I told you there'd be more jewelry soon! I've been busy designing, stringing, crimping, photographing, editing, cropping, describing, and posting a whole bunch of Christmas earrings.

The first set is Sleigh Bells Ring, a merry, jingly combination of freshwater pearls and tiny, tiny bells. Like the bells hanging from the bridle of the horse drawing your sleigh. Festive and fun.

The second is Let It Snow. Remember that tacky fake wreath with the tacky fake snow your grandmother always put on the door? I've immortalized it in earring form, only much more classy. Pearls, garnet, and green glass.

Deck the Halls features tiny Christmas lights that pick up any surrounding light and seem to glow from within. They don't -- no plugs necessary -- but the effect is pretty awesome. Set off with tiny coral and jade beads.

And there will be yet more to come!

I've had a number of requests for something like this -- from people who can't decide which tea to get to a friend who wanted small sizes of my lip balms to put in her apron at work. At Om Shanti Handcrafts we* aim to please -- so here it is!

* For a definition of 'we' that actually means 'me' but that's how the phrase goes.

You can choose any five samples from a long list of my products -- almost all of them, in fact, with the exception of the body sprays. Choose a selection of bath salts or teas, or broaden your selection into the salves, lip balms and oils. The combinations are endless*!

* Actually there are 3.63797881 × 10²⁶ possible combinations, which might as well be endless because none of us will ever live long enough to pack them all up.

Anyway, enough math. These make great gifts -- they come in the low glass dish you see in the photo -- or really, you can just get a bunch of little things for yourself. Or get a deal on five stocking stuffers! Your choice.

Comes in a wrapped gift box at your request FREE!

Yep, your choice. That's what this Five Samples Gift Set is all about.

Been a while since I was in a Treasury! And this is a really nice one, too, with a holiday theme. Come to think of it, I think this is the first treasury that's actually featured my jewelry!

I'm in good company. I'm especially fond of the cardinal photograph and the peppermint and mistletoe soap set.

But everything in it's cool in its own way -- so be sure to have a look!

Tink's also got a problem. Fundamentally, her skin doesn't work right, and sometimes she hurts herself and takes a long time healing. So Tink's mom rubs her with diluted tea tree and lavender oils, and then adds skin cream on top to keep her from itching.

This is a pain in the butt. And so, I set out to make things a little simpler for Tink and her mom.

I figured I might as well make the new salve available to everyone. Lavender and tea tree are a favourite combination of mine; I did a lavender tea tree soap a while ago, and though it's long sold out I remember it well. (Might even do another run soon, but I digress...)

It smells good. It feels nice. It's moisturizing. It makes itchy spots go away. It helps your skin heal when you've been chewing on it.

Which humans generally do less often than Tink, but you never know.

Tink is rather a princess (see the top picture if you doubt me), so it seemed only right to name my new product for her. After all, it should appeal to her natural vanity (and I'm assured that she's quite vain) and she was the one to inspire my new product. Or her mom was, anyway.

And, I'll admit it, I like dogs. I haven't gotten to meet Tink myself but I suspect that if I did we'd get along wonderfully.  If she ever got over being offended at me for laughing so hard when she runs into her brother again.

In any case, I'm glad to be doing my part to keep Tink happy and healthy. And I'm proud to add Tink's Tea Tree Lavender Salve to my line of products. For the princess in all of us.

Isn't today the perfect day for a feature?

Thanks to Dawn of Scary White Girl Designs I have one!

She features pics of my Minty Scrubby Soap and Shindig, still one of the pieces I'm proudest of. Here's an excerpt:

Om Shanti Handcrafts is the Etsy shop of Kate Jones of Longmont, Colorado. Kate's interest in handcrafted items began with a gift of bath salts, combined with a propensity for buying beads, and, as she says "It's all kind of snowballed from there. Yes, snowball is a good word. So is avalanche."

You can read the rest at her blog, and be sure to check out her shop as well -- she's a fellow Firefly fan who makes Jayne Hats and a delightfully odd line of Decapitated Dollies. And she's offering free shipping all this weekend on any purchase of $30 or more!

Yep, that's C-3PO's head there. Complete with death certificate. And a Jayne Hat!