Cup Cozy - Double Moss, M

I have a new item up on my Etsy shop, amara | 86: a cup cozy knitted with a double moss pattern. It is a medium-sized cup cozy. Make a statement at Starbucks! $8, $2 for shipping. Great for book worms and coffee shop lovers. Want one? Click here.

Apple 13" MacBook Sleeves - Bird Cage Batch

I have a new batch of Apple 13" MacBook sleeves for sale in my Etsy Shop, amara | 86! The outside fabric is a cute bird cage pattern; the inside liner is a pretty, matching green. Only $30! Makes for a great Christmas gift!

Want one? Click here!

PS, I can make a sleeve for any size laptop; just send me the laptop's dimensions. I can also hunt for a different fabric; just send me your preferences, I'll take photos of what it sounds like you're looking for, send you the photos, and you can confirm which fabric I should use!

Lately

Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk at Lake Eola, downtown Orlando, FL
Last week's walk was a blast! I was happy to raise $150 to support the Alzheimer's Association. Heidi and I ended up missing the puppy costume contest due to lack of event organization, but it was still great fun. I really enjoyed letting people say hello to Heidi, who did super well - even with the little ones, and the older ones who likely suffered from some degree of Alzheimer's. Saturday was for you, Grandma.

Halloween at Wall Street, downtown, Orlando, FL
I dressed up as a black cat and went out with Jessica, her friend, Heather and her boyfriend. It was great fun to check out all the costumes. Typical Halloween, minus all the drinking.

Completed October Challenge with a 100% Success Rate
So proud of myself! Thanks to all who supported me!

New Nike+ Challenge
I'm doing a the Walt Disney World Half Marathon on 8 January 2011. I start my training (a Nike+ plan) this week. I'm cross-training with yoga and cycling.

Devoting Time to Etsy Shop: amara | 86
Ramping up for the holiday season. Christmas tree skirts, Christmas stocking sets, and the best-selling 13" MacBook sleeve. Let me know if you have a need; I am accepting custom orders.

Finished The Hunger Games Trilogy
Loved it. The new Harry Potter?

Family News
          Mom - also training for the half marathon in January; we're running it together! Hoping to beat 2 hours!
          Dad -keeping busy; went to do some target practice with Grandpa tonight.
          Chucky - he's never been happier! He's LOVING BUD/S! Pray for him as Hell Week approaches.
          Sam - he's never been happier, either! He LOVES college life and his new wrestling family!
          Heidi - just a few weeks shy of her first birthday. I'm having a party for her at the dog park this Sunday. She's hit that obstinate "teenager" phase with some destruction, but overall she's doing great!
          Ashes - surviving Heidi and being super affectionate when I read in bed at night.

Holiday amara | 86

I have a few new items in my amara | 86 Etsy shop this holiday season. As usual, I am accepting custom orders. See my Facebook photo album for other Christmas fabric options. The stockings are $20 through the holidays. Christmas Tree skirts are $55 through the holidays.

 

NEW - matching stocking sets

(shows lining)

NEW - Christmas Tree skirt

My best selling item is the 13" MacBook sleeve. Only $35 for the holidays! I can customize the size to fit any laptop; just send me your laptop's dimensions. See my Facebook photo album for other laptop sleeve fabric options (+$10 for quilted fabric).

Biggest Selle: 13" MacBook sleeves (example fabric)

amara | 86 HBC Mission Statement

Okay. This is my last task for Etsy's Holiday Boot Camp (HBC) Week 1: write a mission statement.

Thoughts: I love to be make crafts. As in sewing projects, I enjoy the process of seeing the many pieces come together. I want to share my passion with people, and don't mind making a few bucks while I'm at it! Last year I got the hang of things but my Etsy shop, amara | 86, fell to the wayside when I got Heidi. Now that she's a bit older, I can start investing time into my shop. I have a few new ideas for projects up my sleeve, too! So here's my mission statement:

Through my passion of creating hand-made goods, specifically with yarn, thread, and fabric, I will fill my Etsy shop, amara | 86, with new items for others around the world to enjoy. I will map out my days between now and 31 December 2010 to set aside time to work on my creations. I will be inventive and run with fresh ideas. I will stick to Danielle's HBC weekly check lists. I will be an Etsy Success!

Etsy Holiday Boot Camp

Holidays are nearing, and I want to make some cool creations to bring in a some extra money. To keep me focused, I'm taking the Etsy Holiday Boot Camp Pledge:

I, Amanda Bennett, pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere! 

Dharma Sports St. Patty's Day Puppy Hanky

As a token of my appreciation for all my grandparents have done for me I sent home a St. Patty's Day puppy hanky for their Whippet, Dharma. Isn't she adorable?!






Want a St. Patty's Day Puppy Hanky for your canine friends? Only $7 and free shipping! Click here!

Cheers,

Amanda

Mustache Movement

Last night I went out with some friends from my book club. As we were leaving a guy and his girlfriend walked up to us. Turns out they had baked an apple pie as a reward for a competition they were having that evening. Between the two of them, whoever had the most photos with strangers won. The twist was that in the photo they had to put their finger, painted with a mustache, to your face such that it looked like you had a mustache. Kinda weird, but we thought it was great, haha. Here's a photo from last night that was inspired by their competition (you have to pretend there's a mustache painted onto our fingers, haha):



I find it so fascinating the movement that mustaches have been making lately. Have you noticed? I was just talking about this with some colleagues from work a couple weeks ago. Mustaches are EVERYWHERE:

Fine art:



Men:



Accessories:



Household items:



Tee Shirts:



There are already lots of on-going efforts which star the mustache:

• Mustache Movember which raises money and awareness for men's health.


• The World Beard & Mustache Championships where men grow and wear their beards and mustaches for sport.


• http://www.sweet-stache.com, the headquarters of the 'stache lifestyle.

I love the Mustache Movement, but I think men are sexier wearing beards. = P

Happy Moustache Spotting!

Amanda




Image Sources:
Mona Lisa with Mustache
Triple Mustache
Mustache iPod Cozy
Mustache Mugs
Mustache Busted Tee

14 February Cheat Sheet

Have you noticed that we're less than a month away from Valentine's Day 2010? Whether you're into this celebration or not, if you're interested in getting a little something for your significant other, check out this cheat sheet I put together for you: five items for women, five for men.

Wait a minute - aren't I single? Why am I putting a Valentine's Day cheat sheet together for those who can actually enjoy the special date? Well, folks. I just love browsing Etsy.com THAT much. Plus I like making lists. And blogging. = )

Just click on the image to be linked to the item's Etsy shop where you can make a swift purchase for your loved one. (All images are from the product's respective Etsy shop.)

F I V E     I D E A S     F O R     W O M E N

It's chilly this time of year. Give her something to keep her hands and arms warm when you're away. These fingerless arm warmers are feminine, super warm and will match everything she wears. (From Zarina2009's Etsy shop.)



What a clever way to say that you'll always be there to protect her from the rain? If she likes simple, silver jewelry, she'll love this umbrella charmed necklace. (From michellechangjewelry's Etsy shop.)



She has friends all over the place and is always talking about how she wishes they could be closer. Nudge her towards the old fashioned way of communication with this darling French vintage note card set. You might get brownie points for getting her some stamps, too. (From foundaroundb4's Etsy shop.)



She loves her coffee. Help her express herself and accessorize her favorite coffee mug with this gorgeous cozy. (From waysideviolet's Etsy shop.)



Here's a romantic heart-shaped locket for you to present to your beautiful lady. It is vintage, old brass, and has a lovely key charm. Place a photo of each of you in the locket, or maybe a love note folded up teeny tiny-like. She'll treasure this necklace. (From BeadCoutureBySteph's Etsy shop.)



F I V E     I D E A S     F O R     M E N

How long will he carry around that old, tattered wallet of his? If he's not super attached and just hasn't replaced the silly thing, consider this stylish and practical wallet. Houndstooth is making a comeback for men, too. (From sewlutionsbyamo's Etsy shop.)



I've been seeing a growing trend for anatomically correct hearts. Here's a tee that will let him express his love in a very technical, yet subtle, manner. (From darkcycleclothing's Etsy shop.)



Check out this sexy, masculine neck warmer! (From minggusandmoob's Etsy shop.)



What computer savvy guy wouldn't love these CTRL ALT DEL pillows? (From diffractionfiber's Etsy shop.)



You know he's always talking about how he has too much change rattling around in his pockets. Give him somewhere to put all those coins with this vintage post office box coin bank. (From Boxnmor's Etsy shop.)



And that's all I've got folks! Happy [early] Valentine's Day!

Amanda

Imogene Scarflette

Here is a photo of my latest scarflette that is available on Etsy. Click the image to see more photos and the item details in my Etsy shop.



Amanda

My First Etsy

Yay! I just posted my first Etsy item! What's Etsy? It's an online marketplace for hand-made goods. Check it out here.

I made a scarflette:



To see this item's Etsy listing, click here. Hey, it would make an excellent birthday or Christmas gift to someone who lives where it is cold in the winter, hehe!

Amanda