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jottersandjournals.com

It wasn't too long ago that my little Etsy shop took off and took on a life of its own.  To say I'm thrilled would be an understatement...I'm also very busy.  So busy it seems, that I can't keep up with my blog.  I've enjoyed blogging but I'm taking a break and perhaps it will be a permanent break - time will tell.

If you want to hop over to my new digs, please do!  I'll be showcasing some of the custom wedding jotter sets that my customers order.  It's mostly just pretty pictures and little talk but then that's the way I like it...  Later!

And the winner is...

Today's the day for my wedding banner giveaway!  Using a random number generator, the winner is #4...Anita.   Anita, I've already sent an email to you.  Thanks to everyone that left a comment!

Pretty White Boxes

When did it get so hard to find a nice, simple white box?  Maybe I'm looking in all the wrong places but it feels like I've looked everywhere.

I want to do a black and white version of this rustic wedding set that's in my Etsy shop...

Martha Stewart has a DIY that's cute as a button..  you know Martha thinks of everything first!

 

My set comes with a decorated paper mache box...rustic by design... 

There's a label on top with the couple's name and wedding date. 

Many brides and grooms are writing their own vows so I've added a set of notebooks to record them in.

Now I need to find a really nice, white box for my 'dressier' version.  I've tried all the big box stores plus everything Google had to offer.  I could sure use some help! 

Thrift Store!

I'm a bargain hunter and I'm proud.  I love the hunt.  There's just something fun and exciting and wonderful about the thrift store experience.  You know what I'm talking about, don't you?  This has been a very good week and last week wasn't bad either!  Here's the cute red all leather Bass purse I found recently for $6.00.

 
I always look for crossbody bags on my searches.  A couple of years ago, I was approached in a department store by an odd woman. Since pajamas have become pretty standard shopping apparel, I didn't think too much about the UT orange pajama bottoms but her over friendly chattiness about school supplies seemed a bit much at 9:00 in the morning.  I was barely awake but still alert enough to be on guard so I stayed between her and my buggy. A few minutes after she moved on,  a commotion erupted when she snatched another customer's purse.  Luckily she picked the wrong woman and was tackled before making her getaway.   From that day forward, I started wearing this style bag for a little extra assurance.    Well, that was a rabbit trail but it explains my obsession with crossbody bags.

I saw a segment on Today this morning and it featured a woman that hasn't bought anything new for five years.  Five years.  Her exceptions to that is of course food along with socks and underwear (and those are great exceptions).  She started out thrifting for one month but never stopped. 

My current search list includes a large table that I'll use in my art room.  I'd love a big ol' farmhouse type...chairs optional.  What's on your list? 

Jotter Love

I was talking to a friend the other day about the jotters that I'm selling and she had no idea what a jotter is.  Well, it's where you jot down stuff.  A free online dictionary defines it like this:

Noun

1.

jotter - a small notebook for rough notes notebook - a book with blank pages for recording notes or memoranda

 

A couple of months ago I added these little jotters to my Etsy shop. They're sweet and simple little books but depending on your ideas, dreams, thoughts or grocery lists, these simple books can hold a wealth of important information.

I was delighted when Heather Smith of the Love Club contacted me about including this jotter in her August subscription service box.  We came up with a plan and I proceeded to create a bunch of these babies.

Handy little totes from the Dollar Tree helped me stay organized.  Each tote holds 10 jotters perfectly.

 This was mail day.  What is it about a clear cello bag that adds a bit of excitement?  

If you're interested in checking out Heather's site, you can find her here.  The last I heard, there's a waiting list for her club so be prepared for a little wait....and tell her I sent you over.

A Wedding Banner Giveaway

Happy Saturday morning!  It's such a good start to a day when you wake up and realize that it's the weekend!

I'm adding banners to one of my Etsy shops and I put the first listing up today.  Here's a peek!

This is the panel that will be personalized:

It comes in kraft & cream or black & white.

 

This is how the completed banner looks.

I'd really like to give a banner away.

 Do you know a bride that will be getting married this fall or winter?  The giveaway signups will run for two weeks.  I'll 'draw' on Saturday, September 01, 2012.

Here's what you/they (you don't have to be the bride to enter:)  need to do:

Here's the listing if you'd like to have a look:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/107180214/wedding-banner-personalized-just-married

Just leave a comment including...


Email addy:
Couple's wedding date:

If you're the winner, I'll contact you for additional information for the personalization as well as the shipping address. 

I will attempt to reach you for 10 days.  If I have not heard back from you within that 10 days, a second chance winner will be chosen.


That's it.  No strings attached and I will not contact you in the future or put you on a mailing list!  You'll only be contacted if you're the winner.

Please no weddings any sooner than October 01, 2012.

Open to U.S and Canada.

Catching Up

Wow.  I've really neglected my blog.   I'm going to try to do better - I really am.  There's really no excuse other than life has been busy.

One of those life events was my son's wedding.  He and his bride Jennifer were married on May 26.

Many of the touches were DIY including the wedding banner...

I added their names and the date on the ampersand  to make it more personal  (click on image to make it larger)... 

Of course we had to have water with special labels...

With the heat wave that hit most of our country this summer, the bottled water was a hit!

I'll be back in a few days with more.  Have a great weekend.

Felted Wool Headbands

With three tubs of wool sweaters to recycle, I figured I need to come up with something to use the wool for besides journals.

I like the way these headbands turned out.  They remind me of bookmarks although the elastic bands are a tad too big for bookmarks. 

Each band is sandwiched between two layers of wool and secured with machine stitching.

The flowers all have some combination of stitching and a bead in the center.

I love the light olive green with the punch of color in the center.

These are in my Etsy shop.  I invite you to take a look.  I'm still getting my store stocked but I'm thinking this could be fun. 

 Here's a few more pictures...

Shabby Chic Craft Kit

 

 

Buttons in a tin, felt flowers in a paper pocket, and a handful of paper beads...

...rosettes small and smaller, rubberstamps, and tags ready for decorating...

      .....pendant tags, crepe paper, inchie blanks, clothespins, twine and lace....

All tucked into this glass-top shadowbox painted a lovely shade of robin's egg blue....

 

 ...crackle finished and little knob legs added.

Available on Etsy

Card and Tag Set

There's something about crepe paper that I really like.  I've often looked at it but had never bought any until recently when I bought white and cream.  White and cream may sound dull but I didn't know what I'd actually use it for.  While working on this greeting card and gift tag set yesterday, I thought of the crepe paper.  I think it works - what do you think?

 

 The card and the image are stamped on kraft cardstock.  Image is by Oxford Impressions.

Machine sewing outlines the tag and accents the area above the crepe paper.  Tiny silver and white bows adorn both the card and tag.

Buttons were handsewn to the button cards.  The set would be perfect for Mother's Day and is in my Etsy shop.

New Felted Wool Journals

 

I've been working away on these felted wool journals.  They're finished and ready to share! 

 

This one is made using a beautiful oatmeal color sweater and embellishments in hot pink and bright orange.  Don't you love the lining?

 

 

 

I'm crazy for this bright orange cord that I discovered in a bead store.  I didn't have any waxed linen in the right color for this journal so I was happy to find another option.  

    

For the lime green striped journal, I cut the wool using material from the waistband.  I love the bit of detail this adds to the book.

  

This is a side view showing the long stitch details.  I used waxed linen to bind this one.

Happy April Fool's Day!  Have a wonderful Sunday.

Birds Notecards

I'm up much too early this morning but my mind wouldn't shut off.  At 3:00 a.m. I turned on Pandora and started stamping.  I love this birds image from Artistic Outpost which I've stamped with Black StazOn.  I've stamped more this week than I have in ages though I'd prefer it during daylight hours!