Who's Clues? Blue's Clues!

My little guy simply LOVES Blue's Clues. He has the song memorized and often starts doing the entire routine. He does it at home, at daycare, at the grocery store, in parking lots and I think he may even sing the song in his sleep. And he strongly prefers Steve over Joe, although he'll deal with it and still watch if Joe is on. This afternoon's showing of Blue's Clues made me decide to take a peek on Etsy and see what handmade Blue puppy items are out there. There's some great stuff!!

I would love to make one of these for my little guy, he'd love it! Blue from Blue's Clues - 8 inches amigurumi doll crohet pattern by siemprejosefina


I always wanted to be a clue! A Clue Blue Pawprint Pin by suzisfly


This sweet pillow would make bedtime a lot more fun! And its personalized! Blues Clues Personalized Cuddly Pillow by SewWhaat


These cookies are too cute for words! It almost breaks your heart to eat them. I am sure my son would just kiss it! Blue's Clues Cookies -- Party Favors by dayltfades


Last but not least, because even grown-ups like Blue's Clues! Blues Clues Pendant by EmotionalOasis


I'm off to play Blue's Clues - because its a really great game. Yeah!

~Melissa~

I Want It!

A house elf! This item's description says it all - "Every home should have one" made by Jtnee.

I Want It!

I love the look of handspun yarn and this River Fairy Handspun Yarn Blue Green Purple by tlwoldc is thick and thin and has gorgegous colors. I want it!

Wearable Stone

Yesterday I showed you my fancy schmancy crystal bracelets and today I decided to show you some totally different bracelets. These two bracelets were both made with stones. Yes, stones, like rocks, only not the rocks my two year old plays with at the park - smooth, polished stones.

The first of the stone bracelets is actually rather dainty and is surprisingly light considering its made of little rocks! The smooth pillow shaped beads have swirls of peach and slate gray, each one being a little bit different than the ones next to it. They are accented with little round black stone beads and secures with a magnetic clasp.


The second stone bracelet is chunky and fun! Its made with big ole green mossy colored stone beads that are accented with teeny tiny silver plated seed beads. This one was made on elastic stretchy cord and has no clasp, mostly because all of my clasps are so small and looked really silly next to the beads.


Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

Crystal Formal Bracelets

I love shiny things! They always catch my attention, especially when I see someone wearing a shiny accessory. I have two simple yet fancy and oh so shiny bracelets that are sure to catch everyone's eye at your next shindig. They feature bicone crystal beads and glass seed beads in two sizes. I have three available, but only two are listed in my shop at the current time - blue and white, black and white and red and white.



The great thing about these bracelets is that even though they are a perfect accessory to any formal attire, they are also simple enough to be worn everyday.



Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

Wordless Wednesday

Baby Blue Shell Beaded Necklace
Originally uploaded by madebymelissa

Featured EtsyBlogger - LazyTCrochet

As you may have noticed, I was pretty much MIA in June and therefore I missed the Featured EtsyBlogger for the month, so I would to feature LazyTCrochet one month late. There are some simply gorgeous accessories in her shop ranging from scarves, shawls and capelets to cowls and scarves to hats to gloves and mitts! This lady does great things with yarn!

This cowl neck poncho is so pretty and available for a great price:


You better grab this Market Bag pattern before I do! It looks like so much fun to make and totally useful!


Visit LazyTCrochet at her Etsy shop and her blog.

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

Featured EtsyBlogger - miesmama

July's Featured EtsyBlogger is miesmama, her shop is just filled with cool felted and fabric goodies ranging from bags and bowls to accessories for your hair and your home!

I'm a big fan of these button pony tail holders:


I also really like this garden party bag:


Visit Miesmama's Etsy Shop and her blog.

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

July is National Hot Dog Month!

The EtsyBloggers tell me that July is National Hot Dog Month. Well, in my house, every day is national hot dog day! My son is OBSESSED with hot dogs. I am pretty sure that he could eat a hot dog for every meal every day and be perfectly happy. Since he's so incredibly in love with hot dogs, I've started buying turkey dogs, less fat, less sodium, less nastiness. I found a decent brand in ShopRite and its often on sale - its called Kunzler. 8 dogs in a resealable package. Can't go wrong with that!

"I love you hot dog"

Long Live The Mighty Hot Dog!
~Melissa~

Wordless Wednesday

Custom Order - Repaired Bracelet
Originally uploaded by madebymelissa

Go Green - Bamboo Washcloths

I've been making washcloths, facial scrubbies and dish cloths from cotton yarn for quite some time now and in doing so encouraging people to go green by reducing their consumption of disposable products in favor of ones that can be reused over and over again. I recently discovered Bernat's natural bamboo yarn, its even more green than my normal cotton yarn as Bernat's website proclaims:

"A naturally eco-friendly fiber that requires no pesticides or fertilizers and is extremely replenishable... Strong as steel, but soft as silk when spun"

And silky soft it is!! It was heaven to crochet with, I was praying that the skein would never end! But, sadly it did... However, not before I created this fabulous set of three washcloths:



The bamboo yarn comes in 7 yummy colors. I personally can't wait to use the dill, its a gorgeous shade of pale green.

Due to the cost of the bamboo yarn, I sadly have to raise the prices of the bamboo washcloths in comparison to my cotton ones. Its a higher price for a smaller skein, hence more money to make less product. But they are luxuriously soft (and I am not exaggerating, folks, these things are seriously soft). At this time, I only have one set of washcloths in stock, but I am accepting custom orders - you can pick the color and whether you'd like washcloths, face scrubbies or a combination of the two. Take a look at Bernat's website for all of the available colors.

Go Green!
~Melissa~

Tips for Craft Show Shoppers

First off, I'd like to apologize for neglecting my beautiful blog and my fabulous blog readers for the last few weeks. I've been in a serious funk that started when I got laid off from my day job. I've been applying to everything that I am qualified for and some things that I am over qualified for and even a few that I am not quite qualified for. So, if anyone in the northern NJ area is looking for an environmental engineer, send them my way!

I have to thank my awesome EtsyNJ friends for snapping me out of my funk. I spent an awesome day at Om Baby in Point Pleasant NJ and although sales weren't abundant, the friends certainly were! I now got my mojo back and am ready to blog and create and photograph and list and promote! So, look out internet, here I come!

Now, the reason for this post, as I mentioned, I recently did a craft show in Point Pleasant with my EtsyNJ friends. Are you a frequent craft show shopper? My number one point that I want to make is that the person behind the table at the craft show is a person with feelings just like you are! And they have put their heart and soul into creating the products you see on that table. And we are not deaf! We hear comments like "Oh, I can make that myself" and "Oh, so-and-so makes these things so much better than this person" and "wow, does she really think her stuff is worth that money?!?" For example, I made an adorable star shaped baby blanket, and these two women were eyeing it up, touching it, examining it and really seemed quite interested in it. Well, one finally said to the other "I'm not spending money on this, you can make me one that is soooo much better." OUCH! Why not just shove a knife in my heart?

So, you are standing at a table and you see something you really like. You ask how much and you get told a price. You are iffy on it, you aren't sure if you want it or if you want to spend that much money on it. Some people may try to bargain, which may or may not work depending on your approach and the type of product you are looking at. Most people say "Oh, I have to go to the ATM, I'll be right back" or "I'm going to look around a bit and see what else is here." Here's the truth - we sit and wait for you to come back! We check our watches, look around for you, think "gee the ATM is only across the street." Don't say you'll be back unless you really plan on coming back. And certainly don't ask that something be put aside for you when you have no intentions of purchasing it.

Craft shows are long days for vendors, we get there two hours before the show starts to set up and then are obviously there for the entire length of the show and then we spend another hour or two packing up, then add the travel time. Its a long, hard day where basically nothing else is accomplished aside from sitting on your backside on a steel folding chair waiting for someone to make a purchase.

Thanks to everyone who's visited me at a craft show and a giant thanks to anyone who frequently makes purchases at craft shows. I can honestly say that we appreciate every purchase and that every time someone admires our work enough to purchase it and take it home with them or give it as a gift, it really makes us happy. Support your local independant artist! Visit a craft show or take a "stroll" through Etsy.com.

See you at the next show!
~Melissa~