Boo-Boo Rings

Im thinking of having a boo-boo ring sale. The way it will work is:

I will list all rings that are for sale in this blog. If you like something, all you have to do is put a message in the blog comments, email me, or convo Buy My Crap on etsy (first come, first served)

I will then go list the ring in etsy for you to buy. This way, the boo-boo rings don't clutter up the shop and detract from the "good" rings, and are only listed right before they are purchased.

There are some stunning rings with a few minor defects, like a couple of air holes, and they didnt pass my inspection! I will hopefully be listing them tonight, or tomorrow : )

I hope you find something in your size you like.

Interview with Hare and Drum

I sat down recently and interviewed HARE AND DRUM, you can visit her lovely shop at: www.hareanddrum.1000markets.com

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a wanderer. I can't sit still: there is a need in me to constantly explore. I was born in Poland, traveled in Europe, married in Las Vegas, and now settled, or so it seems, in breathtakingly scenic Montana, with my husband and toddler son. I have the need to move, if not physically, then creatively. That's why most of my items are one of a kind effects of my whimsy.

When did you first start creating decoupage items, and what brought you to that craft?

I've never attended art school and I struggle with considering myself and artist. But I have a good eye for color and design, inherited from my grandmother and mother, an expert knitter and embroiderer respectively. Collage seemed to provide the perfect, almost instant gratification to my impatient creative soul. But I'm a creature of contradictions and have yet to fully understand myself: I cherish "stuff", collect it, love it. My "stuff" needs to last, be solid and tactile. So, about 5 years ago along came decoupage: collage reined in by solid, heavy wood, smooth finishes, utilitarian items.

What do you love the most about the items you make?

It's a warm, fuzzy feeling to know that I may be creating instant heirlooms. The utilitarian boxes and frames are solid enough and unique enough to be appreciated and to last generations.

What is something you really want to try making that you haven't yet?

I'm always full of new ideas whose realization is delayed sometimes by "technical difficulties," sometimes permanently. Right now, for example, I'm stuck in a rented condo with all its design limitations, and I know I'm not the only one itching to spruce up the putty colored walls and featureless rooms. I'm working on an idea to beautify the bland bathroom mirrors in a way that would be marketable. It's a large and a bit overwhelming project, so I have yet to fully tackle it.

If you could try another craft form, what would it be and why?

I would love to try soap making, but then, who wouldn't? Seriously, I would love to preserve the craft forms that thrived in my family. Grandma knit complex multicolored cable sweaters, Mom mastered ultra-difficult Hardanger embroidery that involves pulling individual threads out of linen, Grandpa created fabulous Christmas decorations out of straw and crepe paper. If I can't be a master in any of those, I would at least like to show my son how those things are done.

What inspires you?

I find at least three sources of inspiration that I can name. Paper, with its limitless possibilities. Nature, with its instant ideas for perfect shape and color combinations. Finally, necessity, a real mother of invention that gave rise to my best, unique pieces. For example, the need to untangle jewelry before an outing brought about my hanging jewelry boxes.

What craft item would you be lost without?

I could make glue out of egg whites and a cutting tool out of a razor, but I'm a paper-holic. I need a constant supply of beautiful paper. I need to look at it every day. It gives me a gentle buzz necessary to go through the day. I get really snappy if I'm separated from it for longer than a day. Don't stand between me and my paper!

If you had $1000 what would you buy?

Other than supplies, that is? Or the new transmission for my husband's truck?

ART. BIG. A huge painting of Orion Nebula as seen through Hubble telescope. I'd stare at it, and go to Warp speed for just a second. Where can a second in Warp take you?

In 5 yrs, where do you see yourself?

I'll be a successful entrepreneur with 2-3 lines of sought-after products that will sell in boutiques and small brick and mortar stores. I will probably have 2-3 employees working on those, as I bore too easily. Myself, I will be creating one of a kind items and offering them online. People will say to each other "Oh! You have an early Hare and Drum? Where did you get it?" Things will sell on the spot.

What? Not realistic enough? And don't tell me about the economy!

If you could give 1 piece of advice to somebody just starting out in online selling, what would it be?

Have fun creating! Sure enough, you need to promote and make yourself visible, and be patient, and do the books, and pay yourself enough, and make sure not to run out of supplies before Christmas, but above all, enjoy yourself! Only you really know how to do that.

Im a slacker, Im a slacker!

No, No, don't try and say I am not, I really am. I have all these really good intentions when I get up in the morning, and I plan out I'm going to do X Y Z and about an hour in, I have lost all enthusiasm!

Lats night Mr Crap said, "Stop complaining (as I am on the phone to my BFF saying how much work putting togther an etsy listing is) and just do it!" -- He was so forecful! Needless to say I did list 3 new rings for him, shame I have a bunch more sat in the ring box to list.

I will do it, I will, I will, I will!!!!

Right now I have booties to post off to LethargicLass, and the house to clean, and I promised my 4 yr old son I would play Wii with him. He has been quite cross with me lately, so I shall leave you with the comment he always throws at me when I tell him off:

"Get your own life!"

Mrs Mushroom + Mr Crap

Who would have thought a mushroom and crap could live together so happily!

The man behind "Buy My Crap"

A lot of people have been slightly confused with the fact my husband owns Buy My Crap, but I spend time in the forum chatting under the shop. So, I figured I would post some pics of my husband, Mr. Crap, hard at work on some resin rings, in his little corner of the garage!



It is always fun to wait for him to come inside and see what he has made. I don't go out there too often when he is working, it stinks -- he has a respirator(not pictured) and I don't -- but on the odd occasion I pop out when he has taken something out of a mold, I think, oh gosh, that looks UGLY! Case in point, he made some rings that I thought looked like mold -- I wish I had a before shot, but I don't, he brought it in when he was done, and I fell in love:

This is the Zen ring, you can find it in his shop!

His work really is amazing, and I know its only going to get better!! I can't wait to see what he produces next, and I am more excited about his shop than my own. Go figure!

New Etsy Shop

My husband opened his own etsy shop -- well ok, I helped him do it, and I will be doing all the net stuff and listings and such, but here it is:

Buy My Crap @ Etsy!!

heheheheheeheh

A New Direction for The Naked Mushroom

With the fast approach of Feb 10th and the new laws concerning children's products and lead, I have been working hard with my husband to come up with a new collection to sell via my online venues.

We have always been fans of working with resin, so we decided to create some upscale resin jewelry that doesn't break the bank. After much research we discovered the average price for a resin ring is around $85, so we decided $40 was a good price point, after all, a lot of work goes in to these little beauties so we don't want to sell ourselves short either.

The Process: First we create our own molds, this is no easy task, and currently resin ring molds are not available for purchase. Then we mix and pour resin tinted with our own colours, we then wait for the magic to happen. Once the resin has cured, the hardest part takes place, each ring has to be meticulously sanded and shaped, then hours of polishing ensue.

The first piece we are offering online for sale is Baby Pink and Chocolate Brown:

You can find this ring for sale at this location.

Please also find Sunset in our shop:


We are very proud of this work as resin is no easy thing to work with. In the coming weeks we will be adding many more rings, in different sizes, to our collection, so please check back often.

It's a fresh beginning

It is always sad to let go of things old, and allow the new to wind its way in to our hearts, but with the new, comes the chance to really make life altering changes, for the better.

This year I have decided to do a lot of soul searching and "find my path" again. I have felt for the last few years that everything has revolved around everyone else in the family, while I have just gone along for the ride. I can't do it any more. I can't be the person who has nothing just so everyone else has everything. It eats away at me, and I believe I can't be a good wife and mother when I feel so badly about myself.

So I have decided these things:
1) Be kinder to myself
2)Take time to work on things that make me happy
3)Work on my shops
4)Work on promoting said shops
5)Work on products and product placement
6)Try to blog everyday as a means of networking
7)Make my shop a "business" and treat it as such rather than a "hobby."
8)Make friends and contacts
9)Find ways to get my foot in the door
10) Be motivated, don't put things off.

I am sure I will find other things I want to do, but for now, this is a start.