etsy stuff...and magic bullets

i logged onto Etsy this morning with a surprise that sent my head reeling...they're giving shop owners a chance to change their shop names! I had toyed with the idea of closing my shop and re-opening under a new name, but it's a hassle. And i don't NOT like my shop name, I just felt like I rushed into setting it up and kind of took the first name that worked out of my long list of brain-stormed names.

Here's the thing, I originally was selling handmade paper and cards and such (some made with my handmade papers). So, I chose my name based on the stationery theme...as in 'my dearest so-and-so,' (for those of you who don't know, I chose the name MyDearest as my shop name). So i don't have the issue of those poor souls who decided to sell under their original user name (like jeni100300199), but i did start to branch out...silkscreen shirts and bags, for instance. And I'm toying with the idea of putting some of my photography up as well.

So...given a week to change my name, do I take advantage? I don't have a large following of buyers, so i won't have to worry about losing anyone or confusing anyone. I only have a handful of business cards left so no harm there.

With my new love of quilling (which, of course b/c i'm a little bit crazy for paper, is still along the lines of paper crafts) and the possibility of adding photography at some point, AND my want for a better store (read:more traffic!) I'm tempted to change it.

I guess I have until the 18th to do so, if i choose.

Any thoughts? And i'm not looking for you all to tell me what to name my shop, I'm just wondering if my current name is good enough. Would it be confusing if it also had photographs and non-letter writing items? is it confusing NOW?

Just a reminder, it's: MyDearest...handmade paper and gifts

and my etsy banner reads: MyDearest...handmade paper and gifts for your 'Dearest'

already, i see a problem in that I haven't actually had the desire to MAKE paper in quite some time! :(

In other news:

my wack-o (I say in a loving way) father decided to buy a Magic Bullet blender system. One of my sisters already has one, so he asked if i wanted the 'free' one. I said, 'sure'...that was back in May. I got it this past sunday.

Now, I wasn't really familiar with it. Dad says, 'oh, it's like a little blender but you blend it right in the cup and take it with you.' OH, okay, sounds fun. My mind had pictured a little personal sized blender.

This is the box my sister presented me with:

It's not just a little blender! Four cups!? A weird-ass strainer thingy!? Lids with different sized holes in them!? What the!?

There's a recipe book...I hope there is also an instruction manual! Looks like this will be in the box at least until we get back from our trip...it's just too intense to think about right now!

Maybe November will quiet down?

I still can't believe how busy my life seems to have gotten this year. I figured 'well, it's summer...the fall will see some quieter times.' But that hasn't happened yet. I am so busy with projects at one job, and meetings at the other. Then it seems like everyone I know is having a birthday or a shower or a wedding. And not only that, but it seems like every one of them is having a get together...and inviting us! I have turned down so many invites. Including a work party, a food party (where I taste food!! and drink wine!!), a wedding...well, the point is, it seems to be never ending.

I'm so looking forward to our mini-vacation...2 days in New Hampshire. Breakfast in the mountains...cool crisp air, feet up, head back, maybe a little wine on a big porch watching the sun set?

Now, I'm not really complaining about all the moving and shaking of late. I'm merely saying it's an adjustment for me. It has been fun hanging with friends and such.

Here are a few shots of the biking/picnic we had for my baby sister's birthday. As I said, we took a picnic. I was told there would be fruit and some cookie snacks, so I (of course, b/c it's what I do) brought some cheese and crackers. Some individual bries, baby bels, and one of my fav semi-soft cheeses (Port Salut...mild, creamy...anyone would like this cheese), and some plain water crackers. There were grapes and strawberries, carrots and hummus, chocolate graham type cookies, and some homemade rice crispie treats. I know 'oh, rice crispie treats...yumm!' Well, hold onto your hats b/c these were made with cocoa crispies and coconut marshmallows!!! Auntie made them...so good. We biked to a little spot on the canal. It was crazy busy, being a holiday weekend and unseasonably warm for October (mid to high 70's here...i heard it was close to 80 in Boston!). And we all had our rickety old bikes. Mine was terribly squeaky, mine was also the only one with a 'working' kickstand! Poor Steph's ended up getting a flat on the way home :(

It was a fun day, ending with a meet up with the 'boys' for Indian dinner and more chitty-chats.

I'm still hoping for some down time to really get to crafting. There is a fair in November, but i'm just not sure I'll be able to make it...that time issue again!

Is anyone else having trouble finding time to get everything done this fall??

it's coming along

What I have so far:

It kind of looks like a bird, but that wasn't my intention.

I'm just using my practice papers, and playing with different shapes, sizes and techniques.

I really wish I could take my day off to just quill all the live long day...however, I have an OSHA meeting Wednesday evening!! sucky.

quilly-dilly

First off, I'd like to post an updated picture of my new do. I, as usual, LOVED my new haircut straight out of the chair. Then, got it wind-blown, slept on it, and worked an early shift at work-all the while running my hands through my hair in exasperation (I had to completely re-merchandise my cheese section...it was causing me all kinds of grief). I was also not used to having bangs, and so continued to brush them from my brow...also out of stress.

Just a few hours into my shift, I caught a glimpse of my reflection. Oh my...what a mess!! I looked as if I was wearing a hair helmet!! It was awful and I couldn't wait to leave the eyes of the public and crawl under my cozy covers!

But I had a birthday party to attend. I took a 2 mile run (nearly 2 miles), took a shower, and then took a nap. I woke up to a great little hair do!! The one I wanted, in fact! I guess I lucked out, and even this cut will put up with my wash-and-wear ways! Thank goodness!!

I got to wear my cute headband, too.

Now, to the real business at hand...my new favorite love: Quilling!

I got my package yesterday (of course, b/c I didn't have any time to open it until after work today!!). My new quilling tools.

I have a really cool little practice piece in the works, but as my week has been going, my camera battery is currently charging since it crapped out as I was about to shoot what I have so far.

I managed a shot early on, in the pre-adhesion stages:

It's so much cooler than this now, I can't wait to shoot it and post it tomorrow!!

I am in love with this craft and can't believe I hadn't been doing it already!! And it's a fairly portable craft! Now that I've been practicing a bit, I think I will start turning my sketches into 3D pieces.

Stay tuned...I can't wait to get stuff ready for the shop!

before/after: the hair edition

I know. I wanted to get my blog back to the art/craft blog it was set up to be, but come on...I got my hair cut!!

If you've been following along, I have been growing my hair out. From my long locks, I went to the adorable pixie cut that I have rocked for years (yes...I did ROCK IT!).

But Hubby loved my long hair so much, and I love Hubby so much, that I decided to grow it out. Only, to make it a little more interesting, and more likely that I stick it out until it actually gets long, I decided to grow it to donate it.

But OH MY! it takes a long time for hair to grow 10 usable inches!!

I can't remember exactly when I last got my hair cut, but I believe I got it cut one last time after our trip to Vegas (last November) but before my last birthday (this past March).

At any rate...

this was my hair, this morning:

and now

Keep in mind, this is fresh from the salon. Well...actually, I had been out shopping a bit, and thus in the wind. Although, that doesn't seem to matter. She said, 'well, if you want the bangs, then you're gonna have to...' this is where she stops b/c she knows how early I get up. She knows how I HATE using product or, really, a brush even.

I think it makes me look older, right now. This is where I get totally honest...I think I have really liked my hair right out of the chair maybe once in my life. Today I sat under the dryer for the first time ever! It's all the blow drying that really makes me not sure about each and every cut I've ever had. But give it a day to flatten a bit and become my style and I know I'll love it.

I've never had bangs. I already like it more than I did when I started this post!!

craft fairs: to do, or not to do?

I know that, in order to get your stuff out there in the world, you need as much exposure as you can muster. Of course, for arts and crafters, that means craft fairs. And what better time of year to find a slew of fairs, than 'the holidays'. The holidays, being that stretch of time beginning with the first wisps of cool air leading up to Halloween, followed by the only large non-denominational holiday of Thanksgiving, ending in the generally over-the-top gift rave of Christmas...which of course just sort of blends into New Year's.

Well, that time is upon us now. And my shop has sat dormant out there in cyberspace for the past year! My last sales were for last Christmas, when I listed everything at rock bottom prices with the intention of closing shop at year's end.

But I just couldn't do it. I love crafting and I love that people still love handmade gifts. I love being a part of a creative community. And I love being able to use crafting as a sort of therapy to relieve all of life's stress.

So, now...it's craft fair time. But do I want to do it? Do I have it in me?

Two years ago we did the annual fair at the farm where my sister works. It was fun. But it was cold and we were out in a building out back and down a hill. Possibly missing out on some foot traffic, but sheltered from the cold wind.

The next year, we tried again, but requested a table in the pavilion...open to the elements, but close to the other crafters and the general store (where the food and hot chocolate are!). To be honest, I think this one was a spring or summer fair...especially judging by the way I'm dressed! This time I had more paper bowls and journals and less cards. Neither time was particularly profitable for me, but we got a deal on the table since we shared and we got a farm member discount.

Auntie and I had also done a second Christmas craft fair after the first one we did at the farm. We sold nothing, and the space was cramped. We weren't happy at all. But...I got an invite to be a part of that one again. And I just feel like it's a good way to not only get exposure to actual shoppers, but also get me motivated to make product.

My sister has, of course, invited me to be a part of the fair at the farm again, in November. I just can't decide.

Getting back into it, slowly

I'm having some success easing back into being crafty. The real issue I'm having is not sacrificing other important things in the process. Today, I worked out for the first time in months...MONTHS! I was within 10 pounds of my goal, but I've slid back to gaining 15 pounds from my goal. So, I'm hoping to get back into my workouts in addition to getting back into etsy.

Hubby's been working almost non-stop since losing his full-time job. I was hoping he could use the 'extra time' (we thought he'd have extra time!) to get his own business running. In the meantime, all of his working has started to inspire me to get back on track. I've found a new craft and I'm hoping to make some beautiful things for the holidays. I'll see how it goes and decide what to do from there, I guess.

But for now, I have a friend's baby shower coming up in November. Now, normally i don't do baby showers. I don't like babies and I don't like all the mommies and their baby talk and stories about the 'miracle' (gag) of birth! But I like my friend. This will be my second baby shower as an adult. The first one was also only attended by me because the mommy-to-be was a good friend. This mom is hip and fun and kind of crunchy. I want to give her something handmade, because she is definitely the type of person who would appreciate that. I'm thinking of this shadow box with origami elephants. My mom collects elephants, so one year I made these for her...and then she framed them, and I thought, 'wow! that's really cute.' So, I made some more and went the extra yard to actually frame it. The issue: will it go with her decor in her nursery? I think she's doing greens...and frogs...can this blend in with that sort of thing? Although, I'm also thinking of getting her this pug bank. I had wanted to get it for the first friend, but it didn't make sense...this friend actually has a pug. Is it bad to not get her anything practical for the baby?? I almost want to buy her a bottle of wine!

My sister's birthday is coming up fast, too. We're planning on going out for afternoon tea. My sisters and Auntie go out for tea pretty often, and on occasion, I've tagged along. In fact, this year, we did it for my other sister's birthday, I prepared a homemade tea for my birthday, and last year (November) we also had a homemade tea at Auntie's house for her birthday! Man! this group likes tea! We dress up for the event, and it's a good time. The gift I bought, arrived yesterday...I'm kind of excited about it, and hope she likes it (don't read that part, Renee!) :)

Well, I have my lists of stuff to do, so I better get to it. Just trying to get back into the habit of regular blogging, along with everything else!