Sunday, March 15, 2009

Cricket Anyone??


The new me is a bit more interested in fishing. I've fished before, started with worms when I was a child, even have my own pole from Bass Pro, of course. This time, though I have a new interest in the whole take a chair and sit by the water's edge notion. No more catch and release. These fish are coming home with Momma and Momma is going to cook them up in a pan - baked or grilled, your choice - don't get me started on the whole economy thing. :) So, self-proclaimed redneck country boy neighbor hears of our fishing expeditions and he tells us to wait because he has something for us. He comes back out with one of those cricket cages. We go home, hubby washes the cage off and puts in a new potato. Crickets eat potato you ask?? Don't ask me, I don't know, but apparently. Then, I find out that those critters, um crickets have to come in the house. RUkidding?? Don't you think 6 cats is enough?? And a cricket cage has a big hole on top and you can't convince me that none of them ever hop out. Apparently crickets don't like cold weather. No kidding. It will be getting warmer the rest of the week after tonight, so tonight after a negotiation that the crickets' cage would be covered in something that would prevent the stray cricket from hopping out - I don't care what hubby says, a hole is a hole is a hole. So, as I sit here typing this, I hear the pleasant sounds of crickets................argh. I like bug noises to be outside and not necessarily hanging out at my backdoor on the inside. Well, the saga will continue as our son's springbreak is this week and I needed cheap entertainment, so I'm taking him fishing. Apparently I am expected to hook these crickets on hooks.............I do have surgical gloves somewhere around here - bet I find them before we take a couple of chairs to the lake. I know the old saying about not looking a gift horse in the mouth, well I'm looking. I must wonder as these crickets came from within the neighbor's house, so I must wonder if his wife wasn't already tired of the chirping from within and was ready for the crickets to be without, i.e. without of her house.

I do know the difference from a grasshopper and a cricket - I could find a grasshopper pic and not a cricket pic, so here you go. Plus, now guess where the crickets are..........my laundry room. They left the back door and gone to the laundry room and are only still safely in their cage with covering because I stayed up late and when it got quiet and the crickets didn't, then Mousie found them and the crashing sounds I was hearing was Mousie trying to get to the top of the baker's rack at the backdoor where the crickets were. Can you imagine?? We never would have gotten them all out of here. I cannot wait til morning when the crickets can go outside. I cannot believe I am housing crickets because they don't like the cold. I am one confused city slicker. :)

Mignon

Saturday, March 14, 2009

American Craft Guide Day 2 of Online Show

Check out the show!! :)

http://handmadeshow.com


You won't be disappointed. :)
Just see the list of artisan shops on the right and click the heading to get all the shops in that category. Leave comments for chances to win artisan pieces donated by the shops in the show. :)

Mignon

Fifty States Tour - Hello Alaska :)


Etsy shopowners from Alaska are currently sending me the 'oks' and sending me photos from their shops for me to upload to the blog for my Alaska tour. :)

Welcome Alaska!!! :)

This is a little work, but it is a lot of fun too. ;)

Mignon

Friday, March 13, 2009

Check out the Craft Festival




You can see some of my latest postings above. :) I'm looking forward to making my own 'V' shaped pendant necklace as this one went in the shop. This is a new design for me and a line I will likely pursue as part of a therapeutic positive energy line as sometimes you just need relaxing jewelry for a hectic day. I wanted one that went well with relaxing and calming thoughts, i.e. finding one's center in the midst of chaos. Then, I must admit I love polymer clay flower pendant and necklace and the pink flower would be a beautiful accessory for some sweet girl out there. :)

Do, swing on over to the American Craft Guide site. I can definitely see myself doing more virtual shows with them. I paid about $13 and that amount covers me being in the show from March 13 - April 5. RUkidding me?? That's the kind of pricing I can do. :) There are 50 artisans in the spring show. I just added a pottery maker to my favorites. The artisan makes the pottery, then pours soy candles into the piece, and to finish it off, adds a bead or vintage piece of jewelry on a string to the piece of pottery. Really beautiful. The costume pieces of jewelry on the pottery are pretty enough to wear!! It's like a 2-for-1.

http://www.madhatterspottery.etsy.com

But, really, please go see the virtual craft show. Many of us are even doing discounts exclusively for the folks who come see us at the show. :)

I must admit my favorite shop thus far is the pottery one. Go on over and let your fingers do the walking and check out the virtual craft festival. Plus, if you leave comments, then you are entered into the drawings for 30 some-odd giveaways that various shop owners are doing, including myself. :) I've already left some comments and I'm heading back over there now to leave some more. :)

Mignon

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Fifty States Tour - Alabama: Shop #7




http://www.VivianLampwork.etsy.com
A jewelry designer can always use some beautiful high quality artwork beads and folks, we have found a treasure here in this shop. These lampwork beads are Spectacular!!! I would love to design a piece of art jewelry with any of these lovely beads. :)

So, even if you aren't a jewelry designer, swing by, as you will feel like you walking through an art show with your fingertips. I can easily string you up a colorfast cord with sterling silver findings for one of these pieces. :)

Enjoy yet another great highlighted shop on my tour.

Mignon

Virtual Craft Show






I am in my first online craft fair and it starts tomorrow. Check it out, tell me what you think, and I'll let you know if I think it is worth doing again. :) Also, I have donated some piece of jewelry, I forget what.....oops.....for the giveaways the ACG is doing. And, if you go to my shop via the ACG, then you will get a discount off either by convoing me during the virtual craft show before you buy or I can credit your acount afer you buy, but you have to tell me you are there from the ACG craft show and how much the discount is supposed to be. :)

Hello everyone!

Hope you all are as excited as we are about opening day for i heart handmade spring, which opens Friday the 13th! (That's a very lucky day, if you ask me.) The finishing touches are being put on the show website, located at http://handmadeshow.com. Visitors to the American Craft Guide website will be directed to the show site by clicking on "Virtual Arts & Crafts Show" in the navigation or on any show advertising. The show will be promoted in various mediums, including e-newsletters, our own virtual community (http://americancraftguide.ning.com), search engines, and a variety of websites. The show will be open on Friday -- so be sure to check it out, hype up your spot to your current customers, and take a peek at your fellow handmade artists! This is a wonderful opportunity to be seen, increase traffic to your online stores and blogs, build on your current customer base, and make sales.

Keep us up-to-date during the show, too! Whether it's to say you made a sale or to update any of your page information (from product pictures to show specials to links - just email us back at american@americancraftguide.com). And be sure to check back each day to see new feautures on our artists, find out about prize giveaways (donated by participating exhibitors), check comments on your page, and more.

Check comments, you ask? Well, our virtual arts and crafts show site allows visitors to leave comments or questions on your page. Don't worry, we'll moderate the comments so nothing spammy gets through, but do keep an eye on your page. In addition to leaving comments, visitors can also forward/bookmark your page using various social networking sites, like Technorati, Stumbleupon, and Digg. We're getting viral here!

If you haven't already, pick up a badge or ad to show your support for the i heart handmade spring show. The more we show off the show, the more traffic we all get. You can find those at http://handmadeshow.com/about or at http://handmadeshow.com (look along the sidebar on any page in the show).

Have a great show everyone! And remember, if you need to update information just email us back at american@americancraftguide.com.

Jessica & DJ

American Craft Guide

Join our virtual community of handcrafters, indie artists, and hobbyists at http://americancraftguide.ning.com


Check it out, you may want to join ACG. Joining is free, it's a social network, affiliated with Ning, I believe, so if you have a Ning account, then you don't even have to create a new account. You can pay to be in the artisan directory, which I haven't done yet, but intend to do. Then, there are the virtual craft shows and apparently they have several a year. Something to think about, leastwise. ;)

Mignon

Fifty States Tour - Alabama Shop #6





http://www.Majo.etsy.com

Oh wow, check out the quality level in the art in this shop. You will not be let down. Plus, it takes one back to one's childhood from tire swings to barns to pastures and just beautiful landscapes.

This shopowner's paintings deserve 5 stars!! :)

She has original paintings, original ACEO's (my newest addiction), handpainted jewelry, ornaments, and magnets and that isn't even all. :)

So, go on over to Majo's and check it out. :)

http://www.Majo.etsy.com
Mignon

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

First Surprise for My One Brave Poem Writer! :)



The shipping label is printed. The surprise is wrapped in my traditional little wrappings inside of one of my cardboard jewelry boxes I use to safely delivery contents to the receiver.

What can it be you may ask???

I wouldn't tell when I started the giveaway, so do you think I'll tell now???? Nope. You'll just have to wait and see and just maybe, the winner or I might blog about it - might. The best part is I'm not finished. I've already picked out her next happy and who knows when I might get in the mood to send it. :)

Mignon

Kitty Drama


So, hubby and son leave to go up the street to the neighbor's house to visit. I'm going to be following on the golf cart in a few minutes when I finish getting neighbor's jewelry together that I had been working on for her - repairs and such. 5 - 8 minutes had probably passed. I get up to leave and the back door is open. The sun has set, it's dark, and God only knows how many cats are missing. I was frantic. The wild pack dogs are still lose out there somewhere and they've already chased a neighbor down the street, yes they chased an actual grown man, but luckily he was on his 4-wheeler. Got hubby to come home immediately while I frantically did a headcount to see who got outside. Syl was at the door when I got to it, so he came back in. Mousie couldn't be found in any of her hiding spots in the house. We went all over our yard. Hubby went all over the vacant yard where the crazies lived. I heard a meww and hubby saw eyes in the dark - we were apparently seeing and hearing two different cats. I go in to relook in the house and when I get to the back door, there's Mousie trying to figure out how to get in the gate. I get her in, chew her out, spank her on the butt, and give her a good talking to and assuming hubby must have gotten her to that point of being at the gate. I call out that I've got her and call for him a couple times and no reply, so I figure he must have gone to the neighbors. I go to the neighbors on the golf cart. No hubby. I call his phone, no answer, the ringer is off. He comes to the neighbor's house in the midst of me calling his phone over and over. He comes in and thanks me for locking the door as it made it harder for him to put Mouse in the house......................what, come again. You put who in the house???? He says he put Mouse in the house??????? I'm like, no, I put Mouse in the house, who did you put in the house??? Hubby says, you're kidding right??? He had managed to catch Mousie's and Sapphire's and late Obsidian's very feral mom and put her in our house. lol. She's very pregnant and 3x as big as Mouse and her eyes are gold and Mousie's eyes are green like her Daddy's were. Our neighbor's laughed so hard they were in tears. Neighbor said he was getting his cat and putting him in the house before my husband came back and swiped him, lol.................I laughed til I cried. Neighbor said we had so many darn cats that we didn't even know what cats were ours, lol...............I know which ones are mine, lol.

So, we get home and the door gets opened again. We already know Syl climbs the back door and now we are guessing he has learned to open it, lol. The handle is one of those lever handles that you can pull up or down and the door opens, which is great for folks with hand issues like mine - very easy to open. Apparently so easy that Syl can open the back door........Since I've been sitting here I've heard him rattle the doorknob again, but this time the door is locked. The funny part is that Syl doesn't even want outside. He's just found a new toy - our door knob........

Mousie is the black one in the photo.......... :)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Fifty States Tour - Alabama #5




I've come across a delightful new shop on Etsy. Give her a warm welcome from all you art lovers out there and tell her I sent you. I am sure she will do well on Etsy. It just takes lots of patience, time, learning marketing, and more time. :)

http://www.illustratedgarden.etsy.com

She has paintings, prints, and handmade raku tiles. Raku pottery is another weakness of mine. I love raku pieces. :) One posting is for Raku magnets for the fridge and my favorite statement is "Caffeine is my co-pilot." I could really use some caffeine right now!! :)

Definitely go visit this adorably sweet shop. I've been needing a fairy picture and I have the inclination that this shop's owner could make me one. It's rather hard to explain to a six-year-old what the tooth fairy looks like.......... :)

Enjoy! And, add this one to your favorites too. I am going to have so many favorites by the time this tour is over!

http://www.illustratedgarden.etsy.com

Mignon

Fifty States Tour - Alabama; Shop #4






http://www.yippihippi.etsy.com

Ha, I've met someone after my own heart. :) Someone who loves tye die!!!!!!!!!! And, let me tell you the best part!!!!!!!!! She has sizes from infant up to Adult 5XL, and that is quite noteworthy. I came across a t-shirt shop yesterday with the coolest shirts and they stop at size Large and their unisex shirts were not nearly as cute. So, to find a shop that has adorable t-shirts that can be custom-ordered to whatever size you need, well that's just worth 5 stars and then she uses colorfast dyes aka they aren't going to fading on you before you wear the shirt in really good. :)

Resin Jewelry, handmade tags, giftcards, and tie dye - what a great selection of fun gifts that would be great for many occasions. :)

http://www.yippihippi.etsy.com

Enjoy!!

Mignon

Fifty States Tour - Alabama #3





http://wwww.peekabooproductions.etsy.com

I love scrapbooking. I haven't scrapped in awhile, but I will again and I cannot pass stickers or pretty paper or diecuts without stopping to check them out and maybe buy a few for that future scrapbooking date. :) If you love scrapbooking, then this is a shop for you to check out and go shopping. She even does custom orders if you find a pattern, but not the color you want!!!!! Check the shop out and the owner has a second shop worthy of clicking as well. You won't be disappointed and the convenience of having it shipped to you is just a plus, besides we all know my stand on giving the gas people my money when I can have it mailed instead. :)

http://www.peekabooproductions.etsy.com

My shop focuses on scrapbooking items, cards, tags, journals, and decorative items. I tried to include one of each of my main categories.


I'm definitely adding this shop to my shopping list, er, my umm favorites, lol. Let Peekaboo Productions know I sent you. :)

Mignon

http://www.peekabooproductions.etsy.com

Monday, March 9, 2009

Fifty States Tour - Alabama Shop #2






http://www.ManicMuffinTotes.etsy.com

This fabulous seller has been selling since September 23, 2007 and has sold over 300 items of her crafty handwork. Check her shop out to be sure. Add her to your favorites. My sister's little girl already has princess stuff everywhere and I can just imagine one of those cupcake pillows sitting on my niece's bed when she is about 4 (aka in 4 years). :) Then, the owls are just adorable. I will give a nod to the cute dog pillow, but of course if you scroll through my pictures on the blog, then you know my heart belongs to the creatures with the pointed ears, whiskers, and holier-than-thou attitudes also known as my kitty cats. :) Naturally, I love the cat pillow. :) Manic Muffins does take custom orders and makes quilts. I wonder if someone out there could use a handmade baby quilt??? I know I cherish the handmade items I bought or was given when our son was born. They are just extra special and more so than the store bought stuff. There is just something about handmade that touches my heart. I made my sister a baby size knot blanket for my new niece and she loves it, but for those of us running short on time or sewing is just not our thing, then here's a shop for you. :0


I will be adding photos to this blog once I receive them in email. I tried connecting straight from the shop site, but no luck yet. :) I'm getting there, be patient folks, this is my first state. Just think that I will have it all down by my next state, which is only about a week away!!! :)

http://www.ManicMuffinTotes.etsy.com

Talking to Children About Disabilities


By not talking to your children about drugs and other impt. conversations, it is the same thing as giving them the greenlight as ignoring the topic implies it doesn't matter to you.

By not having a family emergency plan, then how are your children supposed to know what to do in a dangerous fire. Will they try to save all the family inside pets? Will they run to their room and try to pack up their favorite toys??

What would happen if you didn't teach your children whatever manners you value?? We value saying thank you, please, yes sir and no m'am, but then we're southerners, so what do you expect?? If we didn't teach our son to say these polite courtesies, do you think he would know we expected him to say them??? Not likely, he's smart, but he's not a mind-reader.

What are you teaching your children about race and other religions?? Are you teaching them to be racist?? We teach our son that he is no better nor no less a person than anyone else. People are people, regardless of race, creed, country of origin, or religious prefererence. What do you think your children would think if you just skipped this topic too, can they read your mind???

On to one of my issues at heart...........I have been a special education teacher for quite a number of years, prior to my injury, and social respect and toleration for others starts at home. Children have to learn and to learn, they have to be taught, they can either learn by what you don't say or by what you do say. I have spent my teaching career teaching toleration, respect, and friendship for those who are different than us, but I am one person and all teachers do not think nor do as I have done. How would you think your teenage daughter and her friends would behave if they went into Walmart, got behind a disabled person on one of those incredibly cumbersome, slow-moving motorized carts that moves like -1 mph and they had to wait for the aisle to clear? I can tell you how 3 teenage daughters acted when they got behind me this year, well, I won't be repeating the exact wording, but basically they laughed at me and told me to move my......slow.........out of the way - you may feel in the blanks. How would you hope your children acted in front of disabled people?? Have you taught them how to behave or are you just assuming like the race issue, the other religion issue, the drug issue, the smoking and exploration issue - are you just assuming they know??

What about in an elementary classroom where there are children who don't have the 130 I.Q. like your darling daughter or son? Does your child take the time to help that child or do they make fun of them or maybe not outright make fun, but laugh when others make fun???????? What your child does or doesn't do in that elementary, junior high, high school classroom or even at Walmart may be something hurtful that another person who has feelings and thoughts remembers for many years. The Walmart incident happened almost 12 months ago and it still stings a bit.

I have taught every grade, but 4th. I have been the teacher, the coach, the mom, the police officer of sorts, the go-between, the defender, the brick wall between two 6 ft. boys who wanted to fight, and I have been the one who picked up the pieces best I could for the child who was laughed at because their hand was deformed, because they have a 90 or less IQ and need lots of help and lots of special classes, or I've even been the wall between the child who was not only special, but had been molested and was in just about the worst social way as she could be. I cannot do it all. I cannot save them all. I cannot lessen the pain from the memories for all of them, but you can. You are the parents who have the regular kids and those regular kids can make the difference in a special child's life that gives them a reason to enjoy their childhood, helps them at least know how to write their name, doesn't laugh when the 19 yr. old who can't read finally gets to a teacher who cares so that the 19 yr. old will open up and let the teacher help. You, the parents, make that difference by teaching your children how to have manners, not do drugs, not explore inappropriate activities, to be tolerable of others whether they are gay, special, look different, smell different, walk different, or can't even walk at all.

You may never know what a difference you have made in the life of a special child, because you taught your child to care and love and respect and be friends with everyone regardless of any requirement other than the other person to be a member of the human race.

Now, this topic was presented to me to blog about from one of my online social networks in order to be entered into a drawing for some giftcard, but I think the first 15 slots have already been taken, so I didn't write this for the card, I wrote it because it is a topic very close to my heart. I hope in my ramblings that you get the jist of what I was trying to say.

Mignon


Here's the website I'm about to check out myself as apparently CVS has some great things going on with their website and things that they do.

http://www.cvscaremarkallkidscan.com

My Prayer Request


My medical leave is ending in days. I applied for a very special job last week where I would be paid to write and teach via the writing. I have always loved writing. Writing is playing for me. It would be beyond my comprehension of dreaming to get to write for a living, especially now. That would totally eliminate pricing wheel chairs and round-abouts as the job would not require me to walk and that would be beyond my comprehension of awesome. This company is known about around the world, so I can only imagine hundreds are applying for this position, but I also know that I have done my part and continue to do my part of praying, so if it is God's will, then it will happen.

Mark Twain once said to make your vocation your vacation. Writing would be that for me.

Mignon

Birthday Present


It is quite convenient to be able to whip up a necklace when our son has a birthday to go to for one of his friends. This sweet necklace with its handmade polymer clay heart and stars go great with the glass beads I used in the design. So, I wonder if there's a little girl out there who is going to enjoy this one??? We couldn't go out and buy her a $40 necklace, but I can surely design and make her one. :)


Mignon

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Reminder :)


Don't forget to set your clocks back. Time changed last night. Yey!!! I love the longer daylight in the evenings!!!!!!!!!!!! AND, it's beautiful, sunny, and balmy today. :)



Mignon

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Can Your Child Save Your Life???


http://www.parentdish.com/2009/03/05/toddlers-911-call-saves-mom-s-life/?icid=200100397x1219476758x1201386858


This is an excerpt from an article I found online. See the website for the complete story how a young child saved his mom's life by knowing to call 911 and knowing to stay on the line.

How often do you talk to your children about what to do in an emergency? Experts say -- and TJ proves -- that parents shouldn't assume their toddlers are too young to learn how to call for help. These smart tips could save your life.

• Teach your child to use the house phone -- not the cell. Only a landline will alert dispatchers to your location. So if your child can't remember the address, help can still arrive.

• Explain that 911 a dispatcher ("the nice lady or man who will answer the phone") needs stay on the line with your child until help arrives; it's crucial that he doesn't hang up until told to do so. Plus, in a real emergency, it will help your child to hear a professionally calm voice.

• Make sure he can say (and spell) his first and last name. Dispatchers will use the child's name repeatedly as a way to stay engaged.

• Practice on an unplugged phone. You can play dispatcher and ask your child questions. Do it enough and your kid will be a pro in the event of a real emergency.

• Define what an emergency is. Use examples, such as a fire, a parent falling down, or a stranger entering your home. And if your child is unsure about what really is an emergency, tell him to listen to his gut feelings. There's a chance he may be wrong, but it's better to be safe than sorry


When's the last time you reviewed safety procedures for your home with your child???

http://www.parentdish.com/2009/03/05/toddlers-911-call-saves-mom-s-life/?icid=200100397x1219476758x1201386858

Mignon

Vote on Polymer Clay Designs

Vote for your favorite Polymer Clay item on the Polymer Clay Team's blog: http://www.pcagoe.com/ You might win something!

It takes a moment to figure it out, but you have about 24 or so polymer clay designs by different artists and you get to vote for your favorite. A couple folks or so will win a giveaway and you enter the drawing by voting - how hard is that??

I subscribed to their email while I was there so that I get updates from the website and will be notified when they do future giveaways.

I like being a part of a panel of folks who vote on a piece of art. That's quite artsy and something I enjoy. :) I'm even sharing this with you because I want to and not because there any stipulations that I read where I must. :)

Mignon

Friday, March 6, 2009

One of My Secrets....... :)


http://www.dmargocr.etsy.com

I have a secret. I really do and I'm only sharing it with you and a few other countries that come through as is shown by the tracker at the bottom of the blog. :)

I love rocks. No, I really love rocks. :) When I was a child I could spend hour after hour picking up one rock at a time in my grandparents driveway. I did this for so many hours for so many years that I would recognize rocks that I had previously repeatedly picked up and have repeatedly decided they were flawed and put them back down. Apparently the pretty side always managed to face up.........

My parents would always put their foot down at 3 shoeboxes full. Why 3? I don't know.

So, here I am all grown up and I still love rocks. Here's the difference. I found a source of rocks better than driveway gravel, well except for maybe the occasional cool fossil we find.........I'm going to share my source with you. I found her 6 years ago. She's now a part of the family. Naturally, finding a grownup who is just as equally crazy about rocks as we are (yes I married a rock hound), well, we just had to adopt her as our son's aunt. :) She's sold on Ebay for years and I finally talked her into selling on Etsy. Check her shop out, but you don't have to be a jewelry designer. Besides cabochon gemstones and beads, she also has specimens and fossils and so forth. Her shop is definitely like going to a rock show in and of itself, only this show is free, but better than sitting out in your driveway for hours. :)

Tell her I sent you as I'd love to surprise her with this little spotlight by someone telling her I sent them. :)

http://www.dmargocr.etsy.com

Mignon

A Great Shop


I can't just blog about my tour, now can I???

http://www.Knotaway.etsy.com

So, I must share. One of my best customers and probably my first follower, or one of the first for certain, on my blog has added some great items to her very artsy shop!!!! I got lucky and she sent me a surprise happy consisting of a set of her zebra block print artwork via a set of cards. I am going to share at least one of these cards with one of the winners in my crazy giveaway, and considering I only have one person willing to give me a poem thus far, then I wonder who gets the special treat............scroll down and you can find both the giveaway and the fantastic poem - folks this lady missed her calling in not having wrote poems long before now!!! I simply must share my zebra cards..........they just make me smile so. :) Do check out the shop though as there are new items in the shop. :) Let her know I sent you. :)

http://www.Knotaway.etsy.com and she blogs :)

http://.knotaway.blogspot.com


Mignon

Fifty State Tour - Alabama #2

http://www.ManicMuffinTotes.etsy.com

This fabulous seller has been selling since September 23, 2007 and has sold over 300 items of her crafty handwork. Check her shop out to be sure. Add her to your favorites. My sister's little girl already has princess stuff everywhere and I can just imagine one of those cupcake pillows sitting on my niece's bed when she is about 4 (aka in 4 years). :) Then, the owls are just adorable. I will give a nod to the cute dog pillow, but of course if you scroll through my pictures on the blog, then you know my heart belongs to the creatures with the pointed ears, whiskers, and holier-than-thou attitudes also known as my kitty cats. :) Naturally, I love the cat pillow. :) Manic Muffins does take custom orders and makes quilts. I wonder if someone out there could use a handmade baby quilt??? I know I cherish the handmade items I bought or was given when our son was born. They are just extra special and more so than the store bought stuff. There is just something about handmade that touches my heart. I made my sister a baby size knot blanket for my new niece and she loves it, but for those of us running short on time or sewing is just not our thing, then here's a shop for you. :0


I will be adding photos to this blog once I receive them in email. I tried connecting straight from the shop site, but no luck yet. :) I'm getting there, be patient folks, this is my first state. Just think that I will have it all down by my next state, which is only about a week away!!! :)

http://www.ManicMuffinTotes.etsy.com

Mignon

Thanks Everyone!!!


I must give a public thanks to everyone who has sent me instructions as to how to upload pics from Etsy shops. I do at least know that I can now upload pictures sent to me in an Etsy convo by saving them to a file and then uploading to the blog. :)

Next, I'll try and see if I can do that with a photo straight from a shop, where I have permission to do the same. Otherwise, I know I can do it when folks send the photos through an Etsy message. :)

Yey!!! So, here's a big smiley for all the help. :)


Mignon :)

Fifty States Tour - Alabama :)





http://wwww.happyhomestead.etsy.com

http://titus2wifeandmommy.blogspot.com

Yey!!! My first upload of photos from a shop worked!!!!!! See the blog below or see them here. These are photos from the first shop I am spotlighting - see the blog in its entirety further down. :) She's already told me she told a headband since my blogging, who knows if the blog was the source.............So, if you think about it when you make a purchase from one of the highlighted shops and I do have my Alabama shops picked out now and most have replied back, then please add a message to seller when you check out that you saw their shop here. It would be great to know that this is a success. I know I want to go back and purchase a lace headband really soon. I could just see those for church and summer dresses and oh, that red one would look great at Christmas!!!!! :)

Testing

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Etsy Bloggers Street Team Shop of the Month

http://www.DesignByNora.etsy.com

http://norademirjian.blogspot.com


Check out Nora's shop. She does a variety of things, including selling purses made by her uncle. Each purse has a name, which you get to promptly rename when you buy it, aka Mignon's Purse, if I were the buyer. :)

Congrats to Nora for being the shop of the month.

Mignon

Potential Scam, So Watch Yourself


I just heard on the radio today that folks claiming they were a part of some 'wish' foundation were using telemarketing to try to get donations. The well known dj on Miss 103, I believe it was, said that the real Make-A-Wish Foundation has policies in place where they specifically do not allow telemarketing in their foundation. So, if you are contacted by 'wish' group, then the DJ advised for you to tell the folks to put it in writing and when they say they don't have your address etc., then tell them they would have it if they were legitimate and hang up, i.e. they are just cold calling aka telemarketing. Do not give your info out over the phone, even just your address etc. is too much to give out. I'm not sure what a person could do with just your name, address, and phone number, but you can never be too careful.


Also, there is a nasty virus on Facebook that has been reworked to be even stronger. Before clicking on a video that says was made by a friend, contact the friend and verify that the video is genuinely by them as the trick the vius is set up to do is to make it look like one of your friends created the video, but then it turns out to be the virus. Once you click it, the virus then takes all your info for whatever purpose and sends the virus to all of your friends via sending your friends a 'video created by you' supposedly. What is the point of these viruses?? Why wreck havoc for no good reason??? I don't get it.

50 States Tour - Alabama




http://www.HappyHomestead.etsy.com

Alabama - Shop #1: Happy Homestead

Here's my first stop in my tour. I found this fantastic shop that sells beautiful lace headbands as well as these great headcoverings. My personal favorites are the lace headbands as I am a headband gal. My hair is traditionally in a bob as of late and even then there are just days where I just want all that hair pulled back from my face. As a matter fact I'm wearing a stretchy headband now. If I'm home, my hair is probably pulled back. :)

She also has these great little barrettes that I know my sis would love as she is forever clipping her hair back with little mini clips on the sides - basically her version of what I do. You know little sisters, they have to find their own way to do things.

There are various other items in the shop and you can even request colors of items you see that you like, but want a different color.

Check out the blog - I already have and love it!!!! I'll have to remember to add the blog to blogs I follow publicly - I always forget that part when I add a blog to follow.

Thanks to numerous folks I will to reply to and thank, I have successfully uploaded photos from this shop now. :) Thank you to everyone who helped me, while I'm trying to promote others. :)

Here's the shop and the blog. Check the shop out - it's family-friendly and G-rated, just like I like them. :)

http://www.HappyHomestead.etsy.com

http://titus2wifeandmommy.blogspot.com

50 States Tour Via Etsy :)

Sometimes when you want something done, you just have to do it yourself. :)

I have wanted to see a 50 states tour on Etsy, so I am doing one on my blog with shops of my choosing. There are so many great shops out there and so why not spotlight a few in each state. If this tour does well, then I plan to do more tours perhaps through the Etsy groups or I may just turn around and do another 50 States Tour. We'll just see where I end up. :)

My first state will be the beautiful southern state of Alabama. I am currently contacting shop owners to request their permission for me to blog about them and their shops. I have already contacted and heard back from one delightful crafter and will be blogging about her shortly. Now, if I can only figure out how to post the photos...........any help out there would be welcome.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Good News for Etsy Sellers!!

I have to share as I know everyone doesn't subscribe to the Etsy emails and I don't blame you. I've gotten 70, yes 70, emails just today and there's still 2 hours and 17 minutes or so left in the day and I promise.........oh look, there goes another email in my inbox. So, here's your update that got me a little excited as Paypal is my comfort zone. See the cut and paste email.

March 3, 2009
Etsian Sellers,

Today we're initiating a beta-test of a new feature which will enable you to pay your Etsy bill with PayPal. We just wanted to give you a heads up today, and soon we will let you know when the feature officially launches. For more details, see the blog post from Etsy admin Sean aka sean11 and Bryan aka bschwab who are working on this feature: http://www.etsy.com/storque/article/3082

We have launched an update the Etsy-to-PayPal experience: Etsy branding has been incorporated into the PayPal checkout pages linked from Etsy. This is designed to reduce buyer confusion during checkout.

Thank you for selling on Etsy. We hope this feature makes your experience on the site more efficient and convenient!

— Vanessa (Etsy Blog Admin)



Just had to share. :) Mignon

Saturday, February 28, 2009

American Craft Guide

http://americancraftguide.ning.com

Check these folks out. I have already signed up for their upcoming online craft fest. that starts in March. By checking them out, and then blogging about them in the specified time, then you can follow the rules and instructions to be included in their drawing for a free registration to one of their 'I heart handmade' shows. You pick the show from our 2009 schedule.

I'll have to let you know how much I enjoy my first online craft fest afterwards. :)

Mignon

Cake Mix or Store-Bought????

Our oven was put in our pre-civil war home back in the early 50's when all the sinks and commodes were replaced. So, the Frigidaire oven has hot spots and cold spots and near the oven door is a gurantee burn. I put my cookie sheets and cake pans in sideways and then change sides halfway through whatever it is I am cooking or baking short of my juicy oven-roasted marinated turkey, which falls off the bone when I'm finished with it. Cakes, however are another discussion altogether. I do bake my own from scratch, but not every time. I've baked two Betty Crocker super moist cakes in my hot and cold oven in the last two weeks and both came out dry and lopsided. I'm currently finishing up the baking of a Pilsbury Funfetti cake. I have 3 minutes to go and the cake is already light, fluffy, and evenly shaped on top. Prior to baking the Funfetti tonight for the family birthday party tomorrow, I was going to have to buy a store-bought cake for our son's birthday party next week. I had decided that the oven was just so old that baking a cake in it was impossible, but no, I can stand by a Pilsbury cake and bake one for the party and not spend a small fortune on just the cake! The Funfetti is great with it's rainbow colored candy cooked right in the cake. They actually have a Funfetti icing, but we already have a nice cream cheese icing and sprinkles. :)

Wow, just pulled the cake out using 36 minutes for the baking time at 350 and voila - perfect cake. Great shape, thick, fluffy, and even the top is properly shaped. I am a happy mommy. :)

Thanks Pilsbury!

Friday, February 27, 2009

Twitter Mom's Widget

If anyone can tell me if and when they ever see one of my blog titles in the Twitter Mom's widget, then I would appreciate it. Otherwise, I have to figure out what app. I must follow in order to make sure it is there.............


Have a great weekend folks. :)

Mignon

Help

So, if anyone can tell me how to move my twitter mom's widget to my side bar, then I would be most greatful. I might actually count it as your mom if I am successful in following your instructions.

:)

Mignon

Congrats Gina B. and who's next???

4 more slots available for the claiming, submit your poem, and no you don't have to be Emily Dickinson either, just be you. :)

I guarantee you will like what I do. :)


Mignon

Fine, fine, fine, here's your revision

You do not actually have to have a giveaway on your blog if you don't want to, so I have one person who has won, simply by writing me a poem, a rather good poem, I might add, and all she has to do now is give me her address and birthday month and/or day, no year needed. We're all 29 and holding. :)


So, congrats to Gina Bee, my first winner and you are quite the creative poem writer - I love it!!!!


Mignon

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Going back to incompetent dr. today..........

Well, maybe the doctor's office I am going to will have their act together enough where they can handle getting me scheduled for a shot in my back this go around within the next couple of weeks and then, just maybe, we are praying hard here, the shot will work and I get finally trade pain for numbness and go on with my life. I have missed out on so much this year and this crackpot doctor's office I am having to go to is ridiculous. I love my regular specialist, but the specialist I have to go to for the shot is incompetent to put it mildly. I was supposed to have a shot in October. It's February folks.


More later.


Mignon

Scroll Down for the Crazy Giveway

I still need 5 folks willing to do the giveaway on their blog. :)

I gurantee your prise will be worth more than $25 and you will enjoy it. :)


Twitter Moms: The Influential Moms Network


Twitter Moms: The Influential Moms Network


Twitter Moms: The Influential Moms Network


Twitter Moms: The Influential Moms Network

Great Jewelry Supplies Seller

http://www.rosemarybeads.etsy.com

The shopowner behind this shop on Etsy will take care of you if you take care of her. She went out of her way to make sure I have been taken care of, so I thought it only fitting to blog about her fantastic customer service and great products. You can't go wrong with buying from Rosemary's Beads. What I especially like is her shipping as when I buy from one of my larger suppliers, I have to justify the shipping, but her shipping is reasonable enough to get just exactly what you need and then some. :)

So, for my fellow jewelry designers, here's a shop worth trying. :)

Mignon

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Welcome People!!

Ok, so folks are visiting from around the world.

Obviously the U.S. is the top visiting country, being it is my home country, but......

hello out there to

Canada

Singapore

China

Romania

Turkey

Thailand

Sweden

Mexico

and

France

Do come back and visit again and please say hello. :)

Yoplait Bag and more Giveway!

Here's the site to enter the giveway. http://monkeygiggles.blogspot.com

Here's what she's up to:

Win it! Win one of THREE Yo-Plus gift bags to share with my readers thanks to Yoplait! Included is a mini notebook, a BPA free red water bottle, a zippered insulated tote and a coupon for a FREE package of Yo-Plus yogurt - any flavor!

Hurry, hurry, the giveaway won't last forever!!!

Mignon

Great Shop for Stationary, Monograming, etc.

Really, you just never know what might catch my eye and put me in the mood to blog. I came across this shop today and I just love it, so I'm blogging about it. Check it out for a great source for more than just stationary, but they have some great stationary. I especially love their monogrammed napkins!!!! I'm a napkin girl. I really love pretty napkins!!! I love stationary too, so you see why I'm blogging. :)

http://kimscustomcards.wahmart.com/store/Default.asp

http://kimscustomcards.wahmart.com

Mignon