Buy My Crap

The ULTIMATE Valentine Card Bought From Etsy!

2009-03-17T05:16:00.000-07:00

Just before I left Reno for my long trek across the USA to Maine, I received a Valentine days card in the mail.

At first, when my kids came running in with it (ages 15 and 13) I had no idea who it was from. They were giggling and laughing and trying to figure out just who was sending us a card. You see, the envelope had no name on the front just an address, so who it was for was anyone's guess!

My mind did not even put 2 and 2 together even when looking at the return address. The kids were in a quandary, so, I ripped open the envelope as fast as I could, and lo and behold I instantly realized WHO my secret Valentine was!!

This is the card I got in the mail, purchased from Etsy and sent to me by LethargicLass who I met via etsy. LL (as we call her) has become a very dear friend of mine, and this card has been something a group of us have been discussing for quite sometime now. You see, we could not decide WHO was going to buy the card and who was going to receive it, we were all in such AWE over the magnificence of it!

So, I turned out to be the lucky one, as LL wanted to send it to me to cheer me up as she knew I was going on a long trip across the USA and was very sad about it. WinterPanda, OBTP, PinkFlowerCube, EchosArt have decided instead of traveling Pants, we are going to have a travelling card, and thusly, soon I must send it on to someone else in the group to enjoy!

Here is a pic of the delightful message written inside:

The whole thing is written with glitter glue, and is very sparkly!! Even the envelope was written completly in glitter glue! Im actually surprised my mail man could figure out exactly what it said in order to get my precious to me : )

Here is Mr. ferris enjoying the card and modelling it for me:

So, there you have it.

A magnificent Valentine Days Card, sent to me, by LL, bought from ETSY and created by a very special ETSY seller!

All moved in!

2009-03-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

We finally made it to Maine -- our 3200 mile trek across the USA wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

We had a cou0ple of hiccups on the first day. Quinn had to go to the ER due to an allergic reaction, then Erryn had to go have x-rays of her elbow because she thought she had broken it. At first I thought our journey was going to be fraught with problems, but, it finally settled down.

We only stopped once for a nice meal along our way, at Olive Garden in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was a much needed break from eating Chef Bouyardee, and we all had a blast just chilling out for a couple of hours before we hit the road again.

The boys being silly inside Olive Garden

We have finally settled in to the home we are sharing with my best friend(high school art teacher and artist) and we have the majority of the house straightened up and put away, enough so that I have been able to start listing Buy My Crap rings again -- yay!!

In the coming weeks I will post pics of our new little abode and the snow that has fallen!

Boo-Boo Rings

2009-01-30T10:02:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-26T09:50:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

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

The man behind "Buy My Crap"

2009-01-11T20:09:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-10T17:12:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-08T14:36:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

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.

Its a BIG Day!!

2008-12-28T10:31:00.000-08:00

So, my beloved New England Patriots are playing today to try and get in to the playoff's. Its tense in my house, VERY tense!!!

Not a FP Virgin Any More!!!

2008-12-22T19:41:00.000-08:00

I made the FP this morning -- I was super excited, and got a lot of convos from folk letting me know -- it was like Christmas had come early for a while.

Here is the FP :

The treasury was created by a lovely lady name Taylor from Taylorseclectic I was so happy to be part of her treasury, and thrilled that it made the FP!

I did not get any sales from the exposure, the treasury was only on the FP for 20 mins, but I did get a ton of views and hearts, as well as individual item hearts : )

Thank you Taylor!!

Now I can't wait to be on the FP again!

Football Sunday

2008-12-21T21:30:00.000-08:00

I love Sunday, I love watching football with my family, yelling and screaming at the TV, cheering and clapping, or getting crazy mad when things don't go my teams way! (I am a Pats fan)

Today we did really well, we beat the Cardinals, and now, next week will be the fight to the death to see who wins the division, or the wild card spot and go to the play offs!!!

Yesterday my husband poured resin on a bunch of pendants I made from polymer clay with transfers. I made them for my best friends daughter for Christmas, they all have a Twilight theme, since she is crazy for the movie!

They were out in the garage, and the resin didn't cure as quick as it normally does -- 24 hours -- and they are still a little sticky, I am hoping its just from being in a freezing cold garage, so, time will tell, and I pray they harden, and set, because I really don't want to have to do them all again!

My mum flies in tomorrow, she arrives around 10pm, I am super excited : )

Willy Wonka

2008-12-20T23:01:00.000-08:00

Willy Wonka takes a bow as he enters for the first time to welcome the lucky winners to his factory.

Wow, what a crazy, crazy show! All in all they spent over $100,000 on this production. The best part about the whole thing is that it is done on a professional stage, with a professional tech crew, and professional orchestra. The Grand Sierra's stage is in the Guinness book of world records because it is the biggest stage in the world, it is over an acre in size!! They also had the longest running musical perform there "Hello Hollywood, Hello. " ((google it, its very interesting))

This yr they hired "Flying by Foy" to come in and fly Grampa Joe and Charlie during the fizzy lifting drink scene -- it was really cool, along with the bubble machines and crazy lights. I think it was the kids favourite part.

The kids also really liked the waterfall, it was 50ft tall and pumped 14, 000 gallons of water per minute, it came down over 3 levels, under a bridge, and there was a grate in the floor of the stage that the water ran in to and back in to the holding tank. There were two waterfalls (we only used one) and they were built for "Hello Hollywood, Hello" -- our show was the last time they are ever going to be used, and now they are tearing them apart, because they are removing part of the stage so they can book bigger acts (like cher -- yuck!) -- such a shame : (

Anyway, my son played Mr. Beauregarde (violet the gum chewers father) (he is wearing the black hat)

My daughter was a Pink Candy Lady( they drive the pink candy boat) -- my son was in the Saturday cast (it was double cast) and my daughter ended up doing every show (11 all together -- she was pooped!) They had over 13,000 kids come to school shows, and the two public performances were pretty busy too.

My daughter is stood next to Charlie Bucket

My husband and I built a lot of candy, the narrotors over sized book, 5 light up golden tickets, painted a backdrop for the candy cart and made the HUGE candy boat (it was 15 ft long)

Yep, the wheel on the back actually span around, and on the other side there were UV painted Skull and cross bones : )

It's been a loooonnnngggg Time!!

2008-12-20T04:38:00.000-08:00

I have looked at my blog everyday and intended to write in it, but, always ended up getting distracted and putting it off! PHEW, so much to do and so little time to do it all in! Well, it's 4.39am, and I figured why not post a lil sumthin sumthin!

Things have been busy for me of late. I have sold 7 items in the last 4 weeks between etsy and 1000markets. I know 7 isn't a whole lot, but to me its fantastic! I am super excited, because my last etsy store I had, selling hats and my art work, didn't do much of anything really, and it was a terrible feeling, like I was a failure, now I feel good about where I am and what I am doing! The other night I had 2 orders that had to be shipped out the next day, can you say PRESSURE, and they were the BIG FOOT kids shoes, which are time consuming. I did enjoy the feeling though, of being on a time line and having to get work done, it was nice to feel "important" for a while, ha ha.

My husband wants to really push etsy and 1000markets and see if we can turn it in to something we could make a living at doing. Of course, we need to hit on "that one idea" that will explode and take off. We talked about how marvellous it would be to be a cottage industry and he be home all day helping with the kids and working side by side -- I said I wanted my own little studio at the bottom of the garden though, so I actually would feel like i was "going to work!" He want to make soap -- arggghhhhh.

I want to blog about my whole Willy Wonka experience which finished Tuesday. I have pic's to post of the prop items we made, and of the show. It was a HUGE production, complete with a 50ft waterfall that pumped 14,000 gallons of water per second, it was the chocolate river, very cool!

Till later, and I PROMISE I will blog again today about the show.

Thanksgiving, a Birthday, odds and ends

2008-12-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

TURKEY DAY! We had our friends over for dinner, being from New Zeland, they had never had Thanksgiving dinner before. We sat and watched the Macy's parade, and then played some Cranium (what a hoot that was!) while we waited for all the food to cook.

I cooked a 22lb turkey. He was delicious, and since I always cook my birds upside down, the meat was very moist and juicy!

I made: mash potatoes, stuffing, roast parsnips, butternut squash, candied yams, carrots, green beans, whipped cream with fruit(yes, my husband eats it with his turkey) and cranberry sauce and gravy. We had sooooo much food! *EDITED NOTE* I also made bread sauce, to go with the turkey, I love me some bread sauce!

This is my friends plate. I love my dinnerware, but the plates are huge, and one always seems to load it up, and before you know it, you have food enough for two! We made 2 pumpkin pies, and a dutch apple pie.

Later that evening I made hot turkey sandwiches for everyone.

Saturday was my sons 13th birthday. He was up at 6am, all ready to go (normally he sleeps late) to open all the cards he received from his relatives. My poor husband had to trail around to 7 shops looking for Guitar Hero: World Tour. Eventually they came back with the game that contains one guitar, and it happily enough, it came with a bonus guitar, but, no drums or microphone. THEN, we discovered the fact that the drums and the mic from Rock Band (which the kids got last year for Christmas) work with Guitar Hero World Tour: SWEET! so, we jammed all night. Whats cool about Guitar Hero is, 4 people can play AND the songs are more recognizable. Rock Band has too many songs I have never heard of! (I will post pics next time)

I made these shoes. I have yet to post them in my store, I need to take more pics, because I don't have any of the intricate branches that weave around the back of the shoe. These took me a REALLY long time, because, the owl has 5 pieces I hand cut, hand sewed, and then assembled together, to give a 3D effect.

2008-11-20T19:19:00.000-08:00

Not much of anything doing today. I made a little pair of winter wonderland snow boots. Very simple, but I liked how they looked with no adornments. Cleaned, did laundry, and managed to watch Indiana Jones and The Crystal Skull while I sewed and the baby took a nap.

My sons play last night was fantastic, it was so funny, and my son got a round of applause when he ;left the stage. He just had a cameo role, but he managed to ham it up and make the most of the 10 lines he had! I was a very proud Mum! Sadly, we were not allowed to take pics, maybe when i go again on Saturday I can snag some after the show is done.

I was in another treasury today, this one was curated by INeedThat and is a lovely collection of people from Twitter! I really like Twitter a lot, I twitter on and off all day long about random things, and the part I like best is looking at other folks work and giving little thoughts of what might work better. Please take a min and visit INeeedThat in her shop!

Tonight I think I am going to clean up and try and relax and watch some TV. I have been a nervous wreck all day waiting for my pediatrician to call, but, alas she has not. I am guessing she is not too worried if I have not heard from her by now.

Busy day, Busy Night

2008-11-19T16:16:00.000-08:00

A friend came for lunch today. I made homemade potato, leek, bacon and cheese soup, it was yummy. My friend is from New Zeland, so a lot of her culture is very similar to mine (I am from the UK) and its fun to be able to talk about things we both know/understand.

My son is in a play, it opens tonight, he plays the role of The Policeman in "The Nitwits," he is a fine young actor, and has a lot of potential. He is turning 13 on the 29th of this month, and growing like a weed, but his high pitched voice is very amusing. My BFF from Maine called today and thought she was talking to my daughter, but it was my oldest son! Too funny!

I started a little pair of Christmas Slippers for girls last night, maybe I will be able to work on them when I get back from Opening Night.

I found myself in some more treasuries that I would like to show you and share with you the lovely folk who put me in them.

I love the red of this treasury, it all pops, and the best thing is it is filled with undiscovered shops. The kind person who picked this is SpiceofLifeDesigns, she has a lovely shop too, so please make sure to pop by and visit it!

This one was curated by Bipsy and is fresh and exciting, and has a multitude of bright colours, and it makes me remember the warm days of summer. Please check out her shop for fun and quirk items!

This one was curated by one of my fav people -- and I have a few -- on etsy, HAREandDRUM, she has the most wonderful collection of items for sale, with paper and wood, and a by-gone-era feel to them. Please stop and take a peek you will not be disappointed that you did!

It is so exciting for me to be in so many treasuries of late. My old shop really did not take off, and I never really felt a part of etsy, this time around, however, I making friends with some really great, good quality people, I enjoy their company, and listening to them twitter about their day.

I am enjoying 1000markets immensely and the vibe it has, its a wonderful community, and I really believe its going to take off and FLY!

Well, I have to go eat and get ready to go to the show, I am super excited, I will blog about it tomorrow.

"Monday Monday, can't trust that day, Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way"

2008-11-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

Why do I have products sitting here and I never get my tush in to gear and post them? That's a thing about myself I find annoying. Although, I think, sometimes, if nothing is selling, and nothing is rushing past you, you lose all sense of urgency and motivation.

I WILL post my Peter Pan shoes today, I will, I will, I will! Ok, MAYBE I will -- ha ha.

OK, so here are two treasuries I found myself in.

This one was created by Earmark and I think it is gorgeous! I was thrilled to be included, and it has such a happy jolly feel to it!

This one is by TaylorsEclectic and I love the bold sassy colours of it. So much fun, and so whimsy.

I made a treasury today and featured some of the kind folk who have been around today when I was feeling blue! Its in treasury west and expires in 2 days.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-11-16T21:49:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy I have neglected this lil ol blog!

All this week I have been job hunting for my hubby like crazy! It has been a thankless task. You sit and fill out form after form, some of which take like 10 mins a piece, only to never hear from them again! Ah well, I am sure something will turn up soon -- it HAS to!

Wednesday I delivered $7,000 worth of Pizza to people. Willy Wonka show did a fundraiser to pay for people to come in from Vegas and fly Charlie and Grandpa Joe during the fizzy lifting drink scene. It was crazy, the amount of folk who forgot they had to come pick up their orders, and the abuse I got was astonishing! Well, I figured it would happen, people always shoot the messenger! I delieved the last lot of things today (sunday!)

Friday night we wernt and watched my daughters High Schools football team play, it was the 1st round of the play offs, and the first time in the 4 yrs the school has been open that they made it, and guess what, they WON. we had an awesome time, my daughter played in the band and they kept the crowd and the teams spirits high. It was so much fun to stand up and yell and holler! We will probably go to the next play off game this coming Saturday afternoon!

I made it in to 2 treasuries this weekend, I need to post pics. Thus far my sales are still at ZERO!

I finished working on a bigger sized mushroom boot tonight, but, the baby is sleeping, so I am not going to wake him up right now to try it on, we shall see how it fits in the morning.

I joined twitter last week, that was new, as well as 1000 Markets. You can find me there at www.thenakedmushroom.1000markets.com . I think I like it better than etsy. It has fewer shops so less competition right now, and I got in on the bottom floor, which means you are more memorable! I have noticed tons of new selling sites opening up! 1000 markets is super friendly and the CEO's are always on hand to answer questions! Quite the personal touch!

Tomorrow I promise to put up some new pics, and to list at least one new "somethin" in my shop. This week we are building:
The Pink Candy boat (Wonkatania)
The Candy Mans Candy Truck
5 light up Golden Tickets
1 extremly oversized narrators book
Sugar sacks, cocoa bean sacks, flour sacks.

I will post pics as we go along.

..."Tuesday Im in Love ..."

2008-11-11T21:25:00.000-08:00

I just finished the sweetest little shoes in a moss green. My daughter says they remind her of Peter Pan and I think she is right. I am starting work on some shoes inspired by the night sky.

One of the exciting things that happened today was I found myself in a treasury. not bad for a shop that has not even been open a week. I was super happy, and very humbled that cbpoole (pls click her name to go to her etsy shop) was kind enough to include me!

I think all the items she chose were adorable, and I am in very good company. This is my first treasury for The Naked Mushroom, and I can't wait to make treasuries myself to include some of the fantastic folk I have met this week.

Another interesting thing was, I made it on to the twitter page called, Ugly Sh*t on Etsy. The Denim corset my husband made was featured, but only for a brief while, till the person behind the twitter account took it down. It didn't bother me one bit, mainly because I know our work at The Naked Mushroom is of high quality and craftsmanship, but also because I know it isn't ugly.
Sure, its not my most favourite piece he has ever made, I much prefer the corduroy corset, but still, its well constructed and looks FAb with a pair of jeans!

I also can't believe how ugly some etsy folk were to others in the thread, it amazed me, and made me feel quite sad. There is enough ugliness in the world without folk going out of their way to be mean just to get their jollies.

Another day, another dollar -- or no dollars at all.

2008-11-10T20:18:00.000-08:00

This is day 22 of no work for my husband. He did have a webcam interview today though, which is cool, but is kind of weird because, he NEEDS a job, and we need money, bbut, I have no desire to move back to VA in the slightest. I guess what will be, will be.

I posted new shoes on etsy today, and these are my absolute favorite:

click here to find them here in my shop

I just love the way they look, and I knew when I was making them they were going to look stunning. Funny enough though, no one has hearted them, and I love them so much I would marry them!

I sent an application in for my BFF to The Bachelorette, how funny is that! It amused me, and I think she would be great on the show!

Well, I am off to go make a new pair of baby boots, I have had this idea swirling in my head for a few days now.

Football Sunday!

2008-11-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

Well THE PATRIOTS won -- yipeee, I do so love it when my boys kick butt, and they did just that today. I am a huge Pats fan and watch them every week. I have my teams I love to hate of course, (The Jets, The Colts, The Steelers) and I have a few others I really like (The Browns, The Bengals, The Raiders) and I get to watch football 3 times a week now!

I listed a new pair of baby shoes today, Christmas boots, in fact. They are very cute, and I wish I had someone to model them on, but alas, my 21 month olds feet are way too big!

They are available in my shop

My daughter got home from CA, her band came 2nd, none of the kids really cared, they just wanted to go to 6 flags today! she came home in a very sullen mood, and hid herself away in her bedroom, so much for her missing her family!

The baby had a HUGE nap today, he got up at 6pm, *sigh* which means he will still be running around the house at midnight. Its kind of a catch 22, if I had tried to wake him earlier he would have been really grumpy and miserable, and life would have been horrid, but now, its still horrid because I am tired and he is not.

Well, off to make a little pair of white slippers.

Good night blog!

Crazy Day

2008-11-08T23:12:00.000-08:00

Today was such a crazy day, and now its 11.30pm and I should go to bed because I have been tired since 7pm, but I am trying to be productive -- I did make one baby shoe, I will finish the other tomorrow.

We started off our day dropping off our 15 yr old and 12 yr old at school. The 15 yr old was on her way to Diablo, CA for a huge marching band competition, we wont see her till Sunday at 7.30 pm, because a kind business man paid for all the kids in her band to go to 6 Flags on their way home from CA. Diablo is a 4 hr ride from here, I am sure they were grumpy when they got their!

Our #1 son -- 12 yrs old-- had rehearsals for his school play -- "The NitWits." -- Now, I have to tell you, his school is odd, because it goes from 7th grade to 12th grade, so he is always involved in things with 12th graders. Thankfully, the drama crowd are quite sensible, and thus far have not led him too far astray!

We picked him up at noon, had a quick lunch, then at 1pm we had to drop him off for Willy Wonka rehearsals. He is playing Mr. Beauregard in a $100,000 stage production which goes up Dec 10th - 15th.

Hubby and I then hit a whole bunch of stores, and managed to get groceries done all before we picked #1 son up at 4pm. I had really hoped to get home so we could photograph the pieces for our etsy store. I have been trying to photograph them for 3 days now! Corsets are so difficult to capture without putting them on a dress form -- which we don't have yet.

#2 and #3 son's had a rough day not wanting to cooperate when we were out and about, ah well, they are only little, and most of the time when they don't want to listen its because they are tired and could do with a big long nap! (couldn't we all!)

I hope tomorrow is a quieter day -- although -- The Patriots play The Bills at 10am(Pacific) and if we lose, our house is going to be very somber!

WorkSpace

2008-11-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

This is our little workspace. We secretly share it with the garden pixies and elf's that wander in when we are snuggled up in bed. They play with my scissors and fabric, and when I wake up in the morning I find a lovely trail of wee mushroom shoes left behind!

When I took this snap I managed to capture Mr. Mushroom hard at work on a denim corset, complete with a hand stitched "naked mushroom" emblem on its snazzy little pocket. It's very cute, and whimsy, and will be up in the shop soon!

It really is hard to find space in our cozy little nook for our creative room, 4 kids take up space you know, so, since our Master Bedroom was big enough, that's where we moved our little studio -- its way too cold in the garage now!

We have a Sewing table, and my pretty painting table which I covered in a lovely Autumn Tablecloth -- Our little munchkins like to climb on up on to the folding chairs and sit and paint while we work.

One day I would like to have a studio set off all on its own down a garden path and nestled between beautiful trees -- I hope the pixies and elf's will be able to find me their!

The beginning

2008-11-06T21:17:00.000-08:00

Well, every blog has to start somewhere, and this is the beginning for this new place to do my show and tell!

I need to spend some time filling in the blanks so that you guys have something interesting to read if you pop over here to see what I am up to.

I shall leave you with this:

“If only one could tell true love from false love as one can tell mushrooms from toadstools”-- Katherine Mansfield