SOME THANK YOU'S AND COMING SOON!!!

 

 

It's that time of year.  At year's end I grow nostalgic, and start to remember past memories, auld lang zine and all that.  (Or maybe it's just the yummy Shiraz I've been sipping.... ) Whatever it is, it reminds me that I owe a debt of thank you's to all my faithful customers and supporters. You know who you are - and I thank each and every one of you for your support throughout 2012.  Without you, Cookalas House Of Cards/Cookalas Pretty Things would not be. I heart you all!!

If you have a moment, please check out these treasuries-
Instant Black Tie Affair by Karen Taber
ONE Day till Christmas ஜ۩۞۩ஜ by VINTAGE NOW .
Nutcrackers for ALL by Christa B . Charmed by Meghan Huntley
Blue !!! by Flora L
Frosty The Handmade Snowman by Marsha Bourquin .
and my apologies for taking sooooo long to post this one!! It's Turkey Time by DIPdesigns .

For new things in 2013 I will start with the new Regaliz leather bracelets I will be making - I have begun receiving component shipments and I am very excited about these new leather bracelets and putting them together.  I think they're uber sexy, chic and fabulous!  Just perfect for the current leather rave, and I know you are sure to get oodles of compliments if you wear one!

Beyond that, I am looking towards creating new single core pandora style bead sets and bracelets.  I have been quietly stockpiling all kinds of  gorgeous, blingy rhinestone beads to accompany and enhance them.  They will be different from what I have offered in the past.  You will see them start to emerge probably around February/March.  Also look for new offerings of bulk beads - I am trying to reduce my inventory and I will be making up color coordinated sets of 20 or more beads for the low low price of around $13 (depends on the # of beads in the collection) -  a bargain for anyone looking to expand their current collection!  And, of course, there will be new holiday and seasonal themed Limited Edition pandora style bracelets.  On the neare horizon are Valentines's Day, St Patrick's Day and Easter.

 

I am also in the process of creating polymer clay jewelry and other objects de art (cuffs, earrings and necklace tiles and tiny boutique gift boxes, stationary items like pen holders, letter holder, pens, etc) but again, it all depends on what free time I have to create amd make and list, but you should also see them soon (I hope!! - one never knows in this business!!)

 

So that's it for now.  As a gentle reminder, sales are still ongoing - save at least 20-50% at  Cookalas Pretty Things - all you coupon holders - now is the time to use it!!!  I probably won't sale again until March, and the holiday sale ends on January 17th.

 

So Happy New Year, and Happy Shopping!!

 

See y'all next year!!

INTRODUCING...

First a little background... 

 

As you all know, once upon a time I was selling handmade leather bracelets in the shop - but then they all mysteriously disappeared.  What happened was this - because I did not personally make them myself they were violating Etsy Integrity Rules, so 400+ listings had to be deactivated. Someone out there, whom I wish very, very bad karma on, must have notified Etsy.  Why? Because the world is full of greedy, jealous of other people's success, pond scum.

 

So, those 400+ gorgeous bracelets I had so diligently stocked the shop with for the gifting season  now sit in a corner, homeless and dejected.  It has cost me a huge loss in sales and traffic.  I have not had the time to find another venue to sell them on, and it requires too much money and time to start up my own e-commerce website/domain, so I will probably just list them on ebay and hope to recover the cost of what I paid for them.  Meanwhile, there are many other shops on Etsy (all with locations in China I might add), selling the same exact bracelets, and who are being allowed to do so.  So, I can only interpret this to mean Etsy has double, unfair standards.  I have corresponded with Etsy many times about this and they have never given me an answer as to why they allow some shops to sell these bracelets, but not others. 

 

This is the same thing that happened with how I was listing Pandora style jewelry all over again.  That was almost a year ago and to this day there are literally dozens of shops using the terminology "pandora" in their listings and being allowed to do so.  Why is this important?  Because when you search for "pandora" my listings will be way at the bottom on page 400 something where you will never look, and so you will never see my listings.  You will only see the shops who use "pandora" in their titles because they will be listed long before my shop is.  Again, this is a clear cut case of favoritism.

 

But anywho, enough disgruntling background - I have found a way to sell leather again. Announcing REGALIZE GREEK LICORICE LEATHER BRACELETS!!!

Ta-daaaa!!!  And yes, I will be personally, (and I stress that word)making all these bracelets myself, and they are gorgeous.  They are a more up-scale design of bracelet - and soon you will see them popping up in my shop.  They will be a little more money, but the quality is much superior to the other type of leather bracelets I was selling plus they are trendy, different, stylish and unique! They feature sliding beads - mine will have lampwork sliders, ceramic sliders and metal sliders.  Some will have a pave clasp, others will have brass, copper or antique  silver clasps.  Clasps will be megnetic, toggle, lobster claws or clip.  And they come in colors!  There will be rich browns, reds and blacks as well as whites, purples, blues pinks and more.  Prices will range from $20 and up. And they will be cutomizable!   I will be able to make a bracelet with your choice of colors, beads and clasp. 

 

I will let you know when they are made and listed in the shop.  Think of these as something new for 2013!!  You should start to see them in January/February, depending on how busy the shop is.  Also, don't forget, everything on my shop is on sale for 20% or more - time to get out your coupons and spend that holiday loot you got (and btw, I am now accepting gift cards!! woot!!) and get yourself that bracelet you've had your eye on. 

 

That's it for now, except for my wishes to all of you for Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!  I hope you have multitudes of warm and fuzzy holiday moments, eat all kinds of yummylicious food, and receive all the things you've been wishing for.  *hugs and big smiles*

SALES STILL ON-GOING!!!

Just wanted to let you know that there are still some awesome sales still going on in  my shop -

50% OFF ALL ITEMS IN THE CHRISTMAS SECTION

AND

20% OFF EVERYTHING ELSE !!!!!!

Although it's too late now to get delivery before Christmas, unless you pay an obscene amount of money to Express Mail it, there are still gifting days post-Christmas to remember - a post-Christmas get together, or you may get some Christmas loot to spend on yourself :-)) and don't forget the multitude of upcoming birthdays, anniversaries and holidays that are just around the corner -

Boxing Day - 12/26
Kwanza -12/26
Valentine's Day
St Patrick's Day
Easter
Mother's Day

Happy Shopping!!

FOR SOME, A SEASON OF SORROWS

I will warn you right off - this is not a happy post.  It will be depressing, and possibly, surprising.  2012 is just about at end, and for all of us it has been a difficult year in one way or another.  So many tragic events, the most recent in Connecticut, have left me reeling with so many unanswered questions and a growing, profound sorrow. 

I struggle at this time of year because it is a season of personal loss for me - first and foremost in my mind is my mom who passed away, unexpectedly, on Nov 9th seven years ago and whose birthday falls on Dec 5th, from a massive heart attack.  It is easier now to talk of it, but it still haunts me and probably always will.  Then just 6 months after that my stepfather passed away, and his birthday falls on Christmas Eve.  And then, this past September my nanday conure, Baby, whom I shared my life with for 28 wonderful years and was the greatest source of joy in my life, left me and flew over the rainbow bridge.    

It is a week until Christmas and I am wishing it will just be over.  There is no tree to decorate and  no one to share it with.  I am beyond grateful that the shop is so busy this time of year so I have less time to dwell on lonely and empty holidays.  I cannot help but feel my life and my person are unimportant and meaningless. It's funny, most everyone I come in contact with gets my cheerful, can do, no problemo version and have no idea of what is really going on behind that mask. And  I don't often show this side of me, but there is a need, even though depression is a private affair.

I am sorry if this is such a downer for you to read during a time when there is supposed to be much joy.  I am embarrassed by this, though I can't explain why.  Maybe it's because it's the life I've been dealt which I cannot seem to understand or reconcile, though I do try.  Maybe it's because of the downward spiral the holidays always hoist upon me. I don't know.  And worse, I don't even know if I have the ability to change things at this point.  I am emotionally exhausted and although I hate to admit defeat, because I am a fighter, I must.  Tomorrow I may feel differently, but today all I want to do is curl up in a corner and lick my wounds because I cannot help but feel poisoned by sorrows past and present.

The purpose of this awkward and embarrassing confession is that I know I am not alone.  There are countless people out there who are going through something that makes them feel completely lost, completely despondent, and unable to make their situation better or to feel anything but a deep, all pervasive sorrow.  If you know someone like this, someone who is feeling set apart from the  joy of the season, please please please do something to help them because they are incapable of helping themselves right now.  It won't take much - an invitation to a holiday meal, a small gift, a phone call even.  Just let them know they are not forgotten and meaningless, and more importantly, that someone does care.

WHAT TO GET?????

 

So ok, now that you've honed your list and bronzed it the next big question is what to get.  The next step is to make your spending budget or plan - make it as simple as you can.  Just decide how much you want to spend and assign a dollar amount to each name.  Of course, this is just a guide to keep you on track with your spending.  (Of course, if you just won the lottery or were born into money from daddy's oil well, then you shouldn't even be reading this so go away - lol!!  For the rest of us poor labor slaves, read on.)                                                 

So now you have your budget all set and the big question is, what can I get for X amount of money for so and so that will make a really nice gift.  Well, before you even start to look take a minute to think about each person on your list.  Ask yourself - what colors do they wear a lot?  how do they dress (casual, dressy, in between, etc)?  What kinds of hobbies do they have?  What are they interested in?  Are they nature lovers or city slickers?  Are they family centered or single? Do they have a pet?  What do they do for a living? What kind of food do they like?  Ok, you get the idea. 

 

 

Now that that's done you're ready to start looking.  Personally, I buy pretty much everything off the internet because it saves me time, gas and is a heck of a lot easier on my painful, arthritic knees. If you're going to brave the crazy, distracted drivers and go to the mall do not forget to bring a copy of your list. (notice I said copy - this way you can cross off names as you make purchases and forget about remembering if you got so and so something.  leave the bronzed original at home, in a safe place because this is your gift guide, the one that will take the headaches out of figuring out what to get who from now on).

So, that said, here's a list of 13 things besides clothing and electronics anyone would love to get -
1-  Gift Cards - personally, I LOVE to get these as gifts so I can pick out what I want or need.
2.-Magazine subscriptions - if you know someone has a hobby they're sure to appreciate this.
3- Jewelry - jewelry is always a good bet for anyone.  That's why I sell it *wink*
4- Spirits - a nice bottle of wine or a fancy bottle of liquor
5- Gift Baskets - a nice basket of fancy cheeses and crackers, a bag of coffee and some nice mugs, a pasta and sauce basket, an art supply basket, a sewing basket, a games basket, a chocoholic's dream basket etc etc  all make wonderful gifts.
6- Lotto scratch offs - everyone loves these!
7- Tickets - to the movies, a concert, Broadway, etc
8- Pet Gifts - if they have one they'll love getting a small gift for it.
9- Spa or Salon - a 1/2 hour massage or a mani/pedi will surely be welcomed!
10- Education - a cooking class, yoga classes, painting classes, etc
11-House cleaning service for a month
12-Minutes for their phone
13-Gift Certificates - iTunes, their favorite restaurant, the butcher, the car wash, etc

Happy Shopping!

DON'T FORGET THEM!!!

 

Well, we are into the thick of it now - preparations and gift buying for the holiday season. Most of us are overwhelmed, stressed and suffering from temporary AADD and wondering what the heck to get for everyone.  Here's a good way to remember all the people in your life.

 

First, and perhaps the hardest, you have to find some quiet time for yourself so you can still your mind.  Do whatever works - go for a walk in the park and take a notepad and paper, or head over to your local coffee shop, go to the library, play hooky for an afternoon when no one is home - just go where you can be quiet and relax.

So okay, now that you're settled in just sit and think about the entire year.  I'm not talking special occasions, think more along the lines of daily routines.  Who pops into your mind?  How important are they to you - enough to warrant a small gift?  Yes?  Good!  Now jot down their name in your book.  Don't worry about what to get now, that comes later.  Just concentrate on the who's who list you're making. :-))

 

Still stuck?  Okay, here are some people who do a lot to help make your life easier - medical people, service people (the maid, the pet sitter, etc) your daughter's friends and parents, your hobby circles (book reading club, Mah Jong group, PTA, whatever), your hair dresser, landscaper or mechanic (you can always give him a gift for his wife - and he'll love it!), your child's teachers, the babysitter, your business associates, your lawyer, your wedding planner, your coworkers, your boss, the mailman, the UPS or FedEx guy/gal, the garbage men, your butcher, baker, candlestick maker (heh, sorry, had to do that). 

So okay, now that you have your list, bronze it so you don't have to go through this again next year.  And don't forget to add new names as they come into your life throughout the coming year.  And that is half the battle of gift giving.  The other half is the what. 

There are countless people in our day to day lives who constantly make our lives easier, and we don't often think about them during the gifting season, but we should.  Try to imagine how much more difficult your life would be without that dog sitter when you want to take that cruise or 2 week vacation...  Tips are nice, but adding a small something something along with the cash makes a huge, tangible impact - one they'll remember throughout the coming year, one they'll appreciate that much more.

So that's it for today, next time I'll blog about some great and inexpensive ideas for gifting! 

Happy shopping!

NEW SALE MARKDOWNS, SOME ITEMS UP TO 50% OFF

Well, it's crunch time for all you holiday shoppers.  For one week only, I am having some huge markdowns in my Etsy shop, Cookalas House of Cards -

50% OFF All Items in the Christmas Section!!!
30% OFF All Items in the European Style Jewelry Section!!!
30% OFF All Items in the Handmade Section!!!
20% OFF All Authentic Pugster Beads and Bracelets Section!!!

So click on the link above and hurry over to the shop and find those last minute gifts you're searching for - and remember, this sale ends at 12am on 12/17/12. 

Happy shopping, and Happy Holidays!!!