New Creations!

Ah, another EARLY Sunday morning (it just turned midnight), and what to do? All the chores are done, every thing is put away where it belongs, I've already eaten dinner (we took advantage of the Papa Johns $10 dollar pizza deal!) The baby is asleep-

and my loving husband is watching some zombie flick on his laptop...

... so I take the opportunity, and take photos of my latest creations!

Here we have a collection of barrettes that I've been working on, and I'm happy to say that I really like the way they are turning out.

This pink one below is for Valentine's Day... but I'm not done yet. In fact, after I took this picture, I affixed a glittering gem that used to be an earring stud to the center button, creating a more classy look. I still have to let it set, then coat it with a protectant, but it should be good to go up on my Etsy by tomorrow.

This one is made with bits of blown glass- dark purple pieces. I like it because it has a more sophisticated look to it.

Here is another shot of it, from another angle.

OK- last but not least, my favorite! one so far... I'm not sure what I'm going to call this one, but I'm thinking something "Stone"... it gives off the feeling of stones to me. I really, really love this one... I hope every one else will, too. :)

And as a side note, my hubby bought me a cup of coffee the other day from a train stop while we were at the Dr. office, and look! What a wonderful lighthouse there is on it. I kept it simply for the lighthouse... maybe I'll make something out of it!

Thursday Creative Traffic!

Well... we all "surf" the web, do we not? And people refer to lots of visitors to a site as "traffic"... so here we go for Thursday, Thursday Traffic!

I recently was surfing on Etsy, checking out the forums, and I found two absolutely wonderful sellers that I've made personal friends with. Their items are not only unique, but absolutely worth sharing!

First we have Extravagantlove! Her cards are really, really well put-together. You can visibly see the time and effort she puts into each. And her prices are VERY reasonable... I think she charges too little! I got this card for my husband for V Day... shhhhh! :)

You should definitely take some time and go look at her shop. She is definitely worth getting to know. I love this card so very much, and I know my husband will too.

The second seller I found that I fell in love with (I mean whose WORK I fell in love with! ha ha ha) is Joel Quiggle! He is a member of the CAST- Christian Artists Street Team and his work is positively amazing. There is so much meaning, depth, and detail that goes into his work. Just look at this one... it made me cry when I first saw it.

I sincerely hope you get the opportunity to check both of these wonderful artists out. I am very, very glad that I did!!!

Day-Themed Blogs?

So, I've seen a couple of blogs lately that have "Day Themes"... for example, today being Wednesday, there is a "Wednesday Wants", where the author posts about something the particularly want, bringing attention to both the item and the seller.

That being said, I think it is a cool idea to have theme days, as long as it doesn't become so regimented that you can't think of what to write anymore. Another one I know does a day with a doodle, I believe it is a Friday. Every Friday, she just posts a new doodle.

The only problem is, there is so much out there to write about, even within the confines of the crafting/art world, that I wouldn't know where to begin with coming up with themes for different days. Anyone have any ideas? Help me out. :) If I like yours, I'll use it, and of course, give you the proper credit!

Keepin' it Green... :)

OK, so even if you're not a full-blown conservationist, every one recycles, at least somewhat, these days. And that's a good thing... even a little bit helps!

That being said, I decided to share one way crafters can recycle, no matter what it is you make/send to customers. Of course, this works better if you HAVE customers, but most people who sell on Etsy have some kind of customer base, so this applies. :)

When you buy something on Etsy, most people will send some kind of a card with it, whether it simply be a Thank You card, or just a little nice note to say thanks, tell you about the item, or to offer their web url for futre transactions.
(A card I received with a bought item recently)


I generally keep these cards, and when it is time for me to send something to someone else, I simply recycle the card for my own purpose. I will cut and paste a paper block on the inside of the card and write my own message on it,


add a little design,


and maybe even a sticker to make it more "mine".

And there you have it... a card all your own, but recycled! There are tons of little ways to "Keep it Green"... all it takes is a little thinking, a little creativity, and some time, and you've done your part! :)

I read the blogs. I update my Facebook Fan Page (when I feel there is something noteworthy). I even... dare I say it? I even Twitter... once in a while. I post in the Etsy forums. I update my blog (although, I try to keep it craft-related).

With all that, I often feel somewhat lost... or left out, as it were. Because I haven't created anything new. I mean, I'll make an ACEO, and I'll love it. I'll put it up on Etsy, blog about it, fan and tweet about it. And then what? I guess it's hard to have something to talk about when it's already done. So I have to open my eyes and mind to new adventures, therefor, I will have more crafts to make.

Coming Soon! I will be having a give away, most likely in Febuary, by the fantastic Luvewwknits! Stay tuned for that!

Trial and Error- It Happens To Us All!

So, I've seen lots of awesome blogs out there, with people posting their wonderful creations, sales, process, etc. They all have a great designed background (template), and are dotted with lovely pictures. They are all fantastic!

But... people *do* make mistakes sometimes... we're all human, after all. And I know I make a lot! So here, for your viewing pleasure, is something I tried, and found that it didn't work. Oh well, it was a cute idea, anyway.

I took a bland barrette and began decorating the entire thing with silver-edged heart stickers. By the time I covered it, it looked really cool. I figured I'd add some Mod Podge sealer, then some gems or something to finish it up. Alas, when I applied the Mod Podge (Puzzle Saver, in this case), all it did was make the stickers peel up off the barrette! What a dissapointment.

Well, like I said, it was a cute idea. Back to the proverbial drawing board! :)

Make YOUR Photos More Interesting!

Hello every one, and happy Friday! I'm sitting here on the top bunk (there are bunk beds in our room here at the shelter) because I've managed to get the best internet connection up here. So here I am, eating Gummi Bears, while my beautiful baby sleeps and my husband watches anime on his own pc on the bunk below. I don't sleep up here, just come up here to use the computer.

So I've been thinking lately about how to make my Etsy listings more interesting, and the photos have a lot to do with that! So I thought of a few ways to make whatever it is your selling stand out just a little more.

One thing I've found that I like to do with my ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions, and Originals) when I photograph them is place them on corresponding colored paper with fancy designs. It adds a bit of class to the background, rather than simply placing the item on a flat, non-colorful surface.

Another cool way to do it is to have two papers underneath, like one a designed one, and the other, a pure white. Experiment and try out different papers, textures, and designs to see what compliments what YOU'RE selling!

When you put some time and thought into how you want to present your item(s) to your audience, then it always comes out better! There is nothing that says you have to be traditional and just take a picture. Check out these other ideas...

Stand your item up next to a fancy cup, saucer, or some ribbon. See what you have lying around that could accentuate what you're selling!

You can even be fun and daring! Look at these two shots... they are definitely not "typical", yet I bet they'd get the viewer to look more closely!

The main idea is to have fun with what you do. Sure, it's nice to get a sale, but it's also nice to have a product (and photo!) that you are pleased with. Nothing can ever beat that! Happy picture taking!!!

Love Blooms (even in the cold)

I love my husband. He is a wonderful man. I try and involve him in my ACEO making as much as possible. Hence, he had an idea for a set of 3 Valentine ACEO cards.

He said I should make two lighthouses whose beams of light met in the middle, forming a heart, where two people would be on an island, together. So sweet!

Well, from theory to concept to execution, the idea evolved a little bit. The people on the island became two fish floating in the heart (it was easier)- but the idea of true love is still the same.

Please let me know what you think of the finished product. LOL- my dashboard says that I have 39 followers... surely some of you have opinions! :) Thanks!!!

Trade!

I am looking to trade, and hope it's cool that I posted here, as I AM looking to promote. OK, so here goes, this is what I have to offer:

Any custom-made ACEO to your specifications.

1 Yard (brand new, in unopened package) purple Felt Fusion Self-adhesive Embellishment (floral design).

Delta Creative unopened package of 30 stencils: ABCs,
Flowers, and Bugs, like bumblebees, lady bugs, and dragon flys.

3 Life of the Party Soap Fragrances, unopened! Scents include: Sandalwood, apple, and peach. Each is .25 Fl. Oz. containers.

I am willing to trade all of this, or whatever you specify, for "any" kind (does not have to be fancy, Wal*Mart kind is just fine) skein of yarn in either red or light blue, or both! And/or a few inches of light blue or green fabric, and/or stuffing, as I need to make my little nephew a stuffed dinosaur for Christmas.

I realize times are tough for every one right now, but I might just have what you need, and vice versa! Let me know, and keep crafting!!!

Christmas is coming!

Have YOUR name (or that of a friend or loved one) custom designed in graffitti you can hang on your wall!

YOU pick the color, YOU pick the style! Do you prefer Urban Ghetto? Or is your style more Techno Flair? Whatever your preference, it is made to your specifications.

Ink, marker, and colored pencil on quality 8.5 by 11 oak tag... perfect for framing!

Christmas is coming... get them a gift that they'll not only remember, but one they'll enjoy!

Visit my etsy shop to order YOURS today!

My First Post!

Hi every one!!! MY name is Kyle, and this is my first ever blog post! I'm getting an early start on things, being that I'm only 6 months old... but it's never too early to blog, right? OK, so here we go!!!

My post today will be a review of Baby Einstein's DVD "Baby's First Sounds, Discoveries for Little Ears".

Now, my Mom has been wanting to check out Baby Einstein DVDs for a while now, because she has heard such wonderful things about them. So, with a little help from Dad, they chose this particular DVD to try out with me!

Well, to be completely honest, the DVD is a bit of a let-down. First of all, it has more than one language throughout. There isn't enough English. And, if this is designed to teach us babies our first sounds/words, then it should focus on ONE language, as to not confuse us. We are only little babies, after all! My first words are not going to be in a different language!

We are not going to give up on Baby Einstein, but this DVD definitely had a lot lacking. But it's fun to play with, at least! I'm going to go take a nap now. Thanks for reading my first post!!!

Unfair Treatment of Homeless People

There is a two-level homeless shelter that is run by C.H.I. (Community Housing Initiative). Recently they have seen bed bugs in the facility upstairs. This is not an infestation, but they are hoping to nip it in the bud before it becomes a problem. To this end, they hired (expensively) a fumigator to come in today and fumigate. The clients who live there had to move all their belongings out of their respective rooms. If the clients had no other place to put the belongings, they could bag them up and place them in the basement until later this evening when every one is allowed to return. This is a good plan, and I commend C.H.I. for providing space for the client's belongings. After all, it is a homeless shelter... if people had a place to store their stuff, likely they wouldn't have to be in a shelter to being with.

What I do find unfair is the fact that all the clients had to take their clothes (clean AND dirty) and wash them, at their own expense. Whether the client has a job or not, or a family or friend's place to wash the clothes, they have to wash the clothes. All of them. Many of the clients do not have the financial means to do this. C.H.I.'s response to this? "What would you do if you were on your own? If you do not comply, you are free to return to the Department of Social Services and be rehoused". Many clients have children in school, and there is no gaurantee that DSS could rehouse them in a shelter any where near the schools. Sometimes DSS will put you in a motel, and the motels are horribly run- dirty and bug-ridden.

I find this extremely unfair to people who are in difficult situations who are trying to get their lives on track once again. All of the clothes we have currently (my husband, me, and the baby) cost us $72.00 to have washed. Why did we have them washed instead of washing them ourselves? Because we "need a receipt" as proof that they were truly washed, or they wouldn't be allowed back into the shelter. One poor girl simply didn't have the funds to wash the clothes, so she had to take herself and little baby and return to DSS. Who knows where they put her.

Welcome to October (my FAVORITE month!)

I had a thought a while back. I have this same thought every year. The thought is this: that I WILL document and experience SOME sort of October every day of the month, wether it is baking apple pie or collecting leaves, or something! Well, needless to say, life gets in the way, and I may not have stuck to the "every day" rule, but I've been trying to do something every day so far. I think I'm doing ok...

I began knitting my baby boy a blue scarf. I like how it's coming out so far... I'm knitting in straight standard regular knit stitch, except for the edges which I'm doing knit knit, purl purl, to create a kind of border. I will post a picture as it comes along.

I took my Kyle out for a nice Autumnal walk the other day, and this is how he looked!

We saw these interestingly-sculpted bushes. It reminded me of Edward Scissorhands!

We also got to see this interesting fungus growing on a nearby tree!

We also finally found this pear tree that I'd been looking for! I had heard a friend mention it's existance, but she told me the wrong location. So I was very pleased when I did indeed find it!

We also saw this lovely fall tree... it truly is my favorite time of year!

AND just for fun... here is a picture of my baby boy, sportin' a cool hat! Every one get outside and ENJOY this month... it only comes once a year!!!

Etsy is... down for maintanence?!?

Nooooooooo!!! I came all the way to the college to use the internet, and etsy is down? The inhumanity!!!

OK well, then... I will do my etsy search THIS way... by utilizing you, my beloved followers!

This is what I am in current search of. If you make the items yourself, or can recommend someone to me that does make them, that would be really really great!

OK I am looking for: Either (or both!) a soap and/or lipgloss with the taste/scent of Mr. Goodbar. It is my all time favorite candy, and I would love products that are fun and that remind me of my candy!

Also, soap and/or lipgloss with either a green tea scent/flavor or with a coffee scent/flavor!

Finally, I'm looking for any surf-style jewelry, similar to this: Anything with Hawaiian flowers would do, too.

OK so that's it! Promote your shops! Or those of your friends! Let me see those items!!! :)

Favorite things?

I was asked in a survey lately what was my favorite item that I'd created. What??? I've been creating since I can't remember (used to decorate my crib with diaper, yeah, thanks for the info, mom!)

But it got me thinking... what really are my favorite items? So often, it seems, we as artists and craftsmen create something that we LOVE, and then sometimes we make things that are OK, and we put them up anyway. And you know what? Someone will generally buy the OK thing! That just goes to show that there are very varied tastes out there, and more times than not, someone will like what you don't necessarily think is "all that", LOL.

However, I decided to post here three of my creations that I would consider my favorites, and why:

I really love the way these painted golf balls turned out. I think they really do look like candy! Not only are they a cute gift for that chocolate lover, they also make a great gift for any golf enthusiast. I like this creation so much for it's originality and versatility. Besides, they make me hungry!!! :)

This is another of my favorites, more for what it says than for how it looks. Too many people are negatively effected by the current economy crisis, and the president doesn't seem to have the right answers. Just my humble opinion.

And finally, I really like the way this one turned out! I never really made anything Star Trek related, but for a first attempt, I don't think it's half bad.

Why don't you post some of your favorites today, and why they are? :) Enjoy the weekend!!!