Spotlight Features, Village - Free Ad for your shop or blog

Good morning to all!  A balmy 6 degrees here in Ohio.  A great day to just enjoy inside.

I would like for you to know about some of the features on my blog.

Spotlight - It is a place where fellow Estians, Collectors and Bloggers can be featured.  This is a free service.  If you are interested in being featured please let me know.  The open Spots are February 7, 14, 21 and 28.

Village - This is a collection of shop ads that is also free to advertise your shop.  You can read what you need to send me and I will get you set up.

My goal is to support my fellow craftor and bloggers.  Join in!

Friday Follow Blog Hop

Finding beauty where you are....get that awwww feeling back

Am I the only one that rushes through each day usually forgetting to "stop and smell the roses?" 

There was as time when I appreciated the sunset and would lay on the grass to watch clouds float by or to watch the stars twinkle.  Excitement filled the air when snow came or a chance to run in the rain or to splash in a puddle.

Maybe we are too old for this but I think as a child we had it right.  Enjoying the simple things can sometimes bring us more pleasure than an expensive get away.

Starting today I am going to relish in the small stuff to bring me that awww feeling. 

Terrific Tuesday Would like to hear the positive happenings in your life

The winter blast of snow and just the season itself can leave you with the anticipation of Spring.  Being cooped up in the house is enough to drive you crazy!  Dull and dreary.....ENOUGH!

Please share some sunny good thoughts, a great quote, something exciting to blast away this winter blah.

Retro flowers from reclaimed film discs

Today is Monday and a new start to hopefully a very productive week.

I wanted to share with you my latest creation.  It was fun to make and I think they turned out awesome, hope you do too.

 

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39220702

My son Dustin would be 22 yo today

Just getting through the Holidays and now it's Dustin's birthday.  Oh what a joyous occasion it was.  He was a bundle of joy and a treasure....a rare gift.  This is his 5th birthday in Heaven...so difficult to believe and to realize.  His website honoring his life.... http://dustin-davis.memory-of.com/About.aspx  

Celebrating his wonderful 17 years that we were  blessed to be with him.  Memories last forever....they are truly cherished.

Good friends and Mom's home town

It is funny how things work in our lives isn't it?  Each day brings a new adventure either to toil through or enjoy.

Recently my friend Lisa lost her Mother.  We made a trip to Tennessee to be with her during this difficult time.  You see Lisa like me has also lost a child, her daughter Holly.  http://hollyrproffitt.memory-of.com/About.aspx This is our main common bond.  Through the years we have bonded as close friends, I love her to pieces.  A tragedy brought us together but we nuture it with day to day living.  Friends come from all places from all different times.

While traveling through Kentucky to get home from Tennessee I just had to visit my Mom's home town, Louisa, Kentucky.  As we drove through the town I suddenly realized my roots, my upbringing.  This was so rewarding for me and a renewal of strength. 

As you can see one incident in your life can cause a reaction of many sorts.  Enjoy each adventure life brings to you.

Adore Primitive and love this Enamelware coffee pot

Primitive and rustic, vintage and vintage flair...my love and at the core of my heart.  The more primitive the better.

My latest listing is a blue and white enamelware coffee pot.  It is worn and tattered but the beauty is still visible.  I just had to put some of my dried yarrow in mmmm it smells so fragrant!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38762681

Sunday morning a time to relect and get it going!

Drinking coffee and watching the birds out the window beside my computer....the house is quiet, Princess Molly is happy (for now) and all is good.

When I was young Sundays meant going to church, coming home to a huge Sunday dinner and then everyone in the house took a nap.  When awake again we talked about the week before and the one ahead.  It was a time to reflect, share and get ideas for the coming week.  That was the good ol' days.

Now just a few years later we have our own rituals and patterns.  Nothing at all like I was raised with.  At times I miss those days when it seemed like everything was rosey and full of promise.

Awww this coffee is so good think I will have another cup....

Introducing "Sticky" You will fall in love with him

Oh my!  I would love to introduce to you "Sticky."  He is one with so many heartwarming words to say.  Cute and adorable....here he is telling you that he "loves you this much."  Fall in love all over again!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38637867

At last New listings

Here are my latest items on Etsy!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38529579

I really enjoyed making this is was inspiring!  Perfect for that special someone in your life!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38530507

Spring is on my mind it can't get here soon enough!  This project was so relaxing and enjoyable!  Hope you enjoy it too!

I have more to post when the weather cooperates for photos!

The Light came on!!

My last wish is to bore you to bits....but I used to be full of inspiration, ideas and thoughts.  When my son died in 2005 I felt all of that life went out the window.

Lately I have struggled to be creative once more...this morning I woke up INSPIRED!  I feel so awesome!!  I have been talking to some awesome Estians and they have inspired me to try....

Of course I have been accused of "lights on but nobody home!"  lol

The morning has been so relaxing as a Sunday morning should be.  The cardinals are eating as I watch them out my window, the coffee was perfect and now I must take the step.

Hope your Sunday is relzxing too!

Finding a niche

As I stroll around visiting all of the wonderful sites of Etsy and other crafters and all of the primitive beauties, awesome jewlery, creative mediums I am just in awe....

I love to craft and collect vintage items....but I don't know what my niche is yet.  It is terrible to have a store and still not know.  I can almost grab onto it as I know it is close...make sense?  My love is for a variety of things not one set thing; so knowing is a bit more difficult.  The tip is to do what you love most and enjoy making...again so many choices.

Well HOOT!! 

I appreciate all of the talent you have and the inspiration you give...

Snow and more snow and back to bed!

I know we did not get as much snow as most of you have BUT we got snow.  I love it at first, want more of it.

Please forgive me I am not feeling well today and am heading back to bed.  I will check all of the blogs later.

Have a great day!

The chili is cookin...mmmmm

As I finally get to work in my new studio Mike has put his yummy chili on.  Here I sit trying to craft and all I can smell is chili...mmmm.  The snow is gently falling as I look out the window.  What a wonderful day.  I really appreciate life today.

Since I haven't found my "niche" yet I am working on a few things to offer, hopefully something will take off.  I really need to learn to sew and pray for patience.  Frustration kicks in and I give up.  I need a simple project to work on.  Any suggestions from you pros?

Paint, gesso and wood putty is drying seems like it has taken forever.  I think I will have a bowl of chili....

My studio.workspace is complete

What seemed to be a work in progress forever is finally finished.  It is nothing fancy, BUT it is my space, my zen, my zone.  Mike built me 3 huge shelves 8 feet wide and about 6-7 feet high AND they are all full.  Lots of room to store all of my goodies.  Later we will redo the floor but it is going to be costly so for now it will have to do.  Below are before and after pics.  I am so excited!  I now have "stations."  Design, painting, packaging, and storage.

Glue Gun, Organization, Secrets, Promos and so much more

Easy project to do....make a photo box...well let me tell you it turned into an adventure!

It prompted me to this post.  The amazing glue gun!  Are there secrets to not getting the strings of glue in hair, under nails and every place else it can go?  Am I just a slob with it?  Need a better gun?  Please help me so every time I get the glue gun I am not whispering such horrible things under my breath.

How do you start your day?  I have been reading the tips to have a better business...well when will I ever craft?  What are your secrets to an organized day?  Coffee then create?  Later in the day?  How do you find time to fit all that is needed in?

I am just sure somewhere there is a hidden camera watching me as I try with all of my might to be an at home business person...ahem...The joke is on me.  Maybe the routine of a 5 AM alarm, 1 hour of travel, then to my office is just hard to break. 

OK you have a secret that nobody knows simple because they haven't asked.  I am asking!  Share with the world how you make it all work.  Don't be shy, you will be admired by many for sharing!

When do you follow the blogs?  When do you promote your shop?

Off to a start for 2010 just not as I had planned!

Help!  Need your advice!

Wonderful Blog Design

I have rececieved so many kind compliments to my new blog design.  You kind comments made me know I went to the right place!  Credit must be given where credit is due. 

A huge thank you goes to Diana from http://customblogdesigns.blogspot.com/ She was so patient, kind, helpful and the list goes on.  Believe me when I say she is patient....ahem I changed my mind a few times in the course of her designing this blog for me BUT  she was awesome.

If you would like a blog make-over please go to her!  You will not regret it!

Once again go to http://customblogdesigns.blogspot.com/ you will not regret it!

Magic Wand Anyone?

I know it sounds crazy to a lot of you but I love football.  So happy the Ohio State Buckeyes won the Rose Bowl!  Yippee!

Now that I can relish in the idea of winning and feel the warmth...ahhhhh

Doing more painting today on the studio....sure hope it gets done really fast!  Does anyone have a magic wand to wave and this would be complete?  onward I go!

My new studio

2010 will bring me to my new revamped studio.  Since we started the project everything that I can create and craft with is in boxes.....somewhere.  I can't wait to get it all together and organized.  I am itching to make something that I have been thinking about for a while.  the anticipation is killing me!

We have part of the studio painted, the work area is almost finished, one more shelf need assembled THEN the organization begins.  Everything to do with Etsy will be there.  I have set up a photo station, packaging, office and craft.  Now to get it going.  When all finished I will show before and after pics....OMG you will not believe the mess it is right now.

Onward with 2010!  Today is football bowls games and a day or rest and relaxation.  Look out tomorrow, BAM it is on!