Why Reading Labels Is Important

Lately, the past 5 years or so,I seriously read all labels. Whether I am buying a food item, a gift, an article of clothing or an item for my house, I read the labels carefully.
Regarding food items, I am always watching my diet. Although I fortunately don't have any food allergies, I check fat, carb, salt and calorie information as well as the ingredient lists. Shopping may take longer but it is well worth it.

Clothing.........almost nothing is made in the USA anymore but I still look and hope. Though it is hard to find American made clothing, there are definitely countries I will not buy from....that's another blog post, maybe! Of course, materials are important as I do have a wool allergy, so I check that as well.

Home and gift items.......here's the stickler and the provocation for this post. Today I was in a store downtown that advertises itself as an "old fashioned general store". They sell clothing, home goods, shoes, candy, etc. Do or did they have these stores in Vietnam? China? Rangoon? I walked towards some tiny sock monkey key chains....made in China. Nearby were local college mugs and sports paraphernalia...made in Vietnam. Across from them were embroidered towels made in Thailand....you get the picture, I'm sure.
And then I was reminded about buying handmade....items like sock monkeys and embroidered towels and sports paraphernalia that don't have labels because they are made in the USA by wonderful craftspeople with their blood, sweat, tears, talent and love.
So read labels. Be informed and when tempted to choose an item, check out handmade for similar and probably better items that keep your dollars local and support your neighbors. I certainly know price is often an issue, an important one but.....!

By the way, they had magnetic bookmarks, similar in concept to mine, with the store logo on them. I sell mine for $3.50....their's were...are you ready?......$0.99. Here are some of my new ones and I will unabashedly say bigger, prettier and well worth it. Oh, yeah, theirs were made in China but you knew that!

Zibbet Spotlight

Just sharing some new Zibbet promo things.....a challenge to myself that I accomplished!

Reading

I love to read.
I love books.
I save books.
I love reading to children.
I have no more room for books!
One of the most exciting aspects of impending retirement was about having more time to read. For so much of my adulthood I read about 2-3 books between September and June and then 12-15 in July and August. Now I don't count. I think it's wonderful to read anything, in any form-newspapers(I am a paper-aholic), magazines (too many subscriptions to count), books,of course. My son started reading at 3 with baseball cards. I was offered an old Kindle...hmmmm, thank you,no.
Nothing, I say NOTHING, can replace a book in your hand. I was excited to find this widget on Sherry Truitt's wonderful blog.




Wonderful! Thanks, Sherry...we're on the same page.

And all of the above is why I am always making bookmarks...shameless self promotion...well, it is my blog!


Oh, and to reduce that book collection and get new ones in return? www.PaperbackSwap.com, which is paperbacks and hardcovers...a win~win trade.

The Shows

I can rant, and have, to close friends about what the fairs were like but I'm over it! The shows were okay, PERIOD!!!! Not great,not awful, disappointing.
Since they were 2 different shows in a row, inventory was a pre-show concern. One always thinks, what happens if I sell out? Let me have that problem...please! Anyway, I learned a little, laughed alot and had bones that hurt that I didn't know could. It's done. Back to online promotion and maybe a sale from one of the dozens that took a business card-easily 75-100 cards were taken. Maybe I should charge for them? Just kidding. Big hugs to my DH for his great sportsmanship and companionship.
Interestingly, again, the most popular items were the magnetic bookmarks which barely move online. Sold about 16-17. I have more to list like these.

Phew!!!

I know it's been awhile but much has been crazy here and now hopefully calming down. We had a yard/garage sale today and of course, it rained on and off so we're a little soggy but lighter in 'stuff'.
I've been making alot of the magnetic bookmarks and became very frustrated along the way. The laminating film I've been using sometimes bubbles, sometimes not. I can't figure it out to see if there's a common reason but problem solved.
I did have a wonderful order for them from an avid etsy buyer.
She purchased several and then ordered more.They are a gift for the members of her team for a Susan G. Komen walk. How sweet and wonderful that she's doing that!

Paper

I realized awhile back that I have an issue with paper that takes many forms. I'm a newspaper-aholic, reading local papers when I'm out of town (I don't even know these people!). I also read the accumulated newspapers when we return home. I love printed, colorful napkins and paper towels. Love the smell of the pages in a new book, just opened. Always loved stationary when writing letters wasn't a lost art. But with computers, I love to print using unusual papers as well.
Once scrapbooking became so huge it was unusual for me not to take up the craft and I didn't but....oh, the papers! I had to find some way to use the glorious,fanciful,whimsical and even serious papers out there. One way is with my bookmarks. They're magnetic and the outside is covered with a lamination film so they last. LOVE paper!!!

Books and Bookmarks

I'm an avid reader...there, I said it!!! Of course, there's nothing to be ashamed of except I tended to hoard books and find them hard to part with. I've been better, lately. I will loan books and not demand their return. I will even give books away and have donated dozens to the literacy association. Aren't I a good girl?! The one thing I will NOT do is turn down pages. UGH!!! I've made regular strip bookmarks for a long time and now have a new item that is pretty clever. It's a paper based magnetic bookmark. It doesn't mar the pages and you can even put it on the side of a page to mark a sentence or paragraph. Pretty cool, I think!

IT'S HERE!!!!!

So exciting....the book I contributed to has finally arrived. It's titled (big surprise!) BUTTON! BUTTON! and 2 of my projects have been included. One is on the back cover. I was a bit upset that the 9 o'clock button is off position. It had come off and the publishers re-glued it...off the 9 spot. I have since replaced it. All in all, it is actually thrilling, a word I rarely use, to see your things in print. It's a beautifully done publication and even if I was not a part of it, I would buy it. It will be in the stores in April. They do mention my etsy shop, so that's an additional boost.

Time Flies

I haven't posted for a week because................? I feel a bit like my days are very short and are whizzing by but I do get a great deal accomplished. I am now preparing for my first (in over 7 years) little show which is on Sunday. It's a harvest festival, a first annual and a donation is all that it costs to show. There will be loads of kids activities, pumpkin decorating, food and about a dozen crafters. I had forgotten how much there is to do to get ready with deciding what to bring, pricing, packaging, set-up, etc. Sunday morning I will de-activate some things that are on etsy so I can bring them. It's hard not to be excited but I don't want to be crushed if there's a poor outcome so I'm trying to be level headed. With kids expected (and parents, of course) I'm bringing mostly my less expensive items like bookmarks , barrettes, and magnets but the purses and hats as well. Maybe 1 or 2 clocks...we'll see.
Wish me luck!!!

Books and Etsy

I'm a reader. I always resented working since it limited my reading time. I am a reader and a book lover so I never turn down pages or rarely write in a book. I have always loved bookmarks and have been making ribbon ones for awhile.

Last night I used some leftover cotton yarn and made this and some others. I posted them today. Time will tell. At worst, I'll have a lot of bookmarks to give away. DON'T turn down the corners!!!! Better

to use a tissue than mar a book! Better yet, check mine out on etsy... some shameless self-promotion!