Thursday, June 26, 2008

First Custom Mini Scrapbook Order!

At last, the orders for our mini scrapbooks are starting to roll in! In one of our earliest posts, I talked about my passion for mini's. Some people call them brag books because they are purse-size so you can carry your favorite pics of loved ones wherever you go! In Vera Rapso's e-zine article on brag books, she talks about them being "the scrapbooking enthusiasts answer." She says "Brag books aren’t just for showing of babies either. They can be used to tell a story about trip, event or even a special accomplishment." She makes a great suggestion for involving your kids in scrapbooking too! She suggests giving them a supply of disposeable cameras when they go to summer camp and telling them to keep an eye out for keepsakes like ribbons and things they've created.

The first two I ever did were pre-made for Valentine's Day 2007 and I sold them on Ebay. I took another one to a Women's Expo a couple of month's ago and got our first order for a custom book. This client helped me improve the product when she asked for a case to protect it from the contents of her purse. I had fun experimenting with sewn-together transparencies and other materials before I created an envelope to coordinate with the book. We've had a few more orders that we're working on. Coming to Etsy soon!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

JULY FOURTH FUN FACTS

Can you believe it! July 4th is right around the corner. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, starting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. Every year this holiday is celebrated with parades, fireworks across the country. Did you know:

  • There are 30 number of places nationwide with "liberty" in their name.


  • 11 places nationwide have "independence" in their name.


  • 5 places nationwide adopted the name "freedom."


  • There is one place named "patriot" — Patriot, Indiana

    • For more 4th of July fun facts check out the following links: http://www.chiff.com/a/fun-facts-fourth.htm and http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet

      Saturday, June 21, 2008

      Introducing "Bud" New Pillow Kid














      Introducing our new friend Bud! Bud hails from Chicago Illinois. He is approximately 8.5" x 11" and weighs 1 pound (or so he says). Bud is looking for a new home. If anyone is interested we can connect you with Bud via our website at Etsy.com. For anyone interested in a pillow companion such as Bud, he has a number of family and friends whom are in need of relocating from the Chicago Metropolitan area. We will provide you with their contact information in future posts and listings on our blog. Bud and his gang are special friends of ours and are willing to relocate as gifts for birthdays, holidays or "thinking of you" gift giving.

      Thursday, June 19, 2008

      Green Juice Recipe

      If you are in need of a pick me up, you've got to try this green juice recipe. No matter what time of day this will prove to be quite refreshing. 3 cups of water (add more if you wish), 5 ice cubes, Handful or 2 of fresh spinach, 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, 1 cup fresh mango or fruit of your choice, 2 T of *blue agave nector or 3 T of *maple syrup or *honey.

      >chop spinach fine
      > put water in the blender, add spinach and blend
      >add fruit and blend
      >add sweetner (optional) blend
      >add ice cubes last and blend
      REMEMBER THE *SWEETNER IS OPTIONAL ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Saturday, June 14, 2008

      ACTIVITY MANAGEMENT?

      Trying to squeeze in everything that I must do into my schedule has really been a struggle for me this year. While perusing the “Etsy Forum” one evening, I was drawn to a discussion on, the hardest part of starting your business. I was not surprised to find that I was not the only one seeking balance and organization in the management of their time. When overwhelmed with the demands of life, whether it be children, husband, household, and/or business, how does one strike balance? Do you ever feel so overwhelmed that all you are fit to do is to sit on your sofa and stare at the ceiling? According to David Allen, founder of the David Allen Company, which is focused on productivity and executive coaching, "time management is a mislabled problem." He believes that time can’t be managed, it just is. He further states that "what we really manage is activity during time, and that defining outcomes and physical actions required is the core process required to managing what you do."

      After my introduction to Mr. Allen's ideas (Wikipedia), I began to reflect on some of the things I have observed successful friends and family doing with regard to managing time. Whether they are concious of it or not, they actually do manage their activity and not their time. I've noticed that they tend to avoid time wasters such as gabby telephone time and watching television; they multitask and use creative organization techniques. One example of this was sitting right under my nose. In our June 5, 2008, post, Cinnamon shared one of her creative organizing tips. She uses legal-sized manila envelopes to sort her kids' school papers, party invitations and important dates to remember. She assignes the task of labeling and decorating to her 5-yr. old. Now if that’s not creative activity management, what is?

      Light bulb moment! MANAGE YOUR ACTIVTY AND NOT YOUR TIME! Be encouraged, and know that striking a balance is possible, it's all about redirecting your focus. Feel free to comment and share with us any ideas you have found useful in "managing activity".....

      Monday, June 9, 2008

      We Were Featured in an Etsy Treasury!!!!!

      How tickled were we to learn that our fellow NC Triangle Team member, owner of Dinner Times Chimes, selected our "Polka Dot Fun Embellished Tin" for a "Buy and Replace" Treasury on Etsy.com. What's the Treasury you ask? The Treasury is a member-curated gallery of short-lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each (plus four alternates). It functions as a high-demand (and pretty!) promotional tool that many devoted Etsians fight to get. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme, or just however they like. The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Etsy Admin often choose an exceptional Treasury list to promote on the home page and occasionally make them to tie into Storque articles or special events and occasions. Maybe you're like me and had been wondering, how do those items make it to Etsy's front page? Well try your hand at curating. Here are some tips to help you create your first Treasury!

      Saturday, June 7, 2008

      FATHER'S DAY IS JUNE 15, 2008

      Father’s Day Trivia:

      Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, hailing from Spokane , Washington is acknowledged for promoting the idea of Father’s Day as a holiday.

      President Woodrow Wilson officially approved the idea of Father's Day in 1916.

      The third Sunday of June is generally observed as Father's Day throughout the United States . In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson issued a proclamation that Father's Day be observed on the third Sunday in June.

      This is just a reminder for all you that haven’t purchased your Father’s Day cards and/or gifts. Father’s day is set aside to honor all fathers and father figures in our lives…. FATHERS ROCK!!!

      Thursday, June 5, 2008

      Favorite Organizing Tip


      I just found a great blog, the Dr. Mommy Chronicles. It is chock full of good info, especially for us work-at-home moms. A recent post focused on sharing organizing tips and I know I need all the help I can get! Please share your tips:

      ~Start copying here
      The Organizing Tip Meme
      To participate:
      1. Post your favorite organizing tip on your blog and tag 3 other bloggers
      2. Copy and paste everything shown here into the post
      3. Add your link to the bottom of the list
      More Great Organizing Tips:
      1. http://lifefrommylaptop.com/2008/05/20/favorite-organizing-tip-meme/
      ~End copying here

      My favorite organizing tip is using legal-sized manila envelopes to sort and store my kids' school papers, party invitations and important dates to remember. I let my 5-yr. old decorate them and write each of their names on the back. They are hanging in the kitchen with the back facing forward.

      Sunday, June 1, 2008

      Arte Y Pico Award - Premio Arte Y Pico


      Many thanks to the fabulous Etsymom Le creazioni dello Streggato for presenting us with the Arte Y Pico award! What an honor! This award recognizes a blog's creativity and overall contribution to the blogger community. Now, we get to select 5 recipients:






      Once you've been selected, please follow these guidelines and pay it forward:

      1) Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of the language.
      2) Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog by so everyone can view it.
      3) Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
      4) The award-winner and the presenter should post the link of the "Arte y pico"blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.
      5) Please post these rules!