Please say a prayer

I posted about my cousin Amy amonth or so ago. We have known for a while Amy would be deployed soon for her 2nd tour of duty in Iraq. This picture of her is with her husband Todd. They met during Amy's 1st tour in Iraq and were married after finishing that tour. We were all very happy she has been away training and just got a pass to spend just a couple of day's home with Todd for Thanksgiving. Went back to training yesterday and my Aunt just now found out that Amy is being deployed in 24 hours.
She is good at her job, she is to be proud of. I thankful that she and Todd were able to be together for Thanksgiving. Now I pray that she is watched over and kept safe while she once more does service for our country. I pray that God helps my Aunt and Uncle stay strong and have faith. We love you Amy, our thoughts and prayers are alway's with you till you return home to us again.

Oops

The last post should have ended...."I hope you are too" can't think or type:)

Saturday Check in.

Just stopping by to see how everyone's Holiday sale is going. I don't know about you but I am beat. I have since Thanksgiving night been at the computer, promoting, visiting forums, listing new products. Way, way too many hours sitting here so my back is screaming in this chair, my carpal tunnel is out of control, so today, I am going to try to list something new on and off I cannot sit here and do this all day. I did have 3 sales yesterday. That is not great in the fact that the sale price means no profit but it is fantastic in that they were new buyers for me. As I have said before usually when someone buys' once they return because I am proud of the quality of my work and it does give me return buyers. So, once this sale is over Monday night and I put my prices back where they belong, keep in mind I try to keep prices very reasonable all year. In my mind it is necessary. Financially things are tough for many, many people and I don't see it getting better soon. Businesses are still tightening their belts, people are still losing their jobs, I think this the way it will be for along time so in order to keep people shopping we have to be realistic. Just my way of thinking. People with the extra money ,well, God bless them, but we will see less and less for a time. Any way, this was supposed to end on a happy note so , I am happy with my weekend so far and you are too!

I'm Ready!

For 2 day's straight now, when I am not at work but working at home I have been in my Etsy shop. I have been adding tags for the sale, I have been chiming in on the forums in the small chance a buyer will spot me and peak at my shop, tonight I went through every item and marked it down to the price after the 25% off that will be my sale. At first I was just going have people wait until I invoiced them with the mark down but then decided I had better invest the time in the changes so I don't have to pay Etsy money I am not getting on my normal prices. I wanted it all done by tonight because tomorrow. ...Well of course tomorrow is Thanksgiving but this year it will be a very quiet one in my house so I have alot of time to work on the sale . What I choose to do is alot of photo's of the stuff I still have waiting to list and start listing every couple of hours and continue to list over the course of the next few day's every few hours, one item at a time. While so far in 2 1/2 years on Etsy I have never had any luck with the different sales but I am determined to work as hard as I can to make Black Friday weekend work for me. I am counting on it to give my grandkids some Christmas and I insist on being optimistic and am telling myself that this is going to be the year shoppers notice me! Any way, I hope everyone has success this weekend and if I don't make it back here tomorrow let me extend this to you tonight.

Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings for you and yours. Debbie

I'm working

I am having the best Saturday. I have the day off from work and after sleeping in I decided today was a good day to spend in my studio and work on ornaments. I want alot available this year, they are inexpensive and pretty. But the are a really involved process, after stamping my felt, I have a bit of painting to do before I start sequining. So today I have painted Santa's faces, I have painted and glittered the belly's on my Dragons,Dragonfly's and Sea Horses, and glued my little acrylic rhinestone ornaments on my christmas trees, I have done a lot more of each than I have in the picture, just didn't think you needed to see 30 of each thing, now waiting for something to be dry enough to start stitching my sequins. After that each one needs another felt backing. That is actually what makes the ornaments strong. It binds and hides the stitches and the glueing of it stiffens the ornament up quite nicely. I know they last a long time because I have them all over my tree from when I started making them many, many years ago. Yeah for an enjoyable, productive day!

Blessings

Something happened today at work, just a little thing but I was so struck by the kindness I just had to find a place to express it and what better place than here. The cafe I work at is a bit different. We don't depend on tips because we don't wait tables or serve customer food at the table, they come in or call ahead, pick up their food and leave or grab a table and eat. With the exception of delivery. We service alot of area business at lunch time and deliver. Of course the delivery drivers do make decent tips because they are using their car and gas and out there dealing with the traffic, the payment , etc. Any way, those of us that just make the food, we have a common tip jar at the cash register which some customers will add too but most don't.
We split this jar at the end of the shift with whoever is working that shift and quite often you may go home with a buck from tips but that's just how it is. Any way, one of my co workers does alot of the food work but also delivers during our busy lunch times. Today, after lunch deliveries were finished he came up and handed me $5.00. I looked at him and asked, what's that for?
He said because ________office gave me a great tip and I am sharing it with everybody.
Wow, how nice, that was not something he had to do, his tips are his tips and we would never have any clue how much he made in tips.
So the reason I had to post this is: How blessed are we that we still have people in this world to share something with another for no reason but Kindness! I for one so appreciate that this still happens it helps me continue to have faith in all of us.
Thanks for letting me share.

New Tonight

I have been rather quiet the last few days. I do go through times when the pain is so bad that I just don't accomplish much. Now that I am back to working a normal job, I have to hide the fact that I am in pain until I get home so accomplish even less because I am exhausted from pretending I am up and feeling good. I don't mind though, it is good for me! But I have been on a mission to list a new item in Etsy each night, have been concentrating on getting my sequined ornaments in there because the season is so short but tonight I listed this bag, this was rather inexpensive to make, great for a teenager in case they lose it or break it but mainly I wanted to get it up because it is red. Bright , Cheery, Christmas red. I am now feeling like it is time to get the Christmas spirit, my daughter is wanting to put her outside lights up , so yeah, it's time :)

Need your help

Today's post is a very obvious self promotion but I need to ask you for your help. Everybody knows I sell Avon. I have a handful of customers that I service in person, not alot because I just am not able to get out there often enough. I also have an online store. So here is the thing, I have to pay to have this online presence and so far, it has cost me monthly for little return. I opened it thinking, everyone does so much online it would be really conveniant to have a build a good customer base. But so far, I do not get the traffic to make it worth while and am taking the opportunity to push it and build it for Christmas or in January cancel it and cancelling is not what I want to do. Let me ask you a couple questions....
Do you like Avon products but don't have a reliable rep in your area?
Do you have friends that have this problem?
Do you enjoy online shopping?

If you answer yes to any of those questions. Shopping my online store is very easy. When you go to my website, Browse around a bit. Then register as my customer. You can then click on shop now, then click on shop brochure, it will put your choices in your shopping cart, when you finish shopping it will ask you to register if you didn't do that before shopping, then it will ask you if you want personal delivery or direct delivery. Choose direct Delivery. It will then ask for payment and after payment verify your shipping info. In less than 10 day's your order is in your mailbox. Easy!

Of course right now, Avon has a lot of gift ideas' and special sales to take care of alot of the people on your Holiday shopping list. I would love it if you either became a customer of mine or shared my website with friends that may want to become my customer. Thank you for thinking about it and letting me self promote my Avon, which is something I don't normally do here.
www.youravon.com/deborahreynolds.

One more and I'm done

Okay I promised myself I would get some work done tonight but I had to show you the necklace I posted in my Etsy shop tonight. Now I am going to turn off my computer and get something accomplished while I watch some Scyfy and bead. See you tomorrow.

Giving Thanks, a reflection

I now spend alot of time on facebook. Somehow, my whole family and alot of my friends have gravitated there and we have all found it the easiest way to check up on each other, say hi, say I love you. Some how so much easier than phone calls and letters which we seem to neglect just living our daily lives.

A few day's ago someone started this new thing, each day name something you are thankful for and do it each day through Thanksgiving, and try to get everyone else to do it to. Not only do I enjoy doing it, I enjoy reading others.
As I was reading this morning it really, really struck me how much I do have to be thankful for.
Then in response to some emails, I directed some people to the first 3 posts I made when I started this blog last May rather than tell my story over and over. Then it hit me,
Wow, look how far I have come in the last 6 months.

After going through the years of financial and emotional devastation from my illness, I have done everything I am not supposed to be able to do. Just because I decided everyone else was wrong and I would find a way to regain ME.
So I want to declare my gratefullness and my thanks for all these things in my life.
Of course I am thankful for my family, my wonderful loving mom, dad, sister and brothers, Aunts and Uncles and cousins and most especially for the children and grandchildren that are are part of my life every single day. They have been there for me, supported me at my worst times, and still try to protect me and keep me in line.

I am grateful and thankful for the many friends I have made on the computer because I pushed myself to learn how to do it. I have "met" people all over the world and have been able to share things with you.

I am grateful to be stubborn enough to get my hands to work again so that I can create all these little things I put up in my shops, whether they sell or not I have been given a reason to push myself to keep working on it and showing it and wanting to make more of them and I am so truly grateful that, regardless of the physical pain to do so, I WANT to keep making things, so I am still winning over the physical side of me.

I am grateful for now being able to say that I get up and go to work everyday. I am thankful for having met Chris and Mike, the owners of Legends Cafe, for being willing to give me a chance at working again. I won't lie, it is not easy for me. I am in alot of pain when my day ends but the absolute emotional fullfilment far outway's the physical pain that I can and will deal with that pain and I win! I am thankful to have met new friends in my co-workers, most of them younger than my oldest child who have accepted me and befriended me, and put Joy in my day.
I am thankful to be able to say without reservation That I love my job.
Regardless of what I do without I can honestly that I am trying my best and I am thankful that I can honestly say that.

I am thankful for that stubborn streak that has gotten me from the mess I was just a while ago to the person I am now. It would have been so easy to allow this illness to take over and keep me in that recliner but that stubborn streak say's no , we are not having it, and guess what?
I win! I am happy, I am busy, My God and my Angels have helped me stay me and come out on top.

Is this everything? No truly not, but it is a good start and I will continue to find reasons to be thankful every morning when I wake up, get out of bed and attempt to do something.

Thank you for listening!

Here it is!!!

It is finally done and I am so excited about it. I love to push the envelope in my work sometimes but I really pushed it hard with this one. It is huge! The bag itself is 3 1/2 x 3 3/4. The fringe at the longest point hangs 9". I tried making the neckchain shorter at 24" with a clasp to compensate for the large size of the bag but it is still a really big bag. Yup , beaded wall art. But I could be wrong. I went to the very first meeting tonight of a Jewelry makers group formed by a fellow Etsian that happens to live in my town. I was very excited. My first social event away from my computer (with real people in the same room as me!) in a very long time. Any way , I hauled this with me to get some feedback on the size of this and was told that some one out there would absolutely buy this to wear for the "extra bling factor" So I am on the fence but I will try putting up for sale first as jewelry and maybe change it up a bit with hummm maybe "wearable art" or Beadwoven wall art" we shall see, anyway, as happy as I am with this it will be a very long time before I take my sizes this far again. I will keep you posted on what happens with it.
Have a great night...or day depending on where you are.
Debsparkles

I can't wait any longer

I have been beading this fringe for hours and it is not going to be finished tonight. I had to show you though how it is coming out with the fringing and it is truly the largest peice of work I have ever undertaken. Definately beaded wall art. I can't picture any one being willing or able to wear a necklace this big but it is soooo much fun to create it. I learn something with each new design on I do. Lesson here: the bag is too big so the rest of it will be hugh!!!
Any way, that is the last in progress picture I take, next will be the finished bag.

Happy Monday

I had the day off today which is really unusual but so far, have used my time well. Lot's to do yet but I was able to get some new listings up in Etsy and, well I am working like crazy, I finally got my desk cleaned up enough of the little odds and ends that I am back to work on the butterfly bag. I so want to finish it. I want to list it in Ebay before sending it to one of my shops but I am wondering, It is such a big bag, would someone be able to wear it comfortably or should I label it as "Beaded Art" rather than jewelry. hmmmm, I will try to put up a picture later on tonight and show you what little bit of progress I have made.

A Post-Halloween Giggle

Okay so they do celebrate Halloween in the UAE. I couldn't resist putting this picture of my sister and brother in law up. Who say's we are too old to have fun? They will never get old.

Etsy Black Friday

I must take a few minutes each day to wander through the Etsy forums. I don't actively post alot, have to much to learn myself to be of much help to any one else. Any way that's besides the point. This morning I saw a thread about having a Black Friday sale and this was the first time I had seen anything. So, right now I think I will take advantage of any promotion that is going on to draw some attention to my shop and decided I will join in. I am working on getting more stocking stuffer items in the shop (bookmarks and keyrings mostly) But I have decided that I am going to do a weekend deal, starting Black Friday through The weekend I will offer 25% off any purchase in my shop. This means no profit but right now I am really focused on getting people to notice my shop and I have found those that buy from me, realize that my work is so much better than my pictures (I have tried everything , I suck at photography ) they become repeat customers. So if I can get them in there once there is a good chance they will come back.
So Black Friday sale here we come, are you thinking about doing it?

A question for you.

Happy Friday everyone. Tonight is the first of a few posts concerning feedback and advice on some ideas. I am starting a major brain storming session. Sitting here tonight actually realizing how close we are to Christmas, thinking about finances. I am alway's in a financial crisis. Actually pretty used to it since I have been going through it for the last 30 years as a single parent. I do ok. I deal with the ups and downs of trying to keep the bills paid for basic living expenses. I am not a materialistic person, never really wanted much (except more beads!)
have alway's been a very creative person figuring out a way to deal with most shortcoming's to as they say "deal with the hand I'm dealt. My one down fall is Christmas. Right now, as you know, I have my 2 grandchildren with me, my daughter and I have worked together to keep things afloat, right now though , she is going through some serious medical issues and can't work until some testing she is having done have results and our MD finds the right specialist for her to see. So, I need to come up with ideas to kick start my creative money making skills to make sure my grandchildren have Christmas. I am not talking expensive, extravagant , unecessary gifting. I am just talking, a few things they want under the tree, the extra money to spend on food items to bake cookies and make a gingerbread house. You know the little things that make it Christmas.
So, here goes with tonights brainstorm:

I want to hold a open house/Holiday boutique at home showcasing both my Avon and my Jewelry. I would want to have a lot of product of both kinds for cash and carry, not take orders because I would want to do it around the first week of December. Having the product is not a problem. Big order to Avon the week before and lot's and lot's of beading when I am at home.
My question is this......
A. I don't have any idea how to pull this off. I really do not know a lot of people that are local and might possibly attend, How could I advertise this to get people I don't know to possibly come. A flyer ad? Pretty little invitation's handed out to people we run into?
I know alot of people have done this event and I am looking to any of you that has some experiance to give me some ideas, advice, don'ts,
Please, any information you can share with me would be sooo appreciated. Either in my comments or my email. I know that some one is out there that can give me some good ideas.
Thank you, I will spend some time brainstorming for the next idea.
Hope you are blessed with a great weekend.
Deb

Thursday Accomplished!

I got out of work a bit early today and it was nice to get home and have a bit of time before supper time chores to finish another item to get listed in my Etsy shop. You can usually tell what season it is through my beadwork. This lip balm bag was woven out of my favorite brown seedbeads and the branch fringing, which I love to use for seasonal work reminds me of the limbs on the trees outside. They are basically naked at this point with the leaves in piles on the ground. Any way, got this up in Etsy tonight and now have one more bag on my table to finish up quickly before I go back to my Butterfly bag. I have to finish up the little odds and ends first because once I start the fringing on the Butterfly bag I need to focus in on it til done. Hope you are having a great week!
Deb

Legends

I thought it would be fun to share this. This is where I work, Legends Cafe in Saratoga Springs, New York. A casual fun place to eat with sandwiches and salads named after Sports Stars and Movie Stars and in my opinion a really fun place to work. This add appeared in one of our community papers this week and I think it is a really nice add!

Among the missing

Hi folks, yes I have been missing since October 27th when my cable company who has absolutely no sense of humor shut off my cable/internet/phone. But I won, payed something on my bill and I am back. But I have not been slacking! Doing alot of work to get put up in my shops. I do have to do something when I can't play on the internet! I am going to get motivated to start doing alot of posting of new items in my shop for the upcoming holiday's. Tomorrow I get to go buy some beads to finish my butterfly bag. That will make me very happy. When I got on the computer tonight for the first time in over a week, I had an email from a friend/customer/fellow Etsian. DZ Fantasy, I don't know if you have ever read Donna's blog but I think she does a great job and features many, many great Etsy shops. This week she started a post for Holiday shopping featuring a great bunch of shops and I was pleased to find she had included me. I just love her! Any way, if you haven't had a chance yet please go visit Donna's blog, she does a super job of showing alot of shops:

fttp://dzfantasy.blogspot.com

Well as I said, I have been keeping very busy, also working alot of hours at the cafe, one of the things we accomplished at home this week was tree removal. I have (had) a huge tree at one of the back corners of my house. It has some kind of nuts, remind of chestnuts but I have not been able to find out what they are, every fall it rains nuts and casings all over the back yard, you hear them pounding the roof as they fall and clean up takes forever. Have been having a problem with a really bad leak in my roof. I replaced part of the roof 2 years ago and it did not help, come to find out this tree had gotten so big the roots were getting down under the foundation and un leveling my house. So the tree had to go. Lucky for me, my son works for a home painting and restoration company and he likes big toys so at the top of this post you see him moving his toys after taking the tree down.

I will have a few post's coming up over the next few day's so for now I will say good night. I am so happy to be back!