Tuesday Treasury

Above: Cupcake Greeting Cards -- Set of 5 All Occasion Greeting Cards

by creativeapples photography, $15.00

I Love You, Cupcake is my newest treasury on Etsy. I would love to post an image of that treasury here, but I am not sure how to do that without taking a screen shot and editing it and then importing it. How do people do those cool treasuries in their blogs where you can click on a picture and it takes you to the item's page?

I feel technologically challenged.

Please do check out the new treasury.

I've Had a Nice Vacation...

...and now I'm ready to get back in the game.

Obviously, I am making a resolution to blog more frequently. I think I make that goal about once a month, hold myself to it for a few days, and then relapse into my once-a-week BESTeam feature. "I'm serious this time!" Really, I will blog more. Hold me to it, mates.

I would love to list a new item every day, but unfortunately, I'm drowning in the current economy, and I have been so busy trying to keep bread on the table that keeping books in my shop has been lower on the list of priorities than I would like. I often read "Quit Your Day Job," and think to myself how nice that would be, but realistically, I have miles to go.

The more manageable goals include taking new product photographs, designing a cohesive product line, and keeping my records organized.

That's it for now, but hopefully I'll be back tomorrow!

Check out the feature that Norah from Your Daily Jewels wrote about my shop! Thanks Norah! BESTeam is awesome!

BESTeam Feature: Turquoise Angels

This week's feature is tutu cute. (I know, bad pun.) But it is a cute shop. Meet the mother-daughter team of Turquoise Angels. If you know a little girl, you probably know a little girl who enjoys twirling around in a tutu. It is the perfect princess accessory, or, if your little girl is like I was, it can double as "long hair" when worn on your head, a fort ceiling when stretched between two chairs, or "the lake" when set on the living room floor.

The colors are as sunny as the smiles, like this Morning Glory Hand Tied Tutu, $26.00, shown above. It makes a great pair with the Chicken Little Petti Tutu, $26.00, shown below.
This picture below is as cute as the Dream Angel Tutu Flower Girl Dress, $60.00, that is offered in the shop.
You know what they say, "If you give a mouse a tutu, she'll want a hair ribbon to go with it."

Above: Hair Bow Girls Candy Corn Hand Made French Clip, $5.85.

Turquoise Angels will be back in the shop on January 4!

In the meantime, you can follow the blog.

BESTeam Feature: m.sartin design

It's cold at my parents' this week, and the feature this week is a cozy retreat from the icy winds. Meet Mindy Sartin of m.sartin design, a native of the west coast and crochet extraordinaire. She has a natural knack for color and texture and an arts degree to back up her talent. Everything in her shop is functional and beautiful, and if you don't see what you want, she does custom orders as well. Buying for a friend but don't know what to get? Give a gift certificate!

I adore the colors in the shop. This grass green appears in a few items, such as this Cowl, pictured above, currents on sale for $55.00. For those of you looking for a less conventional item to keep your neck warm in the colder weather, check out the Cream Neck Cuff, $25.00, shown below.
I keep returning to look at the Grass Green Fingerless Mittens, $45.00, shown below. They are super soft, and super stylish.
I didn't even know there was such a thing as bamboo yarn, but Mindy's Chocolate Bamboo Scarf, $70.00, is a one-of-a-kind example of all the different uses for natural materials.
New parents are always in need of new items to keep baby warm in the winter. How about the Yummy Baby Hat, $40.00, pictured below? You can order a custom fit for your little one, and it is sure to be soft and warm for the holidays and beyond.
Winter is here! Visit m.sartin design to stay warm!

For more, follow Mindy on her blog.

A short note and brief reminder:

I cannot believe people are still ordering Christmas gifts!  Of course, I say that as I load my family's gifts into the kiln to be fired.

Those of you still planning to order from me, Monday is your deadline!

Happy crafting!

BESTeam Feature: Our Home to Yours

This week's feature is a mother and daughter team from North Carolina: Our Home to Yours.  The talented pair have a family history with the arts, pursuing arts education as well as using crafts as a stress reliever in a house full of children.  It is clear from browsing their shop that they are passionate about many different art forms.

Many of the pieces currently in the shop are knitted scarves and hats for the colder season, and for a limited time, they are offering the Child Size Scarf and Mitten Set pictured above for $18.75.  But they don't stop at yarn.  Quilling is all the rage in the crafting world right now, and the White Quilled Wedding Invitation Border, $25.00, shown below, would make an elegant finish for a keepsake for any new bride and groom.
With classic design comes a nod to the originals, and the shop has many vintage pieces to choose from as well such as the Vintage Crochet Collar, $10.00, pictured below.
I have yet to work with leather, but Our Home to Yours has a tempting selection of swatches reasonable prices.  Ten 4x5 Dark Burgundy Leather Swatches are only $5.50.
Whether you are looking to buy handmade or make your own this holiday season, Our Home to Yours has quite a selection to choose from!

For more, check out their blog.

A little holiday craziness...

I have been working hard on a custom planner (thus I have neglected my blog and all things non-order related, not that I'm making excuses), and I finished it last night!  I promise to post pictures, but considering how little sleep I've had (why am I awake right now?!), I'll save them for later.

I thought I was all caught up, and then I got two more orders.  Which is wonderful!  But slightly nutty.

Happy holidays!