Which is a better avatar?

#1 #2 #3

#4 #5

Ok, so I'm always looking for that "perfect" avatar for my shop...my most recent avatar is my pink & brown birdhouse, which has sold. I had this idea over the weekend of putting balls of yarn into my glass salad bowl, putting a pair of straight bamboo needles in the bowl to look like tongs...and taking a picture. I took a couple of pictures and played around with them....which is your favorite? Used one in my new banner...and used on in my new avatar - at least now they match!!

Yea! I'm going to Orlando in May

So, I'm really looking forward to this. I've been a member of CFMA (Construction Financial Management Association) since early 2002. They have a national conference every year and this is the first time I'm able to attend it. The best part? I'm going alone...no husband or kids...plus, I'm taking a couple of vacation days and visiting with my dad and a few sisters as well. I'll be gone about 8 days...

Hmmm...I wonder if there are any great craft shows happening then? I'd better go post a question on etsy...

Introducing: Pretty Pockets

So, I've blogged a while back about having finished knitting more cell phone cozies...and felted them...but needed to finish them up. Well, I finally accomplished that! I needle felted the ones without fun fur (that is once I had bought more felting needles). Added grommets, ribbon and buttons or beads. Took pictures. Took measurements. Wrote out descriptions. And finally started to list them.

While I was listing them, I had one of those moments....and asked myself "Why am I calling these cell phone cozies?" That is so limiting! So, I changed their name to "Pretty Pockets". This came about because I used the name pocket in the description of the 2 denim looking cozies. And it hit me! Wow - these really are pockets...I can put my business cards in them; I could put my MP3 player in it if I had an MP3 player; I can put a small digital camera in it; I can put a small notebook/pen in it and hang it up somewhere....wow - I keep thinking of more uses! This is great.

So, I renamed my "cell phone cozies" store section to my "Pretty Pockets" section. Come on over and check them out!

Check out the baby sweater!

I made this for a baby shower...I love to knit...don't so much love to sew so to actually sew the seams is an accomplishment for me! I barely got it done in time to go to the shower...good thing it was only 2 houses down from mine. I was in such a hurry, I forgot to get a nice close up picture. I'll have to do that after baby is born. It turned out cute - got lots of "ohs" when it was opened. Here's a pic:

Official Poll Results: Etsy West Mi Street Team

Q: when do we want to meet?
Sat afternoon - 6 votes
Sun afternoon - 2 votes
Mon night - 0 votes
Tues night - 6 votes
Wed night - 0 votes
Thur night - 4 votes
Fri night - 0 votes
Sat morning - 1 vote

Q: What kind of meeting?
in person - 7 votes
a private Etsy chat - 2 votes
Etsy virtual lab - 3 votes
none - 0 votes

No longer our little girl

Well, on March 22, 2008 our daughter Kelsey made a transition out of childhood. She'd told me for the past year that she wanted to participate in this year's cotillion. And on March 22 she did. She needed a parent escort to dance with her. Since her dad has a bum knee her brother Sam was her escort. They looked so nice - her in her fabulous dress and he in his tuxedo! She had months of classes to take in several areas, dance lessons to learn, and an essay to write. She worked hard meeting the requirements.

I have to say that our Kelsey won the essay contest and was also the recipient of a scholarship - we are so proud of her!

So little time...

Wow - I can't believe I still haven't been able to finish all of my cell phone cozies...I've finished about 5 but can't get nice pictures yet. Bought new felting needles but haven't found the time to finish needle felting. Still have this great idea rolling around in my head that I haven't gotten too yet either!

One reason: health - not mine but my husband's. He found out he had bronchitis/pnemonia. Got on meds for that...but still is weak and doing lots of coughing.

Another reason: cotillion - not mine but my daughter's. She has been taking classes, writing her essay, and selling ads for this great event. I've been running around spending money for her...shoes, dress cleaning, hoop rental (yes, I said we had to rent hoops to go under the dress!), get her hair done, tux rental for the boyfriend...it went on and on it seems! But, it all came together last night. Out of the 31 participants, she won the essay contest! How neat is this? She also won 1 of 11 scholarships given out. I'm so proud of her! I'll post a picture when I get a good one loaded on my computer.

This week we are off to Washington DC for her college open house. I'm hoping after that, that things will slow down here...but I know that high school graduation is not far off for her.

Wish us luck with all of this!

Bigger Than A Cozy; Smaller Than A Bag: What Is It?

So, I'm on the etsy forums and we are looking at the shop of the person who posted before us, and we're supposed to make a suggestion of something new they could put in their shop. Which is a really great idea for a forum post anyway!! And someone suggested that I make bags...and my response is "there are so many sellers who make fabulous purses" and then she tells me she means something small enough to carry a few little items...and I think I can enjoy trying this out! Smaller means I don't have to worry about lining a purse (since I HATE sewing!). They could match my bottle cozies and my cell phone cozies....whoa! I'd better go look through some books and come up with a plan!



Later!!

So, I've been mulling over a new idea...

and I'm not sure how to carry it out. It would involve making laminated , well I'll just call them laminated charms. Something I will make or salvage and then laminate. Then turn into charms for earrings and/or other jewelry.

Something funky. Something unique. Something trendy. There, did I confuse you yet?

One of my daughters suggested that I do earrings, with 1 saying (or implying) screw and the other saying (or implying) you. I'm just not sure that's the message I want to be sending...selling...know what I mean?

back to the drawing board for me!

ewww, the flu!

Well, I have not been able to get back to my cell phone cozies to finish any of them! My little guy (4 years old) came down with the flu last weekend...and was fighting a fever for several days. It would come & go, but you could tell he wasn't feeling himself. I stayed home with him on Tuesday (the worst day) and he took 4 naps! The rest of the week, he just wanted to cuddle up with me when I came home. He's finally almost better (a slight cough is lingering) but his appetite is back and so is his energy!

Of course, towards the end of last week, his dad came down with it. And over this past weekend, I came down with it! So, no crafting for me in over a week!

Here's hoping you all stay healthy!!