An Epiphany and Leather Bracelets

You may have (or probably not have) noticed that I tend to stray away from advertisements, sponsored posts, and the like on this blog. The reason has usually been that while getting free stuff is fun (SO much fun) I never wanted to accept something that I wouldn't buy myself.  I hadn't completely ruled the idea out, but I wanted to be picky when it came to accepting gifts for sponsored posts.

HOWEVER. I started an Etsy shop several months ago, and after experiencing first hand that sales don't magically come in the first (or 30th or 75th) day after posting your stuff, I quickly learned that interacting with the community and supporting your fellow crafters is one of the best things you can do to run a successful business. Literally the day that I had this epiphany, Joey of Sewsephine contacted me about featuring some of her handmade bracelets on the blog. Joey has built up quite an impressive (and completely affordable!) empire of accessories that she sells on Etsy. I love supporting independent businesses, and I obviously love cheap stuff, so I just had to share the love.

I was so excited when the bracelets arrived in the mail a short three days after our initial contact and couldn't wait to show them off with the world. 

 I love Etsy sellers who take the time to put together cute packaging for their products!

Sewsephine's bracelets are so simple but can go great with so many different outfits. I wore the pink one to work on Friday and then out that night for drinks, and then tied the green one with the tassel on today for cleaning around the house and a trip to Trader Joe's. If there is any fashion crime that I will admit to committing, it's falling in love with an accessory and wearing the crap out of it. Every day. The way I see it, I'm just making the best use of what I have, so that I don't have to go out and buy more. 

HA. I'll just keep telling myself that.

Ok but for real. Go check out Sewsephine right now! She is everything I hope to be in an Etsy entrepreneur. (One day, Brenda....one day.)

Big News!

After months of wavering motivation/confidence, I have opened up The Funky Junkie Shoppe on Etsy!

This is a new chapter in the life of myself and the blog, and I hope that you'll take some time to take a look at my floral accessories for thrifty gals.

Red Fabric Flower Brooch

Red and Black Bib Necklace

Yellow Blossom Band

I am new to all of this so I plan to figure it out as I go as well as to gain inspiration for all the ladies who have been running successful Etsy businesses. I would love to hear your advice!

That's all for today.

:)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheFunkyJunkieShoppe?ref=si_shop

Reasons why I am Not Martha Stewart

I know, I know. It's really hard to believe. What with all those gourmet meals prepared in fancy cooking wares and the home-y little touches all over our Lower Level Apartment, I know you all probably think my middle name is Martha. Not to mention she/Macy's furnished half of our kitchen.

Oh you know, just some Hurricane Shepard's Pie!

Here's the truth, friends. I would love to channel Martha and make my home look like the photos on the website. An eclectic colonial dining room? Yes please.

marthastewart.com

But as newlyweds on a budget, most of our home decor has come from the following:

1. Craigslist 

2. Leftover Wedding Decor

3. Our Parents

4. Bren's Craft Projects

Aha! Craft projects? What could be more Martha?

Well, for starters, many of the projects I start go way unfinished. I always start with the best intentions, but soon I get bored, distracted, or so gung-ho about the next project that I leave what I was doing in the dust. For example, several weeks ago I decided I was going to start a greeting card business on Etsy. While I'm just poking around Virginia for jobs, might as well make some extra cash, right?

During a Saturday afternoon with Cheaper by the Dozen on TV, I quickly started to build up my starting inventory. And then stopped at four. They took a lot longer than I thought they would. 

That's the thing--I don't have patience. I usually don't read directions. Instead of investing the time in quality materials, I tend to do whatever is easiest and quickest. It's a wonder I stayed focused to make 200 wedding invitations (although, I had significant help with that one...). 

So today, I was just perusing on Pintrest and making note of all the fabulous craft projects I will (probably never) make, and I kept stumbling across this idea for earring storage:

kevinandamanda.com

This craft project just spoke to me. I had a wooden frame lying on the shelf that I had been trying to find a use for. I also had tons of string, which is like, the same as wire. Perfect.

In my true fashion, I didn't bother to click the link to find out how Amanda made that little beauty. I assumed scotch tape and string would suffice as the way to hang my earring collection.

Turns out it didn't. 

I thought to myself, oh well, and then I gave up for about an hour.

But as the pathetic tape-y frame just sat on the kitchen table, I felt kind of bad. Like all junk, the poor guy deserved a chance to be made into something fabulous. So I caved and read the directions on the website. Apparently in order to build a sound and sturdy earring holding frame, one needs some heavy duty wire and a staple gun. Eep. But then I remembered I had loads of wire in my craft basket from my jewelry making phase. And a couple thumbtacks. Same thing.

No one would see that side anyway.

And now, for the real test. Would it hold up my pounds and pounds of dangly earrings?

Answer: it sure would! And it would look pretty swell doing it:

Craft project: complete and successful! 

Who's the queen of crafts now?

(Hint: me.)