Snail Mail

Listening to "Windowsill 1" by Heartbeat Hotel.

It's so easy (I'm learning now) taking small things we have for granted. Take for instance postal mail. I have a sore habit of not sending mail (except through Etsy). Email? I only use it through my job and the occasional message to a friend or family. Tweeting & Facebook are done for my shop but it stops there for me. I really do not like texting and find myself sighing quite heavily when I recieve one. Yes, it's faster then picking up a phone and dialing a number but sometimes I miss that communication...

Like postcards. I've been lingering more and more towards sending one. I guess it's that curious itch that I find the perfect one to send and see their expression when we meet next. Even those crazy "I'm here next to a gator, look at me" cards bring a smile across my face (even if I am laughing at myself).

In honor, of this fascination I'm having a Holiday SALE in my Etsy shop. 15% OFF anything except cards. Just use COUPON CODE: 15PLS. Easy? I hope so.

In any case, I'd like to extend some time to sending a letter, postcard, or even a small note.. I think I'll start writing one now.

Workplace Attire

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Listening to "Hide It Away" by the Retribution Gospel Choir

I just left Old Navy's site. A clearanced cardigan was too hard to pass up. Seeing as I rarely shop online or in-store I feel pretty good. My friend Bria and I tend to take a seasonal trip a few times a year to a few local stores to spend our budgeted money. That new attire feeling is just overwhelming.. like a nice bear hug from Smokey the Bear- it's all good. I think we're about to hit that seasonal trip soon *crosses fingers*.

On the upside, I have noted that my accessories reflect me. I'm into soft tones and natural colors. Ask anyone who sees me and they will agree, even call me "granoley". Thanks. I'm not a cowgirl or a hippie but I do enjoy the feel and look of soft browns, avacado green, and creamy linens. I've always felt my accessories are more for the laid back and toned down.

I've wanted to take a step in a new direction with work attire. As many of you know I have a full-time job besides running the Etsy shop. I work in a position where good attire reflects quality standards... i.e. I have to pay to wear jeans at work and even then I would only be able to wear jeans the first Friday of every month... *grunt*. I have not partaken in what I call "The Great Denim Rip-off" but one day I hope to wear jeans at work. In any case, I have started to design more accessories aimed at those that struggle with work attire fashionistas. I hope to get these in the shop by early December.

December is right around the corner which means my Christmas sale will pop-up soon as well. This year I would like to take an extra step at donating a portion of my SALE items to the Red Cross. This year has been horrible yet again for the Carribean islands and Indonesia. Earthquakes and hurricanes/typhoons have shattered lives and I'd like to do what I hope anyone can and donate.

I will be give notice before I incoporate any of these items and sales into my shop so please watch and DONATE to the Red Cross. :)

Metalwork

Listening to "Bone Dry" by A B & the Sea.

I've begun incorporating new metalwork pieces into the Etsy shop. I'm pretty excited about this because I've always been a fan of metal and leather mixed together. However this is the first time I've used salvaged metal pieces in my shop. It's been a new experience for me.

There are a few pieces already up in the shop but I'm adding a whole line of metalwork pieces within the next few weeks. :)

Poppy Bliss

Listening to "Coin Laundry" by Lisa Mitchell

That is my favorite song right now. Helps with brainstorming... *sigh*

On to my title. I just put two new cuffs up in the shop. Yes, I've been playing with fire. No, that's not why my face is the way it is. BLEH... or meeeeeeeeow as Abby would politely put it.

My camera is finally working so we were able to take some pics of the new cuffs. Ch-Ch-Check it out. *channeling Beastie Boys*

On another note, at work today- yes, I have a full time job I work at. Didn't know that? By day I'm the lone surgery scheduler for Pediatric General & Thoracic Surgery at All Children's Hospital here in St. Petersburg, Florida. I hope I never see you or your child because if I see you it's because of trauma surgery, bone marrow transplants, ALL, cholelithiasis, hernias, etc.... I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU- no offense. It's just better that way. I love my job but it has its saddening downsides.

As I was saying before, at work I had to pull together my Excel skills again. Did I mention I hate Excel? I strongly despise spreadsheets and fee schedules. Nothing says HORROR movie like a range of ridiculous formulas and deliminated data.... Are you asleep yet? I am... ZZzzz. I just wanted you to know how much I despise that Microsoft program.

DID SOMEONE SAY AUTUMN??!! Oh, that was me. So sorry. My favorite season approaches. Unfortunately, in Florida that means 3 more months until we even feel a chill. Nothing says "trick or treat" like an excessively sweating 9 year old in a clown costume. I shall not gloat. NO! I love fall. Especially when we get those brief cold fronts that whisk me away in a scarf..... scarves.... *sigh* I can't wait to wear those... I need to just move up to Ohio or Montana for a few months and travel back and forth in my Star Trek transporter beam. There's an idea.....

Well, thank you for following along with me in today's fun-filled jabberfest. I'm working on some more items and I will hopefully have them up by the end of the week. Thanks guys!!!!

C

A Look at the Past

Listening to "Sprawl" by Arcade Fire

I suffer from a tiring disease called "SLC" or Second Look Crafting. I have a horrible time fighting that part of me that looks at something I made in the past and say, I really dislike the look of that. I know let's take it apart and reinvent something else. Apparently, this involves my housekeeping and work personality. Hence, my husband can't stand it when it's our semi-annual furniture "redecorating party".

To kick off the autumn season, I looked at something I made awhile ago and the SLC overcame me. I don't want to put this part of me down because I know a lot of people suffer from this nerve-breaking syndrome as I do but sometimes it costs me nights of iced-coffee mania or those crazed raccoon eyes at work the next morning. :) What once was a plain wooden nickel last year became something I definitely love now- felt & soft leather embellishments. A seasonal mix of buttons. Oh, and my favorite- an acorn. :)

C^_^

Treasury

Listening to "A Big Jetplane" by Angus & Julia Stone

I've been on Etsy for almost 1 year now (tomorrow is my official anniversary) and I'm just starting to experiment with some of their cool features. Take their Treasury for instance. If you're familiar with this then you know what I'm talking about. The feature allows you to share 16 different items from separate shops (usually with a central theme) that you like. You then publish the items with a Title and Description and allow other etsians to view them.

In following this topic, I dove into this feature and made my first Etsy Treasury. I based it on two huge inspirations in my life- my husband and his music. Tim, my hubby, is a casual musician. We have a makeshift music studio for him in our guest bedroom and when he "feels like playing" he goes in there and experiments with his "craft". When he shuts that door, I close my eyes and I see that scene from Frankenstein, "It's Alive!". Okay, I know he's not re-animating dead body parts but I know firsthand he is putting what he envisions into his music. He doesn't realize how much his support means to me and I just want him to know this again and again... and again... you get it.

Anyway, I am excited that I was able to tinker with this feature and create something I can share with you. It's nothing fancy but I hope you find the various items I found as creative as I did.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c969d5f39756d917e5642d1/a-rich-note?index=0

February Winner

Wow, thank you to all the people that either emailed or put your comments on the blog. They were so nice. It was incredible to hear all your stories. Out of all the entries I was able to narrow with the help of my fiance to one person that stood out with their story- Tristan Romand.

She is an incredible and talented person who has donated her time and profits to other charities in her area. Kudos to her! She has won the Rustic Cuff that I offered. Now that the giveaway is over I will be selling another cuff in my shop. I'll be putting this one up in the next few days- by Monday so keep a look out for it. Thanks to everyone!

February Giveaway

This month I'm giving away a new leather wrist cuff from my Etsy shop. I will be adding it to my store this week. As a sneek peek, I'm giving it away in a contest this month. All you have to do is answer the following question below. I will pick the best answer from all applicants and will notify/post the winner within 24 hours of the contest ending. This leather cuff is part of my new Spring leather collection and is not sized at this time. It will fit at least a wrist size of 7.5inches.

The contest starts Sunday January 31st 8:00pm EST and ends Wednesday February 10th 8:00pm EST. Please make sure when you answer the questions to include your email so I can contact you. Happy answering!

In relation to world events that have taken place, people all over have amassed to donate to Haiti's relief- especially on Etsy. :) I want to know:

What have you done or do for charity? Soup kitchen? Tell me!

Haiti Relief

Listening to "Cosmic Love" by Florence + the Machines.

It has been an eventful week these last few days. I have unintentionally zoned out of my Etsy store to continue my wedding planning and crafting. Due to this I feel that my Etsy garden has wilted since last month and I've missed opportunities to help out. No worries.

I jumped on top of my shop on Monday and started a short but sweet relief sale. I'm donating 50% of all proceeds to the American Red Cross for Haiti Relief on all items purchased before February. So far it's been a huge success. Lots of Etsians have stepped up to shop and help. There have been alot of nice stories emailed and passed along to me from Etsians who have donated. "NoasArk" a first-time Etsy shopper purchased her first item from my shop to help donate. She is an amazing person and I think it's mind-blowing that so many people shop to help out causes like this terrible one. I know I've spent quite a bit of money at other various Etsy shops who are donating too.

On another note I'll be brining out a few more items in the shop including some banner earrings, brooches, and more leather cuffs (3 that I've already duplicated for myself). I've got a hinkering that I'll be giving one of the cuffs away as a give-away for February. I'll start it the first week of February so come back then to tell me your best story! :)

Cheers! And thank you for everyone's donation!!!

You can donate through the Red Cross or Paypal.