Stars' Reflections

2012-02-05T19:14:00.001-06:00

New listing in my skin care shop! This lovely thick lotion is the perfect pick-me-up for those sleepy after-lunch afternoons. Buy it herein my Etsy shop: Simple Stuff Skin Care. Your skin will love it! :)

Hill's Science Diet Adult Dog Food Review

2011-12-27T20:28:00.001-06:00

As you may know, I am a Bzz Agent for bzzagent.com. This means I occasionally get to try free things and write reviews about them. This time I received a sample of the Hill's Science Diet adult dog food for my bichon frise. Here is the review of that product:

I loved the idea of this dog food - healthy, balanced, no fillers, and chicken as the first ingredient. I received the adult dog food and began feeding it to my full grown bichon frise. She hated it, which really surprised me since she has never turned up her nose at food before.

My dog would "gum" the food, apparently looking for an acceptable piece. When she found one, she would crunch it to bits all over the floor, making a big mess of sharp dry dog food particles. She has always eaten dry dog food and has never made such a mess with any other brand before.

After a few weeks, she started losing weight and actively stealing food from my toddler in order to avoid eating the Science Diet. I began transitioning her back to her original food when she started growling at my toddler to try to steal her food. We never even finished the bag of Science Diet.

I'm not sure if it was the flavor of the food or if it was too hard for her to chew (those particles all over the floor were very sharp!), but I will not be purchasing or recommending this brand of dog food.

2011-10-22T02:40:00.000-05:00

So thick, rich, and creamy... ultra dry skin will suck this lotion right up with a satisfied "ahhhh." My customers RAVE about this lotion. Check it out here.

Harvest Apple Soap

2011-10-21T00:57:00.002-05:00

Autumn is my favorite season. Falling leaves, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie....mmmm! So many yummy scents. I have captured the lovely fragrance of crisp apples in this goat's milk soap. Enjoy a little bit of autumn with every bath or shower! Available here in my Etsy shop: Simple Stuff Skin Care. :)

Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Care Line

2011-10-19T22:15:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to try the new sensitive skin care line from Burt's Bees through the BzzAgent program. I was able to try the Sensitive Facial Cleanser and the Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream.

Some background about me: I have had sensitive skin for most of my life. I often deal with outbreaks of psoriasis. My skin is very dry, and skin care products that contain many artificial or abrasive chemicals can easily leave my skin red and irritated.

I have used Burt's Bees products extensively in the past, before I finally began making my own handmade soaps and lotions to better deal with my extreme skincare needs. Burt's Bees products, in general, have been gentler to my skin than other chemical-laden brands, and I was excited to try this new sensitive skin care line because of my past experience with the brand.

I will begin with the facial cleanser, which I found to be very good. The cleanser does not irritate my skin as other brands have done. It is not too runny, and it does not have any strong scent or perfumes. It cleans my skin well, preventing pimples with the same effectiveness as a typical cleanser, but with none of irritating chemicals. It also did not dry out my skin more than it already is, which is a huge plus for someone dealing with dry skin. I would recommend this cleanser to anyone who has sensitive and/or dry skin.

The Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Lotion also did not irritate my skin, which was good. However, since I have very dry skin, I have a problem with certain "lightweight" lotions: it feels like these lighter lotions simply "sit" on the outermost layers of my skin and do not penetrate to the deeper layers. As a result, my skin does not feel hydrated. I am sad to report that this was the case with Burt's Bees Daily Moisturizer. It did not feel like my skin was "drinking up" the moisturizer like it does with my homemade lotion.

I have not tried the Night Cream, so I cannot say how well it works. Maybe it would work better than the Daily Moisturizer for me. I am planning on trying that next. If it works well, I may just use it instead of the Daily Moisturizer.

Overall, I would use this product line if I did not already make my own products. (I gave up searching for a good product line for my sensitive/dry skin years ago, and have since formulated my homemade products to suit my needs.) I would recommend this product line to an individual struggling with dry/sensitive skin who does not have the knowledge or time to make their own skincare products.

My Precious Kids Pendant

2011-10-08T23:20:00.003-05:00

This ooak (one of a kind) handmade pendant consists of a collage with an inspirational saying. The collage is assembled on a smooth wooden pendant. The back of the pendant is painted black, and the entire pendant is sealed with a coat of water-resistant glaze.

The pendant is approximately 1.25 inches long by 1 inch wide (3.2 cm by 2.5 cm), not including the gold-colored bail. It comes with an 18 inch faux leather cord. The cord has a gold tone clasp to match the pendant's bail.

All of my jewelry comes with a complimentary gift box made from post-consumer recycled paper - perfect for gift-giving! Available in my etsy shop. :)

2011-10-08T22:42:00.005-05:00

2011-10-07T01:12:00.002-05:00

New pendant available for purchase in my etsy store. :)

Go, Dog. Go!

2011-10-07T00:09:00.005-05:00

A childhood favorite, now for sale here!

New Podflower Pendant!

2011-09-26T23:14:00.003-05:00

This pendant displays my signature design - an abstract pen and ink drawing that I call a "podflower." The podflower design is hand drawn on a sanded tree branch slice, harvested from my own backyard. The drawing is sealed with a coat of water-resistant glaze.

Like it? You can purchase it here.

My Online Shop is Slowly Reopening!

2011-09-26T02:35:00.000-05:00

After a year of being busy with consignment work, I've decided to reopen my Echoes of Stars' Designs, LLC Etsy store. Here is the first listing! Please check it out here. :)

A New Online Shop for Vintage Toys!

2011-09-24T16:06:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. I haven't blogged in forever. But I return with good news! I have just opened a new online store for lovely vintage toys - many of which were my own when I was a girl. It's called The Vintage Hedgehog. Check it out here.

For All You Star Wars Junkies

2010-10-09T21:56:00.000-05:00

Are you sitting in a windowless basement and need to know what the weather is like, but only understand the world around you in comparison to the fictional planets in the Star Wars universe? Well, fear not, my friend. The magic of the Internet has brought you this nifty site - where your current weather is stated as the climate of a Star Wars planet.

Currently, it's like Naboo out there. Temperate, dry, and fairly pleasant.

Autumn Tree Branch Pendant with Cord

2010-10-03T12:24:00.002-05:00

This pendant is unique! It consists of a hand-drawn design on a slice of natural tree branch, harvested from my own backyard. The bark is intact all the way around the pendant, and it still has some of the original lichen on the sides.

The drawing is an original pen-and-ink illustration of a tree, which is colored with sealed tissue-paper leaves in reds, yellows, and browns. The entire front of the pendant is coated with a water-resistant, resin-type sealant. It is an original hand-drawn work of art!

The pendant is roughly 1 ½ inches (3.8 cm) in diameter and is approximately ¼ inch (0.6 cm) thick. It comes with an 18 inch (46 cm) cord with a coordinating gold tone twist clasp.

Like it? Check it out here, in my Etsy shop!

Wow, it's been a LONG time.

2010-09-13T00:40:00.000-05:00

My poor, poor blog. I've been neglecting you. Facebook has stolen my attention away. But no longer! I will endeavor to write upon you once again.

So here's the scoop: Echoes of Stars' Designs is now officially an LLC! That's right, baby. I'm a small business owner! How cool is that?

And I haven't been posting new listings to my Etsy accounts lately because I've been struggling to keep up with the local volume! In addition to the Riverwest Co-op in Wisconsin, The Slingluff Gallery in Pennsylvania is also carrying a line of my pendants. And since this spring, the Sparrow Collective in Bay View and Pine Street Curiosities in Burlington are now also carrying my pendants (Sparrow is also carrying my soaps and lotions). The Almont Gallery in downtown 'Sha also carries select pendants as well. That's a LOT to keep up with!

I will also be at the St. Therese Craft Fair on November 6 so if you're in the 'hood, stop by and say "hi." Heck, I'll even let you buy something! :)

And the Winner Is...

2010-05-26T22:19:00.000-05:00

Tazim!

(Sorry for the delay, my week became insane!) You've won both of the prints. :) Congrats!

An "Oops!" Giveaway.

2010-05-19T01:34:00.002-05:00

My mistakes can be your gain...

I was recently printing two orders and, well, I messed up printing! The prints that resulted were not the correct sizes for the order, but they're still cute. Does anybody want them? If so, please leave a comment. The winner will receive both prints. I'll conduct a random drawing on Monday, the 24th and will post the winner on this blog. The winner will have 48 hours to acknowledge the win and provide me with an address to where I should mail the prints.

So have fun entering! I hope somebody can use them! :)

The first "oops" is my "Bunny" fine art print. As you can see, it printed vertically instead of horizontally. It is about 7 7/8 inches wide by 8 1/2 inches tall.

The second "oops" is a 4x6 inch print of my "Holy Hill Lomographic Style Photo." It was supposed to be a square, but came out as a 4x6 instead.

Fire and Ice Treasury

2010-05-08T01:53:00.000-05:00

Check it out before it expires on Sunday! Click here.

Giveaway-palooza!

2010-05-06T20:47:00.001-05:00

NOW Thrifty Mama is giving away an ipad! Woot! Click here. :)

Subway Gift Card Giveaway

2010-05-06T16:39:00.002-05:00

The Thrifty Mama is also giving away Subway gift cards! Check it out!

Seventh Generation and Cloth Diapers Giveaway!

2010-05-06T12:10:00.001-05:00

The Thrifty Mama just announced a giveaway: a disinfecting cleaning kit from Seventh Generation. Check it out here!

Oooh, and they just listed Happy Heiny cloth diapers, too! Check it out! :)

Chastity and Young Women

2010-05-03T23:58:00.001-05:00

Chastity is a stewardship principle - the stewardship of young men's hearts. Just as a young man in a dating relationship should respectfully and carefully take care of the young lady's emotions that she entrusts to him, a young woman should likewise take care of a young man's passions and not purposely tempt him with revealing clothing, body language, or words.

Dating is stewardship, plain and simple. You are a steward of each other's hearts and passions, and you are caring for them out of respect for each other's future spouses (even if they turn out to be someone other than you).

People in society today think that if a guy leers at a girl, he needs to control himself better - that he is entirely at fault, no matter what she is wearing - that girls can wear whatever they want and the guys must deal with reigning themselves in. Now, I am not saying that a man shouldn't control himself or am excusing improper behavior on the part of the men, but shouldn't women also bear some of that burden? When your neckline is cut so low that your cleavage plunges lower than your breasts, what are you really saying to men? What are you saying about yourself? What are you really asking for? And what... really... do you expect to be the response from young men?

The bottom line: if you don't want to be pursued just for your body, if you are serious about being respected for your intellect and emotions, if you value love over lust, then dress likewise. Choose clothes that are stylish, but not overtly sexy. Respect yourself and your brothers with what you wear and how you act.

Anybody want a sewing machine?

2010-05-02T10:36:00.000-05:00

I'm selling my old Singer sewing machine on Ebay for CHEAP! Bidding starts at $5.00. It works fine; I just need to clear the stuff I don't use out of my house before I qualify for an episode of "Hoarders."

Interested? Or know someone who would be? Check it out here.

Hurry! The auction only lasts 10 days. :)

Free Stuff for Lazy People = Good.

2010-04-20T02:01:00.003-05:00

Now, I'm not one to enter sweepstakes or fall for the whole "get free stuff" hype. In fact, usually when I see such advertising, it turns me off and I walk the other way. The reason? Because the average person never ever wins the free stuff being offered. I've learned from experience that most sweepstakes and contests are a waste of time, and by golly, my time is much to valuable to enter sweepstakes when I could be blogging instead.

But THIS is different. At Swagbucks you can download a search engine toolbar and you receive points randomly when you use it. No contests, no extra work, no gimmicks. Plus they have a hard-core anti-spam policy. They don't spam you, unless you ask for it.

So as you go about life on the Internet, you use this Swagbucks search toolbar instead of the one you usually do, and your points slowly add up. Eventually you can trade them in for gift cards to useful places (such as amazon.com), or even merchandise or electronics.

There are other ways to obtain points, too - like trading in old cell phones or referring friends - but if you're like me, that also takes too much work. Using the Swagbucks toolbar is a nifty way for lazy people to get free stuff. :)

Green Apple Pendant

2010-04-14T17:39:00.001-05:00

Ahh, summer. Can you feel it in the air yet? No? Well, then maybe you need this pendant to help remind you of summer's fruit. Just imagine sinking your teeth into a crisp, juicy green apple with a satisfying crunch! Ahh, summer. Bet you can feel it now. :)

The Green Apple Pendant is available for purchase at my Etsy shop.

Babushkas on my Brain.

2010-04-12T02:19:00.000-05:00

Babushkas, babushkas, babushkas! I made these CUTE little buttons, and then got inspired.
So I:
Drew a babushka of my own.
Traced it on a rubber stamp.
Carved it out.
And proceeded to stamp the living daylights out of random scrapbooking paper I had lying around.

I'll show you the results of my stamping spree later this week. However, if you are inspired by the little buttons as much as I was, go ahead and purchase them from my Etsy shop: Echoes of Stars' Designs.

For the Graduate

2010-04-05T23:38:00.000-05:00

A nifty little art pendant to celebrate graduation and the fact that you will never have to take those stupid ACT/SAT tests again! Check it out in my Etsy shop: Echoes of Stars' Designs.

New Soap Scent! :)

2010-04-05T02:12:00.000-05:00

Natural, exfoliating goodness with real blueberry seeds in a deliciously scented soap!

The scent reminds me of the multiberry syrup that they serve at my favorite pancake house. Mmmmm!

You can purchase this soap in my Etsy store: Simple Stuff Skin Care.

God is in Love with Us.

2010-04-04T14:04:00.002-05:00

God is in love with us. He made this beautiful world with exactly perfect conditions for life to flourish. He gave us souls and allows us to have free wills to choose what we want. He willingly sent His Son to die for us when we chose sin in order to protect us from the power of His own Holiness and Glory. And to top it all off, He eases the scars of the consequences of sin by offering hope and healing through a living relationship with Christ, and eternal healing for our bodies in the Life beyond. God is in love with us. Thank You, Lord!

Happy Easter. :)

The Inspirational Jar Pendants are BACK!

2010-04-02T00:05:00.000-05:00

After they've been gone awhile, I finally was able to locate the supplies to remake them. Seriously, I had to hunt all over for these little jars!

But they're back and ready to be shipped home to you and your loved ones! Available in "Faith," "Believe," and "Hope," each with its own inspirational message and gift box. Happy Easter, everyone!

Lookit! I'm a Featured Artist!

2010-03-18T02:32:00.000-05:00

I am proud to announce that the blog Senioritis is featuring yours truly as this week's artist! Come and check out my interview here. :)

Sometimes I fall off the face of the Earth.

2010-03-16T01:53:00.000-05:00

But I almost always return with pretty nifty stuff. Like my latest creation, a new series of pendants in ceramic pottery instead of wood! They have all been hand glazed by me and kiln fired. Check out the beautiful result in my Etsy shop, Echoes of Stars' Designs.

A Yummy New Soap Flavor!

2010-02-22T04:05:00.000-06:00

So wonderfully fragrant with rich chocolate and sweet peppermint that you will want to gnaw your arm off!

Just kidding, but it really does smell wonderful.

Want one? Check 'em out in my Etsy shop.

Today's New Pendant

2010-02-12T21:40:00.000-06:00

Check it out in my Etsy shop!

Kissed by a Whale

2010-02-11T19:09:00.000-06:00

This beautiful Beluga whale blows bubble ring "kisses" at her audience. How joyful!

The Fabric You've Been Dreaming Of

2010-02-10T23:51:00.001-06:00

Do you ever had an idea in your head for a bag (or a skirt or other fabric-made thingy), but you can't find a fabric that resembles what you envision, and then your dream bag (or skirt or other fabric-made thingy) is dashed to bits because no other fabric will do? Yeah, me too.

Until today. A friend of mine introduced me to spoonflower.com, a wonderful fairyland of fabric where you can (get this, folks) DESIGN and PRINT your own custom fabric! You read it right. How cool is THAT?

Well, yes, it's pricey. But when nothing else will do, we now have somewhere to design exactly what we want!

Yippee!

Always Wear Your Seatbelt.

2010-02-04T00:42:00.002-06:00

Simply a beautiful ad.

The Odd Couple

2010-02-02T23:45:00.000-06:00

Take a good look, America. Take a good look, World. If they can do it, what's our excuse?

It's BAAAACK and You Should Get Some.

2010-01-29T01:42:00.001-06:00

Is your skin feeling the effects of winter yet - tightness, dryness, maybe even cracking? Then you should buy some of my ultra-hydrating lotion. No, REALLY you should. This stuff works wonders.

But don't take my word for it. Check out ClaireBaby Designs' review of my lotion. It's simply wonderful.

Ready to order some? Click here. And if you'd like a different scent, check out the fragrance list on the homepage of my shop, Simple Stuff Skin Care.

Virtual Paper Snowflakes

2010-01-28T15:52:00.000-06:00

Stuck inside because of the cold? Give this cute website a try!

n00b luv Treasury

2010-01-16T05:37:00.002-06:00

Check it out! All newbie shops on Etsy with some awesome handmade and vintage items!

Click here to view my n00b luv treasury.

Greek Tragedy Performed by Dominos

2010-01-04T00:43:00.001-06:00

Today's Offerings

2009-12-30T02:11:00.002-06:00

First of all, would you like to purchase a 35 mm film camera in good working condition? Interested? Check it out in my virtual rummage sale.

Also, new to my Echoes of Stars' Designs Etsy shop is a small podflower pendant with a faux leather cord. Click here to check it out.

Virtual Rummage Sale

2009-12-28T11:13:00.000-06:00

I've opened up a new BluJay store to help get rid of some of the stuff we have. Hopefully other people can use and enjoy it!

Check out my virtual rummage sale here.

Today's News

2009-12-27T23:26:00.000-06:00

First of all, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. God is so good even when our circumstances are not, and His blessings are everywhere if we have the eyes to look for them.

I also wanted to share a few updates.

First of all, I have some new pendants and earrings posted in my Echoes of Stars' Designs Etsy shop. Here's a preview of some of them:

Also, new scents of soaps and lotions along with Happy Hair shampoo bars will be coming to my Simple Stuff Skin Care Etsy shop soon. Visit back later this week for details!

Kindred's Gifts on Grand and New Facebook Fan Page and Twitter Account

2009-12-21T00:46:00.000-06:00

I am very pleased to announce that Kindred's Gifts on Grand here in Waukesha is now carrying a line of my pendants and skin care items. If you're in the area, please stop by to check it out. I have many items in that store that are not available in my Etsy shops.

In addition, I just launched a facebook fan page for my Echoes of Stars' Shop, and I will launch another one for Simple Stuff Skin Care in the near future. You can view my facebook fan page here.

In addition, I've linked my facebook fan page to my twitter account (EchoesofStars on twitter), so you can receive product updates through facebook or twitter! Nifty!

So follow me on twitter, or become a fan on facebook, or both. :)

Be the HIT of Your Christmas Party!

2009-12-17T04:42:00.001-06:00

I find the number 6 segment to be particularily interesting. I wonder why it's so?

Check Out the Warm Winter Treasury!

2009-12-11T19:56:00.000-06:00

This warm winter treasury features my soap. It makes me feel all warm and cozy! Good job, susantique.

New Black and White Starburst Pendant

2009-12-07T14:42:00.000-06:00

Check out the new pendant available in my Etsy shop! :)

Good Idea, Dad

2009-12-06T10:37:00.002-06:00

Baby and Father in the Crib together! @ Yahoo! Video

Gotta love it when the Little Ones just want to snuggle. :)

New Stuff!

2009-12-05T03:40:00.001-06:00

In the spotlight today are two new items from my Etsy shops!

First, is a delicious new scent of goats' milk soap from Simple Stuff Skin Care. It's called cinnamon sugar, and it's soooo yummy-smelling! Click here to take a looksey!

Next up is my lovely new pendant from Echoes of Stars' Designs. It would make a perfect gift for someone who inspires you! Click here to check it out. :)

New Turqoise and Blue Eye Earrings

2009-11-29T20:12:00.000-06:00

These cool blue earrings consist of lightweight glass and plastic beads. They measure just over 2 inches (5.1 cm) long from the bottom tip to the top of the earwire.

All of my jewelry comes with a complimentary gift box made from post-consumer recycled paper - perfect for gift-giving!

Available in my Echoes of Stars' Designs Etsy shop.

Helping the Earth, One Shoe at a Time

2009-11-27T00:35:00.001-06:00

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We did as we shared it with family. During our conversations, I noticed Craig's shoes. They were pretty cool looking. He told me that they were from Simpleshoes.com, a shoe company that makes shoes from organic and recycled materials, including car and bike tires for the soles! I checked out their website, and I definitiely am getting a pair. What a cool way to save the planet! :)

Slow Motion Owl

2009-11-24T12:26:00.001-06:00

Pretty amazing. And a little creepy.

Just in Time for Christmas: Simple Stuff Skin Care Gift Baskets!

2009-11-23T01:32:00.000-06:00

This week I will be posting two skin care gift baskets to my Etsy shop, Simple Stuff Skin Care. Here's the first!

Are you looking for something to give that person who has everything? Why not give a gift of rich, creamy goats' milk soap and lotion? Everyone can use a little help combating winter dryness! It's a gift that they'll definitely use.

Blue Eye Earrings

2009-11-22T18:36:00.000-06:00

New cool Blue Eye earrings made from glass and plastic, available at Echoes of Stars' Designs.

Virtual Rummage Sale on ebay, Part 1 of Many

2009-11-20T00:54:00.003-06:00

We have *a lot* of stuff. Too much. In lieu of having a rummage sale this year, we're attempting to pawn off some of our goods on ebay. Mind you, they're in pretty good condition since Todd and I were both collectors. We're starting with the massive pile of Beanie Babies.

This particular pair has a coloring snafu. As quoted by Mike:

Rainbow the beanie is a Chameleon. This beanie has a collar of fabric around his neck. He should be made with a rainbow colored fabric (pink, yellow, red, green, blue... mostly light colors) (Ty-died)

Iggy the beanie is an Iguana. Iggy looks almost identical to Rainbow. He has no collar, but green spikes down his back, and is made with a blue green fabric (Ty-die)

Originally people thought that these two beanies somehow got their tags switched in production. What actually happened was their fabrics were switched.

Check 'em out and buy them in my new ebay store.

Nifty Guitar Shoes

2009-11-18T21:15:00.001-06:00

So I designed these fabulous Keds on Zazzle. I'm waiting a bit before I order a pair, but they sure do look nifty online!

PS - If you like them, you can buy them, too. ;)

Lomographic-Style Prints

2009-11-18T01:21:00.003-06:00

I am so stinkin' proud of myself.

I love love love lomography. I wish I had a camera and the know-how to shoot cool pictures like those. But alas, I don't.

However, I DO have an old version of Photoshop and a curious mind that likes to experiment and figure things out.

I found this nifty tutorial on how to make digital photographs look like lomography. Although I couldn't follow the tutorial exactly since my version of Photoshop is so old, I think I did come up with something pretty cool. What do you think? Please leave a comment. I'd appreciate feedback on this new endeavor.

PS - I just posted prints of this picture for sale in my Etsy shop. Check it out! :)

Good Goats' Milk Soap in Lavender Vanilla

2009-11-17T17:04:00.002-06:00

So rich, creamy, and thick. Your skin will love the moisture, and you will love the relaxing scent!

**Why should you care about which kind of soap you use?**

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It is permeable and will allow the things that come in contact with it to be absorbed. This includes the chemicals and artificial fragrances found in commercial soaps.

**So why is this soap so good for your skin?**

Goats' milk is naturally full of many essential vitamins and minerals that help your skin cells stay healthy and repair themselves. Goats' milk naturally contains: calcium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3 and B-12, to name a few. Since your skin absorbs some of what comes into contact with it, why not allow it to come into contact with a daily dose of healthy vitamins and minerals?

Since goats' milk is easily absorbed by the skin and contains so many healthy ingredients, it is especially well-received by people who have sensitive skin (like me!). People who have problem-skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can especially benefit from the vitamins and nutrients in goats' milk. (Although always check with a doctor before using this product if you have a severe case of problem-skin.)

The Simple Stuff in this product:
Saponified oil (coconut, palm, castor and safflower), glycerin, pure liquid goat's milk, filtered water, sorbitol (a humectant derived from berries), sorbitan oleate (an emulsifying agent taken from sorbitol), soy bean protein, and essential oils (for fragrance)

Queen of Diamonds Pendant

2009-11-17T01:18:00.002-06:00

New! For sale in my Etsy shop. :)

Urban Spectacles

2009-11-16T02:01:00.000-06:00

I must own a pair of these wonderfully wooden glasses before I die. They are just the coolest thing I've ever seen. I love this pair with the metal dots. Check out www.urbanspectacles.com for these and other really cool glasses!

The New "Music" Pendant

2009-11-16T01:53:00.001-06:00

It's available in my Etsy store: www.echoesofstars.etsy.com

Starling Ballet

2009-11-14T16:04:00.000-06:00

As seen on The Buzz Log.

"A really, really big flock of 300,000 birds created a wavelike cloud over Denmark. According to ornithologists, these feathered friends really do prefer to roost together, and the massive formations are a sort of pre-roost ritual that take on these odd shapes."

Nom nom nom!

2009-11-13T16:59:00.002-06:00

The Parrot Who Shagged Me

2009-11-12T22:40:00.002-06:00

You know you're a hard-core conservationist when THIS happens...

I Only Have Eyes for You...

2009-11-12T15:57:00.000-06:00

Check out my treasury before it expires on Sunday.

Another Gorgeous Treasury

2009-11-06T15:30:00.002-06:00

Filled with gorgeous work! Check out the Sugar Plum Themed Treasury, curated by me. :)

Confidence, Confidence!

2009-11-04T11:48:00.002-06:00

Today's post is on what so many artists and crafters need - CONFIDENCE! I recently talked to a couple of crafty friends who are just starting out in their businesses, and they were reluctant to either open an online store or participate in craft fairs because they thought that no one would buy their work.

By the way, both of these crafters' work is fabulous (in my honest opinion).

Which leads me to the point of this post. You will always be your own worst critic, and in actuality, it's not your opinion that counts - it's your customers'. So how do you know if your products are something that other people would buy? Here are two questions to help you discern if you have something worthwhile:

1. Are your products something that not everyone can make? (i.e. do they require a certain skill or a large amount of patience to produce? If so, then they are most likely marketable.)

For example: Crafter A makes necklaces by threading a single paper clip on a string. Probably not much of a market for that. Crafter B, on the other hand, makes complex scenes out of bent paperclips, paints them unusual colors, and markets them as "desk art." Now, there may be a market for this.

You may be thinking, "Well, anyone can bend paper clips," or "Anyone can work with wood." But that's simply not true. The key question is: is there SKILL involved? For instance, I can work with wood by gluing it, hammering it, or drawing on it, but my father in law can make entire benches and mailboxes. His skill level is vastly greater than mine in woodworking. Not everyone can do what he does. I certainly can't right now.

2. Put your ego and your self-esteem aside. Do you (in general) like your work? Would you buy it? (Don't focus on your worst piece; when answering this question, find a piece to critique that represents the majority of your work.) If you would buy it, probably others would too.

Now some people have trouble honestly critiquing their own work. If you cannot do this fairly, enlist an honest person to tell you what he/she thinks and be prepared for both positive and negative feedback. (Asking a friend isn't always helpful, because the friend may not want to hurt your feelings. Asking a total stranger is preferrable.)

If yes, it is not something that just anyone can make, and yes, it is something that you would buy yourself, there is most likely a market for it.

Now here's a common scenario: a crafter attends a craft fair and does not sell many goods. Does this mean there is no market for his craft? No! The crafter may simply be at the wrong venue for his work. What sort of people would your goods attract? Are they artsy, country, girly, manly, students, old ladies, or steampunk? A seller of goth steampunk jewelry probably won't do much business at a parish craft fair attended by little old ladies.

So, if no one or few people buy your work at first, don't despair! Reevaluate the type of person your work would attract, and seek venues to sell your products where those kind of people frequent.

And above all, remember that most businesses start out slowly. Don't expect great mobs of people to buy your work at first, but don't be so hard on yourself that you assume that your crafting endeavor is a failure right off the bat. It may take a year or two of dedicated work to get your name out and establish a solid customer base.

One word on integrity: don't infringe on other people's ideas. I see so many crafters using copyrighted characters on their goods. You wouldn't want someone copying your work and selling it, so don't do it to others, even if it's a big corporation. Instead, why not come up with your own characters? Write a story to go with each item when the customer buys it. That not only heightens your creativity, but prevents your integrity from being injured by becoming a "knock off" artist.

So, fellow crafters - have confidence! Confidence attracts others. If at first you don't succeed, reevaluate, and try, try again!

Treasury Time Again!

2009-10-31T13:42:00.000-05:00

I'm honored to be included in this beautiful treasury by Baruch's Lullaby. Check it out here!

Charlie Bit Me!

2009-10-30T22:00:00.002-05:00

Adorable!

An Engineer's Guide to Cat Yodeling (with Cat Polka)

2009-10-29T09:18:00.000-05:00

Fast forward past the black and white part. You will know when the funniest part of the video begins when it is in color.

Who Wants this Twenty Dollar Bill?

2009-10-28T15:55:00.000-05:00

Several hands went up, but the lecturer said:

"Before handing it over, there’s something I must do."

He furiously crushed it, and asked again:......

"Who still wants this bill?"

The hands continued raised.

"And what if I do this?"

He threw it against the wall, letting it fall to the floor, kicked it, stamped in it and again held up the bill - all dirty and crumpled. He repeated the question, and the hands continued to be held high.

"You mustn’t ever forget this scene - said the lecturer. - No matter what I do with this money, it’ll still be a 20 dollar bill. Many times in our lives, we are crushed, stamped on, kicked, maltreated, offended; however, in spite of this, we are still worth the same."

Handmade Conditioner!

2009-10-27T17:42:00.001-05:00

It smells great and works wonderfully! Buy it at my Etsy store: Simple Stuff Skin Care. :)

DIY Business Cards

2009-10-26T17:27:00.002-05:00

I design my own business cards. Always have. The reason why is because as an artist, I think it's cheap to have someone else's artwork on the card that is representing you and your art. Therefore, I have always designed and ordered my own business cards online.

But there are some problems with this.

#1 - It's expensive. I print both the front and the back of my cards because I have two shops - Echoes of Stars' Designs and Simple Stuff Skin Care. Although this saves paper, it jacks up the printing cost of the cards. Not to mention that I always do a custom design of my own artwork as the background, which also increases the cost. I tried printing them at home on my printer, but that also is not cost effective since printer ink is so expensive!

#2 - I always felt bad about my cards' impact on the environment. Ordering business cards online does not leave you many options for recycled material. Printing your own is better because you can purposefully choose recycled paper, but there's still the environmental impact of the ink and printer cartridges to consider.

What to do, what to do? Well, I stumbled upon www.iprint.com where you can custom design a business card-sized STAMP. Yes, folks, a STAMP! Then you can stamp your own cards and only have to pay for stamp pad ink (which is way cheaper than printer ink)!

Now here's the really cool part - I use scraps of cardboard I find lying around the house for my cards. Not only is it recycled, it's also being reused! And the next time I go to the scrapbooking store, I'm going to buy some environmentally-friendly ink. How cool is that?

Just thought I'd share. :)

Free Photo Booth

2009-10-24T22:58:00.001-05:00

Hilarious!

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - Themed Treasury

2009-10-24T03:37:00.002-05:00

Check it out before it expires on Monday. :)

Craft Fair! Part One

2009-10-22T13:11:00.000-05:00

So I'm going to be in a craft fair! Come visit and buy stuff! Here's the info:

FairHarvest Craft Fair
November 7th, 9:00AM—4:00PM
November 8th, 11:00AM—4:00PM
St. Therese Parish on 95th & Bluemound (next to the zoo)

All handmade crafts— no vendors
Handicap-accessible
Concessions available
Ample parking
Will not be canceled due to weather
Raffle to benefit Hunger Task Force—
Donate two non-perishable food items to get a free raffle ticket!
Milwaukee-area Entertainment Books will be on sale for $35.

Want details or directions? Click here.

The Attack of the Vicious Beagle Puppy

2009-10-17T15:21:00.000-05:00

Adorable!

Creamy and Rich Oatmeal Goats' Milk Soap in Vanilla

2009-10-16T21:24:00.000-05:00

After months of puttering around with different batches, I think I finally nailed the right formula for my goats' milk soap. Here's my first batch up for sale: in creamy and rich oatmeal vanilla.

New Ammonite Fossil Pendant

2009-10-16T04:21:00.003-05:00

For sale in my Etsy shop.

Car Seat Canopy

2009-10-14T14:46:00.001-05:00

So after searching and searching for something to protect Little One from the cold, wind, snow, and rain while traveling to and from the car, I finally gave up. I had found some car seat canopies online, but none in a fabric that I liked. (Heck, if I'm goning to be hauling around a car seat, I want it to look good while I'm carrying it!)

So I decided to make my own. I found a tutorial on this wonderful blog: While They Sleep by Hannah Stevenson. The only problem is that I haven't worked a sewing machine since I was in middle school home economics class. But such little things don't stop me!

So this is what I came up with. I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself. Not only did I not have a pattern, I figured out my sewing machine in one evening, and when I took Little One for her first vaccination, the nurse was impressed with my canopy! She had never seen a car seat canopy before. But before I made this, neither had I.

And I'm Also in a Treasury

2009-10-12T10:50:00.000-05:00

Click here. Made by rawartletterpress.

Everyone Should Have a Bag This Cool

2009-10-12T00:21:00.000-05:00

So every once in a while I get something truly outstanding on Etsy. (Don't get me wrong, most of the items that I purchase and/or trade for on Etsy are fabulous, and almost every one has a much higher quality than what I would find in a retail store.) But sometimes I just stumble upon something exceptional for the price. This bag is one of those things.

Dish Handbags appears to be a relatively new seller on Etsy. I discovered her shop while chatting with her in Etsy's chat rooms. I immediately noticed her diaper bags and clutches. I asked her if she could custom-make a messenger bag that was a cross between a small clutch and a large diaper bag. I am so impressed with the result of what she made! The work is high-quality, the packaging was very professionally done, and the shipping was very fast. She even threw in a couple of extra surprises! I am also impressed with the speed that she finished this custom order, and the price is also very reasonable.

So, check out Dish Handbag's shop here. If you order from her, I am sure you will love your new bag as much as I love mine. :)

The Written Word Treasury

2009-10-11T04:55:00.002-05:00

Click here before it expires on Tuesday.

Help a Sister Out

2009-10-09T15:26:00.000-05:00

So times are tough. Which is why I've added ads to my blog. If you click on them, I receive some moolah. So every time you read my blog, if you wouldn't mind, please click on the ads. Every little bit helps! :)

Please scroll down to the bottom of my blog. The ads are on the right. :)

Take THAT, Moon!

2009-10-07T11:01:00.002-05:00

We're going to bomb the moon. Seriously. Check it out.

Awesome Bird Photo

2009-10-05T22:04:00.000-05:00

Click here.

All the Single Babies!

2009-10-01T13:08:00.002-05:00

Beyonce ain't got nothin' on this kid!

Spider-Made Fabric

2009-09-28T11:35:00.003-05:00

For real. Some crazy people milked spiders for their silk and wove a tapestry.

And I thought I had strange hobbies...

New Pendant

2009-09-27T13:36:00.001-05:00

Check it out! For sale on Etsy.

Cedarburg Adventure

2009-09-26T18:55:00.003-05:00

So today a friend and I traveled to Cedarburg, Wisconsin. I've been to the Cedar Creek Winery before for some delicious cranberry wine, but today's adventure had a different goal - to check out the Gem Shop Inc., which my friend had heard was great for field trips.

Well, the Gem Shop is an experience in of itself. We spent over an hour there. They have polished gems and rocks from all over the world - precious, semi precious, and common. But the best part is in the basement. If you ask the clerk, he will let you in the back room and down into the basement where you really feel like it's a prospector's mine. There are boxes, barrels, and crates of all sorts of rocks there, clearly labeled, for you to pick up and examine (even the mercury ore had a sign that said "do not lick"). All of the rocks are for sale. There even were some very large chunks of fossilized dinosaur bone that were too heavy for us to lift!

If you want a geode or any sort of rock, go here. They cut and polish them on site, too. It's a great place to take the kids.

After we explored all of the Gem Shop, we snooped around in other stores and finally got to be very hungry. We stopped to eat at the August Weber Haus. The food was delicious! If you go, try the chicken delight sandwich - grilled chicken, aged cheddar, and apple butter on a toasted roll. It was the best sandwich I've ever had!

We'll have to go back again soon. Yay for Cedarburg!

Stuff that I could live without, but it would be very, very difficult...

2009-09-23T11:30:00.007-05:00

Ok new moms. Here's some free advice for things that you really need to save your sanity during life with baby. The first is a really good breast pump. I have the Medela Freestyle, and it has made breastfeeding so much easier!

I love it because it allows me to pump hands-free, which means I can get some work done while the baby is sleeping. Also, it lets her dad feed her, which means I don't have to be up for every single night shift. I can also leave the house without the baby to go out with my girlfriends. I can leave her at home with her dad and a bottle of breast milk and know that she's well taken care of. In addition, it's great to use if you have trouble breastfeeding - your little one will still get all the nutrition and benefits from breast milk without the pain or discomfort so many women encounter while nursing.

The other thing that saved my sanity was a Moby wrap. The Moby is a long piece of cloth fabric that holds the baby close when wrapped around your body.

The Moby lets my little one sleep soundly while being held (her favorite pastime next to eating), and still allows me to get some work done.

This wrap is so much better than the baby carrier I have for many reasons: it distributes the weight of the baby evenly across your back, not just on your shoulders; it allows the baby to be right against your chest, which allows for some skin-to skin contact (skin to skin helps regulate the baby's breathing, temperature, and stress hormones), and it allows you to breastfeed while wearing the wrap. It's entirely comfortable and very easy to use once you get the hang of it. Here's a video on how to put it on correctly.

So, new moms, if you buy anything for yourself, treat yourself to these two items. You won't be sorry that you did!

A Very Good Day

2009-09-20T00:53:00.003-05:00

So today I went to the Apple Harvest Festival at Retzer Nature Center, and I was wearing one of my Podflower pendants. A lady came up to me and asked me if I purchased it at the Riverwest Co-op. I told her no, that I made it, and that I also sell them at the Co-op. She said she really liked my work and had just purchased one of the pendants for her niece. She was excited to meet the artist who made the pendants, and I was thrilled to meet someone who had purchased one!

This is the first time that this has ever happened to me. I've sold many pendants online and at Riverwest, but I've never meet someone randomly who has bought one or has heard of my work. It was a really cool feeling! :)

Other women also asked where I got my pendant while I was there, and I handed out some business cards. Plus I bough very tasty apples and another pair of warm winter mittens. All in all, a VERY good day!

A Bony Treasury

2009-09-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

Click here.

Etiquette, Please

2009-07-31T21:54:00.002-05:00

I'm not usually one to complain about things like manners regarding baby showers, bridal showers, etc. because I know that everyone has circumstances beyond their control. But lately a few things have been bugging me.

The first is the lack of people responding to a request to RSVP. I know I've been guilty of this more than once, so I'm not too critical about it. However, when you have more guests that DON'T respond than who DO, it gets annoying. It's especially awkward when you have to call each person and ask, "Are you coming to my shower?" FYI everyone - it's ok to say no, but when someone asks you to RSVP, PLEASE say something by the date indicated on the invitation. "No" is much more preferable to silence. Also, if you say "yes," please make every effort to come, especially if the people throwing the shower are serving a meal. They've prepared food for you, so it's only polite to come and eat it, otherwise the hosts could have saved their money by not including you.

The second is something that I've noticed more and more, and again I'm not overly upset about it because I know that lots of people have fallen on hard times, but if you are going to a shower, especially one that is serving you a meal, it is nice to bring a small gift or at the very least a card. Otherwise you give the appearance that you are only there for the meal, which is discouraging to the person being honored and the people throwing the shower. If you can't afford a card, then at least make one yourself and pen your own thoughts/prayers/wishes in it. Showing up with absolutely nothing at all is simply bad form and makes you appear thoughtless or cheap.

This last one is the one that stumps me the most. I've received gift cards from friends, family, coworkers and students. Gift cards are wonderful, but not when they're previously used with no balance left. I've received more than one that had no balance on it. One of them actually had the code on the back scratched off but was regifted anyway. Another was a brand new card that was never charged at the cash register. In these cases I wonder, why bother? Are you trying to look like you're giving a gift when you're actually not? Why even bother going to all that trouble? Why not just avoid the shower and not give anything at all? Or simply give a card without a gift?

I personally find this practice of gifting used or blank gift cards absolutely rude. Twice I've gone to the checkout, thinking that I had money on the gift card, and it turned out there was none. One time I actually had to leave everything I was buying and come back later when I had some cash. How frustrating! Please, if you do this, please stop. It's very frustrating for your friends, even if it saves you from embarrassment.

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the gifts people have given me and for everyone who has shown up at my showers. I love you and appreciate you all very much. I just think a lot of us can brush up on our manners when it comes to this stuff.

Now THIS is how to make an entrance.

2009-07-31T15:26:00.000-05:00

Coconut Run

2009-07-14T18:22:00.000-05:00

Click here for a fun physics game.

A Goat Game

2009-07-10T19:30:00.001-05:00

This is annoyingly cute and somewhat addicting...

Don't Mess with the Monkey

2009-07-07T17:10:00.001-05:00

Monkey vs. tigers. Monkey wins.