The Handmade Gift Guide

I'm making it soooooo easy for you this year!  Check out The Handmade Gift Guide!

There's also a button in the left column.  Check there often, more shops are being added every day!

Do Me A Favor, Please...

Please vote for my photo in the category "Something Golden" Vote here!

 Do me a favor, please!  One of my photos is in the top faves for the last Photo Hunt Challenge! You can see all of the judges favorites  here.   Please take a moment to hop over and vote for my photo... I'm #11.  Thank you!  Vote here!




Getting ready for the next Photo Hunt Challenge... here's a preview!

Something Hot

Something Orange

Shopping Locally and Keeping Your Dollar At Home

I wrote this article for my "other blog", but I think it's important enough to share here, too.  While I do reference North Carolina specifically, it is just as important for you to support your local businesses!  Do your best to keep your dollar where you live!

Black Friday and How You Can (And Should) Shop Locally

Well, it's two weeks until Black Friday.   You know what that means... long lines, anxiety, hurry up and wait, trying to get everything done, knowing that your deadline is looming.  Of course, you'll also have a belly full of turkey (or tofurkey), mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, apple pie, cherry pie, pumpkin pie... be thankful!

Start planning now!  The holidays do seem a long way off, but they've already got the decorations up in my town.  Make your list, check it twice, and shop local!  Here's a good list of locally owned and operated businesses in the Piedmont Triad.  It's certainly not a complete list, be sure to seek out your local shop owners.  Why should you shop local?  Read about the 3/50 Project here,  they put it into perspective. 
Thank you to Eclectic by Nature in Greensboro, NC, a wonderful locally owned shop, for bringing this project to my attention!  

Support handmade!  North Carolina is home to so many very talented artists and artisans.  Many of them have online shops at Etsy, and here's a compilation of treasuries with items made by your neighbors! You can also choose your specific town or city on Etsy here.

While I truly believe you can check everyone off of your list shopping locally, here's a short list of links that will give you a sneak peek at Black Friday 2010.  Before you check these sites, do your best  to keep your dollar here in the Piedmont Triad.  You can make a difference.  Please spread the word!

Black Friday

Black Friday @ Gotta Deal

Wise Bread: Living Large on a Small Budget

Now is also the time to shop craft fairs and holiday bazaars.  To get you started, stop by Santa's Christmas Cottage tonight and tomorrow.  There will be seventeen local artists, and proceeds will benefit colon cancer research.  Tomorrow be sure to stop by the K'ville Indie Flea, with 24 vendors this weekend and includes handmade and vintage items.

Have a great weekend!

Green: Balance, Growth, Calming* A Treasury

'Green: Balance, Growth, Calming' by soulenergy

Green is cooling, soothing, and calming both physically and mentally. If you are exhausted, green initially has a beneficial effect. Green awakens greater friendliness, hope, faith, and peace. Green is restful and revitalizing to overtaxed mental conditions. It is emotionally soothing.Now that you've soothed your soul, be sure to find out about the inspiration of this treasury here:http://treasurychallengenonteam.blogspot.com/

TimberGreenWoo... $125.00	ZibelineKnits $20.00	Whimbrella $14.50	rrizzart $40.00
theothermagdal... $13.70	overtherainbow... $32.00	KitzieG $20.00	wearitoutvinta... $28.00
watercolorsNmo... $5.00	WieberArt $99.00	MiGoFaster $25.00	pamelasjewelry $29.00
zwzzy $120.00	ThePinkDillo $3.50	weebit $45.50	olivesandpearl... $28.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Reader's Idea: How to Cut Your Baby's Hair

The Startled Baby by KevinLahvic

Earlier this week, I asked for your help.  I had writer's block, and asked for suggestions on topics.  Anything, I said.  Didn't matter what it was, I would research and answer any question, explore any idea, learn a new skill and write a tutorial.  I just needed an idea, and I would go from there...

And thank you, Jaimee, for giving me two great (and totally random) topics to explore.  The first was "how to cut an infant's hair (without hurting or traumatizing anyone)", and that's what I'll start with.  I've found several step-by-step guides to making the first haircut stress free for both baby and parent, and I'll give you a couple of links here.

The first instructional site I found was on eHow.com, and I love this one because it not only gives you six easy steps to follow, it also has a list of things you'll need and a list of Tips & Warnings.  You can link to that site here.

I found another article on DIYlife.  This article gives great advice in steps 5 and 6.  It explains that props (and probably a second person) are necessary, and also gives scissors strategies.  This article reminds you to start in the front, just in case the little one has a melt down before your finish... at least s/he will look great from the front!  That's something I probably wouldn't have thought of it the article hadn't reminded me!

If you're looking for an "OMG" moment, you can read about this mom who came home from work to find that her husband had cut their one-year-old daughter's curly golden hair!  Not just trimmed, cut!  What would your reaction be?  The comments on that article go back and forth.  Some readers agreed with the mom, some said the Dad had the right to cut the daughter's hair if he wanted to.  Hmmmm... I'm siding with the mom here!


If you don't have time to read these articles, you can watch this three minute video!




This next video shows more technique when cutting the hair.


How to Give a First Haircut to a Baby -- powered by eHow.com

Thanks for the ideas, Jaimee!  I hope this helps you, and you're able to cut your child's hair with style and without stress!

I'm Up for It

Hmmmm... by the number of comments I got in response to my plea for help two days ago, it looks like

I'm going to have to motivate 

YOU!

No problem, I'm up for the job.  Just give me a couple of days, I've got the First Friday Indie Market tonight from 4-9pm.  And tomorrow morning I'll be up bright and early for the State Street Shop Local Festival from 11am-5pm.   If you're going to be anywhere near Greensboro NC this weekend, you're not going to want to miss these!  

Then, dear readers, I'm going to come up with something that will blow your mind.  No more writer's block for me!  Nope, I'll be rockin' and ready to go.  Just wait til Monday!

However, I'm still open to suggestions... 

Talk to you Monday!

Motivate Me, Please!

Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.

 Gene Fowler

Somebody, anybody, help me get out of this writer's block!  When I first started writing this blog, I had so much to say I had to pace myself.  Seriously.  Now... not so much. 

This is your opportunity to tell me what to talk about.  Really, anything.  How bizarre (or tame) can you make it?  Challenge me.  I don't even mind doing research about a topic.  Rather enjoy it, actually.

Question Mark Rainbow by TheRainbowRoom

Want some free advertising?  Send me a link to your shop.  (You don't even have to send me a free sample!)  Need a tutorial?  I'll do the research and we can learn together.  Not sure the best way to potty-train your kid?  Well, I'm working on that now... I can tell you about it from personal experience. 


Please, folks, help a girl out here.  I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy writing it... but I need your help!  Give me a few ideas.  Something to get me back on track.

Thanks y'all.  Happy November!