Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

To celebrate Valentine's Day I have a coupon code for 15% off your order! Use code VDAY2011 at checkout to receive this discount at my shop!

What do you and your significant other do for Valentine's Day?

Bug and I will be spending some time where my hubby volunteers as an EMS because Monday's are his nights on.

Saffery Moore Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to all who entered the Saffery Moore Giveaway! 

The winner was chosen using random dot org.

The winning comment is #15 - Melanie! 

[I became a fan of Saffery's facebook page, and I already hearted her Etsy shop. It is hard to pick a favorite item. It is either the tool belt pictured above, or this match box car wallet:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63484607/matchbox-car-wallet-and-road-to-go]

Congratulations! 

Look out for an email from me (totshop728 at yahoo dot com)! 

Want a chance at winning another item? 
Here are some more giveaways to enter:

The Startionery Sister's Giveaway (winner's choice print)

My Crochet Garden Giveaway (winner's choice hat)

Good luck!

Bug learned some awesome things this week!

Here is what Bug has learned this week. I must say they are pretty awesome skills!

I taught her to open mommy's drawer and pick out a pair of socks for me before I get out of bed. (She usually ends up in our bed during the night so she climbs out and gets my socks for me now.)

Daddy also taught her how to fist pump. We put on some club music and she pumped away! It was so funny! (It's sad, but we are a couple of Jersey Shore fans.) 

She also learned some new signs. We have been doing sign language with her since she was 6 months and it has been such a big help! She is talking a little bit now, but she also signs so
I know exactly what she is trying to say!
If anyone is interested in signing with their baby/toddler please let me know by commenting. Maybe I can show a sign a week if you are all into learning it! 
 In the mean time, you can go to this site to learn more about signing with your little one:
Signing Time on Nick Jr.

Also check out these DVDs. I found them to be very helpful in teaching Bug and myself how to sign:

Signing Time DVDs and Baby Einstein Signing DVDs

An Interview with My Crochet Garden and Giveaway

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I’m 51 years old. Married to my high school sweetheart for 32 years.  I taught myself to crochet at the age of 9. I bought a skein of yarn, needle and learn how to book with my allowance. I’ve been crocheting ever since. I typically crochet using a pattern. My yarn of choice would be cotton. I love making baby items. I won a blue ribbon last fall at our local fair for a shawl I crocheted. It was made from a beautiful wool yarn and the roses around the neckline are edged in glass-beaded silk. My true passion and joy lie in the garden, hence the name My Crochet Garden.

What made you want to become an artist?

I don’t know that I ever had a choice. It’s something I have to do. My soul wants me to create. If I’m not creating I’m not happy. 

What is your favorite item to create?

My true joy and passion is gardening, my favorite thing to create is a flower garden.  I enjoy crocheting just about anything; I guess my favorite thing to crochet would be children’s hats.

What advice would you give to new artist on Etsy?

Create what you love. The odds of making a million are slim to none.  Have good pictures. Relist often. Have business cards made and give them to everyone. You have to self promote. Facebook, twitter and blog. Have a business plan and goals.

How do you promote your work?

I had business cards printed using www.vistaprint.com I give them to everyone. I am also a co-owner of a brick and mortar antique shop. I put a business card in every bag that leaves my shop. I have a facebook fan page. I have a section in my brick and mortar shop with my crocheted items. I have been fortunate enough to land several large jobs for boutique shop owners in my area. I honestly think word of mouth is your best advertisement.

Do you have any websites connected to your shop (blog, facebook or twitter)?

I am currently in the process of creating a web site for our brick and mortar antique shop. I will link my Etsy shop to that. I do have a Facebook fan page. I personally do not blog or twitter. I have been featured on several blogs.

What is the inspiration for your work?

I suppose the best way to answer that would be color and texture. I love color and I love the different textures of different types of yarn.

Do any of your items go toward a special cause?

Yes, I crochet squares for  www.heartmadeblessings.org

I have made several donations to Relay for Life.

Do you have a job outside of Etsy? How do you handle both?

Yes, I’m a co-owner of an antique shop. We take turns working in the shop so I have several weeks off between working there. Since I co-own the shop I often times take my crochet with me and crochet while there.  I’m sitting in my shop now typing this on my laptop.

Where do you create?

Everywhere! Crochet is quite portable. I can crochet and watch TV. If my husband is driving I crochet. I love to sit in my garden in the spring and crochet. 

What are you goals for your shop?

At this time my goal is to reach 100 sales.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Create what you love. Seek peace, truth, joy and happiness.  Be kind to yourself and others.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to the winner!

Here's how to win!

Mandatory Entry:

 Visit My Crochet Garden's Etsy Shop and tell me what your favorite item is.

Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment telling me which you have done):
1 entry per comment left. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each with your email address.   

Become a follower of my blog.

"Like" My Crochet Garden on Facebook. (leave name you are a fan under)
Comment on one of My Crochet Garden's Facebook posts. Heart My Crochet Garden's Etsy Shop

Visit my Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item.

Leave a comment on any of my other non-giveaway blog posts. (Let me know what post you commented on)
Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or Blog (leave the link where you shared)

*I am not responsible for the shipping of this item*

Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Friday, March 4, 2011. 

Sunday, March 6, 2011 a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants 

and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted on my blog. If no email is listed I will choose another winner. Winner has one week to respond to my email to claim his/her prize after initial contact. 

Contest open to U.S. residents only.

We found and apartment!

We have been apartment hunting for what feels like forever now! Over the weekend we finally found one that we like...a lot! It's still only a one bedroom but we have learned to accept it. We are contemplating some ideas to sort of separate the room so it doesn't feel like Bug is right there. We were thinking of hanging a curtain or getting some screen dividers. I'd love to know any ideas you might have!

The rest of the apartment is great. The kitchen is large enough to fit a table in so we are keeping the dining area open just for Bug and her millions of toys! I also made her a book sling (which I am hoping to make more of to put up in my shop) and I can't wait to finally have somewhere to hang it! We also will have a washer, dryer and dishwasher! We haven't had any of those in three years! That's three years of lugging the laundry and washing dishes myself! This is going to be a nice break!

We are moving in a couple weeks so I apologize if my postings are scarse as we I will be packing! I'm so happy to share my excitement with you! I will post pictures after we get settled!

My Sanity Savers

Bug seems to have been teething since she was 5 months old! I feel like every time one tooth breaks through in comes another! We are onto the molars at the moment and she has been super duper cranky! Besides that she is climbing on anything and everything in the apartment! She has learned that if she grabs a throw pillow from the couch she can step on it to boost her onto the couch! This would be fine if only she actually sat on her bottom! When she is cranky and nothing seems to be helping her here are my sanity savers:

#1. Cheese! Bug absolutely loves cheese. Last night she had a crying fit and nothing was calming her down. I gave her a teether, she threw it on the floor. I changed her diaper, it didn't help. I gave her food, she dumped the plate. I picked her up, she pushed to get down. I gave her the bunny blankie she loves, she hugged it...but continued crying. I was about to break down and cry with her! Just then I said "who wants some cheese?" and she stopped crying and ran over to her highchair! Whew!

#2. Her favorite TV shows. I don't like sticking her in front of the television too often but lately that's all that will calm her down. Bug loves Yo Gabba Gabba (which is a little on the annoying side being that the songs get stuck in my head) and Blue's Clues.

#3. Bug's daddy. I don't know how daddy can calm her down just by walking in the door, but it works. I'm the one who is with her all day, changes her, feeds her, reads to her and plays with her so I guess she gets a little sick of me!

#4. Coffee (for me!) If I didn't have coffee every morning (and afternoon) I would be cranky and then we would both have a crying fit!

I'd love to know what your sanity savers are!

Please share below.

Less than a week until Valentine's Day!

We have less than a week until Valentine's Day!

Here are some of my favorite Valentine's items I found on Etsy!

Fuchsia Azalea Flower Earrings In Matte Silver by AllureByU

Love Birds 'Love is Sweet' banner by DelightfulDecoration



Personalized Sweetheart Tree Greeting Card by LittleSketchyCards



Assorted Hearts Wine Glass Charms by CharmingBeadz

Be sure to browse these awesome shops for great things you can use all year 'round!