The Reelentless

After years of taking fishing charters run by others, we decided with my husband's love of fishing and our family's love of fish, we needed our own boat. He's been dreaming of this for years and we just got this one a couple of weeks ago. She's even got a little head and galley which pleases me and she is very comfortable to sleep in. What I like most is the heater and the fact that the cover keeps you out of the weather. Even in the middle of Summer it can get really cold out on the water and it rains - a lot.

The Reelentless. Here she is in her slip at Valdez, Alaska.
She will be roaming the icy waters of Prince William Sound this summer as we fish for halibut, salmon, red snapper and ling cod.

Here's a photo of a rainbow I took out the boat's window. It was cold and misty when we started out and the sea was a bit rough. We ducked into a cove and caught three halibut and went back to port. It's a good thing because the ocean's swells were getting a bit bigger and I was feeling a bit green around the gills.
We got to see otters and porpoises - but they were being shy and I could not get photos.

A view of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline snaking its way up the mountainside - taken while driving back to North Pole after our fishing trip last weekend:

It runs 800 miles from the harbor town of Valdez to the North Slope oil fields at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

Goodnight Moon

We've loved this wonderful children's book for many years. This is a collection of vintage and handmade items available on Etsy that we have chosen to represent the illustrations in Margaret Wise Brown's classic story.

Swept from the Sea - An Ocean of Lovelies

With Spring approaching, we are making items loaded with Czech glass flowers and other garden lovelies! Here's our Dragonfly by the Sea necklace:Another sea inspired piece, Octopus in the Grotto, in transquil shades of turquoise, aquamarine, teal and seafoam:
Our Garden in the Grotto Charm bracelet, loaded with tiny sea creatures, Czech glass flowers, leaves and beads:

♥ Things I Love - Green Haven Soaps ♥

Interior Alaska Winters are long, brutal and drying to the skin. It was not uncommon for our skin to be itchy and flaky and develop dry patches on the elbows. Since switching to handmade soaps several months ago, the whole family has noticed an improvement in our skin - and no dry patches on the elbows!

I have purchased a lot of handmade soap in local shops, on my travels and over the internet. Some of the most delightful, outstanding bars I've used come from Green Haven Soaps on Etsy.

The bars are generously sized and highly scented with natural ingredients and essential oils. I could tell by the high quality of the bars that this soap maker does not skimp on ingredients. I've noticed some handmade soaps can get a bit soft and mushy after they have become wet. Green Haven's bars remained firm, yet still produced creamy, luxurious lather.

The soap is also presented beautifully. The bars came wrapped in a paper sleeve with a forest green embossed wax seal.

The shop is like a medieval fairy tale. With fanciful names like Avalon, Selkie, Quest and Tavern, beautiful photographs and descriptions of the soap, I felt like I had been transported to a magical land. Green Haven mixes scents in delicious combinations too - juniper, lavender, clary sage, peppermint are just some of the wonderful ingredients. I'm on the second bar from her shop and look forward to trying all the soap I purchased and will definitely be buying more.
I also purchased Green Haven Soap's Alchemy body wash. I didn't know whether to drink it or wash with it when I took my first whiff of this delightful concoction. It has an amazing scent of orange and honey. Alchemy truly looks like a magical potion with its lovely golden colour and is bubbly and wonderful and I feel so pampered when I use it!
Handmade soap is one of the last affordable luxuries. Such a great way to indulge yourself or give as a gift.

Etsy Beagles Blog Giveaway ♥ Enter to Win A Fabulous Prize!!

Cast your vote at the Etsy Beagle Blog: http://etsybeagles.blogspot.com/2010/02/etsy-beagles-hearts-and-hounds-team.html

We love dogs. We love Beagles. We are also proud members of the Etsy Beagle Street Team - made up of Etsy Sellers drawn together by their love of dogs. Periodically our team will pick a theme and participating members will create items to go along with the theme. Team members donate a portion of the proceeds of their entry to the animal charity of their choice.

Our latest theme is "Hearts and Hounds". You have an opportunity to win a fabulous pouch from the lovely Tricia of Kooky Handbags just for voting for your favorite team entry:
All you need to do is go to the official Etsy Beagle Blog and vote for your favorite team challenge entry by leaving a comment and voila! You're entered!

The winner is chosen by our "Flealess Leader" Miss Anomoly's handsome hound Flash.

Flash dives into a bowl where slips of paper with the names of the voters have been placed. His goal - the hidden Snausage. The first slip out of the bowl shows the winner. ♥


Our entry is the Hearts and Hounds Charm Bracelet.

$10 from the sale of the bracelet will be donated to the Loving Companion Animal Rescue in North Pole, Alaska. Visit their website to learn more about them.

Good luck to all!

Alice in Wonderland Jewelry by 2 Raven Chicks

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
- Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland

We are SO excited to see the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland movie that will be coming out in March!

Here are some of the Alice in Wonderland inspired pieces for sale in our Etsy shop..

The Queen of Hearts choker

Alice Meets the Caterpillar charm necklace
Alice in Wonderland charm necklace

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Inspired by L. Frank Baum's classic The Wizard of Oz, we created this charm necklace. Complete with the yellow brick road, flying monkey, the Tin Man, Lion and Ruby Slippers.

It's for sale in our Etsy shop:

Finding Oz Charm Necklace