Christmas In July Sale

Tomorrow, which I guess it is already, begins my Christmas in July sale through July 23. All items in the Christmas in July section are discounted 35%. There is a nice selection of table runners and placemats and even a few pillows. More items will be added so check back frequently.

No other sale prior to the holiday will offer such a large discount. An added bonus is that shipping on the first item is $1.50 and each additional item is $1.00. By shopping now, you can save and be ready for the holidays.

This sale pertains only to the items in the Christmas in July section. Please include "CIJ" in notes to seller and a paypal refund will be promptly issues.

Shop anniekdesigns.etsy.com and Christmas in July section.

Rhubarb Cream Pie

My mother is a fabulous cook, baker, pie maker, canner, etc. Just what you would expect for someone who grew up on a farm with a large garden and lots of fruit trees. She came across this recipe for a Rhubarb Cream Pie. It's delish! Here's the recipe:

Melt: 2 TBSP butter in saucepan
Add: 2 cups divided rhubarb
1 cup sugar

Cook slowly until rhubarb is tender.

Combine: 1/4 cup sugar
2 TBSP corn starch
2 egg yolks, well beaten
1/4 cup light cream
1/8 tsp salt

Add to rhubarb and cook until thick. Cool. Pour into 8 inch baked pie shell. Top with meringue. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-16 minutes.

Meringue is basically egg whites, NO yolks, 1/4 cup sugar with 1/8 tsp cream of tarter.

Oatmeal Pie Crust
1-1/3 cups oatmeal
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter

Mix ingredients together in mixing bowl. Then put in pie pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Cover while baking.

Enjoy!

Never Stop Learning

When I started selling on Etsy, I thought it would be a good way to destash my fabric, sew up a few things and all would be well. Somewhere along the line, I decided to make it into a business. I didn't realize how much work it was going to take. First of all there is the creation of the product, the shopping, the sewing, listing and pictures. Then there's the advertising, marketing, pr, twitter, facebook, blog, wholesale, etc etc etc.

Then Etsy recently provided information on Web Analytics, SEO, tags and Google Base. Tags I pretty well understand but what is this other stuff. I am clueless and wasn't certain I wanted to learn. Would I understand, what if I had problems, do I really want to do this.

Fortunately I belong to CCCOE, which is a very strong team. After several discussions regarding SEO, I decided to actually read the storque article and did it with no problems and it was not nearly as difficult to understand as I thought. Web Analytics was easy as well. Then Google Base which I set up this morning. Once I went through it, resolved an issue and voila, it was done.

I don't know where I thought it was okay to stop learning. Maybe I just thought it was over my head. I am not stupid but there are certain things such as physics and a lot of techie things I don't understand. This is not physics and if I simply apply myself, ask questions and think things through, I can do this. By asking a question, I was able to help someone else who had the same problem.

Now if only I could get Copper to stop barking so much!

What does your jewelry say about you? Fun?

There are thousands of jewelry shops on Etsy and there are almost 1,000,000 pieces of jewelry for sale! I am fortunate that I belong to several teams with fabulous jewelry artisans. There will be several blogs about jewelry because there are many types and that many sellers I would like to showcase.

First and foremost, Kim of VisionQuest.etsy.com. Kim is an amazing metalsmith. Her jewelry is elegant, very well crafted, simple and organic. She has stacker necklaces that are so cool.

They come in many different colors have great names such as life savers, Lil bit of sunshine and purple rain to name a few.

One of her latest is a custom Family bracelet. I am waiting for the K9 version featuring me, one large dog and one medium dog! I can't wait.

KimzVisionz.etsy.com is another shop which is a combination of beaded jewelry and a little destash. The Red Brick Gallery on Main Street in downtown Ventura also showcases Kim's fun, funky and really cool jewelry.

Also check out the HandmadeinCalifornia.net for more great shops.

Bubbles, Suds and More

I love soaps, bubble baths and scrubs and all those other girly things! I am allergic to most floral scents and many natural ingredients so I have to be very careful. I tend to go towards fruit, coconut or peppermint scents. Here are just a couple that I have found to be intriguing or downright gorgeous!


The first one is Lemon Soap enriched and cocoa butter and shea butter from PacificParadiseSoaps.etsy.com. I have not tried this specific soap have tried the Dead Sea Salt Soak and the Whipped Hand and Body Butter with Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil and Shea Butter. My skin tends to be dry so but body butter is perfect.

Look at this gorgeous soap! How fun is that. This is next on my list of soaps to try. It is from Carol of Intentions.Etsy.com! This one is called Put da lime in da coconut. I cannot wait to try this. I think what intrigued me the most was while the scents were the same as other shops, the originality of the design and color combinations were striking. You look at one item and keep want to go deeper.

Lily of the Valley - This was my grandmother's favorite scent. Wouldn't this look gorgeous in your guest bathroom. Think of your guests being wowed! This beautiful soap is made by Soaps at Soaps.etsy.com. Check out her store for many other fun and gorgeous soaps.


These are just three examples that I think stand out. There are also savor.etsy.com, who I would have included but her shop is on vacation. Very original combinations.

AdorationSoap.etsy.com has a watermelon cooler sugar body polish I am dying to try.

I have also purchased from DennisAnderson.etsy.com and LaveMeSoapCo.etsy.com and I keep coming back for more.


Enjoy, experiment and be clean!

Lampwork Beads - I really do like them afterall!

I have never been fond of lampwork beads. All those dots around another bead seemed rather silly to me. About a month ago I shared a booth with Anita of www.Jewelz076.etsy.com. Anita works mainly with lampwork beads. But there are beads and then there are beads. Anita used to make her own by now purchases from many artisans all over the world.

Check out this gorgeous necklace with a dog of course. See the different lampwork beads and some with paw prints! (You knew I was going to love this one!)

It struck me as being totally different and how much I really liked it.

Besides dogs, I really love the ocean, seashells, sand, dolphins. So imagine my delight when I spied a lampwork seashell bead!

I really enjoy Anita's jewelry. She has a love for glass, jewelry and design. Visit her shop and have a wonderful time!

Another fabulous lampwork artisan is Amy of FormFireGlassworks (FormFireGlassworks.etsy.com). This heart is stunning and I never thought really understood it was a lampwork bead.

What is lampworking: It is a type of glasswork that uses a gas fueled torch to melt rods and tubes of clear and colored glass. Once in a molten state, the glass is formed by blowed and shaping with a variety of tools and hand movements. IT is also knows as flameworking or torchworking, as the moder practice no longer uses oil-fueled lamps. Althought hte art form has been practiced since ancient times, it became widely practiced in Murano, Italy in th 14th century. In the mid 19th centura lampwork technique was extended to the production of paperweights, primarily in France, where if become a popular art form, still collected today. Lampworking differs from glassblowing in that glassblowing utilizes a blowpipe to inflate a glass blob known as a gob or father, thereby inflating it by blowing air into the blowpipe, whereas, lampworking manipulates glass either by the use of tools, gravity or by blowing directly into the end of a glass tube.

Lampworking is used to create various artwork, including figurines, trinkets, curios, Christmas tree ornaments, beads and much more. It is also used to create many scientific instruments as well as glass models of animal and botanical models that so closely mimic the realy thing; they are virtually indiscernible from the actual thing, save the fact that they are not living.

This information was obtained through wikipedia.com.

Here is another example from Amy of AKDLampwork.etsy.com. Look how gorgeous these beads are! I am simply in awe.

The next time I see something I think I don't like, maybe I better investigate a little further.

This blog is a little different. I have been writing about personal beliefs, things happening in the world. I am going to change the tone some and feature some of my favorite sellers or themes.

This is also my first attempt at adding stores and pictures. I need to work on the links going directly to the stores. Baby steps. Never thought I would blog in the first place.

The cowards way!

Today has been overshadowed by everything that has happened in New York State. The horrendous deaths of at least 14 people and no one has any idea why.

I don't understand why killing others is the solution. You are hurting so you are going to make others hurt. Then to top it all off -- you kill yourself. Such a cowardly way to die.

Life takes twists and turns and unfortunately bad things do happen to good people. Words are easy to come by but actions or trying to dig yourself out of a situation can seem hopeless. But to walk into a place and kill people! Unconscienable.

I don't understand. My heart goes out to those affected by this very tragic event.