Already December.....

Wow - with my schedule shifting by academic quarter, a hige thing realizing is, I joined etsy a year ago this week (and will be having a special sale this weekend and some specials set up for the holidays) and 4 years ago this week, I registered to check out acupuncture school since I thought it might be interesting.

well, lets see, I had my 25th sale on Etsy this week, and am busy studying for my comprehensive exam (required to graduate) later in the month! Considering my store was something I decided to do for fun, and also am selling to friends, it is a great balance, and very grateful able to knit, create, and get a break and some balance while other days are blur of class, interning, and reviewing everything I've learned over 4 years, and some information from classes still have to finish up over the next year.

It's also very cool to see how much Ive learned, and gained from trying new things, taking risks, and following my interests. Through my etsy teams, California Crafters Coalition on Etsy (CCCOE) Etsy Knitter Team, and Unique Women in Business (UWIB) I've met a lot of great women who also love being creative and entrepreneurial - and have enjoyed this part a lot more then expected. In school, also surprised that am making great friends and am in a pretty supportive and fun environment and through both, while different, have a lot in common. Of course, my other friends just tease me about fact I usually have some sort of needles with me, wherever I go.

Shopping for Bloomers - Summer Wedding

So who doesn't love getting to browse around and have an excuse to pick out and and look for new pieces to wear and play with? A friend from school is getting married next month and on her wedding blog, posted many links to items sold on Etsy to help guests find ideas on how to participate in the theme.

The last time I went to a themed wedding, it was actually harder then I expected to find the right outfit for a Pink Wedding, in November, in the Northwest, with a reception at a microbrewary. When I got to Oregon. forgot the skirt I'd raced all over to purchase, and ended up buying an outfit a few hours before, and seeing someone else wore the same skirt I'd left in California. I had spent many hours looking for the right combination of "pink" and "warm" plus would fit in - and actually still wear the lovely and classic pink boucle plaid skirt I had bought for the event . (and got rid of the last minute "rush" purchase).

But I digress, this time, I am shopping for a bicycle friendly outfit to fit a Victorian / Modern Steampunk theme comfortable enough to be able to be on bluffs over the beach in August. Several of the pieces linked to from the offcial info blog were sold, extremely expensive, or for men so I've been browing etsy looking for perfect pieces that I could create my own look with and be able to use at other times.

I am , probably, due to my love for high heels, going to change shoes between the ceremony and reception, but that is because I found perfect heels to match the other pieces - the ceremony is actually on bikes, and in attending, will be taking my mountain bike and most fluffy things will catch on the surfboard rack. This fact alone, has put the some reigns on my ideas and love for costumey outfits, and gets into some of the bloomers I've been looking at on Etsy these days.

cream cotton bloomers

http://www.vilicious.etsy.com
pretty bloomers in cream cotton.
they have an elasticated waistband, and are elasticated at the knee, and edged in pretty cream lace. (they are also shown in 2 lengths and 3 colors)

Classic White Bloomers

http://www.neworleansmagpie.com
These bloomers are a classic...knee length lightweight cotton in white pique or ivory stripe. Perfect for riding the wheel or lounging around at a summer picnic. These bloomers have a wide elastic waistband, and are minimally gathered, so that the waistline is slim, unlike bloomers made with a drawstring. The waistband can be worn at the waist or hips.

FREE SHIPPING Bayou Bloomers simple rustic ruffle pantaloon in Oyster ...size Small...from down de bayou http://www.bayousalvage.etsy.com

These sweet simple and rustic bloomer/pantaloons are modeled after my own antique pair. I decided to forgo the drawstring and put elastic in the waist. Fashioned from 100% made in the U.S.A. cotton and sewn with care in the city that care forgot. You can wear them as lingerie or as shorts or as an underskirt. Perfect to wear with your bayousalvage art to wear!

Etsy is making it much easier to shop, and also fun and economical at the same time. Also, being crafty helps, since after fining the embellished slip dress "sold" in my favorites when I was ready to purchase, I saw a plain slip yesterday at a boutique I walked by and am probably going to embellish my own as a study break. Accessories are still up in the air - next post !

An Amazing Bath Treat for Sore Muscles

When I first joined Unique Women in Business, I needed to make a purchase from another member. I was looking through the choices, and thought hmmm, what do I actually need right now, after looking at stores and websites offering everything I could imagine, cosmetics, jewelery, cards, prints and much much more. While I tend to be on the practical side, most of my extravagant and impulsive purchases tend to be designer shoes and on occasion handbags. However, bath products are also one of my favorite items, so much that I really have to watch it, since end up stocked for 6 months or more at a time on the basics.

Since I had been busy working, and spending my "free time" opening a store on etsy, and posing for pictures and video filming for my pilates website, I my muscles were a little more fatigues then usual. A regular user of epson salts and or fresh lavender (I can pick it outside my door), I decided to get some bath salts from Soap Rehabilitation to try out.

Swiss Alps Bath Soak--Fizzy Bath Salts

After browsing through all the options, I went with "Swiss Alps" an infusion of mints, and prefect for tired muscles. when the package arrived, and I had a chanc eto chec it out, I had spent an hour of my work break filming advanced exercises with a friend on a concrete surface, and was pretty sore from a mat class earlier in the week, and a concentrated photo shoot of ab work.

These salts blew me away instantly. The aromatherapy blend worked very similiary to my old and familiar stand-by friend Tiger Balm, and these Golden Flower patches from my school clinic. The plus is that these salts were also relaxing and soothing, for mind and body, and did not have the strong smell since they are more of a spa product then part of an orthopaedic prescription or treatment. However, I thought they worked just as well, if not better, since they also helped me wind down and sleep since was in a go, go , go type of mode with starting a project (that is still awaiting full editing and posting) after a few months of various changes and weather delays.

For a full range of products, check out Soap Rehabilitation at http://www.soaprehab.etsy.com. Sara also has adorable packaging with a little nurse in her logo. Her lip gloss and the samples she included of sample soaps are also amazing and it was a great welcome to Unique Women in Business. Check out our group page for a wonderful variety of shopping for all your needs and wants. http://www.uniquewomeninbusiness.blogspot.com

First Recycled Knits item for sale

Ok - so this is an interesting, unique and fun upcycled piece. I will be adding pics of the item that inspired this line soon (as also was wearing today). This is made out of a white cotton t-shirt and a pair of bright yellow cotton terry pants - knit together in an uneven basic stitch to form stripes. Great for casual beach wear and due to the cotton terry, also on the thicker side. This item was listed on etsy a few weeks ago and is part of this debit one of a kind edgy line.