AAA Cafe' Daily Chat 10.05.13

[naturepoet]

Good morning, everyone.

Welcome to new members, welcome back to returning teammates! If this is your first time here - this is a place to ask questions, share your most embarrassing secrets, or just chat about the slow and boring bits of your day…we want to hear from you!!

Don’t forget to head to the discussion board and check out all the pinned threads. There are lots of goodies there to check out! The more you give on this team the more you get back so if you have the time participate as much as you can!! Don’t forget to check out our blog and our facebook page too, if you haven’t already! :) Remember that the more you give, the more you get back :D

aaasupport.wordpress.com

Yesterday's conversation about tags was a good one. I got a few tips that I didn't know about. It's a constant battle to keep up with everything because things are always changing.

For all those in the path of the hurricane, be safe. There are times when we walk through the storms of life. What lessons have you learned when times were tough? As for me, I've learned that when life plants you on your face, you need to get back on your feet and keep right on going. One of my favorite sayings is that "after you walk the storms of life, you are forged in fire," similar to the way steel is forged to make it strong.

QUOTE of the DAY:

"Storms make trees take deeper roots."
~ Dolly Parton

[designbcb]

hey mary
glad to hear the CAT didn't bother you! like i said, it looks like a big donut.

[Former_Member]

Hi Mary glad to hear that you are fine. I'll pray for the safety of those who are affected by the hurricane. I hope they are fine and i hope they don't loose hope and be strong!

[Former_Member]

My mother in law had a cat scan not long ago - Everything was O.K. However to my surprise the specialists did discover that there was actually a brain in there. LLLOLLL.

[naturepoet]

Thanks, Beverly, Pen and Michael. LOL Michael, you are bad.

[BrightExpectations]

Good Morning all! Thankful all is OK, Mary. I need to turn on the news and see what the current path of the hurricane is. This household is a big fan of baseball and our St. Louis Cardinals have been playing. If there is baseball on TV, we do not see much else, lol. When the season is over, it's time to catch up on all the shows on the DVR.

So while watching the game yesterday, I was able to get NINE new listings up! WooHoo! My entire focus this past couple of weeks was the art and wine festival I did last weekend. Hard work pays off - sales were great (better even than last year) and I received the Merit Award which was a cash prize plus free booth rental for next year. Doing a little happy dance here.

It's time now to focus on getting my shop ready for Christmas shoppers. Ugh. I wish I enjoyed doing the listings. But I do like Cha-Ching.

Have a great one today!

[Former_Member]

good morning everyone:) mary, i look forward to your wise words every morning. ty
congrats becky cha-ching is a wonderful sound lol i am keeping my eye on the redsoxs:)
my goal for this weekend is to list 10!!! items-wish me luck
have a great day team :)

[CozyHandcraftsByCat]

Good morning/day/evening, everyone. Lots to do today. Having a yard sale with the hubby and we're not very prepared. Oh well, we'll just see what happens... Cool front is coming in later today and I'm very excited about that!

Mary, I'm glad you made it thru the CAT. Hope all is well with you.

Praying for all those affected by the hurricane. Here we've been pretty blessed with mild, though hot, weather. It breaks my heart to see the devastation that has hit other regions of late.

I would like to share with everyone that I had three sales this past week! Two of the sales (last night) were baskets that had been listed for quite awhile so I was very excited to sell them! Oddly, the same person bought both sets but did the purchases about 5 hours apart, which resulted in their being charged more for postage. I think I should refund them the difference but first must find out (will convo her this morning) if she's okay with my shipping them together. I have no idea how to do a refund but I guess I'll figure it all out!

I am going to display a few of my crochet items at today's yard sale, see if I get any bites. I don't want to put everything out because I know people will be looking for bargain basement prices and I will not price my handmade items that low. But maybe showing a few items and handing out my cards, I can get some orders. We'll see!

I wish everyone a wonderful Saturday!

[SimpleHomeAccents]

Good morning all!

Mary, what a great quote and great attitude. You are a strong person!

I have learned that when life gets you down there is always a way to persevere. I've been to hell and back and I'm stronger for it! My inspiration is my step-dad. He was given 2-5 years to live from cancer. The doctor put him in a nursing home after a 2-month hospital stay and told us he would die there. After 1 month, he was back home! And by the way, his diagnosis was about 8 years ago now. Talk about strong!

Hope everyone has a great day! Put one new listing up last night:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/164773084/monkey-cards-set-of-6-handmade-brown?

[GlensWorkshop]

Good Morning Everyone!

Mary - great quote. Glad your CAT scan was easy for you; here's hoping for negative results (that's a good thing in the medical world).

Prayers for those who may be in the path of a storm. There are flood warnings back in SE MN with heavy rains overnight.

Today is a big family day for us. My wife did an Oktoberfest meal for our family in MD/VA/NY last year and they asked her to make it a tradition so this is the 2nd Annual Schumann Family Oktoberfest today. A long day for my wife but two of my daughters are here at the camper and the three of us will try to help. I am making breakfast so I better be off and get started.

Have a great day everyone.

[Former_Member]

Good Morning all!

Mary - glad the CAT scan went well!

Cat - Congrats on the sales!

Glen - Your family Oktoberfest sounds fun! Enjoy your time with your family!

Here's our newest listing

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164644990/the-night-before-christmas-whitman-giant?ref=shop_home_active

I'm going to take most of the day off from etsy and any work around the house and go scrapbooking with my daughter, mom, and sister instead! Hope everyone has a great Saturday! Erica

[NouveauHatsbySharon]

Glad all is well and yes, prayers for those in the path of the storm.

Have a great day everyone.

[COLDHAMCUDDLIES]

Like the quote, Mary - agree with it too! Fingers crossed for the CAT results. Glad you survived it. I've never had one, but Peter my late husband, had to go through several, and like you was claustrophobic. He always got a stronger tranquilizer to take and managed that way.

Hope the hurricane wanes as it gets towards the land - even though I know that does not often happen. Those in its path are in my prayers.

In charge of daughter's home and animals today. They're at a family wedding (I have no connection to the couple or their family) so have a dog looking reproachfully at Granma - she's responsible for her usual fan club's absence. The cats, as cats do, have slept the day away, but one has come down to see if there is anybody around likely to produce food when the time comes around. Having seen that I'm about, he's gone back from whence he came! Just as well, as he has a cry that can wring the heart out of the most hard hearted Grandma - but I am determined no food will be available for at least another couple of hours!!

Congrats Becky on the results of your latest sales foray. Great result - makes the effort all worthwhile, does it not? Couldn't happen to a better Shop!

Anyone got any views on Zibbet? It has been suggested by a fellow Treasury selection, with whom I had contact many months ago, that it might pay me to have a go there, as well as here. Apparently, they offer a free trial, and I might consider it once I've re done the pics and tags in the Shop when I get back home in a week's time.

Golly, where did the last 4 weeks go I wonder? Time does fly by when one is having fun.

On that note - must away. Have a great week-end everyone.

[Former_Member]

Cat: I've done refunds for shipping before and it's very easy. Click on the receipt for the order. About halfway down the screen on the right, you'll see "manage orders" in blue. Click on it for a drop-down menu and select "issue a refund." On that page, you can choose how much shipping you'd like to refund.

That's really nice of you to convo her and tell her. Your thoughtfulness would make me a repeat customer. :)

Stay safe with the weather this weekend, everyone. Hurricane Karen to the south US, all those blizzards to the north US.

No new earrings today. I had to come in to work. Ah well. I'll post them tonight when I get off work.

[Former_Member]

Mary- Glad to know the scan went well for you and good thoughts come your way in hopes the results turn out just as well too. The quote is yet another great thought for the day today. Always nice to read them and think about. I am also going to take the day off Etsy online today as many projects to complete around home and trying to save internet through the end of the month. so forgive me if I do not post as frequent until it resets.

Looks like lots of rain headed this way for the weekend and glad to find out this morning that the tropical storm in the south has weakened some as I have family in Louisiana on the coastline.

Have a great day everyone!

[DoorCountyVintage]

Good Morning everyone! Still looking for toy team members/leaders. Next week in the Front Page Push is leader appreciation week, I'll start with myself and go right down the line until all leaders have had their day :)

[homecraftframing]

Mary, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the CAT Scan show nothing to be concerned about and then maybe the doctor can direct his focus on something else. The tag information was great yesterday and I thank Glen for sharing. As for life knocking you down, I must be a Weeble, because I wobble but I don't fall down. Well ,not for long anyway.

Michael, I had the same situation with my mother-in-law. She had an echocardiogram and I was surprised they found a heart.

Becky, I am not suprised that you won the award, you have lovely baskets. I hope your next show does as well.

Cat, Congratulations on the sales, this is always a nice feeling. As for refunding I only know how Pay Pal does it. Just make sure you do not accidently refund the entire amount.

Glen, What a lovely way to celebrate with the family. I hope everyone will bring a potluck dish to help out. Enjoy!

Erica, What a wonderful idea and good for you. I hope you girls have a fantastic time and do not get into any trouble. LOL!!!

Isobel, Cats are demanding little buggers and they will let you know when they are not happy. It is bad enough I have a cockatiel who runs the house, the little feather head. As for Zibbet, I went thought all the work to set up a shop and in one year time, not one sale. I closed it down and have not looked back. A friend of mine is on ArtFire but she only get sales sporadically, she is thinking of closing her shop after the holiday season. I have my website for my cross stitch customers and Etsy, this is enough and I do not want to branch out any further. Although, this may be another avenue for you. The folks who run Zibbet are from Australia and it could possibly be a different experience for you.

I am still working on some items but no where near completing them. So I will work on them tonight. We are going to visit some friends tomorrow aftenoon and I am baking a Pumpkin Spice Cake, I would like to share this recipe with you. It is super fast to make and it taste wonderful. My son would be waiting for the beaters and the bowl with the cream cheese frosting.


Pumpkin Spice Cake
1 Yellow Duncan Hines Cake Mix
2 Eggs
1 Can of Pumpkin 16 oz (Not Pumpkin Pie Mix)
1/4 Cup Milk
2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
2 Teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice

Heat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a Bundt Pan. Blend all ingredients and beat 4 minutes. Bake 45 minutes and Cool 10 minutes on a rack.


Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz Cream Cheese (room temp)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
Dash of Salt
1 Tablespoon of Milk
4 Cups of Powdered Sugar

Beat the first 4 ingredients until smooth. Add powdered Sugar a little at a time. Frost the cream cheese icing on a cooled cake. Enjoy!

[DoorCountyVintage]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164835092/vintage-collectibles-heavy-pewter-or?ref=shop_home_active

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164838160/vintage-decorbankers-desk-lamp-lighting?ref=shop_home_active

2 Newest editions to my shop many more to come!

[COLDHAMCUDDLIES]

Thanks for the feedback Dona - as ever your help is to the point and valuable

Faved all the new items since I posted earlier.

Cats and Dog fed and ready for bed, as I am. Taking dog out for her last walk shortly, and expect daughter and husband back shortly. So, things will be back to normal tomorrow.

Must way 'cos it's definitely nearing my bedtime anyway.

[Former_Member]

Greetings all. I'm new here and would like to introduce myself. I will try to keep up with threads, but I've been diagnosed with breast cancer so things will be slow. @ Mary, love the quote and it is so fitting for me personally right now. Hope everything turns out ok for you.

Being creative has been my lifetime endeavor. I love designing unique creations to custom fit every environment, personality, or event. If you choose me to create your project I will make every effort to bring your ideas to life. I use various materials and I can think outside the box when normal materials are not available. I’m confident that any problems that may arise can be solved. I will be in constant contact, supplying you with work in progress images though out the designing process. I have a high attention to detail and the finished work will be sturdy as well as beautiful. If you can imagine it, I can create it!

Main Skills;
FASHION DESIGN - pattern drafting, garment construction for men and women, tailoring, costuming, patchworking, embroidery, hand stitched button holes, hand-maded shoulder pads, braiding, weaving, knitting, crocheting,  macramé, quilting, and alterations.
PHOTOGRAPHY - BFA in Photography, using all formats of film and digital cameras, black & white and color photographic processes, developing and printing film, fine art photography, display photography, portraits, album and CD covers, cyanotype, solarization, color theory, digitally scanning, cropping, color correcting, and repairing prints. I also have a working knowledge of graphic design, wordpress design, layout, advertising, and  promotional pieces using Mac/Apple based platforms.

My experience;
Cre8or since I could speak.
Involved in small business since age 13.
Writing since 1978.
Fashion Design & Home Decor since 1990.
Ran small business since 1992.
Photography since 1992.
BFA in Studio Art: Photography 1996.
Multi Media since 2003
Stained Glass since 2003.
Painting since 2003.
Building WordPress sites since 2010.

[PSsewingstudio]

Hi all.
I felt I had to share the most fantastic new for me at least. I sold one of my throw quilts. I have sold items before but mostly small items nothing bigger than a baby quilt. Or the customer order that I had which I will admit was to my best friend. So needless to say I was in shock for a good 15 minutes. Then brought my self back down to earth (sort of my head is always in the clouds.) and responded to the customer and got most of the things I need together to ship it out. I just need a big enuf box to ship it in. I get that tomorrow, scents have work in the morning and post office is closed on Sundays, so I will have to get the package out on Monday. I think it is still running even with the government shutdown. If it is not I will figure something out.
To make this even more amazing I think (stress think) it will be in a new Broadway Show.

Well wishes and much success to all.

[LightAndTimeArt]

Hello my friends,

Are you ready for Halloween?....

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164857675/halloween-lighting-vintage-steampunk?ref=shop_home_active

Cheers,
Manny

[SZElizabeth]

Hi there folks!
Just stopping in to say hi! I have been struggling to find time to get online lately. We have a friend (and neighbor) that has brain cancer and is out of state with her husband for treatment…so, we are helping to take care of the kids, prepare meals, etc in their absence. I never imagined having 6 children (counting my own) and wow do i have a newfound respect for the parents of large families!

[SilverFoxDesigns6]

Hi everyone.

I know I've been MIA lately, but with craft show season starting next month for me, I've had a lot to do to get ready. I'm still working on building up my inventory to have enough for the number of shows I'm booked to do.

Mary I'm sending a big burst of positive energy your way. Hope the CAT shows nothing wrong.

My thoughts and prayers are with those in the hurricane's path.

I've been doing a lot of running around today so it was fairly late before I was able to check my shop. There was a surprise waiting for me when I did - I got a sale. :D

Well, dinner's ready so I've got to go. Have a great evening.

[CozyHandcraftsByCat]

Dona and L.E., thanks for the advice regarding refunds. I hope I don't screw it up! LOL :-)

Mary L., welcome. Wow, you have quite a wonderful resume!

SarahPixel, that is GREAT news. Congrats! Was it the Square Block Blue Throw Quilt? It's beautiful.

For everyone who's going through a difficult time (health or otherwise) or knows someone who is, my thoughts are with you. My own sister has been battling ovarian cancer for three years and it's not looking so good. She is a fighter, though, and she inspires me to not give up when things get difficult.

The yard sale today was disappointing. Just didn't get as much traffic as we'd hoped. But we did sell a 7-foot long dresser that has been taking up so much space in our garage, so I am thankful for that! Now it's time to rest and wait for this wonderful cool front that's supposed to hit tonight. I am pooped!

Have a great evening everyone.