It is All About the Ride

Thanksgiving dinner is tucked in the fridge into a myriad of plastic containers. The "good" dishes are all packed back into their boxes until Christmas dinner. We are on the verge of tipping into December. Christmas preparation time. For most, it is like a bobsled ride, high velocity, twisting and turning and 'tucking in' to maneuver the holiday sled faster and smoother. We plummet through the starting gate on Black Friday shoving into stores at 4 a.m. looking for the perfect Christmas gifts. We build up speed, writing out Christmas cards, reconnecting with friends we haven't heard from in a year. Half way through the month we shift ourselves once again, preparing for and attending parties, spending more time with our co-workers, friends and family than we have in months. As we get closer to the 25th we become more conscious of the time left...we need to increase the pace! Wrapping gifts, last minute shopping, stocking stuffers, baking, wrapping, shopping, cooking,...and suddenly...it is Christmas. We crossed the finish line in record time. With wrapping paper and ribbons in shreds around us and empty boxes stacked high, the day is over. I try to remember the days that led to Christmas. It went too fast. I didn't get to spend time with people I wanted to. I hardly had a moment to reflect or appreciate the beauty of the season. I was too busy! The last month is all a blur...the twinkling lights, the smiling faces, the dinners and family visits....they are a dull roar and blinking lights as I passed through it. It makes me sad.

I realize I need to change my mode of transportation. Maybe a sleigh ride would be more appropriate. I don't have to drive. I can sit in the sleigh with a warm blanket wrapped around me, sipping hot chocolate, singing carols to my heart's content and watching the landscape pass with an appreciative eye. I could even stop and visit a friend I haven't seen in months.

A sleigh ride. Not a bobsled race.

May your December be a wonderfully meaningful and pleasant ride.

Go to Etsy Maine Team Blog to find the list of participating team members.

Transitions

As fall begins to change the natural world around me, I realize I , too, have begun a transition. Usually at this time of year I am gearing up for seven or eight craft shows over the next couple of months, making my life very busy and chaotic. This year I have one. My life has become more manageable and peaceful. I have taken time to stroll through fallen leaves and smell the crisp fall air. I am doing more volunteer work and trying to eke out as much time with my youngest child as he readies for graduation in the spring and college next fall. Even while I create, my focus isn't on what will sell, but on what I really want to make today. I have made a list of new skills I have determined to learn and I am working on some new projects that I intend to submit for publication. All new and exciting, but without all the stress and chaos of my usual fall itinerary. I am settling into a new season of my life. I think I really like this season.

Etsy Maine Team Supports Fundraiser

Jennifer Collins, the owner of Allsey on Etsy, orchestrated the Etsy Maine Team’s and Etsy.com’s sponsorship involvement in Ronald McDonald House (RMH) of Portland’s fourth annual “fun-raiser”, Purses with Purpose, etc.

Jennifer’s teammates rallied to help her with this off-line community effort to raise financial support, increase local community awareness and recruit volunteers for RMH. Shannon Hanley of The Clever Kitty, Jennifer Lisa of Quench Metalworks, and Kellie Smith of Wordysmith, worked together with Jennifer to create the Etsy Maine Team (EMT) promotional materials.
Heather Desimone, of Leetie Lovendale and The Beadin’ Path stuffed "eco friendly tote bags" that were donated by Etsy and given away to attendees.

An amazing number of EMT artists, fifty (50) to be exact, donated items they created for the silent auction. The list includes:
Allsey Apple Tree Jewelry Askey Illustration Ava-Loo's Backwoods Creations Beadin' PathBeads On Hand Beantree Pottery Blue Moose BunnyBeads Calobee / Six Hours Clever Kitty Coco & Milkweed Cozink Deb Donnelly Designs Dirt Girl Pottery DooDadSmith Earthly Girl Designs Fitz-U Folk Art TreeGood Quill Hunting Jamie Ribisi Art Judy B Junque Revival Karhu Moon Kari Herer Photography Kreatus Krista Sharp Pottery Lauren Kennedy Photography
Linda Layden Scrimshaw Louisiana1966 Lynne Forrest Pottery Oceanhouse One Woman Studio Paige's Beaded Designs Phoenix Farm Posy Studio Ps and Qs Purplebean Bindery Quench Metalworks Scire4 Silverdust Is… Suzee's Jublileez The Knitted Brow / Moebius Three Bridges Sewing Tuizui Veldie's Remakes Woodshed Designs Wordysmith Yummilicious

Angela Clark, a RMH staff member, designed the "Purses with Purpose, etc." Logo. Shannon Heckethorn, Community Manager of RMH, along with many other RMH volunteers also played key roles. The fundraiser was advertised in several publications and numerous radio spots, and formal invitations were sent to past guests and RDH donors.

Both the EMT and Etsy.com produced 5x7 sponsorship ads for the program, which were distributed to the 200 attendees. Those who came to the event had the chance to bid on a wide variety of one-of-a-kind handmade items crafted by Maine artists and artisans. The participating Etsy Artists enjoyed working together and having an impact on the community while sharing their artistic talents with a local audience.

Jennifer was impressed and grateful for the response of her teammates. She said, “I would like to thank all the Etsy artisans that participated in this year’s fundraiser especially during the current economic climate. I am speechless at the sheer generosity demonstrated by our team members. I’m already looking forward to 'Purses with Purpose, etc. 2010'.”

No grass is growing under Jennifer’s feet. Planning for the "2010 Purses with Purpose, etc." is already in the works. For more information about next years event, contact Jennifer by going to her Etsy Shop, Allsey, and clicking on her contact link. RMH is accepting donations and sponsorships now. If interested, please click on this link to email Shannon, the Ronald McDonald House Community Manager.
If your group is holding a promotion on or off line, email Coco the "scoop" at mailto:coco@handmadenews.org?subject=Here.