I've Been Featured!

I'm part of a group of like minded Etsy sellers who are interested in developing their shops to there full potential. It's great being part of a team who are driven to really make it work. I am the featured seller this week on our team blog.  There's a giveaway as well ~ I hope you'll check it out!  Read it here!

Etsy Upgrade: New Image Quality Improvements - Before & After Avatar

I happen to think the colors on my imac monitor are bright, clear, and colorful. "True to life" so to speak. Recently I viewed a favorite item on another computer and was shocked at the strong blue value on the photo, it was a total turnoff (doesn't help that it was a food item).

In an effort to prevent this Etsy is releasing a new system for processing, resizing, and storing image files. Apparently the new system will:
* Provide sharper, brighter, higher quality results for uploaded photos
* Support a wider range of uploaded file types

Existing banners, avatars, and item photos will not be changed! The new system is now functioning for team avatars and profile avatars.

Here's the Etsy forum thread from admin

You will need to reupload (is that even a word?) your profile avatar to have it in this new system.
There is a VERY subtle difference. Here is mine (the new avatar is the one on the right):

What do you think? 

I'm glad my future images will be true to life but have no intention of reloading the images of my current stock of 500 items!

Monday Morning Smile!

My treasury made it to Etsy's Front Page this morning.

Congrats to those that were featured. Happy Monday!

*Yawn & Stretch*

Welcome!

I know it's simply been ages since I've been around. I think this is the hardest post after such a long hiatus. So let's just get the ball rolling...

I am currently a work from home addicted to Etsy thrifting vintage selling mom of 2 fabulous kiddos. BOTH of which are in now in school (how crazy is that). 

My oldest is a 5 year old sweetie pie with a heart of gold. Time is flying and "the potty" has just now become "the bathroom". Thankfully though when recently given a bowl of cereal for an after dinner snack she declared it was her first midnight snack (it was 7:30).

Here's my sweetie modeling a vintage dress for my shop!

Then there's the little guy, he'll be 3 in 2 weeks! He keeps us all running. He has a moderate to severe hearing loss and wears hearing aids in both ears. He recently started school full time in a special program for children who are deaf & hard of hearing. There's been a few bumps but he's doing great and is starting to speak a lot more. 

He is a busy boy! The busier I can keep him the less of the chance he can get in trouble. 

Me? I'm subbing at the local school and working my etsy shop. Corrnucopia is doing better than I could have imagined which only makes me want it to do what I can to take it to the next level. I feel like it is possible. There's some things I know I need to do to improve it while there's still lots left to learn. 

I want this to be a place where I can share the fun and not so fun parts of being a mom, raising a special needs kid, running an etsy business, sharing fabulous vintage finds, and anything else that comes to mind. So if any of this interests you stay tuned!

WO - WHOO!

First time on the Front Page!

Those are my sweet Owl Salt & Pepper shakers.

Happy Day! 

***and a little update since I'm a really do like statistics! My owls lasted about 30 minutes before they sold and were then removed from front page. During that time my shop received 16 new hearts. The owls received 28 hearts and according to Google Analytics during the 8:00 hour my shop was visited 257 times. Wow, it's amazing what exposure will do huh? I think being on prime time during Super Bowl was definitely an advantage. 

neskita ~ Shop Discovery

adorable printable camping set

I happened to be browsing around on Etsy and found the cutest shop. I just had to contact the seller and ask her if I could share her wonderful items on my blog. neskita is from Chile ~ but don't let this worry you, her items are sent as PDFs and therefore no shipping charges!

printable paper bedroom

Sure we are up to our eyeballs in toys here, but it would be so nice to be able to print these off and have a little something special to do while brother is napping on a cold winter's afternoon. I think my daughter would absolutely love playing with these.

printable paper classroom

It would be so fun to put some old shoe boxes to use as backgrounds and then to hold the pieces when we are done playing.

Papertown House and Ice Cream Shop

She loves to play pretend and playing school is always a favorite. I'd definitely enjoy playing along with these colorful printables.

Papertown School and Gas Station

At $6.50 I think they are a wonderful deal. Head on over to neskita's shop, be sure to click on all the views of these lovelies when you're there. So cute!

If you decide to purchase (and how could you resist!) be sure to state whether you'd like your file in english or spanish as the file comes with instructions as well as ideas.

enjoy!

time will tell ~ Wishes for the New Year

~ The treasury I created today was inspired by New Year's wishes ~

time will tell

~ My wishes for you ~

adventure ~ explore and travel, experience new things

time ~ there never seems to be enough

luck ~ we could all use some

the key ~ to get where you need to go

foresight ~ just once and awhile it would be nice to know what's around the bend

peace ~ calm from within

joy ~ happiness that makes your heart sing

growth ~ for a stronger, better you

home ~ a place to call your own

family ~ surround yourself with people who care

chocolate ~ speaks for itself doesn't it?

Hoping that 2010 will bring all of these (and more) to you, only time will tell!

Happy New Year!

(click here to go to the Etsy treasury page)

I Made Voter!

Although sewing has been put on the back burner for the moment, I did manage to make a Halloween Banner for my Etsy Corr Creations shop. Etsy runs a weekly voter where you can nominate items based on a weekly theme. 40 of these items are selected & the following week all are invited to vote for the best item in that theme.

This week's theme is Vote for Your Favorite Halloween Item. How excited was I to find out that My Banner was included!

If you have a moment please go & check out

The Voter!

Hurry! Voting ends October 12!

Needle Book Notions

It's been a while since I've written about what I have been making so I thought I'd let you know what's new.

I've been stitching up these needle books. They are so sweet and fun to create. They are ideal for anyone who sews or crafts and has an assortment of needles on hand. They would be perfect for traveling or as a crafty teacher appreciation gift. A gift certificate to a craft store or local coffee shop could also be included in the pocket inside!

I have upcycled some denim for some and made up some crazy quilt panels for the others. It's a lot of fun finding ribbons and buttons to add the finishing touches. The all have 4 pages of felt for needles and pockets in the inside front and back for storing small scissors and little notions.

The ones pictured on top aren't in my Etsy store (yet) but I do have a bunch already listed. See something you like, just let me know and I'd be glad to list it special for you!

What better way to keep your needles together than with one of these little sweeties!

~I have a section of my shop just for these nifty notions ~ 

Needle Books at Corr Creations

What's New Pussy Cat?

So it seems I'm on a bit of a cat kick at the moment. I came across a picture of a quilted cat and thought, "let's give it a try". 

I quilted up a couple of these cat pot holders and will be listing them in my etsy shop this week. I am not ready to attempt faces so I thought I'd have them looking out a window. What do you think? 

I really do want to put a bigger piece in my shop

and I've decided to make it a cat quilt. I've made up a cat similar to the pot holders as my pattern. It's going to be totally scrappy with each block, border, & cat being different (there might be some repeats but definitely different enough to be called scrappy). I made one block to test out the size of the background and borders. I like the way it looks so this is what I am going with. Not sure how big it will be yet ~ twin, queen, any thoughts?  The block measures 10 x 10 3/4 unfinished. 

The snow has been falling since early this morning. I'll need to do something about the driveway at some stage. I don't have any plans of going anywhere on this lazy Sunday so it's at a low priority for me. I find that snow is much more enjoyable when you don't think about shoveling!

and finally I do follow the adage "let sleeping babies lie" (yes I know that's for dogs but it applies to babes too), But this might be stretching it a bit! go ahead give it a click ~ it's only 10 seconds long and will most likely make you smile!

New Listings!

Here are my latest creations. I posted the floral on the left yesterday and the lion in my Etsy shop today. My goal is to list everyday. I still haven't figured out if it's better to just list them all at once or on a regular basis. I figure if I list everyday I won't get buried at the bottom of the search pit. Any ideas on that one? 

As far as pot holders go, do you feel the need to buy a set or would just one really cute one do? Many people who make pot holders line them with a special batting that is supposed to deflect the heat. I use a layer of regular cotton quilt batting and a layer or two of repurposed cotton clothing (turtlenecks, thick shirts, dish towels). I've tested them out with great success (no problem holding the HOT pizza stone).

Have a wonderful day!

Happy Valentine's Day

First up ~ weekend special on heart items in my Etsy shop (hearts are always nice)  free US shipping (and reduced international). Check out my shop and look under the section for 2/14 special. This does of course include my "I Love To Touch Hot Things" Pot holder! 

Next ~ Love Your Mother (Earth that is).

I created my own mailer for my latest sale. I tried using a cheerio box but my oversized pot holders were too big. I went with the giant folder they give you when you leave the snuggery. The babe is 10 months old (tomorrow) and I think I can finally toss the pamphlets on how to take care of a newborn. 

  (and Happy Valentine's Day to Mom too)

Hope your Valentine's day is filled with lots of love!