I Love Days Off

(Don't forget to leave your comment for an entry into my very first Giveaway. Click here for the post with the rules!)

I took the day off today because I had a doctor appointment for my annual physical with my internist. They called at 6:50 a.m. to let me know that the doctor had an emergency and they needed to reschedule my appointment. So, I rescheduled the appointment for Monday because I am off for President's Day.

No longer needing to head over to the doctor, I looked at my "to do" list and did a little rearranging. I spent a little time on Twitter and in the etsy forms and then got to work on some new decoupage things I'm making for MyOtherShop.

Did I ever tell you how much I love days off? I live for the day that I can retire and be home every day to do whatever it is that I feel like doing. Since that isn't in the cards for quite some time for me....I try to make really good use of my days off from the other job.

I worked in my shop for a while and then went to run a few errands. That included a stop at the Bead Boss in town to scope out some possible ideas for Tresa's wedding necklace, and a stop at the craft store to do the same thing. While I was there I sent Tresa a text to ask her a few questions to try to help narrow down the necklace possibilities. Sparkly? Green? Gold? Chain? Beads? Pearls? Pendant? Stone? We narrowed it down to green, gold, chain or beads and pendant. Still haven't bought anything yet.

When I got home I hit the workshop again and took some photos and got some things ready to list. I ended up having a really productive day. I listed a photo in FourDogDay. It's a friend of Matt's hiking up the side of a mountain with his snowboard. The view is awesome!

I also managed to get some descent photos of a little purple floral trinket box and a really fun photo frame I had finished a few days ago. I got them both listed and they even got some immediate views. That was encouraging. I also finished another little bird house and another cute picture frame. I am having so much fun with the stuff for MyOtherShop. I love the painting and cutting paper and gluing and sanding and making things look old when they really aren't.

I thought I would make cards and tags and bookmarks forever because I really enjoyed it, but I love the messiness of decoupage. So even though my day off didn't start out as planned, I was able to grab that extra time and make good use of it. I really feel like I have found what I am meant to be doing.

How about you? If you have an etsy shop, are you making what you have always made, or did you start out doing something else and change course along the way? I would love to hear about it.

Sneak Peek

I got up nice and early this morning and headed straight for my workshop. I am bound and determined to get some of my new decoupage stuff listed tomorrow. That meant I had lots to do today, and I am happy to say that I did really well.

I had promised you a while ago that you would get a sneak peek at my new stuff, and if I don't do that today there will be no sneak peek because the stuff will be listed in MyOtherShop! I have a number of things done and still waiting for the finishing coat of spray. It looks like that will be tomorrow, but you can still see what they look like. So here you are!

Remember the funky little ducks I found at the resale shop? Well, Irv sanded all of them for me and I went to work. I painted the edge of the ducks and then I covered one side with one type of scrapbooking paper and the other side with a different paper. I figured that way people could turn them whichever way they want and match their decor. I worked very hard to make them look old and worn. Like I said yesterday, it is taking a lot more time to do all of this stuff than I thought. I want them to be really cool though, so it's worth it.

I love the little birdhouse. It was just an unfinished piece that I found at the craft store. It was the last one like that. I wish they had more of them. I really think they are cute. I didn't make this look old. I thought this paper was fine looking new.

The little purple flowered box doesn't have it's latch or hinges put back on yet, but I love this little box. I definitely will do more boxes. I can even line the inside with fabric once I get more comfortable doing them. I think this paper is so awesome, and this one I did give a worn look too.

The last thing is a picture frame, and this one I just started today. It still needs some sanding and more coats of goop, but you get the idea. It's my 60's look! Love the paper.

I have a feeling that a lot of these things I am making are going to have a hard time making it to my etsy shop. Everything is getting really good reviews here and I think so many of these would make super gifts for people I know. For now though, they have to go in my shop so I can get it open with a nice little assortment of products.

Still working on getting the rest of my Valentine's cards in my FourDogDay shop too. If I don't get going, Valentine's Day will be gone and I'll still be sitting here with a stack of Valentines!