Tuesday, May 29, 2012

The incredible Journey of a Crochet Hat




  This morning, the postman handed me a very strange package,
 very wrinkled, dirty, full of poststamps, handwritten notes and stickers.




I recognized my handwriting, so I began to  carefully check the package.
 It turned out to be a crochet hat that I had sent to one of my nieces that lives in Mexico.



It was originally mailed out on March 13, and it came back to me on May 29,
 two and a half months after dropping it off at the local post office. 
I thought it had been swallowed by the postal system!

Checking the labels and following the notes, this is the account of the hat's long journey:

March 13th: received at the local post office. First postage stamps and stickers put on it.

March 29th: reached Guadalajara, (regular time for delivery of packages in my country).
 Second seal.

April 2nd:  allegedly intent to deliver. The postal clerk puts two stamps 
and a handwritten note stating "the number does not exist"

April 4th: Is received in the post office in that same city, where it is being keept two more weeks.




A[ril 20: From that post office, the package is mistakenly sent to India. 
What? Can't they read? The sender clearly says USA




There are more postmarks, completely indecipherable,

I immediately contacted my niece to double check the address, and the address is correct. 
How could this happen? Perhaps the mailman was too lazy to deliver the package, and decided to just say that the address didn't exist!

All in all, all that was lost was  ten dollars and  a whole lot of wasted time.

This is the traveler hat





Friday, May 25, 2012

PCF Team May Flowers Scavenger Hunt


 




 PCF Team on Etsy is having a great event for May!

 It is called the May Flowers Scavenger Hunt! 

This hunt will run exactly the way the April Flip Flop hunt was ran; so if you joined in on all the fun of that one, you are one step ahead of the competition….woohoo! 

There will be 33 shops, and all will have a hidden picture that you will have to "hunt" through their shop items for! Each shop has donated a prize worth at least a $10 value; that is a total of $330 plus in prizes...woohoo!!! There will be a total of 7 prize packs given out (winners will be chosen at random by random.org, based upon number of entries correct and complete entries we have)...each prize pack will consist of 5 prizes...so each winner will get a prize pack of at least an incredible $50 value…how about that? The contest will begin at 9:00 EST on May 21st, and will run until midnight on June 4th!

***** all entries and PCF shop purchases must be submitted by midnight June 4th...and NO entries will be accepted after this time***


********************HOW TO ENTER*******************


Go to: CiaraCompanyBowtique.etsy.com  and look for the listing that says “Starting Point.” This will give you all the details..and the first shop on your hunting adventure!(✿◠‿◠)

This is the starting point for this event!!! From here, you will then follow the links to the next shop on the scavenger hunt list! Every time you find the hidden picture, that item description will give you a link to the next shop. As you go through the shops, make a list of all shops, in the order you are given them. At the very last shop, you will be given an email address; you will send the completed list to this address. If anything is incorrect, you will be notified, and given a chance to re-do the hunt to get it all right! :)



***********WANT MORE CHANCES TO WIN? READ ON!!!**************

Everyone who sends a complete shop list, in the correct order, will receive one entry to win a prize pack. 

If you "FAVE" the shops as you go through (you have to fave every single shop...this means having an Etsy account, and adding each one of the 40 shops to your "favorite shops" list…simply click on the tab to the left that says ♥add to favorites), then you get another entry.

If you "FAVE" one item from each shop as you go through (again, you have to fave an item from every single shop...to do this...when you have a single item from a shop pulled up…look to the right, and click the ♥icon that says "favorite"), then you will get a third entry.


If you BLOG about the team event, and send Nichole (info above) a link to the blog post, you will get 5 extra entries!

So, you have the opportunity to receive a total of 8 entries to win a prize pack in total!

****SUPER DUPER PRIZE PACK DETAILS-$330 VALUE AT MINIMUM*****

In addition, all shops are donating another prize...all 33 of these prizes will be combined into one HUGE prize pack. This pack will be valued at a minimum of $330!!! The winner of this super duper prize pack, will be the drawn out of entries from shopping with PCF Team shops during this event. Each dollar spent at a PCF Team shop during this event will earn you one entry...each dollar spent at one of the 33 shops on the hunt list, will earn you 2 entries. The more you shop, and the more you shop with the 33 shops on the list, the more chances you have to win! Please send transaction links of all purchases to Nichole at kidd.robin@ymail.com...thanks! 


Purchases not submitted will not be counted! I cannot calculate your entries, if you do not send me purchases...I need transaction links and dollar amounts for each purchase, and the shop name you purchased from.


Winners will be chosen by June 11th:) They will be announced on Nichole's blog at:ciaraandcompanybowtique.blogspot.com/ ,

 on the PCF Team blog at: http://pcfteam.blogspot.ca/2012/03/pcf-team-spring-promotion-event.html , on other member's blogs, 

on the PCF Team Etsy Group:www.etsy.com/teams/10036/promoting-creative-friends, and on the PCF Team Facebook page, 

and you will also be emailed for shipping information if you are a winner! All annnouncements and emails for shipping info, will be sent out by the 11th of June; it takes a great deal of time to go through all of the faves, emails, purchases, and so on, and I want to make sure every entry that should be given is given. So, I take this very seriously, and take my time, to ensure everyone gets as many entries as the should! :)

 

You can join us on Facebook to keep up to date on this event, plus all of our ever-so-cool upcoming events...we always have something in the works! :) Our PCF Team Facebook page can be located at:https://www.facebook.com/#!/pcfteam



PS...a heads up..our next scavenger hunt will begin on July 21st..and we plan on holding another in September, November, and December...so get your Christmas shopping hats ready, and join us for spectacular handmade items, and some awesome deals! ♥♥♥


If you love this event, let us know...we are thinking of doing them often...let us know you want us to! :)


Good luck; and we hope to see you there

The rose image below, is the image you will need to look for in the listings!!!



Thanks to Nichole from

Saturday, May 19, 2012

‎20 % off any Hat




‎20 % off any Hat www.toppytoppy.com



Expires May 24, 2012



Coupon code FBFANS at checkout.



 One Coupon per Person.

  



If you do not see the one you want to buy, send me a mail and I'll list it as  special request!



use JXF2X15 for 15% in any item
valid until May 24

May Flowers Scavenger Hunt

 The PCF Team on Etsy is having a great event for May.

 It is called the May Flowers Scavenger Hunt.

This hunt will run exactly the way the April Flip Flop hunt did.







There will be 33 shops, and all will have a hidden picture that you will have to "hunt" through their shop items


 Each shop has donated a prize worth at least a $10 value; that is a total of $330 plus in prizes...woohoo!!! There will be a total of 7 prize packs given out (winners will be chosen at random by random.org, based upon number of entries correct and complete entries we have)...each prize pack will consist of 5 prizes...so each winner will get a prize pack of at least an incredible $50 value…how about that? The contest will begin at 9:00 EST on May 21st, and will run until midnight May 31st


***** all entries and PCF shop purchases must be submitted by midnight May 31st....and NO entries will be accepted after this time***




In addition, all shops are donating another prize...all 33 of these prizes will be combined into one HUGE prize pack. This pack will be valued at a minimum of $330!!! The winner of this super duper prize pack, will be the drawn out of entries from shopping with PCF Team shops during this event. Each dollar spent at a PCF Team shop during this event will earn you one entry...each dollar spent at one of the 33 shops on the hunt list, will earn you 2 entries. The more you shop, and the more you shop with the 33 shops on the list, the more chances you have to win! 




You can join us on Facebook to keep up to date on this event, plus all of our ever-so-cool upcoming events...we always have something in the works! :) Our PCF Team Facebook page can be located at: www.facebook.com/#!/pcfteam


If you love this event, let us know...we are thinking of doing them often...let us know you want us to! :)
Good luck; and we hope to see you there! 

Monday, May 14, 2012

Father's Day is almost here.



 Well, Mother's day 2012 is history and Father's Day is almost here.

Although it is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide, 
many countries observe this day on the third Sunday in June.


  In the United States, Father's Day is celebrated on that day too. 
Is a celebration the contribution that fathers and father figures make for their children's lives. 
This is a relatively modern holiday and families have a range of different traditions. 
They can go from a phone call or greetings card to large parties honoring all of the 'father' figures in a particular extended family. Father figures can include fathers, step-fathers, fathers-in-law, grandfathers and great-grandfathers and even other male relatives.   




The most common Father's Day gifts include sports items or clothing, electronic gadgets, outdoor cooking supplies and all kind of tools for household maintenance.


Some Background  

There are some suggestions that the idea of Father's Day may originate in pagan sun worship. Some branches of paganism see the sun as the father of the universe. The June solstice occurs around the same time of year as Father's Day so some people see a link between the two.

The idea of a special day to honor fathers and celebrate fatherhood was introduced from the United States. An event that, that may have inspired the idea of Father's Day in The United States, was a memorial service held in 1908 for a large group of men, many of them fathers, who were killed in a mining accident in Monongah, West Virginia in December 1907.

   An influential figure in the establishment of Father's Day, 
was a woman called Sonora Smart Dodd.
 After the death of their mother, her father raised six children by himself.    
This was something uncommon at that time, as many widowers placed
 their children in the care of others or quickly married again.

Sonora was inspired by the work of Anna Jarvis, 
who had pushed for Mother's Day celebrations. 
Sonora felt that her father deserved recognition for what he had done. 


The first time Father's Day was held in June was in 1910. 
Father's Day was officially recognized as a holiday in 1972 by President Nixon.



 Father's Day in other countries

  Father’s Day is celebrated in different dates, it varies from country to country. It is celebrated in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States on the third Sunday of June. 
It is also observed in countries such as Argentina, Canada, France, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Venezuela and India.  

Father's Day in India is a relatively new concept but although on a smaller scale,
it is celebrated in similar ways as in the United Kingdom or the United States.
In metropolitan cities and bigger towns there is a greater awareness of
 Fathers Day events due to the greater exposure to the western cultures in these areas.


In Australia and New Zealand Father’s Day is on the first Sunday in September. 

In Thailand it is celebrated on December 5, which is the birthday of the country’s king. 

Brazilian dads are honored on the second Sunday of August. 

 In Mexico Father’s Day is referred to as “Día del Padre”. 
There, families get together, prepare meals and distribute gifts to fathers or father figures. 

   

Father's Day is not a federal holiday in most countries, with exception to Thailand because it falls on the same day as the King’s Birthday, which is a public holiday.  


    

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Friendship Bracelets


  

A friendship bracelet is given as a sign of friendship.
 It is intended to be tied on the wrist of a friend and worn continually
 as a symbol of lasting friendship.



  Suggestions for selecting colors for a friendship bracelet
 that reflect the character traits of the intended recipient:

 Pink -- kind
 Red -- honest
 Orange -- energetic
 Yellow -- cheerful
 Green -- responsible
 Blue -- loyal
 Black -- strong



Friendship bracelets are probably one of the world's most popular crafts. 
This versions are some of the quickest to make, 
and also have the added novelty of decorative buttons or charms.


With knitting and crochet all the rage right now, 
your kids will be excited to have and give this crochet bracelets. 







If you don't know how to knit or crochet, at this prices, 
you'll be able to buy this to your kids and their friends with no problem.  


Buy it here

Follow me in Pinterest

Coupon code for PINTEREST followers!
Use PINTEREST to get 20% off  % off your purchase

Monday, May 7, 2012

Crochet Bags

BUY  any 2 items use code  GET18OFF  and get 18% OFF




Crochet and Knit bags are are attractive and useful,
light and airy during the summer can be used as beach bags or purses.






























There is such a variety of patterns to choose from, yet they are both portable and useful.
Bags can be anything from a beach bag to a makeup case to a reusable grocery bag,
a green way to avoid plastic bags on a quick trip to the store.

They can even be used to carry other crochet projects.

Crochet and Knit tote bags are a useful item for carrying books,
clothes to the beach and a multitude of other things.
They are great gift items too.
 Kids can keep their toys in them, Barbie clothes, or use them as school bags.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

PCF TEAM SCAVENGER HUNT Winners






These people correctly emailed their lists, and earned the most entries by faves, blogs, sharing, etc 

1) Ashley Wright
2) Janie DuBose
3) Jessica Smith
4) Sheila Wein Handl
5) Amber Fuller
6) Monica Young
7) Paula Niziolek
8) Tracey Smith








Jennifer Yepez





 Winners 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 were not shop owners..
in fact...
they were people that read about the event somewhere on FB, or Twitter, and joined Etsy for the first time..
just to participate in this event.






Elastic Hair Bands





As you may know, elastic hair bands are the best way to secure ponytails and braids. There are several types of them. The type you use may help keep your style in place but you need to be sure, it does not cause unnecessary damage to the hair.

The trending type of elastic hair bands are decorative. They may have fake flowers, bows, or snoods.

These bands usually are the no damage type, but the extras of the style may get caught in the hair. They do make a nice change from the simple band. You can use a plain one to hold your ponytail and put the decorative one, only for decoration.






There are very simple forms of bands, which may be okay for use on braids, if you simply want a plain elastic hair band to hold a ponytail, look for the variety that says “no damage.” These are usually simple rings of elastic covered in fabric. These types of elastic hair bands tend not to get caught in the hair and are far easier to remove. Additionally, they have excellent hold, and will keep your hair safely in its style.

Elastic hair bands that are joined by a small metal bar  have issues; they are very likely to get tangled in your hair, and you will have difficulty removing them. They may work well at the end of a braid because there is little hair to tangle. Securing a long ponytail with one is a nightmare, as removal may rip the hair.

I'll give yoy a tip: If your hair becomes entangled in this sort of band,please, don’t pull on the band. Instead, give up the band for lost and cut the band off with scissors. You may need to make several cuts to completely disentangle the hair, but it certainly beats pulling your hair out by the roots. 

As well as no damage elastic hair bands, those made of nylon tend to be relatively hair friendly too.   They tend not to form as good of a hold as the elastic variety, however.

Elastic hair bands that are joined with two plastic balls, make them perfect for looping over several times to secure small amounts of hair. You often find these types available for little girls and they are not effective for holding a lot of hair, though they work well for braids.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

A headband can be a functional or decorative hair accessory and sometimes both.




Headbands are a wonderful option to hold hair away from your face or eyes pushing your hair without a hair boobled ponytail. A headband can be a functional or decorative hair accessory and sometimes both. There is a great variety of headbands that include fully round headbands that may tie, or may have elastic to keep them in place around the head.









Half bands sit on the top of the head and come down on each side to the middle of the ears. Some half bands and round bands have teeth that help secure the band and keep the hair in better place.





The thin headbands are so classic and chic so they can be pretty but still functional.
You can use them on curly or straight hair, with or without bangs!






Some  of the easiest ways to use them :

First you want to create an off-center part, after this  place the headband around the center of your forehead and use only your fingers to loosen and lift hair at the crown.

Another way is to style your hair into loose waves and then part down the center. Now, slide on a pretty headband about three inches from your hairline, then, let your hair to cover some of the headband.

Make an off-center part, then slip a fabric headband over hair just at the hairline. Pull a few pieces forward to frame your face.

Add volume by gently teasing hair at your crown, then place a double-strap headband just behind your ears.


 
Material choices include leather, stretchy fabrics for round bands, plastic, and fabric over plastic or wire. Skinny and wide bands exist and some are suited for wear by adults, while others are smaller and made for children, usually girls. Most headbands contain some give so they can fit on different sized heads and so that they will stay in place. Older bands may stretch after a while and slip. Some styles are very expensive and can contain real jewels or rare materials.

Headbands should also be stretchable in order to fit snugly around your head. Headbands that are too tight will irritate your forehead; headbands that are too loose will fall out of place while you are engaged in activity.