You Say It's Your Birthday

Etsybloggers has a Blog Carnival twice a month. Though one is only expected to do one a month I’ve made it my personal goal to do every one.

Then this one came along, and I almost decided, the heck with goals. But no, just ‘cause it’s a toughie doesn’t let me get out of it. It’s a choice between these subjects.

1. Tell me about your favourite birthday memory, gift, wish.
2. Show & Tell. Summer Line. What will you be making/showing in your shop through the summer.

I don’t really create for seasons, I create to fulfill my whims. My stuff is good year round and for all occasions (that’s what I tell myself so I won’t be bound by things like season.) So nothing to say on option #2.

Option #1. Is it pathetic that I don’t have ANY happy memories of my birthdays past? That my birthdays were just blah with one really miserable one that ended in tears? And why is it that I remember the miserable one and nothing much about the others? (Except that bakeries tended to make my cake pink when my mom specifically ordered blue, or the time I had a red cake.) Is it pathetic that I want nothing to do with my birthday? Is it pathetic that the only thing I like about birthdays is butter-cream icing? That I consider it a day to mourn the loss of my youth and little more? That I’ve never even considered taking the day off from work?

Thankfully it is but one day out of the year (albeit a day that comes faster and faster each year.)

Uh oh, the mourning may be starting early this year. Thanks Etsybloggers for bringing up this delightful subject.

Etsyblogger Of The Month: Create A Thought

Ok, I love Create a Thought’s blog. It’s so darn colorful! And it did create a thought. I thought, “Gee, I wish my blog was colorful.” Then I checked out the Create A Thought shop on Etsy. I thought, “I want everything here!”

Think for yourself.
Create A Thought Blog
Create A Thought Shop

ART VS CRAFT (In This Corner...Craft)

Art vs. Craft: Is it an issue / non-issue and how do you feel about the argument? This is the subject of the current Blog Carnival at Etsy Bloggers.

By definition (thanks dictionary.com) there is certainly a correlation between the two.

Craft can be defined as “an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill…”

Art “the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinay significance.”

This suggests (I think) that the difference between craft and art is not the medium of the work but the level and quality of the work.

You could give me the a fine canvas, the highest quality paints, and the paint brushes previously used by Rembrandt and set me free to create. I guarantee the result would NEVER be called art. But look at the work of some of the wonderful beaders, paper crafters, chainmaillers and the the word art would certainly apply. It’s in their choices of colour, balance, design…

But just as with paint and canvas, I cannot create art, neither do I accomplish it with Fireline and beads. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very proud and even in awe of some of my creations. However I have not reached the level of art, and I’m not likely too. I struggle with colours and have few totally original works. I’ve just never been artistic but I have always happily been crafty. It’s enabled me to make jewelry bags out of fabric scraps, gift boxes out of old paper, and given me an excuse to never throw anything away.

So my answer to the Etsy Blogger question is yes…and no… and sometimes. But who really cares? Just go out there and create!


Addtitional thought: There was a bit that the Kids in the Hall did on their show which featured a line apropos to all this and I've used the line many times..."Is it art just because you hang it on the wall? Don't get me started."

Perhaps art is simply in the eye of the beholder.

The 99.99999 Cent Store?

When you shop at The 99 Cent Store now, you'll notice the items ringing up at $1.00 It seems they've changed their prices from 99 cents to 99.9 cents. Or 99.99. Or 99.999. I'm not sure. At first I thought that was pretty clever. I mean, with prices going up, what's a simple 99 cent store to do? Some of the volume items changed. Six soft drinks used to be 99 cents and then it was four for 79 cents. I guess that wasn't enough so they did the whole .9999999999 thing.

As I thought about it, I liked it less and less. It kind of makes me angry in fact. It's deceitful and shouldn't even be legal. The shelves say 99 cents. Not 99.999999cents. Could this practice spread? The prices posted would be the price posted OR the price posted plus.9999999999999999. It's similiar to gas stations but with gas stations it says it right up there 9/10.

Okay I know it's only a penny, but there is a principle here and I shop at that store fairly often and all those pennies will add up. I'd be really curious how much more The 99 Cent Stores makes with their ill-gotten gains.

How Does My Garden Grow?

Barely.

Etsy Bloggers ask, “Spring has sprung, what would your dream garden look like?


My dream garden would feature lavender, tomatoes, peas, various other vegetables as well as an array of herbs. Sunflowers running along the walls.

Unfortunately I’m awake and my garden is more of a nightmare. It’s a shame really. It’s big enough to grow many things I like, yet small enough for one person to tend to.

In my dream garden is a dream gardener who, out of the kindness of his/her heart, sets it all up, leaves me detailed instructions and checks on it periodically. Or someone who loves to garden but lives in an apartment and takes total control of my garden for a 50/50 split.

Apply within.

Two Zany Zebras

If ‘zany’ appeals to you, gallop over to Two Zany Zebras, the Etsy home of all things zany, as well as home to the Zarkles. Zarkles are whimsical creatures, each with it’s own name and personality. They also feature a Zarkle pocket blankie so they are ready for sleep-overs.

More Zany-ness ensues at the Two Zany Zebras blog.

Check them out at Two Zany Zebras and let your imagination run amok ‘cause customs orders are happily accepted!

ESMARTS Strikes Again!

As I may have mentioned, I am a member of an Etsy Street Team, “Esmarts.” We are an eclectic group of artists and craftspeople who have come together from all over the world to offer each other support and guidance in this crazy mixed up world of internet marketing.

In addition to each individual Etsy store, we proudly bring you the Esmarts shop. Featuring items from many of our members, you will find wonderful variety here.

I recommend you bookmark the Esmarts shop. You will be amazed at the handmade glories awaiting you. New items are added regularly. And for even more Esmarts check out the team blog.