Disappointments, And Inspirations

The past few days I have had inspiration mixed with a few disappointments.

Turns out I will not be getting a doily stamp from the lady I did the trade with. She says that it is too detailed, and she doesn't think she can replicate it for me. I had my heart set on that stamp. It is simply lovely! Oh well.

I also discovered that the name I wanted for my vintage shop is in use as a username, but not as a shop on etsy. I have come up with a few other possible names. Now I just need to make up my mind. By the way, my contest has ended, and I only had one suggestion for a store name. The suggestion came from my mom, but was not really what I was looking for, so there was no winner.

I guess if that's all the disappointments I have at the moment, then I'm doing good. The inspiration has far outweighed the disappointments so far. I just feel so motivated, creative, and inspired again. It makes me happy!

I have big changes in the works for my etsy store! I also have tons of new ideas for products, and I can't wait to try them. Today I had my first sale in awhile, and that made me happy. I sold this Sweetheart Bracelet.



Inspiration is sweet...

Doing Better

I'm doing a little better since Friday, but I figured that I should just try and keep busy to get my mind off things, so I feel like posting in my blog today. I was not looking forward to today because I knew the house would feel so empty. Over the weekend I went in with Brian to the office on Saturday, and he worked for a few hours yesterday, but I was dreading a full day for me to be alone with my thoughts. It hasn't been too bad so far. I have occasional spells of crying that don't last too long, but those have been happening since Friday anyway. There is a constant ache in my heart from the knowledge deep down that she is not here, and will never be here again.

Ok, I was supposed to be posting to take my mind off of it, and all it's doing is making me cry more. Changing the subject...

Our garden is coming up nicely, and doing well so far. My spinach is starting to come up, and the cucumbers are too. The peas, the bush beans, and the radishes have been coming up for awhile. Our strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are doing very well. It's so exciting, and an accomplishment for me because I wouldn't exactly say I have a green thumb...I wish I did though. Can't wait to start harvesting from our garden!

I finally finished the custom order I was working on. Normally custom orders wouldn't take me quite so long to finish. Well, it hasn't even been a week since she asked for the custom order, but I like to get orders done and shipped right away as soon as I can.


Saturday Brian took me to A.C. Moore before we went to the office. I was looking for some jewelers glue, and some ribbon. My stock of good ribbon was running a bit low. I found the jewelers glue, and tested it yesterday. The stuff works awesome. You can't break one of the button rings when you're trying to. I'm very happy about that. Also found bunches of ribbon that I liked in the sale bin. The ribbons are so pretty, and I'm very happy with them.







Not much else to post about. I might go down to the thrift store again today. Depends on how bored I get.

Thrifting on a Tuesday, and Lots of Other Lovely Things

I walked to a thrift store today that is just a few blocks away from my house. I am looking for things to fill my vintage shop with, and also things for myself of course. I found a ton of things, but did not have enough money on me at the time, so I'm going back tomorrow. I will be getting a dress, plate and bowl, sugar tin, metal tray, a kind of jacket blouse, and maybe some shoes. I did get a few of the things today though.



I also got some great deals on some things at another thrift store a week or two ago.



I am so excited about my new vintage shop! The name i came up with for it was already taken, but not really in use, so I wrote to the person at their new shop and asked them about it. Hopefully I will get an answer soon.

I also finished some jewelry for myself. Or at least I thought I finished one of the necklaces until I came up with an idea for it. Here is my finished feather necklace.





And my "thought I was finished with it" necklace.





Then I had a lovely idea. Why not stitch some of this cream lacey trim on it? What do you think? Should I? Please leave a comment with your vote :)



For both of the necklaces I used some chain that I salvaged from some cheap necklaces that I never wear anymore, and would have sold in my yard sale anyway. Was so happy I did not have to buy any chain to do these. I am so happy with the results, and I'm very please with my new necklaces!

I got one of my orders from etsy awhile back, and finally took a picture of it. I am loving this cute little hello brooch from ThePinkNeedle's shop on etsy. It's so cute, and simply adorable, and very well made. I am very inspired by the stuff in her shop.



hello HELLO pin $8.00 from thepinkneedle.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6583331

Also did a trade with my friend hollie from blueberryshoes. She has an awesome, and unique shop. I finally took pictures of the cards I got from her, and here they are. Two of them are original hand drawn cards, and the other is a printed card. I simply love them. They are awesome. Thanks for the trade!




You can find similar items in her shop blueberryshoes.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6424290

I am hoping to get some new items in my own shop soon. Here is a sneak peek at something I'm working on.



I have to get a custom order done this week. I had an order for two custom embroidered notepads. Happy about that!

I think that's about everything for now, other then one last thing. The last treasury I did. It was awhile back, but still wanted to post it here. It's my Travel In Style 3 treasury.

Spring Cleaning

I have been kind of spring cleaning for the past few weeks. I started with the back deck first. I did not get pictures of it before, but believe me, it was a total mess. Here are the after pictures.





My mom had this metal couch that needed welded in a few places, and she was not using it, so she had it fixed for me, and gave it to me. I plan to paint it white, and make some cushions and pillows for it.



It will go on the deck where the long table against the wall is now. I awhile back I fell in love with these pillows on etsy.



They just look so comfy and beautiful. I plan to make some similar ones from some old sweaters I found at thrift stores.



I cleaned the house last week, and have been sorting through everything in order to declutter a bit. I have lots of stuff to sell in my yard sale when we have it. Can't wait to get it all out of the house finally, and maybe make a little money in the process.

I haven't been on etsy very much recently because I think I just need a break really. My sales have been kind of slow lately. I'm rethinking my entire store and the look of it. I have found out the things I really want to do and love doing I think, and the style I like. I have been sorting all my craft stuff, so look for destashes in my shop soon. My button destashes have been selling very well. I have sold all 6 that I had listed. 4 of them to 1 person. I know supply shops on etsy do well, but I can't really see liking running that kind of shop. I do like doing the button destashes and scrap packs though. I guess it's because I have room to be artistic and creative with those, and they are fun to do. I had a request for a custom item today. Someone wants an personalized embroidered notepad, and I think they might purchase something else as well.



I have several new projects and ideas in the works right now, and can't wait to share them. Recently I have been getting lots of inspiration from these fabrics I bought, fabric covered button kits, and cream lace trims. Really I get inspiration from everywhere, and it's just so hard to be focused.



I am planning to open a vintage shop on etsy as soon as I can think of a good name I like that is not taken already, and when I can get enough items to list.

Anyway, I will be posting again tomorrow because there is just too much to catch up on to fit it all in today. I have a couple of new things that I got on etsy that I want to post about, and some new things I have made for myself. Also a few other things to post about, and will be doing a tutorial on making homemade bread soon. So, until tomorrow then...farewell.

Well I got a treasury this morning! And here it is. I just think it's such a fun treasury. I really enjoyed making it.




It has been a really great day in featured seller chat on etsy. I kept track of sales, and at the end of each round I changed the title. in about 23 rounds there were 37 sales! It was awesome! There were only about 2 or 3 no sale rounds, and that's rare in featured seller. Lots of people were saying it was April fools, but trust me, it wasn't. I don't lie because 1: I think people should be truthful, and 2: I'm a rotten liar. Anyway lost track of sales after the 23rd round, but I think the sales dropped off. A couple of people changed the title on me (which made me mad) because I guess they thought it was April fools. Oh well, I know the people who got the sales know it wasn't April fools. I got 2 myself while I was featured seller, and I got 2 more sales later on.

I bought a cute little brooch pin in fs today. The lady who makes the pins is going to make mine with a green underline instead of the pink.


Today I received a box in the mail. Was so excited! I got my little vintage yarn holder, and vintage milk glass buttons. They are so cute! Now I just need to learn how to knit lol. The yarn holder was so cute, I couldn't resist it. Besides I guess we can use it as a holder for our garden twine this summer if I don't learn to knit anytime soon.

Anyway, tomorrow is my birthday! I have a big box in my closet from my mom that is just begging to be opened, but can't till tomorrow, and when Brian got home today I caught him hiding something in the cabinets above the washer and dryer. I also have things I have ordered on etsy that I already know about. The etsy purchases were not really for my birthday though.

These two necklaces are things I keep drooling over in featured seller chat.





It was really funny, because the girl I bought the brooch from, bought this sea foam necklace right out from under me is featured seller chat today. I really did want it, and it was a great price as well. I'm going to see if I can make either of these for myself because I love them so much.

Watched the movie, and finished the custom order for ChosenVintage. Here is one of the completed cards.



I have similar cards in my shop. I can do custom orders of any color, letter, or if you want a larger set of cards. I love custom orders, so just ask.

So ok, I can't keep away from Etsy chat. I have decided to wait till tomorrow to start one of my custom orders because I still don't have the info I need from the person who wants it. The other custom order is already almost finished, and will be listed soon. I am so exhausted from the trip yesterday. We did not get back till about 2:40 this morning. When we got home we took a shower, got ready for bed, and very promptly collapsed. I am very tired today, and have a good bit of stuff to think about. I think I'm going to go for a light day of work, and relaxing. Going to watch a movie while I finish the custom order, then make another scrap pack, clean and organize my craft stuff(yet again), and the last thing on my list is to pack up a few orders. While I was just writing this post I had another sale! Yay! Am so happy! I sold the mini embroidered letter "J" note cards.

I have purchased a few things that I'm very excited to get. First is this lovely vintage yarn holder.


Second are these lovely vintage milk glass buttons.


The buttons, and the yarn holder are both from vintagehomerecycled.etsy.com

And third are these cute little tags.


The tags are from nikkiscrappychic.etsy.com

Also wanted to post a picture of my last treasury. The treasuries I really love don't seem to make the front page very often. This is one of my favorite treasuries that I have made.

Speed, I was built for speed...

...Well maybe not. I have been neglecting my blog because things have been so busy around here for me. There have been a great many things I have wanted to blog about and just not had the time. I guess I'll start with today.

Brian is just getting over a cold, and I have been feeling a cold coming on the past few days myself. At the moment it's not that bad. Other than the cold, I have had such a wonderful day. I got my chores done around the house before I got on the computer this morning, and then went into the fs chat rooms on Etsy. I spent a lot of time there. Was featured once, and did not sell anything, and then I bought a very lovely gift for my sister from a seller in the room(will not say what or from who. don't want to give it away). I was featured again, and sold 2 items, and someone else is interested in having me make them a custom order. So many exciting things happened today! A few days ago I did a trade with sarah bauder, and today I got my lovely brooch in the mail! I'm so happy with it. I'm not normally a pink person, but for some reason this brooch caught my fancy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5743031

I also found out today that my purple treasury made the front page on Etsy. Was so pleased!



After FS chat a friend and I started our own chat room, and someone who came in to that room wants me to make them a set of embroidered letter M cards in hot pink thread.


You can find the cards in my etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6368653

Also my my items are featured in two gift guides at the moment on etsy. Was so excited about that!

http://www.etsy.com/gift-guides/personalized-gifts/97

http://www.etsy.com/gift-guides/mother-s-day/132

And as if all this was not enough, on top of it all, I also sold the large scrap pack that I just listed last night! The person has not paid yet, but I'm sure they will. I need to make another similar one to list.


I also listed two button destashes today in my shop.


See what I mean? Lots of exciting stuff happened today!