My Faves: The Kitchen and Home!

Ahhh the kitchen...whether you love or hate to be in it..these nifty handmade items will spice yours up!


Recycled Tin Lid Magnet by PicardCreative

Utensil Holder by Hurricane Pottery

Kitchen Veggies Glass  Magnets by ksickles

Retro Vintage Style Kitchen Curtains from FussyGussy

Many Thanks Cuteable!!

Well I woke up to a nifty surprise!! :) I was featured on a nifty blog called Cuteable! :)
My friend Jonie from Childish Thoughts and I were featured because of my listing of crayon rolls. Jonie lovingly made the rolls for me for my craft show and I had plenty left over, (though they were the biggest seller!) so I decided to put them to good use! :)

Profits from the sales of the rolls (more coming too!) benefit Slidell/Pearl River Head Start. You can read more about Head Start on my PIF blog.

So check out the feature and drop them a line! :) Oh and shop for charity of course!! :)
~~Amy

SPRING cleaning time!!

PHEW! I am BEAT! But it is well worth it! Day One of "get your butt in gear and clean your house" program is on! Thanks to my super sized overstock of crafty goodness from my craft show last week, I do not need to 'create' for my Etsy shops for some time. So I am focusing my energies on
1. cleaning my home and getting organized,
2. Blockhead Radio and my job there as Promotions/PR and spiffy new host of Mom's Cafe on Wed nights at 9 pm eastern, and
3. MY FAMILY! :)

So, I do not feel like such a pack rat now! I now have about 8 bags of clothing to share on Freecycle (do good and good will come to you!), and I now have an organized closet that I will SHARE with my hubs (can it be, could we? Closet cohabitate?) AND a spiffy closet full of ORGANIZED soap supplies AND nicely folded fabric stash!! WOOOOT!

And the best part of all...there is still gluten free cake in my fridge...AND My best hubs ever bought me chocolates for our anniversary (TOMORROW! 6 years!) :)
WOOOT!

Proof of clean soap closet:
(now ot get a nifty shower curtain rod and hang drapes in front of it!)

Soap bases, embeds, citric acids, salts, papers, soap packaging materials, shipping materials,


Approx 45 lbs of soap base in boxes, shipping, bag o' rubber ducks, and molds

And just because I can, a random pic of my grass after recent rains....ahhhhh. Spring!

BHR Stalker contest! Who Will Win?

Written by agoodwitchtoo on BHR Blog:

The Biggest Stalker is determined by several things...

Most importantly is how often we "see" your pretty faces :) Whether it be in threads, in the 24/7 BHR Chat, in the BHR forums, emails we've received telling us what you've done to prove you're the Biggest Stalker.... (although we do require that you refrain from doing anything illegal).

If you've chained yourself to a lamp post and screamed "Listen to blockheadradio.com" as everyone passed by... we wanna see the video.

Of course you don't have to take it to that level. But that would be cool ;)

Let us know when you've blogged! Bring a friend to the show. Support the BHR Charity Sampler box. Email us if you've told some random person on the street. Get that random person to email us. Tell them to let us know you sent them.

How the Biggest Stalker is decided is totally up to the Stalkers and the precedents they set forth. Bombard every host in every way you know how. Emails, blogs, chat, shows.... Just stop short of hiding outside their houses in the bushes.

Dazzle us with your persistence and creativity.

I will tell ya this... The Biggest Stalker every month will be handsomely rewarded!

Pass this blog along. Let us know ya did. It'll earn ya those frequent stalker points. No little annoying card to keep up with either.

Amend the CPSIA

Just your friendly reminder to do your part and fight!! Watch Rick's video also on this site.

http://amendthecpsia.com/

Learn more about me..Tonite!!

You know you've always wanted to know how my twisted little mind works right? Well, tune in tonight at 9 pm Eastern for Artisan Spotlight on Blockhead Radio. Ruthie from Roseworks Jewelry will be interviewing MOI!

I promise to be SOMEWHAT interesting and if I"m not, well....come with a drink and you won't care!! :)

So tune in, check it out and leave me some love!. You neeeeeeeeeeeever know what goodies I may give out either! :)

~~Amy

Survived first live show, now back to work!

Man, life after craft show is hard! Trying to reorganize, inventory, photograph, clean, etc etc! :)

Thanks to those who tuned in last night, you can tune in again every Wednesday night at 9 pm eastern to hear me and my awesome friend Rockerchic on "Mom's Cafe" We'll carry on with our mommyness, awesomeness, and artisan info! :)

So don't miss it! :)

www.blockheadradiolive.com

For Ella...

I'm going to be live on the air....

I think I just wet my pants a little....

Me. Live on the air.

I do recall distinctly telling the lovely Rod/Huck/Witchy/harem of women, that I would NOT be on the air anymore than a time or two to call in.....

and yet.....

here we are two days from ME GOING LIVE ON THE FREAKING AIR!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (that was the Home Alone scream...)

So, I bought my nifty little headset from the Evil Empire today....warned my husband that our Lost date nites would be over for awhile (oh, don't worry SewHappy, I'm taping it so we can still talk trash..) and that I would be barracading myself in my room for at least one hour and to not disturb me.

So the more I think about this, this is not such a bad idea....
1. One solid hour of no monkeys invading my space (in theory)
2. Sitting on my butt cozy in my bed...
3. Talking and knowing (some) people are actually enjoying it?
4. Getting to talk to my awesome friend Rockerchic about our lives as mom artisans..
5. A promise of appletini's each week...
(what appletini's are not in the contract?...ahem, Rod, we really must speak soon...)

Okay, so I'm getting excited!!!

WHAT praytell shall Rocker and I discuss for ONE HOUR each week?

Well....that is our little secret (I'm waiting for her to tell me...KIDDING.) but the overall general idea is being a mom/artisan...how does it work, managing it, creativity, balance, etc. Our little show is called "Mom's Cafe", or as it is affectionately referred to around BHR...."Two morons with a show at NIGHT" (because the Morning Brew Ha Ha is the official Two Morons with a Show)

I can promise you there will be LOLcats to be had.

SOOOO come check us out on WEDNESDAY nights at 9pm EASTERN for Mom's Cafe!! The possum will be going live on the air.....(insert ominous music here...)

~~amy

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!

PHEW!! The craft show is OVER!! Thanks to those who came and supported me!! I appreciate it! Despite these tight times, I did enough business to at least break even and it was great practice in working with customers, setting up, etc. I am CONSIDERING doing another show in May in Mississippi but I have to get more info on it because it is a HUGE show.

SOOOO, the shops are BACK open and will be having more new stuff added as I can get to it! :) Right now it is back to work at Blockhead Radio and back to work as a mommy and wife! My house has been greatly neglected due to my prep for the craft show and I need to get back in my mommy groove! :)

Now what I WOULD like you to do is to check out the BHR ARTISAN CHALLENGE! Simply CLICK HERE and then click each category and GO VOTE! I am featured in a few categories, so of course I'd appreciate some votes! :)

And don't forget to ENTER the artisan challenge yourself!!

I have not forgotten the secret giveaway on my blog!! You'll be hearing from me soon if you entered! :)

Have a great day everyone!!!
~~Amy

Shameless begging post..

Let the begging begin....

First off.....if you are in the Slidell/North Shore Area I would LOVE to see your perty little face at the Slidell Arts and Crafts Show at the Harbor Center in Slidell today!! :) Exit 261 off the I-10 (last exit before you get on the bridge!) I'll be there with ALL my inventory...so come on down! :)

Second.....not only did I finally SNAG a treasury last night but I am in one--twice! :)

So if you are so inclined....please share the love and do some clicking.. :)

Im in this one twice, as Mama's Little Monkeys and Fleur De Ink
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=47365

And one I was SOMEHOW able to snag last night by stalking the treasuries!!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=47426

so click away and give it some love! :)

Baby Andrew

Hi! You may remember me mentioning the website ColesFoundation. I joined up and signed up to be part of the prayer team. They match you up to families and you pray/support that particular family. This is my family:
http://www.carepages.com/carepages/babyandrewakin

I highly encourage you to drop them a line also and if you are the praying type, to send a prayer their way. Even kind thoughts are welcome!! I don't think no matter your religion, if you are reading this, you are a person who cares about children and doesn't want to see a child suffer. So stop what you're doing for just a second, sign up on CarePages, and drop this family a happy thought, prayer, wish, or even donate.

Thank you!
Amy

Im home sick, resting, and surfing youtube

Oh how i love Amos...

I love lolcat

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

CPSIA Rally!!!

http://reformcpsia.org/2009/03/cpsia-rally-in-dc-april-1st/

Rally against CPSIA!!! I wish I could go, I really do! I fully support everyone who can attend though!!

I feel tired, oh so tired, but accomplished! :)

I'm tired. Crawl into bed, snuggle up and pass out before Seinfeld tired (that's 10pm Central!). BUT, I feel accomplished! My first ever craft show appearance is next Sunday, and it's been a long road. Man, I hope the customers come! :) I sewed today from 10am-6pm. I am beat! But I made some awesome things for the show, including my own chalk cloth sign for my booth! (Being chalk cloth, I can write whatever I want on it!)

So, if I get a little extra time this week I'll finish up one set of flannel baby bib/wipe sets, and maybe one minky bear (amazingly a teddy bear doesn't take me too long.)
But more importantly to do:

• All the tags, labels, prices for completed inventory..including ingredient label on soaps and bath salts.
• Cut swatch samples for fabric available for custom pants, teddy bears and more! (basically a swatch of all my fabrics!) Organize and label accordingly.
• Print out the 'catalog of ducks' available for ducky soaps, as well as a catalog of ducks I can easily order.
• List of scents available for soaps/salts.
• Prices signs, info signs, etc. Biz cars, CPSIA info all ready to go.
  
• Blockhead Radio print out!
• Price listing sheet...because I won't be there on Saturday (church), my selling partner will be working on Saturday, so I need to leave her a complete list of my items with prices so she can mark off as she sells and I can accurately figure out taxes, etc.
  
• Buy various office supplies/table supplies for set up.
• Drink a large appletini and eat massive amounts of chocolate.
• Sell like I've never sold before.....

That about sums it up....countdown is ON.

Please Read this Charity Blog Post

Take a few minutes...help others..

http://etsypayitforward.blogspot.com/2009/03/charity-of-month-colesfoundation.html

Going On VACATION!

Ok, not really. Man, I wish I was....

But I am preparing for my FIRST EVER craft show on Mar. 21-22nd in Slidell, LA, at the Harbor Center (shameless plug) so I put the shops on vacation to help prepare for my show!! I will post updates and report back, hopefully with great success!! :)

Support the Handmade Movement and Don't Miss BLOCKHEAD RADIO!!!

Be Sure to join the Blockhead Radio Artisan Challenge!!!

All you Artisans out there make a note of this date:

March 23rd

Some may remember... some may be hearing about it for the first time! Either way there's a bit of construction goin' on over at Blockhead Radio as we prepare to relaunch a cool weekly contest. Seriously, if you head over there you will hear power saws, drills and jack hammer's workin' 24 hours a day. Okay, no you won't but you WILL hear some really great music by indie artists :)

Formerly known as the Etsy Challenge (the name was change to protect the innocent...) and then renamed as the Artisan's Challenge because there are soooo many great venues out there for selling handmade.... and then the whole shebang came crumbling down. It was feared that the challenge would never be heard from again.

Yes, the Artisan's Challenge is being dug up from the depths of the internet graveyard!

For those who may have never heard of the Artisan's Challenge, let me tell ya what it's all about. There are 12 different categories with 60 different artisans every week (5 submissions in each category). The winner's of the categories from the previous week then face off in a weekly challenge!

So head on over, read the rules and enter your submissions now! You'll be notified when it's your week in the challenge. Then its up to you to tell your friends... your family... your neighbors... the people in the checkout line at the grocery store... to go vote for you in the

Artisan's Challenge!

What's in it for you? Besides lots of people seeing your item when they vote?? Besides FREE publicity for your shop??? Besides all the fun????

It just so happens that the winner of the weekly challenge will now win a audio commercial with a banner to play the entire following week on Blockhead Radio! That's even MORE FREE publicity for your shop!

Remember, it's ANY selling venue! Entries are being accepted now so hurry and get your submission in.

20% off at Mama's Little Monkeys!! Clearance Sale!!

Come on down and enjoy 20% off nearly everything at Mama's Little Monkeys! (Items marked, Made with Love by Katrina are excluded.)

I am making room for new items!! New items have been listed!! Handmade soap coming soon, including grab bags, oops' and mystery soaps!

AND for my blog readers....a secret giveaway!!! Send me a convo to my Etsy Shop and mention "secret giveaway"!! I'll take all the convo's and use a random number generator to choose one for a secret giveaway!! It could be soap, could be crayons, could be a sewn item, could be a gift certificate!!! You'll have to convo me to find out!!!

So come on down and check us out! You never know what you might find!!

***Don't forget to check out the feature on jonathanandandrea.blogspot.com all about my little corner of the handmade world!! Thank you so much Andrea!!!***

~~amy

My Faves: Cafemom Etsy Moms Team

Hope you enjoy this edition of MY FAVES!! This time up, Cafemom Etsy Moms!! Don't know about CEM? Well get to know them a little here, and if you or someone you know is a mom/grandma who sells on Etsy, be sure to join Cafemom Etsy moms!! We're having a member drive to reach 300 members by 3/29/09!!

This is only the tiniest tip of the cafemom team iceberg!! More editions coming soon!
Be sure to check out the awesome Cafemom Team Videon on my blog HERE! More versions coming soon!

Good CPSIA Read.........

Click and Learn!!

Something Doesn't Seem Right Here....

Ummm, Mom, is this right?

WOOOT! I Won a FREE CD! Love me some Dare Dukes!

Yes! I knew Blockhead Radio would pay off at some point.... I, a faithful Lost fan, TAPED it tonite (so tell me NOTHING or I shall beat you senseless) so that I could tune into my favorite station, Blockhead Radio and hear Dare Dukes! Now, you may say, who? Well...let me enlighten you!

Dare Dukes is a fantastic indie artist.....I do not dare even peg him into a genre, because well, I hate that. Music is music! (And no, the dare pun was not intended.) If I dig it, it is good, end of story.

Well, I dig Dare! :) There are a couple of musicians we play on BHR that I REALLY like and he is one of them! (I love them all....but some I love more....)

And I got to win the AUTOGRAPHED CD from Dare Dukes!!! GO ME!

Nope, not sharing.

Want to learn more about Dare Dukes? Not a problem!! Click HERE to learn more about him, and CLICK HERE to listen to Blockhead Radio where his music is in rotation! Learn all about our other great artists too!

I love free stuff and good music...an excellent combo!!

NOW, go check out Dare's website, make sure you sign up for the newsletter and get a FREE Mp3!!!! Then once you hear how awesome he is.....get some of his CD's! :)

If you ever hear any artist on Blockhead Radio that you enjoy, just click on the BHR player where it says "Buy CD" and wham..you can get that awesome music delivered to your door! :)

Enjoy!

Easy Ways to Save Money

Alrighty folks, if you are a faithful reader of the 'mom' magazines like I am, Woman's Day, Family Circle, etc, then you've read those ever helpful articles about how to save money. You know what I mean....instead of buying your frappacino every day, cut down to once a week and save 18 trillion dollars a year. Or get your nails done once a month versus every week and you can feed a small nation. Wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot and save 8 thousand bucks a month.

Um. Okay. Can we have money tips for REAL moms?????

Nails done? Yes, I have had artificial nails done a time or two. Literally. I can count on one hand. And that includes just 'regular' manicures. Each time they were for an event: my own wedding, vacation, someone's wedding, etc. I have NEVER had my nails done JUST BECAUSE.

Drive through coffee? Umm, yeah, no. I do on occasion get drive thru coffee (lovingly purchased from my LOCAL coffee shops, rarely from u-know-who-bucks.) but it really is a treat. There is a reason I hold my monthly local Etsy street team meetings, and Celiac Disease Support Group meetings at local coffee houses----so I can justify my purchase of insanely expensive, but oh so delish coffee! So I technically get it twice a month. And one is tax deductible....

Hot water for laundry? Only for cloth diapers and really nasty ones!! I was extremely confused by the laundry detergent that came out and was oh so important because you could SUDDENLY wash your clothes in cold water. For real? I've been doing that since I was old enough to put laundry in the washer! My mama would have tore me a new one if I'd used hot water for anything other than very certain items.

So, every time I read those 'money-saving' articles, I wonder when someone will write one for REAL women. Now, there are financial guru's I love. Who doesn't realize Suze Orman is freaking genius? And I enjoy the articles by Mary Hunt. But overall...most are simply telling you to cut out the fluff!

Well, in these economic times, many people are suddenly having to live as I had to all these years. I grew up very poor and learned some hard lessons about money when I got a college degree, subsequent job, and then the credit card debt that came with it!

Thankfully my husband was a saver and we started our life out on the right track. Even now, we don't have a TON of money, we live modestly, but I am able to splurge on my fabric addiction, soap addiction and handmade addiction. Thankfully, most of those are again, business expenses and tax deductible! :)

I admit, my one major splurge is handmade. I love venues like Etsy, crobbies.com, madeitmyself.com, etc, that allow me to buy wonderfully handmade items! I will gladly pay more for handmade because I know the item was made with love, attention to detail and NOT by a child in slave labor in a foreign country. I know it's safe and an excellent way to help a small business out. (Despite the CPSIA trying to stop it.)

So here are some ways you can SAVE MONEY, when you already are!

1. Take advantage of Freeuse and Freecycle. Have a click and see if there is one in your area. You may just make new friends! Remember one man's trash is another man's treasure. These groups may often also be able to tell you about any barter groups in your area...an extremely helpful group if you have any skill that you can put to use in return for something. I love a good trade!

2. Visit the library!!! Children do NOT read enough in this age! Neither do adults! Now, I admit, you are reading this on a blog, on the Internet, and I do see the irony. So when you're done, go grab your kids and hit the books! The library is an amazing place! Books, magazines, videos, resources, story time, a quiet place (so precious when you have children.), and more can be found at the library! Your taxes pay for it... USE IT!

3. Cut coupons----the right way! Do not subscribe to your local paper just to get the coupons! You will likely never save as much as you spent on the paper. Rather, join up with a family member or friend and SHARE the paper and the coupons. Or even better, print them online. Just google "online coupons".

4. Eat dessert only one night a week. Please don't stop reading now! Hear me out. I am not saying you can't have a treat every night, a few Hershey's kisses, cup of cocoa, whatever. But save that glorious dessert for one night a week and make a big deal of it! For us it's Friday night. For me it usually means a special ice cream! For the kids, it's something gooey, sugary and scrumptious we don't usually let them have.

5. Try to eat out only ONCE per week---this INCLUDES lunches if you are working! Pack that lunch for work, save money, and hopefully whittle your waistline.

6. Search places like Craigslist, Diaperswappers, Ebay or Amazon for items you do want or need. Amazon has an amazing grocery selection that lets you buy in bulk and save money. HOWEVER, only buy in bulk what you will reasonably use! Or even better, split it with friends and family and make your own little co-op! Do the same with fruits and veggies if you have a farmer's market near you...some will lower prices if you buy in bulk. It never hurts to ask!

7. Bundle services. The commercials really do work...you should try to bundle your services. If you use TV, Internet and phone from the same company or 2 of the 3, check out their bundle plans. Trust me, they want your business. When our basic cable (about 20 channels, most of which religious, or shopping) went up to 21 a month, I made a phone call. I said we would leave and go to satellite if they didn't work with us. I met resistance at first, but soon got the next package up for 25.00 a month for a year. Well, that year is coming to a close soon and if they want to keep us, they'll keep that rate. If not, we are fully prepared to get rid of cable and just use the converter box!

8. MAKE what you can..within reason. I can sew. And make soap. So it makes economic sense for me to do those two things for my family. But I can't do it all. So I am all up for a barter, clearance rack, or the occasional splurge. Do you really need to do as much clothes shopping as you do? REALLY?

9. It is true, pay yourself first! In our family we pay a certain % of our net income to our church. It is a sizable % and when people hear what it is, they are flabbergasted. How can we live on our income minus this %? Because, well, for us, it is a requirement, so we know God will provide. So, because we are USED To taking that % out, we learn to live frugally! Somehow it always works out...I firmly believe much of that is beyond our control.

10. Before you make a purchase, is it made in China? Seriously. If you do that, and try to eliminate just one 'made in China' purchase each shopping trip, you'll quickly stop buying as many items. It is our dependence on foreign countries that is weakening us as a nation and society. (ONE of the many things weakening us.) I PROMISE you can find quality, awesome goods made in America if you just look. I know it's hard. I don't even begin to pretend I never buy from China. But I try to limit it.

11. HAVE FUN! Saving money is something that will become a habit. I often feel like a huge spender compared to some of my friends who are even thriftier than I! Somehow my mother in law can squeeze a dollar out of a nickel. So I look to them for guidance and inspiration. Find those people in your life, watch them and learn from them. Then have fun---inexpensive fun! Explore your town, save up for a fancy night out, ONE new piece of clothing, etc.

Ironically, I write this on the very same blog I share my shops on which I sell handmade goods! Why? Because I have faith in my products and I know that in these tough times we all need to help each other out when we can!

If you really try and watch what you are spending, you will be able to save money and enjoy life!

Because, really, what are material possessions and coin in the bank compared to family, friends...and of course a good piece of chocolate cake....

Yes, that is a real cake. And yes I would NOT splurge on that...it's too pretty to eat!

:) ENJOY!

~~~Amy

Successful Weekend!

Okay...I have decided in order to help me destress, instead of freaking about what I have NOT yet done for the aforementioned craft show, I will share what I DID get accomplished.

Now mind you, I will certainly not be LOW on inventory for the show...I'm just trying to get some items that I think will sell because of our demographics here. I will be bringing everything from both my shops (Mama's Little Monkeys and Fleur De Ink.) as well as many items not listed that I either made or wholesaled from other handmade artists. (I LOVE my Etsians!!)

Sooooo, what did I do this weekend? Well, I cut and prepped about 20 bibs, almost done prepping about 12 more, and then I'll have to put them together. This may not sound like much, but I'm very anal about my bibs. I use interfacing on them if they're cotton, and I sew the velcro on so that you don't see the under side of the stitching on the bib, all very time consuming.

I also made a trip to Hancocks and FORGOT to buy the LSU colored buttons for the baby dresses (lovingly 80% made by my friend Katrina!), so I'll HAVE to go back this week..(wink, wink) and I also need to pick up some snaps....I like to pimp out my bibs sometimes with snaps instead of Velcro! :)

I also got some recycled crayons made, just need to get them wrapped up. So that task is DONE!

Of course, the usual cleaning, kids, and computer time.

And I even got to spend a nice Saturday night with DH and friends, grown up talk, grown up drinks, and relaxing!

So there is of course tons to do, finish the dresses, mostly this week finish the sewn items, and next work we'll move on to soap! BUT I WILL SUCCEED!! I WILL WIN!!!!

Sooooooo I promise lots of pics when it's all done and I do my practice set up the week before!

GO HANDMADE!!

Three Weeks Til Craft Show

Okay, the craft show is officially on countdown!! THREE WEEKS until my very first craft show!! I have nearly everything ready to go, just have a few to-do's:

Bath bombs
Soaps
Package bath salts (some in jars, some in refill bags)
Finish LSU/Saints/Skulls bibs (big seller down south!) :)
Finish chalk cloth mats (come ON fabric.com with my chalk cloth!)
Finish flower pen bouquets
IF time,
Military sewn items, bibs, bears,
Minky Bears (oooh got a box of minky goodness in yesterday!

And of course... all the hang tags, labels, etc involved..plus practicing set up! :)

Wonder how much coffee it will take to get it all ready??????