I’m still pretty new at being able to sell the things that I make. With past hobbies or crafts (stained glass and jelly making to name a few) I’ve gone all gung-ho and made as many things as I can to give away to family and friends and then having nothing else to do with the fruits of my labor, moved on to the next obsession. So now that I’ve got a shop on Etsy, I’m able to put rosaries and other jewelry up for sale. As I said, I’m still relatively new at this but I get an extraordinary burst of joy when I see the e-mail from Etsy saying that something has sold. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s a small or large piece.
So I know that I keep mentioning it but do you know about Etsy? It’s really an amazing place to shop. Everything for sale is either handmade or vintage (or a combination of the two). There are sellers from all around the world and you can buy just about anything you could ever imagine (and some things that you never could). For example there’s the weird, the wild, and the huh??? There’s also stuff that you wonder how you ever lived without it (like fabulous lip balm)… you know you need a new flash drive, right? and who doesn’t love popcorn?
So I’m hoping for an influx of sales as we enter the holiday season (so head over to Beatitude Boutique or Jewels from Jules and take a look… hint, hint). Right now I actually have all items marked down by 10% in my stores. In fact, many Etsy sellers have started thier holiday sales early for Black Friday/Cyber Monday - if you search for ‘etsyholidaysale’ you get a list of all items that have special discounts through November 30th!
Happy Shopping!
bits of wisdom, wit and whimsy from me
Friday, November 12, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Lord give me patience...
So I suppose that since we’re still getting to know each other here it makes sense to tell you that my profession of necessity is human resources. Now I say necessity not because I don’t enjoy it sometimes, but if I had my true choice in a profession, I’d be an international traveler and philanthropist using my limitless funds to experience the world and to make it a better place. (Perhaps I should start playing the lottery…)
I suppose that if you are lucky enough to be in the land of the employed, you either have already or are preparing to make your benefit selections. What that means in my world is that it’s time for long hours and many questions from employees. It’s incredibly tiring and not something that I love about my job.
I really dislike it when people say that they wish it was the weekend (although I’m guilty of that more often than I’d like to admit). You’re just wishing your life away and someday you’ll wish that you had those precious moments back. So in lieu of wishing that we were at a certain date, I’m asking for the patience to complete this benefit enrollment process and help everyone that needs it with a smile no matter how mundane or complex their questions or problems might be.
Employment aside, I am lucky enough to have a family that I love and a hobby that not only pays for itself (most of the time) through my shops on Etsy and allows me to make donations to worthy causes but makes me feel closer to God as I create pieces that are inspired by Him.
I mentioned in the last blog that I made granola bars for the Xan-man to take to school for a snack. I feel I must relate the one-sided conversation he had with the assistant principal as he was getting out of the car the other day. He says ‘My mom made yummy granola bars and I have one as my snack today. I don’t really like the chocolate chips in them but I’ll just deal with it.’ She just laughed and he went on his way as I drove off. I’m sure she was thinking that I certainly hadn’t made homemade granola bars, I mean who does that? But I really did and they were both easy and yummy. I’ve gotten a few requests from friends so I thought that I’d share that recipe from the Meal Makeover Moms here. (Though I haven’t tried any other recipes I love that they makeover recipes to be healthier.)
I suppose that if you are lucky enough to be in the land of the employed, you either have already or are preparing to make your benefit selections. What that means in my world is that it’s time for long hours and many questions from employees. It’s incredibly tiring and not something that I love about my job.
I really dislike it when people say that they wish it was the weekend (although I’m guilty of that more often than I’d like to admit). You’re just wishing your life away and someday you’ll wish that you had those precious moments back. So in lieu of wishing that we were at a certain date, I’m asking for the patience to complete this benefit enrollment process and help everyone that needs it with a smile no matter how mundane or complex their questions or problems might be.
Employment aside, I am lucky enough to have a family that I love and a hobby that not only pays for itself (most of the time) through my shops on Etsy and allows me to make donations to worthy causes but makes me feel closer to God as I create pieces that are inspired by Him.
I mentioned in the last blog that I made granola bars for the Xan-man to take to school for a snack. I feel I must relate the one-sided conversation he had with the assistant principal as he was getting out of the car the other day. He says ‘My mom made yummy granola bars and I have one as my snack today. I don’t really like the chocolate chips in them but I’ll just deal with it.’ She just laughed and he went on his way as I drove off. I’m sure she was thinking that I certainly hadn’t made homemade granola bars, I mean who does that? But I really did and they were both easy and yummy. I’ve gotten a few requests from friends so I thought that I’d share that recipe from the Meal Makeover Moms here. (Though I haven’t tried any other recipes I love that they makeover recipes to be healthier.)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Not such a great start eh?
So here I make this big commitment to be funny and whimsical in blog form and then...radio silence...5 months later here I am finally sitting down to pen blog #2. So I guess I didn't get off to such a great start eh?
So lots has happened in the last 5 months (that's not an excuse for not blogging - I was just plain lazy) so forgive me, but I'll take a few moments to catch you up.
The Xan-man started Kindergarten in August and that's sure been an adjustment for all of us. Apparently he likes to talk. a lot. non-stop. Not really a surprise to us, after all, we live with him. Also, since he was an only child, primarily watched by a loving set of grandparents who spent hours on 'schoolwork' with him he is used to being the center of attention and is far ahead of the other students on the intellectual side of things. Thank the Lord that we are sending him to a Catholic school where the curriculum is much more advanced than the public school near us. Otherwise we’d have had to skip a grade (and behaviorally, that wasn’t a great option for us). So we get regular calls and notes from the teacher (another plus for the private school route) to inform us of his misbehavior and trips to the timeout chair. (And at one point his actual desk was moved to the time out area for a few days in an effort to keep him from disturbing other kids.) The biggest problem is that he finishes his work so quickly that he doesn’t know what to do while the other kids are still working.
Things I like about the Xan-man being in school? He loves playing with the other kids and all things that he’s learning. (His favorite ‘subjects’ are music, religion, lunch and recess.) Also, since his days are so full he's ready to go to bed at 7-7:30 without any issues, leaving time for me to catch up on my favorite TV programs that are not kid friendly. I’m also having a blast making lunches – I know, I’ll probably be really sick of it within a few years. Last weekend I made granola bars for him to take as a snack. They were super easy, taste great and oh wait… they’re healthy.
I opened up a new shop on Etsy called the Beatitude Boutique. I think the name is more fitting for the items that I hope to sell. While not everything will be religious in nature, I feel like they are all inspired by God and I hope that others will enjoy wearing them as much as I enjoy making them. I’m still working on getting all the kinks worked out, but soon I’ll have a real website to direct people to! That combined with this blog (if I can stay on target) should allow me to really feel like an entrepreneur. (No thanks Mr. Trump, I don’t want to be on the Apprentice… I’m not that motivated… did I mention I’m lazy?)
So stay tuned for more fun from me. I promise that you won’t have to wait another 5 months.
So lots has happened in the last 5 months (that's not an excuse for not blogging - I was just plain lazy) so forgive me, but I'll take a few moments to catch you up.
The Xan-man started Kindergarten in August and that's sure been an adjustment for all of us. Apparently he likes to talk. a lot. non-stop. Not really a surprise to us, after all, we live with him. Also, since he was an only child, primarily watched by a loving set of grandparents who spent hours on 'schoolwork' with him he is used to being the center of attention and is far ahead of the other students on the intellectual side of things. Thank the Lord that we are sending him to a Catholic school where the curriculum is much more advanced than the public school near us. Otherwise we’d have had to skip a grade (and behaviorally, that wasn’t a great option for us). So we get regular calls and notes from the teacher (another plus for the private school route) to inform us of his misbehavior and trips to the timeout chair. (And at one point his actual desk was moved to the time out area for a few days in an effort to keep him from disturbing other kids.) The biggest problem is that he finishes his work so quickly that he doesn’t know what to do while the other kids are still working.
Things I like about the Xan-man being in school? He loves playing with the other kids and all things that he’s learning. (His favorite ‘subjects’ are music, religion, lunch and recess.) Also, since his days are so full he's ready to go to bed at 7-7:30 without any issues, leaving time for me to catch up on my favorite TV programs that are not kid friendly. I’m also having a blast making lunches – I know, I’ll probably be really sick of it within a few years. Last weekend I made granola bars for him to take as a snack. They were super easy, taste great and oh wait… they’re healthy.
I opened up a new shop on Etsy called the Beatitude Boutique. I think the name is more fitting for the items that I hope to sell. While not everything will be religious in nature, I feel like they are all inspired by God and I hope that others will enjoy wearing them as much as I enjoy making them. I’m still working on getting all the kinks worked out, but soon I’ll have a real website to direct people to! That combined with this blog (if I can stay on target) should allow me to really feel like an entrepreneur. (No thanks Mr. Trump, I don’t want to be on the Apprentice… I’m not that motivated… did I mention I’m lazy?)
So stay tuned for more fun from me. I promise that you won’t have to wait another 5 months.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
How's this for starters?
So, I'm gonna write a blog, huh?
I don't know exactly where this will lead, but I suppose that is how these things usually start. I'd like to have a place to vent (wouldn't we all?), to market my jewelry and share things both discouraging and inspiring.
So, a little about me... I've been married for nearly 11 years (boy does that make me feel old right out of the gate!) to a great guy who is a total nerd. (love you sweetie!) A little more than 4 years ago we adopted an amazing little boy from Russia. He's super smart and definitely keeps us on our toes. Hard to believe he starts kindergarten in August!
I’ve been crafting my whole life. Like my mom, I tend to love everything that I try and expend all my energy on my new-found passion.
And also just like mom, some of those craf-tastic passions started out strong and then fizzle until the need for a perfect gift arises. For example: stained glass work, (from entertainment center windows to little window hangings and stepping stones) sewing (adorable purses were my specialty), Scrapbooking (I mean really, who hasn’t been obsessed with that at one point) and last Christmas I was a little obsessed (my husband's words) with canning jams and jellies.
For the last 15 years I've been truly obsessed with rosaries. Long before I became Catholic, there was something incredibly comforting about holding and praying the rosary. Having learned how to make them I now love to spend hours at bead shops and online to find the perfect beads to be a blessing for someone else. I’ve also found that I enjoy creating jewelry and can hardly wait to go home in the evening to spend time with my family and create something beautiful.
It's strange, you know? I always seem to have something to say when no one's around. So maybe I can manage to be interesting in this format... :) We'll just have to wait and see.
I don't know exactly where this will lead, but I suppose that is how these things usually start. I'd like to have a place to vent (wouldn't we all?), to market my jewelry and share things both discouraging and inspiring.
So, a little about me... I've been married for nearly 11 years (boy does that make me feel old right out of the gate!) to a great guy who is a total nerd. (love you sweetie!) A little more than 4 years ago we adopted an amazing little boy from Russia. He's super smart and definitely keeps us on our toes. Hard to believe he starts kindergarten in August!
I’ve been crafting my whole life. Like my mom, I tend to love everything that I try and expend all my energy on my new-found passion.
And also just like mom, some of those craf-tastic passions started out strong and then fizzle until the need for a perfect gift arises. For example: stained glass work, (from entertainment center windows to little window hangings and stepping stones) sewing (adorable purses were my specialty), Scrapbooking (I mean really, who hasn’t been obsessed with that at one point) and last Christmas I was a little obsessed (my husband's words) with canning jams and jellies.
For the last 15 years I've been truly obsessed with rosaries. Long before I became Catholic, there was something incredibly comforting about holding and praying the rosary. Having learned how to make them I now love to spend hours at bead shops and online to find the perfect beads to be a blessing for someone else. I’ve also found that I enjoy creating jewelry and can hardly wait to go home in the evening to spend time with my family and create something beautiful.
It's strange, you know? I always seem to have something to say when no one's around. So maybe I can manage to be interesting in this format... :) We'll just have to wait and see.
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