Where did that come from?

I have spent some time on clean up today. 

When things get disorganized it's always good to do a bit of spring cleaning! First thing I cleaned was my sour attittude, and then I dug into my surroundings. I must say cleaning my immediate surroundings was less than satisfactory. There wasnt too much thrill in picking up questionable socks.  So now armed with my better outlook I actually was creatively productive (which always is uplifting) There are new listings in FlightFancy. I changed my shop announcement. I'm working on a new design for my business cards. I am going to research Project Wonderful for advertising. Next week I have to go to a steerage commitee meeting for a new artist cooperative program. I am truly hoping I can contribute to this project in a positive way, as this is new territory for me.

So on a more up beat note....I want to remind everyone that the Baroness is having a sweet giveaway! There's still time to enter! check out the beautiful necklace picture on the right to take you right to the giveaway!

It's Not Fair Syndrome

I'm a bit frustrated, ok a lot frustrated. I generally keep my peace, but dang people catch a clue please.

In my lack of motivation today (due to 4 extra kidlets here and half days at the school) I decided to peruse the forums on etsy. I generally can find useful help, silly fun, in general nice folks! Wow today(and more so lately) I was getting irritated with all the....."do it this way"know it all, the tag police rants, twitter lovers/haters, and why no sales whines. It was all coming across as a "it's not fair!"......

No it's not fair, it's business, and it's your art. I want to slap someones mama for not teaching them life is not always fair! (thanks Baroness...I got my lesson)

I post in the forums occasionally...and I truly hope I dont come across as a complete twit. I will offer up ideas of what has worked for me....take it or leave it. My opinion is just that, an opinion or an idea to try if you think it might work for you. If it doesnt, try something else, but if your unsatisfied with your sales/ shop/ business......try something -anything and see if it works. If the latest piece of advice doesnt work....drop it and move on. Ultimately it all boils down to what you are capable of doing for yourself.

I dont claim to be an astute business woman, marketing guru, or the Dali Lama. I am willing to give and take ideas that work for me based on my business. I dont have to follow the crowd of what everyone else does. Not everything is going to work for my model. And I sure as sh** am not going to have a "it's not fair" attitude.

Sorry for the ramblin rant....just another opinion....take it or leave it ....or get out the spaghetti noodles to beat me with. :)

Fantastic Friday Giveaway Winner!

Yay! it's time to announce the winner of the giveaway. Each entry was assigned a number right down the list. My young miss ran right out the door this morning, so I used random.org to pick the number for me. 

Drumroll please!  CLANK...CLANK... CLANK.... I said drumroll....NOT cowbell. 

and the winner is: #37

Grammatically Delicious Designs!

I will contact you to get your mailing address. Congratulations! Thank you so much everyone for entering!

The Baroness is hosting the next Fantastic Friday Giveaway, and I know she has picked out a truly exquisite piece for the prize! You can enter the next giveaway by visiting her blog and showing some love! The Baroness will have the new giveaway posted today, you're going to want to run over there.....it's too good to miss!

The usual suspects

Actually, you dear readers are definitely not 'usual'! I just wanted to post an  list of entries for the Fantastic Friday giveaway. So far here is the list I have. (if I have made any errors please let know!)

YouniquelyChic - 2

Anita Helena -2

Karen -2

Rose -2

KPlus -2

Vanessa -2

TheCraftbegins -1

Ashley -2

Aik-2

minishoes -2

glassidenities -3

Kristen -2

Ceridwen -2................Such a beautiful name!

bombshell -2

M Mashraqi -3

Hollyz Hobby -2

trh -2

Grammatically Delicious  -2

Jeanne Wray -1

Anna Shirron -1

Haru Dori -1

Beyond the nest -1

 I'm so tickled and tingly with anticipation! Drawing will be first thing in the morning! Is everyone waiting with baited breathe. Well hopefully the wait wont be too long. Dont forget once the winner is announced Friday morning to travel over to Baroness' Blog for the next Fantastic Friday Giveaway.

Talent runs amok!

It has been crazy around here lately! Sorry I havent had time to post over the weekend. I just signed on and saw all the new comments on the giveaway and new followers here, and I just have to say you are all goddesses! How sweet to take the time to visit my inane spot on the internet. You all just made my heart skip a beat! How nice for a first giveaway.....Thank you! 

(now for the shameless plug) If you're a new visitor and want to enter the giveaway just click on the pearl necklace to the right.

I have to share, there's no getting around it. I have spent almost every night at the school the last few days. First we got to see our youngest miss in the Missoula Childrens Theater play. It was so fun watching all the children, but especially (insert extreme mama pride here) my Hannah. She was so excited she actually had 3 lines this year. She's one of the townfolk in the yellow dress on the left. 

Then we got to spend another evening at the winter sports award for the highschool. We got  to go witness Quinn getting his award for basketball. I am very proud of him! I must admit though, that sitting through 3 hrs of coaches speeches was butt numbing.

This evening we were regaled with wonderous music. (ok some of it was squeaky in spots with the jr highband) Quinn plays drums in the HS band, and sings with the choir, and miss Hannah sings with the choir as well. It always makes me giggle and cry a bit to watch them perform. I know I'm a bit of a sap, but I love those babes!

So tomorrow it's back in the craftroom! I dont have to go to work, and no school events. Whew!

a bit more whimsy

 

I did promise to put up Miss Skye, but she's still not done. Well she is and isnt. I cant put my finger on what it is yet, so she is sitting on my shelf until I have the 'AHA!' moment and figure out what she's missing.

So instead Miss Gertie is making her debut. She looks a little unsure of herself. I think she's just worried that her black lace stockings might be a bit much.

I will be listing her in the shop tonight, just wanted to share her here first. 

Introducing Lady Marjorie

I've been a bit more whimsical with my work this weekend. Thanks to the poking and nudging from the Baroness to get more dolls up in my shop, (you can put the cattle prod away now...my backside is numb), I  am pleased to introduce Lady Marjorie. I'm rather pleased with the way she turned out. I also have Miss Skye sitting on the sewing table, unfortunately she hasnt put her face on yet and will have to introduce herself tomorrow.

What have I been up to?

Oh .....about 5'6" in my bare feet....hehe. (I know too corny, but I'm going there anyway)

Actually I've been a regular busy bee. I was oh so happy to get on a roll and get a lot of pendants done. Most of them are more dainty than my usual pendants, but I really like the way they turned out. I did wire wrap them, and used the the small coil hoop technique I'm so fond of. (it's alot of fun) I also fell back on making some of my square pearl pendants. I dont know why I havent made any in some time now. I forgot how fun they were to make.

I just love that feeling of accomplishment! I'm feeling so giddy about this, and happy with my new pendants, I want to share with you! I'm officially having a giveaway for this 'Such a Square' white pearl necklace on Friday March 20th. Any one up for having a fantastic Friday?

How to enter?

Peek in my shop, and comment here if you find a favorite.

Become a follower of my humble blog.

link to this giveaway and post here to let me know.

any or all is worth a seperate entry. Winner will be drawn randomly by my impartial sweet pea, Miss Hannah. Just to keep the fun rolling BaronessBijoutery will be hosting a another giveaway starting on the 20th after this drawing. Yep we're in cahoots, every other Friday we will be hosting a new giveaway. We really look forward to hosting ' Fantastic Fridays'!

Putting on my red shoes

I'm going to be totally shameless. I've got the sassy red shoes on and Im ready.

I recently paid good money for a bad class on web design. I was hoping for more intuitive, and practical information, but all we got was the step by step for a specific software program from the program's user manual. (thanks, but no! none of us in the class even had that software) Needless to say I was disappointed in the class and in myself for having the wrong expectations. On the 1.5 hour drive home I made a discovery about my expectations. I want to start my own website to market my creations......hmm... OH! (slaps head in disgust). I want to know more about marketing. DUH !!! Then I realized I need to put those red shoes on more often and at the very least do some basic self promotion.

This last year I have learned about:

-how to price, and have come up with a decent formula.

-how to take better pictures

-keeping good records, and (yay) dealing with taxes.

This year my goals are:

-earn enough to afford a new computer for my business...this one has asthma, and has to be babied

-learn to market, and advertise effectively

-get not only more traffic to my shop, but increase sales, and earn repeat customers.

So my beautiful friends in blog land I am asking if you have a moment would you kindly take a peek in one or all of my shops and offer any constructive opinions you may have. I am up for honest opinions! (seriously....I am a smartass with thick skin, so honesty doesnt hurt my feelings!) Do you see anything you would change? What would you like to see more of? etc?

FlightFancy - my etsy shop for jewelry, PuddinFoot - my etsy shop for dolls and bears , and

Flightfancy - my new shop at Artfire(yes I know this needs more stock and am working on making more now) Thank you :)

What a sweet thing!

What a sweet thing, and I'm smiling like an idiot! The ever beautiful Rose at Life, love, YARN nominated me for this lovely award, and I am surprised that anybody takes the time to read my goofy posts, and for those of you who do.....THANK YOU! I'm glad to know I'm not talking to myself.....(again). It is my delight to be able to pass this on to some of my favorite blog writers.  

Here are the rules!!!

List 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 people...tagging them and letting them know they won! You can copy the picture of the award and put it on your sideboard letting the whole wide world know you are KREATIV!

well...this shouldnt be too hard

1. My family first and forever. JimmyD, JohnJohn, Beans, Bear B Bear, and Miss Sunshine. They are my heart!

2 Baroness and Papa Blockhead. They are the world.

3 chocolate.....ANY kind 

4 music....I think I need my own sountrack. Just dont tell Beans, I love irish punk bands...she would never let me hear the end of it! (It was her fault I got stuck in a mosh pit anyway!)

5 My lovely friends. They are all goddess'. Each of them offers me a different new color to my life.

6 chicken and dumplins. The worlds best comfort food! Bread puddin is a close second :)

7 I love that my house is open. There are always folks coming and going, and everyone knows where the fridge is.

Thanks Rose, This was a fun exercise! It didnt burn off the chocolate I ate while writing it though. :D and now for my nominees

BaronessBijoutery

CheneyBagLady

ElegantBloggery

Tango K

Random Splashes of Thought

Living in Fairyland

Beedangled Creations