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!

Blue "Rose Parade" Hall Pitcher from AntiqueCellar

I think this is the prettiest pitcher I've seen in awhile! I love the extra floral detail on the handle. It's one of the things being featured tomorrow on my blog vintage shop of the day. It's from AntiqueCellar on etsy---click on the photo to see more about it. I should buy it while it's still available but I just treated myself to a new camera lens that I shouldn't have. Pssst....don't tell my husband!

P.S. Check out AntiqueCellar---lots of great stuff there!

My Etsy Shop: Coming Soon!

Here is the latest batch of jewelry that I need to list in my etsy shop! My jewelry stash keeps on growing so I need to get more things added to my shop. I literally have thousands of pieces of jewelry and I'm always acquiring more! I keep thinking I will list something everyday but it's not happening. Hopefully, I will stay on the ball and get these listed today!

Update! The silver ring and the antique roses pin have sold in my etsy shop! Yay!

If you are interested in anything here please look for it in my etsy shop here.......soon!

Newly Added to My Etsy Shop:emmasgems

I finally got busy and added a few pieces to my shop today. It's been awhile since I've actually added new ones and haven't just relisted the older things! These photos are from November! I guess I'm running a little behind. I'm thinking I should set a goal of 10 new listings a day then I should be able to manage at least a few. I'm hoping! I would have a reasonable goal to attain every day and I think that's what I need to do. I certainly have the inventory. I just need to make the time!

New Year's Resolutions In Spite Of Myself

I think this is the first time in many years that I haven't made any "official" New Year's Resolutions before the end of the year. I didn't write anything down or even think much about it. It's starting to sink in now and I realized there are a few things that I would like to accomplish in this New Year! Go get a cup of coffee or tea...this is going to take awhile!

I did buy a treadmill that is supposed to arrive any day now. I want to be healthier so rather than sabotage myself with unrealistic expectations....I have decided to consider it a life change. I'm reasonably sure I can manage to walk on the treadmill in the privacy of my own home at least a few minutes a day if nothing else. If not then I will have a very expensive clothes rack and a very disappointed husband . But I know I can do it!


I need to spend more time on my etsy shop and less time on the etsy forums. It's such a time waster for me! I love to interact there but I spend way too much time there "lurking" instead of interacting! Therefore, my shop has been sorely neglected along with a few regular customers who used to count on me for vintage jewelry to make their own altered jewelry. To them: I'll be back soon!

Is that a resolution? Spend less time on the etsy forums this year? Maybe....

I have so many things that I would like to accomplish this year but my enthusiam doesn't match my low energy level! I'm hoping to overcome some health issues and get on with my life as I would like to live it. I'm taking some new vitamins and supplements to try and help myself. I hope it works!

I'm trying to stay connected to friends near and far. I haven't been the best friend and vowed to change that too (Hi, Diane!) I have some great friends that I've been neglecting over the last few years. Hopefully, they will all forgive me and we can visit and *do lunch*.

Here is the short list of things that I would like to accomplish this year:

1. Organize all of my geneology papers and get them into binders.
2. Get all of my photos and videos onto CD's and DVD's.
3. Visit my special friends...and do lunch!
4. Go through all of my vintage linens and organize them. I'm "willing" them to my granddaughter Emma someday.
5. Paint my livingroom and hallway...pick a color.
6. Organize my kitchen and declutter.
7. Finish organizing my office.
8. Go to the Beach...soon.
9. Visit my brother and his family near Seattle...soon.
10. Actually do some yard work this year. I did very little last summer.
11. Spend one on one time with each of my 3 grandkids doing simple things like baking or going on a walk to the playground.
12. Go on more *Girls Only* trips with friends and family....got one planned already!
13. Go camping more often this summer....more all family trips.
14. Take the boat out and go fishing even if it's raining!
15. Mop my floors more often! That's why I got the Steam Shark for Christmas!
16. Stop worrying so much about.....everything!
17. Enjoy my life as it is....everyday!
18. This one should be FIRST on my list: Be kinder to my husband as he is so kind to me :) He really is a SAINT!

Note: The photo above is Ezra and my daughter Kristina's dog Penelope(Penny) the Beagle at Christmas 2008.

Creative Christmas Gift Tags

My daughter Kristina is the most creative girl! Every year she finds the perfect Christmas gift for each member of our family(on a budget too). Each gift is thoughtful and perfectly suited to the recipient. But it is her choice in creative name tags that we enjoy just as much as the gift! Last year we each had a Moo card attached to our box as a name tag. Every card was a photo from years past. I had a photo of all 3 of my kids when they were young. There was a photo of my Grandpa on one. There were photos of my grand kids for me and their Mom too. There were older family group photos. All meaningful and appropriate to each person receiving a gift from her. We all oohed and aahed her creative choice! We all wondered what she would do this year?
This Christmas she found vintage black and white photos on what must have been an exhaustive search of vintage and antique shops for the perfect photo to fit each member of the family! These were sweet and quaint photos from another era. She wrote "To Mommy" and attached the vintage photo of what were clearly 2 sisters from the 1930's or so. Her sister Chantel's gift had a cute photo of 2 young sisters holding hands. I had another one with the silhouette of a young girl. Yet another was a proud little girl, with her head held high, arms clasped behind her back with her lovely pinafore dress on. All of these photos spoke to me of family, times past, tradition and love.....perfect for our family Christmas.

I look forward to seeing what Kristina comes up with next year. We expect this sort of creative genius from her now! Happy New Year!

Nepotism

I'm so proud of my daughter Kristina and her etsy shop DreamState that she just opened on September 11, 2008. She loves to sew and create. She is also a great photographer. She has made some amazing reversible aprons and bags. She sold 3 in the first few days of adding them to her shop. All she wants for Christmas is a commercial/industrial sewing machine so she can make more of her special creations! Please check out her shop!

New Pendants and More....

Here are a few of the things I've been working on for one of my other etsy shops: vintagelife
I really enjoy making this jewelry. I try to be unique and offer something a little different than the norm. I have about 60 more pendants in varying stages of completion. I love making the rings too. I usually try to make my rings with vintage bits and pieces of broken jewelry but I bought a lot of czech glass buttons so I am incorporating them too! Trying to get them all listed before Christmas will be the true challenge. I am trying to stock up on all my shipping supplies so I don't run out! I think most of my profits from all 3 shops have gone right back in to buy more supplies so I can be fully stocked for the holidays! If you get a chance please visit my handmade shop!

My Latest Etsy Shop Additions...

Here are a few of the things I added to my etsy shop today. I've been promising to add more vintage compacts,cosmetic and vanity items and I finally got the chance today. Etsy is having a search "hiccup" tonight or I would still be adding to my shop so I thought I'd come here and at least stay somewhat productive! I've been taking lots of photos and trying to get the motivation to add more to my shop before the Sunday Vintage Market on August 31. I am having a contest/giveaway during the sale. I will be giving away 3 pieces of vintage costume jewelry from my shop. Please check out my shop announcement for all the details. I hope you'll come check it out on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. pacific time. Thanks for reading!

Hello! I'm new here.........

This is all new to me and I'm still trying to figure this blogging thing out! My name is Kitty and I live in Oregon. I wanted to post mostly about my etsy business and what I do there but I think you'll read about my family too! You'll hear lots about my grandkids!
I sell vintage costume jewelry on etsy. I really enjoy it alot. Sometimes it takes over my life but I still can't help myself! I work full time too so I keep myself busy between my family, "real" job and etsy! I also make new jewelry from broken bits and pieces of vintage costume jewelry from my huge collection. I will add some photos soon. I'm always trying new techniques and hope to get some new designs into my 3 shops for Christmas. Yes, I do have more than one shop on etsy!
I will also be adding links to my favorite etsy shops too! There are so many great things to be found there.
Please come back and see my photos! Kitty