Oh Joy!

We all know what comes after Thanksgiving....ah yes, the shopping, the sales, crowd fighting.
I must admit I did the midnight sale at Wal-Mart - it is more entertainment for me!  Plus, I got some great new sheets and a hand vac. whoopie.

In the spirit of the Black Friday through Cyber Monday hoopla, I've added a 15% off coupon code to Clever Notions.

Enter: 15JOY2010 to get the discount.

By the way, I've added some cute new headbands to the shop this week, great stocking stuffers.

I introduce you to Tough and Sweet: 

This is limited, only a couple left - your choice flower colors.

Next up is Bubblegum Ice Cream:

Love the sequins on this one, but it can be done more subtle with tulle or button.

Perfect for the girlie girls is Technicolor Flower:

And Purple is THE color this year, so everyone needs this one:

Purple is the New Black

More headbands are on the work table - how about a black and white or vintage brown with white polka dot? 

I have some new Crochet Candy original pins coming soon! If you are interested in those, let me know! 

They are $7 each. 

Remember, to shop local and shop handmade when at all possible!  If you are going to help out the economy, might as well be your local economy and those who are using their talent to make a living.

ETSY

I can almost guarantee you will see something you love 

everytime you go to the front page of Etsy!

CLEVER NOTIONS

We have a Winner

I am having a lazy Saturday morning  - drinking my coffee this morning trying to wake up - I randomly asked my hubs to pick a number between 1-10 and he quickly said 8.  I asked why, just because I was curious as he was so adamant about the number 8, but he had no real reason. 

He's a dude, what can I say...

Anyway, congrats to Michelle of Everyday Me!!!  You are the big winner! :D  BTW, if you do not know Michelle or her blog, I just hopped over there to find her contact info, and what a delightful blog she has!  You must check out her awesome frames - what a fantastic way to display those favorite scrapbook pages you have stashed away!!!  PLUS, she's a team member of my friend, Julie's These are a Few of my Favorite Things so she has to be awesome.

:):):):):):):):):):):):):) <-----for you Julie. ;)

Now Michelle, I don't envy you for having to decide which of Mandie's awesome items from Moxie Mandie you are going to select, but Happy Shopping!

AND a big Thanks to Mandie for this fun exchange and giveaway.  I thoroughly enjoyed and hope we were able to meet some new friends and showcase our fun shops together.

Can't wait to see who won the store credit to my shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/clevernotions

Moxie Mandie Giveaway in Da house!

Who doesn't love a little giveaway?

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*insert crickets chirping*

Exactly.....not a soul!  EVERYBODY loves a giveaway, 

and this time of year is the perfect giveaway time, in my opinion.  

So in the spirit of giving, my sweet friend Mandie and I decided to do a little giveaway swap. Up for grabs is a $10 shop credit to her super cute new Etsy shop:
Moxie Mandie

And let me just tell you $10 is good! 

You can get this:

or you can get this:

And you can get several of these adorable gift tags!!!!

She also does a mean ruffle!

So how cute would one of these bags be as a sweet stocking stuffer? 

Or a great way to give a gift card?  

Oh, wait, I have a better idea!  

Keep one for yourself and get a couple more for gifts for your BFFs!  

So to win this fun giveaway, leave me a comment with your favorite product from her shop and just for fun the name of YOUR shop or favorite Etsy shop.

AND if you are new to Etsy, *GASP* Just hop on over there Etsy.com and search for something you like and see what you find then come back and leave us the name of the shop. I'm always on the hunt for new pretties. :)

Oh, and if you want to enter more than once, just post this giveaway {with link} on Facebook, Tweet about it or even blog about it.  Just stop back in and comment for each thing you do.  Easy Peasy! 

Giveaway will close on Friday night, midnight, my time.  

I'll announce the winner on Saturday. YAY!  

AND while you are at it, go over to Mandie's blog and check out her giveaway...  

it's a $10 credit to a familiar Etsy shop in my life. ;-)

This is my space

this weekend has been a photographing weekend and I have not completed any crafty projects, so this is what my sewing/craft table looks like right now:

It is definitely a colorful mess, no? 

There are headbands in the Etsy shop, so check it out! 

Oh, and another thing....I'll let you in on something... There will be a giveaway up in here this week, so stay tuned. 

Moxie Mandie

I must tell you about my friend Mandie's very cute wares in her brand new Etsy shop called Moxie Mandie.




First of all, she is just an awesome person. Seriously! Read just a few of her blog posts and you'll see!

Second, she has worked hard to attain some mad sewing skills and is making these adorable zipper pouches.

Third, Her generosity and spirit of helping others truly amazes me. 

Take for instance how she has decided to donate 10% of her sales this month to something she is passionate about.  She is doing this for another adorable girl on the interwebs, Emily over at the Anderson Family Crew. Her photos are splendid, by the way!  They are adopting a little girl from Africa and need to alleviate some of the costs. 

I encourage you to head over to her shop and do a little Christmas shopping this month - Don't forget to put "Adoption" in the notes to seller so she'll know to deduct 10%!

Also, you might want to check out Moxie Mandie on Facebook and "like" her.  (BTW, I'm so glad FB has not put a dislike button on our profiles and pages - that would be rather humiliating, huh?)

So many pretties around the internet lately - I will share more this week.

Cardinal Sin

It dawned on me that I had posted my headbands in my Etsy, but never blogged about it!
Geesh, that's like the Cardinal Sin, right?


One of these days I'll get back on track with my blogging.
*pinky promise*

I have several of these going right now in many different designs...time is just working against me (or maybe it's my age, I'm not sure)!

If you are an Arkansas Razorback fan, this is a must have!

And if you are not....Well....you should be! ;0)  WPS! 

(That's Woo Pig Sooiee for you non-Hog fans)

 Available with red base or white

Girls can be hunters too, and there is no reason you can be cute in the woods, right?

Love vintage?  I have several great fabric choices in the works.

Great looking and fashionable colors and prints are also happening.

If you have a particular color or theme you might be interested in, let me know.

Oh, I will be having a giveaway coming up too. 
Giveaways are good right?

Meantime, check out Clever Notions Etsy. I still have some Crochet Candy available too -

Hello craftiness

I know my blog has been quiet, but trust me I've been a busy bee in other areas of my life.
Between all the illnesses in my family and losing my aunt, work and other activities; it's just been hectic. 
HOWEVER....I have been crafting!
In fact, I have been working like crazy on my new headbands.
NOW, I must get them listed in my Clever Notions Etsy shop.
Since I live in Arkansas and we Arkansans have Razorback Football Fever, I have made Razorback themed headbands.
These will fit all shapes and sizes of heads, which is what I really love about them.  They are the first headbands that I feel like I can wear comfortably and that stay in place! They are self tying, so fully adjustable.

Here is my friend Laura's little girl, Abbie sporting her new headbands:

 

I'm extremely excited about these and hope others will be too! 
I have several vintage fabric headbands and other fun designs. Hope to get them on Etsy this weekend, but if my local friends are interested, email me kwhitten@gmail.com or message me on Facebook and I'll be glad to deliver.

I hope to get back on a schedule soon where I can be back to my normal blogging (both posting and reading and commenting on my favorites) soon!

Thanks for all the prayers, kind words, and thoughts over the last couple of months. It's been a sad and difficult time, but God is getting my through and making me stonger. :)

Etsy update

Just a quick update on the blog about my Clever Notions Etsy shop update.

I had made myself a white Crochet Candy with tulle and pearl button for a more vintagey, shabby chic feel and have enjoyed wearing it on a pearl necklace. It's made several appearances in my 52 week project:

Here with two necklaces I put together for a longer look:

And here shortened up:

I have never thought of myself as a "pearl girl" but with the crochet flower it feels a little more modern and funky and I have worn it quite a bit!

So I decided maybe I didn't need to keep all the fun to myself and made some similar Crochet Candy for the Etsy shop.

Here is Strawberries and Cream:

You can purchase her by following this link.  She is white with tulle and a pretty pearly red button and clear beads on a red and white plastic beaded necklace.  However, she is made with a pin back so you can detach and wear her as a broach or add to your own pearl necklace.

Here is another fun little flower with a shabby feel, the Lemon Lace

 

The lemon lace is made with a pretty yellow cotton yarn and some vintage lace.  She can be purchased with a pin back, or as a hair clip or headband.  Lemon Lace can be found here.

These bright fun colored Crochet Candy flowers have been one of my favorites to wear!  I have made a few different combos and unfortunately I only had a little of that green yarn and am longing for more!  It's the perfect shade of green. It also matches the green beaded necklace perfectly for the Vivid Fruit and Fun necklace. 

This flower is made with the pin back so it can be worn as a broach or attached anywhere else you need a pick-me-up!

There are also a couple of headbands in these fun colors.  

If you have a specific color combo you would like to have in the Crochet Candy, I'll be happy to customize them. 

I'll even give you a special deal....free shipping through August 15th if you purchase and tell me you read this on the blog.  How cute would you or your daughter be wearing one of these the first day of school?! ;)

Etsy is live

Yay...I got the Clever Notions Etsy shop up and running.

Several listings and more to come.

Check it out: Clever Notions

Notice in the Shop Welcome that I have a little referral incentive for free shipping!

I also want to thank each and every one of you for your sweet comments and suggestions about my name. That is why I dig the blogging/craft community...people are always willing to help each other succeed. 

You all ROCK!

The End.

It's all in the name.

Okay, so some of you may not know that in my real job...the one that pays the bills (most of the time), I work in public relations, marketing and advertising.  In fact, I have a marketing degree and love what I do.  It allows me to be (somewhat) creative on a day-to-day basis.  Plus, a bonus is I also get to take pictures, so it's kind of a win-win for me.
(on a sidenote, I've been questioning myself about a career-change lately, which really seems silly now that I just read back what I typed! anyway...)

So you would think I would be kind of an expert of sorts when it comes to marketing myself or my own handmade wares, but in reality I still learn something new everyday about my profession, both in my real job and these little side ventures.

I am amazed by the talented people in blogging/etsy land - some who are young and have learned rather quickly!  I really think it's quite awesome - especially when you read about young stay-at-home mothers who are able to work from home, be with their children, and do what they love.  I say more power to them! 

I don't think for a minute that I could "quit my day job" and quite honestly don't know that I would want to given the choice; however, I do think the thought of a little side venture selling things that I've made with my own two hands is pretty nifty!

When you make stuff, it is cool when other people appreciate it. There is no way you could pay someone for the heart and passion they have for their craft, so I think most people who make things and sell them get more satisfaction from knowing others appreciate their time and talent than from making a few bucks from selling it.  Am I wrong?

Having had my Country Text Etsy shop open for awhile now and making a couple of sales is pretty sweet, but I'm currently working toward opening a second Etsy to include my crochet flowers, some repurposed jewelry and some sewn/quilted items.

Herein lies my dilemma: my name.
Not my name...my name is Kim and there's no dilemma there, that's what my mammy named me!

I mean my Etsy shop name.

I've kind of branded my crochet flowers as Crochet Candy.  I love it - cute, catchy and I think it describes them to a tee!  Several people know that is what they are called. Would be a great Etsy shop name, no?

The problem is I have other non-crocheted items that I plan to put in the shop.  Things like this:

AND

this...

When I did a little blog makeover awhile back I had all of this swimming around in my head and tried to come up with a blog name that encompassed all of my crafts and hobbies....

Enter: Kim's Clever Notions.  

I like the play on the word notions, and thought it would be a great Etsy shop name - I even did an etsy search to make sure there was not another Clever Notions out there.

I even thought about two separate new shops. Then I came back to my senses! I just don't think that is practical and it makes it hard to market - it's just confusing to people.


So now you see my dilemma - I need some advice here. 

What would you name my new Etsy shop?

Also, if you have an Etsy or plan to open one anytime soon.  You should go check out Amy Lapi's free weeklong workshop she is doing this week. She has some great practical advice and ideas!  Thanks Kara for pointing me that way.

mad about plaid!

I really don't think plaid ever goes out of style, but it has its more popular times 

in the fashion industry.  

Whether it's in style or not, I love it!  

Plaid can have such a great variety and the mixing of colors and patterns is just fun.

"So what does plaid have to do with this blog post and why are you mad about it Kim?" 

you are asking...well, I'll show you:

So, I feel quite certain that some of you quilting pros will think this is quite silly, but I'm so excited about the possibilities now that I've made several of these little puppies.

What pray tell are these little puppies I speak???

Well, they are coasters of course!

and that look darn cute on my coffee table I must say.

I had come across a little coaster tutorial awhile back and bookmarked it via my tumblr and decided to give it a whirl using some tossed aside clothing I had put in the ever-mounding "yard sale" piles, along with some vintage fabric I have acquired.  

For an extra touch I added some little pom-pom trim I had in my ribbon and trim stash.

cute, eh?

I have another set that has yet to be put together and finished.  

My first set, which we'll call the guinea pig set is being used in my living room right now. 

I'm also very excited about putting some of these together using some great vintage sheets I found for a nice "shabby chic" look. 

So any feedback?  Good....bad?  (I can take it!)  ;]

Do you think Etsy buyers would appreciate these?

My goal is to have a new Etsy shop (I'll still have Country Text also) up and running by next weekend. It will include a few sets of these along with some jewelry and hair accessories utilizing my 

Crochet Candy.

Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Ima doofus

...for so many reasons, but today mainly because I realize I've spent all this time on my little "blog makeover" and never went back to fix some of pages I made.

You'll notice right below my banner that I have new static pages with much of the information that I had before on the side.  This is nice because it allows a little more flexibility.  I hope to keep these pages updated and current, but right off I realize I never even linked my Etsy...upon further investigation I realized that I have not even updated my Etsy since Christmas!    GEEZ.

See, Ima doofus!

Here is one of the customized Country Text frames that I did for a lady around Christmas.  I love these with the barnwood frames.  

(nevermind my reflection or the plastic wrapped around the frame for protection)

I also have not been a very faithful blogger lately.

Yet again: doofus!

I hope to get some of this remedied this weekend.

Meantime, how do you feel about the new Google produce: Google Buzz?
Jury is still out for me on this.  I have Twitter and Facebook and am not quite sure I can reprogram myself at this point.

Christmas ideas

Okay, so I'll admit this post is one hundred percent self promotion, but just roll with it.

I am really excited about the interest I've had so far from friends & colleagues in my Country Text prints & notecards for the Christmas season.  

I just thought I'd shamelessly plug them here on my blog for my two or three readers who might need a unique Christmas gift idea.  HA ;)

I am taking orders right now for JOY notecards (who wouldn't love to get a unique, one-of-a-kind Christmas card in the mail?), letter prints to take and frame yourself, or framed words, where I'll take care of the framing for you.  

 

After some time and lots of "ciphering" I've got pricing for some standard framing.  I'm using a local frame shop and have been very pleased with their work.  The pricing depends on the number of letters, so unfortunately in your name is Featherstonehaugh (1996 Guiness World Book's longest last name), it will cost much more than my friends who have the last name of Orr!  

You can go through my Etsy shop (linked up over there in the top right hand corner) --------->

or just shoot me an email at kwhitten at gmail dot com and let me know what you would like. 

Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled blogginess! =) 

Country Text

so I took down my Country Text Etsy widget for a while.
It seemed a little outdated, what with the holiday JOY stuff still up.

I had actually planned to spread some LOVE for Valentine's Day, but it really just "snuck" up on me and I didn't get it done.

I have some other ideas for new stuff floating around my head for Country Text, but for now it will just be idle and quiet.

I was very happy with how things went for Christmas and hope to expand on that next year as well as holidays in between.

I thank all my friends & family for supporting my efforts and encouraging my work both past, present and future!

Thanksgiving #2

Today was the *official* celebration.
We had the perfect weather.
In fact this entire week has been perfect weather.
for that I am thankful.

Something that always stresses me out during the holidays:
having so many places to go - making choices.
"your family this year, my family next." etc.
This year I didn't worry & stress -
something new I'm trying.
Having so many places to go and family to see.
for that I am thankful.

So much I take for granted.
So much to be thankful for.

We drove to Conway today to have Thanksgiving with Hubs' side of the family.
We have not gone there for TG for two years.
What a fun group!
A large group.
So large I cannot capture them all.
Luckily our niece Cassy takes the "traditional" Thanksgiving family photos each year.
Everybody complains.
but I think secretly they are all happy she does it.
Here are few from my Canon:

Alex & her cousin Callie

Father & Son

Brooke & Rob (voted biggest & best teeth by the family!)
:->

Daddy's Girl

Wow! A picture of me!

A pretty nice looking group indeed!

A random observation for the day:
I've used the word "indeed" more than once today.
odd.

No shopping for me tomorrow.
I'm making some sort of stand against it.
and I pretty much don't want to get up at the buttcrack of dawn.
Black Friday is way overrated in my opinion.
Plus I made that whole handmade pledge thing.
I cannot break my pledge.
The Etsy police might hunt me down!

Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night.

What does Spring plus Fall equal

These are some out of car window pics I took going down mom's driveway last Sunday.
I was doing a little editing on these in Photoshop and came across some actions I downloaded from deviantart. The one I decided to try was entitled "spring."
I thought it would be cool to see what it would be like to mix a spring action with a fall picture.
Here are the results.
Odd. But kind of pretty!


This dang week has absolutely flown by!
Where did it go?

So it is two weeks from Thanksgiving.
You know Christmas will be right behind...
If you are wanting to order any CountryText alpha-prints for gifts, please let me know as soon as possible. Especially for a custom frame job.
If you are local, drop me an email or call.
If not, go to my Etsy and shop away!

While you are there, do check out all the awesome eye candy that Etsy has to offer.
Make some Christmas purchases.
Etsy has the coolest search options.
Browse by color, location and a plethora of other ways.

I can promise that the individuals artists and crafters will appreciate it much more than Wal-Mart or the other big boxers. (disclaimer: I am not a Wal-Mart hater, I shop at Wal-Mart almost daily, my family works at Wal-Mart, they have rolled back prices...just sayin').

Plus, the quality will be fantastic.
That is one thing I've noticed about most artists or crafters who sell their own goods, they take great pride in their craftsmanship and want to make top notch items. There is gorgeous stuff on there. I have found a lot of jewelry I would love to have!

Anyway just a Handmade plug I suppose, but do consider at least buying local this year, our local economies need your dollars to thrive in these scary times.

okay, off to wash dishes.