Just one more shop...and then I'll stop!

Okay...I am officially addicted to Etsy! So much that I "had" to open another shop. Well also because I have accumulated over the years a few closets and a china hutch full of beautiful "junk"! And I must begin to let it go....so that I can accumulate more....of course!

Please join me in celebrating the opening of "MUGGSEY & MAE" vintage collectables. I will be adding items each day, at least that is my goal and collectors beware....I will be putting some cookie jars in the shop.

"MUGGSEY & MAE" will offer vintage treasures of all types ranging from small little trinkets to ceramics, dishes, jewelry...oh! and I almost forgot, some of the items will be altered a bit.....an example would be....the TeaChimes from Rustique Art.
I might be repositioning some things where I see fit to do. Kind of like decorating one room with items from another.....viola! you have a new look. So....bare with me as I reminisce about items from time to time....because you know every item has a story. Well yeah....(rolling my eyes)

For instance, who the heck is MUGGSEY and MAE?

Okay real quick....well you see, when I was 17 and expecting my sweet little jellybean (Autumn), I went to visit my grandma in Oklahoma. I was really big in the belly and couldn't reach my shoes to tie them, so I bent over and while down there (for a really long time) I turned my head and saw something shoved way back on a very low self. My grandma had things tucked everywhere....

moving on....

I was intrigued.... so, I got on my hands and knees and crawled over to find my very first treasure. It was a Duck cookie jar! Well, needless to say it was and still is adorable. Behind the duck another treasure waited patiently for my fat little body to get back on all fours and rescue him. He was a precocious looking little doggie cookie jar.

Now those of you who know me, know that I have a name or nickname for everything and almost everyone....especially if I love you most certainly you will have a affectionate nickname from me. The duck became MAE because she has flirty eyes and a sweet expression on her face and Mae is my grandma's middle name, so it fit quite perfectly. I later came to find out while researching the vast canyon of cookie jar collectables, that the dog cookie jar was made by Shawnee and his name was and still is, "MUGGSY" and it is a patented name.

Are you seeing the words on the wall yet? By the way, Mae...she didn't have a name from her makers, she is just listed as the Hull Pottery, Duck.

So there ya go...the beginning of an obsessive behavior called, "buy every cookie jar you can find"!
And while I will have Muggsy and Mae forever, some of the others need a good home. What else could I do....I had to open a shop on Etsy! and it needed a name....so it became "MUGGSEY & MAE" with a slight variation....just so I don't step on any toes.

*SPRING SALE*

LOT'S OF WONDERFUL ITEMS JUST WENT ON CLEARANCE AT

RUSTIQUE ART ETSY!

GO CHECK IT OUT AT MY ETSY SHOP
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=559&section_id=5380168

Celebrating Haley

Today is my precious granddaughter's birthday...she is six years old. Oh, my how time flies by. In a blink of my eye she has grown into the most adorable, intelligent, precocious young lady. She has the biggest blue eyes that twinkle when she talks to you. Her smile lights up my world and her humor keeps me laughing until I cry.

Now in case you might be thinking that I sound mighty partial to this little lump of sugar, you would be both wrong and right.....let me explain.

My daughter Autumn and my son in law Michael chose a wonderful way to tell me that my first grandbaby was on the way. They dropped the "at home" test result in my lap as they walked into the room. Wondering what had literally just fallen into my lap I looked down to see this "thing" and it took me about.....two seconds for my brain to kick in and realize that "we were expecting".

Well not me...but we are a close family! LOL!

About 40 weeks later I get a phone call telling me that "we" are in labor. Now it had been decided that I was not to be at the birth. Breath.....it's okay....Autumn and Michael had chosen to have their babies at home with the assistance of a midwife. And although I really did want to be there, I also really wanted to respect their first moments of parenthood with their little miracle. So....I stayed home and prayed....and prayed....paced and prayed....paced some more and prayed more. Finally the phone rang and it was Michael.....he was calling to tell me that Autumn had been laboring for several hours (24) and she was very tired and she needed prayer for physical strength to bring this baby into our arms.

Nough said.....I called my prayer warriors and we prayed.....30 minutes later the phone call came and Michael told me that I had a granddaughter! Oh.....praise God...and that Autumn was exhausted but doing well and our baby was perfect. And, that I could come over in the morning! Yeah....you bet your big brown eyes I'll be there!

That was six years ago today and yes I am partial to my first granddaughter. However....since then our awesome God has blessed us with five more beautiful and most amazing grandbabies. I am humbled....

So you see....this post might never end. I have a lot of bragging to do!

For now though, I think it would be more fun for my readers to gaze upon our first little miracle and celebrate with us six years of Haley Annabelle!

Only hours old....

The beginnings of that beautiful smile

That smile and those eyes....there's that humor showing at an early age!

Hummmm...we were making dough! Wonder where hers is? Did I mention she has a healthy appetite!

Marketing Preparation 101

Here's the scenario....you go to the grocery store and your oblivious to anyone around you because all you care about is getting what you need and getting home. Then you hear someone say....."can i look at your cross?" Well, of course that gets my attention and I turn toward the voice. A sweet elderly couple is occupying the same freezer section isle as me. I'm wondering, are they talking to me? They are indeed and they love the shirt I'm wearing. I was wearing my Witness Brilliant Studded Cross shirt and they thought it was stunning! blush, blush...thank you i replied. It was then that the sweet lady added that they love crosses and they collect them.

[raised eyebrows...bling, light goes on...moving into marketing gear]

I repeat, "you collect crosses?" Yes, she replied. Then I proceed to tell them that I make crosses! Woo hoo! grocery store networking at it's best! She then asked if I have a store and I tell her that I have a online store and asked if they shop online. "YES" they reply!

[moving in for the shameless plug...going for the business cards!]

Noooooooooooo, it can't be! I don't have any business cards with me!!!!!! Somebody slap me! you know like in that V8 commercial....."bonk" on the forehead. Have I lost my mind?

Oh, it gets better.....as i am fumbling around in my purse looking for a pen, which i can't find, I'm starting to feel really stupid and so unprofessional.
She has a pen, i say thank you...he has a card to write on, i say thank you...i write my information for them and even note the little quirky underscore in the name. (this would be a hint)

[here's the stupid part of my story]

I explain to them that they can link to my Witness site through the Rustique Art site, we say our goodbyes and finish our shopping.

It was about at the moment of getting into my car that I realized that I had given them my email address, not my web address! Can you say....STUPID! I can....and did....like 1000 times. Ugh!

If this was a fable it would have a moral....so, the moral to this story would be....

Don't ever go grocery shopping? No

Wear a shirt with your business card screen printed on it? No

I think 1 Peter 3:15 is the moral I was looking for....
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Okay...if you think that I'm streching to make a point, then so be it. However, if I would use God's example of Marketing Prep 101 and network the way I should be prepared to do as a Christ follower, well then wouldn't I be prepared in all the ways of my life and business?

If only I could rewind to the frozen food frame of my day.....I would have at least asked them were they attended church or how long have they been collecting crosses. I need to take my eyes off of me and place them on Jesus and others.

One more thing....always have your business cards with you, especially when you go grocery shopping!

*did you notice how many times the word "I" or the form of myself, was in this blog?

31 times...possibly a lesson for another day

Snowy Day!

You gotta love the Texas weather.....70's one day, snow the next....back to 70's and thundersnow today! Wow....we have some wild & wackey weather.

This kinda of day allows creativity to blossom and the more it snows outside.....I'm all warm and snuggly inside having a "grab your cup of java stay in your jammies burrow into your studio and play all day" kinda day!

For example....this is why you save buttons before you get rid of clothing!
And even if someone passes on some random beads that you think you'll never use....think again! This little 3" ornamental cross was lovingly made from scraps...how sweet! It will probably be the fastest selling design.....since I only have enough nuggets to make one more. Guess I'll have to dig out some forgotton beads that I stashed somewhere.....Enjoy your snowy day!

Why is March Mad?

What is the Madness of March? I'm not sure....maybe someone could fill me in! It's quite possible that the term means the looney mad, not the angry mad. In that case I can relate. I have a show in 5 days and I am beginning to feel a bit crazy. Like, why am I writing in my blog when I could be making a cross? Oh well....chalk it up to madness ;) so funny!
Speaking of the show... details would probably be necessary so that you can save the date and come out to visit me!

What: 2008 March Madness Arts & Crafts Show
When: Satuday March 8, 2008 9am - 4pm
Where: Guyer High School Corinth, Tx (map in link)

You will find me in booth #119 and I would love to see you. In fact...if you print this post and bring it to me, I will give you 25% off one item....I must be MAD!!!!
Esty Dallas will be represented on Saturday by Rustique Art and four other Esty Dallas Team members. While shopping be on the look out for the following Esty Dallas members.... Menagerie #81, TP Design #3, Treasured Trinkets #35 and Cherry's Creations #99
Stop by and tell them hello and how you found them. We love to talk about Esty Dallas and all of our wonderful artistic friends.

See you Saturday!

Favorite Things

This will probably be a weekly post.... don't you find when you tell people your favorite things, they in turn will tell you theirs? See if you can relate.....


Favorite smells: Coffee (Beans or Brewed)

Bacon (cooking not raw...dah!)

Matches (struck and blown out)

Vanilla Extract

Roses

Fresh herbs from the garden

Rain

Favorite cookie: Oreos

Homemade Chocolate Chip

Favorite dessert: Homemade Pies

Favorite food: My Guacamole & chips

Pizza (sausage, mushroom, onion, black olives, spinach, tomatoes)

Hamburger (mustard, lettuce, tomato, dill pickles)

Favorite day: Sunday

Favorite book: Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers

Favorite movie: It's a Wonderful Life

Favorite song: Say it Sooner, The Almost

Have I stirred some memories of your favorite things?