Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It........First Party Of The New Year!

Out With The Old, In With the New

Almost. It's a New Year....and the button above reminds me that it is way past time to update that graphic. Alas, time is all I need to accomplish that task. However, none of that changes the fact that it's PARTY TIME! I know, this news just wiped away all the worry your were having over when I would be able to squeeze in a new button design. Thank goodness.

If you're new to Mercantile Muse and the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Party here's the digitty dig details.

You probably already know about etsy (where we have a shop) and the handmade  movement, resurgence of everything vintage and the explosion of blogs by little peeps like me. Behind that movement are a gazillion creators, pickers, photographers and bloggers who run their own shops and blogs, competing against all the big guys who have gigantic marketing budgets. These little people don't and it's important to me, for a variety of reasons, to give these hardworking people a leg up on the big competition anyway I can.

That brings us to the link party.

The Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It link party is a place for these shop owners and bloggers to share links and introduce new people (like you) to their wares and their blogs.

It's not just for them though. It's for you. It's an all-in-one free for all where you'll find a great variety of products and blogs, just waiting to be discovered by you.

Plus, it's a party. What more can I say?

Shall we?

 

1. black shrug by MIRIMIRIFASHION  2. ‘masquerade mask by monkey thumbs

3. new year banner by mulberry creek  4. treble clef stencil by Cosmic Emotions
5. champagne glasses by amys vintage decorium  6. customized champagne bucket by Susabellas
7. white chocolate and raspberry fudge by SadiSweetShop  8. friendship sister painting by Sascalia

Remember, even if you don't own an etsy shop or online business and you don't blog, you are still invited to this party. It's a fun place to window shop and see what you might have been missing until now.

******If you're linking up your shop or blog, please read these guidelines before linking up.******

*If you like Mercantile Muse enough to link up, please follow too. There are plenty of ways in the sidebar.You'll also find me on Hellocotton.

*Don't link and run. Be kind and follow links others have left behind.

*Link once for your shop, once for you blog to save space for others.

*You'll also find Bates Mercantile Co. here: facebook, pinterest, twitter, tumblr. It's be great to connect with you as many ways as I can.

*I've said it before, but I can not stress enough that I can't make these parties and success without your help. Can you share a link to the party? Blog, tweet, facebook, pin, share on any etsy teams? If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse button page) and feature it on your blog, that would be wicked awesome. Everyone is welcome here, so be sure to tell your friends.

*When you take part in the link up, you'll go on the Mercantile Muse mail list. {Correspondence will come from the address pbates at speakeasyinfo dot net.} I'll let you know when the next link up party is underway so you join in again, and about other happenings at the Muse.

*BY ALL MEANS, let us get to know you better. Leave a comment that tells a little more about you, your shop or blog. Need help to get started? 'What did you do to ring in the New Year'

Time to get down! (If you're reading by email, click here to go to the party). 

Have a great day. The wind is wild here. Balmy though, so this is good.

Ciao for now,

It's Party Time! Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Up

Put On Your Dancing Shoes

You know me and parties. I'm a dancing fool. I've got a mixed tape of favorites on and we're ready to go. If you have a shop or a blog, it's time to have some fun promoting yourself.

Step up to the buffet, won't you? We're all about scallops wrapped in bacon 'round these parts. Waterchestnuts wrapped in bacon aren't bad either. However,  these bacon wrapped apricot bites might be nice for a change. I mean, the recipe does start with bacon, right?

via tasteofhome

In honor of March coming in like a lion, I searched for 'March' cocktails for the party and found The American Trilogy. I can't say I've ever had Rye, and the only way I have Whisky is straight up and short on the rare occasion, but I would give it a try in this drink for sure.

via umamimart

If you'd rather skip the Rye, there is White Heron Cranberry Apple Ginger Tea in the pot. It's snowing to beat the band here. I think either the Trilogy or the tea should take the chill off.

Luckily for me, neighborhoodlum Tom came by with his tractor to plow us out. Of course, Lucan had to supervise.  Check out my forsythia pancake! To think, we were nearly to Spring and Winter finally makes itself known.

Onto the party.......

Please read the Rules of the House, before linking:

*If you take part in the link up, you will go on a list of particpants and receive an e-mail from me (and from the address pbates@speakeasyinfo.net) in two weeks reminding you that the next Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It link up party is underway.

*If you like Mercantile Muse enough to link up at the party, won't you consider becoming a follower (there's several different ways to follow in the sidebar to you're right) if you're not already? Can you do me another favor?How about liking us on facebook too? That'd be so sweet!

*Post one link. Two if you link one under Gotta Have It (for shops)and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers).  Be sure you’re posting your link under the right link up!

*Don't link and run, be kind and check out each other's links.

*Share a link to the party, 'you two tell friends, and they tell two friends, and so on and so on'. It benefits us all--- blog, tweet, facebook, etc. If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse's button page) and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome. 

*Leave a comment and check back Monday when I feature some things I've found through the link up. It could be you!

 First up, the shop link up (scroll down page for blog link up).

Thanks for joining the fun.  Be sure to be here tomorrow, I've been nominated for an award and I get to pass it on. Cool beans. Love spreading that good karma!

Over and out,

Things I Found & Heard At The Party

via SigalFJewelry

So Many Wonderful Things

Each Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Up Party brings so many nice people to Mercantile Muse. It also proves that there is a neverending wealth of talent, taste and tales among the party goers.

Oh the wonderful handmade things! Oh the vintage wares! Oh the fun at guest's blogs.  So much to discover and share.

Here's my picks from our current Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Up Party which is still underway.

Who knew we had stars among us? OK, not quite, but we have people with the same taste as stars. Doesn't that count?

A lovely gold edged serving Fire King serving dish from Belle Masion Et Moi.

via bellemaisonetmoi

The funny thing is, I had to let Alicia know that I'd seen this lovely dish somewhere else- on Inventori, Tori Spelling's store!

The difference, Inventori's dish was over $40 and bellemaisonsetmoi's is a mere $12.50. Talk about a steal of a deal!

I'd never heard of prehnite before, until I found these lovely pale earrings in SigalFJewelry's shop.

SigalFJewelry

Prehnite is part of the largest and most important class of rock-forming minerals. It is also said to have the following qualities:

*Very relaxing. Increases reliability, honesty and integrity.
*Allows visions during meditation, strengthens predictive power.
*Provides high spiritual protection.
*Good for treatments of kidney, bladder and anemia.

Who knew? All I know is its soft, dreamy, cloudy pale color is absolutely beautiful.

The opposite of pale and dreamy is this bright, bold, striking sapphire blue pendant from Mt. Baldy Glassworks.

via mtbaldyglassworks

The embodiment of a deep, dark, starry night.

I just love that Sharon's blog 'Diary of a Craft Room Transformation' grew out of a mission to organize her craftroom.

via diaryofacraftroomtransformation

Three year's later and Sharon's still blogging!

Still need a Valentine's Day gift for your guy?  Check out this creative photo display by DabbledDetails for the fisherman in your life. 



via dabbleddetails

All I know is that I have plenty of pics that could go on this display, and that they're all from too long ago. It's probably at least 4 years since I cast a line, and that's just not right. It's hard to believe it's been that long. I used to be quite the bassmaster.  We even lived in a little cottage on the river when we first got married and I used to be able to cast a line right from our deck!

Lovin' these groovalicius placemats joeymiller. The fabric is the bomb!

via joeymiller

Love the flowers, the colors and that you can turn them over for a pop of orange.

Check out this sweet lavender sachet from Paula Parrish. She's nice enough to share a tutorial over on her blog Living A Blessed Life.

via livingablessedlife

I think the chenille backside is the sweetest touch.

I could rock these uuber cute and retro-preppy vintage lecoq sportif running shoes from LaModeDeKika.

via laModeDeKika

If only my foot was a little smaller.

Last, but not least, a big thank you to Lisa at WritingPlaces for always creating such wonderful treasuries to promote the link up party and the shops that take part. What a nice thing to do! Don't you think? You can see Lisa's awesome promotion treasuries for the link party here and here.

When Lisa isn't busy spreading the word about link party shops, she is busy creating things for WritingPlaces, like this charming favor box.

via writingplaces

If you've been featured on Mercantile Muse and want to let people know, feel free to grab this button.

<div align="center"><a href="http://batesmercantileco.blogspot.com" title="Mercantile Muse"><img src="http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i448/PamelaJBates/Muse-Feature-button.jpg" alt="Mercantile Muse" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

More Fun

Did you see the new giveaway on Mercantile Muse? What? You missed it? Well, here's a link. It's easy to enter and remember, someone has to win and it might just be you!

Less fun was watching the SuperBowl last night. It was painful game in general and the Pats lost by three, making it even more painful. Life goes on. The sun is shining on this Monday despite the loss. I hope it is where you are too.

Ciao for now,



You Gotta Fight......For Your Right......To Party!

Join The Fun at the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog Link Up Party

Phew. That was close. I didn’t think I’d have the drinks and appies out on the buffet before you all started pouring through the door. Thankfully, my juggling skills are improving.  Come on in, get comfortable, mingle and if you’re an online shop owner or blogger please partake in a little shameless self promotion by linking up. If you’re not a shop owner or blogger, enjoy taking a look around.

Please be sure to help yourself to the goodies.  Buffet on the right has a big batch of sangria and I didn’t forget the ‘DDs’ this time. Bigelow’s Lemon Lust tea just for your, iced with lemon wedges for extra zing.

via Mercantile Muse

Did I forget to tell you I need a little dose of summer today? Hence the summery beverages. Be sure to look left, I made my own cheese, just for you. Really, I did. I think you’ll like it. Go on, give it a try.

via Mercantile Muse

Let’s get down to the main event- the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Up Party!

***A side note, I lied. I will announce our next giveaway tomorrow instead of today, so be sure to check it out.***

Please read the Rules of the House, before linking:

*If you take part in the link up, you will go on a list of particpants and receive an e-mail from me (and from the address pbates@speakeasyinfo.net) in two weeks reminding you that the next Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It link up party is underway.

*After you've linked up, take a look around Mercantile Muse. If you like our link party enough to link up, perhaps you'd enjoy following our little blog. I'd love it if you did. The more the merrier, you know what I mean?  You'd be joining a fantastic group of people, Muse followers know how to rock it!

*Post one link. Two if you link one under Gotta Have It (for shops, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers) and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers).  Be sure you’re posting your link under the right link up!

*Don't just link and run, be kind and check out each other's links.

*Share a link to the party, 'you two tell friends, and they tell two friends, and so on and so on'. It benefits us all--- blog, tweet, facebook, etc. If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse's button page) and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome. 

*Leave a comment and check back Monday when I feature some things I've found through the link up. It could be you!

Hope to see you all tomorrow when I announce the next giveaway.

See you on the flip side,