Stunningly Gorgeous!

Look for these beautiful items and more in Tabby Too's flower filled Etsy shop!

November 1st... One of My Favorite Days!!!

This is one of the days I most look forward to once fall hits. November 1st. You may be wondering why it's such an exciting day for me. I love Christmas music and finally, today, the day after Halloween, I allow myself to listen to it.

As a child my mother would beg me to turn it off by around June and I'd always complain and say that if Christmas music is about celebrating the birth of Christ then why can't I listen to it whenever I want. I wonder if she's thought of an answer to that yet? Now I start earlier than I did then but by the first of the new year I am ready to turn it off again.

Anyway, today, my son and I danced to a great selection of Christmas songs by various artists like Celine Dion, Collin Raye, Gloria Estefan and especially one of my all time favorites, Old Toy Trains by Nana Mouskouri.

Happy Listening!

Happy Belated Canada Day!!!

And a present for me!

Have you heard of the ecommerce site Bonanzle?

It's my new place to hang out online. I'm really liking a lot of the features of the site like the live chat in my booth (store), the forums where most people are so helpful, and especially the Handpicked Lists. For those of you on Etsy, these lists work very much like treasuries except there is no waiting to grab a spot, you can make as many as you want, whenever you want.

A word of warning though, Handpicked Lists are seriously addictive to make. And the best part is the powers that be on the site choose a selection of these lists to feature on the home page. (Clicking on the Bonanzle logo at the top of the page will rotate through them.)

So, a few days ago I created two lists to celebrate Canada Day, "O Canada! My Home And Native Land" and "Happy Canada Day!!!". Last night, as I was shutting down, I stopped in to check if my lists had had any visitors and/or comments. To my great surprise, I saw many comments on one of them saying things like, "Congratulations on the home page."

Of course, I rushed right over, clicked the Bonanzle logo a few times and ran smack into this:



That's my list, in case you hadn't guessed.

I am really, really, liking this site!

Cheers!

Bonanzle Booth: http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/CoconutPalmDesigns
Etsy Shop: http://CoconutPalmDesigns.etsy.com

New Focus For My Blog

It's been a while since I've posted anything here but I think it's because I've gotten bored of just posting reviews of other artists. Therefore, I am going to start mixing things up a bit.

As some of you may know, I am a Canadian, who about six years ago picked up and moved to Belize.

Where is that? It's in Central America, just south of Mexico and east of Guatemala.



Life here has had it's ups and downs but I've come to the conclusion that the grass is NOT greener on the other side, it's just a different shade of green. Belize has taught me to live a simpler life in many ways. I share 32 acres of land with my family which is nice but for the first four months we lived without running water or electricity. That was a great adventure but one I have no desire to repeat, ever.

Some days I miss my life in Canada, the shopping malls, fast food, movie theatres, skyscrapers, and general ease of things. Other days I look around at my four dogs, two rabbits, two doves, one cat and my newest baby, this beautiful colt, and things look pretty good.



Most of all, though, no matter what happens in my life or where I may go next, or if I stay here for the rest of my life, I will always be grateful to Belize for the gift of my son. I adopted Matthew the day he was born, 16 months ago. He is of Mayan Indian decent and the light and joy of my life.

Please Vote!

My personalized name sign has been entered into a contest and I need all the votes I can get. Please go to the following link and vote. This is for the grand prize, a 30 second ad spot on the radio and a banner ad that will link to my store.

http://blockheadradiolive.com/artisanschallenge

Please scroll to the bottom, choose Personalized Name Sign by Joanne/CoconutPalmDesigns and press vote.

I really appreciate everyone's efforts!

Thanks in advance,
Joanne

This is a picture of the sign I am asking for votes on.

Make Something Monday: Victoria Personalized Name Sign

A big thank you to Go Graham Go and Jolly Mom for hosting this great Make Something Monday meme. This week I am presenting the Adobe Illustrator file for this personalized name sign. I was really hoping to have it finished by today but I am only about half way there.



To order your own Personalized Name Sign please check out my Etsy shop at CoconutPalmDesigns!

Featured Artist: Kay’s K9s … & Kritters!

1. Tell me a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff).

My name is Kay Stahler and I’m a full time artist from Ontario, Canada. I share my home with 3 dogs and a Quaker Parrot. The eldest dog is Patches, a 12 year old Chihuahua/Jack Russell, Toby, a 4 year old Jack Russell, and Abbie, a 4 year old Chihuahua/Pomeranian. Animals are an extremely important part of my life, and I try to give back by donating a portion of my sales to animal rescue organizations. I sponsor a shelter animal every month, and post the picture and bio of that particular animal on my blog.

2. Which of your animals is your favourite item in your shop and why? And, what is the best thing you have ever created?

My favourite shop item would have to be my Custom Needle Felted Sculptures. I love working with customers to create miniature versions of their fur babies. It’s wonderful to see all the photos and hear the stories about each animal. A lot of customers come to me after the loss of a pet, and I love to think my work can bring them some comfort during their grief.

If I had to choose one item as the best thing I have created, I would have to pick a Rat Terrier sculpture that I made for my mom of our dog Spunky. He was the dog that I grew up with, and was a very loyal companion to my mother. Unfortunately we lost him 4 years ago, so I created a sculpture as a memorial of him and presented it to my mother last year. She was brought to tears at the sight of it – that alone makes me feel it’s one of my best.

3. What is the best thing about your products?

I think the best thing about my work is that it provides customers with a way to memorialize their pets. I know first hand how difficult it can be to say goodbye to our furry companions, and it’s nice to have items to remember them by. My sculptures are great for this purpose, as I can even include some of the animal’s own fur in their Needle Felted replica.

4. Where would be the best location for showing off your product (the Louvre, Buckingham Palace)?

I suppose I would have to go with Buckingham Palace, as I know how the Queen is a fan of Corgis! I imagine she would be happy to have a miniature sculpture of one of her dogs. =)

5. What is the best homemade item you have ever bought?

That’s a tough one! I would have to go with the Natural Bath & Skin Care products I buy off of Etsy sellers, since I use those every day. Some of the scents are good enough to eat, and I enjoy using these products every day! Some of my favourite sellers include: Sun Kissed Bud, Dress Green, and Crowley Manor.

Etsy Shop: http://www.KaysK9s.etsy.com
Etsy Shop: http://www.KaysK9sPaperBoutique.etsy.com
Etsy Teams: Etsy For Animals (EFA), Needle Felt Etsy Street Team (NFEST), Etsy Fiber Arts Street Team (EtsyFAST), Etsy Minimakers
Blog: http://www.KaysK9s.blogspot.com
Website: http://www.KaysK9s.com

Make Something Monday: Xavier's Mobile

Apparently I should go into the mobile making business.

After my brother saw the mobile I made for my son, Matthew, he decided he needed one for his son, Xavier. This one is a little different though because the monkeys are made using foamy, paint and a sharpy marker. The rest of it is the same as Matthew's with the dowels wrapped with green and blue ribbons and gold cord. The whole thing is strung together with fishing wire.




Thanks to Go Graham Go and Jolly Mom for starting this wonderful meme!

Apologies and Thanks!

I've been so insanely busy lately that all my online activities were put on hold. Thankfully, things have calmed down around here, so it's time for some apologies and catching up.

First, I apologize to all my Entrecard droppers and thank all of you who continued to drop in my absence.

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Next, Piera, at Jolly Mom, gave me the Rock Star Award. Thank you so much, Piera!!!

Here are 8 interesting facts about me...

1. I have 6 brothers and no sisters but my mother only has 3 children.
2. After only visiting Belize once in May 2003 for a week I moved here in August 2003.
3. I have a doll collection that was started for me the week I was born and includes many dolls from all over the world as well as many porcelain dolls.
4. I absolutely love The X-Files.
5. I am an avid reader and my mother has been known to tell me to please put down the book and go and play.
6. I hate cooking.
7. Because of where my land is in Belize, we don't get cable so my TV watching consists of DVDs and videos.
8. My son is a Mayan Indian. (Okay, not a fact about me but I can't think of anything else.)http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

And here are the 8 rocking bloggers I'm passing this to:

1. The Mom Buzz
2. New York Renovator
3. Glue 4 Families
4. Starting Over
5. Lucky Girl Trading Co.
6. 1 Blog & 2 Sides
7. The Un Mom
8. Altered Events

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And last but definitely not least, Kat, at Candles, Crafts and Whatnot, has awarded me the Butterfly Award. Thanks so much, Kat!!!

The rules for this award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate 10 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

Here are the 10 blogs I have chosen:

1. The Cajun Blogger
2. Kerrie Slade
3. Red Sox Mommy
4. Fenced in Family Blog
5. My Gypsy Goods
6. My Kids Are My World
7. Kay's K9s ... & Kritters!
8. Kiss My Style
9. MaryLou's Art [Ad]venture
10. Go Graham Go

Make Something Monday: Matthew's Mobile

I can't believe another week has already passed and Monday is almost over again. This week for Make Something Monday, the meme started by Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go, I've made a mobile for my son, Matthew.

I folded five origami cranes and wrapped four various sized dowels all in different colors of paper and ribbon. Also with the thinnest dowel there is a piece of tying wire to add strength. Everything was wrapped in cord and glued and strung together. The birds hang using fishing line.

Here is a picture of the finished mobile:



I apologize for not taking pictures as I worked on it.