Mother's Day

This past Sunday as you know was Mother's Day.
My Mom lives in Ms, so I don't get to spend time with her on that day. My kids are scattered everywhere.. Two in Ms, One in La, and One in Oregon.
It's just my husband, our "doggie daughter" Cookie,  and I.

My husbands Mom passed when he was in his 20's and every year on Mother's Day he would always be sad. I read about some people releasing balloons to loved one's who had passed, so about three years ago, I suggest to my husband we do that.

My Grandmother raised me, who I called Mama , and I always think of her as my Mom also.
So for the last three years we  have been getting balloons on Mother's Day, writing a note and releasing them for them.

Every year I will say, "Mama come get your balloon" and I don't know what you think.. But, I choose to believe she does just that. The balloon shoots up toward the sky and disappears so fast you can barely see it. This year it went under the clouds when I lost track of it.

One year my husband's Mom's balloon got caught in the tree, and my husband was getting really upset. I said, "Mrs Crane come get your balloon."
There was not even a breeze blowing and all of a sudden the leaves on the trees started shaking, and the balloon shot up out of the trees into the sky. My husband just stood there with this amazed look on his face, and I told him "She came and got her balloon"

If you  have a Mom or someone you think of as a Mom and you are sad at this special time.. Try getting a balloon for them. It really makes you feel you are giving them something, and letting them know you still think about them and love them.

What do you do?

Everyone has stress in their life, that is a given I think. 
How we deal with it is what matters the most. Sometimes I seem to give into it, and other times I just let it roll over my back.

Most of the time I practice techniques I have learned through the years. 
One thing I try to do is sit in a quiet environment, concentrate on my breathing, and just relax.

The other thing is to quieten my mind, which can be hard at times. My mind seems like a freight train out of control sometimes. 
I read one way to get your mind to relax from thoughts is to pick a focal point. Stare at that object while concentrating on your breathing. As your doing that try to use your peripheral vision. See what is above, below, and on the sides of you without taking your eyes of of the focal point. It really does stop you from thinking, and gives your mind a mini break!

I guess I am stressing too much about my surgery I am having next Thurs. 
Last time I went in for surgery I had problems with my bleeding again. 
When I had  my last child I almost died and needed a blood transfusion.. I guess I am just a "chicken" when it comes to surgery. At least this Dr sent me to an oncologist for test to make sure I'm not a hemophiliac, and thankfully that's not the problem.

Most of the time I try to use laughter as a stress relief. 
I prefer getting out in nature, in the mountains or by the sea, but it looks like that isn't an option for me at this time.
So here I am blogging about my feelings, and wondering how others relieve their stress..

I had a good laugh last night.. My husband and I were watching the news, and the police had arrested a man who broke into a local grocery store here. They caught it all on camera..
He actually cooked six steaks while he was in the store, used up 20 cans of whipped cream, and ate a Birthday Cake from the Deli in the process..
Ok.. The steaks were kind of understandable..(maybe he was hungry LOL), But 20 cans of whipped cream? I still laugh when I think about that!

So, what do you do when you need to just give your mind a break?
 

Hats And Ky Derby

                              
Everyone knows about the Ky Derby. As a child my parents use to watch it on Tv every year. This past weekend was the 139th year of the Derby races.
Last year the Queen of  England was even here for this famous race.
 I would have never dreamed in my wildest dreams that I would one day be living in Ky.
I moved from the La/Ms Area to the Northwest in 1990 and lived there for 17yrs.
In 2007 we moved to Ky, as I was trying to move closer to my Mom in Ms when she was in bad health, and this is the closest we could find for my husbands type of job.

I have yet to go to the derby, because I don't like that huge of a crowd, but I do watch it on Tv and I bet a couple of times.
I seem to have a knack for picking the right horses during the show times. I'm sure if I had the money to place a huge bet, I would loose.

One of the events prior to the Derby is a hat contest. 
The women have gorgeous, unusual, and wild looking hats to wear. I'm not sure what the winner receives, besides having their picture shown in their winning hat.
I wanted to decorate some hats and try to sell before the Derby, but as yet haven't been able to do it in time and I'm not sure where to sell.
I am a hat lover, and I grab hats for myself when I get the chance. 
I would love to take the time later and try my hand at decorating them.
I did decorate a few hats and was hoping to have more to sell, but life interrupted me.  The hats I decorated are no where close to the ones they wear at the Derby.

Here are a few of the hats being shown at the Kentucky Derby.. Some are WILD looking, and there are a  few I would like to have, or try to decorate to match my favorite..

                                             I really like this one but it's too big for daily wear

                                            Too "Out There" for me, but I adore the feathers

                                                Ummm NO NO And NO

These are a few hats the stars wore for the Derby
                                            

                     Here are a few of my hats in my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ginascornercrafts
           Mine aren't as elaborate as the one's in the Derby, but these are my favorites. I am a work in progress with the hats, and I will be putting more in my shop later.

The Best Online

If you enjoy handmade I have a place for you.. You will find anything you set your heart to.
There are things here that you will never have dreamed you would find
Beautiful things that others have thought up in their minds

Etsy has so many talented artist and vintage collectors too
I know there is something just for you.

If you like cozy candles that smell great
look up Delights by Dorene along the way.

 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DLitesbyDorene

If you enjoy beautiful glass pieces that are unusual too, Mtbaldyglassworks from Libbi Shorts, and Dee with Glitter Bird Glass..Will have just the one for you.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GlitterbirdGlass

                                           https://www.etsy.co/shop/Mtbaldyglassworks

CrystalGaylePhoto is a wonderful photographer that knows how to capture things from the heart. Her art will fill your home with love and warmth.
                

   

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrystalGaylePhoto 

 

If knitting and crochet is your style
Crocheted by Charlene and Sewing Granny will go for you the extra mile.                    
                   

     
               https://www.etsy/shop/crochetedbycharlene

             

                 https://www.etsy.com/shop/sewinggranny


 If jewelry is what you love there are SO many talented artist you MUST look UP.


Sheila with Just for Joy has Earrings galore So many it will make your heart soar 

                                                 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JustforJoyCreations

Riverwolfeartjewelry does it with style and her pieces will cause you to smile

            https://www.etsy.com/shop/riverwolfeartjewelry


JQjewelrydesigns creations are really sweet you will have to take more than a "peek"

                                         https://www.etsy.com/shop/jQjewelrydesigns

Bill Guest has pieces you never thought you could find and so affordable it will blow your mind.

             https://www.etsy.com/shop/PaganCellarJewelry

TrinketsNWhatnots with Janet is so unique you will want to have more than one piece.

                https://www.etsy.com/shop/TrinketsNWhatnots

If Handmade Woodwork is what you like check out Bills Wooden Pleasures they are a total delight.

                    
                                        https://www.etsy.com/shop/BillsWoodenPleasures
                                        

Then there is(ME) Gina's Corner Crafts making flowers from pencil shavings that are guaranteed to last

                     
                    https://www.etsy.com/shop/GinasCornerCrafts

There are so many more I can not name
Go to Promotional Frenzy On Etsy for they are on "Their Game."  
https://www.etsy.com/team/7512/promotional-frenzy-team/members

There you will find all the best artist online, with lots of goodies to delight and tease the mind.

If I could create magic

If I could create magic, this is what I would do
I would create a  peaceful world for me and you
A world with no violence  and no hate
Where love reigned unfaked

Everyone would be free from debts cares
All our children would have food and a roof over their head.
They would not worry about going to school 
For all lived by the "Golden Rule"

No one lived under bridges or on a park bench 
 For everyone would have money to spend.
There would be plenty of jobs to be had
No one would attack our country or dare to harm one hair on our heads.
Peace would rein here instead
  
We would all have a bright future to look forward to
And old age would bring relaxation like it's suppose to do 
There would be no worries about our care in old age
For we knew when we were young we worked and saved.
All our money we paid in was there to be spent in the way we desired
We had no worries about our money being taken for we trusted it was still ours.

Since I can't create magic or make things OK 
I have to just live in today. 
I can show I care and do my part by bringing to someone's life a little spark 
 Of hope for brighter days, and a better future not too far away.
I can pray for our nation and the people here to look for hope and see cheer
In eyes and smiles of others who care and show their support when the whole country is scared.
We are all walking the same path on our journey here and without each other
 we would surely only see fear. 
   
Lets all stand together and unite 
Fight with prayer and faith in sight
Let others know we are a people who are strong and won't fall apart when others do us wrong. 
.
 
  

 
 

  
 
     

If I were rich

I am one of those people that has an over active mind. I also have an overactive imagination I am told.
At bedtime I can't just lay down and immediately go to sleep, unlike my husband,who as soon as his head hits the pillow he is out and snoring. " Oh No, not me." I lay there and my mind runs through the whole day. Everything that was said, everything I did or didn't do, everything I wanted to, but was too busy to do.
Last night my mind went to the scenario of "If I were rich". What exactly would I do if I could go anywhere anytime, and do anything?
I of course would travel the world. My Mother calls me the gypsy of the family, because I have always had a hard time staying in one place. Since I never had the money to travel like I always wished, I found myself, somehow moving to those places. Yeah, and my kids call me either "Crazy Woman or Weird". It's all in fun and I know they love me, so I take it with a grain of salt and go with it. This gypsy is finding herself too old to move so much now, and am actually wanting to stay in one place. ( I still get "traveling lust", especially in the Spring and Summer.)
I would also give to others who were less fortunate. I REALLY would. I would pick a random person from each place I traveled to and help them. I would not give them money, but I would give them something they Need.. A Car, A house to live in for a certain amount of time, until they could help themselves.
Now, here's the weird part of what I would do, or so some would probably think.
I would have a trailer just for the things I found along my route in the U.S  for all the Yard Sales, Flea Markets, and Auctions to pick up all my goodies. There is no way I could stop going to all these things, because they are what I consider FUN.
The RV I would travel in would have to have enough space for me to create my "pencil shaving flowers". I would sell what I found in the same kind of places I bought from, and give the proceeds to charity.
What I do.. My Crafts, Yard Sales, Auctions, and Flea Markets are such a part of me there is no way I could ever stop doing them.
One of my dreams have always been to own a business and I have all of it in my mind. What it looks like, how it's layed out, and the name. One day I hope this dream will at least come true.
Until then, I will continue to do what I am doing now.
Below are a few  of my favorite places I have been..What would you do if money were no object?

What do you consider success?

I have often wondered what each individual considers what makes them successful on Etsy, or any online selling site.
Is it how many sales you make in a certain amount of time..Or how many people you have in your circles, or how many items you have listed for sale?

I know each one of us wants to be successful monetary. It is a lot of work to try to sell online.
I never had a clue how much it takes to promote yourself!

For myself, I would like to keep at least 200 items in my shop for sale. So far I've not reached that number. I want my shop to become more well known, and to have more in my circles.
I work on this everyday and try to add new people to all the promotional sites I am on.

The reason I started selling online in the first place, is I can't work outside the home in the workforce
When you are having to work outside the home you always think "I wish I didn't have to work everyday". Or at least that's what I always said.
I raised three kids on my own for years and I worked three jobs trying to support them.
Thankfully, I had a wonderful Grandmother that kept them for me, so I didn't have to worry about how they were being treated.

Now, I cant work outside the home due to physical problems, and I wish I  could.
I am always thinking, "What more can I do to be a success in selling?"
It is hard being a one income family these days as most of you know. I feel bad for my husband that he struggles with feeling inadequate with how much money he makes.
He did a lot better when we were in the Northwest, but we moved here in Ky for family and the pay is not that great.

I know there are people out there that have money, enjoy homemade items and love shopping online. SO, how do I find them?

I don't give up easily, so I will keep plugging along each day and hopefully my shop will become more well known.
As most of you know my favorite thing to add and create are my flowers from pencil shavings.
I had them in stores before when I lived in the Northwest and was doing well with selling them.
Where I live now I would have to drive too far to be able to promote them in stores.
I think you have to see them in person to really appreciate them.

What makes your shop work for you.. What do you do different to be successful, and what does your success consist of?