What's Happening Wednesday-New Items for Sale

This week, now that I am pretty much over the flu, I am preparing to take more items to the Christmas cabin. Here's what I have been working on.




The tin snowmen are unfinished in these pictures, they were drying for a second and more detailed coating. 

Tripod Thursdays-Spring in Ohio

Tripod Thursday is here again, and so is the rain in Ohio. So, I chose some more Spring shots. Some show the rain and some show the flooding, but all show life in Ohio! Friday will be the next installment on the exotic oil list, so make sure to check back!

Tripod Thursdays - uniqueXpressions

Can you believe the week is almost over? I can't, yet here we are at Tripod Thursday! Todays pictures are of crafts, jewelry and gifts that I have made. You can find some of these on Etsy, at my uniqueXpression shop. Afterall, I have to have something to keep occupied with while the soap cures! Lol.  I hope you enjoy!

We are moving on with Exotic Oils tomorrow, stop back to lear about calendula oil!

What's Happening Wednesday- Joining a Knitting project

What's happening this Wednesday? Well, Ohio is slowly thawing from the latest deep freeze, and I managed to get out this past Sunday afternoon to purchase some beautiful yarn. I am just fascinated by the "homespun" style of Lion brand yarn. It is soft and the colors are variegated. Oh, I guess I should start with the reason I ventured out in the first place, Lion brand yarn company is having a knit along! They first asked newsletter recipients to vote on their choice for this years project. Aside from the winning project, the sweater hoodie pictured to the left, there was a modern shrug type of sweater for women, and a womens pullover type sweater. The hoodie sweater is unisex, and is the one that I voted for. Although I am not that experienced of a knitter, it is listed as a beginner level pattern. Still, it may be more than I should take on, especially since I really don't  have anyone around to ask for help, should I need it. But, between the new on-line group that I found, Ravelry (a social site for knitters and crocheters), and all of the other people doing the sweater and following along with the Lion brand notebook posts, I am willing to  brave it, and actually, very excited to get the needles going!  So, as I said, I purchased my yarn this past Sunday afternoon. I think I am going to make this sweater for myself, but I may make it a gift, I am just not decided yet. Either way, it is going to be for a female. I chose the Homespun color called Tudor, which is a creamy base, with spurts of muted greens, rose pink, and grays, with dollops of a vibrant turquoise and purple (but for some reason 2 of the skeins have less color than the others, even though they all have the same number?).


Don't you think this will make a gorgeous sweater?

For buttons, I chose some antiqued silver colored Celtic knots.  I almost got some wooden flowers that I loved, but in the end I felt that the Celtic knot ones were a bit more dressy and elevated the sweater.....if I can make it well, that is! lol.    




                                                      I made my Mother a prayer shawl for Christmas, and it too was made with the homespun yarn. It was done with the color nouveau. I am not sure if you can see all of the colors in this photo, but it is truly gorgeous. The picture doesn't even show the true dark brown of the shawl, but you at least get the idea of the multiple colors. While I am not generally a "brown" type of person, the brown background really shows off the additional colors so well (in person anyway). I see turquoise, teal, blue, green, yellow and gold amidst the brown. It actually is quite stunning, if I do say so myself. Of course I was proud of it because I made it, but mostly because I was so worried that it would turn out looking just "plain". You see, this wasn't made with the fancy pattern that I originally chose. I couldn't seem to get the pattern down as it was a little lacy, and I kept missing stitches. I think...or rather I have decided to blame it on the texture of the yarn. At any rate, for whatever reason, I wasn't getting it consistently right, so I switched to a plain garter stitch pattern. Of course it took me extra time to do the garter stitch one because I got so bored, so easily. I could only do a few rows at a time before the boredom set in, but it did keep me busy during some terrible times, and through lots of waiting at  appointments and such. So actually, I guess it all worked out well, otherwise I may have whizzed through it, and had nothing to occupy me when I needed it!  When I finished it, I really had a hard time wrapping it up. The colors were just so beautiful.

I am also using the homespun color of "windsor" to do some scarfs now, so I have a shorter project to go along with the longer one.  Windsor is a combination of beautiful blues, lavender, green and teals, and almost became my sweater. I actually purchased this skein a few weeks ago, and I love it, but ultimately I chose the other because it was different. I like different! Oh, and can you tell that I really like the homespun  yarn line?  If you knit or crochet, and are unfamiliar with it, take a look the next time you need some yarn, you just may find a color combination meant for you! But try to find it in the store because the pictures on the link just don't do it justice in my opinion (not to mention that I paid less for what I got from that big store....sorry LB!).

Of course, in keeping with my Craftor's ADHD, besides the knitted scarf, I am also working on some scrap book pages, a new Unique Garden Essences product, taking photographs of products for uniqueXpression listings which need to go on the net, as well as a whole list of other boring things, such as revamping shop policies and old pictures, completing inventory, and cleaning up the crafting spaces. As you can see, I have not only have plenty going on this Wednesday, but enough to last several Wednesdays!  So what are you up to?

Tripod Thursdays

A few days ago I was notified that someone was following my Twitter posts (actually this always surprises me because I haven't really ever gotten the hang of Tweeting, but I do try once in a while). Anyway, I went to see who this person was and it turns out that she lives in Destin, Florida, which is where my Son got married last Valentine's day. I dropped her a quick personal note to tell her how much I liked her city and wished I was there since we were in the middle of a snowstorm. She, in turn, wrote me and said that she was actually from a town nearby my current home, and that she actually missed the snow. Of course I told her that I was open to trading homes for the winter. Sadly, she declined, stating that it wouldn't work well for her family. Actually, she was probably just thinking that I was crazed enough to do it! Lol., but I told her that in lieu of the house exchange, I'd be happy to send her dreams of cold and snow. She immediately responded that she would be happy to send me dreams of beaches and palm trees.

Well, here are some pictures of cold and snow, especially for my new, displaced Buck

eye friend, and I have also included some pictures of beaches and palm trees for other cold-a-phobes, like me. In other words, I am hoping that these pictures contain something for everyone....and just to make sure, I included all Ohio seasons. Enjoy! Of course, I had to also include my own personal ray of sunshine, my first Grandchild, Braidon!

Tripod Thursdays

I love to take photos, and take thousands, so I would love to share some with you...don't worry it wont be more than a few hundred, lol. Now that I think of it, I guess that I should have saved the pictures from yesterday for today, oh well, as I said, I have plenty! I thought it might be interesting to offer to include some of your photos at times, so feel free to let me know if you one or two that you would like to contribute (all copyrights remain the sole property of the contributor and by their submission, they represent that the work is their intellectual property).

I live in Ohio, referred to as the Buckeye state. We have four seasons and weather that changes frequently. Everyone says [that] "if you don't like the weather here, stick around it will change!" And change it does. To help you understand, we had snow on the ground for Christmas, and temperatures down in the single digits. By new years eve we had no snow and temperatures in the 50's! Of course, now it is back down in the 20's. It has snowed a tad, but did not stick, so it is just dreary and cold! The only time I like winter is for Christmas, then I hate the cold and the grey of it all. I can't wait until spring when it will be muddy but colorful again!

The pictures today are all Ohio scenery. I love nature and nature's palate is my favorite photo opportunity, which drives my Mother crazy. She is all for pictures with someone you know in them, so she says "wait, wait, til I get over there" and I am quickly shooting or saying, "move, I want to get that great flower or tree-line, or whatever", lol! As a matter of fact, several people have suggested that I sell some of my (scenery) photographs. That may turn out to be part of my new listing goals, I haven't quite decided. At any rate, I do have about two thousand pictures of my Grandson already, so I take my fair share of people shots too, I just truly love nature shots, they move me!

What's Happening Wednesday

Wednesday, hump day, so I have decided to dedicate Wednesdays to whatever is happening. This will not always be work related, rather, whatever I happen to be up to that day.

Today, as part of my new years' goals mandate, I have been working on organizing and executing my work, in particularly for my on-line shops. To that end, I finished a new pair of earrings the other day, as well as a pre-designed, mini scrapbook. I had not, however, taken the pictures to list them yet. Since both of these items need to go into my uniqueXpression shop, they would never make it there if I didn't get down to business and get those pictures. Soooooo, as of this posting, I have 3/4 of my task completed! The pictures are all taken (of course I allowed myself to get side-tracked and uploaded several holiday pictures and organized some folders) and I have completed the listing for the scrapbook, but the earrings listing is now pushed to the top of my Thursday to do list. I am so out of practice (and maybe a bit unfocused), it seemed to take me most of the day just to complete these few things, lol! Oh well, practice should make perfect, and I expect that I will soon be cranking out the on-line work again, I have confidence....deserved or not, I guess we will soon see!

Since the pictures are all done, even though they are not yet listed, I will share them with you.

These are 19g, sterling silver w/ ball, shepherds hooks, with a Swarovski crystal-studded chandelier. They have champaign and clear crystals and are about a 1 1/2" drop. They are quite lovely, and can be easily incorporated into a more dressy outfit or just used to dress up a casual look.

This is the front of the 8"x8", pre-designed scrap book that I did. The front has a picture frame, and it contains 24 more pages for pictures (for a minimum of 25 pictures, although the framework is set for additional ones). I made each page background either a winter or a Christmas theme, so it will be perfect for anyone who just wants to paste down their holiday and winter pictures and be done with it! Hmmm, maybe I should keep this! LOL Here are some more views of the earrings, as well as all of the individual page pictures of the scrapbook. I hope you enjoy them!

So what have you been up to this Wednesday? Comment and share, maybe you will inspire us all!

Spring Flings

SPRING IS FLINGING!

I have a show coming up on April 25 that I am really looking forward to! Each year a local college holds a quilt and craft show. They display vintage quilts and they host a quilting contest, along with hosting a variety of crafters from all over Ohio. This show is always my first of the season, and is usually a very good show for me financially, as well as commissioned work and contacts. Not to mention that the setting is just about perfect. Chattfield college is a small school that is in rural Ohio. It sits off a county road, the kind where the houses are at least a few acres away from each other, and certainly not close to any town. Once you arrive, assuming you notice... I passed it my first visit, you must drive back a winding, tree-lined lane, past a pond where there is usually a fisherman or two, back into the "grove" which holds the tiny campus, maybe all of five or six buildings that look like they have always been there. The buildings appear old, but yet very natural, very regal. The entire campus simply oozes peaceful, revitalizing, spring-like, even "magical" vibes! So if you are in Ohio, or close to the southern portion, you may just want to visit this little craft show and see if it doesn't put some fling into your spring! Maybe this small, juried show will become one of your favorite one too! New for the show, I have many jewelry pieces, facial scrubs, bath salts, and essential oil perfumes in roller ball applicator bottles, as well as pre-made scrap book pages (perfect for those spring baby showers and June weddings), and some baby gift flower pots. These flower pots make unique gifts as they serve as centerpieces and then, after the shower, the "flowers" open to reveal baby washcloths, bibs, hats, booties and even silverware. Truly a unique gift for any Mother-to-be!

My Spring has Sprung No Matter What the Calandar Says!

IT IS TIME FOR WINTER TO BE OVER!

With the last days of winter bearing down on us here in the eastern USA, my heart and efforts have moved into spring! My spring has sprung so to speak! Traditionally many home-makers use the spring to deep clean their houses and gardeners use it begin indoor plantings while preparing the outdoor areas on the nice, sunny days. Students, children, Mothers, Fathers, and office workers alike tend to begin showing the signs of "spring fever", with their actions becoming more and more rambunctious as the dreary days progress. As an artist I tend to excise my cabin fever by planning for the spring. I search the jewelry makers catalogs looking for new cuts of pretty stones, good deals, and interesting new combinations of stones. I "plan" to buy ones that are pretty, ones that strike my fancy, and ones that I haven't worked with for a while, if ever. I compile a "wish list", even going so far as to write down the item nubers and costs. I never total up until I have spent hours and hours shopping, and until I know that I have listed every possible desire of my heart. Then I move on to cretaing my "wish list" for my Unique Garden line. I spend hours scourering the web, comparing the prices of oils that I must have, while noting the few places that sell the exotic (read expensive here!) oils that I covent. I then make my ultimate wish list of ingredients, again not paying attention to the cost, just listing ALL my wants. No w this part really is an exercise in futility because I know full well that I will not order from a lot of these companies. While I am sure they are good at what they do, I have not delt with them, therefore I will continue to order from the places that I always have. Why mess with a good thing, right? Inevitably I will consider purchasing from some place new, but in the end I always go back to my tried and true. When you are spending so much money you expect and need high quality, so I'd rather pay the extra money to KNOW what I am getting, In the end I think this actually saves me and saves my work. I'd hate to have to spend time, money, and aggravation to return an inferior product. So this is how I have dealt with the last weeks of winter doldrums, and I have to say that I have had an especially great time compiling my lists this year! Not only did I find some interesting jewelry components, but I decided to do something that I usually don't do.........I purchased the majority of my lists! While I did cross off some of the most extravegant wishes, I kept almost all of the items I wished for! I am so jazzed! Now I am awaiting the largest material/ingredient shipment that I have ever made at one time! When they get her it will be like Christmas all over. I have to admit that I am blown away by my own boldness! lol. I convinced myself that it made more sense to make a few large purchases than to make smaller ones over many months. Afterall shipping is very expensive, you know? Lol. The endorphin rush that came as I made my list, and then as I made my purchases, is enough to keep me going through the next few dreary weeks of winter. And, after I get my boxes, I will of course have plenty of jewelry to create and lots of new recipes to whip up in the kitchen. With spring craft shows just around the corner, I think it is safe to assume that I will be able to keep busy and avoid most of the pot holes of spring fever!

Being Sick is Bad Business

After beginning this year with a computer down and bit by a spider, I went on to catch a flu bug and loose my voice! While some people (not mentioning any names....my family!) appreciate my voice being gone for a bit, it was really an inconvenience! After a bit more than a month, four antibiotics, two ER visits, and three Dr. visits, I am FINALLY up out of the bed and back on line! I apologize to all my online friends and customers, I was not prepared to loose my health AND computer during the same time period. I was hit fast and hard with this all and did not have time or means to make the proper notices in my shops or on my blog. I only managed one blog entry this whole time, when my Mom was here and brought her computer. Unfortunately she left rather unexpectedly herself, taking her computer with her, to deal with another medical situation. While Mom was home long enough to take me to the ER and get my prescriptions, she left before I even thought about the relatively new vacation mode. Eventually, albeit very LATE in the game, I managed to get a phone message to a friend in Florida - THANK YOU GENA!!- and she put my shops on that cool vacation mode feature! Unfortunately, since this was just last week, all of my on line ventures have been unattended for several weeks. Through statistics pages I can see that some people have been very faithful in checking on my blog ( THANK YOU!), and people have continued to look at my photos (THANK YOU!), and I have received the usual amounts of emails (still sifting through these...they add up fast!). So.....even though I committed REALLY BAD business practices FOR SURE, I am hopeful that I will be forgiven and that I will be able to get back into the swing of things without too much difficulty. Just before I became ill I attempted to get my computer fixed. $100 and two different repair shops later, I was told that I really just needed to buy a new computer. While I know that it is "just money", as someone told me, it was also something that I didn't quite have at that moment. Since Santa didn't leave me one under the tree either, I had to wait until January to make the purchase, then I ended up waiting almost a whole month to get it. It just arrived and since I am actually feeling better now, I am even up out of bed most of the day now, it is good timing! I really need to get back to my shops and the radio show. Although I have been making Unique Garden Essences products for eleven years now, I have never experienced the business problems of this past month before. I have been single ever since I began my businesses, have always had to do each step myself, but this experience has really pointed out the problems of being a sole proprietor. Aside from the fact that I have no one else to make a lotion or cream (and am not even sure that I could hand my recipe book over to anyone else!), I found that I had no one knowledgeable enough to go into my accounts and check them. Trying to think straight enough to whisper shop names, pass codes and web site addresses was simply not possible. And, to make matters more complicated, my computer, the one that broke in late November, held the lists of all my on line shops and groups. I, like most all of you I am sure, belong to many social and business groups on line. There is NO way that I could ever remember all of them without a cheat sheet. So what do you do when your cheat sheet is missing, your computer is down, and you can't speak ? What do you do when you are unexpectedly ill and can't monitor your business? I should have had a better plan in place for an emergent situation. I should have a hard copy of all my URL's, account names and passwords. I know this can be a security issue, but it is a necessary risk for the single artist business. If you don't have a mate or close friend that you share your business practices with, or even if you do, having a hard copy of this info will make it easier for someone else to step in and monitor your accounts during an unexpected absence. Plan for the unexpected so that your business can go on even when you can't be the one checking in on it. Sooooooooooo, now I am back on line and wading through the hundreds of emails that I received while I was being no-tech. I am apologizing to people that asked me questions I didn't get answered, filling orders that didn't get handled in a timely manner and apologizing to those customers, hoping that they will understand and forgive me, and attempting to make it to my social sites and touch bases with the various groups I belong to. I also need to contact my teams and let them know I am back on line. My body may almost be healed, but I wonder how long it will take for my businesses to heal. I know that I took several backwards steps with regard to my businesses, if for no other reason than the fact that I have not been advertising them for two months, but I really pray that I haven't irrevocably harmed them. I suppose time will tell. Til then, I apologize for not being here and I hope that you all will forgive me for not being better prepared for my emergency. I am feeling MUCH better now and hope to be fully back and open for business next week. Until then I will be working on updating everything and cleaning out the emails & convos. Thanks to everyone who sent me well wishes and thanks to all of you for hanging in there with me! I'll be back to spa type posts the first week in February!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas all Across the Globe!

I am pausing from the LONG list of Essential oils to discuss Christmas! Lol, It may be a sunny 70 degrees where you are at today, as it is here in Ohio since we are enjoying one of the last days of Indian Summer, but it is nearly the end of the Christmas shopping season for overseas buyers. Yes, you may not be aware, but most foreign buyers will need to purchase their holiday gifts within the next eight to ten days to be assured that they will arrive in time, and that they will have the time to wrap and relax before the big day. The internet has made global marketing an easy reality, yet few us us really take the time to figure out what that really means! For instance, what did you do over Labor Day weekend? Labor Day is celebrated nationally on a Monday every year. I bet that you were at a social gathering of some type on that Monday, or cuddled up on the sofa watching television. No matter how you celebrated it, I would wager that your handmade business was far from your mind that day. That in itself is no problem, but did your overseas customers even KNOW that it was a holiday for you? For that matter, do YOU know what their holidays are? To avoid confusion and hard feelings about shipping dates or a lack of response from emails, you really should post any holiday interruptions in your shop announcements. Never assume that everyone knows that the USA celebrates July 4th as a holiday. While Christmas is an International holiday, you still have to remember that it takes time to ship to other countries. To further complicate issues, customs may hold packages for inspection which will delaying your shipment. Soooooooooooo, as I previously stated, it is almost time for the International shipping of Christmas items to be over! You were probably just getting ready for Thanksgiving, and in your shop you have probably just begun to add Christmas items, but really the season is almost over!\ If you were not aware of this, hurry and post your Christmas and gift set items now. Don't forget either that half the world has Christmas in the summer, while we are burried deep in the snow. Also, you may want to mention International shipping dates in your shop announcements. At the very least, be aware of the times frames needed. Most foreign buyers are more aware of shipping dealines than we are, so they likely already have their personal deadlines in mind. This does not, however, excuse our own ignorance. We need to know that most items shipped to Canada take 10 days, but when held by customs can be a month, if not more.

On the Bittymoose show!

On the bittymoose show. It will be early this week, but you can listen all week long at bittymoose.com