See some fun fall inspiration! Get more bang for your blog by feeding your feeds to Mommy Tyme!

So, as I seem to do every morning, I was browsing around some of my favorite sites and blogs and thought

Collection of my favorite findings from the blogs, the sites, and more....

Mixed Media Mosaic Wreath- 15" - Cloth Paper Scissors

Some frightful mixed media artwork that is just hypnotized you.... Brilliant works from a menagerie of artists

 /http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/

An incredibly delightful shadowbox theme that brings out the kid in all of us-

http://icantwanna.blogspot.com/2010/10/shadow-knows.html



And last but certainly not least....


In the pattern arena is this very unique and so fun shawl, caplet, cowl- whatever you want it to be piece! Again, the genius behind this is that it can be made with your own unique taste and style by changing out the colors and fibers- and it is Eco friendly because you are using up all those scraps and ends that normally you would just throw out! Is this the most fun fashion statement you have seen in a while? Well, I have a new pattern creator to add to my Favorite's list! Janice Rosema! Wonderful.


Wild Thing freeform capelet pattern PDF by janicerosema on Etsy


As I was preparing this list, I thought... Hmmm.... I am always coming across some fascinating ideas that I bet others would love to know, but unfortunately, I can not spend every waking hour sharing these insightful ideas!  Thus, the cloud formed above my head and the lightbulb turned on!  What if I just added the snippet function from the blog gadget to my blog list?  And it worked!  The latest post from all my favorite blogs popped up allowing anyone visiting my blog to get a small "taste" of what is happening everywhere else (really this is not my idea, in fact it is how I find some of the coolest tutorials tucked far away on a blog I probably would have never found on my own..) So, if you would like to get a little free publicity for your blog- just comment with your url and I will add it to my favorites and then your icon and your last post title with a few words will be listed for others to check out!  So make ATTENTION Grabbing headlines!

Now, idea 2!  A flash of lightning struck!  A few weeks ago I had set up a page of feeds, links and buttons/badges from some of my favorite sites on my website.  I had this extra page that I needed to fill as I was revamping the whole site (which I am still in the midst of,.) but I did not want people to get bored and just breeze through the site- this would give them a place to park and browse for a moment, and hopefully come back.  Well, it seems that a lot of people are visiting that page (likely the high rate of keywords from the various feeds!)- so, if you would like to be added to that, increase your traffic a little, and be able to get your name to people you may not have had the opportunity to contact otherwise.... Simply comment and leave the url to your blog- Now before I get overwhelmed with "how do I do that?" just go to your blog settings and make sure you have set the setting for syndication or blog feed to YES- this allows people to subscribe to your blog and add it to their roll, or their feeds.  Next - make sure you have the gadget added (under design or page layout) that is titled Subscribers or Feeds- this allows others to subscribe to your blog on a daily basis. -   PLEASE add in your comment here that you give me permission to post your feed or add your blog to my favorites!  This just ensures there are no copyright issues - EVER!

Now, the one and only catch is.... I ask that you either grab my button and post it on your blog- or you add me to your list of favorite blogs!  That is it- That is all! 


Ooooooppppssss...... I almost forgot.... if you have an idea, hot spot, or found something just totally awesome out there in the world of the handcrafted Artist- and you really think the world should know- Give me a comment with a link/url or something so I can track it down and show it off!  I know there are hidden corners and caves in the world wide web that I have yet to explore, so if you can help me out, FANTASTIC!

  

Mommy's Mini Marketplace- Join in For Free! Promote yourself!

You might notice that I have rearranged the format of Mommy's Reviews?  Or maybe not... But, I have.  I have so many different things I want to present each week, that if I post it all as individual entries, it becomes a jumbled mess and you may miss something!  So, I have broke the blog down into some sections for convenience and easier reading!  There are categories that are presented vertically, so the newest blog entries will be first, followed by the mini market, The Share the Love Series, etc. etc.  I have posted each section in CAPS AND BOLD!  Remember to check it all out!  Each section has some really cool stuff to offer!

As we have talked about previously, the Share the Love Series will be ongoing and updated weekly.  As will the pursuit of handmade series which is my weekly blog entry!  The Mommy's Mini Market contains all of my shops- but, my new FEATURE is Mommy's Mini Marketplace- which I hope to have up and running in the next week or so... Here is the deal for this:  If you are a handmade artisan and you want to promote your items/shops- you can do so here!  I would like to feature 3-4 mini shops (or widgets) each week (or month)!  All you have to do is- sign up!  Just leave me a comment with your shop URL, name, and email.  I will choose 3-4 shops for this first feature, then contact the shop owners.  The shop owners will send me the code for their mini shops  I will post the mini marketplace.  One catch, however, is that the online shops must have a mini/window, etc.  I know that etsy, winkelf, artfire, and fuzz b offer this free service- but, as for other marketplaces, I am not sure!  You will just have to ensure that your venue does offer this service.

My readers get a fantastic opportunity to browse a variety of shops with multiple modes of talent!   Readers can shop directly from the blog or they can link to your shop and see all of your great products!  This will give readers a chance to see all the fantastic items out there in the handmade marketplaces- not just the few items I may choose to feature!  And this provides you (the shop owner) with one more link back, one more promotional tool, one more place where your name and products is being shouted out!  You have to do absolutely nothing!  I will tweet your shop's presence here, post it on my website, let my facebook followers know, etc! 



I honestly believe in promoting and preserving the great talents out there!  One of my biggest fears is that by the time my child is an adult, there were only be cheap, mass marketed products for him to enjoy.  I want the future of handmade and artisan work to grow- I pray that individuals continue to express themselves and their creativity and that there continue to be a market that openly appreciates and receives these creations.  So, I feel an ultimate obligation to do my part and shout to the world - Hey check these artists out!  So, Mommys Mini Marketplace is just one more way I can do that!  Problem is .... I need participants (you, the shop owner!)

So, if you are interested, comment with the needed information- and I hope to have this feature section up and running sometime next week!

The next new section/feature- is the contest corner!  I think this will be a fun spot where Readers can check out all the latest contests and links to drawings, etc.  I am always entering everything.  I love to win!  I love to try new things, you never know when you are going to get something that just changes your whole outlook!  Recently on a blog, The Crafty Tortoise, I won some great gifts- a gorgeous gold bear bracelet and matching earrings, a wonderful lavender sachet, coupons and discounts to a variety of etsy shops, and more... It was so exciting to get this in the mail!  I couldn't wait to tear the package open and I was so excited about the contents!  It was really fun!  So, I wanted to offer that here, also!  Every contest I find and enter, I will post here so you can enter, too!  Then if any of us win, lets talk about the prize/host/contest!  Its all about helping one another out!  So as I find them, I will post them!  Check daily... it will change frequently!  This saves you the trouble of scouring all the blogs, sites, links to find a contest- You can just pop in here and see what's new!

If you have a contest, and would like to post the link and some info about it here- just comment with the information and contact email, I will be So Happy to Do This For You!

Also, if interested in showcasing your items in my "Sweets for your Sweety" Pursuit of Handmade, comment here with a link to your URL.  By doing so, you give me permission to present your pictures and link here on Mommy's Reviews!