Handmade Goodness

Reusable Cotton Snack and Sandwich Pouchs

2010-08-31T12:18:00.004-04:00

These are used instead of baggies in your lunch bags. I make cotton pouches for all ages!

A new venture

2010-04-09T20:24:00.003-04:00

Well the doll venture didn't get off the ground so I have my mom knitting doll stuff for the Alexander dools. They can be found at: http://www.pinmeup.com/

I am so tired af making mesh bags every day from sun up to sundown. I have decided to take a day or two a week to do something different. I bought one of those madame Alexander dolls and I am making doll clothes. I make my own patterns so that there is something a bit different to what everyone else is making. Here is my first one made from dark green tafetta with a gold waist belt, sewn onto the waist and there are tiny multi colored rhinestones in each square.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

2010-04-06T14:42:00.003-04:00

What a difference a couple of weeks makes. Just 2 weeks ago there was snow everywhere...now the snow is gone and there is green popping out everywhere

March 2010...still lots of snow

2010-03-10T15:06:00.003-05:00

The weather is nice, we can actually see the sun after it hid behind the clouds for 3 months. I just wish the snow would get warm enough to melt this snow faster! The front of my house has 5 steps up to the front door, you can't even see the top step yet.

More flowers

2010-02-22T13:10:00.003-05:00

I am listng the flowers here on my blog for now so I can get a visual effect as to how they will look before they get listed in my shop

More flowers

2010-02-21T12:14:00.002-05:00

I am trying them out in all different styles and sizes....its kind of fun to be doing something different for a change

My newest venture

2010-02-19T11:56:00.005-05:00

This is my first set of flowers that I have made for my second shop on etsy. In the next few weeks I will be loading all different colors and designs to my shop......

I have decided that it isn't good to have all your eggs in one basket. Having a success full Internet business means you need to be on top of the current trends at all times.

Having one shop with one line or design is a good thing as it attracts that specific buyer and keeps them interested in your shop but it doesn't help you sell when they aren't buying.

I have decided to open up my other 2 shops and have a specific product for each of them as well...

The second shop I opened up was pinmeup.etsy.com and that is where I originally started to list my sewing creations. I am re-opening it and it will become my handmade supply shop. I will mainly be focusing this shop on handmade organza, satin flowers.

These flowers can be used on knit and crochet hats, trim around tops and dresses, hair clips and bobby pins...there are actually a multitude of uses for these flowers.

New Deck August 2009

2009-09-15T11:07:00.003-04:00

Well now that the old deck is covered up you can see the new deck. Its about 90% finished. Still needs a few things and then stained but that will be next summer.

VIEW MY HOUSE BEFORE AND AFTER

2009-08-03T13:15:00.004-04:00

If you would like to get a feel for what my house looked like before and after, go to my blog archive down the right side. Click on the date 08(19) entries. You will be surprised at what we started with.
Keep in mind this looks like a small house but there are 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 kitchens. 2 bedrooms are upstairs, 2 on the main floor, one of which we have turned into a small dining room as I like space in my kitchen, and 2 in the basement. The basement is fairly light and bright and also has a small 2 piece, ancient bathroom and a really sad kitchen. We eventually want to take the little bathroom out and the small kitchen and turn them into a very large Bathroom with a very large bath tub or jacuzzi......but thats another day.......

If you have the time and the money and want to retire, SMOOTH ROCK FALLS, Ontario Canada is the place to come...We bought this house for 25,000.00 in 2007 and there are lots of nice houses here, that don't require the work ours does for under 40,000.00. You can even buy houses here for under 10,000.00! Seriously!

Construction of our New Deck over the old foundation

2009-08-02T11:22:00.004-04:00

TODAY IS THE DAY! Finally hubby is starting my new deck. This is the long Civic Holiday weekend August 1st, 2009 This is the mess we have right now. As you can see, they built this deck/porch years and years ago, probably in the 50's and it was all made out of concrete. Over the years they have painted it, added outdoor carpet, whatever they could to make it look better. This is a picture of the horrible mess of carpet outside that has started to grow moss from the dampness and is very slippery when wet. One day I stepped out the door and went right down on my butt

I want it all to disappear so we are going to build right over the existing concrete foundation. The top floor and the steps will vanish under the new decking.

Stay tuned because we will be showing some pictures as it progresses.

this is the latest stray i have found

2009-07-06T17:46:00.003-04:00

He is adorable, so loving and he just spreads himself out across my bed like he was born there....He needs a name

Want to see my house before we started our work on it?

2009-06-30T21:36:00.002-04:00

Go to the index down the right side and click on 08 and see the before and after pics......

NEW FULLY BIODEGRADLE BAGS

2009-05-15T12:36:00.002-04:00

These are my own design...featuring 100% cotton mesh and 100% cotton toppers. These toppers add a lot of stability to the mesh portion of the bag along with pretty designs. These bags are meant for large items that are bought at the market by item and not by weight as the bags themselves do add weight. So when you are at the market and they want to dump those potaotes from the basket into a plastic bag, give them your pretty cotton mesh bag. Great for ears of corn, brocolli, celery, lettuce....tons of stuff!!!

It's been months!!

2009-05-15T12:30:00.002-04:00

I can't believe it's been months since I have blogged! I was busy getting ready to travel round trip, over 1,600 miles to a big earth day Celebration at a school in ST. Catherines...
My computer has crashed and I am waiting for it to be fu\ixed, as soon as that happens I will post some pictures!

Great website for all things green!!

2009-02-27T17:16:00.004-05:00

I stumbled upon this great site called One Green Earth today on Twitter!

http://www.onegreenearth.com/index.php

It has a huge wealth of info and links to take you to all types of green info.

Some new STRETCH KNIT produce bags

2009-02-17T21:22:00.002-05:00

I love to scour the fabric shops looking for fabric that will make grea,t long lasting, reusable produce bags! I find this fabric breathable and durable at the same time!!

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

2009-01-16T17:52:00.001-05:00

I found a great quote today and I just had to use it in my Etsy shop:

How far must suffering and misery go before we see that even in the day of vast cities and powerful machines, the good earth is our mother and that if we destroy her, we destroy ourselves? Author: Paul Bigelow Sears

New reusable Organza produce/bulk bags

2009-01-09T23:42:00.004-05:00

I found this cute fabric that is 100% washable and had to make more of the produce/bulk bags.....

My little house...After renovations

2008-12-30T12:13:00.004-05:00

Most of the outside renovations are done.

My home renovations...Before pictures

2008-12-30T12:07:00.003-05:00

These are pictures of our little home way up north in Sooth Rock Falls. Its actually a house with 6 bedrooms. 2 in the basement, 2 on the main floor and 2 upstairs. We have converted one of the bedrooms on the main floor into a diningroom.

My Kitty Shamus

2008-12-09T12:20:00.003-05:00

Last year he decided the tree was a great place to sleep. And play of course....he broke my favorite Bambie and Thumper glass ornament. Good thing mommy loves him so much!!

BULK BAGS

2008-11-18T14:45:00.002-05:00

I discovered these bags are great for a ton of stuff you buy at the Bulk Barn too!! Rice fits in these great! At loeast 12 cups dry and the drawstring just has to be pulled and tied!!! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=108801&section_id=5753768

My NEW Reusable produce bags for delicate fruits and veggies

2008-11-14T17:03:00.003-05:00

Here is my first batch of reusable produce bags that are designed for the delicate fruits and veggies. Sometimes I worry that maybe the mesh produce bags will mar or dent my delicates like peaches, tomatos, mushrooms, etc.

These beautiful SAGE GREEN bags will come in wonderful assorted colors, just like my mesh bags. Come view them in my Etsy shophttp://ficklefaerie.etsy.com/

Don't let the size and the weightlessness of the bags fool you..These are even stronger than my mesh bags and will last through hundreds of washings....

This is what I woke up to this morning

2008-11-09T10:11:00.002-05:00

Its only a couple of inches but I don't think I am ready for it yet......

Reusable Produce Grocery Bag Gift Set

2008-11-08T16:16:00.007-05:00

I decided that since I make my own large tote bags and always get so many comments, I better add one or 2 for Christmas Gift sets...I found this really cool grapes fabric that I thought was so appropriate for my produce sets.... http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17058176 If that link is sold just check my shop for others I have available!

The tote bag holds so much produce!! I got 4 of my regular mesh bags in there and 3 minis and there was still room!

Honoring the rainbow crowd

2008-10-27T12:06:00.003-04:00

I decided to honor the rainbow crowd by making a rainbow set of bags. so far I have only done a mini bag set of 6 but I can make the regular size at anytime.

My bags hit the shower!

2008-10-18T05:48:00.002-04:00

I just had to share this with you! One of my customers came up with a new use for my eco-friendly mesh produce bags... she uses it to store things in the shower so all those little bits and pieces aren't always getting under her feet! She sent me this photo to show me - isn't it great?!
Check out my Etsy shop: FickleFaerie - I have these bags in so many colors... to suit just about any bathroom color scheme!!

The possible symptoms of menopause

2008-10-18T05:11:00.002-04:00

Menopause is not fun :( I just turned 50 this October and the menopause hit me hard.

Here is a list of menopause symptoms that can affect you... They can occur during perimenopause and menopause and are either cyclical in nature, or respond to treatments (both traditional and alternative) known to address hormonal imbalances:

Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling
Irregular heart beat- Irritability
Mood swings, sudden tears
Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)
Irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles
Loss of libido
Dry vagina
Crashing fatigue
Anxiety, feeling ill at ease
Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom
Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion
Disturbing memory lapses- Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence
Itchy, crawly skin
Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons
Increased tension in muscles- Breast tenderness
Headache change: increase or decrease
Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea
Sudden bouts of bloat-Depression
Exacerbation of existing conditions
Increase in allergies
Weight gain
Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair
Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance
Changes in body odor
Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head
Tingling in the extremities
Gum problems, increased bleeding
Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor
Osteoporosis (after several years)
Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier
Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, 'whooshing,' buzzing etc.

About seborrheic dermatitis

2008-10-18T05:05:00.000-04:00

A commom symptom of aging is a scalp disorder called "seborrheic dermatitis". This condition hit me when I was in my mid 40's. My scalp was dry, flaky and had scales that would ooze when rubbed. I visited a dermatologist and was told it could be brought on by stress (my life at the time was pretty stressfull). I now use a tar shampoo a couple of times a week and use "nizoral" shampoo inbetween. If an outbreak is really bad then I need to use a prescription nizoral where the pharmacist adds a mixture or a steriod cream to the regular nizoral. This helps get rid of any fungus that may be present. I know it sounds terrible but it just means it has gone too far before you treated the problem. This condition is very easy to get rid of and control with regular tar shampoo treatments. The best place for price to buy the tar shampoo is Walmart.

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/skin/disorders/157.html

Man friendly produce bags are here!!!!

2008-10-18T04:55:00.002-04:00

I now have man friendly reusable produce bags. Thanks to one of my customers for requesting some bags with nylon cord instead of ribbon for her husband.

More great reusable produce bags!

2008-10-06T14:46:00.005-04:00

DID YOU KNOW that reusable produce bags serve a great purpose: four or five reusable bags, used at least once a week, can replace the use of 250 plastic bags each year!!!

I have gift sets that include 5 regular sized bags (regular bags are about the size of the clear plastic bags they use for your produce now) and 4 single minis to match.

The single minis are great for small things like 1 tomato, a lemon, 2 kiwis - that sort of thing.

There is also a color coordinating cotton pouch to carry the produce bags in - ready to go!!!

Help registering for GOOGLE SEARCH

2008-09-06T23:28:00.010-04:00

This is the best blog to go to if you want to register your website with google base. It will give you step-by-step instructions that even computer dunces like me can understand!

I can't add the link in this post but if you go to the section on my 'my favourite blogs', you will see a link for "gotogreatpanes". Click on there and follow the simple step-by-step info!

Also, please be sure to open your website in one window and open a second window so you can go back and forth between each step. That method is so much easier than trying to read the instructions and retain all the info...

Laundry bags for your delicate washables

2008-08-04T20:19:00.007-04:00

One of my customers asked me to make the pink heart mesh bags bigger so that she could throw her delicates in the bag and wash them in the washing machine. I thought that was a great idea so I will be trying some out this week... (These new bags will be great for lighter weight produce as well). Watch this space: FickleFaerie .

Reusable produce bags - with free carry pouch

2008-07-23T08:57:00.006-04:00

My newest venture is to help save the trees and keep waste down at the dump site. Try some reusable produce bags! I sell these in my Etsy shop FickleFaerie and here are the details:

Eco-friendly, reusable, nylon mesh bags.
This set of bags is extra strong and will last a long long time as I have doubled the nylon mesh and double stitched everything.
With this order you also recieve a free cotton drawstring pouch to roll them up and throw them in your purse, so they are always with you!
These bags will hold lots of stuff! Save the enviroment by putting a stop to all the unwanted plastic bags.
I also design my drawstrings so they pull on both sides. Just take the ties and pull - they are that easy.
No bulky tops! Drawstrings are made from a verigated gray and black mesh ribbon.
These bags will easily fit lots of produce including a very large head of lettuce, large onions, tomatoes, carrots etc
You will recieve 3 of each mesh bag and they measure approx 11"x11"
Can easily be machine washed in cold water and hung to dry.

PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE MANY COLORS so if you do not see the colour you want, just ask me and I can probably make it up for you!

Kitty cat balaclavas

2008-07-17T14:13:00.006-04:00

My mom has been making these cute little kitty cat belaclavas since my girls were tiny. What a great way to get a hat on their head and it stay put; it takes a lot of tugging to get this baby off!
These come in sizes from 6 months all the way up to an adult size (the adult sizes are one-size-fits-all with an extra long neck). If the hat seems a tad big just throw it in the dryer after you wash it. If you are interested in buying one of these please visit my Mom's shop nanaknits4u .

Reusable fabric gift bags

2008-07-06T10:52:00.001-04:00

I have decided to try and help save a few trees and help the overwhelming pile up at the landfill sites by introducing my fabric gift bags! These are also great for carrying shoes, or an extra change of clothes. They make wonderfull little laundry bags for your suitcase when travelling - the possibilities are endless!

Get the perfect gift for your loved one and pop it into this reusable bag. No need to scramble looking for the tape: just pull the drawstring ribbons and tie in a bow - ready to go!!

Visit my shop on ETSY at FickleFaerie .

LUNA CRAFT - for handmade items

2008-01-14T11:03:00.001-05:00

Click on the button below and visit Luna Craft... This is a wonderful handmade site where you can explore multiple shops featuring many talented artists!

Adorable Ali Baba hats

2007-10-31T18:17:00.003-04:00

These fun knitted hats are made by my Mother. They are all hand knit using a wonderfull pattern from beehive from the 60's. Most have been knit with different brands of sayelle yarn like Redheart. Visit my Etsy shop FickleFaerie for more details!