The Power of a Quickie

Not that kind of QUICKIE... a crafting quickie. All you crafting junkies know exactly what I am talking about. That quick crafting fix... just something you can SEE pretty quick.

I have been missing due to personal circumstances such as moving and a few other things....but no more. I am back, back online and back creating. I had stopped making jewelry and stopped crocheting due to having to move and pack up all my supplies and stash... but recently I went digging and found enough to get my creative juices flowing. I started a new project of a pattern I made up for iPhone cases that are super cute. They are cool, bright and funky colors with neat matching buttons and some I put silver word plates on- you will see. I love them and they were the best kind of craft project... one that you can start and finish in a few hours giving that instant creative gratification! I made a dozen in a matter of a couple days. After that I got the bead itch and got out my goodies and made a necklace that is so awesome I am seriously debating even selling it- it has a big silver circle pendant that says on it "Be True to Yourself"... and I paired it with my favorite color- GREEN! It turned out super! Another "Quickie".... crafting bliss! It is almost like an addiction... just needed a 'fix' to get my craft mojo flowing and get that satisfied feeling- AHHH.

Be back soon... promise. I am back to stay and continue on my way.... Watch out! I am super motivated and super happy to be back blogging and networking.

SMILE

Share

Someone You Should Meet

This time on Someone You Should Meet I am excited to showcase my first Vintage Seller. Since etsy is handmade, vintage or supplies there are a number of them on there. I met Samantha through twitter and upon talking to her knew she was a perfect person to showcase. I am in love with the vintage cameras she has and as soon as my boys are old enough to understand vintage equals DO not Touch or play with I might just get me one! I know that you will love reading about her and looking through her shop even more. So here we go~



Name~ Samantha Marie
shop website~http://SmellyShoesVintage.Etsy.Com

1. What kind of items do you sell in your etsy shop?

Anything and Everything Vintage! From 1940’s Levis Denim, Women’s Ferragamo Heels, and Jewelry from the Boldt Castle Estate, to Handmade dresses from the 70’s! We have lots of Vintage Cameras, Shoes, Clothes, Dresses, Costume Jewelry, and even a section for the Men!

3. What is your favorite part of the selling Vintage?

I absolutely love the hunt for vintage treasures! We go around to Estate Sales, Thrift and Antique Stores, and even the occasional Auction all around Upstate NY. It’s so much fun and such a thrill to find some special vintage Item hiding among everything else! If it’s just what I’ve been looking for, or something I never knew I needed! It’s like a hunt for treasure every time!



4. If you have to pick one item in your shop as your Favorite which one would it be?
(pictured above)

Right now I am totally in love with this Vintage Kodak Brownie Movie Camera!
“Vtg BROWNIE MOVIE CAMERA Model F 2.7 VINTAGE Still with original Packaging Box 1960-1962 KODAK Made in USA 8MM” -pictured above

(http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30459234)

and since I can't pick just one....
This Adorable 80s Sweater in Neapolitan Ice Cream Colors! (Size M) -pictured below
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33508205

5. Where do you hope to see your etsy shop in 1 yr?

Hopefully with lots more items and treasures for sale, some more sales, and lots of happy customers! I have also met a lot of amazing people since I joined Etsy, and hopefully this will continue as long as I am on the site!

6. Is etsy the only place people can find you online?

My Vintage Etsy Shop (Of Course) !
http://SmellyShoesVintage.Etsy.Com

My Handmade Etsy Shop!
http://LucysPostcardQuilts.Etsy.Com

Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/smellyshoesvintage

Twitter!
http://twitter.com/SSVintage

Flickr!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucyspostcardquilts

This shop is one to check and check back often. I have just recently developed some great relationships with vintage sellers and it is a great group of people and Samantha is no exception. She is caring and thoughtful and for sure a vintage sleuth. I am sure if you have something special you are hunting for you can contact her and she will keep an eye out for you, although she did not tell me this, that is just the type of person she is.
Please take a minute to check out her sites because she is Definitely Someone You Should Meet!

Share

Do You Tweet? Add a Little More Income with Little Effort

I wanted to share this with you since I know times are hard and well if you are like me, ever dollar counts. SO if you are already on twitter and using it for business or pleasure you can check this out. You must meet a few requirements, you have to have 200+ followers and your account must be so many days/months old. But besides that really easy peasy way to add to Christmas or Holiday money!
Sponsored Tweets does not spam your friends or followers. You approve the tweets that you want to allow. IT is super easy, it integrated into twitter, you link to your account... this is how it works it

• Sign Up,~ super easy and it even recommends what you should charge for tweet, I also recommend going with that but check back often because it does increase.

• You get "Direct Message" DM on your twitter account when you have tweet *you can choose to be e-mail about offer, but I like the DM option.

• You see who offer is from, check out site, if you like, follow simple instructions. Some want you to write tweet then you submit it for approval or some actually give you the tweet just as they want it.

• If you are happy and advertiser is happy they use your account to tweet one (to up to 3) times. They take care of sending it out when they want it to go out.

• You are DM (Direct Messaged) (or e-mailed) again that transaction was complete.

• They move funds into Sponsored Tweets account for you where you can log in to see you balance.

• When you reach threshold to cash out they can move to your PayPal account.

As I hope I explained, it is super easy and you are not going to lose followers because you are spamming them with Porn sites, you are not spamming with one to three tweets, and you approve, so...no porn, you approve, you know your followers best, so you approve which ones you think fit you.

Share

I Need Your Help With the SAM-e Good Mood Gig

Good Mood Gig from SAM-e

I have entered the Nature Made SAM-e Complete Good Mood Gig. I ran across this contest late and debated entering when I saw some of people entered had 3000+ votes. But after reading the contest rules and seeing that this was just the first round, and that the top 20 people got to move on to round 2, I decided to give it a shot. I already knew I had an amazing group of friends that would vote and thought maybe I could even get a few to spread the word for me.

Boy was I underestimating my group of friends and their friends! (Sorry for underestimating y'all!) I have been AMAZED, honored and most of all Humbled but the response I have gotten...not just in votes but in comments, in people Retweeting on twitter, reposting on their Facebook profiles, and even e-mailing friends and offering to post my badge on their blog. I have formed my own marketing campaign to try to get enough votes to advance to the next round and have an entire strategy. I know the power of social media and networking, now lets just see if I can tap into it. So far, so good. I have even formed a Facebook group since many people were asking me to remind them daily, since you can vote once a day, and the group helps me organize that.

My heart has been warmed by the responses I have gotten, from simple "I hope you win" to more in depth "I suffer from chronic pain to and you have my support". I am flattered and even embarrassed by the kind and loving words that people have writing about me and I know that, contest or no contest, I have a wonderful group of friends!

I have this badge on the side of my blog so that it is easy to come back to vote, or join Facebook Group, or click here or click on graphic in this post.

Here are the Questions I was asked that of me in Contest

Why are you perfect for this job?

I would be perfect for this job because I walk the walk and talk the talk. Focusing on my "good mood" is imperative to my existence. I am a severe chronic pain patient, due to a failed spinal fusion resulted in pain that is exponentially worse than the original pain the surgery was supposed alleviate. Depression and anxiety are as near as my own nervous system. On a daily basis, I challenge myself to liberate my thoughts from the tyranny of self-centered thought. I have found that when I share my plight and my positive attitude that I desperately try to stay focused on, that I help others It is feeding into an energy that once you start to contribute to you it you are able to tap into it for inspiration or strength. I focus on goals of action, and goals of behavior. When I achieve those goals, the positive feedback I receive from the people in my circle of life provides my motivation for the following day. I articulate my thoughts through my online activity in the hope that they will be of service to others. I live by sharing my joy.

How do you maintain your good mood naturally?

I practice positive thinking and remind myself that I am in control of my own experiences. I have the power to Make it a Great Day and will not surrender that power to anyone. At some times, it is harder to Make it a Great Day than it is at other times. Still, there is always something one can find in the course of a day to be grateful for. Living in constant chronic pain it is very important for my attitude to be in adjustment and not to let depression and anxiety (which I call the "evil cousins" of chronic pain) set in. I also have an amazing group of friends, many online, who constantly make me smile. I STRONGLY believe in practicing random acts of kindness and doing something nice for someone else. These two things Pay back way more than they cost to give. Sometimes, just sharing a smile can brighten someones day and, amazingly, brighten your day as well.

This positive thinking and living is not something I started practicing to win a contest, IT IS the why I have to live, here are a few earlier post that kind of highlight my attitude that I wanted to share...
These are from my other blog Southern Handmade Gifts

MAKE it a Good Day

You Have to WANT IT

Ready and Willing

Thank you so much!

SMILE

Share

My Fellow etsians, I Need Your Help!

Please help a fellow etsy seller out. I have entered a contest that is determined by votes, TOP 20 move on. Good Mood Gig from SAM-e I have entered the Nature Made SAM-e Complete Good Mood Gig. I ran across this contest late and debated entering when I saw some of people entered had 3000+ votes. But after reading the contest rules and seeing that this was just the first round, and that the top 20 people got to move on to round 2, I decided to give it a shot. I already knew I had an amazing group of friends that would vote and thought maybe I could even get a few to spread the word for me. Boy was I underestimating my group of friends and their friends! (Sorry for underestimating y’all!) I have been AMAZED, honored and most of all Humbled but the response I have gotten…not just in votes but in comments, in people Retweeting on twitter, reposting on their Facebook profiles, and even e-mailing friends and offering to post my badge on their blog. I have formed my own marketing campaign to try to get enough votes to advance to the next round and have an entire strategy. I know the power of social media and networking, now lets just see if I can tap into it. So far, so good. I have even formed a Facebook group since many people were asking me to remind them daily, since you can vote once a day, and the group helps me organize that. My heart has been warmed by the responses I have gotten, from simple “I hope you win” to more in depth “I suffer from chronic pain to and you have my support”. I am flattered and even embarrassed by the kind and loving words that people have writing about me and I know that, contest or no contest, I have a wonderful group of friends! I have this badge on the side of my blog so that it is easy to come back to vote, or join Facebook Group, or click here or click on graphic in this post. I need the help of my fellow etsians... PLEASE SIMPLE~go to this link then click on VOTE, no signing up, no nothing, EASY PEASY, and a trusted link. http://www.sam-e.com/job/profile/612 Says Vote for Meredith from GA I appreciate it, there is a spot on page to share on Facebook and Twitter so please ask your friends to vote as well, you can vote once a day! SMILE and MAKE IT A GREAT DAY! Good Mood Gig from SAM-e And I must say that the support I have received from etsy members has been overwhelming! I have always said etsians are the best people!

Share

craftyGAgal Leaves GA!

Yes it is true... I mixed a little business with pleasure and blew this Popsicle Stand for IZEAfest 09. I had a blast and well now I am home and trying to catch up. I wanted to take a minute, drop in and let everyone know I was not missing, did return home from trip and got NEW jewelry coming your way. I have a big show tomorrow and will be listing after that so I will know what I have in stock. I hope that all my readers, customers and friends are doing well and are starting to think about the upcoming holidays. I, myself, have decided I am not waiting till last minute this tear and have already started my lists. I am hoping to get everything that I have made...which is a LOT... huge afghans, scraves, hars, jewelry golore listed within the next week or two. I am itching to make new designs. Right now I am working on 2 of the pumpkin hats that have sold. I love making them and know my customers will LOVE them too.
Here are a few pictures ..I have done several post with on my different blogs with pictures.. these pictures here are different... For this post I am only using pictures by Francisco Jose Palacio. Follow him on twitter where he is @FJPalacio. These pictures were taken at The ICEBAR Orlando.
He is an AWESOME photographer and since this is my artsier blog, lol, I decide to shine the spotlight on another artist. Thanks friend for letting me use them.

Share

Wanna Know Why I Am Excited?

I am super excited... for a lot of reason. The best is what I felt when I walked outside this morning to take the kids to school- COLD AIR! It is finally starting to show signs of fall here in South Georgia. Now if I know GA I know we are not done with the heart- it loves us and has a hard time leaving each year and usually starts to go several times before it actual Gets Gone! I am excited to get out a new wardrobe, to light a fire in the fire place (yes I am one of those people that light it the first change I get, even if by the end of the night I have the AC on), for the boys to get outside time playing without coming in after 10-15 minutes because it is miserably hot and humid, and EXCITED to list my AFGHANS and the rest of my fall/winter items. I do have a few up like some hats and a scarf (as of writing this) but I have not gone gun-ho ...well for a couple reasons, one being it was like 100 degrees here, and well mainly because of time...no matter where I look, I have searched etsy, Wal-Mart even Craig's List... I can not find where to buy more hours for the day- anyone with a lead, let me know! I have several, guesstimating about 7, big afghans...and I mean some are HUGE... one is 9o x 60 -That is OVER 7 FEET LONG! These blankets/afghans have many many hours and many more hours, a ton of yarn and a lot of LOVE in them! I plan on having everything that I have already made- fall/winter crochet wise by the end of next week because of the next reason I am excited....
Tomorrow I leave for IZEAFest at SeaWorld 2009 in Orlando... not only is it in Orlando AT SeaWorld but there is a ton of neat neat stuff planned... you can read all about it on my other blog Southern Handmade Gifts in the post It's A Lot of Work to Have Fun and also in the post Getting Ready for IZEAfest 2009. I am excited to meet all my twitter and Facebook friends and make new friends. There is going to be a ton of great information for all the great speaker and AWESOME night time activities.. you have to go read my blog post to find out...really really awesome places. I am getting jewelry ready today to take down there with me... I am holding a few contests not only from craftyGAgal Creations and also from Dylan Blue. Follow me on twitter to find out more, you do not have to be at IZEAFest .. I am setting aside a special giveaway for someone that is not able to attend.
Those are the two main reasons I am excited but also adding the icing to my cupcake are some sales on etsy...one for a man who is buying a stained glass pendant for his daughter...he was very diligent in picking out the PERFECT piece for her...everyone say "Awwww" and a custom order for one of my newly listed PUMPKIN PIE Hat (which is my travel project I am taking to IZEAFest). Also I am working on a order to go to an Country Type Antique Gift Mart up in north GA... it is for scarves, hats, and some of my stained glass mosaic picture frames that are very county/folk art and will fit right in (I have yet to even photography them yet). Oh and I am working on some beanie hats for some of the guys at my church that are down on their luck and some stay outside ... think I will take the yarn to make one of those to IZEAFest too. Having a list of planned projects make me excited!
SMILE

Share