Sisters Weekend!

Hello all you sisters out there! My sister Tracy and I just got back from a nice weekend getaway without the "boys" and I highly recommend doing so yourself. It was a lot of fun and although it was over in a blink of an eye, it was a nice little break from our daily lives. I posted about where we stayed previously, but let me jus reiterate a little bit. We stayed at a 200 year old stone farm house (Living Spring Farm) a mile outside Adamstown, PA, nicknamed Antiques Capital USA. The house itself was very cozy and inviting and the Innkeeper, Deb was very friendly and open. She lives there full time and made us feel just like dear friends staying for a visit. The farm had a horse, a pony, and two cats. We visited with the animals every day and made friends with most of them. Although Sammy, the pony, gave Tracy a big shove with his head when I tried to take a picture of the two of them. I think he didn't want her stealing his thunder...they both had very similar hairdos. Anyway, Deb made us an incredible breakfast both days and gave us tips on where to go shopping. We are not antique collectors but we do admire anything that has a history. Most of our time was spent pointing out kitchy things and just laughing. The big purchase of the weekend for both my sister and myself were birdhouses made out of salvaged wood, metal, and findings like antique drawer pulls, glass knobs, and hinges. We also bought some vintage books and other things that we can use in our crafts and art. I found a few vintage science books about experiments, zoology, seashells, ants and bees, and butterflies. The illustrations in them are what really appealed to me. I'll be listing some of the things I found on my Etsy shop at One Cozy Nest. Stop by to check them out.

GIVE AWAY!!! What Did You Do For Earth Day 2008?

Well, I like to think that every day around my house is Earth Day. But I celebrated the day by doing something a little extra. I tried to conserve some energy by turning off my heat, opening the windows, and I did not use any lights all day (as long as the sun was shining). I also didn't turn on the TV. What did you do? Leave a comment and I'll pick a name out of a hat for a surprise giveaway!

New Vintage Goods

My sister, the baby, and I ventured out to the flea market this morning. Oh my goodness, was today the most absolutely perfect weather day? We had a great time. The baby was well behaved until the very end, but then we just took turns carrying his heavy behind around, which he just loved. Better people-watching view, I guess! I found a lot of lovely vintage enamel flower pins. There they are drying out in the sun after I cleaned them up. I took some great photos and then listed them all on Etsy today. Stop on by my new Etsy shop called One Cozy Nest, where I'll be selling all of my items from now on. I'll slowly transfer my handbags and baby goods over to this shop as my listings expire. After my trip to Adamstown, PA next weekend, I'm sure there will be lots more new stuff for sale! On another Etsy note, I'm happy to report that my two vintage fabric buntings sold today! I had so much fun making them. I sure hope they find their way into some adorable little baby's room. I'll have to make some more to restock.

Custom Handbag

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share my latest creation with you. You may remember a few weeks ago I posted about eco-friendly dog beds made by Etsy seller Anniessweatshop. Well, she asked me if I wanted to do a trade with her! Of course I accepted and created this beautiful set. It's made from my "cammo femme" fabric and has a nice secure zipper closure. The matching case is like my artist's pouches, except it's deeper for her sunglasses. I hope she likes it...and if you're reading, Annie, I hope you forgive me for making you wait so long. Your doe beds are adorable and I can't wait to get mine and let Guinness crawl in and take a nice snooze. I'll send pics!

On another note, my vintage enamel flower pins have been really popular on Etsy! I've sold all but two so far. I've had these things for a few years now and occasionally I'd sell one but they're selling like hotcakes these days! I promise to pick up many more next weekend when my sister take our much deserved girls weekend away. We're staying at a lovely bed & breakfast called Living Spring Farm. The house is a 200 year old stone farmhouse located in Adamstown, PA (supposedly the antiques capital of the US). They have a little pony named Sammy that I'm really looking forward to meeting! He's so cute. Reminds me of Donkey from Shrek for some reason. Haha!

A Very Good Day

Have you recently had one of those days where everything in the world seems just right...you're happy, you feel good, and the sun is shining? Sounds like a cheesy song, but the other day was just one of those days. It was such a nice day that I decided to use my brand new retractable clothesline. I know, what kind of dork gets excited over a clothesline? Me. Not only was it the first time I was able to use it, it was the first time I got to hang my son's cloth diapers out to dry! They looked so adorable all lined up in a row that I just had to take a picture of it. I plan on doing that a lot more often. The sun helps with disinfecting and makes them bright white. After I did that, I left the baby with hubby and ran out to Sears to pick out my new glasses. I've had the same pair for years and while I wanted to keep the same look, I needed a little change. They should be ready for pick up in about a week. I am so excited!

I stopped by to visit my sister for a few minutes and she told me about a guy down the street that had a huge pile of dug up hostas on his curb. He apparently was throwing them away! She spotted them on her walk and came back later to take some. I love hostas and have the majority of my back garden lined with them. They are a great shade plant. Anyway, I drove down and asked him if I could take some and he said, "Sure, my wife hates them." One man's trash is another man's treasure! I loaded up a bunch and have been filling in empty spots along the boarder of my garden the past couple of days. This saved me a lot of time because I had planned on splitting the ones I have and transplanting them.

I've also been spicing up my front porch, making it cozy and welcoming. I have an old vintage iron sofa and two white rocking chairs. I made two cushions for the rocking chairs out of vintage fabric and two old bed pillows I was about to throw away. I just opened them up and threw out a third of the stuffing and then inserted them into the zippered cushion covers that I made. I planted pansies in the baskets along the railing and also in nine little clay pots that I displayed on a vintage-looking plant stand. I hung a wreath on my door that has faux lavender colored flowers and some greenery around it and I found a cute little "Welcome" sign at Lowes. I'd like to get a custom sign made that reads "Bolis Family established 2001". There is an Etsy seller that makes them so I think I might be contacting her soon! Well, here's to YOUR storybook day. I hope you have one today. :)

Eco-Tip Wednesday ~ Doo You?

Do you pick up after your pet? Well, if you don't, you're contributing to a growing pollution problem. Studies show that pet waste left behind (no pun intended) contributes to high levels of bacteria in waterways, including the ocean. Many beaches have been closed due to dangerous levels of disease-causing bacteria from pooch poo that dog owners ignore. The bacteria in your dog's leavings include E. coli, fecal coliform bacteria, salmonella and giardia. Pretty nasty stuff, right?

Although I pick up after my dogs when walking them in public places, I am guilty of not picking up my yard. This is going to have to change because now I have a son who will want to play out back and I don't want him getting sick or tracking in the mess. So I've researched eco-friendly disposal methods and what I've found is a doggie doo composting system that you can make yourself! All you need is a shovel, a plastic trash can with lid, some crushed stone for drainage, and some enzyme-active powder to help aid in the breakdown of the waste. Over time, the powder and water help digest the waste and break it down into a liquid that filters through the soil. The soil is a wonderful filter that absorbs the nutrients and bacteria so that it doesn't make it into surface or ground water. After a few years, you're supposed to clean out the hole and start over. What you will be left with is a great fertilizer for your ornamental (not veggie or herb!!) garden.

I've Been Blogged!

Check it out people! I was featured in the Eco Etsy Team's Blog.

One Cozy Nest

Hi everyone! Believe it or not, yesterday was the first day of Spring...you probably already knew that, but it sure crept up on me! My husband reminded me by asking me if I wanted to go to Rita's for waterice, which they give away for free on the first day of Spring. It was in the mid 40s, so it didn't feel like Spring. However, the flowering trees and shrubs in my neighborhood are blooming already, just in time for Easter. My family isn't huge on Easter but my sister is having us over to her house for a casual brunch. It's Cooper's first Easter, so I got him a basket, some paper grass, and some of those plastic eggs. What I'll put in there I have no idea, but I just had to do something for his first, you know? Maybe I'll get some treats for myself and stick them in there. Haha! Tonight, my sister's family is coming over to dye Easter eggs, which we make sure we do every year.

Onto another subject. I've been thinking for quite some time about changing my "brand" name from mandy b. bags to something else that will reflect the fact that I make more than just bags. I'm getting a bit bored with making handbags for the time being. I still enjoy it, but since I started making them in 2000, there are so many other girls doing the same or similar thing. Granted, a smaller number of them are using vintage and recycled fabrics, but still, it's a lot of competition. You log on to Etsy or Ebay or just do a google search and there are a gazillion handmade handbags. With that said, I'm leaning more towards making things that I love. Things that I want to have in my own home, things I wish I could afford but know I can make myself, things that I am attracted to in magazines, flea markets, and antique stores. Take, for example, these vintage fabric buntings that I just made....or the pillows I posted about a couple of days ago. These came from the heart and I want my name to reflect the feeling I get when making things like these. So with a lot of thought and internet searching (to make sure my new name wasn't already being used), I've come up with One Cozy Nest. I registered the name with Etsy and also went and registered the domain name onecozynest.com. In the coming months, I am going to try to consolidate my Etsy shops (mandybbags and mandybbaby) into the One Cozy Nest shop and then re-work my mandybbags.com website. So, you'll be seeing new categories for home, kitchen and bath, and hopefully they'll fill up with goodies. We'll see where this takes us!

Happy Easter to everyone!

Eco-Tip Wednesday ~ Pets Can Be Green Too!

Don't forget your pet when it comes to living a more green lifestyle. Check out these great eco-friendly Reversible Dog Coats and Pet Beds by Etsy seller anniessweatshop. She uses fleece fabric that's made from recycled plastic. Or design your own pet tags! Etsy seller julep115 uses recycled aluminum to create personalized jewelry for your furry ones. Spot got the "itchies"? Well, try this organic alternative to flea spray made by Etsy seller sandycreeksoap. It's made with tea tree oil and citronella. That reminds me of my college roommate and I trying to say "free flea spray" 10 times in a row. Try it and it might just make you giggle!

My Latest Project...

I've been sick with some kind of 48 hour bug the past two days, but luckily that has passed and I'm feeling great now! Here are some pictures of my latest project. I wanted to add some pizzaz to the big red couch in my living room, so with the artistic help of my sister, I made these great pillows. They're all made from natural-toned canvas. Each has a fabric backing of red & white striped fabric with an opening in the middle to insert pillow forms. One has a hand-painted letter "B" for my last name, of course, the other has just a "No. 3"...no real significance there, just that my sister painted it. The House Pillow, I designed myself, and I'm going to have my sister paint a number on it for me next time I see her. It has four windows that I made into photo frames by using clear plastic. I used the frames to display some old black & whites of my great grandmother, grandparents, and other relatives when they were young. The roof is red and white striped and the sky is baby blue with white polka dots to simulate clouds. The big red door is felt and has a tiny little vintage button as a door knob. Don't you love the awning over the door? That's so no one gets rained on while looking for their keys. I stitched the detail onto the shutters, door, and awning, which gives the pillow a kind of folk artsy feel. Anyway, I'm real proud of these so I wanted to show them off. Thanks for looking!

Scavenger Hunt for GREEN Prizes!

This St. Patrick's Day, join in the fun with the Eco Etsy Team by going on a GREEN treasure hunt for GREEN prizes!

When: Sunday, March 16th 12:00pm EST to 12:00am EST (or earlier if all the prizes have been found).

Where: Etsy

How to Play: St. Patty's Day Scavenger Hunt

Family & Creativity

Good morning...actually, it's just after noon but it still feels like morning. I'm still in my PJs. We had a sleep over with my two nephews last night and their mom just picked them up. We had fun dressing up with Mr. Potato Head pieces. Cooper is down for a nap so I logged on for a quick blog entry.

I've been in a super creative mood lately and there are just so many ideas flying through my brain. I want to make so many things and there is just so little time in a day! I decided to re-organize a portion of my workspace recently, which has helped to spark some inspiration. There's something about seeing my ribbon all in a row that makes me feel good. I moved my cork board from it's old spot and hung it right over my ironing board so I'd be more likely to hang things from it. It's now my "inspriation board". Then I hung a favorite print of my sister's next to it. On the other side, closest to my cutting table, I hung a cool wrought iron planter box decoration I picked up at JoAnn Fabrics. It works well to hold my baby food and mason jars full of push pins, cutting tools, and various other things. Then, my favorite part of the re-org was hanging an old white shelf that I got at a yard sale YEARS ago. I wanted to hang it in a baby's room but when Coop came around, it didn't go with the theme really. I screwed two old curtain rod brackets to the bottom shelf so that I could hang all of my ribbon. They used to be in a shoe box all crowded and cramped and unorganized. Now they are in plain sight and I will be able to use them more easily. Lastly, I hung my thread spool holders on the wall instead of them taking up space on the table. Now I have more room to spread projects out while I'm sewing. That, my friends is my workspace upgrade. Ta-daaaaa!

Eco-Tip Wednesday ~ Composting

Think for a minute about how much food waste you throw in the trash or grind up in your garbage disposal each week. That "trash" could become treasure in two short months. If you start now, you'll have nutrient-rich fertilizing soil for your potted plants come spring. Not to mention, you'll be reducing your footprint on the environment. You don't need a complicated or expensive bin to get started. All you need is a small spot in the corner of your yard or behind your shed and a pitch fork for ease of turning your pile. Kids will love to help with dumping scraps onto the pile, I know I did when I was younger. For quick and easy instructions on how to start your own compost pile, visit E-How's tutorial. Here's a little guide that includes a chart telling you what can and can't be composted. Who knew dryer lint and hair could help make your garden grow?

I bought an inexpensive but decorative scrap pail to sit on my counter next to my sink. It has a lid with holes in it for aeration and a carbon filter to prevent the stinkies. I put coffee grounds & filters, egg shells, and all my veggie and fruit waste in there. When it's full, I take it outside and dump it. I happen to have a bin that rotates on an axel to make for easy pile turning, but like I said above, you don't need this. My sister composts and she just has a pile next to her shed that she hid with a nice, rustic piece of wood picket fence.

Image from: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/

"You've Got Sales!"

I've been pretty successful these past couple of weeks so I wanted to share it with you all! It looks like my Artist's Pouches are a hit! My sister bought one...yes she said she's going to pay for it even though I told her not to. Kim from Running on Ink ordered five more to give to her artist friends as gifts. Thanks Kim! On the mandy b. baby front, I sold two of my adorable Kimono & Handbag Sets, another Custom Onesie with the phrase "Does This Cloth Diaper Make My Butt Look Fat?", and a Custom baby blanket. I'm going to make Cooper some of those onesies in a couple different colors. I also came up with a new phrase for my onesies: "My Mom's A Tree Hugger". That one will definitely be made for Cooper, for sure! Oh, and for some reason, that's my new thing...I keep saying "for sure." My husband seems to think it's from watching The Wire. One of the main characters, who "got got" at the end of the season, said it all the time. Apparently, I want to be a gangsta corner boy from East Baltimore....FO SHO!!

Where I Work

Here's a little taste of where I do my crafting. Gotta love IKEA! My cutting table is from JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts, the cubby shelves, lighting, curtains, and desk are from IKEA. I'm lucky enough to have an extra bedroom dedicated just to my sewing and crafting. If I had to share the basement with my husband I'd shoot myself. Down there, I'd have to compete with sports and rude comedy shows blaring constantly in the background. Not to mention stinky farts and whatnot! Having our own space allows each of us to do what we like without getting in each other's way...then we meet up for date night!

Latest Project

Hi everyone! My latest project is finally complete. I bought a bunch of colorful zippers the other day and made some little square pouches and long skinny pencil cases. I just listed them on Etsy so stop on by to have a look. I like to offer a variety of bag shapes at various price levels that anyone can afford. At $5 and $7.50, they're a steal!

Eco-Tip Wednesday ~ Brown Baggin' It is OUT!

Do you remember toting your lunch to school in a little brown paper bag with your name carefully written on it by your mom? Perhaps she was sweet enough to leave you a little love note on the napkin. These days, that little brown bag has been replaced with lunch boxes and soft sided coolers, which are definitely more eco friendly than using a throw away bag every day. However, the stuff that's INSIDE those lunch boxes is the topic of this week's Eco Tip Wednesday posting.

Plastic wrap, sandwich baggies, plastic utencils, and paper napkins probably go into your and your kids' lunches ever day and end up in the trash. Why not use cloth napkins like these from Etsy seller gnomeclothes? Instead of packing plastic forks and knives, send junior (or yourself) to school or work with a set of stainless steel ones from a junk shop that can be brought home to be washed over and over again?

That still doesn't resolve the issue of what to wrap your sandwich in. You can't have your turkey on rye floating around all willy nilly, now can you? Try wrap-n-mats, a reusable sandwich wrap made from a washable, waterproof fabric! OR for a complete eco-friendly mealtime ensemble, try these stylish lunch kits by Etsy seller glueandglitter!

Happy Green Baggin' It!

My latest project...

Good evening all! It's almost time for "Date Night" for my husband and I, so I wanted to hurry up and post this entry about my latest project. I bought a huge spool of baker's twine the other day from Ebay seller, wesellcoffee. I didn't realize just how much is on one spool so I think I have about a lifetime's supply. Anyway, I wanted to use it to make my own hang tags for my handbags and other crafts that I sell on Etsy. I bought a circle punch at the craft store today and then dug through the recycling pile in the garage in search of something I could reuse. What I found was a JC Penney gift box that had a cool striped pattern! So I got to punching and stringing and prest-o change-0...handmade, eco-friendly hang tags for my eco-friendly handbags. Hey, that rhymed!

Clean, clean, clean!

I know it's not spring yet, but my house just underwent a Spring Cleaning yesterday. I decided to spoil myself and hire a cleaning service, which is a true luxury in my book. I know, I feel like a lazy bum because I'm a stay at home mom right now and technically HAVE the time to clean my house but who the heck WANTS to do that?? Besides I get a lot of back pain as a result of heavy cleaning so I'll just blame it on that! :) Anyway, they are located in South Jersey and are called Pure Clean. They use only natural cleaning products and no paper products. Yes, that's right...NO CHEMICALS or wasteful paper use! They are one of only two natural cleaning companies I could find in the region. My house is sparkling clean now and smells so good. They even left a little vase of flowers and some mints on my pillow. Call me a dork but I love the feeling of knowing there's no dust bunnies hiding under the bench in my hallway or on top of my ceiling fan blades. A clean house makes my soul feel clean, if that makes any sense! Again, dork, I know. They really are very affordable too. For my 4 bedroom, 2 and 1/2 bath home with kitchen, living room, family room, and dining room, the initial deep clean only cost me a little over $200.

Eco-Tip Wednesday ~ Free Cycle

I don't know if your town is like mine, but they only take 1's and 2's. I'm talking about recyclable plastic containers. For some reason, they only accept the ones that have the numbers 1 and 2 on the bottoms. I'm sure there's a good reason, but I don't know what it is. They also don't accept any cardboard with a foil coating. So whenever I come across an item that I use a lot and it's not recyclable, I think of ways I can reuse them instead of throwing them away. Two such items in my household these days are the small lidded containers that my son's baby food comes in and the foil coated cardboard cans that my son's baby formula comes in. I've been setting these aside for a few weeks now and needed to find a use for them.

So what I did was joined my local chapter of The Freecycle Network. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free.

I use some of the baby food containers to store & freeze baby food that I make myself, but I don't have a use for the other containers and cans. So I listed my items, waited for someone to reply with interest and then arranged for them to come to my house to pick them up! I just placed them on my porch and off they went to a good home. An art teacher, and a couple of local charity groups got dibs on the formula cans and I hope that someone into beading or other craft snags the lidded containers! They are clear and are the perfect size to store beads, buttons, and other findings.

Another way to avoid using items that aren't recycled by your township is to reduce the amount of non-recyclable products that you buy. At the grocery store, simply look on the bottom of the container and if your town doesn't take it, choose another brand that packages the item in something recyclable!