my new banner

So I am thinking about starting a new shop on etsy called HairySairy.
It will be all hair products.
I have the shop set up, just no products in it yet. hemming and hawing...nothing new here.

Here is the banner for it thusfar.

Not exactly sure I am loving it though. Any suggestions would be helpful.

I am thinking about various hair accessories(clips, bows, headbands, pins, extension clips etc).

Then my main product would be different intense deep conditioners, custom blended for various hair problems (coarse hair, dry hair, brittle hair, fine hair, limp hair, over-processed hair, chemically treated hair and what not)

Each conditioning treatment would come in a container and would be enough for 4 months (applications are done 3 to 4 weeks apart). It would come with an application brush and processing caps and instructions for use.

I am a huge advocate for healthy hair. Maybe move into all natural hair colors,oils and products.  I just havent quite decided yet where i want to go with all of this.

I dont even know if I will get it up and running. It is all just up in the air right now.

just dont know.  I ...just...dont...know.

I KNOW what I want to do and where I want to go with it. I just dont know HOW.

Is starting on etsy worth it?? would it get me started enough? would people even see it with the glut of other crafters on there? how can I make it stand out?

Christmas Hair Bows

So I have discovered the joy of Bow Making.  I made a bunch for a girlfriend at school and she loved them so much. I have several more orders come in and am thinking about listing them on Etsy for Christmas.
I went to Michaels and their Christmas and Holiday ribbon was on sale for 50% off. I bought several kinds, all coordinating and went to town. Here are the ones I have made so far.

I really like the Loopy hair bows. I did make a few of the pinwheel type bows in various colors as well.

The backs are single prong clips:

All bows are made by stitching AND re-enforced with hot glue. I then sealed any visible ends with a flame, keeping it from fraying.
I have recently discovered Korker Bows:(I did not make this. This is from mybowlady.com)

I have a lot of grosgrain ribbon on the way to me. I will make the Korker ribbon, and if it is as easy at it sounds, I will make a tutorial. It SEEMS easy enough. I tried the redneck version using a candle, instead of a stove. It didnt work too well. The ribbon stayed Korkered, but there were scorch marks on it.

So I am thinking I will follow the correct directions and see how difficult it is.

Not that I have a ton of time on my hands, but I have lots of ideas swirling around. I have missed crafting and making these bows have been a fun thing for me to do while I watch TV at night when the boys go to bed.

 I can pull up my little table and just work away.

Happy Crafting!

lip balms galore

I had to re-inventory, reorder supplies etc.
I am back in business with lip balm. i have a ton of new flavors, some improved flavors and some oldies but goodies.
Each Lip Balm is custom made, never made ahead of time and waiting on a Shelf. They take a day to properly set up and cure. No preservatives, exept for the natural vitamin E that is in Rice Bran Oil. These have a somewhat long shelf life. plUS FREE SHIPPING WITHIN THE US.

BEESWAX: Beeswax, Cocoa Butter, Aloe Butter, Shea Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Jojoba Oil, Lanolin

VEGAN: Carnauba wax, cocoa butter, aloe butter, shea oil, rice bran oil, jojoba oil

If you need extra healing like meadowfoam oil or evening primrose, it is 3 for $8.


NEW FLAVORS: Dreamsicle(orange vanilla), Herbal Tea, Island delight, root Beer, Root Beer Float, Spearmint, Lime, Strawberry Lime, Tangerine, Tangerine-Vanilla, vanilla Milkshake

OLDIES BUT GOODIES (Classic Bestsellers): Black Cherry, cherry almond, Honey Almond, Vanilla Almond, Honey Vanilla, cherry Vanilla.

NEW CLASSICS:(new bestsellers) Raspberry Lemonade, Honeysuckle Nectarine, Skittles, Plum Apricot, Gummi Bear

MY PERSONAL FAVES: Honeysuckle Nectarine, Raspebrry Lemonade, Dreamsicle, Herbal Tea, Chai Tea

I have decided to keep my listings at 3 for $6, permanently.
Beeswax AND Vegan.

So Check out THEBALMSHOPPE for the flavor descriptions. I currently carry the following flavors (and many flavors can be combined to make your own personal preference.)
ALMOND JOY
APPLE
APPLE PIE
BLACK CHERRY
CLACK FOREST CAKE
CAPPUCCINO
CARAMEL APPLE
CARAMEL CHEWS
CHAI TEA
CHEESECAKE
CHERRY ALMOND
CHERRY VANILLA
CHOCOLATE BANANA
CHOCOLATE CHERRY
CHOCOLATE CREAM
COCONUT
COCONUT LIME
COFFEE
CUCUMBER MELON
DREAMSICLE
GINGERBREAD
GINGER PEACH
GRAPE
GRAPEFRUIT
GRAPEFRUIT PEPPERMINT
GUMMI BEAR
HERBAL BLEND
HERBAL TEA
HONEY
HONEY ALMOND
HONEYSUCKLE NECTARINE
HONEY VANILLA
HOT CHOCOLATE
ISLAND DELIGHT
LAVENDER
LAVENDER VANILLA
LAVENDER LEMON
LEMON DROP
LIME
MANGO
MANGO STRAWBERRY
MARGARITA
MOCHA
MOUNDS
ORANGE
PEACH
PEPPERMINT
PINK BUBBLE GUM
PLAIN JANE
PLUM APRICOT
PUMPKIN PIE
RASPBERRY CREAM PIE
RASPBERRY LEMONADE
ROOT BEER
ROOT BEER FLOAT
SKITTLES
SPEARMINT
STRAWBERRY
STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE
STRAWBERRY COCONUT
STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
STRAWBERRY LIME
SWEET ALMOND
SWEET JANE
TANGERINE
TANGERINE VANILLA
TEA TREE
VANILLA ALMOND
VANILLA MILKSHAKE
WATERMELON

"Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear–It's the #1 Killer of Women."

Friday February 6th is NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY.
Everyone can participate to help spread the word. Wear you favorite red tie, shirt, dress, socks...anything. Bring awareness to Heart Disease, the #1 killer of women. So be loud, be proud and wear your red!! Dont let Heart Disease rear its ugly head. Learn more at The American Heart Association.

\So like last years post, i am adding a few things and little accessories and doo dads from etsy...all int he spirit of National Wear Red Day. These are my list of must have's to celebrate a Day of Red in style.

This GORGEOUS red wrap dress with obi style sash.
It is from BlackRabbitNYC. How Beautiful is that?

In a few months after I lose more of my joey pouch I would totally buy that and wear it every day. So this stylish dress teaches us to exercise so we can wear it and not show the world all our junk.

These wonderful Halo earrings are from EmilyGrayJewels.

so beautiful and refined and classy, yet modern at the same time.

It looks like ear candy doesnt it?? So these earrings tell us it is OK to wear candy, just not eat too much of it.

This is a set of 2 crochet heart shape face scrubbies.

Courtesy of Mattscraftywife.

cotton thread in a bold red color reminds us to take care of our tickers as we are washing our face!

This super adorable dress comes from Cinderellascache.

Never to young to start teaching kids the importance of healthy heart care. Those ribbons tied at the shoulders are adorable! And that little fabric heart...perfect!

How cute are these zombie Mary janes?? EmandSprout

created these bad boys to scare us into walking faster to get that ticker pumping!

Yes, the Marie Antoinette Hair Feathers. She didnt die of heart disease(sadly that may have been the better alternative for her). so these red feathers remind us to keep our head(get it) and be smart about Heart Health. (Sheesh I am STOOPID sometimes. ) But seriously, the feathers are awesome.These are from royalcostumes

And Last but not least, my personal favorite. RED VELVET CAKE!!! granted, this may not be the most heart healthy snack or treat, but it is DARN TASTY I bet. All that red velvety goodness packed into a jar and delivered right to your house. Thanks to cupcakesinjars! The red cake reminds us that a little treat is Ok and that with diet and exercise, everything is good in moderation. These little jar sized cupcakes are the perfect moderation for me!!

Out of Comission for a few days

Peter is back in the hospital for a few days. Looks like he has pneumonia in his right lung.

He has a chronic "heart cough" that sticks with him and every now and then it turns into pneumonia. Yeah, it sucks.

So I will be out of comission.

Funny thing is he has been acting completely fine, his cough seemed actually pretty sedentary and under control and boom out of the blue I get a call from school that it hurts to breathe and he has a fever and "Can you come pick him up and take him to the doctor?"

He will be fine. About once a year the pneumonia rears its ugly head and we go through a small stint in the hospital. No biggie.

Prayers and heartfelt comments are always appreciated though and I know that they do help.

Thanks to my blog readers. I love you all and will keep everyone updated

PS
All orders that have been placed over the past few days have all been made, shipped etc,

Sarah

Scouting and Lip Balm

Dont forget my Lip Balm sale is still going on.

3 balms for $6, Free shipping in the USA.

Get all the details and find your perfect flavor HERE.

So Peter started Boy Scouts on Tuesday evening.

Sigh. Growing up so fast.

I went all the way uptown to the ONE AND ONLY scouts store here in Charlotte (there is another one in Gastonia, which takes FOREVER to get there. But thats another rant for another day).

We bought the shirt, the wolf-kerchief and slide, the handbook, the patches etc. $63 later and no patch magic, I realized I actually had to SEW the patches on. GRRRRRR.

Did you know there are SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS on where to place the patches in EXACT locations?? Did they actually want me to pull my measuring tape out?? Would they REALLY know if that emblem crest was not 3/8 inches above the left pocket??

So for 2 hours Tuesday afternoon I frantically sewed the patches onto his shirt, hoping they were straight and even and that no one could tell the thread didnt match.

All in all it turned out nice, and my fingers are only slightly tender, still.

He looked absolutely adorable in his outfit and he got lots of compliments. No one mentioned the patches, so I assume they were correct.

He had a great time and can't wait to go back!!

LIP BALM SALE!!!

It is time once again for my semi annual LIP BALM SALE!!

3 balms for $6 and that includes shipping in the USA. You choose the flavor.

I have beeswax or I have Vegan. Once they are gone, they are gone!!

All natural ingredients, made to order. Not sitting on a shelf waiting for you to purchase.

FLAVORS AVAILABLE:

ALMOND-classic Almond. a bestseller.

APPLE-green apple, tart and juicy!

BANANA-great for kids!

BLACK CHERRY-classic dark cherry.

BLACK FOREST CAKE-Chocolate Cherry and almond

BUBBLE GUM-pink bubblegum. Smells like Bazooka!

CAPPUCCINO-Java and cinnamon.

CARAMEL-sweet caramel.

CARAMEL APPLE-tart apple covered with ooeg gooey caramel

CARAMEL CAPPUCCINO-java, cinnamon and caramel

CHAI TEA-classic black tea with cinnamon, cloves and cassia.

CHEESECAKE-want a slice??

CHERRY ALMOND- CLASSIC cherries and almond.

CHOCOLATE-choclate cream. So indulgent and YUM-O!

CHOCOLATE BANANA- Banana with chocolate cream.

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY- just like choco covered strawberries

COCONUT-tropical coconut, but not heavy or overpowering.

COCONUT LEMONGRASS-coconut with lemongrass. A great combo!

CUCUMBER MELON-traditional cucumbers with sweet melon.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE-chocolate, coconut and caramel

GINGER PEACH-peach with a hint of spicy ginger

GUMMY BEAR-just like opening a bag of the real thing.

HERBAL BLEND- blend of mint and herbal essential oils.

HONEYSUCKLE NECTARINE-juicy nectarine with sweet honeysuckle

JAVA-just like a cup of joe!

LAVENDER- Lavender essential oil is soothing and aromatic

LAVANDER VANILLA-fragrant Lavander with creamy sweet vanilla

LEMON-Wonderful Lemon Essential Oil. Perks you up

MARGARITA-like Friday night for your lips! Lemon Lime flavor

MOCHA-chocolate and coffee

PEACH-sweet juicy Georgia Peach!

PEPPERMINT_ Peppermint essential oil makes this a lip perk!

PLAIN JANE- No scent, all natural nothing added.

PLUM APRICOT-sweet and seductive. This will be a new fave!

PURPLE GRAPE-great for kids!

RASPBERRY CREAM PIE-sweet and creamy and tempting!

RASPBERRY LEMONADE-this is one of my new faves.

SKITTLES-just like the real thing.

STRAWBERRY- fresh from the field strawberry

STRAWBERRY BANANA- A classic combination. Cant beat it!

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE- YUM! cheesecake with strawberries!

SWEET- This is plain jane with a sweetener added.

TEA TREE- Tea Tree oil makes this a great healing balm

TURTLE- Chocolate and Caramel

WATERMELON-fresh off the vine Jolly Rancher type watermelon.

Be sure to tell me in the note to buyer which three flavors you want!!

My Etsy Honey-Do list

1. Blog about my etsy honey-do list
2. pay my overdue etsy bills
3.post office to send out current sales and samples
4. Relist items that have sold
5. Make more items to list on Balmshoppe and Blueboy
6. List aforementioned items
7. Surf the forums looking for blog threads so I can get more readers (I want to be famous...)
8. Surf the forums looking for people I can offend with my more conservative political sensibilities. There I said it. I am NOT Pro-Obama. (but them again I am not pro-McCain either)
9.try to fit in the Olympics i recorded from last night (although thank you Yahoo for spoiling womens gymnastics for me) while crocheting potholders and face scrubbies for my shops.

It is an etsy day. The perfect kind of day. It is cooler and rainy outside, the kids arent going to the pool or anything. It is charles day off. i think I will be selfish and make him get the kids lunch and read to them etc.

My pendants on your wrist...courtesy of an etsy seller

Before I left on vacation I had made a trade with Bamabelle over at etsy.

I made her 13 pendants from images she had sent to me. She has listed 2 of her AWESOME cuffs using these pendants so far. I think they look GREAT and I was really pleased with the way the pendants turned out. I really loved some of the images she sent me.

Bamabelle is awesome. Here is a snippet from her shop announcement:"At Bamabelle, we are dedicated to providing quality vintage clothing, accessories ,dishes, and jewelry. "

This first one is her Lizzie Borden Cuff. Here is the listing description: A wild and crazy Lizzie Borden adorns this cuff made from the deep red velvet of a damaged vintage evening gown. I topped it with more scavenged vintage fabric, this time drak charcoal gray netting with glass beads. White lace was sewn to all edges.the cuff closes with 2 elastic loops and vintage glass buttons.

The second one she has up so far is her Emotional Miranda Cuff "Miranda, from The Tempest, stands on the rocky shore with her blue dress blowing in the gale, lovely red hair streaming. Miranda sits on a wide base of blue velvet, recycled from a damaged evening gown.The ruffling is vlue lace, hand sewn.I used the pale lavender acetate lining of the dress as a contrast band, then sewed vintage beige lace to that. Miranda is attached to the top, and adorned with a vintage recycled rhinestone earring that is missing one teeny stone. 2 strips of the acetate lining form a tattered bow under the jewel.the cuff closes with an elastic loop and a vintage blue glass button."

She also has a plain cuff for you to put your own brooch or custom pendant. Imagine your own customized pendant on this cuff.

Check out bamabelle and tell her Blueboygifts sent you!!

Boutique Bracelets

I have been kind of toying with an idea the past few weeks. One of those ideas that get stuck in your head and wont go away. So in I jumped. I have learned over the past few years to never second guess myself. If I have an idea, I need to do it or I will fret and contemplate and "what if" the rest of my life.

So here was my idea:

I wanted to make a cute, inexpensive bracelet for every month of the year, coordinating with said months birthstone color. So instead of real gemstones and sterling silver and bali silver and really shocking price tag, I used Czech Firepolished faceted rounds in a variety of sizes and used sterling silver and pewter spacers and bead caps. Each bracelet is finished off with a toggle clasp of some sort and are only $12. I have seen similar items at my local boutiques and gift shops for $20 or more.

I love Boutique jewelry. It is really pretty and festive, yet affordable and with no worries that you are losing a fortune should it go missing. If you are active or hard on your jewelry then the boutique style jewelry is the way to go.

I apologize in advance for the pictures. I need to repair my lightbox and have not yet done it.

I will be listing these periodically throughout the month in my shop. Each bracelet is 7 1/2 inches long but can be shortened or lengthened for a 50 cent charge to cover wire and crimp beads.

I am also going to take them to my craft show in October and hopefully they will make excellent stocking stuffers.

Now I just need to make coordinating Moo Cards to go with them. I figured I would have each month with its own moo card and have the month listed and what the birthstone is and what it means etc. So if I can just channel my inner adobe illustrator goddess and design those moo cards!!

Happy Thursday.

An Utterly FABULOUS give-away

Sew Gracious is having a giveaway.

Be sure to check it out!!

You can win THIS tote bag.

Just go to her blog post HERE, read the directions and leave a comment.

I already own one of her tote bags and it is FABULOUS. This is a giveaway you dont want to miss.

I get compliments on it just about every day.

I also have my eye on her BUDS tote.

So get on over to Sew Gracious and check out her blog, her etsy shop and her giveaway. You wont regret it.

She is amazing!!

July Specials and Steel Magnolias

Wow, July already. I can't believe it.

This month my July Bracelet will be available in my shop.

Ruby Red czech glass with swarovski pearls, sterling silver and cast metal. A Bar and Ring Toggle Clasp replaces the springing clasp as seen here in the picture though. That is the only difference.

Great for any July Birthday.

The Lip Balm Flavor of the month in my other shop is RASPBERRY LEMONADE.

What a great flavor. It is so sweet and tangy and refreshing, like a tall glass of ice cold lemonade with the perky flavor of ripe red raspberries.

Available in Beeswax or vegan.

Perfect for those summer lips. Keep them smooth and kissable!!

I took this picture in Chattanooga. My cousin, Leslie, brought these in to put on the table.

The Magnolia is one of my favorite flowering trees. They are so beautiful and creamy white against the dark green waxy leaves.. If you go to Mt Vernon, the Magnolia Trees there are GIGANTIC. They can grow to be humongous.

They smell so good and unfortunately dont last as long as I wish they would.

Reminds me of "Steel Magnolias". You know how some women identify with one of the Sex and the City characters? I identify with the Steel Magnolias.

I am a Ouiser. (Wee-zuh as Clairee called her) Ouiser Boudreaux was grumpy, hard and complaining. Always finding fault, never liked people to see her real emotions and hid her real self behind a scathing tongue.

However I am trying to be more like Dolly Partons Character, Truvy. Sweet, kind, loving and helping those in need. Besides I am much more Buxom on the Dolly Parton side...

Happy Tuesday

Theme and Variation

I decided to bead this weekend. I havent made anything new in awhile and I broke in my new desk and "jewelry station". It was heavenly. I had plenty of room, everything was neat, organized and right within reach. Made my stringing fun again!

OK, Remember this pink bracelet... I made it for my mom and she never wears it, thus perpetuating my feelings of inadequacy??

Well I took the pink bracelet and used it as the original pattern, then made 3 variations on it with different stones, including another pink one. I made several of each design, so I would have one to sell and one to keep.(because lets face it, you can never have too much jewelry! )

Here are the 3 I have strung thusfar:

Baby Blue is a Cats eye, glass pearl and swarovski bicone bracelet with sterling silver and pewter. Finished off with a toggle clasp.

Blue Stone is made from an aqua colored stone bead, glass pearl , white cats eye, sterling silver and pewter. The clasp is a self springing claw clasp, so it is easy on easy off...however I will be changing it to a toggle clasp once I get my delivery.

Ruby Red is red czech fire polish faceted rounds, glass pearl sterling silver and pewter. Currently There is a claw clasp, which will also be changed to toggle clasp.

I will be listing these in my etsy shop sometime this week.

I will be making several more of these in various colors(I also have a green milk glass, a pink cats eye, a purple milk glass and a white firepolish.

Since this is one of my more popular designs I am going to make a good selection of them to sell at the craft show in October. I will be creating them in birthstone colors. (garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond, emerald, pearl, ruby, peridot, sapphire, citrine, opal, and blue topaz) I will mostly use czech firepolished glass beads. For Pearl I will be using swarovski glass pearls and for the opal I will be using round swarovski beads in "white opal".

I will be designing Moo cards to go along with each month and attach the card as a tag to the bracelets.

Since they are a costume jewelry and most of the findings are pewter, they are much more affordable than if it were completely sterling silver. So I am hoping to have much success with these at my craft show.

have a great Tuesday!