Good Saturday Morning to you all!  I’m up nice and early, the sun is shining and it’s actually above 30 degrees.  What else could you ask for?  Just wanted to do a short little post and tell you new items are being added at BerryLane.com daily now.  I’ve got a free shipping promotion until the end of March, so take a peek and see if there’s a treasure you can’t live without!!!

Also, this morning on http://www.Etsy.com you will find everything TULIP from the Cottage Style Street Team.  Just type in CSST in the search box and see beautiful tulips in every form.  If you’d like to leave us a post on our promotion thread, just go to forums, type CSST in the search box and join us.  Have a wonderful Saturday everyone!

What a wonderful day I had today.  I spend time working on my berrylane.com store - poor little girl, it’s just been so neglected!  I’m really making that a priority right now.  Although it’s still cold here, there was beautiful sunshine, making working from my computer in the kitchen almost “spring-like”.    We’ll pretend I don’t know more nasty, snowy weather is coming tomorrow and Tuesday. LOL!

I’m also having a lot of fun with the CottageStyle Street Team on Etsy.  What a wonderful bunch of gals - everyone’s so talented and brings a new spin on the term “shabby chic”.  A great way to find everyone is to go to etsy and type in “CSST” in the search box.  But be ready to be amazed!

Kids were pretty quiet this weekend - big school projects kept them very busy.  Husband was quiet because he got some kind of new techno toy. 

Tomorrow starts a new week - lots of projects going on at my “real” job, so I’ll try to jump back in here to post some new things I’m working on in a couple of days.  Have a great week everyone!

Well, it’s late, but what a wonderful. long, eventful day.  My daughter, my hubby and I all went out to see the lunar eclipse.  How amazing!  Christmas this last year, Craig and I bought Devon a “state of the art” telescope because she’s so interested in earth science.  She’s used it every chance she’s gotten and opened us up to a whole new world.  I’ll try to post some pictures she took later on, but WOW!  How fascinating our world and our universe is.  The boys came out for a bit, but with 0 degree weather, even the heartiest of us tend to falter.  Best wishes to all - if you had a chance to see it, send me a note!  Big hugs, Wendy

Wow, what a whirlwind weekend.  First on a business note, I’ve joined a brand new street team on Etsy created by Sadie Lou of SadieLouWho on etsy.  I’ve added her blog on my side bar but you can click here, too!  http://craftilyeverafter.blogspot.com  There are so many wonderfully talented people on etsy who love the shabby chic style so if you’d like to see all their work please visit http://etsy.com to see it all!  I’ll be adding specific shabby chic’er crafters on my side bar as time permits.

Family news . . .  My two boys FINALLY got their driver’s licenses yesterday.  They took drivers ed about 2 years ago, but were never quite “ready” to take their final tests.  My guess is, it’s much easier to have Mom & Dad drive where they needed to go.  They’re both 17 now, and after waiting so long, I thought I would be thrilled.  Come to find out, I’m a nervous wreck.  What if someone hits them, carjacks them, they hurt somebody, they play the radio too loud. . . . I’m sure some of you have dealt with this, but I have to say I’m really afraid.  I just couldn’t bear if anything ever happened to them.  This summer, I’ll go thru it again with my daughter ~ Oh, boy!

I’m back creating again, my work schedule is crazy but I find if I spend just a bit of time crafting, updating my sites or even just dreaming of projects I’m much happier.  I’ll try to check in later on this week again.  Feel free to leave me a comment, send me a e-mail or just say hi!  Have a wonderful week everyone -  One extremely nervous Mother a/k/a Wendy.  LOL!

Well, as you can tell the new year has not left me a lot of time to keep up with my blog, my website or listing new items on etsy.  Try as I may, it seems one issue or another keeps preventing me to give business “things” my attention.  So, I think the best I can do is keep trucking along, list and post when life allows me a second to do so and most of all KEEP THE FAITH that all will eventually calm down.

In the next week, I hope to post some links to some wonderful people I’ve met on etsy.  I’m gathering their blog links now and I think you’ll all just be amazed with these ladies talented, romantic, shabby chic style.  I visit their blogs regularly and am always amazed at what they think of. 

Well, off to bed tonight - we’ll begin again tomorrow with a new energy!  Lots of love, Wendy

Well, mixed emotions.  I finally closed my e-bay shop.  It’s so funny, how can you have an attachment to something that really does not exist.   The store really wasn’t making any money, it was just . . . mine.    I’ve put everything in the store up for auction, there really wasn’t that much left anyways, and decided what will be, will be.

On a more positive note, I’ve opened a second shop on Etsy http://CottageBubbles.etsy.com that has my body products (thanks family) and more shabby chic, altered art creations in it.  Tough going, being a new shop and all but I think it WILL work. 

I’ve decided to devote more time to my online store www.BerryLane.com for the simple fact of I always attempt to create items one can’t find anywhere else.  My soul is in this store; I just need to find a way to market more.

After a long illness (a lung infection no less) How Weird! I’m really looking forward to 20008 and creating new items.  Thanks so much, as always for your support, and may you find happiness in your family, friends and all you do!  Sorry for the mushiness, but I really do hope that for you and me!

Well, where to start!  We had a wonderful holiday season here until . . . . the dreaded yuckies came.  I’ve had the worst sinus infection, mixed with flu and now an ear infection.  Boo hoo!  If it hadn’t had been for my whole family chipping in on Christmas dinner and festivities it would have been a total disaster.  Now that I finally broke down and actually took the time to get to the doctor’s for much needed medicine, I’m beginning to feel a bit better.  Hope your holidays went a little healthier, but just as joyful as mine were seeing all my family together.

I’m working on some new items, slowly right now, but they’re in the works.  I’m opening a new shop on etsy that will just have my handmade soaps in it.  My son is working on the banner for me and I hope I’ll have all my stock ready just after the first of the year.  I hope to make the shop another reflection of all the things I love.  Why shouldn’t we add beautiful scents to something we use every day.  I’m concentrating on all natural soaps with rich ingredients.  Having two children and a husband with allergies, I’ve found Goat’s Milk to be a salvation for everyone. 

In addition, I’m adding to my purses and totes line with original totes that will make the romantic in all of us just SING!  Beautiful vintage images, many generously donated by giving friends on Flickr, are copied on fabric and give me so many options for creating these every day useful items.  They also give me a use for my over abundant supply of laces, buttons and costume jewelry.  My Flickr pictures on the side bar are where you’ll be able to get a sneak peak.

In closing, I’d just like to thank everyone, my etsy friends, my flickr buddies, blog buddies and my family for making my life so wonderful.  It is with your encouragement I’m able to create, feel so loved and wake up everyday with new energy.  You’re all dear to me more than you will ever know.

That’s it for now. . . I hope the remainder of your 2007 is filled with happy family memories, inspiration on how to make 2008 an unbelievable year and a safe, HEALTHY New Year to all! 

Love, Wendy

Alas, the Stevenson Spartans were defeated at Ford Field. . . but YEAH guys for getting that far and Stevenson Varsity Band for supporting your team.  Good job to everyone.  Devon’s birthday turned out wonderful.  Her best friends decorated the house for me while we were at Ford Field, sent her on a scavenger hunt and had a wonderful party for her.  Happy Birthday to my baby!

Work is still busy, it seems just like at home, things pile up.  I’ve been busily listing on etsy and have decided, again, to discontinue with e-bay for the time being.  I’m thinking after the new year to just concentrate on my own website and etsy for a bit.

Just got home from my daughter’s band concert, helped my two boys plus her with papers due tomorrow and now I’m off to bed.  Hope everyone is further ahead with their Christmas shopping than I am!  Sweet dreams . . . . . Wendy

Wow, what a week this will be.  I’m busily adding to my etsy store, a couple of auctions on e-bay and attempting to dig out from the mess in my house.  It never seems as if there’s enough time to do everything I’d like to.

Very exciting day yesterday, my kids high school football team has made it to the State Championship and will be playing at Ford Field (where the Lions play) on Saturday.  My daughter is in varsity band, so she will have the honor of playing there also.  What a once in a lifetime chance!  All our family will be going and her brothers will be attending to support her and their football team.  Oops almost forgot - it’s also her 16th birthday Saturday! 

I’m busily trying to make Christmas presents for my mother-in-law (Mom2) and my Mother.  It’s so hard when they either have everything or can afford to buy it themselves.  I’ve already made a lot of all natural soaps that I’ll be putting in gift baskets for them, but I’m thinking about tackling a patchwork scarf for each of them also.  There are some wonderful sellers on etsy & e-bay who make wonderful scarfs so I’ll have to see how detailed they are to make.  If I mess up I know who I’ll be running to!  I’ll post some pictures after they’re done.

Work is going well.  As I’ve said before I’m still struggling with all the hours at work and then my own business.  But I have to say, I just LOVE those ladies at Curves.  The older ones are my favorite to be there with - it seems they just have a different outlook on life and don’t seem to get so wrapped up in the small stuff.  A wonderful way to be, but something at this hectic part in my life, not something I’m always able to do.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Enjoy your friends & family, take a deep breath and be THANKFUL for all we do have.  At least that’s my plan!  Big hugs to all!  Wendy

Hi, everyone.  Sorry it’s been so long since my last post, but we’ve been very busy this month and I’m sure it will just get busier thru the holidays.  Hope today finds you all well, happy and busy creating!

I’ve added some new card sets to etsy, ebay and my web store.  Still taking it easy on e-bay as it appears etsy has allowed me many more contacts.  What a great site - the sellers and buyers alike all seem to support each other ~ not of that arguing you seem to find when sellers are competing.  I just LOVE that.  Gives you that warm fuzzy feeling and then you like to pass that same kindness along.

My real job (Curves) is going well.  Busy there too making all kinds of changes and adding some of my shabby chic stuff to liven up the decor.  That’s about it!  As soon as I have some more fun items to list, I’ll be sure to let you know.

Take care all ~ Wendy