From the Ash Grove

Brr!

2011-01-18T12:31:00.000-05:00

I've started working on a new series of pendants, and this is the first:

I made the pendant itself from a swirly, sparkly blue polymer clay, then hand-painted a couple of snowflakes. The word "brr" was printed in a type-writer style font, then torn out to get that nice, ragged edge and decoupaged to the pendant. The whole thing got several layers of Mod Podge for shine and durability. Then I made a bail from silver-plated wire and strung this little beauty onto an adjustable-length black hemp cord along with a few blue and crystal glass seed beads.

I'm currently working on a Valentine's-inspired pendant in the same style, so if pink is more your color, keep your eyes peeled. I should have it listed later this week.

In the meantime, let me know what you think!

The Legend of the Christmas Pickle

2010-12-21T12:31:00.000-05:00

When I was in the fifth grade my teacher told us about an old German tradition - the Christmas Pickle. Every Christmas a special ornament shaped like a pickle was hidden within the branches of the tree and whichever lucky child found the pickle first received an extra treat from Santa. And in one of my favorite school activities ever, we got to make our own pickle ornaments. We used a green air-dry clay and little, black beads for their cute little pickle eyes. I thought they were the best thing ever.

So I proudly took my pickle home and shared the story with my family, who found it just as delightful as I did. Mom hid the pickle and come Christmas Eve, the hunt was on. I didn't have any competition that first year, as my little sister was not yet with us, but it was fun anyway - and challenging! Pickles have excellent camouflage for hiding in trees, let me tell you.

And so, the Christmas Pickle became a cherished family tradition. Alas, over the years, the mice developed a fondness for the pickle as well and ate much of his adorable backside. My mother happened to find a glass pickle ornament, and though it certainly held up to the mice better, it lacked that adorable pickle face. It had no pickle personality. And I kept thinking, "I should make a new pickle!" But by the time I thought of it, I was usually ensconced in making gifts and goodies and all that holiday madness and just didn't have the time.

Now I'm approaching my second Christmas in my new home, and while we're making our own traditions there are many that I've brought with me. I'll soon be making buckeye balls, and I'm thinking about whipping up a cheese ball too. We've got a ham to cook and a carton of egg nog. And yesterday, I made a pickle.

I happened to remember that I'd bought some green polymer clay, so I whipped it out and sculpted this little guy. The eyes are glass beads, and I used an orange stick to give him some pickley dimples and add the rest of his features. After baking I gave him a thin coat of acrylic paint - in Metallic Christmas Green, of course. I didn't have any red ribbon on hand, so I just made him a wire hanger for now.

I'm so pleased with how he turned out that I'm already planning on making more - one for my family to replace their bland, expressionless, glass pickle and some to sell to pickle-less families around the world. Ok, so I'm a little late for this year, but it's definitely on my to-do list for next year!

And now I'm just dying to know - do any of you hunt for the Christmas Pickle? What other wacky Christmas traditions do you have? Or not-so-wacky? Share your stories in the comments!

Monday Motivator: Two Heads

2010-12-20T11:41:00.000-05:00

They say two heads are better than one, and I've got to agree. My roommate is a pretty crafty person herself and when I was rushing to finish the last few necklaces for my big order on time this weekend, she gladly jumped in to help. And it was wonderful. I showed her the various techniques for the design I'd been using and we finished one necklace together. And then, the very next day, she totally blew me away with two awesome new designs of her very own. And I mean awesome. This girl is a wire wrapping genius. Just look at this:

Isn't it awesome? Like some sort of tiny, fantastic, abstract sculpture. I just love it. But I digress...

In addition to making necklaces, we also did some shopping (there was a "buy one get one free" sale on craft books at one of our awesome local shops) and a whole lot of brainstorming. There were so many ideas bouncing around between us... Ideas about designs and techniques and somewhere in the middle of it all, the concept for a whole new shop was born.

We've already started planning and setting things up, so I'll give you more details later when things have developed a bit more. What I can tell you now is, there will be some restructuring happening over the next few weeks. Some of my jewelry will be coming with me to the new shop and I'll be moving my graphics to their own dedicated shop as well. The Ash Grove will remain home to my accessories and hand-lettered goods. I may also be moving to a new main blog, but I'll definitely keep this one and post news specific to The Ash Grove, at least. We'll just see what happens.

In the meantime and in case I don't get the chance to post again before then, I hope everyone has a very happy holiday! Save me some of those cookies! ;)

Harry Potter and the Crapton of Craftlace

2010-12-16T12:56:00.000-05:00

What is it about the holiday season that makes time seem to fly by even faster than usual? One minute you're thinking "Gosh, isn't it a little early for lights? It's not even Thanksgiving yet!" and the next you're thinking "Oh, crap! I've only got a week to do all my shopping!" Been there, done that. But not this year. I got all of my shopping done early this year. What I didn't do yet is a lot of stuff for the shop. Like posting here!

I just realized it's been two weeks! Goodness. I meant to post last week and show you all my newest items - craft lace zipper pulls in Hogwarts house colors.

Honestly, I was never a big fan of craft lace. Sure, it had it's uses, but they were rather limited. I used it a few months ago in a jewelry commission for a costume. I only needed two colors for the project, but I was on a deadline and had to shop locally (read: at Wal-mart). Fortunately, they had plenty of craft lace, but only in multi-packs. And of course, the two colors I needed only came in the huge MEGAPACK. So I got stuck with a metric ton of craft lace and no idea how to use it.

There were the obvious keychains and lanyards and such, but I really wanted to do something... different. So I wracked my creative little brain and searched online for ideas and inspiration... and finally wound up making keychains anyway. I broke down one day and decided to try one of the braids that was shown in the little pamphlet that came in the box and I suddenly saw the appeal. It was fun.

I made several keychains and zipper pulls and whatnot, tried out some different patterns, and decided that I ought to add these to the shop. They didn't take long to make and the materials were very inexpensive, so I wouldn't have to charge much. And they're a useful item. I know I always feel better about buying something if it's useful and not just purely decorative.

And as I was pondering color schemes, I realized what I had to do: Hogwarts house colors. There was a new Harry Potter movie coming out, so the timing seemed perfect. And besides, I'm just a big Harry Potter fan. Plus it would be another "geeky" item for the shop, something I was wanting to add more of. So there you have it.

I'll soon be adding keychains as well and I'm already pondering new color schemes (if you have a specific color scheme you'd like to see, leave a comment and let me know!), so you can definitely expect to see more of these. In the meantime, I'm off to work on some necklaces. And I promise it won't be another two weeks before you see me again!

December Freebies

2010-12-02T13:08:00.000-05:00

Remember those printable freebies I mentioned? They're here! No need to spend your hard earned cash of gift tags, folks. You can download these babies and print as many as you need! Just click the download link below to grab the PDF file. And let me know what you think! I want to be sure my freebies are fun and useful to you, my dear readers. :)

Click here to download the PDF

Back to Business

2010-12-01T09:05:00.000-05:00

Well, Folks, I did it. Yesterday afternoon, around 3:30, I reached my goal of 50,000 words and became a NaNo winner. Actually, my grand total was 50,162 words, and I did it in 27 days - not to brag or anything...

Oh, heck. Who am I kidding. Yes, I'm bragging. But I like to think I've earned it. =P

The funny part? I had my whole plot outlined beforehand, but before I could get to the main plot, I had to do some setting up and explain some things. In the process, I discovered a whole host of new characters and subplots, and I didn't wind up getting to the plot I had planned until a couple of days ago, about 45,000 words into the story. So it's starting to look like I might be writing a trilogy rather than a single book. Which would be pretty cool, actually. I kind of have a thing for trilogies...

But I digress. I bet you're wondering what's happening on the crafty front. More than you might think, actually. Yes, I've been focusing on my writing, but I have made a few things as well. And I took a lovely trip to Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago to stock up on supplies, so I have plenty of new stuff to work with. And boy have I got ideas! Here's a peek at what's coming:

Zipper Pulls & Keychains - I'll be listing these in the next day or two, and I'm quite excited about them, so I'm keeping the details secret until then. Suffice it to say, they're another dose of geekery for the shop, and I think they're really cool.

New Polymer Clay Pendants & Necklaces - I say polymer clay because that's what the base will be, but I'm actually envisioning these as sort of a mixed media mini-collage. They look really cool in my head, and I can't wait to actually experiment. Hopefully, I'll be able to whip one up in time for the holidays!

Monthly Freebies - This is an idea that's been bouncing around my head for a while now, and I've finally decided to do something about it. In fact, I'm going to get to work as soon as I've finished writing this. As a way of saying "thank you" to all the awesome folks who read my blog and/or subscribe to my newsletter, I'm going to offer up a themed set of printable freebies every month. One sheet will be up for grabs here with a second available only in the newsletter - so be sure to subscribe!

So there you have it - a taste of what's to come and proof that no matter how busy I may be with other things, I'm always thinkin' crafty. :)

Now tell me, how was your November? Did you eat too much turkey? Go turkeyless? What have you got planned for the holidays? Talk to me people!

NaNoWriMo

2010-11-09T09:40:00.000-05:00

I don't think I've ever mentioned this before, but this blog is not the only thing I write. Nope. Far from it. Actually, I have a few other blogs and journals that I do my best to keep up with. And I write fiction, which is what I really love.

A lot of times, though, it gets placed on the back burner - because there are blogs to write or because there are "more important" things to do. This blog and my Etsy shop take precedence most of the time.

But not this month. This month is all about writing. Not writing just anything, but writing my novel - the one that's been bouncing around the back of my head for months, waiting for me to sit down and really work on it. That's just what I'm doing.

But why now? Because it's NaNoWriMo! What the heck is that? National Novel Writing Month. It's a magical event that happens every November during which a whole bunch of completely nutty people set out to write an entire 50,000-word novel in just 30 days. Or, in my case, 27 days. I got off to a late start. But I've met my goal every day since I started, and I'm making great progress. So long as I can keep up this pace, I should have no trouble finishing on time.

Of course, that means you probably won't see much of me around here. I will, of course, stop by for occasional updates. But for the most part, I'll be over here with my coffee and my chocolate and my laptop, typing myself silly and trying to stay remotely sane.

Click the graphic above to by taken to my NaNo profile page, where you can read a synopsis of my novel and an excerpt.

It's not too late!

2010-11-06T09:17:00.000-04:00

If you didn't know about Everything Etsy's giveaway week, don't worry. You can still get in on the action! You have until tomorrow at 10pm Eastern Time to enter any or all of their awesome giveaways. Like my favorite, the Red River Paper Giveaway, featuring 10 awesome prize packs, including a chance to win one of two printers! Talk about a prize! I've been thinking I need a printer...

But even if you don't win one of the printers, you still have a chance at one of the other prize packs, which include a gift certificate and a sample kit of Red River's printer-ready notecards. Sweet!

Regardless of whether you enter or not, you really should go visit the folks at Red River Paper. There products look to be of outstanding quality, everything is reasonably priced - especially the sample packs - and they seem to be just a nice bunch of people. Plus, if you follow them on Twitter, they'll give you a coupon!

So hop to it, folks! Go get your giveaway on!

2010-10-25T14:05:00.001-04:00

Hey folks, guess what! I'm currently the featured artist on Cafe Handmade. How cool is that? You can click the link or the lovely little button to read my interview and see a smattering of my goods amidst the lovely environment of Cafe Handmade (have I mentioned that I love their design?). While you're there, if you'd be so kind as to click the little "vote" button at the bottom of the page and/or leave a comment, it would be very much appreciated! And if you haven't already perused the rest of the lovely site, you really should. It's wonderful - and I really need to spend more time there myself...

In the meantime, however, I've got an order to finish up and some new goodies to play with. So off I go! Have a great day, everyone!

Thursday Threads: Happy Halloween!

2010-10-21T13:04:00.000-04:00

Ok, so it's not quite Halloween just yet, but it certainly isn't far off. And you know what that means...

Candy!

Oh, yeah. And costumes. It's the costumes we're talking about today. Etsy's full of 'em! As I discovered when I started looking for items to feature today. An hour later I remembered, "Oh, yeah! I'm supposed to be writing a blog!"

So. The usual disclaimer applies here: there are oodles of cool costumes on Etsy, and you really should go have a look yourself. These are just my favorites.

Now, without further adieu, here are my picks...

For the ladies...

Gorgeous "Dracula's Bride" Dress by kambriel

For the gentlemen...

Awesome Wraith/Reaper costume by redthreaded

For the kids...

Cute take on a classic - Ghost Poncho by izzybstuff

And finally...

For the web-savvy comedian...

Upcycled Umbrella Skirt by WenchWear4Less

Get two of these, give one to a friend, and party like a double rainbow. Intense!

Now let's see your faves. Leave 'em in the comments!

I'm baaaaaack!

2010-10-20T16:58:00.001-04:00

Boy, life's been crazy lately... Miss Kitty's father was in a serious accident a few weeks ago, so we've been bouncing around a lot - driving an hour and a half to the hospital to visit, back to their house to feed the dog, home at last, repeat. He's improving steadily, though, and might be moved somewhere closer to home soon, so things are finally settling down a bit.

I'd have mentioned this sooner, but on top of everything else, our internet has been acting up all month - loading things veeeeeeeery sloooooooooooooowly and often only partially, if at all. I actually put the shop in vacation mode for a while, when I had the chance. But everything is back up and running now, and the shop is, of course, open for business again.

This forced vacation, of sorts, has actually been a blessing in disguise. It's made me take a step back and
really look at things in a way I usually don't. I tend to get caught up in promoting and crafting, and I've realized that there's a big step in between that I'm neglecting. Photos, tags, descriptions... These are some of the most important things, but I probably spend the least amount of time on them. That's going to change. I've got some new items coming, but before I start listing new items, I'm going to take some time to work on the old ones.

In the meantime, though, I'm gonna have some coffee and sort through some more emails. Amazing how they pile up...

News + Giveaway!

2010-09-27T13:44:00.001-04:00

Howdy, Folks! I've got a few announcements to make. First off, I wanted to let everyone know that I've decided to extend my Autumn Equinox Sale for another entire week! That's right. You've got until Oct. 4 to get 10% OFF everything in the shop. And don't forget, shipping is always FREE on any order of $50 or more!

Also, in case you missed it, there's a new item in the shop! In honor of my favorite season (and true, geeky accuracy), I've done a gold version of my mallorn necklace:

And now, my dear readers, you have a chance to win this necklace (customized to suit your personal taste, of course). How? Simple. All you have to do is sign up for my way cool and totally unobtrusive monthly newsletter. In addition to being entered in the giveaway, you'll also get news about the shop, sale announcements, and exclusive discounts. So what are you waiting for? Sign up right here, and be sure to come back here and leave a comment to let me know you've done so.

Tweet, blog, or post a link to this post and get a bonus entry! Just don't forget to leave a comment and let me know where I can find your link.

Giveaway ends Oct. 27. Winner will be announced Oct. 28.

In case you missed it...

2010-09-21T12:12:00.001-04:00

The sale is officially on! So head over to the shop and grab yourself a great deal. Or snag something for someone you like. Christmas is coming up, you know. ;)

But don't forget to come back here and sign up for our newsletter! If you do, you'll automatically be entered to win my next giveaway!

Autumn Equinox Sale

2010-09-20T12:11:00.001-04:00

Image via WikipediaWell, Folks, a new season is upon us, and you know what that means. It's time for an Autumn Equinox Sale at The Ash Grove!

Starting tomorrow, everything in the shop will be 10% OFF! And don't forget - shipping is always FREE on any order totaling $50 or more.

In other news, I've got a new item coming later today. So keep your eyes peeled!

And if you haven't already, be sure to pop your email in that box to your right and sign up for my newsletter. You'll get first notice of sales like this, news about upcoming items and events, and special deals and discounts.

Plus, you'll be automatically entered to win my next giveaway! More news on that later...

Have a great day, dear readers! ♡

Thursday Threads: Tea Party Attire

2010-09-16T10:00:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before or not, but I love tea. Love it. And not just tea itself, but all the accoutrements - tea cups, tea pots, canisters and tea-making appliances... And food. A good cup of tea is vastly improved by the addition of a nice biscuit or tiny sandwich. Put all these things together, throw in a sunny room or pretty garden, mix well, top with a few roses and a smashing hat and you've got... a tea party!
Now, what are you going to where? Don't worry. Etsy's got you covered.

For starters, how about this lovely tea dress by Loliposh:

It's made with a vintage Laura Ashley fabric and features hand-dyed lace trim and waist ties for a custom fit. Add a cute white apron, and this would be the perfect ensemble for any hostess!

And for an extra touch of elegance, how about these gorgeous beaded cuffs by TianaCHE:

They're made with felted merino wool and are accented by crocheted silk lace and faux pearls. They feature a corset-style lace-up fastening, so you can also wear them as spats or lace them together and wear them as a neckwarmer. Beauty and versatility. You can't beat that!

Last but certainly not least, no tea party ensemble is complete (in this blogger's opinion, at least) without a fabulous hat. And this, my friends, is a fabulous hat:

This awesome cocktail hat by daisyhere is perfect for today's tea party - and plenty of other occasions! It's chic and modern with an undeniably retro flair. It's made with white sinamay accented with crinoline, netting, ribbon, and curled ostrich feathers. And it would look smashing with a martini.

These are, of course, but a few selections. Just a tiny-sandwich-sized nibble of what Etsy has to offer. Do share your own finds, if you'd like. I would love to see them! In the meantime, I'm off to the tea cabinet to decide what to brew next...

Update

2010-09-09T11:38:00.002-04:00

Hi, folks. It's been a while, hasn't it? If you saw my shop announcement last week, you know where I've been. But in case you didn't, allow me to explain.

My grandfather died rather suddenly about two weeks ago. He had been ill for some time - COPD and emphysema - and lately he had gotten worse. I was trying to arrange a visit, but not rushing too much about it in the hopes that he would improve enough to leave the hospital and I could visit him while he was home. And then I got a phone call from my mother informing me that his heart was in bad shape and they were going to try a rather risky procedure the following morning to fix it. But there was a good chance he wouldn't survive the operation.

I spent the rest of the evening frantically searching for a way to get there that morning. I thought I could just catch a late flight. Nope. There weren't any. Anywhere. Everyone stopped flying at 10:00. It was already almost 9:00 and it would take 2 hours to get to the airport. Flying was out. And I fared no better with my other transportation options. The bus didn't leave until 11:00 am. The train would take 2 days to get there.

I called my mother back and she informed me that they'd postponed the procedure until the afternoon. We were both much relieved. Obviously, things were not quite as dire as we had initially feared. I had someone willing to drive me halfway in the morning, and a friend willing to pick me up at the halfway point and bring me the rest of the way. It had all worked out nicely. So I finally ate something and relaxed a bit.

Just a few hours later, I got another call. They were doing CPR. His heart had stopped. I can't say I was devastated because, at that point, I still had hope. He had always had a way of pulling through.

I don't remember falling asleep after that, but I must have because I woke up at around 3:00 am and groggily answered the phone. My mother told me to go back to sleep and not worry. He went peacefully and he was resting now.

I cried for a while, cursed myself for not getting there in time, and then suddenly, the pain in my chest eased up, the tears stopped, and I felt this sudden, strange peace. This happened several times over the next week, and strange as it may sound, I can't help but think it was him, wrapping his arms around me and comforting me, just as he always did.

I went ahead with my plan to drive up the following day and spent about a week there making preparations and attending the services and then (the hardest part) coping with the calm that comes after when there's nothing left to do, to keep you busy and keep your mind off things, and you finally have to really face it.

I've taken my time with things since I got home, trying to stay relaxed and not stress myself out by trying to do 150 things all at once like I usually do. So my postings here will likely continue to be erratic for a bit.

I've missed you all, my dear crafty friends, and I hope you're all doing well. Now do me a favor. Go grab your nearest loved one and give them a big, big hug. Hold them close. Tell them you love them. Make the most of every moment you have.

Wicked Wednesday: Eco-Goth

2010-08-25T16:06:00.000-04:00

The terms "eco-friendly" and "goth" may not seem to go together. After all, gothic fashion - particularly certain sub-genres - seems to focus on the man-made and mechanical. To say that nature plays no role, however, would be incorrect. Nature finds its way into gothic fashion in beautiful gemstones adorning elegant jewelry, colorschemes that remind us of the sky at midnight or a rose garden just after the rain. Nature's influence is there in all sorts of ways that we just don't think about.

But one of the most prominent places you'll find it is in the wonderful array of unique gothic beauty products that is available today. One such product is this fantastic lip balm from the amazingly cool perfumery, For Strange Women:

This lip balm (which contains no actual poison ivy, thank goodness) is packed with natural - and only natural - ingredients, like vitamin E and cocoa butter. And it's flavored with essential oils, including basil, marjoram, and petitgrain. Doesn't it sound wonderful? Quite a nice change of pace from the usual fruit and mint flavors, I think.

But if that wasn't enough, this lip balm has an added bonus. The packaging is totally eco-friendly. It's completely biodegradable and compostable, contains no plastic, and it holds 40% more than a regular lip balm tube. Sweet!

I'm totally sold. The only problem is choosing between this and one of the other awesome flavors For Strange Women has available. And that's not to mention the perfumes, bath salts, and candles. You really must go have a look.

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY Sandals

2010-08-24T11:09:00.000-04:00

Image via WikipediaEtsy posted another awesome How-Tuesday tutorial the other day, this one detailing how to make an awesomely comfy looking pair of sandals out of a pair of flip-flop soles and an old t-shirt. How cool is that?

This would be a great way to revamp those flip-flops you bought back at the beginning of summer that are starting to look a little ragged. Or, if you're one of those people that can't wear flip-flops because the little thing between your toes just drives you crazy, grab a pair anyway and customize them!

I may just have to give these a whirl myself, if there are any flip-flops on the clearance rack in my size...

What about you, dear readers? Ever made or customized your own shoes? I'd love to see 'em!

Poll Time!

2010-08-17T10:57:00.001-04:00

Hey, folks. Just another quick post here to ask you all something I've been wondering...

And if there's something you'd like to see more of around here, please leave a comment and let me know!

Just An Update...

2010-08-16T11:20:00.001-04:00

I know the blog has been rather quiet lately, and I apologize for that. Life's been kind of crazy lately, and I've had a lot on my mind, lots of other things competing for attention that have won out for now. I will keep posting here. Just expect it to remain somewhat sporadic for a while. I'll get back to my regular schedule as soon as I can.

In the meantime, happy crafting!

EtsyBloggers Anniversary Sale

2010-08-13T09:06:00.000-04:00

Have you heard?? Approximately 50 Etsy shops are participating in this wonderful event...we're all celebrating the 3rd Anniversary of the rockin' EtsyBloggers team...and we're all having a SALE!!! Look at all the beautiful items just waiting for you to take a closer look:

Techno/Tutorial Tuesday: Picnik

2010-08-10T14:59:00.001-04:00

Guess what! It's time for another Techno Tuesday! That's right. Two in a row. Exciting, eh? It is, trust me. Because we're going to discuss photo editing. And all my fellow online sellers know just how very important it is to have good photos.

But getting awesome photos is about more than just taking the photos. The real magic is in the editing. You can't make a bad photo good, but you can make a mediocre photo a whole lot better.

I wrote a tutorial a while ago about editing your photos with GIMP, which is still my preferred method for things that need major editing or a lot of fine tuning. But for simple cropping and color/contrast adjustments, I have found something even better - a free, online photo editing utility called Picnik.

Picnik gives all of the usual photo editing tools - crop, resize, sharpen, etc. - but it doesn't stop there. You can fix exposure and color with one click, add all sorts of cool effects, and dress up your photos with "stickers," frames, and text. You can even make collages and scrapbook pages, have your photos printed, and share your photos on various social networks right from Picnik.

And did I mention how easy it is? Seriously, it's a piece of cake. Let me show you.

When you first visit Picnik, you'll complete a very brief registration, and then you can jump right in by uploading a photo. Or, if you already have photos uploaded somewhere else - Flickr or Facebook, for instance - you can open them from there.

As you can see, Picnik also keeps your last five uploads, so if you need to go back and re-edit something, it's right here waiting. Cool, huh?

Once you're photo is uploaded, editing it is simply a matter of clicking on one of the buttons at the top of the page.

Let's start by cropping this photo shall we? When we click on crop, a grid will pop up that we can move and resize by clicking and dragging the dots at the corners. Just position the grid so that it covers the portion of the image you want to keep, like so:

Click "OK" and... voila. Your image is cropped. Now let's resize it. Just click "resize" and enter the new dimensions. I want my image to be 1000 pixels wide, so I just enter "1000" in the first box and Picnik does the rest. Awesome.

Now let's tweak the contrast. Click on exposure and, first, let's try "Auto-Fix." Just one click gives us this:

Not a huge difference, but the exposure was already pretty good in this photo. If we didn't like the result of the Auto-Fix we could always click "Reset." And if we wanted to edit the contrast manually, we could drag the sliders above until we get just the look we want. Click "Okay" and we're back to our menu.

Next we want to adjust our colors. There is an Auto-Fix option here, but where the Exposure Auto-Fix is usually spot on, this one's a bit hit or miss. Still, it's worth trying it first. Just click... and here's what we get:

Not bad, but it's a little heavy on the blue tones for my taste, so I'm going to click reset and use the sliders. "Saturation" will make the colors brighter and more vibrant, so I'm going to increase that a little. Temperature will give the image a cooler, more blue tone if you slide it to the left and a warmer, more red tone if you move it to the right. I'm going to make this image just a little warmer.

Almost done! Now we'll click on sharpen, and drag the slider to the right to make our image a bit sharper and crisper. How much you sharpen will vary from photo to photo. I went with 8 on this one, which gave me nice, crisp edges without overdoing it. So here's our final image:

All that's left now is to save it. Click the "Save & Share" tab at the top of the page, and you'll be presented with a vast array of options.

With Picnik, editing and posting do not have to be two separate tasks. You can kill two birds with one stone. And I am always in favor of that. In the metaphorical sense, of course...

Now for a comparison. The version I edited in GIMP is on the top, the Picnik version is on the bottom:

As you can see, aside from being cropped slightly differently, there's not much of a difference. Picnik does just as well and, especially if you're not used to working with photo editing programs, it's much faster. I'm not swearing off GIMP, but I think I'll be reserving it for design work.

What about you, dear readers? What do you use for photo editing? Tell me in the comments!

Tutorial Tuesday: Ribbon Roses

2010-08-03T14:52:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I love embellishing things. It's all in the details, and I like to pile 'em on (within reason, of course). In this day and age, there's definitely no shortage of pre-made embellishments available, what with the scrapbooking craze and all. And it's certainly convenient to be able to buy all sorts of little thing-a-ma-bobs and doodads and whatnot, but do you know what's even better? Making your own, of course!

And one of the most versatile embellishments to make or buy (in my opinion) is the rosette. Ya know, those teeny little roses often seen adorning dresses and lingerie, that would look just as cute on a greeting card or accenting your latest piece of embroidery... They're pretty easy to come by and fairly cheap, but the range of colors is rather limited. What if you wanted purple roses to match your favorite purple dress? Or black ones for your latest gothic creation? What if you needed really big ones? Or you only needed one?

My point is, they're a handy thing to be able to make. And guess what. They're a piece of cake. Believe it or not, all it takes is a piece of ribbon and few minutes to make a little lovely like this:

Cute, no? And so simple! Here's how:

How to Make Silk, Satin or Ribbon Roses

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Silk roses have many possible uses; as decorations, as enhancements on clothing for special occasions, such as a wedding, and for craft projects. This tutorial will teach you how to make your own roses out of ribbon, satin, silk, or other fabrics; in fact, any long piece of fabric at all will work - even shoelaces. Once you get the idea of how to make them, you will quickly be able to make instant roses in 30 seconds or less!

Steps

Begin with one long piece of ribbon or fabric (see first illustration). Make it about 8 inches long. If it is shorter, it is harder to work with, and if it is longer, there will be far more ribbon than is required for a rose. Although, it doesn't matter in the end, because it is possible to make it out of as much or as little material as you would like, as long as you are patient and nimble at working with your hands.
Note the color arrangements in the diagram above. For this tutorial the steps are illustrated in "paint" colors. They show each half as a different color: One as red, and one as aqua. These colors are just to assist the demonstration for this tutorial - your ribbon will be one color obviously.
Hold the ribbon at a 90 degree angle so that it has a corner halfway through the ribbon (step one). Step one begins by folding the aqua half over the red half, and pulling it down horizontally.
Do the same thing for step 2, except this time you fold the red half over the aqua half.
Repeat this process in steps 3, 4, and 5. From now on, you will be pulling the aqua half vertically every time, and the red half horizontal every time. Continue folding vertical, then horizontal, vertical, and horizontal, over and over again until you run out of ribbon.
Flip your ribbon the other way around, so that you are holding the two ends of the ribbon between your thumb and index finger. Don't worry about letting go of the other end (the original middle of the ribbon) because it is folded into itself.
Hold the two ends of the ribbon, and use your other hand (index finger and thumb again) to pull the bottom-most end of the ribbon out from underneath your thumb and index finger. Pull straight down. The speed at which you pull does not matter, because either way the rose will begin to take shape and you will not be able to pull any further after a certain point. There you go! You have a rose!

Tips

The stiffer the fabric, the more pointed the petals look in the end.
The thicker the ribbon, the bigger the rose. The thinner the ribbon, the smaller the rose.
To finish off the rose, you can attach a thin wire and wrap the two ends of the ribbon (and wire stem if you choose) with floral tape. This will give a finished look. Just be sure that the stem is proportional to the rose size, or it may look funny.

Things You'll Need

Ribbon or other long piece of cloth. (You can practice on a shoelace if you would like.)
Floral tape (optional)
Wire for stem (optional)

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Silk, Satin or Ribbon Roses. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Featured EtsyBlogger: Sykin

2010-07-30T10:32:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday, Folks! July's been a busy month, and I'm running a bit behind, but I'd like to introduce you to this month's featured EtsyBlogger, Sykin. She's a busy little beaver with two shops, a blog, and a website.

Sykin is a multi-talented Etsian, too. She makes jewelry, like this lovely inspirational bracelet...

takes beautiful photos, like this breathtaking Pacific View...

Makes me wish I lived closer to the beach!

and creates pretty paper goods, like this Twilight-inspired card:

Did I mention that Sykin is a Twilight fan? Yep. And she has a whole shop full of Twilight-inspired goodies, including more cards and beautiful jewelry. So if you're a fan or you need a gift for one, be sure to check it out!

Blog Carnival: Summer Inspiration

2010-07-28T12:07:00.000-04:00

Howdy, Folks! It's Blog Carnival time again! This week's carnival is hosted by BW:Silver, who says:

It's Summer time! Tell us about your upcoming or current Summer inspired designs!

Well, my most important summer-inspired design is my current banner and avatar. I redesigned them back at the very beginning of the season, using my Official Summer Color Scheme™--sky blue and grass green.

Right now, I'm waiting for some extra cash to come in so I can buy the beads I need to complete my Official Summer Necklace™, which will feature lovely blue and green fire polished czech glass beads and, of course, a pretty little tree. This is to be the first installment in a seasonal series. Each will be a limited edition design, available only through the given season (though, I may offer the summer design a bit longer as I've gotten off to a late start with it).

As for current summer-inspired designs, I think my mallorn leaf necklace counts. I've been reading Tolkien all summer, and that is definitely inspiring!

There are more pieces like this on the way--including a more accurate gold version! And I've decided that I would really like to make literature and fantasy-inspired items a major focus of my shop. They are certainly the most enjoyable for me to create, and I think they stand out from the crowd a bit more.

Now if I can just figure out how to translate Star Wars into jewelry... Wire-wrapped lightsaber necklace? Tiny Death Star earrings? Hm. This one is going to take some thought...

Techno Tuesday: Zemanta

2010-07-27T13:08:00.000-04:00

I'm always on the lookout for things to make my life easier. Anything that helps me save time on a particular task and thus, cram more stuff into my day is certainly going to catch my attention. So when I bumped into a little tool called Zemanta, I was immediately intrigued.

Zemanta is a blogging tool that makes it ridiculously easy to add pictures, links, articles, and other related content to your posts. Rather than having to search the internet for a relevant photo or a site to link to, Zemanta does the searching for you. Right there in a little box beside your editor. Like this:

To the right are relevant photos and articles. You can mouse-over each to get a preview, and if you decide to add it to your post, all you have to do is click. It couldn't be easier.

What about links? Easy peasy. As you type, Zemanta also hunts down links for you and plops them down beneath your editor window. And again, all you have to do to add them is click. And if Zemanta finds more than one link, you'll be offered a drop down menu, so you can decide exactly where to link to. For instance, right now, I could link to Zemanta's website, their blog, even their entry in Wikipedia. And if you're not sure which site is right, you can click to visit the site before you link there. Cool, huh?

Zemanta will even suggest tags for your entry, which is great if you're like me and hate sitting there trying to think up tags on your own.

Oh, but the awesomeness doesn't stop there. In addition to being a great tool for writing your posts, Zemanta also helps you promote your blog! How? Well, once you're all set up, you can add your blog to Zemanta's database, which means that it will then pull relevant content from your blog for you and for other users, making it super simple for people to link to your blog. And that's definitely a good thing.

But there must be a downside, you say. It's probably a pain to install, you think. Wrong! I can't speak for other platforms and browsers, but it was a piece of cake to install the Zemanta Add-on for Firefox, and it works fantastically with Blogger.

So what are you waiting for? Give Zemanta a try, and make your blogging life easier. 'Cuz the less time you spend writing blog posts, the more time you can spend crafting! And that's what it's really all about, right? Right.

Monday Motivator: Costuming

2010-07-26T14:15:00.001-04:00

I love making costumes. Be they generic Halloween costumes or replicas of movie costumes or historical costumes, there are few things I enjoy more. I've toyed with the idea of taking costume commissions for some time now, but I was always a bit intimidated by the idea of making things for other people. Recently, however, with a bit of sales experience under my belt, I decided to take the leap. I posted an advertisement on the popular costuming forum, Cosplay.com, and within two days I had my first customer.

So for the last week or so I've been working on this order (and having a blast) and thinking about how I can tie this in with my Etsy shop. I'd definitely like to do some more pieces like my Mallorn leaf necklace--items inspired by literature and film--as well as some specific costume pieces. If there's something you, my dear readers, would like to see, I'd love to hear about it!

In the meantime, I'm off to get some more work done. I'm on a deadline--have to get it finished this week! Have a great day, everyone! And don't forget to drop by my Facebook page and put in your vote for my next giveaway prize!

New Item: Hand-Lettered Spice Labels

2010-07-21T17:02:00.000-04:00

I actually listed these a couple days ago, but I'm just getting around to posting about because I've been busy, busy, busy. I recently started taking commissions for costume props and accessories, and I'm currently working on some really fun and unique jewelry. I'm having a blast, but I also have a deadline, so I'm working my little tooshie off to meet it!

In other news, if you're following me on Facebook (and if you're not, what are you waiting for?), then you're probably aware that I recently held a drawing for a free custom graphic for one of my first 50 "like"-ers. I'll be holding another giveaway when I reach 100 followers, and this time, I want you to pick the prize. Please, take a moment and vote here!

Wizard Wednesday

2010-07-14T11:53:00.000-04:00

In light of my most recent listing, I thought I'd share some of my fantasy-inspired favorites from other sellers. Starting with this adorable little wizard from HandworkArtStudio:

Isn't he just the cutest little conjurer you ever did see?

And how about these gorgeous tooled leather bracers from AnotherWorldOutpost:

I do so love tooled leather...

Finally, what would this entry be without a dragon? This little blue dragon from BugsandMonsters isn't just cute, he's helpful too!

He'll hold your dice for you! Or any other small objects, if you're not the sort who carries dice... Either way, he is one clever little dragon!

Now, let's see some of your fantastic favorites! Leave 'em in the comments.

Tutorial Tuesday: Fabruckets

2010-07-13T11:04:00.000-04:00

I believe I've mentioned before how much I enjoy Etsy's How-Tuesday features, yes? Well, I recently came across another gem - one I definitely need to try. Organizational fabruckets.

What the heck is a fabrucket, you ask? Simple. It's a bucket made of fabric. And judging from the article, they look super easy and fun to make.

Check it out!

I especially love the little tree branch applique on the the big bucket. And there are just so many things you could do with these, both in the making and in use, that the possibilities are truly endless.

Personally, I'd like to make a couple of these to hold my crochet and knitting projects. I always have several going at one time, and I have a bad habit of just leaving them wherever I was working on them last, which isn't such a problem with knitting, but when it comes to crochet, those hooks have a genius for escaping. And the couch cushions just seem to gobble them up. I think a fabrucket would be the perfect solution!

I think I might make a sewing bucket too, for things like scissors and marking pens and tape measures and various other little odds and ends...

What would you use your fabrucket for?

New Listing: Customizable Mallorn Leaf Pendant

2010-07-12T13:37:00.001-04:00

Well, Folks, I thought it was about time I geeked up my shop a little. I am, after all, an enormous geek (of the fangirling, con-going, D&D playing variety). And having just watched all of the movies again and finally started reading the books, I'm currently all about Lord of the Rings. Hence, my latest listing...

This customizable mallorn leaf necklace features a hand-sculpted polymer clay pendant strung on your choice of chain or one of three colors of suede cord.

Also, the Elvish bookmarks I mentioned previously are still in the works. I ran into a bit of a delay in getting the packaging materials for them, but hopefully they shall be available by the end of the month.

Side note: I'm making costumes too! You can read all about the process on my new costume blog: http://kittymagecostumes.wordpress.com

Wicked Wednesday: Quothe the Raven

2010-07-08T10:40:00.000-04:00

You might have been able to tell from my most recent listing that I am a big fan of Edgar Allen Poe. And apparently, I am not alone. There are plenty of Poe-inspired goodies floating around Etsy. Here are just a few that were already sitting in my favorites...

Poe's Raven by MFAS

by Middleburg

Portrait of Edgar Allan Poe Linoleum Print

by TheDiggingestGirl

Edgar Allen Poe Print

by senioritis

Thursday Threads: Sweetheart Apron

2010-07-01T12:55:00.000-04:00

I haven't written many features lately. I love doing them, but they're time-consuming. By the time I decide on a theme, look through my favorites and search Etsy, decide on my three feature items and write the actual post, I've usually put a good two hours or more into it. That may not sound like all that much, but on top of promoting and getting non-Etsy-related things done, I found myself running short on actual crafting time.

So I decided I needed to cut back on the time I was spending on some things. I focused my promoting on Twitter because it's quick and easy. I can tweet something whenever I have a few extra minutes. And rather than trying to blog every day, I decided to aim for a few times a week. That's worked out fairly well, except that I found myself skipping features altogether.

I miss doing features and they've always been well-received, so I've decided that rather than saving them for when I have extra time, I'll just cut them down a bit so they won't take so long to write up. Rather than three items, I'll now be featuring just one. You'll be getting a delicious nibble rather a four-course scarf-down.

And your first nibble is... this adorable apron from prettylittlepearl:

I love aprons. My housemate and I collect them. Mostly, we go for vintage aprons, but this one would fit right in... and stand out. "Vintage style with a modern twist," the descriptions says, and I couldn't put it better myself.

My favorite part? The sweetheart neckline. I've never seen another apron made like that. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen another apron specifically made to be flattering. Kudos to prettylittlepearl for elevating the apron from utility item to fashion statement. You go, Pearl!

Monday Motivator: Keep Calm and Carry On

2010-06-28T12:36:00.000-04:00

Sterling silver necklace by E. Ria Designs

There are a lot of Etsy items bearing the "Keep calm and carry on" motto, and I think I know why.

It's some darn good advice. Especially for those of us trying to sell our handmade goods. There are a lot of trials we have to weather--slow seasons, nonpaying customers, unpleasant transactions, criticism and our own self-doubt...

I'm currently in the process of changing my prices back after having lowered them for a sale last week. A sale during which I got no sales. Perhaps I didn't promote as much as I should have. Maybe I should have offered free shipping. Or maybe it wasn't anything that I did or didn't do. Maybe it just wasn't the right time.

Whatever the case, it's done with and there's nothing I can do about it now. Except keep calm and carry on. Sure, I could sit here and try to analyze what went wrong. I could be bummed. I could get down and out and feel sorry for myself and my poor unloved, under-appreciated little shop. But I'm not going to. It's not productive.

Rather, I'm going to keep calm and carry on. I'm keep tweaking things and experimenting. I'm going to design knew things and list new items. I'm going to plan for my next sale and hope for the best.

So, my fine readers, tell me, when troubles get you down, how do you deal? Do you keep calm and carry on? Or do you have another strategy?

Featured Blogger: BeadedTail

2010-06-24T12:38:00.000-04:00

Howdy, Folks! I'd like to introduce you to this month's featured EtsyBlogger, BeadedTail, who makes beaded jewelry for animal lovers. There are designs that feature animals, such as these cute lampwork glass cat earrings...

and these adorable onyx Scottie earrings:

Or if you're a cat person and a dog person, such as myself, and you just can't choose, there are less animalistic designs as well, such as this gorgeous brass moon necklace:

And while you're shopping for yourself, why not pick up something for your furry friend too? BeadedTail sells cute collar covers, so your critter companion can dress up too. My personal favorite is the one with the cupcakes, of course...

So what's the best part of shopping with BeadedTail? A portion of the proceeds from each and every item is donated to animal awareness causes. Check out her profile for a list of the organizations she supports. And be sure to swing by her blog as well!

Now what are you waiting for? Get shoppin'!

And don't forget, everything in my shop is 10% off! Sale ends tomorrow! Don't miss it!

Summer Solstice Sale

2010-06-22T12:18:00.000-04:00

Happy second day of summer, folks! Our wireless was misbehaving yesterday, so I'm a day late, but summer is officially here and to celebrate, I'm having a sale!

Now through Friday, everything in the shops is 10% off! So now's the time to snag that branding package or one of those cool crocheted headbands you've had your eye on.

And if you haven't already, head over to Facebook and "like" me for a chance to win free graphics. Only 4 more "likers" till giveaway time!

Hope all my readers are having a terrific Tuesday! Catch ya later!

Blog Carnival: Goals

2010-06-16T12:36:00.000-04:00

It's time for another EtsyBloggers blog carnival! This carnival, hosted by RainyDayArt, asks the question,

What are your goals?

Good question! I have oodles of short-term goals, but they're all pretty simple.

Get new product lines started - I listed the first item of a new series yesterday - the Nevermore necklace, which shall be part of my "Literary Gems" collection. I have another new jewelry line and a Tolkien-inspired calligraphy series (there's more where those bookmarks came from!) that I hope to get up and running by the end of the month.

Reorganize shop - This sort of goes along with the previous goal. I need to reorganize and rename my categories to fit with my revised vision. I have a much clearer idea of what I want my shop to be now, so I'm working to refine things that were previously a bit fuzzy in my mind.

Get business cards - Ironically, this was one of the first things I looked into when I started planning for my shop. And I still haven't gotten around to doing it. Mostly because it never seems to occur to me when I have the cash to spare...

Design website - This was one of the other things I started planning for early on and haven't actually done yet. I'm much better at get designs done for other people than I am for myself. I have a pretty good idea of what I want, I just need to sit down and do it. One of these days.

Those are my major short-term goals (though, really, they're more to-do's, I suppose...). As for my long-term goals, those are even simpler.

Make at least one sale a week - Currently, my sales are pretty sporadic. And I know they always will be to some extent. No matter how much promoting I do or how great my marketing strategy is, I can't make people buy things. But I think aiming for a sale a week is reasonable.

Sell at a craft fair - I'm not likely to be doing this any time soon, but I definitely want to at some point in the future. There's just something about the idea of selling my creations in person... I need to make a lot more stuff before I can even think about trying it, though.

So, those are my goals. What are some of yours?

Monday Motivator: New with a Dash of Geek

2010-06-14T14:35:00.000-04:00

I believe I've mentioned before that there's nothing that motivates me quite like new stuff- whether it's new items or new supplies or just new ideas. And these week, I've got all three of those!

If you're a "like"-er (can I just call you fans?) on Facebook, then you've probably already seen my latest creations. If you aren't, well, what are you waiting for? Go! Like! Now then. If you haven't seen them, here they are:

Excited yet? If you're a Tolkien fan, I bet you are. Because soon you too shall be able to own your very own personalized, hand-lettered and illuminated bookmark, featuring your name translated into Elvish. Gotta get some protective sleeves to ship them in, and then I'll get them listed. So keep your eyes peeled!

And expect to see more calligraphic goodies making their way into the shop too. I just got a new set of calligraphy markers in the mail today (from Your Fabulous Finds - which is a great shop with great prices and quick shipping), and I intend to put them to good use! I'll be doing personalized bookmarks in English, as well, along with some larger decorative pieces, greeting cards, and much, much more. If you've got an idea, just drop me a line. I love doing custom work!

Also, the Nevermore Necklace will be available very soon as well!

In the meantime, I've got work to do. So I'm off, for now. Hope all of my lovely readers are having a wonderful day! Ciao!

Monday Motivator: Giving Back

2010-06-07T12:20:00.000-04:00

I've been doing my best to avoid news about the oil spill. I didn't want to read the statistics or see the pictures, because I knew it would only make me sad and angry. And there was nothing I could do about it.

Of course, spending as much time online as I do, there was no way I could avoid it entirely. The first article I read was one I came across on the Weather Channel's website while I was innocently checking the forecast. It gave several startling illustrations of just how much oil is spilling into the gulf on a daily basis--enough to fill 52 Olympic swimming pools, 3,813 tanker trucks, or enough to cover an area from the middle of Long Island well into Pennsylvania. And this wasn't the total amount, this was daily. It was mind-blowing.

And reading about the 29 dolphins and 227 sea turtles that had been found dead at the time (this was June 2; I cringe to think of what the numbers must be now) truly broke my heart. Not to mention all of the other creatures who have survived and are suffering, covered in oil. Not to mention the long-term damage that's been done. Not to mention the human lives that have been lost, as well.

So here I sat, deeply saddened and still convinced that there was nothing I could do. Silly me. Thankfully, my friend, fellow nature-lover, and generally gung-ho activist-type, Ed, called me up to suggest that I start a new jewelry line for my Etsy shop and donate a portion of the proceeds to clean-up efforts. Of course! Why didn't I think of that?

I dunno, but now I'm in the process of trying to decide on a specific charity to donate to. I'm currently leaning toward the Gulf Restoration Network, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I want to make sure the money goes to a group who will actually use at least the vast majority of it for it's intended purpose rather than advertising and such.

Once I've decided, I'll be back with further details. And if anyone else is doing something similar, leave me a comment with a link to your shop, and I'll compile a list. Let's help get this mess cleaned up!

Thursday Threads: Dressed for Summer

2010-06-03T11:10:00.001-04:00

Well, folks, summer is upon us. So it's time to trade in those jackets and sweaters for lighter fabrics, shorter sleeves, and--my personal favorite for the season--summer dresses. I'm not a fan of shorts, and some days it's just too darn hot for pants. So I wear a lot of skirts and dresses during the summer. In anticipation of the upcoming season, I've perused Etsy's eclectic selection of dresses and chosen a few favorites to share with you, my dear readers. And here they are...

Katharina Dress by Lirola

This dress has it all. It's the perfect length, custom fitted, comes in a variety of colors (though, I must say, I love the one pictured), and it has those cute little flirty sleeves and ruffles. Now, I must confess, I am not generally a fan of the ruffles-on-everything trend. But these are cute ruffles. These are controlled, sensible ruffles. This is not a senseless, violent, ruffle-splosion. So. Thumbs up. And getting back on track... This is one of those versatile dresses that I love. It looks cool and comfortable, casual enough for your midday ice cream break, but dressy enough for that dinner party your friends are throwing. All in all, a great dress.

Summer Breeze Dress by oneaviandaemon

This dress is the epitome of summer romance. That layered skirt, that ruched waistband, those lovely little cap sleeves... And to top it all off, as you can see in the closeups, the fabric has a subtle polka-dotted texture. It's so cute! So innocent! So... summery! This one also is made to measure. Awesome. Obviously, I need one of these to wear while I sit ~~on the porch~~ in the rose garden and drink tea and read Jane Austen.

Sunflower Dress by ShugaRose

Let's see... We've had a bright blue, a crisp, cool white... What summer collection would be complete without a sunny yellow? This dress certainly fits the bill. And it's just adorable. I love the 50's inspired full skirt, the sash, the scoop neck... But the darling is in the details. That lovely spray of hand-stitched flowers at the neckline is like a built-in corsage. And the hem is embroidered--gorgeously, I might add--for that extra hint of elegance. The item description says it would be fun to wear to a tea party, and I must agree. I think it would be great for any summer party. Or any summer grocery shopping excursion. Or any excuse you could find, really.

So there are my picks. Now let's see your favorite summer dresses!

New Look, New Item

2010-06-02T14:47:00.000-04:00

Hi again, folks! Once again, life's been a bit of a rollercoaster, and the crafty biz had to take a bit of a back seat last week. But now I'm back, and I've got some cool new stuff to share!

For starters, if you haven't visited my shop lately, be sure to stop by. The Ash Grove has a new look for summer, and that's just the beginning. More to come on that later. *wink*

In other news, I've just completed a new necklace design! I'm really excited about this one, as I've been working on it for a while and this is the first time I've used polymer clay in my jewelry. And it was inspired by my favorite poem!

Alas, the text is upside down from this angle. I may try a version with vertical text in the future. But for now, I'm sharing this shot because it was the best composition-wise and it showed my little feather very well. I'm exceedingly proud of that little feather. Both it and the pendant were made with polymer clay, and I love the way they turned out. Technically, this piece isn't quite finished, as I need to give the clay pieces a coat of sealer and a little bit of shine. But I need to get to the store and get my sealer before I can do that.

Thus, I'm not listing this one just yet, but it will be available soon. And if you're just dying to have it, I'm willing to take preorders. Just convo me!

In the meantime, it's back to the grindstone. I've got more work to do and more goodies to make!

Oh, and don't forget about my Facebook giveaway! If you haven't already, hop over to my fanpage and "like" me. Once I reach 50 "like"-ers, I'll hold a random drawing. Winner gets free graphics!

Thursday Threads: Command Presence

2010-05-20T12:21:00.000-04:00

I've always had a thing for uniforms. Military uniforms, in particular. There's just something about those sharp lines and shiny buttons... And I must not be the only one who sees it. There is certainly no shortage of military-inspired fashion to be found. And it's everywhere - on runways, in malls, and of course, on Etsy.

Here are a few of my favorite military-inspired finds, beginning with the quintessential jacket...

I've seen oodles of different takes on the military jacket in all sorts of different styles, and I've found that what really makes one stand out is the details. Such is the case with this jacket by blackmirrordesign. Those straps and buttons on the front, the extra buttons along the sleeves (one can never have to many button), and the tails and more buttons in the back... It's these little things (the tails, especially) that make this jacket a cut above the rest.

Pardon me for a moment while I shove the Want Monster back in its cage...

*ahem* Moving on... While I love the severity of a good uniform and admire the discipline it represents, what I really enjoy about the fashions we're exploring today is the chance to break boundaries and, occasionally, to have a good chuckle. Which is why I just love this shirt by luckybunnyworldwide.

It's a bunny driving a tank! What's not to love? I certainly think Hawkeye would approve.

Now, getting back to serious business, I came to a startling realization while I was searching for today's items. I don't think I have ever featured a pair of pants. Leggings, yes, but I'm not sure those count. So I made it a point to look for some pants today, and boy am I glad I did. Check out these kick-arse jodhpurs by idolatre:

All those buttons and all that piping and zippers too? These are some seriously fancy pants. And I, for one, would love to have a pair to march around in.

So I guess I better get to work. Gotta sell before I can buy. And oh, do I want to buy...

What about you fine folks? Got a favorite military-inspired creation? Leave a comment!

Tutorial Tuesday: Japanese Bookbinding

2010-05-18T12:15:00.000-04:00

Howdy, readers! I thought it was about time I shared another tutorial with you. And given my recent infatuation with making books, why not a bookbinding tutorial?

Of course, there are oodles of different binding techniques. I've only tried a few, thus far, myself. But one of the simplest and prettiest is the Japanese stab binding. All you need, aside from your paper and cover material, is a paper cutter (or scissors, if you can cut a straight line), something to poke holes with, and some kind of thin ribbon, twine, or other fiber. And the technique couldn't be easier. Check it out...

There you go. Now hop to it! And if you do give this a shot, don't forget to come back and share!

Monday Motivator: Features

2010-05-17T12:19:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since I wrote a Monday Motivator post because, to be perfectly honest, my motivation was a bit lacking. Though I do my best to stay positive and motivated, there are still times when I just feel... blah. I'm sure you've all had a case of The Blahs before, right?

Well, I've found two things that never fail to beat The Blahs in no time flat: new ideas and... features! Things you can't control, alas, but they sure do work. And I've been lucky enough lately to get a good dose of both.

I already mentioned in my last post the rash of new ideas I've had and the revamp that's underway (and coming along quite nicely, I might add), so I shan't say anymore about that. But let's talk about features!

I'm on a roll! I already mentioned my interview on the WWES blog that was posted Thursday, right? Well, Friday I got a nice little Facebook feature - Digicute Printables chose one of my printable business card designs as her Featured Item of the Day. And then, just this morning, I received a lovely message informing me that I'd made it into the Top Handmade Creations of the Week! How cool is that?

This week's already off to a great start! I've got a lot to do but I'm super-excited about all of it. Bye-bye Blahs!

How about you, readers? What's motivating you this week?

My First Interview

2010-05-13T14:11:00.000-04:00

Hey there, readers! Guess what... I've been interviewed!

You can read the interview here, and while you're there, be sure to check out the rest of the blog. WWES is an awesome and extremely helpful group.

In other exciting news, I am working, as we speak, on majorly revamping the shop. I've got all sorts of fun ideas, so you can expect to see some cool new stuff this summer. Keep your eyes peeled! And if you're not already, come follow me on Twitter and Facebook. I'll be offering exclusive deals to folks who do!

Techno Tuesday: ReminderFox

2010-05-11T15:04:00.001-04:00

Howdy, folks! And welcome to another Techno Tuesday! This week, I'd like to share with you all another Firefox add-on that I've found extremely useful not only for my business, but for my life in general.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached. I get distracted by one thing and forget to do something else. Once or twice, I've put something on to cook and then forgotten all about until I smelled something burning. I've even been known to... *gasp* forget to write my blog posts! I know. It's awful.

When I got my shop up and running and started looking for marketing ideas and ways to get exposure, it wasn't long before I found myself overwhelmed. There was so much to do! So many sites to submit pictures to and profiles to keep updated and advertising opportunities to look into and... and... oh, right! Things to make!

Just writing things down has never done me much good. I forget to look at whatever I wrote unless it's somewhere I can't miss it. I'm a long-time advocate of writing stuff on your hand. But that's only good for short, simple things. I couldn't very well write a whole to-do list on my hand. So I started using my cell phone, which has a great scheduler. I can make a brief note and then set an alarm so later, when it comes time to do what needs to be done, I have something to remind me.

That's what I really needed. A reminder! But I couldn't use my phone for everything. I'm far too impatient to type out everything I needed to do in a day on that tiny keyboard. So to the web I turned. I'd already seen to-do list add-ons for Firefox floating around, and I decided to take a closer look at them. Immediately, there was one that leapt out at me, from the name alone: ReminderFox. Lists, alerts, alarms, all right in my browser? Perfect!

And as soon as I installed it, I noticed that it had a little something extra. It looks nice. Maybe I'm just picky, but if I'm going to use a tool like this, I want it to look good. Here's what you'll see when you first install ReminderFox and any time you're "reminders" tab is empty:

That's it. Just a cute little bow. Nothing obtrusive. Which is another big bonus. And here's what you get when you mouse-over the ribbon:

A lovely little box pops up to give you a brief overview of your Reminders and ToDo's. Of course, you won't have any ToDo's set yet, so you'll see "none" there, as well. Note: You may notice the dates accompanying my ToDo's make it look like I am way behind. I'm not. Those are just the dates that I first added the ToDo item.

Double-clicking on the ribbon icon will open the main ReminderFox window, which looks like this:

Pretty straightforward. On the left are your Reminder and ToDo tabs (we don't have any reminders yet, so
there's nothing being shown. On the right is our calender. And along the bottom there's a button to add a reminder, search our reminders, change which reminders are displayed, and control other options.

So let's add a reminder. When you click on the "Add Reminder" button, this box will pop up:

Again, pretty straightforward. Let's say you need to take photos for a new listing, and you want to be sure you'll remember to do it in the morning, when you have good light. So, for "Description" you'll enter something like "take new item photos." Then choose a date. If you're working on a more long-term project, you can choose a different end date, but for our purposes, one day is all we need. Now we need to click the box labeled "All Day" to uncheck it. Remember, we want to do this in the morning. With that box unchecked, we'll now have the option to change the start and end time. We only need to worry about the start time, so click the top box and choose a time. Now we can also uncheck "Repeat" because this is something we're just doing this once (unless you decide you'd like to take photos every Wednesday, in which case you could choose "weekly" from the dropdown menu). You probably want to be reminded about this, so click to check the box labeled "show popup alarm." To recap, here's what we have:

And when we you click OK...

Our reminder gets added to the list on the left, and the date on the calendar is now highlighted. Cool, huh? And now, at 10:00 tomorrow morning, a handy little box will pop up to remind us that we need to take those photos.

And remember that little ribbon? This is what it will look like tomorrow (or any day for which you have a reminder set):

Adding a task to your ToDo list works precisely the same way. In fact, the only difference between Reminders and ToDos is that the ToDo tab has an extra column that allows you to check off items as you complete. So, if you preferred, you could simply use one tab or the other. Me? I like to use the ToDo list for recurring tasks that I do every day or on a certain day every week, like writing this blog, and the Reminder tab for things I only need to be reminded of occasionally, like those photos I need to take or that rice I put on to cook.

So there you have it. ReminderFox is a pretty powerful little tool, and there are a lot of things I have covered here (you can e-mail yourself reminders, for instance). You can learn more and download the add-on here.

Blog Carnival: Christina's World

2010-05-10T12:15:00.001-04:00

All right, folks. I'm back back from a bit of a vacation and feeling much better now that all those lovely flowering trees have calmed down a bit and there's not quite so much pollen floating around. I love spring, but sinuses sure don't. Ugh.

But I had a nice, stress-free, relaxing break and now I'm back and raring to go. And since I fell behind a bit last month, I decided to jump right in and catch up on my posting for the EtsyBloggers team. The latest blog carnival, hosted by the lovely SweetSallySoaps asks us to...

Show me your all time favorite piece of art and why you find it inspiring.

Oh, man. That's a toughie. I love art. All sorts of art. I could easily offer a top ten. But to narrow it down to one... Well, that last bit helped. One of my favorites immediately leapt out as "most inspiring." And it's a painting that I first encountered in a junior high art class. Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth.

It's certainly an aesthetically pleasing, if somewhat bleak, painting. I love the soft, muted colorscheme. I love that distant, almost-stormy sky, the stark simplicity of it all. But what has always struck me most about this painting--what made me pause to really look at it that first time and every time thereafter--is the story. There is, without a doubt, a story being told here. It's like a snapshot, a single frame, and if we could just find the play button we could see what's going to happen.

Being an avid reader and writer, I'm always looking for a good story. And that's just what this painting is. But what's most inspiring of all is that it's never the same story. Every time I look at this painting I see something different. And I've always had to wonder, how did the artist see Christina's World?

And while we're on the subject, how do you see it?

Facebook Giveaway

2010-05-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

So, to help get the ball rolling over at my Facebook page, I've decided to hold a giveaway!

The Prize: Free graphics! The winner will receive one free, customized graphic of your choice, i.e. a shop banner, business card design, advertisment. Not a seller? How about a personalized calling card design? Printable notecards? Bookmarks? You dream it, I'll do it.

How to Enter: It could be easier. Just visit my Facebook fan page and click that lovely little "like" button. Then go tell your friends, 'cuz the fun starts when I reach 50 "likers." At that point, I'll draw for the prize.

So what are you waiting for? Get clickin'!

New Item!

2010-05-03T14:22:00.000-04:00

Howdy, folks! Allergies have been kicking my butt lately, so things have been a little slow around here. I just haven't felt like doing much. But I did get a new banner listed!

What do you think?

Etsy Bloggers Blog Carnival: Birthdays

2010-04-23T11:30:00.000-04:00

Howdy, folks! It's time for another blog carnival, and this one, hosted by Joey and Aleethea, is all about birthdays!

Tell us about your birthday/what astrological sign you are/what are your plans for your birthday this year?

My birthday was back in February, on the 5th - the same day as H. R. Giger and Hank Aaron. I'm your typical creative and somewhat quirky Aquarius, the water bearer (though, I'm far more likely to come bearing tea or coffee). I was also born in the year of the rat.

As for plans, I don't really have any. Having a nice dinner has been my small, simple birthday tradition for several years now. I'm not one for big celebrations. After all, I'm just another year older, and I think we all wonder at times if that's really something to celebrate. In fact, I think I could stop having birthdays right now and be perfectly happy. 26 forever? Sounds great! Where do I sign up?

Thursday Threads: Eco-Friendly Fashion, Part 2

2010-04-22T14:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Earth Day, dear readers! I know I celebrated the coming of this auspicious day last week with an eco-friendly fashion feature, but I couldn't think of a better way to honor today than a sequel of sorts. I certainly didn't have any trouble finding enough items. In fact, the hard part was picking just a few. But I did, because I had to. And here they are...

Pretty Birdie's High Waisted Bamboo Swing Skirt by stephanieteague

This beautiful skirt is made with bamboo and organic cotton and is available in several colors. Bonus: It's hand-dyed with eco-friendly low impact dyes. Cool.

Crossley Hooodie by simplebear

Both the inner jersey lining and outer fleece lining of this unique, asymmetric hoodie are 100% organic cotton. And doesn't it just look super cozy? Bonus: You get to choose your colors! And both fabrics are available in several, so there are oodles of possible combinations.

Flora Flat by HydraHeart

These adorable, nature-inspired flats are totally vegan! No leather to be found here, only fabric and rubber. Bonus: No need to worry about wearing them in the garden or out in the woods. These babies are washable!

So there you have it - three awesome artists doing their part for the earth. Now, what are you doing?

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Blossoms

2010-04-21T15:43:00.000-04:00

Anyone else participating in the 365 Project? If you haven't heard of it, basically, the premise is to take a photo every day for an entire year. I've been working on it since March, and while I've been good about taking my photos, I'm dreadfully behind on uploading them. Still, you can see what I have uploaded here.

Tutorial Tuesday: Eco-Friendly Tote

2010-04-20T14:47:00.000-04:00

I mentioned my earth-friendly efforts in my last post, but something happened between then and now. I saw this. If you're not familiar with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, as I was not, it's basically an enormous floating mass of trash--mostly plastic. Google it and you'll find some truly horrifying photos.

To make a long story short, I decided I had to do something, anything, whatever I could. So lately, I've been making strides to do more. I've gone semi-vegetarian (flexitarian, if you will). I've been researching various green products, and just educating myself about green living, in general. I've begun taking my own tote bags to the grocery store. And I've been looking for ways to recycle plastic. Our local recycling center takes bottles, but what is one to do with other plastic items?

Well, Etsy gave me a good use for one of the most prolific plastics. Grocery bags. This How-Tuesday post shows you how to use grocery bags to make plastic yarn and crochet a cute tote bag. How cool is that?

I've already started working on mine, and though making the "plarn" is a bit time-consuming, I think it's well worth the effort. And I'm sure it goes faster once you've had a bit of practice.

I'll let you know how it goes and post pictures once I'm done. In the meantime, why not tell me about your recycled creations!

Thursday Threads: Eco-Friendly Fashion

2010-04-15T14:26:00.000-04:00

I've always been "eco-conscious." Ever since I was a wee critter-loving tot, I've done my best to follow the three R's. I'm always trying to reduce the amount of crap I throw away. So I reuse what I can (shoe boxes are great for storage). I recycle what I can, both in the conventional dump-it-in-the-bin kind of way and also in the crafty, "upcycling" way. I like to think I'm pretty earth-friendly.

And now, with the current eco-craze, it's easier than ever to do your part. Organic foods are all over the supermarkets. Your options at the checkout are now paper, plastic, or eco-friendly reusable tote. Electric companies are even offering green energy options to their customers. Talk about an awesome trend.

So to celebrate this green renaissance--as well as the coming of Earth Day--I've dedicated this week's Thursday Threads to eco-friendly fashion. Kudos to these creators for respecting their mother (Mother Earth, that is).

Lil' Miss Sailor Shirt by sewmoe

Snazzy little sailor shirt made in a bamboo knit fabric. I can only guess how ridiculously comfortable this must be, as I've never worn bamboo. But I have gotten my paws on some bamboo yarn and it's just amazingly soft. An entire shirt made of the stuff? Yummy.

Mademoiselle Skirt by econica

This lovely skirt has a lot to offer--a touch of ruffle, a hint of retro, and plenty of options. It's available in 14 different colors, in an organic cotton/bamboo blend. And the colors are all so lovely... Who could pick just one?

Hemp Patchwork Apron Dress by peacebird

Isn't this just gorgeous? It reminds me of stained glass. And it looks so comfy! As it should. After all, it's made with hemp cotton. I'd love to have a dress like this to romp around in when summer comes. So I'll start saving my pennies.

In the meantime, why not leave a comment and share your favorite eco-friendly finds?

I Need Fans!

2010-04-14T15:47:00.000-04:00

So I was intending to write up a nice little feature today. But I haven't felt very well the last couple of days, and I just couldn't muster the energy for all the work involved. So instead, I thought I'd keep things brief and let you in on the latest news...

The Ash Grove is now on Facebook! So come check out my page and become a fan. I'll be holding special giveaways and offering exclusive deals for my Facebook fans in the future, so it's in your best interests, really. And besides, it'll make me smile.

So, I'll see you there! :)

Wicked Wednesday: April Showers Bring Steamy Flowers

2010-04-07T14:59:00.004-04:00

Gosh, it's been ages since I did a Wicked Wednesday post, hasn't it? Well, when I set out to write today's post, I knew I wanted to do a gothic homage to spring. But how to showcase the darker side of such a bright, sunny season...? Simple. Flowers! Flowers are one of the first things I think of when I think spring, and while they can certainly be bright and cheerful, they can also be dark and elegant--just think of roses.

I found a lot of great flowers floating about the Etsysphere, but I finally narrowed my choices down to jewelry items and, quite serendipitously, this collection came to be more "steampunk" than "goth." But to heck with labels. Let's just call it all beautiful!

Black Dahlia Earrings by smilingsoul2

Antique Gold Rose Filigree Ring by edmdesigns

Silver and Sapphire Cameo Cuff with Flowers by earthfirestudios

So there are my picks. Now let's see your steamy, springy favorites!

Tutorial Tuesday: Upcycled Magazine Holder

2010-04-06T15:13:00.000-04:00

When I started setting up my craft corner, I decided right off the bat that I was going to make organization a priority. Mostly so I could spend less looking for things and more time making things, but also because I just really enjoy organizing things. Of course, putting everything in its place meant that... well, it needed a place. I bought a couple of little plastic containers at the dollar store, added on to my sophisticated shoebox system, tucked some stuff in the latest box from Amazon... I even borrowed some baking cups from the kitchen to hold my paperclips and pushpins. I'm very fond of repurposing things for storage.

So when we came across a blurb in an issue of Better Homes and Gardens that suggested making magazine holders out of cereal boxes, I knew I was going to have to try it. But whereas they left the boxes undecorated aside from a label on the side, I decided to kick things up a notch and cover mine with wrapping paper.

Here's what I wound up with:

Have I not mentioned my ~~mild obsession with~~ fondness for Hello Kitty before?

Anyway... This was all well and good for holding my magazines, but what I still had a whole stack of folders full of patterns and tutorials and such. I had some more cereal boxes, but alas, none of them was quite wide enough to accommodate the folders. But we happened to have another box lying around that was just the right size, so I decided to just adapt the method to make a slightly bigger box. And while I was at it, I figured I'd document the process and write up a tutorial for all my dear bloggy friends.

So, enough rambling. Let's get started, shall we?

Here's what you'll need:

A box of some sort. Doesn't really matter what kind, so long as it's big enough to hold whatever you want to store in it.
Scissors or utility knife, craft knife, x-acto, etc. I used the utility knife because the cardboard was rather thick. And also, I just suck and scissors.
Ruler
Sharpie (or other writing utensil to mark your cutting lines on the box)
Tape
Wrapping paper (or whatever you wish to cover your box with; I just used wrapping paper because it was big enough that I could cover the box and only have one visible seam)

Step 1: Remove Flaps

Using your preferred tool, cut the flaps off the top of your box. If you're like me and you can't cut a straight line to save your life, don't worry. Most of this top portion is going to get cut away later anyway.

Step 2: Measure and Mark

Grab your ruler and sharpie and measure up 4.5" from the bottom of your box. Make a mark at this point. Then, measure 3" in from the other side and make a mark at the top of your box. Now connect the dots. This is the line you'll be cutting along later.

But first, to make your life a little easier, flip your box over and repeat this process on the other side. And, if you'd like, draw a line on the end connecting the two bottom points.

Step 3: Cut

Cut along the lines you just marked using whatever tool your prefer. I used my utility knife and ruler to get nice, straight lines, but scissors will get the job done too.

Step 4: Get Wrappin'

If you're familiar with gift wrapping, you can probably figure this out on you're own. But just in case you're not, let's take this step by step...

First off, you're going to need a rather large, fairly flat surface. The floor is probably best, but I used the bed because it was there. Roll out your wrapping paper and place your box near the edge. Fold up the edge so that it partly covers the end of the box and tape it in place (I didn't do this, as you can see in the picture above, and I ran into a minor problem later--learn from my mistake).

Now, grab the roll of paper and bring it over the front of the box. You need to get a general idea of where to cut your paper so that you'll have enough for the edges to overlap, so find that point and make a crease (or mark as you please), then cut your paper at that point.

Tape the newly cut edge in place and your box should now have a nice, if somewhat oversized, paper belt. Like so:

If you look closely at the right side, you'll notice there's a gap between the edges. That's the issue I mentioned earlier. I flubbed my guesstimating because I didn't tape the first edge to keep it from shifting. If this happens to you, don't panic. It's a pretty easy fix. But we'll talk about that later. On with the wrapping...

Next we're gonna deal with the bottom. But first thing's first. There is probably way more paper there than you're gonna need, so go ahead and trim it off. Ideally you should have have about 3 inches or so to work with.

Now comes the part that's tricky to explain... You need to push in the sides, so that they're flat against the bottom of the box and a sort of triangular flap is formed, like so:

When you push the sides in, this is the way the paper will naturally want to fold, so just go with it. Crease those folds and smooth things out.

Now repeat the process to form a flap on the top. Like this:

Now that you have your two flaps, you need to tape 'em down. It doesn't really matter which way, but I personally find it easier to tape the bottom flap to the box first, and then folds down the top flap and tape it in place. Either way, you want to make sure to pull the paper tight against the box, so it's wrapped nice and snug.

And... voila!

Again, you'll notice the gap left from my earlier goof. Not a big deal here, obviously, 'cuz it's on the bottom.

Pretty easy, huh? Well, wrapping the rest of the box is even easier. You'll wanna have your scissors handy, because you'll be doing a lot of trimming and cutting.

I started with the short end, but you can start wherever. Basically, all you need to do is trim the section your working with down to a manageable size, locate the nearest corner, and cut straight down until you meet it, so you're left with a flap, like this:

Then just fold down the flap and tape it to the inside of the box. Now work your way around the rest of the box in the same manner--cut straight down at the corners, fold over the flap, tape it to the inside. Simple.

You may notice at the corners, unless you're cutting is totally perfect, that the paper tears just a bit. You can place a small piece of tape at the corners to neaten things up and give them a bit of reinforcement, if you wish, but it's not strictly necessary.

Once you're done with all your cutting and taping, you'll have something like this:

Of course, if you goofed like I did, you're not quite finished. To cover the gap on the end, I just cut a piece of wrapping paper a wee bit bigger than the end and taped it in place...

It's taped on the inside, bottom, and right at the corners, so it's barely even noticeable.

And there you have it! A simple, creative way to put those old boxes to good use and get things organized. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and if you have any questions, just leave me a comment. :)

Monday Motivator: Everything's Blooming!

2010-04-05T14:26:00.000-04:00

I haven't been posting much lately, so you might think there's nothing interesting going on in my world. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. This spring, while everything outside is blooming, it seems like my creative/business life has blossomed as well.

For starters, I finally managed to snag a treasury Saturday. And *drum roll please* it made the front page last night! :D

And here the original Treasury. Apparently the Etsy community likes tentacled critters just as much as I do. This was such a pleasant surprise to discover. Thanks to everyone who clicked and commented!

In addition, I've seen a BIG increase in views lately. And according to Google Analytics, I have Twitter to thank for that. Specifically the World Wide Etsy Sellers group. This awesome group of Tweeters has helped me in a number of ways, not just with all of their kind tweets and re-tweets. They've also helped Twitter feel more like a community to me. I've been a big fan of Twitter right from the start, but whenever I tweeted about my shop I felt kind of... spammy. But the folks from WWES do all sorts of tweeting for me. And when I do tweet about my shop, they re-tweet. And I return the favor, and we all just spread the Twitter-love. So if you're feelin' a little lonely out there in Twitter Land, stop by the blog, read the rules, leave a comment, and join the group!

And last but not least, I believe I mentioned in my last post that I was working on my new work area, which I have officially dubbed the Crafty Corner. This rounds out the Trifecta of Inspirations. I intend to devote a whole post to it once I've finished moving and organizing things, but in the meantime, I must say, I have a new favorite part of the house. And I can hardly believe the difference that having this space has made already. There's just something about establishing a dedicated space for your crafty work that just makes it feel so much more... professional. I'd say "serious," but I can never be serious when I'm crafting. It's too much fun!

So all of this together has combined to give me one big boost in confidence. I'm getting some recognition now. If my treasury made the front page, my items can to. I can be a success, and I will be. Because I'm never going to give up.

Featured EtsyBlogger: DizzyDragonflies

2010-03-30T11:55:00.000-04:00

First off, let me apologize for being so scarce lately. I'm afraid the blog's temporarily taken a backseat. I've been super busy setting up my new work area/home office (yay!), trying to get it--and the rest of my life--organized, and doing some serious fiction writing (or at least plotting). So, pardon my impromptu vacation. I'll be back in full force soon!

In the meantime, let me introduce you to this month's featured EtsyBloggers team member, DizzyDragonflies!

Dizzy's specialty is hand-dyed yarn and knitted items. Let me show you some of the knitting before I get tangled up in the yarn...

Doesn't this look cozy? And pretty! I love the black and white and grays. Very classy. But if you prefer more color, check out Dizzy's shop. She has a couple of other beautiful scarves, and all just ten bucks! You know you're gonna want one next winter. Plan ahead! Snag one now!

Now, if you're a knitter/crocheter/yarn junkie, like myself, you're probably going to have a hard time getting to the bottom of the page without getting distracted by all that gorgeous hand-dyed yarn. In fact, I think I just felt a small breeze from the collective turning of heads. Careful, Knitters. You'll give yourselves whiplash.

Here. Let me show you a few of my favorites...

This vibrant beauty is called "Turn it Down a Notch," but I like it right where it is. I'm usually not fond of orange, but I have to admit it looks just beautiful here mixed in with those fiery reds. Like all of Dizzy's yarns, this one is 100% wool, so it's suitable for felting. And I think this one would look especially gorgeous that way.

Perfect Project for This Yarn: Felted bag. Or a long, fluttery scarf (makes me think of phoenix feathers).

Now, moving on to something a bit more demure...

"A Little Bad for the Girl" is the name of this one, and how appropriate. It's definitely girly with its pretty pink and soft gray. But something about the contrast is... well, a little bad. This is the girl that sneaks out of ballet class to have a smoke behind the studio.

Perfect Project for This Yarn: Fingerless gloves or armwarmers.

And last, but certainly not least:

This one is simply and evocatively entitled "Orchid" and was inspired by an actual orchid that Dizzy had blooming in her kitchen. Isn't that great? Dizzy's done such a wonderful job of capturing the colors here that I can just see that original orchid. In fact, I almost feel like this yarn ought to be used to make flowers, to bring it full circle.

Perfect Project for This Yarn: Aside from flowers, I think this would make a really lovely shawl or maybe a shrug. Something to wear in spring.

I could go on and on about these gorgeous yarns in all these beautiful colors, but my fingers would get tired eventually. So I shall stop here. Now off you go to look at the rest. Go on, now. Shoo!

Monday Motivator: Shopping!

2010-03-22T12:35:00.000-04:00

A lot of our weekends involving some sort of shopping. And whether we buy anything or not, we always have a blast. So this weekend was no different. We shopped, we had fun... and we totally hit the jackpot.

We finally made it to the art supply store we'd been wanting to go to for a while and were pleasantly surprised by their selection. They had the vast array of traditional media we expected (which got us to talking about doing some painting), but they also had a lot of stuff we didn't expect to find. A pretty awesome selection of calligraphy supplies, for instance. Calligraphy and I became close friends when I was about 12, but ours has been a very on again, off again sort of relationship simply because calligraphy supplies are not all that easy to find. But with this place around... *insert maniacal laughter here*

So I grabbed a much needed bottle of ink, a really awesome "calligraphy journal" which features some really pretty papers and a very handy guideline page. No more tedious ruling for me! Woohoo! I also grabbed a couple of calligraphy markers for practice and lazy days and quickie projects. And maybe also nostalgia. I had a set of these years ago that I used all the time for signing and addressing cards (I was the official family scribe).

I was almost equally excited by their selection of polymer clay--something else I have previously been unable to find around here. I mentioned back in my New Year's post that I intended to make some polymer clay jewelry, and now that I know where I can get my clay, that's far more likely to actually happen.

Now, that would have been enough right there to make my day. But we weren't done yet. We also found a new yarn store, where I picked up the set of size 10 DPNs I needed to finish up Kitty's hat and, from the totally-not-yarn-related-but-still-awesome section of the store, a really freakin' cool tea cup from Tea Forte. We visited a few antique shops along the way, as well, and added to our vintage glove and apron collections. We even found a nifty stand on which to display some of our gloves. It's currently sitting on the dresser and it looks smashing. now, we just need a cool way to display our aprons...

And then we headed to Big Lots. If you don't have a Big Lots, that's sad. They sell close-outs and overstocked merchandise, which means a lot of name-brand stuff super cheap. I recently bought a bunch of Lion Brand and Gala yarns for $1.50 a skein. In short, Big Lots = Win. And they certainly didn't disappoint this time. They didn't have as much yarn as they've had the last few times I've been, but they had oodles of scrapbooking supplies.

Now, I'm not really into scrapbooking in and of itself, but the supplies excite me because I do love to make things with paper. And when I saw all those awesome papers and stickers and stamps and doodads and whatzits, all I could think of was books. Books, books, books! These would be great for embellishing my books! So I grabbed a couple of the packages you see in the photo, which consist of several sheets of paper and a whole bunch of assorted... thingies. And for each of these packages I paid a whopping $2.00. I love this place.

And as an added bonus, one of their other locations which we visited the other day, had stamps, and I picked up the most adorable set of clear rubber stamps featuring trees and branches and owls. They match my blog! How cool is that? You'll be seeing them in use as soon as I get an acrylic block and some ink.

So there you have it. My new toys are my motivation this week. What's yours?

Raincheck

2010-03-18T12:51:00.000-04:00

Hi, folks. Sorry about the lack of post yesterday. I didn't have much time to work, and I decided to focus what time I did have on listing my Coppelia necklace:

Today, I was intending write up a Thursday Threads feature for our featured EtsyBlogger of the month, DizzyDragonflies, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to give you all a raincheck. My stomach's been vaguely upset all day, and I just don't feel well, so I'm going to just relax and take it easy this afternoon. See you tomorrow!

Techno Tuesday: Greasemonkey/Etsy Hacks

2010-03-16T15:37:00.001-04:00

I love Firefox. I'm a fairly recent convert, and I'm still exploring all the bells and whistles. But I've already found a number of awesome add-ons that have made my life immensely easier. I'll be sharing them with you over the next few weeks, beginning with what might just be my favorite, Greasemonkey.

Basically, Greasemonkey allows you to customize a website's appearance. Once you have the add-on installed, you can download all sorts of scripts for all sorts of sites that do all sorts of things. That's where Etsyhacks comes in. Etsyhacks is an awesome collection of Greasemonkey scripts that add all sorts of handy features to your Etsy pages.

I can't comment on all of them, because I don't use them all, but I can tell you that I love the ones I do use. Here's a look at my favorites...

Fast Tagger

Fast Tagger does just what it sounds like - makes tagging faster. MUCH faster. It gives you one box in which to quickly type all your tags, and with a simple click on the "add to tags" button... BAM! Your item's tagged.

Bulk Image Uploader

I'm sure I'm not the only person who hated having to upload images one at a time. Well, now you don't have to. This hack allows you to upload all five of your images in one go. Quick. Easy. Awesome.

Copy Listing

You know what stinks? When you have a bunch of items that are all the same aside from the color, and you have to fill out a whole separate listing for each one. Bleh. Fortunately for us, there's a hack for that. This particular hack sits quietly on each listing's page just waiting until it's time for you to list something similar. And when that time comes, one click will copy all of the listing information and plunk it into the forms for you, so all you need to worry about is making those few minor changes. Simple.

Forum Wrangler

This one's my favorite. It places a handy dandy little navigation bar at the top of the forum pages, so you can easily bounce around without having to go back to the main forums page. Even better, it helps you keep track of which threads you've read and which you've posted to, and it gives you the ability to jump right to the last page you read in any given thread, which is great for keeping up with those long, ongoing threads. No more searching for your last post. No more trying to remember if you posted to a thread or not. Now you can do your reading and posting and get outta there and back to creating.

So there you have my favorite hacks. There are oodles more. Go check 'em out! And comment with your favorite Etsyhacks!

Monday Motivator: Goals

2010-03-15T14:39:00.000-04:00

Howdy, Folks! I'm feeling extra motivated this Monday! It may just be that it's warm and sunny and beautiful today. But I think part of it is that I've finally set myself a goal.

If you go looking for business advice, chances are this is one of the first things you'll be told. Set goals. It's sounds like such a little thing. And compared to the other things on my to-do list like listing and promoting and organizing, it just seemed so insignificant. Set a goal? Pfff. I've got crocheting to do, ads to make, blog posts to write!

And aside from that, I honestly just didn't know what sort of goal to set. Other than "sell something." But hey, that was a goal, right? So I let it go at that.

Until a couple weeks ago, when Kitty and I were chatting business and she suggested that I set myself a goal of selling an item a week. Brilliant! It was definitely a step up, but still seemed perfectly doable.

So when Monday rolled around and I got down to business, I decided to make it official. I registered with Goalforit - which I'd found and bookmarked a few weeks before - so I'd have a way to track my progress and, hopefully, keep myself motivated.

I'll discuss the site further in an upcoming Techno Tuesday, but long story short, it's awesome. Goalforit allows you to set your own personal goals and (here's the important part) set up an action plan and track your progress. It's kind of like a to-do list, only better.

Even though I haven't reached my goal yet, I still feel great because I can see myself making progress. I know I'm getting closer. I know I can make it!

Now what about you? Have you set goals for yourself? And if so, do you use any sort of system to keep track of your progress? Leave a comment!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Giveaway!

2010-03-10T10:17:00.000-05:00

I'm giving away these earrings! Enter to win at Got a Lot to Give!

Techno Tuesday: Spreadsheets

2010-03-09T12:38:00.000-05:00

Spreadsheets. I'm sure the very word makes some of you cringe. It doesn't exactly make me want to dance with glee. Because spreadsheets make me think of Excel, and honestly... I kind of hate Excel. I had to learn the basics several years ago when I took a required Intro to Computers class, and while I learned enough to use it, I never did come to completely understand it, and I would still have to stop and fiddle around occasionally to figure things out.

But when I began making preparations to open my Etsy shop and started looking for ways to keep things organized, I came across a number of spreadsheets. And rather than cower in fear of the evil Excel, I decided to face it head-on. I was confident. After all, these were downloadable, already-set-up spreadsheets that I just had to plunk my own info into. Couldn't be too difficult, right?

For the most part, it really wasn't. It was painless enough that I'm still using them. And only occasionally do I want to kick Excel in its nonexistent behind. So what do I use?

One of the first spreadsheets I snagged, and one that I find darn-near indispensable is Chris Parry's pricing spreadsheet. It seems silly now, but one of the things that previously held me back from trying to sell my crafts was the fact that I just didn't know what to charge for things. So I did some research on the subject when I set up my Etsy shop and came across this spreadsheet. It took a bit of time to set up initially because it's quite thorough, taking into account everything from the cost of materials to the cost of rent and utilities for your studio space. Once I had everything set up, though, it was a simple matter of plugging in the cost of materials and the time spent on the item to get a suggested price, both retail and wholesale. And what was once an ordeal is now a piece of cake. Thanks, Chris!

Once I've got my pricing worked out and have my item listed, all the info goes into my Etsy Seller Worksheet, which I found perusing the Storque. If you don't already, read the the Storque! It's chock full of useful information and tools like this. The Seller Worksheet, which is organized by month, lets you keep track of what's listed in your store, what you've sold, when you've sold it, and who you've sold it to, when you were paid, when the item was shipped, what you paid in fees, and finally, your profit. *whew* As you can see, this one lets you keep a lot of information in one convenient place. And it's also super easy to use.

Finally, when I've made a sale and use the money to buy more supplies, I try to remember to add them to my inventory spreadsheet. My inventory is very much a work in progress. I began using a very simple spreadsheet of my own concoction, which has worked just fine, thus far. The biggest problem I have is finding the motivation actually add things. As much as I like to stay organized, sometimes it seems like a waste of time to be cataloging my supplies rather than making things with them. But I digress. I recently grabbed the Pro Inventory Tracking sheet from the Accounting SPOT to play with. It's definitely more advanced than mine--and the other sheets I use--and I've only just begun playing with it, but thus far, I like it. It's certainly worth snagging while it's free.

Do you use spreadsheets to keep your business organized? Leave a comment and tell me what you use!

Blog Carnival: Spring Has Sprung

2010-03-08T15:11:00.000-05:00

The latest EtsyBloggers blog carnival, hosted by Made by Melissa, asks the question,

Spring time is almost here, do you have any special items in your shop to celebrate the season?

Well, one of the first things I think about when I think spring is flowers, and I just happen to have several floral items in my shop, such as...

The Wild Irish Headband

The Scarlet Pimpernel Headband

and this Basic Branding Package

And I've got some new designs coming just for spring. I have a giveaway starting tomorrow, hosted by Got A Lot to Give for these earrings:

I'll also be adding this design to my shop in an array of bright, spring colors, probably with a matching necklace and/or bracelet. I've got some more crocheted accessories in the works, as well. And graphics, of course.

Spring is a time of growth, and having planted the seeds, I intend to keep nurturing my little shop-plant and watch it grow!

Follower Feature Friday: simply_hibiscus

2010-03-05T10:14:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, Folks! It's time for another follower feature! This week's follower is simply_hibiscus, who makes some of the cutest plushies this side of... well... anywhere. A visit to her shop is like walking into a very eclectic and somewhat odd zoo. You'll find all sorts of critters from owls and octopuses to dinosaurs and yetis, with a healthy dose of adorable monsters thrown in to the mix. Here are some of my favorites...

Melvin

Melvin has got to be the world's cutest yeti. That hair... Those eyes... He may be the strong, silent type, but inside he's just begging to be cuddled. And who wouldn't love to cuddle a yeti?

Lucy the Owl

I love me some owls, and there seem to be plenty of them floating around the Etsyverse. But Lucy here stands out from the crowd. Lucy is an owl with attitude. Or maybe... hootitude? Whatever it is, she's got it. And then some. As the entry reads, "Checkered, round, gray, and small, she's the owl that has it all." I couldn't have said it better myself!

Wub

I don't know about you, but I didn't know monsters could be this cute. In fact, this little guy - with his big, round eyes and somewhat uncertain expression - is so adorable I kind of feel bad for calling him a monster. Perhaps "unidentified creature" would be better. I'd hate to hurt his feelings. He seems like kind of a sensitive little guy...

Now, if you don't see anything in the shop that really tugs at your heartstrings, don't fret. Simplyhibiscus takes custom orders! And if you wanna give a little Wub to a someone special, you can have your order gift wrapped for just two bucks!

So what are you waiting for? Go pay simplyhibiscus a visit. And let me know if you see any octopuses.

Thursday Threads: Spring Green

2010-03-04T12:23:00.000-05:00

What's this? A regular feature? At last?

Yep. I'm finally gettin' back into the swing of things. Sorry for the sparse activity, folks. I'm afraid our little household hasn't been the healthiest of late. But Kitty's all better now, and I finally have the energy and brainpower to do something other than sit around like a bump on a log (or a bum on the couch, as the case may be). So let's get back to our regularly scheduled blog, shall we?

Spring is finally on it's way, and I can't wait for it to get here! I love spring. I love it's lack of snow. I love the temperatures that climb to well above freezing. But most of all, I love all of the buds and blossoms and blooms, the life that finally returns, and the beautiful colors it brings. Like green.

This week's Thursday Threads features cute garments in light and lively shades of spring green. Like this adorable gingham dress by Ananya:

This dress just screams spring to me. The color, those playful ruffles, the print... Spring and gingham just go together like... peanut butter and jelly - which would make a great sandwich to pack for a picnic, to which you could wear this dress. Of course, it would be equally suited to a walk in the park, a trip to the nearest ice cream shop, or... just about anything really. It's casual enough for everyday but has plenty of dressing-up potential for those somewhat more formal occasions. Ah, versatility. I love it!

Which is part of the reason I love this reversible wrap skirt by GenerationGap:

Adorable, no? I'm not usually all that fond of floral prints, but this ones pretty with it's springy greens and golden yellows and those lovely little, white... daisies? I'm going to call them daisies. And I'm going to call this skirt awesome, because guess what. This is only the first side! This skirts reversible, so if you're not in a flowery kinda mood, you can flip this puppy around and BAM! You've got the same cute, kneelength wrap skirt in a lovely shade of sky blue. How cool is that? I love reversible stuff.

Ya know what else I love? Hoodies. I think a cute hoodie is a necessity for spring weather. And this bunny hoodie by ShoriAmeshiko is seriously cute:

It has ears. And a cute ickle bunny face. And wings! And it's made with fleece, so it's most likely just as comfy and cozy as it looks. And it looks pretty darn cozy. And so do ShoriAmeshiko's other adorable critter-eared hoodies (featuring bears, and moogles, and mudkips - oh, my!) and hats. The whole shop is just full of cute, so be sure to check it out!

And if you've got any spring greens you'd like to share, leave a comment!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-03T08:54:00.000-05:00

Cookies I made for Kitty's birthday.

Monday Motivator - A New Crafty Addiction

2010-03-01T12:30:00.000-05:00

If you saw my latest Wordless Wednesday, then you know that I've taken a stab at bookbinding. It was one of those things that I'd wanted to try for ages and just hadn't gotten around to it. And now that I have... I'm totally hooked.

I've already started working on one for Kitty, who was totally impressed with the first one. And I have so many ideas for others. SO many. Different papers, different embellishments, different themes and uses...

And the best part? I hardly have to buy any materials to make these! The covers are just your average cardboard (the first one was made from a Hamburger Helper box), and I've already got a decent stack saved up. Look guys, I'm hoarding craft supplies AND reducing waste! :D

I'm currently using plain old printer paper for the pages, but I'd really like to use recycled paper. Maybe even handmade paper. I've already started collecting scraps for potential future paper-making experiments.

I'm going to do a few more first--practice makes perfect, you know--but I think I'm definitely going to try to sell some of these puppies. I'm just debating between adding them to my Etsy inventory and starting a separate shop just for them, maybe on Zibbet. I've heard great things and it wouldn't cost me a penny, so even if they didn't sell I wouldn't be out anything...

Ah, but I'm thinking out loud now, and I've got rice balls to make! Later, Taters!

TGIF!

2010-02-26T11:59:00.000-05:00

Hi there, Folks! I've got some news, but first I want to apologize for being so quiet this week. Kitty's been sick all week, and I haven't felt all that great myself, so most of our time has been spent curled up on the couching watching CSI. =P Hopefully, next week we'll both be feeling better, and I'll get back to my regularly scheduled posts.

Now, then. About that news...

I got my first blog award! :D

The love Kate of Ramble on Rose - who makes unique, one-of-a-kind (and very cool!) clothing and accessories - was kind enough to honor me with the Sunshine Award!

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspired others in the blog world.

And now I'm passing it on to the following sunshine-y blogs:

Elle's Beads Blog

Stroll Through Storyland

tapestry316

TiLT's creations
The Meandering Musings of a Consummate Shopper

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-24T14:56:00.000-05:00

After toying with the idea for quite some time, I finally got around to trying my hand at book-binding. Conclusion: totally hooked and definitely shall be making more of these. More info here.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Challah

2010-02-18T13:01:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to make bread for a while now, and after lots of wiffling and waffling about precisely which recipe to try, I decided on challah. This is the (half-eaten) result.

Tutorial Tuesday: Wine Bottle Lamp

2010-02-16T15:53:00.000-05:00

We've been doing a lot of work around the house lately - moving things around and organizing and decorating. And cleaning. Which is... interesting, because I'm a bit of a ~~hoarder~~ pack rat, and I hate to get rid of anything that might be useful in the future. But I have acknowledged that I have a problem, and I'm making a concerted effort get better. I've instituted a rule when it comes to items that could be recycled/upcycled. If I already have an idea for it, it's a craft supply. If I don't, it's trash, and off to the dump it goes.

One of the things I find it most difficult to part with is glass bottles. I'm not sure why, precisely. They just seem to hold so much potential... So, when my Mom told me about a lamp she'd seen that was made with a wine bottle, I was both impressed by the idea and excited to have a good excuse to keep my wine bottles.

The idea's been floating around in the back of my head ever since, but I've never gotten around to trying it. Mostly because I just wasn't entirely sure how to proceed. Well, lo and behold, as I was perusing Totally Tutorials today (which, by the way, is an awesome blog and you should go follow them now), I just happened to come across this tutorial for a wine bottle lamp. How cool is that? I especially love the way they've set the whole thing up with the glass and the grapes. Bonus: This would give me an excuse to buy some of those awesome frosty/sparkly grapes they have at Walmart. Yay!

I think it might also be possible to make an oil lamp with a wine bottle. Which would, in my opinion, be even cooler. Anyone know anything about this? Or have you made anything else with bottles? Leave a comment!

Featured Blogger: TiLTcreations

2010-02-15T12:49:00.000-05:00

Howdy, Folks! After a brief blogging break (I was so busy I completely forgot!), I'm back. And taking a bit of a departure. This weeks dose of Monday motivation comes to you in the form of the Etsybloggers Team's featured blogger for February: TiLTcreations!

If you're looking for a bag of any sort - be it a clutch or tote or anything in between - TiLTcreations is the place to go. She makes awesome bags in so many shapes, sizes, and styles that anyone ought to be able to find something to suit them. I've found many things that suit me. So many it was hard to choose a favorite. But I think I've got it narrowed down...

How awesome is this? Ok, so if you're not a crazy-huge Buffy fan like I am... I guess it might not impress you quite as much. Me? I think this is awesomesauce. Especially because it's hand embroidered. And it has a nice, cushy, quilted lining that would make this especially great for carrying around your laptop. Or your ancient tomes. And really, how often do you find a good tome bag?

What's that you say? You're not looking for a tome bag? Well. That's okay. TiLTcreations has other messenger bags and backpacks too. Or maybe you're looking for something a bit less... utilitarian. A bit fancier. Something to match your shoes. Well, if your shoes happen to be red (I swear, I didn't set out to make this a red-themed post), you could carry this little baby:

Ain't she delicious, in all her cherry, floral glory? I believe we talked about how this is my favorite color combination. But if it's not yours, not to worry. This style comes in plenty of other colors and prints, as well.

And so does the banglet. What the heck's a banglet? This is a banglet:

Part bangle. Part wristlet. Entirely awesome. I don't know how many times I've looked at a really cute teeny weeny bag and thought, "Hey, that'd be great for carrying the bare necessities" and then decided against it because there was simply no hands-free way to carry it. TiLTcreations has solved that problem, and done so in an innovative, stylish way - by giving this little purse a handle that's also a bracelet. Or maybe it's a bracelet that's also a purse...

I'll leave you to ponder that deep question yourself, Grasshopper. I'm off to check out Tilt Too and see what sort of destash goodies await. Ciao!

Almost Wordless Wednesday: unBoring Brown

2010-02-10T16:39:00.000-05:00

Just used this photo for my first post over on Ideas of Inspiration, so I thought I'd use it for my first (Nearly) Wordless Wednesday too. I'll probably be doing more of these. I love doing my Wicked Wednesday features, but there are some weeks when I just need to lighten the workload a little...

Techno Tuesday: Evernote

2010-02-09T16:23:00.000-05:00

Did you ever wish internet was more like a magazine? Then when you came across an interesting article or picture, you could just cut it out and stick in a notebook or a folder where you could easily find it later. Sure, you can bookmark a page, but then you have to go looking through all your bookmarks to find it again. And you don't always want the entire page. Maybe you're only interested in a single picture or a single paragraph. What then? You have to look through the whole darn page to find it again.

Or do you?

Not anymore. Not with Evernote. Evernote allows you to "clip" and save portions of web pages, as well as documents and photos, to a series of "notebooks," helping to stay organized and integrate your online activity with your offline life.

How does it work? Well, first you have to head over here and sign up.

The next thing you need to do is decide whether you want to stick with the online edition of Evernote or install the desktop version. Personally, I think it's totally worthwhile to download the desktop version. Then your notes are always available--if your internet service is out, if you're traveling... And what's extra awesome is whenever you open the desktop application, it automatically syncs your offline and online notes. So you can still access everything online.

So because it's what I use, I'm going to focus on the desktop application, which you can download right here. Just choose your platform and follow the instructions (or you can install the web clipper if you want to use the online version). Once you've got it downloaded and installed, you'll be asked to log in so the program can sync up with your online account, and then here's what you'll see:

Only yours will be far emptier. You'll have just the default notebook to start out, but you can easily create a new one by right clicking on "Notebooks" on the left-hand side of your screen. You can create as many notebooks as you like so, if you're like me and like to keep everything in it's own place, you'll wind up with a bunch.

So how do you get stuff into your notebooks? Well, for starters, you can choose to create a new note, which will open a text editor where you can type whatever content you wish--your to-do list, links to your favorite blogs, recipes, notes, memos, whatever. You can even insert check boxes so you can keep track of your to-dos and have-dones. And you can insert hyperlinks so you can move from Evernote right to the relevant website with a single click.

But what about that "clipping" thing? That's where the real fun comes in. When you come across something you'd like to save--this How-Tuesday article, for instance, all you have to do is highlight the relevant portion...

(in this case, I've highlighted just the tutorial itself), and then right click on the little Evernote icon in your taskbar and click on "clip current selection."

Or you can use the shortcut, Win (that annoying little windows button that opens your start tab that you only ever seen to accidently hit) + A. And here's what you'll get:

Neat, huh? And there are still more ways to save things to Evernote. Aside from entering them manually and clipping web content, you can also email notes, including attachments (if you have a cell phone that has a camera and email capability, this means you can snap a picture of something while you're out, email it to Evernote, and have it waiting for you when you get back) and you can even use Twitter to send yourself notes. How cool is that?

And I'm really just scratching the surface of what Evernote can do. Be sure to check out the website for more suggestions. And if you decide to give a shot (or you use Evernote already), let me know how it works for you!

Monday Motivator: Heart Health

2010-02-08T14:22:00.000-05:00

Did you know that February is Heart Health Month? I didn't either until I read the topics for the latest Etsy Bloggers blog carnival. And then I thought, "What the heck am I going to write about heart health?" I could share my favorite Valentine's tradition from my childhood, but I really wasn't ever all that fond of the holiday, so that seemed doomed to be a short and rather boring post.

So, heart health. Well, I do my best, in general, to stay healthy. I eat plenty of vegetables, I've taken up yoga, I drink a lot tea... But what do I do specifically for my heart? Well. Nothing, really.

But something I do do is cook. And eating right is one of the major things you can do to keep your heart healthy. So I thought I'd share my favorite heart-healthy recipe. Just as soon as I figured out which of my favorite recipes were, in fact, heart-healthy.

Well, according to Web MD, tofu is one of the top 25 heart-healthy foods. Aha! Tofu! I love tofu. I'm sure a lot of you are wrinkling your noses right now. I can sympathize. The stuff doesn't look pleasant. It doesn't smell great. And on it's own, it doesn't taste very good either. But you can work magic with tofu.

A simple marinade turns it from a bland, flavorless lump of soy goo into a delicious chunk of awesomeness that's just as good and just as satisfying as meat but far better for you. I've only just begun to experiment, but thus far, my favorite recipe is Pan-Fried Tofu with Caramelized Sauce from The Complete Book of Japanese Cooking.

Now, to keep things heart-healthy, you would probably want to use a low-sodium soy sauce (I'm pretty sure those are available.... Also, it takes some time to prepare because you have drain your tofu for 30 minutes, let your marinade sit for 15 minutes, and then marinade the tofu for another 15 minutes. But once that's done, it's fairly quick and quite easy to cook. And all of the ingredients are easy to find, even if you aren't a big fan of Asian cooking and don't already have the stuff lying around.

So why not give it a shot? And if you do, be sure to let me know how it turns out!

Follower Feature Friday: KMstudioDOTcom

2010-02-05T14:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, folks! Now, before I get on with my follower feature, I'd like to take a moment to share...

I got a feature of my own! I'm in this treasury! Isn't it lovely? My first treasury. I'm so excited!

But enough about me. Today's featured follower is kmstudiodotcom, who makes awesome items, both ornamental and functional, out of recycled aluminum cans. How cool is that? I always love to see crafters making nifty stuff and helping the environment at the same time. And KM Studio does just that with beautiful items like this magnet:

Hard to believe it's made from a plain old soda can, isn't it? And what a lovely way to dress up your fridge. Or your favorite jacket! Because you have the option, when ordering, of having this little lovely made into a brooch rather than a magnet. And there's no need to worry about sharp bits snagging you or your clothes, as each piece has a foam backing.

Are you more of a bookworm than a pin-wearing fridge-dresser? That's cool. KM Studio's got you covered too. Check out these bookmarks!

Nifty, no? I love the clip-type bookmarks, but a lot of the ones I've used have been a bit cumbersome - a bit heavy or oddly shaped. These look just perfect. They're small and simple, and they're made of aluminum, so they'd be light too. And again, they have a foam backing to protect you and your book. My only complaint is that I didn't see a Coke version. It's all about brand loyalty, y'know.

Ah, but KM Studio doesn't just recycle aluminum cans. She works with polymer clay and paints too! Take a look at this gorgeous polymer clay rose magnet:

So pretty! It reminds me of one of those lovely little miniature rose bushes. Looks like it was just picked!

And I just love this painting of a pair of lovebirds:

Such beautiful, vivid colors! Makes me think of the sunset.

And this is just a taste of what KM StudioDOTcom has to offer. Be sure to check out the rest of her shop!

I'm off to kick back and enjoy the rest of my birthday. See you Monday!

Thursday Threads - Zen and the Art of Fashion Maintenance

2010-02-04T16:09:00.000-05:00

As part of my reasonably-close-to-New-Year's resolution to get back into a more active routine (winter forced my walking routine into hibernation - I'm just not dedicated enough to go out in the cold), I have recently taken up yoga. I'm just doing it in the privacy of my own home, at the guidance of some great videos I've found (thank you, internet), with no one around to laugh at me when my warrior wobbles or my down dog can't get up. I've even been known to do it in my pajamas. Obviously, I'm not too worried about how I look.

That being said, I still wouldn't mind having some of the awesome yoga goodies I found on Etsy. Like this fantastic hoodie from FunkyQuail:

This makes me want to try and combine knitting and yoga. Maybe I could knit it lotus pose? Or throw some meditation in and chant while I knit - knit, om, purl, om...? I don't know. What I do know is I love this shirt. And it looks like it would be just as comfy during yoga practice as it would be sitting on the couch knitting your way to Nirvana.

And while we're on the subject of comfy, check out these pants from Ahpeele:

Don't these look like they'd be just wonderful to wear? And they just look wonderful too! I love that vine-y, leafy pattern. And the colors - calm and subdued. Just like yoga pants ought to be.

But as much as I love these, I have to admit, I actually prefer to wear leggings for my yoga practice. And I'd be hard pressed to find a lovelier pair than these from prettypennydesigns:

These, too, look super-comfy. And I just love the little birdies! But if birds aren't your thing, Pretty Penny has some other awesome leggings too. So be sure to check 'em out!

Me? I'm going to go enjoy my inner tranquility. And maybe a cup of coffee. It's cold!

Wicked Wednesday: Red and Black and Undead All Over

2010-02-03T15:09:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it's got me seeing red! Seriously, it's everywhere. Fortunately, I happen to like red. In fact, it comprises half of my favorite color combination. There's just something about a bright, blood red paired with deep, dark, doom-ly black...

Obviously, I am not alone in this opinion. There is certainly no shortage of awesome red and black items floating around Etsy. Here are just a few of my favorites...

This ravishing raven pendant from The Gilded Lily is actually made from a Scrabble tile. I'm a big fan of Scrabble, so I think that's pretty darn cool. And even if you're not a Scrabblephile, you can't deny that this pendant is gorgeous. Unless maybe you just really don't like big, black birds. In which case you should check out the rest of the shop, which is chock full of Scrabble tile pendants. There is seriously something here for everyone--from pretty flowers to retro flamingos to phrases such as "Keep Calm and Eat A Cupcake." Very cool.

Moving onward, I love armwarmers. They're such a great accessory--especially for folks like me who have ickle bitty hands. I love gloves, but they're always too long in the fingers. With armwarmers, that's not an issue. And, like gloves, armwarmers can be both practical--like the knitted variety in warm wools--or decorative, like these little lovlies from Estylissimo.

Aren't they just fabulous? The lace, the lacing, the subtle pinstripes... Beautiful! But if you don't have anything in your closet to match these, don't worry. Estylissimo has a wide range of armwarmers in a variety of styles and colors, as well as a selection of gorgeous chokers and headbands. Do pay them a visit.

And finally, what good are awesome accessories without a beautiful dress? It's like potatoes without the meat. But fear not. I found this beauty for you:

Say "hello" to the Olivia gown by KMKostumes. Actually, it's three separate pieces--the corset top, skirt, and big ol' fluffy petticoat. So if you really wanted to, you could wear the pieces separately. I love options like that. And I love the rest of KMKostumes's offerings, as well. They've got lots of other beautiful dresses--in a range of prices from quite affordable to gonna-have-to-save-your-pennies-for-a-while--as well as skirts, tops, and a whole host of awesome accessories. Be sure to take a look!

There's my picks. Now let's see yours!

Tutorial Tuesday: Cereal Gift Box

2010-02-02T13:03:00.000-05:00

I'm always on the lookout for inexpensive packaging ideas--envelopes, gift boxes, etc. If it's something I can make myself, even better. And if it's something I can make with recycled materials, I'm all over it.

Which is why this tutorial caught my eye. What a great use for all those cereal boxes! I haven't tried this one myself yet, but when I do, I'll let you know how it turns out. Or if you beat me to it, let me know!

Gift Box from a Cereal Box - More DIY How To Projects

Monday Motivator: New Design

2010-02-01T17:28:00.000-05:00

Bit of a late post. Just didn't have any energy today. But we all have days like that, right?

I'm still excited about the week ahead. I've got lots of things planned, and I'll be listing a new design! I've been planning on doing more headbands from the start, and I've finally finished my second design. Here's a sneak peak:

New designs, new listings, and new opportunities. That's what's motivating me this week! What about you?

Blog Carnival: Snowflakes

2010-01-29T12:03:00.000-05:00

Taking a break from the routine to post another blog carnival (almost missed this one! Eep!). This one is all about snowflakes!

One of the options was to write about our favorite way to make snowflakes, which immediately made me go, "Ooh!" Remember those paper snowflakes you learned how to make in art class back in elementary school? Actually, show of hands, who did learn how to make them? I learned last winter that, contrary to what I would have thought, this is not a universal part of the elementary school art class curriculum.

It should be. They're easy and they're fun and the end product is always beautiful and unique--just like real snowflakes. And there's just something about the whole process of making them... It's almost meditative. Or it is to me, anyway. I don't know. Maybe I take my snowflake-making too seriously. =P

There's something about teaching people how to make snowflakes too. I taught my little sister a few years ago, and it kept me smiling for days as she made snowflake after snowflake and proudly showed me the results. And she's gone on to teach others. It's amazing how the snowflake-making love just naturally seems to spread...

Now, if I'd been on top of things and had a bit more time to work on it, I'd be posting a little snowflake how-to here. Maybe I'll make that my next Tuesday tutorial...

Busy Day Update

2010-01-28T16:40:00.000-05:00

Whew. It's been a busy couple of days. I got off to a late start yesterday, but then I spent the rest of the day beading and crocheting and taking pictures and editing pictures... I totally forgot about my blog post. And then today I got up and took some more pictures, did some more editing, got my donation to Hearts for Haiti sent in... I was thinking I would write up today's post after lunch. But while I was eating, my email notifier made its little noise at me, I bounced over to check it, and huzzah! A sale!

So instead of working on my blog post, I've been working on a custom banner order. And as I've been working so hard, I thought I'd be a bit lazy and just post something short. And all about me. =P

Besides, I wanted to let my lovely readers know that I'm running a special on this baby...

which is currently featured on the Craftomania Toolbar I told you about in my last post AND on The T-shirt Lady's blog! About which I am ten kinds of excited. My very first blog feature! Yay!

But I digress. To celebrate, I've reduced the price and, for the rest of the week, shipping is free! So if you've been eyeballing this one, now is the time to grab it!

Me? I'm off to work some new items that shall soon be gracing the shop! See you tomorrow!

Techno Tuesday: The Craftomania Toolbar

2010-01-26T14:17:00.002-05:00

Happy Tuesday, Folks! If you’re a regular visitor here, you may have noticed a bit of a change. That’s right, today is Techno Tuesday rather than Tutorial Tuesday. Now don’t get me wrong. I love posting tutorials, and I shall continue to do so, but it recently occurred to me just how many different bits of software I use to help me stay organized and keep track of my business. I figured there are plenty of folks out there like myself, who could use a little help in the organizational department. So I’ll be highlighting a different program or tool every Techno Tuesday, beginning today with the Craftomania toolbar.

I’m always a bit leery of toolbars. Everyone wants you to use their’s, and they always seem to be trying to sneak into your browser with other programs. And once they’re there, do you ever really use them? You might it they were all like Craftomania’s toolbar. I mean, it’s a toolbar just for crafty folks. Could it get any better?

Oh, it could. If you’re an Etsy seller, it’s also a promotional tool. As a matter of fact, that’s how I first encountered it. I came across a forum post about a new way to promote. My enthusiasm waned when I saw that it was a toolbar. I posted my information for possible promotion and left it at that. For a few days, at least. And then curiosity finally got the better of me. C’moooon, said that nagging little internal voice. It’s a crafty toolbar. It might actually be cool!

So I went and found the link, installed the toolbar… And was immediately impressed. For one thing, it looks nice:

*Note: If you’re using the toolbar in Firefox and you’re using Personas, you’ll have to use a lighter colored Persona to keep things looking nice. On darker backgrounds, there’s a ring of white pixels around each graphic that may or may not actually bother you all that much.

There’s a lot of content there, but the bar doesn’t look cluttered at all. And I like the little circular graphics. I can’t really say anything about the color because it changes from week to week, which ties in with the promotional aspect of the toolbar.

Every week or so, the toolbar changes colors and a new thread is posted in the Etsy forums, where folks can post a link to any items they may have in their shop fitting the color theme. Those items are then added to a special tab on the toolbar. Like so…

The “blog” tab, as you may have guessed, features blogs. A long list of blogs you could spend ages reading. And if you'd like to have your own blog added to the list, you need but ask, which you can do at right here on the Etsy forums.

And if that’s not enough promotion for you, there is a whole list of other places to promote right there on the toolbar. I haven’t done any real experimenting yet, but these sites all look pretty cool.

This is what I really love about the toolbar. It offers such a wealth of resources to explore—promotional opportunities, social networks, and more tools than you can shake a stick at. And when you find yourself using a particular resource all the time, you have a handy link right there. All you have to do is click.

That may not seem like much. I mean, really. You can type, right? Sure. But take the Etsy forums, for instance. I don’t have the URL for the forums memorized. I wouldn’t want to type it all, if I did. So normally I would just go Etsy and click on Community and then click on forums… Just a couple of clicks, but I have to wait for pages to load in between, which can take some time if you’re not blessed with a super-speedy connection. The toolbar, on the other hand, gives me a link right to the forums. One click. A small timesaver, but all those seconds saved add up.

And if you should find, in time, that there tabs you never use, you can go to your toolbar options and hide them. You can shrink the toolbar so it takes up less space. Or on the opposite end of the spectrum, you can add other potentially useful tools (I’ve just added the e-mail notifier).

All in all, the Craftomania toolbar is just downright nifty and quite handy to have around. I strongly encourage my fellow Etsians—even the toolbar-haters—to give it a shot.

You can grab it right here. Let me know what you think!

ETA: Links are fixed! Sorry about that, folks...

Monday Motivator: Hearts for Haiti

2010-01-25T12:31:00.000-05:00

I've never done any sort of crafting for charity. It's one of those things I've always wanted to do and meant to do, but I've just never gotten around to doing it. And I can't help but think that I'm not alone in that. Many of us have good intentions, but it's easy for them to get lost amongst the odds and ends of our own busy lives.

We don't have cable or satellite or even an antenna--DVD's and videos only in our house--so the only news I get is headlines on my phone and what I come across here on the internet. So two weeks ago, when the earthquake struck Haiti, I was sitting here completely unaware until I decided to check my phone and saw the headline. And then throughout the day and the rest of the week, I watched charitable acts and organizations popping up all over the place, like flowers in spring.

There has been much buzz on the Etsy forums about what we crafty folk can do to help, and there have been plenty of efforts organized by our fellow Etsians. One of the first I came across was Hearts for Haiti.

This is an awesome shop that sells items--many of which are heart-themed--that have been donated by Etsy sellers. 100% of the proceeds (minus the Etsy and Paypal fees) goes to Doctors Without Borders, which is a fantastic organization itself, and if you aren't already familiar with them, you really should go take a look at their site. Hearts for Haiti has already raised over $16,000 and is still going strong.

I decided as soon as I saw the shop that I was going to donate something, and after some thought, I decided to design a piece specifically for them. A little wire-work, a little stringing, and here's what I came up with:

Working on this has got me thinking it's about time I dug out that list of crafty charities and got to work. What about you? Have you done any crafty donations? Got a favorite crafty charity? Leave a comment and let me know. I may just make this a weekly feature...

Follower Feature Friday: Dongedy

2010-01-22T13:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, folks! Today's featured follower is the fantastic Dongedy, a truly unique photographer who specializes in miniatures.

It's hard to describe Dongedy's art in words, other than to say that it's wonderfully creative--a bit quirky, rather humorous, and sure to make you smile. So, allow me to show you a few of my favorites...

This one is called "Sin of Gluttony," and looking at it, I can't help but imagine myself as a tiny climber, scaling a jar of Nutella. Oh, yes. Much gluttony would be committed...

On one hand, this could be a viewed as a more serious piece making a statement about the medical field's dependence on drugs. On the other hand, it just makes me chuckle. I would love to see this hanging in a waiting room...

This would be a great Valentine's gift for your favorite heartbreaker. Or maybe an anti-Valentine's gift. Or maybe just a generally awesome gift for someone who appreciates a great visual pun.

I'm going to stop typing now, and you're going to go check out Dongedy's shop, right? Right.

Thursday Threads: Ballet Beauties

2010-01-21T14:57:00.001-05:00

Happy Thursday, Folks! First off, I want to share a little something I whipped up the other day...

It's not in the shop yet because, well, this one is mine (I always keep the "prototype"), and I ran out of chain.

I decided to name this one Coppelia. The pink and white made me think of tutus and toe shoes, and though I think it's rather elegant, there's also a certain playfulness to it. It's ballet with a sense of humor. Like Coppelia.

I love ballet. And I love fashions influenced by the art. Hence, today's Thursday Threads features ballet-inspired items (in shades of pink to match my pearls *wink*).

One of the first ballet-inspired fashions that springs to mind is ballet flats. DeBonisOrquera has whole shop full of these lovely shoes, many of which are made in bright, fun colors and patterns that are more "bold" than "ballet." But there are softer, sweeter styles as well, such as dear Helen here...

I just love these! The color scheme gives them a distinctly "ballet" feel, but the pattern makes them modern and just a little funky. They would go just as well with a t-shirt and jeans as they would with a pretty, pink dress. Or your leotard and tights.

Speaking of pretty things to wear your new shoes, how about this gorgeous tank from clairelafaye:

This just looks like it came straight from the stage, doesn't it? That shade of pink, those ruffles, that bow... And for a dash of unexpected glitz, that rhinestone pin and chains. Magnifique! And to think it all started with a simple tank top... This is but one example of clairelafaye's beautiful designs. Be sure to check the rest of the shop too!

Now, then. I bet you're expecting a tutu, aren't you? I have to be honest. I did consider it. There are some truly lovely tutus floating around the Estysphere, after all. But in the end, I decided to go with something a bit less obvious and a bit more practical. Like this beautiful skirt from lauralyn:

I love the colors and the pattern and the "poofability" of this skirt. It's shown here on its own, but it could also be worn with a petticoat for that wonderfully fluffy, cupcake-y look. Check out the rest of lauralyn's shop for this same print in dress form, more wonderfully "poofable" skirts, and plenty of other adorable items.

I'm gonna go pirouette my way to the kitchen to have some of the scones I baked this morning! Au revoir!

Wicked Wednesday: Creepy Crochet

2010-01-20T13:02:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it's not really creepy, per se. I just like alliteration. And all of these crocheted creations do have a certain gothic flair. And you thought crochet was just for Granny's afghans! You didn't really, did you?!

Oh, no, my friends. It's also for... jewelry? You bet! Just check out this gorgeous crocheted choker from FlowersbyIrene:

Isn't it amazing? Great for any elegant occasion, but it would truly be the perfect Gothic wedding accessory. There's also a white version for the more traditional bride, as well as lots of other beautiful crocheted accessories. Check it out!

You know what would go great with that choker? These gloves from crochetize:

I know I said the same thing about the last item, but aren't these amazing? So detailed! So elegant! So fantastically well-made! Go pay crochetize a visit. She has a few other pairs of gloves in her shop, and each one is just as gorgeous as these.

I always like to see something for the wee baby gothlings of the world, and these have to be one of the cutest items of that description I've ever seen:

I love these. I love the little skulls. I love that they look like Crocs. And I love that they take the tradition of crocheted baby booties to a new, modern, goth-ish level. Awesome!

Nahvrianna has these in other colors, as well, if you're not of the "drab is fab" mindset. And if you're not really gothly at all ~~I don't know why you're reading this~~ she has lots of other adorable booties too, as well as patterns, if you'd like to make your own.

Now, then. On to today's bonus item! This one isn't actually crocheted itself, but it is crochet-related. And it's so cool I just couldn't resist.

This puts my nice-but-kinda-boring-maroon-pleather-came-with-the-hooks case to shame! Aren't those little button-eyed skulls and scissor-crossbones just the greatest? And the best part? This is just one of many awesome designs Slipped Stitch Studios has to offer. There are plenty of other cool needle/hook wraps as well as project bags and oodles of other accessories for we knitters and hookers.

All right, my fiendish friends. That's it from me today. Have you got a cool, creepy crocheted item to share? Leave me a comment. I'd love to see it!

Tutorial Tuesday: Make Your Own Etsy Banner

2010-01-19T14:09:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday, folks! I've been thinking of trying my own video tutorial for a while now, and I finally got around to doing it last week. As my greatest expertise lies with graphics, I decided to do a simple banner tutorial (This also was something I could do with one hand, leaving me with a free hand to operate the camera. Handy. =P).

Overall, I'm quite happy with it. I got a bit ramble-y in places, trying to fill the silence while I did things, and my phone decided to honk at me in the middle of things. But hey, this is an amateur tutorial video, not fine cinema.

So. Watch, enjoy, and let me know what you think! If there's interest, I'm willing to do this in text and images, as well. I know that would be easier to follow for some...

Make Your Own Etsy Banner with GIMP: Part 1 from The Ash Grove on Vimeo.

Make Your Own Etsy Banner with GIMP: Part 2 from The Ash Grove on Vimeo.

Thursday Threads: NicoDesigns

2010-01-14T13:14:00.000-05:00

I suppose it could be argued that handbags don't technically fall under the category of apparel, but the title of this feature is Thursday Threads, and threads and fabric are most certainly involved here. Also, it's my blog. =P

So. Without further ado, let me introduce you to today's featured Etsian, NicoDesigns, who makes some truly awesome totes and handbags, the most adorable baby shoes, and pretty pincushions and pillows, as well.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Isn't this pretty? I love the colors (I've discovered I have a big thing for blue and brown together...), and the size would be perfect for all sorts of things. It's listed as a diaper bag--and a very stylish one it would be--but it would also be a great school bag or for my fellow knitters/crocheters, I think it would be great for those on-the-go projects.

Things like this make me wish I had a baby to dress. Aren't these just the cutest? And they're eco-friendly too! They're made with a recycled felt product and 100% cotton flannel. Oooh, flannel. Gosh, I wouldn't mind having some flannel-lined slippers for myself... Hey, Nico! Any plans for adult sizes? =P

How cute are these? And versatile. They have ribbon loops, so you could hang them as ornaments. They'd look lovely just sitting on a shelf. Or you could use them as pin cushions! I personally think a whole set of pin cushions would be a very handy thing to have. Then I could have one for every room, which would totally eliminate the "oh darn I left my pincushion in the other room guess I'll just stick these pins in the arm of the couch" syndrome.

But I digress. There are many, many more adorable items to be found in Nico's shop, so go take a look! And be sure to check out her blog, as well! NicoDesigns is this month's featured Etsy Blogger!

Looking Forward

2010-01-13T15:16:00.000-05:00

If you've been following my blog, you may have noticed a few changes--such as the addition of a second sidebar (Finally figured that out! Yay!) and some new graphics related to the Etsy Bloggers Team. Yup, I have officially joined my very first Etsy team, and I am all kinds of excited!

So I'm deviating from my normal schedule today to write my first Blog Carnival entry, answering the question: "Now that 2010 is here, what do you have planned/look forward to/hope to accomplish this year?"

The first answer that springs to mind is, "So very much!" I have so many ideas bouncing around I could probably ramble for pages. Which, might be interesting, but also time-consuming. So I'll narrow it down to a nice, neat list...

Plans for 2010

Experiment with quilting. I've always loved quilts. My great grandma made the most fantastic patchwork quilts out of old clothes that she cut into little squares and sewed entirely by hand. They were the warmest, coziest things in the world. I used to watch quilting shows on PBS almost every day, and came to know quite a bit about how quilts are constructed. But for some reason, I've just never gotten around to trying it out for myself. But the crafty muses recently gifted me with what I think is an awesome and rather unique idea for a series of quilts, and I intend to get to work just as soon as I compile all of the necessary materials...

Play with polymer clay. There's a necklace design that's been sitting in my sketchbook for a few months now waiting for me to get the beads and decide how to make the pendant. I finally decided to use polymer clay and, coincidentally, not long thereafter, I was given a book about stamping polymer clay, which gave me all sorts of other ideas. I fell in love with poly-clay a few years ago when I started costuming (it's great for all sorts of small props and such), and I've always wanted to experiment with it in other contexts but, like quilting, I've just never gotten around to it. Apparently, this is to be the year of "Things I Never Got Around To Before."

Make some dolls. I've recently developed a fascination with sock dolls, plushies, amigurumi, and other such forms of "soft" dolls. I actually made a small stuffed moose back in my junior high home ec. class. It was a rather frustrating experience, but the teacher and I did not get on well, so the atmosphere was probably more to blame for that than the moose itself. So I am not deterred. Though, I do believe some sort of amigurumi will be my first venture. I also must add that I am utterly in love with sock dolls. If I can work out a way to make myself a sock squirrel, my life will be complete.

Make some soap! I started fiddling with soap-making a few years ago, and made some lovely melt-and-pour glycerin soaps that I gave as Christmas presents to all the ladies in my family. They were quite easy and lots of fun, but what I really wanted to try--what started that whole venture, to begin with--was cold process soap-making (the real deal, with lye and all that jazz). I always did enjoy chemistry... I think the whole process appeals to my inner mad scientist. Regardless, I never got around to it back then, and I haven't thus far mostly because of all the equipment I needed to compile (being broke does not make that easy =P). But I recently came across something that offers the best of both worlds: soap shreds! Basically, these are cold process soap that's been shredded and can thus be melted, dyed, scented, and poured into molds, much like glycerin. How cool is that? I already have ideas for a few different "scent collections," and I'd love to add a bath and body line to my shop this year (or maybe start a second shop--I'm debating).

Well, look at that. I rambled anyway. Ah, well. Those are my major crafty plans for this year. I have many other, less-interesting-to-write-about business/marketing plans and goals, as well. All in all, it's going to be a busy year!

Tutorial Tuesday: Jeweled Mini Boxes

2010-01-12T12:04:00.000-05:00

Howdy, folks! In case you hadn't already guessed, we were having computer troubles again yesterday. But I'm back today with a great tutorial by ellesbeads. If you're looking for a fun, stylish way to store your findings, seed beads, all those tiny little odds and ends, check out her video tutorial and learn how to make some adorable jeweled boxes. They'd make great gift boxes for smaller items as well, methinks...

Follower Feature Friday: Eco Creations

2010-01-08T12:52:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, Folks! Hope you're all enjoying yours. We're having a snowy one here, but that's okay. I view it as a great excuse to stay inside and drink lots of hot chocolate!

And, of course, catch up on things like my blogging. It feels like it's been ages since I did a Follower Feature... But I'm jumping back in the saddle with this post, featuring the lovely EcoCreations!

If you're into eco-friendly, nature-inspired designs, you simply must check out Eco Creations. While they're focus is on hemp and beaded jewelry, they also feature other accessories and home decor (there aren't any listed at the moment, but they do some awesome hemp rugs). And the best part? Not only is everything in the shop beautiful, but it's all made with vegan, domestically-made, and/or recycled materials. And they offer free shipping in the US! Here's just a sample of what they have to offer...

Unique Hemp Jewelry

I don't think I've ever seen hemp combined with sterling silver before, but isn't gorgeous? If you don't think hemp jewelry can be elegant, take another look at this picture. And then go check out the rest of the shop, because this is just one example.

Elegant Earrings

Maybe hemp just really isn't your thing. No worries. Eco Creations has lots of not-hemp-but-still-eco-friendly jewelry too. Like these beautiful, graceful earrings, featuring mother-of-pearl coins that were not harvested from live oysters. No need for your earrings to fight with your ethics!

Beautiful Beaded Bracelets

Eco Creations has all sorts of beautiful bracelets of both the hemp and beaded variety, ranging from austere and elegant to fun and funky. So choosing one was difficult, but the name of this one caught my eye. Sugarplum. What a perfect name! It really does remind me of a bunch of sugarplums all strung together. It's one part Serious Plum Business, two parts Sugary Dancing Fun. I love it!

And all that talk of sugarplums has made me hungry... I'm off to raid the after-Christmas candy stash. You go pay a visit to Eco Creations!

Want a chance to be featured here? Come follow me!

A bit of gushing

2010-01-07T14:42:00.000-05:00

Well, folks, my blogging vacation turned out to be a bit longer than I had intended... Our internet has been flaky all week, so I haven't been able to get online to post. My apologies. Hope you haven't missed me too much. ;)

Of course, I haven't been able to do my usual browsing around Etsy either, so I'm going to skip today's feature and do a bit of gushing instead. All of these folks not only have great shops; they're also just awesome people.

Like ellesbeads. Elle makes jewelry that's very beautiful and very affordable. Like these gorgeous earrings. Aren't they amazing? And she's just a sweet person, to boot.

So is christinemarieford. Christine specializes in jewelry, quilting, and fiber art. And I must say, I'm just in love with her work. All of her pieces are truly unique and utterly beautiful. It's hard to choose a favorite, but if I absolutely had to, I think I'd have to go with this choker. It's just stunning!

And while we're on the subject of jewelry, you should be seeing some new pieces from me soon. Kitty was kind enough to buy me some gorgeous pearls and jade from BeadsAndPearls and I just can't wait to do something with them. If I manage to make something half as beautiful as the necklace she bought from them, I'll be happy.

But for now, I'm off to catch up on some other things and throw some dishes in the dishwasher before our pipes decide to freeze. It's cold. *shivers*

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T12:04:00.000-05:00

I've had a busy morning working on my second custom graphics order (I got two in one day! I can't believe it...), and now I'm going to kick back, relax, and enjoy my holiday. Regular posting shall resume next week, when the holidays are over, and I can no longer justify being lazy. ;)

So Happy New Year to all my readers!

*raises a glass*

Cheers!

Wicked Wednesday: Steampunk

2009-12-30T15:17:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon, my fine readers! It's time for another Wicked Wednesday. The new year is just around the bend, so I thought I'd devote today's installment to a style/subculture/aesthetic (call it what you will) that's rather new to me.

Steampunk!

This is my latest stylistic obsession, and I am oh-so-happy to see oh-so-much steamy awesomeness floating around the Etsy. Here is a brief sampling of some of my favorite items...

I don't think it's come up here before (amazingly), but I have a big thing for corsets. I love looking at them, I love wearing them, I even made one (granted, it was a waist cincher and not a full corset, but it totally counts). So of course, any fashion that supports the wearing of corsets is going to be right up my alley. Thank you, steampunk.

And thank you damselinthisdress for giving me so many beautiful corsets to lust after. Seriously, everything in this shop is just gorgeous. But we're talking steampunk here, so have a look at this baby:

So beautiful I'm having trouble thinking of anything intelligent to say. I just love everything about it--the brown, the velvet, the buttons. Oh, the buttons... Did I mention I have a thing for buttons, too?

You know what else I love? Hats. Especially top hats. So of course, if I got this corset, I'd have to buy a hat to go with it. And it would have to be this hat:

I love those little leather bits. The whole thing kind of reminds me of an old trunk. And I love old trunks. Of course, I also love everything else GypsyLadyHats has to offer. I wouldn't mind having one of everything.

In fact, I spent a good deal of time browsing through their shop, trying to pick something to feature here. Precisely how much time, I don't know. Because I don't have one of these:

But boy I wish I did. I've been wanting a pocket watch for a while now, and when I get around to buying one, I think it's going to have to be from finkgifts. They have oodles of beautiful watches, including a wide selection of specifically steampunk watches. And there's just something extra cool about a watch with all its gears hangin' out...

I could go on for ages, really. There's so much cool stuff out there. But I've got work to do, so I'm out, and now it's your turn. Spotted some steamy goodness? Leave a comment and let's see it!

Tutorial Tuesday: Earwires

2009-12-29T13:07:00.000-05:00

I recently came across a set of brief, simple instructions for making your own earwires and thought, "Gosh, that's handy." Sure earwires are rather inexpensive and available in large quantities, but it's always nice to have an alternative. After all, there are few things more frustrating that running out of a necessary component and being totally stuck until you can get more.

Now, as I'm fond of video tutorials, I thought I'd see what Youtube had to offer on the subject. This video is a little more in-depth than the aforementioned tutorial, but the basic idea is the same--and just as simple.

Monday Motivator: New Item!

2009-12-28T16:32:00.001-05:00

I love listing new items! And I'm especially excited today because I've just listed my first Branding Package!

What's a "branding package," you ask?

This right here:

This is the bare bones basic edition, but I intend to offer larger sets in the future with lots of extra goodies--like extra banners and avatars for sales, thank you cards, address labels... Basically, anything useful I can think of (suggestions are totally welcome!).

I've got many, many more designs planned, so keep your eyes peeled! Also, I've got some gorgeous new beads on the way (thank you, Kitty! ♥), so you can expect some new jewelry soonish as well. And headbands! I need to make headbands! Ahhh! So much to do! How could I not be motivated?!

From the Ash Grove

Brr!

Related articles

The Legend of the Christmas Pickle

Monday Motivator: Two Heads

Harry Potter and the Crapton of Craftlace

December Freebies

Back to Business

Related articles

NaNoWriMo

It's not too late!

Thursday Threads: Happy Halloween!

I'm baaaaaack!

News + Giveaway!

Related articles by Zemanta

In case you missed it...

Autumn Equinox Sale

Thursday Threads: Tea Party Attire

Update

Wicked Wednesday: Eco-Goth

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY Sandals

Poll Time!

Just An Update...

EtsyBloggers Anniversary Sale

Techno/Tutorial Tuesday: Picnik

Related articles by Zemanta

Tutorial Tuesday: Ribbon Roses

How to Make Silk, Satin or Ribbon Roses

Steps

Tips

Things You'll Need

Related wikiHows

Featured EtsyBlogger: Sykin

Related articles by Zemanta

Blog Carnival: Summer Inspiration

Techno Tuesday: Zemanta

Monday Motivator: Costuming

New Item: Hand-Lettered Spice Labels

Wizard Wednesday

Tutorial Tuesday: Fabruckets

New Listing: Customizable Mallorn Leaf Pendant

Wicked Wednesday: Quothe the Raven

Thursday Threads: Sweetheart Apron

Monday Motivator: Keep Calm and Carry On

Featured Blogger: BeadedTail

Summer Solstice Sale

Blog Carnival: Goals

Monday Motivator: New with a Dash of Geek

Monday Motivator: Giving Back

Thursday Threads: Dressed for Summer

New Look, New Item

Thursday Threads: Command Presence

Tutorial Tuesday: Japanese Bookbinding

Monday Motivator: Features

My First Interview

Techno Tuesday: ReminderFox

Blog Carnival: Christina's World

Facebook Giveaway

New Item!

Etsy Bloggers Blog Carnival: Birthdays

Thursday Threads: Eco-Friendly Fashion, Part 2

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Blossoms

Tutorial Tuesday: Eco-Friendly Tote

Thursday Threads: Eco-Friendly Fashion

I Need Fans!

Wicked Wednesday: April Showers Bring Steamy Flowers

Tutorial Tuesday: Upcycled Magazine Holder

Monday Motivator: Everything's Blooming!

Featured EtsyBlogger: DizzyDragonflies

Monday Motivator: Shopping!

Raincheck

Techno Tuesday: Greasemonkey/Etsy Hacks

Monday Motivator: Goals

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Giveaway!

Techno Tuesday: Spreadsheets

Blog Carnival: Spring Has Sprung

Follower Feature Friday: simply_hibiscus

Thursday Threads: Spring Green

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

Monday Motivator - A New Crafty Addiction