My Etsy Trades for Baby Things

Etsy is such a great place to shop or sell handcrafted items. I have two grandchildren who will be born sometime in September. My son and his fiance are expecting around the 15th of September and my husband's daughter and her fiance are expecting around the same time. It has gotten to be kind of comical because it appears that the race is on between the two families now.

Each week, as the girls go to their doctor appointments, I get a new report of how they are each progressing. Recently, both doctor's have figured they are both further along than realized therefore, the due dates have changed frequently. Unfortunately, since these will be our first grandchildren....it's become a bit of rivalry for being the first. The good news is: my son is having a boy, my stepdaughter is having a girl...so at least, we'll have one of each. Maybe if we're lucky they'll both go into labor at the same time and they'll have the same birthday.

Anyway, I've been doing some shopping for baby items that I want to buy for my new grandchildren and I've been doing it on Etsy. Yesterday, I posted in the forum asking for baby items that I might be able to trade for. I got several responses and I've made a few choice trades. I traded a beautiful rose quartz necklace for a lovely rag quilt and I've also traded two ankle bracelets for two chenille bibs with little fishies on it.

I'm going to leave you with both of their shops on Etsy. The quilt was from:Susan's Treasures and the bibs are from: Our Kid's Boutique . I want to say Thank You to both of you for making this such a wonderful transaction.

Bracelet Forest Wonderland

This is such a beautiful bracelet. The focal lampwork bead is by: Sun Daisy Gems. She makes lovely beads. This one in particular has a luminous glow to it. The colors are so clear and true. I added a dark green cat's eye beads to bring out the greens in the focal bead. Sterling silver bali curved beads, barrel beads, spacers, a lobster clasp and sterling extension chain for adjustability. You'll find this wonderful bracelet in my Etsy shop.

Well, the 4th has come and gone, and so my birthday as well. The holiday was a huge success at my daughter's home. Lots of family and friends, terrific food, lots of fun, great music and entertainment. The weather started out a little rainy but only for an hour, then it rained itself out for the rest of the day. Bright sunshine and clear skies. My daughter, Nellie and her boyfriend were the perfect hostess and host. A good time was had by all...

On Friday, my birthday, Nellie took me out for a late lunch at Red Lobster. It's been a long time since I've eaten at Red Lobster but they only get better each time I go. I had the lobster and shrimp linguini alfredo, a caesar salad and of course, their wonderful cheese garlic biscuits. I tried a new beverage that was tea and cranberry which was delicious. (No sugar added) We had a wonderful time chatting, catching up on the past couple of days since the party. She brought me a beautiful birthday present - which I will keep a secret for right now until I can photograph it and show you. It will be worth the wait, I assure you!

My husband's been in Wisconsin/Minnesota for a few days now...we have decided to move back to the northcountry again. We are from Minnesota originally and miss the lakes and trees and the change of seasons. Living in Florida is nice but we are both tired of the heat, the heat, and the heat....and the weather in general which is usually hot and humid. Anyway, he's looking for a house for us to buy and also has a big job interview with Miracle Ear Inc selling hearing aids. It's a great opportunity and my husband loves working with the elderly and he's a great salesman.

My son and his fiance are expecting and their son is due Sept 30 of this year so we want to be home in Minnesota for the birth. This way we'll be able to play grandma and grandpa to our new grandson. We also have a granddaughter who will be born in October this year. We've been anxiously awaiting grandchildren for some time now and we finally get our wish. I will continue to update any information we get on both pregnancies.

Happy Birthday America!

Check this out for the best fireworks show ever! It's truly the most fun too! http://www.maylin.net/fireworks.html Well, it's official...it's the 4th of July...our nation's birthday today and she is 231 years young. Will we survive the Bush Administation and all of the crap that they have put this country through in the last 6 years. It's strange but I was never much interested in politics until I hit my 50's. I had never voted in an election, never paid attention to what was going on in our government...until 9/11...it woke me up, big time! I will never be complacent ever again in regards to our country, our government, nor our elected officials of this country. I am proud to be an American but I am not very proud of our President or his administration. In fact I am furious that he is allowed to continue his blatant disregard for our constitution and the laws of this great nation. Today I'm going to celebrate this country's birthday with my family and friends over at my daughter's home. Lots of good food, games, swimming, partying and just all around good fun. I hope you all have a great day today. Let's keep it safe...and drive responsibly. If drinking, get a designated driver to take you home safely. God Bless America !!!

July is my favorite month...

Three more days until the 4th...my very favorite holiday of the year...partly because I always get to celebrate my birthday on that holiday. My birthday is the 6th, and was always celebrated on the 4th because it was easier to get all the relative together for that day! Great big family reunions and picnics were always planned. Relatives would come in from all over to attend the reunions. This year the 4th will be celebrated at my daughter's new home. Her first really big entertainment event in the new house. They have a lovely backyard with a nice inground pool with a brand new deck added on. My husband helped build it. Lots of people, family and friends will be attending. Backyard barbecue, open bar, games to be played, live music, the works. Her boyfriend owns a restaurant and he's an awesome chef so we know the foods going to be wonderful! This year is my Big 55 birthday! Makes me think of the Speed Limit! I'm the baby in the family so I've watched my siblings go through this milestone...didn't seem so traumatic for them. Is it just me? This year seems even bigger than my 50 birthday! Will this be the year that my jewelry design dreams finally come true? I have my shop now and I'm selling a few pieces each week...will it continue?

Birthdays...my daughter's

Monday, June 25, 2007...Nellie's turned 28 year old. When I was 28, I went through a major life change...all my dreams, my hopes, my aspirations, my ideals changed and grew into something spiritual and beautiful. Life was a struggle but it all seemed at the time to be worth it...and it was in the end. I wanted this gift for her to be important and momentous. Something that would express who she was and where she is going. These colors are her favorites; they remind her of the ocean, the seashell, dolphins, laying in the sun, spending time with her friends. The design is something new for her, more elegant and expensive than she normally wears. She's changing her taste in style, growing into a lovely woman with maturity as she leaves her little girl ways behind. It's been wonderful watching her grow this past year and it makes me proud to call her daughter.