Gabriel's Good Tidings

Weekend Updates: Craft Fair, Michelle Patterns and Deals for Mom!

2013-05-11T21:01:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy weekend! I just finished a first-ever Arts and Craft Fair for my church, and it was so much fun (although I am exhausted - I did take a cat nap on the couch this afternoon, which is something I rarely do!). Not only did I sell items at my table (and did fairly well, I think), I also coordinated the entire event. I'm a pretty organized and administrative person - the last 2.5 years as a nurse manager has helped with those skills, too - so it wasn't too difficult, just LOTS of little details.

It was fun to see the creativity emerge from within our church body and see my friends grow in their confidence to sell their items. I loved all the ways our handiwork was on display! I learned a lot, too, and hope to share some take-aways within the next week or so, just in case any of you plan to coordinate such an event soon.

I'm always looking for new items to add to my stock, and I'm quickly falling in love with Michelle Patterns. I added her button on my sidebar (click through if you're in a reader). Her patterns are well-written and include high-quality images for helpful instruction. They're great for the beginner or novice sew-er, and the items they produce are just gorgeous!

I shared a few weeks ago about her $5 Friday special, and she's got another amazing bundle of EIGHT patterns this weekend for only $5. It's a great deal that expires Monday morning, so certainly purchase this right away if you've every dreamed of sewing bags or purses.

If you're still searching for a Mother's Day gift, Craftsy has some amazing resources for your mom! It's a whole collection of online classes where you (or your mom) can learn all kinds of skills - sewing, knitting, cake decorating.... and so much more! They're having a 50% off sale today through Monday (ends Monday, May 13 at midnight), so it's a perfect time to pick out a new skill to learn this summer!

Last weekend my Lip Balm Key Fobs were featured on LillyLou Finds, a new daily deal site I recently shared about. It was a fun time and I'm shipping those items out on Monday!

Speaking of daily deal sites, Very Jane has a few really adorable deals right now.

I'm thinking of putting chalkboard vinyl in the hallway of my kids rooms. Or, you could cut this down into smaller pieces for labeling jars or something similar.

These bracelets with a "secret" message would be amazing for a friend who you share that "inside joke" with, or as a sweet memory of someone you dearly treasure.

And I'm all about state love, perhaps because I've lived in five states in the last ten years. These State Love Keychains would be a great good-bye gift to friends moving away, or a great welcome gift to new neighbors or family who's moved to your state.

Well, this seems like a full smorgasbord of things, so hope everyone has a great weekend! See you next week!

Give Back! Update and Introduction to the Webber's!

2013-05-05T21:24:00.003-05:00

Oh, wow! I can't believe we're already in the second quarter of the year!

I was so thrilled at the response of the Give Back! program for the Hudson family! It gave me great joy to make a generous contribution to their sending organization (which in turn, went directly to their ministry). I've recently been able to see the Hudson family while they're here in the states, and rejoice with them in the announcement of a pregnancy! They will stay stateside for the next 9+ months to do some training, have a baby, and then be re-assigned to a different country. What an honor it was to partner with them in the Give Back! program.

The second quarter of the year (which actually started April 1 - so sorry I'm behind) we'll focus on the Webber family headed to Bundibugyo, Uganda.

Meet the Webbers.

Derek, Lauren, Lucy and Olive

Lauren and I met back in the late 90's in nursing school. Her older sister, Jenn, and I were actually in every. single. nursing. class together. Talk about some bonding! Lauren was two years younger and always around us. But she wasn't just Jenn's little sister.... she's soon emerged into my friend, too. And what a dear friend she has been.

When I went to Africa in 2002, she spoke at my commissioning service. Her encouragement to me continued around the world as she'd write emails and send care packages.

I remember the summer she and Derek met. The months that followed in that crisp, fall semester led to many talks late into the evening. Treasured memories, indeed. Little did I know that I would soon have a similar love story written for me as I met my husband in a foreign land, too.

Lauren's heart has always been for Africa. And although I don't know Derek as well, I do know he loves missions. Both Derek and Lauren have medical training (Derek is a PA and Lauren an RN) and plan to use their medical skills to bring life and hope to those of Bundibugyo. But more than physical healing, they overflow with a desire to bring spiritual healing and hope to those who are hurting and lost without our Savior Jesus Christ.

I highly commend this couple to you. They are the real deal, y'all. They love Jesus with all their hearts and live their lives to follow him. Lauren writes her blog in such a way that keeps life real, but with Jesus in the center. It's always an encouragement to my soul to read her words.

And so, I commit to give 30% of all earnings in my Etsy Shop to the Webber Family from April 1 to June 30. No special coupon code is needed. All sales will be combined to make a contribution to this dear family the first week of July.

I'll continue to add new items on a weekly basis, so check back often and as always, let me know if you're looking for something specific.

What an honor it is to partner with the Webbers. I encourage you to learn more about their story, their cross-country crazy road trip, their two year old daughter's heart for Africa, and their ministry on the blog.

If this is your first time learning about my Give Back! program, please read here.

Giveaway Day - Baby Apron

2013-05-05T20:52:00.001-05:00

I'm always honored to participate in Sew, Mama, Sew!'s Giveaway Day. It happens twice a year and is always a ton of fun- and drives a good amount of traffic to this little blog.

This giveaway is for a baby apron, AKA "bapron", from the pattern at Craftiness Is Not Optional. (I have purchased a commercial license from CINO to reproduce and sell this pattern.)

If you win this giveway, I'll ship you one Baby Apron. I have 20+ of these aprons made and can easily accommodate any color choices or genders. Upon winning, I'll ask you a few questions about the gift recipient and will choose a Baby Apron to suit your needs. I'll even send you a pic first to make sure you love it!

Shipping is open worldwide. Items will ship within one week after giveaway ends.

Wanna know something about me and this little blog? I give away 30% of all my Etsy sales! That's right. It's part of a program I started called Give Back! Read more about it here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Day - Lip Balm Holder Key Fob (set of 2)

2013-05-05T20:45:00.002-05:00

I'm always honored to participate in Sew, Mama, Sew!'s Giveaway Day. It happens twice a year and is always a ton of fun- and drives a good amount of traffic to this little blog.

This giveaway is for not one, but TWO, of my best-selling items. It's a Lip Balm Holders and a Key Fob! These little things are great gifts for teachers, friends, co-workers, and new moms. They easily clip on to a beltloop, diaper bag, purse, backpack, or keychain. All standard size cylindrical 0.15 oz lip balms (Chapstick, Carmex, Blistex, etc.) fit in these holders.

If you win this giveway, I'll ship you two Lip Balm Holder Key Fobs of your choice. They can match or be totally different. You can pick any two in my Etsy shop. (If my stock happens to be low, it's because I ran a daily deal on this new site last weekend. I'll be restocking them this week.)

Shipping is open worldwide. Items will ship within one week after giveaway ends.

Wanna know something about me and this little blog? I give away 30% of all my Etsy sales! That's right. It's part of a program I started called Give Back! Read more about it here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lip Balm Holder Key Fobs Featured on Lilly Lou Finds!

2013-05-04T07:46:00.000-05:00

Remember when I shared about Lilly Lou Finds a few weeks ago?

I'm so excited that they are featuring my Lip Balm Holders this weekend! These ladies are so great to work with, and they just giddy over my product, which makes me smile soooo big!!!!

They're only $3.50, which is the lowest price I've ever sold them. Please note this price does not include the lip balm, though.

There's some never-seen-before designs available now, so hop on over to Lilly Lou Finds and check it out!

Twenty-One Patterns for only $5!

2013-04-26T13:27:00.000-05:00

Cheap and Quality. That's a combination you don't find often, and sometimes, rightfully so.

I'm certainly not implying that you should sell your high-quality items for less than you deserve.

But sometimes, when you're on a budget, it's nice to stumble upon a good deal of amazing items at rock-bottom prices.

Nice isn't the word. Exhilarating. Thrilling. Make-my-day-over-the-moon-AMAZING!

So, imagine my excitement when an email from Michelle Patterns showed up in my inbox this morning and offered TWENTY-ONE great patterns for only $5?!?!? It made my morning soar from good to great!

And I can't keep deals like this to myself, since I know you love these things, too.

From michellepatterns.com:

This week we are saying goodbye to 21 patterns from the past! These are available in one zip file as the $5 Friday special. Order it with the "add to cart" button above.

This is a large file, so give it a little extra time to download. Once you unzip it, look for the file on your computer called "retiring_pdf_patterns".

These are patterns that don't reflect my current formatting style and/or I no longer have the original document. Maybe someday I'll get the time to recreate some of them. In the meantime, they are available here at a discounted price!

Tablet computers can have trouble displaying these pdf documents. Please view and print them from a desktop or laptop computer.

Here's a sample photo gallery of just some of the patterns you will receive for only $5.

This deal is only good until Monday morning, April 29, 2013. After that, the patterns will be gone forever!

If you've ever wanted to learn to sew or master the art of sewing bags and accessories, this is a great opportunity. Click here to order, and click on $5 Friday.

LillyLou Finds - New Daily Deal Site

2013-04-06T10:28:00.001-05:00

You guys know how much I love the daily deal sites like Pick Your Plum, The Plaid Barn and Very Jane, right? I share their deals via this blog and my Facebook Page when I see something I think you'd love.

So, I was thrilled when I recieved a message from LillyLou Finds, a new and upcoming daily deal site. It's scheduled to launch April 10 - just 4 days away!

I've already been in contact with the girls behind the scenes, and they seem super sweet and are oh-so-excited about the launch. In fact, their Facebook page is having a few giveaways in preparation for the big day. So hop on over there and be sure to like their page and share this post to be entered to win. The prize? A $25 gift card to LillyLou Finds!

Of course I won't hesitate to share their awesome deals with you as often as I can, but I'd love for you to get in on the action yourself and be a part of their community.

Daily deal sites like this are great places to find unique gifts for upcoming events such as weddings and holidays, and they are also fantastic sources for craft supplies and fun "just because" gifts for yourself, too.

Consignment Sale Series Recap

2013-04-03T09:14:00.002-05:00

Consignment sale season is in full swing and I hope you'll plan on shopping a sale in your area. I had so much fun writing the entire Consignment Sale Series and now I'm in "crunch mode" as Boutique For A Week is less than two weeks away! I hope to see many of you there!

Here's a list of all the posts in the series, all in one place for you to access easily.

Ten Places to Find Items to Consign
Five Reasons to Volunteer at a Children's Consignment Sale
Ten Reasons to Shop a Children's Consignment Sale Even If You're Not A Mom
How to Shop a Children's Consignment Sale with Kids in Tow
Ten Tips for Selling Items at a Children's Consignment Sale
Six Things to Know Before Volunteering at a Children's Consignment Sale
Ten Reasons to Consign Children's Items

Tips for Shopping with Children in Tow

2013-04-03T08:54:00.000-05:00

This is the final post in the Consignment Sale Series, because Boutique For A Week is just around the corner! I've been tagging items over the last week or so, and it is really exciting to see it all coming together for sale week!

To finish this series, I thought I'd share some shopping tips with children in tow. As a mom of young children, I know going to the grocery store alone seems like a vacation, and this is a sale that should ideally be shopped alone. However, sometimes life just doesn't allow that to happen. So, if you find yourself in a situation where you must shop with children, here's a few pointers.

1. Play by the rules. Check your consignment sale's website for shopping policies. Some hours - typically the pre-shopping times for volunteers and consignors - restrict children to nursing infants only. Make sure you are allowed to bring children during your shopping time before going to the trouble to plan such an excursion.

2. Have a plan. Even if you don't have children with you, I encourage you to make a list. Does your son need a navy Polo shirt to match those cute shorts? Does your daughter need shoes for school? Are you planning a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party in coming months? Know what you're looking for and plan to shop intentionally. Now, if the kids fall asleep or are exceptionally happy, feel free to browse - but in the event of a cranky shopper, make sure you get the most-needed items first.

3. Bring new toys or an electronic device. Depending on your child's age, consider bringing a new toy they have yet to see and/or an electronic device they love such as an iPod or iPad. This may buy you some precious shopping time as they play with such a well-loved toy.

4. Go hands-free. Again, depending on the age of your child, plan to bring something to help you be hands-free. A baby carrier (I always loved my Ergo for things like this!), a stroller, or even a wagon- just somewhere for the kids to sit away from your hip.

5. A full tummy. Clearly don't bring the kids half an hour before lunch. Rather, plan to shop at their best time of day. Consider bringing snacks to help their hunger if you end up staying longer than planned.

6. Sleepy shoppers. If your child is a stroller or baby carrier sleeper, consider shopping during naptime. Of course, have a plan B in case your child refuses to sleep, but this may work well for shoppers with infants who are good on-the-go sleepers.

7. Partner up. Consider joining forces with another mom (or a non-mom -- they will learn to love these sales, too) who can lend an extra pair of hands if a child is having a hard time. It's more fun to shop with friends, anyways!

8. Have a plan B. If things are disastrous - kids are hungry, a blow-out diaper, child with a fever, or any other unexpected events - have a back-up plan. Know in the back of your mind that you can come back later in the day when someone can watch your children, or when you have some time alone. It will be far less disheartening to walk away from great deals if you know you'll be back later.

What are your best tips for shopping with children?

How to Volunteer Well at a Children's Consignment Sale

2013-03-25T12:53:00.000-05:00

I'm picking back up with two final posts in the Consignment Sale Series this week. It's almost time for Boutique For A Week, and I've got to get busy tagging and sorting items!

I previously shared about the benefits of volunteering at a children's consignment sale, and today's post is some practical tips to help a volunteer shift go as smooth as a knife cuts butter. :)

1. Eat before your shift. Now, I wouldn't recommend stuffing yourself at an all-you-can-eat buffet, but I wouldn't come hungry either. Eat something healthy - something that will give you energy - and something you know settles well with your tummy. You likely won't have time to snack or eat often (or at all, if your volunteer shift is less than 4 hours), so plan accordingly.

2. Tell your family where you'll be. The last time I volunteered I didn't make clear arrangements with my husband about picking up the kids from school. By the time I slowed down to check my phone, I had quite a few text messages about who was getting the kids! Plan ahead, and let your family know where you'll be and how to contact you if an emergency arises. Tell them you won't be checking your phone during your volunteer hours.

3. Go to the bathroom before your shift. Plan to arrive a few minutes early to make a stop by the restroom, put your car keys and wallet in a secure location, and make sure you're fully ready to work when your start time arrives. There will likely be some initial instructions you'll need to hear, so be ready to start a few minutes before.

4. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. You'll be on your feet a lot, if not the entire volunteer shift, so dress accordingly. Wear shoes that are conducive for long-term standing, and clothes that are comfortable for being on the move. If you have long hair, consider bringing an elastic hair tie to pull it back. You won't know your exact role until you arrive, so be prepared to sort clothes, clean toys, organize books, hand out fliers, or a variety of other jobs.

5. Bring some $. One of the great benefits of volunteering is that you get a closer look at many of the items. Like I mentioned in this post, plan to shop after your volunteer shift and pick up some of those items you've been eyeing.

6. Volunteer at your best time of day. If you're a morning person, sign up for the 9 am shift. If you're a night owl, plan to sort clothes late into the evening. However your body is wired, be aware and plan to volunteer according to your best time of day.

I hope many of you will consider volunteering at your next consignment sale. If you're local to the Orlando, Florida region, you can sign up to volunteer with Boutique For A Week by clicking here. Hope to see you there!

Organize Your Spices with Baby Food Jars

2013-03-01T14:13:00.001-05:00

Wow! It's been a busy month for me! I can't believe it's been over two weeks since my last post. March holds a baby shower I'm hosting, April is a big consignment sale with which I'm partnering, and May is a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party, an upcoming event at church, and an end of the year pool party for the kids' classmates. It's gonna be a busy spring!

I've been bit by the spring cleaning bug, and started with my spices. Ever since my freezer cooking day last year, I've been brainstorming about how to re-vamp my spices. For quite sometime, I've had them on the side of my fridge in stainless steel containers from Ikea. More info about that project can be found here.

But a friend at work recently mentioned her infant eating baby food, and the wheels started turning.... I asked her to save jars for me, and another friend started saving, and before long I had a large variety of baby food jars!

Most of the jars are of the 4 oz size (Stage 1), but a few are of the 6 oz size (Stage 2).

I washed them all in hot water, removed the adhesive from the label, and ordered these Avery office labels from Amazon.

Using Microsoft Word, I typed in all the names of the labels and printed out two sheets of round stickers. Transferring the spices from the Ikea containers to the baby food jars was my favorite part - I just loved smelling all the spices! :)

Arranging the new jars in the drawer was my second favorite part!

And now, I love opening this drawer each day and finding the spices. It's the little things.

So what happened to the Ikea containers? I plan on using them in the sewing room to organize buttons, similar to how I organize my ribbon. Stay tuned!

Personalized Stamps from The Plaid Barn-LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE

2013-02-13T09:28:00.004-05:00

Another of my favorite daily deal sites is The Plaid Barn. They often have supplies for making jewelry or scrapbooking at rock-bottom prices. Occasionally, they'll feature washi tape or sewing supplies.

Today's deal is personalized peg stamps for only $5.50!

I ordered two of these for my kiddos a few months ago and plan on giving them for Valentine's Day. Actually, I'm hoping they'll choose to stamp their names on the valentines they must prepare for school. My children are still at the age where their names are written quite large, and I'm just not sure how they will fit all the letters onto the tiny valentine. So this stamp is a great option for the 18+ valentines we must make this afternoon.

Because some of the styles are initial only, this would also be a great purchase for an engaged couple. Think of all the things you could stamp with your wedding initial.....

Or teacher gifts for the end of the year....

Or for the kid's Easter baskets....

No matter how you choose to use these stamps, they're sure to be a hit with the recipient.

At the time of this post, there is a limited number available at The Plaid Barn. Don't drag your feet on this one, folks!

How to Get Your Items Sold at Children's Consignment Sales

2013-02-11T21:56:00.001-05:00

One of the most common questions I receive about consigning children's items is "How do you make money selling used items?" And while this entire series will answer that question, this particular post will likely give the most direct answers.

I invite you to read about why I consign, why I volunteer, and why everyone (even non-moms!) should shop these sales. I also described all the places I search for items to consign in this post. Today, I'm sharing my top ten tips for making sure your items will sell!

When you work hard to gather, price and deliver your items, it's important that they sell. After all that work, you don't want to return home with greater than half of your gently used children's items!

1. Price it Right. Look at your item closely. What would you pay for this item at a garage sale? What would you pay new? Based on the answers to these questions, price your item accordingly. A good rule of thumb is to price the item somewhere between 75% off retail price and just above garage sale prices. So if a shirt was $10 new, the consignment price should be around $2.00. I have found that the majority of my items sell for $2 or less.

2. Volunteer. I've elaborated on this topic before, but volunteering gives you a first-hand look at what items buyers love and shopping patterns. You can read 15 articles on consigning, but volunteering will give you the experience that will cement this information into your mind.

3. Get it Clean. Wash clothes, wipe down toys, scrub shoes- get those items clean and in pristine condition! Giving your items a "bath" will make them presentable, desirable, and sell-able!

4. Hang it Up. Most consignment sales require clothing to be on hangers. Although a few items such as pajamas are sold in large bins, I have found that all items tend to sell better when hanging. I've opted to hang pajamas, even when I had the option to put them in a ziploc bag and sell it from a bin.

5. Battery Check. Any toys that require batteries should be checked prior to drop-off. Invest in new batteries if needed, and your toy will be much more likely to sell. Who wants to risk purchasing a toy that may or may not work?

6. Piece Check. Open all puzzles, games, etc and make sure all pieces are included. It's important for buyers to know that they are purchasing a complete set and won't find themselves short a puzzle piece with their child.

7. Print Tags in Groups. I choose to print tags in sets of 10. This system works for me because I can tackle a small pile of items in a short amount of time. It also prevents me from having a stack of tags and searching for that one particular shirt... a never-ending matching game that drives me crazy! Printing in small numbers allows me to price, tag and store items without getting overwhelmed. Boutique For A Week has an excellent article here about Preparing Your Merchandise.

8. Tag With Items You Have. If you have a lot of zipties, use those to secure your tags to your items. If you have a surplus of safety pins, use them! Tagging doesn't have to be costly- use items you have in your home. I'd recommend Boutique For A Week's video series on tagging for tips and tricks.

9. Keep it Organized. As you tag items and they're ready to be sold, organize them to make drop off more efficient. I recommend grouping clothing by gender, then by size. Toys and books should be grouped by age. At drop off, it's essential to put your items in the best location to sell - the volunteers are great to help direct you! - because if you put your girl clothes in the boy swimsuit section, they're not likely to sell there!

10. Designate a Room. If you have an extra room in your home, designate this space as "Consignor Central." It can be a guest room, formal living or dining room, or home office that is rarely used in your home. For me, I use my sewing room and our formal living room to organize and prepare items to consign. I have a "consigning station" complete with all my tagging supplies and bins to store my "ready to go" items. This helps me stay organized and see the progress I've made in getting it all ready for consignment week!

I hope you're getting excited about the upcoming consignment sale! Will you shop, consign, volunteer - or all three?

You Don't Have to Be A Mom to Shop

2013-02-07T11:41:00.000-05:00

I'm having a lot of fun with this little Consignment Sale Series, are you? It's getting me very excited to start purging, pricing, sorting and selling!

Today's topic is one that will challenge you to think outside the box. I know we all have friends that are not moms, for a variety of reasons. As you're preparing to shop your local consignment sale, why not bring a friend along?

Here's a list of ten reasons why you should shop a children's consignment sale even if you're not a mom.

1. Purses and Bags. All women love this accessory. Most children's consignment sales have a large variety of bags and purses. Although some of them may be diaper bags, even those type of bags can be versatile enough to be used for a laptop, iPad, binders, or a large purse. Diaper bags are designed more and more to look like tote bags or large purses, so it's no surprise that many women could make a diaper bag work for work-related or personal needs. However, I have bought a few bags at Boutique For A Week that I carry as tote bags to work and on trips.

2. Office Supplies. At the last Boutique For A Week, I found an unopened package of T-shirt Transfer Paper. I was ecstatic because I use this paper to make my own sewing labels, and it's quite pricey. To find this full package for $2 was a real deal!

3. Books. Consignment sales have a large amount of children's books, but also homemaking and religious books. If you're a teacher, this is a great place to stock your classroom library! I've seen cookbooks and other how-to books as these sales in recent years.

4. Gifts. Even if you're not a mom, surely you know someone having a baby. Or, you have nieces and nephews. Or co-workers with kids. Many times consignment sales will have a good number of items with the retail tags still attached. This is a great way to collect a few baby gifts and store them away until the baby shower for a fraction of the retail cost.

5. Shoes. Because most consignment sales allow clothes up to junior sizes, adult sized shoes are welcome, too! These sales are a fantastic way to add to your shoe obsession without blowing your monthly budget.

6. Clothes. If you are able to wear junior sized clothing, shop these sales for the teenager clothing. You may be able to score a pair of jeans or a casual t-shirt for a rock-bottom price.

7. Evening Dresses. Many of these sales will have a "prom dress" or "pageant dress" section. Although the sizes are originally intended for teenagers, if the dress fits, wear it! Don't overlook this important area of the consignment sale when you are browsing.

8. Home Decor and Organization. Nursery decor is a big seller at children's consignment sales, but with nurseries becoming more and more modern, this is an item that can be used however it fits your home decorating style. Likewise, you may be able to find organizational bins or basket that are perfect for another room in your abode.

9. Furniture. Another versatile item that you can use in various rooms of your home. Just because it's a dresser that matches a crib doesn't mean the dresser can't go in your bedroom.

10. Twin Sheets. If you have a twin sized guest bed, this is a great place to stock up on sheets for your guest room. Especially if you have nieces or nephews who sleepover often- you may just be able to find superhero or princess sheets they will adore!

If you are planning on consigning, I encourage you to read this information from Boutique For A Week as it contains details on what is and is not accepted at their consignment sale.

So, I challenge you to encourage your non-mom friends to shop a sale like this. They're certain to leave with some great bargains!

Your Children's Consignment Sale Needs More Than Your Items

2013-02-03T22:59:00.001-05:00

When most people think about their local children's consignment sale, they begin to make a mental list of items to consign. Or, they begin to think about items they intend to purchase for their little ones.

However, they need so much more than your items or your money - volunteer your time!

I have had the pleasure of volunteering at Boutique For A Week for several years now, and could share hours worth of stories, rewarding experiences, and fun memories with you. To keep myself from rambling, I've compiled all the benefits of volunteering into a short list of five reasons.

1. Shop Early. I already mentioned this reason when I discussed the reasons I consign, but did you know that volunteers are allowed to shop even before the consignors? Truly, the sooner you can be granted access to shop, you will be guaranteed a better selection of items and likely a less crowded shopping atmosphere.

2. Browse Early. If you volunteer during set-up or early in the week, you can get a good idea of where your "most-wanted" items are placed in the sale, and keep an eye on items you hope to purchase. You can't shop while you volunteer, but you can end your volunteer shift and then go purchase a few items you've been watching.

3. Learn the Ropes. If you are volunteering and consigning, serving as a volunteer and observing shoppers' purchase patterns can aid you in consigning for future sales. For example, if you know you will consign your double stroller within the next year, you can watch first-hand how much shoppers will pay for a similar double stroller. This will aid you in pricing your items right so they sell first.

4. Make Friends. I used the word "pleasure" in the paragraph at the beginning of this list because that's truly what it is - a pleasure. Although volunteering is hard work, the company is well worth the work. Most volunteers are people just like you- moms working hard to get top dollar for their gently used children's items and willing to put in a little extra effort. It's a great place to meet like-minded friends.

5. Earn Kid Kash. Boutique For A Week rewards volunteers with a kid kash, which works like store credit at Boutique For A Week. Volunteering is a very simple way to earn some extra "store credit" and keep your consignment prices low.

If you're interested in volunteering but not sure how the details will work, click here to learn about all of Boutique For A Week's volunteer options - including opportunities for grandparents and men! Likewise, if you have a unique skill that can partner with Boutique For A Week. click here to learn about their bartering opportunities.

So, when will you volunteer?

Mailing Station in My Sewing Room

2013-01-30T15:31:00.000-05:00

In the last year, I've learned so much about packaging and shipping items I sell on Etsy. I have a sweet friend who is an Ebay Power Seller and taught me many tips and tricks about shipping from home. So, when I got serious about stocking my Etsy store and selling, it was time to make the necessary adjustments and eliminate the never-ending trips to my local post office.

My sewing room is a great haven for me, and although it doesn't look like it belongs in a magazine, it's my place of refuge. I try as much as I can to keep it clean and organized, but let's face it- crafting is just messy at times. One of the organizational tricks I have is to get items up off the floor. I envisioned a wall where I could house all of my packaging and shipping supplies - and forever end the search for the tape gun, scale, etc.

So, on the wall adjacent to my sewing machine (hints the rainbow of thread in the corner of the above photo) is this newly installed Wall Mounted Mailing Station. It holds my tape gun, twine, postal scale, washi tape, tissue paper, business cards and labels. The only things that don't fit in this photo are my printer and the envelopes or boxes I use.

I started shipping from home sometime last year. I purchased a postal scale on Ebay, but similar ones can be found on Amazon. It has saved me so much time and money! Did you know that the rates you receive at the post office are actually higher than the ship from home rates? I can't quote exact percentages, but over time, this $15 postal scale has certainly paid for itself. Even if I save $0.10 on each package, after 150 shipments, this scale is worth its value. Between Etsy, Ebay, and Amazon, I know I shipped at least 150 items in December alone!

I posted this photo on Instagram last December- my mailman was a champ! I absolutely love that I can use the USPS app from my iPhone and request a pickup at my front door the following business day. I will never stand in line at the post office again.

I thanked my postman by taping some granola bars to a poster board with a big "Thank You!". I'm sure they get hungry in those mail trucks by mid-afternoon. :)

Anyways, back to the mailing station.

I love washi tape and have started using it on my packages. It adds a little color that makes my buyer smile when the mailbox is opened. I recently purchased this washi tape from Pick Your Plum, but it's available on Etsy, Amazon and in many craft stores.

I use my tape gun with clear packing tape to seal the packages and secure the label to the front. I usually wrap items in tissue paper and secure it with one of my labels or washi tape, but occasionally, I'll use twine.

This basket hangs from a cup hook in the ceiling, and it holds my labels, Car Seat Canopy gift tags, and business cards. The box is an old recipe box and my business cards fit perfectly inside. I order all my labels and business cards from VistaPrint.

It's a perfect set up for all my shipping needs. Many thanks to my amazing husband, who took a break from his Redbox movie to come into my sewing room and offer a hand with this project. I'm so blessed.

How do you ship your packages? Do you ship from home or go to the post office? How to you make packages look "pretty"?

Ten Common (and Not-So-Common) Places to Find Items for Children's Consignment Sales

2013-01-29T11:39:00.001-05:00

Are you all fully convinced to consign this spring? Yesterday I shared the reasons I'm consigning this spring, and I hope you'll join me in such an endeavor. But perhaps you're not fully convinced because you don't have anything to consign. Today's topic is for you! Search these ten place,s and I guarantee you'll have a box (or two, or three!) of items ready to go.

1. Kid's Closets. Let's start with the obvious, shall we? :) Clothing items contribute to more than half of a consignment sale's inventory. Browse your children's closets and remove any items that they no longer need. Don't forget the shoes!

2. Children's Bedrooms. Another obvious one. My first consignment sale, I only sold clothes. I had no idea that I should go beyond the closet to the non-clothing items that were nearly new. My second sale, over half of my profits were from items such as toys, puzzles and books.

3. Patio and Outdoor Play Area. We have a large screened in patio at our home and toys galore in this area. Items such as ride-on toys and preschool sports equipment are high dollar items at consignment sales.

4. DVD Cabinet. Another area I overlooked for years. Most consignment sales no longer accept VHS tapes, but DVDs and CDs are among the "most-wanted" items for shoppers.

5. Grandma's House. As you're purging your own home, ask grandparents to look through their stash of toys, books and DVDs. I find that items at Grandma's house are in better condition and more likely to have all the original pieces - making it a candidate for consignment.

6. Garage. If your garage is a "catch all" area like mine, you may find a plethora of items there. Throughout the year, I'll box up items and label them for consignment, but then forget them if I don't do a thorough check of the garage before sale time.

7. Kitchen. Items such as baby bottles, unopened (and within expiration date) cans of formula, toddler plates, cups, and utensils are small items that can add to your grand total at a consignment sale. Don't forget the bib drawer, too!

8. Linen Closet. Don't forget this high-dollar stash in your home! Crib bedding, toddler sheets, and baby bath items are all qualifying items.

9. Bathroom. I hope I'm not alone in this, but my kids have so many bath toys they can hardly bathe in the tub! This is an often overlooked area of the home, and since the toys are in soap and water, they should be clean, right? :)

10. Your Own Closet. If you've recently had a baby, don't forget about consigning your own maternity clothes and nursing tops. Most consignment sales won't allow you to try on items, so make sure your clothes have a clear size marked on the tag. I find that dresses, jeans and skirts do best at these sales.

Well, if you've searched all ten of those places you likely have several boxes ready to clean, prepare, tag and consign. You better get busy!

See you later in the week for a discussion on why your consignment sale needs more than just your items- they need you as a volunteer!

Ten Reasons I'm Consigning this Spring

2013-01-28T16:02:00.000-05:00

I'm excited to be partnering with my favorite consignment sale, Boutique for a Week. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing details about my consignment history and lessons learned through years of participating in Boutique For a Week's semi-annual sales. Even if you live far from Orlando, Florida, you're sure to learn some tips and tricks for consigning. And for those of you who don't have children, never fear- I have an upcoming post just for you!

1. Make extra money. Who doesn't like a little extra cash in their wallet? Last fall, the money I earned from consigning at Boutique For A Week allowed me to meet my goal to have my kitchen cabinets painted. In other past sales, I've been able to pay cash for Christmas gifts or put several hundred dollars back into our savings fund.

2. Declutter my home. I'm constantly purging and re-organizing our closets, drawers, and storage solutions. Boutique For A Week is the twice a year motivation I need to ruthlessly go through my home and purge items that are no longer working for our family. A clutter-free home makes for a very happy me.

3. Shop early. Consignors have the added benefit of shopping before the public. This allows me to have the best selection and shop with less crowds. Consignors also gain access to the 50% off sale before the public, which allows me to grab items at rock-bottom prices before the public.

4. Browse early. Just like shopping early allows me to purchase before the public, consigning also allows me to browse through items prior to the public shopping times. For example, if I see an adorable dress for my daughter but don't want to pay full price, I can keep an eye on it and plan to drop back by for the 50% off shopping times and snag a deal on the dress. Discounted items are specified by the consignor, so be sure to check the tags to see if your favorite item will go half price the final day.

5. Recycle items to a new home. It's rewarding to know that my son's favorite dinosaur shirt from two years ago will find a new home via Boutique For A Week. We can't practically keep every piece of clothing or toy that has sentimental value, so it's comforting to know that another child will love it as much as my own children once did.

6. A budget reminder. Purging my home in preparation for Boutique For A Week is a visual reminder of areas we may overspend. For example, when I was purging last fall, I found that my son had four puzzles that were practically identical. When I have all of my items tagged and ready to sell, I am reminded that sometimes less is more, and sticking to our budget is more important than a new outfit for my children.

7. Keep what they love. When I show my kids items I'm considering for consignment, I ask them to pick their favorite one. This shows me which toys or clothes they love most, and therefore helps me plan for future purchases.

8. Donate to the community. Boutique For A Week donates a large amount of items after each sale. If you choose to donate your unsold items, you can tag them with white cardstock (instead of your designated color) and they will be automatically sorted for donation.

9. Make friends. Through consigning at Boutique For A Week, I meet other women via the Facebook page and at the sale who are like-minded. They may have children of different ages and be in a different stage of life, but we share a bond of decluttering our home, recycling items to a new home, and earning a profit from our children's gently used items.

10. It's fun. Call me crazy, but I really do enjoy seeing a huge pile of items, entering them into the computer, printing tags, attaching tags to items, selling items, and picking up my check. It's a sense of gratitude I receive for all the reasons listed above and more.

What about you? Have you consigned at Boutique For A Week or your local children's consignment sale? What are your reasons?

Orlando readers, registration is now open for Boutique For A Week's spring sale. Consignor spaces are limited, so sign up today if you plan to sell.

Next post in this series will discuss how to find items to consign. I'll share ten places to look for items to consign.... some of them will be the most unusual places!

Eversave Peel & Stick Chalkboard for $15 Shipped

2013-01-28T14:30:00.002-05:00

If getting organized was on your list of New Year's Resolutions, then this Peel & Stick Chalkboard from Eversave is a great deal for you! I'm thinking I may have a space in my laundry room for this large six-foot chalkboard to coordinate menu planning and family schedules.

This is perfect for renters or those who like to change things often, as it's full removable and repositionable. And it's $15 shipped, which is a great deal.

If you don't need six feet, consider sharing with a friend and making chalkboard labels to help you stay organized. Here's a few photos {via Pinterest, of course} for inspiration.

This deal is good until Febuary 6, 2013. If you don't see the chalkboard deal here, scroll down and look on the right column of your screen.

My Life and a Giveaway from Sorta Southern!

2013-01-28T00:03:00.000-05:00

After I posted Pick Your Plum's Washi Tape deal, I had every intention of returning to blogging and sharing fun tutorials and tips with you. But life came along and brought some tragic news into my life.... a dear friend and co-worker passed away suddenly just a few hours after our last shift together. I have spent the last 12 days grieving deeply at this loss and finding the strength to return to an office that was infiltrated by such a friend.

I tried many times to write a brief update so you wouldn't be left hanging, but each attempt ended in tears and shutting my laptop. I'm sorry for not being able to keep you informed sooner.

But it's a new week, right? And although I will never forget this dear friend, I will continue to be a nurse, return to work, and blog again. The last two weeks I've been more intentional than ever to read the Word of God, seek out friendships that encourage my soul, and find joy in God's good gifts to us. I've been reading more books to my kids, sewing with worship music and having late-night chats with my hubby.

So let's get back into blogging and sharing and start this week with something that makes us smile..... a giveaway!

My cousin, Paige, started Sorta Southern Boutique and she's graciously offered a smartphone wallet as a giveaway!

Paige sent me a smartphone wallet so I could see for myself how awesome these little babies are! I was really impressed with the quality and durability of the wallets. As you unzip the wallet, you will find ample room for your credit cards, money, and cell phone. This is a great accessory for a new mom who can't seem to manage a diaper bag and a purse (I was NEVER able to accomplish that!), a working mom who needs a grab-and-go wallet, or a young college student who wants the portability of such an all-in-one accessory.

This giveaway is for one smartphone wallet in either lavender or mint. Giveaway ends February 6, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pick Your Plum Amazing Deal on Washi Tape!

2013-01-15T09:51:00.000-05:00

Last night I got a heads up about this super duper deal from Pick Your Plum. This company is awesome, folks. I've raved about them before - I love their products, their personal service, the way they send a piece of candy in packages just for funsies, and their fast shipping. Of all the crafty deal sites, Pick Your Plum is by far my fave!

Today, they have Valentine's Day washi tape. It's dirt cheap at $1.50 a roll, which is 70% off. Talk about clearance! Shipping is $2.95 for US orders.

What is washi tape, you may ask? Well, it comes from Japan, and it is made of natural fibers. It feels similar to masking tape, but so much prettier. And although its appearance may seem delicate, it's can actually be as strong as duct tape. It's been around since 2006, which feels like last year to me, but it really was seven years ago - yikes! It's so versatile - you can tear it, stick it, reposition it, write on it. It sticks to paper, glass, plastic, wood - basically anything that masking tape would stick to. It's kinda like the marriage of masking tape and ribbon.

It can be used for so many projects, such as dressing up a package, planning your calendar, scrapbooking, or embellishing organizational bins. There's a good round up of washi tape eye candy I found on Pick Your Plum's Washi Tape Pinterest Board.

But as Pick Your Plum always says, "Get it before your neighbor does".... because they only have a limited supply. There are a few deals that I drug my feet on and missed.... and then kicked myself for procrastinating. I've already ordered a few rolls, so I won't have to kick myself today.

Sale at One Kings Lane - ends 1/13

2013-01-12T16:56:00.000-05:00

There's some pretty fantastic eye candy over at One Kings Lane. They have a "Vintage and Market Finds" section that is right up my alley. And for my fellow vintage sheet lovers, I promise it will keep you drooling, too.

I am particularly in love with this vase holder. I'm thinking it may be a good change of decor for my Twine Wrapped Bottles in the pass-thru window between my formal living room and family room.

Shop One Kings Lane and recieve a $15 credit with your first order. Read more about their referral program here.

Sale ends Sunday, January 13.

Dishtowel Giveaway, Very Jane Deal, and Instagram Love

2013-01-09T12:15:00.000-05:00

My cousin-in-law, Erica, blogs over at This Flourishing Life and she's giving away one of my dishtowels today. Hop on over there to enter to win a dishtowel of your choice from my Etsy shop, and she has a coupon code - available only on her blog - to save you some money in the shop this month. I added new dishtowels last night.... love how they brighten up my kitchen and stay put!

My other cousin-in-law, Paige, heads up Sorta Southern Boutique and is featured again this week on Very Jane. Her all-in-one smartphone wristlets are really cute and at a great price for the next three days.

I know I'm kinda late on the instagram bandwagon, but I'm really enjoying this little app on my phone. I added a new pic this morning on a trip to the fabric store, and my page is filled with sewing photos and bloopers throughout my week. If you're on instagram, leave your name in the comments and I'd love to follow you!

Well, this is a random post just full of tidbits of info. I'll leave you with this photo from my Instagram feed- it was taken back in November at my Grandmother's 85th birthday party. She gave me a love for sewing, which is evident by an image of her "workhorse" sewing machine on her birthday cake. I love it!

How to Remove Sewing Interfacing Gunk from your Iron

2013-01-07T15:07:00.000-05:00

Second only to a sewing machine, an iron is a seamstresses best friend. A good iron allows you to make your fabric smooth, create strong creases, curve bias tape around a circle, bind interfacing to fabric, and put the finishing touches on a project.

I love my iron. It's a Rowenta Effective, similar to the one here. I got it for my birthday many years ago and while I wouldn't typically ask for an iron as a birthday gift, it has improved my life so much that I deem it one of the best gifts ever! It's great for ironing clothes and it helps tremendously in the sewing room.

However, in the last few months, it's been clogged up with interfacing glue and stitch witchery remnants. I could see a decline in the iron's performance and was determined to restore it back to its full functioning wonderful self!

I picked up this Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner at the store last week and was incredibly impressed with the results!. For less than $5 a tube, it is worth the price of a Starbucks Latte- I promise!

First, I'd recommend massaging the tube and mixing all the gel prior to opening. My gel wasn't mixed well and tended to do better towards the middle or end of the tube rather than the beginning.

Squeeze a small amount onto a towel. Make sure it's an old towel that can be ruined.

Put your iron directly on the cleaner and start moving your iron in a circular motion.

It will get very smoky in your room.... open doors, windows, etc. I didn't think the smell was too bad, but the smoke was pretty thick.

If you have a pretty dirty iron like me, you'll need to repeat the cleaning process a few times. I did three "rounds" of cleaning and used about 3/4 of the tube. The above picture of my iron is after the first cleaning.

And the pictures below are after the second and third cleanings.

You may notice that I still have a little "gunk" in the round spots, which I think could be removed with a q-tip when the iron is hot. I just havent' gotten around to trying that yet.

The difference between this iron cleaner and other iron cleaners I've used has been amazing! I've paid more for other cleaners that didn't work but this was simple, fast, and effective.

Since I've cleaned it, I find that it irons better and heats up faster. It's like a brand new iron. :)

Oh, and make sure to use a towel that you can toss in the rag box. This is what my towel looked like after three cleanings.

Happy New Year; Happy Iron Cleaning!

Helpful Links:

Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner

Rowenta Iron

Very Jane Tie-On Pincushions just $2.99 each!

2013-01-05T20:42:00.001-05:00

I promise not to bombard you with deals and such, but I do want to share deals that are relevant to sewing and crafting, and deals that may not be promoted on other "coupon blogs".

Very Jane has a fun product for sew-ers today, and priced at only $2.99.

These tie-on pincushions seem like just the solution for my pile of pins that fall on the floor all too often.