Cocoa, The Life of an Antisocial Guinea Pig

The Cocoa Cam!

We set up a web-cam so we can view our antisocial guinea doing her day to day pig type things. She’s pretty cute when she goes into stealth mode and steals a carrot from her food dish and then dives back into her house.

Operational hours of the Cocoa cam will be from approx. 8am-8:30pm, except on weekends. Ha! She’s in our sons’ room so when their lights are out for the night so are hers. Her being in the boys room is also why there is no sound. We’re cool with invading her privacy just not theirs. ;o) 

Click here to peek ————> 

http://cocoa.sanderfamily. net/

You know you're successful when...

You get copied!

Though it doesn't feel great, not even a little.  Here are some of my thoughts on how it happens and how you can deal with it and perhaps grow stronger.

You get an idea, an awesome idea!  Something that is truly unique and original and it's all yours.  You go for it.  You're excited!! You buy the supplies, you test it out, you play with colors and sizes even shapes until it's just right.  You put your heart, time and even a little elbow grease into it because it represents, well, you.  People dig it!  You put it online, you take it to shows.  More people dig it!  You land retail accounts wholesale accounts and soon even online retailers are contacting you.  You've built an amazing customer base & even MORE people dig it!    Yay!  It's official, you've done it - success!!  

BUT success can be noticed by the wrong kind of people.  What kind of people you ask??  The green headed monster kind of people.  They're the most dangerous because they're of the idea stealing variety. They lack all creativity. NO!  SAY IT ISN'T SO! Sorry, it's true. They don't care about who they hurt or who they're ripping off.  They just want in.  Somehow.  Anyhow.  Why?  It's simple, what they're doing isn't working, or at least not like they thought it would.  They want all the success with none of the effort.  Boo!

How you deal.  You do the hardest thing of all.  You ignore it.  You let them do what they're doing because these green headed monsters bring themselves down.  They are noticed all right but not by the kind of people they were hoping for.  They're noticed for what they are, craft zombies. They don't "get" what you get and their copycat creations are missing something. That something? You!  

The moral of my little craft copier story?

Keep doing what you do best and go make something dammit because you're better, smarter, craftier and gosh darn it people like you!! 

Bring on The Pig!

Operation Guinea

Leave it to our family to pick out the most antisocial of one of the most social breed of animals around, guinea pigs.  Cocoa was a gift for my son's 12th birthday.  After helping with the class guinea pig he really wanted one of his own.  Unfortunately it seems Cocoa has other plans.  She hides in her big purple house.  She only makes her cute little piggy noises in the dark.  She eats and drinks once we're all in bed. When trying to hold her she does flips over her big purple house, tips her food and runs faster then our silly clumsy human hands can catch her.  She is queen piggy spaz.  That is why I've decided to enact operation guinea!!  I will de-spaz this pig, I will.  Bring on the pig! 

Organization, It's All The Rage

 Or at least I hope so!

 

Drawers by Karen Foster Design

FUNCTIONAL - This year I'm planning ahead, way ahead!  Over the next few weeks I'll be making each of my Etsy items, packaging them & then storing them in these handy dandy drawers.  That way I can keep up with the online holiday rush and still be able to focus on local events without feeling like I'm going to crack.

 

Drawer by 7 Gypsies  

FUN - This drawer will be used as part of my display at craft shows!  Or at least that is what I told myself when I bought it.  When the holiday craft frenzy is over I'll be adding hooks, mounting it to the wall and then storing my own jewelry (which right now can be found scattered through out our house).

Drawers by Sterilite

CLASSIC - This bad boy will be holding my supplies!  The goal here is to KNOW where my supplies are so that I can spend less time searching and more time creating. Yay!

The best part?  Each of these products can be found for under $20 bucks!!

Little Daisy Chains - Now At Plue!!

Yay!!

4431 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard, Portland, OR 97206

Little Daisy Chains goodies can now be found at Plue!  I'm so excited!!  Plue is a local, handmade, clothes, gift and toy store in the Woodstock neighborhood.  If you have children or little wee ones in your life I highly recommend stopping by.