Where do I even begin?! It's been an absolutely crazy week at QQ/SMC. After Q's amazing Etsy front page appearance... Screamin Monkey Circus had a Hollow Book Safe included in The Storque (Etsy's Handmade Blog) in an article titled "Etsy Finds: Libra vs. Scorpio" that was e-mailed to about a million subscribers. We were both shocked to find the book included as the store is relatively new and although we do advertise on Facebook and Twitter, we certainly don't have a budget to pay for advertising to get noticed like that... and boy did it open the flood gate! Q has been absolutely inundated with orders! Shop visits were over 1,000 views yesterday and hearts are through the roof. Even Quintessential Quirks has tipped 70 + hearts now!

After rolling out the most recent Poptop Pincushion Rings, I've had several requests for custom orders that I have been happy to fulfill. I am most proud of the orange Crush design I created for a customer. I ended up making a second Crush Poptop because I loved how it turned out. I haven't snapped a photo yet, but I will. It's on the list with the Apple Pie on a Stick recipie I HAVEN'T forgotten about.

Speaking of food... I embarked on another food-related adventure recently and created bite sized pumpkin pies for the lovely people at my work. Here is a cell phone photo of the pies in progress and completed:



They were easy to make and I used a technique I read on Bakerella! I just used 2 boxes of Jiffy Pie Crust Mix and one regular can of pumpkin pie filling. Just make the pie filling according to the instructions on the can. I did the crust one box at a time. The beauty of Jiffy is that you only need to add water and it comes out really well every time. Seriously. Roll out the dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Then I used a cookie cutter to make the bitty crusts. It was probably about 3 inches in diameter... work with whatever you got. Stick them in a mini cupcake pan and add a tablespoon of pie filling to each crust. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes. Each box will make 24 mini crusts and the pie filling will fill all 48 perfectly. (There will be left over dough for Monkey Tails should you wish to make them! Just roll out the dough, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar and roll them up. Bake for about 10 minutes or til done.)

YUM!

In other interesting personal news, as many know I am in grad school right now working towards a Masters in Leadership Studies. Well, it turns out I might be closer to the finish line than I originally thought. The faculty in my program have revised the curriculum restructuring the requirements and according to my transcript, I have completed the necessary requirements after this quarter! Amazing news! I do still have a thesis to complete but knowing that I am almost finished with courses is a great relief.

Until next time!

SQ

Hello!! Q reminded me yesterday that I had not blogged in quite some time... I didn't realize how long it's really been! Things around here on the craft front have been quiet for the most part... well until recently. Q had a rather large order of 7 hollow book safes come in from a couple in San Francisco getting married this weekend. They too are using them as groomsmen gifts like previous sales. Who knew Q would be making such an impact on the wedding scene with those books! Amazing! The bride also decided to order each of her 6 bridesmaids a Love Bird Lavender Trio sachet set too. This weekend was very busy for us here at SMC/QQ headquarters to say the least.

In other big news, I received a text from my friend Chris at 12:15 am this morning telling me that Q's most recent computer hard drive/turntable creation made it to the front page of Etsy last night at midnight. Talk about a wonderful surprise! Our first front page feature!



I also woke to a lovely surprise with a message in my inbox from Damjama on Etsy notifying me the she had featured my brown Poptop Pincushion with a red heart on her blog: Loddelina Designs. I highly recommend you check out her shop and blog as they are both full of beautiful things.

I have another sachet order that came in yesterday almost ready to ship... but I do have grad school tonight so unfortunately it will be another day before I can work on the finishing touches. All in all, things are going well at SMC/QQ. I've also been in touch with Bella Cosa out in Long Beach and their brick and mortar store is coming along well so QQ is still slated to be in store for their opening day! Come on supply order! I'm just waiting on you!

Until next time,

SQ

Oh my goodness it has been quite a week for us!

I started back to grad school for the fall on Tuesday and it's quite an adjustment to be in class until 10:30 p.m. as that is usually about the time I'm drifting off to sleep watching some show about UFO's on the History Channel. I know it will be over before I know it though so I won't complain too much!

Orders for lavender and cedar sachets keep rolling in. One customer purchased 3 sets last week and returned to purchase an additional 9 sets of cedar and lavender! I was so happy they were enjoying their first purchase so much and decided to return to QQ. That made my day!

This morning I woke to find a lovely surprise in my convo inbox on Etsy from Christy who is opening a green boutique in Long Beach, CA. She was inquiring about the possibility of selling QQ items on consignment in the new shop. What a great opportunity! Their blog is at: http://shopbellacosa.blogspot.com/ I am hoping to hear back from her about the details soon and when I do, you'll be the first to know!

In other exciting news, Q and I turned our guest bedroom in our house into a craft studio. We moved the bedset out, put up shelves, brought in a big table, and sorted all our supplies into storage solutions. Productivity has skyrocketed... Q cranked out 3 books this week (all of which sold within 1 HOUR of being listed!) along with these cool clocks made out of upcycled computer parts and I have been an owl-stampin' machine hehe.

Now to share my most recent Etsy purchases! I have been keeping my eyes open for a portfolio / planner / notebook / thing on Etsy for a while now as we are beginning to approach the end of the year and new calender / planner time. (The acquisition of a new planner is always a celebrated time for me - there's just something about it!) So I came across a lovely store: GetSassed and with a gift certificate I recieved, I picked out this little pretty design:


I'm excited for it to arrive so I can finally have all the loose bits floating around in my purse organized. Like Alton Brown says.. "organization will set you free!"

In addition to the pretty portfolio I also could not resist this:


It will be a Christmas present for the aspiring little artist in the family... shhhh don't tell!

So that's about it for now! I've just come home from the barn after riding Rudy and Delia. Both of them were very good, even Rudy who usually gives me a hard time! He was extra good today. Carrots for all :)

Until next time!
SQ

Hellloooo from Chicagoland! We are on the other side of Labor Day and fall feels official.

Our weekend getaway to Springfield was exactly what the doctor ordered and we are back and in full swing.

Today I have some great news! Yesterday I was featured in my first Etsy treasury by user PersonalOasis! She chose to include my love bird lavender sachet trio which sold earlier in the day. The same customer also picked up my cedar sachet set and my eco flower lavender set. Needless to say, yesterday was busy with wrapping everything up in tissue with ribbons and thank you tags.

Speaking of packing and shipping, Screamin Monkey Circus is beginning to really live up to its name. The past week has been an absolute circus at home. Shortly after selling the beautiful green hollow book safe, Q had a request from a groom for 5 hollow book safes for his groomsmen!! I thought, what a GREAT idea! Fortunately we had made a few visits to the resale shops and a lovely antique book store in Springfield so there was plenty of book stock at home. Honestly though, all this book-safe-making equates to giant-mess-in-the-living-room-making. In an attempt to acknowledge the seemingly infinite scraps of paper everywhere, Q did pull out the vacuum earlier in the week. It has stood in silence like an island in a sea of paper chaos. All in the name of beautiful handmade crafts though, right?! Right! Thank god we are both in this together :p

So anyway! Keep a look out for amazing new hollow book safes from Screamin Monkey Circus coming soon. Q finished one last night that really takes the cake. He's also listed some great acrylic paintings he's done. People who are weenies about having bright colors in their home need not apply.


Quintessential Quirks has Owl and "C"edar sachets relisted along with the eco flower lavender set and designs on the horizon for the Christmas rush. I'm also toying with the idea of including cloves in my cedar sachets. Beta testing will be taking place in the upcoming week. I will be sure to report back.... And I promise I haven't forgotten about the Apple Pie Pop recipe! I am aiming to type that up very soon!

So that is about it from us. This weekend is going to be crazy. Renegade Craft Fair - Chicago is taking place tomorrow and we are very excited to be going to check it out. We also have the annual British Car Festival on Sunday.

So until next time... take care and have a great Friday!

SQ

After a bit of a hiatus, I'm back with an announcement!

This weekend Screamin Monkey Circus (operated by Q) opened it's doors on Etsy! While at the All Night Flea Market a few weeks ago, Q rolled out a few of his handmade / handcrafted items and had some success selling to the crowds. SMC already has 2 items listed and will be rolling out various bottle cap crafts, branding irons (for the BBQ fanatic in your life), hollow book safes, concrete light bulbs, and original screen printed designs. All in all, it is pretty much a store that totally encompasses all of Q's interests: beer, bbq, hiding stuff, tricking you, and art. Good luck on the new venture Q!

In Quintessential Quirk news, yesterday was a productive day as a new dragonfly prototype came into existance as a potential thank you gift for donors to my boss's new foundation. The foundation aims to encourage college students to become involved. Today I gifted the prototype to my boss who is retiring after about 30 years in "the business" of Student Activities along with some felt fortune cookies with best wishes inside. So fun to make! In the future, the dragonfly design may be an exclusive M.E.R.I. Foundation item.

The recent return of cool tempuratures to the Chicagoland area has brought a return of baked goods to the Quirk homestead. While Q is definitely the cook in our home, I enjoy upholding the baking standards. Yesterday evening (with Da Bears football game on in the background) I got to work on my most recent fascination: Apple Pie on a Stick. It combines two of my favorite things ever... apple pie and stuff on a stick (everything from ice cream to corn dogs to cookies and of course fudgecicles). Despite not having a recipe to work from, I had great success in this endeavor. I promise to post the recipe soon!

Until next time!

SQ