The First Family Day In Ontario

February 18, 2008 is officially Family Day in Ontario.


My biggest question is, what does this holiday actually mean?


To me, it's a made up holiday to give those who already get every other holiday off, another day to stay home. My husband works for Goodyear and he is at work on this day. There is no management in today, they all got the day off. But all the blue collar workers are there, slugging the tires like every other day.


What about the worker who has to work two jobs just to make ends meet? Where is their holiday? They are the ones who truly need the day off with their family.


I'm not begruding anyone time with their kids and loved ones. Really I'm not. It just seems to me that this day is a sham. Those who truly need this day to be home with their kids, aren't getting it. They have sent their kids off to a babysitter so they can go and work a low paying job just to put food on the table.


Something about this just isn't right.


I'll be working here at home today on orders. I may sit down and watch a movie with my kids. But my hubby will be at work on the first official Family Day along with many, many others there at Goodyear and at other blue collar jobs. Where is their Family Day?


Seriously, what is the point?

Today's Featured Seller - BrendaVan!

I was contacted by Brenda about a week or so ago asking if I would put together a package for her. She needed a cohesive look for her store, business cards and labels. After working together for about a week, we finally have a winner! Brenda was an absolute joy to work with, very clear in what she was looking for in a design and very patient with me when I didn't get it just right. She has inspired me to add a Custom Shop Makeover service to my store. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9583738

I absolutely love Brenda's shop and I just had to have her as my featured seller today! Here is what Brenda has to say about herself, her shop and her craft;

I live in a suburb of Kansas City, KS/MO with my husband and our two cats - my daughter attends school in Florida. I love to create and because my career in insurance is fairly structured, my creative outlets are really important to me.

I started making jewelry to feed my desire for one of a kind pieces; this uniqueness is very important to me so each item in my shop is one of a kind and I strive to make each of my pieces appealing, affordable, and luxurious by working with freshwater pearls and semi-precious gemstones.

My pieces are available in my Etsy shop at BrendaVan.etsy.com - I'm looking forward to your visit!

Be sure to visit Brenda's shop!

Have a great day everyone

Today's Featured Seller - MamaMayBorne Designs

A while ago, I decided to offer web ad design services in my shop. Brooke, from MamaMayBorne Designs was my first buyer of that service. I absolutely love her items and her photography is supurb.

Here is the ad I designed for her




This is what Brooke had to say about herself, her store and her craft


I love jewelry... the way it flatters, flirts and plays hard-to-get. It creates an attraction that is intensified by its magnetic appeal AND promises satisfaction by pleasing every style, mood and occasion. Jewelry is seductive and always leaves me wanting more.

Romantic designs that are subtly sexy are very enticing. I strive to create pieces that captivate and compel approving glances from adoring eyes. My jewelry designs also emphasize durability and versatility to make everyday wear possible.

I enjoy playing the matchmaker who joins the wearer and their object of desire into a long-term, enduring relationship. That's what makes me so passionate about creating the opportunity for women to display their love affair with jewelry.

Sincerely,
Brook "Mama" Mayborne

Be sure to stop by her store, you will not be disappointed!! Just click on her ad and it will take you there.

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Today's Featured Seller - Pretty Little Shop

Today's featured seller is Pretty Little Shop. I had so much fun making this banner and avatar set, it's silly. Not only was Laurie incredibly easy to please, she was also one of the most genuinely nice people I have met. So, please, be sure to visit her shop and take a look around! Just click on her banner to go there. You won't be sorry!

Here is what Laurie had to say about herself, her store and her craft:

Welcome to my Pretty Little Shop~I'm Laurie & live in York PA, but am a native Baltimore-ian. I have been a Domestic Engineer (SAHM!) since March 1998 when my son Ian was born. I also have a 2 year old daughter and loving and supportive husband. My family and home are my pride and joy & I feel very lucky to be able to spend so much time enjoying the things that mean the world to me. Comfort, a warm atmosphere, candles, a nice fire and a cozy blanket- that's heaven to me. I have loved drawing, photography, crafting, knitting and just making anything I could get my hands on for my entire life and gotten away from it for a while. I have re-discovered my passion for gorgeous fabrics, papers, yarns & softness and decided to go with it this time. I love to create and learn new things and I have a new philosophy: Do what makes you happy! It works. I wanted to try to create a feeling of prettiness, comfort and warmth in my Home and Personal Accessories shop. I want to pass that along- and hope someone else enjoys using my creations as much as I enjoy making them. I am very grateful and thrilled to be a part of a creative community now and love to have those juices flowing again! I hope you enjoy your visit to my shop~

Thank you for visiting and I hope you have a great day!

Today's Featured Seller - Monnda

Every day I am blessed with meeting wonderful sellers on Etsy who ask for my help. Not every day soI meet someone as wonderful as Monnda. I feel honoured to have her as my featured seller today.

Here is what Monnda has to say.

I just love making jewelry! I make original one of a kind jewelry and a few production pieces. I can't do a lot of production work, because the production work somehow changes into one of a kind jewelry. It is a good thing that I never had to work on an auto assembly line! Gold, silver, bronze, copper, and steel have all been used with precious and semi-precious stones, bone and glass to make unusual pieces of jewelry.I am the founder of Grass Roots Arts Inc, a 501-C3, for the promotion of the Arts. I started the Orange County Open Studio Tour, The Arts Market on Town Commons and am the past president of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths.

Please be sure to visit Monnda's store. You will find many gorgeous pieces of art there and have the pleasure of meeting one of the nicest sellers on Etsy.

Have a great day and don't forget to check back tomorrow to see who the featured seller will be! It just may be you......

A Snowy Day - Again!

Well, it snowed here in Ontario Canada again. Shocking!!! Actually, we've had a great Canadian winter for the first time in a very long time. I'm really enjoying it..

Today is another hard working day for me. I'm actually almost all caught up on my orders, which is nice. I can't believe how truly blessed I've been lately with sales. I'm not complaining, that's for sure. ;)

I did manage to create a few banners that I'm really proud of yesterday. Sometimes, things just come together perfectly.

I'm going to go back to featuring stores I have created banners for here as well. The way sales have been, it would be a lot to do each one. So, I'm going to pick a shop a day to feature. Keep checking back to see who is next. ;)

In the meantime, I wanted to show off my first logo design. I'm especially proud of this as it was the first one I did and she was sooo excited about it.

First is the black and white version. I actually prefer this one myself. I think the design really pops in black and white moreso than the colour. Of course, that's just my humble opinion. ;)






This is the colour version of it. She wanted to be able to use the logo for making buttons and such for promotional purposes, so the round logo was perfect for her.








Of course, if anyone is interested in logo design, I can certainly do it for you! You can visit my store at http://www.thebannerqueen.etsy.com/ and we can work together to design it perfectly for you. I can also do "lighter" logo's if that is what you would like.


Well, that's it for me today. Have a great day!

100 Sales and A Bit About Me!

Well, I have to say my blog has been sorely neglected this past month or so. I hereby delcare that I will make a concentrated effort to get in here and make a post a day! Ok, well, we'll see how that goes. ;)

I had such an exciting day on Etsy yesterday. I made it to 100 sales!! Yippee!! Yay!! Major, overwhelming excitement for me! I'm still a bit behind in my orders, but I'm working really hard to get them done. Some just take longer than others and that's what slows me down.

I decided that since I haven't been on here in so long, it would be a good idea to post a little bit about myself and my life. I even have a couple of pics to post. I finally have a pic where I don't think I look horrid. That's a miracle in and of itself.


This is myself and my son Ethan, who is 8.
Isn't he a handsome little devil? He was upset at his big sister in the background because she was horning in on our picture. He's a bit sensitive sometimes. ;)


This is my daughter Adara (seen cackling madly in the background above) Isn't she gorgeous?? She starts highschool next year and I'm so worried about her! ;)







So, that's me and my kids. I don't have any pics of my hubby right now, but trust me, he's real. ;)

Have a great day!