How does your garden grow?

The buds are finally peeking out, and I'm hopeful that I'll actually have flowers in a few days! After pulling all existing landscaping and replacing the sidewalk last year when we moved in, this is the first time that the house doesn't look naked!

Of course, the neighbors think I am crazy. For weeks they thought I was growing a vegetable garden right smack in the front of the house. Yeah. I think some are still wondering.... What can I say? It was less expensive to plant hundreds of seeds than to buy one bush that would look lonely and bare all summer. Maybe next year we'll get into the "real" landscaping. For now... bring on the sunflowers, zinnias, and cosmos!

On setting up a sweat shop...

Of course you must know that I can't possibly make everything myself. I have plenty of free labor around the house. I only hire the best and most experienced pattern makers and cutters.

My oldest designer (age 4), created her own cupcake pattern (out of recycled boxes just like mommy does), traced it, and cut out a front and a back piece of fabric.

Then she saw something shiny and moved on to the next project. I guess that's what I get for not even paying minimum wage...

Her coworker plans to work twice as hard in half as much time so he'll still have time to do some weeding during his break.

A slice of summer

Introducing the watermelon - featuring an entirely new construction method and innovative wrap-around window!

A juicy preview...

What do you think is the perfect summer icon? I know what! I've made it into an I Spy Bag! As soon as the sun comes up (and I feed all three kids breakfast, change diapers, start some laundry, and *maybe* brush my teeth), I'm going to take some photos and list it in my shop. If you want to know, check my shop tomorrow (Friday)! A little thinking outside of the box led me to develop an entirely new construction method, which I am thrilled about... Stay tuned.

I made the front page of Etsy!!!!!!!!!

Today I casually glanced at the front page and... OMG there I was! It was surreal. Okay, so one of my I Spy Bags wasn't on there, but some train beads from High Pie Supply. I'll take what I can get!

Just one more reason to love Endicia...

As you already know, I'm in loooooove with Endicia. I haven't been to the post office since, well, I can't remember the last time! Shipping has never been so easy, and I don't have to waste gas and time driving to and waiting in line at the post office.

Yesterday, I discovered a whole new reason to love Endicia. A month ago, I sold some beads to a customer in Canada. He emailed me yesterday asking what was going on with his order since he hadn't received it yet. Well, 1st class international packages don't have tracking numbers, so normally I would have been out of luck. This has happened to me about 3-4 times, and each time I felt inadequate due to the lack of information I had to give the customer. All I could say was "check with customs - I mailed it on XX/XX" and hope that he/she believed me.

WELL! All I had to do with this order was go to my postage log within my Endicia software, and copy the log information. Since Endicia connects directly to the USPS for each transaction, a customs number was generated on the spot, and I was able to give that number to my customer. He can now go to the local customs office and actually have something to give them to help locate the package. The log also shows exactly what printed on the label, so he can check to see that I sent it to the correct address, and it shows what day I printed the label and on what day it mailed (no guessing here). No trust issues. It is what it is.

Of course, I have yet to hear back from him on whether he received his lion beads... I suppose Endicia can't prevent lost packages, but it certainly improves customer service from a seller to a buyer - for ALL types of packages.