Happy Birthday, Heather

I've decided to feature Challengettes in their birthday month, and before September ends, I want to introduce you to Heather of BeadifulBaublesSC, and wish her Happy Birthday! Heather is one of the jewelry makers in the One a Day Challenge Team. She joined just this past July, and shortly after she joined made a move from Michigan to California, so she has been one busy girl. She has 2 small children and a husband with a budding country music career, so life can be hectic, but she finds time to make some beautiful pieces. Here's a couple to tempt you with:

Joey & Aleethea, Featured Blogger

This month's featured blogger for the Etsy Bloggers is Sandra of Joey & Aleethea. What is her shop all about? In her own words, from her profile, "Joey & Aleethea™ is a super cutesie boutique for baby boys, baby girls and their peeps!"

And cute it is! Check out these favorites from her shop!

Besides making adorable things for babies and their peeps, and taking care of her own family, Sandra is the Admin and Team Leader for the Etsy Bloggers. She also gives back by donating a portion of her profits from Joey & Aleethea to the March of Dimes. If you want to read more about Sandra and her busy life, check out her blog.

Midnight Blue for the Evening

I've decided to do a second Blog Carnival for the etsy bloggers this month, they are always so fun and thought provoking. The topic I'm choosing is to pick a favorite color and show it in your work.

Probably the color that I always answer in the "favorite" question is blue. I really love just about any shade of blue, but in honor of the high school reunion I'll be attending this weekend, the showcased "blue" will be the midnight blue that was the color of my '66 Mustang I drove my senior year. OK, disclaimer... when I bought the car for $600, it was a lovely bronze-y color. My dad and I repainted it ourselves the said midnight blue. Sadly, no picture of it here, but it's pretty darn close to the color of this little evening bag. (The golden butterflies are a pretty good representation of my car's former color.)


What high school reunion is this? There are a couple clues in this post, and maybe in other posts... can you guess?

Note (added 9/16/08): Went to my 30th high school reunion over the past weekend. The 66 mustang was very used by the time I bought it in 1978. I think my clues were much too subtle, lol.

Quiltsy Team Trunk Show Sept. 22

I've just recently joined the Quiltsy team in an effort to give my new second shop some more love (and well needed promotion). This team includes a busy bunch of gals who are so talented, and make so many different kinds of quilted items. You can find quilted postcards, handbags and tote bags, pot holders, wall hangings and, of course, the most beautiful quilts of all sizes.

They are participating in an etsy trunk show on September 22 at 7:00 p.m. ET, and I want to help spread the word to some of my friends that might not know too much about quilting. I'm not totally sure about how this all works, but check out the post here from Originials by Lauren. She explains it so much better than I can. And definitely check out the shops of Quiltsy that are listed in one of her more recent posts.

A Blog Giveaway

What? A blog giveaway? Well, not here, though I've been thinking about doing one. Maybe later this month. But over at my friend and fellow One a Day Challenger, Cori's blog. Cori has her shop, ccdesigns, filled with gorgeous jewelry, and she is giving away a pair of earrings. Head over to her blog, Designs by Cori, and post a comment. She wants you to take a look in her shop, too, and give her a little critique. Not too much to ask for some free earrings.

Here are a couple pieces that I love that are in her shop right now:

I'll Never Forget the Beach

It's blog carnival time again for the etsy bloggers, and the topic I'm choosing this month is "something I did as a child that I will always remember." Well, you could interpret that as one specific moment in time, but the event that was a constant in my life was going to the beach in Galveston, Texas.

When I was just a toddler, my maternal grandparents moved from Dallas to Seabrook, Texas. We went to visit them at least once or twice a year, maybe even more. And Seabrook was not really that far a drive to Galveston. Of course, you passed through the scenic Texas City with all its refineries, but that's a topic for another day.

Me, with my mom and dad

Those were the days... you could drive on the beach! I don't think we missed a summer between 1962 and 1975. Maybe even later. Of course I got older, and didn't go as often. Then I was off to college. Sometime in the early '80s, my grandparents moved north to Plano, tired of hurricane evacuations, and wanting to be closer to my mother and my uncle.

But, how could I ever forget the endless hours of sandcastle building,

dripping the wet sand, ever so carefully, from fingertips, to make the turrets of the castle.

And anyone who ever visited Galveston in the 60s and the early 70s will never forget the trips to the gas station to get gasoline to remove the tar from your feet. Or what about rinsing off the sand in the car wash that was on the beach. Put in the quarter and run through, squealing with delight as the cold, fresh water rinsed off the sand and salt.

My weren't we skinny back then?! So, thank you, etsy Bloggers, for this trip down memory lane, remembering an important family time in my life. My grandparents have long since passed away, but the memories I have from my childhood are with me still.

This Weeks Excitement

Okay, I know. I've been MIA from this blog. But I had a good reason. Really. Last weekend (wow, has a whole week gone by) Roland and I drove Kyle up to Nashville, and helped him move into his dorm at Vanderbilt. Our nest is officially empty. But doesn't he look happy in his new room!



So, this week I've been recovering. Just two WW meetings, but one of them was a Week 1 and that always means more organizing, more paperwork, and more stress... emails, phone calls, etc.

Then there was the trails of debris left from all the packing for the above mentioned move. I haven't really even made a dent, but it's not going anywhere.

My biggest etsy excitement was an appearance on the front page! And it all had to do with my membership as an Etsy Blogger! Admin wrote a Storque article on the Etsy Bloggers, and along with it, featured us on the front page! After much fumbling about, I managed to get a screen grab:

My goals for this week:

1) A daily listing for my new shop, Elle Quilts
2) Reconnecting with the Etsy Bloggers Message Board. I'm sure there's a blog carnival to be written.
3) Reconnecting with the Etsy Host Team.

Featured Etsy Blogger -- Tulip's Treasure Box

When most people think of B&B, they think bed and breakfast. When Lily, of Tulip's Treasure Box, thinks of those letters, I would bet that she thinks beading and blogging! I recently had the pleasure of working with Lily on an apron project that I made for her, and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her.

I'm always interested in knowing how artists get their start in their chosen craft. Lily started her beading journey only a year and a half ago when she stumbled into a beginner's bead class. It was not quite the beading experience that she had hoped for, but took more classes, practiced, learned from mistakes, joined a beader's guild, and you can see in her shop that it all paid off.

I asked her the typical "what inspires you" question, and Lily is inspired by the usual: other artists, nature, books. But, in her own words, "I am also inspired by the hunt for my supplies. Starting a new project is like a blank painter's canvas, and you get to be the one to conceive." She enjoys seeing her work in progress in photographs, and often blogs about the process from start to finish, both in words and pictures. Reading her blog, Tulip's Talking, is educational and inspirational, both.

Finally, I wanted to find out what she likes to do besides beading, and she admitted that she is "deeply addicted" to beading! But she also LOVES to be out on the water, and living near the coast of Florida gives her that opportunity. You can see the influences that the water and sea life have on her art.

So, stop in Tulip's Treasure Box and see what's new, and you will thoroughly enjoy reading her blog!

Happy Belated Birthday, Bittersweeets!

All About Knitting?

It's blog carnival time again, and our choice was grilling or reading. I like to fire up the grill as much as the next girl... no heat in the kitchen, maybe the man doing the cooking, etc., but I'm more a slap a steak (or chicken) on the grill without regard to marinades and fuss. But I love to read, and while I don't read as many books as I would like to (or as quickly), I am constantly reading something.

Right before we left for vacation, I picked up a book that I thought would be easy reading and kind of fun. You know, a "beach" read. And, I'm usually late to jump on the bandwagon, preferring to wait until a book comes out in paperback. So, many of you crafty ladies (and men?) may have already read the book, The Friday Night Knitting Club, by Kate Jacobs, published last year. It really touched me though, and felt it deserved a review.

The Knitting Club is about Georgia Walker, a single mom with a preteen daughter, living in Manhattan, and the owner of a yarn shop. A knitting "club" has evolved in the shop on Friday nights, yet the book is about so much more than the shop and the club. It is about friends and relationships, and interactions both past and present. It is about how we see ourselves and others, and what we want, need and expect from these relationships. And, above all, it is about a need to connect in a time when a lot in our lives seems unconnected and lonely.

The book touched a nerve in me, because, as I've made friends on etsy, especially with the Challengettes, but also with the Etsy Bloggers, and others, I have found a connection that started with our crafting and our art, but ultimately has lead to caring so much more about each other. Many of us would seem to be as different as night and day, as well, but we have connected and have found a kinship of sorts, a common spirit.

So was The Friday Night Knitting Club the light, "beach" read I was expecting. On the surface, yes, but it is not hard to move into the deeper meanings in the book. And Kate Jacobs is a beautiful writer, I'm looking forward to reading more from her. She has a website, so check her out for yourself.

Trying a New Craft

I like to do crafts. Always have. I don't like doing the same thing over and over, which may not make the best business sense. On etsy, some of the more successful sellers seem to find their niche and become apron queens, or scrabble pendant makers, or make lots of tote bags. Once I conquer a design, pattern, or technique, I'm ready to move on. Well, instead of fighting it, I recently embraced the itch to try something new.

Inspired by one of my fellow challengettes, Jennifer of iWunder, and her beautiful yarn, I began to wonder if I could learn to crochet. Before we left for our Tennessee vacation, I headed to Michaels, and stocked up on "how to" books, a kit with multiple sizes of hooks, yarn and crocheting thread. With no sewing machine in the hotel room, I began the journey. Here are a few pictures of my early efforts. Oh, and youTube come in pretty handy, too. The rectangles are rows of different stitches, which I am not sure are entirely right. They look a little lumpy to me.

The etsy Hookers have nothing to worry about. I'm not ready to start competing with them... yet. The little pink flower below (or a similar one) will be showing up on an ACEO very soon.

Full disclosure. Sometime in my previous life, I learned a little bit about crocheting. But it had to be at least 25 years ago, maybe more. I even came across a crochet hook that I already owned. I think I used it for some other sewing thing though.

The Giant Hamster Ball

A quick post and some pics... my family is on vacation in the Pigeon Forge area of Tennessee and we are having an awesome time. Hiking, Dollywood, family togetherness... the whole nine yards! Today we did something that was so unique and unusual I just had to post about it right away. We went on the Zorb. What, is that, you might ask? Well this started in New Zealand, and I first saw one on the Amazing Race (a reality show that I love). I could write more, but really a picture is worth a thousand words here!



Yes, I am really in this giant ball, turning and flipping and hanging on. The sensation is scary and awesome and amazing all at the same time! If you ever get a chance, you just have to try this!

Thank You, Stormy Designs

Ever since I started seriously blogging again, I've wanted 3 columns in my blog. I'm really just not that computer savvy... I can do the basics, but anything that starts with the letters H T M L has me shaking in my boots. I've gone to various websites that have blog templates, saw the "easy" instructions, and left just as quickly. Until now. You can see that I have 3 columns. Through a series of events that started with joining Etsy Bloggers, was found Stormy Designs. She was the one who accomplished this for me, and as a little thank you, I want to do a quick feature on her.

Stormy is a polymer clay artist who fashions unique sculptures, art and art jewelry, and home decor among other things. She is also a key contributer to Etsy Bloggers, and helps keep us all on our toes. She is truly a giving person, ready to help a newcomer to the bloggers at a moment's notice. She answers emails and convos quickly and professionally, and did not mind my questions at all. So, thank you Stormy for making my blog look its best.

Here are a few of my favorite things from Stormy's etsy shop:

Business Card Couch

Holly Tin

MG Collar Necklace

A Keeper's Jackpot--EtsyBloggers Featured Blogger

If you read my last post you know about my joining EtsyBloggers. The second assignment is to write about a selected etsy shop owner and fellow blogger, and this month's lucky girl really hit the jackpot! OK, all groans aside, it's Jackie, from A Keeper's Jackpot. She's a jewelry designer from upstate New York who is interested in wire wrapping, wire crochet and polymer clay. She also reports, from her profile, that she's exploring the art of decoupage. I can't wait to see the decoupage pendants she will create.

Here are a few of my favorites from her shop:

Black Widow's Web Necklace

Orange Creamsicle Candy Earrings (Yum!)

Cinnamon and Sugar Bracelet

Besides making jewelry, she works full time as a medical technologist. Her other passion is hiking, which is very evident when you read her blog. It is loaded with beautiful pictures of her hikes. Visit her blog at akeepersjackpot.blogspot.com. She is doing 2 giveaways as a thank you for being featured this month, so comment on the appropriate post, and mention you read about her here.

Raindrops on Roses...

I've often been known (mostly by my family) to break into song without the slightest provocation, but I'm very excited to have been approved as a member of Etsy Bloggers (you can see their cool graphic along the side here), so I have reason to sing. They have assignments, which will hopefully help keep my blog fresh, and me more motivated to write.

The official name of THIS assignment is the Blog Carnival, and the theme is one of our own favorite creations. I like everything that I make, but my most favorite right now is a custom apron that I made for one of my fellow "One a Day Challengers". You can see information in posts on this blog, and our roll call is here too. Well, this apron turned out so well, that I would love to make more. It's completely reversible, with a large pocket, divided into 3 sections on each side. If you have 2 shops, this is perfect, because I can machine embroider a shop name on each side.



The other thing I love about this apron is that it really is comfortable. I have other, non-reversible aprons in the same style in my shop, and made one for myself. The ties cross in the back and tie around your waist, so there is no annoying tie at your neck. If you didn't want your custom apron reversible, I can make it just like these others in my shop.

I've always loved making things for other people, and working with artists to customize an apron just for them is very rewarding.

Get to Know at Etsy Artist, devancarol

I've previously posted about the One a Day Challengers, and want to introduce you to Devan, the owner of the etsy shop, Chasing Lilies, which you can find at devancarol.etsy.com. She gets the name of her shop from the names of her 2 children, Chase, 4 and Lily, 7 months. The combination is a perfect shop name!

Devan is originally from a small town in Virginia named Wise, but she and her family currently live in Knoxville, Tennessee. Besides her etsy shop, she has a very important job as a stay at home mom. Sometimes she does find it challenging to get things created around the kids' schedules, and she also finds the marketing that a new etsian encounters challenging.

About her crafting, Devan says, "I've been crafting about half my life. I learned to sew sitting on my Grandmother's lap and watching her enjoy what she did gave me the passion to create." She is also motivated to keep on going when someone says, "I love that".


I love Devan's shop because of the unique items that you find there, from jewelry to gifts to upcycled items. One of her favorites is the Scrabble Memo Board. It is unique and clever, and she tells me, fun to make. I love her Multicolor Teardrop Twist Bracelet, and her Upcycled CD Clock, as well! She loves creating and making things that she thinks others will enjoy. After the sale, the best part to Devan is imagining the buyer wearing her jewelry or using her memo board.


She enjoys being around her family when she isn't creating, and loves how they make her a better person. When she has time, she also loves to read and watch movies. As if that isn't enough, she recently added one more thing to do, a blog, Sleepy Mama Times. Check it out!

Finally, Devan is the easiest person in the world to talk to, and if you have any questions for her, or want her to make something just for you, just ask!

Some Yart Offerings from the Challengettes

The Challengettes? That would be the One a Day Challengers listed to the left. If you like any of these items, click on their shop in the list! Note: just looked at this... I know the picture is too small, but the items are from me, dmriceart, cricketscreations, jjmckillip, coryelldesign, meagansdesigns, lolabear (this one may have sold already), and devancarol. Check them all out!

Who are the One A Day Challengers?

I've featured one of the One A Day Challengers, but what is the whole group. Others have blogged about us as well, including one of my previous posts, but here's my current take...

Started on April 15 by Chrissy of Bittersweets, the basic premise is to make an item and list it every day. The original goal was to do this for one month, but, hey, we bonded and couldn't let go. So on we go. Life does get in the way, so the rules are not strict. Sometimes we can list every day, and sometimes we can't, but we all just do the best we can.

I'll expand on some of these characteristics in future posts, but here's a profile of us:
There are approximately 20 of us, and of those, there are 15 jewelry makers, 3 who knit or crochet, 3 who sew, 1 paper artist, 1 graphic designer, 1 bath and body guru, and 2 who sell vintage. You can see those numbers don't add up to 20... lots of us are multi-talented and at least 4 of us have more than one shop.

Lolabear has been selling on etsy the longest. She joined on January 22, 2006. Devancarol is the newest member, joining on March 28, 2008.

We have 2 Canadians, 2 Aussies, and represent 14 different states, clustered in the northeast, the southeast, the midwest, and 2 western states. And one day, we'd love to all get together and meet in person!

That's enough to digest for now. But rest assured, we are all kindred spirits, and in some weird, crazy way, in a short time, we've become good friends.

Reflections on May 2008

It may have been noticed by some that I have not posted an entry in this little blog for almost a month. I'm sure it has happened to many bloggers... the good intentions to blog every day, then once a week, and then, well, it just doesn't seem worth the trouble. Well, I know it can be worth the trouble for a whole host of reasons, and it's time once again, for me to include blogging as one of those things that I do.

The main reason I did not blog much in May was the graduation of Kyle, my second and youngest child, from high school. There's the whole family in the picture: me, Kyle, Roland and Laura (who will be entering her final year at the University of Georgia in the fall). This process is a whirlwind of activities and parties, culminating, for him and the majority, I think, of his classmates, in a beach trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina. For those of us seemingly left behind in the dust of what was, I offer up this letter from Leonard Pitts, columnist for the Miami Herald, A father's letter to his daughter on her graduation. Did you cry? I did.

Get to Know an Etsy Artist, Meagan's Designs

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned the "One a Day Challenge". Well, it's taken on a life of its own, and we have really enjoyed getting to know each other. One of the group, Meagan, is featuring different members of the group on her blog, ......., so I wanted to feature her! Meagan actually has two shops, meagansdesigns and kaedankrafts.

Her first shop was Meagan's Designs, which she opened last October. This New Jersey girl and mom of 3 has an eclectic shop filled with her crocheted and knitted gifts, and some of her photography. Check out this crocheted market bag... eco friendly, and functional as well as adorable.

She opened her second shop, Kaedan Krafts, for her Baby Diaper Cakes. Since this shop is all about the babies, she named it as a combination of her own 3 babies' names, Kaeleigh, Aidan and Danyella. And what exactly is a diaper cake? Popular at baby showers, these are centerpieces or baby gifts made from useful baby items such as diapers, receiving blankets, pacifiers, and onesies. Meagan can customize the diaper cake to your specification, and makes them in different sizes, so you can find one in your price range. Her creativity really shines in her diaper cake creations!

And after you check out her shop, go read her blog, too and learn about some of the other One A Day Challengers. It's listed under Kaedan's Krafts in my blog list, or you can just go right there from here.