Strange Gig... But Good

On Friday, I performed magic at a Curling Tournament, with special guests who were members of the US Olympic team!  Though I'd watched curling during the Olympics on TV, I'd never been to an actual tournament, nor had I performed at one.


During these tournaments, there is a bit of down time, and there's a bar that overlooks the ice rink for people to hang out in.  This is where I performed.


When I first walked in, I saw a bunch of people dressed up like cows, then there were pilgrims, rabbits and a bunch of other stuff.  I thought, "Wow, these curlers are sure strange!"...then it hit me that it was almost Halloween...duh!


Everyone was really nice and seemed to enjoy the magical break from the curling.  I got to perform for the Olympians as well, and they were really great, down to earth guys.  The guy that runs the tournament says that they'll hire me again next year if they have one... count me in!

Friday's Favorites: Kid Stuff

There are many joys in having children. One of them is all the cute stuff you can buy for them that you can't buy for yourself. Take a look at these adorable items, and maybe you'll see 
something perfect for a child in your life.






Here is the actual link to the treasury for those that want to blog, facebook, or tweet about it:


http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjI1NjY2NHw5ODEyMTQwMDQ/this-treasury-is-childs-play

Submissions: Kid Stuff

Every Friday, I put together a treasury of some of my favorite items made by other etsy sellers, post it on my blog, and call it the Friday's Favorites.


Last week's treasury, Bedazzling and Becoming, had 113 views, 25 comments, 59 clicks and 10 admirers.


This week, I'm looking for KID STUFF.  If you have items specifically for kids, post the link in the comments and check back tomorrow for the Friday's Favorites.


Don't have kid stuff?  Feel free to nominate a friend's item and help spread the love.


I will be looking in the forums for items as well, but I always consider the blog submissions first.

Lost Doggy Update

Unfortunately, I could not find the owner of the Rat Terrier, and neither could my friend.  I had two responses to the craigslist ad, and one was close, and the other had the wrong coloring.


Since the lost doggy hated my friend's parents, she couldn't keep him any longer, and since my dogs wanted him for dinner, I couldn't keep him either.  There's no telling what the cat would have done to him.


I tried to give him away to everyone at work, as did the boyfriend at his place of business, but no luck. 


We ended up taking him to a shelter that had more resources in finding the rightful owners so they could either reunite them, or prosecute them for dumping him.  


It killed me to take him there, but I thought it was his best chance at finding a good home as he is quite adoptable, and loves other animals.  ... He was great with me, my boyfriend and my friend... he just didn't seem to like older people, but he had a little too much energy for them anyhow.


In treasury news:


So far this week's treasury, Bedazzling and Becoming, has 110 views, 24 comments, 59 clicks and 8 admirers.


Tune in tomorrow for this week's submissions!

Lost Doggie

Last night, while taking the fur monsters out on a walk, we stumbled upon a dog with a collar but no tags.  He was frightened of me, but loved my dogs... which was strange because my dogs were trying to kill him.  Since he had no tags, and looked like he'd been outside for a while, I knew this little guy needed some help.


I only had two leashes, but luckily one of my dogs is only 6 pounds, so I scooped her up, and got the leash on the new guy and brought him home.  I didn't hear anyone or see anyone looking around for their dog.  I told the boyfriend that we needed to take him to the vet to get scanned for a chip.


The vet tech scanned and lo and behold a chip! We were so happy, we were going to get this guy back to his home.  


Unfortunately, when the vet tech looked up the chip number, all they found was the breeder that the dog came from out in Missouri.  And by this time it was 10pm in Las Vegas...way to late to call Missouri.


We couldn't take him back home, as the boyfriend and I would be at work all day the next day, and I was worried about what my dogs and ninja kitty might do to him while we were gone.  I really didn't want to take him to animal control.  Luckily my friend was able to take him in and is going to call the breeder in the morning to see if she can track down the owner.  


Fingers crossed!

Halloween Gig

Well, you know from previous posts how much I "love" Halloween gigs.  Last night, I had a four hour one.


It was a charity event for people to bring their kids to.  It wasn't nearly as bad as my normal Halloween gigs.  To start with, very few adults were in costume, mainly just the kids, so with me in costume doing magic, it did make me stand out a bit.


Some parents thought I was a parent of another child, though, and would give me strange looks when I'd approach them and their kids.  They were cool, after they realized that I worked there.


Four hours walking on cement has really made me quite sore today, but the work week is not over yet.  I still have 6 shows today, 3 shows tomorrow and 6 shows on Monday at the Venetian. 


Calgon! Take me away!

Friday's Favorites: Jewelry

Tired of you same old outfits? What you need is a few accessories to bring out something different in them. Check out these beautiful jewelry pieces and maybe you can find something to brighten up the dreary.








Here's the link for those of you that want to blog, facebook or tweet about it:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjI1NjY2NHw5MzM2NTYxMDg/bedazzling-and-becoming

Submissions: Jewelry

Every Friday, I put together a treasury of some of my favorite items made by other etsy sellers, post it on my blog and call it the Friday's Favorites!


Last week's treasury, High Quality, Low Sales III, had 69 views, 11 comments, 44 clicks and 8 admirers.


This week, I'm looking for JEWELRY.  If you have any jewelry in your shop, post the link to your favorite piece in the comments and check back tomorrow for the Friday's Favorites.


Don't have Jewelry?  Feel free to nominate a friend's item and help spread the love.


I will be looking for items in the forums as well, but I always consider my blog submissions first.

Cats and Dogs

My dogs get along with my cat, one a bit more begrudgingly than the other, but any other cats will send them into a tailspin.  Their existence bothers them and they turn from sweet angels to something you'd see on the Dog Whisperer.


There are a few neighborhood cats that are not afraid.  Usually we go on our walks peacefully (well, as peacefully as you can get with one dog that still has a bit of puppy in him), but sometimes the cats are out for a bit of entertainment.  They are smart enough to figure out that the dogs can't get to them if they're on a leash.  The dogs, however, have not figured out this key bit of information.


The dogs go crazy, and the cats cock their heads and just look at them.  Instead of running away, I try to calm the dogs down and get them to sit there, hoping that this will show them that there's nothing to get excited about.  If I see the cat when or before they do, I can usually do it, however if they see it first, I'm not quick enough before their emotions go up to 11.


It's even worse when it's not a cat... my "brilliant" dogs sometimes see plastic or paper bags in the street that resemble a cat in some way shape or form.  It usually takes me a little bit to see what has gotten them so riled up.  After calming them down, I take them over to the offensive litter, so maybe they'll see what idiots they were... *sigh*


Oh well, off for a walk now... cats and garbage, beware!

Friday's Favorites: High Quality, Low Sales III

What do all of these beautiful items have in common? Well, believe it or not, all of these shops have less than ten sales. So many wonderful things to choose from, lets get these guys into the double digits!








Here is the link to the actual treasury for those that want to blog, facebook or tweet about it.


http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjI1NjY2NHw4ODM2MjY1MTk/high-quality-low-sales-iii

Submissions: 10 Sales or Less

Every Friday, I put together a treasury of some of my favorite items made by other etsy sellers, post it on my blog and call it the Friday's Favorites!


Last week's treasury, These TREATS are not TRICKS, had 78 views, 22 comments, 41 clicks and 17 admirers. 


This week, it's time again to highlight the etsy newbies.  If you have had 10 SALES OR LESS, please post the link to your favorite item in the comments, and check back tomorrow for the Friday's Favorites.


Had more than 10 sales?  Feel free to nominate a friend's item and help spread the love.


I will be looking in the forums for items as well, but I always consider my blog submissions first.

!!Just Listed!!! Slouchy Hat!

Warm Slouchy Red Knit Cap

I just finished, photoed and listed this red cable knit slouchy hat.  It can also be pushed up to be worn as a beret, for a dressier look.


This pattern is also knew, and after I've made a couple more of these hats, I might set about writing up the pattern and selling that as well.


I almost didn't list this as I wanted to keep it for myself.  If it makes it through Christmastime, I might just take it out of the store and onto my head... we'll see.

!!!New!!! Faux Fishnet!

Warm Faux Fishnet Fingerless Gloves

I just finished making these Faux Fishnet Fingerless Gloves!  


I've always loved the look of fishnet, but due to the weather, it's not always practical to wear it.  I thought that something inspired by this look, just might to the trick, and I'm really happy how they turned out!


I'm going to wait and see what the response to these are, and if it's good, I'll probably branch out with a few different colors, and/or maybe some different trim.

The "Joys" of Halloween Performing

Now don't get me wrong, I love Halloween.  I love seeing everyone dress up in strange costumes, love the candy (except the candy corn) and love having kids coming to my door saying, "Trick or treat?"


However, I do not love performing around Halloween.  Where I do magic at the Venetian, I play a character, and as such wear a costume... year round.  However during the month of October, I am stuck with people asking me, "Where did you get that costume?"  

Of course the average person is going to think I'm dressing up for the holidays, but the worst is the people that work there also think so.  They see me every day and yet in October, they forget and say things like, "Aren't you a little bit early this year?" Did they not have conversations with me last month or the month before?  You might think they are joking, but when I remind them that I always wear this, they say, "Oh yeah..."


Sometimes in the break room, the dealers ask me if they let me take the costume home for Halloween... and yet they don't think it's funny if I ask them if they get to take their uniform home so they can be a dealer for their trick-or-treating.


Don't worry, little kids, I'm not a Scrooge, and though I won't be dressing up for Halloween, I will have candy by the door, and will enjoy each and every one of your costumes.

Friday's Favorites: Halloween

It's that time of year again, where we become fascinated with the macabre. Have you done your Halloween shopping yet? Better hurry, before you know it, the season of black and orange will be over.






Here is the link to the treasury for those of you that want to blog, tweet or facebook about it:


http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjI1NjY2NHw4Mzc0NDAzMDU/these-treats-are-not-tricks

Submissions: Halloween

Every Friday I put together a treasury of some of my favorite items made by other etsy sellers, put it on my website, and call it the Friday's Favorites!

Beanie in Halloween Colors

Last week's treasury, Purple! Fun to say and wear!, had 203 views, 41 comments, 105 clicks and 40 admirers!


This week I'm looking for your Halloween inspired items.  If you have any Halloween in your shop, post the link here in the comments and check back tomorrow for the Friday's Favorites!


Don't have Halloween? Feel free to nominate a friend's item and help spread the love.


I will also be looking in the forums for items, but I always consider the blog submissions first.


The Beanie in Halloween Colors pictured above, is my submission.

The Things I get to Do

As a magician, most of the gigs I get are corporate affairs; usually for the top sellers, top buyers or employee appreciation.  Sometimes I get to work trade shows where I put on shows to gather a crowd in front of a booth.  


Every once in a while, I get something different. I just got a gig at the end of October performing at a curling tournament.  I even get to perform for the US Olympic Curling Team! How cool is that? 


Like most Americans, I don't actually follow curling year round, but come the Winter Games, I do tune in and have a great time watching these guys throw stones and sweep them across the ice.  I'm so excited, it's gonna be lots of fun!