August Top Droppers and Commenters and September News

I hope that September has gotten off to a good start this month for everyone! I'm going to get right into things today.

TOP DROPPERS:

Here are the top 10 for July.  Thanks so much to those of you who also take the time to leave me comments!

 

TOP COMMENTERS:
If you're new to this blog, you can check out my Top Commenters widget on the right side of my blog.  It's under my blog roll.  I will feature an item or give a shout out to everyone on that list in this monthly post.  I really appreciate those of you who take the time to leave me feedback!

Thanks to Sandee of Comedy Plus and Awww...Mondays, Ann of Ann's Snap Edit Scrap, and Catherine of Living the Gourmet and for stopping by and commenting regularly!  Here are some lovely items from the ladies on my list who have Etsy shops.

1) Wedding Table Numbers - Personalized Wine Bottle Candles by memoriesforlifesb
2) Knit Purses Tote Bag Zipper Closure in Blue by NFallonDesignStudio
3) Sapphire - Porcelain and Light Blue Swarovski Heart Crystal Sterling Silver Earrings by BeadedTail
4) Shabby chic cottage style eyemask. Chambray Rose. Blue by PeridotByDuni
5) Ocean Blue Post-it Note Mini Clipboard with pad, 2-sided, multi-colored fish by MisterPenQuin
6) Blue handmade paper beads by storybeader
7) Your Best Friend is sometimes your horse - print of an original watercolor painting - Best Friend - 8 x 10 by tapestry316

Blog Sponsors and September Advertising:
I have an awesome round up of blog sponsors!  These lovely ladies all have Etsy shops and/or blogs.  Check them out on the left hand side of my blog under "Private Sponsors." Please make sure to check out my newest sponsor, Mel of Epic Stitching.

Would you like to join them?  It's only $3 per month or $10 for 4 months to advertise with me.  Check out all of the details about it right here.

Bring it on September!

• In August, I had my fourth ever article chosen for Hub of the Day: Cooking Live Lobsters: How to Host a Live Lobster Party. (Please spare me your commentary about whether cooking live lobsters is humane or not. That is NOT why I wrote this.) I had hopes of reaching 24 articles like I did in July but didn't come anywhere close to that, largely because I did so much writing elsewhere. It's good to keep diversifying, and my views and earnings were still up so it worked out just fine. This month will probably look similar for writing.
• My new freelance opportunities this month were amazing. At least one of them is still going strong for this month, which is very exciting. It's great to have that regular work flow and not have to search for new projects every day.
• We were just as busy in August as we were in July with social activities, which was great. September has gotten off to a pretty busy start, too. It's really nice to have a M-F schedule now that allows for that.
• My first fall show is in a little over a month. I need to ramp up my greeting card production and go full force with a couple other craft fair projects during September. I applied for two big shows this year and got accepted to one of them a couple weeks ago: the UW-Parkside Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair. I now have 6 shows scheduled for the fall/holiday season. I'm not prepared for how busy that is going to be, but it will sink in soon enough. I will keep listing on Etsy every week throughout September, too.

What's going on with your business and/or blog for September?

New articles:

September Holidays and Special Days: Elementary Classroom Activities, Ideas, and Lesson Plans
How to Make Beer and Plastic Bottle Cap Crafts: Projects and Ideas
Free Things To Do In Milwaukee, WI

Where I Linked Up Today: 

July Top Droppers and Commenters and August News

As I'm not teaching right now, I didn't think that I would be so excited about summer, but school schedule or not, summer is still the best.  It's hard to believe that we only have a month of it left.  We're going to do our best to enjoy it as much as we can.

TOP DROPPERS:

Here are the top 10 for July.  Thanks so much to those of you who also take the time to leave me comments!

TOP COMMENTERS:
If you're new to this blog, you can check out my Top Commenters widget on the right side of my blog.  It's under my blog roll.  I will feature an item or give a shout out to everyone on that list in this monthly post.  I really appreciate those of you who take the time to leave me feedback!

Thanks to Sandee of Comedy Plus and Awww...Mondays and for stopping by and commenting regularly!  Here are some lovely items from the ladies on my list who have Etsy shops.

1) Purple Swirl Polymer Clay and Swarovski Crystal Sterling Silver Earrings by BeadedTail
2) Mother's Day Photo Album Scrapbook - MOTHER by memoriesforlifesb

3) Wedding Wrist Corsage. Fabric Pom Pom. Fairytale Bride. Pink. Prom. Tulle and Lace. Shabby Chic by PeriDotbyDuni
4) Original ACEO OOAK Set of Three - Sunset Triptych - Watercolor Paintings by tapestry316
5) Handmade Blank Journal - Purple Petals by storybeader
6) Personalized Journal Follow Your Dreams Custom LINED Journal Choose Cover Color by ArtfulRising
7) Original ACEO Boy Portrait Male Leaf by clockworkghOst
8) Post-it Note Clipboard with pad, mini, 2-sided, purple floral, blue floral by MisterPenQuin
9) Fine Art Print Watercolor Reproduction - Sketchbook Series - Haunted By the Left Unsaid. by NFallonDesignStudio

SALE...or not?
I'm still in the process of clearing out my Christmas in July sale items and haven't made up my mind what kind of sale I want to run next.   If there is something that you want to see, let me know!  Otherwise I may give it a rest for a few months and then gear up again for the holidays.

Blog Sponsors and July Advertising:
I have an awesome round up of blog sponsors!  These lovely ladies all have Etsy shops and/or blogs.  Check them out on the left hand side of my blog under "Private Sponsors."

Would you like to join them?  It's only $3 per month or $10 for 4 months to advertise with me.  Check out all of the details about it right here.

Bring it on August!

• The HubPages Apprenticeship program is continuing to go well.  I'm getting in a better groove with my revamped writing style for the program and reached my goal of writing 24 HubPages articles for July.  I usually average 10-15 articles per month there so this was a stretch.  We'll see if I can meet it again this month. I had second article chosen for Hub of the Day this month, Button Craft Project Ideas: How to Make Easy Crafts with Buttons, on July 30 so that was a great way to end the month.
• It was every bit as amazing as I thought it would be having Jake on a M-F schedule and getting to revamp my own schedule to match that this past month.  We did so many fun social things in July.  August will be a little less busy, which is fine.  We still have some great plans in the works.  I'll be posting more about that as it develops.
• I'm not planning to do any more shows until October and am not planning any big promotions on Etsy until then so I'm putting some of my shop agenda on the back burner for a couple months.  I will still be creating and listing at least one new item on Etsy every week, but I'm not setting much of a schedule otherwise.  I am still trying to stay ahead with card making, but there's no reason to stress out or burn out on making other show items at this point
• I've picked up a couple new writing clients and another new writing opportunity this past month.  Those of you who do freelance work know how nice it is to have regular work every week, which cuts down on some of the constant work searching that you have to do.

What's going on with your business and/or blog for July?

Newest articles:

Cold Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe With Tomatoes and Feta
Collage Ideas
Easy Rice Dishes Recipes
How to Make Your Own Rubber Stamps

June Top Droppers and Commenters and July News

We're already several days into July!  I'm so glad to be through with June and to have gotten a nice start to July.

TOP DROPPERS:

Here are the top 10 for May.  Thanks so much to those of you who also take the time to leave me comments!

TOP COMMENTERS:
If you're new to this blog, you can check out my Top Commenters widget on the right side of my blog.  It's under my blog roll.  I will feature an item or give a shout out to everyone on that list in this monthly post.  I really appreciate those of you who take the time to leave me feedback!

Thanks to Ann of Ann's Snap Edit & Scrap and for stopping by and commenting regularly!  Here are some lovely items from the ladies on my list who have Etsy shops.

1) Shabby Chic Laundry Bag. Lingerie Bag. Sweet Rose Medallion.  Polka dots. Pink by PeriDotbyDuni
2) Engraved Wooden Wedding Invitation - Real Wood Invitation - Double Heart Design Joined Heart Design by memoriesforlifesb
3) Flowers with Fern Green Swarovski Crystals Beaded Sterling Silver Earrings by BeadedTail
4) Mr. Random Dude is hiding on the Beach - ACEO OOAK Original mixed media painting by tapestry316
5) Handwrapped Florentine marbled paper beads by storybeader
6) Unicorn Warrior - Fridge Magnet of Steampunk Art - Brass Armor by aquariann
7) SILK SCARF, hand dyed, Under the Sea, blues by SplendidLittleStars
8) Handmade Journal -- You Are Meant to be Whole, Tell Your Story -- Custom, Personalized Sketchbook by ArtfulRising
9) Long Pearl Necklace - cluster, beaded, crystal, gunmetal, antique silver, thin, vintage inspired, 1920s, flapper by OhNostalgiaDesigns

CHRISTMAS IN JULY:
I'm running a Christmas in July sale all month.  Check out all of the sale items right here.  I have all Christmas items marked down as well as lots of red and green items.  Everything in the sale section is 15% off with free shipping.  Prices are already adjusted accordingly.  I debuted two Christmas charm bracelet bell designs for my 2011 Christmas shows and added them on Etsy for the sale.

Blog Sponsors and June Advertising:
I have an awesome round up of blog sponsors!  These lovely ladies all have Etsy shops and/or blogs.  Check them out on the left hand side of my blog under "Private Sponsors."  Don't forget to visit my newest sponsor, Valerie of additionsstyle.  I love her shop!

Would you like to join them?  It's only $3 per month or $10 for 4 months to advertise with me.  Check out all of the details about it right here.

Bring it on July!

•  The HubPages Apprenticeship Program is going well.  It has forced me to overhaul the way that I write articles there for the next 5 months, which will hopefully be for the best.  My article National Holidays in July: The Food Holidays which I wrote during the first month was picked for the site's Hub of the Day on July 1.
• Somehow I got everything together and am hosting an Etsy Milwaukee open house in 2 weeks.  I'm still in shock that this is happening and that I have a handful of enthusiastic ladies on board.  If all goes well, there will be more of these in the future.  If you live in the Milwaukee area and would like an invite, leave me a comment.
• Jake started his residency program July 1 and will more or less be working a M-F schedule.  I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing this is after the craziness of this past year.  I've revamped my own work schedule to coordinate with his.  I'm striving to increase the amount of time that I spend writing each week and take more time off on the weekends.  For the first time in months, we have a lot of social activities planned, and I want to fully enjoy them.
• I have five holiday shows scheduled with two more applications pending.  I'm doing my best to keep devoting a little time each week to non-jewelry projects so I don't have to spend every possible second during October and November creating show inventory.  

What's going on with your business and/or blog for July?

May Top Droppers and Commenters and June News

We're already several days into June!  I'll jump right into things this month.

TOP DROPPERS:

Here are the top 10 for May.  Thanks so much to those of you who also take the time to leave me comments!

 

TOP COMMENTERS:
If you're new to this blog, you can check out my Top Commenters widget on the right side of my blog.  It's under my blog roll.  I will feature an item or give a shout out to everyone on that list in this monthly post.  I really appreciate those of you who take the time to leave me feedback!

Thanks to Ann of Ann's Snap Edit & Scrap and Anne of Small Town Mommy for stopping by and commenting regularly!  Here are some lovely items from the ladies on my list who have Etsy shops.

1) Root Beer - Brown Ceramic and Faceted Glass Beaded Antique Brass Earrings by BeadedTail
2) Horse artwork - Blaze - 5 x7 inch print of my original watercolor painting by tapestry316
3) Knit Coin Purse Zipper Pouch Wallet - brown and blue stripes by NFallonDesignStudio
4) Personalized Dog Bone Name Sign by memoriesforlifesb
5) Nostalgic Ruffle Zipped Pouch. Make Up Bag. Coin Purse. Pink Roses. Gingham.  Lace.  OOAK by PeriDotByDuni
6) SILK SCARF flowers, hand dyed, Summer Blossoms by SplendidLittleStars
7) Two Peas in a Pod Large Toy Plush Pretend Food for Babies, Toddlers, Children by MagnoliaSurprise
8) Handwrapped paper pumpkin beads by storybeader

Sale Items:
I still have a handful of items in my sale section that are 2 years older and more.  I would really like to clear them out so I have more room for my brand new items.  If you're looking for a good deal on a gift or a little indulgence for yourself, check it out.  These deals will be gone next month when Christmas in July starts so take advantage of them while you can.

Blog Sponsors and June Advertising:
I have an awesome round up of blog sponsors!  These lovely ladies all have Etsy shops and/or blogs.  Check them out on the left hand side of my blog under "Private Sponsors."

Would you like to join them?  It's only $3 per month or $10 for 4 months to advertise with me.  Check out all of the details about it right here.

Bring it on June!

• Some of you may remember that last month I had sent in some new earring designs to Bead Trends magazine and was still waiting to hear back.  They did accept one of them!  It will be featured in October.
• This past month I got accepted into the HubPages Apprenticeship program.  This was a much needed boost as I'm still fighting to build up views after my big dive traffic after Easter.  I started this month.  The program is 6 months long and among other things, will hopefully give me a lot of good tips for writing even better articles.
• I currently have five acceptances for fall shows.  This year will be a continual effort to get ready for the holidays.
• I got it into my head that it would be fun to put together a summer and/or open house with some other local artists in the Milwaukee area.  The initial response has been great.
• I'm starting to get ready for Christmas in July on Etsy.  I've had a few ideas for it for quite a while now and now need to get them together during the next few weeks.

What's going on with your business and/or blog for June?

Where I Linked Up Today: