WOWEE!!!!!!!!!!

Wow!!!   Another new post so soon after the last!  lol!! Please forgive my misguided and sarcastic sense of humor. *blush*

 

 

 

Once upon a time, many moons ago, I had an Artfire shop, but ArtFire was so new at the time that I really didn't have enough sales to justify keeping it open, so I closed up shop there.  I've decided to give ArtFire another go as they are now more established.  So, you can now also purchase from me on ArtFire. 

I am hoping this will be a lucrative and successful venture. Etsy is probably the largest online venue for selling handmade goods, and I am well established there BUT Etsy also does very, very little for the seller besides harassing them, has an outdated clunker pain in the ass of a administration panel and charges A HELL OF A LOT of fees -  I am currently billed approximately $4000 a year in fees from Etsy, and that's just way too much. 

Needless to say, I am unhappy selling there. So I am hoping I can move my shop over to ArtFire and close my shop on Etsy- this will allow me to reduce my current shipping costs (which include fees and packaging costs on Etsy so you don't get charged fees on fees) to a normal charge of $1.69 for a 3 oz package - and in doing so I can pass on the savings on to you, my customers.  Not only that, but fees on ArtFire are only $30.00 a month period - NO transaction fees, NO item fees, NO checkout fees. That's $360 a year -- a HUGE difference from $4000!!!!!!!  This is a win-win venture, you save and I save, so please pretty please support it by purchasing my goods from my ArtFire studio in the future.

You will need to go to http://www.artfire.com and set up a buyers account which is free, then do a search on egrobeck.  If you already have an account with ArtFire then just login to ArtFire and do a search for egrobeck and that should take you to my shop listings.  Right now I have 5 pages of items listed, but I will be adding more and more as each day passes until all my750+  items are listed.

I've also added an ArtFire badge to this blog - look for it in the right side column.

I'M BACK!!!

Wow, I can't believe so much time has passed since I wa able to make an entry!  But I am back, and  I have much news to share.

As you know, I have had to cancel my social networking app and have been tied up doing all the promoting myself manually (such a drag!) and that is why I have not had time to blog.  My apologies for that!  But I am doing the best I can.  Also, since summer has arrived and is now in full bloom, humidity and all, I have been spending some much needed down time at the beach, my second home.  I didn't go for the past 2 years because I devoted my time to growing my shop, but I can't go on that way.  I really  need some down time to reboot, and I have sorely missed my second home!  So this summer, so far, it has been glorious and I am loving every single moment of it!

Meanwhile, back at the shop ( which I  now attend to in the evenings and weekends) things are humming along.  I really want to thank all my repeat customers - your continued support means so much o me, and it keeps the shop gong.  I truly appreciate you all - you are all such a blessing!  Thank you!

There is not much new in the shop other than new Pugster beads and handmade OOAK  Greek Regaliz licorice leather bracelets, but very soon I will be making more Pandora style bead sets and bracelets available in shades of orange, white, yellow, gray, brown and purple.  It's been far too long since I made up new sets, so they will be coming asap.  Pre soon, I will also be making and lising new Viking knit and lampwork bracelets, which I have neglected for far too long.

I have also decided to make bulk beads available to you - a set of 25 to 50 beads in a specific mix of colors for those of you who are just getting started with Pandora style jewelry and want to grow your bead collection, or for those of you who are in need of a specific color of bead.  Prices will range from $15 for 5 beads of a mix (25 beads of 5 different colors) and $25 or 50 beads of a mix (5 beads of 10 different colors).  For all of you newbies to Pandora style who want to start a collection, this is an awesome, money saving way to do it!  I need to make groups, take photos and list these items but they will be coming in the future.

Finally, with July 4th right around the corner, here is a small treasury of all my patriotic themed items - browse and enjoy!  What's great about these is that you can wear them again and again for any patriotic holiday or social function - Memorial Day, Vet's Day, election day, July 4th, any president's birthday -  well, you get it!  My point being they can be worn for any of these patriotic holidays besides July 4th.. 

'RED WHITE AND BLUE!!' by CookalasHouseOfCards

July 4th is right around the corner - here is a listing of all my patriotic themed items - suitable for any patriotic occasion!1

European Beads Authentic Pug... CookalasHouseO... $3.99	Leather Bracelet, Braided Cu... CookalasHouseO... $8.99	SALE European Beads Authenti... CookalasHouseO... $1.29	european beads leather brace... CookalasHouseO... $9.99
european beads leather brace... CookalasHouseO... $9.99	european beads leather brace... CookalasHouseO... $9.99	european beads leather brace... CookalasHouseO... $9.99	european beads leather brace... CookalasHouseO... $9.99
european beads leather brace... CookalasHouseO... $9.99	european beads leather brace... CookalasHouseO... $9.99	SALE European Beads Authenti... CookalasHouseO... $1.29

Sponsored by send bulk email from excel.

LEATHER IS HOT HOT HOT!!!

 

I've been making all kinds of leather bracelets lately - from classy and chic Regalize licorice leather bracelets to surfer/tribal style bracelets.  And I've been making them with a new approach - making a sample and then offering that sample in different colors and sizes - as they say, variety IS the spice of life!

 

 

also to the right and Some of the design ideas I am now offering are shown here - the silver hammered buckle bracelet at the top of the page and also to the left and right are now listed in the shop  -here's a link .  There are other types of bracelets listed as well with the options of pick your and/or pick your size listed in the titles.

 

In closing, I know I have been very tardy in making blog entries, but it is always on my mind.  It comes down to how much time I have.  The main reason for my absence here is that I have, once again, had to cancel my automated social networking application because it stopped working.  This means I must do all the advertising manually several times a day. I was using Promotesy, and I was very happy with it.  But now, I cannot say how angry I am at both the developer of Promotesy and also Handmadeology.  I have sent, literally, and I am not exaggerating, over a dozen emails begging for help and have not had one single response.  How piss poor is that?  So, I have cancelled my subscriptions to both.  I cannot see paying for something that does not work!!!

Right now it's a bit slow, and it's Sunday - a day I try to devote to doing nothing except what I WANT to do. Period!  Well, except for getting orders ready for Monday mail, so I have taken the opportunity to make a post and let you all know I am still alive! (with my apologies, of course)  and that I will try post whenever I can.

And in closing, I want to wish all of you Mom's out there a wonderful Mother's Day!!!  I hope your day is as special as you!!

 

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Just want to wish you all wonderful Easter, send a poem and also thank you for your continued support of Cookalas House Of Cards on Etsy.com.   Put on your bonnet and your Sunday clothes, and enjoy the day.

Blessings,

Cookala

 

Easter Morning

- By Amy Clampitt

a stone at dawn
cold water in the basin
these walls' rough plaster
imageless
after the hammering
of so much insistence
on the need for naming
after the travesties
that passed as faces,
grace: the unction
of sheer nonexistence
upwelling in this
hyacinthine freshet
of the unnamed
the faceless

Palm Sunday

 

Beginning in the fourth century in Jerusalem, Palm Sunday was marked by a procession of the faithful carrying palm branches, representing the Jews who celebrated Christ's entrance into Jerusalem. In the early centuries, the procession began on the Mount of the Ascension and proceeded to the Church of the Holy Cross.

 

As the practice spread throughout the Christian world by the ninth century, the procession would begin in each church with the blessing of palms, proceed outside the church, and then return to the church for the reading of the Passion according to the Gospel of Matthew. The faithful would continue to hold the palms during the reading of the Passion. In this way, they would recall that many of the same people who greeted Christ with shouts of joy on Palm Sunday would call for His Death on Good Friday-a powerful reminder of our own weakness and the sinfulness that causes us to reject Christ.

 

In different parts of the Christian world, particularly where palms were historically hard to obtain, branches of other bushes and trees were used, including olive, box elder, spruce, and various willows. Perhaps best known is the Slavic custom of using pussy willows, which are among the earliest of plants to bud out in the spring.

 

The faithful have traditionally decorated their houses with the palms from Palm Sunday, and, in many countries, a custom developed of weaving the palms into crosses that were placed on home altars or other places of prayer. Since the palms have been blessed, they should not simply be discarded; rather, the faithful return them to their local parish in the weeks before Lent, to be burned and used as the ashes for Ash Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

CUSTOMIZED LEATHER!!!

I've been hard at work designing and creating new lines of customizable leather bracelets - check them out!  All of these are designed to be customized to your specs of size and color.

 

This chic and classy leather bracelet is made with two strips of 5mm genuine leather cord. Shown as a sample is turquoise. It features a beautiful, finely detailed hammered silver plated faux buckle clasp that makes it easy to get on and off. Even better, you can pick your color and size!  Available in turquoise, black, teal green and burgundy red, and coming soon - white, brown and more.

Next up are these gorgeous leather bracelets made with authentic Regaliz leather in your choice of colors and size. It features an antique silver clasp that has a beautiful braid design and is an easy peasy on and off very strong push lock magnetic clasp. All pieces are certified lead and nickel free.   Available colors - metallic pink, metallic plum, metallic sky blue and metallic mint green.

This way cool genuine leather bracelet is made with 2 strands of genuine leather and features a beautiful antique silver plated flower motif half cuff clasp that looks so pretty against the leather.  Available colors - black, burgundy red, turquoise and teal green - white and brown are coming soon.

 

 

This genuine leather bracelet is made with 4 strands of 2mm genuine leather cord.  It features a beautiful, finely detailed hammered silver plated faux buckle clasp that makes it easy to get on and off.  You can also untwist it so the cords lie flat if you want a different look.Available colors ar shown below- (brown not shown)

 

 

The leather triple wrap bracelet below is made with a single strand of genuine Metallic Plum Regaliz Greek licorice leather and features a beautiful antique silver plated leaf motif toggle clasp and a silver plated butterfly charm that looks so pretty against the leather. Even better, I can customize this bracelet just for you. You can pick your color, size, type of clasp and charm! 

 

 

So, if you'd like to own any of these gorgeous, trendy, chick bracelets they're listed here.  There are lots more photos of colors and charms and clasps, plus prices.  Happy browsing, and happy shopping!!



LIMITED EDITIONS!!!!

Spring is just over 2 weeks away and I cannot wait to say goodbye to winter!  At long last, longer and warmer days are just around the corner.  I think we can all agree, it's been a long, lousy winter this year and personally, I've had my fill of nor'easters! 

I'm getting ready to list this year's line of Pandora style Limited Edition bracelets (they are all so pretty!!)  I love spring colors and this year they have all that and more.  I have several Easter themed bracelets and the rest are generally composed of rhinestone  spacers, mesh beads and extra fancy Murano lampwork beads .

The 4 photos here are sneak peeks - after I have finished listing the remaining 14 bracelets I'll make a treasury of them and list them here as well.

 

 

 

 

And before I go I want to tell you that I have been starting to get deliveries of leather supplies - clasps and beads and all kinds of leather, including faux snake skin that looks just like the real thing, bolo braids, flat braids, flat and round leathers in different diameters and colors, and lots more so stay tuned for more leather, too! (phew, I'm tired now...)

 

So that's all for now.  Until next time, Happy Shopping!!