I took this photo of my daughter today, down in our Haymarket. I had been wanting to take some pictures of her for awhile down in that area, because there are so many nice old brick buildings. A very classic urban feel.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forums
Actually, the funniness was IN the (etsy) forums. Here, the original post sets it up:
When you click Pets and then Small Animals, Hamster is misspelled. It has never had a P in it. I hope someone can fix this soon since Etsy will get more coverage due to the Good Morning America story about it.
And the replies... for some reason (tiny rich hamsters) these crack me up!
Coconutty says,
maybe they are for upscale hamsters who come from the hamptons
Later underroos says,
I'm still imagining a family of old money hampsters who vacation in the Hamptons. Wearing tiny pillbox hats with veils and monocles.
In other news, I temporarily misplaced my most favorite crochet hook. I hate when I do that. I was retracing my steps all over the house, trying to find it. I kept picturing in my mind the last few times I used it. I ended up finding it in the bathroom trash! Thank-goodness I discovered it before it was lost for good! (Not too exciting how it got in there- fell out of my pocket while I was giving the baby a bath tonight!)
Friday, August 8, 2008
Oh No! The Craft Store...
We all know how it is... you are out of some craft item... No REALLY! you are.. you swear... you just need 2 things... well maybe 4 things... you make your list... you head to the craft store... and
On the left is the list I made before leaving for the craft store. On the right is just MY bag of items purchased (my mom had a whole other bag full for herself!) I didn't do TOO bad... I got some cotton yarn (it was new! I will make a scarf with it, I promise!) and some orange yarn (I hadn't seen this color yet...I'll make a pumpkin with it, I promise!) and an ink pad (another not on the list item...) Oh yean and a giant pink calculator for my little shopping assistant:
On the left is the list I made before leaving for the craft store. On the right is just MY bag of items purchased (my mom had a whole other bag full for herself!) I didn't do TOO bad... I got some cotton yarn (it was new! I will make a scarf with it, I promise!) and some orange yarn (I hadn't seen this color yet...I'll make a pumpkin with it, I promise!) and an ink pad (another not on the list item...) Oh yean and a giant pink calculator for my little shopping assistant:
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Felted Punk Toy
Heheh. I had a lot of fun constructing this. I used brown wool yarn for the body, then I felted it. After stuffing/eyeballs and sewing on his bottom, I added a angora bunny fur mohawk. It makes me giggle, the thought of fluffy bunny hair being used to make him so punk. ;-)
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Fun Crafty Quotes
"Crafts fill my day, not to mention the living room, bedroom, and closets."
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
"A painting is never finished, it just stops in interesting places."
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
"A painting is never finished, it just stops in interesting places."
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
SAHM part two with Oldbagcrafts
And now for our second featured shop: oldbagcrafts
Q. Being a SAHM, what are the financial goals for your etsy store?
A. At first, I was looking for money for extras - the little treats and luxuries. Since my husband got made redundant two weeks ago, it's become a little more important (since I would like to carry on staying home!) and now I aim to cover housekeeping costs like groceries, toiletries etc.
Q. Do your children help at all in your crafting or etsy store? If they aren't old enough, do you plan on having them help when they are older?
A. My youngest (two and a half) provides entertainment and demonstrations of bobbin-rolling and thread-unravelling. My daughter aged 5 is an expert at 'un-inside-outing' (as she calls it) the sewn bags. She likes to sit next to me and do it as I sew. We have lovely chats doing that while her little brother naps. They are both great party bag testers! My daughter also likes to design bags for me and keeps asking when will I make them.
Q. Do you have any tips for balancing children with an at-home job?
A. If they can be involved it helps enormously - even little things like having a box of scraps for them to play and craft with. I have my workstation set up in a family area so I do little things whenever they are occupied and don't need me - I get most of my cutting and pinning done when they are colouring etc. It's hard, though!
Q. Being a SAHM, what are the financial goals for your etsy store?
A. At first, I was looking for money for extras - the little treats and luxuries. Since my husband got made redundant two weeks ago, it's become a little more important (since I would like to carry on staying home!) and now I aim to cover housekeeping costs like groceries, toiletries etc.
Q. Do your children help at all in your crafting or etsy store? If they aren't old enough, do you plan on having them help when they are older?
A. My youngest (two and a half) provides entertainment and demonstrations of bobbin-rolling and thread-unravelling. My daughter aged 5 is an expert at 'un-inside-outing' (as she calls it) the sewn bags. She likes to sit next to me and do it as I sew. We have lovely chats doing that while her little brother naps. They are both great party bag testers! My daughter also likes to design bags for me and keeps asking when will I make them.
Q. Do you have any tips for balancing children with an at-home job?
A. If they can be involved it helps enormously - even little things like having a box of scraps for them to play and craft with. I have my workstation set up in a family area so I do little things whenever they are occupied and don't need me - I get most of my cutting and pinning done when they are colouring etc. It's hard, though!
Featured Shops With Stay At Home Moms
I wanted to ask my fellow SAHM and Etsy sellers a bit about how they run things with children.
Today I will feature two of these great Etsians: Kymsart777 and oldbagcrafts
First up is Kymsart777:
Q.Being a SAHM, what are the financial goals for your etsy store? (To help support your family? To just support your craft? Etc.)
A. My financial goals are ultimately to have a successful business which is profitable, productive and enjoyable! I have had several crafts businesses in the past, one in particular was extremely profitable...but at the time, my kids were little and the money simply was not worth the time that it took away from my family. I decided to close at that time and about 2 years later, started my Etsy business. At present, I reinvest most of my profits back into my business...I have high hopes that I will soon be able to maintain a profit.
Q. Do your children help at all in your crafting or etsy store? If they aren't old enough, do you plan on having them help when they are older?
A. My children have always helped me with my business. We used to joke that they would be born at a crafts fair or covered in glitter and glue! They always come up with ideas and I listen with open ears! I bounce ideas off of them as well. They help more as they get older, and have always been a part of helping with crafts fairs, promoting and the like. My oldest daughter has just started her own jewelry business...I have to get her to open a store on Etsy!
Q. Do you have any tips for balancing children with an at-home job?
A. For me, home and family are always first...Always! I have taught my kids to respect what I do as "work", often people assume that because you are at home, and crafting, that it is just a hobby. I have a dedicated space that is for my "work", and treat my home business as I would any other. I get up, get dressed for work, and close up shop in the evening for family time. I give myself vacation time and sick days...It helps. My family knows that this is my "job", and respect that fact. It helps to make sure there are boundaries, but that my family feels a part of what I am doing. We celebrate the highs, and work through the lows together. Like I said though, Family is first..that is why I am a SAHM.
Today I will feature two of these great Etsians: Kymsart777 and oldbagcrafts
First up is Kymsart777:
Q.Being a SAHM, what are the financial goals for your etsy store? (To help support your family? To just support your craft? Etc.)
A. My financial goals are ultimately to have a successful business which is profitable, productive and enjoyable! I have had several crafts businesses in the past, one in particular was extremely profitable...but at the time, my kids were little and the money simply was not worth the time that it took away from my family. I decided to close at that time and about 2 years later, started my Etsy business. At present, I reinvest most of my profits back into my business...I have high hopes that I will soon be able to maintain a profit.
Q. Do your children help at all in your crafting or etsy store? If they aren't old enough, do you plan on having them help when they are older?
A. My children have always helped me with my business. We used to joke that they would be born at a crafts fair or covered in glitter and glue! They always come up with ideas and I listen with open ears! I bounce ideas off of them as well. They help more as they get older, and have always been a part of helping with crafts fairs, promoting and the like. My oldest daughter has just started her own jewelry business...I have to get her to open a store on Etsy!
Q. Do you have any tips for balancing children with an at-home job?
A. For me, home and family are always first...Always! I have taught my kids to respect what I do as "work", often people assume that because you are at home, and crafting, that it is just a hobby. I have a dedicated space that is for my "work", and treat my home business as I would any other. I get up, get dressed for work, and close up shop in the evening for family time. I give myself vacation time and sick days...It helps. My family knows that this is my "job", and respect that fact. It helps to make sure there are boundaries, but that my family feels a part of what I am doing. We celebrate the highs, and work through the lows together. Like I said though, Family is first..that is why I am a SAHM.
Totally Crazy
I've had this huge burst of business energy since returning from my trip to Colorado. I've redesigned my blog. Redid all the graphics for my two etsy stores. I bought a flickr pro account and have been uploading like crazy. I started a new project wonderful ad campaign. Basically I've made a recommitment to focusing on etsy instead of wasting time surfing the net. Though, I admit, I still do that a whole lot too! (Confession: I love reading celebrity gossip! I totally need to go to barnes n noble so I can Meet Vivienne & Knox Jolie-Pitt in the latest issue of People magazine.)
I've also been buying a lot of stuff. It's a friends and my moms birthday this month so I've made a few etsy purchases (Including two crocheted worms for myself. hehehe). I've also been dealing with two etsy disputes. Two people have not delivered goods to me so that's really sucked. Thankfully both orders were under $15, so if I never get a refund, I won't be out TOO much money.
So anyways, that's the most exciting news, other than my local etsy team, Lincoln Handmade, meets tonight. Hopefully that will be fun!
I've also been buying a lot of stuff. It's a friends and my moms birthday this month so I've made a few etsy purchases (Including two crocheted worms for myself. hehehe). I've also been dealing with two etsy disputes. Two people have not delivered goods to me so that's really sucked. Thankfully both orders were under $15, so if I never get a refund, I won't be out TOO much money.
So anyways, that's the most exciting news, other than my local etsy team, Lincoln Handmade, meets tonight. Hopefully that will be fun!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Cotton Yarn Owlet or Pill?
I have been having fun making these lately. They are a nice break from doing jellyfish.
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