Saturday's Photo

2 years on ETSY!

today (02.27) marks my two year shop-aversary!

yes, I'm a dork :P

so if you make a purchase in the shop today (friday) tomorrow (saturday) or the next day (sunday)...you'll get a free gift with your order to say thank you!!




even though I've officially had the shop for two years, I really only started concentrating on it about 4 months ago...but it's been a good 4 months...and I'm looking forward to many many more :)

Friday Finds on Etsy!

it's raining today in Baltimore, so fun stuff on Etsy with the theme of...Umbrellas!

Rainy Day Hedgehog necklace from RainyCloudStudios



















Passing by a Rainy Day by meArtDesign





















British Brolly Umbrella tee by HappyFamily




















A Walk in the Rain Card by peaseblossomstudio

Thursdays Shoe Story

this is probably going to seem weird to most of you.

but I have a lot of shoes.

shoes that I don't wear nearly often enough.

this is going to be a way for me to go through my collection, reminisce, possibly get rid of some that I have no more use for...


so, without further ado, Shoe Story #1

These shoes are my most recent additions...and I honestly haven't bought a pair of shoes in quite some time, but these I found, while in Houston visiting the Borchers clan...it happened to be MLK weekend, and there were sales...these were marked down fom $50 to $14...it was meant to be!












I haven't worn them yet, since when I purchased them it was 70 degrees in Houston, but not so much in Baltimore...but I mean, look how cute they are?? I'll find many a time to wear them come spring and summer :) Happy, sunshiney yellow :)

Twenty Things about me!

head on over to our BEST (Baltimore Etsy Street Team) blog today to read 20 things you might not have known about me :)

I am in love...aka What I'm Working on Wednesday

with all things metal...I took my first class today in metalsmithing at the Art League school in Alexandria...and well...it was so fabulous, I can't wait until next week!

calling, totally found...I'm already dreaming up all the fun designs I'll work on next time, and the one after that...I just wish I had a place to set up a little studio now...but with the lack of space, blowtorches and tanks of gas just don't seem like they will be in the immediate future...I can just imagine cats on fire...not good :p














today we learned some inlay and overlay techniques...got to use cool metal saws, hammers and learned soldering techniques...and even used punches with a hydrolic lift...

by far, the coolest day ever.

A very smart man...

once said...

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

-Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 - 2005


hmmm...sound familiar?

Tuesday Book Review

I have yet to see the movie...but I love, love, loved the book, Confessions of a Shopaholic.

I have been known to like to spend a little myself, perhaps that's why I enjoyed the book so much...small similarities to the main character ;) of course I'm very responsible now :)

it really is a very cute story though (I tend to read cute things, as opposed to important things...judge if you want) and I'm onto the second book, Shopaholic takes Manhattan...so far, so good!

I need to see the movie, but I've heard mixed reviews- have any of you seen it??

but, if you're a girl, and like to shop occasionally, and dream of beautiful new shoes in your sleep...this one's for you!!

Blog Carnival - February 27th Edition

Topic: What item from another sellers shop do you secretly wish you had thought of first? (Well, it's not a secret any longer.) Post a pic so we can see!


One of my most favorite things in the world...are polka dots! I have yet to make a purchase from this shop, called JellyBeans, mostly because I can't seem to decide on just one that I want most of all! If I could go back in time, I'd love to have created this beautiful polka-dotted art, because it is so adorable, and she is quite an accomplished Etsy'er! With over 1,300 sales, Angela of JellyBeans, you are my hero!!


Her newest print, Flower Dust, is probably my all time fav!

this month...I love amethyst :)

okay, so I love purple anything pretty much...and February is the month of purple...Amethyst that is :)

so I went a little purple happy, and uploaded a few new Amethyst inspired designs into the shop today!

Featured Item of the week! Monday, February 23rd

this week's featured item from my Etsy shop......

Patterson Earrings in dark Purple!!














They remind me of beautiful Amethyst, which is February's birthstone. These stunners are made from Cubic Zirconia long teardrop beads, and hang from curly-q sterling silver earring wires.


If you purchase these earrings...put blogspecial223 in the notes to seller and you'll get free shipping!!

Blog Schedule

yup, only about 2 months later then I had planned...but I have a schedule that I'm going to try and keep for my blog...and have a post per day, dedicated to some sort of theme...

Sunday will showcase a favorite Etsy shop of mine

Monday will showcase an item from my shop, which will be on special that week- free shipping if you purchase!

Tuesday will have some sort of recipe or product or book review...something that I (and hopefully you) find interesting

Wednesday will show what I'm currently working on

Thursday will have a shoe story...intrigued?? come back on thursday ;)

Friday will have some favorite Etsy finds, with some cute theme

and Saturday will be a fun photo


ready, let's see if I can keep up!

tall people of the world, unite!

I'm tall...well tall-ish I guess I'd say...5 foot 8 or 9 depending on the leg on which I'm standing...

for years I had the constant struggle, pants that were always too short, and oh the shame of it :p then, it happened, they started to make pants for Petite, Regular and Tall heights! I think the first time I found a pair of 'tall' jeans, I hugged the sales person...(I wish I was kidding)...

but shirts were a problem too...I was always layering, and buying tank tops in larger sizes so they'd be long enough to cover everything...and then the trend started for longer tops...again very excited, but I think I refrained from hugging anyone :p

now, even better...I discovered something while browsing Old Navy.com the other day...they now make shirts in Tall! I have to contain my excitement, and I think they only sell the long shirts online...so perhaps I'll start saving my pennies and buy some of these fabulously long shirts...

it's a good day...a good day to be tall :)

Twitter??

I have heard of this thing called Twitter for some time now, but I wasn't (and to be perfectly honest, still) not quite sure what it is, or how it works...but I was reading a blog of a fellow etsian and crafter, the Failed Feminist, and she mentioned it as a good way to spread the word about your shop...and it's free, so I figured why not :)


so stop on and see me on Twitter...or sign up to follow me...or whatever it is you actually do on twitter...really still not sure :p

Canada, eh?

So I'm a few weeks behind posting this...but about 2 weeks ago one of my very favorite Baltimore and Hokie friends, Liza left the good old US of A and moved to Vancouver for work! Now while I'm very sad she's not local, and I miss our fun lunch dates, I am loving her blog she started, to keep all of us American's up-to-date of the happenings way up north :)

so if you want a fun read...head on over to Liza's blog...keep on writing, eh??

Project SC...done!

it's official...my parents now have the keys to their new house in South Carolina :)

congrats on the construction finally being done...now seriously, when can I visit ;)

Illustration Friday - Celebrate

whew...I have not posted for IF since last year...and I think one of my big goals for this year was to do an illustration every week...well better late then never I guess!

This week's topic was celebrate...so I thought I'd look forward to my little kitties turning 5 this May :) It's hard to believe they are 5 already...they definitely still act like they're kittens :)

way behind :p

So I just today (02.15.09) stumbled across this post on the Etsy Bloggers Blog...a lovely write up of my shop for a 'mini monday' that happended to be from August of last year :p

apparently I'm way behind the times...but I wanted to say a big thanks to Tulip's Treasure Box for the post!!

more stuff from Design Marketing

final drafts of a magazine ad, and a web banner- each of the four images would flash in succession...yup, I made an animation :) not sure how to post it here...or I would :)










































I cant believe next Thursday two more classes start...feel like I just started these ones...

roses :)

not a gift I get often...but early Valentines roses from Brett :)















good job honey!!

semi-organized

I am starting to get my supplies in order...for now at least...I'm not sure that this is the final design for my inventory, but for now, it works.















I have all the beads in plastic containers on my shelving unit (all numbered, with the contents listed on an excel spreadsheet), and the chain/wire/etc in an organizer that fits perfectly into the top of my desk

now I can get back to the fun part...making new jewelry!

revised Design Marketing assignment

so I made a few changes to my S&S Smoothie advertisement...

That's a lotta fruit...

so today is day 1 of the 'fruit cleanse diet'...so far I've eaten a large bowl of fruit salad I made yesterday...pineapple, orange, apple, strawberry, blueberry, and grapes...I'm interested to see what the results are after 2 weeks...but as of meal 1 on day 1...so far so good :P

yesterday I went on a fruit shopping spree at Costco and Safeway...here's what I got:
















I'm wondering how long this will last me :p

Featured Etsy Blogger- February

Congratulations to DonnaPool, our Etsy Bloggers featured team member for February!!













head on over to Donna's shop to find a wide array of adorable gifts for children, kitschy vintage buttons and lovely photographs...truly a one stop shop!











and...be sure to pick up a few buttons to show your support for handmade goods for children...say NO to CPSIA!!

Squeek-E-Clean

for our Design Marketing class, we're creating our own brand of soap...mine? Squeek-E-Clean soap for children :)

here's an idea for what the bottle might look like...


















and...a faux advertisement for S&S Smoothie Company...

Blog Carnival - February 13th Edition

Topic: What do you like to do for Valentine's Day?

So Brett & I are coming up on our 5th Valentine's Day together...and we've had a tradition for the past 4, of going to a restaurant we really like, but getting take out to eat at home instead of braving the crowds. This year, since it's a Saturday, I'm sure the mobs will be even greater...but last year, our plan had a flaw...everyone in the greater Baltimore area seemed to have the same ideas as us! Our quick pick up of take out from Olive Garden...took over an hour!


this year...what to do, what to do?? I'm guessing we'll try another restaurant...or in the spirit of saving money, maybe we'll just cook at home :)

it's not what you do or where you go, but who you're with that really matters anyway ;)

Steelers are SUPER

I guess my team can't win every year :p but if mine can't...happy that Brett's team could win it!