Christmas is Coming!

It's been busy around here! I just got all caught up on my shipping after having some great sales over the last week! About half my sales were to international buyers. I sold to England(a few), Japan, Singapore, Australia(several) and Lithuania! It's great knowing that my things are traveling the world and going to new homes in distant places.

I will be adding lots of new things in all my shops in the next few days. I have several Christmas/Holiday jewelry items that I haven't even listed yet. Not good! It's getting too close to Christmas.

I just opened a Soopsee account that features everything in all 3 of my etsy shops. Click on the badge in the upper right to see it. I've having fun customizing it. Lots of great shops to see there too at http://www.soopsee.com.

I haven't even started my own shopping yet! I need to get on it. I plan on buying many of the gifts for my family on etsy. So many unique things that you can't find anywhere else! I'd better hurry or we'll be opening our gifts after Christmas!

I'm still in the process of decorating for the holidays too. We got the tree up the day after Thanksgiving but it sat there bare for a few days until I put the decorations on. I love doing it! I like the juice can lid ornament my daughter Kristina made in grade  school. It has a photo of her and lots of glitter! The simplest handmade ones are the best and most meaningful.

My sister gives me a new sister ornament every year....soon that is all I will have room for on the tree. I've got so many now! She also gets me the animated Hallmark snowman every year! I love them too. I'm struggling to find enough places in my house to display them.....especially with a Beagle that likes to tear things up during the night. I get child-proofing but never thought I'd be "dog proofing" as well! Oh Penny, you are such a trouble maker!

The weather has been cold and clear the last few days----in the 30's during the day and 20's at night. I can't get used to it! I'm cold all the time...I drag my little oil heater right next to me and I'm still cold! Hopefully, the sunshine will last long enough for me to get some photos taken of jewelry I will list later on. I need to take it when I can get it! I bought a photography tent and lights but I don't like the whole set-up and the lights don't seem to be bright enough. Live and learn!

Thanks for reading this rambling post! I hope everyone is more ready for Christmas then I am! See you soon, Kitty

Just added to my vintagelife etsy shop and more......

I've been busy making jewelry and some handmade supplies. I listed quite a few pendants in my vintagelife shop and some jewelry charms to my sweetvintageemma shop too. I hope to get a bunch of vintage jewelry listed in my emmasgems shop later this week.

It's been busier this week for me in a few of my shops. It was pretty quiet for awhile but it's picked up finally. I hope it stays that way!

Having Fun With My Photos: Poladroid.net

Here are some of the photos I had fun with today. I found Poladroid.net a few months ago and I thought I would pass it on today! Tell me what you think!

My Etsy shops! So many ideas...not enough time in the day!

I wish I didn't have to sleep.....I'd be making things 24 hours a day! I had a long dry spell where I wasn't feeling very inspired and now I can't stop! I recently revamped my sweetvintageemma shop to feature my handmade wire wrapped dangle charms. It's taking off slowly and I'm happy with the sales so far. I've been having fun coming up with new designs and buying lots of supplies (the most fun)! I already have quite a collection of glass beads because of my accumulation of vintage costume jewelry over the last few years. Any jewelry that is broken or too damaged to sell has been going into several large plastic bins. Now I have a use for it all! I plan on selling small lots of broken pieces for jewelry designers to reuse in new designs.

My sister gave me a huge box of 1 inch wood blocks so I've been inspired to make some Paris inspired shelf sitters with them. I made a few for Halloween too! I'm thinking about revamping my vintagelife shop too so I can feature more home decor items that I'm dreaming up!

My emmasgems shop has been neglected lately. I need to retake most of the photos of the jewelry that is left in my shop. I think that is why much of it hasn't sold. I already lowered the prices on most of the shop if anyone wants to take a look! I will also offer free shipping to any blog reader. Just let me know when you check out and I will refund the shipping via PayPal. I will be adding fresh inventory soon so please keep checking in!

My vintagelife etsy shop has been reworked with a new banner and avatar. Featuring a much brighter and clean look! I've been working on my newest version of tile jewelry including custom photo pendants.

I've made lots of pieces using recycled vintage jewelry. See my Halloween jewelry below....I laughed the entire time I was making them! They're a bargain too....just reduced the price this morning. Check them out here!

I truly believe that you get out what you put into your etsy shops. I've also found that renewing DOES work. Constantly adding new product will almost always result in sales for me. My sales were at a standstill until I started renewing or adding new listings. But what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. Just my personal observation.

I've gotta get back to work now. Hope you have a great day!

Historic Jacksonville Oregon Trip

Just got home from a fun end of summer trip to Southern Oregon. It was a 2 car caravan of kids and adults to Grants Pass to take the Hellgate Jetboat Excursion trip down the Rogue River. We took the same trip last summer and wanted to go again! My sister and I took all of our kids and my grand kids too. We had a great time! We stayed in Grants Pass after the Jet Boat ride and the next morning we headed to Jacksonville.

Jacksonville is a small historic gold rush town near the city of Medford. We rode the trolley around town, listened to the guide give us some history and took as many photos of the beautiful historic homes as we could.

We had a great lunch at the Bella Union Restaurant and Saloon. Great atmosphere! We sat outside on the patio but the saloon looked like great fun too! I had the best Chicken Sandwich....ever. It had a chicken breast marinated in walnut and gorgonzola pesto; grilled with prosciutto ham and fontina cheese on a fresh bun. Yummy! I would drive all the way back just to have another....

My sister and I have decided that we will be going back (sans kids) and stay at the quaint Magnolia Inn sometime this Fall. If you live in Oregon or are considering a trip here you must visit Jacksonville. It was the perfect end to a wonderful Summer!

No Way!

It has NOT been 5 weeks since I posted! It's been a busy summer. We finally went camping at Detroit Lake here in Oregon. Of course the weather didn't cooperate....it rained very hard one night. We stayed dry but it wasn't a very warm trip. We still took the boat out and had a good time.

We had all the kids and grandkids come along this time. I think they all enjoyed it. The bees took over whenever we sat down to eat! The same is happening at home which reminds me of why we stop eating outside in August. Sleeping is always a challenge even with the inflatable mattresses. I had to yell for help when I fell off of mine at 3 am! My husband thought it was funny...he had stacked 2 on top of each other which isn't a good idea. So I fell off the side and was hanging onto the tent pole...also not a good idea.

The weather was best the day we left to go home so we packed up, all got in our boats and took a short ride around the lake. It is a beautiful place! I took LOTS of photos too.

I'm still working on my family genealogy and helping others with theirs when I can. I really enjoy doing it. I know how I excited I was to get even the smallest tidbit of info that would lead me to some new discovery. I enjoy helping others do the same! I'm still working on my Rondo line...hoping to find that elusive long, lost relative who has all the info I am seeking. I know it will happen some day!

Fall is coming soon! I can feel it in the air. School will start. I will be driving my granddaughter to school everyday so my life will have more routine. Therefore my blogging will be more regular...I hope! Keep checking in! Thanks for visiting me.....

Vintage Family Fun!

Clarence & Clara DeChaine circa 1911

Melvina Rondo Forcier and Mary Elizabeth "Bessie" Forcier McAllister

Melvina Rondo Forcier and "her girls"

Melvina Rondo Forcier and Mary Elizabeth "Bessie" Forcier McAllister


These are some of my relatives that I've spent the past few months researching. I received the photos from a distant Forcier relative in Washington state. So excited to see these and thought I'd share.

The top photo is my grandmother Clara DeChaine and her twin brother Clarence. They were born in Brainerd, MN. My great-grandmother had sent a photo to her family in Washington.

The other photos are of my great-great-grandmother Melvina Rondo/Rondeau who was born in February 1850 in Vermont. The story is that she was a nurse and lost one of her legs during the Civil War in Vermont. She married Damase "Thomas" Forcier in 1866 in Vermont. They moved to Sauk Centre, MN in 1870. They eventually had 10 living children over a span of 25 years! The family moved to Seattle/White Center, WA in 1889.
At some point they moved to Redmond, Washington and were pioneers in that area.

I'd love to hear from anyone who is related to this line of Forcier's!
I'm a descendant of the Forcier, Peterson, Olson, DeChaine, Marineau and Paulson lines from the Brainerd, Minnesota area also.

My entire family tree is on Ancestry.com under Bergh/Peterson.

Penelope The Beagle

A few months ago my daughter Kristina moved from a house that she shared with roommates into a small studio apartment in Portland.
Her boyfriend had bought her a cute Beagle pup for her birthday the year before.
Long story-short: She couldn't take Penny to live with her.

Well, somehow we ended up with Penny even though I really didn't want another dog at the time. I have a hard time saying no to my kids!
It's been good times ever since and I say that with the utmost sarcasm!
Penny is a bit of a trial.
She's cute to look at but I never knew all the trouble an innocent looking dog could get into!

Despite promises of her being trained to potty outdoors.......she isn't......even when the back door is left wide open for that purpose.
But she is getting better.....we're working on it!

Since Penny went into heat for the first time she has taken to humping my loveseat cushions! Totally unacceptable and really....kind of gross too.
The worst part is......if you aren't careful....she drags them outside to do her dirty deed!
Much stuffing has been found! It looks like it snowed!
I think I'm going to buy her a large stuffed animal to be her new "friend".
Since Kristina likes to sew....I have a repair job for her!
You owe me, girl!

See that recliner she's laying on in the photo? Chewed up the arm rests on that!
Yes.....good times....good times!
Our back yard will look like a bomb blew up if we don't keep a close eye on her.
She likes to chew on things, dig holes, drag things around the yard, etc.
My cute yard flags were shredded within minutes of hanging them up.....yes, I should have known better!

I've often thought of finding her a new home but Kristina loves to see her when she visits and now my son Daniel is attached to her and so is our dog Daisy and well.....she IS cute.

Just not sure how much more I can take!

Dress Up Your Blog For Free! I did!

Here is a great site to get free blog templates along with lots of other free stuff! Free Blog Headers. I customized mine at Picnik. Easy Peasy!

Check out their blog too!

http://shabbyblogs.com

http://www.shabbyblogsblog.blogspot.com/

Summertime and the Livin' is BUSY!

Nye Beach, Newport, Oregon

I really meant to keep up with this blog but I've been so busy with so many different things over the past month!

I've been to the beach....
I went camping....
I've been on the boat at the lake....
Went to my nephews high school graduation....
I went to 2 parades....
Spent the night in Portland at the Hotel Lucia.....
Had more BBQ's than I can count.....
Made lots of jewelry findings.....
Went to a rummage sale and found something incredible.....
Changed the focus of one of my etsy shops....
Walked in the Relay For Life Marathon as a Cancer Survivor.....
Spent lots of time with family....

It has been almost a year since I quit my full time job. I'm just now starting to feel the freedom in having done that. At first I was afraid it was the wrong thing for me to do. I thought my fears were correct when my husband was laid off around Christmas time and only working half of his normal hours. Yes, that was a struggle but we came out of it fine. I'm happy to say he is back at work full-time (he loves his job!).

My goal now is to work harder on my business and put more time and effort into making it more successful. I'm going to keep spending more time with family and doing the things that make me happy! Things are looking up!

I'm Back!

Wow! I had no idea I would be away for so long. I apologize to my loyal followers. I'm not sure what happened to me! I thought I would take a short break and it ended up lasting for a few months. I've been busy with other things in my life. I guess I just needed a break.....

I have a love of Genealogy and that is what I've been spending the most time on. I figured out a very difficult line (Forcier) and I spent about 6 weeks on that one. I'm still working on another one (Rondeau/Rondo) that is proving to be even more difficult! But I find it to be very rewarding and it has ignited a passion for history that I never had before. I also have a greater appreciation for the pioneers of Canada and the US. I've even found relatives I never knew I had and helped them with their research too!

I've spent quite a bit of time with my grand kids but I'm no longer babysitting them. I had to quit so I could spend more time on home and work. I need to start paying more attention to my vintage jewelry business or I will have to find a job! So, needless to say, I am motivated to work a little harder on my business!

I've been getting out and doing a lot too. I just had a 1 night camping trip with my granddaughter Emma, my sister Kristy and my niece McKenna. It was great fun! My sister and I just sat and talked for hours by the fire. We slept in a tent on the hard ground which isn't my favorite thing to do! But we had a few comforts of home....like my laptap to watch movies. I hate to admit this but my sister went and got us McDonald's for breakfast! It was fun to get away and I like making the memories for Emma to remember me by.

I'll keep it short today and add a few photos of what I've been up to lately! I really missed being here and I will try to keep it up! Thanks for sticking with me!

Australia: The Movie

Have you seen the movie "Australia"? I was expecting something completely different. I thought it was going to be your standard western type movie but I was pleasantly surprised. It's one of the best movies I've ever seen. Beautiful scenery, a great story line and a happy ending!
You don't see movies like this very often! I only wish I had seen it in the theater. The scenery is so beautiful that it would have been great to see it on the large screen.
The little boy, "Nullah" is adorable. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman are great together.
Watch the trailer and see what I mean! And then go rent it or better yet.....buy it! Just the scene of Hugh Jackman bathing is worth the price!
I hope you enjoy it too!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!

I am reminded that today is the 15th anniversary since my Grandpa passed away.
He died in his sleep less than a year after my Grandma died. I still miss them both and it seems like yesterday that I saw them last.
Today I will light a candle in their memory
and think about all the good times.
I miss you both more than I can say............

Vintage Graphics Website

I found a great website today that I had to share. If you need or just like vintage graphics here is a website with lots of beautiful images that are free to use and do with as you please. I thought they were great for adding to blogs or using some of the simpler designs as avatars,etc. Every holiday is represented with vintage and contemporary graphics. Click on the free source book link for even more designs. Hope you can use them! Have fun!

http://vintageholidaycrafts.com/free-clip-art/

http://vintageholidaycrafts.com/free-clip-art-sourcebook.pdf