Wednesday, May 28, 2008

















I'm selling off my vintage clothing on Ebay. I sold my mannequins a couple months ago and I just listed all my vintage clothing resource books and went to watch a movie an came back home and they were SOLD! Yeah, they are all going to good homes. I still have some clothing left. Come check it out and search VBO for more great items. Hurry, today and Thurs. are the last days!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

I'm on DRESS A DAY! Etsy pattern/vintage sellers are on Dress a Day!

How exciting! I LOVE reading Dress a day. I was on there once before (that I've known about)
Jace, from Gremly Girl , let Erin, over at Dress a Day, know about the BIG problems with the search at Etsy. Funny thing is, we have all had sales now from this blog and they have been hit and miss since the new search went into effect. I blogged about it last week, if you'd like to go back and read. Then come back and read this article: Etsy's loss is your gain.

We are all offering 10% off:
Check us out:

Bamabelle -- vintage clothing
Enigma Vintage -- vintage clothing
Gremly Girl -- vintage patterns
Joules -- vintage clothing and patterns
Just Picked Vintage -- vintage patterns & notions
Pattern Mania -- vintage patterns
Pattern Shop -- vintage patterns
Pattern Stash -- vintage patterns
Sandritocat -- vintage patterns

Monday, May 19, 2008

Pickled Garlic

For a change of pace, I'm going to blog about something other than my love for vintage patterns.
While at my mother-in-laws for Mother's Day, she served this Hot & Spicy Pickled Garlic that she brought home from a recent trip to Oklahoma. I fell in love with them. They are FABULOUS!
Since garlic has so many health benefits, I thought I'd share the name of these wonderful little babies!

"Hot 'n Spicy" Pickled Vegetables

pickled garlic******"Hot 'n Spicy" Pickled Garlic *****YUM YUM YUM!*****
Hand-packed with plump, large ivory cloves of crunchy garlic, beautiful red and green peppers and fresh dill. A traditional favorite! Slice and serve over pasta salad or add to a fresh green salad. Available in 16oz., 32oz.

"Hot 'n Spicy" Pickled Baby Corn
This butter-yellow baby corn is all-natural and hand packed with Grandma's pickle brine. Garnished with fresh dill, garlic and red & green jalapeno peppers. 16oz.

"Hot 'n Spicy" Mixed Vegetables
A classic combination of thick-sliced red and green jalapeño peppers, carrots, onions and cauliflower. Incredibly flavorful with bright contrasting colors. 16oz.

Here is the website: http://www.cookscorner.net/SpecialtyFood/00117.html

ENJOY!

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Come check out my new store on Main Street Mall Online!

I'm opening (and testing the waters) at Main Street Mall Online. I'm still selling at Etsy and Ecrater, but I want to try out a new site, who just so happens to have the greatest pattern search I've seen yet. Plus there are some really helpful (Steve) and nice (Hi Tina) people over there
Come check out my store:

http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/patterns/store.php?ref=13

Friday, May 9, 2008

Etsy new search bars is putting all the Supplies & Vintage shops out of business

Monday May 5, 2008 Etsy implemented a new search system where they've separated the item search into three new searches: Handmade, Vintage, and Supplies. The default is Handmade, with Vintage and Supplies available in the drop-down. You can also select "All items" to search Handmade, Supplies, and Vintage all at once.

The menu reads like this:
Search drop-down menu shows:

>Handmade Items: tags, titles (default)
>Handmade Items: tags, titles, descriptions
>Supplies: tags, titles
>Vintage: tags, titles
>All Items: tags, titles
>Sellers: Usernames
>Materials


Since the change, many, MANY supplies and vintage shops on Etsy views and sales have slowed and in some cases sales have stopped ever since this new search was implemented. Many made daily sales, myself included, only to wake up to no sales and no views. To quote schOOLLOcker, "

1. Why isn't there the option to search *descriptions* when looking for Vintage & Supplies?

2. Why isn't there an option for
*All Items: tags, titles, descriptions*?

This narrow search option for Vintage & Supply items means:
sellers of these items need to include all vital search terms in their titles and in the 13 available tags ---
which has the potential to result in ridiculously long listing titles.

When tagged properly & in accordance with the rules of the site, Commercial Supplies are limited to 12 descriptive tags because the first 2 must always be *Supplies* & *Commercial.*

Why the inequity?"

Etsy Administration responded to a very lengthly discussion on Etsy's community forum "Ideas" and this is what was said:

MaryMary said: "It turns out that according to the usage statistics we've been tracking, a negligible amount of buyers use the description search to find vintage items and supplies.

We made a judgment call to cut out the descriptions search for vintage and supplies primarily because descriptions searches require a lot of server resources (along with the fact they weren't being used), so we want to do as few as possible and also adding those options to the top would make the drop-menu too daunting.

That being said, our focus at Etsy is on handmade, so we decided to leave the option for description searches in the handmade search.

I hope this helps clear up some confusion and thanks again for your patience and feedback"

schOOLLOcker (who is now my official hero) responded with this great thought:

"I just want to make sure I understand this correctly.

--I can search every post on the forums dating back to 2005 by content (except locked/closed threads).

--The long ago-obsolete threads in Promotions … all 340,000+ threads are therefore searchable by content. (this statistic is just for the Promotion threads)
I can’t even wrap my mind around how many posts that equals.

However, the engineers have determined that it doesn’t behoove Etsy Corp to allow potential customers to search the content of all listings that WE ARE TRYING TO SELL.

So my listings (& all vintage / commercial supply listings) are a drain on the site’s limited server resources.

Interesting priorities."

I've decided to see what happens over the weekend and make a new game plan Monday, if need be. There are more choices out there and believe me, I'm taking a much needed break from nursing and I've already paid my dues having patients, family and doctors walk all over me I don't need this type of unfair treatment. All we want is FAIR treatment. Everyone pays the same fees so everyone should get the same exposure.

Here is a screen shot of the new drop down bar:







Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Not on TASK!

My first grader, who is six years old (he's a summer birthday) is having some problems in school. He seams to have trouble with talking and not staying on task. His teacher gives daily stickers and lately he's not able to get but maybe one or two a week. Let me give a little history, my husband had the same problem, so he actually comes by it naturally. In first grade, he also was always talking and getting into trouble, so much so that he was placed in a "stove appliance" box in a corner of the room, facing the wall! Can you believe that. He is one of those people who can talk to anyone about anything. He's a policeman now and just the other day he talked a man out of shooting himself and his wife, so I know one day Noah will have this same great trait!
We went to speak with his teacher and she let us know about a "contract" she had to make with her first grader (ie. hitting automatic spanking....) We came home a made one up with Noah's problmes and punishment and I really thought this would work but it is not. We asked the teacher if she thought it might be ADDH and she been teaching for over 10 years and she really didn't think it was. He makes good, really great grades, it's just his behavior! We are hoping it will work out as he matures since he is a younger than 98% of his class. We will see what happens next year and then if it worsens, we will take him to see a doctor but we both don't want him on meds.
If anyone has any helpful comments, please feel free to leave them.
Thanks!

Monday, May 5, 2008

MOO Cards!














I'm in LOVE with my Moo cards. I ordered them when they were offering the 33% off and I just got them today and they are so CUTE!
Just look.....

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

An Etsy Study II

I did a study last month and I thought I'd add to it this month. Here is the article below:

"I've seen questions being asked on the forums to which are the most prosperous days on Etsy, and I decided to conduct my own study of my busiest days. I joined Etsy Dec. 7, 2007, so I did not include Dec. 2007 into this study. I've had a total of 241 sales to date, with 15 being in Dec. For the months of Jan., Feb., and March, the total sales were 226 and I broke them down to the days items were sold and here is what I came up with.
Mondays= 12 sales
Tuesday= 9 sales
Wednesday = 18 sales
Thursday = 20 sales
Friday = 18 sales
Saturday = 21 sales
Sunday = 15 sales

Some of the above were multiple sales to the same person, but I just included them as one sale. "

Today, I will add to the above totals to include April 2008: I had 40 sales in April, added to the 226 from Jan. Feb. & march = Grand Total: 266
and I broke them down to the days items were sold and here is what I came up with.
Mondays= 21 sales
Tuesday= 16 sales
Wednesday = 25 sales
Thursday = 25 sales
Friday = 21 sales
Saturday = 29 sales
Sunday = 16 sales

Saturday is still my best days to sell with Thursday close behind.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Green Beans with Shallots and Parmesan


This is such a simple recipe and my most requested recipe to make!

2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
8 Lg shallots, sliced
2 lbs fresh green beans (may use frozen or can)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/3 C shredded Parmesan Cheese

Melt butter in saucepan over med.-high heat: add sliced shallots and saute 12 minutes or until golden. Remove from heat.

Cook green beans in boiling water to cover 10 - 12 minutes until tender, and drain. Stir shallots, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. (If using can, just drain and add to golden shallots and heat and continue with recipe)

Makes 8 servings

Saturday, April 26, 2008

300th SALE!

I'm fast approaching my 300th sale. Whoever is the 300th sale will get 300 cents off each pattern they buy.

New Girl's Patterns

I just love little girls vintage patterns. The graphics are so cute. They remind me of when i was a child. My Mom sewed a lot for me and I remember dearly some of these patterns. I have three newly listed patterns, but one just sold. I tell you they go fast.

This one already sold, but isn;t it darling!Here are two others, I just love the graphics one this first one.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Quick & Easy Chicken Recipe

I saw some blogs today featuring recipes and I thought, as much as I love to cook and try new recipes, I think I'll start adding a recipe I tried and tested, to my blog.
Enjoy!

This recipe feeds one person, but can be easily doubled or triples as needed. To speed cooking time, use chicken tenders.

4 tsp grated Parmesan
1 - 2 tsp garlic salt
1 boneless chicken breast
1 tsp olive oil
1 cup carrots ( or whatever you like)
2 small red potatoes, cut into pieces
Salt & pepper

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine cheese and garlic salt. Rub chicken on both side with olive oil and then press into cheese mixture to oc0pver both sides. Place chicken on 12" double thickness) foil, Place carrots and potatoes on either side of chicken. (Do not overcrowd) Drizzle remaining oil over chicken . Sprinkle vegetables with salt and pepper or your favorite seasoning.
Seal foil tightly, slide it onto a cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes (less of chicken tenders) Open packet carefully (watch for steam) and bake 5 minutes more.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Poster Sketch

I've made quite a few treasuries and been in two that I know of. I wondered what it wold look like if I was in the whole treasury so I decided to see on the Poster Sketch. This is so much fun. I went from the 40's to the 70's.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

SALE!

We'll it's not a sale on everything but I re-listed my TOP hearted items and lower the prices.
Come take a look to see if it' one of your favorites.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Designer John Kloss

American Dress and lingerie designer John Kloss (John Klosowski) was born in Detroit, Michigan, where he studied architecture at Cass Technical High School. He moved to New York and worked for Irving Trust Company on Wall Street. Kloss ultimately gained his fashion training when he attended the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York. At age 20, he apprenticed with American-born couturier Bob Bugnand in Paris and went on to work for Serge Matta. In 1959 Kloss turned down an offer to work with Nina Ricci and instead began to design with Lisa Fonssagrives and later worked on his own, designing collections for wholesale manufacturers. Some of his designs were manufactured and distributed by Bendel's Studio, a part of Henri Bendel of New York, a store noted for discovering and supporting young fashion designers.

In the early 1960s, Kloss designed sculpturally-shaped dresses constructed from fabrics such as cotton brocades, that could be formed and molded to enclose the body. By the late 1960s he was using chiffon, matte jersey, and crêpe de chine; fluid materials which moved gracefully with the wearer. Simple dress shapes were formed without darts that did not fit tightly to the body, but flowed seductively over its curves.

Kloss used vivid colors like lemon yellows, greens, amethyst, and ruby in abstract shapes reminiscent of abstract expressionist paintings. Sophisticated, simple, clean designs were detailed with top stitching, tiny rows of buttons, simple edge trims, or tie closures. These nonstructured designs were adapted for lingerie and loungewear marketed by Lily of France and CIRA. Included were designs for nightgowns and bras, both seamless and underwired, again without superfluous lace trimmings.

The most revolutionary of Kloss' designs came about as a reaction to the "ban the bra" movement in the 1970s. He designed a bra that appeared not to exist in 1974 for Lily of France, called the "glossie," which was made from stretchy, sheer, glittery material. The design was seamless, unconstructed, but underwired, so it provided support for those women who needed it, yet wanted the braless look. The "glossie" came in solid colors such as amethyst, indigo, ruby, and mocha.

Kloss received two Coty awards, one in 1971 and another in 1974, for his lingerie designs. His nightgowns were cut from nylon in nonboudoir colors, in sophisticated, seductive cuts that emulated some of his eveningwear. In addition, Kloss also designed leotards, pajamas, swimwear, and sportswear. Under various licenses, he designed foundation garments, lingerie, loungewear, hosiery, tenniswear, and home sewing patterns. He was affiliated with the Kreisler Group of young designers under the management of Stuart Kreisler.

Whether designing dresses or loungewear, John Kloss was aware of the fashion trends, moving from sculptural, molded forms, to the free flowing more casual looks of the late 1960s and 1970s. He avoided unnecessary details, relying instead on the cut of the garment and the materials used to provide the design. The garments moved and flowed with the wearer. His designs were simple, clean, and seductive.

Kloss committed suicide in 1987. by Nancy House

I've always loved John Kloss's carefree clothing. I came across several John Kloss patterns this weekend and some of them are absolutely marvelous. Oh so SEXY! I don't have them all listed yet, but check back soon. Here are two I have listed on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10941086

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10946404


This one is at auction on Ebay:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150235751871&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=005

Love is in the air!

I'm so in love with the graphics on this pattern. I fall in love with a lot of them, but there is just something about this one. I love the look of the 60's and these girls have that look. I fyou have a wedding coming up, why not make your veil. Here is the perfect pattern.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10940092

Swimsuits Galore!




I came across these wonderful swimsuits patterns and I just had to show them off. Everytime I have swimsuit patterns and they always sell fast. I'm sure it has a lot to do with being able to customize them to fit your body. I have a few others in my store as well, so come check them all out.


Sandritocat's Vintage Patterns




Thursday, April 10, 2008

Tired of Paypal fees? You want $25 to spend?

Revolution Money Exchange, is a competitor to PayPal. If after reading about them, if you are interested in signing up please contact me either by leaving an e-mail address in a comment or by e-mail at jayden2@suddenlink.com. Open a Revolution money exchange account before April 15th and receive $25 into your account from them and for using me as your referral, I will give you $5 off your vintage pattern order! You get $10 per referral, but I have to provide you with an invite, so you'll get $5 off of my patterns and I'll get $5 to spend~ a fair deal.
Signing up is simple, just click the picture below to get started.
It took about 2 minutes and I got my $25.00 instantly!
Refer A Friend using Revolution Money Exchange
To accept this payment method you will need to send a request for the funds to the buyer and then they will have to pay the "invoice" that you send. A small price to pay to not have to pay PayPal's transaction fees.
For US residents only!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

I had money to burn.....

Every once in a while, I have some money to burn and no where else would I rather burn it than shopping on Etsy! Some of my items haven't arrived yet but the ones that have, I LOVE.
The first item I got was from

bluepalmettotree

I got this facial scrubbie and let me tell you my face hasn't felt this good in a long time. I'm 42 and my face feels like a teenager again and it shines and glows!

Second item I'm in love with is from

peacoxcreations

and ironically it is a scrubbie for your pots, pans and dishes. It is the best!

Thursday, April 3, 2008

An Etsy Study

I've seen questions being asked on the forums to which are the most prosperous days on Etsy, and I decided to conduct my own study of my busiest days. I joined Etsy Dec. 7, 2007, so I did not include Dec. 2007 into this study. I've had a total of 241 sales to date, with 15 being in Dec. For the months of Jan., Feb., and March, the total sales were 226 and I broke them down to the days items were sold and here is what I came up with.
Mondays= 12 sales
Tuesday= 9 sales
Wednesday = 18 sales
Thursday = 20 sales
Friday = 18 sales
Saturday = 21 sales
Sunday = 15 sales

Some of the above were multiple sales to the same person, but I just included them as one sale.
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