Aches, Pains, and Droopy Eyelids

  Well, after much toil, teamwork and (at times) strife, our house is finally FOR SALE! Nancy (our Realtor) came by last night to finalize the paperwork and discuss the plan. Today I am taking pictures of the house and sending them to her, and hopefully by tonight, we will have a full, complete listing in the multi-listing directory! Yippee!!! Now with it all said and just about done, in reflection, the thoughts that come to mind… “Anthony and I are a Great Team!” “OH, does my body ache and my eyelids are BEGGING to close!”

Alas, I cannot indulge in my desires for a rest just yet because we are going to Pa. this weekend and will be leaving when Anthony gets home from work and we get the car packed. So, in addition to the photographs I have to take of the house, I have packing to do. And this trip is going to be a first…we are taking ALL THREE DOGS with us!  And not only that, this will be the first LONG road trip for Bam and Bella.  Normally, we take Bam and Bella to Anthony’s mom’s house, and we take little Sadie Magoo with us, but being that Anthony and I have plans to move in with my parents for a while, while our new house gets built (after the sale of the one we are in), my mom suggested we bring everyone to test the waters.  Soooo, we are all excited, and very curious to see how Bam and Bella get along with my mom and dad’s dog, Chelsea, and can’t wait to relax!  Did I mention I’m pooped?

     Once the online listing is available, I’ll share it on my blog.  Hopefully we will be fortunate ad it will have a quick sale.    In the meantime, I am going to catch up on some reading while everything is packed away and my plan is to take it easy…at least as easy as I can.  There are still things to be done, but I SOOOO need a rest.  In fact, I may just go back to bed because I’m about to fall onto my laptop…and I would much rather fall onto my pillow. 

Oh!  Before I go…I was so excited to find that I was featured in Etsy’s Storque again!  Vadjutka did an article on photographing jewelry and included mention of my adorable Cherry Drop Earrings!  Yay!

Click Here to See them in My Etsy Store!

If you’re interested in learning more about photographing jewelry, CLICK HERE to read the one in the Storque.  It’s in their How-To section and is titled, “How-to Photograph Jewelry: Get the Basics with Vadjutka.” It’s a good article – easy to read and understand for the average every-day photographer. 

Well, I’m off to bed – to take a delayed snooze… As usual, I got up to make Anthony’s lunch and generally I stay awake, but today… I’m going back to bed.   

Wish us luck and say a prayer that our house sells quickly!  Have a wonderful day!

 

My New Pincushion/Coral Bead Plant

So, as you know, I love flowers and plants.  I find that putting flowers and plants around me that I enjoy really makes me happy.  Anthony and I were at the Home Depot yesterday and I found the cutest little plant…A “Pincushion Plant.”  It’s simply adorable!  It is tiny (no bigger than a fist) and the mounded little plant is covered in teensie little orange berries that resemble tiny ripening tomatoes.  The plant makes me think of a fun tree out of a story book.  See…  

The berries are not poisonous, but are not edible, and according to the label, it is supposed to be kept in a shallow dish with water provided at all times.  I did some research on the web though, and it sounds as though many people have trouble growing these little plants.  I’m hoping I don’t have the same fate, because it’s just rediculously adorable and totally makes me smile every time I look at it!  Does anyone know anything or have experiences with the pincushion?  I’d love to hear more!

Also, I recently added my first anklet to my Etsy store.  Summer is just upon us, so I want to start adding some summery items and anklets are one that I love for the summer.  This one is made with soothing, yet fun colored beads in a variety of materials.  There are pearls, czech fire-polished faceted glass, clear glass rondelles with foiled centers and others, with sterling silver findings and a spring lock closure to compliment.  Check out my first anklet!  You can click here to buy it!  Happy Summer!

Hand-Made for MOM

I remember when I was little, how excited my mother would get over my home made gifts.  She always said that they meant more to her.  I imagine that many mothers feel the same way, and I don’t think that changes as we grow older.  With that in mind, I thought I’d share some ideas with my crafty readers, who might just decide to make their own Mother’s Day gifts.  And if you are reading this and are not crafty…well, I’ve provided some great gift ideas for you as well – all hand made items from Etsy sellers.  Hope you find some inspiration!

HGTV has a great selection of hand made gift ideas, with how-to videos and printable instructions.  The list includes Photo Transfer Pillows, Beaded Wind Chimes, Souvenir Lamp Shade, Mom’s Memory Book, Heirloom Candles, To Mom With Love Bracelet, Mother’s Day Brunch, Fun and Funky Tote Bag, Quick and Easy Flower Arrangements, and a Breakfast in Bed Tray.

Don’t like those ideas? Paint a picture!  Water color paints are easy and forgiving.  If you’re not sure how to get started, here’s a helpful beginner’s guide. 

 Write a poem.  When I was younger – probably 18 or 19, I wrote my mom this LONG poem that recalled memories of all the times I thought of her as a mother in my life…moments when she comforted me, laughed with me, scolded me, disciplined me, loved me, and as I grew older, how she also became a friend to me.  I think it is one of my most favorite gifts that I ever gave her because I put so much time and thought into it.

Let’s let our moms know how special they are.  Show much we appreciate, love and are grateful to them for the nine months of gestation they endured, their guidance and support, their laughter and joy, their tolerance for the possible agony and gray hairs that we gave them,  and all of the years that have followed.  Think about it…if you were or are a mother, what would you want your child to feel toward you?  Turn those feelings into something tangible.

And for those of you, NOT interested in making a home-made gift?  Let someone else do it for you!  Check out Etsy’s Gift Guides and the one specifically geared toward Mothers Day.    Hope you find something you like!  (Pssst…my Felicitous Green Earrings are in the Everyday $15.00 and under guide - on page 8, I’m certain they’d make a mom pretty happy!)

Bright, NEW MONTHLY GOALS…April Evaluation.

April is coming to an end and it begs that I evaluate my April Goals and contemplate new ones for May.  My April goals were to:

1. Get 350 hearts on Etsy (Check!  Accomplished today!)

2. Reach a total of 30 sales…still have 7 to go…anyone want to buy?  Go to my shop now!  (NO MINIMUM PURCHASE…BUY before April ends and get a FREE PAIR OF EARRINGS!)

3. Drive more traffic to my blog…sporadic.  I tried some new things and although I still have traffic, it is up and down.  Some days I have TONS and other days nothing…I suppose most blogs have that though – up and down.  I’m going to keep at it, but am open to any suggestions to keep traffic flowing. 

4. Get something in a new local boutique – one shop has agreed to carry my wine glasses! (check!)

5. Make new items every day and post new items in my shop regularly.  (I consistently made new items, but was not as consistent with listing as I would have liked.)

6. Post in the forums, blog every day and stay active on Etsy, building relationships and getting to know other crafters. (Well, I almost blogged every day and stayed active on Etsy, though not as much in the evenings as I used to.)  

7. Gain as much exposure as I can. (check!)

Special news…
  I had a really nice thing happen yesterday!  If you follow my blog, you may remember Shannon from greenbelts.  Well, yesterday, Shannon had the honor and privilege of being selected as the featured artist in Etsy’s “Etsy Success Stories!” AND she wore my Lemon Drop earrings in the pictures that they used!!! 

 Yippee!!!  She also included my new “Jonquil Delight” earrings as a favorite of hers below the article!  How sweet is she?  Very!    So, it goes to show how important it is to develop relationships!  It’s all about networking!

So, for my May goals…I’m giving them thought, with regard that I will need to embrace the challenges that warm weather will brings.  I’d like to hear your goals!  Let’s help one another take off!  =)

 

My EARTH DAY item…

So, today, I’m simply going to share with you, my newest shop item.  I named it, “Earth Day Necklace” because I was feeling super creative!  HAHAH.  it’s cute though and I love the way it turned out…very fun and bohemian. 

If you want to view the listing in my store, CLICK HERE.

My Newest Creations…

Well, I haven’t been sharing much of my own creations lately, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to share my newest Etsy shop additions with those of you who do not visit the store.  I visit a lot of blogs regularly, but don’t often venture onto my fellow etsy friends’ storefronts!  Awful me – I should probably try to make a habit of visiting their stores at least once a month.  So, here’s my newest additions from Nicole Lee Artistry’s Etsy Store and to make up for my shortcomings, tomorrow I’m going to post some new additions from my fave sellers.  I’ve also got a new artist to debut in the works. Enjoy! (you can click on any image below to learn more about that item)

Butterfly Chic Boutique…

….very kindly featured my blue watermelon earrings in her blog today.    Butterfly Chic Boutique specializes in Custom Graphics, including Banners, Ads, paper and fabric creations.  Here is a selection of their Etsy inventory, but visit their store to see more!  They also have a Cafe Press Shop and a beautiful Websiteoutside of Etsy.  
 

Popular Bracelet is now sold…

After making my “Red Hot Wood Necklace,” I received a custom order request for a bracelet that was similar.  After making the adorable bracelet and listing it, the listing go so many positive reviews that I think I’m going to have to make another and re-list! 
It’s made of large, natural wood beads, red coral rounds, and a copper toggle closure.

 
It’s getting ready to go to it’s happy new owner, Rachel, later today.  :O) 
Isn’t it adorable?  She has excellent taste! 
THANKS RACHEL!

What do you think?  Should I re-list it?

Work in Progres…Seeking Opinions!!!

So, I’ve put this bracelet together, but don’t want to complete it until I’m certain of the design.  Could you please give me your feedback?  Here’s a pic. 
Thoughts?  Suggestions?

Necklace News.

I posted a new necklace today and sold one too!  Yippee!

Here’s the new one….I hope someone falls in love!  I think it’s so cute!

and here’s the one that sold:

Since I got some helpful suggestions for Jill, I dare ask…
With regard to jewelry, what would you like to see?