It's That Time Of Year....

Ornaments
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

Been decorating the house this week. I ordered a bunch of vintage sheet music and was VERY lucky to receive the "Twelve Days Of Christmas" sheet music in the bunch. It definitely deserves better framing...

Fall In Florida

Fall Trees
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

Here in Florida, fall is subtle. It's usually just a slight change in temperature. And it usually happens in February. I remember raking oak leaves so many times in February.
This year has been different. The air has gotten cool earler. The mornings have been spectacular. Cool, with mists rising off the ponds and lakes, drifting over the road as I drive by.
And the trees are changing color. Maybe it's because I moved an hour north. That could be just enough to make the difference.
Whatever the cause, I'm truly grateful for the fall-like weather. We wanted to move north for the seasons, but the economy tanked, so we stayed in Florida.
As consolation, we moved into a neighborhood we've been drooling over for 10 year. Now, cool weather. I feel that the fates have smiled upon our little family.
Next, I'm hoping for snow on Christmas Eve...

200 Sales On Etsy

200 Sales On Etsy
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

I had hoped to reach 200 sales by the end of 2008. I reached my goal, and then some, today. Still over a month til the end of the year. Yay!

In fact, I sold 3 sets of coasters within a couple of hours. A run on coasters - woo hoo!

A Good Place To Be

in the Gift Guides...

under Co-Workers

Movie Night

We went to our first Family Movie Night on the Longleaf green Saturday night. The weather was cool & breezy - just perfect. Someone set up a large screen and had music playing from their ipod during dinner.

Every family contributed food. We brought hot dogs, mac & cheese and some cookies. One family brought tables and ate in style We ate on our mat on the grass.

After everyone stuffed themselves picnic-style, we settled down to watch "Journey to the center of the Earth". Cute movie. Totally implausible, but cute. And Brendan Fraser is still cute, too.

Such a great idea. I'm guessing 50-60 people attended. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Can't wait to do it again.

New At The Cottage

Berries Soap Gift Set
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

Just listed this last night.

11 x 6 inch tray decoupaged in blue, brown & white berry-themed paper.

Filled with soaps handmade by daisycakessoap.etsy.com.

$30

Decoupaged Trays

Variety of small trays
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

A selection of my small trays. Available in my shop for $20.

They are available plain, as a candlescape or with 3 handmade soaps wrapped in matching paper.

Map Madness

MapBlock2
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

I try to use every scrap of paper that I can. I think I made about 3 different items from one map of Florida.

This is the last one from Florida, for now. Next I will be working on a custom order using a map of San Diego.

New At The Cottage

Florida Map Pail
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

One can tell by looking at my shop that I love containers. I'm not sure why - I'm not organized at all. And I've always loved maps. Before I moved to Florida, I used to sit and stare at an atlas and try to figure out which coastal town on the East coast I wanted to live in. I ended up on the west coast of Florida.
I love how these turn out and they don't take forever. The hardest part is lining up the paper on the pail as the pail in bigger on the top than on the bottom.
I can make these in any location that there is a map available for.

$30.00 in my shop.

What I Love Today

I love these! I just want to look at them all day!

At ColetteC on Etsy.

Check out the rest of the shop here

So sweet and old fashioned.

What I Love Today

zoemurphy.com - check it out here --- here

Her work is truly inspirational to me. I want to rush home this minute and redo furniture. My head almost exploded with ideas. Grrrr....

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!

the scary one in the middle is me

Photography At 60 mph

I have an hour commute each way, so there's some pretty interesting stuff to document.





Technically, this one was taken while stopped at a traffic light, but I do manage to take a fair number of photos while the car is moving along at a pretty good clip.

Longleaf Scenery

Walking Trail & Bridge
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

The weather was fantastic on Sunday, so the hubby and daughter and I (Gage stayed home to draw) when for a walk and scooter around the neighborhood.

What I Love Today

Love these earrings!!



Check out her shop here: here

What I Love Today

Love the pottery I found on lollipoppottery.com. Really pretty and whimsical.



Check it out here

Chillin'

Gage & Shiya
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

My son, Gage, and one of our three dogs, Shiya share a rare moment of quiet on the couch over the weekend.

As you can see, Gage wasn't in the mood to have his picture taken. Shiya didn't seem to mind.

In Progress

For a long time I have wanted to re-decorate furniture. I did one table with maps, now I'm working on covering a side table/stool in black berries paper. Looks good so far. Can't wait to see it done.

________________________________________________

Halloween at Longleaf




This Friday, October 24th, we will be having haunted house tours in a couple of vacant houses in our neighborhood. Should be fun. I'm dying to see the inside of the houses. They are big, beautiful houses. So sad that they sit empty.

Saturday, October 25th is the neighborhood Halloween party for the kids. Next week is Halloween and then the party for the adults. Whew! We are gonna be busy!

New At The Cottage

Blue Paisley Candlescape
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

A collaboration with another Etsy seller: dragon06.etsy.com. Handmade teal ights in a hand-altered tray.

Great gift idea!

Cool Site!

http://fieldnotesbrand.com/

Happy Friday!

Ahhhh, Friday...full of possibilities for the weekend.

Watch the Bucs game?

Go to the pool?

Make 100 coasters?

What??!!

Yeah, I should make a boatload of coasters to get ahead of the game.

Game? Yeah and watch some football.

Sure wish I had that hammock...

Life Lessons

Sigh....I learned an important lesson today - be careful who you vent to.

Something happened that I did not like. I told a bunch of people. They didn't agree with me and now I feel bad.

Because I'm very sensitive and take criticism too seriously.

Repeat to self: "Don't sweat the small stuff. It's all small stuff."

Happy Birthday, Gage!

I can't believe you turned 11 today. At 1:18am to be exact. I still remember you as a baby with beautiful, blond curls and now you're throwing yourself recklessly on skateboards. It happened so fast. Slow down, buddy!

Housework

Dining Area
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

Slowly working on getting the house the way I want it. We painted the living/dining area a few weeks ago. The color is a light teal/frosty green, depending on the light. I'm REALLY happy with. My "keep calm" poster looks great against this color. The kitchen area, which is where I took this photo from, will be the same color, as it goes well with the wood cabinets.

I Want These

I'm not sure why...I don't have a sense of smell, so I don't care a whole lot how my clothes smell, but they sure are purty. But, not too pretty. Not overdone. I don't care for things that are too cute. I think I would just sit and look at them.

You can find them here

Mireio - on etsy

Win A Set Of Font Coasters

Lynde at Cozysister has a lovely blog and she gives away free Indie stuff. How cool is that?

You can enter to win a set of my Fabulous Font Coasters -
here

She also makes some gorgeous jewelry. So click on over and check out her shop here

A big thank you to Lynde for advertising me and my work in such a lovely way!

Cottage Collage Box

Cottage Collage Box
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

My latest collage box. It's simple and beautiful. I've been trying to hard lately, trying to be a serious collage artist, but I'm not ready yet. So I went back to doing what I do best - creating a pretty collage box.

On sale in my shop - $32

My Studio

My Messy Studio
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

This is the place where I spend most of my free time. I should emphasize FREE more, because there isn't much of it. Between job (with 2 hour daily commute) kids, house, dogs, husband, I'm stretched pretty thin.

But when it's quiet, I get lost in creating here. Hours can go by in a blink without my noticing. What I do here is not rocket science, but it brings me back to center.

I create because I want to, need to, not because someone tells me I should. Or how ... sometimes I try too hard to be creative and that usually doesn't pan out. I find I have to be true to myself or a piece I'm working on will turn into a mess. If you look on the shelves, you'll see a couple of messes waiting to be covered with something more calm, more me.

Too Cool To Use

Keys
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

I bought these a couple of weeks ago and I love them so much I don't want to use them in my art.

I guess I need to buy more so I can bear to part with some of them. I wish I knew how to solder - I would make a couple of them into necklaces...

New At The Cottage

Also available now:

Lace Flower Tray
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage

Great for holding larger items, like the tv remote, guest towels in the bathroom, etc.

$32.00, in my shop

New At The Cottage

I've been working on my fall collection and here is one of my new pieces, the Fall Petal Wood Tray. Reds, pinks and green blossoms are scattered over an ivory background.

Perfect for organizing small items or making an autumn candlescape.

Fall Petal Wood Tray
Originally uploaded by CarolinaCottage
Available now for $21.00

Art I Love

The artist's name is Lisa Kaus and you can view here work
here

I Got A Treasury!

Finally...




http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=59316

I'm so proud...

In A Treasury!

Actually, TWO treasuries today. Yay, me!!

This one:
here

and here

Had To Have This...

Some things you just have to have.

I was looking through my beloved hearts, checking out other people's favorites and came across this shop. Her stuff is so different - so cool - that I'm truly amazed that I haven't discovered her shop before now.

So... I had to have this corkboard. It will go GREAT on the studio wall I'm trying to fill.

Her shop is uncorked.etsy.com

Art I Love

I just discovered this shop - jessicadoyle.etsy.com.


I love containers. I cover them with paper, but she paints them - beautifully. Love this one:




Her paintings are amazing, too!



Visit her shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5281775

My First Map Table

I've been wanting to decoupage a piece of furniture for soooo long. I finally worked on this table last weekend. It's not too bad for my first attempt.

Momentum

It seems that I've built up some momentum. List, renew, sell, renew, sell, renew, sell, renew...
I have enough orders to fill that I'm trying VERY HARD not to get confused and send people the wrong order. That is one of my biggest fears. Having to explain, apologize and coordinate so that everyone gets what they ordered in the end would make me nuts. And more overwhelmed that I already am now.

If I could just quit my day job...

Tea, Anyone?

Who could resist decorating their toilet when these are around? And at only $10, why not?




They can be found at flush, please:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5924694

Decorating With Etsy

I have been amassing a collection of art from Etsy, knowing I would be settling into a house for quite a while. My husband promises this was the last move until the retirement home.
Anyway, I shall be showcasing my Etsy treasures as they are spread throughout the house. Here is the first batch from my living room, which I hope to paint a calming shade of blue.



Blue bird print on second shelf was bought from Silverymoonart: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7763063

The faces on her birds are so sweet...

The city print was bought here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12150012

Standing On The Edge...

wondering what to do next...

I've had several wholesale inquiries lately. Once people find out my wholesale terms, they never come back. I'm thinkin' my retail prices are too low to offer wholesale at this time.

Should I raise my retail prices?

Not bother to offer wholesale?

Find ways to decrease costs on my products?

I feel that I could, maybe, possibly, have a viable business if I get this thing figured out. I hope to do so within a year. I currently have an hour commute to work. I would like to be able to work part-time closer to home and work more on Carolina Cottage.

That's the plan. I can see success down in the valley.

New At The Cottage

Ok. Not really new, just a new combination of 2 of my best-selling products. The tray is the same length as my other small trays, but it's deeper. Will make a great gift, eh?

We're In...

Had closing last Wednesday, moved everything on Thursday. Been unpacking ever since. I'm tired and sore. I am getting too old for this stuff...
Love the neighborhood and the house. All the houses have front porches and the area is meant to look like a traditional town. Just ridiculously pretty. Hope to have pics soon.

Packing...

The moving truck doesn't come until Saturday, but I thought I'd get some things packed. Don't worry...there are air holes...