Madsen Kiddos: etsy

Three more weeks.

Three more weeks.
Until I'm due to have the baby.
Well I was worried it would never happen, but I think I know what false labor is now...
and I just have to hide from people and not get mad at them for a few more weeks.

although I have started to delete facebook comments that bother me. or unsubscribe to feeds of the super right wing people who like to post every five minutes. also known as my family.
Limit it to one per day people. Or better yet one per week.

I think it might be time for me to get somewhere for this baby to sleep ready.
Or maybe I should start with putting my laundry away.

it's time to take more photos of the kiddos.

I missed church Sunday because I didn't feel good but I didn't know how to say sorry I was up all night feeling crampy and yucky but I'm OK now because that's how it is with your third kid I guess. How would someone respond to that? That's for sure a no win situation, so I just avoided it and pretended nothing happened. Maybe I'll just start my maternity leave early. Except some ladies seem to skip that whole part.

My Children really like sock monkies. They try to steal them all from the etsy stash so I've gotten creative with my sock monkey hiding. and by creative I mean I just put them in a bag under a bunch of other stuff so they couldn't see it. I'm grateful for Etsy because we've been making more money which is good and it allows me to not just sit around and wait to have the baby, because I've got to get some custom orders made before I have this baby. I totally thought about starting a "registry" part in my shop- and I could stock it with stuff my kids try to steal or stuff for my baby- but then I realized other people might think they can't buy it (you know, the people who pay for this stuff) so that's not the best idea- but then moms could come and say what they want which would be pretty neat.

If your children claim they will be good and want to share a room, they are probably lying.
Definitely lying.

Top 5 of the week.
1. Getting a package in the mail from Rivkah's mom for Danielle. It was thrilling and such a surprise! It has some sweaters and pants in it. She wore the sparkly one today.
2. Thanksgiving with Mark and Sara rocked my turkey loving world.
3. I made money on Etsy.
4. I successfully braided Danielle's hair.
5. I ate lots of pie.

Love...

Did I mention on Sunday a dentist moved into our ward? I totally wanted to volunteer as a dental assistant. Because I discovered late in life that I wish I was a dentist. I think after John is done maybe I will try to become a dentist.
If I don't become a professional nap taker, which is equally appealling.

Also, I have to say that some people can't comment on the blog- I guess if you go to "home" it is easier but it's touch and go. I'm so sorry. I love comments. Sometimes I tell myself a post is broken because I don't get comments. Also then I notice it's not very interesting, but let's focus on the commenting ability.

You know what I love? making crafts with my kiddos. Danielle and I made some shirts the other day. She told me to sell them in my etsy shop. So I made a new section with all the shirts in it that we made. My sister tells me if I'm not careful I will become the queen of tie dye. judging by how that spot on my floor looks I don't know if this would be the best plan for me. It's hilarious to see how seriously Danielle takes helping make the shirts. She wants to put pink in everything, which I can totally relate to.
So I'm loving that my etsy shop is doing pretty well right now. My sister Rachelle has been helping me with my listings and tags so they are easier to find on search. It makes me want to buy hair pins from her. I highly recommend them- my children are always trying to steal them from the bin where I store them. But also it gives me hope that I would be able to work at home so John can just study. Or actually do research since he is from a family of scientists and likes that. I think a lot of people with kiddos work while their husbands are in school, and I like all the colorful fabric. It makes me happy when I am about to have baby number three-I want security just like the next person. and I want to go to the gym with my kiddos...
I'm totally thankful for all my blog friends. I don't think I would get to hear as much from Carlie or Kathryn, and I like them. also thankful for my sisters. and that I know I can be jealous of Sara eating the williams sonoma croissants. We should totally go on a girl's trip out to visit Jill and her croissants. If only I knew her...I will have to save money I earn. If I start earning enough that is. Claire has told me to start carrying Ipod and Ipad covers and I think she is brilliant.
but I wonder if she wants pink tie dye ones...

My Spot

So, like everyone else in the world I hate it when people reveal they are idiots when they park. Like putting their tiny little coupe in two spots and it isn't even one of those really nice cars where you can tell they just didn't want the commoners to ding their super fancy car. When I had foot surgery several years ago I realized just how many people think the handicapped parking is in fact an express lane at the grocery store.
No, it's actually for handicapped people, not some crappy blonde lady who has her kid run in the store while she talks on her cell phone to avoid looking at people.
The first time I saw little cards on etsy I thought they were funny. Then like everyone else who has been to a parking lot I was enraged. I think it was probably the next day. I wanted those cards. They are even laminated for when people make you walk longer in the rain. I think if I actually had them I wouldn't be able to give them out because I would cherish them too much. But they totally capture how I feel a LOT of the time. Maybe it's like a friendly alternative to ramming them with your car over and over when they pull into the spot right in front of you. and it's definitely less likely to get you arrested. Please tell me I'm not the only one who wishes they had ramming rods on their car some day...
Then the other day at the gym I realized something.

I was parked right on the line. No one was next to me.
This was a separate time from when my friend made me re-park for being over the line.
I think it was the second time in one week I had majorly failed at parking.
and not straightened myself out.
I swear I went to driving school, and at one point I could even parallel park. Or pull into a spot without being super crooked.

It's not nearly as funny when you look at the parking lot and the car that needs the stupid parking cards is your own car.

Hello New Bed

Mark climbed out of his crib the other day. That was a total bummer. So I got to live my ultimate dream and re-printed THESE great plans from the Knock Off Wood site. I heard about the site from one of my other favorite sites, Rambling Renovators. (and I heard about that site from Sara of course). You see I have a dream about power tools and my table saw. John and I realized that dream by building our little Mark a bed. Then I put the quilt I made Mark before he was born on the bed. Now we need to build Danielle a matching pink bed for her little quilt. She is anxiously awaiting her pink bed.

Did I mention I have planned several other building projects in the near future? well I do.
I have to admit that our little bed cost more than the plans projected. I got the stuff for about 90 dollars, including my new POWER SANDER. I can add that to the cost, right?
Next time I might blow the projections with a jigsaw...

I just had to add the picture with our great prints for Mark's nursery aka the only completely decorated room in the house. Speaking of which mark needs a dresser. Maybe I will be able to build one soon.

I got these fantastic prints from FALLDOWNTREE on etsy. I LOVE them. if you go to falldowntree.com they have printable coloring sheets.

I love the internet, don't you?

The Younger Helper.

Danielle likes to help me pick fabric and pick a few combinations. Mark has decided I shouldn't make blankets for other people. all the fuzzy blankets are his. sometimes he wants to steal blankets from other children because he knows that blankets are for cuddling and Mark is also for cuddling. he also loves to lay on the canvas board or color on it. Maybe some time we will go to the store together to buy a new one. Or some white paint.
that's my little helper.

Top Ten and Bottom Ten of a Tired Day

wtf card available in a pack HERE

Some days just seem off somehow. Today was one of those days. I didn't know quite what wasn't working but nothing seemed to go exactly right. I didn't even shower until 7:30. At night- not in the morning. and I needed to shower. But the whole day I had the vague sense of unease and then tried to think of positive things. For each negative thought I try to have one positive thought- is that like talking to yourself?
I don't know. But I do know that I am ready for a better day tomorrow.

Bottom 10 for the day:
1. Stupid Facebook Status Updates. Seriously this is not the best place to brag- and stop with the overshares. STOP NOW. and stop playing games- oh wait I don't care about that I don't get those updates anymore.
2. Almost running out of gas.
3. Being stuck in traffic when my gas light went on for 40 minutes.
4. Feeling like I was getting a cold.
5. Being very discouraged about Etsy. Sometimes I feel like I should quit. Like today I thought that.
6. Having a headache all night.
7. being frustrated with everything and nothing. Feeling like I couldn't talk about it because then I would be whining, and I hate whining.
8. no cupcakes.
9. secret stuff that I don't talk about on my blog.
10. Did I mention I got stuck in traffic and almost ran out of gas? well that was stressful. I guess that was the most stressful thing of the day so I didn't really need a list of 10 things.

Top 10-
1. Being able to turn off the updates for a specific facebook apps- like Farmville. It seems like a waste of time and even if I was going to start it my farm would never compare.
2. not running out of gas.
3. Getting to take a nap with the kiddos when I felt like I was getting a cold, and waking up two hours later feeling much better.
4. John doing the dishes.
5. John studying a lot so I don't feel guilty about his school.
6. Finally getting the fabric I need for a custom etsy order from a repeat customer.
7. Watching the Bachelor
8. Going to ballet with Danielle
9. Selling one thing on Etsy
10. making cookies- then eating some of those cookies.

How was your day?

Challenge Myself

child update- mark has been walking for two weeks now. So different than Danielle! I think she walked 5 months earlier than he did. Kiddos are fun- Danielle saved her allowance and bought a pillow and carried it with her everywhere for a few days. Like a security blanket.

Well it's been a month and I haven't posted every day.
But the month of positive posts is over. When it comes down to rainbows ponies and unicorns it's time to stop. Plus my aunt told me I'm more negative when I'm positive so... I have to say I have had more negative thoughts this month than ever before in my life. Now that I've decided it is over I am thinking positive things again. Like that I LOVE antibiotics. I am convinced that whoever invented them is going straight to heaven. I had a sinus infection this week and I was mean to my mom while she visited because I didn't feel good but now I think I will be able to sleep without pain killer and sudafed tonight. I am so happy about getting medicine. I'm happy I went to the doctor and got medicine. I am happy that when I went to the dentist they told me I don't have any cavities. I'm glad my mom got to come visit because I missed her.

We did all sorts of projects- if only my mom lived close to me I think my productivity would quadruple. Plus she was making bread with me, which tasted fabulous.

Well this positive blog post for a month has been a little bit more challenging than some of my other challenges- but it's my first on the good old family blog. the other challenges I've done are the challenge to make something every day and the challenge to make a treasury every day. I finished the make something every day challenge after 28 days- Like February you know- and I am on day 22 of the treasury challenge- a treasury is a collection of 16 items on Etsy that go together. That's how they pick what items will be on the front page- every hour etsy picks from a member curated treasury and those items are on the front page. I think it's interesting to see what I'm drawn to.

I already have an idea for my month challenge next month. I got the idea of Christine Smith who used to live in this area but moved to Delaware- she did it for a while.

Did I mention?

So I've been trying to update my etsy shop blog more faithfully. apparently people are more interested in my etsy dealings than my real life since it has more followers than this blog.
oh well! Matt and Carlie visited us. It was really fun. the less fun part was Danielle staying up almost all night screaming about seeing bugs. Until I realized what she was talking about- you know when you close your eyes and you have some after movement from light- do you know what I am talking about? She thought they were bugs.
I can imagine that would be horrifying. After she stayed up all night I was probably slightly less fun.
I get so anxious about John starting school- I have a whole page of summer house projects left!

It makes me want to cry.
Matt and Carlie have a cute little family. Eli pulls faces and it probably the cutest ever. I didn't get any shirts together for my etsy shop for him to model though, which totally bummed me out.

I was nervous to take their pictures but it was fun to go shopping with Carlie- she looks good in totally different stuff than I would pick out. At first I was like- really? But she can wear really "romantic" looking clothes. and she borrowed my awesome hair thing from Threadrare and my momma necklace from J Jill.

HERE IS MY BLOG POST ABOUT THEIR PICTURES!
I got a little crazy with my month long trial of lightroom that I downloaded to edit their photos. What do you think?

Today (well actually I switched this with an earlier day but these things happen) I made some dish cloths in custom fabric for my sister in law Carlie. We made them together when she visited. She also used her made sewing skills to sew baby wipes for her cloth diapered baby. But we didn't take pictures of our projects together.
I still have the family pictures I took for them though. Their baby is terribly sweet. He plays peekaboo! He is so outgoing and has adorable big eyes. I have never met another baby that pulls faces like he does. It is fun to see how different he is than my little scowling baby- they are two days apart. I decided to post some of my favorite photos- who knows if they will be matt and Carlie's favorite. I am not a professional photographer but I did save all the money I made on Etsy until I could buy a nice camera. I switched from Cannon to Nikon because it was a little cheaper and I just can't get used to them. I want to go back.
I am not a professional photographer. I get scared that people won't like the pictures i take of them because I never like the ones of me. Except my sister Rachelle, who has significantly more experience and skill than I do, took some pictures of me where I look thinner and better than I normally do.
love that. I got a picture of Matt and Carlie kissing because they have pictures of them kissing like all over the world but I am too embarrassed to put it on my blog.

My Expensive Hobbies

I want to be able to sew my quilts together myself. there I said it.

I want to be able to have a serger. This one is cheap at Joann.com but I really want the on from pfaff I saw for 2,000.00 blah.

beautiful. I always need loads of threads and the joann by my house doesn't even carry 100% cotton thread.

I try to make things every day. but sometimes I have ideas that I don't actually have the things for. I borrowed Sara's cricut for a while and now that I returned it my heart is breaking. I want to cut out about 75 butterflies in bright colors SO BAD! it kills me. also I want to make a quilt but I don't have a machine quilter. I guess I could try to quilt it together on my machine but that isn't the best idea ever. I dream of owning one of those giant quilting machines.

Did I mention that this month I'm trying to make at least one thing a day? well I am. You should too. you could make food or sew something or finish one scrapbook page a day or whatever floats your boat. Check out my post HERE
my etsy shop blog needs more comments. I wanted to thank my fantastic sisters in law who comment on it. smiles.

Good Morning: I have a cold

Well Since I've had several people tell me my post last night seemed cryptic I decided to post today. I really just have a cold. My brain seems really foggy. I've been a little bit sad this last week. I started training for a half marathon with Claire- then when may rolled around and we finished I gained five pounds. I guess if your activity level drops that much you gain lots of weight. Maybe I should just start training for another run. Hugely depressing. Well this morning the scale informed me that I lost three pounds this week. Today I started on weight watchers so we'll see if I can stay consistent. I was shocked- I've been really good at slowly losing weight since Mark was born (like a pound every three weeks after the first 6 weeks). I still want to lose weight from Danielle. I've thought a lot about trying to be happy about the changes that happen from pregnancy- like now I can do a sit up, when Mark was born- not so much. I am shocked at how hard it is to get your body to cooperate and do the things I'm used to being able to do. Running was the perfect exercise because it doesn't make me feel depressed about things I used to be able to do- I could never run.
End discussion of weight that I obsess about daily.
In good news I was on the front page of etsy today- or rather Eli my nephew was. I knew he was a good model. I was pretty happy about it. I can't hear much of what is going on today because I am stuffed up, and Mark is sick. He likes to wake up every two hours in the night. That is rude. Mark has never really liked going anywhere and it is sometimes just easier to stay home. So I've become a little bit of a hermit. I'm finally getting friends here that drag me out of my cave to go places, which I really like.
Erik had lots of ideas about etsy and things I could make- I hope I'm able to make more things. I'm part of a really awesome treasury group called Curation Nation but I still need more in my shop.

see that cute little boy in a bear shirt? That is my nephew. He is DARLING.

Etsy

Some days I want to quit. Then I realize that I am not dramatic enough to quit. Someone would ask me "why" and I wouldn't have a reason and I would be behind and feel silly about my melodramatic fit.
In February I made a goal to pay for my power bill with stuff from my etsy shop. I joined twitter. My goal: 400.00 dollars. The cost of my power bill for that month. I discovered a window that had been open for probably most of the winter. I cried a little about it. My goal was going well at first but I don't really know how to sell things, much less set goals about sales.
Probably 400 dollars was lofty considering I usually average less than 50 a month. I tweeted links all the time. I actually let twitter update my facebook status. I think I annoyed myself. My mom bought stuff. My sister Claire bought stuff. My aunt Sara's sister bought stuff (which was some of my favorite stuff. I kind of want it back.) To my astonishment, I met my goal. So I decided to keep it steady for the next month. Well on March 31st I realized if I did over 300 dollars in sales I would meet it. Not quite as good this month. I like how some people make loads of money on etsy, but I have always considered it more of a hobby.
March was full of hard changes. I didn't like March. Historically I spend much more in February than any other month of the year (thanks spending reports- what a great feature!) I just don't like it when the world turns dark and cold and happy paper and fabric seems to brighten it a little. Really I could probably save money by going tanning or getting one of those light boxes.
It snowed a lot and I wondered if spring would ever come. I realized that running outside is a whole lot harder than on the treadmill. I still might have to move my half marathon back a few months. We decided to be better with our budget and money. My mom bought me a financial peace university course. I shredded all of my credit cards (our shredder has this cute little slot.) My etsy shop paid for all of my sewing supplies for custom orders and a new set of cards.
Our power bill went up 100 dollars. Last month our power bill actually topped 500 dollars for a combined gas and power bill over 800 dollars. I realized how many people complain constantly about not being featured on etsy enough. I have never been on the front page. I decided I needed to make cooler stuff.
Realizing how much I like things and success has made me think of different ways to work. Paul and Brooke always talk about using the cash method and we tried it. Turns out I am very stingy with my cash. I don't want you to touch it. It's mine. Like the time we found Sam under the kitchen table stroking a quarter and murmuring "mine" under his breath. I am a little Gollum with cash money. I still spend my cash money but it stays a little longer.
I also got some beautiful things for decorating (one of my weaknesses) by trading. Pomlove asked me to trade for a baby tie. I died a little of happiness. Seriously I couldn't believe it- her poms were in a shoot for Anthropologie. Who doesn't love something called "Happy. Floating. Paper."? My little businessman is popular it turns out. and I had to let him wear his tie to church on the day I was speaking. It went well until he had a blowout all over his Sunday clothes. Guess we only had one set of those- huh.

I don't always know if I should make things- does it take away from my kids? Am I wasting my time? I didn't even know how to sew before I was pregnant with Danielle and sometimes I still question my skills. I know I could make better things- all the fabric was just in the freezing cold basement and I lacked inspiration. I thought about closing up shop.
Then Carlie visited and Mark started sleeping through the night and I realized I don't want to. Even if I don't make the coolest things on earth and I am not paying for Danielle's college, I am happy about it. I pay fast offering with etsy money. I paid a power bill with etsy money. I paid for lunch yesterday with etsy money. It is something that brings me happiness, even when I am depressed. I read a lot about postpartum depression. I know I have had it with both kids but it's never as exciting or bad as some people get it. It's a mediocre problem, just like my lackluster etsy shop.
That's all right though, because it is mine. I'm not going to be sitting under the table anytime soon (especially with that yucky laminate) but I appreciate what I have a little more.

Thanks

1. Thanks baby Mark for sleeping last night. He slept from 1-5 and 5-I don't remember when. I had to wake him up to eat again. I guess he was tired from two days of us trying to keep him awake so he would sleep at night. The world feels a little better.
2. Thanks again for baby Mark eating his first real meal of rice cereal. He is teething and acts funny sometimes when he is eating so tonight I tried giving him cereal. It was so messy and fun. Danielle NEVER let me feed her. He was excited. I hope it doesn't upset his stomach. are you supposed to give them water if you are feeding them cereal? mark was super cute.
3. Thanks the Bachelor for keeping me company tonight. Seriously just when the flip flops and flannel disappear out comes the turtleneck. and the never ending chain of leather bomber jackets. I guess the same people who liked top gun watch this show. But I didn't like top gun....
4. Thanks Christine Jones Photography for sending two extra cards with my small order. TWO! I was thrilled. I ordered an iris print for our bedroom- and the other flower picture is one I took that is also on the wall.
5. Thank you Pretty Pea Pod for making Danielle such a fantastic purple panda hat. It is really well constructed. Danielle needs hats lately since it is FREEZING here and I love this hat- the picture is in the last blog post.
6. Thanks everyone who comments on my facebook updates. I know linking twitter and facebook is probably annoying, but I like comments. Also I love blog comments. Thanks to everyone who leaves comments
7. Thanks Claire for motivating me to run and being so positive even though I am terrible at it.
8. Thanks Zadyball for participating in the Etsy Baby shower. I can't believe how generous she was. She asked me the colors of our nursery and custom made Baby Mark and lion ball. Now it is available in her shop. Mark loves his toy- it rattles and has things for him to grab and suck on. The ears even crinkle. I am astonished at the generosity people have to help with kids and give presents to others. I love presents- especially this one because it was awesome.
9. Thanks Melissa for watching my kids on Saturday. John and I went to the vegan cafe and talked. After one of the worst parenting weeks ever it was nice to just be with my husband. Then I came home and MELISSA CLEANED MY HOUSE! I was thrilled.
10. Thanks Jen and Steve for playing games with us. and Kenny and Rivkah for playing and going to chuck e cheese. FUN TIMES!
11. Thanks Paula for watching Danielle and Mark so I can go to the gym once a week without kids.
12. Thanks everyone for supporting my etsy shop. I'm trying to earn enough to pay for our power bill this month. I don't know how to make goals or promote a shop like that so I'm open to ideas. This is my first etsy sales goal ever. Wish me luck! The baby shop has new items in it.

This last week was really hard and also really good. When you don't really sleep at night you get a lot done actually. For instance our basement is sort of clean and the upstairs is clean for the first time since we moved. I put up pictures on the walls. It's all starting to come together.
Mark wants to tell you that sometimes rolling over is so exciting you have to spit up.

Etsy Baby Shower- Cute Hat!

I love Etsy. Twice a year they have a baby shower for new or expecting moms. You can participate if you adopted a baby as well. Normally I donate to some mom. They started a blog for the baby shower and you should definately check it out. This time I signed up and Mark got lots of super cute baby items. One of the shops was Spinklewithsugar from etsy. they make knitted hats and cupcakes and even iphone holders. I LOVE the hat that they gave me. I love how etsy tries to get people involved and support each other.

Here is Sprinklewithsugar's Etsy Profile:
"So glad that you have dropped by for a visit! While I love staying home taking care of my three children, it is clear I have a problem. I can't stop knitting. It began in University and I have never looked back. I adore creating things for babies and feel it is so special that parents choose my creations for someone so precious. There are not enough hours in the day to create all the stuff swimming around in my brain.
Etsy has given me so much more then a place to showcase my work. I love meeting the amazing people that come on here and chatting with them. My Chemo Cap has also led me to meeting some very brave women who I think about often. I feel very blessed to have found Etsy and I hope my shop continues to grow...."

Thank you so much for your generosity- Mark loves his hat!

Spa Delights Giveaway

My sister Rachelle is having a giveaway on a brand new blog- check it out and you can get free soap and a washcloth.

CLICK HERE for the giveaway

I included the text of the giveaway here-

A SPA DELIGHTS GIVEAWAY!
To Introduce our store and generate a bit of excitement, we are having a GIVEAWAY! Hurray!The Grand Prize is shown in this post: a luxurious spa set with a hand-knitted face cloth by Dana, a hand-crafted wooden soap deck, and 3 bars of handcrafted soap from fellow Etsy sellers! (1 bar by Sagegold and 2 bars by Kelle's Kitchen - check out their excellent stores!)HOW TO WIN: There are two ways to enter. Here they are:1. Leave a comment about what color face-cloth you would like to see in the store in the future. Be sure to leave your contact info if it's not contained in your blogger info. This will get you one entry.2. FOLLOW OUR BLOG! This will get you an additional entry and prize of TWO MORE BARS OF SOAP if you are chosen. Make sure you post a comment that you are following the blog so you get your additional entry!We will randomly enter all comments (including those that say they "follow" the blog) into the random number generator on May 30, 2009 and notify the winner. Good Luck!- Rachelle and Dana

On the Road

We are driving back from Georgia. I liked visiting Paul and Brooke. Their ward on Sunday was dead silent in Sacrament meeting. Since Danielle talks continuously through church I was a little embarassed, especially when she tried to dive over a sleeping baby Lucy to get to Sam. Danielle loves Sam.
When I retired to the hall I found how the meeting was so quiet- about 3 families playing in the foyer. Danielle asked to come home that day- I didn't know she could ask to go home but it was super cute. If only she could have Sam and home.
So far today I was almost 6 feet tall at a gas station. The little tape measure on the door of the gas station never lies. I didn't realize that just sitting in the car would make me taller- maybe I just shrink more than the average person during the day.
We worked on taking photos of Brooke's Etsy shop while we are there. Brooke doesn't believe in blogs- how can you not believe in blogs? My blog is super unknown and I still believe. I totally think her stuff is blog worthy. While I was working on her photos I found some photos of Danielle- one from when she was a floppy little baby and the other from when she went to the hospital because her allergic reaction looked like some infectious disease. I still never got a picture where the rash was brown and dark purple like it really was. Danielle is so cute.

So Cute. I had to buy it.

I got a cute little pig planter from fruitflypie. I like it because it's about 5 inches- the right size for herbs and it's cute enough to put in the kitchen. Plus it is a pig. That is awesome. They make little dishes and toothbrush holders and other cute pieces. Her picture is probably better than mine- but this is MY little pig. Also available in other colors!

Etsybaby Baby Shower

So Etsybaby is having a baby shower and mom's can still sign up and be part of it. you can go to http://shopEtsyBABY.com/BabyShower and look at it. I am part of the etsybaby group and I really like them. It's also neat because Brooke Carlie and Christina could sign up and get free things from shops on Etsy. Also lots of my other friends. The rules are that you have to have a baby in the next 6 months, or have a baby that is no more than six months old. You can also adopt a baby with those same requirements. In order to SIGN UP you need to have an Etsy membership and go to http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6087938 this is where moms can sign up. Last time etsy had a baby shower my shop donated some items for a mom who wanted her stuff to look like robots and a baby blanket.

Etsy Baby

Etsy has groups that you can join. The idea is that you support each other and some of them have a cause. I am a member of Etsy for Charity, which has it's own shop. Members donate items to the team shop and each month all the profits go to a different charity. I like it and I enter their contests frequently.

Just a little while ago I finally joined Team etsybaby! They are probably the most active team on Etsy- every day they have different promotions. Right now they are doing a contest which I think is a huge deal. I didn't actually enter but you should check it out and vote. I like this bunny rabbit ball. I also like that her shop doesn't sell the same things as my shop.

http://shopetsybaby.com/SpringFling2009