My First Gift Guide Feature

Woo hoo! I made it into the gift guides! Sometimes the promo section of the forums pays off.

Click here to see my Cascade of Pearls Book Thong and all of the other wonderful pearl related items for June!

I found these pearls at the specialty bead store down the street and I couldn't resist the golden color of them. I'd never seen pearls that color before and they are just awesome. And the cut glass bead at the top was striking when I saw the strand. I have two lanyards with these colors in them that are in the process of being photographed so that I can list them this week.

Thanks Etsy admin for the feature. I have another one of those in purple too if anyone is interested. It just hasn't been photographed yet.

I'm featured! YAY!

I've never had a blog feature before today so I'm really excited!

it can be viewed here - http://ourcreativeworld.blogspot.com/2009/05/forest-creations.html

The giveaway I referred to is the one ending tomorrow (when I wrote her I didn't realize till after that it would be posted the day before the giveaway ended).

Enjoy!

At least I got to say Goodbye....

..... to my friend. I blogged about the situation a couple of months ago. I won't rehash the whole things now, but today I got to say I final goodbye. Thank you for the apology, and I'm really truly glad that you are in a happy place. I wish you nothing but the world and all the good things that are in it. But that doesn't change how hurt I feel.

This experience has taught me a few things.

1) Just because someone hurts you, you shouldn't pull back from trusting others. I need to work harder at the friendships I have now more than ever. Because everytime one ends, that makes that ones you still have that much more precious.

2) I am worth it! I am worth good friendships. I should not sell myself short because I'm afraid of getting hurt. I can not settle for less. I need to find friends who will treat me as I deserve to be treated.

3) Friendship needs to be free. You need to give it freely with no need for gifts, or praise, or rewards. You ask nothing in return but friendship from the other person. At times it is hard, but in the end, you must love that person to the core of your heart.

4) Hating those that hurt you does no good. Even after everything, I cannot find it in my heart to hate this person. Even after being ignored and disposed of, I can't find a place for hate. It does not exist for me. I know that he thought he was doing what was right, and that's all anyone can really try to do. So be happy that you were given what you were given and move on. One day you will find a friend who truly deserves you.

Need a laugh? Read these

I couldn't help but laugh hysterically when I read these!

A nipple for your thoughts

Why is it that smaller breasts get catered too?

Enjoy!

Only 4 days left!

Only four days left to enter my giveaway! I'm giving away 3 $15 gift certificates to my shop to those who help me rename some items. Go here to enter!

Thanks to all who have already entered. I can't wait to pick the winners!

5/21 Time Machine Top 5

Here's today's TMT5! (I got tired of typing the whole thing out) Remember clicking on the pic takes you to the listing page, or it should anyway. If it doesn't work let me know.

1) Goldtone Shell Necklace And Bracelet - I hearted this item with hopes to buy it sometime soon


2) PAINTING SALE - 25 PERCENT OFF - Heart and Soul - Original Tree Painting
I love this sellers stuff! I think I still have their etsy mini up on the right hand side. I would love to own one of these once I'm not living in my inlaws basement anymore.


3) Venetian Butterscotch Glass Mosaic Art Tiles Tesserae 1 lb - I love this color! I have no idea what I would ever use them for since I don't make mosaics.


4) SPRING IS IN THE AIR -LARGE PLEATED BAG - Sooo cute!



5) Pink Quillled Flower Gift Bag - This is wonderful! I can't believe it's only $4.50!

VintageCarolina: You are a wonderful person...

... even if you decide not to purchase anything from my shop.

VintageCarolina decided that she is new to Etsy and needed to shop to gain feedback, and she kindly decided to buy from those who are out of work. I think that this is an absolutely wonderful thing to do!

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6156781&page=1

There was only one surly person in the thread, but he got shot down real soon -

bruce22 says:
I appreciate your generosity, but you've just opened up the door to more sob stories than any human should have to endure.

I suggest you just go browse around and find something you like and buy it, I can guarantee you that whomever is the recipient of your sale needs it and will appreciate it.

This point is moot. It doesn't matter if they are sob stories, or whether or not people are lying. The point is that VC decided that she had some extra to go around and that she is generous enough to share it.

So, kudos to you VintageCarolina! I would love a sale from you, but even if I don't get one, I think that you are wonderful for what you are doing and I hope that someday the universe repays you for your generosity.

I WON! i WON!

I won an awesome pair of earrings courtesy of jacarandadesigns.


I entered her giveaway last month. The earrings looked very cute in the pictures, but that didn't really do them justice. They are so cute and so sparkly and very well put together! I have to say that sometime soon, I'm probably going to have to buy something to go with them from here. I don't have a lot of purple, and I love having jewelry in sets.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks to her and share her wonderful work with everyone!

New Treasury

I called this one "Too Colorful for the Front Page?"

I'm really sick of seeing subdued colors and monotoned front pages on etsy. If you take a look at the Vault on craftcult.com a pattern emerges - most of the front pages have the same toned backgrounds and the colors are subdued. It's really annoying. So in this one I featured some really colorful items.

I hope you enjoy it. Click on the image to go to the treasury page.

5/15 Time Machine Top 5

Ok here's today's top 5! I tried to pick out a lot of colorful things this time. I hope you like them! Remember, clicking on the picture will take you to the listing.

1) Smoky quartz Necklace with drob Pendant


2) Honeysuckle Poppy Soap - BRAND NEW


3) Poco Albero Rosso 8x10 signed art print by TR Mack, free shipping in USA, Italian tree



4) 70 colorful acrylic beads



5) Vintage 1930's Czechoslovakian Crewel Silk Embroidery Table Covering

Graduation time is here!

I just realized that it's time for graduation!

What better gift to give a graduate (besides money and we all now what college kids spend money on......) then a new bookmark or lanyard?

Lanyards make great gifts to put the new college ID in. The ones that I had in college were the crappy cloth ones that looked like thick shoelaces. Not very attractive. Having one that sparkles is a sure way to engage conversation with new people. As a newbie in college, it's frightening to be around so many people that you don't know (been there, done that), so make it a little easier on yourself with something that will get compliments and that little boost that every new student needs.

Then there are the books. The endless amount of books that every college student has to buy. If you have to read them and carry them around with you, you might as well make them pleasing to look at. And, when youget bored in class it will give you something pretty to play with while you pretend to listen to the professor drone on about something that you don't care about. You are only in that class for the credits anyway.

Or, for that teacher that you love so much, shower them with a great gift you know they will use. The lanyards can be used for their ID badges and their room keys. And they have their own set of books they have to carry.

If you would like something personalized, just ask!

(Ok, sorry for the cheesy promo ploy, but I had to get it out there. I'm not so good at being a sales person yet)

May Giveaway!!!

Ok, I'll help you out if you'll help me out! I'm looking for some creative new titles for some of the items in my shop (mainly because I suck at naming them). Help me out and you are eligible to win a $15 gift certificate to my shop.




Open to: Worldwide
Ends: May 31, 2009
Winners: 3

In order to win here's what you have to do:
1) Go to my shop here
2) Pick out two items that have titles that you just hate
3) Give those two items new and creative names
4) Come back here and comment with the new names and the links to the old ones so that I know which items you are referring to.
5) Be sure to leave contact info so that I can let you know if you've won!

In order to win extra entries, come back and rename as many items as you want. The most creative names will win. I will pick the ones I really like and those winners will receive a $15 gift certificate to my shop. (please note that the shipping cost is included in the $15) Those new titles will then be used on those items and the winner will be mentioned in the descriptions of those items.

Thanks so much for participating and I can't wait to see what creative titles everyone comes up with!

Today's Time Machine Top 5

Here are today's top 5 picks. Clicking on the image will take you to the etsy listing.

Enjoy!

1) Unique Beadwoven Chocker with Swarovski Crystal Cabochons






2) Greek Olive Blossom soap with olive oil


3) DarkCards Poppy Parent


4) Avocado Chip and Dip Set


5) Amy Butler, Dandelion Field in Forest, Daisy Chain Fabric, 1 Yard

I'm Considering a New Giveaway

I really really stink at giving items in my shop good names. Some of them are ok, but others are just pretty boring. So I was thinking of letting people rename a couple of items in my shop which will get them an entry into a giveaway. There would be three winners and would be picked based on the names that I like the best. I could then use those names in my shop and send the winners something cool. I haven't decided which items I have that I'd want to include as the prizes yet. But, I thought it would be a neat idea. A little bit more creative than just "pick which item is your favorite and post it here" kind of thing.

If you have any thoughts let me know.

I'm stuck in Maine right now visiting my sister and my parents. So, I won't be able to post the giveaway till the end of the week at the earliest, but I thought I would throw out a heads up.

Treasuries that should make it to the front page but never will.....

Today, instead of browsing the time machine, I thought I would pass through treasuries because I haven't been there in awhile.

If you've ever been to the Vault on the craftcult website, you'll notice a lot of the front page picks all seem to have the same color tones and themes, which to me, is really boring. So I decided to compile a small list of treasuries that should be one the front page of etsy, but will never get there because they are just too colorful.

Right now the list is small but I will be adding to it throughout the day.

(Clicking on the picture will take you to the treasury page)

This one is called "A Splash of Color" by eclectibles. Lost of wonderfully colorful items, with a lot of variety in category and price. Very very nice!


This one is "Interaction of Color" by LinArt. I love how all the different colors flow together from picture to picture. Nothing really look out of place.

New Line of Bookmarks coming soon!!!

I am pleased to say that in just a few days a new line of bookmarks will be coming to my shop!

I think I'm going to call them book pendants but I haven't decided yet. If you have any input on it let me know. Below are few pictures of some of the ones that have been completed but not listed yet. I'm trying to work up a few more of them before I start listing.

I bought some really large pendants because they were really on sale and I just couldn't pass them up. But, they were just too big to be on book thongs. So What I decided to do was create a new type of book thong. These ones have extra long ribbons so that the pendant can hang farther down on the book. Beads decorate the bottom of the ribbons.

(Above - Glass spiral with yellow background and silver foil spots. Attached to white ribbon with yellow foil beads and pewter spiral charms)

(Below - antique silver charm with resin flower inlay. Attached to sheer cream ribbon with maroon glass pearls and antique silver bead caps at the bottom)
























(Left - Gaint silver seahorse, about 4 inches tall, attached to a peach ribbon with wire wrapped natural fresh water pearls)

(Right - Giant silver heart about 3 inches across, attached to a teal ribbon with glass cut beads, silver bead caps and teal seed beads at the end)

Time Machine Top 5

Since I've become addicted to the time machine, I decided to start a Time Machine Top 5 a few times a week. So, here are today's Top 5

(Clicking on the photo will take you to the etsy listing)

1) Teletubby Bloodbath by neonblood - Who hasn't imagined killing a teletubby every once in awhile?

2) Bright and Bound by strungoutdesigns - Love this shop. There are some awesome designs. I love this because it's simple yet interesting.


3) Aqua Shimmer Eyeshadow by BodyDelights


4) No Hurry pants by NewExtrave - Love how wonderfully flowy these are!


5) Fuzzy Ocean Purse by Divasew - The beach is my favorite place to be so why not have a bag to match?

I love having employees!

I would like to congratulate my best friend Joie on being my brand new photographer!

The one thing I hate the most, is taking pictures of my items. This in only because I SUCK at it. All I can do is white backgrounds, white to me, are very boring. They work, but don't show the item in it's intended context at all.

So, thanks to my wonderful friend, I no longer have this job. My only job is to list and to create, which are the things I like doing the most anyway.

The best part is, that now we have the means to save for our vacation - together. She and I have a wonderful road trip planned from here in Massachusetts all the way to Vancouver, Canada in my fantastic 1975 Dodge Dart Sport (Hang Ten Special Edition). Our favorite show, Supernatural, is filmed there. And, because we are HUGE dorks, we are going to travel there in the fall. With an old car, and two weeks worth of traveling planned, we need to save - fast. So what a way to work together to do it!

So, now you can look forward to more things hitting my shop faster, with better pictures, and no price increases.

I'm so excited!!! BTW - if you haven't seen Supernatural and you are looking for some wonderful eye candy to enjoy, you should totally tune in. Thursdays on the CW at 9 pm. Be there or be square (God I'm old!)