Zamzam Garden

Enchanted Land of Pink Urchins and Orange Mushys

2012-01-27T22:04:00.006-05:00

First I found this photo. Love.

But then I found another one. Love. Love.

So I decided to have a look at the complete photo collection of Machel Spence. Oh. My. Goodness. All those mushrooms, and insects and birds and flowers photos... I felt like a tiny creature travelling in a magical forest full of fungi smells and sparkling lights. Machel's photos are like images of an enchanted land, where you can rest under an umbrella-mushroom or ride on the back of a woolly moth.

A great thing about Machel's amazing photos is they are affordable.
I need to get at least some of them to put next to the beachcombing photos !

Meanwhile, you can come with me for a walk, we could jump on top of an orange mushroom with a baby mantis...

I loved both

2012-01-25T22:48:00.007-05:00

So I made both. The vintage-looking pixie hat took me about one hour to make. The one with ear flaps took maybe 2 hours - or 12 times 10 minutes ;) ! It was suppposed to have bear ears but in the end I took them off, and think it looks better without. I still love both, but let's say the pixie hat is particularly cute.

Oh, and if you're wondering why the pictures are blurry and not properly showing the hats, know that this little guy 1. doesn't want to stay still and 2. doesn't want to wear a hat. Not very helpful when you want a photo of a still baby with a hat.

Color Hunt

2012-01-24T14:54:00.003-05:00

Fun and easy task today: grab a camera and take a picture of something that is one of the eight colors in the standard box of crayons - blue, red, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown an black. There should be no question what color the picture is for. Thank you, Crayola!

Souvenir of Mexico

2012-01-22T10:05:00.003-05:00

Travelling somewhere there's a beach, a lake, a river? Wanna bring me back a souvenir and make me reaaaaally happy? Just fill out your pockets with whatever stone, seaglass or shell you find and take them back to me! My mom, who travels at least twice a year, usually to some place involving a beach, uses to bring me back a little bag of sea treasures. I love when she does that, because most of the things I get from her I cannot find around here or I've never seen before. Like those perfect white rocks from Spain...

My friend Catherine also knows my love for apparently valueless beach finds so she offered me a handful of amazing-never-seen-before things from Mexico. She found a desert beach full of these little marvels but unfortunately she had nothing to bring them back so she took what she could with her - and my, how I love them!

There are pieces of turquoise opaque glass - I have no idea from what -, orange coral, purple pieces of shells, aqua seaglass... A feast for my eyes.

So if you're going somewhere and want to bring me back something, now you know how to make my day.

Thanks Cath!

On my way to 100

2012-01-19T14:56:00.004-05:00

For 2012 I decided I want a double 100. To have 100 items for sale in my online shop and to reach at least 100 sales (I'm actually at 67).

I started my production, photo shooting and listing... I wish I had more time to reach my 100 items for sale more quickly! Almost half way there - I have 45 already and maybe 30 ready to list. I also added a new setting for my photos: I re-created an eastern Canada beach with black sand, pebbles, sea wood, seaweed... It gives a new look to my listings of usual grey background photos.

If you want to help me on my way to 100 sales, please share!

Beachcombing Wall Art

2012-01-17T22:06:00.006-05:00

I fell in love with these simple yet beautiful photos of seaglass and other treasures left behind by the ocean, taken by Jennifer from Quercus Design. Her beachcombing serie is just so amazing I cannot decide which one I would like to get. In fact I could get all of them. They represent what I love: the ocean, my long walks on the beach to find my own treasures, my work with seaglass, the odd things I found and secretly keep even if they don't serve any purpose, my passion for colorful things and nature...

Definitely a favorite - next time I change my living room (or bedroom or bathroom or workshop...) decor, I'll keep a wall for these pretty pictures.

Introducing...

2012-01-16T11:04:00.003-05:00

...a new blog feature! I have that nice book called Caffeine for the Creative Mind in which you find 250 exercices to wake up your brain. They all involve fun and creativity. I decide to suggest one exercice per week or so to make you profit - and will of course do the exercice myself.

Here's a quick one to start.

What day is it?

The week of seven days was adopted in Rome somewhere about 400 AD and spread into Europe, but it had been recognized long before that in the East. The names of each of the days are generally associated with Roman mythology. It's time they received and updated, contemporary change. Your task is to rename the days of the week to be modern. They can all be associated with a theme, or they can all have different meanings. They can be as long or as short as you like, but they all must en with the suffix "-day", like they do now.

My week would be : Yawnday, Insignificantday, Middleday, Letshavebreakfastwithfriendsday, Shoppingday, Dealwithkidswhowanttomakespecialactivitiesday, Sleepuntiltenday.

What about you week? I'd love to know what you would come up with!! And stay tuned for more fun and creativity stretching exercices.

2012 Calendar by Gingiber

Totally new cool option!

2012-01-11T22:05:00.008-05:00

I've been thinking about trying a different color of wire for my jewelry for a while and finally decided to do something about it. So I bought this beautiful antiqued bronze wire and I'm also waiting for chains and charms, also in bronze color. It looks amazing with seaglass! Can't wait to try it with rings and bracelets, too. That will change the look of my shop and will give a cool option for those who want something different. I think that can even look good on men.

What about you? What do you think?

It's a hate-love relationship

2012-01-08T21:31:00.003-05:00

I've never been a big fan of winter but I have to admit it can be beautiful here during those cold months.

Everything is different: sounds, light, air... Walking outside when snow is lightly falling makes me feel so calm and peaceful! Breathing the cold and crisp air re-energizes me and I feel much better when I come back home.

Being positive about winter helps me to go through it a bit more easily. I used to say that I profoundly hate it, but I think one day I could be able to say" Winter, I love you!"

Focus: Branding

2012-01-04T20:15:00.005-05:00

Ok, I'm done with the inconsistent labelling, arty-crafty packaging, weak and valueless branding.

I'm taking this business more and more seriously and I have work to do in order to make things right. I read a lot lately about business plans (and why you need one) and that is definitely something I should've done earlier. Same goes for branding.

First thing first, I finally defined my niche! After asking the question "what would you love to do for the next 20 years?", I decided to concentrate on everything seaglass and beach pebbles from now on - reason why I added the tagline "treasures of the sea" to my logo. My new colors for ZC will be grey and turquoise, colors of the ocean. I'll be working on my packaging next as I was doing a lot of improvisation since I started to sell online. I really need consistency! I also ordered 2 different rubber stamps to make tags and business cards, so no more handwritten, home-printed stuff.

As much as I hate to do paper work, this business plan has to be done and you know what, I'm going to do it!

How would you like your graphic design?

2011-12-23T22:58:00.000-05:00

by Ubersuper

If you're looking for me

2011-12-22T10:54:00.000-05:00

You might find me in the crochet zone.

Whenever I have 5 minutes ahead of me (and even when I don't), I jump on my ball of yarn and my crochet to finish something. I made 5 hats last week : 3 different hats for me, with unsatisfying results (so I might just create another one), one darling little pink hat with a flower for my niece, one for my brother. I started a scarf for myself, with the nice fuschia color you see on the photo.

I just cannot stop, it's so addictive, I never thought it would be so!
So if you're looking for me, you know where I'm at...

And some more

2011-12-15T10:21:00.000-05:00

I made this simple bracelet inspired by different ideas seen on Etsy and Pinterest. I also made a lantern with a jam jar and some purple lace from an old t-shirt (glued on the jar with Mod Podge).

Simple things that change my mind and make me relax. I cannot go with long and complicated projects these days, so... Easy peasy, funny bunny!

Craft Crazy

2011-11-29T11:52:00.001-05:00

While I'm at it, while not continue to endlessly create stuff! Every free minute that I have I feel like trying something new and lately I've been making so many things I cannot even list them.

I'm particularly happy with my oil bottle, with the name 'oil' written in different languages, including korean, arabic, greek and hebrew! I also made some coasters - well I covered some bamboo coasters from dollar shop with nice paper and dimensional Mod Podge. They both make nice gifts ideas - just sayin'.

I'm so excited!!

2011-11-22T10:28:00.001-05:00

Oh my, oh my, after nearly 10 years of existence, Zamzam Design has finally its own website! I know, I took me way too much time to make it but I can finally check this from my to-do list (yes, I have items on my list that can stay there for years!).

Anyway, enough said, go to www.zamzamdesign.com and let me know what you think!

It feels good to feel good!

2011-11-17T21:35:00.001-05:00

As of today, traditional medecine was unable to help me recover from Crohn's disease. Oh, of course, it helped to get through the tough times, and corticosteroids surely stopped last year's crisis. But that is short-term solution and after trying 2 other treatments, I can say I felt exactly as I did for the past 15 years.

Meanwhile, I decided to really take care of myself. Truly and sincerely. In all aspects. I went back to my gluten, dairy and sugar-free diet and added even more challenges to help my digestive tract get better. No raw veggies, no yeast, no coffee, organic food as much as possible to avoid contaminants, just a liiiittle bit of meat and eggs (cannot afford organic for now) and lots of water (I used to drink 1 or 2 glasses a day maximum). I also take probiotics, fermented food (for extra probiotics), specially-designed-for-me herbal tea and drops and Intestinew powder - daily. I do breathing exercices, dry-brushing and physical exercices. Yes, you read well. For the first time in my life, I'm doing exercice. I'm training in a gym at least 3 times a week and walking the rest of the time as much and as fast as possible.

I'm drug-free, I don't smoke, drink alcohol, take medication. I take care of myself physically, mentally, spiritually. I pray and pray that I'll get better. And God, it's starting to work. After 36 years of always feeling somewhat miserable...

It feels a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Totally.

Found some time

2011-11-08T10:38:00.001-05:00

Fifteen minutes here, one hour there, a baby on my lap or on my back, I was able to make, to create, to do things I wanted to do for a while. A lot of upcycling, I bought only the frame ($1) and the white and black board paper rolls ($2 each).

A mosaic frame made from sea glass

A kitchen rug made from puzzle-like foam squares (you know, the ones everyone has in the kids room?)

A flower brooch made from an old t-shirt.

A "family information center" - calendar and note board (made from white board paper), menu board (made from black board paper), magnetic board (cut some metal sheet and covered it with scrap paper) and pen holder .

Oh, and I found a lot of inspiration on Pinterest.

Something New in the Garden

2011-10-26T14:46:00.000-04:00

As you probably know, Zamzam is not just about graphic design. When I started with ZD back in 2002, it was only about design, but with time, I started selling my artwork and jewelry on Etsy and elsewhere.

I've been told lately that it's a bit confusing and some clients looking for my portfolio on the net end up in my shop so I knew it was time to do something about it. And surprise, Etsy announced earlier this month that we now had the option to change our shop name. Great coincidence! I didn't loose time friends, and Zamzam Creations was born. Zamzam Design will now be used exclusively for me design work and the rest will go under ZC. I already ordered 2 different sets of business cards and working hard on my website so it can be online in the next few weeks.

Nothing changes for my beloved customers, it will just be easier for everyone. And I feel very good about this addition to my Zamzam garden!

Girls Time

2011-10-10T22:50:00.004-04:00

For the long (canadian) Thanksgiving week-end, I exchanged my 2 big boys for 3 sweet girls. What a change in the house! Three mommies for Marwan, little bees folding my laundry, cleaning the kitchen, stiring the soup... That was a nice experience to live 24 hours with girls only (and a tiny boy, that's true).

We went shopping and made some girls stuff : jewelry organizers and necklaces to hang on them! Fun, girly talk and a little change from the usual messy boys activities. They even cleaned everything after we finished - not something I'm used to see in here!

And yet, I missed my messy noisy guys and was happy to get them back today :).

How to get nowhere with your craft projects

2011-10-03T09:25:00.000-04:00

(You could also replace 'craft projects' by 'house clean-up', 'blogging', 'website'...)

1. Have a 6 months-old baby next to you while working
2. Have a 6 months-old baby on you while working
3. Work while 6 months-old baby sleeps... for 20 minutes
4. Work while 6 months-old baby sleeps, with a 6 years old and a 8 years old boys around
5. Watch TV or play Angry Birds while everybody sleeps at night.

Walima

2011-09-28T21:22:00.000-04:00

I went to a Walima (wedding party) last week. We were about 80 women to celebrate. The (moroccan) food was absolutely delicious, the munchidat (group of singing women) were excellent, everything was great!

I was the official photographer, a great honor I was given! The bride was beautiful, and unfortunately I cannot show picture of her because she is muslim and wears hijab... So here's a couple of photos that can be shown :).

Before & After

2011-09-16T20:08:00.000-04:00

A new bathroom, because Husband decided it was a must.

So this is before. And there's after!

Sometimes, we just miss it

2011-09-04T21:45:00.000-04:00

I deceived someone.

A friend. A good, good friend.

Didn't hear her call. Maybe I wasn't feeling good enough myself so I wasn't able to get what she needed from me.

I feel horrible.

And I feel deceived, too.

Horrible, because I wasn't there when she was in need. And because she was there when I needed help.

Deceived, because of the expectations she had. I'm not perfect. And I hate to be told so. I'm not perfect. But perfectionnist, yes.

How many times my parents told me "you should at least have done so and so"... It hurts so much to hear those words again.

But hey. Sometimes, we just miss it. So don't hold a grudge. And forgive.

Already

2011-09-01T20:53:00.002-04:00

That time of the year. Again.
Where did our summer go? It went by so quickly!

New books, markers, shoes and lunchboxes took their way to school this week with two little excited boys.
Youssef is going to the 'big' school (3rd grade to 6th grade is in a different school than 1st and 2nd). Ismael will learn to read and write this year.

Time pass by. So quickly.
It's back to school.
Already.

Bonbon

2011-08-21T12:21:00.003-04:00

Henna in the park

2011-08-10T21:26:00.003-04:00

A lovely summer day, a nice breeze, a quiet park.

A friend with daughters, fun between girls.

And a little henna.

Little People

2011-08-06T11:44:00.001-04:00

A walk in the woods

2011-08-04T12:00:00.004-04:00

Camping Trip

2011-08-02T21:12:00.005-04:00

Left baby Marwani with my mom, packed my tent, my camping gear and my camera and headed to La Mauricie National Park of Canada with a friend and her 5 kids.

The park is absolutely beautiful and the campground is very basic. Real camping in wooded areas, with nature all around and welcomed privacy.

There are many hiking trails, myriads of lakes and plenty of activities to do. Nature. At its best.

5 days, 4 friends, 11 kids, 1 chalet

2011-07-18T12:02:00.005-04:00

I don't have to mention it wasn't restful holidays. But it sure was fun. Especially at night, when all the kids were sleeping and we could finally have a good laugh, play tricks on each other and feel like we were 16 again :).

Teaching what I love

2011-07-06T21:55:00.003-04:00

I was invited to make a painting workshop for teenage girls at the local mosque. I decided to show them how to make henna patterns to create nice details on a wooden mirror.

First step was to practice on paper. Then they had to draw, on paper always, the patterns they would like to have on their mirror. Painting the background of the mirror was next. Most of the girls didn't finish the patterns yet but I think they are doing great already! They should be done by next week. Cannot wait to see the final result!

Carrying

2011-06-30T10:22:00.002-04:00

Art Exhibition

2011-06-24T20:34:00.005-04:00

I love when my kids say they want to become artists "like mommy". I love it even more when I see what they can do. And I think they do pretty well, actually.

Here's a collection of artwork from my 6 years old son.

Baby Toys

2011-06-21T09:56:00.006-04:00

It took me about 6 months to finish them... but I'm finally done with my mushroom rattle and soft cube toy (also rattle). I used different kind of material (supposed to help baby's sensory development) and added some ribbons to the cube.

Here's my little secret, if you ever feel like making some rattles: I used cat toys (you know those little plastic balls with a bell inside?), they are perfect for that.

We have options!

2011-06-19T20:21:00.004-04:00

Did you know that Blogger offers dynamic viewing options? If you want to see an example, try the mosaic view for Zamzam Garden, it's pretty cool! You just have to click on a photo to read the whole post. You can change the view by clicking the drop-down menu in the top right corner.

I love images and being a visual person, I think from now on I will choose the mosaic, snapshop or flipcard viewing options for my favorite blogs!

Latest Crochet Creations

2011-06-13T20:32:00.005-04:00

I never had a chance to post images of my latest crochet work, so here they are. I finished them back in March, just before I delivered.

I improvised, following the baby sweater tutorial and adapting it to my size. I had to start back a couple of times but in the end, it fits perfectly and looks good. I didn't add sleeves because I liked the grey one without and I tried for the purple but they were too wide and it looked odd.

Now I have to wait for Fall to come so I can wear them!

Life goes on...

2011-06-11T17:21:00.003-04:00

Trying to move on. To have a "normal" life again.

Health issues are not the first thing on my mind these days, first because I'm getting a bit better. Also, baby is growing up, passed the 3 months milestone this week, so I can, sometimes, do "something else".

And where am I heading to?

My workshop, naturally.

Unwanted Relapse and Unforseen Weaning

2011-05-11T12:31:00.004-04:00

photo credit yaznotjaz

Mr. Crohn showed up again and brought me to the doorstep of hospital. Last week coloscopy and the usual symptoms showed that the state of my intestines is still bad. My GE said I have to get better in the next days (going back to a high dose of cortico-steroids) otherwise I would have to be re-hospitalized again to get it IV. I will also start a new treatment, weekly injections of methotrexate. The bad news is, I have to stop nursing my baby, because the drug is incompatible with breatsfeeding.

You cannot imagine the pain I felt when I realized it was over. My (most probably) last baby, already at the point where I have to wean him. At only 2 months. It's a huge shock, the sadness is terrible. I started to give him formula and al hamdolillah it's going pretty well, as he seems to prefer that anyway. But still. The pain is there, it's deep and it will take time to heal.

Ordeal after ordeal. This is my life. Al-hamdolillah. "And with every difficulty, there's a relief" (Qur'an, chapter 94).

I Had Forgotten

2011-04-08T18:28:00.008-04:00

Peasant Woman Nursing A Baby - Aimé-Jules Dalou (V&A Museum)

How sweet that was. How demanding that was. How tiring that was.

The smell of a baby's breath, the softness of his cheek.

The warmth of his tiny body when he sleeps in your arms.

The hours you can spend just admiring him, his little feet, his lovely nose, his fluffy hair.

The unconditional love.

I had forgotten.

The spinning head in the morning because you didn't get enough sleep.

The planning you need to make just to take a shower.

Typing with one hand. Eating while nursing. Watching too many boring TV shows.

The pain in the left arm, a place where baby sleeps most of the time.

I had forgotten. And I'm sad, because I'll most likely forget, again.

About how great it feels to take care of a newborn. To let hours go by, doing nothing else but loving this tiny being. To nurse him when others sleep. To kiss him, too much, when no one is looking.

Marwan

2011-03-19T12:08:00.002-04:00

He is there.

He arrived March 8th at 2:04 am, after 24 hours of labour.

He's healthy al-hamdolillah.

And of course, he is the sweetest, most beautiful baby on earth!

So close to the end - and to the beginning

2011-03-04T20:09:00.004-05:00

Mixed emotions.

Excitement. Apprehension.

Patience. Impatience.

I can't wait to see him. To touch him. Hold him. Smell him.

What will he look like? What will be his name? Will he resemble one of his brothers?

I don't really want the pregancy to end but I want to hold my baby in my arms so much. I can't believe we're almost there!

I feel it coming, my body is sending signals, more and more contractions...

38 weeks.

Almost there.

Pins Spring Collection has arrived!

2011-03-03T14:37:00.005-05:00

I promised I would make more pins, and I know some of you were waiting for them for quite a long time... Well, here they are, brand new, colorful and, in my opinion, even better then before!

I'm not going to list them on Etsy as they go really quickly, but if you're interested, just contact me and we can arrange something. They are 3 inches long, and have a clutch to secure them. I sell them 5$ each + shipping if necessary.

For those who had the previous pins, the new ones are a wee bit longer - just to let you know.

Going to Mexico!

2011-03-01T11:05:00.002-05:00

Well... Not me. My glasses ;).

My friend is going to visit her parents in Mexico and she asked me to make glasses and coasters as a present for them. At least if I cannot go south, my creations will and I like to think they will enjoy the sun, by the sea, filled with tropical juices! What a good life they will have! And no, I'm not crazy. Or maybe I am. A little.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

2011-02-28T11:30:00.002-05:00

I tried something new this time - a one color only mirror with golden details. I also added some crystal and mosaic 3D stickers. It gives a nice bling bling/indian look to it!

Adorn Your Ears

2011-02-26T12:43:00.004-05:00

I have 4 pairs of earrings made of seaglass that I'm going to list on Etsy. Have a look!

The Song of Hope

2011-02-22T16:14:00.004-05:00

photo credit: Kelly Shipp

I heard them, this morning. My dear cardinals. My beloved chickadees. Even the gloomy crows. They sang the song of hope, the song that make me believe winter will be over, someday, soon.

The sun was shining. Snow was melting, despite the rather cold weather.

And my birds. They were singing. Just for me.

In the style of...

2011-02-19T19:22:00.003-05:00

Joan Miro, by Youssef

Paul Klee, by Ismael

Unpeace of mind

2011-02-16T09:34:00.005-05:00

illustration by Martin Dasnoy

Is it because I'm a highly sensitive person that I get so anxious about everything? I don't understand how people can live without feeling constant guilt and anxiety when we know all that we know about the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink... I've been trying to ignore all the alarming articles I've read about the crap we put in/on our bodies but it's not working. Not only I have chronic concern over environmental issues but I'm feeling more and more concerned about, well almost everything.

It seems that sugar, milk, meat, gluten, aspartame, eggs, non-organic fruits and veggies are threatening our health. Maybe sucking ice for the rest of our lives would be a good alternative.

But oh, wait, water is also dangerous.

Our microwaves, cell phones, teflon pans, bras and clothes could kill us. Cosmetics, deodorants, household cleaners, toothpastes are risky, too. And I'm not even talking about vaccination, birth control pill and other medication.

Buying at Walmart is wrong. Buying anything from China or from anyone who support Israel is wrong. Driving a car is wrong. Putting a plastic jar in the bin is wrong. Using anything disposable is wrong.

Having a husband who doesn't understand my worries and won't change his habits doesn't help. He says I'm thinking too much and that I'm paranoiac. On top of that, organic food, natural, local and ethical stuff costs way more than the crap so he's getting crazy when I buy something organic that costs three times more than its pesticized-shooted-optimized version.

I'm worried. For me, but also for my kids. Is there a way to just live our lives without feeling bad about every move we make? Can we even breathe without harming ourselves/others?

Am I taking all this too seriously? Why do I feel I'm the only one around who get really concerned about all these issues?

Now I understand why they say ignorance is bliss.

Surprise!

2011-02-14T13:58:00.005-05:00

My friends suprised me yesterday by throwing a baby shower for NoName and his 'brother' Possibly-Most-Probably-Naeem, the baby-to-come of my friend Ibtissam (she's due 10 days before me).

It was so nice to enjoy good food, the best friends on earth, the cutest kids and to receive so many presents! Macha Allah I'm so blessed. I was spoiled!

And have you seen that original cake?!

...and a baby sweater

2011-02-10T10:32:00.002-05:00

Again, just by following simple video instructions I was able, to my amazement, to crochet that baby cardigan. Quickly and easily! I did something wrong (not sure what exactly) so the front part turned out like an inverted 'V' instead of being straight, but I actually like it. I just need to add a cute button and... voilà!

Hooked... continued!

2011-02-07T14:03:00.004-05:00

I'm spending most of my time crocheting these days. Completely addicted! The fantastic thing about crochet is that it's so easy, I'm just following videos and was able to make things I thought were for experts only.

I had some material left from my baby blanket and tried making a hat and baby booties with it. For a first try I'm quite happy with the final result.

Now working on more hats for the kids, a baby sweater and a cardigan for me. I'm having so much fun!

Now toys

2011-02-01T18:46:00.005-05:00

After making useful stuff for the baby (and it's not over yet, as I just bought some new fabric and wool today), I felt like creating some little toys. I made this stuffed giraffe and a mushroom rattle and a sensory soft cube are on the way - need to finish them up and will upload some photos as well.

The giraffe is one side with color bubbles (a nice Micheal Miller's piece of fabric I got from an old Swap-bot fabric swap) and one side yellow and has a rattle inside. Perfect for little hands and very colorful... We'll see how baby NoName will react :)!

Jewelry Holder

2011-01-30T12:31:00.001-05:00

It's always a great feeling to do something by yourself instead of buying it. I love to browse on Etsy, pick something I like and just try to make it.

Lately I saw that nice jewelry holder and decided I wanted to make one myself. I had everything I needed, so the thing didn't cost me anything. I used an old mirror (that already had the three hooks at the bottom), a nice sheet of scrapbooking paper, old wooden buttons and some kind of black screen material. I took off the mirror from the frame, painted it, put the paper and screen instead and added the buttons. Not only it looks good but it's very useful.

Another accomplished project!

Done!

2011-01-28T09:58:00.003-05:00

It took me 3 weeks to finish it - my first crochet project, a baby blanket.

Now what will I do of my evenings? I should quickly learn how to make hats and cardigans!

Magnets are back!

2011-01-26T19:54:00.004-05:00

They are new, they are ready and they will be available in the next days on Etsy: my 12 new sets of painted pebbles magnets. A first kit is already available and the rest will follow - I just don't want to list everything all at once, not a good marketing strategy!

Make sure to have a look at my shop every once in a while to see the whole collection...

...and a Diaper Clutch

2011-01-26T08:47:00.004-05:00

I liked the idea of the diaper pouch as I'm not going to go out with the big diaper bag this time - too cumbersome and not really practical. A couple of diapers and few essential items can easily fit into a pouch that can be thrown in a normal handbag.

As usual I asked myself if I could do it instead of buying it and that's just what I did. Inspired by some of my favorites from Etsy, I improvised and.. voilà! Another item in my polkadot baby set. It's interfaced, closes with a velcro band and has clear sides and a clear zipper pouch inside. Not bad for a first try! And I just saved another $25 ;)!

New items on Etsy

2011-01-24T14:32:00.002-05:00

Told you about the magnets, how I wanna finish them up to list them on Etsy... I'm just about to do that, only need to take a few more photos and they will be ready. I also started to make new mirrors, the previous ones sold so quickly, I never had time to put them online! I listed the first one today.

Some more to come, incha'Allah!

A gift for baby Rayan

2011-01-22T20:26:00.003-05:00

After my first experience with wipes and cloths, I decided to make a gift for a friend who delivered in November. I didn't have a chance to see her until yesterday, so I kept it a secret and didn't want to show the photos before I gave her my gift for baby Rayan.

I made 1 burp cloth, 4 wipes, 1 bib, 1 pacifier clip and a painted flower pot. The little cow was just too cute so I added it to the kit even if I didn't make it myself :).

Creative Mood

2011-01-19T15:56:00.007-05:00

Since I left hospital, in November, I barely entered my workshop. I was not in the mood, and because my mother in law was here for 2 months, I felt kinda guilty to disappear for hours to paint or sew while she was cleaning the house...

Since a few days, however, I have a rush of inspiration and creativity and just cannot stop cutting, glueing, painting, sewing, crocheting... I feel so... alive! When I'm doing something creative with my hands, I'm breathing again. I'm feeling light, happy, peaceful. While painting today, I had that (annoying) song in my head, coming from nowhere and it made me smile when I actually realized what it was saying : "right here, right now, there is no other place I wanna be..."

Now I just want to profit from the few weeks left before baby comes to keep on cutting, glueing, painting, sewing, crocheting!

We make fake, too.

2011-01-17T09:50:00.004-05:00

We borrowed a book at the library, a very fun, colorful book, showing how to make 'pretend' cakes, candies, pastries, etc. with clay or play dough.

We made our own salt dough (it's so easy!) and divided it in 3 parts : one for mommy and one for each of the boys. Everyone had fun choosing what to do and creating sweets and candies. We baked them for a couple of hours, finish drying them during the night and painted them the day after. Everything looks yummy and the guys were very proud of them. I have to admit I really enjoyed it, too!

Lemon Meringue Pie: Success

2011-01-15T10:10:00.005-05:00

I felt like eating lemon pie for weeks. Not the one from the shop or anything not homemade. But who would bake one for me? Well, me, it seems. I thought it was somehow complicated to make but after days of hesitation and a growing craving for the thing, I mustered up all my courage and just did it. And to my surprise, it was so simple!

Here's the recipe I followed. For the shell I used already made store bought pastry dough, which I just happened to have in the fridge (I use it for quiches and pâtés). The meringue was thick yet fluffy. The filling was sweet and tart, just perfect. Good, good, good!! The only problem with things that good is that they disappear very quickly. Especially when you are pregnant and were dreaming about them for weeks.

Hooked

2011-01-10T16:08:00.002-05:00

My dear friend Veronika-Imane showed me how to crochet and I quickly became addicted. Oh, not that I'm already an expert, I'm actually trying to make a baby blanket using only the single crochet technique, but I love it, I never want to stop!

Something else to occupy my time for the next 10 weeks...

New Batch...

2011-01-05T17:24:00.003-05:00

of painted pebbles. Will eventually be varnished (I take soooo long to finish stuff these days!) and turned into magnets. And, maybe one day, be listed on Etsy. For now here are pictures of them! Not the best quality but you get an idea of what the whole thing looks like...

10 favorite blogs of 2010

2010-12-29T16:15:00.004-05:00

Print by Green Nest

The end of the year. A time to make lists and top 1000, 100, 10...

So I'm sharing a list of my 10 favorite blogs of 2010.

Enjoy!

10- Someday I will - Hopes and dreams.

9- Print & Pattern - Celebrating the world of design pattern.

8- Artsyville - Craft ideas, colorful photos and the beautiful doodles of Aimee Dolich.

7- Making Love in the Kitchen - Meghan's Telpner healthy living blog.

6- How About Orange - Tutorials, crafts ideas, free downloads, always brightened up with a touch orange!

5- About The Dieline - The world's best packaging design.

4- Make and Takes - A mix of cratf, kids craft and recipes.

3-Daily Infographic - Data-filled illustrations, every day.

2- :mnmlist - Wise thought on minimalism.

1- Zen Habits - The title says it all. Very inspirational.

You have some nice blogs to share? I need to start a top 10 list for 2011!

Wise words

2010-12-25T21:17:00.004-05:00

At the end of September, I wrote a message asking you to pray for my recovery. Today I received a comment about this post and I was so deeply touched by the wisdom of it, I felt I had to share, so everyone could profit.

No, I won't ask for you recovery. I know better than that by now. Whatever God has in mind to accomplish through this illness and pregnancy, He always has something good in mind He wants to happen, and it isn't always perfect health. In fact, in my experience, He can accomplish far greater things through extreme adversity than He ever could through wellness and prosperity. So my prayer is not that you will get well; it's that you will be smart. You didn't say how old you are; chances are if you're pregnant, you are still fairly young. All I can tell you is to wait ten to fifteen years, and all of a sudden, a whole lot of things that people think of as tragedies, will start making a whole lot of sense, and you'll start saying, "Oh! I get it now!"

Thanks for that, Marly.

(Re) discovering sewing

2010-12-02T13:29:00.006-05:00

Being quickly fed up with Dr. Phil, Cake Boss and other boring TV shows, I tried to find a way to keep myself busy in the last days. Something that doesn't involve too much movement, stress or reflection, as I'm still tired and weak. Walking into my workshop I saw my sewing machine blinking at me. I'm not an expert at sewing, I always improvise and the result is usually very average but I thought I could try to make some baby stuff. Clothing is still too complicated so I decided to make some washcloths and small towels.

I have to say I'm quite happy with the result! I have 15 wipes, 4 burp cloths, 2 bibs and a foldable changing pad. Not too bad for a first project. Let's see what I will do next (still need to keep myself busy...). Not sure if I should give clothing a try. But I definitely liked the time spent with my machine.

Daily dose

2010-11-26T11:42:00.003-05:00

or the tale of the anti-medicine girl who had to resign herself to take 20 pills a day.

Failure

2010-11-24T18:53:00.004-05:00

Photo credit karin8700

I went to see my gastroenterologist, today, for the first time since I left hospital.

She was very nice, comprehensive, took all the time I needed to listen, to answer. She gave me options. She discussed every avenue possible.

But tonight, I feel deeply sad, like I failed. Tonight, I collapse after trying to be so positive and strong in the last weeks...

I guess it has to do with the fact that I'm starting Imuran, an immunosupressive antimetabolite drug, a drug that officially puts me in the category of the chronically ill people. People who have the sword of Damocles on top of their head, all their life. People who never know when the next relapse will occur, who have to deal with side effects of the medication, frequent visits to the doctor and weekly blood analysis.

I cannot think of anything else than failure. And I know it's wrong, because I cannot control it. I thought I could. All the time, energy, money and good will I spent, trying to avoid being today, the day I would have to give up. The day I would have to let go and take the think I'm the most unwilling to take.

I didn't want to be a sick mother. To be half of a mother. I didn't want to have another child, not knowing if I'll be able to take care of him properly. I didn't want to become a burden for people around me.

I didn't want to feel like I failed.

Me want

2010-11-16T19:27:00.009-05:00

With pregnancy comes a bunch of false needs, crazy desires and a weakness for everything that is cute.

Diaper Clutch by PurseNMore

Deluxe Chenill Set by The Red Pistachio

Cocoon by Phylphil

Loafers by Crochele

Mobile by Lovely Friends

Back Home

2010-11-08T09:34:00.003-05:00

print by thewheatfield

Spent the last 9 days in the hospital.

Severe Crohn's attack.

Am back home.

Feeling better but still very weak and tired.

Would like to give more details but am not feeling like it right now.

Just wanted to let you know that I'm fine, the baby's fine and the struggle continue.

Oh. And we're having a third boy. :)

Struggling

2010-10-18T15:42:00.004-04:00

photo credit: king.agong

I'm probably going through one of the most difficult period of my life.

My body is completely drained of all energy. The baby and the illness are sucking it all up. And there's the pain. And the countless visits to the bathroom. The sleepless nights. The solitude. The responsabilities that I have, still. Two young children, a husband, a house.

I'm so exhausted. Can hardly find the strength to hope and stay positive. I'm prisoner of a body who has to cope with chronic illness, pain and a pregnancy... So hard.

Special request

2010-09-27T15:56:00.007-04:00

The Road to recovery by Talie Lines

In the last year I thought maybe my almost constant belly pain was due to candida albicans and decided to fight it with a quite strict diet and some natural supplements. I almost completely denied that that pain could still be due to a previous diagnosis of Crohn's disease, because I didn't relapse since a first crisis in 1997.

After almost one year, I can say diet didn't really help my intestines (even though I felt better in general). Not only I didn't notice a real and constant change but for the last 3-4 weeks, I'm in terrible pain and my digestive condition is getting quite awful. I fear the relapse, especially because of the pregnancy... I never really felt like this since 1997.

I wanted to talk about it here because I believe in the power of prayer and wanted to ask those of you who also believe it can make miracles to pray for me. At this point, I'm putting all my trust in God and I think that's the best and only thing to do.

Would you join your voice to mine in asking the Almighty for my recovery?

New stuff!

2010-09-24T10:15:00.001-04:00

Back to my studio

2010-09-17T09:20:00.003-04:00

Some are back to school. Some are back to work. As for me, I'm back to my beloved and deserted studio. Can you believe I didn't hold a brush in my hand for almost 5 months?! After having my in-laws for 2 months, I left for my vacations, then came home sick and tired so I totally neglected my creative side.

I didn't even remember how good it felt to paint and create! Mixing colors, holding my breath when I want to make a straight line, trying different color combos, thinking about nothing... That is just great.

50 new magnets are on the way, painted glasses and mirrors also... Now I wish I had more time, as I feel like doing nothing else than painting. I have to profit, as the baby will come, leaving no time and energy for idle hours and leisure time!

What am I still doing in front of my computer then ;) ?

Expecting

2010-09-01T14:08:00.004-04:00

photo credit: Cuba Gallery

Expecting love, health, joy. Expecting sleepless nights, despair, tears. Expecting expectations.

I'm welcoming a new soul inside of me, a wonderful feeling, an exhausting state, an overwhelming happiness.

I'm sorry for letting you down. I was not feeling good at all due to my state. No wonder why I felt so sick during my holidays!

Don't expect me to write too often in the coming months. I'll see how I feel about blogging, as pregnancy has changed my mood and my priorities... And I'm not sure you want to hear all about it every second day.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I'll do my best to keep you posted once in a while.

2050 km (1274 miles) later

2010-08-08T11:28:00.004-04:00

I'm back home and don't remember the last time I was so happy to be here. I came back sick, tired and deceived and cannot believe it could be so different this year. Last summer was like a dream! I wouldn't say this time was a nightmare (even if I had the weirdest of them nearly every night during my vacations) but it sure wasn't pleasant.

There's good in everything, they say, and I know the good in this is I really appreciate being home and don't feel that urge to 'go away' anymore. It will probably not last forever but for now I'm satisfied with what I have and thank Allah for showing me that the best place to be can be home.

Au Revoir!

2010-07-17T15:19:00.003-04:00

Will be leaving in a couple of days... Ocean, breeze, waves, sand, seaglass, pebbles, mountains, and a very dear friend are waiting for me.

Here's a preview of what I'll see! More photos when I come back.

Au revoir et à bientôt incha'Allah!

Busy days

2010-07-13T11:43:00.007-04:00

So much going on right now.

Working on a super fun logo project.

Shooting photos for Boutique N-ti.

Packing stuff for my trip to Gaspésie.

Taking care of my garden.

Enjoying silence and an empty house after having guests for almost 2 months.

Summer is good.

Nadia Blili

2010-07-10T13:28:00.005-04:00

is our winner!

The draft was conducted under the supervision of my son Ismael, a trustable and impartial party ;).

I have to say I was very happy when I saw Nadia's name because she deserves it. She's helping a lot passing the word about Zamzam's jewelry, sharing with her contacts about my new stuff and making great comments.

Congrats Nadia - think about what you'd like to get and I'll create it just for you in the next days!

Thanks to everyone else for participating.

Summer Giveaway!!

2010-06-30T11:28:00.018-04:00

Finally, finally!
I've been talking and thinking about it for a while, now here it is, your chance to win a custom seaglass ring or pendant from Zamzam Design!

How to enter
- Leave a comment about your favorite item from my Etsy shop
- Link back to your own blog (+1 entry) - please email me if you link back (zamzamdesign at sympatico dot ca)
- Earn an extra chance to win by talking about this giveaway on Facebook - and let me know if you do so by leaving a comment on Zamzam's Facebook page (+1 entry).

The Rules
- Please only 1 comment entry / person (please enter a valid email address or link to your blog so you can be reached easily if you win).
- The winner will receive a pendant or ring of his/her favorite color (available colors: green, brown, white, cobalt blue, aqua).

Have fun!! You have until July 9 to enter. Winner will be announced July 10.

Me + Dear Friend + Kids + Camera

2010-06-28T15:56:00.005-04:00

= a perfect day, especially when it is spent outside, near a river (or lake, pond, brooke, ocean...).

No Impact

2010-06-14T20:26:00.008-04:00

Is that possible to lower our impact on the environment so much so that we could almost say we have no impact?

Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man tried to live with as little environmental impact as possible for one full year. He and his family bought nothing except locally grown food, travelled by foot or bike, unplugged from electricity and made no trash. The interesting part of it is that in the end, they discovered that not only they were doing something good for the planet but they were also living happier, healthier and richer.

He launched the No Impact Project to promote behavioral change, enable the public to experience their own No Impact Experiment and to engage people who are not already tree-hugging, bicycle-riding, canvas-bag-toting, eco-warriors.

I'm already doing quite a lot to live minimalistically and eco-consciously. The No Impact Project is something that is really calling me so I just signed up and am presently preparing to try the one-week carbon cleanse. I also made a list of steps I would like to take in the next weeks/months to lower my impact as much as possible. I'm not done yet but here's my list for now:

- Stop using:

plastic bags - completely, including packaging bags (bread, etc.) That implies making my own bread, etc.;
paper towels (rarely use them anyway), napkins (even in restaurant - will use a cloth that I take with me everywhere), tissues (I already sewed some nice little hankerchiefs) and toilet paper;
disposable dishes, cups, pens and other things that I don't think about right now but that are made for single use;
feminine hygiene disposable products;
shampoo (make my own)
toothpaste (make my own)
House cleaning products (make my own)
Dryer
Car, if I can use my bike (if distance permits and I don't need a car trunk!)

- Stop buying as much as possible anything that has packaging (biggest challenge I think)

- Buy second-hand clothing, bags, shoes, etc. unless I need an item impossible to find in second hand store.

- Stop going shopping when I get bored.

- Stop buying stuff that comes from more than 250 miles away from my town.

That's a bunch of stops, I know. But I see it as more freedom than more limits. A stop here means more money, more time, more consciousness and I believe more happiness somewhere else.

Would you like to join me, so we could share our experience? I'm sure it would be very motivating to create a No Impact team! So? Are you in?

Couldn't resist

2010-06-10T12:25:00.003-04:00

...so I'm back on Etsy. It was just too tempting! I wanted to give it a try. We never know. It seems that customers are more comfortable with Etsy than iCraft in general so... incha'Allah it will work better!

I was not always satisfied with Etsy, and you can read a lot about what's wrong with it elsewhere. But hey, do we have a lot of options when we want to sell online?? As long as I don't have my own shop and can't generate my own traffic, well, I guess that's the option. Let's see now if I can sell something despite the millions of other items that will probably bury mine :).

Strawberries shouldn't cause cancer!

2010-06-04T15:10:00.002-04:00

Methyl iodide, approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2007, is dangerously close to being approved as a soil fumigant for strawberry crops in California and spreading as a widely-used pesticide for crops around the country.

Methyl iodide causes cancer, is a known neurotoxin and thyroid disruptor and has also been proven to cause spontaneous abortions in late-term pregnancies. It is so toxic that it is used to intentionally induce cancer cells in lab settings. And yet, the EPA has decided that methyl iodide is fit for our food, for our communities and for our bodies.

The EPA can reverse its decision on methyl iodide at any point. Now is the time to make sure they do so. Sign the petition here!

Step 2

2010-06-03T21:05:00.004-04:00

a shop in Laval!

Emmanuelle Saulnier, AKA Madame Perroquet agreed to display some of my jewelry in her eclectic and colorful shop of Curé-Labelle Boulevard in Ste-Rose.

More jewelry gone, more on the way! I'm seeing my friend Eva-Maude Sunday and she's coming with a car trunk full of sea glass freshly picked on the beaches of Gaspésie... That means I'll have plenty of new pieces to work with. Maybe new ideas too, who knows!

Don't worry!

2010-05-31T20:13:00.004-04:00

Don't you like that pure lemon rare sea glass color??

If you've been to my iCraft website lately, you saw only one item. Almost everything I had in stock went to Artistri or was sold to people I know. Victim of my success ;). Reason why my shop is empty. Almost!

I also have some more great news but I'm keeping the secret for now. I need to create in the next days and will be back with the news. Incha'Allah wa taala!

I'm even considering going back to Etsy - well didn't someone said only fools don't change their minds? Oh and you know me (well most of you!), I change my mind constantly. We can say I'm quite... flexible :).

So, mind-boiling, hands-hurting, heart-beating, lips-smiling, I'm going back to my workshop. Got no time to waste!!

The Perfect Hostess

2010-05-23T20:55:00.004-04:00

Photo Credit vintage_cupcake

My in laws are in town. For 6 weeks. I'm being a good wife, a good cook, a good everything, cleaning up after everyone and praying I'll be able to get through this! That will not leave a lot of time for crafting, thinking, creating, and blogging. I'm not even sure if I'll be able to update my shop with some new items as I wanted to.

Well, well... See you soon, I'm going back to the kitchen *sigh*.

Another important step for Zamzam

2010-05-18T12:55:00.003-04:00

I've been trying to get my jewelry and magnets sold in physical shops around Montreal and had an appointment last week with Jennifer Lonergan at Artistri. She agreed to take my whole Ocean collection and almost all my new magnets in her beautiful shop located at 5319 Park Avenue.

Al hamdolillah! This is an important step for me. People will now be able to see my creations 'live' and to appreciate them, even if they don't personally know me. Artistri is an amazing shop that supports women and sustainable development practices, where you can find treasures made by women from all over the world. I really feel blessed to be part of this communty of talented women!

If you're in Montreal, why not go and have a look - not only for Zamzam but also for the truly beautiful creations you can find there.

Glass of Green

2010-05-17T12:14:00.003-04:00

Green is the color of my breaksfast. And it's delicious.

I feel I'm becoming greener inside ;).

Unbelievably delicious (and healthy)

2010-05-14T19:48:00.004-04:00

These chocolate superballs are the best sweet thing I had in years. Period.

...

Now. Would you believe me if I tell you that they are made exclusively of superfood? Without any sugar, gluten, dairies?

Well, see for yourself. Raw cacao (excellent source of magnesium), goji berries (rich in antioxydants), spirulina (unusually high in protein, essential fatty acids and vitamins), chia seeds (high in fibre, omega 3, antioxidants, calcium and more), hemps seeds (excellent source of protein, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, fiber and trace minerals), coconut oil (healthiest oil on earth - high in nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals), raw honey (should I say anything that wasn't said before - especially in the Qur'an?), vanilla (for taste :P)... I cannot believe how delicious (and heathy) they are. Could you find anything more satisfying than to eat extra chocolatey and sweet treats without feeling any guilt - and knowing it's super good for yourself?

Colorful Candies

2010-05-11T20:34:00.006-04:00

I've been very productive lately after receiving a package from my special beach-combing glass-picking friend. Some colors are very rare - red, yellow, sky blue, orange, lavender... I also bought silver beads and charms for my pendants - that gives them a really sharp look!

My whole collection of pendants and rings is so colorful and shiny, I feel like eating them all. They almost look like candies. Sweeeeet!

In tears

2010-05-08T18:28:00.004-04:00

I was. All day.

I don't know how I came to her site. I don't know why I hit that post, the right post. But I do know why I spent all day in tears, while reading her e-book or even just thinking about her. She gave me hope. She made me feel like I'm not alone anymore.

Her name is Meghan. She was diagnosed with Colitis, then Crohn's disease. She made the choice of healing, naturally, despite what doctors said to her (and to me). She became nutritionist, holistic lifestyle consultant and digestive coach. And she recovered.

The first excerpt of the book I read, before buying it, was this one:

I worry that maybe all this is for nothing. I get frustrated that I am working my ass of to get well and making many sacrifices in the process and still have a day here and there where I feel like crap.

and then:

So I made the decision, the choice, excuse free, that I needed to take my own advice. It wasn’t easy but if we were never challenged sometimes, how would we ever move forward?

I didn't need to read further. With my vision blurred by tears I quickly bought the book and started to read. And couldn't stop.

Amazing. I felt like I was reading myself. More tears.

Now I have a dream: to attend her Digestive Healing Retreat. Anyone interested in sponsoring me? :)

The most beautiful time of the year

2010-05-06T19:54:00.003-04:00

is now.

There's something about your light, the intensity of your greens, the smell of lilac and the beauty of blossoming trees that is undeniable and indescribable. Spring, you are my favorite.

Take your time, don't let summer kick you out too fast. Let your evenings be a little fresh and your wind soft and pleasant. Let the birds sing their love song at 4 in the morning even if sometimes, it prevents me from sleeping. Let me feel the sun, warm but not hot, inspiring but not overpowering. Let me profit from you. I never get enough of you. Spring, you are my favorite. I love you. And I thank God for sending you once a year...

Magnets!

2010-05-03T20:38:00.004-04:00

They are back, they are ready, they are in my shop! I have 50 new colorful magnets with your favorite patterns... You asked for them, well here they are!

I'm running out of pebbles and I have to go on a treasure hunt to find some more because they are very popular. I made about 100 last year and they are almost all gone...

Have a look at the magnets section of my boutique to see what I have in store.

Wanna help me?

2010-04-30T09:17:00.004-04:00

Help me find 500 people who like Zamzam Design on Facebook and I'll thrown a giveaway!! Would you like to win something from Zamzam? Then tell your friends about the challenge! All you need to do is to 'like' Zamzam (if you don't already!) and either share or suggest to friends.

500 is a lot, right? Well, we're going to make it. Incha'Allah. And someone else is also going to be very happy. What would you like to win? A gift certificate? A complete jewelry kit? A day with me ;) ? Tell me!

Now Open!

2010-04-28T11:14:00.006-04:00

photo credit: Tidefan

Finally!

I'm back with a new shop, and I decided to go with iCraft. Etsy was a real pain for me in the end and I really wanted to make a new beginning. Exposure might not be as good but for now, anyway, my goal is to reach potential clients by myself and to have a place where I can send people who ask me (or my clients) where they can buy Zamzam stuff.

I'd love to hear you about my shop. Everything you feel like saying, just tell me. After all, well, this is not my shop. It's yours.

*If you want to pass the link to your friends, the web adress is : http://icraft.ca/zamzamdesign*

What about iCraft?

2010-04-26T23:09:00.005-04:00

Do you know iCraft.ca? Anyone selling there? If you never heard about it, what is your first impression? I'm considering trying to sell from there. I'm very reluctant to start back with Etsy. I really feel like starting anew. ICraft is Canadian, and doesn't work exactly like Etsy. It seems much more easy and simple. If you want more details, this review by EtsyBitch is nice.

I took loads of photos in the last few days, I'm ready to launch my 'new' shop and I'm very excited. I'm also planning to contact some physical shops where I could sell my sea glass jewelry and pebble magnets.

Will keep you posted!

Even for lil' boys

2010-04-21T19:08:00.004-04:00

Boys, they like to be cool, too. Sea glass suits them very well. Not only it looks good on them but they love to wear sea glass 'jewelry'. My sons got to choose the color and size and I also gave them the choice between pendant and bracelet. My oldest picked white 'gems' for a bracelet and my youngest wanted a necklace with a big blue 'stone'. Sea glass is like fairy tales precious gems or pirate treasure for them.

And they proudly wear their own treasure, making sure everyone sees it - and knows it's their mom who made it.

How cool's that?!

P.S. Marie, c'est une photo spéciale pour Hanif et Wassil. J'espère qu'ils aimeront!

And by the way...

2010-04-19T17:38:00.002-04:00

Many of my dearest readers are not connected with Zamzam on Facebook. Would looove to see you there! You would also be able to have updates about my possibly-maybe-Etsy-or-something-else-shop...

See ya soon on Facebook then :) !

Wondering

2010-04-19T12:26:00.003-04:00

Photo credit Reigh Sierra

if I should think about re-opening my Etsy shop, again.

Things are going so well for me these days and I have lots of requests. But Etsy is very demanding too. Taking photos, croping, adjusting and uploading them, creating listings, going to the post office a few times a week... Would it be worth it?

Maybe I could just try to have my 'own' shop, not linked to Etsy or the like...

Comments, suggestions anyone?