Made in the USA or Why I Buy Vintage.

My 'new' butter dish

I won't get all political but it seems to me that lately the US corporations and politicians don't care much about what happens to our economy. That said, I realized that you can't buy a damn thing in the states that is actually made here and not imported. At least new products. I'm sure that's not completely true but, far and away, a product made in the States is the exception and not the rule. Is it any wonder why our economy is in the crapper?

So what is a girl to do?

Buy vintage of course! I don't need many things but every now and again I find I'm in need of something. Recently, I found I could really use a butter dish. It would have been so easy to hop into the car and drive up to Target or Bed Bath and Beyond but instead I perused ebay and etsy. And low and behold found a super cute butter dish from the late 60's early 70's in mint condition for (most likely) less than what I would have found at the local stores. The nicest things about it is that our money went directly to another American citizen for a well made in the USA, albeit vintage, product.

Doesn't always work, try finding a toaster, TV or computer made in the USA of US parts, but when it does it is a very good thing :o)

My *Holiday* Shop is Stuffed!

I have listed almost everything I have made for this season into my *Holiday* shop and I am having a special
(and this truly is *special* because I only do a store wide event once or twice a year!)

From today, November 28th through Friday, December 3rd, 9PM:

• *Free First Class* postage on all purchases within the United States
• Spend $50 or more and receive *Free Priority Shipping* within the United States
• International Buyers: receive *10% off* your entire purchase (contact me for coupon code)

I do have a few more pieces, mostly angels and elves, that will be finished up before the end of the week and will be included in the special.

:o) Kelly

Kindred Spirit: Rebecca Tryer Goodwin of 'hoffee and a nuffin'

I adore hoffee and a nuffin sock monkeys! Each one is unique and the attention to detail, extraordinary! I'm anxiously awaiting for the one I'll just have to adopt for my little guy. Yes, I actually stalk her shop ....just kidding, but every new monkey or friend gets checked out as soon as it is listed and I'll know our sock monkey when I see it! Okay, it may not even be a monkey, Rebecca has made moose, rabbits and even a panda, but something tells me it will be a monkey. Rebecca is another crafty CafeMom. There are so many fabulously crafty moms I have had the pleasure of meeting in the CafeMom street team. Rebecca is one of my favorites! So,without further ado, meet Rebecca, in her own words:

My name is Rebecca, also Becky to my family and to anybody I've known until I was 17 years old. (I really don't mind whichever you choose... I'll respond!) Originally from Southern California I now live in Oregon with my husband to whom I have been married for 6 years. I'm 31 years old and a mommy of two boys. Having children has changed my life. They're a hand full at times, but they're amazing and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world (even on our worst day!) I love them! I've worked as a waitress for a couple of years and my last job was in Customer Service for a food distribution company. I was able to quit my job to stay home with my children and I have shops on Etsy to supplement my husband's income.

I have two shops on Etsy. 'hoffee and a nuffin' is my favorite and it holds many fun items for the sock monkey obsessed. Here you'll find genuine, real-for-sure sock monkeys (regular modern, vintage, and miniatures), photo greeting cards, pincushions, fabric coasters, ornaments, sometimes bunnies and other creatures, and... well, take a peek and see for yourself! I made my first sock monkey in February 2008 for my youngest son's 2nd birthday. The second was made for his brother. After a few I started getting requests for more and that's when I turned to Etsy. I'm not sure that I have "plans" for any of this, but for now I'm really enjoying what I do and thrive on the positive feedback of others to continue. It seems that as long as you're happy, I'm happy; and for as long as you're happy, I'll continue to do what I love. As much as I love the sock monkeys, I can't help but want to create other things as well. I'm definitely not limited! This is where 'Sweetest Little Things' emerged from. Where was I to put "everything else"? I enjoy working with polymer clay and have fun Little Birdie Buttons and Ladies of Snow (Red Hat Society Snow-Woman) ornaments. Oh, and Hee Pigeons! Hee Pigeons are decorated, magnetic clothespins (really, you have to read the listing for the story of the Hee Pigeon!) I do have some new items planned... but it's a surprise! You'll have to keep checking in to see what's new...
So, I AM passionate about sock monkeys. My work is personal and I take them very seriously. I don't believe in "whipping one up" nor do I believe that one is finished until it's truly finished. No shortcuts are taken nor corners cut. It's important that each one have a personality of it's own. This actually happens naturally. It is very hard to duplicate a previously made monkey, and therefor I don't enjoy doing it. In my mind, if they all looked the same, you may as well have bought it at the store. *If you could invite any 5 people (alive or dead, it is a theoretical question, LOL) to your place for dinner, who would you invite and what would you serve?

It's hard to say... besides my grandmother (with whom I'd LOVE to visit again!) I'd be terrified to meet: Jimmy Stewart, Walt Disney, George Harrison, and Betty White (I think she's great!) I'm sure we would have a very informal lunch so as to simply enjoy each others company.

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Rebecca as much as I have! To learn more about her or her shops check out her blog, hoffeeandanuffin or visit her etsy shops, hoffee and a nuffin and Sweetest Little Things

Thanks Rebecca!

I Was Included in a Treasury!

I have been included in other treasuries and for whatever reason didn't post a link to them. This is the newest treasury and a very cute one, to boot! So, this will be another new feature (whenever I'm featured and made aware of it!) I will start posting the links. There are some really great treasuries out there and some very talented Etsy artists!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=42666

In the Works---other mini play dough kits

Snowman comes with 4 oz. white sparkly peppermint play dough and snowman cutter.
It will have additional colors but I'm not sure which ones and how much of each yet.

Candy Cane will come with one 4 oz tub of peppermint scented red and one 4 oz tub of peppermint scented white. (and a candy cane of course)

Sugar cookie will have one 4 oz tub of vanilla natural colored dough and multiple colors for decorating(small amounts, still working out the details!) It comes with a star-shaped cutter.

Oh Christmas Tree comes with a 4oz tub of Green regular scented play dough and brown, red and yellow mini sized containers (again working on the details) It has a tree cutter
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Here are the graphics for my other mini play dough kits. I apologize for the quality, they don't transfer from program to program right. The pictures are full color but when I copied them to photoshop the background color shows through. Anyone who can solve this dilemma, I would be very appreciative!

Camo Play Dough Collection Package Graphic

Here's the newest graphic for my play dough packaging.
I will post photos of the complete set when I have them (in the next day or so)

new photos of my ultimate space boy play dough collection

10 colors of homemade play dough, alien guts and 4 colors of space dust

My Completed Christmas Projects

Okay, here are the final results of some of my projects.

It’s a slow go but I’m getting there!!bzlittlechristmaself.etsy is filling up!

Ribbon Candy in progress

Gingerbread Snowflake Ornaments

emma's bears

Have you ever looked at an artist's work and just knew you'd like the person who made it?

That's how I felt about Emma's Bears. The first time I saw the soulful eyes and sweet faces, I just knew that this talented artisan would be someone I'd like to meet someday. In the meantime, I will share her work with you and pine away for one of her sweet bears for my sweet son.

My newest item!

Well, this project took me a long time to finish! I have been working on it for months, mostly researching bugs and how to collect them for the manual. I then had to regurgitate(and yes, that is the word I meant to use) what I learned into an easy to understand manual for boys between the ages of 5 or 6 and 10. So it's finished and listed! I hope other parents like it as much as I do.

Wow! What a couple of days for busy little elf!

So unexpected, the fine admins at etsy included a couple of my items in their related items section of two pretty big articles!

Check it out!!(scroll down to related items and look for busylittleelf)

http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/reviews/article/handmade-kids-an-insiders-review-of-cafemomcom/2277/

http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/spotlight/article/etsy-finds-dosidough/2320/

Big thanks to the powers that be, whomever that may be!