UGH.....

They say those of us who live in Southern California cannot complain about the weather.... I disagree!!!! Thanks to the recent 5" of rain received on Monday, my shop is closed until December 16th. The rain caused some damage to our home and we need to get on it ASAP before the next storm comes through. We also have company coming from out of town for a visit. What is it they say.......

"WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS???"

Save Money.....

Save Money This Holiday Season - Golden Share Foods Giveaway!

Golden Share Foodsis a Food Co-operative Program whereby the company, on behalf of it’s co-op members, purchases a variety of high quality foods in bulk at a considerable discount and passes that savings onto the co-op. Food Co-op’s are wonderful way to save money in this downtrodden economy. GSF services primarily the San Diego area, but it’s pick up sites stretch as far as Irvine, San Clemente and Riverside County. And you don’t have to income qualify. They just want you to give back to the community in the form of some sort of community service. From the Golden Share Website:

“Southern California’s largest LOCAL Community Food Cooperative! SAVE up to 50% on your monthly food budget! This program welcomes everyone.”

Click on the icon below and find out the great giveaway!

Happy Dance!!!

I was so happy to recently read a review about my bags. I had no idea it was going to be written. Katie won one of my bags from Steph's giveaway a few months back. Please check out her blog and read her review!

Kelly's Korner

Over at Kelly's Korner, its show your ETSY store!!! I'm thrilled to see everyone's store. I love finding new things to buy on Etsy and I love introducing people to my store. Please take a moment and stop by and see if there is something you like! Thank you so much for your support!

Check out Birdysboutique's today!

Great idea!

I recently purchased a Swiffer Wet Jet. I love the idea behind it, spray and go. I love not having to put my hands into dirty water again. The only problem?? I hate having to buy those expensive replacement pads. Here is the solution...



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They are selling now in my store. Check them out!

Bags, bags, and more bags!!!

I have bags coming from every where in my craft room. I'm a woman on a mission to get as many sewn as possible this week. Here are a few of my recent new additions!!

Another great review!

The winner of my last review blog asked if she could review the bag she had won. How could I say no, right? Emily has a great blog so please take the time to read the review and look around. You might find some interesting finds! You can also enter the drawing to win one of my bags!!

Review

I recently received a review on my Snack bags and I couldnt be more excited to share it with everyone!

Please check out the review and see all the other things happening on Stephanie's blog!!

Another Great Treasury!

My designer for the month of July is.....

Kelli from Simple Delights for You!!

Tell us a little about YOU

I’m 29 and married to the man of my dreams. I grew up in Orange County, California, moved to San Diego for college and have lived here ever since (about 10 years). I currently work full time as an accountant, but look forward to someday being a stay-at-home mom (my dream job!) with a part time job selling crafts. I love kids and can’t wait to start of family with my husband someday soon. I taught Sunday school for almost 7 years and look forward to getting back into it soon at our new church. I love spending my spare time with friends, my husband and family, swimming, sewing and crafts, cooking and baking, taking walks on the beach, bible studies, exercising and traveling.

What led you to Etsy and sewing?

Since my mom was an art major, my sister and I grew up doing crafts at a very young age. Our younger years growing up in Girl Scouts and 4-H helped hone our skills since we entered most of projects into competitions around the County! They had to be perfect if we wanted to win. We both shared the winners circle a few times! We had so much fun and I have never stopped sewing and doing crafts! My mom really taught us the love of art and did a great job nurturing our individual creativity skills and talents.

Consequently, since most of my friends already have children, I just naturally made them homemade baby gifts. Over that past 6 years, many have told me I need to start selling my stuff. I never really had the time or gave it too much consideration until I started a new job a little over a year ago. I then began experimenting a little more with gifts and one thing led to another…and here I am on Etsy!

Tell us a little bit about Simple Delights For You and your concept behind the store

The baby items were a given for my store since I had already received so many positive comments and requests for business cards over the years. I love making baby items (and giving them away!) and have a passion for cute and soft baby fabrics.

Since I also have a passion for taking care of the land God so graciously gifted us, I began changing our lifestyle at home over the past year by “going green.” I began making my own detergents, cleaners, bath products, etc for home use. That then gave me the idea to implement homemade green sewing and bath/spa projects into my Etsy store. Right now I only have coffee cozies listed, but I plan on adding more items that I successfully use around my own home. Right now I am focusing more on building the baby items in my store. Once I feel satisfied with those, I will move on to some of my homemade household items I love. I have a tendency to be ADD with craft projects, so I really have to limit myself to one project at a time! Sometimes I drive myself CRAZY!!

I really desire to sell my items at craft shows in the future. That would be one of my future business goals. That and learning more about internet marketing. I feel there is more depth and reality in an item when seen in person! One day when I am not working full time out of the home, I hope to implement these into my business.

What inspires your designs?

Fabrics mostly inspire my designs. Sometimes, all it takes is a cute fabric design, and the vision pops right into my head. I often have no idea what my design will look like when I walk into the fabric store! I always walk out in love with my new pick. If I’m not in love with it, I don’t buy it. If I don’t love what I make, I just don’t have a passion to sell it. Though, I have been proven wrong! Some of my least favorite designs have sold on Etsy or have the most views! I guess you just never know!

What if any items would you like to add to your shop?

I plan on adding more bibs. They take so much time and I haven’t had much time lately. I also plan on making some of my favorites around my home: dryer/home sachets, fabric napkins/cloths, eye pillows, spa items, etc. I’m also praying about starting another Etsy shop…it’s all about my favorite and yummy baked goods!

I’m also trying to focus a lot of my time right now on internet marketing. I know how important that is for a business, and it’s all so foreign to me! I’m determined to figure it out and plan on writing tips on my own blog. See how ADD I am??

Share with us your most favorite item in your shop and why its your most favorite.....

This is a hard question since I try not to sell anything I don’t absolutely love! I have to say, my Ladybug Bib is probably one of my favorite designs. I melt every time I see it! And the pink and brown bib as well. I just LOVE that color combo! I also love a couple of my cozies; the purple leaf and the purple and blue Hawaiian are a few of my favorites (probably because I’ve been to Hawaii 3 times and it brings back those nostalgic memories!). Sometimes I feel a picture does not do an item justice, you know? Sometimes I wish the internet had a “touch and feel” function…I think selling would be much easier!

The Nursing Cover

My oldest and dearest friend is having a baby in a couple of weeks. She asked if I could sew her a nursing cover because they were so expensive in the store. I searched high and low and could only find 1 free pattern on the internet. If you ever need the pattern, I found it on BlissTree.

My final product:

Make Fabric Labels

Need any fabric labels for your goodies??? I found this tutorial on a blog and thought I would pass it on....

Check out Allyson Hill and her label tutorial! I'd love to post your final product too so keep me posted!

Treasure Hunt

This is my second Treasury creation for the SDEC Team!

Blog

Well, I finally started a blog to go along with my Etsy store. I'm still trying to figure Etsy out and trying to find ways to promote my store. Trying to read as much as I can, ask all the questions I can think of, and still have time to sew. Like most people, I too think there isnt enough hours in the day!