Esmerelda Gives Birth

At about 9:30 am I checked our "Spring maternity ward", and all six soon-to-be-moms again were up grazing, no sign of anyone being in labor.

I got company about 10am, we watched the alpacas out the kitchen window for a few minutes, then sat down to visit.  At about 10:45am, I glanced out the window and saw a new cria, already up and walking and looking for something to eat!  That was fast, easy too!

 Our guard llama, Lacy Lady, sits nearby as is typical when there is a new baby.  

 Seeing Lacy sticking close to a pregnant female is a sure sign she is in labor. 

 Lacy stands watch until the baby is born.  Once she sees all is well, she goes on about her business.  It is uncanny how she knows and does her job.

Esmerelda was born on our farm and my daughter named her. 

The other alpacas are always curious and excited to meet the new kid.

Her mom is Duchess and her dad is the Prince of Ghiradelli.  Isn't he a handsome male?

Esmerelda had a hole in her heart when she was born and we were told she'd never be able to have babies.

At a visit to Ohio State University, we learned the hole had grown closed.

Now she is mother to three, first two boys, Eli and Ezra, and now a girl!  Maybe we'll call her Eliza . . .

SGAR's Peruvian Zumaya

And the daddy!

 

How To Make An Etsy Treasury

First of all what is an Etsy Treasury?  

Etsy says, "They are curated galleries of items chosen by the Etsy community. They are not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Etsy Administration often chooses an exceptional Treasury list to promote on the home page."  

It sure is fun to get featured, good for business too!

This is the Treasury currently being featured on Etsy.  They are always fun to see, the creativity is endless, and I get inspired!

I've been doing Blog Treasuries, because it is fun, it promotes other artists, and it introduces them to my blog because I notify them that they are in my Treasury and they come to see it!

I was recently asked how to make a Treasury and in order to answer the question I did a little research.

What I found was an Etsy Treasury Demo Blog.  It is a wonderful resource that should help anyone interested in doing this, pictures too!

I'm sure it's not complicated once you have done it, but I got lost in all the instructions and didn't want to spend so much time trying to get my Treasury chosen.

The following is what I have figured out how to do, works for me!

1.  Open your Favorite Items.

2.  In another screen, open the Etsy Poster Sketch Tool.

3.  Having deciding on a theme or a color palette, choose a Favorite Item and click on it.  Select and copy the item number that you see in the address bar.  In this case, it would be 45184230. 

4.  Paste it in one of the listing id boxes in your Poster Sketch Tool and click ok.  Your first item will appear.  Continue doing this until all boxes are filled.  From the current item you have chosen in your other screen, you can use the back arrow to go back to your Favorites.  You can rearrange the items in the Poster Sketch Tool by dragging and dropping.  

I guess I'll finish the one I'm working on, so I can show you.

5.  Next I click on View, then Full Screen, then Ctrl Paste which will copy what you see on the screen.  Open a program that you can paste your new image into, I use Microsoft Publisher.  Paste it, then crop out what you don't want.  I like to add a background that complements your Treasury.  Save it as a jpeg and upload to wherever you plan to post it!

 

Winner - Under the Sea Painted Shoes!

Congratulations to Norakaren, the winner of this week's "Prom Time" Treasury!

Under the Sea Painted Shoes

Thank you to all who participated!

Summer Sky

Here is my latest hand-spun yarn . . .

I've listed it on Etsy and am calling it Summer Sky, thanks to my Facebook friends offering suggestions!  It's a pretty one.

I think it would be cute knit or crocheted into a hat or mittens.

Prom Time

PROM TIME

It is prom time in our neck of the woods and so that is the theme of this Treasury of favorite items I've chosen from some wonderful Etsy shops.  My middle son is a senior in high school so this will be his last prom, unless he comes home from college and goes with the next-door-neighbor like I did!  Five proms was my count, can't believe my mom let me go those first couple of years.

My daughter is 13, just informed me yesterday that her friend Ashley has a boyfriend. How could this be?  The worry begins.  Wish the girls still wore dresses like these . . .

Leave a comment and vote for your favorite Etsy item, that is not your own.  The winner will be posted here, in next week's announcements, and on my FB page!

Dahlia Flower Picture by Shaded Memories 

Under The Sea by Nora Karen's Shop

Fantail BustleTutu by Perry Style

White Green Rose Corsage Bracelet by Lunetmuse's Shop

Sugar Star Earrings by BellEpoch's Shop

Teak Dreams by YOKNIT's Shop

Prom Paper Bag Scrapbook by LJs Originals' Shop

1960's Vintage Sage Green by Timeless Vixen Vintage's Shop

Dress Long Strapless by Lan01's Shop

Custom Order for Jen by Bethany Lorelle's Shop

Long Lake Surprise by CSchmauder Watercolor Shop

1930's Women's Marie Antoinette Party Dress by A Better Time's Shop

Summer Pinks by Little Owl Arts

Perfect 80's Prom Dress by Rogue Retro's Shop

Learning by MISMA's Shop

Pink Pearls Beaded Ring by Elma's Boxs Shop