My Other Shop

When I joined Etsy, I wanted to have another outlet for my business, Party Poofers. partypoofers.com was fairing badly, and sales were very low, partly due to the extreme amount of competition out there for wedding- and event-related businesses. It was hearbreaking, because Party Poofers was one of the FIRST event favor businesses on the internet, having started out in 1996.

So I joined Etsy and added a few items for sale. I made a few non-event related items, and some even sold. I was having fun! As our move to Alabama became more of a sure thing, I decided the easiest and best thing would be to close Party Poofers (.com) for good. It was actually a weight off my shoulders. So I concentrated on listing my destash at http://www.partypoofers.etsy.com/, and opened a new shop, Melody's Unchained, where I could make what I wanted, when I wanted. I was no longer limited to just wedding crafts or baby shower favor tags. I decided for a while to make handbags. Then I added quilts of all sizes. I wanted to crochet rugs, so I did. I wanted to add handmade clothing to my line, so I did. All these and more you can find at Melody's Unchained.

As the Party Poofers shop emptied, my plan was to clear it out and close the store. However, I recently realized that Melody's Unchained is getting crowded with categories and the variety of items is vast. So, I have decided to keep the Party Poofers shop open, and add some handmade items there. My latest craze is making cute little hats for babies, toddlers, and kids. My daughter wants one, and it will be teen sized, so I plan on making some in that size, too. Party Poofers has been reborn as a shop for bright, cheerful accessories and fun things for all ages! I may add baby/toddler/kids quilts, clothing, crocheted toys, and more. I am not completely sure yet, we will have to wait and see how it re-evolves!

Of course, as always, I welcome e-mails, comments, and even custom orders! Be sure to take a look in both shops at what is for sale, as well as my sold items. I have excellent feedback! Please also take a look at my flickr photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/22929765@N07/, to see some items I have made for gifts that have not been on Etsy. Click here for a sneak peek of a few of my most recent creations for Party Poofers.

Cooking

I've been doing more cooking these days, making recipes from scratch, I thought this was funny!

see more crazy cat pics

Some of My Most Recent Creations

Click on any of these thumbnails to go to my Etsy Shop!

Melody's Unchained

Revolution Money Exchange

Although I already accept PayPal, money orders, and checks in my Etsy store, I recently started accepting Revolution Money Exchange as well. RME is an easy, secure, and reliable way to send and receive money online between account holders FEE FREE. It costs nothing to set up an account, and they will credit your account $25 when you sign up before May 15, 2008.

I have had two orders in the past week that have used RME as their payment method. It is easy to use! And you can withdraw money any time (including the original $25, with no further obligation).

From the RME website, About Us page:

Launched in 2007, a new payment network – Revolution Money – was created to deliver significant value to both consumers and merchants through two products, RevolutionCard and RevolutionMoneyExchange. The RevolutionCard eliminates costly interchange fees for merchants while simultaneously providing consumers with enhanced PIN-based security, identity protection, and periodic merchant discounts and incentives. MoneyExchange offers an easy and secure way to send and receive money online between accountholders for free. The accounts are issued by First Bank & Trust, Brookings, SD, Member FDIC and part of the Fishback Financial Corporation. These products are leading the transformation of the payment industry by providing secure, easy, and instant payment solutions to everyone.

For a list of Etsy sellers who currently accept RME as an optional payment method, please check out this blog: http://etsyrme.blogspot.com/ I STILL will accept PayPal, money order, or check. I just wanted to let you all know of another option!

Finally

I finally got around to making a blog place! Yay me!

A little about me... I grew up in S. California, and then transplanted to southern Michigan, where we lived for about 14 years. Recently, my husband's job has brought us to Alabama. I love that it is warmer here. This SC gal will not have to shovel snow next year!

I have been crafting, drawing, coloring as far back as I can remember. One of my favorite childhood holiday gifts was an "art kit". I remember the rows and rows of crayons, watercolor paints, pastels, and colored pencils. I remember "making doll clothes" with mommy's leftover fabric, either with needle and thread, or just tying it around my dolls.

I suppose my creativity comes from both parents. Daddy was able to fix anything with his resourcefulness, even if that meant a trip to the mechanic later! Mom made us clothes for our baby dolls, barbies, and I remember her making us a dollhouse out of a cardboard box. We cut windows, a swinging door, and even put plastic wrap on the windows for "glass". Add little curtains, pictures on the wall cut from leftover magazines, and ottomans made from spray can lids, stuffed with cotton and finished with a ruffled fabric top!

I ran an online business for several years. I made party/baby shower/wedding favors, bridal accessories, and special gift items. It was a business my dear sister started, but had to stop due to health reasons. We were one of the very first favor businesses online. Then over the years, the competition got rough and business slowed. So at the end of 2007, we closed the business.

Now I make what I want, when I want, when I feel like it. Quilts, purses, ACEO's, crocheted animals and accessories, whatever strikes my fancy...Melody's Unchained! Ok, not entirely true. I do occasionally take on a custom request or two, but still I often get to create as I go, or design the project. I am never happier than when I have a fresh project that I am enthusiastic about, a stack of fabric, glue, glitter, paint or what-have-you, and a diet coke or fresh cup of tea!

Welcome to my newest endeavor - a blog site! Please come visit often with a fresh cuppa joe, and read a while! I hope to have tips, project instructions, guest bloggers, and even updates on my family or pets or latest masterpieces! Feel free to drop a line sometime!