It's that time of year again....shopping for that perfect for someone special or yourself! You already know I am a huge advocate to buy American made and especially from local business. I also turned vegan this year because of my health and yes...because I found out what horrible conditions our animal friends live and die in. There are two links I am featuring today who I think you will like and you will be supporting American artists and animal lovers.

The first is   Daisey Wares  http://www.etsy.com/shop/daisywares   the owner sells and makes handmade jewlery and vegan body products. She also rescues farm animals and works with the Harvest Home Sanctuary.
http://www.harvesthomeanimal.org/

The second is The Qi papers    http://www.etsy.com/shop/qipapers?ref=em  the owner sells and makes handmade postcards and cards. She uses the Japanese art of woodblock printing called Moku Hanga. She also rescues bunnies and fosters lots of them.

Please check out both of these sites and support small business!


By the way I am going to a Christmas party tommorrow at the Double Tree Hotel. It's for cancer survivors and is sponsored by UC Irvine Medical Center. Woo! Hoo!


Eat your fruits & veggies!   xo  Inge

Since we are in the midst of the holiday season, I would like to showcase some shops on etsy.com that sell goodies for the animal lover and their pets. As you know I am an self proclaimed animal nut and proud of it! I also believe in buying from small businesses and individual artists, especially this time of year. Here are a few etsy shops I would like to give a shout out to...
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PoochyCouture
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenell1
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33483945
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36213664&ref=sc_5
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34958440&ref=cat1_gallery_6
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36531113&ref=cat1_gallery_20
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8390664&ref=cat1_gallery_13
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29376606&ref=cat1_gallery_1
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36538448&ref=cat1_gallery_16
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36516024&ref=sr_gallery_19&&ga_search_query=dog+treats&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36504350&ref=sr_gallery_5&&ga_search_query=dog+treats&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=2&includes[]=tags&includes[]=titlehttp://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36517603&ref=sr_gallery_17&&ga_search_query=dog+treats&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35669845&ref=sr_gallery_20&&ga_search_query=CAT+TREATS&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=2&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36527931&ref=sr_gallery_3&&ga_search_query=bunny+TREATS&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title
Happy Holidays!

It's 1 am and I have been home 30 minutes. John is asleep and so are most of the critters, except for Jinx my long hair kitty. He is laying next to me purring and hoping I will pet him while I blog and surf the net. I found an interesting blog you might be interested in
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/heart-of-a-cowgirl. The author or is the correct term blogger? has a lifestyle that I would enjoy... she lives on a ranch with an assortment of critters and she makes beautiful western style jewelry. She has a shop on etsy too. I sure do miss making stuff and having that small booth in the antique mall last year. Running around that restaurant for 10 1/2 hours a day is not my dream job. It does pay the bills for now but I want to have my own business... I have trouble which route I want to go though... will it have something to do with critters? antiques? shabbly decor? handmade jewelry? a shop that features local artists? I think my indecision has to do with me being a libra... actually virgo/libra - depending on what is going on at the time... sometimes I am so grounded and other times I am a complete airhead. I do know that this restaurant thing ain't for me in the long term. I need to get to bed but I think I will surf the web a few more minutes.
Hope your weekend is fun and don't forget to laugh our loud!
xoxo Inge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKBIHcy9s7M

Want to swap?

I lost another day of work at the restaurant this week. They are putting in some kind of transfibulator or something in the kitchen.... I wasn't paying attention... my eyes glazed over when I was told...all I could think of was crap! My money has dwindled alot already and now I am losing yet another day! I will stop here or I might go on a rant that could last for hours and I would rather spend my time offering a swap...with you. Just pop into my etsy shop and see if there is anything you want and either email me or leave a comment with a photo or link of what you want to trade.
Have a fun day and for cryin outloud don't forget to laugh out loud...these days we need it more than ever!
xoxo Inge

I got mail!

I get excited when I order something via the internet and I watch for the mailman everyday until it arrives... I swear I think half the fun is the anticipation! This time I ordered some creative supplies from some etsy shop owners. I bought goddess and fairy charms... purchased from http://www.dragynsfyre.etsy.com/ and www.selinabeadsnbits.etsy.com/... I plan to make some fun stuff this weekend! I hope you have some fun plans this weekend too.

And by all means...don't forget to laugh out loud!

xoxo Inge

It's all about the Bunnies!

Have you ever heard of a bunvention? Neither did I until the other day I was left a lovely comment from Qi Papers... owner of two adorable rabbits, Sydney and Tyler... bunnies like to chew things to keep their teeth trimmed... apparently these bunnies did not like how their chew sticks were stored so they complained to management and a new storage place was built. The sticks are secured to a box turned on it's side and filled with hay so the bunnies can gnaw on the sticks without them rolling around the floor. Sheer genius! If you live with bunnies you might want to try this idea!

Well, it seems that d. moll owner of www.qipapers.etsy.com/ is an acupuncturist, something I highly recommend. A few years ago I entered perimenapause and I had a great deal of medical issues associated with it and acupuncture was the only method that helped me. I also had a sprained my left knee while sitting crossed legged for an hour during mediatation (don't ask) and could not walk until I went to the acupuncturist and I literally walked out of their office! I have many other stories from other people saved by Chinese medicine and acupuncture... so if you need medical help and have tried everything else, try acupuncture.

d.moll also creates lovely Japanese style prints called Moku Hanga design. The picture you see is based on her two rabbits, Tyler (on the right) and Sydney, who are rescued English Spots. This print used two blocks, two colors, has a square, vermillion, studio stamp in upper right and is signed in the margin. It is printed on Echizen Kozo natural, a high quality handmade Japanese paper. It is matted using archival materials. You may choose mat color black, maroon, dark blue or cream. Image is 7 by 5 inches, mat outer dimensions are 10 by 8 inches, inner window is 6 3/4 by 4 3/4 inches, and fits into a 10 by 8 inch frame. She also has many other prints to choose from... a perfect Christmas gift!

Stop by her blog http://theqipapers.blogspot.com/ and her etsy store www.qipapers.etsy.com/to see what her bunnies are up to.

Have a fun day and don't forget to laugh out loud!

xoxo Inge

Let me start off by saying... I am typing with 2 Chihuahuas and a cat on my lap... I need longer arms...

I worked at Treasures from Paradise today... I really enjoy it! People who shop in antique shops are shop interesting... at least I think so. Business is picking up... even I sold lots of treasures from my booth! yippee!!! for me!!! I am sad to say I have decided to close my booth at the end of the year though, because I need to concentrate on moving down to southern California... even though the move probably will not happen before June. John is flying to Switzerland to visit his sister in April... a trip planned a long time ago... so it is pointless to move before that and for him to start a new job and ask for time off... I was hoping to move sooner but that is the way things go sometimes.

I am just ready to move on... we miss the ocean; I want to sell at flea markets and the ones around here are terrible; I will be closer to family; John and I don't relate to people here... we do love our home though... I had to look at 34 places before I found this place. I was shocked at how the rentals are kept around here... the excuse is the college students will mess it up so why maintain the property. There was one place I looked at that I thought was a crime scene! The college students are used as a scapegoat for alot of things in Chico like the low wages, but if you ask me I think the business owners are just cheap! I read that 60% of the jobs here pay below $10.00 an hour! How can anyone live on that?

I learned a valuable lesson though for the next move... research median income and use the demographics and stats page on Google! When we moved here it was at the end of the hot housing market and everything within 200 miles of San Francisco was priced crazy! We liked the environment... hey they had two health food stores and Trader Joes was on it's way... great parks and hiking trails... it's a college town so it must be pretty liberal right? Wrong! I'm not knocking Chico but it is far away from family and the nearest airport is 90 minutes away... John and I are just ready to go. We think that Chico is great if you have alot of money and are retired but we have some years left in us and the business ideas we have will not work here.

So I will use my time learning new job skills, researching places to live (any suggestions you have are welcomed), crafting, playing with my furbabies, working in that crazy restaurant, etc. Oh, and surfing the web...

I snooped through etsy today and found www.ohmybuttons.etsy.com/ Another fun and fabulous shop! She has terrific gifts to get you ready for the holidays. I especially like the ornaments made from silverware. The owner has one son and 11 kitties!!! I think her 4 legged friends also work as models for alot of the artwork she makes! I am sure you will find the perfect gift for you or that special animal lover in your life in Oh My Buttons Shop.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend. Don't forget to laugh outloud!

Inge

It feels like Spring around here

and I am enjoying it! Fall is definitely my favorite time of year...my favorite author Leo Buscaglia...I have all his books www.buscaglia.com/about.htm is a big fan of fall too... namely the falling leaves part... he has written a book ""The Fall of Freddie the Leaf"... a children's book to cope with the death of a loved one...oops I'm rattling on... there is something wonderful walking through freshly fallen leaves... I can't explain it very well at the moment...just go out and try it!

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is so close! John and I do not celebrate it anymore since we usually work that day so other's can spend time fighting ... I mean enjoying their family's company. We like the food alright but I would rather see James and Anna without the pressure of a holiday.

I bet Vermont is gorgeous this time of year... I lived in Asheville, N.C. in the late 70s and loved the fall trees... they don't call it the Smokey Mountains for nothing! If you have never been back east during the fall, I highly recommend the trip! Speaking about Vermont, there is a watercolor artist who has a shop www.amberalexander.etsy.com who paint nature and animals that are whimsical and fun!

Her work is lovely... my furbabies give her a 4 paws up!
She says she generally paint with watercolors, but you'll find the occasional acrylic painting here as well. She lives in Vermont with her husband and two crazy poodles., and is always interested in hearing from people, so drop her a line... or tell her if there's something you'd like to see in her shop!

Well, gotta run for now... don't forget to walk around in some leaves today... and don't forget to laugh out loud!
Inge

I like Keepsake Boxes

and I found beautiful ones at www.thehouseofedward.etsy.com/ I have never seen such unique keepsake boxes than the ones Pamela makes and sells in her etsy shop.

She writes that she has always been enamored of the keepsake box, the reliquary, the chinese box that only she knew the secret way to open. In the spirit of treasures and secrets, She has been making Keepsake Boxes for clients and friends for several years. She enjoys creating them so much that she is now making a few available through The Shoppe at The House of Edward. Each one unique, these boxes feature vintage and antique items and are embellished with various florals and German glass glitters. And, each one comes with an autographed photo of Edward himself!

I think her shop name is great too... so sophisticated and quirky! These keepsake boxes will make a great Christmas gift by itself or to put something fabulous in for you or that special someone! Oh...be sure to visit her blog http://www.fromthehouseofedward.blogspot.com/

Happy Monday and don't forget to laugh out loud today!

Inge

These are a few of my favorite things...

that I found in some etsy shops. For the month of November and December I will snoop through etsy.com and tell you about some of my favorite finds... like Christmas decor, gift giving, andf plain old fabulous goodies a Diva like myself can't live without!

I found Mr. Filthy Rotten while I was surfing the vintage etsy section... as I mentioned before, I am all about vintage! Not only does Mr. Filthy Rotten have fun and kitschy stuff, he has a fun, kitschy personality... check out his profile:

"I'm a wild and crazy person. I love old things. I like oddball things. Kitschy stuff. Fun stuff. I try to prove there's a buyer for everything lol! I love to make things and hope to put up some of my off-the-wall creations soon.I love to cook. Italian food! I love my panini maker. I couldn't live without it. I love everything and everyone! I love bananas. I drive people bananas at times. Especially my brother. I love him too. Check out my items.

Smoochies for everyone who stops by!"

Now that's a guy I could go junking with! Check out his shop and get some fun stuff for the holidays!!! MrFilthyRotten.etsy.com

Now go out and have some Fun!!!!

Inge

I have been a busy girl

this weekend! Here are some new goodies I made for my etsy shop (except the Haloween House)...stop in and look what else I have!

Hope your weekend is going well!

Inge

I like women who push the envelope!

which brings me to my feature artist...Katie Kutthroat who takes cross stitching and embroidery to another level!

She started cross stitching at age 14 and gave one of her first pieces to a guy she was dating at the time.. It was a towel with his name in cursive with little decorative designs in the corners. She started embroidering about 4 months ago and likes to use Sublime Stitching because they make so many amazing designs for her to play with.

She started making jewelry when she was about 17, but didn't get into it as much until she was living in New Orleans. She worked at a bead shop, actually called The Bead Shop, where she learned how to wire wrap and some other basic techniques.

Katie opened her etsy store about 4 months ago, which includes some Sublime Stitching pieces, along with Nintendo themed pieces and of course her witty one liners. "Sassy samplers make you rethink cross stitching.. its not just for grandmothers anymore! " Be sure to check out her blog http://katiekutthroat.blogspot.com/ and her etsy shop http://www.katiekutthroat.etsy.com/

TGIF!!!!

And I have another fabulous artist to share with you! You can find her at http://www.southernaccentsjewelry.com/.

Her name is Stephanie and she works in corporate America by day and creates beautiful jewelry by night...what started out as a hobby has now turned into a part time business. She gets her inspiration from the colors of the four seasons and other artist's work that she admires. She accepts custom projects and has received domestic orders as well as international through her website SouthernAccentsJewelry.com.

"Most of my work is done on jewelry wire, chain, waxed silk, leather cord or stretch cord. All silver and earring wire used in my pieces are .925 sterling, never plated. The only exception to this are some of the wine charms. I also have plans to begin mastering wire-wrapping (a specific, very detailed technique used in jewelry-making) which will expand my item selection even more! "

If you like jewelry (and what girl doesn't) check out Stephanie's websites for custom projects an
ready made unique bling!

I better get back to making my own art...I have 3 friends with birthdays in September!