Baby Steps

Really! This is one (2 actually) of my new stamps. Each foot is a separate stamp, and they are soooo cute!

The earrings are some I made this morning as free gifts to send with orders. The little tiny ring that says JOY is a custom-ordered baby's ring in a size 0!

The customer said that her Mom has a ring that says "love", hers says "faith",
her daughter's says "hope" and now her granddaughter's says "joy". I think that's awesome! 4 generations of women with a tradition!

May you all have traditions!

Do You Twitter?

Sounds like a stupid question, huh? It's a website, and I've been tweeting (that's what it's called, I swear!) for a couple of days and my sales have really picked up.

This is my username http://twitter.com/tammystreasures you can follow me or anybody. It's like a mini blog. You can post little updates about your website or Etsy store, with links, and just post about what's going on. Others see your posts and can find your shop.

There are some great tutorials in the forums at Etsy that explain how to use it. Give it a try. It seems to work!

I was on the frontpage again on Tuesday. This time it didn't kill my sales! I had over 600 views in a couple of hours and I thought it was a glitch! I don't know if I got any sales from it, but at least it didn't hurt. Last time I was on it I didn't have a sale for 3 days! LOL

Well, I gotta go. Lots of people to kill! I'm fighting WWII right now. (PS2) ;)

Tag... You're It!

I haven't played tag since I was a kid! This morning I was tagged by Joanne of Not Your Average JoJo. So without further ado...

Here are seven random facts about me:

1.I'm painfully shy around new people or crowds

2.I wanted to be a veteranarian when I was young

3.I laugh a LOT

4.I cry over sad movies and commercials on TV

5.I kiss my dogs and they kiss me

6.I love living in the country, in the woods

7.I wear pajamas all day when I can!


Okay, the rules are I now tag seven other people, post a link to their blogs here on mine, then let them know they've been tagged. Soooo, TAG your it!!!!

Deer Mountain Wood Art

A Metalsmith's Journey

Chris Kerr Jewelry

Pink Zinnias

Rosa and Josie's

Lavender Cottage
Originals

Nomadic Creations

The Itsy Bitsy Spider...

I got these tiny spiders from Loveland Beads on Etsy! There were 50 of them!



Isn't it cute?!



I got the brass leaf a while back (also at Etsy) and it was just waiting for a cute little spider to come along and have a seat!

The spiders are fine silver and they are teeny! I am afraid of real spiders, but these are to adorable to fear!

I did a lot of supply shopping on Etsy last week. I got a lot of new brass charms to use, and I can't wait to get started. I also got 3 new metal stamps, but they're a secret! You'll just have to wait to see them.

I bought some handmade soaps and solid perfumes from Dennis Anderson. You should check out his shop. The soaps smell wonderful and the solid perfumes are awesome. They last all day! He even included an extra free perfume and it's great, too!

I plan to do a lot of my Christmas shopping at Etsy this year. I think handmade is the best made!

The Things We Do For Love!

I'm not talking about paying bills for ungrateful children this time :) But thanks to all of you for your sympathy and for putting up with my craziness on that one!

This time it's about pickling Quail eggs. Yep, that's what I'm doing tonight. I don't eat them, but my hubby does.

In case you missed the Quail post, my hubby got 20 quails for his step-father, and they lay a LOT of eggs. We usually get an average of 10 a day. A quart jar holds about 30-33 eggs. Usually he does the pickling, but he's offshore now so it's my turn!

They are the hardest eggs to peel! First off, they're tiny. Second, the membrane inside the egg is incredibly tough. And man, does the vinegar and seasonings stink!

I worked on my jewelry for most of the day. I had a few orders to do and I had to make more of the free earrings that I send with every order.

I have to remake several dragonfly pieces and send them to Canada again. Apparently, they got lost in the mail, or in customs or something. It was an order that I really wanted to get there! It's for Barry's friend. She found me on Barry's blog and ordered from me. The mail is so aggravating! That's the second international order that's gone missing. There's no way to track them, either. I can't see charging $15 for registered mail or even more for priority. I hope the new jewelry makes it to her!

I have several new designs in mind, but not a lot of time right now to make them! When I do get around to them I'll be sure to show you all!

Well, I guess I better go peel some tiny eggs. Later~

My Interview with Soap Deli News!

Today's the day!

You can read about me at Soap Deli News. I can't believe I actually did an interview. I'm not the most interesting person around, and being alone for half of the year, I talk mostly to myself! (and the dogs and quails!)

After I finished the interview, I thought of all kinds of things to say. Especially the things people wouldn't know about me.

I'm a Playstation 2 addict! I LOVE war games (and war movies). I've killed a lot of people in those games, but it helps me NOT kill people in real life! LOL

I'm a clutz! I drop things constantly, trip over my own feet, and knock things off of shelves in stores (which embarrasses the crap out of my husband, but makes me laugh!)

I can't pass a toy that makes noise without pressing the buttons.( also embarrassing for hubby)

I love to dance and sing (even though I suck at both). When I'm alone in my truck, the radio is super loud, and so am I! LOL Looks like I'm talking to myself to other drivers, but who cares?!

I'm a homebody, and would be happy if I didn't have to go anywhere, ever. (This also annoys my hubby, cause he wants to GO all the time) I love pajamas (t-shirt and pajama pants) and would wear them all the time if I could. I DO NOT wear them to town!

Well, now you know a bit about me, boring as it is!

I'm back!

I wasn't really gone, but I haven't been on the computer much lately.

My hubby has been home for a while now, and he had to go back offshore today. I try not to spend too much time on the internet while he's here.

I've also been working a little! YAY! Things seem to be picking up a little for my Etsy store again. Still slow, but steady. I can deal with that!

I did manage to make a couple of new things this weekend.

The first is a pair of copper earrings with a sterling silver ball, and the other is a ring with a crooked star that I was asked to make.

I really should be in the shop right now, as I have a couple of orders to do, but I can get them done in the morning. Right now it kinda feels like naptime! :)

OH! The puppy was picked up by one of the ladies that was feeding him! She took her husband with her and the puppy went right to him! Must be a man's dog! I'm so happy he has a home.

Well, I think I'll go rest a little while! "See" y'all later~

Another update

Sorry to keep everybody hanging! I've been a little busy, and really haven't felt much like blogging.

I think one of the other ladies got the puppy. I haven't seen him since Monday. I've stopped and checked his food and water everyday, and called him, but his food is still there.

I'm so glad they got him! It has been weighing so heavy on my heart. He was such a cute little baby!

I cannot understand how some people can put a baby out on the side of the road and just drive away. The puppies don't understand, and they don't go find a new home. They stay right where they were left until they get run over, starve to death, or somebody else picks them up. It breaks my heart that it happens everyday, all over the world.

I try to help, but I can't save them all.

Just wanted to let you all know what's happening.

I hope everybody has a wonderful weekend~

Puppy Update

I went down to feed the puppy today, and he was there. He came to where I was, growling and crying at the same time. He wouldn't come close, but I sat and talked to him and he was wagging his little tail. I tried to tell him that I wouldn't hurt him, but he just doesn't believe me yet. I'll keep trying. I want to get him before he gets run over, because it's going to happen if I don't.

I don't need another dog, but my heart won't let me not try to save him, so I'll keep feeding him and talking to him, and maybe he'll see that I would never hurt him.

Maybe God will watch over him until then.

All Is NOT Lost!!!

I was beginning to think that people just didn't care anymore, but I was wrong! Thank God!

There is a bar on our road, and it is on my way to town. For some reason, people have started dropping off puppies there. In the past month there have been 3 different sets of them.

In the past, I have tried to be the one-woman humane society, and picked up every stray. But having your heart broken when something happens to them or you have to give them away, is too much. I've stopped picking up ALL of them!

One puppy was there for several days, and one day, on my way to town, I decided that if he was there when I came home, I would get him. Well, thank the Lord, he wasn't! Some other sweet soul had picked him up!

There have been several more since then, but they have been disappering. Today, there was one little black puppy left, just sitting by the road. You could see his little bones, and I cried all the way home.

I decided that, if I couldn't bring him home with me, at least I could feed him. So I got a bag of dog food and went to feed him. When I got there, the woman with the sweet soul was there, with a bag of food! She said she picked up the first puppy, but she couldn't catch this one. So we gave him some food in a bowl she had left earlier. While we were talking about how horrible it is to drop off puppies, another girl stopped. She had picked up the other puppies before this one. She was still trying to catch him.

I was touched and so very happy that there are other people who feel the same way I do! It was a very uplifting thing and I was much happier after meeting them.

So all is NOT lost! There are still some wonderful, kind, caring people left.

A Few New Things

Since nothing is selling I had time to make a few new pieces for my Etsy store this weekend!

There's not much going on, so I got in the shop and worked.

The first ones are 18g wire that I balled on the ends, then curved so they'd hang right.

The second ones are some simple squiggles that are hammered flat.

Lastly, I made a new stacking ring with 12g wire that I hammered flat, then stamped with my name.

Maybe these simple designs will do well. I like them, especially the comet tail earrings.

Now I'm off to visit everybody's blogs! I love to see what's going on.

Two posts in One Day!

I don't usually blog twice a day but I just found some awesome blogs, and this post was so funny I just had to add it!

It's on Contrariwise ramblings blog. Go check out this blog! It's informative and funny! Here's the post I couldn't stop laughing at:

9 Amazingly Simple Home DIY Solutions

1. If you’re choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. presto! the blockage will instantly remove itself.

2. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold the vegetables while you chop.

3. Avoid arguments with the females about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers ~ simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure on your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. then you’ll be afraid to cough.

7. You only need two tools in life - wd-40 and duct tape. if it doesn’t move and should, use the wd-40. if it shouldn’t move and does, use the duct tape.

8. Remember - everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

9. If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you’ve got an electrical problem.

I love anybody that can make me laugh! We all need to laugh when we can, cause things are not so funny right now!

Etsy Frontpage!

I was reading the forums at Etsy yesterday, and saw the link for the frontpagers at Flickr. I went there and searched for my user name, and to my astonishment, there I was! My stacking rings had been on the frontpage on Tuesday, and I didn't even know! It didn't help my sales but it sure does make you feel good! LOL I didn't even know I was in that treasury.

Sales have died! Maybe the frontpage isn't a good thing, because I haven't sold one thing since I was on there! I was selling at least one item a day, but for 3 days now, nothing! I guess the stockmarket has affected everything. Even me!

I think it was the stupidest thing our government could have done, buying those banks. Why not just give everybody in the US a million dollars, then they could pay off all those bad loans and the banks wouldn't be in trouble! Where does it stop? Are they now going to bail out every business that is going under?

AIG is under investigation since their bail out, and lo and behold, a week after the government gave them all that money, they sent their employees on a $440,000 retreat!!! WHAT!

That is our money they're giving way, and they didn't bother to ask what ANY of us thought about it. We all worked hard for it, so they could give it away.

Well, I don't usually rant on about politics, but enough is enough! I just had to get that out this morning. I guess that's what happens when you only have dogs and quails to talk to. The dogs never answer and the quails just say the same stupid things over and over! LOL

Have a super weekend!

Later~

I Was Interviewed!

I can't believe it!

Rebecca at Soap Deli News was looking for an artist to interview in the forums at Etsy.

I told her I would do it, but I never thought she'd actually pick me!

The interview will be on her website on Oct. 24th.

I think it's awesome that people spotlight other sellers on the sites.

Check out Rebecca's soaps and lotions.

Happy Hump Day!

I couldn't think of a good title and it is Wednesday, so Happy Hump Day!

I managed to make a couple of new pieces for my Etsy today. YAY!

The first is a delicate little necklace with tiny initial charms. I really like it! I was asked to make some of these for a customer a little while back, and decided I wanted them in my shop. Then, I searched for them on Etsy, and there are TONS of them! Oh well, now I have some, too.

The second is a soft square ring that started out as another ring, but I made a boo-boo, and it turned into a simple black band! I still like it though, so all is not lost! Got to salvage the silver!

In other news: My hubby decided he had to have some quails so he could pickle the eggs. Well, guess who takes care of them while he's gone! Yep, me. They're okay, but annoying. They're Pharoah White quails, which means that's what it sounds like they are saying. You know, like a Bob White. But Bob Whites whistle, these sound like something from Jurasic Park!

I've heard them until it now sounds like they're saying Trick or Treat, and Oh My God! All day and all night! The cage is right outside my shop!

They do lay a lot of eggs, but I hate pickled eggs!

Oh well, you have to put up with a few things sometimes!

I better shut up now. I hope everybody is having a great week.

Later~

Check It Out!

I got a new banner, customer appreciation photo, and an avatar all from a wonderful seller on Etsy. flashwithclass, check out her shop. She's great!

The banner is now on my blog, and this is my appreciation photo. I love them!

We did a trade. It's my third trade at Etsy, and it's a great way to get things. They get what they want and so do you!

I think the economic scare has slowed business down a little. I'm still selling but it's slow. They say that holiday sales will be down this year, and that may be, but in my experience, people buy for Christmas. No matter what! I know a lot of people that spend way more than they can afford. I used to, but I decided I just couldn't buy for everyone I know. I now buy for the people I want to buy for! That's all I can do! I have a lot of family! I think most of them will get something handmade this year. What I don't make, I'll buy from the great shops on Etsy!

Y'all have a great week~

Something New!

Finally! I made a couple of new things. Both were custom orders, but they are different from what I've been making! I have a couple more simple things in the works, too.

It gets boring making the same things over and over, BUT I can't complain. At least they sell! Also, practice makes perfect!

The first photo is a ring that i was asked to design. It's a 1/4" sterling band, with copper and sterling wire wraps. i thought it turned out well, especially since I wasn't sure how it would look. She liked it, so that's what counts!

The second one is a very simple, but really cute, necklace. It's 5 copper discs, stacked and held with a sterling jumpring. The biggest disc is 11mm wide, descending to 6mm. It hangs on an oxidized 18" sterling chain. The customer said she LOVES it!

Update on offshore: We don't know what's going to happen! Right now hubby is not working, but he is spending a week in South Louisiana at a school they had to go to.
I guess it will all work itself out. I hope so anyway!

I hope you all are doing well and having fun!

Later~