ArtFire Collection... Hello Books

In honor of school starting soon and my new position as an elementary school Librarian I created an ArtFire Collection this week.  I am proud to say that it was featured in the ArtFire Daily Email Collection.  I hope you enjoy!

Hello Books...

Curated By: StitchnTyme

ArtFire.com

Handmade Jewelry

Awesome Craft Fair at Catlin Court....

I loved participating in this craft fair!  Although it was HOT, 107 degrees, it was so much fun!

The fair was held at Catlin Court in historic Glendale, AZ, wonderful antique and quaint specialty shops line both sides of the street. 

Walking the street and venturing into the specialty shops is so surreal.  Strolling into the awesome shops that sell candles, is too die for, oh the aroma!  Or turn the clock back by visiting the vintage shops with their wonderful dresses, shoes, jewelry and other awesome accessories.  

I was fortunate to have my booth in front of "Girlfriends Craft House", is that store name just too cute?!

A HUGE, gorgeous tree  shaded us throughout the day.  As you can see my beautiful granddaughter enjoying herself. 

And my husband watched closely over the money.  Doesn't he look excited?  HA!

 

All the wonderful shoppers made for an awesome day!  I can't wait to do this again in December.  *smile*

I hear my poor neglected Etsy shop and ArtFire studio calling me.  Lots of goodies I haven't listed.   Soooooo..... 

Have an awesome day!

 

Etsy and The Learning Curve....

What I learned on Etsy in three years...

I learned about light boxes... curses!
I learned about renewing... curses!
I learned about Treasury teams... curses!
I learned about Blogging...curses!
I learned about Twitter... curses!

Then I...
Opened a Twitter account
Opened a Facebook account
Started a Blog
Made a Light Box

Soooo....

I practiced taking product photography...
I practiced writing descriptive descriptions...
I looked for teams to join...
I wrote on my Blog...
I wrote on Twitter...
I wrote on Facebook...

Oooh, oooh, oooh.... I just thought of a few things I left out.

I learned about Kaboodle....curses!
I learned about Stumbleupon...curses!
I learned about Tumblr...curses!

Then I opened a...
Kaboodle account
Stumbleupon account
Tumblr account

So....

I shared on Kaboodle
I shared on Stumbleupon
I shared on Tumblr

*whew* know what? This social networking is exhausting! HA!

Written by:  Carly Vess

(copyright 2010)

Have an awesome day everyone!

ArtFire's Unbelievable Group Deal...

Over the past few weeks I have been moving items from my shop on Etsy to my studio on ArtFire. Little did I know at the time I made this decision that ArtFire was going to make an offer that is totally unbelievable.

Originally ArtFire offered the $5.95 monthly deal to 20,000 members. To our surprise, John (CEO) and Tony (COO) of ArtFire changed the criteria to "all" members who sign up by Oct 1, 2010 will definitely get the group deal. After that, memberships will be $9.95 a month, which isn't a bad deal, but doesn't $5.95 sound even better?

I am so excited to be in on this deal! They have also left Beta behind, WOOT! The front page of ArtFire has taken on a whole new look. It now features "Collections" created by ArtFire Artisans.

All the changes at ArtFire are just incredible and in perfect timing for the upcoming holiday season.

If you haven't checked out ArtFire for awhile, it is never too late.

So come on by and visit, love to see you there. *smile*

Friday's ArtFire Collection...

Ending the week with Featuring my latest ArtFire Collection... Enjoy!

Fire and Ice...

Curated By: StitchnTyme

ArtFire.com

Indie Design

Have an awesome weekend!

Push Pins and It's the Weekend...

It's Friday and quitting time at the office, check list of things to do:

Put work papers away (check)
Pens/Pencils into handcrafted holder (check)
Shut down the computer (check)

Hmmmm... what have I forgotten?  Oh yes, I remember now!  Put new handcrafted push pins on cork board with reminder for lunch on Monday... (check)

Soooooo, did you like my subtle way of introducing my newest endeavor?  *smile* These tiny fabric covered button push pins were a fun challenge.  I have baggies filled with little scraps of fabric that I don't like tossing because I knew I could find  something to do with them and alas I did! 

I could fill up a room with these push pins with all the scraps of fabric I have, but OK, OK, I won't, it could be dangerous, all those sharp, pointed ends.  With my luck I would sit on one!  HA!

Now, let the weekend begin!  Enjoy it everyone!

Easter Dinner and an Earthquake...

Easter in Arizona, home of the Grand Canyon, was quite interesting this year.

The family had gathered at my daughters home to celebrate Easter. 

While my daughter was getting all the goodies together for dinner, my 13 year old granddaughter and me were sitting at the dinner table chatting about all the yummy food we were about to eat.  Then suddenly she said she was shaking. What was my response? You must be hungry. HA!!!

Of course she laughed and then pointed to the swag light above the table, hmmmmm.... it was moving side to side. About this time my DIL stated she was shaking as well. We all laughed that everyone was getting hungry!

About a minute later it was announced on the radio that Baja, CA had just had an earthquake. This was when we all had an AHA! moment.

Of course it made for interesting conversation during dinner. But I will never forget what I said to my granddaughter who experienced her first earthquake tremor. :)

Have an awesome day everyone!
Carly

Yo-Yo Rosettes a Small Bit of History

Recently I have become addicted to making Yo-Yo Rosettes and now making them into barrettes, hair clips and ponytail holders. So of course I just had to know where they originated. It has been so much fun reading their history.

The word Yo-Yo comes from the Filipino word for “come-come” or “return”, and that it was very popular in the 1930-40s.  In the 1920s a man named Pedro Flores brought a Filipino Yo-Yo to the United States. A businessman named Donald Duncan bought the Filipino Yo-Yo Company around 1928. In 1932 Mr. Duncan received a trademark for the word Yo-Yo.

Yo-Yos were popular because women could carry the little circles of fabric with them and make Yo-Yos whenever they had a free moment. 

I vision ladies sitting around in their wonderful Victorian chairs with gas lights or lanterns, chatting about their simple lives and using their scraps of fabric to create these lovelies.

How many hours do you suppose they spent cutting small circles of fabric, then hand stitching them to create beautiful quilts with their rosettes?

Maybe one day I will take up the challenge and create a wonderful quilt that can be handed down.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Carly

Spring Fling March 23rd to March 31st...

Spring is one of my favorite seasons and Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays.

This last week I have been hard at work creating fabric flower button hair clips and ponytail holders with spring colors.  Pinks, purples, yellows and greens.

I have my windows open and letting in all the wonderful weather from outside come inside while I am working.

Because I am feeling soooooo good, I have to pass it on to you.

Are you ready for this?

From March 23rd - March 31st midnight, shipping is included for any items in my Etsy shop.

Yes, you read that right, shipping is on me!  :)

Just mention at checkout "Spring Fling" in message to seller to receive a refund of your shipping fees.  **NOTE:  Offer is valid only when message to seller is left. 

Enjoy!
Carly

The Incredible Rescue Today of a Stranded Horse Named...

"Colorado"

Arizona has received quite a bit of rain in the last couple of weeks. A dry river bed in Buckeye, a suburb of Phoenix, was flooded because of the rain. The water current in the river bed was running fast!

Last Friday three horseback riders went into the river thinking it wasn't deep, they were looking for their dogs that had run off. Unfortunately the river bed was deeper than they thought.

One horse who had been injured while trying to escape the flooded river bed was put down because of the severity of his injuries. A second horse was pulled out of the river that evening. A third horse made it to a sand bar (it's sort of like an island) and has been stranded there since Friday. He spent four very long days on this island, until today.

A crew consisting of Equine Vets and helicopter pilots rescued the horse this morning. It was quite dramatic!

The picture below shows them preparing Colorado for liftoff. They have administered a tranquilizer to help keep him calm, the harness has been attached along with a blindfold over his head.


The following picture shows Colorado on liftoff, you can see the dirty brown water around the island...


Then incredibly he was in the AIR!


How awesome is this? Colorado had a soft, safe landing, YAY!

This story touched so many of us here in the Valley. Thanks to an anonymous donor who paid for the helicopter, Colorado is safe. :)

Wishing all of you a Wonderful day!

Hippity Hop Wednesday...

(photo courtesy of Google Images)

Hmmmm... what could this little guy be thinking about?
Such a serious look!

OK, so here is what I am thinking (which by the way could be dangerous when I think, HA!), Wednesday will be post a cutie day of animals found throughout the world.

And since Easter is approaching, how could I not post a bunny?

If you have a cutie living with you and you want to share, please don't hesitate to post in the comments. I would love to see your babies. :)

Have an awesome day everyone!

Bridal Lovelies...

June is fast approaching and we all know that Brides love the month of June. The bride would look absolutely fabulous at her wedding wearing this gorgeous hair flower French barrette. White satin and lace, I can't imagine anything more beautiful adorning a bride's hair on her special day.

Maybe the bride needs a lovely small bag to carry her essentials, you know, girlie things like lipstick, blush or possibly a handmade handkerchief. Could this little corset pouch be it?

Both are perfect accessories or as a great gift for the bride, bridesmaid or the flower girls. You can see these lovelies up close and personal by clicking on the photos.

In the coming months I will be posting other lovely Bridal accessories from various Etsy shops. So if you know a bride to be, or "You" are a bride to be, be sure to check back often.

Take care,
Carly

Feeling Like Summer...

Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, could someone tell me when Winter ended and how I managed to miss Spring too? It's been ranging in the mid 70's this week in Phoenix. Oh, I wish we could have had a few more cooler days. It's too early. I actually had to turn my A/C on for a bit yesterday afternoon. Are you jealous? HA!

The tree in my backyard is so confused, poor baby lost his leaves mid-January and new leaves sprouted a week ago.

I have even found myself creating items in summer colors. Living in Arizona does give one reason to be confused.

Take my advice, if you cherish your sanity, don't move to Arizona. :)

Now you ask, why do I live here? I had no choice, being a Native of Arizona, there is no escape. I actually did try to move to Washington state a few years ago, sold my home, rented a moving truck, I was so ready. But it was not to happen. The BIG move landed me three miles down the road in a new home. I am doomed to be here, yuppers, do I sound resigned to that fact? Naw, nevvaa! *smile*

Maybe someday.... a girl can always dream!

Have an awesome day everyone...
Carly