Positive quote for Monday

This one's a bit personal to me, but it's also a thank you to everyone on this team for the support and love shown during the last couple of weeks. It's appropriate for my Dad, who definitely loved life. It's also appropriate for the ethos of this team.

I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.

Arthur Rubinstein

With much love to all my positive friends

Lois
xxx

Friday's Fancies: Time for a Picnic

Happy Friday! We've had WARM, WARM weather here in Michigan for the past week or so!

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It's put me in the mood for watermelon, running in the sprinkler, catching fireflies and of course . . . PICNICS!

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Summer just isn't summer without a weekly picnic! Since my husband is a teacher and has the summers off, we are always packing up the car with the picnic essentials and heading to a park to enjoy an afternoon of fresh air, sunshine, and yummy food!

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Here are some lovely picnic picks from fellow Etsians.

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{clockwise from top left}

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You need a good picnic basket like this lovely vintage one from Laurie Rohner Studio for any real picnic! Just beautiful with sweet little strawberries painted on the top lid. Ready for filling with some vintage china and all kinds of good treats!

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Any good picnic deserves a quilt as lovely as this beautiful bright lap quilt from Chasing Lightning Bugs. The colors are so vibrant and cheery! You couldn't help but have an enjoyable time wherever this blanket might land!

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Every picnic needs an ant, and this Ant Picnic Ring Pincushion from The Finicky Frog was perfect for this Friday's Fancies! This cute picnic-inspired pincushion ring, with the necessary ant would remind any seamstress of happy days picnicking under blue skies!

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The perfect picnic includes delectable food! And these Edible Sugar Strawberries from Andie's Specialty Sweets are the perfect summery addition to any yummy cake! These sweet confections conjure up images of garden-fresh sun-ripening strawberries, and are both cottagy and elegant!

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Happy picnicking! :)

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Fondly, Kate

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{Don't forget to leave a link to your personal blog's Friday's Fancies when you comment!} :)

Meet the Member - Bluepumpkincorsetry

Please introduce yourself. Who are you, where do you live?


My name is Eleanor and I live in Nottinghamshire, England, UK. It is quite an old city known best for Robin Hood, Lace and Hosiery and has some wonderful architecture, including of course the castle itself built upon secret caves.

How would you describe your work / style?

My work is very much me. Plain and simple. Usually the more elaborate the piece is the more custom it is. I prefer using blocks of colour mixed up with fine prints, laces, textured fabrics etc. Corsetry has been a part of my life for the best part of 5 years now and I’d like to think my style has developed to a sturdy, high quality level. I enjoy nothing more than to sit down and create something that wasn’t at all planned. I find my best work is when that happens. The Fuchsia corset is a prime example of that.

Who, or what, inspires you?

I’m inspired by little things, like when I find a remnant of gorgeous fabric or a ribbon or lace. I love to go for long walks around my favourite places, Hardwick being on of them, and seeing the dragonflies and flowers and trees. I find it incredibly therapeutic and relaxing and that’s generally when I get inspired. Whenever I’m confined to the house for any reason I go insane and cannot sew to save my life. Sometimes watching an old movie will inspire me, I love costume dramas like Dr. Quinn and the Elizabeth films. I love costume.

What made you decide to start selling your work?


I wasn’t really ever planning to. One day I was asked to make a couple of corsets and I was offered a lot of money and I had to declare it to HMRC, so I figured I’d carry on for as long as I could. I love sewing and I feel honoured that people pay me to do what I love, but it is not anywhere near a big enough income to support me. That’s why I also work full time in retail.

Do you have a website or blog address?

I have a livejournal that gets updated from time to time.


8bluepumpkin8.livejournal.com

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?


I am self taught. I went to college for two years to study pattern production and fashion/textile design but my tutors refused to spend the time teaching me about corsets, so I was told to go out there and do it on my own. So I did. My first dozen corsets were such a huge mess, even though they were well received by some folks in the industry at the time, my recent work is definitely the best. I have been making corsets for 5 years now, I have been sewing for 7.

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?

There is so much I would love to do. Cold Process soap making absolutely fascinates me but I just don’t have the time or patience to try it. I bought all the stuff though! Lol! I’m hoping to get round to it some day. I can knit and I’d love to learn to crochet. I’d also love to learn how to make Jam. But for now I’ll just stick to sewing.


Anything exciting planned that you’d like to share?

I’m currently planning on opening a couple more shops before the end of the year. But it really does depend on time constraints, I’m also planning to re-hash BluePumpkinCorsetry and take less custom orders on as I have been promoted in my day-job and cannot dedicate enough time to custom orders.


Have you had any work featured in magazines/books/galleries?


Not that I know of, sadly.

Has your work won any prizes/competitions?


I’ve never entered my work into any competitions. I don’t really look into it although I would consider it should the right sort of competition come up. My work has featured in a few small fashion shows which was exciting.


If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be………

Not myself at all. I’d probably just be doing my day job and I’d be thoroughly depressed. My boyfriend likes to comment that I’m only half of myself when I’m not sewing.


Describe your perfect day.


Up at 6am, sewing by 7am, sunshine all day long, finish at 7pm, eat and spend time with my family.


Describe your proudest moment.

I have quite a few proud moments, and not all of them include sewing achievements. For example… I drove a car today for the first time ever… on a road… with other cars… I’m so proud I didn’t kill anyone!


What do you do to relax?


I enjoy reading and sleeping. If I’m really stressed I will meditate or count to ten whilst tapping my chest. I also enjoy drinking tea and coffee and love to just spend a moment relaxing with a cuppa in the sunshine.

What animal would you like to be, and why?

I’d love to be a sloth. I seriously love to sleep.


What’s your weakness?


My time management has always been a weakness, and junk food of course. I have always struggled with time management ever since I was at college. But I always manage to meet deadlines somehow.

Positive Quote

I ran across this lovely little ring with the inscription "our life is what our thoughts make it"

from Pocket Full of Poesy on Etsy

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I knew right away that this beautiful ring and inscription were perfect for the Positive Quote this week!

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"You were not born a winner, and you were not born a loser. You are what you make yourself be. -Lou Holtz

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Let us not forget that we are faced with decisions every day . . . and that every choice we make sets us on a course toward becoming who we are, whether better or worse! The power lies within us to shape our own selves. {empowering, isn't it?!}

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Have a LOVELY, hopeful day!

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Fondly, Kate from Kate's Cottage

Friday Fancies

All items on this weeks Friday Fancies were found on Etsy using the search words "Secret Garden". I love the whimsy and feel of all these beautiful and unique items!

Enjoy! - Nickole, HardLoveApparel

1. This "Secret Garden Key" necklace by CosmicGirl is the perfect touch to the Secret Garden inspired theme! I can just imagine this is the key that opens the Secret Garden! http://www.etsy.com/shop/CosmicGirl

2. "Secret Garden" is exquisite and is the essence of the Secret Garden! Photograph from WhereIGo.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhereiGo

3. This dollhouse miniature is a stunning example of whimsy and imagination! "Midnight in the Secret Garden" is a fabulous construction by dragonscaleminis.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dragonscaleminis

4. This photograph is the finishing touch to my Secret Garden theme! Beautifully taken by KClarkPhotography.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kclarkphotography

Travels to the Sea

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It's getting about time to start thinking about summer vacations. We cannot go a year without traveling to . . . okay, so I don't live near the sea, but, we do have the Great Lakes here in Michigan {the world's largest freshwater lakes}. I always look forward to packing up the car and heading to Lake Michigan for a relaxing vacation.

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Have a look at some Positivity Team Members' lovely works that reminded me of my "Travels to the Sea"

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{clockwise from top left}
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1. Travel-themed keepsake box from Scrap Happy Lyrebird

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2. Vintage License Plates from A Marigold Life

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3. Carinthia Necklace from Electric Penguin

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4. Blue Beach Glass Mousepad from Scenic New York

You can only have a rainbow if it rains.

The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude.

Dennis S. Brown
 
You come home from work feeling hot, tired and cross after a day of being snapped at by your boss. Your journey home is a nightmare, with what seems like half of your city on your bus, squashed into every available space and elbowing you in the ribs. You snap at the children when they play with their toys or music a bit too loudly. You get irritated when they don't sit and do their homework when they ought to. You greet your partner with a less than happy smile, and you burn the dinner whilst juggling the washing basket and sniffing loudly about how "some people" seem to think that "this is a hotel" and that they think that they don't need to help.
 
What have you done? You've spread the bad mood. You've shared the misery, spreading it out like a fungus so that the entire family goes to bed cranky.
 
Or......
 
You come home a bit tired after a day of your boss snapping, but decide to leave that behind you at the office door and walk home in the sunshine. You walk tall and by the time you're home you're ready to greet the kids, get changed into a fresh pair of jeans and t-shirt and start organising dinner.
Your partner comes home a little later, gets himself changed and fills the washing machine as you have a rota and it's his turn. He always supervises homework, allowing you to get on with cooking a healthy dinner for you all.
 
Which scenario would you prefer? The difference - your attitude.

Yahoo Forum - you're all invited!

All members have been emailed an invitation to this new online forum. There are two who haven't - AmcPoelmanDesign and scenicnewyork. Unfortunately Yahoo refused to send invitations to you both due to the "info" and "questions" leader on your email addresses. If you would both supply an alternative email to me I'll get it sorted.

positivityteam

Now - what's this forum all about?
Whilst this is definitely NOT intended to replace the monthly post on the Etsy forum, we understand that people's comments and questions can get lost in the crowd, particularly at busy times.
Feel free to post pretty much anything you want on this board - Etsy or not.
It will be YOUR forum.
You can use it to keep in touch with Positivity Team friends, exchange recipes, talk about favourite tv shows. Anything you want.
All we ask is that you keep to a few simple "rules", listed on the very first post.

Other than that, enjoy!

Lois
xxx

Click to join positivityteam

Friday's Fancies

Well, lovelies, time for another Friday's Fancies!
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My mind and heart are longing to get out to my garden and get my fingers in the dirt! So today's Friday's Fancies are all Garden-related!
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Vintage Silverware Garden Marker Set from Wooden Hive!
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2. This original signed photographic print entitled "Traces" by alice b. gardens is so soft and romantic, it makes me wish I had a lovely, distressed wrought-iron fence as beautiful as this one!
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3. Everyone needs a sweet little gardening apron such as this pretty linen and doily pocket apron from Prairie Seed! So lovely and practical at the same time!
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{clockwise from top left}

1. I absolutely love and need some charming little herb garden markers! And what could be better than this

4. All the little birdies in your garden would love this White Shabby Chic Distressed Birdhouse from Cottage Rose! Great for all your feathered friends and so pleasing to the eye!
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Well, lovelies, I hope you will enjoy this gardening season as much as I will! And I hope these little fancies have inspired you!
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Fondly, Kate

{pop on over to my blog: http://www.katescottage2.blogspot.com/ to read the entire post . . . I had TOO MUCH of a fun time with this and have 7 more "Garden Party" picks posted}

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Now it's your turn! Post your own "Friday's Fancies" on your personal blog. Then pop back over here to the Positivity Team blog and leave a comment with a link to your personal blog letting team members know about your "Friday's Fancies"!

Have a LOVELY, LOVELY day!

Meet the Member - Bluebelldesign

Please introduce yourself. Who are you, where do you live?

Hi, I’m Lois and I’m 42 years old. I’m married to Andrew, a self-employed gardener, and I work as a self-employed dressmaker/soft furnisher, and we live in a fairly small seaside village on the east coast of Scotland. Andrew’s a mad cyclist (yes, I spend all summer groaning over the Tour de France and the Giro D’Italia), whilst I love my pilates and circuits classes. We share our small victorian house with two cats and an increasing number of bikes and sewing machines, and dream of one day sorting out the damp and replacing the windows.

How would you describe your work / style?
Tactile, quirky and soft. I love to re-use old fabrics and yarns, and have a massive collection of trimmings and buttons, most of which are also vintage. I want my bags to be “stroke-able”. I also try to inject humour into my work - I love people to smile when they pick up one of my Loopy bags. These have been great sellers off Etsy and I think it’s because they’re extremely touchable.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I’m always inspired by the fabric or yarn first and foremost. It tells me what it wants to be. I listen.
I pretty much make each item as one of a kind. I’m looking into developing patterns so that I can repeat certain items, building up a little collection using different fabrics and yarns, but I’m kind of impulsive so I actually LIKE doing just one of each item.
I love to see other people’s work as well, and am often inspired by music or poetry (anyone reading my blog lately will realise how much I like poetry right now!), images from magazines (UK Country Living is my favourite) and books. I have at least three volumes of books full of cuttings from magazines that I’ve collected over the last few decades and glued in to keep, and at times when the muse leaves me, these have been a wonderful source of inspiration and excitement.

What made you decide to start selling your work?
I started selling it because I started making it! When I make curtains or a roman blind, there are often small pieces of fabric left over. Same applies for garments. It would be incredibly wasteful to throw such pieces out, so I keep them all.
For example, my Jura bag is made from such pieces. It’s absolutely unique and will never ever be repeatable.

I also have a few local galleries and craft shops who take my items, and also participate in a three day event in the village in late autumn, selling from our own homes.

Do you have a website or blog address?
I have both.
http://www.bluebell-design.com/
http://www.bluebelldesign.blogspot.com/


How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?
I’ve been making things since I was old enough to hold something in my hand without poking an eye out with it. I was fortunate to have a very “crafty” mother, and probably absorbed a lot of it by osmosis.
I also had an incredibly inspirational art teacher at high school, Mrs McLeod, who allowed us to put the paint brushes down and instead explore textile printing, weaving and batik with her. I will forever be grateful to her for that and truly wish I could tell her how much she changed my life.
After high school I attended the Scottish College of Textiles to do an Honours Degree in Clothing and Tailoring, graduating with my degree in 1990. My passion at college was pattern cutting and sewing - I always felt it such a pity that I had to learn academic stuff as well. We were wasting time out of the workroom!


Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
I’m fascinated by weaving, so would love to have the time to learn and the room to have a loom!
I would also love to become more involved with restoration work, having re-beaded a Victorian footstool for a client.

Anything exciting planned that you’d like to share?
Apart from launching the Positivity Team? That’s pretty exciting to me! I’m also re photographing all my stock using my new light-box studio, although I‘ve only found time for one item so far. I’m really pleased with my purchase though, and am looking forward to using it more. I barely had to edit the photos for Selkie hair clip at all, which was a major delight to me.

I also love some of the hugely detailed work that I do for my bridal clients, so am looking at incorporating more beading and embroidery into my bags and fabric jewellery. I’m currently developing a Celtic range but haven’t yet got the design right. Watch this space!

Have you had any work featured in magazines/books/galleries?
Alas, no. I’m obviously flying below the radar at present.


Has your work won any prizes/competitions?
I won a calendar competition when I was 11. I had to illustrate the month of April and drew a cat sitting under a tree with birds’ nests in it, licking his lips! Does this count?


If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be………
Going slowly mad at my previous job. Actually, strike that. I suspect I would be a complete raving loony by now.


Describe your perfect day.
Sleep until I wake naturally, enjoy a lazy morning with papers and coffee and an afternoon in our favourite local café putting the world to rights with my best friend before a lovely italian meal out with hubby.


Describe your proudest moment.
Passing my final exams and getting my degree! I was so shocked and relieved that I’d passed my accounts and statistics exams that I almost fainted.

What do you do to relax?
I love to watch films at the cinema and enjoy pretty much everything except horrors. My favourite movie of all time has to be the Lord of the Ring Trilogy, although Shrek comes a very close second. What can I say? Reality sometimes has no place in entertainment!
I also read constantly, and am a massive fan of Philippa Gregory’s historical novels, particularly the tales of the Tudor period.
Otherwise it’s "no-thought required" television all the way - America’s Next Top Model and the Biggest Loser are favourites.



What animal would you like to be, and why?
I would absolutely love to come back as one of my two cats, as they’re spoiled rotten and don’t lift a paw to help.

What’s your weakness?

Has to be cheese. I love all cheese and wish it didn’t make me fat!!

cheers!

Lois

xxx

Positive Quote

"Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it." ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky

We too often think of all the negative and wrong doings in our life. We all have so many reasons to be happy! Life doesn't always follow plan, but all it takes to brighten those troubles is to look at all the positive and happy joys that surround you!

What are the joys in your life?

Do you have a blog?

Good afternoon everybody.
Just a quick message to ask you all to check the member's bloglist for your own blogs. If you have one and it's not featured, could you please let me know? I'm trying to work out if I've got everyone and would hate to leave anyone out by accident!

A comment on this post would be ideal!

Lois
xx

Friday's Fancies Clarification

Good Morning, Team! :)

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It seems as if there is a bit of confusion as to how to participate in our new Team feature: "Friday's Fancies".

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Here is a bit of clarification:

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We thought we'd start up a fun little feature called "Friday's Fancies" for all team members who would like to participate. Participation is, of course, not required!

Bluebell posted a BEAUTIFUL example of a collection of some of her favorite items on Etsy. Please see the "Friday's Fancies" post below to see what she's done. She has also posted some instructions on how to achieve the layout.

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To participate in the Team's Friday's Fancies, here's what to do:

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1. Each Friday, select a few of your favorite Etsy items. {These can be any items you just love! They do not have to be items from Positivity Team members, although they CERTAINLY CAN BE! :)}

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2. Make a quick blog post titled "Friday's Fancies" on your own blog including these favorite items. This is kind of your own little personal treasury. {This needn't be anything elaborate, and is just for fun!} I made a post early Friday morning so that it would be available to view all day long. {You could even set it up on Thursday, if that is more convenient}. *Unfortunately, the only way to participate is if you have a blog. If you don't have one yet, maybe this is the little nudge need to start one up! ;)

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3. Come on over to the Positivity Team blog and post a link to your "Friday's Fancies" blog post. This link will re-direct viewers to your personal blog, and allow them to see your "Friday's Fancies" post. Please only post a link if you have created a "Friday's Fancies" post on your blog. This will help Team Members see all the wonderful collections others have come up with.

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4. Leave a comment about your Friday's Fancies collection telling Team Members a little bit about your mini-treasury.

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5. Positivity Team members can come to the Team blog, click on the links and view other Team members' "Friday Fancies" mini-treasuries!

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We want this to be a fun "sharing" opportunity for all Team members!

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If any of you are still confused, please leave a comment and we will try to clear them up. We want all members to be able to understand exactly what the "Friday's Fancies" are! :)

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Have a LOVELY weekend!

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Fondly, Kate

Friday's Fancies

Waves and Sand necklace by garbedesigns

Seagull by enchantedpond

Porcelain brooch by seaurchin

Seashore yarn by pancakeandlulu



Now for the fun part - the tutorial!

First of all, you need to find software that will let you make "mosaics" from your selected images. I use Big Huge Lab's Mosaic Maker.

http://bighugelabs.com/mosaic.php

Once you've joined (it's free) you select your items on Etsy that you wish to feature. It's important to remember that it's the filename of the PHOTOGRAPH not the URL of the item that you need for this.

To get the filename of the photo, simply double click on it to get it to open as a seperate item. All you then need to do is copy the filename at the top.

Back to mosaic maker - the intention is to make these 2 x 2, so featuring 4 items altogether. Simply paste the filename of your selected photograph into one of the openings and complete the mosaic in the same way. Then click on "create" and wait for it to work. If it doesn't work, you've done something wrong, and the chances are it's the URL that's wrong - remember to take the url of the photo, not the etsy item reference.

Once done you can save the mosaic to your own pc, and then set your blog page up like this, using "Friday's Fancies" as the title and adding links for all the items you've featured.

I've not used Positivity Team members for this, and I see no reason why we should feel the need to limit this feature to member's items. I do however feel it's important to inform Etsy artists that we've featured them, so I tend to convo each person with the link to my blog page. We may even get new members this way!

All you have to do then is add a link to your blog PAGE in below and we're off!

Meet the Members - Hard Love Apparel

Please introduce yourself. Who are you, where do you live? Hi! My name is Nickole and my shop is Hard Love Apparel. I live in Des Moines, Iowa US

How would you describe your work / style? My hand painted and dyed tees are fashionable and trendy with a vintage twist.

Who, or what, inspires you? I love the fashion and glamour of “Old Hollywood”, that really inspires me!

What made you decide to start selling your work? Hard Love Apparel started when I decided to continue to stay at home with my now 1 year old boy, but still wanted to have my foot in Fashion. I started selling on Etsy to have that creative outlet and be able to enjoy time with my son!

Do you have a website or blog address? http://www.HardLoveApparel.etsy.com

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating? I learned so much about Fashion through my last job as a Style Specialist in a local woman’s boutique. My craft came after doing research about dyeing and painting apparel. I have been creating for about 5 years!

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn? I would love to learn how to make jewelry! There are so many lovely jewelry makers out there that have fabulous pieces! I always think, “I wish I could do that!!!”

Anything exciting planned that you’d like to share? I recently started selling a few designs at a local handmade boutique in downtown Des Moines; it’s so fun to see my designs hanging in a store!!

Have you had any work featured in magazines/books/galleries? Not yet!

Has your work won any prizes/competitions? I hope to someday :)

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be………Working with children somehow; I’ve always admired Teachers!

Describe your perfect day. My perfect day would consist of my family and I spending the day at the beach! As we live in the Midwest, we don’t get a chance to see the beach very often!

Describe your proudest moment. My proudest moment was when my son first said ‘mama’! I don’t think it gets any better than that :)

What do you do to relax? I love to spend time with my family and I love to read!

What animal would you like to be, and why? I love aquariums, so anything that lives in the Ocean

What’s your weakness? Oh geez…ANYTHING with chocolate!!!

Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours

Two birds disputed about a kernel,

when a third swooped down and carried it off.

Proverb from the Congo

"I Will fly Away" by AriaImages

We all look forward to your regular participation in this team, from contests to commenting on features we run. We're also interested in features written by our members, so please don't be shy about submitting things. We want this to be run as a co-operation, a safe haven, the place where we share and support each other.

This is OUR place, YOUR place.

Or, as a great man once said............

"ever thine ever mine ever ours"

Ludwig van Beethoven to his "Immortal Beloved"

Positive Quote

Just a bit of sunshine to brighten your day!

{emerging by EmeliaJane on Etsy}

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I saw this beautiful and hopeful print on Etsy, I knew it must be posted on the Positivity Team blog with this WONDERFUL quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson!

No matter what we might have faced or what we might face, the power is within us to rise above and push through, positive and hopeful, and make something beautiful of something challenging!

Think of the tiny seedling. It may face freezing temperatures, bitter winds, less than ideal planting conditions, pounding rain, blazing sun. Yet still, it pushes through the soil, rearing it's verdant green head!

Remember what lies within you!

The Positivity Team - Forum Thread for May

Happy Saturday from the Positivity Team!

We just posted the first Forum Thread for May! Here's the link:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?page=1&thread_id=6509190

All are welcome to come on in and contribute some positivity in the thread! It is a place to get to know one another, share positivity, encourage one another and promote each other’s shops and listings!