Happy 2009!!!

Every year I am surprised at how fast the year has past. I can't believe I've been blogging for almost a year now. It was slow going at first, but am happy to have befriended fellow bloggers and twitterers. So thank you all for reading and supporting my jewelry business, and have a fabulous NYE! But before I head out, if you haven't yet gotten your calendars for the new year, here are some recommendations from fellow Etsiers.

Happy New Year!

Left column: maramiki, daisyjanie, pairedhearts
Right column: fireworks photo by Digitalvisions, lepapierdesigns

The Tea Rose

Lately, I've been on a reading frenzy, just wanting to find and read good books. I was at Barnes and Noble earlier this week, wandering the aisles to find a good book. Nothing on the best seller racks called to me, but I came upon The Tea Rose, by Jennifer Donnelly, on one of their tables. The heroine is Fiona Finnegan, a young girl who lives in East London during the time of Jack the Ripper. She has dreams of opening a shop with her childhood sweet heart, Joe Bristow, when tragedy befalls her and her family. She flees to New York, where she eventually becomes one of the wealthiest women through her successful tea business. However, unfinished personal business brings her back to London, where she has to confront her past.

Since most historical fiction books I've read take place during Tudor or Renassaince eras, it was really enjoyable to read about a different period and New York City. When Fiona first arrives in NYC, she finds her uncle who owns a grocery store in Chelsea, about a block from my old office. Obviously, Chelsea looks quite different from the late 1800s. Shoot, it looks pretty different from just 3 years ago, but I could totally picture the city in that time. Anyway, I recommend this book to those who like historical fiction, reading about strong, driven women, and like a touch of romance and suspense along the way. There is a sequal to the book, which I look forward to reading, called The Winter Rose.

What I want

Christmas has come and gone, and now I want to shop for myself. So here are a few things I found that would be fun to have.

OMG, these take me back! We used to have these mugs, and I can't believe they're "vintage" now. That makes me feel really old. At least they're not "antique." I found these at Three Potato Four, a really great online shop that I just discovered, filled with home decor, accessories, and a slew of fun stuff. Definitely check it out.


This is a money tree from Red Envelope for $59.95. According to their site, Feng Shui masters recommend having one in the home or office to invite good fortune. Who couldn't use some of that, especially now.Aren't these cupcake towels adorable? I found these at Wrapables and they are available for $9.95. I think I would just keep these in their packaging and never use them.

I haven't had time to do a lot of online window shopping, but I think I'll have to make it a regular event. Have a great weekend!

New Boots and Boutique - Eviva!

I've been wanting a new pair of boots, preferably more casual than the pointy toed ones I currently own. So I went over to Eviva, over in downtown Decatur. I was thinking that I wanted some motorcycle boots or something similar with low-heels, since I'm on my feet constantly, but I spotted these Fornarinas, and now they're a new addition to my collection.

So not only does Eviva have fabulous shoes, they are now also carrying June Shin jewelry! Do you need any more reasons to go there?

Thursday Team Feature - HautTotes

For this week's feature, I'd like to introduce you to Melissa, from HautTotes. She makes very cool totes using very cool fabric, and I took some time out to get to know her a little bit. She has been all around the world and has come full circle. You'll see what I mean.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are from.
I was born on a sheep ranch in Nevada, and thought the town was terrible and boring. After graduation, I moved to NYC and then to San Francisco where I worked as a nanny for children with CP. I moved to Moscow, Russia in 1993 and stayed (as an illegal alien) for a year teaching English. After that I traveled though Turkey, Egypt and the middle east. I returned to the bay area in 1994 and met a man I had known in high school, we got married, graduated college, and ended up moving right back to the town I grew up in. Our property even shares a property line with the sheep ranch I grew up on. LOL I love it here now. We have 1.5 acres and I am currently a stay at home mom to our two children, 3 cats, 1 dog and a 135 gallon fish tank with 11 fish in it.

How long have you been making totes and how did you get started?
I started making totes when my 9 year old daughter, who uses a power wheelchair, wanted a "cool" bag for the side of her chair. I made her one with pink roses and skulls and pink faux fur trim. The rest is history.
According to your profile, you are well traveled and lived everywhere. Where was your favorite place to live?
I love where I live now, but as far as places I've traveled Turkey was my favorite. Just absolutely lovely people. New Zealand was the most beautiful and I recently spent a month in Ghana and met the nicest people in the whole world, but the humidity would kill me eventually.

What is your most recent Etsy purchase?
My most recent purchase was 30 yards of fabric. But, before that I bough doggie treats from a great shop featured on Sneak Attack*.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
What is this spare time you speak of?

What are your favorite foods?
Bangan ka Bhurta , it is an Indian dish made of eggplant.

What plans or aspirations do you have for your business?
For now I am hoping to average a bag a day. Next year when my youngest is in school a full day I hope to step things up!

Do you have other places online where we can find you? (twitter, flickr, blog, etc.) If so, please list them here.
I haven't even begun to think about all that. lol

Thanks Melissa! If you'd like to see more of what she has to offer, please do check out her shop.

And in case you were wondering:
*What's a Sneak Attack? Three days a week at an appointed time, an Etsy shop with few or no sales is announce on this site. As many people as possible then buy items from that shop, resulting in a frenzy of surprise business to the unsuspecting shop! Want to join in? Click here for more information.

Quote of the day

"Now how do skinny jeans become baggy jeans? That's an oxymoron right there."
While waiting in line at the post office, there was a really skinny guy wearing really skinny jeans, but was sagging in the ass. It was pretty funny.


Image courtesy of jovifan.blogspot.com

Tagged!

I've read all about this tagging business, but never have been tagged before. Well, lovely Ashley from Hiking in Stilettos has tagged me, so you all get to learn a little more about me. So here goes:

10 years ago I got my first "real job" at a software company in Manhattan. The company just hired a whole bunch of newbies, so we were like the freshmen, but now we were earning money. When I wasn't working, I was out making new friends with co-workers at happy hours and partying in the clubs. Good times.

No Idea was a bar we frequented.

8 years ago I was living in my first post college apartment in Queens with a roommate. Now I could stay out later since I didn't have to worry about catching the last train back to my parents house on Long Island, and cabs were only $20 if I was really drunk. That apartment also happened to be down the street from my boyfriend's, which was purely coincidental, but lots of fun.

6 years ago I was still working at the same company but I moved back home to save money in aspirations of buying a place in the city. I didn't buy an apartment, but did buy my first car a year later.

2 years ago I moved to Atlanta where my boyfriend was living. I started making jewelry while looking for a job, and ended up turning my hobby into a business. And so, here we are.

5 yummy things:
chocolate ice cream
mushroom ravioli in cream sauce
bul-go-gi (Korean marinated beef)
chicken tikka masala
red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting

5 places I would like to escape to:
Italy
Greece
Spain
Thailand
Mexican Riviera

5 things I would never wear:
high heeled sneakers
Christmas sweaters
daisy dukes
crocs
mesh shirts

5 favorite tv shows:
Chuck
Lost
No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain
Grey's Anatomy
Nip/Tuck

5 things I enjoy doing:
eating
dancing
knitting
reading
making jewelry

5 favorite toys:
my new macbook
digital camera
Hmm, I'm not much of a toy person, so that's all I have.

5 people I'm tagging:
Love Yu
Phydeaux
Feminine Personae
Xiane
Asian Cajuns