A few of my favorite things!

It has so long since I have had the time or taken the time to blog here. Life has been a hot mess this year of one thing after another. The kids are getting older and more activities are involved so they keep me in the road and out of my blog and sewing room.

I have just finished my "busy season" in my Christmas shop. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, http://www.mrsclaussewingroom.etsy.com/. I try not to get into it much on this blog out of respect for a large number of my friends who don't celebrate Christmas, but you know, its business :)

Going to be working on some new projects in the coming year. I am scheduling some time in my sewing room each week and I am going to stick to it.

You know there is nothing like spending your life in your sewing room for 3 weeks, only to find out you have been undercharging for all your products after the season is over. I think one of the hardest things to do is price your items. There is a HUGE difference between pricing on Handmade items and retail items. I try to keep my prices reasonable. But I have found that for the custom work I do I have greatly under priced my work.....oh well, balancing act....still gonna work on that :)

I have a few minutes here at my computer before we run out for some goodies. so I decided to share a few things from my favorite shops.

First up, beautiful jewelry, from Sky Hawk Designs! http://www.skyhawkdesigns.etsy.com/ This lovely Snowflake Howlite & Crystal pendant

I LOVE kaleidoscopes!!!! All types all sizes, all colors, just love them and this lovely shop is full of them. http://www.crowsfolly.etsy.com/ I just fell in love with this one in their shop!

I have never been a coffee drinker, until about the last year, and now I love it! I don't have to have it every day, but with some sugar and fancy creamer, you can twist my arm to drink it :) I found this lovely shop in a chat room one night and I just love their hand thrown pottery, especially this mug! http://www.bigskyartworks.etsy.com/

Okay last thing for today, I love braided rugs, my grandmother had them in her living room and dining room the whole time I was growing up, but it is a dying art. This shop has some beautiful examples of handmade braided rugs and I found this one particularly beautiful. http://mrsginther.etsy.com/

Thank you all for following me over the past year! Best wishes to you and your families.

Jennifer

Fall is coming

Can you feel it in the air yet? I said to my husband today as I looked out on the backyard through the pouring rain, autumn is on its way. He laughed at me, realizing that we were standing in the kitchen up to our elbows in 10 quarts of tomatos to be canned. Surrounded by green beans, cucumbers, squash and an assortment of other veggies from the garden.

There may be at least 2 more months of harvest from our little home garden, but I still stand by the fact that the late summer rain that is rolling in is a definite sign :0

I love Autumn! It is my favorite time of the year, a time when there is a crispness to the air like a sweet apple when you bite it. When you can smell wood smoke in the air and smell the boiled peanuts as you cruise down the back roads.......it is coming, I can smell it, I can hear it, and I CAN"T WAIT!!!!!!

I can't wait for my creative juices to begin flowing again.

The never ending struggle

I am currently at a place where I find myself every few months, with so much going on in my life that I don't have time to craft, create, or even imagine. I envy the women who seem to find the time to do all the things that they want, or even need to do.

So I haven't been creating lately, and to be honest I am not sure what, if anything I want to continue to do with my shop. Nothing is selling, no matter how good the picture, how cute the fabric, how I manipulate the price.....just no luck. So I am taking a few weeks to decide whether or not I am going to continue on Etsy, at least with the Jenjie shop.

Last Christmas I did fairly well with stockings, so I will hang out a little bit longer with Mrs Claus Sewing Room shop.

I have a ton of fabric and I do truly enjoy sewing......what to do, what do to???? Do you have thoughts? Please share them with me.

In the mean time I want you to all know how much I appreciate the fact that you read my blog. I am going to continue finding Etsy items I love and sharing them with you.

Happy Crafting & shopping!

Jennifer

Mother's Day Gift Guide

For me there is no one more deserving of recognition than my mother. She is my hero, my guide, my friend. So in honor of all mother's and in a hope that I can help you get some shopping done and support Etsy artists, I am happy to present my Mother's Day Gift Guide.

Our first item was a very super cute owl made from re purposed kitchen items. Focus on Art uses all sorts of items from tea strainers, to bottle caps to create these amazing little owls. Stop by and browse through the many versions of these lovely creatures at Focus on Art http://www.focusonart.etsy.com/

Next we have Jewels For Hope, this is a family run business where everyone does a little bit to contribute to this diverse shop. Simply lovely items including, necklaces, bracelets, rings, crochet items, all are reasonably priced, I promise that you will find something you will love here. You can find them at http://www.jewelsforhope.etsy.com/

Do you have a crafty Mom or Grandma, or maybe you want to suggest this for yourself. Sarah's Stitches has a lovely spring print knitting needle organizer. It would make the perfect gift for the knitter in your life. You can find this shop and browse all her lovely items, http://www.sarahsstitchesmi.etsy.com/

Another lovely jewelry selection is this Natural Olive Jade Tiger Eye necklace, the lovely green colors remind me of a rolling river and would make a wonderful accessory to any wardrobe. Handspun Jewelry has a large selection of beautiful jewelry at extremely reasonable prices. http://www.handspunjewelry.etsy.com/

Fused glass is something I had never seen before Etsy, or maybe if I had I didn't know the beautiful creative process that goes into making these wonderful items. My Sassy Glass, http://www.mysassyglass.etsy.com/, has some of the most lovely fused glass items I have seen. I am sure that you will love this item called Tennessee Waltz:

Is relaxation on your list? A gift from Sensual Scents Bath & Body will hit the spot. My favorite is lavender so I picked the gift basket filled with full of goodies scented lavender. This shop has everything from candles to laundry soap, http://www.mbell34.etsy.com/

Lilian Eve Designs has so many lovely items that I spent a little bit longer than normal browsing through this shop. I was drawn back to these pillow cases many times, their lovely colors just POP! http://www.lilianevedesigns.etsy.com/

Have a coffee lover in your life? Stop by Mystic Moon Creations http://www.mysticmooncreations.etsy.com/ Try a crocheted coffee cozy instead of the ho hum cardboard ones you find in your local coffee shop. These are eco friendly, last forever, and make a fashion statement at the same time!
Imaginary Girl is a vintage and jewelry shop full of fun and interesting pieces, so many lovely things to choose from. This beautiful item is a 1940's brooch full of beautiful stones on a silver chain. Stop in and visit this lovely shop at http://www.imaginarygirl.etsy.com/

Scarves are on my list of favorites, if you are a follower of this blog you probably know that because at least one seems to appear on every gift guide. This shop Yard by Yard Knits http://www.yardbyyardknits.etsy.com/, has some of the loveliest scarves I have found on Etsy. The Carnival Criss Cross Scarf is full of brilliant colors and a wonderful unique pattern. There is no greater love story than that of a mother and child, so from The Ruby Rhinestone, http://www.presleysmom07.etsy.com/, I chose these Blue Willow Love Story earrings.

I don't know a single mother or grandmother that doesn't love to show off their kids in pictures. What better way to show of those smiling faces than a Brag Book! Find a lovely selection at The Scrapoholic Shop: http://www.thescrapoholic.etsy.com/

Now then, go do some shopping! Your Mom deserves the best and you can find that on Etsy. Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms, Grandmas, Nanas, Nannies, Aunts, or whatever you call that special woman who has made an impact in your life!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

I am still looking for shops to feature in my Mother's day gift guide. Do you have an item you would like to have added? Just comment here and include a link to your item and I will add you to the new addition.

Thanks,
Jenjie

Wow

I was just looking at my blog and realized I haven't blogged in 2 months! That makes me really sad because I love my blog and I didn't realize it had been that long. My home computer died in January and I was using a loner for a while but I was unable to blog. The good news is I am back, I have a new laptop and I am super excited about getting back into the groove of things.

I am gathering shops for a Mother's Day gift guide and I will have that put together and posted in the next couple of days, so keep your eyes open for that one.

Have a wonderful week!

Jenjie

My most favorite time of the day

This is my favorite time of the day. It is early, at least for my household, morning and everyone is still in the bed. The house is completely silent aside from the thumping of my fingers on the keys as I type this blog. I can even hear the radio from the basement as I sit here, muffled and vibrating with the occasional moany sound when someone hits a high note. It is here in this complete silence where I can envision that next thing I will create. It is here that clarity visits me and erases the chaotic thoughts of motherhood and responsibility.

I have found since I have become an "at home Mom and homeschooler" that this place in time is where everything is going to make sense to me. When I commuted to work, I had 2 hours in the morning of silence to pray, sing, think, reason and 2 hours in the afternoon to clear the chaos of the day away. Now while I don't miss that commute AT ALL!!!! I miss the silence.

I need the quiet for my brain to hear my heart and complete the circle of creativity. So here on this chilly Sunday morning before I wake anyone I can see new designs in my head, I can jot notes about ideas, I can blog about the process which I love.

Happy Sunday Everyone! Hope it is quite and peaceful for you too.

Jennifer

I stand corrected.... and other thoughts

Well if you read my last blog you saw that I questioned that the fans from the link love movement really loved my shop or were just seeking large numbers. This blog was motivated from another shop who observed that their fans numbers were moving during the day, up and down. I, too, had noticed that same sort of movement and knowing that I don't overly update to the point that I feel like I am being annoying ;) I was thinking that some had become my fans just temporarily.

I will say that since link love I have made two sales in a week and I have nothing to attribute it to other than great exposure. I haven't add any new items, or re listed any more frequently than I normally do. I know, I know two sales in a week is not a rush!!! But when you are struggling to get noticed it is a reason for celebration! So on the Link Love subject I stand corrected, and as I said in my last blog, I WELCOME all fans, no matter why you are here! The more the merrier. For whatever reason you fanned me, I hope you will stick around, comment, like, and suggest me to your friends.

Now the other thing I have on my mind with regards to crafting, sewing, Etsy and the like.

It is this, Handmade is NOT Cheapmade. This is driving me crazy! I see time and again on Etsy's Alchemy request for items where the ideal price is grossly understated.

I can't attest to all mediums, but buying hand sewn items is generally not cheaper than buying at a chain store. One of the big reasons for this is the cost of fabric. The fabric that we buy is in a smaller volume. We don't get the by the bolt price, even though most of us would love to have bolts of fabric! Typically we purchase in small volume from a local retailer whenever possible. Along with fabric, there is buttons, elastic, zippers, liners, and all those together will cost more than a factory produced item. All that without factoring in the cost of the labor to produce. I am sure that the challenge that seamstresses face are similar to those of other artist who create all the amazing items you can find on Etsy or other handmade sites.

When you shop handmade do it with these things in mind. You are creating true Economic stimulus! Handmade artist are producing their items locally and general stimulating that local economy. You are getting an item from an artist who is passionate about what they create and about your experience with their product. Your returning business and referrals to your friends are what drives their future success. They are invested in you! If a mega store loses your business, there is always another customer to replace you. With handmade, if we lose your business, we have lost a lot! While we hope to provide you with a product that is a value, it will not necessarily be a "deal" compared to the retail market.

I love to see all my blog followers and I encourage you to comment my blog, tell me what you like, give me your opinions! I want to hear from you!

Stop in and see me soon!

Jennifer

http://www.facebook.com/jenjiestuff
http://www.facebook.com/mrsclaussewingroom

http://www.jenjie.etsy.com
http://www.mrsclaussewingroom.etsy.com

http://www.twitter.com/jenjie73

Link Love...do you really love my link?

How many of us have been riding the Link Love train? Don't know what I am talking about? If you have a Facebook Fan Page there is a movement out to increase your fans. Discusssion pages are being created for us all to share the url for our fan pages, etsy shops, blogs, twitters, flickr, or what ever else you may have to promote your business.

It is so much fun to click on all the links, see all the beautiful shops and learn about the great artist that create the items. I have become a fan of an obscene amount of shops, I think I am currently at about 370 or so. I know that is a crazy amount, but I am truly fascinated by what people create and what they have to say about what they create. Even in my spare time I search for how to's, tutorials, other blogs on crafting. So for me it is a real desire to be a fan. But is everyone who fanned my site in the last 2 weeks or so truly my fan?

I saw a post by another shop yesterday who said, "my numbers are moving, I gain a fan and lose a fan", she wondered if the people who had become her fans were really interested in fiber. She sales amazingly beautiful dyed fibers, but how many people really use them. While there is a large "bucket" of knitters, crocheters and felters out there, are all her fans really interested in buying her product.

I have to wonder the same thing, I have had my Jenjie shop for over a year now and my sales would be considered dismal by most. Although I am excited by every sale. I have over 200 fans on my Facebook page for this shop, I know of two sales I have made to fans. Now don't get me wrong I am truly grateful for even two sales, and for every single fan. But like my friend in the fiber arts I wonder if some are clicking just to click..........However, on the other hand, if you clicked and added me maybe I will create something that will spark your interest after all!

So I will just go on creating things that I love and I hope you will love, and hopefully my fans will come to love my items and find something they just have to have. I look forward to more and more fans, however I can get them :)

Today I am creating a new T shirt design that my one of my dear friends suggested last night, a reverse applique design with a wine glass design! I am so super excited about it I can hardly wait to get downstairs and make it.

And if you haven't fanned my page, come on down! I have a link love page too, so share you links!

Jennifer

http://www.jenjie.etsy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/jenjiestuff
http://www.mrsclaussewingroom.etsy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/mrsclaussewingroom

Valentine's Day on Etsy

Love is in the air.... why is it when I say that it is in a little sing song voice in my head? I also immediately think of "The Love Boat"....do any of yall remember that? It was one of my favorite shows when I was growing up. Most people would say ( in a really fake voice) " Oh I am dating myself", but not me. I am so happy to be over 20 and under 50 that I don't care if you know how old I am! I do not however want you to see all my gray hair, and so I will be coloring that today! Okay, okay I digress........ This is suppose to be a Valentine's gift guide of sorts!


Many of you, I hope, have seen my gift guides in the past months. I hope they brought you ideas for your loved ones gifts. For me they are just another excuse to browse Etsy shops. I have to get you all on board with this. Etsy is like window shopping on steroids. EWWW or like potato chips once you get started you just can't stop until someone unplugs your computer.

So here are some shops that have some really cute items for gifts. These can be Valentine's or Brithday gifts, they are all occasions!

This first section is jewelry, I don't make jewelry but I am so in awe of the wonderful selection of jewelry on Etsy.

First up is Finding Charm, http://www.findingcharm.etsy.com/. This shop is offering free US Shipping and has really lovely items that are great occasions. Check out this piece with lovely red silk beads: LiciaBeads: http://www.liciabeads.etsy.com/, I had so many options from this shop I almost couldn't choose. I was drawn to this one because of the name, "Entangled", and isn't that what love is? We become entangled in those we love, we share their hopes, dreams, loves!

Meredithbead, http://www.meredithbead.etsy.com/, has a large selection of jewelry groupings. There are a large selection of Judaica, African, Thai, Chinesse, and the list goes on. I asked everyone to send me a link to their favorite listing, Merideth sent me 3 links, two that were favorites of shoppers and one that was her favorite. I choose her favorite, because when an artist has a favorite then there is something special about it!
The Gleeful Peacock, http://www.gleefulpeacock.etsy.com/, shared this lovely headband that would be perfect for any age lady in your life. It has a beautiful lacy feel to it and is really feminine. JennJennD's shop, http://www.jennjennd.etsy.com/, has a wonderful assortment of all sorts of items. Most of them look good enough to eat. These charms are perfect for bracelets, necklaces, anklets, well just about anything. You can give your sweet a sweet, and not have to work it off in the gym ;)

Valentine's Day has never really been a thing for my husband and I, in fact in 17 years of marriage, I can only really remember one Valentine's when we ever did anything special. So I am always curious this time of the year at what you do for the men in your life, so as a side note comment me and tell me what you do.





Okay so on to other options, if you are not into jewelry there are other options. In fact there are so many I can't cover them all in one blog, so I am going to leave you with a few more cuties and then you can stay tuned for another addition.



This one is from Michelle's Clay Corner, http://www.michellesclaycorner.etsy.com/, who has an amazing assortment of original handmade clay items. Michelle loves creating custom items so if this item inspires you go visit her shop and see what you can find, or message her for a custom item. Creating your own valentines cards, scrapbook, memory book? Check out this shop for some really cute appliques! Fabric4U, http://www.fabric4u.etsy.com/, they have several to choose from!

Or how about these die cuts, beautiful yellow roses are a wonderful break from traditional red! ScrapingMom1221, http://www.scrapingmom1221.etsy.com/, has lovely, lovely choices , lips, hearts, and much much more to use on your sweeties card. Nothing says I love you more than a handmade card!
And for those of us who don't make our own cards, there is The Paper Button, http://www.thepaperbutton.etsy.com/. I am a big fan of the handwritten sentiment and this is the perfect solution, a beautiful card that you can write your own message on. This is one of many lovely choices:


Lastly I have a couple of pillows, both of these pillows send a clear message to your loved one about how you feel.



First is Petette shop, http://www.petette.etsy.com/ , this shop has amazing pillows with all sorts of great messages, lovely colors and great designs. Check out this pillow that tells your loved one your heart belongs to them, you are "Sold" out in love!



And last but not least, My shop! http://www.jenjie.etsy.com/, go check out this fun mood pillow. I love to do custom work, so let me know if you want a different color to fit your bedroom, or even if you want a different message. This one shows your honey whether Tonight will be the night or NOT!!!!






So I hope you found something lovely, that will inspire you for whatever your gift need! Go check out these shops, or any of the wonderful shops on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/



More to come this month, now that things have slowed down a bit I will be blogging more!



Happy Shopping!



Jennifer



http://www.mrsclaussewingroom.etsy.com/

http://www.facebook.com/mrsclaussewingroom

http://www.jenjie.etsy.com/

http://www.facebook.com/jenjiestuff

http://www.twitter.com/jenjie73

2009, thoughts and things

2009 has been full of firsts for me. All of them have been learning experiences! And even if they were not the experiences I wanted or expected they were good in their own way. 2009 saw me make my first Etsy sale, I found my niche, I learned how to promote myself and I found that my crafts have value. There is nothing more thrilling than selling something you have created and getting great feedback from those who bought from you. I ended the years sales last night with a sell of 3 fabric postcards I made months ago. The thrill when I received the email in my box was the same as the first time I made a sell. I hope that 2010 will bring more sales, but more importantly more connections with great people who love creating wonderful, beautiful items, and those who love buying these same items.

I look forward to creating more great items this year, and sharing the crafting and creating with you. I love sharing the ups and downs and I feel as if you are all out there supporting me, and that is a great feeling.

I wish you all a happy 2010 full of God's blessings! Can't wait to see what the new year brings.

Jennifer
http://www.mrsclaussewingroom.etsy.com
http://www.jenjie.etsy.com
http://www.facebook.jenjiestuff.com
http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Dahlonega-GA/Mrs-Claus-Sewing-Room/211323905771
http://www.twitter.com/jenjie73

Contest!!!!! GiveAway!!!!

Last year when I started my Jenjie shop on Etsy it took me a long time to get fans and followers of that shop. In the last year I have learned a lot about Etsy, promotion and such. But I still don't want to take all year to build up my newest shop..... so I am having a giveaway on facebook in hopes that you will bring your friends to my shop.

Here are the rules: this is based on the number of new fans you can bring to my fan page. Suggest my page to your friends and have them post your name on my wall between now the end of January. The fan with the most name post (by other fans) on my page will win a custom stocking with 1 name and 1 design. This is a $30.00 value. You get to pick the design and size of the stocking.

Thank you all for your support!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Dahlonega-GA/Mrs-Claus-Sewing-Room/211323905771

Happy Holidays!

Jennifer

A few links I would like to share!

So everyone is so busy this week that I don't want to take up too much of your time with a long and wordy blog. Besides I read in a chat room tonight that the only way you will every have a great blog is if you are very funny! WEllllllll you guys have been reading, so I guess you know if I am very funny or not , LOL!!!

At any rate here are a couple of links I want you to check out. This first blog is a great fun blog full of great stories, recipes, pics, etc..... You will love it!

http://bellestalesandmore.blogspot.com/

From this blog you can link over to her website which has more short stories, poems, etc. She also has a kid's blog which is a lot of fun, she needs some followers and she loves interaction and comments, so go check her out and show her some love!

The next link is self serving!
http://www.mrsclaussewingroom.etsy.com

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Dahlonega-GA/Mrs-Claus-Sewing-Room/211323905771

I have opened my new Christmas shop and would love it if you guys would check it out on Etsy, fan me on facebook, etc..... I am actively taking orders all year for custom stockings. The earlier you get your order in for next year the more time we have to refine the design and make it perfect for your family.

I also had to add a tiered pricing for these stockings, with the cost of fabric and designs it was a necessity. I will work with you if you need to order multiple stockings you can contact me for a discount on orders of 3 or more stockings.

Happy Holidays to each and everyone of you! I hope that this time of the year is full of love and joy, peace and happiness.


Thanks for hanging out with me this year, I look forward to next year!

Jennifer

http://www.jenjie.etsy.com
http://www.mrsclaussewingroom.com
http://www.facebook.com/jenjiestuff
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Dahlonega-GA/Mrs-Claus-Sewing-Room/211323905771
http://www.twitter.com/jenjie73

A new shop is on its way!

I have often wondered why someone would open a new Etsy shop, I mean good grief isn't one shop enough for anyone to keep up with? The answer to that question is yes! It is enough to keep one shop up. Yet I have polled the chat rooms and forums to understand why this happens and I have found that there are good and valid reasons for having two shops. Not only that, but given my current success with my Christmas Stockings I have decided to open a second shop myself. It may seem a little premature, but it is a thought that will not leave me alone and when that happens I find that I need to do it!

I will be opening in the next week or so a new shop dedicated to Christmas items, I have a whole brain full of wonderful ideas and new great items that I am just dying to get started on......well that is after I have given myself a couple of days to rest. I am super excited about this shop and its potential. For the last little while with my Jenjie Stuff shop I have felt adrift....not really sure of what I was doing and not really having any sales! This shop feels right, it feels like home, I can almost see it in my head and I know what it would look like live.

If this shop were reality it would be on the square in Dahlonega. As you walk in the door you are transported instantly, the walls are painted cranberry with murals that make you feel like you are in a winter village. There are large trees decked out with handmade ornaments and covered in twinkling lights and bows. There are shelves of wood holding books and cards and other assorted items. Hot chocolate and coffee and chocolate chip cookies are always available. My handmade stockings and tree skirts are hung all around the walls. Children come in for story time and sit in the corner listening intently as they are read too. Mother's and Grandmothers browse through my items to find the perfect gift for their family and I sit behind my machine right there in the store creating new items and basking in the glow of my little world......

But this isn't a reality store, it is a virtual store! So instead I will work to find the perfect banner, avatar, and I will fill my store with fabulous items. I hope you will all come visit me. I will be blogging and giving you a preview when I get it ready to go! Until then, have a wonderful holiday, and if you don't celebrate the holidays then have a great couple of weeks!

Jennifer

http://www.facebook.com/jenjiestuff
http://www.jenjie.etsy.com
http://www.twitter.com/jenjie73

WOW!!!! My gift guides must wait.

What started as a bid on an Alchemy request has turned into a round the clock sewing fest! I have bid on so many, many things on Alchemy before ,and been turned down on 95% of them, that I honestly didn't even believe I would win the bid. The request? 3 Custom Christmas Stockings with embroidery and names. Now I have made stockings before but it was years ago, but embroidery I can do.....so I thought okay why not, I will bid. I WON!!! My sales have been so slow on Etsy that I get very excited about any type of sale, and this was not exception.

I scoured my design suppliers to find what I thought were the perfect images for these three stockings and communication begin. I finished the three stockings when we returned home from our Thanksgiving trip. Since that time I have listed the images along with a Custom Christmas Stocking lising on Etsy and I have posted about them on Facebook. In the last 2 weeks I have made 8 Stockings and I am working on 9,10,11 this weekend. They have all turned out lovely and everyone is thrilled with them, but I feel like my eyes are crossing from all the threading of the embroidery machine.

I am not complaining however, I am absolutely thrilled that I can find a niche where there are people who are excited about my work and want my items. It feels wonderful, I just hope the momentum will continue after the holidays.

So my readers will have to do some of their own searching for Etsy gifts.... because right now I am so busy sewing I can't even begin to search for you. LOL

Here are some pics of my stockings, if you are interested you can still order one until 12/17/09 and I should be able to get it to you by Christmas. Or keep me in mind for next year's stockings!

http://www.jenjie.etsy.com

Thanks for sticking with me!

Jennifer

Gifts of Nature

I intended to post this blog before I left to visit my family for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is truly my favorite holiday, I get to see all my family at once and we get to connect with each other again even if it is just for a short period of time. This year was above and beyond what I expected. My family has been affected by illness, arguments, and difficulties all year long. Yet on Thanksgiving day we all came together, like we haven't in years. We ate, of course, we visited, we played games, we laughed, we shared memories, the younger cousins made new memories with a sleepover, it was one of the best visits I can remember. The one thing I didn't do? I didn't shop Black Friday sales. I will do some online shopping, but I am resolute for that shopping to be on Etsy.

With all that being said, I want to bring you the next installment in my gift guide. I have picked lovely gifts for the outdoors, nature, earthy, type gift needs. I have picked things for your yard, garden, patio, even some live gifts! I hope you enjoy and I hope you will visit these shops and see all they have to offer. I feature only one item from each shop, but they all have so much more to offer.

First up is a great item for those on your list who are eco friendly as well as a bird lover. This interesting bird feeder is made from a recycled street light. A wonderful and unique idea this will be a great conversation piece at the next backyard gathering. Not only are you providing a wonderful gift for the bird lover on your list, but two dollars from your purchase is donated to the Nature Conservancy. You can find this great gift at http://www.redyellowandblueink.etsy.com/

Our next item is perfect for an evening garden party or a patio accessory. A lovely twist on the same old, same old candle holder; our artist calls these "Mood Lights". Crafted from a plum tree and fit with tea candles, this listing is for 3 mood lights in varying sizes. These lights are sure to strike the mood for your next outdoor gathering. Find this shop at http://www.lichenwoods.etsy.com/

I love windchimes, in fact I was surprised I was able to keep it to just one windchime item....but I restrained myself. This particular set of windchimes are different from any that I have ever seen. They are made from pottery pieces crafted by the shop's artist, which would give them a lovely and unique sound. Made in a lovely monochromatic color scheme, very natural and lovely! You can find this great shop at http://www.annemariespottery.etsy.com/

The next item on the list is a beautiful addition to your yard, stained glass house number panel. As you will find out about me by reading my blog, I pick things that I think will appeal to everyone, but I mostly pick stuff that I love. I adore stained glass, I think it is classic and beautiful and I love to see the sun shine through it. This panel sports your choice of colored glass numerals set in a background of clear glass mounted on solid brass legs this panel can be driven into the ground a good 3 inches to make it secure. Find this lovely shop full of wonderful stained glass options for your yard at : http://www.feralglass.etsy.com/

Looking for a departure from the plastic hummingbird feeders that hang outside your windows? So are your hummingbirds! They crave variety and beauty as much as you do. So banish the old plastic standby and find a great new option for your yard. This feeder is a fused glass piece, the lovely little dragonflies are fused into the glass during the firing process which makes them a permanent addition to the feeder. The artist suggest that these look really nice in groups. Go take a look at the wonderful variety that this shop offers at: http://www.gloriousglassgarden.etsy.com/

Staying within the bird theme, I have a more classic bird house for you. A folk art piece in bright yellow, it looks ready for someone to move right in. This would look great hanging on your porch, or sitting on a shelf. It is a perfect replica of a little cabin, complete with little red chimney and farmhouse plank door. This shop has a lot of great bird houses to choose from, go check them out and pick one for the bird lover on your list.

http://www.birdhouseaccents.etsy.com

Don't you love a good hammock? The simply rhythmic motion of swinging above the ground, looking up into the bright blue sky, watching the clouds drift by and the birds circle overhead. There are few things in life that can relax you like a hammock. Whether you live in the woods, beach, or even have a small backyard in the city, it is a perfect gift. This shop offers handwoven hammocks made from quilted cotton. Large and comfy and would make a perfect family gift. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, so go pick yours! http://melissathelibrarian.etsy.com/

Next up we have a very interesting lighting fixture. This shop features mostly one of a kind lighting options. Taking cast off chandelier, lamps, night lights, etc and completely refacing and restoring them; then adding beading, small sculptures, and all sorts of other additions. The result is a fabulous one of a kind lighting fixture for your garden, living room, bedrooms, etc... The item I am featuring today is a chandelier in a cage style with small dragonflies mounted around the outside of the cage. Lovely aqua, green, and white beads hang from the bottom, in the center a medium size pillar candle for a wonderful glow.

Find more by this great artist at http://shabulouscreations.etsy.com/

Then I found this lovely shop which specializes in stained glass, fused glass, stepping stones, windows, etc. There were so many wonderful things in this shop that I wanted to show you the whole thing.... but I contained myself and picked one item that I thought was bright and beautiful. This will remind you that spring and summer are right around the corner and fill you with joy and sunlight! This item is a fused glass item which means that the glass is set then the concrete poured around it. You can find this item and a huge amount of other perfect gifts at : http://acolorfulcreation.etsy.com/ My final item is a truly unique item that is the perfect item to help bring the outdoors inside this holiday season, and can last all year long. A living decoration that is low maintenance that is beautiful and unique. Clear ornament balls filled with a living terrarium, there are several style to choose from, but whatever you choose you can't go wrong with this gift. You can find them at :

http://www.warmcountrymeadows.etsy.com/

I hope that you have enjoyed this edition of the gift guide, and had a great time browsing the shops I have featured. If you don't have a nature lover on your list, stay tuned there are more categories to come! I still have plans for a children's addition, women, and lots more in mind.

I found this week as I visited family they would say.... now what is this Etsy thing? If you are unsure, here it is in a nut shell. Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade items! It is that simple, craftspeople around the world come together in one place to bring you beautiful, wellmade, unique, functional, fun items. We are passionate about the handmade movement and want to provide you with great customer service. Most of us offer customization of our items to fit your needs, and we love to work with you the customer. If you have questions or aren't sure how to navigate Etsy, email me or post a comment and I will walk you through it!

Happy Shopping, whatever your need is!

Jenjie

http://www.facebook.com/jenjiestuff

http://www.jenjie.etsy.com

http://www.twitter.com/jenjie73

Gifts for Men --- All found on Etsy!

If you read my last blog you will recall that I am on a mission to convince people to buy handcrafted items instead of mall and mega store shopping this year. Handmade items are not what you remember growing up. This is not Granny's sweater that is too big or a dress where the seams don't match. These are quality, handcrafted items that anyone would be proud to have! Etsy has millions of items and they cover everyone on your gift list. There is even a place to request custom made items if you can't find what you are looking for through a search.



Since the quest to expose you to great handmade items for your shopping needs has consumed me, I am starting today by showing you gift items for the hardest on your list to shop for.....MEN!!! So without further delay here are some of the great items that I found for the men in your life.




We start with this chunky brown scarf, very simple and masculine! Aptly named "The Dude Scarf", it is made from 100% wool and is a chocolate brown. You can find this item at : http://www.etsy.com/shop/iWunder

Next on our list is cuff links! Interesting cuff links are great conversation pieces and fun to wear. Every man needs a unique pair of cuff links in his accessory wardrobe.....just don't tell him they are an accessory! These are very cool. Made of authentic buffalo nickles with each one showing one side of the nickle, and mounted on silver links, this is a great gift item. If these aren't quite what you are looking for, this shop boast 90 different pairs to choose from. You can find this great shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/qacreate

Next up we have a simply gorgeous leather wallet, "Genteel Whiskey Brown Leather" this is handcrafted 100% leather and sports a wonderful antique key! What a lovely item and a great departure from those department store standards. This is a one of a kind item and sure to make the men in your life very happy. You can find this item at : http://www.etsy.com/shop/urbanheirlooms

For the hunter in your life we have another wallet/card holders with a bit more "hunteresque" personality. The " Woodland Buck Leather Wallet Card Case" is a wonderful representation of a large buck which will remind the hunter in your life what he is really after on those cold mornings in the woods. This is a smaller version of the traditional wallet, but is wonderful for business cards, folded cash, atm cards, or even a very pretty gift card package. You can find this item at:http://www.etsy.com/shop/SnapDragonStyle

Are you one of those gift givers who has no idea what to get so you always go with a tie? Well this year you don't have to feel guilty about giving the same old boring tie..... You can give a fabulous handcrafted, beautifully designed tie that will be the envy of all the guys in the office or at church. Your man will be happy to wear this wonderful 100% silk hand rolled and hand sewn tie. This tie is white silk with a sailboat blue print pattern, a terrific gift for the sailor in your life. You can find this item at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/rabbitstop

This next item is the most expensive that I picked for this blog. However if you have a knife collector on your gift list, it is a must have. It is a unique and beautiful piece that would be a joy to give and receive. Engraved a marlin on one of the bolsters, the other bolster features elegant engraving around the Rough Rider logo. I don't know enough about knives to do this shop justice but I would strongly suggest you go take a look at the spectacular workmanship! You can find this item at : http://www.etsy.com/shop/DJReigel

Have a chef in the family? The next shop features all type of very nice aprons, it was very hard to pick which one to feature in this guide. There are deer aprons, bbq aprons, hunting dog aprons, and the one I finally settled on, "Hot Pepper" apron. You can find all these aprons and more at : http://www.etsy.com/shop/ksewingbasket

I found all of these shops by going to the Etsy homepage, searching "all items", and using the description = men, man. It is that simple! Hundreds of thousand of results are returned and they are all great. I picked things that would appeal to the men in my life, but I am sure that if these don't strike your fancy you can certainly find something that you will love. I hope that you will at least take a few minutes to visit each shop and see what they have to offer. You can visit Etsy by going to http://www.etsy.com/!

Of course you are all welcome in my shop as well :)

Happy Shopping! Let me know if I can help you find something. I would gladly help you find something to keep you from shopping mega store!

Next time I will be doing the nature lovers on your list!

Jenjie
http://www.jenjie.etsy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/jenjiestuff
http://www.twitter.com/jenjie73

My Holiday Gift Countdown

I don't get an incredible amount of comments on my blog. This I understand because I don't comment much on the blogs I follow, but I would like to know what you think of this blog, what I can do differently, etc. I get lots of great comments about my shop, but don't make a lot of sales, so I would love to hear from you guys to let me know what I could be doing differently.

In September I was really good about blogging a good bit. I choose a new shop every day and blogged about the artist some, about the work and the items, shared pictures etc.... So I was thinking to myself what could I do get back into the swing of blogging and finding new artist that I love. What can I do to bring attention to the vast talent that Etsy has to offer and show everyone how buying handmade items can be just as easy as going to WalMart or the Mall. How you can find anything that you are looking for, something for everyone on your list.

So everyday between now and Christmas I will be showing you some of the great handmade items on Etsy. And..........since men are the hardest to shop for, I am going to start with them.

Now I have some browsing to do! So stay tuned and watch for these great gift ideas!

Jenjie

http://www.facebook.com/jenjiestuff
http://www.twitter.com/jenjie73
http://www.jenjie.etsy.com

Life has gotten in the way

How many of you have felt this way? NOW WAIT don't get me wrong..... I am wonderfully happy that my life is so full of fun and wonderful time spent with my kids that it is getting in the way of my crafting. BUT>>>>> I have been so busy with homeschooling, scouts, camping, working fundraisers, clogging, cleaning, and seeing friends, not to mention that pesky little part time job that really helps pay the bills; that I haven't had time to craft.

I did cut out 3 pair of leg warmers 2 weeks ago and managed to sew up the legs, but haven't gotten the elastic in them yet. I also put to use the cute little felted flower I made by felting it directly onto one leg of the leg warmer I am very excited about that set. I have about 2 hours before we have to leave for clogging class so I am hoping to go make use of some of that time to create a few things.

I am also exploring new options. I am really fascinated with the Waldorf dolls which I discovered when blogging last month, and my needle felting is a growing interest. So many options, and I am still trying to find my niche.

I hope you will all share that journey with me. It will be fun, full, and always something new!

Happy Crafting

Jenjie

http://www.jenjie.etsy.com
http://www.facebook.com/jenjiestuff
http://www.twitter.com/jenjie73

Sewing Block

Vacation has rendered me useless! That is the only excuse I have. I wanted to take my sewing machine with me so I didn't lose my momentum, so maybe I will blame the dear hubby.

What ever has caused it, I have a sewing block. The ideas are in my head, but when I try to create them, they flop. So tell me what to do? Do you keep pushing through until it clicks again or do you take a break and give it a rest? I feel the need to keep pushing forward.

I had purchased some beautiful Alpaca roving, from The Sage Fox on Etsy, a few weeks back and she was wonderful enough to send along a felting needle. After my first wet felting session was a flop, I decided to give the needle felting a shot. I played with it for the first time yesterday and had pretty good results considering I had no clue what I was doing :) I made a cute little blue flower with a pink center. I have poured over hours of google videos on "how to needle felt" and I have been truly inspired. The amazing creations that can be made from a simple pile of wool have me inspired to be more creative. Maybe this is the thing I need to break the block.

I think some leg warmers are in the forcast for my weekend as well. It is getting colder and those sweet little children's legs need something to keep them warm while they are being fashionable.

I am going to go try to create something. If I succeed I will post some pictures.

Happy Crafting everyone.... and Happy Sales if you are working the fall festival booths !

Jenjie
http://www.jenjie.etsy.com
http://www.jenjiescraftystuff.blogspot.com
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http://www.twitter.com/jenjie73