Coming in January!

Since Thanksgiving to this past weekend, my life has been super busy. Not only was I not able to do my Make it Monday, posts, because I was working every Monday, but then I had a job opportunity fall into my lap that I had to get ready for. So, I haven't had a lot of time to blog, or create new items. I will be having some big changes in January of 2018. I have spent most of 2017 learning some new skills, and perfecting others. Along with evaluating how I wanted to sell those items. Etsy just is not working for me right now, and hasn't for this whole year. I did have 3 sales so far in December, but it really is not enough to sustain the amount of fees I am paying out to advertise said items. So, after much thinking, researching, and deciding what would be best for me, I have decided to open an Ebay store in January. I have some items listed there already. Once the store opens, I will add inventory that has ended on Etsy, and all new items. I will keep a few items on Etsy, but most of my inventory will be moved to Ebay. I have had naysayers say you can't sell handmade on Ebay, and make any money. I just don't believe that is true. If someone loves your product, they will buy it. If something isn't going to sell on Ebay, then I see no difference then if it doesn't sell on Etsy. In the long run it is about saving money, and making profit when I do sell something. I can also sell my art items on Ebay, where Etsy makes me go through some arcane process to have outside manufacturing. Just a big time hog. So, be sure and watch for my new Ebay store at the beginning of January. I will also be running a sale every month, or shipping deals. I will also be returning to Make it Monday items. I might do a monthly theme each month.

 I would really love to start collecting emails from fans who would love to see my new items, and follow for sales, and specials. I don't want to sign up for an email collector, but if you would like to receive a weekly email update, or monthly, not sure, with new items and specials, you can either leave your email in the comments, or email it to me at melissaruede@yahoo.com with newsletter in the subject.

 The two items below are as follows, and available for purchase. The first item is a new item added to my Etsy shop about a week ago. It is 3 terra cotta pots with Peace, Love and Joy painted on. They are on sale right now, until December 20th when my shop will go on vacation, as are most of my Etsy items.

The second item is one of my original paintings of a Zentangle elephant applied to a studio pouch bag.  It is available on Ebay via my seller account. 

My Etsy shop is going on vacation on December 20th.  So, if you want to get any of my items for sale there before the sale runs out, hurry and get them now.

Let It Snow!

This will be my last Team Support and Promote weekly post, until New Years weekend. I will continue to share my daily Polyvore treasuries, until Christmas, then they will be every few days. I hope my readers are enjoying them, and getting some great gift ideas. My sales are not super this holiday season, but I have not had the time to promote as much as I would like.

 Be sure and click the highlighted link under each of these images, to visit the Etsy shop, browse and purchase if you like. The theme this week is Let it Snow. It doesn't snow here in Florida, well maybe a flurry or two, but it is nice to have decorations that look like snow.

First from Missy69 is this adorable acrylic canvas Snowman painting,with beautiful roses. 

Next from MsPDesignsUSA is this adorable Christmas pony playing in the snow, it is a quilt block available on PDF.

I have a new member join in this week.  112Miniatures, makes the most adorable doll house accessories, like these snowman cookies.  So cute~

Beautiful Blue and White Handmade Gift Ideas

A day late and a dollar short, lol. I am doing a singing Christmas Tree with our church, and four other local churches. We are near performance time, so some of my days are shorter. This week, I am featuring blue and white handmade items from #teamsp. If you check previous posts I am doing daily treasuries on Polyvore, or at least trying to do daily, and then they get posted here and other social media. There are all kinds of cool gift ideas in those treasuries as well. Be sure to check them out. After Christmas I will probably only do one or two a week, and maybe around holidays. To visit each of the shops featured today, just click the link under the images.

First from Missy69, a blue and white glass bead and pearl BOHO single leather wrap bracelet, great price too!

Also from Missy69, this beautiful blue tourmaline and white pearl, with mother of pearl cross pendant.  Wow!

MsPDesignsUSA, is offering this beautiful blue and white quilt pdf pattern.  Love it!

Also from MsPDesignsUSA, this beautiful Bluejay quilt block pattern.  Great bird lover gift. 

Handmade and DIY Red and Green Christmas Colors

This week I am featuring DIY items, and handmade items with a Christmas color theme of red and green. Each image has a description, and highlighted link, under the image. To visit the Etsy shop just click the highlighted link. Next week will be Christmas colors blue and white. I love blue and white for Christmas.

MsPDesignsUSA offers the most adorable Santa raccoon PDF quilt block.  Get yours today. 

Also from MsPdesignsUSA this Santa elephant quilt block pdf.  You could make the most adorable blanket.  

From Missy69 is this reclaimed glass jar with a Santa Kitten and Santa Bunny original art work.  

If you love Poinsettias this painted candy dish from Missy69 would be a perfect gift, and a great price too.

Gift Ideas for Teens with Team Support and Promote on Etsy

This week, two shops signed up for the weekly feature, with Team Support and Promote on Etsy. Featuring Christmas gift ideas for teens. Each image has a description, and highlighted link, so you can click through to Etsy to purchase or view other items.

First from Missy69, is this beautiful genuine Amethyst sterling silver ring.  Great first real gemstone jewelry piece for a teenage girl. 

Second from, MsPdesignsUSA is this quilt applique with letters for personalization of your quilt.  Great teen gift idea for backpacks, purses etc. 

Pumpkins, Pumpkins and more Pumpkins!

As we approach Halloween, it is time to start thinking about Christmas, and other Winter holidays, especially for those who make crafts to sell. So, starting next week I will be featuring Etsy items, from Team Support and Promote, that fit those themes.


This week, I am featuring pumpkins, for obvious reasons. Each item below has a small description, and a highlighted link so you can click through to Etsy if you are interested in more info.

First from Zizzybob, is this adorable vest fabric panel with all kinds of cuteness going on. 

Next from, Shelleyscrochetole is an adorable pumpkin tea towel for the kitchen or bathroom I suppose. 

Last from Missy69, is this lovely acrylic pumpkin painting with Fall flowers.  It is on sale!

Bugs and Spiders OH My!

This week I am featuring handmade items that are bugs or spiders. With Halloween right around the corner, spiders, and bugs are a must. Starting next week, I will featuring Fall, Autumn, Harvest and Thanksgiving themes, then Christmas after that. I have already started looking at Christmas gift ideas, so it is never too early to start. To buy any of the items featured, click the highlighted link under each image.

First from Zizzybob is this adorable quilt applique of ladybugs.  Gotta love ladybugs!

Love spiders?  How about a pink glitter spider?  Missy69 has this 3D spider keychain done in pink resin, and glitter.  On sale too!

Need a baby photo prop?  Shelleyscrochetole offers this crochet spider hat to consider.  I am sure she would do it in other colors too~

Woodland Animals: Deer and Foxes

This week for my handmade Team Support and Promote post, on Etsy, I am featuring woodland animals specifically deer and fox. To view each item, on Etsy, click the highlighted link below each image.

This adorable crochet fox hat is from, Shelleyscrochetole

Reclaimed items and upcycling are all the rage, and Missy69 has created this adorable deer jar.

If you love to sew, this adorable deer pdf quilt applique is what you need, from Mspdesignsusa

Alfadesigns didn't have a deer or fox jewelry piece, but foxes are orange and white, and so is this necklace.

Learn to Crochet the Triple Crochet Stitch

Here in FL, we are bracing for Hurricane Matthew. It has moved more north, and is scraping the East coast. Since I am more West, Hurricane Hermine had a bigger impact on us. But, we are starting to get the heavy rain bands, even inland, and winds. So, I still have to watch for tornadoes and flooding. Learning to crochet is an awesome hobby.

The next stitch I want to share with you is the Triple Crochet, which is very often referred to as the Treble Crochet. Again, not a super hard stitch, and once you get it down, you will be making afghans, and baby blankets like crazy. I like to donate some of my crocheted items to various charities that accept crochet items. Newborn in Needs, is one I have used, and Warm Up America. Remember practice makes perfect!

If you have a craft blog, Etsy shop, or otherwise handmade goods, join in my weekly link up party found on the left hand sidebar. All I ask is that you click the links ahead of you, and promote the blog. You can post a new link every day.

Weekly Link Up Party for Handmade Items 9/26-10/3

So, last week was my first link up party, using a different widget. I am trying Simply Linked, this week, to see the difference and which one I like better. They appear similar, except this one, I can just end when I want, rather than when the host site just closes it. To participate, please follow the very simple rules below. I am still tweaking so bare with it.  Of note, Simply Linked does not show the images, I just tried it.  You will have to refresh the page, and your link will show up with a number.  Just click the links ahead of you, up to ten, and they will go to each website.

 1. You can post one link every day, until I close it for that week. I will manually close it on the end date stated above, and no new links will be allowed, after 7 PM on closing date.

 2. If you post a link, you must click the other links that were shared ahead of yours. Hopefully your link will either show up at the top, or the bottom, making this easier. If not click up to ten please. Every day, repeat this process, and you can click your own too.

 3. Leave me a comment, at least the first time you post a link.

4. Please promote on social media. After all the more people that see your item, the better. It does take a minute for images to load, so be patient.

5. If you have questions, please ask.

Reclaimed Sapphire Gemstone Ring, and Glass With Painted Pictures Upcycle Recycle Projects

If you follow this blog, then you know that I love to paint. I love to paint on objects, more than paper, or canvas. Last Fall I created a beautiful Turkey abstract painting. I had it available for sale, but it didn't sell. It is not easy to sell art, lol. Anyways I came across these large pickle jars, and decided to use a new technique to affix the paintings to the jar, rather than painting directly on the jar. I have done three, so far, of the really big ones. They can be used as a hurricane lamp, with a candle, solar light, or flameless candle. But, also can be a vase, storage container, or cookie jar. Unique and beautiful table decor, or gift idea.

One of the other things I like to reclaim, recycle, and upcycle, is broken jewelry. I hate to throw away broken jewelry, especially when it is nice jewelry. Using a technique I discovered on my own, from tinkering with it, I created the lovely pinky ring below that features a real sapphire gemstone, and one point diamond from a broken necklace, that is now a wire wrapped ring. If you love handmade, unique, beautiful jewelry, I recommend you check this ring out.

 To see both items, visit my Etsy shop, by clicking the highlighted link, or you can always click my sidebar widget. You can always search for my shop, by using the hashtag #missy69 

Check out my weekly link up party, in the post below.  It is free to join, renews weekly, and a great way to build back links to your handmade goods. 

Football Lovers Delight with Team Support and Promote on Etsy

This week I chose football as the weekly theme, for my Team Support and Promote blogpost. Each of these beautiful handmade items, could be used for football teams, mascots, or just fun football items. To visit each shop, click the highlighted link under each image.

This adorable crochet baby football photo prop is made by Shelleyscrochetole

Debupcycles creates these lovely flannel gift bags that are reusable and eco friendly.

For all you Cardinals fans, this pdf quilt applique from Mspdesignsusa will help you make something beautiful. 

Alfadesigns, has to offer this lovely necklace done in red and black, for you Falcons fans. 

All you Bills fans will love this football colors painted peacock.  Get it now, from Missy69

Red, Yellow and Orange with Team Support and Promote on Etsy

This week I am featuring handmade items that have red, yellow, orange, or any combo of those colors. This is a weekly post, but I am a day late because I have family visiting and did not get to it yesterday. To visit each Etsy shop, click the highlighted link below each image.

First from Sticksnstonesgifts, is this adorable baby boy quilted blanket.  So cute!

Next MsPdesignsusa, is this leaves pdf quilted table runner pattern set.  Nice for the Fall holidays.

Alfadesigns, created this beautiful bead strand necklace.  What a lovely gift idea. 

OK, this is the cutest crochet baby hat ever, from Shelleyscrochetole.  Get it for Halloween or baby's first Thanksgiving photos. 

Last from Missy69, is this abstract acrylic horse painting.  Decorate your home for the season with this beautiful art work. 

Beautiful Browns!

It is almost time for Fall, which means cooler days and nights, plus more earthy tones come back in style. Check out these neutral browns from Team Support and Promote, on Etsy. To view each item, click the highlighted link below each image.

First from Alfadesigns, this beautiful necklace done in golden browns and navy blue beads. 

Next from MspDesignsUSA, is this adorable quilt pdf to make this adorable horse. 

Do you need some interior decorating ideas for the Fall season?  Check out this lovely rug from Shelleyscrochetole.

My newest jewelry making love is making these leather wrap bracelets.  I  missy69 still have some to learn, but this is my favorite.

Doesn't this look nice and warm?  Lovely scarf from Sticksnstonesgifts.

Orange and Black Etsy Finds

Welcome back for another round of Etsy finds. This week my theme is Orange and Black. Fall decorating, and Halloween are right around the corner. To visit each shop simply click the highlighted link under each image. Enjoy!

First off this week is this beautiful beaded necklace from  AlfaDesigns  Love it!

SticksNStonesGifts, offers these adorable cloth napkins for boys or girls, and eco friendly too!

Wow, how adorable, from Shelleyscrochetole, this crochet baby witch hat and diaper cover.

Having a Halloween Party?  How about this painted sugar skull plate from Missy69 to hold some spooky treats. 

Finally, from MsPDesignsUSA, this adorable forest animals PDF quilted applique. 

Getting Ready for Fall!

If you are someone who does crafts, and especially if you sell them, then you know August does not mean the hottest month of the year, but the month of starting to think about Fall and Winter gift ideas. For the next few months, my featured #teamsp items will have to do with Fall and Winter items. To purchase, or just visit each store, just click the highlighted link below each image. Enjoy!

First from MsPDesignsUSA, is this lovely fall leaf quilted pattern for a table runner. 

Next fromSticksNStonesGifts, this beautiful purple shawl perfect for cooler evenings.

  

Shelleyscrochetole, is offering this adorable baby witch hat, and diaper cover, crocheted with orange and black yarn. 

Looking for some lovely fabric to make something beautiful for your Fall home decor?  Look no further than Fabricsandfrills

BoardArtistry makes lovely hand turned wooden pens.  I think this is my favorite one.

Last but not least, from Missy69 this adorable crochet baby girl bear hat and dress set.  Perfect for Halloween.