A Snowy Caturday Shopping

Here in North Carolina we woke up to about 5 inches of snow.

Actually that's not too unusual, we do get snow here.

It just melts pretty fast, which is my favorite part of a southern winter.

Here's the video I shot of my front porch this morning.

Now for some Caturday fun.

This is my baby Patches, and she loves to play.  Usually in the middle of the night while the rest of us are sleeping.  So let's do some surfing and see what great handmade cat items I can find for her cattiness. lol

Two of my requirements for shopping is handmade and American made, and I just found a cool site (based in Indiana), Purrfectplay.com.  Let's see what I found...

My cat would love this silly sea cucumber, hopefully better than my arm.  She never bothered much with the small mice toys, but this long toys is something she would love.  You can get this toy, (and many of their other toys) with, or without catnip.

Isn't this cute?  A cat sleeping bag.  If you're tired of your cat messing up your bed after you make it, get them their own bed.

My Patches is not a burrower, so this wool blanket would be great for her.

Here's a few interesting points about PurrfectPlay.com.

They are an American company, family owned, and based in Indiana.

They use only all natural supplies in creating their items.  No dyes.  No synthetics. 

The give 5% of each and every sale to no kill/rescue organization.

And they carry items for not just cats, but dogs, and their humans. lol

Click on a link and visit this site.

And place an order for something special for your furbabies.

Be blessed,

Debb

Doing A Little Window Shopping

I finally got to spend some time in my studio yesterday...but with a space heater as my only source of heat, it was just too cold to stay there long.  But I got some work done on a bracelet, and sorting out my other mess.  Now I'm ready to see what great handcrafted items I can find on my favorite sites.

Let's visit my main digs...The CraftStar

I love the casual color and style of this dark silver heart necklace from Island Girl Expressions.  I just think this would look great with jeans and a comfy button down shirt...laid back and feminine...all at the same time.

These vintage pot holder dresses are just too adorable!!!!  You can find these and other great vintage doilies in the shop Chameleon.

I love this Bridal Clutch from MyEuropeanTouch.  I would use this for more than just a wedding (especially since I'm already married, lol).  This would be great for any special occasion.

Now let's go visit my old friends over at Handmade Artists.

I WANT THIS!!!!

What a totally awesome beauty of life sterling silver cuff from Nicilaskin.

AND I WANT THIS!!!

This copper lobster trap sea glass pendent is a great idea for a fun feel of summer.  If you think it's too big for a necklace, hang it in your kitchen window so you can dream of being a beach bum while washing your dishes.  lol

Check out the shop Petra Designs for more awesome items.

And for my last share of the day...

the blue stone of this sterling silver pendant just takes my breath away!!

Shablool Jewelry's shop has even more amazing items in it...

Now it's your turn....what's on your wish list today?

Be blessed,

Debbi

Saturday Shopping Link Up - Owen and Nancy

I'm mixing up my post for the day, I found a wonderful shop on Etsy and I took Owen to the mall yesterday.  I can't decide which to talk about, but since they both make me smile, I decided to combine them.  First the shop....Nancy's Craft Nook.  I found Nancy thru an Etsy circle thingy (actually she found me first) and when I went to visit her shop, I was greeted by these 3 little guys.

These needle felted Pink Elephants made me laugh out loud when I first saw them.  The details Nancy added to them are amazing.  I just now noticed how the one peeking out from his fingers is looking at the other two.  And the picture of their backsides shows their way cute little curly tails.  These were not created to be toys, but I'm sure Owen would love to play with them himself.  Now these elephants are way too cute...

...kind of like Owen trying to eat one of those frosted cookies you can find at the mall.  He likes to eat the frosting first, so he just plasters his face in the cookie top.  This is what I have a video of, but can't share it.  Owen loves sweets, but hates to get sticky, and he had green frosting everywhere, and he was trying his best to pick it off his fingers.  I couldn't get him to lick his fingers, and I got laughing too hard when he got green frosting up his nose!  Ok, back to Nancy...she is married to a Denver Bronco's coach...knows nothing about football, and loves the Beatles.  Like her I know nothing about football, but Owen loves to watch sports.  We are Buffalo Sabres fans here (hockey) and Owen will shout "HE SCORES!" complete with some arm pumping.  Of course, he doesn't care which team is scoring, lol.

Nancy also has a 2 dogs and 8 canaries...and her love for birds could explain this wonderful birdhouse!  This is now on  my favorites list, and come spring....I may be placing an order myself.  So if you want it, get it now.  And how about this sock monkey chair for Owen's time out chair?  Or would that just make time out too much fun, hahaha.

 Here are 2 places in the mall that Owen does like to sit in, as long as I didn't turn them on.  He's not crazy about items that move under it's own power, lol.  And he wouldn't go near Santa!  He just watched all the other kids, and I'm sure the ones that screamed and cried only reinforced Owen's reluctance to get close, hahaha.  You can find Nancy and her amazing creations at the above links, and you can like her facebook page here.  Now for our linky party...I know I missed last week, and I do apologize...so this week, let's share whatever makes you smile!!!!  Just click on the linky frog below, then share this post with your friends.  And since you won't hear from me tomorrow, Amanda and I would like to wish all our friends a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!
Debbi

Saturday Shopping Link Up - Christmas green

OK, Thanksgiving is over, I can now officially rush into the Christmas chaos.  Hahaha.  Actually, I love Christmas and sortof wish there was more time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but oh well.  Today we are heading up the mountains to cut down our own trees, not my idea, lol.  Amanda wants to start a new tradition with Owen, and it should be fun.  So I'm starting my linky party late today, but the theme this week is Christmas tree green....and come see what I found.

Ok, sure, it's not green, but how cool is this feather tree from Newton Hair Jewels?  This shop is totally awesome!!!!  Feathers, feathers, everywhere!!!!

Ok, who doesn't need Christmas Cards?  I love Annie, the artist behind Empty On The Inside.  I have personally purchased from her, and her cards are wonderful.  And she is so on top of her customer service.  I still say she's going to be famous one day, so get her autographed cards now! :~D 

This is her Christmas tree design.

I remember as a child buying my mother the largest and most unusual pins EVER.  hahaha.  And like the wonderful mother she was, she always wore them (at least once) and after she passed, I found them all in a drawer in her room.  She kept every one.  I think that's why I was drawn to this Christmas Tree Brooch.  Sunny from SunnyLunaConcepts took vintage jewels and upgraded this wonderful vintage pin.  A great gift for mommy.

Now it's your turn, find something Christmasy, or green, or tree shaped, and share, share, share!  And don't forget you can link up a friend here too.

Debbi

Saturday Shopping Link Up - snow and cold

Sorry I'm late. I had a wonderfully good time last night at our Creative Memories Christmas Open House scrapbooking party. I had a good time, but got home late. Then this morning, we needed to run for hay, the horses don't care if I have a blog waiting...hahaha. So today I'm looking for something cold, snowy, white, you get the idea. So let's go see what we can find. First Etsy..

When I searched and this photo came up, well since it's the horses fault I'm late, teehee, I had to choose this black and white horse photo. I love the contrast from the pretty white snowflakes, and the horse just standing there. When you look close you can see the wind blowing the tail, brrrrrr, cold. You can find more great photos at moonlight photography. Now onto Artfire....

Now, what's winter without penguins. Let me introduce you to Rupert the Penguin. He's a bobby pin. A pair actually, and very cute too. My kids loved the movie Happy Feet, so of course they want to go to the theater and see Happy Feet 2, but I'm cheap (I prefer the term frugal) so we'll wait till it comes out on DVD and have it forever. lol. Now if you go to the shop of Very Vintage, you'll find a great collections of items to purchase for Christams gifts. You'll even find a set of cuff links in the shape of a steak, for the manly meat eater in your life. Or the vegitarian who dreams of meat, hahaha. sorry, mean me. :~D Ok, let's try Zibbet this week...

I thought I would look for something black and white (see above 2 items) but then I saw and fell in love with this cute little snowman. How can you not fall for that little grin on this smiling snowman greeting card? I found this in the shop Dorcas, and here you'll find not only other original greeting cards, but some embroidery pieces as well. Embroidery seems to be a "dying" craft, you don't see much of it anymore, but I remember learning from my mom and how fun it was to make our own designs and pictures.

Well, that's all I have to share today. What would you like to share? Just link up below, and invite your friends.
Debbi

baby it's COLD outside.

If that title sounds familiar, it's because just a scant 4 months ago, we were whining about the heat in my post "Baby, it's hot outside".  Hahaha.  I just now got in from standing outside with the kids waiting for their buses, and it's only 31 degrees.  Of course, Brandon could only find one mitten, so he was not a happy camper.  I think he used it last month playing cowboy outside on his horse (bike).  Oh well.... 8~)  Now I know I grew up in Tonawanda, (a suburb of Buffalo NY), so 31 degrees should be nothing to me, but I'm not 10 anymore...I'm nunya (buziness, teehee).  And I don't like the cold.  But I do like watching a light pretty evening snowfall from inside the house.  And I did have fun in the snow as a kid.  I spent my first 12 years in an old farmhouse in a great small neighborhood across from the Sheridan golf course.  My 2 best friends and I would sit and watch the balls come flying over a particular hill, and then run and grab them.  We'd then shoot back across the street (don't tell our moms, we weren't allowed across the street) and sit in our front yards and watch the golfers go nuts looking for their balls.  There was one summer when we got older and smarter, we started selling our balls back to the golfers, kind of like a lemonade stand.  It was too funny!  But this same park had a HUGE toboggan run, and for my southern neighbors, I'm not talking about a knit hat.  A toboggan is a large wooden sled that could carry 4 - 8 people.  Here's what Wikipedia says....

"A toboggan is a simple sled which is a traditional form of transport used by the Innu and Cree of northern Canada. In modern times, it is used on snow to carry one or more people (often children) down a hill or other slope for recreation. Designs vary from simple, traditional models to modern engineered composites. A toboggan differs from most sleds or sleighs in that it has no runners or skis (or only low ones) on the underside. The bottom of a toboggan rides directly on the snow. Some parks include designated toboggan hills where ordinary sleds are not allowed and which may include toboggan runs similar to bobsleigh courses."

We would carry that toboggan up the chute (an open deck about 4 stories tall) get hooked up, the guy would hit the lever, and off we would go....think of like a luge shoot in the Olympics, but it was straight.  When you hit the bottom, the snow would fly, and if you were in front, you would be covered by snow by the time the toboggan came to a stop, miles (well, it seemed like miles) from where you started.  Then you would all grab that heavy wooden sled, and climb back up the hill and up the chute.  It was a ball!!!!  But being the youngest, I always got put in front.  Daddy put me in back once, but I fell off the sled when we hit the bottom and missed half the ride.  It makes me smile just thinking about this.  For fun I did an Etsy search on toboggan and here is what came up...

Most of what came up were knit or crochet hats.  But I like this Vintage ski hat from Forgotten In The Attic because it is most like the hats we wore growing up, complete with pompom on the top.  But I also found this... 6 Tobogganer Sleigh cookies from Queen of Tarts Cakes.  I figured she must be a Yankee, but she's from Los Angeles California!  Go Figure!!! hahaha.  So in keeping with my rambling and cold memories today, tomorrows link up party theme is...snow!  or cold, or whatever, teehee.  Have a blessed day and I'll see you in the morning.

Debbi 

Saturday Shopping Link Up - Giving Thanks

All righty, we are now into the month of November, and like I was saying yesterday, let's slow down and enjoy this season before rushing headlong into Christmas.  I know that I will be putting up my outside Christmas lights before Thanksgiving, but I will NOT turn them on until the day after Thanksgiving.  Which is the designated day to go tree hunting.  Amanda wants to start a new tradition, we are all going to pile in our cars and drive up the mountain to a tree farm (not the local tree stand), complete with hay rides and hot cocoa.  Chuck is good with that, as long as he doesn't have to hike into the woods and cut the tree down himself.  We used to do this a very long time ago when my children were very little, and it was such fun, despite the below zero temperatures and snow (it was Buffalo, NY after all).  So before we start our linky party, let's see what I found to share...

Oh my, talk about family memory flashbacks...this is sooooo my mom.  She was a wonderful redhead artist who loved the color orange, and she would have loved these cloth napkins from rearchitect.  No traditional fall colors for her, oh no, she had a bit of orange on everything.  And I do mean everything.  Mom went home in 2000, and I miss her so much that orange has become my favorite color.  I hated it as a teen, but I am drawn to it as if by a magnet now that I'm....well, no longer a teen, heehee.

And since this has turned into a memory post as well as a party post, I was happy to have found this embroidered hand towel by quiltsbydebbie.  You see, my oldest sister, (and my second mother) Kathy helped my mom care for me, since I was the youngest of 6.  I was told that Kathy just claimed me for herself from the day I was born.  Now, Kathy is with mom.  She lost her battle with breast cancer at the too young age of 50, in 2001.  This towel is special because as much as mom loved orange, Kathy was crazy over racoons.  And I do mean crazy, lol.

OK, enough melancholy memories, now to perk things up, I think I'll grab this very cute dog collar from RogueCollars for my Pee Wee.  After all, even our pets deserve to join us in our celebrations, :~D

Ok, now it's your turn....time to search your shops/blogs/whatevers and link up what makes you thankful.  And invite all your friends, snacks and drinks are on me!

Debbi

Saturday shopping linky party - baby blues

Today I decided to share baby blue items from shops of the Etsy teams I belong to, starting with the CAPSteam. This Knit Miniblanket comes from the shop of LoveNYarn.  We have had a plethora of babies in the family lately, but this would be a perfect gift.  The Capsteam is a team of Christians supporting and praying for each other.

Jewelry by Jaynemarie is a member with me on the BESTeam, and these Sapphire blue dangle earrings are so delicate and feminine.  New mommies would love this, to remind them that they are women too. The Besteam is a team of bloggers promoting each other.

I find this embellished picture frame by Ginalimosaics amazing. Simply amazing.  Not only would it show off any photo wonderfully, it also looks great by itself.  Ginalimosaics is on the On Fire For Handmade Team with me.  The On Fire Team supports each other with treasuries.

I truly enjoy all the teams, and invite you to try them out for yourself.  Now link up below any item from your shop that is blue, any shade will do.  I'll see you all on Monday.  Take tomorrow to visit a church near you for some refreshing and refilling and worship to the One who gave us all life.

Debbi

BESTeam comes to my linky party

Today is the day for my weekly linky party and the theme is simple...your favorite thing.  Today I am also covering for a BESTeam member who, due to family obligations, couldn't do her team feature today.  After all, that's a part of what makes the BESTeam the best team, we help each other.  So today I am going to share my favorite items from Knitful Dezigns / The Orange Windmill / Riorita / BlueWhiteWear.

When I was younger, I worked at my friends dairy farm for a few summers, and LOOOOOVED it.  Next thing I knew, everyone was giving me cow collectibles.  When Chuck met me I had cow figurines, and cow pictures, and I even had cow dishes!  So how could I not pick this cute cow hat, from KnitfulDezigns.  Veronica is very busy, so get your pencil out and copy ALL these links.  Esty shop / Weebly / Zibbet / Facebook / Blog / Twitter / Flickr

Now, while I love cows, and everyone knows my favorite color is orange, I also love turquoise.  So of course I chose this really cool, Turquoise Handmade Leather Journal, from The Orange Windmill.  (See, she covers both my favorite colors, lol).   This journal has 160 pages in 4 sections, great for school notes, a diary, and artistic doodles.  Get ready, here are all Shirley's links.  Etsy / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Tumbler 

My next visit is to the shop of Rioria.  Now I did an in-depth artist feature for our team blog on this very talented artist not too long ago.  BUT she has some really cool new items in her shop.  These

amazing handcrafted silver earrings. Irith is a jewelry designer and a gold and silver smith from Israel.  And she truly is a great team member.  Here are her links, go and enjoy.... Etsy / Blog / Website.

And for my final sharing of favorite things, I found this Chinese Chop Suey Bracelet from BlueWhiteJewelryWear.  I'm not sure what I like most, the wonderful colors and shapes of this bracelet, or it's name, lol.  Such a great mix of everything, so it will go with everything!  Here are Claires' links.  Etsy / Blog / Twitter.

Ok, there are my BESTeam favorites for this weeks linky party.  So go find your favorites and join me.  And if you are an Etsy artist that also like to blog and are looking for some support and promotion, come and join us at the BESTeam.  Team Blog / Team Page.

Debbi

Saturday Shopping Link Up - childhood memories

So while writing yesterday's post, I thought that a fun theme idea would be linky up things that would remind us of a childhood memory.  It can be an item, a color, anything that sends you back in time.  And I'm going to add a second step to this linky party.  After linking up your item or blog, from any shop not just Etsy, leave a comment telling us your childhood memory.  Here's what I found...

Ok, who did not have Tupperware back in the 60's and 70's, raise your hand.  My mother had a small room/large closet dedicated to just her Tupperware, lol.  Everyone sold it and everyone bought it.  And why not, it was, and is, some of the sturdiest storage sets around.  I found this great Back to School Tupperware Lunch Box in the shop of Well Lush.  Very groovy!

Wow, Love Story, talk about your classic romance movie.  I grew up in a house of women, and we would just cry and cry at the end of this, and enjoy it while crying, talk about hormones, lol.  Back then they didn't need sex to sell a movie, just great acting and great music.  This is an Vintage Record Album upcycled to a journal.  You can find this in the shop of Red Cottage, which is filled with wonderful vintage books, record cover journals, and photographs.

When I saw this Vintage 1970's Crochet Camisole pattern, I was floored.  Not only did I make this camisole, I still have the whole magazine that the pattern was featured in.  Hmmmm, there's a summer project for me.  This pattern and many others can be found in the shop of Cemetarian.

Now that I found 3 great items to share with you, it's your turn to share with me, and all your friends.  Don't forget to comment and share your memory.  The more the merrier.
Debbi

Saturday Shopping Link Up - chocolate

Today we went out to dinner to one of our favorite restaurants, Golden Corral.  They have a fairly large selection of food, so everyone in our family can find something to eat.  Of course, our favorite food bar is the dessert bar.  And they have a new item there, a chocolate fountain!  I was in heaven.....I love those things.  I could just stick my face in one, or give me a straw....a really big straw, hahaha.  So that is this weeks theme, chocolate.   Chocolate color, chocolate food, things you can wear while eating chocolate, you get my drift.  Here are my 3 Etsy chocolate picks...

First is a Chocolate Covered Strawberry Drizzle Dessert Bar from Love My Suds.  Now, while these look so delicious, you can't eat them.  This is a bar of.....soap!  You should see the soaps for sale in this shop....if you're on a diet, these are the treats to get, no calories.

I remember pigging out on these Hostess cupcakes while growing up.  No box was safely hidden in my house, I was always able to sniff them out, and snarf them up!  (I liked the orange ones too).  These earrings are made of polymer clay, and they can be found in the Etsy shop Artwonders.  You can find tons of miniature food clay items there.

And last, I found my favorite dipped in my favorite.  Oreo cookies dipped in white chocolate.  These we eat, my friend.  They are listed for weddings, but I'm sure they taste as good as they look anytime.  But be warned, when you visit the shop of Sweettoothesweetie you could be there all day trying to decide which treat you absolutely need to eat!


Ok, there are my picks for chocolate.  Now it's your turn.  Link up something from your shop or blog that involves chocolate.  Remember, you don't have to stick with just Etys items, if you sell on Artfire, or Zibbet, or any other venue, please join my party.  And you don't have to stick to chocolate, share your favorite item.  Just remember to link and share, because the more people, the better the party. :~D
Debbi

Saturday Shopping Link Up - and it starts with an S

Ok, this week, because I couldn't think of anything else for our theme, I figured, since it's September, let's all link up something that starts with an S. Guess what?  Finding items on Etsy that started with an S was not easy, but this is what I found.

This is a 1960's Woolly Sweater Jacket from the shop of Nest Design Studios.  This is a shop just full of wonderful vintage fashion.  This sweater jacket just jumped out at me due to the wonderful bright orange and yellow color, but there are many amazing items here, a must stop shop.

The next S is for scarf.  And I get extra points because this beautiful hand painted silk scarf comes from the shop of Sesenarts.  I actually have one of her scarfs, and absolutely love it.  I get compliments every time I wear it.  The best part was I won the scarf!

And now for my favorite S word....SHOES!  And these are just my size!  Lucy in the sky with diamonds, perfect size 9B black shoes with Swarovski crystals, each individually set by hand.  My oh my, I am in love.....these have now jumped to the top of my Christmas list.  And you won't believe the other great items you can find at Exit 12.  Simply Amazing!

Ok, now it's your turn.  Link up your item, or blog, or tutorial, whatever starts with the letter S.  If you don't have something with the letter S, then pick any letter and come party!!!

Debbi