Disclaimer I make every effort to give attribution to all images I feature on Epheriell Designs. If I cannot do so, I will always state the source of the image, or link the image to its source. If you find an image of yours that is not attributed, please contact me so I can do so. Thank you.
If you would like to use any images or text from Epheriell Designs, please check if there is an original source for the image. For the text, please link back here.
Jess xx
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By Jessica, on December 31st, 2008%
 Footage... There, I admitted it. I simply do not understand the obsession some women seem to have with shoes.
Admittedly, I have too many pairs, but that tends to stem from two things -
1. I am a pack-rat, and keep old, scuffed, sole-broken shoes loooong past when I should; and
2. I have a tendency to buy cheap shoes when I need them for something (usually work) and they are too uncomfortable/wear out too quickly, but, bringing us back to 1., I can’t bring myself to part with them.
That, and I pretty much refuse to wear heels. Oh, I own a nice pair of black heels, and a sexy red pair of shiny stilettos (which, in my defence, were bought after a traumatic breakup in an attempt to be a new, crazy woman). I also have one pair of boots with heels, which I will wear on occasion to work, as well as a pair I bought years ago because I was my best friend’s maid of honour. But that’s it. And do you know how many days a year I would wear those, altogether?
Less than my number of fingers, that’s for sure. Though, it was only in preparing that list that I realised how many pairs of heels I have, for a person who hates wearing them…
When I was a teenager, I was completely oblivious to any kind of fashion cares whatsoever. I absolutely lived in sneakers. I’m still fond of my sneakers, but I spend most of my time in plain black flat shoes for work – and as I am up and walking around for hours, comfort is my first priority! I have also become a convert to my rip-off pink crocs that I bought for $5 at a cheapie shop. They are just so darn comfy!
So – are you a shoe fashionista? Are your shoes – as a colleague of mine once said – your babies? Or are you like me and just have no idea what the big deal is?
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By Jessica, on December 29th, 2008%
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Last night I was in a quandary. I wanted to take photos of my newest creations for my Etsy shop, but – obviously – it was night-time, and so I had no natural light.
I had heard people mention lightboxes around the web and forums – some people, in fact, say they use nothing but! I have always tried to take my photos in good, natural light, but I decided to try and make myself a lightbox and see how it worked.
After a quick look around, I came up with this:
 Impro-Lightbox! I grabbed a small, opaque white storage box (I usually keep my completed jewellery in this one), a few sheets of white paper, and a white piece of cloth I have lying around.
I then grabbed my old lamp, (I have had this lamp since I was a kid – it’s the type that you can clip onto a bed-head to read by, though that part is broken now), and that was it!
If you do this – please note – don’t leave the lamp on too long! Mine runs very hot, and though I only had it on for a few minutes, it still warped the plastic a bit!
So – the verdict? Well, here are some of the photos I took – what do you think?
 Delicious - Heart of Ice Necklace  Delicious - Summer Berries Necklace  Delicious - Mint Julep Necklace
Normally, I would fiddle with the light levels in my photos a bit before posting them – but I haven’t altered these in any way at all.
I did find you had to be careful with your angle – some of the pictures I took came out too dark because I shot them at a bad angle.
So there you have it! A bit of imagination and improvisation (and I know you’re all good at that!) and you have a lightbox-to-go!
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By Jessica, on December 28th, 2008%
Hello, my name is Jessica, and I’m a chronic midnight snacker.
Many are the nights I will be sitting at the computer, making some jewellery, or reading… and the hunger pangs kick in. Now, I do lead a night-owl existence, usually staying up until 12:30 at the least. Since I usually have dinner at around 8, it’s not surprising that I start to get a little peckish around the 12 o’clock mark.
I have to admit though, I try to avoid eating late if I can – I fear the expanding waistline like the rest of you! But there are times when I just can’t do it… and so off to the kitchen I go.
This is one of my favourite snacks – and I make myself feel better by convincing myself it is healthy… it is, truly!
 Mmmm.. midnight snack... I grab a couple of rice crackers (which I always have in the cupboard), put a dollop of low-fat Tzatziki dip on them, and top that with a slice of cheese and a slice of cucumber. Yummy!
One important part about this snack is that I actually prepare it… then put the bits away… then sit down to eat it. Overweight lurks in the shadows for me if I just sit down and snack randomly…
This makes a nice little finite meal that staves off the hunger pangs, and lets me get on with the important stuff – like writing this blog!
So, who else is willing to ‘come out of the closet’ – and what do you snack on when the midnight munchies hit?
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10 New Years Resolutions You Shouldn’t Keep (But Probably Will)
As the big ’09′ is just around the corner, I thought I should write a post about New Years Resolutions.
But everybody’s already written about the resolutions you should make – you know, like eating healthily or exercising… getting more organised…
So, I decided to take a slightly different perspective. Here’s a list of 10 New Years Resolutions that you absolutely shouldn’t keep… but, chances are, you will…
1. Get Terribly, Hideously Drunk
This is so, at 8am the next morning, when you are vomiting, you will be reminded as to why you should never get terribly, hideously drunk again. Should you?
2. Don’t dare attempt to take up that hobby you’ve been dreaming of for years
What’s the point? You’ll just spend lots of money to find out that you hate rock-climbing/fly fishing/glass-blowing/kite-flying/(insert hobby here). Oh, and you’ll meet new and interesting people and add to your life experience *shudder*. Just stay at home, nice and safe, and keep watching TV, my friend.
3. Ignore your dearest friends – and while you’re at it, your partner and kids, too!
They love you anyways, right? Why bother putting any effort into maintaining the relationship at all. If they’re really your friend they’ll be there to lend you $5000 when your uninsured car blows up and you need a new one right now!
Your wife? Eh – all the hard work is done! Just sit back and grow that beer gut, buddy! No-one needs to put any effort into keeping the other half happy once you’ve got them!
Don’t even mention the kids… they have the Internet to tell them what to do…
4. Eat whatever takes your fancy – and do it now!!
Mmmm… chocolate (please read beer if you are male). As much as you can eat. For ever. Doesn’t that sound like heaven? Of course that little piece (drink) won’t do you any harm… Diabetes happens to other people!
5. Make sure your job stresses you out!
You are so damn important that the cup of coffee you made wrong/sale you didn’t make/typo you missed will snowball and mean an end to humankind!!! The planet’s oceans will boil away! No-one will ever love/hire/smile at you again because you’re the harbinger of doom!!
Of course your mistake will still matter this time next year!!! Won’t it?
6. Watch too much TV
TV is your warm, fuzzy friend. It loves you! Never leave its side, or you might miss the Australian/American/Pop Idol finale! Or be the last to know what country Brad and Angelina get their next kid from! Shock-horror!
Of course the fact that you sit inert for hours each day, your eyes and attention mesmerised by a glowing lightbox, is healthy! This one really helps you stick to resolutions 2, 3, 4 and 8, as well, so it’s extra-important to keep!
7. Make promises you don’t keep
This goes for promises to others, and promises to yourself, as well. Let’s be frank – whenever you say “I promise”, everyone knows you don’t really mean it! And then they go and act all hurt and surprised when you don’t keep your promise! I mean, how dare they!
8. For heaven’s sake – don’t exercise!
Really, there’s no solid evidence that it does you any good, right?
9. Buy whatever you want, whenever you want, and damn the credit card bill!
Recession? What recession? I’ll just keep spending… they money will come from somewhere! I can afford to pay my new $2000 TV off over 12 months – I only have to pay 18% interest. Oh yeah, and the $500 worth of clothes… and the new computer… um…
10. Keep making To-Do lists… and never finish them
Organisation is totally overrated. So what if you’re mobile phone is cancelled because when you got the bill you put it in the pile of already un-opened mail and forgot about it?
Just keep living on the fly, and you can look forward to endless messyness, disorganisation and frustration! Won’t that be nice
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This list, was, of course, written with tongue in cheek – but it also carries a message – especially to myself ! Some of these things I am notorious for, (number 10 in particular – ahem), and some I am lucky enough to have overcome.
So, do share! What’s the New Years Resolution that you shouldn’t keep?
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