Vacation and New Year Revamp

This blogger will be taking a break and a (short vacation) from the computer thru early January! (I may do a Christmas post next week, though.)  This will be a time of reflection and planning.  I need some time to revamp my blog, close one of my shops on Etsy, prepare for my new retail year, and of course, enjoy Christmas, New Years and my hubby's birthday! 

I am wishing all of you a wonderful holiday! 

I hope, in the mean time, that you will visit previous posts of interest to you.  I have listed some of my favorites in the sidebar. And there is always the list of key words in the far right column. Happy reading and see you mid-January for some surprises and fun here in my blog!

Let's make a deal!

Jewelry . . . . so much of it on Etsy . . . . really nice pieces . . . . everywhere you look!

These facts have forced me to make a decision. I will be closing my jewelry shop on Etsy as of January 15th. It's been fun making jewelry, but I have many other interests too! If anyone wants to make an offer on anything in my shop, maybe for Christmas shopping or just for a special gift for yourself, I will be happy to make a deal! Send me a convo/email and we will see what we can do to close out my shop.  Also, I have supplies, i.e. beads, findings, bead wire, etc.  If you are interested in any of them, I will be listing them, at great discounts from original  prices, in my supply shop, PruittSupply. 

Welcome Jubilee Joy!

Jubilee Joy born December 4th--6 lbs 11 oz!  My 25th grandchild! 
No 'Yesteryear' post today!  The present is much more fun than the past! Jubilee was born to my fourth child, Jeremiah and his wife, Beth.  They now have four children.
P.S.
If you are interested in my large family this post tells a little more.  Jubilee's daddy is referred to as "a teacher-type" in this previous post.

More Musings--Suicide Monday!

I would like to share some insights about the recent string of craft shows that I have done and the effect they have had on me.  This last week I did two weekdays at the local community college bazaar and was slated to do two separate events on the weekend--one at a local High School and one at the recreation room in the complex where I live.  I was excited about the string of shows and had high hopes. I knew that the first two days were a slower venue but still had set-up and take down for both days.  I enjoyed the time, especially since the hours of operation were from 10 AM to 2 PM--shorter hours.  Sales were better than last year for the two day show, so I was happy.

I worked a full day at my part time job on Thursday, had Friday for further prep for the weekend shows.Saturday came and I did the show at the  High School.  The Saturday gig was unexpectedly show for me.  I watched the gal next to me sell crocheted hats by the dozens, it seemed.  One vendor came over to her and said: "You seem to be the hit of the show and the only one selling anything!  I see all the customers walking around in your hats!"  And, I believe, she was really helped by the exceptionally cold weather outside that day. She sat there all day, crocheting as fast as she could, as the special orders came in one after another.

On Sunday, I awoke feeling totally exhausted and fatigued! Since I had not paid anything for the slot at my complex, I begged off and stayed in bed the whole morning.  The afternoon was spent resting and trying to recover from, who knows, exhaustion, or catching a bug???  And to be honest, I know that I was fighting depression all day.  And I still am.  Hubby out of work, except for a temporary seasonal part-time job at Macy's; My part time job ending; now future in sight and my sales are just not that good!

We hear all that hype on Etsy about "quitting your day job" which I would literally love to do, but it seems so elusive most of the time.  So here are my insights (and resolutions):

1)  Don't--I say--DON'T make any decisions on the Monday after a show!  (Otherwise called suicide Monday, in other professions!)
2)  Give yourself some time to rest and recoup after all the work!
3)  Find something else to do after your shows, for a change of pace. Take a little break! We all need a break from time to time.  "Full steam ahead" is not supposed to be ALL the time!
4)  After recuperation, get some objective advice on your products and make sure that you listen!
and . . .
5)  Never, NEVER book yourself too tight in the future! (especially at my age!  :)

Anyone else have any insights?  Would love to hear them, er . . . . just maybe not today--MONDAY!

Saturday Musings--Creative Ideas come from . . .

This week has been and is still full of activity thru the weekend!   Part of this week, I was a captive audience to whomever wanted to talk to me.  I was at a craft show, manning my own booth and couldn't leave.  One woman who came up to my table, just wanted to talk.  The show was pretty slow, so she held me  captive forever, it seemed like.  She wasn't interested in buying anything, just telling me the "blow by blow" of her own creativeness! I tried to stay engaged, and not be rude, but it truly was difficult.  But, as sometimes happens, she was successful, unknowingly, in giving me an idea!  When she left, I began bouncing ideas off what she had been telling me.  After some time, I came up with my own idea for several products for Spring! Ideas come from the strangest places! Yea! Creativity!

Friday Fence Post #5

I've been participating in the Friday Fence Post fun that is put on my Anitra of Coffee Pot People.  I haven't put the link here before, but you really need to go to her blog and see all the other fence posts!  Some creative stuff!  Andy maybe you would like to participate on Friday's once in a while!   

Here's mine for today!  I love the tree on the other side of the fence! 

Christmas Creativity

Time for the Etsyblogger Street Team Blog Carnival.  The topics to choose from this time around are:

1) Share a holiday item that you created and tell us a little bit about it.

2) Create a holiday Etsy wish list and share it on your blog. What do you really want from Etsy this year?

I'm not really a person to "want" much, or to make lists for myself, so I have chosen to tell you about one of my creations!  Anyway, that is what this blog is about: CREATIVITY!  I've been making lots of old fashioned fabric yoyo's to sell in my Supply shop and decided to make a little candle mat at the Halloween time using some leftover orange fabrics.  I liked my candle mat and used it on little entry table.  So, later, I decided to go a little larger and created a center piece/table topper for Christmas.  I made  the yo yo's with Christmas colors, and added an underlayment of a gold lame fabric with tassels on the corners.  I liked the finished product and used it on my little apartment table!  It creates some fun for my dinning table!  You can order one for your table, if you like it!   (from my handcrafts shop!)

Wordless Wednesday - Bella First Wedding