Soap Opera

I went soap shopping on Etsy last week and bought these gorgeous soaps. All these soap makers show their international shipping rates on Etsy. Why should I have to convo sellers to enquire about shipping to the UK? If you don't display your shipping rates you are missing out on sales!
Above: lavender and orange pagan pentagram soap from http://theclockworkdragon.etsy.com/

Goat's milk and cherry scented soap from http://kimberquinn.etsy.com

Mulberry and spices heart shaped soaps from http://soap.etsy.com/

Wasabi goat's milk soap from http://simplepleasuressoaps.etsy.com/

Perfectly Pink natural shea soap from http://AllSweet.etsy.com

Patchouli natural shea soap from http://allsweet.etsy.com/

Why the long face?

Jackson and I meet these two every day in the fields. They are both partial to dog treats and will let me kiss their noses. I don't think the chestnut likes the camera but they are so used to the dog that they are all friends now.

Promotional Ideas

Apart from business cards there is a huge variety of promotional items and ideas to be bought on Etsy. Here is a selection of promotional goodies and the etsy shops where I bought them.

• When I send out items from my shop I like to enclose a small note book. The original book was sent to me by http://kupokiley.etsy.com/. Kiley makes beautful handbound books and will also make books to commission .
• But a blank notebook is not a promotional item unless it has my URL on it. So I commissioned a rubber stamp, made for me by http://onefourzero.etsy.com/. I love this stamp and stamp it onto EVERYTHING in red or pink ink.
• The car bumper sticker was really good value for money, made for me by http://byleedesign.etsy.com/ and has my avatar and my etsy address in large letters on a red background.
• One of my best ever purchases has been promotional buttons (badges) made by http://kittycrossbones.etsy.com/. I was lucky enough to buy these on her birthday and got 100 for the price of 50. I ordered 50 with my designs and 50 to promote the Arts Factory where I work. I also won free magnets and these look really great. Kittycrossbones also sells stickers, scratch cards and notebooks.
• Finding pretty paper to make book covers is a pain so I was pleased to find washi paper for sale on Etsy. I bought some lovely decorative paper from http://jasminejewels.etsy.com/. check out her origami papers too.

East Riddlesden Hall

I took my parents to East Riddlesden Hall today. It's a National Trust property near Keighley and is a 17th century manor house, originally owned by the Murgatroyd family. We had a great afternoon as we were entertained by the original Mistress Susan Murgatroyd and her housekeeper (OK, so they were women in fancy dress costumes) who told stories about life in the 1600's. They asked if we were royalists (no, off with their heads!) and we learned quite a bit about the English civil war. Here are some pictures I took of the hall and barn and then, surprise, surprise, it rained. Hooray for the Great British Summer.

Ready to Go

My parents are coming for a visit so I have pepared a week's fusing in advance. Hopefully, I will be able to fuse each day even though I can't devote much time to working in the studio. All this beautiful Bullseye glass was bought from http://warm-glass.co.uk

DE-stroy!

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a dalek cake that my youngest child, Emo Kid, made after watching Blue Peter. It's two swiss rolls, smarties, butter icing, licorice, chocolate squares and mint matchmakers. He has passion for Dr Who, we have a passion for cake.
Let them eat cake! (and then feel sick afterwards).

Sheesh! That's bright.

I recently bought some Bullseye thin opals from http://warm-glass.co.uk/ and I really love these bright colours. I am working on a series of dishes using retro squares but I need add a few more colours to my stash. That pink is a bit pale but the yellows fuse into lovely marigold shades.

Fourth of July Sale

I am having my very first sale at http://glassprimitif.etsy.com on Fourth July. I will be offering FREE SHIPPING on all items so please wait for a revised invoice before you pay. I will also be making some items FREE throughout the day so keep checking back for these. This is a one day sale so grab yourself a glassy bargain.