Cruisin Around

Some exciting news! August starts my traveling season! Check out my exciting schedule:

August 4th- August 9th: Cruise with mi madre to Baja Mexico

August 19th-August 27th: Going to the Keys with el padre and family

September 18thish: Going to New York for Hubby's cousin's wedding

November: Arizona for thanksgiving

December: Vero Beach for Christmas

February: Cruise to Cozumel of Mexico for cousins wedding

So basically, I need to make it through the next 3 months of school and work everyday 9am-8pm. But with all the great rides ahead, I know it will go by quickly!

Spring Sememseter Complete.

Woo. I just finished taking my last final exam. It was the hardest one and it was in a class that I am taking for the second time. I am extremely nervous to find out my grade and to see if I passed (this time around!). I have all A's and then whatever I get in this class (which I am just hoping to pass!). I am so glad its over with. This semester, as they all do, went by very fast. I have one more year to go and I am running on E!

On a good note... My hubby and I order Dreamweaver (a professional website building software) and it should be coming in the mail any day. I cannot wait to get a real site up for my invitations! I think that once I get it up and running, my business will boom!

I have 3 more mother's day cards left and I am hoping that they will sell before mother's day arrives so I don't have to keep them sitting around for another year! I sold one of my favorite mother's day cards last night.

Some ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. I will stop taking custom Mother's day requests on May 5th! (Mother's day is May 11th)

2. Graduation promo starts April 27th!! Look out for new graduation items (cards, announcements, invites)

3. Web site should be up and running by the end of May

4. Wedding season starts in June, get your requests in early!

5. Don't forget that Father's day is just as important as Mother's day!! (June 15th)

6. I have new Bat/Bar Mitzvah and Baptism/Christening Invitations!

MOTHER'S DAY SALE!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com

SALE SALE SALE! ONLY GOOD APRIL 9-APRIL 23!

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GET FREE SHIPPING ON ANY MOTHERS DAY CARD WHEN PURCHASED WITH ATLEAST ONE OTHER ITEM FROM THE SHOP! YOU ARE SAVING 3 OR MORE DOLLARS PER CARD! GET THE CARDS WHILE THEY LAST, THEY WILL BE SOLD QUICKLY! STOCK UP NOW!!!

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SOME SAMPLES IN MY SHOP:

My First Gocco!!!

I did it! I did it!!

I had to wait AN ENTIRE WEEK before I was allowed to open my Gocco printer box! I forced myself to wait because I had exams to study for this week and I knew that once the box was opened, there would be no studying! So today is Friday and i am free to do as I please! I created my first Gocco art! My mom wanted me to create "Hello" cards with butterflies on them for my grandmother. So I used photoshop and created my master copy, I then printed it out on an inkjet printer, and outlined it using a carbon pen. My first run of course was a failure... But that was because I put the ink on the wrong side of the screen! (Silly Me!)...Once I realized what an idiot I was, I got it right (after wasting lots of ink, a B6 screen, and two bulbs)! I then created 75 cute cards within 30 minutes! I really love the outcome of these cards. But now I can't do anymore because I need to purchase more bulbs and screens! I also cannot save my burned screen because I do not have the proper cleaning supplies to wipe the ink of for future use. But that's okay... I know for next time! I LOVE MY GOCCO! You will see many many more gocco creations soon!

On an EVEN GREATER note....

I finally settled on a printer to create wedding invitations and such. I purchased the Canon Pro9000 from Amazon. I read all 102 reviews and compared it to the EpsonR1800. It was a tough decision, but I landed on Canon. As soon as it arrives, i will have another toy to play with!! hopefully the cost of both of these printers will pay itself off!!

My Favorite Easter

Each Monday I spend my evening at the children's emergency shelter (the tree house). Tree House is Tallahassee's only emergency shelter for children, a safe place for kids to stay when they have been taken from their home due to abuse or neglect. The cheer on the children's faces when they see you is enough to sink your heart. I love volunteering for the children's home society. The object of my visits on Mondays is to help the children with their reading skills. We read, play games, and spell words together. These children LOVE to learn.

This Easter Sunday, we visited a lake here in Tallahassee and spent the day watching the birds, ducks, and turtles. The children each recieved an easter basket full of goodies. All of the kids were running around with so much joy in their little hearts. They adore the one-on-one attention they get from the volunteers.

Children's Home Society of Florida (CHS) recently marked 105 years of nurturing children and strengthening families, and we realize that the children we serve today are not unlike those we served when we opened our doors in 1902. Many share the hurt and disappointment of a shattered family and broken promises. All long to feel love, acceptance and stability.

For these children and so many more, we offer hope and guidance…we provide families with opportunities for success and happiness.
While continuing our deep commitment to protect and guide young ones, we have a responsibility to do even more – to break the tragic cycle of child abuse and neglect for increasing numbers of children.

With your help, this dream can come true. Together, we can end the recurring nightmares too many children have suffered. Together, we can ensure every child is safe, healthy and prepared for life.

For more information on the Children's Home Society Of Florida, visit this web site:

http://www.chsfl.org/

PLEASE HELP US GET A GRANT FOR NEW BOOKS AND GAMES FOR THE TREE HOUSES BY LEAVING YOUR COMMENT ON THIS SITE:

http://www.myhometownhelper.com/ViewProject.aspx?tell=2&id=38438

If you want to find out how you can help in your area, go to google and type in "Children's Home Society of (YOUR STATE GOES HERE)"

FEATURED ARTIST coyotesfamily

This weeks featured artist is Sondra (coyotesfamily). She is a newbie on etsy and deserves to be recognized for her beautiful work.

A few of my favorites from her shop on etsy:

Little Ladys 5 lampwork beads Ladybugs

Description:

5 handcrafted, flameworked lentil shaped beads in black and red. Little ladybugs to be exact! These beads measure approximately 19 mm hole to hole and were pressed in a Cattwalk press.

Froggie went a courtin cell phone charm

Description:

A cool handmade lampwork bead, with blues, greens, purples and yellows, dangled on a cell phone charm/zipper pull. Along side the bead is the cutest little frog, sitting so politely. Perfect for anyone! bead measures approximately 1 inch.

Spring Fling

Description:

A beautiful green hexagon shaped bead. Sprinkles of spring time colors dance across the top along with gorgeous pink flowers. This bead measures aprroximately 1 inch hole to hole.

Something interesting:

After making jewelry for over 7 years, this stay-at-home mom upped the anty when she decided to not just make jewelry but make the beads for it as well. Lampworking now for just over 3 years, with about a year off for the birth of a baby, she is still totally in love with the art. Though it is hard to find time at the torch with her busy life, she does indeed make time for herself to head to the studio and play.

This self-taught artist finds her inspiration in every aspect of her life. From her family, her friends and from the beautiful Arizona landscapes. More of Sondra's work can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/smgdesigns/ You can read a bit more about her life as a lampworking mom at: http://smgdesigns.wordpress.com/ Her work is currently being sold in her etsy store: http://coyotesfamily.etsy.com/ and JustBeads.com: http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=coyotesfamily and you can occasionally see her at local shows in Northern Arizona.

Watch out for this artist as she rises to the top. Please leave her some love.

SPLURGE!!!!

I cannot control myself sometimes....

Today I was curious what "gocco" was. I have seen it as a tag in etsy and I did not know what it meant. So I did research and found a "how to gocco" on etsy and fell in love immediately! I kept on searching the web for finished projects done by people with a gocco machine and I couldn't get enough! So.... I had to do it....I bought one for myself!! That's right--->No self control! It was $150 dollars and I bought it from a fellow etsian (in Japan). I CANNOT WAIT for it to get here!! I just hope it's worth the money (that I certainly do not have)! I plan on making wedding invitations with is and maybe some prints to frame. TAKE MY CREDIT CARD AWAY FROM ME!!!!

Oohh and I almost forgot... a few days ago I was waundering around etsy (as usual) and I fell upon this shop: poppyswickedgarden. I found a skirt (actually it's a convertible skirt/dress) that I could not take my eyes off. So what did I do? ... Good Guess! I bought it! I just love the idea of buying handmade clothes because that means that no one else will have what you own. Just a great feeling!