aliciamae_8's Xanga

Hummingbirds

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:26:10 GMT

Stop by my Blogger blog to keep up with things and see my new little hummingbird friends!

aliciamae280.blogspot.com

Join me live on the radio!

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:45:56 GMT

I will be the co-host of the Blockhead Radio Artisan's Teams&Groups show tomorrow night, April 21, at 8pm EST!! The topic of discussion is Blogfire, the Artfire blogging guild (I'm the guildmaster).

Stop by Blockhead Radio Live and listen to me on the radio tomorrow night!! And stop in their chat or call in to say hi!

Featured blogger - April

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:47:00 GMT

This month's featured EtsyBlogger is TwoZanyZebras - Specializing in all things Zany (I love it!)

First off, I have to give her props on the purple colored theme in her banners and avatar - I love it! :)

She's a stay at home Mom with two kids, you can stop by her blog to read her "notes on her zany life", including a heartbreaking tale of her Easter egg hunt for Cadbury eggs (oh, the horror of lost chocolate! made me cry - seriously - I don't have kids because I don't want to share my chocolate! :D lol) She's also a member of Etsymom in addition to EtsyBloggers. She celebrated her first Etsyversary earlier this month.

If you have kids, she has some unique clothing and critters for them - zany critters I'd even say (I love it that I get to use that word over and over in this post! lol) called Zarkles. Some of them may even be of interest to adults with a passion for all things zany...

April 21 - Mark it!

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:36:05 GMT

April 21 at 8pm EST my blogging guild will be the feature on BlockheadRadio Live - a 24/7 independent internet radio station.

Stop by and say hi via chat or phone call-in line. We'll be talking about Blogfire, handmade, and business.

Earth Day

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:00:19 GMT

Earth Day is April 22 - a day about education and awareness regarding the environment and conserving our resources. There are a number of ways to be eco-friendly - using reusable shopping bags, limiting waste, planting your own garden, and using recycled/recyclable materials. This week's EtsyBloggers blog carnival is about what we do to be more "green" at home.

I try to reuse shopping bags, but I either forget them or feel self-conscious about using them. I live in a more environmentally conscious part of the country now and it's mostly about remembering them! We have a new food coop opening this summer that I'm very excited about, and I do hope to plant some things of my own. We also have a local farmer's market during the summer, which cuts back on packaging waste and supports local businesses.

To reduce waste, and save money, around the house I use reusable fabric swiffer sweeper cloths, which are also great dust cloths. We also recycle as much as we can - newspaper, paperboard, glass, plastic, and aluminum. I try not to throw out clothes, I use the fabric of torn and holey clothing if I can as towels or dust cloths, or if they're in good shape I donate them so someone else can use them.

When I have something to ship out I reuse packing materials as much as possible, including bubble wrap, cushioning, cardboard boxes, and brown paper.

This summer I'll be recycling wood from an old desk for painted plaques, we have been waiting for the weather to warm up before moving the boards outside to take them apart and break out the saw! I just can't fathom throwing it in the dump. I also have an old dresser I want to repaint to keep it in use for another 20 years (it's been in my family for about 50 and it needs some work). I was going to do that the year before last and just didn't have an open area to work.

To save energy (and money) we keep our thermostat turned down during the winter, supplementing with layered clothes and a small space heater if necessary.

We don't really think about it too much, and I was almost certain I wouldn't have much to say on the topic, but I guess we do more than I thought :)

Recommended Polymer Clay

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:39:53 GMT

The next recommendation in my series is for someone who I go way back with, before Etsy. She's actually the one who introduced me to Etsy a couple years ago when she started selling jewelry - now she's a member of the New Orleans craft mafia and a total polymer clay diva!

She's Tressa of Flambeaux Design Company - a fab one woman show with a number of signature pieces! Namely bird pin, chandelier necklaces, poppy and corsage pins, and buttercup necklace. (Follow her on Twitter if you want to hear about new listings in her shops!) She's also now on Artfire.

Tressa's designs are both practical and unique, with a bit of that NOLA flair. She's also a great seller who wants to make sure things work out. You can find her at the Craft Mafia events if you want to see her work in person.

Recommended Handsewn Goodies

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:17:00 GMT

Last year, I moved into a house with lots of laminate flooring, very little carpeting. This means I have a lot of swiffering and sweeping to do. But those swiffer cloths, even the dry ones, are expensive over time and I feel bad making more waste just to clean.

So I found the resuble ones made of a flannel-like material and reinforced around the edges. They're made by QuiltingMama and they are wonderful! I use them not just for the floor but for general dusting as well. Then I just throw the cloth in the wash. I have one I have used over and over again that is still just as good as the day I bought it.

I highly recommend these great eco-friendly and reusable dust cloths. They even fit the bigger, newer Swiffer sweepers.

QuiltingMama makes other great products that you can see in my spotlight below in her shop on Etsy linked above - blankets, quilts, bibs, clothing, coffee cozies, photo album covers....

Blogfire on Blockhead Radio April 21

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:21:00 GMT

Due to new program scheduling, Blockhead Radio Live has moved the Artisans Team & Groups show to Tuesdays at 8 pm EST. This means that Blogfire will be the topic on April 21 instead of the previously scheduled time. (Prime time!!)

Guild members should be sure to stop by and register on the website, and then take part in the show on Tuesday April 21 starting at 8 pm EST if they can.

Featured EtsyBlogger - March

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:13:00 GMT

This month's featured EtsyBlogger is Nora of DesignByNora.

I didn't realize it, but March is National Craft Month. I have Nora to thank for pointing that out!

She's also offering a dollar off items in her shop throughout the month - read about it on her blog entry about hitting 100 posts.

The one thing that strikes me about Nora's shop is her cute polymer clay flower earring studs! What a great product line :) She also has cute star shaped earrings.

Stop by her blog to read more about her.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
DesignByNora.etsy.com

Recommended Soy Candles and Soap

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:18:00 GMT

I have the most delicious soy candle that I use to freshen up the house - it's "lick me all over" by DesertMaidenBathworks in New Mexico. I also have a gingerbread applesauce that I have yet to light because the other one is lasting me.

Angelica of Desert Maiden Bathworks makes marvelous handmade soy candles and also offers handmade soap with rich scents and no-fuss textures. Even though I haven't tried her soap, I know she takes care that her products will treat your family right because she has a family of her own, with her youngest being an infant.

You can also find her as Desert Maiden Bath on Etsy where she offers a larger stock and variety, including Ropewalk Amber Ale beer soap when she has a batch ready.

Think of it - scents like Nag champa, coffee, buttercream, dreamsicle, coconut lime, and fresh laundry....*sigh*