House Cleaning

I've never been the best house keeper, and I have so much trouble getting rid of things. I am working on this program, so far it's been going well. I have been getting alot done, but one day at a time, instead of all in one day and then worn out and unmotivated. If you have housecleaning or clutter issues, I highly recommend this service~ and it is free!

Valentine's Day

I forgot to mention my Valentine's Day! Jason brought home some beautiful tulips and some chocolate. Then he took me to Norman Quack's~ a great local restarant. We had a great time and I love those flowers.

Here is the treasury I just made on Etsy. Enjoy!

Updates

Last weekend we had Cynthia's party at the bowling alley, we all had lots of fun and ate pizza, nachos, and soda. Sharon and Dennis (my parents) were gracious enough to foot the bill~ Thanks Mom and Dad! We also said goodbye to Annie last Friday. We had a nice dinner at an Italian place, it was delicious. We were sad, but Annie was ready to go back and complete her mission. Can't wait till we have her back for good.
This week was Daisy's first Valentine's Day at school, she was so proud of all of the cards and candy she received. Daisy and Cynthia both had Friday off, we got a lot done around the house.
Jason made a delicious roast on his grill yesterday, it was quite good for the first time he has made it. I made some mashed potatoes, and Jason made some gravy with the drippings. Actually a TON of gravy, we have plenty to last us for a while.
We are also hoping to sign up for the Forest Lake Farmers Market soon. We will do that every Tuesday evening from June to September. Sharon wants to do that with me, it will be good to have the company. So I am in a flurry getting ready for that~ soaps, canopy, a sign needs to be made, wish us luck!
Well, I am still working on a new template for my website. It looks perfect in the editor, but when I upload it, it looks terrible, so still trying to fix those bugs. I have also listed quite a few items on Etsy, so I've been busy with that.

To Gloria

I found out yesterday that a friend of mine at work died.

Though I only knew you a brief time, I am a better person for it
You were always so nice, giving me your desk as you passed your day shift to my night shift
You were a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend
Thank you so much for always having such a cheerful attitude, no matter how hectic your day had been
Thank you for being my friend, I will miss taking your desk

To everyone else, cherish every moment that you have with someone you find special.

Etsy Artist~ fairytalesunlimited

Today's featured artist is fairytalesunlimited. She has some great tutus at her shop, and they are featured in many shops around the world. They would make a perfect gift for your little princess.

What is your location?
Akron, Ohio

What do you create?
I try to create things little girls would dream of having. I make tutus, fairy crowns, wands, room decor, anything that would make them smile:)

What are your favorite mediums?
I really work with many different mediums because I have many different crafting interests. I use fabric, paint, beads, metals, wood, anything that strikes my fancy.

When did you start crafting?
As far back as I can remember my mother enjoyed making things. She would enlist me to do all the little annoying chores, like cutting out pattern pieces, turning material right side out after it was sewn, helping her get the old manual sewing machine going by pumping it with my foot. As a reward for my help she would give me all her leftover materials and I would come up with my own ideas.

What are the main avenues you use to sell?
I started on Ebay, but after finding etsy I feel so much more in my element. I have also had a couple of stores of my own and do occasional some craft shows.

How and where do you create your items?
My items are all handmade at my home, on my couch or dining room table:)

Where do you find inspiration?
I really don't know. I guess everywhere. I have more ideas than I know what to do with. It can be really stressful at times, because it is hard to me to have an idea without following through with it. I find myself doing many projects at once.

What are your goals?
To create a product of quality and beauty that is a treasure to those who own it. To be more organized and mentally focused.

Why do you enjoy crafting?
I really just enjoy seeing my ideas come alive. I like taking something from brain to reality.

What do your friends and family think of your creations?
It really is mixed. Most everyone likes my creations, but I think some of my family worries that I am too involved emotionally or time wise in my business. I just don't think they understand the pleasure that comes with having something of your own.

What do you do in your spare time?
My daughter and I are involved in Tae Kwon Do and that is a fun thing for us to do together. I also like to play video games and go to the mall..lol...Gosh that all sounds funny after writing it down. You would think I was a 14 year old kid, not a 27 year old mother of 2.

Cynthia's Birthday Present~ From Etsy Artist From My Heart

I bought this yummy cupcake pendant for Cynthia's 11th birthday from a shop on Etsy called frommyheart. The artist is really nice and cheerful. She also sent some stamped tags, very cute. She has a nice variety of handmade items at her shop. Check it out and support handmade art.

Etsy Artist Spotlight~ Inner Wolf Batik

Inner Wolf Batik designs and dyes each onesie by hand. They are selling them to raise money for their homebirth. Many major insurance companies and state health plans do not pay for homebirth services, so many parents must find a way to pay for the birth of their choice. This is near and dear to my heart as I have had three homebirths, 2 of which were mostly paid for out of pocket. Fees can be bartered and traded for, or go up to $5,000, depending on where you live.

This onesie is perfect for the newborn on the go, check it out today!

Updated Website

I added some new content to my website, including a new animated logo, new soap, and I am now offering button, banner, plug, and website design. You can check that out under custom on my site. I also added a plugboard, but still need to work on that some more to get it looking perfect.

Etsy Artist Spotlight~ Happy Whosits

Today's artist is actually three- Sue, Eileen, and Judy. Together they formed Happy Whosits, a shop full of whimsicle and cuddly crochet pals. Sue and Eileen are the crochet crafters, while Judy makes wire and bead earrings. There are a range of friends to choose from including octopi(pictured), dogs, turtles, and everything in between. Patterns in PDF are also for sale. The prices are affordable for most budgets. Custom orders are accepted. These pals are ready to be your childs best friend.

Pit Bull with Chicks

Had to post this video, unbeleivable!

Etsy Artist Spotlight~ Kay's K9s

I would like to start regularly featuring artists that have unique items for sale on Etsy. There are so many items for sale there, really something for everyone.

Our first feature artist is K Turple of Ontario, Canada. Her shop is Kay's K9s. She makes handmade felted dogs and cats, and polymer clay babies. All of her items are OOAK (one of a kind). Each felted item takes 10-25 hours to complete and can be made from dollhouse scale to 4". Her polymer clay babies are made completly by hand without the use of molds. They also are created with real mohair hair. Prices range from $20 for a brooch to $120 for a custom commissioned likeness of your pet.