Happy birthday Mommy

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Today is my mommy pooh's 63rd birthday, if she were on earth. It is her first in heaven. I miss her so much. It's been a really hard day, the worst one yet. I do not wish her back to earth, I am happy for her not being in pain, and being with the Lord and her mom again. I just miss her like crazy here. Life is so different without her, it will never be the same. I'm learning to live with the new "normal" but it is very hard. I made her a cake today, her very favorite. We called it "chocolate, chocolate, chocolate" It's a chocolate cake, then chocolate chips are mixed in before baking, then chocolate frosting on top and between the 2 layers. She loves that cake and I had to make it today for her birthday. 3 of my aunts called today to check on me and that was such a wonderful surprise. They were all concerned for me and for my dad today. We made it through the day but not without many many tears.

I love my mom, now and forever. I'm blessed to have such a wonderful mommy, who always loves me unconditionally. I will see her again, in the by-and-by. Until then, I'm here missing her every day.

New Shrug!

New cream cotton shrug!

New shrug is available in my Artfire shop, mattscraftywife!

I crocheted this lovely cream colored shrug with some fancy cotton/rayon yarn I bought recently. It is so soft and satiny! Feels great on the skin. Since a shrug usually touches the skin near the shoulders and neck, and part of the arms, it's nice when the material is soft. This cream shrug looks great with jeans as shown, or with shorts, a dress or a skirt and shirt. It is light and airy, crocheted in a open lacy design. Please check it out and let me know what you think. I designed this cream shrug myself, and love how cute it came out!

New Thread Crochet Listings!

Thread Crochet Listings

{Just click on the picture to go to the listing in my shop on Artfire.}

I have some new listings on Artfire now. Today I finished this angel:

I had fun making this one, the design is mine and I love how she turned out. Crocheted angels are so pretty and I can make them in any color or combination of colors. I also have a cross listed that I designed and can make in any color:

This crocheted cross has points that give it extra appeal. I can also add beads to this to make it sparkly and give it more interest. I have many colors of thread to make these items with, if anyone wants something different all they need to do is ask!

And my Breast Cancer Awareness Angels are great gifts for anyone who has survived breast cancer, or for anyone who has lost a loved one after a battle with breast cancer. This one is beaded and can hang in a car rearview mirror, on a wall or anywhere. She has a pink ribbon sewn on at her waist and a bead in the middle of it as well. I'm very proud of how she turned out, and since my mom passed away from breast cancer and a brain tumor 7 months ago, she has special meaning to me.

Enjoying Artfire

I have set up an account on Artfire, and so far I LOVE IT. I don't know if the sales fairy will visit me or not, but time will tell! I think the setup process is so much easier than Etsy, where I used to sell. The process to list a new item is amazing. There is one simple page with everything I need to list an item. On Etsy there are four or five pages to go through and it takes forever. One thing about Artfire is that it seems to have personality and a bit more personal style added to my shop. I only have two items listed right now, but plan to list a lot more and see how it goes. It costs nothing to list items, and nothing when the items sell. They make their money by having pro accounts that sellers can buy, at $15.95 a month. There are some features not available on basic that are available on pro, and that's what you pay for if you get a pro account. I have a basic account for now, and plan to keep it. Free is for me!

Visit My Artfire Shop and see the cute crochet items I am listing and selling.

The Next Chapter

My new item, Crochet Brooches

I'm enjoying my off-Etsy time! I know it was the right decision to close up shop a few weeks ago. I've been really having fun during my free time. I needed a break from selling all together for the last few weeks. Now I'm ready to sell again, but at my own pace and on a site with less stress for me. I was going broke relisting trying to stay on top of searches, so I'm now selling a few little items on my Facebook Fan Page. I'm having a trial run there, and will see if I like it or not. Here is the link to it:

MattsCraftyWife

Along with that change, I've just changed my blog background and layout. I love how it looks now, so fresh and new. I hope this new chapter will be fun, having a few items for sale on Facebook, where I made most of my sales before anyway! If not, I'll move on to the next chapter of life.

The End of an Era

The time has come. The end of an era. I am officially closing my Etsy shop, mattscraftywife. I have thought long and hard about this and feel it is the right decision. I have a part time job working from home and do not have the time to devote to making new items for my Etsy shop now. Sales have been pretty slow for the better part of a year. The passing of my mom has brought me to a new chapter in my life, whether I like it or not, and it's time to do something else. I just don't have the heart for it right now.

I will be leaving my BreathofDawnStudio shop open until fall/winter to see if the higher-end scarves and winter items will sell. If they do, I might keep that shop as a seasonal shop. I will not be leaving Etsy altogether, I will still log in with the one shop in order to check on sales, and to check in with my teams. I'll just be laying a little low until Fall. I can still be found on Facebook at My Fan Page.

A Great Big thank you to all of the customers who have come to me and been loyal to me. I also need to thank my Etsy friends who taught me so much and supported me during some hard times. You all are dear to my heart. And thanks to my husband who has supported my time on Etsy, and my other family members who bought from me and supported me emotionally. Of course I thank and praise God for the success I had on Etsy over the last two years. I had 319 sales as of today, with 100% positive feedback. Maybe someday God will bring me back to Etsy on a more regular basis, who knows. Until then...

Farewell!

Easter Sunday

He is Risen!

He has risen from the grave! The tomb is empty! Hallelujah!

Happy Easter Sunday!