It's our one year Etsyversary!

Oh happy day!  At the end of this month we will be celebrating Lazy Owl Boutique's one year Etsyversary (that's our Etsy anniversary, just in case you couldn't figure that out)!

One year ago this month I was going through a lot of changes.  I was just beginning a well-deserved vacation at the beach away from my hell job when I got a wonderful offer for a new job.  I debated for a few days, scared out of my mind.  I had never actually quit a job before.  I always just had to leave because I was graduating, leaving to study abroad, etc.  I returned from the beach well-rested and at peace with my decision and put in my two week's notice that Monday morning.

Over the next few weeks I created, created, and created on overdrive, along with taking lots of photos and figuring out how the heck to get started on Etsy.  By the end of May, Lazy Owl Boutique officially opened for business!  It was definitely slow going at first, but it has been a very rewarding experience and I'm delighted to say that in less than a year we have reached over 100 sales!

We've made some mistakes but learned a lot along the way in just one year.  Check out this awful product photography for example:

Ay yi yi!  Talk about gloomy.

We've fine-tuned the creating/photographing/listing process and even begun to sell in person at craft shows!  We are even in the process of joining with a handful of other local handmade artisans to open a unique handmade boutique in Houston (stay tuned)!

One year ago I would've never thought I'd be capable of doing all that I am now.  And I have all of you to thank!  So thanks to all my family, friends, fellow artists, and customers who have supported Lazy Owl on this journey.

To celebrate our one year Etsyversary, we are giving away hairpin freebies! Get one freebie hairpin with a purchase of $10 or more, and two hairpins with a purchase of $30 or more! Check out Lazy Owl's facebook page to pick out your favorite hairpin(s) and include your top four preferences in the note to seller during checkout!

You can also view the hairpin selection below:

Free hairpin choices!

Handmade Louisiana

Today I had the honor of being selected as Handmade Louisiana's Shop of the Day.

Handmade Louisiana is a group of artisans and crafters from Louisiana.  Even though I don't currently reside in Louisiana, it's been great to re-connect with that distinctive Louisiania "feel" via the internet.

The group consists of so many talented people!  Follow us on facebook to see different shops and items being featured daily.  You can also check out the HML blog.

Also, check out this awesome HML treasury inspired by my candy cane bunting necklace!

'Red and White' by TrappedInTimeDesigns

Inspired by LazyOwlBoutique's amazing Buntin Necklace

Red and white bunting n... LazyOwlBoutiqu... $24.00	Red House in Snow 5x7 (... magnesina $10.00	Mermaid Paper Doll - A... theFiligree $9.00	Vintage Red and White C... PageScrappers $50.00
Car Wash - Hand Spun Th... FridayStudios $31.00	Toy Leash Tether Strap ... JoshandTeo $10.00	Funky Earrings, Red Whi... WildWomanJewel... $18.96	1950's Vintage Dres... VintageFrocksO... $120.00
Big Top Ring - Red and ... WildWomanJewel... $13.43	Vintage 80s top t shirt... moonandsoda $29.00	Red and white leather C... Quistt $40.00	red and white .vintage.... thevintageclos... $125.00
Red, white, and blue ba... allthingsforba... $26.00	Bakers Twine Red White ... VintageThriftS... $26.50	Red Pillow Covers TWO 1... PureHomeAccent... $32.00	Set of ten red and whit... ratbeankat $12.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Thanks for all the love today yall!

Pinterest: I Tried It! Antique Rake Jewelry Holder

This pin has been on my "Organization Inspiration" pinboard for quite some time now:

Rake Jewelry Holder on Pinterest

I get dressed and accessorized in my bathroom.  The problem is, all my jewelry holders and boxes are on the dresser in my bedroom...not exactly a long walk away, but my favorite pieces of jewelry tend to wind up on my bathroom counter, so while getting ready I usually just pick up whatever is around in the bathroom.  Thus, I frequently neglect all the fun jewelry that's sitting in the jewelry holders in the bedroom nearby.

I liked the idea of this antique rake jewelry holder because I can utilize the limited wallspace in my bathroom to hang some more jewelry in there, and then I'll be more likely to wear more of what I own, since it'll be right there in my face!

I didn't have any cool antique rake heads lying around, so I decided to buy myself some since I liked this idea so much.  I found not one, but two awesome rake heads for sale on Etsy at thejunkman.

After bothering my handy husband to attach them to the wall, I went to town hanging all my necklaces.  Here's the final result (I apologize for the awful shadows):

The silver single pearl, antique gold knot, and fabric rosette necklaces are all from Etsy.

The two long strands of pearls, large teal crystal,bird's nest, and purple gem necklaces are all from Etsy.  The aqua necklace is similar to one I have for sale in my shop.

I think now I might add a length of twine or ribbon across the top of the rakes so I can hang even more dangling earrings in here.  Exciting!

Today's Handmade Pick

First of all, Happy Valentine's Day!  I am not really into this holiday, but if you are, I hope it's been everything you've dreamed of and more :) Haha.

Today's handmade pick of the day from milloo makes me dream of spring!

Kallisto bag in stripe canvas and Yellow leather

I love the contrast of the yellow and gray.  I imagine this purse could hold the multitude of items I am always carrying around with me...a planner, an inspiration notebook, kindle, wallet, makeup, sunglasses, too many keys, medicine, etc. etc. etc....

Have a lovely Tuesday!

Today's Handmade Pick

I'm a sucker for a pretty yarn wreath.  I especially love this bright, colorful one from KnockKnocking, the creators of the "original yarn wreath with felt".  She's based in Austin, and I already own one of her wreath creations and love it.  Lately, I've been eyeing this one:

Yarn Wreath - Color Pop - The Original Felt and Yarn Wreath

Isn't it lovely? :)

Today's Handmade Pick

My dear friend Bill has already given me grief about not having a daily pick for....five days.

So, without further ado (is that how you spell that?), here's today's daily handmade pick:

THE cocktail ring - Emerald Swarovski Crystal with Emerald Green and Gold Beads

This lovely emerald green cocktail ring by Etsy seller Vantage Jewelry was featured in one of the Etsy newsletters yesterday.  It immediately caught my eye, and I ended up purchasing a similar handmade ring in her shop.  I can't wait to receive it!  You should definitely take a peek at her unique creations.

Today's Handmade Pick

I'd like to start posting more often.  It's one of my goals for the year.  I think of so many great things I want to blog about but then never sit down and do it.  I think I get intimidated by the thought of having to craft these big, well-thought out entries.

So I'm going to try something new just to get me in the blogging mood.  I spend a LOT of time just surfing Etsy, browsing items, and adding to my favorites list.  Thus, I'm going to start a little series simply called "Today's Handmade Pick".  I cannot guarantee I'll do it everyyyyyday, but I'll try to do it as often as I can.

All handmade picks of the day will be chosen through a totally organic process, not by me advertising on Etsy forums or anything.  They will all be things I've favorited myself just because...I love them!

In honor of 2012 goals and plans, today's handmade pick is a cute little quirky notebook made by aileen bennett at creating stuff on Etsy:

Notebook - Plans for the Best Year Ever $11.50

Throw Me Somethin' Mister!

Mardi Gras 2012 is Tuesday, February 21.  That means we are right in the thick of Mardi Gras season for the next month!  This time of year makes me think of king cake, blaring trumpets, and lots and lots of beads. 

When I was little, my mom often took us to the huge (and family-oriented) parades in Kenner and Metarie, just outside of New Orleans.  Every year I was in college (all 6 of them, haha), I squished in a car with my friends and we drove to New Orleans, usually jamming about 12 people into one hotel room.  Mardi Gras in New Orleans is truly a unique experience.  I probably wouldn't be able to handle it now that I'm older, but the memories of limping down Bourbon Street in sticky shoes, eating Popeye's red beans and rice at 3am, and sitting on someone's shoulders desperately trying to catch the biggest beads will always make me smile.

Now that we are in Houston, we celebrate a very sedate Mardi Gras season.  My husband made a king cake, and I've decided to honor Mardi Gras by creating earrings with authentic parade doubloons.  If you aren't that familiar with Mardi Gras traditions, you may know about catching beads at parades, but there are also doubloons.  Each year every Mardi Gras krewe creates limited edition doubloons, which are basically big shiny aluminum coins, to throw at their parade.  The doubloons usually have the year, the krewe name, and the theme or name of the krewe's parade that year engraved on them.

These Mardi Gras earrings are a great way to wear a little piece of Mardi Gras tradition during this season, whether you are participating in carnival season somewhere in Louisiana, or just want to celebrate the good times wherever you call home!

Silver doubloon earrings by Lazy Owl Boutique

Shiny blue doubloon earrings by Lazy Owl Boutique

Gold Mardi Gras earrings by Lazy Owl Boutique

 

Party like it's 2012

Hello!  Welcome to 2012!  Obviously I did not intend on taking a nearly two-month long vacation from the blogosphere, but December and the holidays turned out to be busier than I thought.  I hope that all of you had a peaceful (and successful, if you are a fellow Etsian like myself) holiday season!

With the beginning of every new year, I like to follow the trend of setting some goals and coming up with a resolution or two.  This year I read an article about the 101 Things in 1001 Days Challenge.  1001 days is three years, so coming up with 101 goals in 3 years gives you the time and opportunity to do some serious long-term thinking and planning.

2012 Weekly Planner PDF by milas on Etsy

 
I then stumbled upon the awesome website, Day Zero, and decided to set up my very own 101 things list.  You can see my list here.  I still haven't thought of all 101 things, I could only get about 80, so I have some room to grow.  I tried to come up with a mix of fun things I've always wanted to do and serious goals I need to do, along with a few things that I'd love to happen but don't know if they are possible (like weigh 140 pounds...ha...ha....).

I welcome you to create a Day Zero list with me to motivate yourself to meet your goals for the next three years. 

Here are a few of the items on my list, many of them pertaining to Lazy Owl Boutique.  They say you should make your goals quanitifiable and specific, so you can see I chose a specific number for many of them.

- Learn how to sew
- Cook a meal in the crock pot (I've told you I like never...cook)
- Paint every room in the house (ouch)
- Go to the beach (yay!)
- Learn Italian
- Go to Italy (TBD in a later post!)
- Cook 10 recipes from Pinterest
- Make 150 sales on Etsy (hopefully over the next 3 years, this will be possible, so far I'm at 10 out of 150)
- Write 50 blog entries!  Here we go!
- Sell at 5 craft shows (hopefully more)
- Make 30 things from Pinterest
- Read 75 books
- Eat at every Pappa's restaurant (it's a Houston thing)
- Make an ottoman/bench out of our old coffee table
- Eat on our wedding china at least twice (since we've never eaten on it at all)
- Bake 10 different types of cupcakes, yay!
- Be on the frontpage of Etsy 5 times (I've managed to get on it once this year already!)

So, now you can follow along with me as I try to complete this goals over the next 1001 days.  Let me know if you decide to make your own list, and we can share.  I need more ideas for goals!

Stocking Stuffers and a Sale

Happy almost Thanksgiving yall!

In honor of Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday, I'm offering free shipping all this week.  Use coupon code TURKEY for FREE domestic shipping!  This is a great way to get unique, handmade gifts without having to fight the crowds at the mall, but without having to pay extra for shipping!

Sneak a peek at some of the cutie patootie stocking stuffers, all for $14 or less, that I have in stock right now.  I'm about to list TONS more over the week too!

Mint green rosette studs for just $9!



Hot pink mum earrings for $10

   




Cute as a button! Heart button earrings

   

Plum rose earrings





 

   

 


Gold wire-wrapped sea green pearl ring



Mint Dahlia adjustable ring