A new selling option

So I was introduced to Bonanzle.com today. It seems to be a viable option to Fee-bay or Greed-bay or whatever. I checked it out and it seems like it may be a good thing. It's new but growing quickly.

I haven't added any items to my booth yet. Maybe this week.

It has a good feel to it, and people have actually made sales on it. There are local options with it so it's a nice combination of Ebay and Craigslist.

Check it out if you get a chance!

Like My Treasury?

Like my treasury? It's titled "Reflections". My very first time trying to snag a Treasury, and it worked! I just happened to be on Twitter and someone tweeted that the Treasury was opening soon. I wandered over there just out of curiosity...then decided to try for one. You know, just to see what it looked like. Had my title ready, as was suggested and BAM! got it. I also had my Treasury laid out in Poster Sketch..so that helped too.
Let me know what you all think!

Conquer the Clutter!

A few days back, I started a thread on the Etsy forums asking for organizing tips! I am in sore need of them! I was supposed to be cleaning, weeding, etc...but I was procrastinating...as I am now. I got some great suggestions! I thought I would share them with you!

First, JoyfulAbode wrote: "My best tip is get rid of junk before you start. You can't organize clutter; you can only move it around. It's a fact!" That is a true statement. Others on the forum loved that one!

I also heard from CreationsAnew. They wrote: "My best tip!!!! I clean up my office/workspace every day after I'm finished working in it!and...I close my books every month!!!! Great advice for when tax time rolls around!" If only I could be so organized! Something to strive for.

I totally agree with TheCandlesmith who said: "The hardest for me is putting things back where they belong the first time..........." That is why I'm in the mess I'm in! No pun intended.

Oh and here's a good one! lrichmond3 writes: "oh, oh, I have a great one but it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with organizing your work space but I suppose it would work anywhere. Dump the contents of a drawer in a box. For one month, every time you use something from that box, you place it back in the drawer. At the end of the month, whatever you haven't used from the box, goes in the trash. I've done this with kitchen drawers and man, it really works!"

And here's another system that works for jewelsbyfaith. "If were talking house stuff, I like to walk around with a basket, one room at a time and if there is something that's in room, and doesn't belong, it goes in the basket...then I carry the basket around and put everything back. I do this every now and then for each room, and it helps. When it gets REALLY bad, I get out the laundry basket, make the entire household sweep, set it in the middle of the floor and tell everyone they have 10 min.s to put it away..what's left over gets tossed! The kids mover really quickly when I do that! especially if it's nintendo games, etc,...in the basket!"

And when I'm overwhelmed...I remember what cherrybounces wrote: "Baby steps!"

The ideas I wasn't able to include can be found on this thread. Thanks everyone!

Welcome to Etsy....

HappyTrees!!!

Looking for some handspun yarn? Or some unique vintage finds? This new Etsy shop is for you!

Although a member of Etsy since 2006, HappyTrees has just recently had the time to focus on her shop and her blog.

We took a few minutes to ask her some questions.

How long have you been spinning?

I've been spinning for about 4 years...the first two were on a drop spindle and the last two have been on my Kromski Wheel.

Where did you learn?

I taught myself how to spin and watched a few internet tutorials...

What's your favorite item in your shop?

My favorite item in my shop is this: My Blind Melon Handspun...I dyed it with Koolaid and Food Coloring and vinegar.

What's your favorite vintage item in general?

My favorite vintage items are always my fisher price toys...anything from the seventies.

What was your best thrift store find?

My best find was my Fisher Price record player complete with five plastic 'records'!

Anything else you'd like to tell us??

I'm pregnant with my fourth child and not currently working. So I've been spending a lot of time creating new pieces or scouring the thrift stores and attic sales for the perfect pieces. I quit working in Oct., that's when I finally had the time to work on Etsy and my blog, and to try to network a little bit. So I am really just getting started.

Anything else??

My real name is Anastasia, i'm married, 33, 3 kids-2 thru 13 and one on the way! 1 dog(Murray) and 2 cats(one spot and two spot)-Before I quit I was an esthtician for an Aveda salon, my husband is a muscian, and I've always made things...from the begining of my memory, I've sewn glued created something. Be it houses for my gnomes and barbies, or clothing for my little sisters stuffed animals. I love to create...and fiber is my favorite medium.

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So everyone, take a minute to check out this great new Etsy seller!! HappyTrees, Welcome to Etsy!!

A New Feature

In the next few days, look for my new feature..."Welcome to Etsy". I'll be interviewing/featuring a new artist or shop owner at Etsy. I'm choosing shops that have had less than 5 sales to hopefully give the owners a little more exposure and help spread the word about Etsy!!!
Buy Handmade!!

Keep watching!

How Did We Survive Childhood?

Little People

Ok, so the toy on the left represents the toys I played with as a kid. The Little People were...little. The toy on the right represents today's Little People. Larger. No, not a statement about childhood obesity, but a safer, choke-free toy.
The other day, I heard my 1 1/2 year old chewing on something. I turned around, and the toy on the left was COMPLETELY inside his mouth. I'm not even sure where I left it, that he could find it. And I'm not even sure what possessed him to want to put it in his mouth.
But it got me thinking about how we survived our own childhoods. There are tons of items that we would look at horror-stricken if they were given to our own children, but we gleefully played with ourselves. Our car seats were not comfortable, no padding, no cushioning. Our paint had lead in it. We rode bikes with the wind blowing through our hair.
And amazingly, most of us survived it.