New Year resolutions (and how to get out of them)

By heavenlyhandbag on Etsy

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and has found time to relax and refresh in the post Christmas lull. Funny time of the year, isn't it, this week between the two events. I can get a bit maudlin at this time, so I thought I'd occupy myself with New Year resolutions. And because each year I try really hard but somehow fail, this year I've made them a bit more realistic. Call them SMART targets if you like a bit of business speak!

by erin on Folksy

1) Go on a diet. As often as possible. Try to diet for whole days at a time. Tell as many people as possible that I'm dieting as often as possible, as this will make me feel thinner and more virtuous.

Likely to last until ... first encounter with chocolate machine on first day back in the office.

By sophiaedesigns on Etsy

2) Don't buy (m)any more handbags.

Only buy ones I really need or really want very much. OH says we need to move to a bigger house if I buy any more. Have included a selection I'm currently drooling over so that you can help me out and buy them before I can.

Likely to last until ... the next email offer for bags comes through.


3) Spend less time on the computer.

Likely to last until ... Oops, broken that one already!

Share your resolutions here, and your get-out clauses :-)

Happy New Year!
Alison

BESTeam weekly feature: LoveElycia on Etsy

LoveElycia on Etsy, based in Hamilton, Ontario,  Canada, is the perfect place to shop if you need a post Christmas disguise.  Perhaps you're popping into town to return an unwanted gift to the store and don't want any friends and relatives to recognise you.  A simple moustache headband is just the ticket then. 



By now, you've probably guessed that this week's BESTeam feature is a shop that is a little bit quirky in a fun and funky way.  LoveElycia, or ♥elycia, provides fun headbands for fun people and a selection of vintage clothes and prints as well.

The prints all come with a story attached to the character.  I like Derby, here, who loves to crochet but can't commit to a full Afghan. 

Just recognise myself there - short attention span, low boredom threshold, love to make cute things!

Here's my pick from the vintage section - Frills and Lines - I think you need to supply the skates yourself!

Elycia trained as an engineer, but is now pursuing her dream of making cute things full time.  I think she's getting close there - a popular shop, a great fun blog and lots of new ideas - watch this space!


You can keep up with Elycia from these links:


http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoveElycia


http://www.loveelycia.com
(some super cute cat pics here for those like me who enjoy blogs with added animals)


http://www.twitter.com/loveelycia


http://www.facebook.com/loveelycia

Happy Holidays everyone

I hope 2010 has been good for you?

I've had plenty of sales in the shops this year, in fact, I'm close to a 100 sales across the net and at work in 14 months of selling.  And I've enjoyed blogging and meeting more fellow crafters.  It's been a particular pleasure to connect with Chris from Chrissys for cards and Cathy from Headpinwear on Etsy - I count both of them as great and supportive virtual friends. 



Chris sent me these beautiful cards and gift tags for Christmas - she is so talented!  And Cathy managed to span the miles from California to Coventry by getting me these fantastic beads sent from a supplier we've both used and love - Mintdestash on Etsy. 

Will be blogging soon about the power of luck in online selling soon - please look out for that if you're an online sellers - I would really love to hear your views.

There's still a couple of days to enter the Lonely Jewelers December giveaway - you could be adopting a pair of my snowpeople earrings if you win! Visit the blog here for details of how to enter.

Happy holidays to everyone celebrating this week and to all my lovely blog followers, and here's to a happy and successful 2011!

BESTeam weekly feature: MyaBruceDesigns on Etsy

Leah from Arizona formed MyaBruceDesigns to offer a great personalised service for those of us who want customised cards, invitations or announcements but don't want to spend hours on the computer getting frustrated with photo manipulation software! I guess that's most people then ;-) The shop is named from Leah's children middle names.
Leah offers pre-set designs and all you need to do is convo your photo. She's also happy to work with you if you have a particular theme in mind for your creation. When you're happy with the look, Leah emails the finished article to you so that you can print out as many copies as you wish. What a neat idea!





I like this butterfly invitation - flutterbys are so sweet!




















This photo collage has a western theme but can be customised to suit your needs.
















And this elephant baby birth announcement card - suitable for boys as well, I think









You can catch up with Leah here too:
http://twitter.com/MyaBruceDesigns
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mya-Bruce-Designs/113429518702303#!/pages/Mya-Bruce-Designs/113429518702303?v=wall

Snow exciting!

This snow can be a bit blue!

OK, so I'm a child again when it snows - I just love it!  And I know it's an inconvenience to lots of folks, and I really wish it wasn't, but it is so beautiful. 

Not snow, a heavy frost!

Here are some picks from our recent frosts and snows, with Lucca as usual modelling a little in most of the shots.  It's hard to get a good photo of him in the snow, because he gets more excited than I do, and eats it (I don't go that far!), hence the snowy nose :-)

Very cold, but at least it keeps the golfers away

Look how handsome I look in the frost!

BESTeam weekly feature: Steufel on Etsy

Today I'm featuring a relatively new Etsy shop: Steufel.  Steufel is run by Stephanie, from Cologne in Germany, and is a great shop if, like me, you love colour in your jewellery.  Her pieces are bold and chunky and often combine upcycled elements in them, along with sari silk, to create a kind of fusion of colour and steampunk.  I like the steampunk pieces, but as always, I was most drawn to the blue items!

You can find out more about Stephanie on her blog, where she confesses to being a nail polish-aholic, and loving mystery novels and cooking. 

My favourite items is this beautiful ring.

It's made of keishi pearls in shades of cobalt and denim blue, Czech glass leaves with AB coatings and a faceted glass bead, sari ribbon, all mounted on a button with the shank created from turquoise blue wire.

Stephanie describes this as a cocktail ring and I agree that this would be stunning with a really dressed up outfit, maybe a little black dress, or equally at home with jeans and a T shirt.  Just stunning!



A couple of other beautiful items caught my eye too!

Turquoise ribbon and beads bracelet

A fabric ring on an adjustable copper band

Be sure to check out this great shop!

BESTeam weekly feature: TurquoiseAngels on Etsy

TuquoiseAngels on Etsy specialises in tutus and hair accessories for little girls.  Their strapline is 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls'. This lovely colourful shop is run by a mother and daughter design team out of Purcellville, Virginia.  Their creations are sure to be a help to any moms struggling to keep up with the need for outfits and accessories for beauty pageants and dancing classes.  What's more, TurquoiseAngels will also custom make items if you see something you like but need it in a different size or shape - just ask!

Here are my top festive picks from the shop, guaranteed to help your little one stand out from the crowd at the Christmas show!  Click on any of the pictures to go directly to the shop. 











And there are also tutus for your pooch as well!  I couldn't resist including these too!







Catch up with TurquoiseAngels at these links:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/turquoiseangels
http://turquoise-angels.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/TurquoiseAngelsBoutique
http://twitter.com/TurquoiseAngels