Sometimes You Have To Listen To....."YOURSELF!"

 (Crochet Clutch Back Flower Pins by Wuglyees)

      I'll just tell you 'right off the bat' that this post is dedicated to.....ME! ^_^ Well, not 'me' so much as valuing 'my' thought process...Yes, I know you don't know what in the world I'm talking about!! LOL

      It's a simple thing really. About this time last year I was selling my crochet boutonnieres 'left and right' in my Wuglyees Etsy shop! In other words, I was selling a LOT of them!! And I was a very happy girl! :-) But I listened to some conversations on the forums that were talking about 'valuing your work' and 'pricing correctly'...and I decided that "Yeah! I need to raise my prices and value 'MY' work too!!!" So I raised my prices.

       I didn't raise the prices by a lot...except for shipping. Ugh! (The post office decided to 'value their work' at the same time I did! Grrrr!) Long story short....Uhhhhh...my sales have been bottoming out ever since!!! It's been slow...sporadic...and aggravating! Not to mention 'pocketbook depleting'!! LOL

      So, for those of you who are concerned with me not valuing what I do, or maybe making it harder for other crocheters to have their work valued because of pricing my work too low.......Shushy!!!!! LOL
       

      Meaning no disrespect, I say to you: "It's all nice and good to have your work valued...when you can afford to not eat! ^_^ But I have to eat!!!!" ^_^ Therefore, all of my boutonnieres and lapel pins have gone back to their original selling prices...$10 for boutonnieres and regular brooches...$9 for lapel pins...$11 for 3-layer brooches.

      Hopefully this will bring some 'cash-flow' back to my shop, because lately the only fun being had at 'wuglyees' is by the 'silence inducing' crickets in the shop!! LOL

    Yes, I still value my work!...but right now I'm a 'starving artist'! And I need to get some 'actual' value for my work! The kind of value you can take to the bank and come away with lunch money for! ^_^

     One of these days...maybe!...^_^...I'll be able to hike my prices up to some ridiculous 'brand name' kind of price. You know, the kind of price where people wouldn't care what price it was, and would pay anything simply because...."Oooooo! I have a Wuglyees original!!!!"...and where other people would ask: "Ooooooo! Where did you find it?!!!!" LOL

      Okay...so maybe I've been losing too much sleep, getting up at unheard of hours to watch tennis!! ^_^ But hey!.....it could happen!!! ^_^ In the meantime, I won't hold my breath!!...I'll just keep watching to see if my sales come back!! ^_^
       You YOURSELF...have a nice day!! ♥

"I Love Me!"

I love me.
I love the happy me.
I love the fact of me.
I love the silly me.
I love me.

I love the confident me.
I love the cooking me.
I love the sexy me.
I love me.

I love the cuddly me.
I love the caring me.
I love the beautiful me.
I love me.

I love the supportive me.
I love the sporting me.
I love the giddy me.
I love me.

I love the quiet me.
I love the talkative me.
I love the pensive me.
I love me.

I love the sensitive me.
I love the thoughtful me.
I love the world, with me.
I love me.

I love the patient me.
I love the stylish me.
I love the smiling me.
I love me.

I love the creative me.
And the one who created me,
because he helps relate to me
why I love me.
And I do love me!

Shhhhhhh!....I Don't Wanna Know Yet!!

 (GAME, SET, MATCH Natural Stone Coaster Collection (4) by DandWstonecrafts)

     Okay...nobody tell me!! O-O Ugh! I hate when this happens!...I stayed up last night to see the tennis match between Roger Federer and Andy Murray. I had set my clock to wake me up in 45 minutes...because there were going to be 45 minutes between the match with Dimitrov and Nadal...which my 'baby boy', Nadal won!!..and the 3:30 a.m. match with Roger and Andy!! :-)

     It would've been better if the first match had went right into the second, but seeing that Nadal was having a rough time with Dimitrov, I'm glad it didn't go another set! There might've been a different...more unlikable...outcome! :-)

     But now I have to do my blog, get the local weather, update some things in my shop, etc....all while playing "keep-away" with the television commentators, and computer websites, that are determined to let me know who won the match!! LOL   

(DandWstonecrafts)

     The 'Tennis Channel' is replaying yesterday's matches right now. The match between Radwanska and Azarenka is on right now...and looks like it's headed for an upset! :-) In fact, I KNOW it's headed for an upset! I saw this one in it's entirety last night! ^_^ Congratulations to Radwanska!!!!

     Okay...for the next few hours I'm eating breakfast, having some green tea, sniffling and wiping my nose...*Sorry. Too much information? :-))... I think I'm fighting a cold or something. Ugh!*...maybe taking another nap (with the alarm timer set this time!!), and waiting for the match with Roger and Andy!!

     So, don't try to tell me who won!...even if you already know! Shhhhhhhh!...I wanna pretend it's Tuesday evening in Massachusetts, and I'm just at home watching a little tennis match with my hubby! :-)

 

 (Tiny Cloud / Original Painting on Canvas by ohchalet)

     You see!...all sunshine and flowers!! :-) ...

(Anemone De Caen Windflower Mix - 25 Bulbs from CaribbeanGarden)

     Have a good day, Everybody!...LOVE! ♥

I don't feel like talking

I know you won't believe this,
but I don't feel like a chat!
I don't wanna talk today.
That's just not where my head is at.

I'm not all giddy gabby.
I don't feel like spilling words.
I wanna sit and watch the weather,
or the clock, or maybe birds.

My non-communication
only happens now and then,
so enjoy the tempered silence
while I keep a quiet pen.

Tomorrow may be different.
I may talk your ears right off.
You may not get a word in edge-wise,
so today...go play some golf!

Powder.......Blue!

 (Turquoise Blue Button Crochet Slipper Shoes by Wuglyees)

      "What about...Oh, I don't know...BLUE?!" :-) .. That's the way I've made my decisions for quite a while now about what color to use on my next project...And I've been happy with the results! Blue is a good color! :-) Jas and Jean thought so too! That's why they put together this Etsy treasury (below)!...

 (Powder Blue Finesse - Etsy Treasury by Jas and Jean)

      Thank you, Jas and Jean, for including my 'powder blue'...my crochet flower brooch (below) :-)

 (Large 3-Layer Crochet Flower Brooch Pin by Wuglyees)

      But today I looked at how much blue I have in my shop! O_O Uhhhhh...maybe it's time to back away from some of the blue! ^_^ I need to, I think, because I have a "LOT' of blue!!...Blue scarves!...

(Crochet Striped Scarf  by Wuglyees) 

     ...Blue fingerless gloves! O_O ...
 

 (Crochet Blue Scalloped Edge Fingerless Gloves by Wuglyees)

     ...Blue crochet necklaces! O_O...
 

 (Dark Turquoise Blue Crochet Necklace by Wuglyees)

     ...Blue hats! O_O...
 

 (Turquoise Ribbed Crochet Flower Button Pull On Hat by Wuglyees)

     ...Blue men's boutonniere flower pins! O_O...
 

 (Variegated TROPICAL WATERS Crochet Lapel Buttonhole Boutonniere Flower Pin by Wuglyees)

     ...Blue men's tiny lapel pins! O_O...
 

 (Tiny Variegated TROPICAL WATERS Crochet Lapel Buttonhole Flower Pin by Wuglyees)

     WOW!! O_O ... Even the crochet wedding package that I made to showcase my 'MADE TO ORDER' section is BLUE!! O_O...
 

(Set of 12 Handmade Crochet Wedding Flower Pins by Wuglyees)

     Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with blue! And clearly I LIKE IT!! ^_^ But maybe it's time to go back to my basic...black...for a while! :-) I noticed that I hardly have anything black in the shop right now!...You know why?!...Because I sold it all!!! :-) Uhhhhh...DUH! "Make more black, Wug!!" LOL
      You know, I can be really slow about getting a point sometimes! ^_^ {And I'm not just talking about picking colors for my crochet projects!! LOL} But I got this point!...and I will be making more black....everything!...for my shop, starting today! :-)
      And after the black is sufficiently replaced, then what?!....Who knows! Maybe orange...white...purple! ^_^ But, probably, there will be some more blue in there somewhere too!! LOL...Just 'keeping it real!' ^_^ Have a good day, Everybody!...and not a blue one either!! :-]

Color Is

Auburn is the setting sun.
Blue is a mood.
Black is the night sky.
Brown is dog food.

Green is the grass.
Yellow is the sun.
Gray is the stormy sky.
Purple is just fun.

Pink is carnations.
Plum is a fruit.
Tan is for shoes.
Beige is just cute.

Turquoise is terrific!
Teal is where it's at!
Blue-green is the color
that I have to have...STAT!

Gold is a metal.
White is plain, mild.
Red is a fire.
Orange is hog wild!

It's A "Show And Tell"..."What Are 'YOU' Up To?"...Kind Of Day!

 (Multi Color Decorative Vintage Button Mirror by MoonRayDesigns)

     Soooo...it's Monday.That's right, right?!...It is Monday?! ^_^ I've been kinda distracted and mentally M.I.A. lately....But, I'm back!!! :-) And to prove it I wanna do a little show and tell. :-]

      I wanna 'show' you this cute and creative mirror I found on Etsy!...from Rachel of MoonRayDesigns. Her shop intro says she loves art...loves to create...and loves to make her own things!...

 (MoonRayDesigns)

     And looking at this beautifully done mirror I would say Check...Check.....and CHECK! :-) It's like a mirrored and buttoned piece of handmade art!! :-) I love it because of all of the color too! 

     And if you're into art and color, like I am, let me 'tell' you about an artist I love...whose also a blogger! :-) It's Diane, over at Duda Daze! Check her blog, and Etsy shop, out. She's great!!

     If that doesn't fill up your 'color cup'...let me 'show' you these!...

 (Vintage 1980's Sergio Zelcer Shoes from MerrilyVerilyVintage)

     No...you can't wear them everywhere!...but everywhere you wear them you'll be like.....WOW!!! ^_^

      Something else that's like WOW!...is the easy caramel sauce I just saw on The Pioneer Woman blog!...I just had to 'tell' you about it!! ^_^ 

     Moving right along!...I'd like to 'tell' you about the cold and icy backyard I'm looking at right now. Ugh! And it's cloudy too! O_O AND we have another snow storm coming tomorrow!!...I know where I''d like to put some of this cold and ice!...in Florida!!! :-)) ... or here!...

 (Hand Painted Vintage Minnie Mouse Ice Bucket from VickiesCrafts)

     ...in this Minnie ice bucket! ^_^ ...Okay! It wasn't that smooth of a transition! LOL But I had to 'show' you this little cute bucket, and I was stretching myself to try to make it fit my theme. ^_^

     Making this mug fit won't be as hard...

(Small Rain Cloud Porcelain Mug by SilverLiningCeramics)

     ...we don't have any rain...So we needed some! :-)) ...in a mug, but not from the sky!! LOL...How was that?! :-)

      Be patient. I've only got one more thing to 'tell' you. I'd like to tell you THANK YOU for being so kind and patient with me over the last few days. Your comments of encouragement have been truly appreciated. :-]

     Today I'm gonna be all about schedule!...and that probably will include some crocheting! :-) I'm not promising anything though! NO PRESSURE!!!...Besides, I have enough inventory in my 'EXPIRED' section to keep me going for...Ohhhh...another year at least!! LOL

     One more thing to 'show' you...

 

(George Nelson Ball Clock from ReStyleGraphic)

     ...And to 'tell' you...*sigh*...Time gets away from you real fast!! Take time to appreciate every moment...and make it a good day!! ♥

Feeling Better

There's no card for "Feeling Better"!
But I think that there should be,
when my friends have sent good wishes;
and been loving up on me.

When they've sent good food to eat,
flowers, cards, emails, and calls.
When they've made it bearable
watching T.V. and 4 walls.

I'd like a card to send them back,
with a smiley face there too,
saying: "Feeling so much better;
and it's all because of you!"

'White Stuff'...And Reality...Always Here!

      Yes...that is snow!...alias, 'the white stuff'! O_O It started falling again yesterday afternoon, and it kept on falling all evening!...In fact, "let me look again", yep! It's falling still this morning!...
 

     In fact, just standing in the backyard, and looking upward, you get a face full of the 'white stuff'...in big flake-fuls!!...
 

      I know, I know!...I complain entirely too much about it!...especially considering that I really don't 'hate' it 'that' much. I mean, it has its good points...like, for instance, how pretty it looks on top of the flowers, plants, and trees after it lands on them in the backyard. :-]
 

      It truly makes for calmness...outside, and in my mind. :-) Both of which I'm thankful for these days...
 

      It's been an emotionally tough couple of days...but I'm starting to recover a bit. I know I am because I find myself wanting to take care of mundane day-to-day things again, like balancing the checkbook, making a grocery list, and updating a few things in my Wuglyees Etsy shop.
      Other than eating, sleeping, and watching tennis, I haven't wanted to do anything the last two days or so.....Thus, I think I'm coming around. :-]
 

      Is the world gonna stop because I don't feel like playing?!...or because one of my best friends died?!....No! So I just have to find something to smile about...like a peacefully calm snow-covered backyard...and get on with it! :-]
 

      Other good things include the fact that it's 'pancake Sunday'!...even if I'm not eating pancakes this morning, that's a good thing. :-) It made me wanna eat something comforting. So I did!! :-) Hubby made me fried chicken and grits for breakfast!...And yes, I've already eaten it!! LOL
      I woke up hungry this morning...surprisingly!...and hubby was 'all over it'!! He made me a smile-able meal, with green tea, honey, and lemon following it! :-) And....uhhhh...a honey-dipped, warm donut too!! ^_^ Sooooooooooo GOOD!!
      Tennis News?!...Congrats to Li Na, Flavia Pennetta, Eugenie Bouchard, Novak Djokovic, and Stan Wawrinka in their Australian Open wins yesterday...And especially to Ana Ivanovic, for taking out Serena Williams!! WOW! What a surprise that was!!...and a really enjoyable match to watch!
      Okay...I have a meeting today...and some other mundane things to get back to as well. Life!...it's always right there to smack you back into reality, isn't it?! :-] Well, reality...here I come!! ^_^ Have a good day, Everybody!

Benches

Wooden, with an indent.
Sturdy, aged by the sun.
A place to rest when you are tired.
A stop when you are on the run.

A slatted back, for resting shoulders,
and cemented to the ground.
A wrought-iron rusted swirly arm-rest,
and a place to put bags down.

A place for you to catch a bus,
or to feed a hungry squirrel.
Where good friends can stop and chat
about the big news of the world.

Alone and beaten by the weather,
chipping paint, long past brand new.
Almost like some people we know,
who are inconspicuous too.

So reliably unnoticed,
all the benches that we pass.
Sitting there, just waiting for us,
if we too run out of gas.

The Time...Hours, And Days.......!

      It's funny...and a good thing...that, no matter what's going on in your life, time, hours and days continue right along. The sun keeps rising in the morning, welcoming birds to chirp and eat, squirrels to chase each other, and neighborhood cats to prowl.
       

      I spent almost all day watching tennis, telling stories to my hubby about my friend, eating, crying, and watching more tennis.
 

      I wasn't very good company. And thankfully hubby didn't require me to be. He allowed me to just be...without judgement. He was so sweet...listening to my stories, crying with me. Suffering through my silly remembrances, and laughing along with me.
 

       I've had to deal with a lot of grief this year. Not much fun for people watching me go through it. And not much fun for me trying to write something about it here on the blog, while staying positive and still trying to find things to smile about.
 

      But I did it!...because there's always something positive to think about, and if you look hard enough, always something to smile about too...even if you have to do it through tears...Something like the fact that the sun keeps rising in the morning, and the moon keeps shining in the sky at night.
 

      I'm gonna give myself at least one more day to 'veg out', and contemplate the days. Then I'm gonna get back to my crocheting and stuff...which I'm not the slightest bit interested in doing right now.
 

      Hopefully by then I'll be able to pick up the mood of this blog too...and get back to some 'things I'm loving right now' or showing off what other Etsians or bloggers are up to.

      So, for today, please indulge my mope-iness. I'm trying to get myself ready to 'be there' for other people that might need me, but first...just like the stewardess tells you to do when you're watching her do the demonstration before your plane takes off...I've got to put the oxygen mask on myself!! LOL Otherwise I'm not gonna be 'no good' for anybody!!

      I'm so thankful that in the back of my mind, and in the front of my heart, at such a sad time, when I'm missing my friend so much, I don't have to be thinking about where she is, or if she's okay!! I know where she is...she's sleeping in death, waiting for the time when Jehovah God will awaken her from death...How do people that don't have deep belief get through times of grief?! It makes me sad for them.

      Anyway...another day has come and gone. And thankfully, this one will too. But not before I waste it away in sweet oblivion. :-)...I'm giving myself permission today.
      I hope your day is more upbeat, and that grief is far from your doorstep...I also hope that if you have questions about life...or death...that you get them answered now...before you're in a tough situation of life. As the Bible book of Ecclesiastes 9:11 says: '...time and unexpected events overtake us all.'
       Sorry...I'm so fun to talk to today...NOT! ^_^ See you tomorrow. Maybe I'll be more 'ME' then. I hope so!! LOL

Distracted

I'm terribly distracted.
Watching tennis all the time,
I don't even wanna talk.
And it's a struggle writing rhyme.

And I'm wonderfully distracted.
Doing what I love to do.
Whoop and holler at the T.V.,
while I blog a bit for you.

I'm sorry I'm distracted.
And I hope you will forgive
that my mind can not be wrangled.
All my thoughts are in the sieve.

What I'll try to do tomorrow...
which I clearly can't do now...
is to give my full attention
to those who will not get it now!