Now open!

I have decided to reopen a day early! Come shop and enjoy my 1-year anniversary sale!

Buy one get one 1/2 off!

Just order as usual, and I will send you a revised invoice!


Happy eating!

One Year Anniversary!

March 4th marks my 1 year anniversary selling on Etsy! I can't believe that it's been a year. Etsy has been such a boon for me and for my little business. I want to thank each one of you who has bought product from me. I also want to thank those that follow my humble blog and keep it alive!


My shop will re-open on Sunday, March 1. For my 1 yr anniversary, I will be offering a Buy One Get One 1/2 off sale!



Come on over to MY SHOP on March 1st, and get your favorites picked now!

What it means to be a mom.

As I take a break from my business this week, I'm stepping back to make sure I am part of the best things in life. My kids.

I received this story in my email one day, and it made me cry. I hope it gives you some inspiration, and makes you want to do better.

Go hug your kids!

Invisible Mother

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.

Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'

I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England.

Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.

I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well.

It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.

I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:

'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave theirwhole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.'

And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction.

But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.

As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home.

And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM! Share this with all the Invisible Moms you know. The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you. The Invisible Mother.

It's the things we achieve through God that gives us our joys in life.

Life.

My etsy shop is closed temporarily. I will be back up and running very soon!

I just need a break to take care of some personal issues in my life. I want to thank all my wonderful customers who have made my etsy experience absolutely amazing so far!

We look forward to reopening soon!




***UPDATE! I am getting so many dear friends worried about me! Thank you for your concern! No worries though. I just needed some time to take care of my family and house! Nothing major has happened! Thanks for your well wishes!

I WILL be taking custom orders. Please contact me through Etsy if you would like to order!

FAM Birthday Bash 2009

Would you like an invitation to the Party? Consider yourself officially invited!
It has been one year since the birth of the Fabulous Artistic Moms of Etsy! To celebrate our 388 moms membership, we are having a Fabulous Birthday Bash Giveaway! 38 Artists have donated prizes!! There will be 1 Grand prize winner who will receive handmade items from 28 of these Fabulous Artistic Moms and 10 Honorable Mentions who will each receive one prize! So, here is how to enter ...

POST YOUR COMMENTS ON THE fam BLOG ONLY!


Rules of the Game
1) Visit one or more of the shops below and look for the cupcake hidden (like the one above) as one of the images in their listings.

2) Post a comment below with the listing URL (http://...) where you found the cupcake, your name, and your e-mail address. (Your comment will not be shown to the public.) The game runs from February 15-21, 2009. A list of winner will be posted on the blog.
POST YOUR COMMENTS ON THE fam BLOG ONLY!

Would you like an extra entry?
1)Visit a different shop and find another cupcake! Post an additional comment below with the listing URL (http://...) where you found the cupcake, your name, and your e-mail address. You may leave up to 5 entry comments for finding cupcakes!
POST YOUR COMMENTS ON THE fam BLOG ONLY!

2)For every item purchased from one of the shops listed below, from February 15-21, you will get an extra entry. Simply post an additional comment with the transaction URL link with your name and e-mail address.

Participating Shops and Prizes Donated for the Birthday Bash!!

Giggleberry Creations
http://www.giggleberry.etsy.com
Unisex fabric banner

Whimsical Creations
http://melaniescrafts.etsy.com
Cupcake Ornament & Birthday Hat Ornament

Annie Howes Keepsakes
http://anniehowes.etsy.com
DIY Scrabble Pendant kit w/tutorial

Apple Loves Orange
http://applelovesorange.etsy.com
5 photo gift tags in "Black"

Tender Heart Babies
http://TenderHeartBabies.etsy.com
FAM Princess Bank

Michon
http://michon.etsy.com
freshwater pearl earrings

DoubleDippedSweets
http://doubledippedsweets.etsy.com
Turtle Caramel Apple, your choice of nuts!

Handmade by Andrea Baker
http://www.andreabaker.etsy.com
The Oogly Friend - Snowflake

Crafts by Carer
http://craftsbycarer.etsy.com
Crochet Top Kitchen Towel

ChamberryCherryDesigns
http://www.chamberrycherry.etsy.com

personalized cosmetic makeup bag


BerryCreek Soaps
http://www.BerryCreekSoaps.etsy.com/
Monkey Farts Scented Aloe Vera Soapsicle

Crochet by Momma J
http://www.crochetbymommaj.etsy.com
Sachet Pillow

Sweeet Pickles Pottery
http://www.sweetpicklespottery.etsy.com/
Little Dish many uses

Elegant Snobbery
http://elegantsnobbery.etsy.com
8 x 8 Chocolate and Roses Cupcake Print

ImagineThat
http://imaginethatart.etsy.com and http://imaginethatinc.etsy.com
Original Design with Artisan Handmade Beads Necklace

Ravishing Jane
http://www.ravishingjane.etsy.com
Plum Striped Earrings

GingerKittyDesigns
http://gingerkittydesigns.etsy.com

Pearl bead bracelet and earrings set

Skinner Studio
http://www.skinnerstudio.etsy.com
Red Cherry - Chiyogami and Resin Necklace

Alphabulous
http://www.alphabulous.etsy.com
Iron on patch, letter or number and bookmark of their choosing

LJ Design Photo
http://ljdesignphoto.etsy.com
5x5 photo and 4 gift cards of a cupcake

Macaroni and Glue
http://macaroniandglue.etsy.com
A Hint of Shimmer - Boxed Set of 10 Flat Notes

Oh Mandie
http://ohmandie.etsy.com
Sugar - Whimsy Earrings

New England Quilter
http://www.newenglandquilter.etsy.com
Pink Fabric Coiled Basket

TheTieDyeGirl and TheSewingChic
http://thetiedyegirl.etsy.com and http://thesewingchic.etsy.com
Could I do $20 gift cards

Mock Frog Jewelry
http://MOCKFROGjewelry.etsy.com
bakelite necklace w/ black satin ribbon, ball chain

Valerie's Gallery
http://valeriesgallery.etsy.com
Blue and Green Felted Wool Bowl

KlymyshynDesign
http://Klymyshyndesign.etsy.com
Aqua Thread Earrings

Huggabears
http://www.huggabears.etsy.com
butterfly and flower totebag

Haberheartwork
http://www.haberheartwork.etsy.com
Glass pendant with ballchain necklace

Kims'c Custom Cards and Gifts
http://www.KimsCustomGifts.etsy.com
One free item from my store (excluding printing services), winner's choice

Sensationally Sweet
http://www.sensationallysweet.etsy.com
1/2 pound chocolate assortment

TheBrassHussy
http://thebrasshussy.etsy.com
Brass Musical Swirls with Green Filigree Capped dangles - Earrings

Sweet Pickles Pottery
http://sweetpicklespottery.etsy.com
Fleur de Lis Wine Bottle Stopper

PickleJuice
http://picklejuice.etsy.com
3 Hand Hooked Wool Flowers-spring colors

Tiny Storm
http://tinystorm.etsy.com
Pair of earrings in the Czech glass color of the winner's choice.

Memory Books and More
http://memorybooksandmore.etsy.com
Card

Pumpkin Pea
http://PumpkinPea.etsy.com
A Pair of Flower Duo


Spare Time Crafts
http://sparetimecrafts.etsy.com
First Aid Etui boxes

Edible Art Team

Hungry? Want something special for those party treats?

Check out: EdibleArtTeam! Full of wonderful surprises, coupons, and drool-worthy edibles!

Go look today! You won't be sorry!

Sale on Valentine's Pretzels

Don't these pretzels look fabulous! Due to a changed wholesale order, I have 250 Caramel/Chocolate dipped pretzels in stock, ready to ship!

What a Great Valentine's Gift!
50% off $1 each!

These wonderful pretzels are ready to ship on Monday! Pick from White, Milk, or Dark Chocolate Base with another chocolate flavor drizzled on top!

Or...Pick our wonderful and oh, so cute, Valentine's Day Pretzels!

Shop today for your Pretzels for all of your loved ones!

Valentine's Day!

Valentine's day is coming soon! It's a time to celebrate those you love and hold dear. Why not get them a special treat this year?

Valentine's Goodies from Double Dipped Sweets!