Another patriotic item I've recently listed in my etsy shop

I've recently created these patriotic crochet cotton drink coasters, with red and white crochet holder.  Cotton coasters are great because they are super absorbent, and they can be thrown into the washing machine for cleaning.    I picture these coasters on a picnic table for the 4th of July, or on a table for a military homecoming celebration (which is something I'm familiar with, as my son is in the US Marine Corps).  The holder was made with two strands of yarn held together, one red, and one white, and it was stiffened using a product from the craft store, called "Stiffy".  Which seems to be white glue mixed with some other medium.  It actually works very well.  The coasters are just a standard circle, outlined in a thin scallop for extra design.  They can be found in my etsy shop at this link:    http://www.etsy.com/listing/76664632/patriotic-handmade-coasters-with-crochet

New patriotic items in my shop

Here is one of the new new patriotic items that I've added to my etsy shop.  This is a set of 4 red white and blue star votive candle holders (for July 4th, military homecoming, or everyday use-they are pretty!). 

The votive holders are glass, and they have been hand embellished (by me!)
 with polymer clay stars.  The stars were made using a few star shaped cutters,
placing smaller cutters inside larger ones to create a "cut out" star wherein I
could place smaller stars.  Actually pretty simple!  Here's the link to
the listing in my shop:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/74851343/patriotic-votive-candle-holders-for-july

New treasury

Here's a treasury I created today, around the title, "Dare to reach your hand into the darkness to pull another hand into the light."

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE2NjEwOTB8MzU4NjYxOTAy/dare-to-reach

My new treasury

I created this treasury today, featuring all red, white, and blue items from the Etsy Promo Love and TAGT Teams!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE2NjEwOTB8MzU0NTgwODAw/three-cheers-for-the-red-white-and-blue?ref=pr_treasury

Sneak Peek: 

I'm in this treasury today too!

Mintook made a beautiful treasury, and included my baby hat.  100% of the profit for this hat will be donated to baby Tara, the premature baby of one of my fellow TAGT members.  Please check it out!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTA0NTk3NjB8MzQ3NTE0MTAw/red-story


Please take the time to visit Mintook's shop in etsy, and also to visit Somsstudio in etsy, the shop of baby Tara's mother.

My item is in this beautiful treasury!

My new crochet washcloths are featured in this gorgeous treasury by FleetingStillness.  Here's the link.  Please be sure to check out her etsy store as well!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/ODg2OTY2M3wzNDcxNjYxMDI/reminesce


www.etsy.com/shop/FleetingStillness

Treasury Contest Entry

Please check out my latest treasury, which is an entry for the nonteamchallenge 36.  The more views and comments, and clicks I get, the better chance that this will be on the front page of etsy!  This treasury is full of Alpaca items!

Thanks so much.  Here's the link:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE2NjEwOTB8MzQyNzQxNDg2/alpaca-bag-and-well-go-to-the-lodge?ref=pr_treasury

Here's a Sneak peek:

Two New Items Listed today!

Here are two crochet projects I finished and listed in my etsy shop today!

Set of 3 crochet cotton washcloth/dishcloths

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76134820/crochet-cotton-washcloth-set-3

 Crochet blanket in neon colors:  Hot pink, neon green, electric blue

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76134099/crochet-cotton-blanket-in-electric

Here's a cool treasury I started a few days ago, and finally finished.

This one is a collection of awesomely weird items that I think are the coolest:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE2NjEwOTB8MzI0Nzk2NDI3/not-weirdgifted

Sneak peek: 

I'm included in this treasury

Shoestory included me in this beautiful treasury of handmade items!  Check it out!

www.etsy.com/treasury/MTI0MjkzMzZ8MzI5ODcwMTYw/light-blue-with-brown

  This is my item, and here's the link to it:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/66039349/hand-knit-coffee-cup-or-water-bottle

My newest treasury

Ok.  So I've been very busy this morning, trying to keep up with the teams I've joined on etsy, and I've created this new treasury, which is a celebration of feminine beauty.  If you are a woman, you will find so many beautiful items in the shops featured in this treasury, so it's really worth clicking the link below!  Here it is, as well as a sneak peek:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE2NjEwOTB8MzI4MzMzOTA5/femininity?ref=pr_treasury

I'm in this adorable treasury!

My etsy pal, Tummy Baby, included me in her adorable new treasury.  Here's the link:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTI5MjI1NzN8MzI2MDkyOTQx/all-we-need-is-and

Here's my item that is featured: 

Check out TummyBaby's etsy store.  She makes really cute fabric dolls!  Here's the link to her store: 
http://www.etsy.com/people/TummyBaby

Not much time for crafting today

Hooray!  I've finally had another sale (that totals 7, since December 2010-UGH!)  I'm so excited, though, to have sold a set of my crochet eggs!  Yippee!  Soon I will be off to the post office to mail them out to my lovely customer!

Lots to do today, so probably not much time for crafting.  I have so much to do too!  Taking new pics of all my shop items, creating more interesting items to sell, as well as listing more of the items I've already created in the past.  I also need to be an active participant in all the etsy teams that I've recently joined, so they don't all think I'm a big deadbeat or something. 

All this, in addition to my daughter's softball practice, shopping for a gift for a friend's son's birthday party, then attending the party.  (And I can't forget--post office!)  So bye for now!

What the HELL is HTML?

So I'm trying to figure out how to get people to read my blog without dropping to my knees and begging them.  So I got these two books from the bookstore ($65 later). One is Blogging All-In-One for Dummies, and the other is Increase your Web Traffic in a Weekend (or something like that.)  I have begun reading the one about increasing my web traffic, and I can't even get through the first chapter, because I feel like the biggest idiot!  In all  fairness, it DOES say that before you read the book, you should get a book about HTML and learn that concept first.  But I thought, "Heck, I'm of-sometimes-above average intelligence, so I should be able to just get through this book without knowing about HTML."  WRONG!  It's one of those situations where I'm reading it, and I have to re-read it so many times to try to make sense of it, that my mind begins to drift to anything BUT increasing my web traffic....What's for dinner?  What should I create next?  Wonder if I really should buy that replacement screen for my laptop on ebay?...You get the picture. So I say to myself, "I'm just going to read the blogging book.  Maybe it's a little more easy to understand.  So I start reading the blog book and my (self-diagnosed) adult ADD kicks in and I think, "What if I just look at other people's blogs and get some kind of inspiration to boost my wanting to write in my blog?"  So I get online, spend about an hour or two on etsy, looking at treasuries and checking my treasuries 3 or 4 times every fifteen minutes, just to get the sheer joy of seeing the number of views increase.  Then checking the Treasury list at the begining of the etsy site to see my hotness rating!  I'm thrilled to report, too, that for the first time EVER (at least that I'm aware), my treasury was on the first page of the hotness list.  (NOT the front page of etsy....oh no!  I don't know if that will EVER happen) But on the FIRST page of hottest treasuries!  I'm so excited.  So anyway, I'm going to try to make my blog more interesting by actually sharing my thoughts on it, as opposed to just shameless self promotion for my etsy shop.  Hopefully, SOMEONE will find me interesting enough to stop by once in a while.  Till then, I'll be reading my books and checking out everyone else's successful blogs!

My kids think I'm the biggest Dork, but I used to be cool!

Here is the latest treasury I've created in Etsy, showing a little of that coolness that I have hidden.  Gifts for the rocker Dad:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE2NjEwOTB8MzIzMDcyMjgz/gifts-for-the-rocker-dad?ref=pr_treasury

Sneak peek: 

A cool, sexy treasury

I've been busy creating treasuries today.  Here's a dramatic treasury, with some sexy items.  Check it out.  Here's the link and a sneak peek:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE2NjEwOTB8MzIyNTQ4ODUw/save-the-drama-for-your-mama?index=0

I'm featured in this treasury!

It's so seldom that people actually feature me in their treasuries, and for every feature, I'm eternally grateful.  Here I am in a nonteamchallenge treasury!  Thanks so much!  Click on the link to see this beautiful treasury!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTI1NDI2NDV8MzIyNDU2OTkw/gifts-for-the-new-father-..

My item: 

My latest treasury - Sing me a Lullaby

Here's a treasury I created, featuring vintage and new items, gathered around the bedtime theme.  Hope you like it.  Here's the thread:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE2NjEwOTB8MzEyOTA0NjQz/sing-me-a-lullaby?ref=pr_treasury

Sneak peek: 

Cute treasury I just created

Looking for handmade items for your baby or toddler?  Here's a great start:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4def76be0dc88eef691a1232/they-grow-up-far-too-quickly

Sneak Peek: 

I'm in this treasury

My eggs are featured in this cool treasury:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4dee3ee136226d91dd7afdd2/chocolate-brown-melody

A super pretty treasury I just created

Here's a really pretty treasury I just created.  Please go to etsy and check it out.  It makes me happy when many people look at my treasuries!  Thanks!  Here's the link, and a sneak peek:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4dec56cc8dd16d91aedac221/youre-as-cold-as-ice

My latest treasury-A Romance Novelist's Sanctuary

I feel like I've done nothing this weekend, except create treasuries!  Here's my latest.  It's a treasury about a romance novel author's inspirational area!  Hope you like it!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4debae784b6c8eefb83eed36/romance-novelists-sanctuary?ref=pr_treasury

Sneak Peek: 

New monkey treasury

Here's a new monkey-themed treasury I created on etsy.  Looking for some monkey items?  This is a great selection.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4de96a5a51a88eef322ecc08/just-a-lot-of-monkey-business

My hat is featured in it!

my latest treasuries

Here are some collections of awesome etsy items I have put together in treasuries.  Check them out!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4de66b9e895c6d9187229871/another-one-for-the-men-in-our-lives?ref=pr_treasury

Sneak peek: 

And here's another.  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4de69f736d0a6d91d513a331/a-little-honey-in-your-tea?index=0

sneak peek: