Sugar*Sugar

More reader tips

So, my mom called last night. Told me she wants to use Google Reader but needs to read more on HOW TO... so, I thought I would show my readers two more little tricks...

Needless to say, you are going to need a Google Reader account... it's free, get one HERE.

To do the following, I'm assuming that you already have an account set up.

While blog hopping, you might see a link that says "Subscribe to this blog's feed", it's always somewhere in the side bar.

You can click that link to add that blog to your reader, quick and easy!! This is the link on my blog....
(click image to see larger view)

So now you can quickly add blogs to your reader!

I also wanted to show you how to add an etsy shop to your reader as well! You will get the same "new" updates in your reader, meaning you will see all the new goodies being added to your favorite Etsy shops!

I'm going to use Jenny's Bake Shop as our example. Please visit her shop and tell her I said Howdy!!

Remember, if you need to, click the images for a larger view.

Step 1: Go to shop, click "Subscribe to shop feed".

Step 2: Select "Google", then push the "Subscribe Now" button.
 

Step 3: Click the "add to Google Reader" button.

Step 4: You will now be in your Google Reader, click "Subscribe".

All Done! You will now get all the new items from your favorite sellers in your Reader as well as blog updates. WONDERFUL RIGHT?!?!

Last, thing...

To visit the actual shop or blog, simply click on the Title. Then comment or purchase as usual! :0)

I hope this helps some of you with getting started. And no, google isn't paying me to tell you about it, (I WISH) I just really like it!!

Have a nice weekend everyone!
xo
Analise

Do you know?

Do you know about Google Reader?

Okay, so here's the down low... if in case you've never heard of it.

Google Reader will organize all the web content that you read into one format, letting you know when there is something new to read.

I'm partial to blogs, obviously!  ;0) So I'll write in terms of blog land, but you can add any content you read regularly.

In short, you don't have to "blog hop" to see if there is a new post on your favorite blogs (or other sites, not just blogs).

So you will subscribe to your favorite blogs, and Google Reader will let you know when there is something new to read, it's really that easy!

I check my google reader every day, to see what you are all up to! If I want to comment, I simply click on the name of the blog and I'm whisked off to see your blog in full screen.

(That is one downside to G.R., you only see the post and photos, not the fancy backgrounds, headers or sidebars... just the info.)

Here is a screen shot of my reader so you can get an idea of how it works.

(click to view a larger image)

Check out Google Reader's FAQ page for more info!

Have fun and let me know what y'all think about it!
xo
Analise

For Today

 

Saw this on Kim's Blog, thought it was a great idea!

Find more info HERE

For Today June 24, 2009

Outside my window... Lemon Tree, green grass, birds singing.

I am thinking... about how much stuff I need to get finished and I need to exercise.

I am thankful for... my friends, God knows how I need them.

From the kitchen...  listening to the quiet sound of my brand new dishwasher, 2 days old!

I am wearing... exercise shorts, tank top, watch, ponytail, no shoes.

I am creating... my website!

I am praying...for a job for my husband.   

I am going... to the post office this afternoon, then I'm going to rest.

I am reading...bible only, these days.

I am hoping...to finish the work on my shop so I can open soon!

I am hearing...silence (oh, and the dishwasher!).

Around the house...house is clean, ahhh, I love it!

One of my favorite things...iced tea... mmmm.

A few plans for the rest of the week...kid's friends over to play, Friday is craft/play day with some friends and Sat. is Niece's b-day.

A picture to share...

An orchard here in Central California.

I looooove the lines and uniformity of orchards.

Bet ya didn't know! ;0)

Photoshop/Etsy Shop

Hi everyone!!

I hope everyone had a nice Father's Day weekend. We spent most of our day just having fun together. We had a long lunch, a few board games and 2 movies! The kids enjoyed just spending time with their Daddy. :0)

My crash course in photoshop is going well! I've been watching a TON of online tutorials. I learn so much better by watching someone else do it first. My desk is full of little notes that make no sense to anyone else. I feel a lot better about using it now, and I can see how it will save me SO MUCH TIME!

Before, I was taking the photos off of my camera and putting them into my regular photo program, resizing them, upload to flickr, then editing them thru picnik.com, then saving them BACK on to my computer! For my website, I was then resizing them AGAIN into 2 different sizes! ACK!

So, now, with photoshop, I take the totally raw photo, drag them into photoshop and edit them, save them and they are done! Whew! If I only knew then what I know now! It's totally worth learning if you have the time!

Here's a little sneak peak of something simple I've done with photoshop.
Using the same photo, I tried 3 different borders...

Cute right?? I just wanted to share my excitement with you all, I know most of you can understand how exciting it is to be able to SAVE SOME TIME and make your photos BETTER!

I also wanted to quickly let you know that my etsy shop has re-opened! I've added just a few new items to the shop.

I have added these sweet little ribbon flower embellishments... they are so fun and look really intricate! I think they would be adorable on several different kinds of projects, like collage and scrapbooking, but also made into hair barrettes or sewn onto a little girls dress, so cute!

Also, I added the extra sweet and whimsical tinsel wires! I LOVE these wired ribbons, they are great for hanging a little collage or gift wrapping, it's just really fun and flexible.

Lastly, I added these fun daisy chain trims, in pale blue and mint green. They have a very vintage feel and look fabulous on your paper and fabric art!

You can find all of these goodies in my etsy shop, HERE!!

We are beginning our second week of summer vacation and I expect it to be very full and very hot!! ;0)
I'll check in with you soon and give you an update on the progress of my website!!!

xo
Analise

summah time

Hi friends!

Summer is in full swing around here! I've been SO OMG BUSY the last 2 weeks! We had something everyday the last week of school for the kids. I really enjoyed being able to participate in all the school "stuff" as I wasn't able to volunteer as much as I would like this year.

This week has been pretty busy as well. The kids are all home and that means more work for Mama! I've got the kids on a tight schedule beginning at 7:30am and busy thru dinner every day! YES! Some of our schedule includes, morning chores, lunch prep/clean up, 1 FULL HOUR OF QUIET TIME EVERY DAY, free time, snack time and something fun a few days a week. We go to the free movie once a week (CHECK HERE TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ONE IN YOUR AREA), library, picniks, craft time, bike rides, swimming, play with friends, etc...

*sigh* I'm tired already!

Another reason I'm keeping the kids on a schedule this summer is because I'm going to re-open my etsy shop at the end of this week and open the Sugar*Sugar website this summer.

I've been using all (and I mean ALL) of my spare time to work on the website, order some new goodies and take a ga-zillion photos. On top of all of that I'm trying to learn photoshop! ACK!

So... for today a few sneak peeks of some new items coming to the shop. My etsy shop will re-open this Friday with some of the regular offerings and a few new goodies too!

Chat soon everyone, I hope you are enjoying your summer so far!
xxoo
Analise

more inspiration

Just a little inspiration from Etsy today... some of my favorites...
Click to shop!

looking for inspiration

Over the last few weeks I've been really doing my best to just rest. Rest not only my body (with naps! :0)) but also rest in my mind. Things are changing for me. Circumstances are unpredictable. Things are bit "up in the air".

That's okay.

I'm learning how to be okay with things not being "okay" all the time.  Of course, I've had my share of hard times. So it's sort of familiar for me.... but it still isn't easy.

I've shared some before about how I'm not giving up. I'm not. I do think perhaps a different route may be necessary for me.

I've decided to push forward with Sugar*Sugar to see if I can make it a bit more worth all of the time I put into it. (believe me... it is a job! Just ask any of the "small" internet shop owners, they will tell you, it is A LOT OF WORK!)

So, for now, I closed my etsy shop for a bit. A little vacation is all. I'm taking the time to work on my website, order all new items to offer, rethink the current offerings (cut some out!) and most of all, look for inspiration.

First, I started by grabbing a piece of muslin fabric, totally blank.

Taking a lead from here, here and here... I grabbed some of the things from my studio that I enjoy most.... vintage trims, lace, millinery flowers, buttons and embellishments. Sometimes just picking through these is inspiration enough!

I just began to create, with no real plan, but I wanted to inspire myself... to bring something out of myself that makes me want to do more, to create more, to provoke, stimulate and encourage me.

 

 

 

Finished product. So nice. So easy. I just pinned it to the wall with a few pearlized sewing pins.

 

I'll probably make a few more of these and keep them nearby. It just reminds me of why I am doing this... focusing on what I love.

:0)
Analise