What's Up

This week has been both lazy and busy. I've been mostly cooped up in the camper due to an insane amount of rain this week, but we did get out to Beacon Hill Park for the day today, and hung out by the ocean and took the pups for a walk. It was good to get out, even in the rain. 

Other than that, I've spent my week cooking and doing laundry and annoying people all over the internet trying to sell my Etsy stuff. 

I also started a new blog today, that will be mostly Etsy/craft related, so I won't have to talk shop as much over here, although I will link to it when necessary. The new blog is http://abigailroaddesigns.blogspot.com. Go check it out if ya like. 

I was going to write a post, but now I'm tired and it's 2am, so I'll be back tomorrow.

Smooches. 

Shameless Self Promotion

What can I say? I don't have a job yet, and I have bills to pay. Also, I'm sick of worrying about all the Etsy stock we've been hauling around in the truck, and what could happen to it if the truck ever got stolen. So yes, I need money, and I'm a worry-wart.  I guess another reason for all this is that I've been feeling creative, what with all this downtime and all since I've arrived in Victoria, but I just can't start making new clothing, bags or jewellery until I unload some of what I have. It is a fact, that when it comes to space, we are limited.

Anyways, what I'm trying to tell you is, that I have a sale going on over at my Etsy shop, and I'm doing a little promotion as well to try and lure back some previous customers.  There are currently 49 items for sale in my shop, but there will be more by the end of this week, once I get everything else photographed and posted.

All bags and purses are currently being sold for 50% off their original sale price, and I am not charging shipping on any clothing items or Scrabble tile pendants. The sale will run until December 15th, 2010.

On top of that super amazing sale, I am asking previous customers (or gift receivers) to write a short review on my Facebook Fan Page of an item they have purchased ( or have been given). Bloggers are welcome to write a review on their blog, as long as they leave a link to it in the review section of my Facebook page. The first five reviewers before December 15th, 2010 will receive an Etsy coupon code for 50% their next in-store purchase. How's that for a deal, eh?

So, in case you are interested, here are the links:

Etsy Store ( Abigail Road Designs) http://abigailroad.etsy.com

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Abigail-Road-Designs/454563025037

Etsy News

I am just pleased as punch with my new Etsy banners, avatars and business cards (that I need to get printed!) and wanted to show them off.

Thanks to Cutesy Pixels for the design and the work that went into them!




I am working hard at getting my stuff organized, and getting new, better photos taken, so the shop can be properly up and running as soon as possible.

Cheers!

Grace in Small Things #14

1. Because I never bothered to use the Luiggi's gift certificate's I received a couple years ago, after I found a rusty screw in my pasta, I don't have to make supper tonight. I'm still a tad weary about eating there, but the chance to go for supper with Smyrish trumps my fear of finding foreign objects in my entree.

2. Paying the lady at the laundromat to wash, dry and fold our insanely large pile of dirty laundry was the best idea we've ever had. I would have had to spend most of the day at the laundromat if we didn't, and wouldn't have had time to enjoy my day off. Totally worth the money!

3. Finally had time to start taking photos of jewelery I've made this winter for my Etsy shop.

4. Having a TV that can tape shows for me, has freed up some time in my life as well. Hangover Sunday will be all about watching the shows I missed this week.

5. When we got our new cable package, Smyrish had the fore-thought to get us SexTV. Thanks honey! Now I have something to do on Friday nights!

Artsy Fartsy

I have really been upset lately, over the fact that I never seem to have time to sit and do my crafty projects. Real "have to pay the bills" work has taken over my life. Even when I do have time to sit around and sew, or make jewellery, journals, and all the other project ideas that have been popping into my head, I am just too damn tired. I can't find the brain power to concentrate on anything more than online Scrabble or trash TV.

But, I realize now, that I need to take the time. Somehow, I just need to fit it into my day.

Festival season is coming, and I want to be prepared well in advance, and would love to have some of my new creations ready to sell. I have also been neglecting my Etsy shop, and should have taken new photos, and added what new items I do have long ago.

So that's that. Time to get my arse in gear.

But until then, check me out at the virtual craft sale over at http://cafehandmade.blogspot.com

Pendants Galore!

For the longest time, I refused to buy jewellery, because I knew that I could make my own. Recently, I have realized though, that I'm not too fond of making jewellery anymore, and it is a really nice feeling, to buy something pretty for myself when I have the extra cash.

However, a new addiction of mine has come to light. Pendants. I freakin' love pendants. Why? Because all you need is a chain, and you can switch off your necklace however you like. Whatever mood I am in, whatever outfit I have on, I have a pendant to match.

I had been shopping around on Etsy for the past few months, looking for Scrabble tile pendants. There are TONS of sellers who do this sort of thing, and it is hard to figure out who does good work, and who doesn't. It's trial and error, I guess, shopping online. I had ordered pendants from other shops, and found that if it rained, they got ruined, or the clasps were breaking after only a couple wears. And then, I found Jesse Janes.

Her shop was amazing. I must have spent 2 hours just browsing through her work, trying to decide which 2 for 1 pendants I wanted. And then, I realized, that I had to pick a third, since she was offering freebies. For someone who has trouble making these sorts of decisions, it was a tad overwhelming. But, in the end, I ended up with three lovely pendants, and a new favorite Etsy shop.

This gal is gonna be getting a crap load of money from me from now on. Hope she buys herself something nice with it. ;)

Etsy's Buggin' Me Today

I have been doing a ton of sewing, and sorting through my festival wares lately, and I thought it was time to add a few more items to my Etsy shop. Unfortunately, Etsy is being silly today, and it keeps freezing up before I can click "Finish". The following will hopefully get listed for sale today, and there are about 5 more bags that are almost done, and just need some finishing touches, before I get my model over here for photos. I also have some items for sale for the month of March, go on, check 'em out!

Etsy Shop

My Etsy shop is up and running!
( www.abigailroad.etsy.com)

I still need to add quite a bit of items, and re-take some photos, but at least I've got it started! I also realized today, just how much I sold this summer, and I need to get sewing on my new machine, and get some bags made, as bag-making is my forte. I truly have no stock to sell.

Big thanks to Knuckle Toes for posting my goods until now, and to B-Rock for taking the time last night to give me some photography tips, and thanks in advance to The Cookster for being my model.

And now, I'm off to have a nice bath, and get this icky flu feeling off of my skin.

To My Credit

As I rushed out the door to go to work yesterday, I took a quick look at the end table on which we pile all of our mail, to see if there was any mail for me. There was a big fat unmarked envelope from Markham, Ontario. I quickly opened it, to see what I was being solicited about, and realized that it was a credit card. I fainted. (No I didn't, I'm lying.)

I couldn't effing believe it. I have been applying to get a credit card through my bank ever since I bought my new car. I figured that if they were willing to give me thousands of dollars, they might be convinced to give me $500 credit. But they could not be convinced.

I applied about 7-8 times in the past 3 months, just to force someone to print off the generic rejection letter and mail it to me.

"Sorry, Ms. Road, you are bad with money, and we don't like you. Piss off. Best Wishes, Your Bank."

In a sad, twisted way, I liked it, because it is very rare that I get mail that isn't from Reader's Digest, The War Amps, or Ralph Goodale.

A few years back, when I was still wild and crazy, (ok, crazier) and didn't really give a shit about the future, I got myself in some credit card trouble. I went to Scotland, England and France for a few months, with not quite enough money, and half way through my trip, had to start using my credit cards for everything. Of course, I wasn't making payments, (except for the cash my mom threw on the cards when I'd call her from a payphone from gawd-knows-where), and shortly after I arrived back in Canada and got settled back at work, and found an apartment, the credit card people caught up with me. My first paycheck, that was to pay rent and a damage deposit so I didn't have to live on my brother's girlfriends couch anymore, was taken from me. No matter what I said to them, they just didn't care. My last call to them, went something like this:

"But, I'm homeless. I have a job, but I'm homeless. I just got back to Canada. I can pay the whole thing off next month. "

" Sorry, Ma'am. You should have thought about that before you left the country."

"So I made a mistake. Sue me."

"Don't worry ma'am, we just might."

"I hate you for not having a soul."

"Have a nice day ma'am, thanks for getting your poor mother to pay us our money. I hope no one ever lets you live this down."

"They won't. Good-bye."

Ok, I'm lying again, but it was something along those lines, followed by me crying my face off for about a day.

So, when I got that credit card approval yesterday, it was a huge weight off of my shoulders. According to the bank, I am not an irresponsible twenty-something anymore. I can be trusted again. I, am an adult. The past doesn't matter to them anymore, and I should clear up some things myself, so it doesn't matter to anyone else either. The only way to go, is up.

The only reason I wanted a credit card so badly, was so I could start my own Etsy shop. I joined Etsy two years ago, and after going through all the steps, I realized that you need a credit card to have your own shop. It was a kick in the face. Over the past year, a bunch of friends have started their own shops, and I was a jealous bear about it. But now, finally, I can have my own.

I just need some time to sit down and get it going. Which may be tougher than I want it to be, but I'm determined. But, I'll keep you posted, and once it's up, I'll take you shopping. You have to pay of course though, because I'm living off bottle recycling money.

I Heart These Internets.

I spent a bit too much time on the Interweb today, but I did find a few interesting things. If you are like me, and have nothing to do tonight except whine about how sore your ears and head are and watch really, truly bad television for hours on end, take a break for a few minutes, and check out my blog crushes for the day.

Bob Lefsetz wrote a wonderful, heart-wrenching post about the death of Dan Fogelburg, and how his songs make him reminisce about his own life.

The Nervous Axon, got me thinking about my music collection, and what it means to me.

Miss.Nicola, has me thinking about getting my colon cleansed of the twenty pounds of compacted shit it is no doubt harbouring. If Jack Osbourne can do it, why can't I?

As well as perusing blogs, I also perused some Etsy shops, which in the end, just made me act like a big pissy pants, because I can't have my own shop too. The only one I'm going to plug here however, is my friend B-Rock, who has some amazing prints for sale over at brockphotography.
Come on, go buy some!

Well that's all folks, I'm leaving the 'puter for the night. The sex toys will be being delivered soon-ish, and hopefully, I'll be too busy to be playing around here.

7 Good Things About Today.

For reasons I cannot talk about here, due to my confidentiality agreement at work, my day did not start out all that well. Let's just say that I can drive under intense pressure, without spilling a drop of my gas station coffee. By the time I got home, I was exhausted, and retired to the couch to watch "What Not to Wear". I vowed to never leave the couch until Friday when I went back to work. But, I perked up, and my day got better.

A nice hot shower and clean clothes helped me feel a bit more alert, and less like a smelly hobo.

Grocery shopping with Smyrish, is always an adventure.

I cooked a pot roast for supper, along with green bean casserole, stuffing, steamed carrots, wild rice, and of course, gravy.

I had a bubble bath, and a glass of wine or three.

I got my CSI fix for the day. Two hours of Grissom, always makes me happy and scrappy.

Smyrish and I sat together and wrote Xmas cards to our friends and family, while having a schnick, of course. Some of my Xmas cards, are a little bit silly thanks to the wine. I hope those who receive them, can appreciate my I'm-a-little-bit-tipsy Xmas humour.

Mr. Head and I had a nice chat over the Interweb.

And now, I am having a beer, watching "Family Business", and perusing my friends Etsy shops. (One day, I will actually purchase.)

For a day that started out so craptastically, it sure did turn out pretty swell. Now if only Aunt Flo would move along, life would be grand.

(PMS apology card available at www.knuckletoes.etsy.com)