Friday, December 26, 2008

God's Work

IS ALWAYS AMAZING...

This video tells the story of Harmony Outreach in co-founder John Bentley's own words. If it doesn't tug at your heart, I'm not sure what will.



In 2008, we sponsored sweet little Helen from Harmony Outreach's deaf school by making and selling our "Hope Is Not Lost" bracelet. The bracelet is named after baby Hope, who we helped raise funds for in 2007 (the year we began working with Harmony Outreach) so she could have her needed heart surgery.

We will continue to support Helen until she graduates from the deaf school.

Thank you to all of you who have supported our efforts to help these wonderful children!!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Remember the Charleston: A New Antique Shop

As published in The Sentinel 12/18/08

By Deanna Roux

After over 40 years of traveling, collecting antiques and doing auctions and flea markets, Paul and Mary Tetreault opened the Charleston Shop on North Main Street in Belchertown (across the street from McCarthy’s Pub). The store opened this past July and only a couple of months later, Paul passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.

Mary decided to keep the shop open and is holding down the fort with the help of her daughters and her aunt. She say’s her experience in Belchertown has been a good one. “The people here are so good,” she said. “I was working here the day after he died. A woman came in and she saw I was upset. I told her I had just buried my husband the day before. She gave me a big hug and told me her name was Mary. About a week later she left me a gift. It was a big white flower with a black background that read “light.” I thought it was a Georgia O’Keefe but it was her own work - she’s a photographer. That just shows you the kind of people that are here in Belchertown. It’s such a nice place to have a shop.”

Over the years, the pair have stockpiled furniture, collector’s items (records, stamps, cards, etc.), tools, ringer washers, organs, wood stoves, windows, doors and all kinds of knobs and gadgets from just about every state in the south. “We are like the General Store of the twenties,” Tetreault said “minus the food.”

Tetreault encourages people to come look and come ask. “If I don’t have it here, I can get it,” she said. “We have a lot of things in storage so whenever we sell something, I’ll bring in some more. So the inventory is always changing.”

Also available are used furniture, building supplies, and wood. Prices are reasonable and usually negotiable. The shop is currently open Friday and Saturday, 9am - 4pm or by appointment by calling 413-512-1373. They will expand their hours in the spring by opening on Thursdays as well.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Check out the Birthday Bunch

ETSIANS WHO SHARE A BIRTHDAY

Hey check this out. It's kind of interesting to see how many people have joined Etsy in the past year. There are, I think, tens of thousands of Etsy shop owners, but here you can see the increase of the past year by looking at one day - December 11 - my birthday.

Last year, there were 147 Etsians who shared the day.


This year there are 378 who have my birthday in common - that's about 2.5 times as many.


Can you find me in both images? What about others? Not everyone keeps the same 'avatar' consistently, the little image that represents them in their shop and in forums, etc. How many Etsians can you find that are in both images?


Happy birthday to you December 11 babies - hope you get lots of love today!

Check out the full list ...right here. When you get there, move your mouse around and sprinkle some love down on us!

Note: these images represent the first 100 of each group.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Treasure-trove of PMC

LOOK AT ALL THE GORGEOUS FINE SILVER WORKS

Today a fellow-Etsian sent me a note saying she put me in her treasury. A treasury on Etsy is a place where you can pick your favorite handmade works and display them in a neat little grid. I guess it gives those featured a little more exposure but it also allows the treasury creator to play curator. It's fun to curate, to be featured, and to browse!


Can you find my design?
(click on image to enlarge)


I hope you will consider shopping at Etsy this holiday and buy handmade!