my year

Today is already the last day of the year! I can hardly believe it went by so fast. Overall it was a good year, some of my highlights:

♥ Mamutopia! I started this blog in March, but last month I finally opened an Etsy too, which I wanted for ages. And hurray, I had my second sale today!
♥ at work everything went perfect: before the summer I worked in four different libraries (!), next year there will be only one library left. And yes, that's a good thing!
♥ I started running and right now I'm able to run 45 minutes without stopping. I even went running today at 8 0'clock in the morning in the freezing cold...
♥ I got my driver's license, although I really don't like cars and driving :) It was just one of things I thought I needed to do. Now I'm ever so happy with my license, it feels as a great accomplishment. I still don't like to drive, that's all.
♥ The year was filled with learning: I went to a sewing class, a crochet workshop, started pilates, learnt some webdesign basics, took a paleography class and, maybe this sounds stupid, but I'm finally able to cook properly :)

I haven't even thought about new year's resolutions, have you?
Well that's it for this year, I hope you all have a great new year's eve and wish you a happy 2009!

promo promo promo

The first day of my vacation I spent making these promo items for my little shop. I still have only one sale, so promotion is much needed :) Last couple of weeks I received some wonderful comments about 'mamutopia' and my first buyer left positive feedback as well, yay!

Happy holidays everyone!

happy friday

Yay, it's friday....weekend at last!

At first I felt really moody this evening without any reason. Then I realized 'hey wake up, it's friday, it's weekend, don't be grumpy!' So to give my day a happy end, I'll make this 'happy friday': to remind myself of all the little happy things that happened this week. I think you need to do that once in a while, just think of the little things!

♥ I found the perfect pair of bright blue boots
♥ My first sale, it still makes me smile :)
♥ There's more money on my bank account than I thought
♥ Tomorrow I'm going to buy a christmas tree!

I'm already so excited about this tree, because I've never had my own. This year I finally decided to have one. I'm going to use these cute christmas angels: Now I'm off to read a magazine and drink a hot cup of milky coffee with a blanket wrapped around me! Have a nice weekend!

first sale!

Yay, I just sold my first item on Etsy!

At first I didn't understand the email, but then I realized someone actually bought something... From me! Oh my, I was so happy I did a little dance behind my computer :)
I sold these mini clothes pins:

I was planning to go to bed, but now I'm way too excited!
Today at work (well, I was supposed to work) I was suddenly a bit overwhelmed by Etsy and was wondering how on earth I would make myself visible in this large community. So this first sale is perfectly timed and gives me a little bit more confidence.

By the way, you may notice I have two sales in my profile, but the first one was a test sale. I bought something from myself to see what happened :)

etsy

Tadaa, this week I opened my own etsy shop! I wanted to do this for ages, but last weeks/months I finally took the time to actually do it. You probably all now, but it was a lot of work: making my own banner, deciding on a shop slogan, reading all the etsy policies and making photos over and over again. I still need to figure a lot of things out on etsy, but so far it seems like fun. If anyone has any advice, I'd be happy to hear!

Oh I just got a message from Papergirlproductions: she published my mushroom memo board on her blog! So sweet, it made me happy :)

buy handmade!

On poppytalk you'll find 101 reasons (and even more!) to buy handmade.
I like this one: 'my favorite reason to buy handmade is just that - it's handmade, which means quality, and a whole lot of love!'

cute supplies

Pretty, pretty ribbon!

mankind mag

Ooh, it's been a long time!

I'm really busy at the moment, with work, with everything it seems!

In the meantime you could read a copy of Mankind Mag. It's all about craft!

more notice boards

Little notice boards and a tiny calender for 2009!

trying and thinking

Clothes pins galore!
At the moment I'm busy trying out some ideas. I'm experimenting with clothes pins (as you can see!) and with the little notice boards I showed earlier.

I have a confession to make: secretly I'm thinking/dreaming of opening up an etsy or dawanda, but I'm still feeling a bit insecure about it. Will anyone like my items, isn't there someone who's doing the same etc. etc. Blah, I just don't know.

Anyway, more to follow next week! :)

shopping!

Yesterday I bought some colourful cards, a cute little polka dot cup and four, really small wooden plates. Don't know yet what to do with them, but I couldn't resist :)

work in progress

Finally I started crafting again! I only wish I had more time...

presents!

My brother went to Tokyo and bought me some presents: two really cute fat quarters, patches, washi paper and Japanese candy. Yay for my brother!

notice board

Two mini notice boards I made today! You could use them to pin on a little note :)

fruit hair clips

Apples and strawberries are still my favourite!

strawberry clothes pins

hair clips

These hair clips were fun to make! I want to make some more, but what to do with them? I don't have enough hair to wear them all :)

new clothes pins

Maybe doing laundry will be a little bit more fun with these strawberry and apple clothes pins.

Or use them for my neverending pile of lists!

more pins

I love making these!

push pins

This pinboard looks much nicer with these push pins I made.

My mind is full of ideas now, so I'm off to make more of them!

I love your blog!

Yay, I received a blog award from paper girl productions!
So sweet, thanks!

Hmm, now I should pick 7 other blogs I love to read, but I can't choose :)
All the blogs in my list of links deserve one!

on a rainy sunday afternoon...

nothing better than homemade crackers and hot chocolate!

fred flare

Although they don't ship to Europe, I love to browse through Fred Flare every now and then.

fruit cozies

from Vegan lunchbox

What a cozy fruit bowl! The apples seem to be really comfortable :)

Maybe I should try to crochet a cozy too. My apple would definitely arrive safe at work in such a cute sweater.

from Sunnyside Ellen

wee pop

Thanks to this blog I recently discovered Wee Pop, probably the cutest record label ever. I immediately ordered four releases and now I can't stop listening!
Check it out here.

Aah, just look at those handmade covers! They even included candy in my order :)

scarf

Simple crocheted scarf, made on holiday.

cookie cutters

Baking cookies will be even more fun with these happy, colourful cookie cutters I received in a swap some time ago.