"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo."

^ that up there, is a grammatically correct sentence! My brain hurts from understanding it, as explained in this Wiki.

The sentence uses 3 forms of the word:

Buffalo the city
buffalo the animal
buffalo an verb meaning "to bully"

If you replace the animal form with the word "people", it helps to understand the sentence better (sort of).

Buffalo people Buffalo people buffalo Buffalo people.
so...
Buffalo people (whom) Buffalo people buffalo (also happen to) buffalo Buffalo people.

Does your brain hurt?

Just a weird little tidbit that is totally useless but interesting to know none the less.

I was excited about seeing Basic Grey's holiday collection this year. I really enjoyed their festive collections from the past. But, so far, I'm not too impressed by what they came up with this year. Even the name, Wassail, is a bit strange to me. Maybe, it hasn't grown on me yet. Anyway, here it is. What do you think?









And they also added a calendar creator to their line:


I think this year, I may stick to their previous year's holiday collections. Those were papers I could never grow tired of.

I believe that Basic Grey has out done themselves this time. Four new yummy collections, for CHA Summer 2008, that just may be the best yet. I can't help but detect a bit of Amy Butler-ness in a few of the designs, which can only be a good thing. Here is sampling of each. Although, they aren't yet available, you can still view the complete collections at Basic Grey's website.

Due out early August:

and due out October:



and, as if we needed anything more, they are introducing a line of fabric, distributed by Moda.
It's due out October, and called Urban Courture. You can view it here.

For all you bead lovers, especially vintage beads, I've compiled a list of online shops where you can find vintage beads, and other general jewelry making supplies. It's an ever growing list, that I hope will be useful to some. Please feel free to share your favorite sources, online or not, by leaving a comment. Sharing is nice and brings good karma to all that practice it. It's on my other blog, The Glass Onion. Rather than copy the entire post, here is the link. Enjoy...

I like to shop online. Who doesn't? I prefer to shop at online stores that accept PayPal, since that is where the money I make from my Etsy shops go. I always wished I could pay my Etsy bill with PayPal, to make my bookkeeping easier and more streamlined. Now, I finally can.

PayPal now offers a browser plug-in that allows you to pay with your PayPal account anywhere online, even when it's not accepted. After you install the plug-in, the way it works is anytime you are checking out from an online shop, the plug-in recognizes it and will ask if you want to pay with your PayPal account balance. The plug-in will even fill in the customer information forms for you. If the shop your at doesn't already except PayPal, the plug-in will generate a one time use Mastercard to use and the funds come right from your PayPal balance. For websites you visit frequently, you can even generate a Mastercard that can be used multiple times (for 2 years) that is designated for that one website. This option is the way to pay your Etsy bill. Once you install the plug-in, go to your PayPal account summary, and click profile. Under the Financial Information section, there is a PayPal Plug-In link. Here you can set up your preferences including generating a secure credit card, for sites you use often, like Etsy.

Most Etsy users can agree that their search engine is far from perfect. It can be hard to find something specific, or even something not so specific. I don't like to complain about it, too much, as I am not really sure what it is about the search that isn't working right. I'm not sure what it is that needs to be changed or added in order for it to be more effective. I'm sure there are several factors; like the tag system, the way the results are filtered, the lack of filters, etc. etc. I've always know that there was the option of using Google's search engine to search Etsy, by using the advanced search options and specifying Etsy as the web address to search.

Today I learned that Google has a tool to create a customized search tool. I created one using only Etsy as the website to search. You can add multiple websites to search as well. below is the Google/Etsy search too I created. I figure anything must be better than the search feature available to us at Etsy. I'm still playing with it and haven't decided if it's more effective yet.

This great UK based online gadget shop, I Want One of Those is full of "Gotta Have It's". I'm mentioning a few below, but it's worth the time to check out what other crazy must have's they offer.


I must get one of these. Lately the spiders have been taking over my house. If my husband isn't home to do the deed (or willing), then I have had no choice but to squash the beastly pests and flush them down the toilet. I hate it when I miss because I am freaking out too much to actually catch them correctly before they scurry away and hide until I'm sleeping.

The Spider Catcher

The Spider Catcher is basically a long pole with a handle and spiny bristles at the end. Pull the trigger and the bristles open, release the trigger and the bristles close allowing you to capture any wee beasties in your range without damaging them (though we can't be certain that it won't create any long-lasting psychological damage). Take the critter outside and you can release your prey without having to touch it with your hands.

Fantastic for wasps, bees and other stinging insects!

I think these party cups are hilarious...

Pick Your Nose Cup

Each paper cup has one of twelve different shaped and sized noses printed on it, and in such a way so that when you're swigging from it, it looks as though the hooter depicted on the cup is your own nose. Utterly pointless of course, but what a great alternative to boring party cups - it's a kind of party rhinoplasty, if there is such a thing

I got one of these for my dad for Father's Day. I just love it, and so did he.

I'm Not A Paper Cup Cup

In steps 'I'm Not A Paper Cup', which, whilst looking very much like a paper cup, isn't one. The hint is in the name. Instead of adding more rubbish to the pile of garbage mounting up under the whirling seagulls on the dodgy side of town, you can now drink your coffee and tea from a beautifully made thermal porcelain version, complete with its heat-conserving silicone lid. Double walled for extra insulation the 'I Am Not A Paper Cup' is, aside from not being a paper cup, a breath of fresh air, and quite probably a design icon to boot.


Mad as it sounds, someone has invented an electronic cigarette. It looks like a cigarette, it tastes like a cigarette, it smokes like a cigarette, but it isn't a cigarette, it contains no tobacco, and the "smoke" is just vapour. Containing state of the art micro-electronic technology this re-chargeable e-cigarette produces a real smoking experience without any of the deeply unpleasant side-effects of tobacco. As you inhale a tiny battery vapourises liquid inside the cigarette producing smoke.



Find all these fun gadgets and many more here.

Man, a week flies by fast. Here is another collection of fabulous Etsy shops, for this most excellent Thursday evening. Enjoy.

featured above:

JKLDesign, betsy3, doubleparlour
Finestra, 6Hours, KJoo,
StellaandLux, girlinworld, opulentoddities,

I wish I knew who were, so I could thank you.

In September, I made one post, in the Etsy forums, mentioning blogrush, as a way to drive traffic to your blog. My intent was just to share something new I had just discovered, not really knowing much about it, myself even. Since then, 160 bloggers have been added to my referral network. The credits I earn from my network is outrageous compared to the credits I earn myself. I have no idea who you 160 bloggers are, but I thank you.

Now to write a better blog, to make use of all these credits...

I'm so totally addicted to creating treasury's on Etsy. Something about putting together a collection of different items that compliment one another is just so much fun. If only there were a job that payed to do this. It's impossible to always get a treasury spot, although I try. But there is no need to wait for one. I've decided to curate my own collection of beautiful things. It's my Curate Thursday. This great widget from Good Widgets lets me create a light box widget. The widgets here are fantastic and worth a look. See mine below. (Click on the photos to see a larger view.)

featured above:

TheOakLeaves, bode22, artshcoolgirl, F2Images, BKMHattitude, chetanddot, EstherCooms, drearyneedle, InvitaPaperStudio