Kate Jones's Posts - Traveling within the World2024-03-28T09:03:19ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJoneshttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2168127922?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=2bwzyploo19sk&xn_auth=noJet Needs a Home!tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-08-31:2185477:BlogPost:1413652011-08-31T15:23:06.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<p>I admit it — I’ve fallen madly in love with Agate (now Emily), and she’ll be staying here. STOP LAUGHING. But Jet still needs a home, because holy crap, I don’t need two of Loiosh.</p>
<p>I found a place nearby that has a fund to cover getting pets spayed and neutered for cheap, so good news — he’ll be fixed before he goes to his Forever Home! I’m still hoping to raise some money to cover his shots, so if you can’t take him but want to help, I sure wouldn’t…</p>
<p>I admit it — I’ve fallen madly in love with Agate (now Emily), and she’ll be staying here. STOP LAUGHING. But Jet still needs a home, because holy crap, I don’t need two of Loiosh.</p>
<p>I found a place nearby that has a fund to cover getting pets spayed and neutered for cheap, so good news — he’ll be fixed before he goes to his Forever Home! I’m still hoping to raise some money to cover his shots, so if you can’t take him but want to help, I sure wouldn’t object.</p>
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<p>(Any extra funds will go to the place that’s generously doing the spay/neuter for me, cos they’re a good cause!)</p>
<p>So the NEW rules:</p>
<p>1) He always has a place here. If the new owners cannot keep him for any reason, I will not ask questions, I will not judge, I will not grouse on my blog. I will just come get him and bring him back home.</p>
<p>2) Between me and various friends I’m pretty sure we can get transportation to cover goodly chunks of the central East Coast — I will deliver Jet to anywhere within a couple hours of Knoxville, at the very least.</p>
<p>3) He must be an indoor kitty. He’s lived the outdoor life and now deserves to be safe in a climate-controlled environment with soft beds and lots of toys. (If you manage to leash-train him, of course he may go outside — with you, on the leash! But not by himself!)</p>
<p>4) No declawing. It’s mean. Just no.</p>
<p>5) Yes, he’s adorable. But you know what? Surprise kittens make crap gifts, y’all. Therefore I will need to be in contact with the actual person with whom he’ll be living. I do not care how well you know your friend/roomie/spouse/partner/parent/sibling/dentist. Kittens are not a good present.</p>
<p>6) As of right now I have no idea how Jet does with other critters, because he’s still in quarantine. Look for more info after his check-up and FIV/FeLV testing!</p>
<p>7) He’s been treated for fleas, he’ll be tested for FIV/FeLV, and he’ll be going in to get fixed Sept. 12. Jet will be ready for a home a few days after that — I want to make sure he’s recovered okay.</p>
<p>And now, kitten pics!</p>
<p>I did manage to get one picture of him without a goofy look on his face, but only one:</p>
<p><a href="http://omshantinaturals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/100_4276.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-7789];player=img;" title="100_4276"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7791" title="100_4276" src="http://omshantinaturals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/100_4276.jpg" height="300" width="500"/></a></p>
<p>He climbed up into the windowsill himself, but then was Very Not Sure Mom:</p>
<p><a href="http://omshantinaturals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/100_4274.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-7789];player=img;" title="100_4274"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7792" title="100_4274" src="http://omshantinaturals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/100_4274.jpg" height="370" width="500"/></a></p>
<p>And the Famous Bellehtuft! (Plus obligatory goofy look.)</p>
<p><a href="http://omshantinaturals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/100_4275.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-7789];player=img;" title="100_4275"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7793" title="100_4275" src="http://omshantinaturals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/100_4275.jpg" height="450" width="500"/></a></p>
<p>In two weeks he’s gone from terrified to one of the loudest purrs I’ve ever heard. It’s actually hard to get good pictures of him, because he <b>insists</b> on being RIGHT UNDER MY CHIN. At all times. LOVE MOM LOVE NOW.</p>
<p>He’s adorable, getting braver by the moment, and needs a good home with people to give him Plenty Love.</p>
<p>Are you his people? Holding back because you live in Colorado or something? We’ll get him there. We can do it.</p>
<p>Just let me know. Cos he needs a home.</p>Announcing Om Shanti Naturals!tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-07-19:2185477:BlogPost:1324152011-07-19T16:00:22.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
I'm sure a lot of you have already seen the new site -- I've hardly been keeping it secret since I launched it last Thursday! But for those of you who haven't, well, here it is, and do please take a moment to look around. Because oh, my beloveds, it is truly a thing of wonder and beauty.<br />
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Check out the logo at the top. It's new. Isn't it gorgeous?<br />
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Hover over it. See how the leaves change colour? Yeah, Dani made it do that. Not only that, but the green? Is from a photo I took of my own basil…
I'm sure a lot of you have already seen the new site -- I've hardly been keeping it secret since I launched it last Thursday! But for those of you who haven't, well, here it is, and do please take a moment to look around. Because oh, my beloveds, it is truly a thing of wonder and beauty.<br />
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Check out the logo at the top. It's new. Isn't it gorgeous?<br />
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Hover over it. See how the leaves change colour? Yeah, Dani made it do that. Not only that, but the green? Is from a photo I took of my own basil plant, right here in my front window.<br />
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And I keep noticing details like that. They're all over. It is, simply, the perfect website. (And if you want one just as perfect, hie yourself over to Dani's new site, <a href="http://lifeunconstrained.com/">Life Unconstrained</a>, and have a talk with her.)<br />
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<a href="http://omshantinaturals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/slide51.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5904" title="slide5" src="http://omshantinaturals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/slide51-300x133.png" alt="" width="300" height="133"/></a>And to go with it -- new labels, fresh of the presses, with the same lovely kraft paper background as the new site (and this newsletter). I'm gonna be busy peeling old labels off and replacing them with new ones -- and then taking new pictures of everything -- but it'll be worth it. Everything looks so, so good.<br />
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To go with this, I've started a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/OmShantiNaturals">new Facebook page</a>, and changed my <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/omshantikate">Twitter handle</a> -- so if you're following me, there are new places to go. I'm hoping you'll all be along for the ride!<br />
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With all of this going on, I have the first news about the improved products I promised you last month. My soaps are now all vegan, made with rich, moisturizing shea butter. Just as smooth, just as good for your skin, but now even better for the environment! <a href="../category/shop/soaps-shop/">Check em out here</a>.<br />
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I've also replaced the coconut butter in my <a href="../category/shop/bath-oils/">bath oils</a> with shea butter. Coconut butter's nice, but shea butter is even better, and your skin will feel the difference.<br />
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Welcome to Om Shanti Naturals!Holy Crap, it's been Three Years (also, a sale.)tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-04-25:2185477:BlogPost:1196112011-04-25T16:17:28.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
My Loiosh is <strong>three years old</strong> today. Can we get a rousing Happy Birthday?<br />
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He's chowing down on gooshyfood, and I'll be getting him salmon later today, too.<br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3968.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4459" height="368" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3968.jpg" title="100_3968" width="500"></img></a><br />
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I'm having a one-day sale in honour of his birthday -- enter coupon code <strong>LoioshBirthday</strong> and you'll save 25% off. Just for today though!<br />
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I can't believe it's been three years. I hope we're together for a long,…
My Loiosh is <strong>three years old</strong> today. Can we get a rousing Happy Birthday?<br />
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He's chowing down on gooshyfood, and I'll be getting him salmon later today, too.<br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3968.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3968.jpg" alt="" title="100_3968" width="500" height="368" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4459"/></a><br />
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I'm having a one-day sale in honour of his birthday -- enter coupon code <strong>LoioshBirthday</strong> and you'll save 25% off. Just for today though!<br />
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I can't believe it's been three years. I hope we're together for a long, long time.One Word Wednesdaytag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-04-20:2185477:BlogPost:1176922011-04-20T15:38:37.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/love.jpg"><img align="center" title="love" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/love.jpg" height="366" width="500"/></a><br/>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Love.</strong></em></p>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/love.jpg"><img align="center" title="love" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/love.jpg" height="366" width="500"/></a><br/>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Love.</strong></em></p>Morningstag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-04-18:2185477:BlogPost:1175012011-04-18T21:22:07.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/morning-goddess.png"><img align="left" alt="" height="172" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/morning-goddess.png" title="morning goddess" width="200"></img></a> There are a lot of ebooks out there these days, and I've been reading my fair share. Some of them don't do a lot for me, many of them do; and one of them inspired this post.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/mornings/">Read here to find out what I learned about my…</a></b>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/morning-goddess.png"><img align="left" title="morning goddess" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/morning-goddess.png" alt="" width="200" height="172"/></a>There are a lot of ebooks out there these days, and I've been reading my fair share. Some of them don't do a lot for me, many of them do; and one of them inspired this post.<br />
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<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/mornings/">Read here to find out what I learned about my mornings</a>...</b>Samson, 1998-2011tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-04-14:2185477:BlogPost:1167912011-04-14T16:04:36.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
I never did post about him much, because he just wasn't as photogenic as Loiosh or as loving as Chocolate. In fact, he hated all humanity and barely tolerated me. But I loved him, and he was as sweet as his nature allowed him to be.<br />
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I let Samson go today. It wouldn't have been a kindness to make him stay longer and he wasn't getting any better. But I don't want to talk about his death; I want to talk about his life.<br />
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I called him Samson Hatesyouall because, well, he did. He didn't get enough…
I never did post about him much, because he just wasn't as photogenic as Loiosh or as loving as Chocolate. In fact, he hated all humanity and barely tolerated me. But I loved him, and he was as sweet as his nature allowed him to be.<br />
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I let Samson go today. It wouldn't have been a kindness to make him stay longer and he wasn't getting any better. But I don't want to talk about his death; I want to talk about his life.<br />
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I called him Samson Hatesyouall because, well, he did. He didn't get enough exposure to humans while he was young enough to be socialized and he never decided to change his mind later on, as some cats do. He tolerated me, though, put up with me occasionally petting him and even demanding snuggles. With ill grace, but he never did actually kill me.<br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_1292.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3943" title="100_1292" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_1292.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="282"/></a><br />
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But he loved the other cats. He loved Chocolate, who's his brother, and as unlike a brother as you can get. Chocolate weighs barely half of what Samson did at his prime.<br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3244.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3941" title="100_3244" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3244.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="379"/></a><br />
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But they were always close, snuggling up together, fighting like, well, brothers.<br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3444.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3942" title="100_3444" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3444.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="321"/></a><br />
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And he loved Loiosh.<br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_0638.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3944" title="100_0638" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_0638.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="386"/></a><br />
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Oh, did he love that kitten.<br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_0641.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3945" title="100_0641" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_0641.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="398"/></a><br />
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Loiosh stole his heart within days. I'd worried about bringing him home and Samson was most of what I was worried about -- earlier attempts to introduce him to other cats had always failed and done so spectacularly. But Loiosh? Samson snuggled him, washed him, raised him.<br />
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Even when Loiosh had reached his full growth of holy-hell-how-big-are-you-NOW he'd still slink up to Samson, eyes squeezed shut, ears and whiskers tucked back, and weasel his head in underneath Samson's chin, demanding kisses. And Samson would half-close his eyes and wash Loiosh, and wash him and wash him.<br />
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And soon enough they'd be beating the crap out of each other, but that's the ways of cats.<br />
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While I can't say he ever <em>liked</em> me he did want to stay...not close, but usually in the same room I was in. I'd find him on the shelves that held my boxes, in my lightbox (repeatedly), or, memorably, enjoying a catnip toy nearly at my feet.<br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/samson1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3947" title="samson1" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/samson1.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="585"/></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_1183.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3948" title="100_1183" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_1183.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="481"/></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_1884.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3949" title="100_1884" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_1884.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="434"/></a><br />
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He spent a lot of the last couple days under my desk. I left him mostly alone under there -- didn't want to stress him more than he already was -- but it was good to know he found some comfort in being near me...even if not too near.<br />
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He had the chance to say goodbye to both Loiosh and Chocolate before it was time to take him in, and I'm glad. They're going to miss their brother...and despite the part where he hated me, so will I.Wordless Wednesdaytag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-04-11:2185477:BlogPost:1157882011-04-11T14:28:13.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3779.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3185" height="596" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3779.jpg" title="100_3779" width="400"></img></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3780.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3186" height="596" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3780.jpg" title="100_3780" width="400"></img></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3783.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3189" height="594" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3783.jpg" title="100_3783" width="400"></img></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3782.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3188" height="592" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3782.jpg" title="100_3782" width="400"></img></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3781.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3187" height="596" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3781.jpg" title="100_3781" width="400"></img></a>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3779.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3779.jpg" alt="" title="100_3779" width="400" height="596" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3185"/></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3780.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3780.jpg" alt="" title="100_3780" width="400" height="596" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3186"/></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3783.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3783.jpg" alt="" title="100_3783" width="400" height="594" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3189"/></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3782.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3782.jpg" alt="" title="100_3782" width="400" height="592" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3188"/></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3781.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3781.jpg" alt="" title="100_3781" width="400" height="596" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3187"/></a><br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3784.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3784.jpg" alt="" title="100_3784" width="400" height="596" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3190"/></a>It's the little things...tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-04-08:2185477:BlogPost:1154642011-04-08T17:33:09.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3785.jpg"><img align="right" alt="" height="448" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3785.jpg" title="Surprise shopping list!" width="250"></img></a> I withdrew some money from my new bank last week -- usually I use the ATM, but I needed a pair of tens, not a twenty, so I went through the drive through.<br />
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As usual, my cash showed up in one of those little paper envelopes they use. A waste of paper for something that's just going to get thrown away or at best recycled, but I get why they don't want to send cash through the tubes without…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3785.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3785.jpg" alt="" title="Surprise shopping list!" width="250" height="448" align="right"/></a>I withdrew some money from my new bank last week -- usually I use the ATM, but I needed a pair of tens, not a twenty, so I went through the drive through.<br />
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As usual, my cash showed up in one of those little paper envelopes they use. A waste of paper for something that's just going to get thrown away or at best recycled, but I get why they don't want to send cash through the tubes without <i>something</i> to hold it.<br />
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It still kinda annoys me. I don't have a brilliant idea for a better option, but one always hopes, you know?<br />
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And then I got a lovely surprise:<br />
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Yep, it's got a grocery list printed on the other side. With little checkboxes to warm my obsessive heart. Of course I immediately used it.<br />
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It'll still get recycled -- and if I hadn't gotten it I'd've reused another piece of paper instead of something new -- but still? I'm pretty pleased. Someone had that brilliant idea for me, and they went and <i>did</i> something with it, and that's exactly what the world needs.<br />
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Kudos to Knoxville TVA Credit Union! It's a good step in the right direction.Downtimetag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-04-07:2185477:BlogPost:1153652011-04-07T14:36:27.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
It's something we all need, and it's something we don't get enough of.<br />
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I've been getting a lot of downtime recently. The day after my last post, I got up at about 9:30...and then, almost on a whim, climbed back into bed and snuggled my Chocolate-kitty for about two hours.<br />
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<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3510.jpg"><img align="left" alt="" height="255" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3510.jpg" title="Washing kitteh" width="400"></img></a> I mean, who could resist that face?<br />
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Downtime is important -- <b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/downtime/">read more about…</a></b>
It's something we all need, and it's something we don't get enough of.<br />
<br />
I've been getting a lot of downtime recently. The day after my last post, I got up at about 9:30...and then, almost on a whim, climbed back into bed and snuggled my Chocolate-kitty for about two hours.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3510.jpg"><img align="left" title="Washing kitteh" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100_3510.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="255"/></a>I mean, who could resist that face?<br />
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Downtime is important -- <b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/downtime/">read more about it here</a>.</b>Friday Feature: Knits by Reginatag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-03-07:2185477:BlogPost:1082962011-03-07T18:14:45.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png"><img align="left" height="91" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png" title="Friday Feature on Om Shanti Handcrafts" width="238"></img></a> I met Regina on the <a href="http://creativecafe.ning.com/">Creative Cafe</a>, which I've posted about here <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/?s=creative+cafe&cat=42">plenty of times</a> before. Regina's pretty new to selling on Etsy but obviously not to crafting -- she has a wide and impressive variety of talents.<br></br>
<br></br>
Her Etsy shop is called…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png"><img title="Friday Feature on Om Shanti Handcrafts" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png" height="91" width="238" align="left"/></a>I met Regina on the <a href="http://creativecafe.ning.com/">Creative Cafe</a>, which I've posted about here <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/?s=creative+cafe&cat=42">plenty of times</a> before. Regina's pretty new to selling on Etsy but obviously not to crafting -- she has a wide and impressive variety of talents.<br/>
<br/>
Her Etsy shop is called <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KnitsbyRegina">Knits by Regina</a> but contains much more than knit items (though those are great too). She does painted cloths, hemp jewelry, hand-drawn greeting cards, and crocheted stuff ranging from a really cute hair scrunchie (that I kinda want) to pillowcases.<br/>
<br/>
Have a look...<br/>
<br/>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/hemp-keychain-pendant.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/hemp-keychain-pendant.jpg" title="Hemp keychain pendant by Knits by Regina on Etsy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3019" height="469" width="400"/></a><br/>
<br/>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/heart-purse.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/heart-purse.jpg" title="Knitted heart purse by Knits by Regina on Etsy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3022" height="320" width="400"/></a><br/>
<br/>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/dragon-card.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/dragon-card.jpg" title="Handpainted dragon greeting card by Knits by Regina on Etsy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3020" height="316" width="400"/></a><br/>
<br/>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/purple-pouch.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/purple-pouch.jpg" title="Purple crocheted pouch by Knits by Regina on Etsy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3021" height="376" width="400"/></a><br/>
<br/>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/green-scrunchy.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/green-scrunchy.jpg" title="Green crochet scrunchy by Knits by Regina on Etsy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3023" height="330" width="400"/></a>Tasty Tidbits: Simplify Your Site!tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-03-03:2185477:BlogPost:1068882011-03-03T20:04:42.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/tasty-tidbits1.png"><img align="left" height="91" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/tasty-tidbits1.png" title="Tasty Tidbits" width="238"></img></a> It's pretty inevitable, and I'm as guilty of it as anyone else -- you've got a website, and there are <strong>so many</strong> awesome plugins, apps and widgets out there. Plugins that keep track of your calendar, widgets that show your recent Twitter posts, apps that rotate pictures of your adorable kitty for all to see. Who could resist?<br></br>
<br></br>
So you load up on em. I did. I bet you did. We…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/tasty-tidbits1.png"><img title="Tasty Tidbits" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/tasty-tidbits1.png" height="91" width="238" align="left"/></a>It's pretty inevitable, and I'm as guilty of it as anyone else -- you've got a website, and there are <strong>so many</strong> awesome plugins, apps and widgets out there. Plugins that keep track of your calendar, widgets that show your recent Twitter posts, apps that rotate pictures of your adorable kitty for all to see. Who could resist?<br/>
<br/>
So you load up on em. I did. I bet you did. We all did. <strong>It was awesome.</strong> You could do anything! The power!<br/>
<br/>
And somehow we didn't notice how long it took our sites to load. And somehow our bounce rate went up like the Front Range rising from the prairie. And we slowly got discouraged, because nobody visited our site, and we went on, disconsolate, to try something else.<br/>
<br/>
And by 'we' I mean 'me'.<br/>
<br/>
So what's your takehome from this? <strong>Don't put so much crap on your site.</strong> Decluttering isn't just for physical objects any more. If you don't really, absolutely need it? Make it go away.<br/>
<br/>
Your readers will thank you. And by 'your readers', I mean 'me'.Gratitudetag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-03-01:2185477:BlogPost:1068132011-03-01T20:02:47.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/rum-cake.jpg"><img align="right" alt="" height="190" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/rum-cake.jpg" title="Rum Cake" width="240"></img></a> I've been pretty stressed lately -- and I should post about why, shouldn't I, pretty soon -- and that's led me to another gratitude post, because that's how I roll.<br />
<br />
This one's mostly about the cats, because that, too, is how I roll.<br />
<br />
Things I am grateful for:<br />
<blockquote><ul>
<li>Waking up to my <strong>Chocolate-kitty</strong>, snuggled up and purring.…</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/rum-cake.jpg"><img align="right" title="Rum Cake" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/rum-cake.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="190"/></a>I've been pretty stressed lately -- and I should post about why, shouldn't I, pretty soon -- and that's led me to another gratitude post, because that's how I roll.<br />
<br />
This one's mostly about the cats, because that, too, is how I roll.<br />
<br />
Things I am grateful for:<br />
<blockquote><ul>
<li>Waking up to my <strong>Chocolate-kitty</strong>, snuggled up and purring.</li>
<li style="list-style: none"><br/></li>
<li>Om Shanti Handcrafts' HR policy (<strong>or lack of same</strong>), which totally allows rum cake for lunch. *BURP*</li>
<li style="list-style: none"><br/></li>
<li>A cat who loves me <strong>so much</strong> that he must stick his nose <strong>right</strong> in my ear.</li>
<li style="list-style: none"><br/></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<br />
<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/gratitude-3/">More things I'm grateful for...</a></b>what are you grateful for today?Project Log: Upcycled Fingerless Glovestag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-02-28:2185477:BlogPost:1065482011-02-28T22:38:43.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
So I had this pair of socks that I <strong>loved</strong>.<br />
<br />
They were my first pair of <a href="https://www.smartwool.com/default.cfm#/Womens/Socks/">Smartwool</a> socks, one of the first pair of cute socks I ever bought for myself, and somehow they became a symbol of my new independence.<br />
<br />
I wore them <strong>all the time</strong>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/socks-1.jpg"><img alt="My Favourite Socks" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3000" height="301" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/socks-1.jpg" title="My Favourite Socks" width="400"></img></a><br />
<br />
Alas, I wore them until I could feel the floor through the sole in a…
So I had this pair of socks that I <strong>loved</strong>.<br />
<br />
They were my first pair of <a href="https://www.smartwool.com/default.cfm#/Womens/Socks/">Smartwool</a> socks, one of the first pair of cute socks I ever bought for myself, and somehow they became a symbol of my new independence.<br />
<br />
I wore them <strong>all the time</strong>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/socks-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3000" title="My Favourite Socks" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/socks-1.jpg" alt="My Favourite Socks" width="400" height="301"/></a><br />
<br />
Alas, I wore them until I could feel the floor through the sole in a couple places.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/project-log-upcycled-fingerless-gloves/">So take a look at what I did...</a></b>Introducing: Notions!tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-02-22:2185477:BlogPost:1041862011-02-22T16:19:49.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
I really wasn't sure what to call them. 'Accessories' seems so...impersonal. I went looking for synonyms and didn't get anywhere useful. I sew in my free time, and when you're sewing you call these sorts of things '<strong>notions</strong>', so that's what I settled on.<br />
<br />
What am I on about? Just this: after three years of selling naught but my own work I've decided to add to my wares. I did a lot of searching and a lot of product testing and in the end I've found a couple of things I think are…
I really wasn't sure what to call them. 'Accessories' seems so...impersonal. I went looking for synonyms and didn't get anywhere useful. I sew in my free time, and when you're sewing you call these sorts of things '<strong>notions</strong>', so that's what I settled on.<br />
<br />
What am I on about? Just this: after three years of selling naught but my own work I've decided to add to my wares. I did a lot of searching and a lot of product testing and in the end I've found a couple of things I think are worthy to stand with my own products -- cedar soap dishes and crocheted cotton scrubbies, to be specific.<br />
<br />
They're handmade, high quality, and environmentally sound of course. Nothing less than the best here -- I'm picky. After selling only my own work for so long I wasn't going to add anything I didn't <strong>absolutely love</strong>. So I didn't.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/category/shop/notions/"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/dish-and-scrubby.jpg" alt="Cedar Soap Dish and Cotton Scrubby at Om Shanti Handcrafts" title="Cedar Soap Dish and Cotton Scrubby at Om Shanti Handcrafts" width="300" height="209" align="left"/></a>The <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/cedar-soap-dish/">soap dishes</a> are made from reclaimed cedar -- mill ends and such that would normally be used for firewood or woodchips. Conserving natural resources like this is one of the things I think is important, so this was a huge selling point for me when I chose these.<br />
<br />
They're unfinished -- and they don't need anything other than the beautiful close grain of the cedar to look great. Their beautiful scent doesn't get covered up that way, either.<br />
<br />
The grooves cut into each one allow your soap to drain between uses, which helps it last a lot longer -- an important consideration with handmade soap!<br />
<br />
I love these. I <strong>totally</strong> stole the first one out of the box for my shower stall. <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/cedar-soap-dish/">Cedar soap dishes</a>.<br />
<center>* * * * *</center>
<br />
I traded soap for these <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/cotton-scrubbies/">crocheted cotton scrubbies</a>. They're by a friend of mine -- and she does lovely work. I traded for a couple for myself, and liked them so much I had to have more. They're <strong>perfect</strong> with handmade soap -- they really carry the suds well, and they've got a great texture.<br />
<br />
I keep one in my shower, and another in the kitchen to scrub pots and countertops.They're got plenty of other uses as well. They come in a bunch of different colours -- <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/cotton-scrubbies/">check them all out here</a>.<br />
<center>* * * * *</center>
<br />
I even have a new gift set where you can get both -- <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/everything-but-the-soap/">Everything but the Soap</a>. Which is, err, actually everything <strong>including</strong> the soap. One bar of soap (<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/category/shop/soaps-shop/">of your choice</a>), one cedar soap dish, one cotton scrubbie.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/green-tea-citrus-1.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/green-tea-citrus-1.jpg" alt="Everything but the Soap (soap included)" title="Everything but the Soap (soap included)" width="400" height="289" align="center"/></a><br />
<br />
Wrap em all up in a bit of raffia and it'll make a great off-to-college, new home, or shower gift!Tasty Tidbit: Newsletter!tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-02-21:2185477:BlogPost:1037272011-02-21T15:12:54.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/tasty-tidbits.png"><img align="left" alt="Tasty Tidbits" height="91" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/tasty-tidbits.png" title="Tasty Tidbits" width="238"></img></a> As those of you who subscribe to the <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/newsletter/">Om Shanti Handcrafts Newsletter</a> already know, I've revamped it again -- this time, by moving things over to <a href="http://mailchimp.com">MailChimp</a>. They have lovely email templates (thus saving me from having to deal with the HTML myself), they keep track of subscribing and unsubscribing folks for…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/tasty-tidbits.png"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/tasty-tidbits.png" alt="Tasty Tidbits" title="Tasty Tidbits" width="238" height="91" align="left"/></a>As those of you who subscribe to the <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/newsletter/">Om Shanti Handcrafts Newsletter</a> already know, I've revamped it again -- this time, by moving things over to <a href="http://mailchimp.com">MailChimp</a>. They have lovely email templates (thus saving me from having to deal with the HTML myself), they keep track of subscribing and unsubscribing folks for me, and they offer all sorts of lovely information on who's actually looking at my newsletter and what's getting clicked on and stuff.<br />
<br />
They're kinda awesome, I've got to say.<br />
<br />
So for those of you who haven't subscribed to the newsletter yet, now's not a bad time to think about doing so. You'll get new product announcements, a new monthly column by Loiosh himself, a contest or special every month, plus whatever random stuff I feel like talking about at the moment.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/newsletter/">Go ye forth and subscribe!</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/newsletter.png"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/newsletter.png" alt="Om Shanti Handcrafts Newsletter" title="Om Shanti Handcrafts Newsletter" width="500" height="369" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2921"/></a>Friday Feature: A Menagerie!tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-02-18:2185477:BlogPost:1031102011-02-18T16:57:51.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png"><img align="left" alt="Friday Feature on Om Shanti Handcrafts" height="91" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png" title="Friday Feature on Om Shanti Handcrafts" width="238"></img></a> This week's Friday Feature is a bit of a mix of stuff -- some jewelry, some knitting, and some stuff I just couldn't categorize; some Etsy shops and some personal websites.<br></br>
<br></br>
It's all worth a look!…<br></br>
<center><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67884870/purple-pearls-smoky-quartz-topaz-on?ref=em"><img align="center" alt="Purple Pearls & Smoky Quartz Topaz Necklace by Sophie Luck" height="409" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/sophia.jpg" title="Purple Pearls & Smoky Quartz Topaz Necklace by Sophie Luck" width="400"></img></a></center>
<p></p>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png"><img title="Friday Feature on Om Shanti Handcrafts" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png" alt="Friday Feature on Om Shanti Handcrafts" height="91" width="238" align="left"/></a>This week's Friday Feature is a bit of a mix of stuff -- some jewelry, some knitting, and some stuff I just couldn't categorize; some Etsy shops and some personal websites.<br/>
<br/>
It's all worth a look!<br/>
<center><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67884870/purple-pearls-smoky-quartz-topaz-on?ref=em"><img title="Purple Pearls & Smoky Quartz Topaz Necklace by Sophie Luck" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/sophia.jpg" alt="Purple Pearls & Smoky Quartz Topaz Necklace by Sophie Luck" height="409" width="400" align="center"/></a></center>
<p></p>
<center><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67884870/purple-pearls-smoky-quartz-topaz-on?ref=em">Purple Pearls & Smoky Quartz Topaz Necklace</a> by <a href="http://sophieluckjewelry.weebly.com/">Sophie Luck Jewelry</a></center>
<p></p>
<center><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/59988021/recycled-sari-silk-scarf"><img title="Recycled Sari Silk Scarf by Black Cat Productions" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/fireun.jpg" alt="Recycled Sari Silk Scarf by Black Cat Productions" height="300" width="400" align="center"/></a></center>
<p></p>
<center><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/59988021/recycled-sari-silk-scarf">Recycled Sari Silk Scarf</a> by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/fireun">Black Cat Productions</a></center>
<p></p>
<center><a href="http://driia.com/2007/11/28/pendant-pf_0709_010/"><img title="Green Wing Pendant by Driia" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/driia.jpg" alt="Green Wing Pendant by Driia" height="387" width="300" align="center"/></a></center>
<p></p>
<center><a href="http://driia.com/2007/11/28/pendant-pf_0709_010/">Green Wing Pendant</a> by <a href="http://driia.com/">Driia</a><p></p>
<center><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60980061/recycled-redwood-tooth-fairy-door"><img title="Redwood Tooth Fairy Door by Redwood By Tiffany" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/redwood.jpg" alt="Redwood Tooth Fairy Door by Redwood By Tiffany" height="328" width="400" align="center"/></a></center>
<p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60980061/recycled-redwood-tooth-fairy-door">Redwood Tooth Fairy Door</a> by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/redwoodbytiffany">Redwood By Tiffany</a></p>
</center>Wordless Wednesdaytag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-02-16:2185477:BlogPost:1024182011-02-16T17:28:29.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="344" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6PhQxMbn-ok?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><embed wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6PhQxMbn-ok?hl=en&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param></object>
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="344" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6PhQxMbn-ok?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><embed wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6PhQxMbn-ok?hl=en&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param></object>Friday Food: Chicken Saladtag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-02-11:2185477:BlogPost:1012672011-02-11T16:00:35.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/friday-food.png"><img align="left" alt="Friday Food" height="91" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/friday-food.png" title="Friday Food" width="238"></img></a> I don't cook often -- something I want to change -- but I've been cooking more often recently, and I thought I'd share my efforts. If nothing else, it might get me to cook more often...<br />
<br />
So there was some leftover chicken in the fridge, and I was hungry. I'm not a fan of plain chicken, but I loves me a good chicken salad. So I figured that's what I'd make.…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/friday-food.png"><img align="left" title="Friday Food" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/friday-food.png" alt="Friday Food" width="238" height="91"/></a>I don't cook often -- something I want to change -- but I've been cooking more often recently, and I thought I'd share my efforts. If nothing else, it might get me to cook more often...<br />
<br />
So there was some leftover chicken in the fridge, and I was hungry. I'm not a fan of plain chicken, but I loves me a good chicken salad. So I figured that's what I'd make.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/friday-food-chicken-salad/">And that's what I did.</a></b>Wordless Wednesdaytag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-02-09:2185477:BlogPost:1008342011-02-09T18:37:16.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/100_3274.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2869" height="540" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/100_3274.jpg" title="Clean Remote?" width="500"></img></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/100_3275.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2870" height="425" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/100_3275.jpg" title="Telephone sanitiser, anyone?" width="500"></img></a>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/100_3274.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/100_3274.jpg" alt="" title="Clean Remote?" width="500" height="540" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2869"/></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/100_3275.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/100_3275.jpg" alt="" title="Telephone sanitiser, anyone?" width="500" height="425" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2870"/></a>Tasty Tidbit: Catgrasstag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-02-08:2185477:BlogPost:1000262011-02-08T15:57:26.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tasty-tidbits5.png"><img align="left" alt="Tasty Tidbits on Om Shanti Handcrafts" height="91" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tasty-tidbits5.png" title="Tasty Tidbits on Om Shanti Handcrafts" width="238"></img></a> I thought about making this a Wordless Wednesday, but the story was far too amusing...<br />
<br />
So Loiosh is really, really fond of eating grass. This isn't terribly unusual among cats, I know. And he gets to eat grass pretty often, since he gets to gos outside with me pretty often.<br />
<br />
Only he really hasn't been, much, because the weather has been kinda crappy. Even Mr. It's All Good has limits when it…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tasty-tidbits5.png"><img align="left" title="Tasty Tidbits on Om Shanti Handcrafts" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tasty-tidbits5.png" alt="Tasty Tidbits on Om Shanti Handcrafts" width="238" height="91"/></a>I thought about making this a Wordless Wednesday, but the story was far too amusing...<br />
<br />
So Loiosh is really, really fond of eating grass. This isn't terribly unusual among cats, I know. And he gets to eat grass pretty often, since he gets to gos outside with me pretty often.<br />
<br />
Only he really hasn't been, much, because the weather has been kinda crappy. Even Mr. It's All Good has limits when it comes to wet paws. So while I was at the pet store, on impulse, I bought him a thing of cat grass.<br />
<br />
It cost six bucks. For a little pot of wheatgrass.<br />
<br />
So I was a little cranky, whatever, I should have checked the price, but he'd enjoy it, and probably Samson and Chocolate would, too, so it was fine.<br />
<br />
I put it in the window, and Loiosh nibbled on it a little, and the other two ignored it.<br />
<br />
A week later I moved it to a larger pot, because it was clearly about to grow right out of the little one it came in.<br />
<br />
This morning, I decided it was time to mow the grass. With a pair of scissors.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3687.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2749" title="Loiosh, mowin the grass." src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3687.jpg" alt="Loiosh, mowin the grass." width="500" height="458"/></a><br />
<br />
Loiosh approved. (I love the unfocused, meditative look he gets when he's grazing.)<br />
<br />
But I learned something. Seems the only reason Chocolate was ignoring the catgrass? It was in the window. Which, I've realized, he never gets up into.<br />
<br />
So now that he can reach it? He's all over it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3688.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2750" title="What is this green stuff?" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3688.jpg" alt="Chocolate peering at the catgrass." width="500" height="433"/></a><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">What is this green stuff?</p>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3689.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2751" title="Perhaps I shall investigate its juiciness." src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3689.jpg" alt="Chocolate decides to investigate, though cautiously." width="500" height="405"/></a><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Perhaps I shall investigate its juiciness.</p>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3692.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2752" title="I find this grass quite satisfying." src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3692.jpg" alt="Chocolate decides that catgrass is tasty!" width="500" height="330"/></a><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">I find this green stuff quite satisfying.</p>
Chocolate wound up eating a bunch of it, then falling asleep next to the pot, curled partway around it, protectively. Guess it's not going back in the windowsill.<br />
<br />
And in the meantime? My office smells like freshly-cut grass.<br />
<br />
Yeah, that's a win.Polite, Relevant, Interestingtag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-02-07:2185477:BlogPost:997052011-02-07T16:12:51.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/connection.png"><img align="left" alt="Connection" height="91" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/connection.png" title="Connection" width="238"></img></a> So I talked about <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/promoting-tips-tricks-part-whatever-features-reviews/">finding the right place to feature your work</a> last week; this week I talk about the really fun part, which is actually convincing them your stuff is so <strong>awesome</strong> they've got to post about it.<br />
<br />
Getting a feature in one of the big blogs will rake in the views, too. It's not…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/connection.png"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/connection.png" alt="Connection" title="Connection" width="238" height="91" align="left"/></a>So I talked about <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/promoting-tips-tricks-part-whatever-features-reviews/">finding the right place to feature your work</a> last week; this week I talk about the really fun part, which is actually convincing them your stuff is so <strong>awesome</strong> they've got to post about it.<br />
<br />
Getting a feature in one of the big blogs will rake in the views, too. It's not easy to do, mind you, what with everyone else also wanting to get their stuff into what's really a fairly limited amount of space. Don't despair, though, because it can totally be done.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/polite-relevant-interesting/">Read my advice here</a>...</b>(Almost) Wordless Wednesdaytag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-02-02:2185477:BlogPost:980042011-02-02T16:12:37.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3586.jpg"><img alt="From the ridiculous... (my very messy cabinet)" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2731" height="607" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3586.jpg" title="From the ridiculous..." width="400"></img></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3684.jpg"><img alt="...to the sublime. (Organized _and_ classy!)" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2732" height="672" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3684.jpg" title="...to the sublime." width="400"></img></a><br />
<br />
Thanks…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3586.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3586.jpg" alt="From the ridiculous... (my very messy cabinet)" title="From the ridiculous..." width="400" height="607" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2731"/></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3684.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/100_3684.jpg" alt="...to the sublime. (Organized _and_ classy!)" title="...to the sublime." width="400" height="672" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2732"/></a><br />
<br />
Thanks Mom!Promoting Tips & Tricks Part Whatever: Features & Reviewstag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-01-31:2185477:BlogPost:975392011-01-31T19:52:59.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
I talked about this series a little <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/connection/">last week</a>, and I'm still not entirely sure where it's going. But in the meantime, I figured I'd talk about how I find people willing to feature or review my work.<br />
<br />
You've seen me post about being featured here before. Sometimes these features show up out of the blue -- I've gotten requests from nowhere (always a yay!). But usually you have to work for them. You have to go out and show off your stuff and…
I talked about this series a little <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/connection/">last week</a>, and I'm still not entirely sure where it's going. But in the meantime, I figured I'd talk about how I find people willing to feature or review my work.<br />
<br />
You've seen me post about being featured here before. Sometimes these features show up out of the blue -- I've gotten requests from nowhere (always a yay!). But usually you have to work for them. You have to go out and show off your stuff and ask. <strong>And that can be pretty hard to do</strong>. I'm still crappy at it, but I'm getting there, and here's some things I've found that help.<br />
<br />
Here's the short-short version: you find someone with a blog or something like that, someone who's willing to write something about you, and talk them into talking about you (and your awesome stuff) in it.<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/promoting-tips-tricks-part-whatever-features-reviews/">Cos that's so easy.</a></strong>Friday Feature: Creations with Hearttag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-01-28:2185477:BlogPost:961382011-01-28T17:33:41.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png"><img align="left" alt="Friday Feature on Om Shanti Handcrafts" height="91" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png" title="Friday Feature on Om Shanti Handcrafts" width="238"></img></a> I met Julie of <a href="http://creationswithheart.com/store/">Creations with Heart</a> through the <a href="http://onfireforhandmade.blogspot.com/">On Fire for Handmade</a> network -- a place for crafters like me to hang out, and a group of good folks.<br />
<br />
Julie's one of those good folks. She makes some beautiful jewelry, to be sure, and she spends a lot of time on…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/friday-feature.png" alt="Friday Feature on Om Shanti Handcrafts" title="Friday Feature on Om Shanti Handcrafts" width="238" height="91" align="left"/></a>I met Julie of <a href="http://creationswithheart.com/store/">Creations with Heart</a> through the <a href="http://onfireforhandmade.blogspot.com/">On Fire for Handmade</a> network -- a place for crafters like me to hang out, and a group of good folks.<br />
<br />
Julie's one of those good folks. She makes some beautiful jewelry, to be sure, and she spends a lot of time on <a href="http://creationswithheart.blogspot.com/">her blog</a> promoting other people's work, but what impresses me most is that she donates part of her proceeds to animal rescue in her home state of Michigan. She does a lot of animal-related work in her jewelry, too, raising awareness and just making some pretty stuff for us animal lovers.<br />
<br />
Have a look at some of what she makes:<br />
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://creationswithheart.com/store/paw-print-jewelry/sterling-paw-prints-with-blue-silk-czech-pressed-glass-beaded-earrings/prod_351.html"><img class="size-full wp-image-2284 aligncenter" title="Sterling Paw Prints With Blue Silk Czech Pressed Glass Beaded Earrings" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/blslkpws1a.jpg" alt="Sterling Paw Prints With Blue Silk Czech Pressed Glass Beaded Earrings" width="400" height="430"/></a></p>
<br />
<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/friday-feature-creations-with-heart/">Click here to see more...</a></b>Connectiontag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-01-27:2185477:BlogPost:960982011-01-27T17:16:52.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
This was going to be part XCVII.2 or so of my <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/?s=promoting+tips+trick&cat=42">Promoting Tips & Tricks</a> series. It's turned into a bunch of somewhat raw, not-entirely-complete thoughts about who I am vs. who I thought I was. Which might still be useful for promoting your small, online craft business, but this post wound up a little bigger than that.<br />
<br />
Earlier this week, I dug up a draft of the next post in the above series. It's been 'almost…
This was going to be part XCVII.2 or so of my <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/?s=promoting+tips+trick&cat=42">Promoting Tips & Tricks</a> series. It's turned into a bunch of somewhat raw, not-entirely-complete thoughts about who I am vs. who I thought I was. Which might still be useful for promoting your small, online craft business, but this post wound up a little bigger than that.<br />
<br />
Earlier this week, I dug up a draft of the next post in the above series. It's been 'almost ready' to post for two years now. All I needed to do was clean it up a little and it could hit the blog Monday morning.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/connection/">I couldn't finish it, but follow the link to see what happened...</a></b>Wordless Wednesdaytag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-01-26:2185477:BlogPost:924682011-01-26T20:11:25.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/empty-inbox.png"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/empty-inbox.png" alt="A little bragging here -- it's an empty inbox!" title="A little bragging here -- it's an empty inbox!" width="500" height="215" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2457"/></a>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/empty-inbox.png"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/empty-inbox.png" alt="A little bragging here -- it's an empty inbox!" title="A little bragging here -- it's an empty inbox!" width="500" height="215" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2457"/></a>On Gratitudetag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-01-20:2185477:BlogPost:904282011-01-20T18:33:08.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/cardinal.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Male Northern Cardinal" height="300" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/cardinal.jpg" title="Male Northern Cardinal" width="250"></img></a> I'm not sure how I keep forgetting this, but when one is fighting depression, it can be pretty damn useful to focus on the things in your life you're grateful for.<br></br>
<br></br>
Actually, it's useful all the time, but that's beside the point.<br></br>
<br></br>
I started Tweeting about things I was grateful for, oh, I don't know, maybe a couple months ago. I thought about calling it 'Daily Gratitude' but realized…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/cardinal.jpg"><img title="Male Northern Cardinal" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/cardinal.jpg" alt="Male Northern Cardinal" height="300" width="250" align="right"/></a>I'm not sure how I keep forgetting this, but when one is fighting depression, it can be pretty damn useful to focus on the things in your life you're grateful for.<br/>
<br/>
Actually, it's useful all the time, but that's beside the point.<br/>
<br/>
I started Tweeting about things I was grateful for, oh, I don't know, maybe a couple months ago. I thought about calling it 'Daily Gratitude' but realized that if I did, I'd feel obliged to do one every day, and then when I (inevitably) missed a day or two I'd get discouraged and give the crap up.<br/>
<br/>
More on that topic later, but for now, some of the things I've been grateful for recently:<br/>
<blockquote><ul>
<li>Roommates who are willing to clean the kitchen when I can't cope. (Thank you Wade.)</li>
<li>The smell of soup on the stove.</li>
<li>Cardinals. I'd missed them while I was in Colorado.</li>
<li>The most adorable nephew on the planet.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<br/>
<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/gratitude-2/">Read more of what I'm grateful for, and chime in with your own.</a></b>2010 in Review: Get Off My Lawntag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-01-17:2185477:BlogPost:897302011-01-17T20:18:27.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/1-kate-and-loiosh.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Momma Kate and babycat" height="300" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/1-kate-and-loiosh-200x300.jpg" title="Momma Kate and babycat" width="200"></img></a> Welcome to the second (and hopefully last) installment of me spewing my thoughts and feelings about 2010 onto the screen in clear, frequently obscene words!<br />
<br />
Okay, I didn't actually use as many cuss words as I'd thought. But I think I was still pretty clear on the COMPLETE CRAPTASTICNESS of my year.<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/2010-in-review-get-off-my-lawn/">Have some more…</a></strong>
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/1-kate-and-loiosh.jpg"><img align="left" title="Momma Kate and babycat" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/1-kate-and-loiosh-200x300.jpg" alt="Momma Kate and babycat" width="200" height="300"/></a>Welcome to the second (and hopefully last) installment of me spewing my thoughts and feelings about 2010 onto the screen in clear, frequently obscene words!<br />
<br />
Okay, I didn't actually use as many cuss words as I'd thought. But I think I was still pretty clear on the COMPLETE CRAPTASTICNESS of my year.<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/2010-in-review-get-off-my-lawn/">Have some more of it.</a></strong>Friday Feature: Janadebratag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-01-14:2185477:BlogPost:892932011-01-14T19:05:09.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
Another on my list of 'I don't even know who this is or how they wound up on my list', but it seemed a natural followup to <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/friday-feature-twig-soup/">last week's woodwork</a>, and the work is just as beautiful. But on a totally different scale -- <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/janadebra">Janadebra's Etsy shop</a> specializes in wooden hair ornaments.<br />
<br />
Since I haven't got a lot to say about Janadebra I figure I'll go right to the pretty!…
Another on my list of 'I don't even know who this is or how they wound up on my list', but it seemed a natural followup to <a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/friday-feature-twig-soup/">last week's woodwork</a>, and the work is just as beautiful. But on a totally different scale -- <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/janadebra">Janadebra's Etsy shop</a> specializes in wooden hair ornaments.<br />
<br />
Since I haven't got a lot to say about Janadebra I figure I'll go right to the pretty!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/47918419/wooden-handcrafted-hair-ornament-long"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/red.jpg" alt="Wooden Handcrafted Hair Ornament Long Hair Red Net Original Design" title="Wooden Handcrafted Hair Ornament Long Hair Red Net Original Design" width="400" height="326" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2323"/></a><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/friday-feature-janadebra/">More beautiful hair ornaments here!</a></b>And The New Slogan Is…tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2011-01-13:2185477:BlogPost:891652011-01-13T19:06:35.000ZKate Joneshttps://travelingwithintheworld.ning.com/profile/KateJones
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/sneak-peek.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Sneak Peek (Pink label with 'Om Shanti Handcrafts', 'Crap Free. Guaranteed.' and text that's cut off as a teaser.)" height="120" src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/sneak-peek.jpg" title="Sneak Peek" width="300"></img></a> I've been redesigning a lot of my labels (you'll start seeing the new ones soon, once I start taking new photographs of everything I sell...but more on that later...) and took a moment to consider the slogan I've been using on my labels, <strong>"100% Natural Ingredients, Always"</strong>.<br />
<br />
...I kinda hate it.<br />
<br />
It's accurate, sure. And it's entirely content-free. And bland. And boring. It doesn't say…
<a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/sneak-peek.jpg"><img src="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/sneak-peek.jpg" alt="Sneak Peek (Pink label with 'Om Shanti Handcrafts', 'Crap Free. Guaranteed.' and text that's cut off as a teaser.)" title="Sneak Peek" width="300" height="120" align="right"/></a>I've been redesigning a lot of my labels (you'll start seeing the new ones soon, once I start taking new photographs of everything I sell...but more on that later...) and took a moment to consider the slogan I've been using on my labels, <strong>"100% Natural Ingredients, Always"</strong>.<br />
<br />
...I kinda hate it.<br />
<br />
It's accurate, sure. And it's entirely content-free. And bland. And boring. It doesn't say a <em>thing</em> about what Om Shanti Handcrafts is, what I want to be doing with my bath and body stuff. I thought of it early on and could never be arsed to think of something better. For two, almost three years now.<br />
<br />
Until the mass label redesign. And I sat and looked at it. And decided that I had to change it. <strong>Right now.</strong><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://omshantihandcrafts.com/and-the-new-slogan-is/">Come see what I chose!</a></b>