WOW! ONE OF MY COLLARS WAS FEATURED!

I have been using Google Analytics to monitor the "traffic" to my blog and Etsy shop for a couple of months now, but really just figured out how to read some of the facts that the service provides. It really is fun to see how visitors actually find their way to my blog or shop. This morning I discovered that several visitors came because of this website that had featured one of my newest designs on their "ETSY" page. Recognize #6, my button bow collar?





I was so excited! I looked a little further and found that they had featured 2 other of my listings in previous editions! Wow, I am so flattered to be chosen!

My Black and White button bow collar is #4, here:




And my Flower Power tutu/vest is also #4 in this edition:

Thrifty Treasure from Friday Morning

If you haven't visited Rhoda's blog, be sure to check out this week's Fun over at Southern Hospitality:

So I ventured out on a HOT TEXAS morning to visit one garage sale located near our home. At first sight I thought I wasn't going to find anything, BUT that all changed when I spotted this Drexel Buffet. I have been looking for an older furniture piece that could be modified to work as a TV stand for our 46" HDTV. It is dated 1957 on the back and is in very good condition. I have no idea what the wood happens to be--anyone care to guess? All the hardware is present.
I quickly took some photos, even before cleaning and polishing it properly.



Hidden behind the doors is plenty of storage, plus a shelf that can probably be modified to hold a Blu-Ray DVD player!



There are 2 drawers--the larger one has some divided areas that are lined with what might be an anti-tarnish fabric. Perfect for holding remote controls!



And see that tiny drawer at the top? It is actually a removable TRAY, complete with slots for hand carrying! I just found that surprise while taking the photos!



So you may be wondering what I paid for this treasure--probably too much: $80.00????
How do you think I did?

VINTAGE SASHEEN STAR BOW MAKER REVISITED

One of my very first blog posts, back in March, was about this wonderful vintage bow maker that I had just acquired. I finally got the chance to video it in action!
Here's the history (taken from my first post):

So I love to go to garage sales and estate sales. It must be hereditary--my older brother has the same affliction. I recently spent WAYYY too much money at an estate sale that had 1000s of pieces of vintage costume jewelry (another of my passions), and also picked up this amazing machine on the last day of the sale for a mere $25--including several rolls of ribbon.

It sat on my kitchen table for a few days, but I finally had to move it so that I could get other things done. You see, it kept drawing me in--back to make another bow--using a different color of ribbon, or just trying a different size of bow.


And here's is a super short video of the process:

ANOTHER THRIFTY TREASURE!!! 1959 LADIE'S HOME JOURNAL

Thanks to Rhoda over at Southern Hospitality and her "Thrifty Treasures" party, I now have a whole new outlook when attending a garage/estate sale. I not only look for things that I can use or recycle, but I also look for items that would make a great "blog post". I hope everyone agrees that this TREASURE meets that criteria. For your pleasure may I offer these pictures of a September 1959 issue of Ladie's Home Journal. I was fortunate to find this among a bunch of other magazines that were priced right: 75¢ each!!!

FRONT COVER:



BACK COVER:




I just love all the ads within these older issues.
Did you, your mom, or grandmother ever have any of these sets? Can you see the prices in 1959? $4.95 for the set of 4 bowls! WOW!




Here's some of the "FASHION SHOW" pages. Lots of fur accents--and not faux! Check out the jewelry--would be so stylish even today!





This treasure is being added to my collection of vintage magazines. I just love looking through them from time to time. If you want to see posts about some of my others, please let me know--I love to share the nostalgia!

HOMEMADE LIGHT STUDIO FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Some of you probably use a Light Box to photograph items that you sell online. I purchased one a few months back, mainly to take photos of my vintage jewelry. I soon decided that I needed something similar, but larger in size, to use to for my pet item photos. Using the lights that came with the Light Box and some other clap lamps that I have for use at craft shows, I was able to "fashion" a little light studio on a table here in my sewing studio. I have draped a white tablecloth (purchased for $1 at an estate sale) over 2 wire racks that are fastened together and placed in a "V" formation.
I'm still working on getting the brightness of my photos perfected, but I'm making progress with this new "set-up". Any suggestions/comments will be greatly appreciated!

SOMETHING NEW HAS BEEN ADDED THIS WEEK!

We are on our "stacation" this week, so I have been adding some new designs to me Etsy shop. I'm hoping to get lots of more pictures taken in the next few days so that I can post even more. Here's a look at what I've added recently.

LOOK WHAT WE FOUND JOGGING THIS MORNING!!!

Tom, my hubby, and I were out for our morning jog around the neighborhood when he suddenly stopped short on our last lap. He bent down and looked closely at the road, inspecting a tiny, dead (thankfully) baby SNAKE!!! It looks to be a baby rattler to us.

I just had to go back with the camera so that I could do this post! The second picture, of our home, was taken while standing by the lifeless snake. It is a little too close for comfort! I wonder where "Mama Snake" might be????

Tom told me a little later that he was surprised that I didn't go put a collar and bow on it. Well, that sounded like a dare to me! So the third pictures shows the bow I added!

TODAY'S THRIFTY TREASURES

I just found Rhoda's "Thrifty Treasures" blog party and thought I should start participating. It certainly gives me another excuse to go to garage/estate sales on the weekend! I'm posting about some recent "thrifty finds" that I just love, especially since I grabbed them at the end of an estate sale for 75% off the marked price!!!
This wonderful clear acrylic container ended up costing 50¢--and gives me lots of storage for fun colorful ribbon--it already had all the red ribbon in it, too!




This brass tray was another of the great treasures I found there also--less than $2!!! I hope to find the perfect spot to display it.





Be watching for more treasures in the future. Meanwhile, go over to Southern Hospitality and read about Rhoda's and other blogger's Thrifty Treasures.

My "Pet Boutique" Booth

Earlier this week I rearranged my inventory in the booth that I rent at our local craft mall. I took out some of my older designs of collars and added them to my Etsy shop, offering them at 30% off their original price. I put away some of the pet outfits, since it is too hot in Texas for most pets to be wearing them. I'm saving them for my Fall craft shows. I took a few pictures to share with all my readers.






I am also "playing" with some new collar adornments: flowers/coursages

Crazy For Collars Happy Pet Photos

I hope to periodically post pictures that I receive from my "collar" customers. It is always such a thrill for me to see my creations on other pets. I hope you enjoy these "Happy Pets":

JuJu in Texas




Shelby and Scout in Texas




Bella in Virginia

HUGE ETSY "YART" SALE JUNE 10-14 SAVE 30% AT CFC

The “2nd Annual Yart Sale” is to be held from Wednesday June 10th-Sunday June 14th, 2009 over at ETSY. This year's event is sponsored by the Etsy Supply Street Team (Team ESST).

A “Yart Sale” is a new spin on the traditional Yard Sale: Art + Yard Sale = “Yart Sale”.

I plan to participate with a special category (YART SALE) in my Crazy For Collars Etsy shop. Every item in the category will be 30% off the regular price. Most of these items are discontinued styles/designs of collars in various sizes. There will be lots of great bargains for pet lovers.

Here are some samples of what you will find...

FUN VINTAGE FINDS!

Most of you know my passion for Estate Sales from reading earlier posts. A local "dealer" had one in our neighborhood this past weekend and I just couldn't stay away. I went briefly on Saturday, the first day of the sale and came home with just a few items, but nice things! I decided to return on Day Two, Sunday, because most of the leftovers would by 1/2 price. I ended up not getting there until the last hour of the sale and about 15minutes after I arrived, they announced that everything was now 75% off!!! YIPPEE! I did maintain self-control and only spent less than $20--but here are some of the linen and other assorted items that now reside in my studio...