Adventures in Potty Training!

Hello blog land! Its been quite a while since I posted something here and I feel terrible. Life has really gotten hectic! This weekend we started the wonderful process of hardcore potty training. That's right, after over a year of waiting for him to decide on his own to do it, I put my foot down and got the ball rolling. It wasn't pretty... 7 accidents, lots of threats, I even started taking toys away. We've had some success, but the little man decided that he wants to sit on the potty every ten minutes! Yes, every ten minutes... we went 7 times this morning before I dropped him off at daycare and I say we because he makes me sit in there with him. I'm going to need to get up half an hour earlier tomorrow!

Now, onto some crafty news! Saint Patrick's Day is almost here, so I decided to offer free shipping (US Only) on this cute shamrock necklace from now until midnight on St. Patrick's Day. Order soon to be sure you'll get it in time for the big day!


I'll need the luck of the Irish to get me through potty training!
~Melissa~

Green for the Holidays!

Red seems to get all the attention during this time of year, but green is just as important (I'm not talking about cash here, folks, I'm talking about the color green). This one of a kind beaded necklace would make a great holiday accessory plus, you can wear it again on St. Patrick's Day and during the spring too!



Don't forget the matching bracelet! Get 15% off when you buy both!

It's November!

November is here and the fall season is in full swing. November is my favorite month, the fact that my birthday is in November probably has a little to do with that! This necklace fits the feel of the month perfectly with its coffee and caramel colored beads paired with gorgeous glass topaz!



As a special deal for all of my blog readers, get free shipping on this necklace now through the end of November, just by putting "Happy November" in the notes to seller at checkout. I will refund the shipping cost via PayPal!

Item of the Week - March 22, 2010

Easter time is coming soon! Get ready to fill those baskets with handmade goodies! All of my bunnies are marked down from $15.00 to $12.50. No codes to enter, prices are already marked down.

The newest addition to the bunny patch is Abbie. Abbie is red and black and inspired by the totally fabulous Abbie Scuito, forensic scientist from my favorite TV show - NCIS. Stop by Abbie's Etsy listing and say hello!!



Happy Shopping!!
~Melissa~

Item of the Week - March 8, 2010

Easter time is coming soon! Get ready to fill those baskets with handmade goodies! My goal is to list at least one new bunny every week between now and Easter. And, to make things even more fun, all bunnies are marked down from $15.00 to $12.50. No codes to enter, prices are already marked down.

The newest addition to the bunny patch is Jimmy. Jimmy is royal blue and ocean blue camo. Stop by Jimmy's Etsy listing and say hello!!



Happy Shopping!!
~Melissa~

Snow Day Sale!!!

It's snowing again here in New Jersey! It will likely snow until Saturday morning!! YIKES!! When it's all over, the weather people are predicting that my area will have 12 - 18 inches of the nasty white stuff! Since I am stuck at home, like most of the New Jersey and New York and Connecticut populations, I decided to have a special snow day sale!!



Save 12% on all purchases up to $10 and save 18% on all purchases over $10 (not including shipping) by putting SNOW DAY in the notes to seller at checkout. Discounts will be refunded via PayPal, or convo me for a revised listing. Sale ends at midnight on Saturday, February 27.

Visit Made By Melissa on Etsy

Enjoy your snow day!
~Melissa~

Item of the Week - February 22, 2010

This winter has been long and here in New Jersey, we got hit with a lot of snow. Like many, I am thinking about spring and sunshine and warmer weather (even if it means my allergies will flare up!!).

Think Spring and sport this cheery purple and yellow clay flower pendant and ribbon necklace!


This week only, get any ribbon necklace for 50% off when you order any other item from my shop. Just put "think spring" in the notes to seller and I will refund you the difference via PayPal (or you can request a revised invoice in the notes to seller or by sending me a conversation).

(Ends midnight Sunday, February 28, 2010)

Happy Shopping!!
Melissa.

Item of the Week - February 15, 2010

Happy President's Day! Here are some interesting tidbits about President's Day from Wikipedia:

Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day.

On 1 January 1971, the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This date places it between February 15 and 21, which makes the name "Washington's Birthday" a misnomer, since it never lands on Washington's actual birthday, February 22. A draft of the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968 would have renamed the holiday to Presidents' Day to honor the birthdays of both Washington and Lincoln, but this proposal failed in committee and the bill as voted on and signed into law on 28 June 1968, kept the name Washington's Birthday.

By the mid-1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term "Presidents Day" began its public appearance. Although Lincoln's birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, approximately a dozen state governments have officially renamed their Washington's Birthday observances as "Presidents Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations.

Now on to the item of the week! I don't have anything presidential or historical in my shop but, I do have some very patriotic critters to share with you. Meet Sam the Octopus and Alice the Snake, while they may never run for office, they sure would love to move into a new home!


Get $2 off either plushie or $5 off if you order both, between now and midnight on Saturday, February 20 just by putting "Happy Presidents Day" in the notes to seller at checkout. Refund will be given by PayPal, or convo me after purchase for a revised invoice.
(I know the weekly sale usually runs through Sunday evening, but I will be at a craft show February and will not be able to access my email and PayPal for the day)

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

Item of the Week - February 8, 2010

Monday again! The weekend brought lots of snow to the northeast US, luckily, the northern parts of New Jersey were spared and we didn't even see any flakes falling from the sky. It was really bizarre because people less than a mile away from me were getting up to 5 inches.

Anyway, the item of the week this week isn't really an item perse, its more of a website. Over the weekend I hit a milestone I never dreamed possible, I have 500 fans on my Facebook page! It's mind boggling! In celebration of that milestone, I am hosting a Facebook Fans only sale which covers the entire shop. If you aren't yet a fan (I mean, how can you not be, I have FIVE HUNDRED FANS), feel free to become a fan and check the page for the details of the sale.

Made By Melissa Handcrafted Jewelry and Fiber Goodies on Facebook

Have a great week!
~Melissa~

Featured EtsyBlogger - Nico Designs

The first featured EtsyBlogger of the new year is Erika of Nico Designs. Erika has some fabulous handbags and accessories in her shop.

My favorite item in her shop right now also happens to be on sale! What's better than an awesome new handmade handbag? One that's on sale, of course!


Stop by Nico Designs and browse around. When you are done there, be sure to check out her blog as well!

~Melissa~

Happy New Year!

Don't forget, my Ring in the New Year Sale ends at midnight TONIGHT, so get those orders in ASAP! Here's the details from my original blog post a few days ago:
I'd like to ring in the new year with a SALE! From now until Midnight on January 1, 2010, get a FREE GIFT with every purchase from Made By Melissa. And, as an added bonus, get 10% off orders over $10 or more! And, just in case that isn't enough, FREE US SHIPPING on orders over $30 or more! Simply put Happy New Year in the notes to seller to receive your free gift and your discounts!



(10% off and free shipping given as refund via PayPal, or send a convo for a revised invoice or special listing)





Happy and Healthy New Year to all of my awesome friends and family!
~Melissa~

Another New Treasury!

I've been mildly obsessed with the Etsy treasury lately. Thanks to Craftopolis Treasury Hunt, I can check and see when the treasuries will be opening up, and believe me, that makes it a lot easier than counting lists and guessing when the will expire!

It's been brutally cold in northern New Jersey lately, and from what I hear on the news, across most of the country! My fellow EtsyNJ folks have some great items to help you keep warm until springtime. Hence, this treasury!


Baby It's COLD Outside ends Friday January 1, 9 AM

Also, my treasury wests from the other day should still be active, if you haven't seen them yet, click here.

Last but not least, don't forget about my Ring in the New Year SALE! Great deals all through the shop, check out this blog post for the gory details!

Happy New Year!
~Melissa~

New Year's Fun

Well, 2009 is almost at its end and 2010 is on the horizon. It wasn't a terrible year, although, I do admit it could have been much better. It was filled with car troubles, lost jobs, slow craft shows and slow web sales, but it was also filled with fun, love and laughs from my friends and family (both online and offline).

This brings me to the EtsyBloggers blog carnival question:
Tell us about your plans for ringing in the 2010 New Year!! Staying home/going out? Getting drunk, falling about?

Ha! There shall be no drunkeness in my home this year, although we used to throw quite the party back in the day. Its been a few years now and we are in a smaller apartment, the dog doesn't appreciate overnight guests and its hard to have a rockin' party when your toddler goes to bed at 9 PM.

This year, we'll be spending New Year's eve and day quietly at home. The little man will finally have some quality time with all his new toys from Christmas and hopefully I can get some crocheting done and get some items listed in my totally empty Artfire shop and add some new items to my Etsy shop.

I am hoping for a healthy, happy, quiet and prosperous 2010 for all of my friends and family!

Please don't forget to check out my Ring in the New Year sale, it ends at midnight on January 1. See this blog post for details.

Be sure to visit Joey & Aleethea on Monday, January 4 to see all the other great entries into this blog carnival!

Ring in the New Year with a SALE!!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas! Was Santa generous? Did you get everything you asked for?

I'd like to ring in the new year with a SALE! From now until Midnight on January 1, 2010, get a FREE GIFT with every purchase from Made By Melissa. And, as an added bonus, get 10% off orders over $10 or more! And, just in case that isn't enough, FREE US SHIPPING on orders over $30 or more! Simply put Happy New Year in the notes to seller to receive your free gift and your discounts!



(10% off and free shipping given as refund via PayPal, or send a convo for a revised invoice or special listing)

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

Needed: Warm, Loving Home for the Holidays

Clyde the Christmas Octopus has a cheery smile on his face and is hoping that somoene will take him home with them for the holidays! He'd love to have a human friend to snuggle with and share secrets with.


"Take me home, please!"

Clyde wants a new home so badly, that I will discount the price from $17.00 to $15.00 to anyone who puts "home for the holidays" in the notes to seller.

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

Thanksgiving Sale - LAST CHANCE!

The EtsyNJ Thanksgiving Sale ends tonight at midnight! Get a free gift with every purchase in my shop!

Your free gift could be a keychain, a ponytail holder, a pair of earrings, a pair of facial scrubbies or a washcloth! The bigger your purchase, the better your gift!


Take me home, please!

Visit the EtsyNJ blog and EtsyBloggers.com for more details and a list of participating shops!

Thanksgiving Weekend Sale!

All weekend long, I will be including a free gift with every purchase. Simply visit my shop, make a purchase and put "EtsyNJ Thanksgiving Sale" in the notes to seller.





Every blanket purchase will include a free pair of washcloths or set of 4 make-up remover pads!

Sale ends Monday, November 30 at midnight. Visit the EtsyNJ blog for a list of other participating shops.

Tis the Season to Accessorize!!

The holiday season is upon us and many are beginning their gift buying. Not feeling the Christmas cheer yet? Well, then you need a fun holiday themed accessory (or two or three...) to get you in the mood!!

Jingle Bells Beaded Necklace


Santa Claus Charm Earrings


Let It Snow Glass and Crystal Snowflake Bracelet


Also available are festive ornaments, scarves and plushies!

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~


PS - Don't forget about the EtsyNJ Thanksgiving Sale and the EtsyBloggers Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale! I will be including a free gift with every purchase!

Happy Thanksgiving!

From today until midnight on Cyber Monday, November 30, get a free gift with every purchase, simply put "EtsyNJ Thanksgiving Sale" in the notes to seller.

See other participating EtsyNJ shops by visiting the EtsyNJ Blog!

Thanksgiving Sale Starts Today!!!

The EtsyNJ and Made By Melissa Thanksgiving sale starts TODAY!! From today until midnight on Cyber Monday, November 30, get a free gift with every purchase, simply put "EtsyNJ Thanksgiving Sale" in the notes to seller.

There are over 50 shops participating in this year's event. There is so much to choose from, you can complete all your holiday shopping while comfortably sipping a cup of coffee or tea in your cozy slippers and pj's!

Search "EtsyNJ Thanksgiving Sale" at Etsy.com.

Reminder: Check each shop description for more details. Sale ends Monday 11/30 at midnight, unless otherwise specified by the individual shop owner. You must pay each shop individually, contact shop owner with any questions.

To browse participating shops by sales promotion, click on the following links:

Free Shipping

10% - 20 % off entire purchase (not including shipping)

Free gift with every purchase

BOGO - Buy One Get One Half Off