cheer up, buttercup

Since coming back into my Etsy shop, I've been trying on occasion to explore things on the site that may have changed in the last 6 months while I was away from the internet. I'm not sure if this feature was around in the past, but I just found something else I knew nothing about... this time in Feedback (buyers/sellers leave each other feedback- don't forget!) where you can add an "appreciation photo".
Oh my gosh!
I had a hoot seeing these old appreciation photos Lupin posted there for me last year, so so good to see tonight. I feel another felty blog post coming on, but in the mean time share the love and saunter on over to bugs and fishes to visit her blog, where Lupin has been keeping us all entranced with gift wrapping tutorials (droolworthy). It was this guy that especially dazzled me although this is probably how it would translate in my craft-ability.
Thanks for the cheer-up, Lupin, even if it took me 10 months to find it. :)

blogs i love (round 1)

Ever since Jennifer over at the Lift of a Busy Little Bee blog included my blog in an award ("You make my day!" hooray!) I've been thinking... what blogs do I daily track? I have a subscription to Bloglines which holds them all, complete with updates, like "bookmarks" on your computer. I love the system, but after living without consistent internet for so long it can be overwhelming to see all those blogs with new posts pile up.

There are a few, however, that always catch my eye with a new post. I may be too shy to give out awards, but these blogs really are incredibly inspirational to me:

http://dailyfigure.blogspot.com/ The Daily Figure blog is the perfect thing for those of you, like me, who would be content to stay in Figure Drawing class forever. The gesture, expression, and simplicity here is mesmerizing.

http://aervilhacorderosa.com/ I am so completely under the power of this blog it is ridiculous. I can't even read it, but the remarkable clarity of Rosa Pomar's images (as well as following her lovely children's adventures) have transfixed me since stumbling on her blog for the first time.

http://myfolklover.typepad.com/the_my_folk_lover_blog/ Here is the Etsy artist I wish I was. Its funny the artists we find great affinity with, even if our drawings look so different. New posts on the Folk Lover blog consistantly bring a smile to my face, and encourage me to take out the pencils again and again (not to mention the computer, the ink, the watercolor, the markers, the camera...).

There is a list of "Friends & Family" I recently added to my link lists on the right of your computer screen (if you're reading this in Bloglines, or what-have-you, you may have missed it) whose blogs are the very first I look out for in the morning. But, then, a shout-out just wouldn't be complete without the big three: Faded Willow, Mushroom Meadows, and Little Bee. These three blogs make my day time and again, each one with such different tastes.

My girl Karen over at Faded Willow is a list maker like the best of 'em, fellow gemini, and sweet supportive shoulder. She is a crafty jewelry maker and the hands behind Faded Willow on Etsy. Check out her blog and let her strike a match in your imagination as well: Faded Willow

Jennifer over at Life of a Busy Little Bee keeps me feeling warm and snuggly, I always love to see new posts in her neck of the woods. Last winter, through a heavy dose of home sickness, Little Bee was full of New England-y goodness, snowy days, nubbly knits, and wonderful reads. Wisdom and peace exude from her web-presence, go check it out:Life of a Busy Little Bee

Let me tell you about Mushroom Meadows. You know that feeling when you see something especially adorable over on Cute Overload and you honestly let out a little sigh or laugh its just so darn cute? Well, that's just the kind of magic you're going to find over at MM's blog. If you want an extra flutter in your heart there is even an Etsy shop! Seriously, in the world of cute crafts I have yet to see better... those stamps just push me over the (cute) edge!
Mushroom Meadows

So, that's a (really wordy) introduction to my long-standing obsessive blog reading. There are so many more I want to mention... I may have said something about them in my posts last year but can't remember. Now I'm all tuckered out and need to get off the computer, but I hope you all have fun exploring some new blogs and sharing your own diverse blog interests! I'll make this a monthly feature~ it is always such a great way to see what other people are reading. More to come!
Goodnight!

some steps to re-opening an online business...

Step 1: quit slacking!

Hi everyone. Okay, today I finally finally finally scored internet at home. PHEW! Onward and upward on the list of Things To Do involving re-opening the Etsy shop
... as long as I can stay focused...
...not spend the day streaming the Daily Show...
...maybe this was a bad time to sign up for NetFlix, too...
...alright, a little blog post to clear my head.

Today is a very very rainy day in Portland, windy and gloomy. I'm the kind of person who is completely bewildered by weather (I blame my Massachusetts upbringing~ you don't have to live there for 27 years to catch on to the annual "What, snow again?" tradition) and can't really get involved with any precipitation without becoming entirely drenched, bedraggled and hopelessly uncoordinated. So, it was little more than a walk to the grocery store (soaked to the knees, hair plastered to my face, shooting uneasy glances at my umbrella) that convinced me I might as well just stay inside today.

I've opened boxes, taken stock of what was packed and hauled cross-country, and created an inventory of items that need complimentary supplies before they hit the shop (i.e. cards + envelopes). I've gone over my Shop Policies finer details and started figuring out the maths on what supplies actually cost. Last year I admit- I often just threw money into the shop willy nilly, and yes- those were some nasty lessons to learn.

I also admit- I'm staring wistfully at the Gocco box day after day, awaiting with increasing impatience for the time when I can jump back in to printmaking. (sigh) For the moment, these steps and preparations will have to do. Steps 2, 3 and 4 (in my view) are Get Inspired, Get Inspired, Get Inspired. Be it through crafting, art-making, reading, knitting, wandering, whatever you do... I'm beginning to remember what a time sucker these computers can be and I am so very grateful I've got books lining the walls of my new apartment, catching my gaze when I look up from the screen.

Before I go, I want to sincerely thank Ms. Little Bee for giving my blog it's very first ***award***!Yay! Certainly it was one of the motivations to get on with it and begin prepping the shop: let me tell you its no small task to get me on the phone with Comcast for a big chunk of the afternoon! But, aside from that, Jennifer of the Busy Bee Blog has always been a stalwart support (even with what I imagine is my appalling grammatical variety) through all of the ups and downs of my own blogventures.

Her engaging blog is always such a peaceful place to visit~ the clicking of knitting needles, smell of baking bread, and Clarence cameos welcome you in. Jennifer's award offers me the opportunity to reach out and spread the love, sending out awards to 5 other blogs I'm following. So, here it is: with my fractured, scattered internet use over this past season, I've been a seriously slack blog follower. With a little more time in front of the screen, I'll have my awards ready this weekend. Until that time, to all of you lovelies reading along- you know who you are... and I couldn't thank you enough for the love and support.