Survey and a GIVEAWAY!!

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!!!!


In honor of my shop hitting 100 sales this week and the coming Holiday season... I'm having a giveaway!!! 2..yes..2 lucky people will win their choice of any Grace Clutch or any Wallet clutch from my shop!



OK entries are as follows:

3 Entires- Take my survey to help me find out what you are shopping for this Holiday Season! Its fun and only takes a minute!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=LxrmuBoovVcu7_2bPZ6qleQw_3d_3d

2 Entries- Go to my shop and tell me 1 good thing and one bad thing about my shop.
http://www.prettylittlepearl.etsy.com/

1 Entry- Follow me on Twitter

http://twitter.com/GretchenHope27

1 Entry- Tweet this giveaway (leave the link)
1 Entry- Blog about this giveaway (leave the link)
1 Entry- Suscribe via Rss to my blog
1 Entry- Post this giveaway to another Social networking site of your choice! (leave the link)


Please leave a seperate comment for each of your entries! Giveaway runs now until October 10th. I will draw a winner on October 11th at 11am EST and Post the winners here! Winners will have 72 hours to claim thier prizes or they will go to someone else.

Have fun and GOOD LUCK!!!
-Gretchen

Kids... Cover your ears...23

Im sorry... I saw this one someones blog and couldnt help myself... I had to share! I'm seriously about to pee myself from laughing so hard!! But... no its really not funny... but maybe it is! You decide!

19 Back to my girlhood

When I was little, my sister and I used to sit around for hours braiding and knotting little friendship bracelets. My mother would french braid our hair before a long, lovely day at the beach.

Now, embroidery floss is no longer for friendship bracelets, but for embroidery. I've learned how to french braid my own hair and my daughters after her bath. Funny how things change when you "grow up".

So how about some "grown up" Braiding? I came across a tutorial for this necklace this morning and thought I just had to give it a try. It came out well. I think I will try making one thinner and longer. I know some people LOVE the chunky jewelry thing. I never jumped in on that.

Anyways, all you do is cut 3 long peices of jersey fabric and braid them together! Give it a go!

http://www.oolamoola.co.uk/diy-tutorial-of-the-week-make-your-own-statement-neck-piece

13-17 My creative space is moving to GA!

A couple months ago, I had decided to stay here in NC while Bryan was gone. No point in spending all that money to go home and turn around to do it again in a year right??

Well, apparently, I was trying to have bigger britches than I actually have. So Im going home.

Its a last minute decision so I have alot to do. Finding a place to live, pakcing boxes, setting up utilities, cleaning... ahhhhhh... all of that on top of getting my shop ready for Christmas. Oh joy!

So Just wanted to let you all know that Im trying to keep up with my blog. I will continue to try. Wish me luck!

12 New

Why is it that when I want something... I can never find exactly the right thing.

I was looking for a clutch that would hold all my things. Small, to carry around easily and put inside a bigger bag if needed. And big enough to hold the cards, cash phone and keys.

Why get someone else to make what I want when I can do it myself? Good question.


This is the answer.

I made myself one.. and some to go around. And I think I will give one away when I hit 100 sales on Etsy... very close!

7-11 Rearranging

Do you remember what its like to have your own room?? Its lovely!

I figured that I have a year to make things they way I want them. When Bryan gets home, we can decide if it should stay this way.

So I switched the Master Bedroom and the Office around. Our bed and Bryans dresser is now in the 3rd bedroom (where the office used to be).

I decorated pretty girly. When I have a man to take care of, I dont want it to be too fru-fru.

And I put all the office furniture in the master bedroom.

Theres more space here for me to work. I can consolidate all the "work" stuff to this room... including laundry.

And now we have a pseudo guest room again! yay!

Am I boring all of you with my constant rearranging??? Well, it should stay like this for a bit. Should...

Shop talk: I'm working on a design for a new clutch wallet. Tweaking and making a few to show you tomorrow.

Free shipping this weekend too!!

4..5..6 Strength and Courage

Ive been very busy the past few days. But I have learned alot.

1. A power of attorney will not allow you to cash savings bonds in your husbands name.

2. Don't wait so long to make the call.

3. Washable Crayons are a MUST! Especially when they are used to "decorate" the beige sofa.

4. Having a Sale does not guarantee sales.

5. I need to start stocking up for the Holiday season.

6. I have it in me to create.. I need to have the courage to be myself.

7. My mood is dependant upon how many days since I've heard from him.

8. Layla wipes off my kisses when Im not looking.

9. God always pulls us through... sometimes He just waits till the last minute so you know its Him.

10. This song is beautiful, heart breaking, moving and my new favorite. Listen to it.

Full of Grace-Sarah Mclauhlan

3- Glutton for Punishment

Yesterday, I stupidly agreed to watch my friends kids. She's a single mom and is working as much as she can to pay her bills. She just lost her babysitter so I figured I would help her in a pinch. We have been friends for a long time now. I have watched her kids many times. Each time, I end up wondering why Im not prompty escorted to the looney bin! She has a five year old son and a two year old daughter.

Well, the girls didnt have a nap yesterday so that was the makings for disaster. They fought over toys, cried, screamed, whined for juice/snack/anything and cried some more. They made my house look like a tornado touched down, and I cleaned before they came!

On the other hand, if she needed me to do it again, I know I would. Im just a glutton for punishment.

In good news, I was featured in Etsy Finds Weekend Deals again!
Unfortunately, I dont have any more of the fabric for the bag they featured, and it sold out. So I lost my place in the gift guides. But Im still in the Storque.

Check it out here http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-extra-hot-labor-day-sales-5088/

After I lost my spot, my sales came to a screeching halt. But I did have about 8 sales and a custom order request. So thats pretty dang good! And Ive been on the front page several times this week... as pictured.

Well Im off to finish the bags I need to get out today, wrap them for shipping and make a little trip to Joann.

Have a GREAT DAY!

2 Total Revamp...

I've recently had many people tell me I should raise my prices. hmmm... got me thinking.

I've been wanting to upgrade my packaging. Before they were pretty but kind of plain.
So I made a bunch of new tags. Stamped them by hand. Got some gorgeous ribbons.


Stamped my mailers...

and ended up with this.... I like it better.

Notice anything different about the bags??? Look closely....

Labels!!!! yay!

So that being said... I think I will raise my prices to $26 tomorrow... and see how it does. I will be having a 20% Off sale this weekend so we shall see!

Off to bed! Have a great night!

1

Well.. Last night went better than expected. No boohooing for me. I'm just trying to stay busy and not think about things. Theres no use in sinking into a deep dark hole over something you can do nothing about.

So I had many phone calls today: Mom, Stef, Stef and Andrea, Calen, Andrea again, Cindy. Guess I'll have to call Noni tomorrow.. She's probably waiting with baited breath.

And I started moving Bryans stuff to the closet. I cant bring myself to Put his clothes away just yet... maybe a few more days.

Not much to write about today... its just trying to sink in I think. Layla asked where Daddy was today. How do I explain this to a toddler??

This weeks projects:

1: Potty Training!!! (that should keep me busy)

2: Working on some new clutches... my shops looking a little bare.

Off to bed...Goodnight

-Gretchen