tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68295985840099665362024-03-13T10:59:29.664-05:00Inside Etsy: Store Owner InterviewsI'm asking the questions you didn't even know you wanted the answers to! Running a successful shop doesn't just depend on having good business sense. You have to have the personality and the perseverance to pull it off. Let's get inside the hearts and minds of up-and-coming artists, as well as those who are long in the tooth. Between all of us, maybe we can figure this thing out!Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-83060514081654747022011-07-23T01:32:00.000-05:002011-07-23T01:32:51.923-05:00How to Create a Facebook Landing Page for Your Etsy Business<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/64309793/facebook-icon-pillow" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YEWxMSswP5xQos-8ZOzxq4mKbKtssDvNUBkdLnUVgGMMuaNcrrXrRC2E00Yb1vYOkxoRVv5GkOcdpeeiBMxH_Y4pAj1BoBlgvm3U5vGoEQdF_TE3iEB4JdgTXaMFDn8ZRdv8abEa9V4/s320/fb+pillow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are so many wonderful things that I wish I could take credit for. Take, for instance, a Facebook Landing page. This is yet one more marketing tool for us business owners, bloggers, and self-promoters.<br />
<br />
<b>What is a Facebook Landing page?</b><br />
<br />
A Facebook Landing page is a blog or fan page where first-time visitors land first. By default people will land on your Facebook Wall, but it doesn't really do a good job in letting vistors know what your blog is about.<br />
<br />
On a landing page you can put anything you want, such as:<br />
<br />
Introduction of who you are or what your blog is about.<br />
An opt in area for newsletter or email list.<br />
A call to action to become a fan.<br />
<br />
(Thanks, Jasmine, for that explanation!)<br />
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I have recently gotten involved in a different realm of the blogosphere, and even there I am finding great tips that I can apply to benefit my Etsy business. (This other realm is known as Oz to some, but as homemaking/homeschooling to others.) I am learning that there are plenty of Etsians who are stay-at-home/homeschooling moms like myself. Maybe you’re one of us? One such “us” is Jasmine at <a href="http://www.jasmine-aboverubies.blogspot.com/">Far Above Rubies</a>, which is where I found <a href="http://jasmine-aboverubies.blogspot.com/2011/07/facebook-landing-page.html">this post</a>, which led me to <a href="http://bloggingwithamy.com/how-to-create-a-facebook-landing-page-using-iframes/">Blogging With Amy’s full article</a>.<br />
<br />
My life has me traveling a new journey at this time, but I am still working my Etsy shop! That’s one thing I love about my business—it can go on the road with me and my family in our motorhome. I can just sew as we go down the road. Talk about multi-tasking! <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Musings-of-a-Ministers-Wife/182651121799359">My new Facebook Landing page</a> is a great way to incorporate <a href="http://musingsofaminsterswife.wordpress.com/">my personal blog</a> with my shop.<br />
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And, just for the record, I use Blogger for my Inside Etsy blog, Weebly for my <a href="http://www.cordcoversandmore.com/">direct online store</a>, and Wordpress for my personal blog, and I gotta say that Wordpress is getting my vote hands down! Read this handmadeology.com article about <a href="http://www.handmadeology.com/choosing-the-right-blogging-platform/">choosing the right blogging platforms</a>.</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-19228010380346856112011-07-20T06:33:00.005-05:002011-07-20T06:39:59.475-05:00Why Bloggers Charge for Reviews and Giveaways<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42380561@N05/3909326842/" title="tastatur liggende by KaVass, on Flickr"><img alt="tastatur liggende" class="aligncenter" height="283" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3909326842_2ff6bd5834.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am a blogger.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I used to work for free.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't afford to do that anymore.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That probably sounds a little opportunistic or perhaps arrogant, but it makes good sense when you really think about what reviews and giveaways mean for a blogger and for the business they are promoting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1. Bloggers work hard for their money.</b> No, this isn't some 80's song, it's truth. Giveaways and reviews require a tremendous amount of time and effort . We must try out the product, take quality photos of the product in action around our home, write a pithy blog post on the product, set up giveaway rules and dates, promote the giveaway in social media outlets, close down the giveaway, run a random selector for the winner, email the winner and the company, and take care of any follow-up that may happen after the giveway is finished. This isn't a walk in the park. It is hard work and a couple of boxes of cereal in exchange for all of this isn't going to fly with a blogger who truly knows the extent of her time and effort.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>2. Reviews and giveaways are prime ad real estate. </b>I have sidebar ads at <a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/" target="_blank">RaisingArrows.net</a>; however, those ads are not what get the clicks. That is why with every sidebar ad a company takes out, I allow one giveaway or review post per 3 month period. You will find that one review or giveaway or even just a mention with a coupon code as enticement will pay for itself over and over again. A lot of companies do not realize how golden a blogger's word is.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>3. TANSTAAFL. </b> To borrow an acronym from Richard Maybury of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Happened-Explanation-Economics-Investments/dp/0942617622/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311137074&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Whatever Happened to Penny Candy</a>,</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not to say I won't promote a business for free simply because I love their products,<b> they just shouldn't expect it</b>. Companies would do well to realize blogging IS a business and just as you wouldn't dream of giving away your entire inventory for free, neither can you expect a blogger to hand out free reviews.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>4. The gift that keeps on giving.</b> Suppose I write a review post for a product. That company receives my top ad space (aka "a blog post"). Once that post is complete, I no longer benefit (unless the company has an affiliate program I have signed up for); however, the company has my stamp of approval and a post in my archives and a Google keyword or two that generate traffic long past my review post. The long-term investment a company makes in paying a blogger to host a giveaway or do a review is well worth the money.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>5. Product is nice. Cash is better. </b> Sometimes a blogger will work for product, especially if she really needs the product. However, unless a blogger approaches a company, it is unlikely she needs the product that company is selling. Assuming a blogger will spread the word about a product simply because the company gave her something for free is bad form.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know this sounds hard-nosed for a woman who blogs at a Christian homeschooling blog, but the honest truth is my readers don't want me to be a walking advertisement. They want to read about <a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/the-homeschooling-mother/" target="_blank">homeschooling </a>and<a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/large-family-living/" target="_blank"> large families</a> and the like. The occasional review or giveaway I host at Raising Arrows is done with the same zest and zeal my readers have come to expect from my regular fare. Asking a company to pay for those reviews and giveaways is simply asking them to<b> compensate me for the time and effort it takes to make their product look good without making my blog look obnoxious</b>. It's a win-win situation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*****</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4QGB_sDhcsQZOPg7V8aqIFosUwHJEktJr2wvLMrErv54mlMkIwCKnAf3Ia_jde2IfqN_5CqiDhoi5WVLhMv_Ll8XwcnThL3p37JTQx28uN_5bAgqPLPF0YM_fpTuUlydMHOhAma1Vh4/s1600/raisingarrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4QGB_sDhcsQZOPg7V8aqIFosUwHJEktJr2wvLMrErv54mlMkIwCKnAf3Ia_jde2IfqN_5CqiDhoi5WVLhMv_Ll8XwcnThL3p37JTQx28uN_5bAgqPLPF0YM_fpTuUlydMHOhAma1Vh4/s1600/raisingarrows.jpg" /></a></div>Amy of <a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1311160788_0">RaisingArrows.net</span></a> is the homeschooling mother of 6 living children and one precious little girl named Emily being held in the Lord’s arms. Her days are filled with giggly girls, rambunctious boys and sticky baby kisses. At night, she writes about it all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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Thank you, Amy, for taking time out of your busy day to pen this great information!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-52045374669847798712011-06-27T20:21:00.003-05:002011-06-28T05:56:08.332-05:00My Bearded Pigeon / Chunky Chooky<div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1054598879" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqt0AsRIwRioKll1sGLp8p1m3qBvxlDlB6PrEjK5eZlgNJKs0Jt_ohFPTYz6OqVGBSOKg1tcxDrZhzkLFvNffqwcDhX44XG0sl1t80d9z1JnIEewHOO5D0qLdqmRWkdFmA9g4REeHpYw/s320/inside+etsy+my+bearded+pigeon+poem.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mybeardedpigeon.etsy.com/">Stitched poem pillow<br />
Also available blank or with unstitched lettering</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I was scrolling through discussions among Etsy teams, looking for something with an interesting enough title to read, “<a href="http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/7561969/page/33/#">$20,000+ in Sales in 5 Months</a>” definitely qualified as a ringer for peaking my interest. You can either read the post over here at <a href="http://www.handmadeology.com/20000-in-etsy-sales-in-only-5-months-long-list-of-dos-and-donts/">handmadeology</a> or over here in the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/7561969/page/33/#">original post</a>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s plunge even deeper into the mind behind <a href="http://www.mybeardedpigeon.etsy.com/">MyBeardedPigeon</a>. There is more to her and her fantastic shops than meets the bird’s eye. When you purchase from <a href="http://www.mybeardedpigeon.etsy.com/">MyBeardedPigeon</a>, you’re not just getting something – you are also giving something. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On top of having a wonderful product and wonderful code of social responsibility, the fabric used is exclusive to <a href="http://www.mybeardedpigeon.etsy.com/">My Bearded Pigeon</a> and not available anywhere else in the world! </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read on to find out your purchase helps to change lives.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1054598906" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMd9UIj422a0_1LZwfKgV2PpkQmbA9yqBCiOjgwMWMeU9fqZ-ufizj_b8-8MNiUS22huF7Z9INxMmhg4_stCt7MhOcZcwsfmfYX3sns0NJCnWncQmVTK2cpB9ZICmzNSLrhuD9Wil75g/s320/inside+etsy+my+bearded+pigeon+bahamas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mybeardedpigeon.etsy.com/">This is as close as I'll ever get to the Bahamas.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's hard for me to say that the economy is bad over here in America when people are still getting manicures and boob jobs, but the news would have us believe that the economy is bad. How are things over in Australia? Are manicures and boob jobs popular over there, too?</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apparently the retail sector is struggling. Every shop seems to be having a sale at the moment and people are buying a lot online, especially because the $AUD is so strong at the moment. I can buy a book on Amazon and have it posted to my house, rather than buy it from the shop down the road. Having said all that, I am not an economist but people are still getting boob jobs and buying flashy cars etc so.... who knows???</span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is there actually a such thing as a bearded pigeon? Then there's the much more obvious question: why <a href="http://www.mybeardedpigeon.etsy.com/">MyBeardedPigeon</a> for a shop name? Feel free to blend the two questions into one answer.</span></span></b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1054598885" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1WR6uElClhml_DJXrgpEkX_0O_16fDcC6Tc3C0zuD5a8Df-3WRqRsDtWKMcwav85DmXDExMDFKi3ozVTCvLjeraStcZmyyHJEmAQwRJkCAnNRmkUVDonpD9-Lu5HLw5qUcCSzIzBJFU/s320/inside+etsy+my+bearded+pigeon+pittsburg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mybeardedpigeon.etsy.com/">Are there pigeons in Pittsburg?And those colors are astounding!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, there is such a thing as a bearded pigeon. It is closely related to the handlebar moustache pigeon but that seemed a bit wordy. Or, no, there is not, I just like beards, and I always feel bad for pigeons, they get such bad press, everyone dislikes them. You can decide which is the true answer. I wanted my shop name to be something intriguing... rather than organic cotton designs or some such thing. Lots of people comment on the name, in a good way.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have a most awesome list of keys to your Etsy success over in the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success">Etsy Success</a> team (fitting I must say). Did you just stick to this list or did you do something above and beyond to get your sales to skyrocket? Or did your pillows just happen to hit the popular vein?</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I reckon, apart from all the tips and stuff, I really just lucked out and hit a popular vein. Right place, right time. It is also a great gift for everyone, men, women, children, and kids, great gift for weddings, anniversaries, and momentos of places you have lived.... Also lots of big blogs have picked up the cushions and some magazines etc., apparently lots of people like maps. Yay!!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do have a busy blog and am an active blogger , I post lots and visit other blogs too. I get involved in swaps and donate things to raffles for say raising money for cancer etc. I have a much neglected facebook page, but I do not love facebook at all... I don't really get how to use it. I have a flickr account and recently joined twitter. That seems like a lot. It is. Spend small amounts of time on each one probably every day. Which brings me to a good point. I often see in the forums people saying things like "I have a life. I don't want to be on my computer all day." Well you don't have to be but you do have to check your email at least twice a day I think. However, if you don't want to spend time on the computer then you probably shouldn't be running an online business. It’s pretty simple.... and while I am on it, there seems to be so much whining and complaining on the forums - chill out people.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Give us a run down on why you donate $1 to microlending at <a href="http://kiva.org/">kiva.org</a>.</span></span></b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1054598890" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHjo7UVSVm3eZjQk_SZPcle-RVaSX1-K5T4Q_eg4E96sAAIGMUW8mkvwcPhSeZX2fz0Ila1gMv9GMWzM-3b5T2tXqoFR02KKqV-wUnHwJJBx_w2vpfkcwWXffRhfsaBThOGDM_feiZrc/s320/inside+etsy+my+bearded+pigeon+assylum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mybeardedpigeon.etsy.com/">This pillow is not referring to the visitors on your couch.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I donate $1 to <a href="http://www.kiva.org/">Kiva</a> from every sale, because it is the socially responsible thing to do. I am lucky to be living in a safe country with a steady income, (I work 3 days a week and my husband works full time), and I can afford a $1 from every sale. During the aftermath of the <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43385046/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/new-zealand-quake-shook-ground-jelly/">New Zealand earthquake</a>, where we have close family, I stopped donating to Kiva and donated to the <a href="http://www.redcross.org/">Red Cross</a>. I did the same for the Japan earthquake. I am thinking of switching from Kiva to <a href="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/">Doctors without Borders</a> soon, just for something different. I can keep reloaning with Kiva as people repay the loans, so it can keep going.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now go return those pillows you just got from Wal-Mart, and buy some of Cath’s pillows instead! At the very least, go follow along on her fantastic blog at <a href="http://chunkychooky.blogspot.com/">http://chunkychooky.blogspot.com</a>.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mybeardedpigeon.etsy.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfSUHBT0ajiDdzoCzaSG6t6X5Nip6yYkP6BCqbHyi3J864tS3mNzjvMgoU1CZNajhZi4umTmVzpk418t_AUbo_bNsylQLhb3Z31-6RTB7U437tVnGoojKfYEjFQwOATWV8zCkTFdDuf4/s200/cath.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> If pillows aren't your thing, then surely you know somebody who has a baby who would love something from her second Etsy shop: <a href="http://www.chunkychooky.etsy.com/">www.ChunkyChooky.etsy.com</a>. She even has an iphone app. What will she think of next? Whatever it is, I plan on doing a follow up piece to see how Cath handles tax time in Australia. Stay tuned for the answer everyone wants to know -- how much of that money is she going to get to actually keep?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BTW, her shop is now over the $30,000 mark, only 6 weeks after writing her Etsy Success team post. Whatever she's doing, she's doing it right! Keep up all of your marvelousness!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE2MzIzNzR8MzgxODYyODM2/just-breathe?ref=pr_treasury">Just Breathe treasury</a> featuring MyBeardedPigeon. </span></span></div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-34974139115863251472011-06-25T14:43:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:42:14.720-05:00Timothy Adam Designs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5Z_mZ4Xd8-bSod1aojvOBoPApB_w85ky4_HuJupB_Pl_jvNP7-8vIgecjSaOp0gLTKhxITfMHCRznJPtqYkzkjZEDjpLFc_Qcri3sBO5oC1DIEjCFzcRNbFjQJuawlZxtO0L4qGJJVw/s1600/timothyadamdesigns.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This should have been the first interview I did, but my life has a whole bunch of “shoulda”s. Tim Adam, founder of <a href="http://handmadeology.com/">Handmadeology.com</a>, owner of <a href="http://www.timothyadamdesigns.etsy.com/">TimothyAdamDesigns</a>, self-taught conqueror of SEO and most things internet, is now getting his turn to be featured here on Inside Etsy.<br />
<br />
Without a doubt, Tim would surely be voted “Most Helpful” if ever there were an Etsy annual. His giving nature does not begin or end in the handmade community. It is simply an extension of the giving that he does on a daily basis in his home, his church, and his community—on or offline. There’s no luck involved when you work as hard as Tim does. His success is well-deserved!<br />
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<b>Do you consider yourself successful at this point? Granted, like mine, I’m sure your bar of success is raised everyday, but how do you feel about your business today?</b><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">I do! Quitting my job in 2007 helped me realize that doing what I love and making a living can happen! Sure, my business if ever-changing and evolving. Flexibility comes with the territory of owning your own business. To this date, I am happy with where my business has taken me and the direction it is headed.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Unlike in my posts, where I constantly make references to my family, I don't see mentions of your family in your postings, other than the standard issue that you have one. (But I’m a tell-all kind of girl. I always say, "God knows the truth. What does it matter if everybody else does?") Is your wife a stay-at-home mom or does she fly the "Corporate Woman" flag? What does she think about all of these wonderful things you are accomplishing? And if you just don't want to talk about your family, then we'll skip it, but I am curious. It kills more than cats, I find.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.gracedesignsphotography.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvp0PHeVDqNl1orGtL_-xPJpZwxM7FcsmRHx9G2O3nSi0XOxdsTkc26Z_H3JHo3mmlFYUftoiwAcNaoSJNWIvKRXFWFmlA4mwsW2Mu6zGz84eOsNymCk7xCMYZxr82-ePX4QO5gGqjwho/s200/grace.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: blue;">My wife, Christina, is self-employed like myself. She is an amazing photographer. Here is her site: </span><a href="http://gracedesignsphotography.com/" style="color: blue;">Gracedesignsphotography.com</a><span style="color: blue;">. I would not be where I am today with out the love and support of my wife. We have a 10 month old boy, Camden, and a Jack Russel named Sadie. We live in a 1923 dutch colonial, where we mix our modern style with old architecture.</span><br />
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<b>Why did you decide to make a hard-copy of your book "<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/74316489/creative-etsy-success-package-special">How to Make Money Using Etsy</a>" instead of selling it as an e-book?</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">I really never was looking to write a book. In 2010 the publisher came to me and asked me to write the book. So making a hard copy with a larger publisher behind me was a simple decision to make!</span><br />
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<b>Are you going to branch into offering affiliate programs for your book (and other awesome materials)?</b><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">We are currently working on an affiliate program for all the products that Handmadeology offers. We will be teaching bloggers how to make extra money each month from simply selling our top notch proven products.</span><br />
<br />
<b>What is the hardest part of being "Tim Adam—Handmade Etceteraordinaire"? (That’s my own personal name for you.)</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/handmadeology" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc9gKNBxnH0U7TsKnCnNo8ad1_KQY5Gy8vaTFCiNM1gpfOpe7lUvWugcJa0RhDzLnz4jT9TxG-2wVheFVgApLt1XiEyEfljicMh7szy00v7hyphenhyphenZTDpJpdLRmH7xO-LewujnNQw721gfQk/s1600/tim+and+son.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I think the hardest part is separating work from family. With work being one click away, it is difficult to get away. I love what I do and I love my family, so defining that line between work and family time is something that I work on everyday.</span><br />
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Thanks, Tim, for all that you do for me and everyone else looking for a piece of that handmade pie. You are truly an embodiment of what the Etsy community is all about.<br />
<br />
Visit the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/handmadeologybiz?ref=seller_info">Handmadeology shop</a> on Etsy and peruse all of the helpful tools that have been packaged together to help you achieve success in your very own Etsy shop.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tim can be found everywhere on the internet:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/handmadeology">http://pinterest.com/handmadeology</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TimothyAdamDesigns">http://www.facebook.com/TimothyAdamDesigns</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Twitter @timothyadam</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Blog: <a href="http://www.timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com/">www.TimothyAdamDesigns.blogspot.com </a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Etsy: <a href="http://www.timothyadamdesigns.etsy.com/">www.TimothyAdamDesigns.etsy.com</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-16093377487153393692011-05-28T09:13:00.004-05:002011-06-27T20:41:57.186-05:00Leaning On the Promises<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZB1I89pcf2Z9OSichzGAsDWt_cyrtPUIMgEcMJLhtYuExTnHvW1gJt4QDwxKESyunrbTxuRmt7tpSE_SVYzltihGuy0Bc1G2t3FY1t_dH8Wpd8Q5ECNwy53kW7gzL9DxF6MWZpawadFU/s1600/insideetsy+leaningonthepromises+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZB1I89pcf2Z9OSichzGAsDWt_cyrtPUIMgEcMJLhtYuExTnHvW1gJt4QDwxKESyunrbTxuRmt7tpSE_SVYzltihGuy0Bc1G2t3FY1t_dH8Wpd8Q5ECNwy53kW7gzL9DxF6MWZpawadFU/s200/insideetsy+leaningonthepromises+1.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand, stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God – Epheshians 6:13 – 17</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Canes may not be a listed piece of the armor of God, but remember the miracles God performed using Moses’ walking stick? </span><span style="font-size: small;">Judy Goddard, owner of <a href="http://www.leaningonthepromises.etsy.com/">Leaning on the Promises</a>, uses her talent to create beautiful canes. Sometimes a person needs a little help standing, whether it’s on the promises or on the pavement.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What is a puzzle cane?</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cHbmst1pNB3TBnmgrG3QG2FRByu2JznlqRkbvAYIA37UUgCAbb5I5IrwfzS2McbtRxpPA63n-ejO_Z_CXTauEDzlkKBnKREhS2nSAgumX-7B9n8oW5FFuMdDxLojArkb35cTf1pVx9w/s1600/insideetsy+leaningonthepromises+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cHbmst1pNB3TBnmgrG3QG2FRByu2JznlqRkbvAYIA37UUgCAbb5I5IrwfzS2McbtRxpPA63n-ejO_Z_CXTauEDzlkKBnKREhS2nSAgumX-7B9n8oW5FFuMdDxLojArkb35cTf1pVx9w/s200/insideetsy+leaningonthepromises+3.jpg" t8="true" width="186" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;">My canes contain word puzzles. They don't come apart or have moving parts. Each puzzle cane has an inscription that is either a prayer or portion of scripture that is incorporated in such a way that it is very difficult to read unless you know the key. At the bottom of each puzzle cane page in my shop is </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/74545388/butterfly-puzzle-cane"><span style="color: blue;">an explanation</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"> of how to read a puzzle cane.</span></span> <br />
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<b>How did you get started painting?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I was a volunteer, working at my local hospital, on the oncology ward. As an artist I would go into a patient's room and start up a conversation. I would offer to paint a picture for them. Usually I would offer to paint a picture of their favorite place, either a favorite vacation spot, a childhood home, a favorite park, etc. I would ask them details and as they remembered, I would try to capture it. In this way, I got them to forget, for at least a little while, that they were the hospital undergoing chemo. It was kind of like a mini vacation. And then afterwards, they had a painting to take home that was a good memory of a maybe not so good time in their life, That was where I learned to stretch my skills and pay closer attention to details.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I love your shop name, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/leaningonthepromises">LeaningOnThePromises</a>. Did this just come to you or did you sit and think about it a while?</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I knew that my puzzle canes would be inspirational in nature, a reflection of my Christian faith and, hopefully, a comfort for others. I fished around for a few days and when the name, "Leaning on the Promises" came to me I knew it was just right!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoShDQTjcXjRPVg7g6UBh2uIBO4-TVZj520cH23IEkUGUKas5H1TBDbcWg0NHrbZJR9-74HP9j-rJXyMRCxDjWECz5k4KwEkxJa-liryuppAsxo7DQ3SnU5ka9SMqKI0LWMMVfj_QF7mM/s1600/insideetsy+leaningonthepromises+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoShDQTjcXjRPVg7g6UBh2uIBO4-TVZj520cH23IEkUGUKas5H1TBDbcWg0NHrbZJR9-74HP9j-rJXyMRCxDjWECz5k4KwEkxJa-liryuppAsxo7DQ3SnU5ka9SMqKI0LWMMVfj_QF7mM/s200/insideetsy+leaningonthepromises+2.jpg" t8="true" width="199" /></a></div><b>Are you at a point in your life where you have to use a cane?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Right now I am not in need of a cane. The first one I painted was for my God mother, who is elderly. She had gone through a serious illness and after her recovery still needed a little help staying steady on her feet. Especially as she was preparing to take her husband on a cruise through the Panama Canal!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Any thing else that you would like to add?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Not all of my canes are puzzle canes. I realize that not everyone who would appreciate a beautiful cane is interested in an inspirational one. So I also make beautiful hand painted ones that have no writing on them. I call them, "Non Puzzle Canes". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">I also have a Pinterest account under JudyAGoddard, and Stumbleupon also. My blog is </span><a href="http://www.judyagoddardartisan.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">www.JudyAGoddardArtisan.blogspot.com</span></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Both Judy and her canes are a work of art and a labor of love. She would love to work with you on a custom cane for you or your loved one.</span></span></div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-49481500155136192612011-05-24T10:27:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:31:34.659-05:00Precious Prints by Little Pergola<div style="text-align: justify;">There are two things that I never wanted to be in life and that is an Elementary school teacher and a mom to four girls. Not because I don't like those jobs, but because of the challenge involved in each of those jobs. I tried my hand at being a pre-k Sunday School teacher. We did more coloring than learning. I grew up with four sisters. I know the challenges that await, and I am not the mom to face them. There are rules about locking your kids in their rooms these days, lol. But the mastermind behind <a href="http://www.littlepergola.etsy.com/">Precious Prints by</a> <a href="http://www.littlepergola.etsy.com/">LittlePergola</a> is all of those things and more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJFVZhbGS1ZGy7lUOqtbqrpstoxI-9mtSW7wnhB2B0fAhDW9gHtx0Tr8I-OiYymS7fHuMuQb3GVr13DWgby7VNzpLdGEgkJnhEDq65CcmeIep7EKtElIv4aZVFgyXhMNAi1NrGN7-ovw/s1600/inside+etsy+littlepergola+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJFVZhbGS1ZGy7lUOqtbqrpstoxI-9mtSW7wnhB2B0fAhDW9gHtx0Tr8I-OiYymS7fHuMuQb3GVr13DWgby7VNzpLdGEgkJnhEDq65CcmeIep7EKtElIv4aZVFgyXhMNAi1NrGN7-ovw/s400/inside+etsy+littlepergola+20.jpg" t8="true" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nursery Art for Your Baby Einstein</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><b>It takes a special type of person to be an Elementary school teacher, especially in today’s crazy world where teachers have so little authority. Of course, the younger they are, the easier they are to teach. What grade do you teach?</b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I teach first grade. When I first started teaching 9 years ago, I realized that first graders have fresh little minds that are like little sponges waiting to be soaked with their first year of knowledge that will start their journey for years to come. They come in with knowing how to basically write their abc's and leave with making full sentences, amazing!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>You referenced in a convo that you graduated on May 11th. Fill us in.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VARsPNUOkc0RxIMwAAQDuLEZS5SyXi7sN_v2X6Dl3BqQXo8J1ivZLu8qx-qQii1EDCQCtZ_FpDIjP7NrzWQJN5kVuX1OWJdtfzcaM8McjtgO8jGl12OZQd-AafJtHTfQ0jpu36Zoyn4/s1600/inside+etsy+littlepergola6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VARsPNUOkc0RxIMwAAQDuLEZS5SyXi7sN_v2X6Dl3BqQXo8J1ivZLu8qx-qQii1EDCQCtZ_FpDIjP7NrzWQJN5kVuX1OWJdtfzcaM8McjtgO8jGl12OZQd-AafJtHTfQ0jpu36Zoyn4/s200/inside+etsy+littlepergola6.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy and Me Print</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Yes, another one of the biggest days in my life was on the 21st of May. I graduated from New Jersey City University with a Masters in Educational Technology. Being in today's growing technology driven society, I felt like it would be a great investment to learn something that can support and aid our students technologically driven minds.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>How has your recent experience with <a href="http://www.heartsy.com/">Heartsy</a> been?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Well before it started I was excited and a bit scared. Only because it was a new experience, I thought it would be over whelming and that it would be too much to handle but once it started it wasn't as bad. Heartsy is a good way to get your name out there and hopefully have repeat buyers!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>You are a member of lots of good Etsy teams. Which one(s) have you found to be the most beneficial? (And I’m not fishing for props for the Inside Etsy team, lol.)</b> </div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjEs8I41VzcjvSX7_9R6i7B8RMD__8ES37GwpkxgtF6I_PR2U4M969P3WEaW4kK4tUICCRB5HAd5glSHMe1wSYCOEgZFdd-tDxE-yCgo9E90_Tqg7Vg41cVE-J19hUU58HFsgWfo-ppY/s1600/inside+etsy+littlepergola15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjEs8I41VzcjvSX7_9R6i7B8RMD__8ES37GwpkxgtF6I_PR2U4M969P3WEaW4kK4tUICCRB5HAd5glSHMe1wSYCOEgZFdd-tDxE-yCgo9E90_Tqg7Vg41cVE-J19hUU58HFsgWfo-ppY/s320/inside+etsy+littlepergola15.jpg" t8="true" width="246px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nursery Art for Your Little Man</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Yes all the teams on Etsy are extremely beneficial and each is unique in its own way. I don't have a favorite but all the teams help answer any question and help Etsy members come over any hurdle they may have.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">What type of printer do you use for best results?</span></b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I use an inkjet Canon printer, I feel that the color from inkjet printers looks more vibrant then prints from a laser printer, but that's just my opinion.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Raising four girls is probably easier than raising 3, since odd numbers tend to leave someone out. How do all of your girls get along?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I always say I have two sets of daughters. People say "two sets, what do you mean by two sets?". I have the two older set, 17 and 14, and the two younger set 8 and 5. Each two get along perfectly, but when they get mixed it's a whole different story!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Personally, it is so refreshing to see tasteful art for little guys. Our family could care less about sports, and it seems like if you have a boy your room decorating options are sports and hunting. My husband does hunt, but it's for the grocery aspect of it, not the sporting. So thank you, Amy, for reaching out to us moms of boys!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP_MppjluJgq_kkq7FaV6Q3Qv_GFoU2gnzPPnexauQ_oGQpgNsZBUmvdi7KA6wqJea3yigzDLEjgnUFehIrJk6sP6hgzbDUhW6N2-9XodQESV2NbdbWjl2XnfzRpFAAQiVV8OWCy0QG8/s1600/inside+etsy+littlepergola3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP_MppjluJgq_kkq7FaV6Q3Qv_GFoU2gnzPPnexauQ_oGQpgNsZBUmvdi7KA6wqJea3yigzDLEjgnUFehIrJk6sP6hgzbDUhW6N2-9XodQESV2NbdbWjl2XnfzRpFAAQiVV8OWCy0QG8/s200/inside+etsy+littlepergola3.jpg" t8="true" width="160px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Non-satirical Print</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">I also want to put a plug in here for some of her wonderful satirical art prints. They come e"quip"ped with the following phrases and advice:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/72061566/laundry-today-or-naked-tomorrow">Laundry Today Or Naked Tomorrow</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/66089646/golden-silence">Silence is Golden But Duct Tape is Silver</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/66177072/forbes-list">Everyday I get up and look through the Forbes list of the world's richest people. If I'm not there, I get up and go to work.</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCk5vvQWGTCEDC3f8-ntVpVXT_k9Xb7-xfD5dRyosBGw5qdrqI2GKSiGyR1_OEBBOrRD09-9ufoMDbsODuuro24yZTmRlJG3bm3giOxKUXTA9tIJCxp3DbzYVMIISDPh9fIPixC2T7GBk/s1600/inside+etsy+littlepergola5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCk5vvQWGTCEDC3f8-ntVpVXT_k9Xb7-xfD5dRyosBGw5qdrqI2GKSiGyR1_OEBBOrRD09-9ufoMDbsODuuro24yZTmRlJG3bm3giOxKUXTA9tIJCxp3DbzYVMIISDPh9fIPixC2T7GBk/s200/inside+etsy+littlepergola5.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a><span style="color: #444444;">Here is Amy with one the girls from her gaggle. S</span><span style="color: #444444;">he can be followed through Twitter @LittlePergola.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-5786060442770935782011-05-23T09:57:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:31:58.021-05:00Tole Mountain<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6j4ity30gRN3u-vY9JQxJVAlH2tJuIr6NYx_efLMyHicMAXilHj6MS2N5-71Afq_uDQVLdAnflOa-YIdLAME-HRNNOIbAU8zLRp5KuhuzLza1eNkvd-Mpd13GB2_UAX-RHhJeu-wYWA/s1600/inside+etsy+tolemountain+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6j4ity30gRN3u-vY9JQxJVAlH2tJuIr6NYx_efLMyHicMAXilHj6MS2N5-71Afq_uDQVLdAnflOa-YIdLAME-HRNNOIbAU8zLRp5KuhuzLza1eNkvd-Mpd13GB2_UAX-RHhJeu-wYWA/s200/inside+etsy+tolemountain+1a.jpg" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Box o' Mandolin Strings</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They say don't go up on Wolverton Mountain.... Argh, those commercials! Everytime I hear the word "mountain" that silly song comes to my mind. But maybe now that I've had the chance to get to know the shop <a href="http://www.tolemountain.etsy.com/">Tole Mountain</a>, she'll come to mind instead. With over 300 vintage items to browse through, you should spend a little time getting to know her yourself!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>How many finds have you had that you just couldn’t bear to part with?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">None. Even though I find wonderful & unique items every single week at estate sales & flea markets, everything has it's price. When I find a fabulous item I only see one thing... GREEN! As in money - ca-ching! ha!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Why do you only ship to the US?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I hate turning down buyers who are out of the U.S. because all Etsy buyers are always so friendly and courteous. But shipping costs seem to fluctuate so much depending upon where you're shipping an item and sometimes the shipping can end up actually costing more than the item! And until you actually box it up and take it to the post office you never know for sure what the exact cost will be. If it's an outrageous amount then you've wasted time boxing it up and taking it to the post office and then the customer doesn't want it. So unfortunately I have found it easier to just not ship out of the U.S.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Do you have a specific place that you store your 300+ vintage items or are they just placed throughout the home as decoration until they sell?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvARyKeBwJ84nK_Esg2lFekdYlWZT-WR2wJ1s7hadsebs9CkQlZfZGtngg4BcmGIEfXkBA2Qok23WhSQrDm8EunFNmMwaNMtjO4r-IkVdPeh8LiM8nsLAzHydUoai2p-JMXRyLYUbTKk/s1600/inside+etsy+tolemountain+2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvARyKeBwJ84nK_Esg2lFekdYlWZT-WR2wJ1s7hadsebs9CkQlZfZGtngg4BcmGIEfXkBA2Qok23WhSQrDm8EunFNmMwaNMtjO4r-IkVdPeh8LiM8nsLAzHydUoai2p-JMXRyLYUbTKk/s320/inside+etsy+tolemountain+2a.jpg" width="264px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Most Awesome Honey Dipper</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I have a lot of my items on shelves in my attic. Actually it's a good thing I started on Etsy because it made me clean my attic! Now I don't have junk in my attic, I have rows of wonderful items that will make me money! But of course there are always those items that I really think are special and I keep them for decoration until they sell. And then I have an excuse to go shopping again!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Why the name "Tole Mountain"?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Years ago I used to tole paint. I sold to a variety of places such as Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Cincinnati Nature Center, Bob Evans General Stores and a variety of local shops. I was also featured in some country magazines like The Country Almanac. Now besides rescuing vintage items the only painting I do is on bird houses which I LOVE doing. I try to incorporate unique vintage items found at sales into them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>What was the coolest thing you ever found at an estate-sale?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69163932/digital-download-photography-cow-skull?ref=v1_other_1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIuGVWA8DpxLG2BOpXgwgReDZuhrrvEjyMxvpqxeVyL4_ny_iMsyqkZtU1aiRD10nerB5FOjEPciH0R4ruToh4ObZDI5ZM1DQM2Vjz39PTQQFtyqjo_csmG05FXdz6fsPVQGqyOeb6d8/s200/inside+etsy+tolemountain+6.jpg" width="119px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I would say the coolest and most unusual find was a giant authentic steer's skull. And it sold to a lady in Texas! She was thrilled with it.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">(I just happen to have a couple of photos of a cow skull in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaMellyMartin?section_id=7885196">digital download</a> section. Go figure....)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><b>What are the things you enjoy outside of estate-sale shopping?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Besides going to sales I love reading Christian romance novels, gardening and making my fabulous bird houses.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Any thing else that you would like to add?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I have a very special little dog that came from a rescue shelter. She means the world to me and makes every day so much fun. Shelter and Rescue dogs bring so much joy into people's lives. They give back so much more than they take. I wish everyone would go out and adopt one!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Well, these aren't dogs, but it is a collection of some very vintage kitchenwares: lemon press, tea spoon that holds your tea bag, a corn cutter, a cookbook from the '30s, and one of her salt and pepper shaker sets. All of these wonderful items and more can be found in <a href="http://www.tolemountain.etsy.com/">her shop</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFK8HGiKUqLt5MDErtQRgiCrXN3K_bJyGla3lg4YvkAXSVEMFZwD44xC0RxQObf8WUR0w93gAGqoBoAmMmkFG7GtnN-5pcqsUG34xbeZtQpq_GkVcJfnDSo4Ki1SD75gc7huQ5d6BA5I/s1600/inside+etsy+tolemountain+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFK8HGiKUqLt5MDErtQRgiCrXN3K_bJyGla3lg4YvkAXSVEMFZwD44xC0RxQObf8WUR0w93gAGqoBoAmMmkFG7GtnN-5pcqsUG34xbeZtQpq_GkVcJfnDSo4Ki1SD75gc7huQ5d6BA5I/s320/inside+etsy+tolemountain+16.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">The only place I can be found on the internet is </span><a href="http://www.tolemountain.etsy.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.tolemountain.etsy.com</span></a><span style="color: blue;">. I'm probably the only person left on the planet that doesn't facebook, tweet or blog!!</span></div><img height="96px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIuGVWA8DpxLG2BOpXgwgReDZuhrrvEjyMxvpqxeVyL4_ny_iMsyqkZtU1aiRD10nerB5FOjEPciH0R4ruToh4ObZDI5ZM1DQM2Vjz39PTQQFtyqjo_csmG05FXdz6fsPVQGqyOeb6d8/s200/inside+etsy+tolemountain+6.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 475px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 268px; visibility: hidden;" width="57px" /><img height="96px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIuGVWA8DpxLG2BOpXgwgReDZuhrrvEjyMxvpqxeVyL4_ny_iMsyqkZtU1aiRD10nerB5FOjEPciH0R4ruToh4ObZDI5ZM1DQM2Vjz39PTQQFtyqjo_csmG05FXdz6fsPVQGqyOeb6d8/s200/inside+etsy+tolemountain+6.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 427px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 484px; visibility: hidden;" width="57px" />Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-65138439063568741462011-05-21T09:54:00.005-05:002011-06-27T20:32:24.210-05:00Valley Green Naturals<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXK2KkTo0G_pe0wlFjhN_OMUzuSIjxg4Nrit6j1ieJKK2mjfhMfo3T-hHviR-eFaEn2IVEsYWEQ35_b1xZ0f7VulRYKOID8q-lHhJUtBsvcJyYnF2xGRfLYzpIFPpmnwSckEECAUKuQQ/s1600/inside+etsy+cindydevore3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXK2KkTo0G_pe0wlFjhN_OMUzuSIjxg4Nrit6j1ieJKK2mjfhMfo3T-hHviR-eFaEn2IVEsYWEQ35_b1xZ0f7VulRYKOID8q-lHhJUtBsvcJyYnF2xGRfLYzpIFPpmnwSckEECAUKuQQ/s200/inside+etsy+cindydevore3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.valleygreennaturals.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Valley Green Naturals</span></a><span style="color: black;"> has got it going on! Not only do they have dreamy products that cover the range of bath and beauty from head to toe, that have quite the "dream team" to back it up. And they get to create all of their body-safe, eco-friendly, and wallet-happy creams, lotions, scrubs, and suds in a beautiful old farmhouse in Virginia with acres of beautiful greenery to help inspire their creative zen.</span></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>I would love to see some pics of your 18th century farmhouse where you create all of you natural, organic, and botanical products! Do you have some you could share?</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbrmUYf4Y8eY5cHelX9vjPEMvEbS5Nnx2GPUZC9dGMxGpUvjVvo8SsYFgYlUCcCOt2nKrR5t1VhWBZPOMzwsIJoGq2WFnRyYIDkKjcnAsAqfK4QA7NiL4bKBqjAcnGnQAhxiDpRINqxQ/s1600/inside+etsy+cindydevore2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbrmUYf4Y8eY5cHelX9vjPEMvEbS5Nnx2GPUZC9dGMxGpUvjVvo8SsYFgYlUCcCOt2nKrR5t1VhWBZPOMzwsIJoGq2WFnRyYIDkKjcnAsAqfK4QA7NiL4bKBqjAcnGnQAhxiDpRINqxQ/s200/inside+etsy+cindydevore2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">To see this and more photos, visit <a href="http://www.valleygreennaturals.blogspot.com/">our blog</a>. The picture used here is the second one down on the right.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Notice the resemblance to their logo.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Do you purchase natural milk for your own consumption? Legally, it can’t be marketed for humans, but you can buy it marketed in different ways and drink it if you want. I’ve read all of the wonderful things about real natural milk and went to a goat farm and got me some! It was good! But too far for me to travel on a weekly basis.</span></b> </span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">We don't purchase natural milk for consumption, but we have talked about getting a dairy cow for this purpose. At one point, I considered getting a couple of goats for their milk to use in our products. The problem with having your own goats (just like a cow) is that they need to be milked twice a day, at the same time every day. With our busy schedule, that's something that would be very difficult to do. So, the goats are on hold for now. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cindydevore.etsy.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="122" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9HH9eppxrt8n0K1lzg-ucT7hLuWJPqqWqbIjDVDOCzbjpqoqnAs7EkWykkWp1aidF8gNDFOAQgDMOpY9llpXlFZS67ZM2VZfIhJk_e_o10HAplxIIhmNxTGLD_RJ1_66Iz-bhwpmYKk/s400/inside+etsy+cindydevore15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milk-based products for you and yours</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">We do buy a lot of other natural food products. We love farmer's markets with fresh and organic produce, and we'll travel 40 miles to buy fresh Amish butter in the Shenandoah Valley. There's nothing like it! Here's <a href="http://www.valleygreennaturals.blogspot.com/">a link to a blog post</a> I wrote recently about buying natural goods.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">So </span><a href="http://www.valleygreennaturals.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Valley Green Naturals</span></a><span style="color: black;"> is co-owned between you, your husband, and another couple. How did y’all link up on this business venture?</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Our business partnership came together when Valley Green Naturals began to really grow. Art and I couldn't keep up with daily orders, while taking care of accounting, inventory, supplies and marketing all at the same time. Our business partner, Mary Hill, is a longtime friend with whom I had worked in Washington, D.C. She and her husband joined Valley Green Naturals when the company was a year old, in 2010.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-o1FRpoos_HRbiOBHdNxddPI3jfVTYphsT1zPW-KaF2qU0PT4gw15T6XC3IbjVNuacAp0GRp1Dx9oNACR9VZ_rub_Fs2ZqE_WzxiJaslxi1M9M6lTo0lFCv0MfgG-exNwF4Vb15rN-nQ/s1600/inside+etsy+cindydevore12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-o1FRpoos_HRbiOBHdNxddPI3jfVTYphsT1zPW-KaF2qU0PT4gw15T6XC3IbjVNuacAp0GRp1Dx9oNACR9VZ_rub_Fs2ZqE_WzxiJaslxi1M9M6lTo0lFCv0MfgG-exNwF4Vb15rN-nQ/s400/inside+etsy+cindydevore12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Who gets to do what within the company?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b> </span><img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXK2KkTo0G_pe0wlFjhN_OMUzuSIjxg4Nrit6j1ieJKK2mjfhMfo3T-hHviR-eFaEn2IVEsYWEQ35_b1xZ0f7VulRYKOID8q-lHhJUtBsvcJyYnF2xGRfLYzpIFPpmnwSckEECAUKuQQ/s320/inside+etsy+cindydevore3.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 146px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 210px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Mary takes care of all of our accounting and supply orders, which is a huge job. She also works many days in the Valley Green kitchen, managing production for the ever-increasing number of orders we receive each day. Mary's husband, Doug Hill, is an expert in online marketing, and he acts as a consultant in our marketing efforts. My husband, Art DeVore, specializes in Information Technology, and he manages our customer database, web site, and social media links. My job involves developing formulations for our products, studying ingredients, press relations, customer communication, shipping, and lots of work in the Valley Green kitchen. All in all, we make a pretty good management team!</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62430425/a-day-at-the-spa-gift-box-by-valley" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2_KWn6jdW1SF_J8fzwDOPEFst8vcmyxyJpD45m3VPoYgi00OXVZUMbaDf7CwLzcfhqPAGNXYl3yntRhpn2O-U8UdwipZXIkB_RY9q0HCJeHDBM9IIgOPt4nB7Y5CnHOnOhWoP6OWcg0/s320/inside+etsy+cindydevore4.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Sometimes, it just all comes together in a perfect blend. Seems they've got </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-part_harmony"><span style="color: black;">four-part harmony</span></a><span style="color: black;">. Maybe a barber-shop quartet is in their near future. I bet that would sit fine with the folks in </span><a href="http://www.thevirginiapiedmont.org/"><span style="color: black;">Virginia's Piedmont</span></a><span style="color: black;">.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Regardless of location, their day spa package is sure to be a hit with the loved ones in your life. Lots of weddings, birthdays, and all around hostessing are ahead. Show your thanks and appreciation with style, while doing your part to help "organify" the world around you.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">To learn more about </span><a href="http://www.valleygreennaturals.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Valley Green Naturals</span></a><span style="color: black;">, you can hook up with them at the following locations:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Main web site: </span><a href="http://www.valleygreennaturals.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">www.valleygreennaturals.com</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Etsy page: </span><a href="http://www.cindydevore.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">www.cindydevore.etsy.com</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Facebook: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Valley-Green-Naturals/125929227439654" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">www.facebook.com/pages/Valley-Green-Naturals/125929227439654</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> <br />
<br />
Twitter: <span style="color: blue;">@valleygreengirl</span><br />
<br />
Blog: </span><a href="http://valleygreennaturals.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">valleygreennaturals.blogspot.com</span></a> </div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-90831001796304141982011-05-19T22:47:00.001-05:002011-05-19T22:59:56.568-05:00Spring Cleaning, A Second Look<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFYBEJr7q2njXAbXhWNAIgWvxAdvrdoVVvO9lWSk-bJyR-H_CgpoYDuDnDLszYIVf6kaL7QJi7iM4xYCc-IpcYkOTGOMCG5eMV955hOkoHKyGTm6WMFV8Konto3GVTRBBQBQkY_Nkc-k/s1600/spring-cleaning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFYBEJr7q2njXAbXhWNAIgWvxAdvrdoVVvO9lWSk-bJyR-H_CgpoYDuDnDLszYIVf6kaL7QJi7iM4xYCc-IpcYkOTGOMCG5eMV955hOkoHKyGTm6WMFV8Konto3GVTRBBQBQkY_Nkc-k/s320/spring-cleaning.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hello there, my faithful followers! My life kinda got turned upside down, but in a good way, so I have been a bad blogger these last two weeks! I am working diligently at getting back on track to give you an interview to read every day. I've got my questions out to <a href="http://www.lesperancetile.etsy.com/">LesperanceTile</a> and to <a href="http://www.ashleyspatula.etsy.com/">AshleySpatula</a>. As soon as I get those back, they will be posted, which should be within the next two days. Maybe today? It was completely my fault for not getting them over in adequate time. Both of those ladies have extremely successful shops and need more than 24 hours' to write their responses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And that's why I love my dog! She really thinks I am perfect! Shhh...don't tell.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since I have no interview today, I am posting an article that I wrote for <a href="http://www.handmadeology.com/">http://www.handmadeology.com/</a> a few months ago. It is called "Spring Cleaning--A Second Look".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">****</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I only thought I was getting a head start on my spring cleaning list this year. At first glance, my cluster of wild plum trees still appeared to be skeletal. However, with a second look, I saw that, while yet unopened, the blossoms had already formed. I still had time, but barely, to rake all of the dead leaves out from under the tree and prep the trees for their spring debut. After two afternoons of raking and burning leaves, it was time to really get down and dirty. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you take notice of the country roadside, you will see that wild plum trees frequent the fence lines. Now my personal theory is that birds eat plums. Birds sit on fences. You get the idea. Upon closer inspection you will notice that most of the time only portions of the tree cluster is still producing its sweet meat. Look even closer, and you’ll see the cause of the problem: webbing in the fork of the tree limbs. But it’s not the webbing that’s the problem. It’s what is inside the webbing, or, rather, what <i>was</i> inside the webbing. Hundreds of baby caterpillars. Hungry ones. And what do you suspect that they eat, this mass of hungry baby caterpillars? Blossoms and leaves. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Three springs ago, I went out to check on the trees and from tip to root was a <a href="http://www.handmadeology.com/the-little-engine-that-could/">train</a> of caterpillars in every direction. I wish I had taken a picture, because it was really just amazing. So Etsy! I couldn’t really be mad at them. They were just doing what they do. After all, it was MY FAULT for not preventing this problem, for not inspecting my trees sooner. Thankfully, I am surrounded by plum trees up and down the country roads, so my passion was sated elsewhere.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaMellyMartin?section_id=7885196" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXen2UzR9YiLa63xNtjJ2AmMW6-hDC1Od3R854b58UKguFHB-UTouYW8IhTRDdb5TPGxjskOxNh_kubORD-KR19v1wg2Oq-m6vZ6EHKpirF5d19j670P4VZ1KrJgcHPqLQ2dLtV8J_LV8/s320/plums+bleak.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are my plum trees in bloom 2011, pic available in my shop</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was also at fault for not knowing that this was a potential problem. If you have fruit trees, then sooner or later, you will have bug problems. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tent_caterpillar">Learn about the tent caterpillars here.</a>) Sometimes maybe just here and there, but eventually your tree will be the product of a swarm. Unless you know how to prevent it. The wise man knows, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." After googling my problem and what to do, I decided to take matters into my own hands. (PETA members, I urge you to turn away!) I mean, instead of purchasing a chemical to kill the caterpillars with, I was just going to kill them myself. After raising babies and having all manner of bodily fluids on you, what’s a little caterpillar gut gonna hurt? So the next spring, I inspected my tree daily, starting early in the year. I would tear the webbing down, smush it with my foot, and squish any remaining caterpillars on the tree with my fingers. They’re so extremely tiny at this point; it was a quick, painless death. The return was a beautiful bounty of wild plums. Already this year, even in February, I already had tent caterpillars hard at work in my trees, preparing for their emergence. Alas, this is not to be, for I have been hard at work, laboring for my love.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Are you picking up what I’m putting down here? There are so many parallels here to shop-ownership.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ol><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><li><div style="text-align: justify;">It takes a lot of hard work to have a productive shop</div></li>
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><li><div style="text-align: justify;">Most shops come from humble beginnings but grow into something beautiful if given time and room to grow.</div></li>
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><li><div style="text-align: justify;">There is always something that can cause damage. This could be either something you have done or something that you allowed to happen.</div></li>
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><li><div style="text-align: justify;">If you have bad policies, bad customer service, or bad products, a quick hands-on approach is best. Put everyone out of their misery, and take care of the problem immediately.</div></li>
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><li><div style="text-align: justify;">Your customer just has to go a little bit down the road to find an equally satisfying product.</div></li>
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><li><div style="text-align: justify;">Not knowing might be a good excuse once, but never twice. There is tons of help out there for you. Utilize it.</div></li>
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hope you have been enlightened with part I of my Spring Cleaning series. Here is another great Handmadeology read: <a href="http://www.handmadeology.com/give-it-to-me-straight-truth-in-business/">Give It To Me Straight – Truth in Business</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(And if you have never tried cleaning your house in high heels and pearls, well, you are missing out! It really tones those glutes, girls.)</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-35667356414362298212011-05-18T12:14:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:32:45.397-05:00MukiBubb<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1UGd84knIugzso73ddmYtvMflaEzIsS8FerK5OmJRBnpU5kIno67fr0IWHDYHmA_tKyRn4m23oDaHFFn8GUHjf0M-xMi4dYTO9KRBV7x19qDZ2dfMVtIb7PLFWBbmYxH8I7g3PMoEDo/s1600/inside+etsy+mukibubb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1UGd84knIugzso73ddmYtvMflaEzIsS8FerK5OmJRBnpU5kIno67fr0IWHDYHmA_tKyRn4m23oDaHFFn8GUHjf0M-xMi4dYTO9KRBV7x19qDZ2dfMVtIb7PLFWBbmYxH8I7g3PMoEDo/s200/inside+etsy+mukibubb3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When Shannon Udell of <a href="http://www.mukibubb.etsy.com/">MukiBubb</a> looks at a swatch of fabric, she's piecing together her signature, sketchy-styled patches, pillows, potholders, and dolls. She brings form, function, and funk all together to create some flair for your home. After all, it's the little things in life that count--like having the absolutely cutest, funkiest potholders on the block! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I love the out of the ordinary house-themed potholders that you have. Where did you (or why) come up with this outside of the box idea?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I developed the Su Casa potholder the year my oldest daughter went on her first mission trip to Mexico. The kids go every year to build a house and get to know the community. I wanted sell something unique to raise funds for the trip. The house shape was symbolic of the mission and, I hope a happy reminder to buyers of the good their purchase has done. Though my mission mom days are over, the design is too cute to quit and I absorbed it into my repertoire!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmucCYpIBtipTjKCQL80f3U7m4ttF0VeV0ea9_7HxjQLmInWozCyzcRPUA-ZbbRxa1KcUP3IHQSQOBj_qJOf2pV_DeM9Xmffy-qCIrzA1a6Pet7IfqYCSXHDZjfknSj_AAo-VSmwnO_Y/s1600/inside+etsy+mukibubb6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmucCYpIBtipTjKCQL80f3U7m4ttF0VeV0ea9_7HxjQLmInWozCyzcRPUA-ZbbRxa1KcUP3IHQSQOBj_qJOf2pV_DeM9Xmffy-qCIrzA1a6Pet7IfqYCSXHDZjfknSj_AAo-VSmwnO_Y/s200/inside+etsy+mukibubb6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>What part of your life would you describe as "crunchy" (per your profile)?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Given the choice, I'll go natural. My kitchen is stocked with homemade almond milk, kombucha, hummus, and whatever bread we've baked this week. I've taught my daughters (like my mom taught me) to cook, sew and generally do for themselves. Heck, my deodorant is homemade! Many the fabrics and materials I use in my dolls and patches had previous lives and still have a lot of beauty and use to them. It's that tactile, homespun sensuality I try to bring into my shop items.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Personally, I don’t eat avocadoes. I just didn’t grow up eating them, but I’ve heard they are delicioso. Do you have a favorite avocado recipe to share?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Avocados are a staple in our California kitchen. They have become iconic in my pot holders and patches. Lately, I love to cut them into spears and roast them for salads, but here's a sandwich recipe my mom and I love to make when we’re together. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxhja32FTU_JeezY621Ff5czErD1ofUwLexUETfFPT5XZNIxxV8pGhf-UTgXYOmQFwNdt0lvsWEJKvZcvNLoSXkCBo3ZaJpjdnT4Q-xXlKwwImWsCvdAWuGy5QdrCzKnCLScAJXCO8tw/s1600/inside+etsy+mukibubb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxhja32FTU_JeezY621Ff5czErD1ofUwLexUETfFPT5XZNIxxV8pGhf-UTgXYOmQFwNdt0lvsWEJKvZcvNLoSXkCBo3ZaJpjdnT4Q-xXlKwwImWsCvdAWuGy5QdrCzKnCLScAJXCO8tw/s320/inside+etsy+mukibubb4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><ol><li><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Cut a baguette into sandwich length pieces, split so they open like a roll.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">On one half, brush your favorite Italian dressing, on the other side put slices of sharp cheddar. Sprinkle with lemon pepper and broil to melt the cheese.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Pull the sandwiches from the oven and spread avocado slices. Close up the sandwiches and nom nom nom! Note: This might just be the messiest sandwich you've ever enjoyed!</span></div></li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>What type of photography did your father work with most? What was your favorite piece?</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">When I was young, I remember driving up and down dusty Gold Country back roads with my dad in search of "just the right shot in just the right light." I learned a lot about color, composition, patience and a sense of place back then! My dad's photo experience has run from portraits, to advertising, to abstract art to landscape documentation. He has recently picked up his musical roots and tours with his band. You can find a lot of his work at </span><a href="http://hilaryfmarckx.com/"><span style="color: blue;">hilaryfmarckx.com</span></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>So you survived California in the 70’s, huh? Was it a wild ride or were you just a people-watcher?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXhyphenhyphenXVwAxpSz7mJKhpeJZ4yLuYr9LWXnoqs1s4nlotGcmS0I5Hh9Xydhnh46gY1N39NfaRFDOaZIQ8q8g5vqcLyvwAp4HeZP51pGB-RYazkjPYTv39JL0ZIExijEknvnhL1GXMRJLqgc/s1600/inside+etsy+mukibubb8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXhyphenhyphenXVwAxpSz7mJKhpeJZ4yLuYr9LWXnoqs1s4nlotGcmS0I5Hh9Xydhnh46gY1N39NfaRFDOaZIQ8q8g5vqcLyvwAp4HeZP51pGB-RYazkjPYTv39JL0ZIExijEknvnhL1GXMRJLqgc/s320/inside+etsy+mukibubb8.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I was a kid in the 70's and in they were some very creative years. Sacramento was still sort of a small town back then and I recall exploring alleyways, churches and galleries while adults were busy elsewhere. I remember our home full of artists and musicians, and I’d listen in on a lot of wine-soaked conversations about poetry, ecology, theology and self-expression. There was a lot of open space and freedom then and you'll see that freedom echoed in the birds and blooms that are iconic in my appliqué and machine embroidery. Whenever you see wavy horizontal lines in my work, you can be sure I was thinking about the Sacramento or American Rivers!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Anything else you want to add?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Yeah, here's a fun fact. I can't stand twitter. Not as a concept or anything, I'm sure they are lovely folks, but it just does not suit my way of encountering the world. So just recently, I stuck my tongue out at the e-guru world and pressed the delete button. Come on over and check out my blog at <a href="http://thingsarelovely.com/">thingsarelovely.com</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">or my Facebook page at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ThingsAreLovely">www.facebook.com/ThingsAreLovely</a></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Or, hey, just shoot me a convo at <a href="http://www.mukibubb.etsy.com/">my shop</a>. I'd love to see you there!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dduGu0ceZoprCjzd9aVdlHNOxJ8aNVJxyz-uaEi1OM0clQvona6TMKAo-x2mOuKES73MalSF0O6MVMn15GIWgKsRjO4ySNHVKr3Jl4YQaXsVw8ezgAtn_zqDVUkeQQJA-3K04gKyuQw/s1600/inside+etsy+mukibubb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dduGu0ceZoprCjzd9aVdlHNOxJ8aNVJxyz-uaEi1OM0clQvona6TMKAo-x2mOuKES73MalSF0O6MVMn15GIWgKsRjO4ySNHVKr3Jl4YQaXsVw8ezgAtn_zqDVUkeQQJA-3K04gKyuQw/s1600/inside+etsy+mukibubb2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Thanks so much for giving me a chance to share and for offering these daily artist’s stories. They are a real inspiration!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Thank YOU, Shannon, for being a willing participant. I'm so glad I asked you all of those wonderful questions, because you had some wonderful answers to go with them. And, while I don't eat avocadoes, my husband does. Maybe if he's nice to me today, I'll actually make him some dinner tonight. Sandwiches again? :)</span></div></div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-68174186456964014752011-05-16T09:01:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:33:52.115-05:00BirdyBoots / UpAndAwayPatterns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyri7TbU_TLcHBZQtEeUB8Ah1SBDJgptkNAbSaweY3bHbJkoCx4zHIkb6SgDQnC3CB0NCGyHjmSj2jfIKwkRNEFkbrlda6aGBwgaCvPts_F_hEjMN0j7Lhpune4Omw1q0DcavGIqZwI3s/s1600/inside+etsy+birdyboots+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyri7TbU_TLcHBZQtEeUB8Ah1SBDJgptkNAbSaweY3bHbJkoCx4zHIkb6SgDQnC3CB0NCGyHjmSj2jfIKwkRNEFkbrlda6aGBwgaCvPts_F_hEjMN0j7Lhpune4Omw1q0DcavGIqZwI3s/s320/inside+etsy+birdyboots+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Necessity is the mother of all invention, and I know that mothers of squiggly children's feet everywhere will love <a href="http://www.birdyboots.etsy.com/">BirdyBoot's</a> line of handmade soft soled baby/toddler shoes. Not only are they eco-conscious (made from upcycled and recycled materials) but they also look cute doing it! The elastic around the back makes sure that shoe ain't going nowhere! (Also available in a ballet-flat style without the elastic. And she has boy styles, too.)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">But she has more than just shoes available. She has organic wood blocks, children's clothes, headbands, and more wooden toys. And that is just in her first shop, <a href="http://www.birdyboots.etsy.com/">BirdyBoots</a>. In her second shop, <a href="http://www.upandawaypatterns.etsy.com/">UpAndAwayPatterns</a>, you can find the patterns behind some of her products so you can get creative all on your own.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><b>I just love looking that the picture you use for your shop’s logo! It is hilarious. Very Maisy Mouse. Who thought this up?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5imHfYJUd4F0Mg_5L7BPr4BdeL-ZW2tlfV30OxCRy5Xn6K_9oZFWz3As7VDeCH-upgIf3wXo0nS8e6vKRIdT_6BKBqKefKBVx9nLYHGDEpOZEjRRlM7CxdgjRcHrb0WWa0mni0Cgm0s/s1600/inside+etsy+birdyboots+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5imHfYJUd4F0Mg_5L7BPr4BdeL-ZW2tlfV30OxCRy5Xn6K_9oZFWz3As7VDeCH-upgIf3wXo0nS8e6vKRIdT_6BKBqKefKBVx9nLYHGDEpOZEjRRlM7CxdgjRcHrb0WWa0mni0Cgm0s/s1600/inside+etsy+birdyboots+7.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">When I first started my Etsy shop, I sold only children’s soft soled shoes so I wanted to base my logo around that…in about 30 seconds, I used a Sharpie pen to sketch out my ‘bird in boots’ logo and uploaded it to my computer. (I am not known for my patience.)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><b>Have you made any adult-sized slippers? They look so comfy!</b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">No, I haven’t, but I do want to make myself a pair when the weather gets cooler! My dad requested a pair last Fall and went so far as to trace out his foot for me, but I have yet to make him a pair!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAVVkonP3dHCmwBrWDwcn0nrFN1TVRtnnI4_Z2pWHIHvnVG0w0efoALHg9NzqptBo10YXrccubzG6W26gk8tJAlOLuFGdLzImWew0r-JdKQMlrdQvCLtUNj_N70dMEidmCYQhER1bOBw/s1600/inside+etsy+birdyboots+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAVVkonP3dHCmwBrWDwcn0nrFN1TVRtnnI4_Z2pWHIHvnVG0w0efoALHg9NzqptBo10YXrccubzG6W26gk8tJAlOLuFGdLzImWew0r-JdKQMlrdQvCLtUNj_N70dMEidmCYQhER1bOBw/s320/inside+etsy+birdyboots+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmmm...would she make these in adult-size also, I wonder?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Wow! You have your products from coast to coast literally. They can be found at </b><a href="http://www.stoopherandboots.com/"><b>Stoopher & Boots</b></a><b> in NYC and at the Bella Vita Boutique in Oakland, CA. How did your products find a way into those two stores? </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">The owners of both of these boutiques found me on Etsy and asked if I would do larger orders for their shops...wholesale is a great thing!</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><b>Are you the one doing the hand-cutting on your wooden toys?</b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLEcLS_kNpu6YweNHDo-9cbQqEuiRuKIFwlDI-jYE6eSU7WMdcXmgqtok6QX7PNUiW5yasZr2U2RRJGyE0nmuudw7mbWs1VcuI0FyyD4gxfkqecTLBx-p7xEyWFLc5MATjaoO5A7hUl4/s1600/inside+etsy+birdyboots+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLEcLS_kNpu6YweNHDo-9cbQqEuiRuKIFwlDI-jYE6eSU7WMdcXmgqtok6QX7PNUiW5yasZr2U2RRJGyE0nmuudw7mbWs1VcuI0FyyD4gxfkqecTLBx-p7xEyWFLc5MATjaoO5A7hUl4/s400/inside+etsy+birdyboots+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">No, my husband cuts out our wooden toys. He also does the initial sanding and then I take over painting and finishing the toys.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">I have to insert here that as the mother of a 4 year old, she wants everything pink. Yesterday she asked for pink alligator. Sadly, I had to tell her no.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>My husband met on the job and we liked it so much we worked together a second time. Have you worked with your husband before or is teaming up with him on the shop a first-time thing?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">No, this is a first-time thing... and I think it's good we still have our day jobs separate :) (big smile)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4ZC8XlNpV6x_y33i5hukIfIKhTD0WTuOjBbvx1U1rTZ627kOJiIErUi-VDogKwlGFQlDTJxqINYgosECh6DfoYCasCIkmlgOJHFK0EW4dKVKcwv-22bi3y1ohr89lg6_8ud2Vw8n7qI/s1600/inside+etsy+birdyboots+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4ZC8XlNpV6x_y33i5hukIfIKhTD0WTuOjBbvx1U1rTZ627kOJiIErUi-VDogKwlGFQlDTJxqINYgosECh6DfoYCasCIkmlgOJHFK0EW4dKVKcwv-22bi3y1ohr89lg6_8ud2Vw8n7qI/s320/inside+etsy+birdyboots+5.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">And here is her big smile (And what a wonderful smile it is):</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Her two young daughters also make her smile, and her blog is dedicated to leaving them pearls of wisdom.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Follow her at <a href="http://www.pearlsformydaughters.blogspot.com/">http://www.pearlsformydaughters.blogspot.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">and</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">FB – <a href="http://www.facebook.com/birdyboots1" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/birdyboots1</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">She also runs <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/birdyboots/search?search_query=sample&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5608359&shopname=birdyboots">sample sales</a> of her clothes, for all of you moms who love a good bargain. (or aunts, grandmas, friends, or if you are a hoarder and just can't pass up a great deal, lol.)</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-25832847462373842412011-05-15T11:00:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:33:03.592-05:00Cloudberry And Moss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj206vtrru1l0HWgpjTDZ6x3zGcmFShSQleXFgyjhLYgZh7EO87768_KvLRi75Gjn6kwNfozI1HZvpgXB3-O-dErcxJ2e6KzcDtPtEigGqSD6YON7_xoanxTBtmwpKfsoj87tYIGhYN8Mo/s1600/inside+etsy+cloudberryandmoss+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj206vtrru1l0HWgpjTDZ6x3zGcmFShSQleXFgyjhLYgZh7EO87768_KvLRi75Gjn6kwNfozI1HZvpgXB3-O-dErcxJ2e6KzcDtPtEigGqSD6YON7_xoanxTBtmwpKfsoj87tYIGhYN8Mo/s320/inside+etsy+cloudberryandmoss+2.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN">Rules were made to be broken. (At least that was my mantra as a teenager, lol.) In order to bring you the best products and best shops, I have to hold each shop up to a <a href="http://www.insideetsy.blogspot.com/p/about-this-blog.html">set of criteria</a>. One item on the punchlist is that the product either has to be unique or be the best of its type. (Like <a href="http://insideetsy.blogspot.com/2011/04/wishing-elephant.html">The Wishing Elephant</a>--she makes baby onesies, but they're above and beyond the usual baby onesie.) Also, excellent product photography, and great customer feedback play a large part. Then we come to number of sales. One of the goals of this blog is to show you successful shops or shops that are on their way to being successful. So, of course, I have to look at sales. Right now, <a href="http://www.cloudberryandmoss.etsy.com/">CloudberryAndMoss</a> only has one sale. BUT what caught my eye is that she is a single mom. There's no doubt about the fact that she has an outstanding product and top-notch photography. She just needs a little promoting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN"><b>One reason that I chose to promote you is that you are a single mom. I am married to a wonderful husband that I have two kids with and it is difficult getting it all done, even with all of his support. What is the thing that you struggle with most as a single mom?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN"></span><span lang="EN"><span style="color: blue;">Hands down, it's getting time to do the things that need to be done. My beautiful 5-year-old rocks my world, but it's hard work, raising a child on your own. I need to get everything done between the time I drop her off at school, until I pick her up. I work as an independent contractor on top of my jewelry business, and I find that to be a great fit for me. I don't understand how other parent's are able to have regular 9 to 5 jobs, given all the unpredictable circumstances that parenthood entails.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN"><b>I know what moss is but what is cloudberry?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S_tWGq7C0u-ILq2DRh-3pNrqnBWTj7q1uNAGrNFNcf6J2SBp2NriQlWNDzjm1ZDQRl2dVuUOevOHC1RQhwCCn5SbMm6d_xNtjuzLYXspM4KaPmVi1hpLTKouWSlf8H5UIosuIMMc2wY/s1600/inside+etsy+cloudberryandmoss+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S_tWGq7C0u-ILq2DRh-3pNrqnBWTj7q1uNAGrNFNcf6J2SBp2NriQlWNDzjm1ZDQRl2dVuUOevOHC1RQhwCCn5SbMm6d_xNtjuzLYXspM4KaPmVi1hpLTKouWSlf8H5UIosuIMMc2wY/s320/inside+etsy+cloudberryandmoss+4.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: blue;">Cloudberries grow in the mythical Swedish forests, often in secluded and moist glades. They make great preserves and liqueur.</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: blue;">On my banner in <a href="http://www.cloudberryandmoss.etsy.com/">my etsy shop</a>, you'll be able to see my artistic interpretation of a cloudberry. These beautiful berries remind me of my childhood when my mom and I would take trips with baskets, into the deep, dark forest. They help me remember the wonders of being a child, and the legends that surround the vast, Nordic forests. Who knew what would be lurking behind the big boulder in the shadows of the ancient fir trees. Or if the fog in fact was a band of fairies making their way over the pond. It was all very exciting, and it still is!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN"><b>How awesome to have grown up on the Swedish west coast. What age did you leave there and why <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">California</state></place>?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: blue;">When I was 24 I met my Californian ex-husband in a little coastal town in the north of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Spain</place></country-region>. I was working there, and he was traveling through. I came to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Oakland</place></city> to visit him and - here I am - seven years later! Sometimes life just takes you places you would have never imagined.</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN"><b>You really do have a beautiful line of jewelry. I love the understated tones and the sweet simplicity in your pictures. Do you have any new pieces that you are working on?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3TYcwxA72gS1fklqDdghBKsMoT4LzInY2u9Tlpl_D1QKDMKqurCWXL91B9t9Y-vuw9gaqIsLOaA50XH5qlv6x4jKDovWBtAD_UOwVNfO6UqETKoERtViABmZGCsJmgjzNa-Eoubvyw0/s1600/inside+etsy+cloudberryandmoss+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3TYcwxA72gS1fklqDdghBKsMoT4LzInY2u9Tlpl_D1QKDMKqurCWXL91B9t9Y-vuw9gaqIsLOaA50XH5qlv6x4jKDovWBtAD_UOwVNfO6UqETKoERtViABmZGCsJmgjzNa-Eoubvyw0/s320/inside+etsy+cloudberryandmoss+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: blue;">I'm working on some longer silhouettes for necklaces, and I will be adding a category for bracelets as well. My felted flower pieces are my latest creations and there's a lot of unexplored territory there...felted flower earrings are next on my to-do list!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cloudberry-Moss/188131721214501" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/pages/Cloudberry-Moss/188131721214501</a><br />
Blog: <a href="http://www.cloudberryandmoss.blogspot.com/">http://www.cloudberryandmoss.blogspot.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Etsy: <a href="http://www.cloudberryandmoss.etsy.com/">http://www.cloudberryandmoss.etsy.com/</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Go support CloudberryAndMoss! If you can't make a purchase from her shop right now, she could always use words of encouragement. Can't we all? </div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-90248370359331902102011-05-13T20:24:00.002-05:002011-06-27T20:34:30.821-05:00Attic Rat / Cedar Junction<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBwzs8nwLnxHU_Aq0w6ttUWtSK0Q-o0N4Vkf41CyHxCKN4-f9UIRvcQtGVsKhDApkEPl1lgV4vVt-D_kiuLt8Zi53QrCSdE2ISeEnrK0Ixur6Q1g8KbLZN50h_b84yPJ4z3SjIJW_fsk/s1600/inside+etsy+atticrat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBwzs8nwLnxHU_Aq0w6ttUWtSK0Q-o0N4Vkf41CyHxCKN4-f9UIRvcQtGVsKhDApkEPl1lgV4vVt-D_kiuLt8Zi53QrCSdE2ISeEnrK0Ixur6Q1g8KbLZN50h_b84yPJ4z3SjIJW_fsk/s320/inside+etsy+atticrat2.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Cedar Junction</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have always been an avid reader. As a child, brand new worlds would be opened as the child in the story inevitably found her way to the attic. Who can forget that most awesome of childhood movies, "The Neverending Story"? Especially the part when he opens the window in the school attic and yells out a name, although it was deliberately obscured. I longed for an adventure in an attic! Any attic. But neither my school nor my house had a movie-style attic. My adventure was only complete through my imagination. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you have an attic or just like vintage lovelies, Teresa Yates has two Etsy shops of vintage items. <a href="http://www.atticrat.etsy.com/">AtticRat</a> is dedicated to stand-alone vintage finds, while <a href="http://www.cedarjunction.etsy.com/">CedarJunction</a> is dedicated to vintage collage, assemblage, and mixed media. She is currently restocking her stores, after her recent gallivant across Germany.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Even though I had an attic, there was nothing up there but insulation. Did you have a grandmother’s attic that you grew up treasure-hunting in?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">No, but it was very fun to explore at my great aunt's house. She had lots of interesting items all around her house in Oklahoma.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>You had your shop closed for a bit while you went on vacation. Personally, I would have a hard time putting my shop into vacation mode, but I’ve only had my Etsy shop open for a few months. You’ve been at this for over 5 years. Have you had any negative experiences with vacationing your shop?</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-AO_9vpmJpW__7mV__K105r3hnUml53p44QUSHSV33XMJxzDmBeea0JUKBRTvD0FUmDlrrMXHuHnnij9aU4LzMUkqzYE5ZM6_lECGWJs1q94xCdUcCl4jcgM1g6NgAYpqzOcATSinWM/s1600/inside+etsy+atticrat3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-AO_9vpmJpW__7mV__K105r3hnUml53p44QUSHSV33XMJxzDmBeea0JUKBRTvD0FUmDlrrMXHuHnnij9aU4LzMUkqzYE5ZM6_lECGWJs1q94xCdUcCl4jcgM1g6NgAYpqzOcATSinWM/s320/inside+etsy+atticrat3.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini Harmonica at Cedar Junction</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I put my shop on vacation so that I don't have any negative experiences! I would really hate to keep my customers waiting for their orders if I am unavailable to ship them. I know that when I order something, I want to receive it right away.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Why did you choose Germany as your vacation spot?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">My husband was sent on a project for 3 months and I was blessed to be able to spend a month there with him. While there, we also visited France and Belgium and celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. Germany was beautiful and I would go back in a heartbeat. It was very hard to leave.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Does your husband use his scroll saw for creating "for sale" pieces or is it strictly hobby-use-only at this point?</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I sell </span><a href="http://www.atticrat.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">his crosses</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> in my shop when he has extra ones. He is usually behind on his orders from friends and family because his work is so popular.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Your second Etsy shop, or should I say your first, has been opened since 2006. You’ve been through lots of changes within Etsy. Can you pinpoint a specific change that you feel was the most beneficial?</b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUKI_cK538HtFofqIMugyNorDx-wH6e6nvv5nFzH7e8q4rJQmlWL_JX6I4wSOT6WveXrDR-vuoLSvtdhRJtBI8fQxKhLC2QDpXJetccnKeZk9wyAkplxZfOjys5WR6HYHVV5QQV8xkmY/s1600/inside+etsy+atticrat4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUKI_cK538HtFofqIMugyNorDx-wH6e6nvv5nFzH7e8q4rJQmlWL_JX6I4wSOT6WveXrDR-vuoLSvtdhRJtBI8fQxKhLC2QDpXJetccnKeZk9wyAkplxZfOjys5WR6HYHVV5QQV8xkmY/s320/inside+etsy+atticrat4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I've been with Etsy since it was still its the beta version. One change that I really like is the ability to see a customers order history. It's nice to see the ones that shop with me again and again.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Anything else that you would like to add?</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I am always on the lookout for interesting and unusual items. It sure is lots of fun!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7E38fOMS5hvDjhRKaoS32ualhtmRzFS1PnytPQK8iKV0A_7uHqmnM566z9B464CjdJCe2g5jl6yA2GITveNAMJ1_tdN9jmKeNLnMLK1mOoBynOLqi83qS9obDaXk49A0CPMEOn23YUic/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7E38fOMS5hvDjhRKaoS32ualhtmRzFS1PnytPQK8iKV0A_7uHqmnM566z9B464CjdJCe2g5jl6yA2GITveNAMJ1_tdN9jmKeNLnMLK1mOoBynOLqi83qS9obDaXk49A0CPMEOn23YUic/s1600/image.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Such a busy lady (and a pretty one, too)! Notice that she has a blog for EACH shop. I seem to be attracted to fellow dog lovers and fellow Texans. I think she's got a cat, though.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">FB: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cedar-Junction/91192725800">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cedar-Junction/91192725800</a><br />
Blog: <a href="http://atticrat.blogspot.com/">atticrat.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://cedarjunctionstudio.blogspot.com/">cedarjunctionstudio.blogspot.com/</a><br />
Etsy: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AtticRat">www.etsy.com/shop/AtticRat</a><br />
Etsy: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CedarJunction">www.etsy.com/shop/CedarJunction</a>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-66779583365929471292011-05-11T07:13:00.003-05:002011-06-27T20:34:50.675-05:00Soapapilla<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbaGgbCQqRgCfK-827qBdAB60fD4yxkF5_OxyhxEvryhJkb-PjXtGzJNbVhK3ghjCMMJD3j9RoYUXleN4vPG11BIBkJYWFqyb582xtuK9eQDJqLzx4zpeOrNTkngZEb4lNJXrWOgG85Q/s1600/inside+etsy+lovesoapapilla6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbaGgbCQqRgCfK-827qBdAB60fD4yxkF5_OxyhxEvryhJkb-PjXtGzJNbVhK3ghjCMMJD3j9RoYUXleN4vPG11BIBkJYWFqyb582xtuK9eQDJqLzx4zpeOrNTkngZEb4lNJXrWOgG85Q/s320/inside+etsy+lovesoapapilla6.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am all about some form and function in my life. Soapapilla's <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70133953/shower-puff-soap-sweet-lavender-herb?ref=v1_other_2">Shower Puff Soap</a> takes soap on a rope to a whole new level. I don't know about you but when I'm showering with my husband (it saves water you know!) the last thing I want to do is drop the soap, lol. This is just one of the many fun soap products you will find in <a href="http://www.lovesoapapilla.etsy.com/">Soapapilla's shop</a>. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>How did you get started making soaps and body products?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: blue;">In 2009 I was staying in New Mexico with my Uncle Steve & my Aunt Janet. My aunt had started making her own soap and very graciously taught me the art (thank you, thank you, thank you, Aunt Janet!) I was instantly hooked and inspired to push the medium as far as I could. I immediately started to do research on the best methods, best ingredients, and sourcing my area (northshore Massachusetts) for local suppliers. I had (and still have) so many ideas popping into my head for soaps. I started making the soaps myself and giving them to friends and family, which quickly grew into selling them at craft shows and now on Etsy. I have now expanded to include scrubs, lotions, and conditioners & I am continuing to research and experiment with new product development. I made it my New Year’s Resolution for 2011 to get my products in stores, and now Soapapilla can be found in <a href="http://salem.patch.com/articles/scrub-opens-in-salem">Scrub</a> and in <a href="http://www.roostsalem.com/">Roost</a> in downtown Salem, MA!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>Your birthstone line is perfect for birthday gift sets! When will you have this line completed?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFz3wJEmX3jeKR94jnP3RQm822SR4gzMVfV1l7TG_B9gfthHDFYaCQRVRnpYekjJRED121MGHgobh_5uNmqz6xiUfxtCaWtLBDpcziYcl_seOwdWQli4KJUvZ2xbnMN7B3cCMVrJ44j8c/s320/inside+etsy+lovesoapapilla4.jpg" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pearl is June's Birthstone</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">My handcarved <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lovesoapapilla?section_id=7848564">Birthstone</a> & Geode soaps are some of my favorites! I have created a birthstone for each month already and will be completing the postings on my Etsy site over the next month. When I was a little girl, my mother worked in a gem & mineral shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico, making jewelrey that we would sell at the flea market on the weekends. I would go to work with her and play with all of the raw stones, crystals, geodes & agates. Those memories and the Southwest landscape is what inspires the look for my Birthstone, Geode, and Fossil soaps, which are each very close to my heart. </span><br />
<br />
<b>Do the colored soaps leave any type of colored residue either on the body or in the tub?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Nope – no residue whatsoever. They create a nice thick, white lather that feels lovely and leaves your skin nice & soft. I use mostly natural micas, iron oxides, and ultramarines to color my soaps instead of synthetic dyes & pigments. This creates a pure, gentle product that does not stain– plus the micas give the soap an incredible shimmery, pearly finish. My focus on using gentle, natural ingredients is not limited to my selection of colorants – I focus on using the highest quality, skin-loving ingredients in every step of my soapmaking process.</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>Here in East Texas there are almost as many Mexican restaurants as there are churches. But for the rest of our readers that are not familiar with our Southern ways, explain what a sopapilla is please.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr2GTFOosb-O87Y1EXDW2UbmIGUsoelSYr8dKtjlkF5MG_pqWiZFbmXt_enNQMmLdGhRKrzcmHzWPzYEOo4T9kBy7_JU2XxQLJf5ZST2kG31HUXjbWY189kxcFQskWWMXcMXemSdH-_Q/s1600/inside+etsy+lovesoapapilla7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr2GTFOosb-O87Y1EXDW2UbmIGUsoelSYr8dKtjlkF5MG_pqWiZFbmXt_enNQMmLdGhRKrzcmHzWPzYEOo4T9kBy7_JU2XxQLJf5ZST2kG31HUXjbWY189kxcFQskWWMXcMXemSdH-_Q/s200/inside+etsy+lovesoapapilla7.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: blue;">A sopapilla is a kind of fried bread commonly served in the Southwest, USA and Latin American countries. In New Mexico it is usually served after meals and you eat it with honey – completely delicious! My mouth is watering just thinking about them!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: blue;">When I was trying to think of a name for my company, I wanted New Mexico somehow represented in the name, since it inspires me so much. When the name “Soapapilla” came to me, I just knew I had found THE name for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>Which soap is the most difficult to craft into it’s finished product?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRI_rBdzHW7lIRIoWvm1IFDE4veF-NeC3-x0f0PijOoChTYZ3m_DwGRdxOE1QMczYtTPtogE7459Z8_tqLmoICNofaOSs24wDj0jvHCqYMP1Asq503mAd_LwM4879w2ftwYLNPSWKb_A/s1600/inside+etsy+lovesoapapilla3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRI_rBdzHW7lIRIoWvm1IFDE4veF-NeC3-x0f0PijOoChTYZ3m_DwGRdxOE1QMczYtTPtogE7459Z8_tqLmoICNofaOSs24wDj0jvHCqYMP1Asq503mAd_LwM4879w2ftwYLNPSWKb_A/s320/inside+etsy+lovesoapapilla3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">The most labor-intensive soaps are definitely my handcarved Geode soaps. But it truly is a labor of love! They go through so many stages and carvings to get to their final shape, but its worth every second of it. I get excited every single time I’m finished and get to cut open the soap geode rock to reveal what’s inside. Each one comes out completely unique – just like the rocks themselves. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><br />
</span><b>How is New Mexico treating you this time around? Quite a difference from Massachusetts.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: blue;">New Mexico is wonderful! I love Boston, and especially the beach, but the sun and the mountains never cease to inspire my creativity. I feel so lucky to have lived in two very different landscapes. I’m also getting the chance to spend time with my family members and I just have to thank them for all of their support! While I’m here I’m also taking the time to seek out some stores to work with to hopefully get Soapapilla available locally in New Mexico. And of course, I’ve been eating plenty of sopapillas (and green-chile-chicken-enchiladas, and tamales with red chile, and breakfast burritos…YUM!)</span><br />
<br />
<b>Any thing else that you would like to add?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Well, there are so many people I am grateful for. I have to thank my family for supporting me in my soaping efforts – even when I manage to turn our kitchen into a soap laboratory. I especially have to thank my brother, Luke – you have truly become a shrink-wrapping master! Thank you, Aunt Janet for starting it all in your “House of Wonders”. Thank you, Aunt Donna for recognizing & encouraging my artistic abilities. Thank you, Aunt Gogi for supporting me and helping me make my trips to New Mexico. Aren’t I lucky to have such a great family?</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtfmHz2tK-e38gt4kblrXv5XDIPCrKYn2gNZ0S7LqMASd6SSs171fOhc2iC67qOTdOGpdwQ0Dr1JjORsDeG1TtS5ovsqk208QoBpc1b9pWPqqaTzf-HxyVz6IH7C8xqeqoMiCJfLuSbE/s1600/inside+etsy+lovesoapapilla2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtfmHz2tK-e38gt4kblrXv5XDIPCrKYn2gNZ0S7LqMASd6SSs171fOhc2iC67qOTdOGpdwQ0Dr1JjORsDeG1TtS5ovsqk208QoBpc1b9pWPqqaTzf-HxyVz6IH7C8xqeqoMiCJfLuSbE/s200/inside+etsy+lovesoapapilla2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Soapapilla and the beautiful young lady behind it can be found at the following locations:<br />
<br />
FB: <a href="http://facebook.com/soapapilla" target="_blank">facebook.com/soapapilla</a><br />
Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/soapapilla" target="_blank">twitter.com/soapapilla</a><br />
Blog: <a href="http://soapapilla.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">soapapilla.blogspot.com</a><br />
Online store: <a href="http://lovesoapapilla.etsy.com/" target="_blank">lovesoapapilla.etsy.com</a><br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-83301425181411975982011-05-10T16:11:00.001-05:002011-05-10T16:16:29.423-05:00A Letter to My Future Self<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was inspired to do this after reading <a href="http://insideetsy.blogspot.com/2011/04/artlife.html">Artlife's</a> blogpost. It's where you write a letter to your future self one year from now about all that you hope/want the coming year to encompass. Share with me and be inspired to write your own!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are currently in the process of getting our home listed for sale. The realtor will be here this Friday, the 13th to take pictures so that's why my posting has been off-schedule. But I'm still trying to post something each day, so here is what you get for today. : ) I do have my interview ready for tomorrow with <a href="http://www.lovesoapapilla.etsy.com/">LoveSoapapilla</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">****</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hello there, Future Self! Wow! What a crazy year. I never would have thought that I would have sold my forever home. We built this home 8 years ago when our son was just one, and we worked diligently, molding it into our little country version of paradise. If someone would have told me even two years ago that we would be traveling the country evangelizing, I would have laughed. Guess that old saying "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans" is true. I am so proud of my husband and my children. Our bond as a family continues to be strengthened daily.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUDs1-SRtFLQGqE26ArS9Khmgiono69Jgf68wYR9MVktl4MXrikzVeJtyuSkezH9bjCaX9koqTVrQ7Kh3ySRDPhKYh15NX7-cYEc9FHYbzhDELJeQWnadh61NWSVhGonIMdx6P6zjE78/s1600/inside+etsy+house+front+porch+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="85" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUDs1-SRtFLQGqE26ArS9Khmgiono69Jgf68wYR9MVktl4MXrikzVeJtyuSkezH9bjCaX9koqTVrQ7Kh3ySRDPhKYh15NX7-cYEc9FHYbzhDELJeQWnadh61NWSVhGonIMdx6P6zjE78/s400/inside+etsy+house+front+porch+view.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>This was the view from my front porch. It's now someone else's!</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Jace has just finished his fourth grade year, and we are still homeschooling. I am so thankful that we chose that option three years ago. He's a very unique and intelligent child, and he's been allowed to blossom into a young gentleman who opens doors for ladies, willingly helps with housework, and respects both his elders and his peers. My little blonde hair, blue-eyed man. He makes me so proud!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzD2Wl2N2ra_VwMA1chJo3FF2j-qACvt4rTgJY2F4aAcNklWLtND-LxImM-rfmkbU3Gckrb-aWOEObTfDjCMVPWfiAqy8rS3YJxP8Q7bezgbp8rD43Fpg8i63CV9O2mgS_SWHljA3tXU/s1600/insideetsy+family+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzD2Wl2N2ra_VwMA1chJo3FF2j-qACvt4rTgJY2F4aAcNklWLtND-LxImM-rfmkbU3Gckrb-aWOEObTfDjCMVPWfiAqy8rS3YJxP8Q7bezgbp8rD43Fpg8i63CV9O2mgS_SWHljA3tXU/s200/insideetsy+family+2011.jpg" width="200" /></a>Ginger is now 5 and has finally gotten through that lisp we worked so hard to overcome. Genetics are very powerful, because I had a lisp when I was a young girl, too. We never "baby-talked" with her, so it must be genetics. She sings like an angel and the congregations love to hear her sing, "Jesus the most beautiful name that I know. No other name, no other name I know." She's delicate but can climb like a monkey at the same time. She continues to amaze me with her indivduality. I can't wait to see her as the young woman she will become. Well, maybe I can wait. I'm not ready for her to grow up just yet.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">My online business has not wilted but has thrived! Since I get to travel the country, I make tons and tons of new contacts that I never would have had the opportunity to make secluded in my country paradise. Several boutiques have taken my items as wholesale, and it is a wonderful feeling to walk into a shop and see a customer buying one or three. I still can't wrap my mind around it. God has been so good to me.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJNanuATA5Pyl5QtDBUI_LEtljwf_dpBTNeM53JCi1yuC7qLNqEdGrzi8u4XxWB753i42jT1XuLX8lIrGtKwb83n-7BjtSeVCmTfAgfN9Wj1VoEneQ7zJETOr-bBNGOhyphenhyphenv1evh8HWdGE/s1600/insideestymelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJNanuATA5Pyl5QtDBUI_LEtljwf_dpBTNeM53JCi1yuC7qLNqEdGrzi8u4XxWB753i42jT1XuLX8lIrGtKwb83n-7BjtSeVCmTfAgfN9Wj1VoEneQ7zJETOr-bBNGOhyphenhyphenv1evh8HWdGE/s320/insideestymelly.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Of course, all of this traveling and business-growing has given me tons of great information for all of the various blogs I write for. What will the next year bring?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Take care of yourself. You're the only one you've got!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love you!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Melinda Martin</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">P.S. Remember when you still had your crown on from the Ladies Meeting and you forgot and wore it to Wal-Mart and no one even looked at you funny. Haha! You rock, Past, Present, and Future Self!</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-86116207104238864012011-05-08T23:41:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:35:31.871-05:00Dot's Diner<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, now, I collect aprons but they're sweet little vintage aprons that someone's grandma wore. If your MeeMaw wore these aprons, then you must have had one smokin' hot grandmama! I picked just a few of her scrumdiddliumptious aprons to display, but you will definitely want to check out <a href="http://www.dotsdiner.etsy.com/">Dot's Diner</a> and add some of these to your cart or to your favorites at the very least.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>OMWow! These aprons couldn’t be any cuter if they had to be! Which one is your top seller?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Aw, thanks, lol! My top sellers are my car hop polka dot, and car hop cupcake aprons. I think people like it that they have a lot of black in them. Black works really well in my shop for some reason. I also make this style extra sweet with eyelet lace and hot pink ric rac. It makes me smile. I make a lot of pink stuff, I like pink.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEq9Ugr2bTkBxu6j2f9fySskIUtYuw1NGH0X9WmdmSn2HJx1VxeoCT52Y8ljz11nRc0muS2xkSnIJikj8IElf82TByUQYfn261yZXeJdsiy0kEKAEf0jomskNeHnLcn4uEvghwo3OgN-A/s1600/inside+etsy+dots+diner+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEq9Ugr2bTkBxu6j2f9fySskIUtYuw1NGH0X9WmdmSn2HJx1VxeoCT52Y8ljz11nRc0muS2xkSnIJikj8IElf82TByUQYfn261yZXeJdsiy0kEKAEf0jomskNeHnLcn4uEvghwo3OgN-A/s400/inside+etsy+dots+diner+9.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Do you think most women are wearing these in the kitchen? Or the bedroom? Lol</span></b></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGKmCfUMVIDwmTO19QTOP-z7v803IMJIH9ewKZQSmaSy025CrKQF2HloRLPRLOY9NY-MLWT5JXHgE079cYqznXLT0fEs4Fh0rtDKLAG2J1YSRluV2bPH4T1pFWWBSyVoFxbtswyUgWLQ/s1600/inside+etsy+dots+diner+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGKmCfUMVIDwmTO19QTOP-z7v803IMJIH9ewKZQSmaSy025CrKQF2HloRLPRLOY9NY-MLWT5JXHgE079cYqznXLT0fEs4Fh0rtDKLAG2J1YSRluV2bPH4T1pFWWBSyVoFxbtswyUgWLQ/s320/inside+etsy+dots+diner+5.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">I started this shop with the intent of selling costume-like aprons to pinup girls and burlesque performers. I am pretty well connected in the burlesque community, so I just used that base of friends to start my Facebook page. So, a lot of my aprons get worn on stage, and stripped off! Lately, a lot of young women who are starting their own cupcake bakeries are finding me, and ordering their "uniforms". I am so envious of these young ladies; I mean really, a cupcake shop!? Also, a lot of my customers wear them for sexy photo shoots, or pinup style photo shoots. I love it! I don’t cook, so when people ask me if they are good for the kitchen, I’m like, huh? Oh yeah-I guess so! Lol!</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">(</span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70206793/wonderland-alice-hearts-apron"><span style="color: black;">Click here</span></a><span style="color: black;"> to see the full frontal of the Alice Apron.)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Have you had any great Etsy finds to add to your vintage kitchenware collection?</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Well, actually, what I buy a ton of on Etsy is vintage fabric, and artwork. There are so many wonderful photographers and artists on here I can’t resist. I have no idea where to hang it all, so I just place it around my work space and stare it all. I use the vintage fabric in my aprons from time to time. My favorite thing to find and buy is vintage pillow panels. I use them to make aprons and my customers eat them up.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">What did you do with all of those clothes you made for you dolls? It’s hard to throw stuff like that away.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Well, I don’t know, most of it I gave to my nieces years ago. I wish I still had a lot of those things.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">How many different styles are you currently offering?</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL70W3YdoDnWcE7IN4PHjYBP15fD2JFdSVX3gtj_DcBQvkdpedfHLkM8yPFLidmWEA4WznxF9BWAA1INrNlR5U9zBpKkUvWH2d3VQgcxG4dh2Els5ixAY0xBBp4LNOpgjq2N4tHiHSUgs/s1600/inside+etsy+dots+diner+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL70W3YdoDnWcE7IN4PHjYBP15fD2JFdSVX3gtj_DcBQvkdpedfHLkM8yPFLidmWEA4WznxF9BWAA1INrNlR5U9zBpKkUvWH2d3VQgcxG4dh2Els5ixAY0xBBp4LNOpgjq2N4tHiHSUgs/s320/inside+etsy+dots+diner+4.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">I usually have about 20 styles in my shop, it seems like I can’t get my inventory over that number. I have a day job, it is my curse. ( I work in engineering, doing CAD drafitng and circuit board design, I know, zzzzzz).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Any thing else that you would like to add?</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Well, I am just having like a ton of fun, and trying not to be too obsessed with Etsy. Ha ha</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">The group photo is a burlesque troupe I was in when I owned my pole-dance studio, it was the most fun I ever had. I made all the costumes we are wearing- the troupe was for any age, one lady was like almost 60, adorable, we caused quite a scandal.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Follow <a href="http://www.dotsdiner.etsy.com/">Dot's Diner</a> around the virtual town as she continues to create scandals!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPw1chGj6uN5eFZ9Rn2v1wc952Zc-vx9fsV0azWEqYqc_0Jj6QcgK4fvY544RsqmqZIwOKP-ABO6oOApCRHRujsW9uJWtjOluPq8aAkM0RGnA-omAi7wdpUy5UgDCTGNs4GduQvT-ncu4/s1600/inside+etsy+dots+diner+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPw1chGj6uN5eFZ9Rn2v1wc952Zc-vx9fsV0azWEqYqc_0Jj6QcgK4fvY544RsqmqZIwOKP-ABO6oOApCRHRujsW9uJWtjOluPq8aAkM0RGnA-omAi7wdpUy5UgDCTGNs4GduQvT-ncu4/s400/inside+etsy+dots+diner+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">FB </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/dotsdiner" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">www.facebook.com/dotsdiner</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Twitter </span><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/dotsdiner" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">twitter.com/#!/dotsdiner</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blog </span><a href="http://www.dotsdineraprons.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">www.dotsdineraprons.com/</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Other </span><a href="http://www.dotsdinerama.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">www.dotsdinerama.com/</span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Note: The pettislips are not included, but I would like to recommend <a href="http://www.swankunderpinnings.etsy.com/">Swank Underpinnings</a> for a custom order for your apron. <a href="http://www.insideetsy.blogspot.com/2011/04/swank-underpinnings.html">Her feature can be found here</a>.</span></span></div><br />
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</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-39274885196968537592011-05-07T08:33:00.004-05:002011-06-27T21:05:16.953-05:00Barn Owl Primitives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uKzhbM5rJjAwyS7NvXp9aqc3gZNUKJTXL9axoNpQ_JySwiF_inRmcQyfR6F9RWowOU8ZyvW7LN0jPtI5u8tAtrmK5rti_Bx4o2Kl_gjZS9Hkjuk2s168M_FiW_VqNZo_p39kiV2q-6g/s1600/inside+etsy+barnowlprimitives2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uKzhbM5rJjAwyS7NvXp9aqc3gZNUKJTXL9axoNpQ_JySwiF_inRmcQyfR6F9RWowOU8ZyvW7LN0jPtI5u8tAtrmK5rti_Bx4o2Kl_gjZS9Hkjuk2s168M_FiW_VqNZo_p39kiV2q-6g/s400/inside+etsy+barnowlprimitives2.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't know about y'all, but if I put my elbows on the table at dinner, my dad would poke them with his fork. There were 5 of us kids, and no one ever wanted to sit by Dad, lol. Ah, the good ol' days when families had sit-down dinners every night.... This is a tradition that I still proudly carry on in my home. I'm thinking I'm going to get two of these handy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/barnowlprimitives?section_id=7178391">table manners signs</a>--one for my house and one for my dad's. Of course, all of his baby birds have flown the coop, but I'm sure he sits around wishing he could poke just one more elbow. The table manners sign is just one of many appealing items that you can find at <a href="http://www.barnowlprimitives.etsy.com/">Barn Owl Primitives</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How are you getting so many views on </b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/barnowlprimitives/treasury?ref=pr_treasury_more"><b>your treasuries</b></a><b>?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: small;">I have a fabulous fan base on Facebook and I post my treasuries there for them to view. I also send a personal email to each shop that I include in my treasury. It’s a great touch point and a nice way to meet your fellow shop owners. I’ve made great friends with other shop owners through the treasury. It is also very important to use all the tags when creating a treasury and to make sure you are using words that people might actually search on. My top three tags when I create a treasury are vintage, shabby chic and antique. If you've seen my treasuries, that will come as no surprise!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Why pine?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">I use premium pine boards for almost all of my signs. I want my signs to be of the highest quality. And I don't want to worry about knots when I’m painting the letters. I create a mountain of sawdust as each board is sanded before, during, and after the painting process, but it's worth it. (Or so my customers tell me!)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I see that you have shipping rates to Australia ($45- yikes!). Do you have many orders that go there?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuAu-oPjY-DHrANAaP8GD3iqFjY2eaynx2vSfyEVji2MW3n57Qhq6xqDgW7D-toKJGd8qWu-07XYCTNdAogEfgYWNNlAXR0TXJmiBaBtHs7Qf_8Wa05ZXAMFim-gHHqsd8ZFekeobqyU/s1600/inside+etsy+barnowlprimitives5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuAu-oPjY-DHrANAaP8GD3iqFjY2eaynx2vSfyEVji2MW3n57Qhq6xqDgW7D-toKJGd8qWu-07XYCTNdAogEfgYWNNlAXR0TXJmiBaBtHs7Qf_8Wa05ZXAMFim-gHHqsd8ZFekeobqyU/s320/inside+etsy+barnowlprimitives5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">I’ve shipped 18 signs to Australia. Just got an order for another one today! I’ve actually shipped signs to all 50 states, Australia, Ireland, England, Scotland, Norway, Canada and Singapore! I really can't believe it!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>You did a promo with <a href="http://www.tpartydes.etsy.com/">Junk to JENius</a> a bit ago. How did that work and how did that work out?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Jen won a giveaway that I did with a blog in the fall. When she opened her shop a few months later, she asked if I would be interested in hosting a giveaway for her. Since I don't blog, and since she was trying to build her blog, I suggested she host a giveaway on her blog and we each giveaway something from each of our shops. It’s so much more fun to collaborate with another shop owner then to do something by yourself. We had a lot of fun working together that week and the best part is I’ve made a fabulous new friend! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How many sets of stencils do you have?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9RN0Hi0ZLarPGa7hoNYXV7mUSDxPcBI40p2kILD3yL1SyZwWoJFhbh9pg7r6gdRXMR9GNEaf9wHkurtS85eXoteMp2lj2PyO1_T5LChATfmltmqdkL6_THTp9hvU9CfHeHooHlQWorE/s1600/inside+etsy+barnowlprimitives4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9RN0Hi0ZLarPGa7hoNYXV7mUSDxPcBI40p2kILD3yL1SyZwWoJFhbh9pg7r6gdRXMR9GNEaf9wHkurtS85eXoteMp2lj2PyO1_T5LChATfmltmqdkL6_THTp9hvU9CfHeHooHlQWorE/s320/inside+etsy+barnowlprimitives4.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">My stencils are one time use, so each sign has a unique stencil. So far, I’ve painted 1,632 signs {deep breath}, so I’ve used a lot of stencils! I have about 50 designs that are usually available in my shop at any given time. I typically don't paint a sign until an order is placed since the customer can choose their colors from my standard shop colors.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<b>Your <a href="http://www.barnowlprimitives.etsy.com/">Etsy shop</a> has a little over 1,100 sales. What venue did you use for the other 500?</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">When I started, I sold wholesale to several shops. And I was selling through </span><a href="http://www.chickspicksbyhillary.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304786036_0"><span style="color: blue;">www.chickspicksbyhillary.com</span></span></a><span style="color: blue;"> for almost a year. Hillary lives near me and offers an online shop as well as a fabulous pop up boutique in her home about 7 times a year. I've also done several local craft shows. My shop is now busy enough that I don't have time for those things right now. Since I do all of this myself...from cutting the wood all the way through to boxing it up and shipping it out, I just don't have time for much more.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">One day, I too will be able to share that testimony! <a href="http://www.mamamellymartin.etsy.com/">Cord cover</a> anyone?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Any thing else that you would like to add?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">I would like to thank my family and friends who support me every day. And I’d like to thank all the wonderful customers, shop owners, bloggers and friends on Facebook and twitter who send me messages, purchase signs, leave comments and posts and otherwise encourage me to do what I do. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful network and I could not do what I do without them. Thank you!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">And to those shy people who don't like to post, comment or otherwise interact but who follow along and view my art...THANK YOU! I appreciate each of you too!!</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6mBZhn0qeXRTL5BcC693oj51g1rPXL85s8owPbUZg1lwtp1kzmXUb9gPmOBbh5Ggnhlk17r-iwv7hyphenhyphengZqMPnTuKqbyrz3oLK-6f-emy0e-mBuVF3pGdF-r8-qPs-Jk1MMT3eLJGUyA4/s1600/inside+etsy+barnowlprimitives1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6mBZhn0qeXRTL5BcC693oj51g1rPXL85s8owPbUZg1lwtp1kzmXUb9gPmOBbh5Ggnhlk17r-iwv7hyphenhyphengZqMPnTuKqbyrz3oLK-6f-emy0e-mBuVF3pGdF-r8-qPs-Jk1MMT3eLJGUyA4/s200/inside+etsy+barnowlprimitives1.jpg" width="119" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">She has many other wonderful signs hanging around her shop. Signs about wine, beaches, baseball, motorcycles, and my favorite--baby girls. Go "favorite" some of your favorites.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">FB </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/barnowlprimitives"><span style="font-size: small;">www.facebook.com/barnowlprimitives</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Twitter </span><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/barnowlprimitiv"><span style="font-size: small;">twitter.com/#!/barnowlprimitiv</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Blog nope<br />
Etsy </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/barnowlprimitives"><span style="font-size: small;">www.etsy.com/shop/barnowlprimitives</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-81723277216807011472011-05-05T18:09:00.001-05:002011-06-27T21:05:16.954-05:00Yellow Bug Boutique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBqUhOoIXzY8A0Q5ezcfFNnZoc4tnBhpObI0nkWAQ4VLqiNobuHtLj_I1m5NwsZmIetbUvHdd1vpLFV0zFL60mV5hKw8wyrBimo9_Iy284sNt9r9BqZr1NmV4Zde3YnNLoMALo3vLAO4/s1600/inside+etsy+yellowbugboutique+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBqUhOoIXzY8A0Q5ezcfFNnZoc4tnBhpObI0nkWAQ4VLqiNobuHtLj_I1m5NwsZmIetbUvHdd1vpLFV0zFL60mV5hKw8wyrBimo9_Iy284sNt9r9BqZr1NmV4Zde3YnNLoMALo3vLAO4/s320/inside+etsy+yellowbugboutique+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Anytime I see the "do not remove" tags on pillows, I always think of that episode of "Who's the Boss?" when Angela was living dangerously and one of the items on her list was to tear off one these tags, lol. So I love this pillow! Cindy, the owner of the Yellow Bug Boutique, has a great sense of humor and you can bring some of that home because she showcases it on some of her pillows. She actually has a whole selection of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/YellowBugBoutique?section_id=7156659">pithy pillows</a>. That is also where her periodic element pillows can be found.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzzigTRG_gKCMcIXlgySHriKCMVvNe8KTNg6xgHQBLTUN4lCEqzrUTFdfk1VGVt2YiQr6FqsRQj35z_8FYOnfsppGs-k-EG6gxvn6_u_vyT79epHDMA3KGjk-aUowe56XKDcxWKJvAz4/s1600/inside+etsy+yellowbugboutique+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzzigTRG_gKCMcIXlgySHriKCMVvNe8KTNg6xgHQBLTUN4lCEqzrUTFdfk1VGVt2YiQr6FqsRQj35z_8FYOnfsppGs-k-EG6gxvn6_u_vyT79epHDMA3KGjk-aUowe56XKDcxWKJvAz4/s320/inside+etsy+yellowbugboutique+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Aren't those just the cutest! She spells out lots of other words, some I'm not allowed to say. Like "chocolate". Just saying the word makes me gain weight! I'm sure she sold a ton of these and her other slew of adorable stuff at the Handmade Bash this year.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>So how was the Handmade Bash this year? And what is it anyway? Lol</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.handmadebash.com/">Handmade Bash</a> was fabulous...ok now, but what is it? Think about what you would get if you took 50 shops that sell current and trendy handmade items and combined it with a great party complete with a DJ spinning strange black discs.(which us oldies call records), a photo booth, fun decorations and a bar and then you would get the Handmade Bash.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I’ve read a bit here and there about the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/teams/5513/etsy-dallas">EtsyDallas</a> team. Share a little with us about why you are proud to be a member.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">This is my first year to be part of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/teams/5513/etsy-dallas">Etsy Dallas</a>. I cannot think of enough positive adjectives to completely describe how wonderful this group is. There is so much combined craft/artistic, selling and marketing knowledge as well as fun and energy that this group is an unstoppable force. I am in awe of the talent of this group from one of a kind furniture masterpieces to fused glass/lamp-glass beads and everything in between. I'm just hoping no one figures out that someone goofed and let me join :)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Seriously, this group is a great resource...any problem, question or concern you might have...someone will have good advice and are more than willing to share it with you. We do 2 big shows a year, the Handmade Bash in the Spring and The Jingle Bash in November....both are great places to have a lot of fun...bring the family- there is an art and craft table for the kids and find that perfect handmade gift. The rest of the year is filled with group charity events, social gatherings and planning. It is also just great fun to mingle with people who have the same passion to create things with their hands. I always come back from an event with recharged creative batteries and a million new good ideas. I could go on and on...but then I will never get to the rest of your questions.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Instead of "Slug Bug", I play my version, which is "Hug Bug" with my boys. Although they do play the "slug bug" version with their dad, but I don’t want to get in on the slugging. Did y’all play this with your mom when you were Bug-spotting?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">No, unfortunately, we didn't play slug bug growing up...I grew up with 3 sisters so I learned more about Barbies and matching your shoes with your dress than I did about physical aggression- later I had 2 boys of my own and became much more versed in hand to hand combat, Mythbusters and Estes rockets.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMwgNY9KX4clXCM3QVsk5YqMzLKa2_hZdEi9ai4k1wh6bycndYo_V15F-xsOkAUSHkVZGkiL-ZINb0hNnf1MSije99ngRYG2FZqoAkmXDW24a56HdI5bvo9mbXtCDIcQ39cs4EUrq85M/s1600/inside+etsy+yellowbugboutique+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMwgNY9KX4clXCM3QVsk5YqMzLKa2_hZdEi9ai4k1wh6bycndYo_V15F-xsOkAUSHkVZGkiL-ZINb0hNnf1MSije99ngRYG2FZqoAkmXDW24a56HdI5bvo9mbXtCDIcQ39cs4EUrq85M/s200/inside+etsy+yellowbugboutique+6.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Looking through your sold items, your koozies seem to be steady seller. Is the neoprene hard to work with?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Koozies have been a good addition to my store because they are a lower price point than my pillows which helps expand my client base. The neoprene can be a bit challenging to work with- sometimes my sewing machine would rather eat it then sewing it together.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Possible inspiration for the Nom Nom Nom pillow?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIy4N9g7AlIngOh5nYmyb6M3GcxLHBX3pvCri4OiHNe6UMcZ00LsEIpEJ0C-Gg4qrmAi8IFL8qCUgeaHaTDvGr_i2zKomphr_WWu3qH_AE6oV_elH-B2-cDw7Vzmf8drGYz4gNUTbOMI/s1600/inside+etsy+yellowbugboutique+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIy4N9g7AlIngOh5nYmyb6M3GcxLHBX3pvCri4OiHNe6UMcZ00LsEIpEJ0C-Gg4qrmAi8IFL8qCUgeaHaTDvGr_i2zKomphr_WWu3qH_AE6oV_elH-B2-cDw7Vzmf8drGYz4gNUTbOMI/s320/inside+etsy+yellowbugboutique+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How many of your items have made it to the sought-after Front Page?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Etsy has been very good to me...I think the count is 20 something. The front page, Storque and Etsy finds does amazing things for your views, shop hearts and sales.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">I haven't even had one! Just found my new Etsy role model.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Any thing else that you would like to add?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">For a moment, I'll get on my soapbox, if you don't mind. I get a little frustrated about the negativity that sometimes hoovers around the forums. Maybe it's because I'm an old timer with more than 25 years in the handmade business- but I get frustrated when people don't realize how easy Etsy makes it for the artist. When I started you could either do small craft shows or pay a rep to get your stuff out there to sell. I was blessed and found a distributor to market my miniatures and had a good 25 year run with Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and mom and pop stores. Big chains won't talk to an individual and craft shows are very hard work. Today with the internet and Etsy you can literally sell to the whole world. Etsy even gives you advice on every imaginable subject to help you be successful. Personally, I just don't understand why people are complaining!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9Zj5jtXj5XB4ohNow9sHpMLjDLKi4VyvpdUfNCqExl8y2R0q9IkWv87ZzEUG7udnVsYVOqAWazg_WaHCmQYf7HIpzPVU7H3FMIfGocqI9bEGNea1Ls0FtOWIezg64C5NrHYHj3DFsm8/s1600/inside+etsy+yellowbugboutique+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9Zj5jtXj5XB4ohNow9sHpMLjDLKi4VyvpdUfNCqExl8y2R0q9IkWv87ZzEUG7udnVsYVOqAWazg_WaHCmQYf7HIpzPVU7H3FMIfGocqI9bEGNea1Ls0FtOWIezg64C5NrHYHj3DFsm8/s320/inside+etsy+yellowbugboutique+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Those of you who read my posts on </span><a href="http://www.handmadeology.com/"><span style="color: black;">www.handmadeology.com</span></a><span style="color: black;"> should love this pillow. (<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_175024821">T</a></span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.handmadeology.com/how-to-receive-advice-about-your-etsy-business/">his post</a></span><span style="color: black;"> in particular.)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Keep your eyes open for the Yellow Bug Boutique cruising down Etsy Street at the following hot spots:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yellow-Bug-Boutique/117420704978157"><span style="font-size: small;">www.facebook.com/pages/Yellow-Bug-Boutique/117420704978157</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=298727895540"><span style="font-size: small;">www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=298727895540</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/YellowBugBoutique"><span style="font-size: small;">www.artfire.com/users/YellowBugBoutique</span></a></span>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-82658064358455407002011-05-04T01:42:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:40:28.346-05:00The Polka Dot Magpie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1RZFj6nS2u_l_gsTCa4YtUDj7h-3SLCxhd8ZiUJbwFwJE78aOtsq8C1jRue1mwFG8dhPWAcDxMtC-IdPo5pcXm70kwbnDB9e9VwT5gKEQNl77MSZ9Yzb8osdmVr05i74iDrENaZZw0M/s1600/inside+etsy+thepolkadotmagpie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1RZFj6nS2u_l_gsTCa4YtUDj7h-3SLCxhd8ZiUJbwFwJE78aOtsq8C1jRue1mwFG8dhPWAcDxMtC-IdPo5pcXm70kwbnDB9e9VwT5gKEQNl77MSZ9Yzb8osdmVr05i74iDrENaZZw0M/s320/inside+etsy+thepolkadotmagpie+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even though I'm 33 years old now and have two kids, in my mind's eye when I envision myself, it is with the hips that I used to have, similar to the ones in this picture at right. Granted, I never had a bird sitting on me while I was naked in front of a picket fence, but that's beside the point. But not all moms are a slave to the sweets. Some of them actually (gasp!) workout and eat healthy. Or they are those girls that everyone is jealous of--the ones that can eat whatever they want and still stay skinny. The rest of us are still waiting for that day when it all catches up to them.... Nevertheless, I will hold fast to the me of yesteryear. I can reclaim that flat belly again. Now whether I will or not is the question.... But enough about me. Let's talk more about the naked girl with the bird and the woman behind it all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>At first glance, all I saw were the crows. But after going back through your shop, I took notice that you use other birds, too. Why birds?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">"Birds are the souls of humans"--someone said that...I believe it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I have loved birds my whole life. Corvids first, then chickens, then quirky crazy looking exotic ones.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I just got baby chicks and am a poultry judge. See <a href="http://www.theknifewife.blogspot.com/">my blog</a> for chick photos.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Most Etsy newcomers (even ones who are painters) often have bad item pictures at first. I don’t see any in your shop, though. Have you had a run in with photography before?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAddhUDdo9719Ad5Ttd3CqEh8ZFlRgidzuy0TsFZasO_Wmmn-QfFuAllQvzNtGLMl0xOSDFrhkI0wQ90doCVcG8Vp3U7dc5Qe_dv41QBZvfQYh76rXB1b_wIQJrpOmXVYYfHqcGB95_E/s1600/inside+etsy+thepolkadotmagpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAddhUDdo9719Ad5Ttd3CqEh8ZFlRgidzuy0TsFZasO_Wmmn-QfFuAllQvzNtGLMl0xOSDFrhkI0wQ90doCVcG8Vp3U7dc5Qe_dv41QBZvfQYh76rXB1b_wIQJrpOmXVYYfHqcGB95_E/s320/inside+etsy+thepolkadotmagpie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">When I first started out in the post college work force I worked in big ad agencies. One of my favorite jobs was styling photos. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">My Mom said when I cleaned my room as a kid I arranged everything in still life groupings. My husband just bought me a "big girl camera" Nikon D80. So I am having fun with that.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I was immediately drawn to the story of losing your brother to Vietnam in </b><a href="http://www.theknifewife.blogspot.com/"><b>your post</b></a><b> . My own husband (who also deals in knives) lost his brother to Vietnam in the same fashion. The body came back, but not the mind. Are any of your pieces a result of this life experience?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I only lost his soul...he is still alive and behind "the Orange Curtain" in Newport Beach Ca. I believe that's the only way someone could live there is to have NO soul. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Nothing on Etsy. I did do a series of paintings and drawings that had young soldiers in the war with windows of myself (11 years his junior) at birthday parties, and activities I was doing while he was in Viet Nam.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Is it just you and your husband at home now?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Yes. My eldest is in Denver with my only grandchild who is 12. He's visiting "G-dog" right now. Loving having baby chicks to care for and lots of arts and crafts going on. He will make a knife with my husband this week.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I also have an adult son who has high functioning Autism. He's 23, engaged, and completely independent of me. I am so proud of him. He's taken one of his perseverations and turned it into a career. (again see <a href="http://www.theknifewife.blogspot.com/">an early blog post</a> about him) He loves vacuum cleaners, and runs a vacuum shop.</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>What has been the most exciting thing that has happened to you with your store? You seem to be creating quite a buzz about town.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I have 2 stores. </span><a href="http://www.thepolkadotmagpie.etsy.com/"><span style="color: blue;">ThePolkadotMagpie</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> and </span><a href="http://www.polkadotmagpie.com/"><span style="color: blue;">PolkadotMagpie</span></a><span style="color: blue;">. PolkadotMagpie was in Parents and Baby Talk Magazine last year. Huge sales from that.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtNp9GubkqwUEn3AUSgCltzls853sCTVQFrLhj3dSOqMX-fZwtJhqv8Gq6bNnTsjmiGxD-7s4WMWL1nl1WZP9NWhWqdyfItTFLpj4B3_2oQ6PwvOZPos0femFWTqtUZMOFPZWJ_6JkXg/s1600/inside+etsy+polkadotmagpie+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtNp9GubkqwUEn3AUSgCltzls853sCTVQFrLhj3dSOqMX-fZwtJhqv8Gq6bNnTsjmiGxD-7s4WMWL1nl1WZP9NWhWqdyfItTFLpj4B3_2oQ6PwvOZPos0femFWTqtUZMOFPZWJ_6JkXg/s320/inside+etsy+polkadotmagpie+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Recently Pacific Media contacted me about <a href="http://www.thepolkadotmagpie.etsy.com/">ThePolkadotMagpie</a> and the items I am donating for Japan's relief aid through the Red Cross. They are huge publishers and have Better Homes and Gardens, Prevention, Family Circle. Those pieces will be on the newstands in May.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM6MW-rTTXKAHMHcjPg9iZBDUGDhwRV4kmhWFNUj_B84kmJ6OKB5enxyN_RegplMlChMh1OctOqsL_woaG-w08eu4hlGGkEMKhthmHcPOKSJiRsJqJwa9qRlYz7c7iJYGBL7DAL0SnzA/s1600/inside+etsy+thepolkadotmagpie+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM6MW-rTTXKAHMHcjPg9iZBDUGDhwRV4kmhWFNUj_B84kmJ6OKB5enxyN_RegplMlChMh1OctOqsL_woaG-w08eu4hlGGkEMKhthmHcPOKSJiRsJqJwa9qRlYz7c7iJYGBL7DAL0SnzA/s320/inside+etsy+thepolkadotmagpie+4.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br />
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And I love how she uses the bird in her photography sets. Too cute!<br />
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Her store over at <a href="http://www.polkadotmagpie.etsy.com/">PolkaDotMagpie</a> has almost 650 sales and her store at <a href="http://www.thepolkadotmagpie.etsy.com/">ThePolkaDotMagpie</a> has just been open for a few months but already has 49 sales.<br />
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Be sure to check them both out. They each have their own "feel".<br />
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Now I'm going to go eat chips and salsa, even though it's almost 2 in the morning, because I haven't had any "me" time all day and you're supposed to eat your carbs early in the morning, I think, lol.<br />
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</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-25269933823922016752011-05-02T10:13:00.003-05:002011-06-27T20:39:35.318-05:00CAPow!<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GoOwKM9vo2M2ijP5lPXuAx9Ldllgu8USlqPTYTJuZUJNWctQcbRiv6s5t0yG_aMQx-rWyOospE3jcVW9Cw5vOK1xb6X8KW36BZrqORwyNxqJq5i80miyPFCZHULFcYN3xTsyh-QtEbo/s1600/inside+etsy+capow+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GoOwKM9vo2M2ijP5lPXuAx9Ldllgu8USlqPTYTJuZUJNWctQcbRiv6s5t0yG_aMQx-rWyOospE3jcVW9Cw5vOK1xb6X8KW36BZrqORwyNxqJq5i80miyPFCZHULFcYN3xTsyh-QtEbo/s320/inside+etsy+capow+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>To the moon, Alice! <a href="http://www.capow.etsy.com/">Capow</a>! Right in the kisser! I had seen Capow's work here and there on Etsy, then in <a href="http://www.handmadeology.com/spotlight-feature-capow-art-design/">this write-up on handmadeology</a>. Every one can fall in love with her work, because we all have a city that is near and dear to our hearts, especially for you honeymooners. Her shop is known for the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/capow?section_id=6904781">Hometown Heart</a> series, but she also does photography, prints, and these really cool state map images.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><b>So </b><a href="http://windshielddiaries.blogspot.com/"><b>windshielddiaries.blogspot.com</b></a><b>, huh? Do you have a tendency to be the windshield or the bug? With close to 900 sales, I’d say you’re the windshield.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Haha, I've never thought about it...the past few months I've kind of been feeling like the bug! But the real reason my blog has the title Windshield Diaries is because it was started almost 2 years ago as a way for my boyfriend and I to chronicle a road trip we were taking (Upstate NY to Florida to New Orleans to Memphis, and back to NY). I just kept writing after the trip was over, and it grew from there!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I must say, I’m a little disappointed that you don’t have a big huge, colorful "I Love Texas". Texas is the only state that can fly their flag at the same level of the US flag. When can I expect to see some colorful Texas love?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPGebMerRMA7-PBLs_N6-MCCFl2R0xjH0iRP3kYPNIKmzFAdypGwj8UJ72DAaj7AmpFl3-GcClEustodKE-N7xIbKJMvLc6yZDnWOir1hIjmDhfS_M_HZxz-ftkqK5i3CDXIAFuJhPdw/s1600/inside+etsy+capow+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPGebMerRMA7-PBLs_N6-MCCFl2R0xjH0iRP3kYPNIKmzFAdypGwj8UJ72DAaj7AmpFl3-GcClEustodKE-N7xIbKJMvLc6yZDnWOir1hIjmDhfS_M_HZxz-ftkqK5i3CDXIAFuJhPdw/s320/inside+etsy+capow+2.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Texas was JUST completed this past week! I had been working on it for a really long time, it's such a big state with so many small counties, there was a lot of little details to get in there! But it's up in the shop now and ready to be customized to any color under the sun!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>So you put each state’s county in location in text on the outline of the state. How many excruciating hours does that take?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">It really depends on the size of the state and how many counties are in the state. for example, a small state with few counties (like Connecticut) can take as little as two hours to complete. For the big guys like Texas, California, and New York it takes much longer. Each of those larger states took well over 20 hours to complete, Texas came in closer to 40 hours!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>One reason I don’t watch TV is because of everyone’s political agenda showing up all over the place. I can’t imagine living in the hub of it there in D.C. area. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the political pressure there?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I don't live in DC, but I do live in the capital city of New York State where there is also a lot of politics in the local news. Honestly, politics have no bearing on my art or creative endeavors what so ever, and I try to keep my political views out of my shop & blog because it's really not a big part of my life.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>And the most important question: How did the <a href="http://www.windshielddiaries.blogspot.com/">Smores cookies</a> turn out?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBEawpIRMYqrq0LKXu6D2mgiQqHkTlSYteBNCGLNfrSE2ZQdiUyYi_sXT4O0RwAhfa62oaCyJrNAmpDfyjO-9rlk2JMlLEDx_PRWbGYCbmeYOxs5ttWuC5osD2WBJGYmfu1t1iPbyRxg/s1600/inside+etsy+capow+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBEawpIRMYqrq0LKXu6D2mgiQqHkTlSYteBNCGLNfrSE2ZQdiUyYi_sXT4O0RwAhfa62oaCyJrNAmpDfyjO-9rlk2JMlLEDx_PRWbGYCbmeYOxs5ttWuC5osD2WBJGYmfu1t1iPbyRxg/s320/inside+etsy+capow+3.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">The Smores cookies were a HIT! I made them for a going away party, and at first I thought they looked a little funky, but after they firmed up they were beautiful and delicious! Though I think the next time I attempt a batch I will add more graham cracker crumbs, the graham taste wasn't strong enough for my liking.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">(The woman at right must be running to burn off all of those Smores cookies calories.)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Any thing else that you would like to add?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I would just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has ever looked at my blog or shop, bought a print, left a comment, sent me an email. You guys are the reason I'm able to do what I love! I'm not quite to the point where I can quit my day job yet, but just knowing that my art is out there in so many people's homes is so fulfilling. So thank you, so much to all past a future friends and customers!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrR56LQhvefIHd1qqLS3lkgbK8dV-ZZiK7W7ydoYmzGjfjNk1jGhtGtWnircu7ZASNqW7Yafn0ZIGlfIcUiqXHuBd7HR8LTCsZOAPmdmS2i6sBDh40QLUuP-3gCWR2A4kmiJRy47-Ops/s1600/inside+etsy+capow+profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrR56LQhvefIHd1qqLS3lkgbK8dV-ZZiK7W7ydoYmzGjfjNk1jGhtGtWnircu7ZASNqW7Yafn0ZIGlfIcUiqXHuBd7HR8LTCsZOAPmdmS2i6sBDh40QLUuP-3gCWR2A4kmiJRy47-Ops/s320/inside+etsy+capow+profile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">The image at left is the face in her mirror every morning.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">FB <a href="http://www.facebook.com/capowartanddesign" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/capowartanddesign</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/capowcapow" target="_blank">www.twitter.com/capowcapow</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
Blog <a href="http://windshielddiaries.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">windshielddiaries.blogspot.com</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Main Etsy: <a href="http://www.capow.etsy.com/">http://www.capow.etsy.com/</a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Other Etsy: <a href="http://www.littlepetshop.etsy.com/">http://www.littlepetshop.etsy.com/</a> for you cat lovers</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
Other <a href="http://www.society6.com/capow/studios" target="_blank">www.society6.com/capow/studios</a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">(some of her work is also available on the <a href="http://www.society6.com/">society6 website</a> as ipod cases, t shirts, etc)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-41656023792838119632011-04-30T11:35:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:57:13.509-05:00Going Places 2<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPnk5DTYRTG8Tg2UTOevRyOEXWMrHtbPMga9RW7Mkz5Cs9NSJPvioNh2PrGLFQA4-8TVqK400RmxY8qUVp58AoJgzpMItSjdt043XtC2RY8SYLVDgvbc4QJtXyzDpD1zn2dT40FeMWuE/s1600/inside+etsy+going+places+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPnk5DTYRTG8Tg2UTOevRyOEXWMrHtbPMga9RW7Mkz5Cs9NSJPvioNh2PrGLFQA4-8TVqK400RmxY8qUVp58AoJgzpMItSjdt043XtC2RY8SYLVDgvbc4QJtXyzDpD1zn2dT40FeMWuE/s320/inside+etsy+going+places+1.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's not that I'm biased--I just seem to find more dog-oriented shops. But I do have a few cat-loving shops on the way. As soon as I find some. :) Even if you don't like dogs, you are sure to love <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/goingplaces2">Ginger Oliphant's</a> darling dog artwork.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To be fair, <a href="http://www.goingplaces2.etsy.com/">Going Places 2</a> does have a few cat products in her line up, which we talk about more in the interview.</div><b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Do you draw your dogs, purchase images, or shoot your own? (haha, I said "shoot your own".)</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I draw all of the dogs in my art using as reference either dogs I've taken pictures of or people have sent to me. 2 samples where I actually show the photo I’ve used can be seen </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/71877382/pug-dog-face-pocket-mirror-2-x-3%20and%20www.etsy.com/listing/71645061/dachshund-dog-face-pocket-mirror-2-x-3"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a><span style="color: blue;">. These were drawn from photos given to me by members of the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/teams/5763/dachshund-team">Dachshund Team</a> on Etsy. I also sometimes use photos I've found on online sites where people upload their dog pictures for free use by anyone.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLJO-3p2jlw4_s7PwDrSv5OxrDWdbTA4nTEFD2nWuoJ7iI_Fq9_Baq3FrAZoAAIGhmNvCFj3nMnb4eUW7cmYCYoy1Wp5pGIAe9JuqME4KyJrGBVvtNBiWAWYAzYHOV-kkSP24oaMxGpk/s1600/gigi+and+jazzy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLJO-3p2jlw4_s7PwDrSv5OxrDWdbTA4nTEFD2nWuoJ7iI_Fq9_Baq3FrAZoAAIGhmNvCFj3nMnb4eUW7cmYCYoy1Wp5pGIAe9JuqME4KyJrGBVvtNBiWAWYAzYHOV-kkSP24oaMxGpk/s200/gigi+and+jazzy+2.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We are a boxer-loving family. I waited 5 years to find just the right one for the last one that we brought home. She's a beautiful white female. She looks half-dalmation, though, because the Texas sun causes her to spot. Truly a wonderful family dog, as long as you have plenty of yard for them to express themselves in. </b> <b>(Those are my two free spirits on the left--Jasmine, the boxer, and Gigi, the human. My daughter's name is Ginger, also, but we call her Gigi. Definitely the spice in my life!) Surely you own at least one dog and we would love to hear about it and/or others.</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">After years of always having a dog in the house, we don’t actually have one of our own right now. We do however have three Grandddogs, Lofa, a black Lab, Locker, a yellow Lab, and Baxter, a rescued Maltese mix. They are willing and wonderful models for me and you will see them periodically throughout my shop. I’ve found that dogs work very cheaply and are overjoyed to be paid with a hugs, kisses and dog treats! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">My very first dog was a Boxer named Mitsy and later another named Rex. They were wonderful family dogs. We’ve had a sweet Schnauzer named Misty for 13 years and crazy Wire Haired Fox Terrier called Jamie who kept the squirrels out of the yard as well as providing hours of entertainment and love.</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Do you get requests for other dogs that you don't currently offer? (Is there a quick reference list of what the breeds you do offer?)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwkeuXSeIsP47SDwUBJzRqPEBSnLVIwYYF0UDPc1TIWIqMwBrSUcbX6jY9KcMYYb1kDFiEfdFdy77AAV1jhCRGh2E89DQ54oRnR3_5S7TdUJAzwQcOUoKR09heAJncmvjImDXSSQ6s1w/s1600/inside+etsy+going+places+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwkeuXSeIsP47SDwUBJzRqPEBSnLVIwYYF0UDPc1TIWIqMwBrSUcbX6jY9KcMYYb1kDFiEfdFdy77AAV1jhCRGh2E89DQ54oRnR3_5S7TdUJAzwQcOUoKR09heAJncmvjImDXSSQ6s1w/s320/inside+etsy+going+places+3.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Yes I do get requests. In the cases where I don’t have the breed they are looking for, I just ask that they send several photos of the dog and will draw it at no extra charge as long as I feel it will be something I can use in my shop. I get the cutest pictures that way. I did one recently for someone wanting one of a Catahoula Leopard Dog, which had just recently passed away. I don’t have an actual list of the different breeds I have on Etsy, but it works really well to type into the search area (in my shop) the breed you are looking for. If I have it available, each different version will pop up. I’m in currently in the process of putting a website together for my wholesale customers (current and future) where it will be much easier to view at a glance rather than clicking on each individual thumbnail on Etsy. Here, I’ll have the designs alphabetical as well as by category or theme. But that is a work in progress. You can see it ‘as is’ by visiting </span><a href="http://www.inspirationaldog.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.inspirationaldog.com</span></a><span style="color: blue;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I see that you are doing a little branching off into the world of cat-lovers. Are you going to offer different cat breeds also?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaQDWtLqsd35gSsXc5TkuB2RfX4hxIVFmfM48SuiWvd80A7CzYXpyrQ2UbF64m-ECz6ggFLIDJxczRk98ZrP_lCEsL8eUlrSIDZbr3dDzRRkmrWL7yJ-ftnL3jX6QJfM8wPUw9o3e_k0/s1600/inside+etsy+going+places+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaQDWtLqsd35gSsXc5TkuB2RfX4hxIVFmfM48SuiWvd80A7CzYXpyrQ2UbF64m-ECz6ggFLIDJxczRk98ZrP_lCEsL8eUlrSIDZbr3dDzRRkmrWL7yJ-ftnL3jX6QJfM8wPUw9o3e_k0/s320/inside+etsy+going+places+5.jpg" width="237" /></a><span style="color: blue;">I’ve had a number of requests for cats and will gradually be adding more as I have time. I don’t have many pictures, so if any of your readers have some they’d like to make available, please send them to me!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><b>On your profile you state that you dog-sit. What are the going rates for dog-sitting these days?</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Our dog sitting services are limited to relatives only ~ speaking of our Granddogs specifically. And of course, as those of you know with Grandchildren, the going rate is FREE!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Her artwork can be purchased for framing, as a magnet, as a card, or as a pocket mirror!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Here is a picture of Mrs. Ginger Oliphant and where she can be found:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPG-d7-peQ8iWibkon1A9WkQUnOM2aYZE2eGXTZmTsJFhhS99VckKwWcctRioW6NH-muj949cCxBigOc4XjB-BeQ0g3QHbpts14RSdRRdbgpKUY1XSqtsekz6nf6LnHlq-egqzNaQiHIM/s1600/inside+etsy+going+places.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPG-d7-peQ8iWibkon1A9WkQUnOM2aYZE2eGXTZmTsJFhhS99VckKwWcctRioW6NH-muj949cCxBigOc4XjB-BeQ0g3QHbpts14RSdRRdbgpKUY1XSqtsekz6nf6LnHlq-egqzNaQiHIM/s200/inside+etsy+going+places.jpg" width="172" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/goingplacestoo">http://www.twitter.com/goingplacestoo</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Other: in the works ~ <a href="http://www.inspirationaldog.com/" target="_blank">http://www.inspirationaldog.com/</a></div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-73784341620926554052011-04-29T00:43:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:38:19.695-05:00Ox Original Art Jewelry<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUgETbtIc26nE6UZg0gmG6JzsOKtyZL_xBMfYsGbr0Jou20z6UoXV64M1wSnz7FGzVT9Nxzw0lclzdI1mdAk-5ojYmdDeWMvTGPK2ONcmKTi_amVEu3iRsjEOBhl7eaKrEe28mECcGt0/s1600/inside+etsy+oxoriginalartjewelry7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUgETbtIc26nE6UZg0gmG6JzsOKtyZL_xBMfYsGbr0Jou20z6UoXV64M1wSnz7FGzVT9Nxzw0lclzdI1mdAk-5ojYmdDeWMvTGPK2ONcmKTi_amVEu3iRsjEOBhl7eaKrEe28mECcGt0/s320/inside+etsy+oxoriginalartjewelry7.jpg" width="320" /></a>Patsy Ox, owner of <a href="http://www.oxoriginalartjewelry.etsy.com/">Ox Original Art Jewelry</a>, can claim her store's name with pride. Her jewelry is original, because it is her very own artwork. <span style="color: black;">In some of her pictures, you can see the sketched image as the backdrop.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">From her profile:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: blue;">My bronze jewelry begins with Bronzclay, a true bronze consisting of 11% tin and 89% copper (not the brass form seen in commercial jewelry). Each piece is created from my sketchbook designs, then sculpted into works of art.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><b>What color(s) would you say turn out the richest after going through your enameling process?</b><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Enamels, like acrylics, are naturally rich and vibrant. I sometimes have to tone them down for special effects – (or to keep them from looking like little piñatas!) Blue and green transparents over a silver base are particularly lustrous and beautiful.</span><br />
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<b>As is the case with most Etsians, I am versed in other art forms besides what I actually have for sale. In my pre-mom days, I used to show my skills with good ol’ pen and paper portraits/drawings. Do you still find time to paint?</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RpFBstvucybbHJFG9dy2oRpQxNaeBbDXFNLOshJ1Z602LPJz9m4JXftywOm7JhccwvxvkX2biKyAkS-zXoFxv41aoz0JH4NUM8e3Ht5O_yFPObfsu-7plozosFBLxxCcBYxcwOE36RQ/s1600/inside+etsy+oxoriginalartjewelry6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RpFBstvucybbHJFG9dy2oRpQxNaeBbDXFNLOshJ1Z602LPJz9m4JXftywOm7JhccwvxvkX2biKyAkS-zXoFxv41aoz0JH4NUM8e3Ht5O_yFPObfsu-7plozosFBLxxCcBYxcwOE36RQ/s320/inside+etsy+oxoriginalartjewelry6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;">I still paint many of the backdrops for my web pages. That way I can illustrate the precise mood and color coordination that I had envisioned for my jewelry. In the home I paint things like floral wreaths over arches, and I developed a technique for painting with texturing mud to create pop-out scenes on various walls. I have also committed to doing a wall mural for a garden at the local Hospice.</span> <br />
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<b>Even though I’m a die-hard Texas fan (for the state, not for the sports), I know that Colorado is known for its breathtaking beauty. Do you hike or participate in other nature-loving events?</b><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Like you, we also enjoy traveling to the real Colorado whenever we can get away. You see, we live in the hot, windy, dusty "Kansas" part of Colorado. Here in the Southeastern corner we enjoy long walks and bike rides to seek out nature wherever it can be found; along dry stream beds, cottonwood groves, and in nearby canyons laced with petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks. This time of year we just sit in front of the picture window and watch it blow by.</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPIuMSzwCfOA8RqnJPUDMAo91FizHgtObE-5gKzla4KsibY0ENvBIxabLuC_9dRL85VtSdq4Trs1rID10vn97eOfImqfoH_OoLqasjbETxjcTtHMnmfxI-JCXiwTgoCCamHLGnOgQ7_w/s1600/inside+etsy+oxoriginalartjewelry3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPIuMSzwCfOA8RqnJPUDMAo91FizHgtObE-5gKzla4KsibY0ENvBIxabLuC_9dRL85VtSdq4Trs1rID10vn97eOfImqfoH_OoLqasjbETxjcTtHMnmfxI-JCXiwTgoCCamHLGnOgQ7_w/s200/inside+etsy+oxoriginalartjewelry3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<b>Concerning the seedpod that you use for your seedpod pendant—does the tree produce a fruit or just more of these seedpods? Are they edible? (<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_346970297">Read her</a></b><b><a href="http://www.artsyplace.blogspot.com/"> wonderful blog post</a> about the seedpod and its journey into a pendant.)</b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: blue;">Thank you for asking! The Earpod tree is truly fascinating. It is the national tree of Costa Rica, and a member of the pea/bean family. In Hawaii and Florida the seedpod is wasted, but the cattle of Costa Rica eat it. The tree produces a ‘powder-puff’ flower in the spring.</span><br />
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<b>What’s up next in your mini-Americana line?</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80dlAfCS4LdB6Y7GuV4oog_V5FkksEtis7Zkycx5Vlkd9M3oDYp_j0LQhbsI-5gRX5K2CttrqTG1MF9u81TRRTWDehHKDe1Kh-_pkdCOJM6fsWMAUwgzH3IPQffyd3n-KXsD18uwBFbQ/s1600/inside+etsy+oxoriginalartjewelry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80dlAfCS4LdB6Y7GuV4oog_V5FkksEtis7Zkycx5Vlkd9M3oDYp_j0LQhbsI-5gRX5K2CttrqTG1MF9u81TRRTWDehHKDe1Kh-_pkdCOJM6fsWMAUwgzH3IPQffyd3n-KXsD18uwBFbQ/s200/inside+etsy+oxoriginalartjewelry.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;">The Americana pieces that have sold quickly are those with which individuals seemed to make a personal connection – those that represent some iconic location or memorable event in their lives. I have been amazed how a little pig pendant with a heart on its rump, or an artist palette pendant with dabs of multicolor paints will sell quickly on Etsy. So I will continue looking for uniquely personalized designs with which someone may form a bond. With these kinds of pieces, it almost needs to be love at first sight. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">These kinds of pieces sometimes attract attention in unusual ways. The day after I listed a piece of enamel art showing the Coors Beer logo, I received an e-mail from their legal department demanding that I remove their name from the item’s description!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Obviously, Coors Beer and I have a big differing point. I'm all about some free advertising! And, while it would be nice, my cord covers aren't addicting, lol.</span><br />
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I want to personally thank Patsy for being an outstanding <a href="http://www.etsy.com/teams/8645/inside-etsy">Inside Etsy team</a> member. She is a frequent commentor, not only on the blog posts here but on our team threads as well. It's people like her that make Etsy the wonderful community that it is!<br />
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Tap into Patsy's community at any of the locations below:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1yYCoWMdAidZ9sD35KVozVgqK4CAnWBorF3nUKYkHOPYWr-PwRrq6fLuvJ-Z4H6H97Jnt-tkc6DT3m91qJrTC_ZIDrkfdclK3GPQw8s7drtqfNQ1QubjLn5M2IeZiq0LiW8n0Whyphenhyphenubo/s1600/inside+etsy+oxoriginalart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1yYCoWMdAidZ9sD35KVozVgqK4CAnWBorF3nUKYkHOPYWr-PwRrq6fLuvJ-Z4H6H97Jnt-tkc6DT3m91qJrTC_ZIDrkfdclK3GPQw8s7drtqfNQ1QubjLn5M2IeZiq0LiW8n0Whyphenhyphenubo/s200/inside+etsy+oxoriginalart.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Etsy: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/OxOriginalArtJewelry" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/shop/OxOriginalArtJewelry</a><br />
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Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/OxArtJewelry">http://www.facebook.com/OxArtJewelry</a> <br />
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Blog: <a href="http://www.artsyplace.blogspot.com/">http://www.artsyplace.blogspot.com/</a> <br />
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Website: <a href="http://www.oxalisjewelart.com/">http://www.oxalisjewelart.com/</a> <br />
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</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-29580787218574629672011-04-28T16:42:00.002-05:002011-06-27T20:37:22.207-05:00The Wishing Elephant<b>Follow up post has been completed! Now for the full feature on </b><a href="http://www.thewishingelephant.etsy.com/"><b>The Wishing Elephant</b></a><b>!</b><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have to admit something--I never dressed my babies "cute". I was so exhausted working 50+ hours a week that they were lucky to get a bath and be dressed in matching clothes. But that's all behind me now that I'm a stay-at-home mom with nowhere to go except church two days a week. And I like it that way! I try be better about dressing them cute, especially my 4 year old girl, but to achieve maximum cuteness I would need to buy a onesie from <a href="http://www.thewishingelephant.etsy.com/">The Wishing Elephant</a>. She even has onesies that are perfect for twins and triplets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I don’t have any experience with felt, outside of Sunday School crafts. I’m just going to throw out a bunch of questions into this one and you fill in the blanks. Is it pre-treated? Does it wash well? Fading? Is it sewn on? Preshrunk?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">I use eco felt which is made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic bottles. I love this fabric because it doesn't fade or run and it comes in a huge variety of colors. I wash all of the felt prior to use to make sure any shrinkage happens before it's made into an applique. My appliques are backed with a very strong no sew adhesive. I ask that the shirts are hand washed and line dried - treat your handmade goods with love!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Are you going to keep the white onesie as your primary backdrop or are other colors on the way?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxXrx_eldl28LXxXScdh7I0y_oXTRfXlkgOFHqWSW4BQ1I08zMJkObduc7kVYwFasba2XMizeFeFDg1k-wAs56qxDQDEmKIoXiCd1-aMKIWxGhDj_Ru16xCk8As_QxUXbGnZ9IGlnueE/s1600/inside+etsy+thewishingelephant+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxXrx_eldl28LXxXScdh7I0y_oXTRfXlkgOFHqWSW4BQ1I08zMJkObduc7kVYwFasba2XMizeFeFDg1k-wAs56qxDQDEmKIoXiCd1-aMKIWxGhDj_Ru16xCk8As_QxUXbGnZ9IGlnueE/s320/inside+etsy+thewishingelephant+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">I love the white onesie. I think it's clean and provides the perfect backdrop for many of my appliques. I can't imagine the Etch a Sketch on anything else. This being said, I am playing around with dying onesies. I have a handful of hand dyed onesies with matching burp cloths ready to applique. I'd love to have them available now, but it seems that my 2 week old has something to say about that!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I normally don’t ask about shop names, but why "The Wishing Elephant"?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Did you know that elephants mourn? I find that amazing. Elephants are these massive ethereal creatures, how could you not love them? I also love wishing on stars. In fact, my husband kept his sweaty hand on my engagement ring until I said the magic words "star light, star bright, first star I see tonight..." and then proposed. So, the wishing elephant is a combination of two things that I secretly find magical. My husband also designed my logo, which I adore (and does a pretty nice job of combining these the two)!</span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Are you working on any new items for summer?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">I'm starting to dye onesies, and I'm always trying to find new inspiration. I'm desperate to make a narwhal applique, and I just finished a ship in a bottle. I also have a few monsters and fish made with Amy Butler fabric that are going to be hand sewn and put up on Etsy this summer.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OBgFsZob5amaYBDAKdzJQnohEJ_WnVCGtLgxcdCgj6rXToIYbhWA4JM3H9tLfxVgpcJAN88bObZN3zob68TTISbfAKCoHtT-Epv_T548_L00XmzpVAcBzdVbiCNDG_TpBaH5iQeYoBA/s1600/inside+etsy+thewishingelephant+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OBgFsZob5amaYBDAKdzJQnohEJ_WnVCGtLgxcdCgj6rXToIYbhWA4JM3H9tLfxVgpcJAN88bObZN3zob68TTISbfAKCoHtT-Epv_T548_L00XmzpVAcBzdVbiCNDG_TpBaH5iQeYoBA/s320/inside+etsy+thewishingelephant+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.thewishingelephant.etsy.com/">The Wishing Elephant</a> also has a couple of stand-alone iron-on appliques that you can purchase for your own crafting project. Here is her owl applique, available in four colors.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Following availabe at:</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">Facebook </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wishing-Elephant/120376701336656"><span style="font-size: small;">www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wishing-Elephant/120376701336656</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Twitter </span><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/wishingelephant/"><span style="font-size: small;">twitter.com/#!/wishingelephant/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Blog </span><a href="http://www.wishingelephant.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: small;">www.wishingelephant.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<b>Original Post:</b><br />
<br />
Our shop owner today is a little busy recovering from the birth of a new baby, so I'm going to go ahead and do the feature now then add the questions later when she has a minute to get them back to me. The nerve of her having a baby! lol Well, she's got lots of supercute onesies to dress her live doll in.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thewishingelephant.etsy.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">The Wishing Elephant</span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucbYymEEX78iMswReaSOaqlPQe5ucdHMushR5rFDjDktYln8B17ioWUo8b7DrtDfTL7CrihUGsXco3DJjRfxLSqfo2k2HYFXc2TcO12dbV-PULv8ClyZn5-dTUwPhMNn8K-3xMP2YdmM/s1600/inside+etsy+thewishingelephant+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucbYymEEX78iMswReaSOaqlPQe5ucdHMushR5rFDjDktYln8B17ioWUo8b7DrtDfTL7CrihUGsXco3DJjRfxLSqfo2k2HYFXc2TcO12dbV-PULv8ClyZn5-dTUwPhMNn8K-3xMP2YdmM/s320/inside+etsy+thewishingelephant+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Told you they were cute! (But, thankfully, baby is not included.) She has much cuteness in her shop, making it very difficult for me to just pick out two or three to showcase. So get your "awwwww!" ready, cuz here are some "awwwwwesome" onesies.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnEvyqrywYZHyy8LVSH44D14eHfYOjQDu6GfuoPr0Y2AxZgOIM5ZrAfcni2zFsDSVusHOuNweStirxMDEZ95B73HxF39WjPp_5CB_nPGnJs3qfoR0teULB9EXANgE5_3NgsLIpHAPGuQ/s1600/inside+etsy+thewishingelephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnEvyqrywYZHyy8LVSH44D14eHfYOjQDu6GfuoPr0Y2AxZgOIM5ZrAfcni2zFsDSVusHOuNweStirxMDEZ95B73HxF39WjPp_5CB_nPGnJs3qfoR0teULB9EXANgE5_3NgsLIpHAPGuQ/s320/inside+etsy+thewishingelephant.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="justify">Go give her some "Congratulations!" on her Facebook page at</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/The-Wishing-Elephant/120376701336656">http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Wishing-Elephant/120376701336656</a></div><div align="justify">Or comment on any of her wonderful blogposts at</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.wishingelephant.blogspot.com/">http://www.wishingelephant.blogspot.com/</a></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Congratulations, Carolyn, on being both a successful baby maker and Etsy shop owner! </div><div align="justify"><br />
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</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-53826023742683995982011-04-27T06:45:00.002-05:002011-06-27T20:36:40.998-05:00SilverSmack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It takes a special kind of person to live in a nearly year-round winter wonderland. And it ain’t me. Although sometimes the East Texas humidity is enough to make a person insane, my elephant ears are kickin’! Obviously, <a href="http://www.silversmack.etsy.com/">SilverSmack’s</a> creative flow is not stifled by all of the snow. (Rhyming unintentional. My brain must be in Suess mode, or so I’ve been told.) <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPutCYX6kS5WADy3ZL0WLjvfK8ypdjyb0U3Cn2gyRxnjB-eTnCFOSGpkTIIhSZ4CPp1XSI5_89WU_opJl3xZ1wwjSC_9mXIUDjMKRqrBFI_CZQ8JSCwKZD5C3kJ2OPx4BAf7oP1Udm6FU/s1600/inside+etsy+silversmack+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPutCYX6kS5WADy3ZL0WLjvfK8ypdjyb0U3Cn2gyRxnjB-eTnCFOSGpkTIIhSZ4CPp1XSI5_89WU_opJl3xZ1wwjSC_9mXIUDjMKRqrBFI_CZQ8JSCwKZD5C3kJ2OPx4BAf7oP1Udm6FU/s320/inside+etsy+silversmack+4.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><b>Have you always lived way up there (Ironwood, Michigan)?</b> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I was born in California because my dad was in the Navy, but we moved to "Big Snow Country" when I was about three.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/silversmack">Your profile</a> informs us that you do a lot of gardening. What type of gardening are you able to do "way up there"?</b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">We have a very short growing season, (having a snowstorm right now ;), but we manage to grow a few acres of fabulous sweet corn, a small plot of tomatoes, a medium-sized plot of red potatoes, some peas, beans, strawberries, broccoli, and some pumpkins and watermelons (but the deer really like those!)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>What is the most expensive piece of equipment that your art requires?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Hammers. I love hammers. I never met a hammer I didn't like.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Browse <a href="http://www.metalstop.etsy.com/">MetalStop’s hammer selection here</a>.)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fISCgwuqp9PLrEyVjZsWnx_kJZHPyHlEuRtSiPn3kDqoYXumsCJIoEJcCk-8It4qujt8_AEnlh-Uu-txOhcJNFfP0OnInO00QxzCuLw7k01j4HAT0f-J9zayY6rssu0lUFyirNCH3Bc/s1600/inside+etsy+silversmack+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fISCgwuqp9PLrEyVjZsWnx_kJZHPyHlEuRtSiPn3kDqoYXumsCJIoEJcCk-8It4qujt8_AEnlh-Uu-txOhcJNFfP0OnInO00QxzCuLw7k01j4HAT0f-J9zayY6rssu0lUFyirNCH3Bc/s320/inside+etsy+silversmack+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>I noticed that you work with brass, copper, silver, and gold. Which metal is the most difficult?</b><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Brass is probably the most difficult because it is the hardest and the most stubborn. Silver is usually very cooperative, but brass is a little tricky once in a while.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><b>Are your rings purchased for wedding bands?</b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">I would say probably 85% of my rings are purchased as wedding bands for men and women. I get a lot of requests for custom matching sets. There's something extra special about making something that a couple is going to use as a symbol of their vows. I keep that in mind as I'm making them and I put a lot of love in them too. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">My own wedding ring is platinum with a beautiful pigeon blood ruby in the center with a spiral of small diamonds around it. My husband spent a year, unbeknownest to me, having this ring custom made, saving up money, then having the work done as he could afford it. Love that man! So I'm all about a custom wedding ring. Forward this article to anyone who you think might need a hint.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Learn more about all things <a href="http://www.silversmack.etsy.com/">SilverSmack</a> at the following places:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeN3AjvlW9k-57eILF2Te7RB143pNRdijclXUPPEGnbIQKTW3z_TvGWMDORdEdI0R5-YMHw4J6LPfKo5u0VHiUMKoxi2Vu_-ursA_4lsfLxBilByl1S2v9VbUI7f1vFcXlc4yvwnWAzs/s1600/inside+etsy+silversmack+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeN3AjvlW9k-57eILF2Te7RB143pNRdijclXUPPEGnbIQKTW3z_TvGWMDORdEdI0R5-YMHw4J6LPfKo5u0VHiUMKoxi2Vu_-ursA_4lsfLxBilByl1S2v9VbUI7f1vFcXlc4yvwnWAzs/s320/inside+etsy+silversmack+3.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1303903851_5">Facebook</span> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/darabriar" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1303903851_6">http://www.facebook.com/darabriar</span></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/SilverSmack" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1303903851_7">http://www.facebook.com/SilverSmack</span></a><br />
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<span class="yshortcuts">Twitter</span> <a href="http://twitter.com/SilverSmack" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1303903851_9">http://twitter.com/SilverSmack</span></a><br />
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Blog <br />
<a href="http://moonmystic-buriedinbeads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1303903851_10">http://moonmystic-buriedinbeads.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
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Other <a href="http://www.silversmack.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1303903851_11">http://www.silversmack.com</span></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.silversmack.net/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1303903851_12">http://www.silversmack.net</span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829598584009966536.post-10576640691239313662011-04-26T03:39:00.001-05:002011-06-27T20:36:19.526-05:00The Bath FactorySurely I'm not the only one who wonders how does the bar of soap stay clean? And my dad always told me it was made from dead horses. Was he just trying to make sure I rinsed my hands good? Or am I confusing that with glue? Just a few more of the unanswered questions in my life.<br />
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Thanks to Mya Angelou for filling us in on <a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178948">why the caged bird sings</a> and to <a href="http://www.thebathfactory.etsy.com/">The Bath Factory</a> for sharing some of her soap-making story.<br />
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<b>I have friends that actually buy pig fat and make their soap the real old-fashioned way. Have you ever tried that process?</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_kiMOdFKeLbXmDyFIiDJ_fYlvjmg3j2YzWg-o8UPw-SJb1cliZcGZbEIjFo8lLrupieP1xyCyLuadzbwWo_Thq0l_1JgKDw5giKbJpGYTcgxi0CZuCuYFGHsLXyxl__kgogxTmy83hw/s1600/inside+etsy+thebathfactory3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_kiMOdFKeLbXmDyFIiDJ_fYlvjmg3j2YzWg-o8UPw-SJb1cliZcGZbEIjFo8lLrupieP1xyCyLuadzbwWo_Thq0l_1JgKDw5giKbJpGYTcgxi0CZuCuYFGHsLXyxl__kgogxTmy83hw/s320/inside+etsy+thebathfactory3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;">Although I do make some of my soaps using the old fashioned cold process soap making method that uses oils and lye...I have never used animal fats. I typically use a mixture of coconut oil, palm oil, rice bran oil, castor oil, olive oil, etc. At this time, the only animal products I use are honey and goats milk.</span><br />
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<b>How much of an investment would you say you have made into your basic must-have soap-making supplies?</b><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">My very first investment was less than $20 because I bought a "kit" at Hobby Lobby and was so excited by the results, I became completely obsessed with soapmaking! I then bought close to $200 in oils, fragrances, molds, etc. I am embarrassed to admit that I now have close to 200 different fragrance and essential oils, and about 75 various soap molds. I don't even want to guess at how much I have invested at this point because it just might scare me to death! LOL</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdKbS4HZZ2XRknXWbkn6ELusglrlnofijqm56Fgehh84qYjXjrWC8wRB8EZTEecKURt1BUehz-QyOdnmM5hLhadJLrPo5LA687SNFozpMqRZaP6A1QhW-wT_gNuury8VEzUSIIZ9AMbI/s1600/inside+etsy+thebathfactory1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdKbS4HZZ2XRknXWbkn6ELusglrlnofijqm56Fgehh84qYjXjrWC8wRB8EZTEecKURt1BUehz-QyOdnmM5hLhadJLrPo5LA687SNFozpMqRZaP6A1QhW-wT_gNuury8VEzUSIIZ9AMbI/s320/inside+etsy+thebathfactory1.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>Your biker bar soap is really cool. Are you into bikes? With these gas prices, I’m thinking we’re all going to be soon!</b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: blue;">Thanks for your kind comments about my "Biker Bar". I am definitely interested in bikes. My husband, Al and I each have Harleys, and we ride every chance we get. We live in Hot Springs, AR which is a very biker friendly area with lots of beautiful riding options. I actually used one of our Harleys as a "prop" in a couple of the pictures for my "Retread" men's skin balm.</span></div><br />
<b>Are you wanting to grow your "manly manicuring" products?</b><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">I am steadily adding to my men's line-up of products. So far, I have shaving soaps, Retread Men's Skin Balm, and various soaps with manly or unisex scents...such as Yacht Club, Sportsman, and an upcoming one called Zen. I plan to continue adding more men's products in the near future.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY_3Bwt6bkdSkOncRxEVD1Nz3c1lEvYCbz9FGO6cSouclnvfs7okrAsDwTQCLGQpZ6G8T1J06yi-2WLscCiu4LpYghFy6djAbnURhkQTtaXVH4Hy3BstZ5IfXuWqOOyujs76GyfTxGXY/s1600/inside+etsy+thebathfactory2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY_3Bwt6bkdSkOncRxEVD1Nz3c1lEvYCbz9FGO6cSouclnvfs7okrAsDwTQCLGQpZ6G8T1J06yi-2WLscCiu4LpYghFy6djAbnURhkQTtaXVH4Hy3BstZ5IfXuWqOOyujs76GyfTxGXY/s320/inside+etsy+thebathfactory2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>The vanilla silk goat’s milk soap is a work of art! How do you get that "sepia" edge look?</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Anytime vanilla is added to a soap recipe, the soap will darken with time. It always darkens from the outside in. It is a reaction from the "vanillin" in vanilla, and can turn from a light tan to a deep, chocolately brown, depending on the vanilla content level in your recipe. The soap in the picture was freshly sliced, so the inside had not begun to turn dark yet...but the outside part that is exposed to the air was getting fairly dark already.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A beautiful soap, indeed! I always feel bad using my beautiful soaps, like lighting the real pretty candles. However, at wonderful prices like what you find at <a href="http://www.thebathfactory.etsy.com/">The Bath Factory</a>, I'm going to enjoy every shower to the max. Now, if I can just find a way to get the kids to leave me alone while I shower. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Where to find <a href="http://www.thebathfactory.etsy.com/">The Bath Factory</a>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Facebook fan page is at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheBathFactory" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/TheBathFactory</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
And BIGGEST NEWS OF ALL....<span style="color: blue;">I am opening a new brick and mortar store in the next few weeks! It is called The Bath Factory and is located at 238 Central Avenue in historic downtown Hot Springs, AR...right across the street from the famous bathhouses. I am really excited by this latest adventure, and can't wait to get everything done so I can open for business!</span></div><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Brick and Mortars aren't for everyone, but that is a perfect spot for her perfect shop! I know that she will do well. Lots of tourists, both on foot and on bike.</span></span><br />
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<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">"The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom."--Mya Angelou</div><div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"></div><div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1em;">Not that Mya Angelou has anything to do with soap-making, but for those of you who keep up with my quirks, you know that I tend to wax poetic in the wee hours. Something about the dark hours and ice cream. It just does something to me. And I like it! lol</div>Mama Mellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18083345781701802990noreply@blogger.com2