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Showing posts from March, 2015

Fabric I Bought with my KivaZip Loan for Pirate Costumes and EtsyFest 2015

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I had reached my KivaZip Loan goal in just a few days-YIPPEE!- and started ordering fabric.  I usually take two or three people with me to hobby lobby with their smart phone coupons to buy fabric 10 yards each at a time.  This is hard to do, especially when you don't feel good and everyone is so busy.  This is the cheapest way to buy fabric for my costumes so that I can actually earn a few dollars for my hard work.  Having reached my KivaZip Loan goal, I researched other ways of buying fabric in bulk that would be comparable in price.  For the felt I make the vests from, I found a fabulous deal using Amazon Prime for free shipping.  The fabric is even better that what I was getting at Hobby Lobby as it is made in the USA AND made from recycled plastic bottles!  It feels wonderful and the fabric consistency is better than the other.  Today I received my shipment of two bolts of black felt, delivered to my door, in bulk, and I don't have to buy 10 yards at a time with coupons.  M

Update: Day 2

I am almost there!!!!!  Yippee!!!!!!  Thanks to a few dollars here and there from generous people who believe in me and what I do, I will be able to produce my costumes on days that I feel good, keep items in stock, and participate in EtsyFest 2015!  I have 25 lenders and need only $65 more!!!!!!  If you have not read my story, I encourage you to go to my Kiva Zip loan page and read about me and my business. ( http://email.kiva.org/wf/click?upn=5fLLEF66HbXVcJs5JjqLCoprSUWZcbIz9-2FI3eZYc8HBKetUnotM-2BOAYos6ZLfPB-2F8PniRn-2Bh9hdAbfj8sxGtRkEyi2BkSSZCrtzTY1YiGNe3VELkeMJXC2UHvssgGXk3eVD4gZgG9NzwMTk7tX-2BEWQ-3D-3D_1pM6CzPYuRhfXDnZ6mNtLoh9r5QmCkqSbD2GSys4yP9OEe-2FfT3eFmYWAtwrQ0QUmqILntIqERnm308bHrB-2Bdzkr24gID3ySnvwKbLGo7iTJWfUeBQ1UYv6u8IzdPHlgMF8QGlv-2Bid37HhRVaShBNIZhPjL84Wno3xQGbAywu3jl1kLX73x90KfeJXdZnu2UbItx4QEodqULpheDeTN4rIFVaVU1pANlbgLD2w5d-2FQhJ43YCweSX0dSfJObHC5xGl )   HUGE thanks to everyone who believes in me and what I do.  You are part of my support network to help me do s

My Kiva Zip Loan for my small business

http://email.kiva.org/wf/click?upn=5fLLEF66HbXVcJs5JjqLCoprSUWZcbIz9-2FI3eZYc8HBKetUnotM-2BOAYos6ZLfPB-2F8PniRn-2Bh9hdAbfj8sxGtRkEyi2BkSSZCrtzTY1YiGNe3VELkeMJXC2UHvssgGXk3eVD4gZgG9NzwMTk7tX-2BEWQ-3D-3D_1pM6CzPYuRhfXDnZ6mNtLoh9r5QmCkqSbD2GSys4yP9OEe-2FfT3eFmYWAtwrQ0QUmqILntIqERnm308bHrB-2Bdzkr24gID3ySnvwKbLGo7iTJWfUeBQ1UYv6u8IzdPHlgMF8QGlv-2Bid37HhRVaShBNIZhPjL84Wno3xQGbAywu3jl1kLX73x90KfeJXdZnu2UbItx4QEodqULpheDeTN4rIFVaVU1pANlbgLD2w5d-2FQhJ43YCweSX0dSfJObHC5xGl Hello again!  I have been approved to raise funds for my costume making business from Kiva Zip which is a non-profit organization that helps people like me to take their business to the next level.  You can loan as little as $5 and, if you are new to Kiva, they will match any funds you contribute PLUS, it's a loan and you get it back very soon :-)  Help out an artist and contribute to my campaign loan on Kiva!

EtsyFest Little Rock 2015 ...It's Pirate Season! Time for costumes, artwork, and more!

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Whoa, have I been busy!  I am preparing for LREtsyFest 2015 ( www.facebook.com/EtsyLittleRock ).  I usually just sell my pirate costumes on Etsy in my shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/messyjessycreatesart ) but this year I am stock piling pirate costumes for the festival.  Pirate Costumes are good for year-round events such as birthday parties, Disney trips, and cruise ship pirate nights!  I will soon be putting up birthday party packs so check back often.  Right now I am working on a custom order for a family of 5 who are leaving on a Disney cruise in May!  How FUN!  I am also trying to get my pirate and mermaid artwork ready for the festival where you can buy original artwork and prints.  If you are not in the area, you can order prints from me on Society6 ( www.society6.com/jessicaannlanetaunton ) which has free worldwide shipping going on, or my Etsy shop (I am working on prints this week).

My trip to Terra Studios

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This weekend, my best friend and I took a little girls' weekend trip to Northwest Arkansas to visit Terra Studios ( www.terrastudios.com ).  It is a "wonderland of art" with free admission near Fayetteville.  It is a whimsical little place with an amazing indoor gallery, large outdoor art park, live music, artist demonstrations, and workshops.  They even have several residential artists!  I would love to live there and just art all day!  It is a fabulous place to spend the day with your family.  Check out their website and more pictures..... https://plus.google.com/photos/108015414561464651667/albums/6126813229905083457

The Story of Miss Willie Mae

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http://society6.com/product/miss-willie-mae_print#1=45 I know that many people, including myself, love their pets like family members.  Other people think that it is rediculous to treat animals like humans.  To each his or her own.  There was never another person on this earth whom fought so hard for a beloved pet.  Let me tell you the story...... In 2005, my mother was working as a home health care nurse.  She would go and help people who were too old or sick or in the last stages of life.  This is something that would be hard for me to do but she was a very caring person and loved her clients.  One of her clients had a dog that just gave birth to several tiny puppies.  These people in rural Arkansas don't have much money, especially the elderly and sick ones, so many of them can't afford to get their pets spayed or neutered or take them to the vet, for that matter.  Anyway, the client kept the mother dog and her newborn pups in a doghouse outside.  My mother looked a