Shameless self promotion here

Etsy is one of the really great sites to browse and purchase fun, fascinating and fresh handcrafted creations, as well as vintage items. You owe it to yourself to check it out. It's easy to get to, fun to shop and safe to make payments.


Artfire is another great site for finding the unusual in one-of-a-kind treasures like jewelry, stationery, clothing and accessories, art and much more.

Day by day

Well, we came through our terrible rain and wind storms with only one tree down across our road that we had to cut up and move. Other parts of the country have it much worse with snow and cold. We can't complain...much.

I'm getting the last of my Christmas packages ready to mail and that will be a great relief, especially when I hear that they arrive. I always wish I could be there to watch them open it. Don't you?

Getting ready for our Hanukah meal on Sunday also. I've made cookies (sampled a few, of course), bought applesauce, and will be making the latkes (traditional potato pancakes) Sunday morning. They are a lot of work, grating all those potatoes and onions, adding flour and salt, frying them in hot oil, but ooohhh, the taste!

I'm so excited!

Try some of these for your holiday treats!

I can't resist trying new recipes and even experimenting with my old favorites, hence my name "Substitutionqueen!". Give these a try and see the smiles.

Publicking my own business

The things I see each day, the things I do...I figured they were just as interesting to other people who don't live my life as anything out there.

These are 'the girls'. They arrived last week and are settling in nicely. They are 14 Buff Orpington pullets and should begin laying in February. Don't let anyone try to tell you that chickens are smart, but they can be slightly trained. To get them used to following me, I routinely toss out chicken feed while calling out, "Here chick, chick, chick!" The first night we discovered that their roost pole was too high for them to get to, so we had to lower it and then I had to lift each one onto the roost (where they spend the night). After that, they got the idea.

I went to a Red Cross CPR certification class yesterday and discovered they've changed some things since the last time I did it. They had a very good DVD program to follow so you almost didn't need an instructor. I feel good about getting my card, not that my victom is going to ask to see it before he allows me to save his life, but being a nurse it's nice to have documentation with me.

I finished this nice holiday choker recently and it goes perfectly with my Christmas holiday stick earrings. I am racking my brain to come up with other dazzling holiday designs. It's a lot of fun but sometimes hard to get it done.

We had our maiden fishing trip in September, and have gone about 4 times since then, but with so much going on, it's been weeks since we were able to go. It we weren't too busy, the weather wasn't cooperating. It looks pretty nice today, so I'm hoping today's the day. I do the cleaning and filleting, which gets easier with practice.

More life comin' at ya soon!

Holiday savings for all!

By: Twitter Buttons Pretty cool, huh?

I just updated this set of three copper necklaces which I hope will impress people.
Find them at http://www.artfire.com/users/PerfectlyPractical

Don't forget that great Google checkout promotion! Use Google Checkout to pay for your purchases with participating merchants (like me) and get $5 off your purchase of $30 or more before shipping and taxes. Good for one time per customer. Promotion ends December 17, so get on the stick to save holiday cash.

Here's your special holiday gift when you pay for your purchases with Google Checkout at participating merchants:

Get $5.00 off purchases of $30.00 or more (before shipping and tax) with Google Checkout- Limit 1 per person. No resale. Offer available Tuesday, November 24 6PM CST until Thursday, December 17, 2009 6:00:00 PM CST."

https://checkout.google.com/buttons/checkout.gif?merchant_id=501385447070810&w=168&h=44&style=white&variant=text&loc=en_US

Yet another handmade gift shopping site

Many really innovative and thoughtful gift ideas await you at ShopHandmade.

How about this cool sexy apron to make kitchen time more fun? http://www.shophandmade.com/Item/6-758-H0056BW

http://www.shophandmade.com/Item/6-758-H01GRBU custome monogram cards like a real big shot form Angie's Handmade Cards.

A handmade copper tugboat from Cozy Expressions would be a very unique gift!
http://www.shophandmade.com/Item/6-758-H373KHG

And more to come!

A virtual craft show??

If you buy, sell or just love to read a fun blog, try Audrey's for Audrey's Country Crafts. She has had a wonderful idea to invent a virtual craft show where you can sell your crafts and also browse and buy amongst the crafters. It's fun, easy and colorful. There are artisans offering, jewelry, photography, paintings, bags and totes and so much more. It's also a great way to sell your crafts without the hassle of setup, takedown, hauling and lots of waiting around. Check it out!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=byhand.me&listing_id=30722479
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=byhand.me&listing_id=30304696

There's so much great stuff out there!

Watch here for great holiday buys at shops and booths around the web...come and shop.

PerfectlyPractical

Sell Handmade

Helping everybody's business

Jan at Shabby Bags makes some of the cutest and most innovative handbags, totes, purses and more. Check out her site for holiday gift giving!

ShabbyBags

Sell Handmade

Creating and selling

Well, I talked to Nancy at Three Stones Gift and Consignment Shop in Crossville and she sold 2 pieces of jewelry for me, plus said that some guy was very interested in all the vintage record albums I put there. He figured he'd buy them for next to nothing and make a fortune...I don't think so.

I am making a few things to replace what she sold, and bringing her some more vintage oriental items since she has a customer who likes that stuff. I also sold a few items on Bonanzle and eBay so I've got a little cash for buying more jewelry supplies.

Speaking of creating, I went exploring on Google images because Doug told me there were zillions of pictures of anything you could ask for. I found this great holiday image that worked out perfectly for a holiday business/product card. It's true, but unfortunately when you leave the site and then try to go back and find that one you want, they've all changed and shifted so you may never find it again. Live and learn. Anyway, I've done my creative thing tonight and am putting price tags on, so that is done.

Rain, rain go away

Did someone spirit me away to Seattle when I was sleeping? We've had so much rain that the frogs are swimming for their lives and the mushrooms are pushing the trees out of their way. It's been raining straight for almost 12 hours and I'm afraid our boat might just float away. Where is it all coming from?? Is it monsoon season and nobody told me? I'm going to have to get one umbrella for each day of the week.

I don't know, normally this wouldn't irritate me so much, and I've already mowed the lawn for the last time this season. BUT, I'm supposed to be getting a new chicken house delivered and they can't bring it if the ground is so soft and muddy. Also, recently mentioned boat is unusable and I can't go fishing in this rain. We fished a week ago for a nice load of sunfish and crappies, which became last night's fish fry (Yumm!)

Anyway, I will be going into town for some supplies to work on my upcoming holiday craft show display, like thick floral wire. Wait til you see what I do with it.
OK, rain gear on...check.

Pumpkin update

Due to a cold and rainy morning, I didn't set up for the festival, and it seems that no one else did either. After lunch, though, the sun came out and gave everyone a taste of what festival weather should be. Booths were being set up, though there was no crowd or festival traffic. This will begin Sat. morning, so I will be there early, setting up my wares, rag rugs, jewelry, ready for a day of greeting and selling.

My business is fun this weekend

Join me this weekend October 2 and 3 at the Allardt TN Great Pumpkin Festival. It's a huge local annual event with food and craft booths, beauty queen pageants, a parade, bluegrass and gospel entertainment and of course the big pumpkin weigh-in.

I'll be there on Hwy. 127 with lots of my colorful handcrocheted rag rugs and beautiful OOAK handcrafted jewelry. There's lots to do and see on this wonderful fall weekend.

Christmas is a'comin'!

Too early? Not really. I'm hoping some of you will stop by at the Allardt Pumpkin Festival where there will be just tons of food, entertainment and booths full of great crafts and other items. I will be there with my handcrafted crocheted rag rugs in all shapes, sizes and colors.

I'll also be showing and selling my very unique and one-of-a -kind jewelry for fun, funk and fashion! Highway 52 and 127 in Allardt, Tennessee just outside of Jamestown.

For lots more great holiday gift ideas straight from the artists/artisans, check out Christmas at the Handcrafter's Cottage at Blogger. These ladies and gentlemen are so very talented and have so many great creative items for you to browse!

An artistt at work and play

I do a lot of craft/jewelry site browsing, reviewing and shopping lately. I've found some lackluster sites, some run-of-the-mill shops and some exciting, well-worth-the-trip stores. I plan to share some of these here in the near future.

I also look at blogs about lots of different things, some of which are well worth sharing.

One I've found to be charming, engaging, fun and enlightening is http://www.eirielseclectics.blogspot.com/ The girl is adorable and actually multi-talented in the jewelry making department. She is a 22 yr old student in England who shares her travails, trials and successes, travels (with lots of pictures) and her wonderful sense of humo(u)r on nearly a daily basis, even though she is hard at work studying and creating. I highly recommend a peek!

I myself have been at work gently (recovering from recent surgery) daydreaming about new designs for my rugs and jewelry. I bought some great flat sheets from the local secondhand store last week to cut up for rag rugs. I didn't take a pic of this one before it was shredded, but here it is ready to crochet.

When this is done I will post it here. I think it will be an exciting and lively rug.

I also have tried a couple of new jewelry pieces and plan to begin showing at some local festivals and craft fairs this fall to get my feet wet. This one is something new for me, with the small framed picture as the focal point, and the cool part is that the picture can be removed to be replaced with one of your own!

Then there is this pretty and still summery piece

that I was playing with...I really like this, and I'm working

on earrings to match. The mixed turquoise shapes and

shades go so nicely with the silverplate pieces.

OK, enough already. Until next time, have a great one!

My wish for you

I'm listening to a local radio program this Sunday morning and this song struck me.."more than anything, my wish for you is that your dreams stay big and your worries stay small." What a nice thought today.

I think my dreams and wishes are pretty small. Some days I just wish for a few more hours in the day to do the things I want to after the things I need to do are done. OK, I didn't say they were feasible. Some days I wish for solitude when I know I'll have to go to town or to an appointment. Some days I wish for the particular jewelry wire I don't have for creating the piece I want to make. Some days I wish I understood what my bird was trying to tell me when he tried to eat my bare toes.

You get the idea. Granted, my worries really are small. I have a nice house with no payments, freedom to pursue my artistic interests, eat what I want when I want. I feel very fortunate and I know it. Actually I just realized that my biggest plus is being able to seek knowledge that I suddenly get an itch to know. My freedom and the internet give me this. Twenty years ago that would not have been possible, both from a freedom of information access and from my normal daily work schedule.

I wish for you that you find the loopholes in your daily schedule to 'see' what you don't take time normally to take notice of and enjoy or just appreciate. I wish for you the joy and lack of stress that result from knowing and approving of who you are and what you like. Have a great week!

ArtFire will set you ablaze

PerfectlyPractical Buy Handmade

What a fantastic place to find something special AND handcrafted! What a phenomenal place to sell those special handcrafted items FEE-FREE! Check it out!

Handrafted rugs are a great investment

Beautiful handmade with love in all the colors of the rainbow! Many sizes, shapes and designs to suit your fancy.

See these and more at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7231682

A day of possibilities

I've been up quite early today and it is lovely with the birds singing and calling. I don't know if we are in for more rain today but it wouldn't surprise me. There's been so much of it lately. Good for the garden but it does get a little dreary sometimes.

I came into some estate silver pieces recently and some of them are fascinating in their looks and their histories as I do the research. I don't mind the digging as I learn so much along the way. This elaborate little ladle, for instance. The bowl is tin and decorated with I think the figure of a woman, but the handle and the rest are sturdier material. I think it may be for cream but don't know yet.

This is a little souvenir spoon from 1897 Hood College in Frederick, Maryland with their symbol seal on the handle. Lovely but not too useful.

Then there are the little Wm. Rogers knives with mother of pearl handles. They are so cute and gorgeous but I'm not sure if maybe they are little cheese knives as the edges are kind of sharp

It takes a lot of patience to do this detective work but it sure can be rewarding.

No doubt many of these pieces will end up for sale in auctions and online selling venues. If they pique your interest, watch for them in such places as Etsy, Bonanzle, SeeAuction, eBay, eCrater, and Blujay.

Crafty Creative Corner?

Check it out! It's all 'crochet, publicize, crochet, eat, sleep, crochet, publicize, crochet' for me now. I'm in the artisan community now, and we are so off the beaten path. So many neat creative ideas floating around in my head. And what could I use my bird's discarded feathers for, I wonder? Ah, the curse of the creative!

I shall get away briefly today, drivingi to Crossville to deliver the spinning wheel to it's new owner. Since we no longer have goats, it didn't make sense to keep it as a big doorstop, did it? Maybe I can pick up some bird food at the pet store in Crossville while I'm there.

Linking myself to Squidoo

I've spent much of my evening NOT minding my own business. I worked on building a Squidoo lens and linking it to everything I could think of, then I found a site called Monkey Brain where you can argue about anything and everything. I saw a favorite consideration of mine about how a license should be required in order to be a parent. I voiced my humble opinion based on personal experience, years of observation and motherly bias. My poor brain isn't used to being so intellectually stimulated so late in the evening, but I felt really good about spouting off. I think I'll do it again soon.

Winter yesterday, spring today

I hear SeeAuctions is following me on Twitter...very cool. I'll have to remember to twitter and blog more. Beautiful day here today. AFter working on my store sites and scrounging for more products to list, I went off to lunch and a doctor's appointment. Back home now, I do believe I will check for emails, concoct some more store promos and stretch out to read a little. I've earned it

Navigating

I feel like I'm getting in over my head, opening new blogs, linking stores to blogs and blogs to stores, twittering, keeping track of what is for sale in which store...eeeeeeek! I need someone to teach me or to manage all of this or maybe just a swift kick in the butt.

How about I list all the places you can find me, my sales and my grumpy thoughts? OK, let's give it a try.

http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/momof2birds

www.blujay.com/momof2birds

There's more but I don't have all the widgets. I'll be back!

Shop at Bonanzle, the best place to buy, sell and mingle!

It's no secret anymore that Bomamzle is THE place to be for finding 'everything but the ordinary'. Buyers, sellers and visitors alike all rate Bonanzle two enthusiastic 'thumbs up' for ease of use, excellent service and responsiveness of administration, AND the friendliest, most helpful community on the net. I've been selling, and buying, there for three months and couldn't be happier with my decision. I learn and laugh every day, longing to linger amongst the informational and intriquing forums, the bountiful booths bursting with baubles and great buys, and live chatting with folks from all over the world and down the street. I love it! Come and see for yourself: http://www.bonanzle .com

Am I busy?

It's a nice sunny day that I woke up to at 6:30 with a dusting of snow, but now at noon it's gone. I am so busy sorting through auction and estate items, researching them. At the same time I'm trying to keep the birds busy and out of my hair...not so easy.











Had to squeeze lunch in somewhere too so it's a turkey and swiss sandwich on homemade wheat/honey sweet potato bread. Of course, I didn't have whatever it called for, so I substituted sweet potato. I am, after all, the Substitutionqueen.

So, let's see, Obama is getting his cabinet in order, reminds me I need to get my closet in order. Really, the path of our economy is set and in motion, no matter how much money he throws at it, our money by the way. Start stocking up on staples, canned goods and things for bartering with. I need to stock up on soap and bird food. Think about it and remember my words.