Mostly Sundays

ETSY BOOT CAMP FOR THE HOLIDAYS

2010-09-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

I, Karen, pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!

I'm looking forward to Etsy boot camp and here's my pledge!
Let's get started!

Another Mini Pillow

2010-09-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

Here's the black cat mini pillow. It's made with gem brads and hand stitched felt.

Pumpkins and Spiders and Stuff

2010-09-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited with the new things I've created for my etsy shop. I sketched out a few designs I've been working on for a few weeks now and pieced them together. Then I went back to one of my favorite hobbies and started sewing and stitching them together. The result is some adorable new mini cushions for Hallowe'en and some flowers in bright cheery colors for the fall and Hallowe'en season as well. I hope you enjoy the new accessories I've put together. This is what I really love doing - working with fabric and paper to make some really unique creations.
The felt pieces can be used for ornaments, for card making, for gift tags, for scrapbooking accessries for pretty pages, anything you can imagine. I can't wait to make a Hallowe'en tree this year and hang my ornaments from them. I'll be sure to post pics as soon as I get it going.

Enjoy!!
Karen

Stamping Bella Card

2010-08-12T06:46:00.000-07:00

For this card I used another stamp from Stamping Bella (one of my favorite stamping places). This cute little stamp is "Ella Lollipop". She is so adorable with her paper pieced polka dot bow and polka dot dress. She is on a background that is die cut with Nestabilities. The butterfly is from Jenni Bowlin and sheer polka dot ribbon from Michaels. Of course Ella is colored with Copic Markers.

I really love the pink and brown combination. I'm sure I'll have more for fall with this combination.
I'm looking forward to using pumpkin and scarecrow stamps that just arrived!!

New Summery Card

2010-08-03T06:16:00.000-07:00

I found this awesome fishy paper that I had to make a card with. I love the cool blues and greens and I also had a My Cute Stamps fish to work with. This is what I came up with. I stitched some of the paper to the background with my sewing machine using the zig zag stitch. I coloured the fish with copic markers. The Feeling Fishy stamp I found at Michaels - it's part of the their Recollections collection. If you are a card maker or a scrapbooker that is a good and very well priced collection. They have lots of embellishments for decorative pieces and they have a line of really cool stamps.

Hope you like my summery nautical card.
Ciao for now

Karen

Still Stampin' Away

2010-08-03T05:59:00.000-07:00

Yes I am still stampin' away...I love the new Your Next Stamp stamps that I got (well, they're new to me)! There has got to be a mini Fiona for every occasion.
I've been busy with a bunch of new cards and I've even started on some fall ones.
This one is made with some Quickutz dies (the scroll, the round scallop is actually an old flower die and the felt piece is a sticker and a scallop die that I cut.
I always use copic markers and on some I have used watercolour pencils for a softer look. The first card I made here is with the Mini Yipee Fiona stamp from Your Next Stamp. I'm sure I've said a million times how happy I am that they are local - right here in Kitchener, Ontario.

Enjoy my new cards. I'll try to line up the description with the actual card this time!

More baseball pics

2010-07-27T17:58:00.001-07:00

Fun Summer

2010-07-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

With the beautiful weather we're having here in Ontario, we can't help but get outside and enjoy every minute. My daughter loves baseball and has played on the
city run team for years. The team and the coach she had this year was awesome!!
She's played with these girls before and they all go to the same high school. Just wanted to share a few pics (I know....it's so typical) but you can see what a great time they had. The parents had a great time as well - we all loved watching and we of course.... they're best fans!!
Here are a few of my fav pics!!

Happy Birthday Card

2010-07-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

Here's Another one done with Your Next Stamp - a cute birthday card
with Cupcake Fiona. The stamps are just so adorable!!

Sea Life Card

2010-07-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

While I was at Scrapfest this year I found this awesome stamping store called Your Next Stamp. As I was searching it online I found out it's from right here in Kitchener. Their stamps are absolutely adorable - check it out @ www.yournextstamp.com.
Here is a card I made with one of their stamps. It's the Fiona Mermaid stamp and she's just soooo cute.

2010-07-06T05:55:00.000-07:00

Reading for Fun

2010-07-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

So other than making cards I do enjoy reading a good book now and then.
I'm sure many of you also love reading. I feel like I've got a lot of catching up to do.
While I was blog hopping the other day I found a really cool site for book selection...it's called goodreads.com!! Check it out if you love to read...it's really cool! Everything is broken down into catagories and each book is rated.
There is even a section called "chick lit" which is similar to chick flicks.
Currently I'm reading "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs. As a crafter it's something I can really relate to and as a former single mom. The book I just finished is one I recommend to every woman. It's an awesome book by Elizabeth Gilbert called " Eat Pray Love". This is a wonderful chick lit book. It's all about her adventures in Italy, India and Bali. It's about getting over a guy that's stuck in your head. I think at some point all women have been there !!! It's a wonderful book and I hear it's being turned into a movie starring Julia Roberts - can't wait for that.
Well, that's all for now.. be sure to check out goodreads.com!

Karen

2010-06-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

Another "New" Post

2010-06-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

I don't know how I've been able to get so much done lately, but I'm on a roll!!

I wanted to share a few more cards and tags for today. I've been trying even more new techniques! Have a look and see what you think.

An actual "NEW" post

2010-06-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

As much as I tried to stay away from this .....I couldn't....and I didn't really want to..

I was busy taking classes and re-evaluating my style. I always made cool tags but I wasn't

always happy with my cards. I thought they needed something more. So I worked and researched and experimented until I came up with a style I like. Apparently, I did okay because other people like it too!

So, after all this time I'm just going to post away and hopefully someone will enjoy what I'm doing.

I'm very excited about having one of my new cards featured on the Cards Blog. It's something I've been working on for a while and they featured another one!! Here it is along with some other new items!! Hope you enjoy!

I'd also like to share some other new items that I'll be listing in my Etsy shop very soon!

how not to blog!!!

2010-01-30T06:35:00.000-08:00

yes, this is definitely "How not to blog" ....by neglecting your blog for the month of january ....but I have been busy coming up with new ideas for things to create. I've been trying new things and also, patiently waiting for my new Letterpress to arrive!! I've been experimenting and playing with it and can't wait to show off the new stuff!!

I promise I will blog more frequently now.... but it's wasn't one of my resolutions!! I guess that makes it easier to accomplish. It is something I enjoy!!

I also wanted to comment on this little notice from Photobucket!! I've noticed it on other blogs and sites as well. It's a nasty way to try to get people to sign up to the website. I've never used photobucket so I'm not sure what's up with that. I guess there are lots of different ways to try to get business to your site - that is one way that I'm not impressed with and I'm sure many other people aren't either. Calling them out might be the only way to stop them!!!

Anyway, on to more important things....pics to come soon to show you what I've been up to!!

Ciao for now!!!
k

OWLS FOR CHRISTMAS

2009-12-15T07:40:00.000-08:00

While we're on the subject of Owls I also wanted to share this wool felt ornament that I made a while ago. I wanted to put him in my shop but I borrowed the pattern and I just want to share him because he turned out so cute.

Another great addition to my Christmas packages!!

2009-12-15T07:33:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to share my news and post a new blog for a long time now.

Everyone is crazy busy right now with the holiday season fast approaching.

I'm so excited about this and I have to share it. Lately, I've been submitting cards and tags for challenges on the Card Trends Blog. You know, the magazines or small books that you see at the book stores. The other ones in the series are Handmade (which is awesome), Scrapbooking Trends, Beads and Cards!!! I love their magazines so I checked out the blog and I've been submitting my work!!

It finally paid off and they accepted my Christmas Owl Jumbo Tag submission!!

Be sure to check out the blog - it's full of wonderful and talented artists!!

Here's a pic of my winning Jumbo tag. I think they really add a special touch to my holiday packages. Everyone I know will be gettting one of some kind. As I make different ones I'll post them.

ttfn

love small houses

2009-11-20T13:19:00.000-08:00

I know this is an odd thing to blog about but I love small houses with great architectural features. When I go walking or driving around the city I love to stop and take a picture of smaller homes. I love houses that look like they have sunrooms or smaller rooms at the back of the house. Some are one and a half storey with a loft upstairs. I love to imagine how I would decorate one of these houses. Here's a pic of one of my favorites.

isn't this one gorgeous!! I Love the narrow windows on either side of the door and the moulding around the door. I could move right in. Here's another one in the same neighbourhood!

The one on the left isn't really small but i love the architecture because it's an older home. The brick work around the door and the angel stone under the window really add to it.

I'll share more pics from more of my walks. I got a dirty look from one of the neighbours but it was worth it. These houses are great!!

obsessed already

2009-10-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

i'm already obsessed with ....yes, i'm going to say it....C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S!!

i had to do two store set ups already at work and i've been covered in glitter ever

since. i sometimes wish it was fairy dust and bring me a million or two ...but... my

day will come!!!!

i promised myself i wouldn't get too crazy with posting my stuff from my shop but

i do share my life as well on here

i am very happy with some of the cards and tags i've been making lately and it's

my blog so i'm going to post some of them. i found a new blog aptly named "cards blog"
from the magazine of the same name. it has almost tempted me to submit some of my cards......

maybe... just maybe i'll get the nerve to do it soon!!!!

here's some of my latest cards and thanks for stopping by!!

I'm Finally stepping into this century!

2009-09-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not I haven' t owned a cell phone since the 1980's and it really was the size of a shoe box! It was hilarious!
I finally decided that I can't take it anymore and I'm going to purchase a cell phone again.
I have never been soooo confused in all my life! I've narrowed it down to what I really want from a cell phone and decided I might need to narrow it down some more.
So, I really like the blackberry (and it's developed right here in Waterloo). The founder lives right around the corner from where I work. kool !! Then I looked at it again (Do I really need a blackberry??). Nope, but I like them and apparently I can "pin" my guy and we can text for free!! Most of my friends own one so that's more texting for free!
Now, there's the plan....still not finished my research and I may go insane before I finish.
I'm sure with a little more research I'll figure it out soon.
I'm still taking a survey on what people prefer - drop down keyboard, touch screen, flip phone?
Then, there's the color - black, blue, pink, green...? Bell or Rogers? Blackberry or other?
How many people on etsy have a blackberry and why?
Anyone who wants to post a suggestion - i'd love to hear..... thanks!!

County City Mouse Blog

2009-08-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

I have met so many great and kind people through etsy!! It really is the site I prefer for my shop. There are tons of Canadians on this site too (shout out to all my Canadian friends on etsy)!! Recently another Canadian asked if she could feature my shop on her blog. Of course I am thrilled!!! I love the way she does it. She picks a shop she likes, she actually does an interview ( i think it's a great idea) and then we decide what to feature for a giveaway! It's a much more personal way to feature someone. I don't like to copy people's ideas but this is just a very personal and nice way to feature a shop and help promote someone. I haven't started

featuring other people yet but this is the way I want to try it out.

Please check out her blog - countrycitymouse-pam.blogspot.com. She has a really great blog with lots of friendly followers!!

Be sure to enter the draw for my pumpkin softie!! Here's the link for that:

http://citycountrymouse-pam.blogspot.com/2009/08/mostly-sundays-giveaway.html

Here's a picture of my Pumpkin Pam softie:

Choumie7 from Paris, France

2009-08-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

I just had to write about how excited I am to be part of a blog from Paris, France.

I was notified a few days ago that Choumie wanted to put my cute little cupcake softie

on her blog. I'm not sure what time it is in Paris right now but my softie is featured

on her blog. She is a wonderful artist that everyone should check out. She found

me on etsy and she has a shop on etsy!! Check out her shop as well - awesome art!!

Just going to post a pic of my cupcake softie!!!

Thanks again Choumie!!!!

Merci Choumie!!!

Addicted to Forums

2009-07-31T09:08:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or is anyone else addicted to the forums on etsy?
I originally went on to see what it was all about on the advice of another etsian.
Before I knew it I was reading and reading and learning a lot about what I had
yet to do on etsy to promote my shop.
At first, I felt it was shameless promotion of my etsy shop but then I realized
that a lot of shop owners were on there and sometimes not saying much.
Other times, they had a lot to say!!
Within no time I came to realize that I could learn a lot from these generous
people. I learned where to advertise outside etsy, which ones were the best and
even my ever favourite, how to advertise on a limited budget.
The other great thing on the forums is positive reinforcement. Whenever I felt
discouraged all I had to do was log onto a forum and I'd find a positive thread to
follow.
At first I was afraid to post a comment. Then I just had to speak up (how odd considering I have a blog). It is fun and informative!!! I've even been so brave as to start a thread myself. I've just started with questions about how etsy works but someday soon I'm going to bust out with a thread that asks for everyone's opinion. Can't wait to come up with something.
How addicted to the forums have you become?

Crafter's Block

2009-07-07T07:02:00.001-07:00

We've all heard of writer's block but what about Crafter's Block? For those of us who love to craft, do you ever find you have too many new ideas and only a short block of time?
Thats' when I usually get blocked and just stop doing everything I love.
Do you ever just get overwhelmed with new ideas and can't sort them all out?
For those of us who have online shops I really think that's the time we spend doing our
advertising, chatting with others who enjoy the same activites and generally just avoiding our studios.
Then we have the organizers. I am truly one of those. I wll spend countless hours organizing my supplies, idea folders (not that it helps at the time), invoices, paper work, kid's paper work. I'll do anything but sit down at my desk to start a new project.
I also have an addiction to magazines. I've been told I need some serious help (there is not a support group for this). This is one of the places I get overwhelmed. I'll see a new color scheme that I love or a new technique. This will sidetrack me for days. Magazines offer so many inspiring ideas for crafters - some of them come complete with how to's. How dangerous!!
If anyone else has some of these symptoms or others - please feel free to comment on this blog and let me know your best method of avoiding getting the work done.

2009-07-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

2009-07-01T13:46:00.001-07:00

I've been doing some redecorating lately. Thought I'd put some vintage looking things on my favourite display cabinet. See the little house - that's my favorite thing. My son made it when he was just a little guy. Now he's in university in Montreal. He'd be so embarassed if he saw I posted it on my blog. But I love it!!! It's my dream home - it just needs to be on a beach at the ocean!!

Happy Canada Day!!!

New tags to sell

2009-06-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share some photos of some new tags that I've made for etsy and icraft.

I also updated photos and I really like how they turned out. Let me know what you think.

Crazy Life and Bootcamp

2009-06-17T06:34:00.000-07:00

Life has been crazy these last few weeks. If I could share some of the things that happen at my job as a retail manager I would (maybe someday). I'm just not sure everyone would believe me!! I possibly have a day off tomorrow so I can spend some time creating new things for Mostly Sundays.
If you have never heard of a site called icraft you need to check it out. It's Canadian and is going to take over soon - it just might beat out that other one. I have been taking part in a boot camp on that site run by a wonderful lady, Christine. The bootcamp has taught me more than I ever thought I could grasp about online shops and marketing. The things you learn about marketing can be applied to any service or store that needs good exposure. I have a great looking blog, etsy banner, icraft shop thanks to finding out about Polka Dot Pixels at bootcamp.

On July 1, 2009 bootcamp is starting all over again and I highly recommend this for any newbie to the online selling experience. There are more than enough helpful lessons to be learned.
I myself, am anxiously awaiting the advanced bootcamp!! Just go to icraft.ca to sign up for the bootcamp starting July 1st. I can't say enough good things about it. It has helped me greatly and I've met some super helpful (and just plain nice) people at icraft.

2009-06-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to write this for over a week now. I want to give many many thanks to Polka Dot Pixels. She designed my new blog, designed my business cards, my etsy banner and my avatar for etsy and icraft. I'm just having a little technical difficulties (ie. my bad computer skills) setting up the avatar on icraft and the sidebars here on my google.

So I'm dedicating this entire blog to Emily at Polka Dot Pixels. She stayed up late many nights to create this for me and I love it. She put up with me not being able to install anything and she got me started.

My fellow bootcampers at icraft probably can't see my new avatar because I can't get rid of the old ugly one. I have a request for help into icraft so hopefully I can get it fixed this weekend and everyone can see it.

For all the bootcampers that don't have a banner and avatar and business cards - if you didn't win the draw I highly recommend hooking up with Emily to get some of this stuff done. Besides, it sounds like it may be a requirement for the advanced bootcamp!!!!

See all of you back at bootcamp. Here is Emily's sticker for Polka Dot Pixels.

Talk soon.

Karen

2009-06-01T16:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm falling down on the job here with updating my new blog.

I hope everyone likes all the hard work from Polka Dot Pixels. I thinks she did a wonderful job - I'm so happy with the etsy banner, avatar and icraft avatar. She also did my business cards and I love them. Thanks again to Emily at Polka Dot Pixels. Check out her etsy shop and she can do a makeover for your blog and shop!!

Morel to tell about the bootcamp on icraft - its great for all of us newbies and I have lots to do to catch up.

I hear rumors from Christine that set up the bootcamp that there may be an advanced bootcamp - I think it will kill me but I'm up for the challenge and you should check it out too.

Like I promised, there is my first freebie and it's a really cute paper lantern. Check it out.

The first person to send me a story about their group of girlfriends just like my "Peeps in the Hood" (more about them later)!! will win the paper lantern. What is the last thing you did with your group of girlfriends??

Here is a pic of the lantern.

Penny the Pink Squarebie

2009-05-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

Penny the Pink Squarebie

2009-05-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

Here's another adorable Squarebie. These guys are great to cheer up friends.
These can be found on both my etsy and icraft shops.

New stuff for Mostly Sundays

2009-05-24T14:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some new softies that I'm adding to Mostly Sundays.

There are lots more of these cute guys to follow

2008-11-25T06:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas is definitely my all time, full out favourite time of year. Why is it this year I just can't get into the spirit full swing. Sure, I've asked what people want and I've played around with a few Christmas card ideas but time is wasting away.
Could it have something to do with the constant barrage from the media about the bad economy - why yes, yes it could!!! Is that going to stop me from enjoying Christmas - absolutely NOT!

I manage a retail store and the thing that amazes me the most is how people put their bad moods onto associates and people who look after them. If they aren't in the Christmas spirit then they don't want you to be either. If they aren't happy about something that happened to them then they don't want you to be either. So what do we do with all those Scrooges and Grinches? The Grinch being one of my all time favourite Christmas shows.

I recently (today) read an article about doing 50 good deeds in 50 days and that is how I'm going to kick of my Christmas season (even though there may not be 50 days left until Christmas)!!

This past weekend I had a customer bring an item into our store that he had obviously dropped and asked me to replace it. I remarked that I had no idea how that could have happened. The man responded by yelling at me and asking me if I was accusing him of dropping the item. Talk about projection....!!! that was a classic example. I simply told the crazed customer that I would check with my boss about replacing the item. The company then proceeded to offer the man an extra discount which he refused!! Instead it appeared his sole purpose was to get the expensive item replaced and accuse me of mistreating him. Now I ask you.. is that any way to treat another human being and what kind of Christmas spirit is that????
I offered him a better solution and he took the nastier route. Talk about a classic Scrooge move.

A few weeks ago, the ever famous Oprah had a man on her show who had written a book about how wait staff and people in the restaurant business are mistreated. Well, that also applies to people in retail. Just because someone has chosen a job providing a service does not mean it give people the right to abuse and yell and misuse the service. I'm going to share a lot more stories in upcoming blogs because I think people need to be aware of how badly they treat those people who are busting their butts to serve them while they start their Christmas shopping.
Next time you purchase something why not try thanking the person that helped you out or like the woman in the article I read who gave the clerk extra money to go towards a senior's coffee purchase. Let's get out there and change the Christmas spirit this year and try the 50 good deeds for 50 days and start while you're shopping !!!
Happy Shopping and Happy start to the Holidays.

Welcome to Mostly Sundays

2008-11-02T05:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new blog - Mostly Sundays!!!

I guess I'll start by introducing myself - I'm a Mom, a spouse, a daughter, a boss (much more about that later) and a merchandiser/artist/crafter/decorator !!!

I hope this will be a unique experience for everyone that reads my blog!!

I hear pics are they way to go and it so happens that I'm a lously photographer but I'll
give it my best shot and hopefully improve shortly.

My etsy shop has the same name for anyone who wants to check it out.

I also want to say a few words about some inspiring etsy shops that I love - I'm just going to list a few to start but of course, more later - I love Jane Says, Lemon Tree Studio and the truly unique Emilie Friday - check them out when you get a chance along with Mostly Sundays and let me know what you think about my choices! I think they are fun, bright and very creative!!

Well, I don't want anything to be too long and boring so I'm off to take some photos to post on
here !!