Thursday Pick

I have chosen to feature a great Etsy shop owned by Inbal Limor for Thursday’s pick.  Check out her shop here.  www.inbalimor.etsy.com  I chose a couple of items from her shop to give you an idea of what kind of work she does.  Be sure to check her shop and see many more awesome creations.                             

Plastic Bag Art Greenie

 

 

 

Digital Collage Sheet Vegetarian sweets SQUARES

WHAT KINDS OF ITEMS DO YOU SELL IN YOUR ETSY SHOP?

I sell coloring books, digital collage sheets, prints of my art and a very funny mix of recycled/reused stuff.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO OPEN AN ETSY SHOP?

As soon as I found out about Etsy, I joined.  I was very excited for the chance to meet so many different crafters from all over the world.  I am inspired by all the creativity around me and Etsy has been the perfect venue for selling my creations.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ETSY SHOP (OTHER THAN YOUR OWN)?

My favorite Etsy shop is http://yoola.etsy.com/

Thank you Inbal for sharing your shop with us today. I think it is so much fun to visit other Etsy shops that we may never have had the pleasure of finding if they were not featured on someone's blog.  This is a great way to be exposed to all the creativity on Etsy.  I love the feedback, so keep it coming.  :o)

New Venture

Well, today is the day Chloe goes to be bathed and groomed.  The shop owner has wanted me to make some collars and leashes to sell in her shop for a while now.  I have a small and a medium collar ready to take up.  It would be awesome if the collars and hopefully matching leashes sell well there.  I have to get some swivel hooks before I can work on the leashes.  I really enjoy making the collars, and I think the leashes will be fun to make too.

The boys saw the Dr. yesterday and they are both on a new medication which will hopefully improve some of the impulsive behaviors.  If we don’t see an improvement or they should have a negative reaction, of course we will discontinue the meds.  Steve and I are very hopeful that life will be better for all of us with the addition of the new meds.  We could not go on the way things have been, it hasn’t been good for any of us.  I will keep everyone posted on their progress.  :o)

Tuesday’s Pick

Today I have chosen to feature A shop owned by Dafni Kangilieri.  Dafni’s shop can be found here…http://lacravatteduchien.etsy.com/

Here are just a couple of the items that Dafni sells in her shop.

Pink Butterfly earrings

 

 

 

                               Hand painted belt

WHAT KIND OF ITEMS DO YOU SELL IN YOUR ETSY SHOP?

I mostly make jewelry, but I do enjoy hand painting belts.

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO START AN ETSY BUSINESS?

I love the fact that I can take my work with me wherever I go.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ETSY SHOP (OTHER THAN YOUR OWN)?

http://matchstickgirl.etsy.com/

A big thank you to Dafni for participating in my Tuesday blog feature.  I hope everyone will check out her shop and also visit Dafni’s  favorite shop.  :o)

Big Sale

I just reduced the price of over twenty items in my shop.  I want to clear out some of the inventory I have had for a while and restock with new items.  If you know of anyone looking for a bargain, please send them to the sale section of my Etsy shop….http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5780608

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are just a few of the items I reduced this morning.  I am off to get ready for a trip to Joann Fabrics.  Even better, I just found a 50% off coupon that is good until June.  :o)

Mother’s Day

Despite the cold, dreary weather, I had a wonderful Mother’s Day.  I was contacted by each one of my seven children, plus we invited my mom and dad for dinner.  My hubby was great, and besides getting me a few things I had been wanting, he made me breakfast, cooked dinner and did the dishes.  I made a couple of things for the dinner, but he did most of it and grilled awesome strip steaks.  It was just a very nice day and I feel well loved.

Tomorrow we are meeting Megan partway as she had a package delivered here that came the day after she went home.  While we are in the city I am going to Joann Fabrics….my home away from home..LOL  I need a certain fabric and am hoping they have what I am looking for.

This morning I relisted this tropical bag.  I think it is so pretty, so I thought I would relist it.  Maybe I should just add it to my own personal selection of purses. :o)

My First “Twilight” Inspired Bag

After several days of drawing, painting and sewing, I have finished my very first “Twilight” inspired bag.  I thought I would put it up on my blog and see what you guys think of it.   I plan on making a few more, each a little different from the first one.

Today has started out much better than last Saturday.  As you may recall, last Saturday I had decided it was the day Karli was going to start pooping outside, and it did not go well.  We got up at 7am today and I took her right out.  She wanted to come in after just a couple of minutes, but I stayed out on the porch and waited her out.  As soon as she knew she wasn’t coming in until she went potty, she complied.  Actually this past week we have made some real gains on the housebreaking. Yippee!!

My parents are coming for dinner tomorrow for Mother Day.  I can’t say what the menu is, because my mom wants to be surprised and she does read my blog.  I will say it is going to be really good and she will love everything.  :o)

Potato Salad

It is a beautiful, sunny day here and I feel energized!!  I have been working on a completely new line of bags and I am hoping to list the first one tonight.  As much as I would love to spend the day out in the sunshine, I really want to get this first bag finished.

Yesterday, I promised to share the recipe for “Potato Salad” made with fresh cauliflower.  It was a huge hit at our house, and it is a great way to reduce the carb count in a meal, and not feel deprived.  I will give you the recipe just as it was written, but I altered mine a bit to fit our diet, plus I wanted it to be as close to what my regular potato salad usually is.  For one thing, we use reg. or lowfat mayo…not fat free.  Same with sour cream..we use light.  Also, I always use celery seed instead of sliced celery and dehydrated onion instead of the red onion in my salads, so I did that in this too.  I also used the whole egg and not just the white as we can have the yolk. 

My daughter Megan found this cookbook written by Lisa Lillien, titled “Hungry Girl 200 under 200”, which has 200 recipes that are under 200 calories.  Many of the recipes are “South Beach” friendly.  Megan is letting me borrow it for a while so I can try more of the recipes.  The potato salad recipe is from this cookbook.

I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT POTATO SALAD!

INGREDIENTS

1 large head cauliflower, roughly chopped 

6 hardboiled egg whites, chilled and chopped  

1/2 envelope dry ranch dressing/dip mix

1 1/2 cups fat free mayonnaise

1/2 cup fat free sour cream

3 TBSP. Hellman’s / Best Foods Dijonnaise

2 TBSP. fat free non-dairy liquid creamer

1 cup diced red onion

2 celery stalks, diced

1/4 cup chopped chives

3 TBSP. seasoned rice vinegar

2 TBSP. chopped dill

2 TBSP. chopped parsley

1/4 teas. salt

Optional garnish: paprika

DIRECTIONS

Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and pour 1/3 cup of water over it.  Cover and microwave for 6 – 8 minutes, until cauliflower is soft.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together ranch mix, mayo, sour cream, dijonnaise, and salt.  Set aside.

Once bowl is cool enough to handle, drain any excess water from cauliflower.  Lightly mash 2 cups of the cauliflower (set the rest aside), then place the mashed cauliflower in a blender.  Add creamer and puree or pulse until blended.  Don’t worry if puree isn’t completely smooth.  Pour mayo mixture into blender, and mix all until blended and creamy.

Chop remaining cauliflower into small, 1/2 inch pieces.  Place cauliflower in a large bowl, and add onion, celery, and vinegar.  Toss well and let sit for 5 minutes.

Pour blender mixture over the vegie and mix well.  Add chopped egg white, chives, dill and parsley.  Stir lightly.

Chill for several hours before serving.  Sprinkle with paprika, if you like. Mmmmm!

Makes 10 servings

I would love to know if anyone else gives this recipe a try.  As I try some of the other recipes in this cookbook, I will share the ones I really like.  Oh yeah, I lost another pound and a half today…so I am really encouraged to stay on the straight and narrow.  :o)