Attempting To Build My Own Site While Suffering From The Michigan Winter Crazies

(Imagine me looking like the woman in that pic)

I live in Michigan. The winters usually last a really long time, but for a number of years it hasn't snowed too much, so they were somewhat bearable. Not This Year... It has been so cold (wind chills way below zero) that you don't want leave the house, but then you start to relate to Jack Nicholson in "The Shining." How can you not get a little off-kilter when you never see the sun and can't

breathe when you go outside?! Add that to the summer/fall/end of last year

being spent on crutches, and I am more than a little stir-crazy.

I figured that I needed an intellectual challenge to keep my mind from running away from itself, so I decided to build a new website. I know I have one, but I am not all that happy with the layout options, plus I want a shopping cart. I am very happy with my sales on etsy, but I really want a "free-standing" site as well. Not everyone belongs to etsy, plus I can make it my own style. DIYestores came highly recommended from a few artists I know, so I checked it out and signed-up.

Believe me, I can be a bit of a technophobe (is that a word?). I tried to build my own site a couple of years ago, and the results were panic attacks, crying jags, lots of wine, and an ok site. Needless to say, even the idea gave me anxiety. Hire someone, you say? But why? Can't I figure it out? I became determined to do it.

So, I started from scratch over the weekend, made some headway, hits some snags late yesterday that almost pushed me over the edge, but I did it! I only have 3 items listed so far, but believe me, that's the easy part. I think my plan is to sell my handmade goods on that site and sell supplies on etsy, at least for a while. I do want to sell supplies on my main site, too, but I am very happy with etsy, so that's going to take some planning.

I feel really good that I figured-out how to do it and went WAY OUT of my comfort zone to learn it, and on February 20th I will have my Grand Opening and you can judge for yourself. Please, don't really judge...

Trust me, if I can do that, anyone can.

(Now imagine me looking more like the woman in this pic)

My Favorite Goodies On Etsy

This holiday weekend is busy, but I wanted to post something new. I decided to show what my favorites are on Etsy. These are my most current favorite items. So hard to choose...

Etsy Buy Handmade MLouIsPink

Little Altered Shadowbox Collage Pendants

I made these little 3-D shadowbox necklaces, and I am so happy how they turned out! I started with little metal flip-top frames (which I will be listing as supplies soon), then layered a milagro between a transparency and another image. There is a piece of glass on the front protecting the pieces, and the backs of most of them have a mirror, but a couple have a piece of antique sheet music behind glass. They are hung from a length of faux suede.

Please check them out in my etsy store, along with more.

This is one of those vintage things I just HAD to have when I found it. It is chunky and heavy, but the chain is lightweight. The pendant is about 4" long, and the letters and the top detail are actually set into the metal, not sitting on top or printed. I couldn't resist. Now I have to decide if I am going to keep it or sell it!

I promise that tomorrow I'll get some pics of the cool printing and engraving goodies from that estate sale. I think I'll also get some shots of my studio.

I Am Estate Sale Crazy

OK, now that I have spent a crazy amount of time changing the template, etc, it's time to get to work.

Today's topic- Estate Sales. Wow. Even saying (or writing) the words gives me goose-bumps. I am crazy for all that stuff that people apparently store in their basements, totally forgotten, until I come along. I went to the best sale about 2 weeks ago in Warren! I could not believe how much was in that tiny little house. I swear, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

Now that I have realized that I cannot keep everything I bought, I am going through it all listing very fun things on my etsy store. On the left is just a bit of what I have listed. I joined etsy with every intention of making more altered art myself, but I get so excited when I find things that I know other creative souls will love, too.

Does anyone else actually get a huge rush from digging through someone else's garage or basement? What's the most unusual thing you have found?

Give me a few minutes, and I'll post some pics of the treasures from that sale that I have to sort and decide what to add to my giant stash.