Some Pretties for you

Choices from my team

This is really an amazing deal!

You get a box (10.5 inches x 7.5 inches x 5 inches)

filled with a bunch of different things from different

 people in my Etsy Team, Collaborators in Cahoots.

You will get things like:
- candles
- soap
- jewelry
- prints
- and much much more!
Check out the Mystery box 

These pastel mini thank you notes are ideal 

for popping into your customer's Etsy order.
They are decorated inside & out and there is 

room for you to write your own thank you

 to your customer.

Embedded glass fish & seaweed with sea shells 

Custom handmade betta fish gel candle for sale. 

in clear gel placed in a ivy glass bowl with all the

 makings of home: sand, wick, & a few shells.

Stunning natural AAA quality pink coin pearls grace 

this lovely floater type necklace.
The glass beads are Murano and all are strung 

on fine sterling silver coated beading wire giving the

 impression that the beads are floating. A delicate 

magnetic sterling silver class completes this lovely piece.

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#2CIC Learn more about ValerieEssentials

This is my candle interview I did with WhoHub:

	How and why did you begin to be creative? I started in aromatherapy. I made soap, candles and oils for different causes, ex.  for headaches & stress, massages, appetite...  I would create baskets for different occasions.  Most of my customers would just give me  the scene that's in their head and I would  go from there. I wanted the customer to be  excited & amazed when they saw the finished  product. I'd always put a little something extra  to make them feel special too. However, the one thing that everyone wanted  were the candles. I would make  custom seascapes with scents that the  customer picked and every time they loved  the candle. Gel wax seemed to be  the new in thing back in 2000. Later I learned to make the customers  idea come to life and it was so cool  seeing a scene come to life. If someone  wanted a lighthouse I would do a light house  overlooking the sea with different color sand  and tiny shells up on the beach with the  tiny dolphins jumping in the sea. Then it  would have a custom scent.
	How do you avoid repeating yourself, or falling  into formula? How do you stay fresh? Some candles are the same but some are different  depending on the customer. Some like the  seascapes, some like candles that are teacher  related or something else. A lot like the drinks  and food. They look so real and when you  add a beer scent to a beer candle or  strawberry shortcake scent to a strawberry  short cake candle you have a conversation piece. The only downfall is the customer doesn't want  to burn the candle, even though I do refills too. I also make soy & palm wax candles but I  enjoy creating with gel wax the best because  you can create scenes you can make a center  piece or burn. The palm wax is popular because it is soot-free  like the soy wax but it is a harder wax and once it  sets the wax has a crystal design in it. I have done  many candles for weddings as well as other  occasions. It is always nice when the customer  wants to have a certain shade to complete their  look, then the scent they choose pulls it all  together and I had a part in doing that.
	Do you have a ritual like retiring to a lonely  place from time to time to cleanse your mind? Not exactly. I have two smaller kids and I do  not like to pour wax when they are around.  Too many accidents can happen even though  you are watching at all times and hot wax is  not a nice feeling. I know from experience.  Also when you have candles setting, the  last thing you want it hard vibrations from  kids playing near your working area. But I will sit at night and visualize what  the customer wants and how to make it  happen. I also think about what I could  do to make it even more special for the  customer to really surprise them. It usually  comes to me. If not I will contact the  customer a number of times and keep  them in the creating process to make  sure we are on the same path. I will  send samples to the customer to make  sure the color and scent is exactly what  they vision. Pictures can sometimes be  hard to tell the true color. Sometimes I may have trouble with the  candle setting properly so  I have done a set of pillars 4 times  before to get them just right. The  customer wasn't as picky but I know  what I would like if I were buying something.  I want it as close to perfect as I can get it. I am hard on myself because the customer  is putting their vision in my hands and I  want it to come through  as close as I can for them.
	When you accept a job, how much  value do you place on each of the  following? Money, creative  liberty, visibility, and to work with  the best. I would like to say that out of each  order I make a little something But  that's not true. However I know  that I am doing my best for my  customer. Sometimes if I have to  re do the candle (sometimes as many  as 4 times) it takes a lot of extra  hours or even days to complete  the candle. I would like to make  money and have my candles become  more than a hobby but I love to make  customers vision come true. I like the  challenge of getting it as close as I  can to what the customer in visioned.  Then to hear about what the customer  thought of my work really makes  those extra hours or days worth it. Since I focus more on the perfect  candle for my customer, I do have  many repeat customers and  new ones from the happy customer.  It makes it worth it to see some  one value your work and  is appreciative of it too.
	You are as good as your last idea.  Wouldn't you like to have a more  secure type of work? The only reason I would like a more  secure type of work is to have a  steady income. But I am lucky  enough to have a husband that works  hard so I can be a stay at home mom  for my two younger ones. I may not  have the money but I have the  time to be a good mom and have a  outlet of making my candles for  custom orders, my etsy shop and  craft shows. My shop can be found here-  http://ValerieEssentials.etsy.com

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#2CIC Enjoy the Ways With Paper with LindaButterfly

Learn the Ways with Paper from SusanMossArt on Etsy with help from LindaButterfly

Whatever ways you want to express yourself with paper LindaButterfly has it for you. Colorful mini pop up cards, Beautiful Bookmarks to keep your place in the book you can't put down or a wonderful Card with a matching bookmark this treasury has it for you!

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#2CIC LindaButterfly in Just a Little Whisper- Shhh

Please enjoy this Little Whisper Treasury from Windyriver on Etsy featuring LindaCaterpillar

Hear the whispers of this Treasury from the Mountain Peaks painted by LindaCaterpillar

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#2CIC Take a trip to the UK & see LindaButterfly

Come Take a trip to the UK and experience some fun with the Brit PoP featuring LindaButterfly

When you arrive back home send a creative Dove Pop up Notetes by LindaButterfly to all of your friends telling them what fun you had!.

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#2CIC Shelly6262 is Going Green on This Treasury

Look at this Green is Good on Etsy Treasury & see wonderful ideas including one from Shelly6262

Check out Shelly6262's Green Beautiful Scarf here!

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#2CIC Turquoise Autumn Treasury featuring Shelly6262

Relax with this tranquil Turquoise Autumn Treasury on Etsy featuring Shelly6262

It's time to get warm & fuzzy with this beautiful Teal Scarf from Shelly6262

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#2CIC Shelly6262 in this Purple Treasury

You have heard of Pretty in Pink NOW come check out Shelly6262 in Pretty in Purple!

Keep your head warm with these Pom Pom Beret's by Shelly6262

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#2CIC See Shelly6262 in this FuN Carnival Treasury

Look at this Fun Filled Carnival Treasury featuring Shelly6262!

It's time to buckle up & stay warm with Shelly6262's Long Colorful Yarn Scarf!

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#2CIC Caution See Shelly6262 in Slippery When Wet by LittleBitWired

You should use caution when checking out this Slippery When Wet Treasury featuring Shelly6262 & other Etsian Shops

Check out these Fun Flip Flops for Toddler Boys by Shelly6262

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#2CIC ValerieEssentials Garden Treasury by WhatsHerName

Have a look at this wonderful Garden Treasury featuring many Etsian Shops including ValerieEssentials from CIC

Please stop by and smell the Roses

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Beauties of Fall

Wonderful pastels and a beautiful greeting card by my friend and collaborator Lindacaterpillar. She has two shops on etsy which feature her amazing art work.

The weather today was beautiful, tinged with that last-day-of-summer-first-day-of-Autumn feeling.

The trees haven't turned yet but they soon will.

The leaves haven't fallen yet but they soon will.

The glorious colors of Autumn aren't here yet, but they will be, soon. Find this beautiful card in this shop.

This year's pine cones haven't fallen, but they will do, soon.

Have you seen my Linda's two Etsy shops? In one she sells art; pastels, watercolors, acrylics and photographs.

In the other she sells cards made using that art. Come and visit her, revel in color, beauty and unique work that she has there waiting for you!

Today her beautiful pastel of a yellow Autumnal leaf was chosen to be in this Etsy Treasury:

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A Lovely Surprise

I recently received this adorable and uplifting gift from Susan, my secret pal. I plan to put the cute crocheted flower on my favorite winter hat and the jeweled (my favorite) pad and funky pen are now a permanent fixture in my jewelry workshop. Thanks so much to Susan and to trish for planning this

team event.

.

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Come and see the Surprise

Wonderful Surprise for SusanNeedleHands from LindaButterfly!

Copied from Susan's Blog

CIC Team Gift Exchange

   The other day, I received this lovely 

package in the mail.

 
 It was from my Etsy CIC teammate and leader,
Linda. Knowing that she makesbeautiful art,
as well as
 greeting cards, magnets and other items,
 I could  hardly wait to see what was inside.

  
 Linda took all my hints about what I liked
 (blue, useful items, kitchen and household goods)
and put them together in finding this lovely little iris
 trivet.

She also included one of her fabulous cards,
 the blue cat print.  It makes me smile every
 time I see it, the cat looks so old and wise.
 I'm really enjoying this team gift exchange--
it helps us get to know one another and
appreciate each other's gifts and talents
even more!  It also goes to show that a
 gift need not be big and expensive to be
thoughtful.

If you have a moment, please go check out
the other wonderful items made by the
Etsy Collaborators in Cahoots Team.
 I'm sure you will find the perfect, unique
 gift for a friend or loved one.

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Looking for Beautiful Kids Clothes & Costumes?

Do you have a need for beautiful and creative kids costumes or clothes? Come check out HamnaHamid's shop on etsy. This is a wonderful place to get dress up clothes for any little ones!

This shop has many wonderful and popular costumes.. Here are just a few:

This is one of my Favorites here. Just look at this

Minnie Mouse Inspired Dress with Pants!

What little girl would not love to have this Tinkerbell Dress with a necklace & wand!

I just love these pants for little girls! My daughters live in these kind of pants. And now with these Polka Dot Pants you can have one in each color!

This is a popular one right now. Jessie & Woody from Toy Story! What child would not love to wear this all the time!

If you have a child or any grand kids you are very familiar with this costume! All kids go crazy over Curious George- The Man in the Big Yellow Hat!

If your kids watch Nick Jr. I bet you are already familiar with Yo Gabba Gabba! This shop has all the Yo Gabba Gabba characters too! Who is your child's favorite?

Now I am even a fan of this show! Imagination Movers are great to get you and your child up and movin'. Yes, you can also follow the movers on Face Book & Twitter too.

This is such a great likeness of the Willy Wonka's Oompa Loompa's costume!

This is such a beautiful White Sundress. I love the was the little flower is holding the straps back here. You have your choice or two different backs for this little sundress!

This is just a few beautiful & creative children's clothes & costumes... Put your order in now for Halloween or Dress up time!

Thank you for stopping by!

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