Sunday, March 29, 2009











Hey Bloggers! How's it going? Just a quick Sunday night post to catch up! I am totally pooped out from working all day yesterday at the snack bar for the "Thunder Invitational" track meet at the high school. I didn't even get to see my own son in his event! I was immersed in snack bar duties. It is hard work but it is fun. I met some really nice parents and kids that were there to help out. I adore the head coach, Matt Eckman too. He has such a wonderful way with the kids and the other coaches. He had a huge smile on his face the whole day no matter what was going on! The kids and other coaches really seem to respect him and he seems to bring out the best in everyone. That is a special person right there. There was a young man running the snack bar who was exceptional as well. He is a senior I believe. I don't know his real name, but everyone called him "Big Red". He managed both parents and kids with ease. That is not a simple task between kids with their attitudes and parents with wanting to run the show. Three cheers for Red! He handled everyone with grace and poise that I don't even have! I am glad that my son is around such incredible people everyday!




Hey just a quick note about my classes this month. My class on April 21st is full, but I have a class this Thursday, April 2nd at 10 that has several spaces open if you are local and interested. The cost of the class is $25 and you will make 4 beautiful cards plus learn some really cool techniques. These are the last classes of this schedule.
I am currently working on my samples for the next schedule. They should be really fun! I am always excited when I am creating new classes! I am teaching a Macho Cards class, an inchie class, a mini card class, and a summer-themed card class. I tried to put a little bit of everything in these clases, wedding, birthday, graduation, father's day, friendship, etc... I try to pack as many fun techniques in the classes as I can so that my students are exposed both to different techniques and products as well. It keeps everything fresh and fun! I also try and give people lots of ideas for using things they have or things they want to buy. Especially in times like these, we have to consider the many uses of an item and try to get the most use out of everything. I think that was what really hooked me on stamping, the versatility and multiple uses of the images.
My pretty Little Girl canvas sold! I also sold another one that was more wedding-ish. Both to the same person! They were only up for a couple of days! I have put a few new items up on Etsy this last week, but it seems to be a slow week. I have to get busy with some new stuff this week. I have several listings that will expire next week so I think I will let them expire for now. They have not received a lot of interest and I think I could probably sell them at work. They are on the plain side for the Etsy crowd and I have learned a lot about how to take better photos since I originally listed those. I could also repackage them a little bit more attractively and try to relist them with new photos.
My photos tonight are of our doggie Hank, a robin in our pear tree a couple of weeks ago, and the wedding-ish canvas that I sold last week. Thanks for checking in on me!
Oh dear, I just looked at the clock! I am going to turn into a pumpkin! I was going to go to bed early tonight! Oh well. What else is new? I will be fine. Have a wonderful day tomorrow!








Susan

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Feelin' a Spring in My Step!


Helloooo out there! This beautiful weather out here has me in a great mood! I am inspired to create things with bright colors and vibrancy! I just created this little canvas collage last night. I was inspired by a similar piece a friend created and I decided it was time for me to put some of those dabbers to good use! I actually used some regular acrylic paints as well. I used a paper towel to distribute the ink in a ragging sort of technique. I stamped the little girl on polka dot paper and cut her out and attached her to the canvas as well as some butterflies and the "authentic" stamp. I bought this little girl stamp a year or more ago because she reminded me of pictures of my mom and my aunt when the were little girls. Isn't she cute? In my mind she is exuding little-girlness and sweetness, hence the flowers, circles and butterflies! I may have to make her into a card for one my classes too! She is currently for sale on Etsy if you have fallen in love with her as I have!


I have just added some other new items that are perfect for Easter and spring. Go and check them out! I am always open to custom orders as well if you don't see what you like or want. I am trying to get my classes ready for the next session, so my free time is being spent creating for them these days. I am going to be teaching an inchie class (yay!), a mini card class, macho card class, and a summer-themed card class. All cards this time, but I think there might be a few surprises in the mighty mini class! I am looking forward to sharing all these things with my students! This last round of classes was so much fun! I really try to teach as many techniques as I can fit into a class so that my students are getting the most for their time and money. I just love the variations on my design that people make! I feel like I am doing my job if I have inspired you to try something new, or do something different, or just make something in general! My work here is done! Well, not really, but it makes me so proud of my students!


Well, I am heading off to bed. Days are long and hard lately. Wishing you all the best!


Susan

Thursday, March 19, 2009

A Wonderful Birthday!











Hello! I had a great birthday WEEK celebration! It was wonderful to spend time with family and friends over the last week. Friday some friends came and met me for lunch at work, Saturday my mom planned a wonderful day while we participated in Destination Art, organized by the Stamp Art Shoppe. We had a great lunch downtown at Cafe Bernardo's, and spent the day travelling to different art supply stores in the area. Monday I went to lunch at a Persian restaurant in Rancho Cordova with some friends from work. So yummy! On Tuesday, my actual birthday, my friends took me to lunch at my favorite sushi spot, Mikuni's or McCooney's since it was St. Patrick's Day! To top it all off I took my kids and my mom, brother, and sister to BJ's for dinner that evening! Whewww! That was a lot of eating out! I just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone! It was a great week! I feel so loved! One of my Auntie's even came up from the Bay Area for a surprise visit! Thanks!

Between Etsy getting busier, and it being time to plan new classes for SAS, life is a little crazy right now. Not to mention work, which surprisingly enough, is getting busier right now. Nick is doing track as well and that is very time consuming. Track meets are torture! Thank goodness I have friends there to talk to! I am feeling pretty exhausted right now and trying to figure out how to plan out my next few months so I have a little down-time! I expected work to be slow right now because it usually is this time of year, and with the economy, well you know what I thought. But, I guess I was wrong! I am busier now than I was at Christmas! Go figure! I am thankful tho, because it means that people are doing better. I planned to teach more classes because I expected work to be slow, and I did not imagine Etsy would be this busy, so now I am a little nuts! I am looking forward to a somewhat quiet weekend. My house desperately needs to be cleaned, and I have some work to catch up on, but we have no plans to go out, or have people over, or have to be anywhere. Thank goodness!

I seem to be able to relax more when my house is clean! So that is definitely a priority! After that, all bets are off!

Posting some pics of some cute items I have on Etsy for spring. Tags seem to be the big sellers on Etsy. I was hoping to sell cards, but they really don't move well. Tags seem to be my biggest sellers, and also supplies like heart punches, eggs, etc... I am planning to make a display at work for my cards to try and sell some of them. I have way too many!

Well, gotta go for now. Have a wonderful day!
Susan

Friday, March 6, 2009

Good Evening! I hope this Friday night finds you all well and good!