Second Great Day! Winter Survival Kit #2

You may not want to look too carefully at this picture if you regularly receive a snail mail birthday card from us!  The first cards of the year were hot off the press this morning.  At least nine of them are completed and nine more are ready to be assembled.  You're seeing the three colors I've chosen: shades of coral, lavender, and aqua blue.

The 6:00am dip in the pool must have given me the energy!    We are fortunate to have a beautiful workout facility here in Kohler called the Sports Core.  Besides many classes, workout rooms and

tennis courts it features two pools, a lap pool and a family pool.  Being a very cold blooded critter, I  choose the warmer family pool for water aerobics and visits with Sports Core friends.

After breakfast and reading the papers, I assembled all the lovely colored papers, stamps, and inks so I could begin designing.  The above combo was based on an adaptation of a card I had seen before, but I added  some new elements and they turned out quite differently.  Tomorrow I hope to design three more and complete those started today.

Dinner was actually nostalgic for me as I made potato pancakes, an old recipe that was taught to me by my paternal grandmother.  It isn't actually a recipe I guess, as she taught me by how the ingredients look and feel as they're mixed.  I was so pleased to have mastered it as my mom did not like them and preferred not to make them, so after Grandma passed away I could make them for Dad as a real treat.

The clean up did not take long, giving me time to finish my book and get my nap in before an easy supper.  Then it was a quick hop next door to babysit while her Mom and Dad stepped out for the evening.  She's such a delightful baby and so easy to enjoy.  I got quite a kick out of her hitting her plastic golf ball with her little plastic clubs!  I also started a new winter hat for her as she has outgrown the ones from last year.

What a great day!  There's only the coffee pot to set up and the bakery to raise before the warm, wonderful bed will call. 

Buenas noches!

Ringing in the new year

Christmas at our house is all about celebrating with family.  But when it comes to the new year, friends become the center of the holiday.  Each year we look forward to going out to dinner with a large group of friends at a favorite local restaurant.  That is followed by a late night party and another one the next day, so it is really a two day New Year's celebration.  One year I even overheard one of our friends claim that it is the best 48 hours of the year!  Happy New Year to all our friends and family!

Happy Haunting!

One of my favorite Halloween traditions is painting pumpkins.  This year I painted one for my darling little "pumpkin" next door and her mom and dad.  Here are all three completed designs at their back door.  The candy corn theme seemed appropriate and does not include a single calorie!

Summertime...time for smoothies!

Although smoothies are great any time of year, they're a real hit at our house during the summer months, especially for breakfast.  So when the Etsy Bloggers asked for summer time recipes, it was a no-brainer!  This is a very flexible recipe, so the amounts are approximate.  You can add or subtract as you like.

2 cups of yogurt in the flavor of your choice.
1 sliced banana
1 1/2 cups of juice in the flavor of your choice.
1 cup frozen fruit

Blend well and enjoy!  This makes about a quart of mixture.  Actually, this morning I invited my aerobics class for a smoothie party.  We had three choices:  mango/peach,  strawberry/mixed berry, and vanilla/blueberry.  There were no complaints!!

Presenting...LindaB

There's something special about pearls and something extra special about this ring of pearls found at .http://lindab142.etsy.com/   You'll find a wealth of individually designed and crafted jewelry in her shop at very reasonable prices.  What also strikes me about her shop isthat she designs not only for a variety of tastes, but also people of different faiths.  What a joy to see her bring folks together with lovely items!

Library Love

For as long as I can remember, libraries have been one of the great joys of my life.  From my first picture books in the children's section to the stacks of the University Libraries and far beyond, they have enriched my life more that I could have ever imagined.  The Etsy Bloggers challenge to write about public libraries has also given me the opportunity to tell about my latest read which, of course is available at your local library.  And in a nutshell, run, don't walk to your nearest to your nearest public library to get your hands on The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  If you must download it to your electronic device, do it as well!  It is a fascinating read that will make you smile, giggle, cry and become angry all at the same time.   And it will leave you wanting for more.  It's the best book I've read in many years!

What do you think?

My Etsy Bloggers Team has asked what business goals we have for 2011 and I'm torn. My first inclination was to say I want to be the "scrubbie queen" of Etsy, but I can't let go of wanting to really promote the pine needle baskets.
Certainly, the nylon net scrubbies are great sellers: they're practical, inexpensive, and kind of cute. You can see two of the apple scrubbies here with a small basket.
But if you check out the second picture, I wonder if you agree with me that the baskets are a greater art form. Even though they are practical, they are pricey, and far fewer folks know about this type of basket.
Which are you more likely to order? Have you tried the scrubbies? Do you know about pine needle art? Any ideas or thoughts would truly be appreciated!

Color My World

What child, no matter what the age, doesn't love a new box of crayons? It's just hard to keep that bulky box handy. This is the soloution: a crayon keeper that won't "bug" you! In fact, the bug with her polka dots and cheery colors would make a great way to carry those lucious crayons. This one is by http://pruitthandcrafts.etsy.com Just click the link to see her many fun fabric designs and enjoy your walk through her great shop! I know I did!!

Holiday Traditions

Even in this day of e-cards, instant messaging and photo cards, I still enjoy making my own Christmas cards. So when the Etsy bloggers team asked about holiday traditions, I quickly snapped some pictures of this year's edition. I've been taking a card class with a Stampin' Up dealer, and the ornament punch, border punch, stamps, embossing tools and a series of new colored papers inspired me. They were great fun to make, and I loved making use of the unusual colors for Christmas. Hope the recipients liked them, too!

Special Christmas Designs

Scrubbies are always a best seller for my shop, so for Christmas I've designed them in a wreath shape. Once the bow is removed, they serve for all kinds of scrubbie uses, from cleaning pots and pans, to exfoliating heels, to getting bugs off car hoods and windshields. What's also neat about this style is that they can also be used for stocking stuffers or package tie ons, saving on ribbons and bows or for mailing flat packages. They're also available in two shades of green. They'll last long beyond the holidays!!

Presenting: PatchFirst

Who of us can resist weddings, especially the gorgeous white bridal dresses and accessories? The Etsy Blogger of the Month makes exceptionally lovely jewelry that she sells at: http://patchfirstshop.etsy.com This stunning necklace is just one example. She even has a wedding planning blog at http://patchfirstshop.blogspot.com And for those of you into vintage, she can also be seen at http://patchfirstvintage.etsy.com In addition this multi-talented lady has a supply shop at http://patchfirstsupply.etsy.com I am absolutely in love with her origami flowers made from post it notes...of all things! Please take a moment to visit her shops and her blog. You'll be glad you did!!

Presenting: sykin

From the shadows of the Twilight saga, to the beautiful shores of the Pacific Northwest, Missey of the Etsy Bloggers Team has you covered. For the photo to the left and many more spectacular shots, please visit http://nwwonders.etsy.com Those of us who have visited these incredible shores can certainly relate to the views she has captured for us and those who have not may catch a glimpse of its beauty.
And for those of you Twilight fans, there's an entire shop devoted to it at http://sykin.etsy.com What a variety of talents Missey has!!