kimberly marie

Number patterns

2012-02-29T12:13:00.003-10:00

I've noticed an odd sort of trend going on in the shop's stats. I get numbers like 110 views and 10 favorites or 117 view and 17 favorites. No kidding.

It's almost like how I look at the clock all the time and it says 11:11. It's our family's time. People just tend to read the clock in this family right at 11:11.

Oh my.

Etsy finds

2012-02-24T14:56:00.003-10:00

The past few days I've been making a treasury a day on etsy. It's helped me to find quite a few neat items which I thought would be fun to share with you all.

kitchen scale

texas ware mixing bowl

copper wall clock

And here are just a few new additions to the shop. My goal is to try to reach 100 items before the end of March. Let's hope it happens!

blossom earrings

tilla disc necklace

square bracelet

I hit the front page!

2012-02-08T11:34:00.000-10:00

Wohoo! Today was a pretty amazing day in the land of etsy for me. I am pretty sure this happens to tons of shops all the time, but I am so excited because an item of mine hit the front page of etsy! The odds of this happening are quite slim, considering there are hundreds of thousands of shops on etsy, and mine if relatively small.

To say the least, I did something of a happy dance and then screamed in joy. You can view the treasury list HERE. These are a few adorable items I was featured with:

cocoa

little house broach

mini "iloveyou" caption

My etsy finds

2012-02-04T15:49:00.003-10:00

vintage books

Aren't these books adorable? I searched through etsy for some items to share with you guys and found that most of them have a blue/grey share about them.

knit hat

I can't wait to finally live someplace where it's cold. I'll be able to get hats, scarves, sweaters, and all that cozy stuff out. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it!

vintage blouse

Love this blouse. The color is lovely ad the fabric looks silky and light. Perfect for a casual or dressy day out. I have to say, my style has really been changing the past few months. It's all etsy's fault (not that I mind a bit).

crystal earrings

Just listed these recently. I love these blue crystals and plan on making a necklace with them very soon.

jersey scarf

Mm, and about that warm weather. Can't forget scarves.

The shop's been...

2012-01-31T16:20:00.000-10:00

black swarovski bar

Okay, people, the shop's been crazy. Or maybe I'm the crazy one. Yeah, that's probably it. You see, I have this goal in mind. What is it, you ask? Weeelll, I am hoping to list a total of 100 items in the shop before...hm, before summer, at least. That means I have been doing nothing but thinking about new ideas for the shop, making jewelry, and taking pictures like a maniac. Which is rather ironic because this blog has been dead for quite a few weeks.

The shop's been crazy though! Seriously.

I'll be back with a more interesting post soon (promise). Just have to get some school done. I have been forgetting about school the past few weeks.

Not intentionally, of course.

thread of silver

row of pearls

A New Year

2012-01-03T08:00:00.000-10:00

hexagon - lovely brass locket

It's a new year, and I feel the shop has a fresh start all over again. Opening the store in September was a huge breakthrough for me, and after sales began to take off, I truly felt encouraged in my new venture. It seemed God had planned it all out that I would begin the store just before the huge Christmas season. Tons of sales erupted on the Black Friday weekend, and the store truly took off in a way I never dreamed possible.

However, as the new year begins, I realize I must essentially start over and begin building up for the next boom. The store must be revamped, I've got to add more stock, work on new products. My etsy store is a continuous growing journey. The items and theme transform as my mind takes on new ideas. It's a process that is at times very difficult. It's hard. It's taxing. It's time consuming.

But it's oh-so worth it. It's helping me to realize what hard work is. It's helping me stretch my creative abilities. It's helping me to learn how to give my customers a good experience at Book of Whimsy.

It's helping me to trust in Jesus Christ, and just have faith that He has a plan for me and this shop. Whether it's just to teach me how to manage something, how to create, how to explore. I know I'm learning these things for a purpose He has for me in the future.

And I'm excited.

Some Gift Ideas

2011-12-14T17:33:00.002-10:00

It's that time of year when most people are scrambling to find the perfect gifts for all the people in their life who are special. Here are a few items in etsy which caught my eye:

Fantastic Fox Hat
(want SO bad!)

Apple Cozy

Shabby Chic Wood Wall Vase

It's been a crazy past few weeks, and during Black Friday weekend God really blessed the shop with tons of sales! It has eventually slowly trickled off, leaving me with time to list a few items in the shop. Feel free to check them out!

Pink Pearl Bracelet

Flower Headband

Free Shipping

2011-11-26T23:09:00.001-10:00

If you haven't been to my shop lately, you wouldn't know there's pretty big sale going on. Squee! My first sale ever, so if you're interested in scoring some free shipping, be sure to check it out! I am offering free shipping to all orders going to the U.S. and Canada in celebration of the big Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale time of year.

I must say, it's been a really fun time for me and for shoppers, so I am very glad to be participating.

Here are a few new items in the shop!

Polar: A wire wrapped clear swarovski crystal.

Cadence: A delicate pink pearl necklace.

The Overdue Update

2011-11-11T14:09:00.001-10:00

Sorry for being MIA. The past few days have been a wee bit busy. Etsy has still been a wonderful journey, though. I just can't describe the wonderful feeling of getting a sale on etsy -- it's like something inside me is going to burst. The happiness just gushes every time I get that email in my inbox about a "transaction." I can go from completely morose to a giddy school girl. Yeah, etsy makes me a bit bipolar. Still, I realize, and have really been trying to stop myself from obsessing about it too, too much.

Some really, really awesome news? I actually got featured on the front page today on etsy through someone's beautiful treasury! It brought me hundreds of shop views and many favorites! It pretty much made my day.

Especially since I was just recently reading up on "how to make it to the front page" on etsy. I never thought it would actually happen, but God always likes to surprise me now and again. ;)

Here are a few items in the shop. Enjoy!

Heart Earrings

2011-10-30T19:17:00.003-10:00

My newest listing! These lovely heart earrings are the perfect vintage inspired accessory. A dash of color but simple enough to match nearly anything.

Updates

2011-10-25T16:58:00.000-10:00

My latest list of etsy finds is finally made. I have been in love with florals lately. Actually, I am in love with florals pretty much all the time. There is just nothing like an adorable floral dress, hair pin, or necklace. Flowers just always work.

This stunning hair comb by Alona Freeman is so lovely. The colors and assortment are so beautiful! I can't help ogling over all of the beautiful items in her shop. They are truly one of a kind.

This flower felt necklace is also brilliant. It is from the lovely shop Urbunny. A definite favorite of mine. Felt is such a versatile medium -- I truly adore nearly every sort of felt product out there.

This adorable ring from the shop Brydferth is so sweet. Since fall is here, it's colors are perfect. Fabric flowers are so versatile -- I would wear them in my hair, on my shirts, for necklaces, shoe clips, and anything else!

Oh, and if ya'll haven't noticed, I changed my shop name from ahmusing to BookofWhimsy so don't worry if you can't find my shop "ahmusing" anymore! It's new and improved. So tell me, do you like it?

I'm afraid the newest item in my shop isn't floral, but it certainly is fall inspired! So here you have it:

You can read more about it in my shop!

Handmade Loves

2011-10-15T08:29:00.000-10:00

The past few days I have been creating things, taking pictures, writing descriptions. Hours of time and thought are poured into each listing in my shop. I had not anticipated etsy to be so much work -- but I didn't expect it to be so wonderful either. The world of etsy is not harsh, but welcoming. Not intimidating, but inspiring. Many of the other shops are beautiful and encouraging.

I can remember the day I made my first sale. The excitement, the joy. It was only a few weeks ago, but ever since that day I realized something: I can never turn back. Etsy is my home online. It is a place where I create, a place that I own.

It is special.

Best of all, etsy inspires me to be more creative every day. It spurs me to improve myself, my craft, my pictures, my writing, my marketing. It is helping me to grown into a person I never thought I could be. It is showing me that something I thought was impossible is possible.

Well, I shouldn't say etsy taught me that. God taught me that.

Everything is possible with Him.

A Little Inspiration

2011-10-10T12:50:00.004-10:00

Most of the time the most beautiful things in life are the simplest. After running across a few adorable mobiles, here is one thing that truly inspired me when I found it:

via

Isn't it lovely? I discovered the shop Wander This Way on etsy, and her products are truly beautiful.

via

And how about this one from the shop The Butter's Flying? It's made from felt. The colors and texture look so serene. I love the design and idea. And felt.

Charm, cluster necklaces are also some of my favorite things. Since Fall is here, I felt this necklace did have a nice autumnal feeling about it. Seeing all of the fall inspired jewelry arising is so refreshing. I love the colors of brassy, scarlet, and amber leaves. It makes me want to snuggle under a blanket with a cup of tea and knit. If I knew how to knit, that is.

via

Since I live nearby the beach, this necklace caught my eye. It is made by Kalei Designs on etsy. Made from natural items you can find on a shoreline. It is beautiful and I love the earthiness of it.

Hopefully you now feel inspired to make something. Go on!

New Additions

2011-10-06T21:09:00.002-10:00

Inspiration comes through so many places. The blue sky, a fresh rain, and vivid sunsets. Certain days I becomes filled with a need to make something -- usually I end up creating a few new pieces of jewelry.

The past few days a couple new additions have popped into my shop.

These sweet blue, gold chain earrings are delicate and lovely. They are subtle enough to match almost anything yet are beautiful and feminine. They feature delicate gold chain, sparkly blue swarovski crystals, and gold beads.

via

I love how simple jewelry is becoming so popular now. Sometimes simple designs are just as beautiful as complex beaded work. Another plus is that minimalist jewelry can match just about any outfit. To me, versatile jewelry is extremely important.

This green agate necklace had a natural, minimalist feel. The gold chain is delicate and sparkles sweetly in the light. It's a perfect everyday necklace for gemstone lovers.

via

Lavender and ivory pearls all bound together with silver wire. These earrings are held together by delicate wire work and have a solitary swarovski crystal dangling from the bottom. They are girly and sweet.

Mason Jars

2011-10-05T10:00:00.000-10:00

The unveiling of what this new blog kimberly marie is all about! It is going to be dedicated to my etsy shop and all my dear, wonderful etsy finds. After entering etsy's community, one can only fall in love with the talented people and splendid items. Therefore, I shall occasionally post about new items in my shop, craft tutorials, and etsy discoveries.

Welcome!

via

One of my favorite things currently is glass bottles and mason jars. They are irresistibly romantic and rustic; when I start re-decorating my room again, I hope to add a few of these beauties to my decor.

via

Isn't this chandelier stunning? The things people come up with, seriously. I would adore one of these in my rustic cabin's dining room with the window slightly open nearby and flower pots everywhere. That would be just grand.

via

Alright, let's get realistic. How about one of these in a bedroom or kitchen? That works great, too.

something different

2011-10-02T21:53:00.003-10:00

Sorry, but this blog is going to undergo some serious renovation the next few weeks! Please understand. It is no longer going to be a project 365 blog, but something far different.

I hope you like it!

love,
kimberly