Valentine Tee Shirts and Onesies

Candice and I made these Adorable T-shirts and Onesies for my etsy store. They would be perfect for Valentine's Day, or any day for that matter. I made these for my Granddaughters last year to wear to school for their Valentine Party and they have worn them constantly since then. The little girls love them and they get so many complements every time they wear them. Candice also made some as Lounge sets last year, matching the PJ bottoms with the fabric on the hearts.

Check out my etsy store to see all the designs and sizes. Just Click on the Etsy link on the right hand side of my blog. If you don't see the size, color combination, etc. that you would like, just email me and we can do a custom order.

Be of Good Cheer!

There are just two days left to finish wrapping those last few presents, shop for those last few items on the list, checking the list to make sure everyone and everything is covered. As Christmas draws near, I always sigh in relief, as time runs out and I cross out some of the extras on my list that I know I will never get to; things that were not that important in the first place, and I begin to think about the real reason we celebrate the season.
Christmas Carols run through my mind, and I find myself singing to myself those ole familiar melodies. I love attending Church services the Sunday before Christmas, sitting back and listening to the Choir sing of the small babe in a manger, of a mother who holds her tiny infant, her first child, knowing he is destined to change the world. I think of the child Jesus, who was missing, of frantic parents who search for their Son, who upon finding Him are told, He must be about His Father's work. I think of the Savior in a garden, alone...... weighed down with the sorrows and sins of the world, sweating drops of blood under the pain. I think of the weight of my trials and sins that he carried for me and I feel a deep gratitude and love for His sacrifice for me, for those I love and for all mankind.
I often wish we could carry the "Spirit" of this wonderful season with us throughout the whole year. I would never want the rest of Christmas to last, indeed I am more than ready at the close of the yule tide to pack it all away until the next year, except for the spirit. That part of Christmas I would love to see remain forever, for that is the spirit of Love, of Giving, of Peace and good will toward men. May we all "be of good cheer", as we find ways to maintain the spirit of Christmas throughout the coming year. Let us each be a little kinder, a little more giving, a whole lot more like the wonderful Savior, for whom we celebrate CHRISTMAS! I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with joy, love and kindness toward others! Please join me in finding ways to maintain the spirit of Christmas; do not pack it away with the tree and the decorations. Wouldn't that be a wonderful gift for the Man who gave ALL, for us!

Christmas ornaments - show and tell

I made some Christmas ornaments for my etsy shop this year, so I decided to makes some for my little granddaughters. I tried to pick something they are into or doing for the theme on each. These were a lot of fun, I hope they like them. Thought I would show and tell here, before I give them away. Reagan has been taking piano lessons this year and is really enjoying learning to play. I am so proud of her! She has the same "problem" I did when I was taking lessons as a little girl taking piano; she plays by ear, not learning the notes. Her father played by ear, also! I made a little pink piano ornament for Rey Rey!

Sid is into Hello Kitty and Abbey loves Strawberry Shortcake, so that is what I made them. I had grandpa put their names and the year on the back to make them even more special. Can't wait to give them to the girls!

Getting Ready for the Holidays

Busy, Busy, Busy is this time of year! I haven't had much time to get ready for the Holidays. This has always been my favorite time of year. When I was a child growing up, my mother always made the Christmas season special. My stepfather was Spanish, so we followed a lot of the traditions he did when he was a child. We always stayed up until midnight and then at the stroke of 12:00 we would open our presents. Even though my childhood was a difficult one, I have fond memories of the Christmas season (thanks to mom).
I keep thinking things will slow down in my etsy store. What was I thinking? Of course I am glad for the success, but I feel I am slipping a little preparation for the Holidays in here and there. This week I thought, finally, things are slowing down a bit, and then I got another large wholesale order from a new boutique owner I could add to the list. Of course I am excited, but WHEN AM I GOING TO GET READY FOR CHRISTMAS? LOL
I added some new charms to my store and thought I would debut a few of them here! (Be sure and visit my etsy store to view all my new designs, by clicking on the etsy link on the right)

Now on a sadder note, My Baby daughter lost the baby she was carrying, this last week. It has been a very difficult week for our family. It seems that from the Time my oldest was in a Plane crash, one trial after the other has hit our family. Candice is doing well, given the circumstances. She just lost a baby in March of this year. Both babies were carried for about four months, then when she went in to the doctors office, there was no heart beat. Because she was so far along, both times she had to deliver the baby. Seeing your babies hurt is one of the most difficult things we go though in this life. I am so thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for that is what carries us though these difficult times. I feel such a loss, my heart is heavy for the loss of yet another grandchild I will not hold in my arms, but I am thankful for the knowledge that some day I will be with them in a happier place and time.

Whole-Sailing Away!!!

A Little play on words! I feel like my eBusiness has caught a huge gust of wind in it's sails and is surging forward at fantastic speed! I am so excited to share a new opportunity that opened up for me, in my business.

First of all, I have to Proclaim the fantastic benefits of an etsy store! What a wonderful way to build a business, without all the expensive monthly costs of a brick and mortar store. Recently, I discovered another benefit of an etsy store, EXPOSURE! I have been contacted by several "Brick and Mortar" Boutiques, in different areas of the country, that were inquiring about wholesaling my charms to them. After some negotiations, I now have a wholesale business. It seems, "Brick and Mortar" businesses look for products on etsy. They can find original and creative product at a reasonable price for their stores.

This has turned out to be a fantastic opportunity for me! I am now wholesaling to a boutique in Utah, one in New Mexico and another here in Ariz. All of them found me and contacted me through my etsy store! What a fantastic benefit to the growth of my business. It has allowed me to grow at a fantastic rate and increase my sells.

Thank you, thank you, thank you e-Commerce (To view new designs, click on my etsy link on the right side of my blog)

Change of Direction!

Every once in a while, life circumstances force us or encourage us at the very least, to make course direction changes. I have undergone a major course change in the last few months. I have worked hard to build a business with my children's clothing designs on Ebay. Circumstances that took place forced me to re-evaluate my business and upon doing so I have made a major course change that has proved to be a fantastic redirection for me.
I Decided to leave Ebay, the hassles, the group drama, the high fees, etc. and to concentrate on building my Etsy business. I had only listed a few items in my etsy store in the past and had made a half hearted effort at success there. My main focus was my ebay business. I had sold a few things on etsy and considered it a little extra, on the side, that added volume in sales to my ebay profits. Boy, talk about misdirection! Once I decided to leave ebay and work diligently and consistently on my etsy store, business began to boom! I am finally making a REAL profit, not creating for exercise and everyone Else's benefit.
Not only did I change direction from ebay to etsy, but I focused on a completely new product, Soldered Charm. I find I enjoy creating them, never tire of producing them and don't even mind recreating the same ones over and over. (These were all the things I dislike while sewing custom children's clothing). Another benefit is I don't need a lot of supplies and my profit margin is FANTASTIC!
I have not posted in my blog for quite a while. I feel blogging started with the whole ebay experience and the problems I encountered with that whole experience left me sour and wanting to shy away from anything related to it. I have finally separated the ebay experience with my blog and am back to my happy, selfconfident, trusting and busy entrepreneur and I am loving every minute of it.
Here is a peak at some of my charms. They are listed in my etsy shop, so to view what I have been busy doing, just click on my etsy link to the right and it will take you to me store.