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

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

Well here we are at labor day weekend already! I cannot believe this weekend marks the end of summer. A part of me is sad to see the summer fade away. Another part of me is excited to see the beautiful fall colors begin to turn up the volume. I'm so torn!

Q and I are expanding our 2 year old tradition of joining the masses on the last great summer migration to a third year. This year we are heading to Springfield, IL to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum along with the other sights of the capital of our great state of Illinois. I admit I'm a total museum geek. Lucky for me Q seems to understand. I love to read every placard and I sometimes wonder how / why things are displayed the way they are. (I almost went into museum studies for grad school after a year in material cultures as an undergrad). Now that I think about it, I'm very lucky he goes to museums with me!

Anyway! Back to business... today I listed a few more lavender sachets and introduced cedar sachets to the QQ family of goods. I decided to try my hand at stamping on the muslin bags. I think they turned out beautifully. I've already had a number of requests from family and friends for the holiday season as they really do make nice gifts. I first made them for christmas presents last year and everyone loved them....(I did have to keep a few for our drawers too!)


Business is booming over at Screamin Monkey Circus. Q sold this beautiful book safe made from a book published in 1943. It sold within an hour of appearing on CraftJuice.com and shot straight to the top of the most popular crafts. Needless to say I was quite proud of Q! Despite being a new Etsian, he photographed the book and listed it like a pro.

Until next time... have a great weekend everyone!

SQ