tasty mashed potatoes.

For a 5 lb bag, she uses a stick of butter, cream cheese with chives & evaporated milk - salt to taste.

Talk about light and whipped creamy mashed potatoes!

So with those 60lbs of potatoes I was happy to peel and cook three in three different batches so I could make mashed potatoes for my kids school's Thanksgiving lunch. 

Make enough for three dinners with lots of family (we only went to one dinner thank goodness), extras for my siblings so they could have some with their leftover turkey…

And I've got a few potatoes left in the bag that I'm going to cook up in a veggie soup.

Then there is the pumpkin pie (I doubled this recipe and added 1/2 tsp of nutmeg to the doubled batch).

My mom always made the best pumpkin muffins with cream cheese icing.

I'm not quite there yet, but soon I'm sure.

So for now - 6 pumpkin pies in the last couple of days...

I decided that since I had some left over pumpkin puree, that I would check out the website on the Libby's Can for some recipes, and came across this: Pumpkin pie covered with Yellow cake mix & pecans (aka: Libby's Easy Pumpkin Crumb Cake).

The recipe called for 1/2 c. pecans - but I went a bit overboard.

In my world - when there are pecans on a dessert - there are never really enough pecans…

I've got to admit that with all the stuff going on within my family and "health" issues and deaths (3 since August) cooking like this has become a bit of an escape for me.

I really think I need to get out of the kitchen and back into the studio for a bit.

It will help me not get back up that extra size I went down last year…

Which is scarily getting close. Ugh!

I enjoyed every bite as it went in though…

Thank you all so very much for all your continued support!

Hope you have time to spend with family and friends and realize what you are Thankful for in life.

Craziness All Around...

I think I am amidst a whirl-wind…

And there is no end in sight…

At least it feels that way...

It has been a summer of tests.

Physiological tests...

There was the spleen and low platelet scare with my husband (he is ok…)

My cousin lost her dear, young son in August.

My dad just found out he has cancer and is traveling up here for surgery & treatment starting this week…

Please pray for a safe surgery, fast recovery, and positive results…

Three grandmothers are under extended care of nurses and close family members.

And Saturday was the funeral for my step-brother Toby.

His death was sudden, so unexpected - and it is so sad for everyone that ever met him.

And especially so for everyone close to him.

I still can't believe he is gone...

I kept expecting to hear his loud voice and bigger presence enter the room where we all gathered for a family lunch after his funeral. 

In a room full of very loud, emotional Italian family members - it was still a bit too quiet.

It just didn't seem right to not have his voice bellowing comments over everyone else...

It shook me to the core - sitting in that loud silence.

But then my heart and mind search to find peace. 

To find comfort. 

And the one really big thing that keeps coming back to me is that in his death, he was able to give himself to help others.

He was an organ donor.

And because he passed from a brain aneurysm, parts of him still live on.

People were called that day with the news that they or their loved one was to receive a transplant that could save their lives…

Oh - and did I mention he was a US Marine?

He was always brave & strong to me.

I always looked up to him - being 8 years older than me & me being maybe 4 or 5 when I met him...

But knowing that he helped others even after he was no longer here -

that just takes him to a whole other level of hero to me.

What an amazing person...

Simply amazing!

Such a goof ball of an older brother.

So beloved by all of his family & friends.

His is missed so much already.

I pray for peace especially for his wife & children. 

And for his parents & my siblings…

May everyone stay together and be strong during such a difficult time.

Craziness All Around...

I think I am amidst a whirl-wind…

And there is no end in sight…

At least it feels that way...

It has been a summer of tests.

Physiological tests...

There was the spleen and low platelet scare with my husband (he is ok…)

My cousin lost her dear, young son in August.

My dad just found out he has cancer and is traveling up here for surgery & treatment starting this week…

Please pray for a safe surgery, fast recovery, and positive results…

Three grandmothers are under extended care of nurses and close family members.

And Saturday was the funeral for my step-brother Toby.

His death was sudden, so unexpected - and it is so sad for everyone that ever met him.

And especially so for everyone close to him.

I still can't believe he is gone...

I kept expecting to hear his loud voice and bigger presence enter the room where we all gathered for a family lunch after his funeral. 

In a room full of very loud, emotional Italian family members - it was still a bit too quiet.

It just didn't seem right to not have his voice bellowing comments over everyone else...

It shook me to the core - sitting in that loud silence.

But then my heart and mind search to find peace. 

To find comfort. 

And the one really big thing that keeps coming back to me is that in his death, he was able to give himself to help others.

He was an organ donor.

And because he passed from a brain aneurysm, parts of him still live on.

People were called that day with the news that they or their loved one was to receive a transplant that could save their lives…

Oh - and did I mention he was a US Marine?

He was always brave & strong to me.

I always looked up to him - being 8 years older than me & me being maybe 4 or 5 when I met him...

But knowing that he helped others even after he was no longer here -

that just takes him to a whole other level of hero to me.

What an amazing person...

Simply amazing!

Such a goof ball of an older brother.

So beloved by all of his family & friends.

His is missed so much already.

I pray for peace especially for his wife & children. 

And for his parents & my siblings…

May everyone stay together and be strong during such a difficult time.

Early Bird Winners...

Did you comment on blogs for the Early Bird Sale hosted by Melinda Orr?

Did you stop back to see if you are a winner on any of the blogs?

See Melinda's blog HERE to see who won the big old giveaway…

Here are my winners:

For the blog commenters $50 gift certificate giveaway:

Out of the 77 comments: #39 Shaiha

 For the listings purchased during the sale $50 gift certificate giveaway:

The winner (Lena) purchased a silk custom listing:

(I just used this generic updated photo for the listing…)

And I've contacted people through Etsy that qualified for the additional $15 gift certificates for their purchases over $100…

This was such a great event!

I hope to participate in the next one…

Thank you everyone!!!

Early Bird Winners...

Did you comment on blogs for the Early Bird Sale hosted by Melinda Orr?

Did you stop back to see if you are a winner on any of the blogs?

See Melinda's blog HERE to see who won the big old giveaway…

Here are my winners:

For the blog commenters $50 gift certificate giveaway:

Out of the 77 comments: #39 Shaiha

 For the listings purchased during the sale $50 gift certificate giveaway:

The winner (Lena) purchased a silk custom listing:

(I just used this generic updated photo for the listing…)

And I've contacted people through Etsy that qualified for the additional $15 gift certificates for their purchases over $100…

This was such a great event!

I hope to participate in the next one…

Thank you everyone!!!

Makes More Sense - Hopefully...

Are you a visual person?

I am...

Do you get overwhelmed when looking at something and move onto the next thing fast?

I do…

Do you really enjoy making handmade jewelry as gifts or giving handmade as gifts?

I really do…

And what about getting things on sale and getting chances to win more just for buying things on sale?

Oh yeah! Sign me up!!!

Ok - today is the last day to go to my Etsy shop and use coupon code EARLYBIRD20 to get 20% off items in my shop - until midnight EST tonight (9 hours and counting down). 

For every listing you purchase in my Etsy shop (as of right now as I write this post only 11 listings are qualifying), you get a chance to win a $50 gift certificate.

I've got more giveaways listed HERE on my other blog post. 

Melinda Orr has a HUGE giveaway on her blog & links to other artists participating in sales & giveaways.

All ends Midnight tonight!

So what have I done to make things more simple for shoppers?

I've organized my Etsy shop and grouped the items in "temporary order".

Page 1 Beads & Butterflies

Page 2 Hearts & Shards

Page 3 More Shards - Yay!!!

Page 4 Twirl Shards 

(I can make any of these shards into earrings btw)…

Page 5 Toggle Shards - Rustic glazes!

Page 6 & 7 Pendants…

Page 8 - Pendants & Cutout Flower Pieces

(I am making more cutout flower pieces - order one today with the sale & get it in 1-2 weeks)

Page 9 & 10 - Donut pieces & misc pendants

Pages 11 & 12 - Silk Knot Bundles - OOAK palettes

Page 13 - Custom "you pick the color" silk listings for easier shopping to get what you want without having to convo back and forth. Although I'm happy to create any custom listing for you…

I always try to keep these listings to the back of my shop so it is easiest to find them all together.

And with that - this girl is off to get an Elephant and Rapunzel to a costume parade…

Have fun shopping - and as always - THANK YOU!!!

~Marsha

Makes More Sense - Hopefully...

Are you a visual person?

I am...

Do you get overwhelmed when looking at something and move onto the next thing fast?

I do…

Do you really enjoy making handmade jewelry as gifts or giving handmade as gifts?

I really do…

And what about getting things on sale and getting chances to win more just for buying things on sale?

Oh yeah! Sign me up!!!

Ok - today is the last day to go to my Etsy shop and use coupon code EARLYBIRD20 to get 20% off items in my shop - until midnight EST tonight (9 hours and counting down). 

For every listing you purchase in my Etsy shop (as of right now as I write this post only 11 listings are qualifying), you get a chance to win a $50 gift certificate.

I've got more giveaways listed HERE on my other blog post. 

Melinda Orr has a HUGE giveaway on her blog & links to other artists participating in sales & giveaways.

All ends Midnight tonight!

So what have I done to make things more simple for shoppers?

I've organized my Etsy shop and grouped the items in "temporary order".

Page 1 Beads & Butterflies

Page 2 Hearts & Shards

Page 3 More Shards - Yay!!!

Page 4 Twirl Shards 

(I can make any of these shards into earrings btw)…

Page 5 Toggle Shards - Rustic glazes!

Page 6 & 7 Pendants…

Page 8 - Pendants & Cutout Flower Pieces

(I am making more cutout flower pieces - order one today with the sale & get it in 1-2 weeks)

Page 9 & 10 - Donut pieces & misc pendants

Pages 11 & 12 - Silk Knot Bundles - OOAK palettes

Page 13 - Custom "you pick the color" silk listings for easier shopping to get what you want without having to convo back and forth. Although I'm happy to create any custom listing for you…

I always try to keep these listings to the back of my shop so it is easiest to find them all together.

And with that - this girl is off to get an Elephant and Rapunzel to a costume parade…

Have fun shopping - and as always - THANK YOU!!!

~Marsha