Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho

When the laptop exploded Devin "said what the"'.Lukas standed up "ok then" said Lukas.Devin,and Jared
screamed."Be quiet "said Lukas.Suddenly the ghost disapeared .So did Lukas,Jake,devin,and Jared.THE END

Tell your friends or anybody about this story if you want to.

I think now that my online store is open it's time to drive some traffic to it, especially with the holiday season starting soon. It's easy and fun and everyone can win something. It doesn't get better than that!

Here's how it works. Use your blog (or website) to refer visitors to the SAHA Store, and win a $5 gift certificate per 250 visitors you refered.

Sound good? It gets better. Each time a visitor you refered to the store makes a purchase you get an additional $5 gift certificate.

Lastly....After 2 weeks the blog/website with the most referals will win a $50 gift certificate to the store!

To sum up...let's say your blog refers 1000 visitors to the SAHA Store over the next 2 weeks. You win a $20 gift certificate. Let's say 2 of those visitors made a purchase. That's another $10 gift certificate! And.....if you're the biggest referer when the 2 weeks are up - you win the $50 gift certificate. That totals an $80 gift certificate to spend on whatever you wish. Buy Christmas presents or something for yourself.

There's more than one way to refer visitors to the SAHA Store. If you have blogads on your blog you can put up an SAHA blogad (like the one on my sidebar), you can put up the new products box that randomly displays new products in the store (also on my sidebar), or of course, you can mention it in a post.

And of course, I add items to the store almost every day...so there's sure to be something there for everyone.

The contest begins today, November 13, and will end midnight (CST) on November 27.

What are you waiting for? Go win some money!

I've added a special page at the SAHA Store highlighting special offers for active Military members and their families.

In the past few years I've often sent my artwork and jewelry in carepackages to military men and women I've written to, and have even had special requests from other military supporters, military members and their families. It is an honor to fill these requests and a pleasure to do so. I would like to continue doing so, and so with the opening of the SAHA Store I've set up special discounts and offers with this in mind.

If you are an active military member, an immediate family member or someone purchasing as a gift for someone in the military click here for more information.

Thank you for all you do!

If you'd like to help me spread the word about my new online store and have a blog or website there's a little bit of code you can put anywhere on your site you like that will display random new products in a little box (like the one on my blog sidebar, just below the search box). I definately want to succeed, am determined to do so, and the blogosphere is a great place to spread the word!

Ok, here's the instructions to put the random new items box anywhere on your blog or website.

Thank You!!!

I've been quiet on the blog here for a few days as I've been so busy programming and getting my online store ready for opening. Finally, it's done! The store is named the SAHA Store and in it you'll find my jewelry and paintings for sale. I'm really hoping this will be a great way to earn a darn living make some extra money as a stay at home mom/blogger, so head on over to the store for a look see and let me know what you think! (Christmas is coming fast and there's some items in the store that would make for great presents!!)

Many of you may know that I'm an artist, I create jewelry as well as paintings. For the past few months I've been working on an online store for my website as a place to list and sell my work, and while it's still not ready (being pregnant, moving and having a baby has slowed me down some....) I thought I'd show you some necklaces I've made lately. These are beaded necklaces, using glass beads. Because of the numerous beads on them they do end up to be quite weighty, but not uncomfortable to wear. Each necklace takes about 6-8 hours to make, depending on intricacy, and are hand-sown. Here they are:

Black irridescent beads with crystal clear beads and teardrops...

Pink and crystal beads. All of the beads are pink/mauve, but the dangles are irridescent, giving them a blue/green look in the photo...

White and crystal necklace. This one reminds me of winter and snowflakes. More of a choker necklace.

Smash has an interesting post up of his recent visit to Walter Reed to interview a few Code Pink members - The Cold Shoulder. As you might expect, Smash got the cold shoulder from these protesters, but he's not the only one that did. A Code Pink member tells Smash, "Well, I will admit, when soldiers come out, we like to talk to them, because we know that they need to… I mean, it’s healthy for them. They can say whatever they want, but just to be able to speak their minds. We have no problem with that. We communicate, and they can tell us what’s going on. But, that’s 'cause we’re here for them."

So Smash hangs around for a little bit and sees....

...a couple of soldiers come out the gate from the hospital. They are greeted warmly by the Freepers, who thank them for their service and ask them how their recovery is coming along.

A few minutes later, the soldiers decide to head on down to attempt a dialogue with the [Code Pink] protesters. I follow several yards behind, to observe the interaction.

Even though I’m out of earshot, I can tell from the body language that it’s not going well. Bruce attempts to keep the soldiers away from the protest, and most of the Pinkos won’t even acknowledge their presence. Eventually, they leave.

What happens next is not surprising to me. Smash went over to talk to these wounded soldiers who tried to talk with the Code Pink protesters...

Mason: They wouldn’t even talk to us! How are they supporting us, if they won’t even talk to us, or look us in the eye?

P.D.: Exactly! That’s what we got from them. If they won’t even talk to us...

SMASH: Well, what was the general attitude, when you first got down there?

P.D.: The general attitude was, they were kind of pushing us out. Wouldn’t talk to us. Just blowing us off.

SMASH: Had you identified yourselves as soldiers from Walter Reed?

P.D.: Oh, yeah...

Smash has the full interviews, with pics and audio, over on his blog. Check it out.

Here are some cool craft ideas for sending homemade gifts to soldiers. These crafts are easy to make, easy enough for even kids to do (with some supervision). Some of these might even be great as a class art project for kids, maybe to be used as stocking stuffers for soldiers (yes, it's getting to be time for thinking about the holidays for our troops).

The first project is Safety Pin Angels.

You need:

5 Safety Pins, Size 4
6 Safety Pins, Size 2
49 Red, White & Blue Pony Beads or
Translucent Pony Beads
20 Metallic Pony Beads
White Glue
30" Metallic Cord
One 16mm Wooden Barrel Bead

Click here for full directions on making these little angels.

Next are these really easy to make Paperclip Angels.

Materials:
12 inch piece of 1/8th inch ribbon
1-silver 8mm round bead
1-#2 size paperclip clamp
scissors, glue and craft needle

Additional Materials for Birthstone Angels:
1- 8mm faceted bead
4- 6mm faceted beads
1-ribbon rose

Click here for the directions on making these angels.

Another fun idea is this Patriotic Bracelet.

You Need:
--3 Yards Red Satin Cord
--3 Yards White Satin Cord
--Blue Pony Beads
--Masking Tape

For directions (with pictures) on making this easy bracelet click here.

You can also use the links above to find more cool and easy craft patterns and directions.

I received a few good questions from Lisa on this post, so I thought I'd answer them with another post instead of just in the comments. Lisa's first couple of questions were - "Could you advise me about selling art online? You said you sold yours at "auction." Was that e-bay?"

Yes, I used to sell artwork on Ebay, and still sell art in other internet auction places such as Overstock.com's auction site. I was in fact a Powerseller on Ebay a few years ago, and do have some helpful tips for selling artwork (or anything for that matter) at an online auction site. Here's an article I wrote in 2004 on the subject:

Read more

Here's my latest fun abstract if you'd like to see it......(click More)

Read more