Chaya's Corner

Snow = SEW!

2010-02-15T16:30:00.002-05:00

With all of this snow, I've been sitting in the house with extra time. Which means I've had time to SEW!!!

Check out the shop. New products, old favorites in new patterns, and even a few baby items! Let me know what you think! I'm going back to cutting now!

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

2010-01-24T20:29:00.002-05:00

Julia and Trisha. LOL

Julia - please contact me at chayascorner@gmail.com with your address and wristlet preference.

Trisha - I know where to find you! Just tell me which one you want (or which colors and I'll make it!).

Hey - every single follower counts, right?

We'll do this again soon. I'm on a wristlet-making spree anyway! :)

Where is Everybody?

2010-01-23T08:54:00.005-05:00

Are you all awake? Twice as many Facebook followers than there are blog followers. Oh well. Can't win 'em all.

We're working on a new project. Totally not sewing-related. Tweaking and getting it just right, so look for a new section soon. I'll make an announcement when the time comes, but we're really excited. Now hopefully we can get it launched before the weather changes and it's no longer such a necessity. :)

Check out the blog post below for the giveaway. You still have a day. Send some friends!

I Need Some Followers! (Giveaway!)

2010-01-21T17:01:00.006-05:00

And I need YOU to help me! Here's how it works.

I need some readers. I feel like I'm talking to myself.

If you read this, you know I'm not. But I like numbers - the bigger, the better. Unless it's my debt (or the national one, for that matter).

So... I want more. And you can help.

For EVERY follower you send to me, all THEY have to do is follow my blog and post a comment telling me who sent them - just your name and e-mail address is fine. And they need to leave THEIR e-mail address so I can get in touch with them if they win.

What I will do is:

1. Take the person whose name and e-mail is most often featured in my comments section and give them a "prize". Send me 20 or more followers, you get a FREE item from my shop - whatever you want! Less than 20 will get you one of my new wristlets. You can choose the colors or just pick one from my shop.

Like maybe this:

2. For the new followers, I'm giving away a second wristlet. That will be a random.org drawing. My comments are numbered - so it'll just be a random "thank you" from me. You can find a few in my shop, and I'll be adding more of those soon as well!

You have until Sunday, January 24 at 6. I will do the random drawing and post the winners after that time (since I won't be home then), but that's your deadline.

*** IF I REACH 100 FOLLOWERS, there will be a second drawing - all names will be alphabetically put in a spreadsheet and randomly drawn by row number ***

Have fun. Tweet this, post it on your blog, tell a friend, etc. But PLEASE make my numbers go up.

And if you haven't checked out the shop lately, take a little trip over. New stuff coming soon!

New Stuff!

2010-01-17T12:01:00.002-05:00

I got motivated by one sale in my shop - and listed more stuff. Some of it is new - like as in this week new - some of it was stuff I was too 'unmotivated' to list. Just because nothing was moving, why add more, right?

Well, I got over it, go up this morning, and listed the stuff. It's not everything I have to list, but a good start.

There is a trial and error process to making anything handmade. You get the instructions and think you've followed them exactly. Until you flip your project and realize that, oops, I did this backwards. Some things are easy to fix, others you just don't have the energy to mess with. Some only look bad to you, because you *know* what they're supposed to look like.

Well, some of these things weren't exactly as they should have been, but they're still functional nonetheless. And I'm going to give them away. Why waste time and perfectly good fabric, right?

So be on the lookout. I'm going to think of a way to run a giveaway. So start making lists of your friends now. You will be able to get multiple entries for doing little things to send more people my way. I guess my mess-ups have a purpose after all. And some of the things I give away won't be mess-ups at all. They'll just be things I made for fun and don't want to sell!

Oh, and I think I have a real follower, like, immediate reader follower. Let's test my theory. Trisha, I will sign up - soon. I don't know when, but I'm going to do it.

***wait for it*** (a comment)! :)

A SALE! A SALE!

2010-01-16T22:32:00.002-05:00

Well, a LOT has been going on lately.

We had the holidays. We have sports. I've been sewing, sewing, sewing. And nobody would know it, because I've not found the time to take pictures of my stuff and put them in the shop!

In the midst of all the hoopla, Chaya broke her phone. Verizon didn't want to be nice about it, but they ended up letting my charm convince them to let us all get new phones. So I got the Droid. I'm all techie and stuff.

So, I get this phone I can't use, I set up my e-mail, etc. But the Droid doesn't like Yahoo - he's a Google lover. So I put my main Yahoo account on only, fully intending to switch everything over to Gmail. Well, I MADE A SALE IN MY SHOP!!!! The first one EVER.

But I didn't know about it. Because I don't get my Yahoo mail. Luckily, I bought something on Etsy tonight and saw that there was money in the account that shouldn't have been there and went to investigate.

So YAY! I made my first sale. A $5.00 key fob. Gotta start somewhere! They're fun to make, and now there's one less hanging up in my craft room! :)

In on the road.... And pretty soon, I'll have more cute stuff for sale in my shop! Don't give up on me just yet. I'm working on it!

Where does the time go?

2009-12-20T22:40:00.002-05:00

I swear, I haven't abandoned ship. It's almost Christmas. I have been buying fabric, but haven't really sewn anything. Except for a table runner today. Because after cleaning out the craft room in anticipation of guests that will hopefully be able to come (Virginia got hit hard with snow - 23" in 2 days!), I was itching to sew something.

But don't worry - I'll be back. And I'll be working on some new, fresh stuff to put in the store. :)

Wanting to hear the sound of a Cricut in the fall...

2009-11-24T22:34:00.003-05:00

I have been wanting a Cricut since I got into crafting. I've talked to enough talented people who have them and I'm sold on the idea of the Cricut Expression. This model is a bigger version of the other machines, cutting up to 23.5". What will I need to cut that big? I have NO idea.

But the thing is - if you THINK you don't need it and you don't plan for it, you WILL need it. Murphy's Law. Not mine.

So Danica and I decided to have a CEM - a Cricut Earning Mission. This was a pact we made over lunch at Frog Bear Wild Boar (no, we weren't drinking, they serve food, I swear!) in July. We gave ourselves a deadline and a "goal", and we had to "earn" our Cricuts. By cleaning, selling things, etc. I got a lot of things out of the house, started my Etsy shop (which is still waiting on its first sale, although I've gotten requests from friends to make things for Christmas gifts. ALL of that money has gone into an envelope, all of it is accounted for, and it's all there.

I am now waiting for Black Friday to get my Cricut (and some cartridges). Chaya is eagerly awaiting the Cricut's arrival, too. It will actually live on her desk once it's purchased and placed in the craft room.

So keep your eye out for some Cricut crafting! Now if I can just find the time... :)

2009-11-14T16:02:00.002-05:00

Trisha is hosting a Tastefully Simple Beer Bread Giveaway on Julie's Blog. Go enter! You can earn up to 10 entries. It only takes a few minutes!

Place an order while you're on Trisha's site!

Go for it! :)

Congratulations!

2009-11-12T22:42:00.002-05:00

To Liz's winners - Allison, Britt and Janny.

I will be sending out your goodies soon.

Keep your eyes open for some fun new giveaways. I've got some new things in the works that will be making their debut soon.

Make-up bags, tea/card wallets, and more!

See you soon.

Liz's Giveaway Ends Tomorrow!

2009-11-10T19:14:00.001-05:00

Hurry up and enter on her blog! You get the opportunity to have THREE entries and it's free. It'll only cost you a couple of minutes of your life!

Get on it folks, even if you entered Julie's. Enter again! :)

Discounts Galore!

2009-11-07T12:11:00.003-05:00

So I realized that my stuff may have been a little ambitiously priced for a beginner. And I'm anxious to make my first sale.

On that note, I have lowered the prices in my store. The bags are now (at least) $10 less than the last time you looked. And the pumpkin/sage tote is even lower because I thought hanging it from a folded chair was a good idea. It was until I got a little dirt smudge on it. Small as it is, the bag isn't perfect. So it's now $20.

Grab 'em up, friends! Give me a reason to go make more. :)

Key Fobs - and Other News!

2009-11-07T08:44:00.003-05:00

It seems like a lot of people that came over from Julie and Liz's blogs liked the key fobs I offered in the giveaways. Well, I've been holding out on you all. I love to sit and sew, but I don't always list my items in a timely manner. Don't beat me - I have a kid, a full-time job and a husband who works and goes to school full-time.

Sewing is truly my escape, but listing things on Etsy seems to sometimes take a backseat. Don't worry, though. Once it's listed, I can get it to you. Trying to describe this or that item I've made is not something I do well when my brain is fried.

In any event, I have KEY FOBS on Etsy. Not many, just 4. I have 2 more in the works, and more supplies on the way. I didn't order many pieces of hardware because I wanted to see how it would go first. Well.... I ordered more. So keep your eye out.

Also, there was a question about matching bags (tote and the zippered pouch). Absolutely. I can always make custom items. I have to verify I have enough fabric (or can get more), but that's usually not an issue. I have a slight fabric problem....

Anyway, if you see a tote you like in the shop and want a matching pouch, let me know. I try to put a good selection of colors and patterns on Etsy, but I can definitely accomomodate you.

Thanks for dropping by. Have a great weekend! Wish me luck, it's slumber party night! I'm hoping to steal away and sew a little bit. I have a feeling my nerves will be shot and my hands unstable though. :)

Welcome Liz Friends!

2009-11-06T15:36:00.002-05:00

First of all, I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to Liz for hosting a giveaway and sending me some traffic. Definitely check out her blog for some more giveaway items!

She's a fantastic papercrafter, so check out her designs, ideas and items. Although her designs are quite wonderful, it's more fun to see her beautiful, smiling daughter. Check her out!

Love ya, Liz!

Welcome Julie Followers!

2009-11-04T17:15:00.000-05:00

Thanks for all the views, follows and comments. I am blushing!

I saw the comment about allowing anyone to leave a comment, and that is fixed.

I hope you all like what I have! Keep your eyes opened for more stuff to come!

Giveaways with Julie, Liz and Amy!

2009-11-03T20:10:00.001-05:00

My friend Julie has an AWESOME blog, and she was the first to answer my call to do a giveaway to promote my Etsy shop. Check out her blog to get some Chaya's Corner items for free - some you can buy, and some you can't -- and get a huge laugh while you're there! Julie's writing style is like no other, and she's got some funny (and true) stories to tell you.

Since I have such great friends, Liz stepped up to the plate as well. She doesn't have an Etsy shop (yet!) but she makes some really nice magnets and cards. So even though she's not selling through Etsy, you can place an order with her by e-mailing her through her blog. And while you're there, check out her adorable daughter!

Last but not least, one of my former softball teammates from Virginia, Amy, is hosting a third giveaway AFTER the holidays. Amy has an Etsy shop, Sewartsy, and she has some really cool stuff in there. I hope to one day be as talented as Ms. Amy - and as great a person in general. She's got a big heart and is a wonderful person. Check out her blog for some great holiday giveaways too.

Thanks ladies! I really appreciate your help!

Follow Chaya's Corner on TWITTER!

2009-11-02T23:13:00.001-05:00

Chaya's Corner is now on Twitter! Follow us!

Introduction

2009-10-28T21:20:00.000-04:00

Hello. I'm Crystal, and I'm the "brains" behind Chaya's Corner. Chaya is my daughter, and she likes to have her name attached to anything - it makes her feel important.

Chaya's Corner was created because of my love of fabric. I love to buy it. I love to collect it. My husband hates for me to spend money and hates for me to be a packrat. So the only way to feed my fabric buying addiction is to get rid of the stuff I have to make room for more! :)

So, here goes. This is so much fun right now. It's a break from the real world. My real job is boring. This "work" is relaxing and fun. So come along for the ride. I hope it's as much fun for you as it is for me!