I know...

It's been forever but with NaNoWriMo and a wedding next week, I'm lucky to have the time to post now. @.@

I was toying with the idea of expanding my product line (such as it is) with soap but decided against it because of the chemicles. However, bath salts are easy, fun, and some of them I can even make with my Monkey-girl. In addition, I can practice making them and give them as affordable, custom gifts for my family and friends to go along with the cookies I make.

Soon, I'll even do sets with washclots and puffs! :D

I do love to dream big.

Back to writing! :D

Deep breath, all together now

I believe things are settling down here but usually when I say that, a whole bunch of drama falls in my lap or something breaks or somebody falls down and gets a booboo. @_@

Things might get a little quiet around here in the next month or so because this year I am going to do NaNoWriMo. Previous years I always managed to hear about it halfway through! But last year, I made a note in my crackberry for the next year (this one) so I would remember! That is exactly as geeky as it sounds. Nevertheless, I am going to give it a shot. ^_^

On the Etsy front, I have been wondering why I shop anywhere else! @_@ The few things I have bought from Etsy have been fabulous. I just need to work my way through the deodorant and body spray I have (since I refuse to shop at Bath and Body Works anymore) then get what I need from Etsy. There are such amazing things there but there's no way I can justify buying any of them till I use what I have.

I'm working late tonight so time to absorb my brain in some Zen like behavior till 9pm.

Updates! >D

The shop has been updated!

No, this is not the only thing I've done in all this time. XD I'm pacing myself since I also started up my writing website and have been editing the manuscript for posting.

I've been more active in my teams and doing my best to really be a part of everything. Things are working their way to a schedule but I may have to finalize something more organized very soon. My goal now is to get something in the Pagans of Etsy shop, as well as some winter items for the shop and for my monkey-girl. I never did find mittens that fit her properly so I'll be making some myself and if they turn out well, I'll do up a couple pairs for the shop. ^_^

I return!! :D

Baltimore Comic Con was amazing! I don't have many pics because I spent most of my time ooo-ing and ahh-ing at all the amazing artists and writers. XD

The shop is back open and I have been hard at work today on items to fill it. The embroidery is officially done on the pendulum mat! :D

I opted for letters rather than full words. I have fabric for the backing all set and ready to go! :D It took a very long time but I'm pleased with the way it's turned out.

Now that I've worked out a real schedule for my shop and my writing website that I'll be starting up over the next few weeks; I hope to be regularly posting in this blog at least once a week, including pictures of various things I'm working on. ^_^

I will be shutting down the MySpace page I've been using with my shop. I've found it attracts more spam than anything else. I am still on Twitter and Facebook, though. As you can see if you click on the link to Twitter, I use it for my writing as well and it's named after the website.

If you'd like to follow my writing, I will have a MySpace for that and I encourage my Etsy friends to join me at that page. :)

Now to have play time with the Monkey, then back to work! It's a good feeling to be getting back on track! :D

Things and Suff, Stuff and Things

For awhile, I was toying with the idea of expanding what I keep in my shop. I considered soap first but the idea of using hazardous chemicals any near my child changed my mind. Then I thought of candles. No chemicals, but still boiling hot things around a precocious toddler. Not good. I also thought of selling off some of the mint growing in the yard. This started off well but that little girl got into my drying bag. XD There wasn't much of it anyway. ^_^ And I figure if we can manage to use a few leaves for ourselves and we like them, we'll see about passing them along.

Now, to my latest idea: Sewing. My Granny was a seamstress in addtion to being a crocheter. She taught me the basics of both and the more I think of the beautiful clothes she made (most of which are still in excellent condition even after 20-30 years) the more I fervently believe that if it can be done with a needle, I wanna know how. It can do nothing but benefit me and revive a dearly loved talent that very well may dissapear from the family line.

Granted, I have precious little spare time. I'm trying to get a website built to promote my writing and I still have finished crochet projects waiting to be posted in my shop. On top of that, there's a growing (mutating) list of books I want to read AND I'd like to start sketching again. Then, there's also the gardening...

I'm crazy, I know. XD I'm the modern woman who wants to have it all, what can I say?

Until I use up my yarn stash with very simple things (I've got some scarves in the works), I won't be running out and starting a stash of fabric. I have plenty of old fat clothes I can tear apart and experiment with. Not to mention a little model who can test drive small projects. ;)

Oh, and that lacy baby dress? Let's just say it'll get done when it gets done and I will probably end up framing the thing when it does get done. I won't frog it, I won't abandon it, but even for a two year old, Penny is tall. I know it wouldn't fit her. :p

I'm alive

But things are still a right mess around here. My arm is better so I hope to finish some items soon, but with Fall comes a whirlwind of activity. I have Baltimore Comic Con next week, a wedding in November, and a TON of overtime in between.

Better keep working! Hup too!! >D

Scheduling

Etsy, while I do love it, really is a part time thing for me. And given the many interests I have and a full time job I really enjoy (and that I just signed up for a ton of overtime to pay off debt and save some money) it's been very hard to find the time to give to Etsy to enjoy and make my little shop profitable.

I've decided that given what I really want to get out of this experience, I can spare 30-60 minutes 4 days a week to devote entirely to Etsy activities like updating this blog, team chats, hanging out in forums, and reading all the blogs I've signed up to follow. The actual making of items usually takes place on weekends anyway because anything more than that and my arm will be out for months.

All the business books I've been pouring through say to make a schedule and stick to it so that's the plan! :D Keeping my fingers crossed for success!! :D

After a long wait

Finally something to post! And my hands are feeling much better so I may have the chance to make some more items over the coming weeks. ^_^

First this scarf:






















That's my daughter modeling it. XD











They're soft cotton and yes, I am aware they look like bacon. That was not intentional yet very funny! XD

New stuff on the way since my hands feel so good! :D

Update City

I'm running around updating as many places I can think of. I've been resting my hands and focusing on my writing. Typing puts more stress on my hand and arm than holding a pen. I've also been reading more, just taking time to enjoy a good book. ^^

While I was doing that, an item sold! YES! After nearly a year of nada, finally! Thankfully, I was able to complete a little bit of stock to replace it before overdoing it at work to the point where my shoulder ached just as badly as my hand. Four straight hours of collection development will do that do ya. :p It will be awhile before I can pick up the hooks and needles again.

I have joined several more Etsy teams to help promote the shop, participated in chats, and sent business cards with the books I'm selling on Ebay. I hope to be more active on here, as well, but I've had so many story ideas, I literally check my email and then turn off the computer to write.

In other news, I bought a bread machine and I love it!! Why ever buy store bought bread again! XD Whole wheat bread ready when I need it. Just lovely! Now when my plants start producing more vegies (my cucumber plant seems very happy) I'll have some lovely sandwiches to take with me to work! :D

Better get back to writing now while the ideas are fresh!

Pics Ahoy!

As promised











Three pink cotton washcloths! They are the perfect size for face washing or a baby. ^_^











This is a wool/alpaca scarf I have been slowly knitting. Those three washcloths took a total of two hours (with baby interruptions). It's turning out great so far but if I want to have enough stock for fall, I'm gonna have to fall back to crochet. ;)

And in garden news:



















That is my much loved pumpkin plant taking over the fence! :D I'm so proud of it! I can't wait to see the first budding signs of fruit.

Now, to beat the heat by hiding in the air conditioned bed room. It's been so hot, Penny has to sleep with us. She doesn't seem to mind. ;)

Till later!