Ribbit! Ribbit! Zibbet?

I am never ever ever (ever) one to jump on bandwagons, but it appears I may be doing just that.

I was viewing facebook posts from pages I follow and someone pointed to the new Etsy policies that rolled out a few weeks ago.  The main thing I gleaned from it was that Etsy (in my words) was now catering to shops who use outside manufacturing and (also my words) would allow shops to pose as resellers (but they had to somehow be "honest" about NOT being a reseller).

I won't call out a particular shop (you can PM me if you are curious about which one it is, I'm happy to disclose it privately), but I discovered a few weeks ago through facebook feeds a few of their listings looked not-so-handmade.  I let it go until they complained about how facebook doesn't post some of their status updates.  I focused in on the photo of the item they were trying to promote.

The item did NOT look handmade. Whatsoever.  It looked like something pumped out by manufacturers in China.

I did a Google Image search and what do you know....it was being sold wholesale by a shop in Shanghai.  All they did was add a watermark to the photo.  Oh wow, wow, wow.  I was disgusted, especially since I had purchased items from this shop in the past.  I never thought about it at the time, but I'm pretty sure that everything in their shop is NOT handmade by the shop owner.  Not even her designs.  Disgusted.

On top of that, she is in the Top 100 Etsy Sellers list for 2013!  So disgusted.

I tried (in vain) to report this shop, and the items that were clearly being designed and sold by another shop, but really nothing happened.  I didn't even get the courtesy of a response from Etsy.  *Shrug* Oh well.

So tonight I came across some forum posts and found this link:

https://www.etsy.com/blog/news/2013/5-etsy-sellers-partnering-with-manufacturers/

I'm more interested in the comments by Etsy sellers.  These people have the same intentions as I do about what handmade is and what a small business is.  Etsy have moved to catering to small businesses and it only means that I will move elsewhere. 

Anyway, back to the bandwagon I'm about to jump on.  I recently (today) was made aware of another handmade website that echoes what I fell in love with about Etsy. 

Zibbet.com

It is strictly aimed at helping those who offer handmade goods. Period.  Here's the link to the article so I don't start sounding stupid:

http://allthingsd.com/20131002/new-seller-demand-crashes-handmade-marketplace-zibbet-after-etsys-big-changes/

Again, read the comments.  People are so wise sometimes (don't quote me, I'll deny it later). It's comforting to know that I'm not alone in being discouraged by Etsy. 

41 looks good on you!

Just over a month ago, my big brother celebrated his birthday.  I don't get to spend a lot of time with him (he lives an hour away) and we only recently reconnected after about five years. (Happy face and sad face.)

I've always had problems with what to get for people as far as gifts go, and I usually end up making something which usually gets mixed reviews.  Not everyone seems to like getting a homemade gift in my family.  Okay, that totally sounded like I make crappy gifts, which I don't!  I just have a weird family apparently.

I started reminiscing about a favorite gift I made for my brother.  I think it was his 9th or 10th birthday and I set up a scavenger hunt for him all over the house.  At each location was a mini gift (that I made) and another clue, and the present at the end of the hunt was a doll that I had hand sewn out of scraps from my mom's stash of fabric and buttons.

I remember this doll being the most fabulous thing I had created and I felt so happy to share it with him.  Now, I think he must have groaned when he opened it.  Oh well.

Anyway, I made him a scarf this year.  The only plan I had was it had to be masculine and it had to use up all the grey yarn I had. Well, I ran out of grey about halfway through so I matched up some blue yarn with it. So much for planning, but I think it turned out pretty good.

Chunky Ribbed Scarf Pattern

Materials:

Crochet Hook: L

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky (bulky), (A) Indigo, 1 skein, (B) Charcoal Grey, 1 skein

Yarn needle

Finished Measurements:

62" length x 4.5" wide (157cm x 11cm)

Stitch Notes:

FPtc = front post treble crochet

• yo, insert hook from front-to-back-to-front around the post of next st, (yo, draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times

BPtc = back post treble crochet

• yo, insert hook from back-to-front-to-back around the post of next st, (yo, draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times

Instructions:

With (A) ch 15, or 15 foundation hdc

Turn work, sc in first st, ch1 (this will count as first dc)

Row 1: dc in each st across (15 sts), turn work, dc in first st, ch 1

Row 2: [BPtc in next st, FPtc in next st] 6 times, BPtc, dc in top of ch-1 (15 sts), turn work, dc in first st, ch 1

Row 3: [FPtc in next st, BPtc in next st] 6 times, FPtc, dc in top of ch-1 (15 sts), turn work, dc in first st, ch 1

Rep rows 2 and 3 until piece measures 31" (or until (A) runs out)

With (B) begin new row with dc in first st, ch 1

Rep rows 2 and 3 until piece measures 62" (or until (B) runs out)

Finishing:

Using yarn needle, weave in ends.

Printer friendly version found on Ravelry.

Happy Birthday, Big Brother!

I do it!

My three-year-old is my youngest of three boys and the biggest helper of them all. When we go grocery shopping he always has to grab the little cart and push it along with me, and will tell ME what I need to buy. "Oh, oh, milk, mommy, get some milk."  "Nanas!  Oh, oh, cheese, cheese!" He gets a lot of attention from the ladies at the store. Sometimes, I remember that old Shake-N-Bake commercial where the little girl goes, "It's Shake-N-Bake! And I helped!" in her little southern drawl. Makes me giggle.

So today was no different when I decided to try a new smoothie recipe. He saw me grab the blender and immediately yelled at me, "Oh, I want to help! I want to help!" It gets pretty silly when he wants to help me, he gets so impatient to the point of almost crying.  I encourage him with, "Okay, wait until Mommy gets everything out."

Oops! Forgot the almond butter in the picture

First, I grabbed the almond milk.

"Oh! I wanna do it! Let me do it!"

So I assist him with pouring the milk into the blender. Then I get the almond butter and a spoon.

"Let me do it! Let me do it!"

He not-so-delicately bangs the spoon on the side of the jar.  Next, I grab two bananas and start to peel them.

Carefully peeling the "nanas"

"Mommy! I said I wanna do it!"

I sweetly tell him, "it's okay, you can peel them and put them in.  Mommy was just starting it for you."

"Okay, mama."

Adding the choc-wit chips

After he squishes the bananas into the milk, and before I've had the chance to get anything else, he says, "Oh, I get the choc-wit chips." So he gets off the stool and runs over to the pantry to get the chocolate chips.  And before he pours a few chips into the jar (of course) he picks one out and pops it into his mouth. "Mmm, that's good." (Nodding his head as he says it.)

Then I ask him, "What else do we need?"

"Umm, honey? Oh! And nola, it needs nola." (Nola = granola)

He props the huge bottle of honey on top of the blender and grunts as he attempts to squeeze the bottle.  I help him squeeze it, but he makes a satisfactory sigh when a little bit drips into the smoothie mix. "That looks good, mama."

Is it ready?

He then asks me if it's lid time, "I do it, I do it?" So I nod and he positions the lid in place. When it's ready to turn on, he doesn't say a word. He'll give me this look with his eyes and then he'll smile real big and nod his head as if to ask me, "Now?" So if I nod back he gets to flip the switch. I love to mess with him a little by shaking my head, then he will giggle and wait for me to nod.

Hand at the ready!

So I nod, and he bounces up and down a little on the step-stool and then flips the switch.  Giggling over a blender whirling a smoothie is just about the silliest thing.

I help Mama!

Jonah's Delight Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 2 c ice
• 2 c almond milk (with 2 cups of ice in the blender, I fill it up with almond milk to the 3 cup mark, so I'm not really sure the exact measurement)
• 2 bananas, peeled
• 1/2 c almond butter
• 2 T honey
• 1 T milk chocolate chips
• 1/4 c granola (optional)

Pour all ingredients into a blender, pulse a few seconds then blend on full speed for 1-2 minutes.  Pour into favorite beverage container and enjoy!  Makes 4 servings.

Two Times a Charm

I haven't blogged in awhile (obviously). I chose to open a different blog under wordpress.com and recently realized it wasn't going to suit my needs, so I thought I'd give this one another shot. This time, I'm going to be more diligent with it. Has anyone else hopped over to wordpress only to find out it was inferior? Or am I solo on this one... Ok, here I go! *shoots flare into the air*

Breaking News: Superman hurt, more at 11...

My four-year-old suffered his first major accident a few days ago. I guess it wouldn't be considered major, but for this poor mom it was. I was picking him up from preschool and learned from his teacher that he had been playing chase with another boy in class and there had been a small accident. My first concern was that he was okay emotionally knowing that he only really cries if he wants attention from me. And she pointed to where he was sitting I expected his bright shining face to smile back at me.

He was holding a paper towel covered ice pack over his mouth and nose and I saw his eyes start to squint and fill with tears. I still only thought he was crying because he wanted my attention. So I went over to him and he uncovered his face to show me his wounds. I know boys will be boys and get into mischief and have accidents, believe me I know, my youngest is top heavy and has dents all over his head. But nothing could have prepared me for the horror... okay, I'm exaggerating, but I was a little shocked. His nose was all scraped up and bloody and his lip was as big as Angelina Jolie's and all cut and black and blue.

I was not a spoiled child, by any means, but when I was sick or got hurt I remember my mom would take very good care of me. I remember getting 7-Up in a glass bottle (remember those?) and saltine crackers when I had an upset stomach, or she'd bring me chocolate milk while I was taking a bath. I appreciate those memories because when my kids get sick they get spoiled just like that.

When we got home from school I let him relax on the couch and watch cartoons. After cartoons I let him soak in a bubble bath for awhile and served him strawberry milk (his favorite at the moment). His face lit up so much it made my heart swell. He even said, "for me?" Then after his bath I made him his favorite dinner, toasted cheese with apples and yogurt. More cartoons, some cuddling, then off to bed. Superman will be ready for another big day in the morning.

My First Etsy Purchase!

About a month and a half ago I was trying to think of a really great thing to get my husband for our anniversary. Only six years of marriage and my mind is blank. So I go to the Etsy site, and on a whim I type "anniversary" in the search box. And I skim through each page--photos, jewelry, cards. Whoopideedoo.... *yawn*

Then for some reason I notice this black and white photo that looked unusual so I clicked on it. It was for a custom name photo, pictures of a location or thing deliberately taken to look like a letter. My eyes got wide and I mouthed quietly "wow." Then it hit me, why not have this be made into our name with our wedding date on it. Oh man, he's gonna love it!!

I couldn't believe how easy it was. I ordered it and paid for it, then almost immediately I got a response from the seller with details about how I wanted my picture to look. I got to pick out the background, letter style and color and what I wanted it to say. Needless to say, when I received it in the mail it was simply awesome. And yes, he loved it.

www.JavaJaneDesigns.etsy.com

Etsy! As in Etc.?

So I found this Etsy thing and thought I'd give it a try. I opened up my very own virtual shop and am peddling my first creations. We all have to start somewhere, right? I started with a stuffed pillow that serves to comfort a child who is hurt or sick through a heated rice pillow you can put inside of it. I thought this would be a cute idea in place of the usual "boo boo bags" I've seen that are just square shaped and blah. Especially for smaller kids, like my oldest, who is four and loves stuffed animals. So primarily it would be used at bed time or quiet times for calming purposes.

Then I decided to add more therapy items directed at adults too, like neck wraps, eye pillows, wrist pillows for keyboards, etc. for some variety. I've always been interested in ways to treat myself naturally instead of getting prescriptions for weird chemicals that usually end up having side effects. I started researching aromatherapy and natural treatments probably 14 or so years ago. That was about when I started hearing a lot about organic stuff. Organic foods, organic medicine, organic gardening. So I'm kind of on that kick right now. And thinking about how I can implement aromatherapy with natural healing.