Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Promotional Frenzy....Something New

I joined a new thread in the past few days, Promotional Frenzy! It seems like a fun way to get my shop out there. I have tried many different ways to get my items seen but do not seem to have much luck so I will get this neat idea a try.

Tonight we are going to do a Promotional Blitz...as I do not use most of the sites they use yet I decided to do a blog post and send it out to all my other teams.

Here are some of the items that will be promoted tonight, for many more check out our thread!~



galla15 - Crystal Rivoli Bling Ring
http://www.etsy.com/listing/44536971/new-swarovski-elements-rivoli-bling-ring





Crystalphotography
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63397916/winter-wonderland-fine-art-photography



CrochetedbyCharlene – Brown Hat and Scarf
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64760277/brown-and-multicolored-crocheted-hat-and



Sea Flower Studios - Timeless Beauty Necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64865248/timeless-beauty-necklace



And from my shop I am featuring my New potholders with hot pad:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64170768/set-of-2-potholders-a-hot-pad-in

Monday, December 27, 2010

2011...Making a List and Checking it Twice!

2010 was not a good year for me and I did not spend much time on my shop or crafting but want to change that in 2011! I have some very ambitious goals for the next few years and if I do not get going they will not happen!

So for 2011:

#1...Craft more adding more items to my inventory. I work shift work but have at least 2 days of a week so I am setting aside 4 hours each week to just go to sewing room and work on item. I do alot of hand quilting on night shifts and that will continue.

#2...Add at least 4 new items a week to my shops.

#3...Find more shops to put my items in for the summer and try to locate a shop that is open year around for consignment as well. Here is one shop I have items in..the Wood Islands Lighthouse!

#4...Use my blog to get more attention in my shop and items.

#5...Attend at least 1 more craft show next Christmas season. This is one of my best show...The Colonel Gray Craft Fair.

What are your plans for 2011?

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Who said you Can not teach Old dogs new tricks....

Well then they have never met the Wild Wise Witty Grandmas!!!  This is a wonderful team of grandmas that do all kinds of wonderful crafts, some have been doing them for years others are just getting started!  This group of women are very supportive, caring and talented.

Lets met a few of those WWWG's as we call them on our thread:

GrandmaLindasHouse aka Linda where everything is made with love. She enjoys creating and the thought of someone enjoying her creations makes her very happy. She is a wizard with the sewing machine making tiny Barbie clothing and her upcycled mittens are a real hit!











Next up we have...Mountainsidecrochet who crochets the cutest little critters!  She just moved to St Louis to be close to her family and is readjusting to the cold weather.







Then we have Enchantedquilling! She makes the most amazing cards, such detail!  She is also an avid golfer and an all around fun Grandma...which you would never know it by her energy.

Stay tuned as I will be featuring more of the Grandmas in the future!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Our Favorite Animal Lover....Beadedtail!



There are many beautiful people in the Etsy Community and one of the kindest most gentlest people I have met is one of those people...Beadedtail aka Sharla. Sharla's shop is very unique in that she donates a portion of ALL sales proceeds to animal awareness causes!
Sharla is very active in many teams...Etsy Angels♥, EFA Artists Helping Animals♥, and EtsyBloggers♥! I know Sharla from the Etsy Angels. She takes part in all our fundraisers and is a very welcome member of our team with her encouragement, support and friendship.

Her blog is so entertaining and is usually about her furbabies that mean the world to her. Drop in and read about them and comment:
http://beadedtail.blogspot.com/

Saturday, December 18, 2010

It is Looking alot like Christmas

I love to decorate for Christmas.  I have many little things that have been given to me as gifts. My birthday is the first week in December so alot of my friends and family get me a new ornament or decoration.


Last year we gave in and purchased an artificial tree,  verdict is still out on it. It is pretty and easy but I miss the smell of the fresh trees so much. The balls that are white on the tree are handmade by my daughter in law and each has a picture of our family, one of myself, hubby, son, daughter in law and a couple of grandson #1, she is making me one with grandson #2  for this year.  It is a tradition for her now....my mom has one of each grandchild!





The Navitity Scene was a gift from Hubby's employer one year!  The 2 ornaments on speakers were gifts from son's mother in law for my birthday.



This year it looks like we may have a green Christmsas... I would really love to have a bit of snow. Mind you not much as we have many plans for the holidays.


And those 2 adorable boys are my gifts from my son and his wife!


Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Glass Tiled Pendants by KCowie




Today I will be featuring a member of the OhCanadaTeam, KCowie. KC as we call her on the thread discovered her niche in the Etsy world with her beautiful pendants!


She is a Canadian from London, Ontario. KC is a relatively new member of the online world, she joined the Etsy family as a seller January 2010. At first she made cross stitched greeting cards but quickly changed to her glass pendants.


She has many styles to choose from...and all are very beautiful made! Another great seller for her this holiday season is her wine glass charms.


Be sure to check out her shop, she will even do custom orders for you.

Supplies, Supplies and much more from Circleinthesand





The artist of the day will be Circleinthesand or as we Etsians know her, Duckie!

Duckie is a very special lady that is part of the Wild, Wise and Witty Grandmothers team. She has a great sense of humor and is a positive influence on the team members with lots of great advice and encouragement.


Her shop features mostly supplies but she turns her hand at a few other things as well....plastic canvas creations, tags and mini notebooks.


She is from Jacksonville, Florida where she lives with her husband!

Sock Monkey Hats by Mamajody


I have been neglecting my blog again so I am going to begin anew by featuring a different artist a few times a week.

I belong to the Etsy Angels Team; the Wild, Wise and Witty Grandmothers Team; and the OhCanada Team. I will start by featuring some of those wonderful ladies and their unique items.

My first feature will be on a member of the Etsy Angels Team, Mamajody who seems to have found her niche on Etsy with her Sock Monkey hats. Her hats are suitable for every member of the family. She crochets other items as well. Mamajody lives in Georgetown, IN.

Here are a few of her gorgeous unique sockey monkey hats...and she will do custom orders for you as well!



Sunday, November 7, 2010

Our newest Angel....


He has finally arrived....our darling grandson! Bentley Ausin Christopher arrived at 1:20 am on November 6th! There were many scary times in the past few months when we were doubting if we would get to know this grandchild.

Friday the doctors decided it was time for him to make his entrance into this world. He was only 34 weeks but he arrived doing well, he weighs 4 pounds and 14 ounces, 18 inches long.

His parents and big brother, Brayden are very happy! They are so thrilled to add to their family.

This month is very happy and very sad month for them....on November 22nd last year they lost their second child arrived as a still born. We find it so unfair that this child did not get to spend his life with us.

God bless all the little children out there!

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Another Month Gone By...

It is hard to believe that October is gone and we are into another November. Last November was a hard one for my family...hope this one will be better.

October has been a busy month for me and the Etsy Angels but we have come together and raised lots of funds for the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign in Louisville.

The totals are coming in but so far we had 140 sales that a percentage of will be donated.

The Etsy Angels are going to take November and December off and spend time to work on our own shops and to help promote each other and gain some sales for the holiday season.

I have 4 more craft shows to get ready for and attend, a new grandchild about to be born and am running a program on Addictions for the females in the institute I work in....so November will be another busy month.

Oh, yeah I will also have to do a bit of Christmas shopping!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

My Latest Project for Grandson!





My grandson wanted his room to be a big boy room and decided Camo was the theme. His mom is the designer/decorater but due to pregnancy can not do it.....so in comes Grammie...but Grammies is not a decorater.

He got his camo colors on the walls but not the design but he loves it and it all seems to be coming together...still need wall art and we are waiting for his camo netting to arrive to make a closet door covering. They live in a small home and every bit of space has to be utilized so his closet is storage as well as his new entertainment unit. We put his dresser in the closet as well to free up some floor space.

Two walls are painted the dark camo green, one the light camo green and the other a dark brown. We bought him the bunk beds and his other grandmother bought him the comforter sets in camo that are reversible. The brown curtains came with it but his mom is going to do something else to them as they are too plain.

He has some army tanks, men and other items that will be put in either shadow boxes or on small shelves. He painted his own light switch covers and plug in covers. As well as a hocket stick with pegs on it for hanging his medals in...he did a great job of making them match his camo bedding.

We are looking for some cool under bed storage units for his smaller trucks and toys. He confiscated his parents dvd rack for his movies and games and put at the corner of his bed....looks great but wonder how long that will all stay together and neat.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Let Them Be Kids....

I had a wonderful day yesterday with my grandson. A few weeks ago my grandson asked me if I would help with the building of a playground at his school. Of course I agreed. He loves for me to take him to these things as I allow him more freedom.

I had to take a vacation day from work so waited til Friday before requesting it as it was forcasting rain. The event was going forward if there was only showers. I got up at 7am to be ready to be there for 8am and it was raining here...not a good start but phoned grandson and he said no rain here Grammie!

Off we went, boy was I surprised, lots were there already working away. It was daunting when we were told what was going to happen for the day! Not only was the new jungle gym to be finished(the men had worked on it for a few days as there was welding involved and kids could not be there) but old jungle gyM was repainted -

2 green spaces redone...one was just a jungle...lol...lots of hard work there:



existing swings, baskeball hoops, soccer nets were all painted:




There was lots of tree trimming going on too...the front of the grounds was all thinned out and hauled away, the back of the lot was thinned out and some trails were made wider for skiing in the winter...I did not make it that far to get pictures.

At 11am they ran out of name tags for the volunteers....300 were ordered!!! It was amazing to see students, parents, teachers, principles and lots from the community to come together to make this happen.

It was a dream of a former teacher who was very active in the Home and School Program, LauraLee Crawford Walsh! Lauralee died of cancer a few years ago but her dream was never forgotten...the park was named in her honour and this is only Phase 1!



After some speeches, thank yous LauraLees family unveiled the sign and opened the playground to the kids...





The Home and School Committee could not believe what had been accomplished...we were there for about 6 hours! There were lots of donations of food, drinks and snacks... we all ate well and had fun along with accomplishing so much for the kids of the community!!!

LET THEM BE KIDS!!!!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Preparing for the Harvest

>
The fall or as some call it autumn is the most beautiful time of year. There are so many great colors with the leaves changing, the crops getting ripe for harvest and the late flowers.

I love it, it is nice to be outdoors working in the gardens or even getting the wood ready to put in for the winter.

Strolling through the shops of Etsy I was able to find lots of neat items that represent harvest and the fall.

Here is an adorable apron featuring pumpkins and squash by Boojiboo:


I love the smell of pumpkins and cinnamon and Sycamoreboutique has that covered all year around with these great soya candles:


I will help you with your decor for the harvest with these beautiful placemats:


Craftsbycarer will help you stay neat and tidy with this apron while you prepare the harvest preserves:


Gourmetplayfood has a neat card representing fall and harvest...send it off to a friend and invite them over to enjoy some of your vegetables and fruits:


Wildlifer will dress you up for the visit with these cute pumpkin earrings:



This is just a couple of neat fall items, live me a link to something in your shop and I will include you in my next blog post.

Be sure to pass this link along the more that reads our posts the better the chance of getting more into our shops.

Enjoy!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

What I can get from Etsy Sellers to Prepare for Hurricane Earl

I live on Prince Edward Island and our weather is pretty predictable. Hot in the summer for a few weeks, August we have our annual Old Home Week then it turns cooler right after and we get ready for the winter. Winters can be long but not too bad... some years we get more snow than others.

But hurricanes do not come to our area very often. The last on was Juan about 5 years ago now they are talking about us getting Earl. So I was checking my list of supplies and I thought I wonder what I could get on Etsy if I was looking for things to help me through...so lets see what I found!

First off candles...

Smokeymountainscents have a great deal on their soya candles!




More beautiful candles from SummerWilson8:



Now we need something to hold the longer candles in...lets check out Bloomroompottery for gorgeous candle holders:


Now we need something for the children to do... Games!

NewEnglandQuilter has cute Memory Games:


Aracne For Kids has neat finger puppets:


and how about this neat wooden puzzle by Usnavyretiredvet:


We will need to keep warm if we are in an area that is colder....we will check out blankets...

Craftsbycarer has cute ones:


Arrivingangels has gorgeous soft ones too:


Lets have some snacks....

Nikid has delicious choclate:


Brownbagbakery has carmels:


Well, that is a start for Hurricane Earl...but there are many many more things on Etsy for you!

Stay safe and hope that Hurricane Earl passes you by!

Wonderful Quotes to live by!

"Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you."

~ William Arthur Ward