Move is done & Back to business...BLACK FRIDAY!!!

Shop Handmade. Shop Local.

Quick Fact: Small businesses have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years and employ over half of all private sector employees.

15% OFF, November 25th-28th!

After your Black Friday run to the stores, consider buying handmade items from local artisans. Your friends and family will LOVE receiving these unique gifts!  Remember by shopping with your local artisans, you can customize your gifts to really make them special!

Members of the Etsy Team in the DC area, CREST, have banned together to offer you a special discount from Black Friday (11/25) to Cyber Monday (11/28). Use the coupon code HOLIDAYCREST to receive 15% off your order at any of the participating shops below:

Bette's Bags - One-of-a-kind handmade bags, purses, totes, etc.

  

Earthen Knit - Sustainable Scarves, Hats, Washcloths, & Fiber Jewelry

 EBN Art Studio - Contemporary Painting, Prints, & more!

Handmade Habitat - upcycled clothes, handmade journals, functional bags, and more!

JenniferLynn Productions - Photography and Cards

Julie Rebecca Designs - Beaded Jewelry & Accessories

Maggie Sue Designs - Accessories for Fun & Function

Moon Blossom Designs - Beaded Jewelry

Peace, Baby! Batiks - Batik Clothing for Babies and Toddlers

Purple Clover - Eco-friendly Home Decor

RAM Jewelry Designs - Handcrafted, Beaded Jewelry

Smoking Haute - Modern Knitted Accessories

Taila Custom Designs - Handmade with Love Using Yarn, Fabric, & Ribbons

Twisted Cow - Handmade Collars for Pets & Accessories for People

To quote Nike...JUST DO IT...SHOP HANDMADE THIS YEAR!

Ever feel like purging....

I go through these spells or fits where I just want to start all over from scratch.  I tend to do this with my website about once every two years.  I am going through this again and it has not been a year yet!  I think this is occuring because I am about to move...AGAIN!

The current place that I am living is great, but the crime is starting to get a bit more frequent and I just don't think that it is worth my high-a**- rent to have to put up with it.  The complex is lovely, clean, has a few children, and my neighbors all work at good jobs so it is not my neighbors.  We have figured out that the crime is coming from folks that are coming and going from outside our complex...we have a fence but no controlled access in or out of the complex.

I digress back to my original point, I am going through a change and purge cycle so since a move is pending I might as well do it all now.

Oh, and check this out:

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/22/chinas-latest-craze-dyeing-pets-to-look-like-other-wild-animals/?hpt=hp_c2

I am not sure what to think about this trend, but Chester would look awesome as a pink panda!


**the video is all in good fun, but the rent is too damn high!

I have discovered the QR

According to wide world of internet, the fabulous Quick Response code (QR Code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code), readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera phones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded can be text, URL or other data (thanks Wiki!).

So, after reading a bit about "why I should have one", I decided to do a little research to find the best place to create a QR code for The Twisted Cow.  I am not going to bore you with all the websites that are out there that are free but slightly kinda sucky, not bad but still suck, and really really freakin' suck, but instead tell you to go here: http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/. 

I will tell you Zxing will give you several choices/designs of QR code to choice from...AWESOME!!!!

Anywho, here are mine...click away my pretties...heh heh heh!!

 

contact information



URL just in case...



                                                 

                                              
I so love technology!!!

Remember when...

The other day I found  myself in quite a dilemma when deciding on a color scheme for a collar design. 

The dilemma and an observation: where did all these shades of fill in the blank come from?!  I remember a time when you may have had two or three shades of orange...light, regular, and dark, but now that is  not the case!  Orange is no longer orange and blue is no long just blue (thanks Wiki for the examples)...

Seriously...Papaya Whip?! 

Uh...Eton Blue...it is a cool name, but really folks?! ETON?!

These chart shows only one point of view of what orange and blue represent to the creator of THESE lists...holy crap look at this RGB chart by Kevin J. Walsh Copyright © 2007.  It is a fairly large list of colors that range from black (or would that be blacks?!) to white...white(s). 

No wonder you need a degree to figure out what goes with what now-a-days and just think...all I wanted to do was make a blue and orange collar.  After looking at all the colors, I will be going with...i am still working on that!

Finally....the Sashes are here!!!!

So, after doing a couple for free I have decided to do a line of them to see what kind of buzz they may generate. So without further adieu...

Aimee

Eleanor

Shauna

The colors and centers will vary depending on the client.

I am so happy that my babies are here!!! Thanks to everyone for their inspiration and kind words!!!

Dr. Who...the new season is a comin'

This is one of my guilty pleasures when it comes to television.  I do love the Who series, but I just cannot seem to "get" the series before Christopher Eccelston.  I was in lurve with David Tennant and now Matt Smith is kinda growing on me...it has to be the bowtie cuz the fez was killing me!

Anyway, for those of you Who fans out there...

Christmas List 2011:
TARDIS...I wonder if I can get one on Amazon?!

The Cherry Blossoms

Me not being a native of this area, I have not really had a great appreciation for the cherry blossoms that seem to be on the same level as orange trees in Florida. 

The other day while walking Chet, I really took a look at the abundance of cherry blossom trees and suddenly had a new appreciation of beauty of those little blossoms.  So after days of threatening to bring my camera on our walk...I finally did!! 

For those of you who may not make it to the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) region during the bloom...here ya go!

I took these with my FIVE (yes I said 5!! year old Kodak camera)...I could not be happier!

Project Selvage - Spoonflower and Michael Miller

Here is my design...It is a bit "elementary" but the design is supposed to be for a baby boy.  It is cute and I love the way it turned out.  I will let you guys know what the outcome is...wish me luck!!!

Wholesale Program Decision....

On December 28, 2010 I wrote this: Wholesale Program - As of now the Wholesale program has been suspended while I decide whether to revamp it or just get rid of it all together. A decision will be made by the end of January 2011.


So, here it is February 8, 2011 and I finally decided on the best course of action for the Wholesale Program...The Wholesale Program is going away and will be replaced with the Bulk Buy pricing program that everyone can take advantage of. 

The new Bulk Buy Program will effect immediately, but my current wholesale accounts have until March 1, 2011 to take advantage of the current Wholesale Program Rates.

Here is the Bulk Buy Program table:

$200 - $299.99 = 15% discount
$300 - $399.99 = 20% discount
$400 - $599.99 = 25% discount
$600 - $799.99 = 30% discount
$800 and up = 35% discount

I feel it is a change for the better and it will benefit everyone that makes large purchases.  The Wholesale program was great, but it was not as beneficial for the business as I would have liked it to be. 

Thanks everyone for being so understanding while I adjust the direction that I want to take The Twisted Cow.

Winners from the Washington Bridal Showcase!!!

O-M-G...wow!  That was a whirlwind of supreme overwhelmingness.  I was an exhibitor and I was overloaded so I can only imagine it from the bride's point of view.

Anyway, I did a giveaway and the prizes were Swarovski Cufflinks or a Radiant Ice dog collar.  The winner is allowed to choose either one.  So, here are the winning numbers:

1051 and 6550

The winners can contact me or I will contact them when I receive the bridal contact list.