Etsy Wednesday: Objects of Desire

Raymond Loewy Teapot, Teacup... kiteless $65.00	Sunny Block Abstract Print twoems $26.00	Italian Ceramic BALDELLI Abs... weareMFEO $59.00
Wood Letters J - Wall, Nurse... Hindsvik $125.00	Vintage Industrial Wooden St... bellalulu $120.00	dead meadow necklace - vinta... urbanlegend $25.00
Vintage Sweater Coat Cream W... ohthisnose $120.00	Hanging Air Plant Teardrop T... plantology $28.00	Washi Tape Organizer - Wood ... 464Handmade $35.00
Shut the front door 18x22 ha... WilliamDohman $175.00	10" Modern Wall Clock -... decoylab $90.00	Morning Delight- face nettin... yellowfield7 $380.00
Living in treehouse wonderla... Ninainvorm $49.00	Grumpy Melbourne Owl Brooch tigerandhare $20.00	Vintage FUN and GAMES Epheme... sushipotparts $6.00
Monty the Fox Lambswool Plus... saracarr $38.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

This week is kicking my booty. Here are a few things from my Favorites on Etsy that are making me smile this week despite all the crazy. 

Monday - what can I say.

Dutch designer Christiian Postma's Calendar Wallpaper

I'm afraid to look at my calendar. After last week's snow shut down, this week promises to kick my butt. I'm hoping to squeeze in a few hours of sewing on this top. Woke up grumpy. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of another new bag (yes, I have a problem). And this dress (that I got on sale of 1/3 the price). Happily watching the snow melt. Wishing one of these would land in my lap.  Looking forward to leaving our house for the first time in 8 days, hoping I remember how to drive.

Favorite Things Friday: Snowbound

We've been trapped in our house for about 5 days, with flickering power and unreliable phone and internet. This week was packed to the gills with appointments and plans - all of which got cancelled for me. And, I loved it. There's nothing like a good ole Pacific Northwest Snowpocalypse to force you to just slow the heck down. We baked batches of chocolate chip cookies and delicious French Breakfast Puffs (or sugar muffins as my kiddo now calls them). I attempted a sewing project only to find that I need more supplies - but it was exciting while it lasted. There were naps. Our generator kept us warm. Just moments ago I saw the first drips of snow melting off our iced-up, snow laden trees. It's supposed to be 20 degrees warmer today than yesterday. Being trapped inside with two of my favorite people on earth felt like a mini vacation. As I watch the snow start to melt, and glance over at my packed calendar for next week, I know this will be over way too soon.

10 books about selling on Etsy and beyond: A list

Snopocalypse 2012 continues in my neck of the woods. We've lost a few trees, the power and internet has been on and off. Growing up in a town where this amount of snow was nothing to bat an eye at - I'm still always shocked at how things shut down when we even have the tiniest amount of snow. But - day 4 and it is still snowing at our house.

Anyhoo, I digress. this is not a post about snow! I've been daydreaming a lot about adding some new books to my collection. Here are 10 promising titles about selling your crafts on Etsy and beyond (and they are all on my wish list now). 

1. How to Make Money Using Etsy: A Guide to the Online Marketplace for Crafts and Handmade Products by Timothy Adam 

2. How to Sell Your Crafts Online: A Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Sales on Etsy and Beyond by Derrick Sutton

3. The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and On-Line by Kari Chapin 

4. Etsy Success - How to Make a Full-Time Income Selling Jewelry, Crafts, and Other Handmade Products Online by Kathleen Donovan

5. Beyond Amazon, eBay and Etsy: free and low cost alternative marketplaces, shopping cart solutions and e-commerce storefronts, by Hillary DePian

6. Starting an Etsy Business For Dummies  by Strine and Kate Shoup

7. The Right-Brain Business Plan: A Creative, Visual Map for Success by Jennifer Lee

8 Craft, Inc. Revised Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Turning Your Creative Hobby into a Successful Business  And also check out the Craft Inc. Business Planner, by Meg Mateo Ilasco

9. Crafty Superstar: Make Crafts on the Side, Earn Extra Cash, and Basically Have It All by Grace Dobush

10. Sell Your Crafts Online: More Than 500 Free and Low-cost Ideas for Craft Artists to Get More Links, Traffic, and Sales by James Dillehay

Etsy Wednesday: Cold Comfort

Vintage Tea Cup Set of 4- Lu... Yesterdayand2d... $23.00	Lavender Mint Splash Bath Bo... ElegantRoseBou... $11.25	White Cotton Bathrobe Wearab... ecofriendlybea... $60.00
Brown Sugar Gingerspice shor... whimsyandspice $8.50	natural white birch wood can... urbanplusfores... $12.00	Tree photograph, Snow fallin... EyePoetryPhoto... $30.00
Featured in Real Simple maga... TheGroovyBaker $10.00	White Rabbit Pattern PDF CynthiaTreenSt... $5.00	Felted slippers for woman. S... jurgaZa $65.00
Blink Bonnie, Organic Loose ... teavert $29.00	Wooden Ship - Large Handstit... odelae $70.00	Wood Tub Caddy: Reclaimed Oa... PegandAwl $120.00
Lusterware Teapot, Silver Vi... CarpeDiemTreas... $55.00	Legwarmers in Grey with butt... homelab $59.00	Custom Bedding Set My Lovely... LovelyHomeIdea $265.00
FREE SHIPPING - Cashmere & M... $32.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

It's a SNOW DAY here in the Pacific Northwest. The anticipation of this 'snow event' has been brewing for days. On top of that, I've been trying to get over a cold. How much would I love to crawl into a deep warm bath, do a little journaling, drink some tea and crawl back into bed?

Right now

Bullseye Geometric Print : $23 by twoems on Etsy

I am:

listening to my kiddo be read to by her grandma

unapologetically using Puffs Plus on my runny nose

sucking on ice to numb my throat

wishing it was spring

watching a Psychedelic Furs video

thinking about being a teenager

thinking that my spell checker has given up on me

or that my computer is about to crash

needing to do about 100 other things than write this post

These Dreams

So, I've always been one to have pretty entertaining dreams. But something about pregnancy makes my dreams go all the way to 11. Yesterday afternoon as my kiddo and I had our daily drawing time I decided to sketch out some of my favorites.

A few nights ago one of my body pillows became a delicious oversized bag of super salty ruffled potato chips seasoned with dill  that I kept eating while sleeping. Strangely, I woke up with swollen ankles. 

One night not too long ago I joined a Victorian era polygamist cult with a friend from my kiddo's preschool. We were married to a guy who looked just like Snidley Whiplash and we all lived in the basement of a large antique warehouse. My friend wore this crazy silky peach dress everywhere. 

Later that night I earned my freedom from the cult by entering a knife throwing contest where I had to throw knives over my head with my eyes closed. I (cheated and) won $10,000.00. 

And just last night I met and old friend from high school to go lap swimming but instead of exercising we just floated in the pool and ate large plates of chocolate chip cookies (not a bad idea, subconscious).
Finally, one of my favorites to date. Returning to my physical therapist to be told that my therapy for that day would be to go lay in the surf of the Pacific Ocean and be beaten by both the surf and the tail of a large whale. I excitedly laid down and took a good beating.


. 

Dreams of capes and coffee

Arizona Sonoran Desert Cactus Scene by boran2 on Etsy

Recovering from a night of insomnia. Wishing I could make myself an espresso from this adorable machine. Realizing that I don't have a coat that fits anymore and fantasizing about making a cape, like this one.  Wondering if it would give me super powers. Thinking a lot about this birth story, as I think about what I want for mine. Looking out at the grey sky, wishing I could follow my snowbird neighbors here.

Mama's got a brand new bag

Bag from Deyitta on Etsy

To celebrate making it into my 8th month of preggo-land I bought a great handmade bag today via etsy - to serve as an oversized purse and diaper bag for the new little one. I can't wait to ditch the old bag I've been schlepping about for the last few years. Long live handmade. 

Favorite Things Friday: Comfy Cozy

This week has been all about comfort in the midst of craziness. Some of my favorite things from this week: a Decaf Caramel Brulee Latte with whip cream from that evil place I swear I don't love going to, but damn... it's so convenient. The Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread we made this week. I seriously cannot say enough about this recipe. The mammoth stack of pillows that now accompany me to bed. The new light that finally hangs over our dining table. It just makes me happy to look at it, and bask in its paper lantern-like glow. The forced paperwhites given to us by good friends for Christmas and the one rouge bloom that has shot out of the tiny mason jar vase and grown to be no less than two feet tall. I love its joie de vivre.

Tired Giant

From yesterday's late afternoon drawing session with the kiddo. A self portrait. Tired Giant is my new name. 

Etsy Wednesday: Squeaky Clean

Organically Grown Hemp Bath ... ThoughtfulGems... $19.95	Neem oil Shampoo Bar - Pre-O... AquarianBath $6.25	WHISKEY After-Shave Splash -... portlandgenera... $15.95
Vintage Brass Soap Dish / So... VintagePennyLa... $12.00	Art for the bathroom- Tooth-... jamieshelman $24.00	Black Licorice Candy Scented... whiffsofwhimsy $5.00
Green Monster hooded Bath to... Yikestwins $37.00	OREO COOKIES and Cream Soap ... SweetbodySoaps $6.95	Shaving Soap, Basil Lime Sha... SmithFamilySoa... $13.00
WOOD Hair Comb comfortable s... GiftGoGreen $5.90	Black Licorice Handmade Soap soapysuessoaps... $4.50	Moustache Wax Action Pack - ... MansFaceStuff $26.00
Pink & Lime Green Paisley Sh... PondLilly $119.99	Gold Tooth Brooch - Green &#... CandyBandits $5.50	Vintage Sewing Pattern 1970&... patternshop $9.99
Baby Cinnamon Rolls - 6 Pack... soapopotamus $8.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Here's to a fresh, clean start in 2012!  For Christmas gifts this year I ordered a lot of handmade soaps from Etsy, which gave me the idea for this Etsy Wednesday group. 

Here's my review of the stuff I ordered: The Oreo soaps were a huge hit with my kiddo and truly leave your hands smelling like chocolate. The Cinnamon Roll soaps from Soapoptamus are super creamy and smell exactly like a fresh glazed cinnamon roll. So cool. For the black licorice lovers on my list I ordered a few of the beautiful marbled licorice bars, which smelled good enough to eat. And, lucky for me (and you!) there's still a lot of squeaky clean goodness to be found on Etsy.