A Month of Ups and Downs...and Downs and Ups!

At the beginning of this month, our little town was facing something big...the local mine, which had been booming and prospering to unprecedented proportions, was caving in to the growing economy crisis. Layoffs were announced, over 1500, which was about 1/3 of our town (give or take). As Feb. 2nd got closer, there were even rumors that disgruntled people were going to start trouble to the extent that the National Guard would be called in. Fortunately it didn't come to that, but a mass exodus has begun. So sad to see truckloads of people hoping to find opportunity elsewhere. Many of our friends have been affected too. Some have gone to other towns within the state, some to Colorado, and some to New Mexico. My husband thought that his department, which deals in Vibration Technology and Preventative Maintenance, wouldn't be affected, but unfortunately it was shut down, and he was laid off too.

We, like several others, have decided to stay in the area if at all possible, so we had planned to use his layoff as an opportunity to take care of things around the house that had been put off. Things were shaping up pretty good, and he was planning on Auxiliary Pioneering, as we call setting aside extra time in the month to share Bible truth with our neighbors, for the first time. Then the phone rang...apparently knocking out the department hadn't been such a good idea after all. His boss wants him back on Monday. Go figure! We are thankful he has a job, especially as hard as they are to find right now. But I have to admit a teeeeensy bit of sadness that "the old grind" has to take up so much of his time again already! We were getting used to having him around! OK, I'm just a little weird. So, a bittersweet sigh of relief here in our house!

In my employment news, in spite of Tweeting profusely, Free Shipping has not brought the droves of people to my store that I thought it would, and I think I am going to have to branch out to keep my business up. Potpourri just isn't a necessity in these uncertain times! I have made a couple of trades, which I think is great! Like the old days, when you could pay the doctor with a chicken or two! Imagine trying to do that now, lol! Anyhoo....I have started making Bath Salts, and will soon begin creating Sugar Scrubs and the like. So, you heard it here first, my new studio at Artfire (http://paradisepotpourri.artfire.com/) will soon feature many new botanical Bath Salts, Scrubs, and fizzies!

Megzy and I are also stocking up our eBay store, and getting ready to part with some former treasures. People still need clothes, right? So, we will keep listing and hopefully help our families by doing something that just may be helping others in a small way too! http://stores.ebay.com/paradisepotpourriglobalbizarre?refid=store

It's My Etsy-Versary!!

Wow! It's being a great first year since joining Etsy! I truly believe that having a special place to sell handcrafted items is the way for an artisan to go...I know that potpourri isn't something in high demand like, say, soap :) but I have made at least one sale every month since opening my Etsy store, and I have only made 2 total sales of potpourri in my ebay store in the same time period! Of course, I haven't really tried hard on eBay, since other items of a non-handcrafted nature seem to do very well there. It's our place to recycle clothing items! But I digress....I'd just like to say Thank You to Etsy for getting the ball rolling for us little crafters everywhere!

Of course I wouldn't still be in business if it weren't for my customers, soooooo......In honor of my First Etsy-Versary, I am offering FREE SHIPPING throughout February on all orders...even the somewhat heavy and bulky Luxury Size Bath Tea! In addition, mention this blog to me in an Etsy Convo or on Twitter and I will give you an additional 5% off your order! I may get brave and have a blog contest but I've never done that before, so if you have any tips or suggestions, please share them! :)

http://paradisepotpourri.etsy.com/

New Items at our eBay Store!!

Finally! In our excitement and enthusiasm over our crafty success with our various Etsy stores, Megan and I have both sadly neglected our original endeavor on eBay, Paradise Potpourri Global Bizarre! This store features mostly good quality used clothing for the whole family. In our troubled economy, people are looking for their favorite brands at lower prices. One of the best ways to do this is to find them Gently Used! Our inventory is very low now, but on its way back up, so add us to your eBay favorites, and maybe you will see something just your style pop up soon! http://stores.ebay.com/paradisepotpourriglobalbizarre?refid=store We accept most reasonable offers, too, so be sure to check it out!

Sticking my toe in the water.....

Well, I've gone and broadened my horizons...sort of! I decided to try the Free account on Artfire! You can see my new shop here: http://paradisepotpourri.artfire.com/

So far I have only listed 2 items which are also in my Etsy store, but I think I will list more gift sets and different combinations here for now. The free account allows for only 10 items anyway, so it will be a good way to try it out and see if I have enough fans to justify upgrading. If you have any suggestions, please let me know what you think!

Wow! I Made the Top Ten!!

Thanks go out to Mau, a/k/a ImpawsibleToResist http://ImpawsibleToResist.etsy.com for featuring me in her latest Top 10 Handcrafted items this week! Here is a link to her blog, which also features some other wonderful items from great Handcrafters! http://handicrafter.today.com/2009/01/16/friday%e2%80%99s-top-10-handcrafted-items-for-january-16-2009/

She thoughtfully included my Luxury Size Bath Tea, featured in my shop with Sensational Soothing Bath Tea with Ylang Ylang, but also available filled with Stress Relieving Bath Tea with Lavender!http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19639526 This has been one of my best sellers lately...we all need pampering once in a while!

Winter's not over, but.......

...look what's doing its best to prove otherwise! I guess Arizona plants make their own climate zones or something. There has been frost and ice on everything every morning, yet these lovely violets are peeking out, reminding me that I need to get busy in my yard! (please ignore the big weeds and dead stuff in the picture, lol) I also found some little seedlings in the back that actually look like some other flowers may be making an appearance soon. My amiga, Megzy found lettuce coming up in her yard yesterday!

My cats are also enjoying the sunny early morning. This is Moo. He is my walking buddy, never failing to accompany me when I go walking, either in the morning or the evening!

I'm Back....Really!

Well, anyone who has followed my link in the last couple of months has probably wondered "What is her problem?" Well, I have no excuse really, just a general case of writer's block.

I haven't written since last year, so I think the best place to start is Paradise Potpourri! I have not listed anything new in many moons, as I have been extremely busy with my son's homeschooling. Also, my workshop (a/k/a messy shed) is desperately in need of cleaning out and re-organizing before I can embark on new recipes. For anyone who is still interested, I am still planning on making Key Lime Margarita potpourri...it is just taking longer than I ever thought it would! I will also be making Cold Relief Bath Tea, and some Spring floral scents! I may have to do a new poll, but if you have a favorite scent, please feel free to leave me a comment!