MTcoffinz Alternative Clothing Tutus!

Some time back, I discovered a shop on Etsy. I then learned she had 2 shops AND a website! What initially drew me in, was a formal tutu.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/17201467/gothic-bridal-skirt-floor-length-tulle

Then, she produced a makeup line. And well, you know how much I LOVE THAT!

From there, I stumbled upon the piped tu tu. I knew I instantly wanted my girls to have one. I saw that they didn't openly offer the child sizes needed, so I contacted her assistant. I told her color wasn't all that important but told her my girls' favorite colors. She suggested a purple/pink combo that would match but be a definite contrast. I measured and submitted sizes...I hope my pictures do them justice!

Next will be my piped tu tu! A red and black that I will be modeling for them. I have the perfect red and black boots! I am sooo excited! Stay tuned!!

UPDATE on my Etsy

Ok. So a while back I posted that I was closing shop.  After a critique virtual lab with Etsy admin HeyMichelle, I was inspired to keep going and create some new items. In this lab, I learned that the item that the admin had purchased is on youtube in an Etsy video. Please see at the bottom of my blog.

I am so glad that I did. Because I decided to keep going, I ended up selling my cancer tribute top hat and then was able to donate $131.25 to The American Cancer Society.

It sold for $175.00 for a birthday gift to a woman who volunteers at a children's cancer hospital. 75% of the proceeds were donated as a memorial donation for Peggy Zemmer for the continued cancer research.

Peggy, my husband's grandmother lost her battle to cancer last year. She was a strong woman and I am honored that I was able to know her. She will be remembered always.

I will be making another headpiece in honor of my grandmother who also passed away due to cancer. Make your donation today! $5 is all it takes!

Slight Review with a BONUS!

I have done a review on MTcoffinz Eyeshadow but for some reason, I failed to mention the eye shadow primer. So...here we go.

The primer is just as fabulous as the shadows. I have pretty dry skin. Especially where I live. It is desert like weather during the summer and the winters are cold. These conditions take a toll on your skin. I typically used a brand name eye shadow primer but it was a bit dry for me. I would have to use an extra moisturizer on my eye lids before applying it. NOT ANYMORE!

With MTcoffinz's Under The Rainbow-Eye Primer, I no longer have to use the extra moisturizer and I don't have to worry about the shadows creasing as the day and night wears.

I did a shoot yesterday at sunset. It was warm and in direct sun. Here is at the start:

Here is halfway through our shoot:

And finally at the end:

as you can see, NO CREASES!

And I can tell you, that it lasts all night. I have a horrid bad habit of sleeping with my makeup on and this morning my shadow still looked pretty great. My mascara didn't fair so well but the shadow was still good.

A clip inspired by one of MTcoffinz eye shadows.

Now, for the Bonus! I have 2 questions. The FIRST person who answers BOTH questions correctly will get to choose 1 item out of 1 of my Etsy shops for 50% off! www.FeatherAhead.etsy.com or www.CreationsByCReid.etsy.com


Question #1:

What FOUR MTcoffinz eye shadows am I wearing? Order doesn't matter...

Question #2:
What eye shadow color was the clip inspired by?

You may answer here in the comment section OR on my facebook fanpage. This "contest" will end July 1, 2011, 12pm PT





Etsy shops update!

Yes. The rumor is true. I will not be listing anything new or renewing things when they are ready to expire.

From my previous post you can see that we are going through a lot here at home. I feel that my energy and focus needs to be on what's important- MY FAMILY!

I have been on etsy since April 2010. I started out as CReid0409, then in November 2010, I split into 2 shops. FeatherAhead and CreationsByCReid.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67642176/waterfall-of-feathers-on-leather-with

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62892924/crochet-flapper-cloche-red-and-black

 It was a new start..a fresh one. Or at least that is what I told myself. Under CReid0409, I had a total of 6 sales. Since Nov, I have had 3 sales in my FeatherAhead shop and no sales in my CreationsByCReid shop. I know that all of my focus was in FeatherAhead and that is probably why my other shop never went anywhere.

We don't have an extra room at home for my workspace, so the living room becomes my workspace. Currently it takes up a good portion of it. I have to try and keep it "shoved" into the corner, so anytime I want to work on something, I end up stringing it all over the place. I would just organize it better but that would mean taking up even more space.  With all of the supplies and finished pieces piling up, it is overwhelming. And each day, as I obsessively check my shops hoping for a sale, I am more and more discouraged at the lack of sales.

I have had my shop critiqued and one of my sales was by an Etsy Admin. They say, "patience." You are doing everything right. Just hang in there. Well sadly, I am out of patience and more importantly I am out of money.

My oldest is finishing her last day of Kindergarten today. That means she will be home for the next 3 months or so. My attention needs to be undivided for the kiddos for awhile. And for my wonderful husband who works so hard for us. He has supported me throughout this whole adventure even though it has cost us money that we could have better put somewhere else.

I will continue my passion of Photography in the meantime and plan to get my family more involved in it. We will do a photo scavenger hunt this summer which I am super excited for. Hopefully I will get one or two more weddings this year and lots of portraits scheduled.
 Email me for available dates and rates. You can also find me on facebook.

A while back I opened a zazzle.com shop to put my photography to use. It doesn't cost anything and doesn't take up space. So far it keeps the creativity flowing and I get to see my photography in use. A win win all the way around.

Unless I get completely sold out, the last day that FeatherAhead will be open is October 7, 2011 and October 5, 2011 for CreationsByCReid.
Coupon codes: FeatherAhead coupon code: SUMMER15 for 15% off (don't forget to check out the sale section for additional savings)
CreationsByCReid coupon code: CREIDSUMMER15 for 15% off
Now, if the coupons still don't help make my items into your budget, convo me with reasonable offer!

Meet The Talent Behind Malcakes25 Made by Malcakes

When entering an Etsy shop, it is kind of hard to get to know the artist/seller. While there is the Etsy Profile, it still doesn't cover the "personal" aspect you would get, if you were entering an actual shop. Here is my solution..instead of a "shop" feature, I am going to feature the artist/shop owner!

Introducing, Mallory:

 I asked her a variety of questions:

Question:What book are you reading currently or the most recent book you have read?

I am currently reading the book The Sparks Fly Upward by Diana Norman. It
is a historical fiction novel, which are my absolute favorites. I love to
read and finish between one and two books a week. I prefer to buy my books
or rent them from the library, I will never buy a kindle because I like
the old school feel of a page between my fingers, and that is lost with a
electronic version.

Question:If you could choose an era to visit, what would it be and why?

I would choose the 50's of course! I believe that this era was by far the
classiest.

Question:
What inspires you?

The world around me, nature, old found objects, creepy things, old images,
friends and family.

Question:
What are your favorite materials?

Using old paper in a variety of my art work is my absolute favorite.

Question:Do you sell exclusively on Etsy? http://www.etsy.com/shop/Malcakes25

I do not sell exclusively on etsy.

     If not, where else?

I sell in a few small boutiques, I am very fortunate in how well I do
there. I occasionally sell at some shows, and I have been a vendor at the
Pink Parlour Festival the past couple years. I  sometimes sell wholesale
to places as well.

Question:What is your favorite item in your shop currently and why?

My favorite items that are currently in my shop is The Dreamer
Necklace-Anatomy Series .

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72625275/the-dreamer-necklace-anatomy-series

I love the creepy vintage anatomical image that
sits inside the bezel, the weirder the better. I also really like the
Wyatt Earp Necklace that says "Tomorrow is a New Day", I love the old
west, cowboys and the sort.

My personal favorite is:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66052368/queen-maries-sister-made-with-paper-from

I particularly love the quote on this piece!

I encourage everyone to follow their dreams! Create what you want with no
regard to what anyone says, ignore the naysayers, be who you want to be.

XO
Mallory

www.madebymalcakes.com
www.malcakes.blogspot.com

She has given you a coupon code: Here's a 10% off coupon code for anyone who is interested: coolpeople10

What is your favorite item in her shop?
Thank you Mallory for letting us get to know you!

AND THE WINNER IS

ENTRY #3

BY NICOLE LENZ!

Finalist #3:

It was the summer of love and Emma was in it! She had met the man of

her dreams and they were running off to Las Vegas to be Married, she

thought her Mother and Father had no clue. Late on night they jumped

in their VW Bus and drove off into the next chapter of their lives.

When they arrived at the chapel Emma went in her bag to get the dress

she had made, next to it she found a box she did not put there. She

opened the box to find the most beautiful head band she had ever seen.

There was a note attached to the headpiece that said " Something old:

This lace was part of my wedding dress. Something New: I bought the

center crystal just for you, Something Borrowed: my time with you for

it can never be replaced, Something Blue: My heart for not being there

with you!"

 

There was 1 vote for entry #1, 2 votes for entry #2 and 3 votes for entry #3. So funny how that worked out.

Nicole has chosen the flower clip:

Thank you to all who entered! I am sooo glad that I didn't have to choose! Thank you to my sister in Hawaii for narrowing down the entries to our final 3 and thank you to all who voted!

I will be doing another giveaway when I reach 200 fans on my facebook page and another giveaway when I reach 100 blog followers! These giveaways will be SUPER easy and the prizes will be for a HUGE discount in either of my shops!

Thank you to all of my fans and continued support!

I will be taking a short break from production for my FeatherAhead shop to take some time to focus on my Creations By CReid shop which has been very neglected! New designs with richer yarns are on the to do list!

 

Giveaway Deadline EXTENDED

Due to the confusion of the entry method, I will be clarifying and extending the deadline in hopes to receive a few more entries. Please email your entry to creationsbycreid@gmail.com.

Clarification: I am looking for a short story relating to my new collection: Boho Chic FeatherAhead Style. I am not looking for an opinion or a description of the collection. To give you an idea, for this listing, I wrote a short story as part of the description of this listing Jenny Tatter.
I am only looking for 1-2 paragraphs. It should include the collection as a whole, not just one particular piece. When you look at the Boho Chic FeatherAhead Style collection, what is the first thing that comes to mind? You can view the collection here and here. If you need more help, please let me know...

I want to use the winners story in my shop for the new collection. So, if you are an Etsy shop owner, please give me the link to your shop so that proper credit is given.

The new deadline will be, Monday, May 9,  9am pacific time. A third party will choose the top 3 finalists. The top 3 finalists will then be announced with their stories and voting will open.

The finalist with the most votes will choose one of the following:

a burgundy handmade flower with a goldstone center accent hair clip

OR

a head band with a handmade flower with vintage bead accent, as well as rooster feathers

It Is Appreciation Giveaway Time!

As promised, when I reached 50 blog followers, I would do a giveaway. I apologize about the delay but I was trying to come up with the perfect giveaway plus I just launched a new line of headpieces.

I have released several in my FeatherAhead shop. The line is called Boho Chic FeatherAhead Style. The pieces are listed in the Boho Chic My Style section in my shop. The official name wouldn't fit in the section title.

There will be sizes available from Newborn to Adult.

You can wear them for dressy or casual ocassions.

There are also clips available if you prefer.

What do you have to do to enter this giveaway you ask?
I am looking for a short story centered around the new line...1-2 paragraphs to use in my descriptions of the new line. You will be given credit of coarse when it is used so if you have an etsy store, make sure you leave me a link to it.  You may only enter once. All entries must be received by May 6, 2011 at 9pm Pacific Time. The top 3 finalists will be chosen by a third party and then released on here for public voting. Voting will begin at the end of the day on May 7, 2011 and the person with the most votes will be announced May 9, 2011.
Email your entries to creationsbycreid@gmail.com.
The winner will choose one of the following:

A dark burgundy flower w/goldstone center clip

 OR

An orange and brown flower w/upcycled vintage bead lace headband.

READY, SET, GO!

Jamie's Hair Clips LISTED

As promised, I have listed the clips I have made in Jamie's honor. I even made it by the end of March..just barely! If you wish to make a donation but do not wish to purchase a clip, please make all donations at  "The Jamie Bowe Donation," at any U.S. Bank. NO donation is too small!

Lavender- To raise awareness for ALL Cancers!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71068280/charity-cancer-awareness-feather-hair

Grey- To raise awareness for Brain Cancer!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71156622/brain-cancer-awareness-charity-grey-bow?ref=v1_other_1

To make it simple, I have listed them both for $50 plus shipping. ALL proceeds will go to her fund at US bank.

I have also dedicated a hat in my Creations By CReid crochet shop to this cause.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63004466/crochet-flapper-cloche-hat-with-grey-bow

So please help in the awareness in cancer and help a family! I know this isn't much and not near enough but I hope that I will be just one of many to do something for such an important cause.

SHOP FEATURE: H0neyburn Cottage In The Woods!

My first shop feature! I would like to introduce you to Nicole of h0neyburn! As many of you already know, I am obsessed with her leg warmers! My kids have many pairs. I stole a pair from them to use as arm warmers and am in the process of ordering my own leg warmers and a pair of arm warmers with a thumb hole for me :)

 

Most people call me Nikki. I'm a simple kind of woman. I love God, my family, and good food. I have always enjoyed drawing and making crafts. I'm married to an amazing man who is also my best friend, and I am a stay at home mom to our one (so far!) 16 month old daughter. When I became pregnant a couple of years ago, I learned how to crochet so that I could make cute hats for our baby. I ended up crocheting adult leg warmers for my shop from that experience, which led me to learn how to re purpose new material into cute warmers for all ages.

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/58715526/pick-any-4-pairs-of-baby-and children      http://www.etsy.com/listing/52981727/romantic-white-crocheted-adult-over-the
     

What inspires me most is God and this amazing place He created. I love nature. I can sit outside under the trees for hours with the breeze in my hair listening to the sounds of wildlife around me. I decided to start making hair accessories out of faux flowers because of my love for nature. I like the way I feel with a flower in my hair, feminine and earthy.

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70712631/danielle-red-brown-blossoms-silk-flower

I started painting in high school, forgot about it for a while, then picked it back up when I opened my Etsy shop. I like to paint dreams, topics that concern me, and moments in time that make me happy. My favorite time period is the farming prairie days before the Industrial Revolution. Many of my paintings reflect my love of these simpler times when families stayed together and fought for what was right. It seems they had more respect for the land they worked than we have for the land we fill with garbage. I try to find uses for any 'trash' I cannot recycle or compost.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70516382/a-walk-in-the-woods-original-acrylic

I'm a real down to earth, bohemian kind of girl. Give me a tree, I'm sure I'd hug it.

Follow her great blog at:  http://momma-small.blogspot.com/
You can also find her on facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/h0neyburn

A sneak peak of a shop feature

As you all know, I have 2 beautiful girls. And of coarse they are spoiled! If I say "no" alot of times daddy comes in to save them and vice versa at times. I guess. LOL.

I am constantly looking for cute things for them on Etsy. Months ago I stumbled across this shop in Etsy Chat. Which I may add, is quite addicting and time consuming. Housework and other chores are procrastinated often and so does the cooking. This I am sure my hubby gets a little annoyed at but would never admit it. I am so glad that I procrastinated these things for chat, or I would have never came across this awesome shop. http://www.h0neyburn.etsy.com/. Anyone with little girls...go shopping there now!

The hat I made. You can see/purchase other hats and items i have crocheted at http://www.creationsbycreid.etsy.com/

I have 10 pairs now of her leg/arm warmers for the girls..well 8 pairs for the girls and 2 for me that I use as arm warmers. They have been great for this sporatic weather this year.

 As soon as my oldest comes home and if weather permitting, I shall get her to model some of her arm/leg warmers!

One pair that I have been wearing daily it seems. The fox fur ring I made and is still available in my FeatherAhead shop.

As soon as I obtain more followers, I will do official shop features and a giveaway and discounts etc.

I will end this as a preperation for the next post. It will be on a subject that I am positive we have all had to endure at some point. Please get your tissues ready. I will be in search of shops willing to participate as well. Thank you for your continued support

Chantell

PaulaHiga Jewelry Designer and the Benefits of Networking

Who today, isn't on Twitter or Facebook or even both? I am on both and from the last post, you can see a great benefit from using Twitter. Last fall I won a giveaway from a blog via Facebook Fanpage by PaulaHiga  Jewelry Designer. Her style and shop always has something I love. You have to see her creations with Cameos.

I am privileged enough to now own a set of earrings by her and I hope to one day own one of her Cameo Chokers.

This brings me to the overall benefits of Networking. Through Facebook and Twitter you have to opportunity to meet wonderful people. Add Etsy and you have the perfect combination. Etsy you can inner network in the forums and their chat. They have virtual labs, which are addicting and extremely useful for all Etsy shop owners. Then they have Teams. This is something I am still learning but have joined a team for each of my shops. The Carnival of Curiosities is for my FeatherAhead and Etsy Crochet Lounge is for my CreationsByCReid shop. Here I have discovered great talented people who share my interests and aesthetic style.
During all of this networking, I have gained a great friendship with shops owner of TatterPunk and AngelicPenguin. She is so very multi talented and I will reference her talent often throughout my blog journey. I feel we inspire each other and keep our focus in the right direction. This is a very important part of a crafters life...the people who are there to keep them focused and balanced.  She was listening when I mentioned my that my favorite stones were amber and turquoise...and surprised me with these beauties when she sent her business cards I had requested.

Next post shall be family orientated and as more followers join in my journey here, I will work on a challenge...