The Melting Pot

Have you ever been to the Melting Pot Restaurant? Whoa, I love it! This love affair began a number of years ago when my sisters and I went to the Melting Pot in Asheville NC. Now, at the time, 3 of us lived in Michigan and 2 of us lived in Florida. We started doing a "SOV" weekend every other year. SOV stands for "Sisters On Vacation". We love our SOV time. We pick an interesting location between Michigan & Florida and spend about 4 days together. For us Michigan girls, the trip begins in the car on the way down. Lots of talking, lots of singing, lots of laughing!

Well, this trip, we stayed a couple of days in Gatlinburg, TN; then moved over the Great Smokey Mountains to Asheville NC for one night. And, that one night found us having dinner at the Melting Pot. It was great! We took our time (probably 3 hours overall) ordering and eating. We started with the cheese fondue...salads...main course...and ended with the chocolate fondue. Wow! Just Wow!

We also checked out some stores nearby, and found the neatest furniture store...if I ever win the lottery, I'm so going back there!

Well, a few months ago, our NAWIC chapter #194 did a new fundraiser. We were each given $20 in seed money to "grow". There was a great prize for the person who grew the most from their seed money - a gift certificate to a great restaurant... Don't get ahead of me now! Well, I wanted to try to win that. So, I made handmade chocolates and Kahlua Kits. We held a couple of mini-bazaars where we could sell. I sold most of my chocolates and Kahlua Kits. Then, for a later bazaar, I made my book thongs. They sold great! After the money was tallied, I was declared the winner! And, I got this wonderful gift certificate to (ok, you guessed it!) The Melting Pot.

Next weekend, I'm off to Orlando for a conference...followed by a couple of vacation days. Those vacation days will be spent at my dads, helping him go through years of accumulation and helping clean his house. Most of my sisters will be be helping as well. As a reward, I've suggested we take ourselves out to dinner at the Melting Pot!!

Mmmmm...can't wait!

One step closer to listing...

Yea - the sun is shining to day...almost too bright as you can see hard shadows...but at least it's shining!
So, I took a look around and wondered what to use to take pics on...ok, so my book thongs are book marks so I will need a book...but, they're also beaded so I need to show off those beads. I ended up grabbing a nickel (think silver, think reflective) platter that's in my china cabinet (yes, I have a china cabinet...actually - I have 2 at home, and one I'll be buying from my dad but that's a story for another day). The tags I'm putting my book thongs on are (IMHO) really neat - my creation as well. I found some neat quotes about books, and incorporated those into the tags. Printed them out on the back side of scrapbook paper and laminated them. Then, I just cut 2 slits into this laminated bookmark so it will hold my beaded book thong and wa-la, you have 2 bookmarks in 1!
So, I took pics of my beaded bookmarks on these tags. Then, but the book thong on a book and took pics as well. And, do those beads reflect in that platter! Love 'em!!
So, that took care of one step - the pics... and step two is taken care of as well as my batteries didn't die while outside.
I still need to write descriptions...should be able to get a few of those done yet tonight...hmmm...I do still need to get to the grocery store (can it wait until tomorrow????)...

"Are You Addicted To Supplies" ????

Well, as Homer Simpson would say, "Duh!"

I must give credit for this title to lucie39 over at Etsy. She is the one who started a forum thread with this title this past Friday evening... check it out at http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5596550 . It is hilarious!
So, I've decided to try and name the top 5 supplies "we" all seem to be addicted to...
#5 Buttons
#4 Paper
#3 Yarn
#2 Fabric
and the top addiction?

#1 Beads
But, I can't leave it here...I must list the many other items that were mentioned: glitter, ink, chain, books, wire, paints, ploymer clay, tools, leather, feathers, zippers, glass, essential oils, roving, knitting needles and canvas!

There are some really neat things that were said... excuses we all use?
"No honey, that's not new - had it forever!"
" ... it was really bad when I work at (craft store) it was an everyday fix"
"I spread these buttons all over my bed and rolled around in them"

It was agreed that many of us are in need of some sort of 12-step program...if you know of one, come on over to Etsy, find this forum thread and get us all some help!

Book Thongs are almost here!

Well, actually I have nearly finished 10 of them. Now, I need a couple of things to finish:
1) some good weather to take great pics
2) batteries that last longer than 10 minutes in my camera
3) time and inspiration to write killer descriptions

Item # 1 - We should have some sun tomorrow - yea! I have these old old window (yes, I've stashed some to paint on) I'm thinking of using for pics (to use them as a backdrop); very shabby chic looking. While I'm at it, I need to retake pics of my cat beds. I took those earlier this year and they're awful!
Item # 2 - I did just buy some new rechargeables...hope they're good! I should find out soon - going to my daughter's step show so I'll be taking pics and video.
Item #3 - I think I'll need to wait until the 3 & 4 year olds are either gone or napping or totally engrossed in a movie. There really is no concentrating on something while constantly hearing "mom" and "grandma". Sigh. Well, I could work on that a little tonight while waiting for the step show to start...except, I was going to bring some knitting. dilemna... which do I do? Think I'll bring my knitting AND a notebook.

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!