Etsy Angels and American Diabetes Association

I am the co moderator to a great team....The Etsy Angels....and the primary goal of our team is to raise money for charity.

This month we are raising funds for the American Diabetes Association...

* "For more than 60 years, friends like you and the American Diabetes Association have made great progress in the fight against diabetes. Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of the 20.8 million children and adults in the US who suffer from this life-threatening disease. The generosity of our donors is vital as we continue our efforts to search for a cure, help people with diabetes, and invest in the health of future generations."

* "There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease. "

Below are some signs and symptoms of diabetes, if you have one or more of these symptoms please see your Doctor right away.

* Frequent urination
* Excessive thirst
* Extreme hunger
* Unusual weight loss
* Increased fatigue
* Irritability
* Blurry vision

You can prevent Type 2 Diabetes by eating healthy, being active, lowering your BMI and losing weight. For more information on Diabetes and for info on the American Diabetes Association please visit their website. http://www.diabetes.org/

The angels are helping by donating a portion of their September sales to the ADA if you want to join you are more than welcome to add your name to our list...we only ask that you post once in awhile in our thread and that you convo Wildlifer78 your totals at the end of the event! WE will be promoting those on our list and getting treasuries to feature them!

So come on out and help us raise funds for the American Diabetes Association! Join us in our September thread:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6268321

And meet our new Mascot...designed by Ozarknana:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30188577

Custom Orders

I love to sew and to make things that people want. It is so rewarding when people will see something in your shop and then request the same in a different color or theme to match their style.

Since joining Etsy I have made many different custom orders some were as I stated earlier just different themes or colors but others have requested that I make something entirely different from my shop! Those are fun too.

Sandy of SayitwithJewelry(http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=7592552) saw a set of placemats that I was promoting on the forums and requested this neat set for her daughter along with matching napkins which I have never made before!( Hope I can get pictures to go in right order this time). Sandy was going on vacation and just purchased by seeing the fabric she has not seen the finished product yet.

Another great customer of mine is Lisa of Cblandcompany and Beadznstonezsupplies(http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5564707). She is a super lady to work with...I have made many things for her over the past 2 years....wallhanging, placemats, oven mitts, table runners, Christmas stockings. My greatest accomplishment was the quilt that she had me custom make for her...It turned out huge and beautiful. You can see it here and read about how it was made (http://monashandcraftedgiftsquilts.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-first-etsy-custom-order-for.html). She has more orders in the wings for me too when she finds the fabric she likes. Keep them coming Lisa I love decorating your home....lol!

Melana, Ozarknana(http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5809669) is another terrific customer...I have made many diffenent items for her..including this beautiful star table mat and potholders to match.

Judy, Satinpetalsoaps( http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5498271) got me started on custom orders by ordering little satin bags for her homemade soaps. She kept me really busy until she had to take a break from her shop. I hope to see her back at it soon.

I enjoy a challenge as long as it does not involve a pattern I do not follow patterns ....most of my sewing is free hand.

So if anyone has a custom order they would like to have sewn just drop me a line.

Now I am off to mail my latest custom order to Sandy's daughter...hope it arrives in time for her birthday!

Staying with the Tourist Theme

Sunday we decided to play tourist again in our own area. So off we went to the Eastern end of Prince Edward Island. It was a beautiful day so we stopped at our local Robin's coffee shop for a large coffee and away we went!

The first place we headed to was East Point to look at the amazing wind farm. Our government has decided to invest in some alternative energy resourses and have built 2 wind farms, one in the east and one in the west. The one in the east is 10 huge windmills...the arms are each 100 feet long and over 200 feet high. What an amazing site.

Then we were off the The East Point Lighthouse...it is a very busy tourist attraction with guided tours, small resturant and a gift shop. The gift shop showcases local talent and has some unique items in the nautical theme. As we were there we could see the ferry for the Magdeline Islands going by. The coast line is breaktaking there.

Then we were off to Spry Point...wow, what beautiful beaches there...our next outing up that way will be to spend some time on the beach. I am not much of a beach person but I certainly could relax for a few hours there.

We had a great time and headed back home and along the way we stopped at a new resturant called Sir Issac's Pub. We had a delicious supper and what a beautiful job the decorator did with the decor!

That was our day as a tourist on Eastern Prince Edward Island!

My Favorite Street Team....The Etsy Angels!

I have been busy doing blogs in the past few days and now I want to honor my Street Team...the Etsy Angels...they are more than a team on line I consider them my friends!

When things are going bad or we need support we run off to our team thread and pour our hearts out. There is always some one there to help us through it! We have shared many events in our lives over the past 2 years, happy, sad, joyous, disappointing...you name it one of us has been there. It is so nice to chat with it to someone that is not going to be going behind your back and discuss it with your friends or neighbours~!

Here is how our team got started:
Our Team was formed after the many hours spent together promoting for Dawn’s Boys; an effort that began in late December 2007 after a Jewelry artist who was on both Etsy and Ebay lost her life in an automobile accident. She left behind two little boys. Several "Angels" came together to help. After spending countless hours promoting donations from more people than we could imagine that wanted to help, many friendships were made. We couldn’t imagine it all ending without creating a Team for Dawn’s Angels. ♥

We have taken part in a number of charity events and the next one is coming up soon...In the month of September we are doing one for the American Diabetes Association!

I hope that it will go as well as the past ones....anyone interested in joining us can....we are always looking for Angel friends to help out! Just contact myself or anyone on our team.

You will always find someone here:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6240372

Wood Islands Lighthouse

I refer to the Wood Island's Lighthouse frequently so decided to do a story on it and let everyone know what an interesting place it is!

To start off my Sister manages it. It is a real lighthouse that has been turned in to a museum and Interpretive center and gift shop. The light house has 11 rooms that are orginal and each represent a part of the lighthouse life. Years ago the lighthouse keeper lived there.

It is run by the Wood Islands Developement Corporation that is mostly made up of volunteer community members.

They run a gift shop to help off set costs...I have my crafts there and they do quite well...they like to have nautical items but do sell other things.

There are guided tours that take you right up to the light itself.

Here is their website: http://woodislandslighthouse.com/

Last week they had a moonlight tour...my grandson and I were there. It was fun and they had local entertainment along with fresh lemonade and cookies.

Earlier in the summer they hosted the Sea Glass Festival that was a huge success and will become an annual event!

If you ever get to Prince Edward Island it is a must see on your list!

Playing the Tourist!!

It is funny how we go away to be a tourist and hardly ever attend to the events near our home area!

Well, last night I decided to play the tourist with my grandson and as I had him only for the night and day...had to do things close by.

We started with a moonlight tour of the Wood Islands Lighthouse...it is a museum and a gift shop that my siter, Beverly manages:
http://woodislandslighthouse.com/.

We had a blast...the tour was very informative with snacks and lemonade made the old fashioned way. There was an old fashion kitchen party with guitar and fiddle players and great music. I did forget one thing my camera but hope to get some pictures from my sister of the night.

Today we went to another local attraction that I never visited before...the Glass bottle Village...it was amazing and my grandson was so thrilled by it. The village was built by Garfield Gills of Point Prim..it consists of a church, a general store, a school room, a replica of the Anne of Green Gables house although it is not called that and a Lighthouse! All are made by recycled glass bottles and mortar. These building are amazing and the admission fee is a donation to the Issac Walton Kids Hospital...which is our main hospital for sick children. Many babies are born there each year and survive only because of them.

To round of the day we went to a camp ground near by and my Grandson made some new friends in the pool and we had lunch on the deck with a four legged furry friend!

So the next time you think of a vacation..you may want to check out your local area...I know I will. I am already planning my next outing with grandson.

Our day at Shining Waters Park in Cavendish Beach

We made a tradition of going to a park in Cavendish each year. It started off years ago when we did not like to take our boys to the carnival in town. My sister in law and I decided to make a day of it at Rainbow Valley...a beautiful park that no longer exists...We took a picnic lunch and spent the whole day. The next year my sister joined with her 2 little girls, the next year another sister with her children then the following year the whole family went including the guys! As the years went by it was harder and harder to get everyone together so we set a date and who ever can goes!

Two years ago they closed our favorite park but a new one opened so we tried it...not as nice but it is building up!! It is the Shining Waters water park...lots of great water slides...the kids love it!

This year our group was really small...myself and grandson, sister, her boyfriend and 3 girls, my brother and his granddaughter...but we still had a blast. The weather was perfect. It was crowded at first but got better later. We took lots of snacks for the children to enjoy...we found out over the years they did not want to take time to eat so we pack lots of goodies for them with juices and water.

We arrived at noon and stayed til 6pm. The kids said they were not ready to leave but not one lasted til we got home ...all had a nap! Fun was had by all...everyone was happy and tired! We are already trying to set up another day...this time it will be "Old Home Week"...our largest local festival...animal shows, talent shows, horse racing, parade and a carnival!

Wow, My Consignment Shops are taking off for Me!

I have been selling in consignment shops for the past 4 years...Things have been good but not great so this year I got a chance to put my crafts in a few more of them. I now have a total of 5 consignment shops...3 are seasonal and 2 are year around.

I left some inventory at each which pretty well wiped me out as you can tell by my Etsy shop. I have slowly been building up some more but did not want to get too far ahead incase this year was not a good one and I ended up taking it all home in October.

Last week ..shop #1 called needed more oven mitt sets..fine made those up~! 3 days ago shop #2 called and had a lady there who wanted 4 adult bibs I only had 2 in the shop that she wanted so needed 2 more ...no problem so then the owner said oh, make up some more for the shop!! Today shop #3 called...this one is a high end shop and is running yearly...she wanted a dozen more of baby bibs, oven mitt sets and oven door dress towels...yikes and she wants them now!!!

Well...I did not too bad ...I have 7 oven door dresses made tonight for her and 6 oven mitt sets. Good job I was ahead in the bibs because they were no problem.

I will have to take a week of work to get caught up...still need those adult bibs ... 2 of which are already sold and 5 more oven door dresses and 6 more oven mitt sets!

I guess I had better not complain as things have been really slow on Etsy.

Next it will be time to get ready for the Christmas Craft Fairs....I have 5 of them this year as well.