Karen’s Opinion | 2010

Archive for December, 2010

Oh Christmas Tree

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 Imports. All opinions are 100% mine.

While watching the Today show today, I saw that they received an award because they have been instrumental in providing a way for donors to give toys for the Toys for Tots program. I would love to donate and while I don't see myself traveling to New York to donate, I discovered that, during November and December, I can donate at the Pier 1 store near me. I love that store!

My favorite ritual during the holiday season is when I put the decorations on the tree. I love bringing out the handmade decorations my children made when they were small. They are very fragile yet beautiful. I strategically place them on the tree alternating each with a sparkly ornament. My tree is full of color with red, green and gold onion shaped balls. I also use ornaments that bring back special memories. Pier One has been a great source in finding ornaments that represent members of the family. There are cute shopping bag, shoe and even pet ornaments. I love my red and white candy cane icicles.

Pier 1 is a great place to find holiday gifts . I am always inspired by their table setting displays and furniture groupings. They make it easy to have a beautiful home with easy on the budget prices.

If anyone needs my wish list, they can find it at Pier 1!

Posted by karen in A Bit of Everything 2 Comments →

Rushing Around

Pressure! Pressure! How many of you think of gifts you want to make? Gifts that take time to create? Now, I am not talking about research and all the work it takes to be an accountant but making crafts does require time. In the manner that forensic accountants take time to build information needed to build a case, I travel to different stores for supplies, cut out patterns and get down to the project at hand. Laundry and dishes go untouched! My house becomes a display of disarray from one end of it from the other. Is this how you work? Why can I not think of these things in June? I could be prepared and set out to embroider snowmen as I sit outside getting sun on my face.

That is not how I work. I decided on Sunday that it would be a good idea to give snowmen pillows as gifts. Two are finished. Three more to go.

Small pillow with blue piping around the edges.
I put three large buttons on the back.

Tags: Christmas presents, embroidery
Posted by karen in crafts and sewing 4 Comments →

Included in a Treasury!

I am so excited! If any of you sell on the Internet, you know how important computer support is. It is not easy learning the ropes of how to put up a good picture and how to write a quality description of your product. IT support is wonderful as well as having friends who are passionate about making and selling handmade products.

I just received an email informing me that one of my bags was included in an Etsy Treasury. You Etsy sellers know how hard it is to get noticed amongst the thousands of sellers on Etsy. To have someone find one of your products let alone include it in a treasury is like, um, a miracle! Visit the treasury to see all the blue and green bags in this collection.

I belong to an Etsy group called Cabteam. That stands for Carried Away Bag Team. We are a group who love to make handbags, totes, wallets, etc. This group encourages each of us as we strive to make quality products and also raises money to help needy causes.