Hi Joan, Yes, my package did arrive! I was so busy putting up Fall stuff that I wore myself out! I was going online later, and ended up watching the VP debate, and fell asleep! I did tape it though. ;) Your package was wonderful! I loved the baking crock/dish. Joan sent me a 'cooking' package, with the cutest dark blue winter 'snow' themed crock that can go in the oven up to 500*, plus freezer too! It came with a glass trivet, and a matching ornament! Joan also sent tomatoes, peppers! Also veggie seeds and a mini chopper, gardening mags! Oh, almost forgot- 2 plants, one Kale and one cabbage. Joan, THANKS so much for the neat box! I'm taking a break in few minutes and reading one of your magazines! This swap was so much fun! I loved my gardening/cooking package! Deb

Thank you, Decorpas. Your post came at just the right time to confirm what I think I knew in my heart. The RL took my breath away the first time I saw it. I like the feel and the direction it takes the room.. I also think that it will enhance my furniture rather than just working with it. I know it isn't classic BC but it fits my mental image of where I wanted to go. I have been second guessing the finish I selected for the bed but I think I made a good decision. I could have gone a lot of directions-- light, rusty, paint chipped, waxed green but I selected a black smythe base with brown and sienna top tones and very subtle gold in the casings. The picture below is a sample of the black with brown tones without the subtle gold tones: I will get pictures along the way so I can work with them to tweak the finish. It's a custom finish so feel free to give me your thoughts. I really like the Barbary Barry Springtime. How could you wake up in that bed and not be bright and cheery? Unfortunately, it is completely impractical with the dogs and I am afraid it is a little too cheery for my personality. I'd love it in a B&B but I think it might be too much for my own home.

Lisa, Some ideas from an "older" woman! Please take them in the vein they are offered, and do what you please. I'm not really that old, but I can get considerably grumpy at times, LOL. BTW, I just turned 50. The only baby showers I expect to be invited to anymore are for my son's wife if he ever has one, or one child of my very best friend. I know the idea of having the guests address their own thank-you envelopes is an idea that has taken off among the younger set - but seriously, as an "older person", I was shocked the first time it happened to me, and a bit offended, too! Reasoning - I've been invited, I've taken time to either make or shop for a gift, and the bride (in my case) or mother-to-be can't take enough time to write her own thank-you notes? Either thank me, or don't, but don't make me work for a thank-you note. I'd rather not have it. If you're going to be having a large number of older people, you may consider having (assigning) someone to fill out those envelopes, or have it done in advance, or just skip it. The older folks will be offended. And you or your daughter will all ready have the addresses if you've invited the people. Use a computer and print out the address labels in advance. Also, JMHO, favors are not necessary! I came for the party to "shower" the mother-to-be with a gift, and I really don't want a "thing" to take away. A thing means I have to store it, or use it, or pitch it - in other words, it puts an additional obligation on me. And a favor that is a food item will be left by more than 1/2 the guests - been there, seen it happen too many times. Save the money and start a savings account, LOL. If you absolutely must do favors, please, an unscented candle (I have asthma), wrapped in the tulle with a ribbon, but I don't want to have to throw out a plastic safety pin, diminutive bottle or other "baby" thing. And I will throw them out, and so will your guests! But I could possibly reuse the ribbon. I find it wasteful of both money and resources to stick little plastic things on gifts. I much prefer to be provided with a beautiful chocolate truffle to eat AT the shower - and one is enough. I LOVE, LOVE the idea of a clothesline on the wall to pin the outfits on!! I think that's brilliant! I also think the decorated onesies are a wonderful idea! Also great is the idea of having guests sign or draw on a quilt block. Have them all over-sized, with the freezer paper already ironed on. Draw the border, so they don't go into the seam allowance. Have fabric crayons or pigma markers ready, as well as some ideas for simple drawings from coloring books, or a list of "baby sayings" for them to write. As to the games - I'm not hard of hearing, but I also have little tolerance of shower games. I would not participate in a measuring of the mother's belly. I was 29 when I had my baby, and I was horrified when people at work wanted to touch my belly - and work people threw me a shower. Fortunately my DH worked at the same place, and he stopped them from playing that game. LOL. They still made me a fricking hat from all the ribbons, and insisted I wear it for a photo. I didn't like that either, but tolerated it with good grace. Bingo might be tolerable. Understand, all of these shower games started when it was giddy 18 and 19 year old girls having babies, and the people who attended baby showers were all the same age, and the only older people were the mums and grandmums. Friends of the parents didn't usually attend. They showed up AFTER the birth with a lovely blanket or outfit, several days after Mother and baby were home. So I don't know how old your DD is, and you have to consider both her and the audience. I was a good 10 years older when I had my first than my mother was. My sensibilites and preferences were too. Shower food - crudite and dip, fruit and dip, finger sandwiches if you wish, cake, punch, tea and coffee. Maybe a truffle. Please take this in the way I intend it - tongue in cheek for the most part, but also trying to save you some money. I would concentrate on nice food and drink, no favors, only one game at the most. Sit around! Eat! Open presents! Nothing more is required of a good shower. Hoping I didn't sound too grumpy, LOL. Mary

I am new here, but I found this site after one of my items was removed from my ArtFire shop. After doing some research and reading their patent, these are the e-mails I sent and received from Taggies. From: Kristina Steffen [mailto:kaotickrafter@hotmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 10:55 PM To: Cristi Navickas; mid@artfire.com Subject: RE: Intellectual Properety Infringment Notice from Taggies Inc. Ms. Navickas, I apologize for any harm I may have caused. I had no prior knowledge of this patent. I have a question. If my item does not have loops, is that considered an infringement? I read through the patent but I did not see any reference to un-looped ribbons. If you could please let me know, I would greatly appreciate it. Sincerely, Kristina http://www.kaotickrafter.blogspot.com http://www.jetisteffen.blogspot.com http://www.kaotickrafter.artfire.com http://www.craft4emma.etsy.com RE: Intellectual Properety Infringment Notice from Taggies Inc.â From: Cristi Navickas (cnavickas@taggies.com) Sent: Thu 3/04/10 8:11 AM To: Kristina Steffen (kaotickrafter@hotmail.com) Attachments: 1 attachment image001.png (7.7 KB) If there are no loops there is no infringement. Thank you, Cristi Navickas cnavickas@taggies.com If anyone would like to see the entire e-mail thread, or would like the patent, feel free to e-mail me kaotickrafter@hotmail.com Here is a link that might be useful: KaoticKrafter