Ellis Island

Seeing the Ellis Island immigration document for my great grandfather, Patrick Waldron, makes me wonder why he wanted to come to America. It appears he came in 1900 and he had a sister living in Pittsburgh. I wonder if he ever missed the gorgeous green hills and pastures of Ireland. The place he was from in Ireland, County Mayo, looks like land  from a fairy tale. He departed from Queenstown (Cobh), a single man of 20, to never return again. I would really love to visit someday, perhaps stay on a farm. This one looks really neat: http://www.alderhouserental.com/chalet.html

Gift Baskets

I am hoping to get started on making some really wonderful gift baskets for pets and babies. My creative juices are really flowing, just need to meet my sales goal. Start out small and work very hard to expand.

Inspiration

Material goods do have meaning. Gone are the people who possessed them, yet the items still exist. Looking at my grandma's doll and seeing the 1924 copyright makes me wonder about the story behind it. Her biological mother Hannah Swanson (Mahoney) must have bought it for her and it made the trek on the train with her all the way from Minot, ND to Rockford, IL. It may have been one of the few things her poor parents could give her before she went with her sister to live with her adoptive mother Anna Sunstedt (Swanson) who was also her aunt. The little doll is very worn but looks like it had a lot of love. There is a certain sadness to this doll and there is definitely a story behind it. Hannah wrote several letters to Anna about what her daughters liked and asking how they were doing. It has a lot of meaning to me just like the simple wedding ring my grandpa gave her which I have now. This ring reminds of a time when people lived simply and the women did not have to show off a big rock. I also love my grandpa's watch. I even noticed it in a picture of him and I. Worn out but means a lot to me.

Persistence

Never making the right decision. Making mistakes. Fuel the fire, the passion, and the burning desire in me that says I can do it and be very successful and not have to be trampled on by others. There is a spark in me that is greater than anything, a creative fire to build a successful company.

Selling on Etsy

I have just set up a shop on Etsy called LittleBlooms4U http://www.etsy.com/people/LittleBlooms4U?ref=si_pr. It seems like a really good site and there is so much to learn about it. I am quite impressed with some of the items for sale on there. They are so intricately crafted and look like they are very well made. I believe there is a strong niche market that can be tapped into that wants handmade goods, things you cannot purchase at stores such as Wal-Mart or Target. Things that are unique and were crafted with heart and not in some sweatshop where people are paid meager wages. It is about time the common people rise up against these hug corporations and show their power by way of creativity and personalization of goods.

Original Art Work

I just posted a catalog of artwork to an ebay classified ad http://chicago.ebayclassifieds.com/arts-crafts/wilmette/original-art-work/?ad=11866258. All of the pieces are very detailed and I will be selling prints of the originals.

New Here

Hi, I just started this blog. I am looking to network and expand my small business of creating personalized baby items, pet items, and cards/invitations. I also sell prints of original art work. I am very client-focused and will work with them to give them an item that they will cherish forever. http://chicago.ebayclassifieds.com/events-occasions/wilmette/personalized-baby-items-pet-items-and-cards-invitations/?ad=11519038