Après-ski

1950s Ski Sweater Pattern - $3 by vintageknitcrochet on Etsy

Just getting my bearings after a little jaunt to Whistler BC for a ski vacation with good friends. We returned last night and I jumped right back in to Crazytown.

Our little vacation was full of good laughs, multiple readings of books on monster trucks and Cinderella, playdoh, and hot chocolate. 

I would try and convince you that the above photo is one of yours truly (do you like the chemistry class inspired goggles?), but my body was not cooperating with me and I didn't hit the slopes. Instead I spent what would have been my lift ticket money on an overpriced, but very practical yoga sweatshirt and a latte.

Driving home yesterday along the Sea to Ski Highway (one of the most beautiful sights) , the kiddo was quiet in the backseat and I was able to think about many things, and do a little mental planning. So, lots of fun stuff to share with you in the coming weeks. It feels good to be home!

Etsy Wednesday #12: Who stole the cookie...

Something I've been wanting for a very long time is a vintage cookie jar. I've searched high and low, in antique malls, on on ebay - but I don't want a freaky clown or a goose with a bow around its neck holding on to my Oreo's or snickerdoodles. I loved my grandmothers' cookie jar (a train - The "Cookie RR" to be exact). It was always a surprise to lift the lid and find something in there. Sometimes homemade, sometimes store bought but always yummy. I want that kind of tradition in my house (yes, even after the holidays when I really don't feel like I want to eat another cookie ever again).

After a fun trip to my favorite antique mall last week I was re-inspired to keep looking for a cookie jar. When I got home and checked Etsy Vintage I was pleasantly surprised at the offerings there. Here are my top picks. Should it be whimsical? Have good typography? Be understated? Help me decide! Leave me a comment as to your favorite one.

From top to bottom, left to right:
French Typeface Cookie Jar : Covent Garden Vintage
Hull Cookie Jar : The Log Chateau
Red Wing Cookie Jar : Ranch Vintage
Chef Cookie Jar : Winkinpossum
McCoy Yellow and Brown Canisters : Cousin Honey Vintage
McCoy White Cookie Jar : The Chic Moose
Italian Cookie Jar :  Found Vintage Style
Fitz & Floyd Kangaroo Jar : Harmonica Jane
McCoy Jug Cookie Jar : Tonnies

And just because I've got cookies on my mind, here are three cookie themed items that won't go to your hips. 

 

"Best Friends" Oreo Necklace :  $15 Baby Loves Pink

S'Mores Felt Play Food : $7 Bug Bites Play Food

Oreo Cookie Soap set : $4.90 Soaparty

Tick- Tock

Welcome to 2011, blog readers! I'm so excited for this year, and hope yours will be filled with love, laughter and inspiration.

I've got a few new products lined up for the big reveal this month - I'm so excited to show them to you.

I'll be back Wednesday, but in the meantime check out these cool, affordable vintage clocks from Clockwork Universe. My favorite christmas gift this year (that turquoise beauty, above!) came all the way from their headquarters in Latvia. The tick-tock it makes is perfectly meditative, the color couldn't be more perfect, no batteries required, and I smile each time I look at it. I'm pretty sure my clock will be getting a friend sometime soon - I'm pretty smitten.

ba de ya - say do you remember?

File this one under random inspiration. Over the past few weeks certain songs have been following me around. During Christmas it was "Baby It's Cold Outside". How many versions of that damn song are there anyway? I'm so over it.

And in the past few days this song has been popping up EVERYWHERE. From the grocery store, on my car radio, some rerun I was watching the other day, and today? At an antique mall of all places.

When I got home I had to look it up - of course, Earth Wind and Fire. Taking me right back to 1978. My mom had this album. Too disco for my dad, I think we played it loudly during the day while he was at work. Everything about this video inspires me. The sparkly outfits, the random lyrics (ba de ya?) and Maurice White who totally reminds me of my (hot) 7th grade art teacher - huge crush. If I ever realize my dream of becoming a late in life aerobics instructor this song will totally be included in my workout. I'll wear a sparlkly headband. It will be awesome.

Anyhow, more topical stuff tomorrow. For now - dance!

Tips of the Trade #6: Pricing your work

Go Out on a Limb 8 x 10 giclee print : $20 over at my Etsy Shop

Last week during my blog break, I met with a local Creative Business Consultant, Marlo M of Creative Arts Consulting. Wow! What a resource this lady is! I feel so lucky that she lives in my city. Seriously, if you need any help getting your creative biz started, need help getting out of a rut, or just want your questions answered by a super neat, hilarious, successful and knowledgeable crafts-person, check her out. Such a worthwhile investment! 

One thing we talked about was pricing work for both wholesale and retail. While I love Etsy, I want to branch out and get my work in more brick and mortar shops as well. One of the many steps in this process is getting my pricing ready for wholesale.

Here are some articles (the last one is from Marlo's blog) on the topic of pricing, whether you are just getting started selling work online or ready to branch out!

The Art of Pricing: Preparing for Wholesale
The Art of Pricing: Understand your costs 

Daily Worth: Profits come from business models not Ideas 

Wholesale Checklist 

Raising Your Prices 

I'm off to make some spreadsheets!

Etsy Wednesday #12: Last Minute Etsy!

Since it is last minute gift time, here are 9 great Etsy finds priced between $5 - $25. I'm so proud and excited that I have done almost all of my holiday shopping on Etsy this year, and everything I have purchased has far exceeded my expectations in terms of quality. It's not too late to get your hands on some handmade goodness!

Starting at the top left corner:

Recycled Guitar String Pendant : $10 by Stringcycle

Trusty Typewriter Tag : $12 by Neogranny

Husband and Wife Finger Puppets : $10 by Yaelfran 

Happy Stampies (pick any 4 stamps) : $20 by HappyDoodleLand  

Superhero Shoes Silver Wings : $24 by Smallfly

Felt Pancakes : $16 by PickleThings

Adjustable Coffee Cup Sleeve : $8 by ChicoCozy

Saltine Cracker Earrings : $22 by  BrillianceFound

Rock Squirrel Mirror : $6 by BoyGirlParty

Happy Handmade Shopping! 

There's a Hole in the Bucket

The last day of NaBloPoMo! And all I can offer you is this vintage Sesame Street clip. As I was singing this song to my kid the other day I realized how my life can feel very much like this song sometimes. I need a new bucket, people. 

I may take a break for a day or two to recoup from nearly a month of constant posting. Until then....