Volcom Pipeline Pro 2010

Here are some pictures I took at the Volcom Pipeline Pro yesterday.  There will be more to come, I just thought the one with the two guys taking off was super cool!  They both ended up riding the tube and coming out.  Pretty awesome.

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

Do you want to make a difference in someone's life?  Do you want to help make someone's quality of life better?  Keep reading, Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects around 1,000 more people each year. 

Do you know what cystic fibrosis is?  "Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that causes mucus to build up and clog some of the organs in the body, particularly the lungs and pancreas. When mucus clogs the lungs, it can make breathing very difficult.  Mucus also can block the digestive tract and pancreas. The mucus stops digestive enzymes from getting to the intestines.

People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:

very salty-tasting skin; persistent coughing, at times with phlegm; frequent lung infections; wheezing or shortness of breath; poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite; and frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.

Statistics about cystic fibrosis:
About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.
More than 45% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.
The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is more than 37 years.

How can people help to advance science/research/support?

Cystic fibrosis research is a team effort. Scientists across the world are working to understand and beat this complex disease, with the hope that one or more of the many approaches to therapies will lead to a cure.

You can help advance CF research in several ways:
Make a Donation – Money buys science and science buys life.
Join a CF clinical trial.
Contact your local CF Foundation chapter and volunteer. Learn about the many special events that raise the money to keep the science moving ahead!
Become an Advocate and raise awareness – help educate your elected officials about CF"

All of this information was taken from the Cystic Fibration Foundation website at http://www.cff.org/. 

To make a donation go to http://www.cff.org/GetInvolved/ManyWaysToGive/MakeADonation/

Did you know that this disease affects the entire body?  The lungs are the most noticeably affected, but look at this chart to see all the other areas that are affected::

Farmers' Market on Oahu

Shop L O C A L, Shop at the Farmers Market!  Some people say they never know when they are, or where they are.  Well here is a complete list with contact information, hours, dates, and places!  http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/add/farmers-market-in-hawaii  Some of my favorites are: Wednesday night Blaisdell Market, KCC Saturday morning market, Thursday in Kailua town in the Long's parking lot, and many more...   This list is up to date and lists contact information so you can call and make sure nothing has changed with the schedule.  How great is that??  This list shows that there are markets all OVER the island, so it doesn't matter where you live, you can shop local - no problem.

Why shop local?  Why shop at Farmers' Markets?
-you are supporting local farmers and Hawaii's sustainability
-the products are fresh from the farm's nearby
-wide variety of products
-great networking
-talk with your neighbors
-taste local products
-reduce your carbon footprint by buying local and shopping close to home
-get a great selection at a great price, normally your local market will be much less expensive than typical supermakets
-meet the people that grow your food
-hand pick what you eat
-have lunch! usually there are local food vendors at the market as well
-buy fresh flowers at bargain prices
-learn about local produce in your area

Click this link to find a market in your neighborhood.
http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/add/farmers-market-in-hawaii - listings for all the islands

http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/add/farmers-market-in-hawaii/Oahu.pdf - a pdf of all the markets on Oahu

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Hawaii.htm - another resource for market listings

My Mom's Creations

First off, I have to say my mom has some serious talent.  She can sew pretty much anything, very nicely, from a pattern.  She does loads of other crafts too, but sewing is by far her strong point.  She has made amazing quilts and loads of other fabulous sewn items. This Christmas, she started making bags.  They turned out amazingly well, and I even got one!  Mine is by far the best (I know I am a little biased...), it is all retro and moped.  :)  Look out etsy and blogger, I think a new shop is on the way.

my retro bag, very well done...

her first bag this year, a gift for a friend

What do you think?  I think she needs an etsy store and a blog to share her fabulous work!

Support Handmade Hawaii!

Shop local, shop Hawaii.  I love to look at all the local shops on etsy, there is so much talent on these tiny islands!  Pottery, handmade clothing, baby onesies, jewelry galore, art, and even knits. 

This is a direct link to the 100 most recently updated shops on etsy in Honolulu/Hawaii.  Check out some of the local talent, you may be surprised at how much you recognize from local boutiques and art shows.  If you aren't from Hawaii, but want to support the islands, we love that too.  :)  http://www.etsy.com/shop_local.php?place=Honolulu

Here are some of my favorites::

http://www.berrysprite.etsy.com/

http://www.sunloveshirts.etsy.com/

http://www.peppermintcloud.etsy.com/

http://www.ccdoodle.etsy.com/

http://www.foryoo.etsy.com/

http://www.hollyvisionart.etsy.com/

http://www.lisabongzee.etsy.com/

I started an Amazon astore

I started an amazon astore yesterday.  It is basically a list of products that you like/have the you think others may like.  I then added a link to my site and if someone purchases the items from my site/store, I get referral points/earnings.  :)  I am just having fun adding all the fun items!  I put some of my favorite books on baking, knitting, and softies as well as girly kitchen items! 

My store link is http://astore.amazon.com/barefootbeads-20

If you click it you can see my products and inspiration!

So check it out...

Here is a preview::

Softies, again!

Meet Hazel.  She is a little crazy, I keep catching her singing at the top of her lungs while chowing down on chocolate truffles... Oh Hazel! What a trouble maker.  She likes long walks, any kind of chocolate, and loves watching romantic comedies. 

Handmade with upcycled fabrics, eco-felt, and vintage buttons.  She is truly one of a kind.

Softies

Softies are my new favorite pet.  I can't wait to start making these!  Here are some of my favorite and most inspirational.  You can find all of these on etsy by clicking on the link to the shop below the photo. 

http://www.ultrapunchtoyco.etsy.com/

http://www.pinkperch.etsy.com/

http://www.olivesandoats.etsy.com/

http://www.chunkychooky.etsy.com/

http://www.flufftail.etsy.com/

http://www.magicaldreams67124.etsy.com/

http://www.mookah.etsy.com/

RESOURCES FOR MAKING SOFTIES:

http://www.softiemaking.com/

(tutorials, photos, inspiration, books, etc.)

http://www.softiescentral.typepad.com/

(gallery, inspiration)

Portlock ... Spitting Caves

A day at Spitting Caves taking pictures with our new camera

B E A U T I F U L

Kill Taupe

One of my favorite etsy shops/designers is http://www.killtaupe.etsy.com/.  You can also check out his original blog at http://www.killtaupe.blogspot.com/.  I went to his blog today and read that he will be doing a daily drawing this year!  What a treat.  I am so excited to see all the amazing and funny critters that he creates.  I also checked his etsy site and found some stellar new magnets!  I am trying to decide which one to get...  I like them all!  I really do... 
He also has a really great gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/killtaupe/sets/%20Here  If you like these, go check it out and find some of your own images to giggle at.  Here are some of my favorites from his shop right now.

http://www.killtaupe.etsy.com/

You can purchase all of these items right now at his etsy shop.  What are you waiting for??

Fabric Coasters

I am really loving these fabric coasters that I just started making...  Be sure to check out my etsy shop for more to come soon! I will be posting some sets throughout the week.  Any ideas on cool fabric, prints, or shapes to try??  Let me know!

I will be selling these as a set of 4 on my etsy shop soon!

http://www.barefootbeadshawaii.etsy.com/

Caramels for Everyone!

I made caramels for Christmas and they were such a hit!  This recipe is simple, fast, and delicious.  My only gripe about caramels is that it takes so long to cut and wrap each little piece.  So give yourself a night of wrapping, and you won't be disappointed.  I got this reciple from a cookbook on chocolate and confections, although I can't remember the name...  Enjoy!

Yield: Makes about 100 caramels

Ingredients:

1/3 cup water

4 cups sugar

2 cups light corn syrup

4 ounces unsalted butter-room temp.

4 cups heavy whipping cream, scalded

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

You will need a sheet pan or baking dish to pour the hot caramel into while it sets. 
The recipe calls for a pan that measures: (9x13x2 inch, buttered and lined with buttered foil)

1. Combine water, sugar, corn syrup in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Wash down sides to prevent crystals from forming (with water.)  Stir often.  Cook to 305 F. 

2. Remove pan from heat.  Carefully swirl in butter, then add hot cream slowly.  It may bubble up in the pan, so be careful.  Add salt and vanilla and return pan to heat. 

3.  Cook until 248 F and remove from heat, allow to stop bubbling.

4. Pour caramel into prepared pan and allow to cool to room temperature.  Wrap in plastic and cool overnight. 

5. Cut caramel into desired size and wrap in parchment paper, wax paper, or cellophane.

Keeps for up to a week.  (May last long depending on humidity and temperature.)  Keep in an airtight container at room temperature.

Have fun making and eating these caramels and ENJOY!

Sew Crazy

I had the day off yesterday and after I unjammed my machine (TWICE!) I sewed the day away.  The only reason I stopped was because it jammed AGAIN and it pretty much just started eating my beautiful thread.  I had enough, so this is what I ended up with.  :)

Quilted Potholder (posted for sale on my etsy site)

http://www.barefootbeadshawaii.etsy.com/

Quilted Coasters (I am making them as a set of 4)

A lavender sachet for the yarn drawer!

The first quilted potholder, not as thick, but equally fabulous

A matching lavender sachet, these smell so good!

I got the lavender in California last summer and never did anything with it.  I wondered if it would still smell as strong... WOW!  If they smelled any stronger, you could stink up the whole apartment!  I tucked this one into my yarn drawer and it is just perfect.  I am going to get started making these for my etsy shop because they smell just fantastic.  If you like lavender that is...

Etsy Tools for Sellers

While I am still fairly new to etsy, as I have only really been selling for the past year or so, I have been learning some tips and tricks.  I want to share some of my tips with all the other newbies/seasoned sellers.  

In my opinion, these are the best sites/programs for etsy stats and page views:

http://www.craftcult.com/

At craftcult.com you can view how many times each item has been viewed and "hearted."  You can also view your overall page views, your shop hearts (all on one page), if you have been featured on the front page-storque-and gift guides.  These stats can be very useful to have all on one site and easy to access.  You can track when you get the most views, and which items get the most views in one click.

www.google.com/analytics

At google analytics, you can view your traffic sources, referral sites/pages, keywords that led to your site, traffic results for the month, where your visitors are coming from, etc.  I think this site is extrememly helpful to see all of your traffic results on one site.

Other tools:

http://www.downdoggy.com/articles/3-etsy/22-etsy-banner-tool.html

Need a banner?  This site will make one for you for free.  Choose from about 15 templates, and lots of holiday ones too!  They also allow you to customize your fonts and placement/color.  Totally useful for temporary holiday banners if nothing else. 

http://www.rolbe.com/etsy.htm

This site allows you to enter your price information and calculate your selling price after etsy fees, shipping, supplies, etc.

http://statsy.org/locator.php

Gives you search information about your items.  You enter the information and it will tell you what page it is on in search results on etsy, and on google.

Photo editor:

http://www.picasa.google.com/

If you don't already have a photo editor, check out picasa by google.  It is FREE, easy to use, and makes your snapshots into professional images for your etsy site. I use this for all my photo editing, you can post pictures directly to the web, make posters, collages, and picture grids.  It is a great tool for creating ads and banners.

A Day In Manoa Valley

We started hiking Manoa Falls and just ... kept going!  This was the end result.  A stunning view of the Pali Highway, Town, and Diamond Head.  What a fabulous day for a hike.

Youth In Revolt

I saw Youth In Revolt tonight with Michael Cera and Portia Doubleday.  It was clever, romantic, and seriously silly.  This film will take you back to highschool, your youth, and the shy boy that always had a crush on you...  I would totally recommend this film!  Go to http://www.imdb.com/ for more information on showtimes, trailers, and the cast. 

Just type on "Youth in Revolt" in the search bar, or click on this link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403702/ 

This link is to a slideshow of images from the film: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3837758976/tt0403702?slideshow=1

orchids

orchid pictures that I took with my new camera

Kaimuki

A day in Kaimuki.  Some of my favorite places to visit...

Sconees Bakery

1117 12th Ave.

Honolulu, HI

734-4024

6am-4pm

Famous For: LEMON AND LILIKOI BARS

Lily Lotus Yoga Shop

1127 12th Ave

Honolulu, HI

735-3400

10am-5pm

Famous For: YOGA CLOTHES, JEWELRY, AND ACCESSORIES

http://www.lilylotus.com/

Jewel or Juice

3619 Waialae Ave.

Honolulu, HI

734-1700

M-F-8:30-6:30, Sat.-8:30-6:00, Sun-closed

Famous For:INSANE ACAI BOWLS AND SMOOTHIES

http://www.jewelorjuice.com/

(Azteca is also an amazing Mexican restaurant...)

Hairspray Salon

1152 Koko Head Ave

Honolulu, HI

734-5775

Walk-ins welcome!

Famous For: Wacky Manequin!, trendy cuts, and fabulous color

Where is Kaimuki?  In town between Manoa and Kahala, it surroudns Waialae Avenue.  This little map shows the streets that make up the little community of Kaimuki.  If you like to shop local, this is your place.  Bakeries, bead stores, boutiques, yoga studios, restaurants galore, banks, coffee shops, the post office, local library, and even goodwill.  Park in one of the metered lots and spend the day in the local shops and eateries around town.