What I've Been Working On

In the Office/Studio

Things have been busy around here. You can relate, right?  By day, I've designing brochures, and ads, and such for my Speakeasy clients. By night, I've been prepping stock for the craft fair Garrett and I are participating in next weekend.

1. I'm always working on new illustrations and right now I'm in the 'tweaking' stage of my latest, Ahoy Matey.  This will go in our etsy shop, and I'll also offer it at the fair, as an archival print. When I decide I'm done tweaking. 

2.  Add to that printing and cutting stationery. I got a good few packages put together last night. I'm including my old standbys like the Louis Louis pop art pink chair.

3. I'm also including new designs, like Under Foot which was inspired by woven rugs. This too will be available soon in our shop. It's just a matter of squeezing in time to list it. 

4. I've been making custom paper stars using my own paper designs. I'll let you in on a little secret....these stars are not something you can just whip out quickly. It's a process of printing, folding, gluing, attaching hanger, and drying.  I love how they turn out, so it's all worth it. [If you want to try some of your own, you'll find my tutorial here.]

5. Painted clipboards have been on the list too [like I showed you in this recent tutorial]. They're just fun. I worked on these on Sunday, which seems to be a good day for that sort of thing. You can just sit and watch the game, and paint away.

I know that some of you with etsy shops, are doing the fall/holiday craft fair circuit. What have you been busy making? I wonder if the rest of have plans to attending any fairs in the coming weeks?

That's it for the desk/cocktail table/kitchen table dispatch today (yes, I take over whatever space I need to work on these projects!).

In Case You Missed It

Yesterday marked the launch of the Mercantile Muse October Giveaway. It's in full swing and I don't think you'll want to miss a chance to win all of the wonderful handmade items up for grabs. $175 worth of handmade items, in case you were wondering.

In other news, the sun is shining! It's been pretty sparse here lately. The week has been soggy, to say the least. In fact, it's been so soggy, we had our first fire of the season last night, just to take the edge of the damp. The sun is a very welcome sight.

Enjoy your day.

See you on the flip side,

Super Fun Giveaway & Potatoes/Potahtoes

How Do You Say Hello GIVEAWAY 

OK, so I said I had an idea in mind for the chevron pattern I used for the free gift tag printable from Wednesday.  Here it is and it could be yours!

The happiest little way to say hello. 

Let me rephrase that, the happiest little way to say hello in eight different languages.

Each set has 8 note cards and 8 white envelopes, is printed by me and packaged nicely with a Bates Mercantile Co. belly band.

TO WIN TWO NOTE CARD SETS (one for you and one for you to giveaway as a gift if you so desire, or keep both of these note cards if that's the way you want to be):

Easy as 1-2-3. Make sure you complete all three to be entered. Earn an extra entry by completing step 4!

1. Follow this blog- Mercantile Muse.  You can do that via email, google, or rss feed and you'll find all those options right on this page.  Comment below this post, that you are now following and how. If you already follow, comment below and include how.

2. Like Bates Mercantile Co. on facebook and comment there that you liked us and that you're entering the giveaway. Also include in your comment here that you liked us on facebook. If you already 'like' us, just say so in your comment.

3. Visit the Bates Mercantile Co. shop on etsy and let us know what your favorite item is in your comment below.

To earn an extra entry, and make me really, really happy:

4. Refer a friend to Mercantile Muse who becomes a follower. In your comment below, please mention which new follower you referred.

The winner of this giveaway will be chosen at random from those who entered according to the steps above and will be announced next Friday.

I really love these note cards and know the winner will too. This is a brand new design and you saw it here first. It's not even listed in our shop yet!

Rachael Redeems Herself With a Spud

I've mentioned a couple of times this week that I enjoy the recipes in Rachael Ray's magazine EveryDay, but that sometimes I have to do some tweaking. Well, last night I made her 'pressed potatoes' for a Thursday Night special appetizer and all I can say is, we made another batch and called it dinner because they were so good.

 

It was easy as pie.

Small Red Potatoes or other thin skinned potato

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Garlic

Scallions/Green Onions- chopped

Sour Cream

Preheat oven to 450F

Boil the red potatoes (use however many you're in the mood for). When fork tender, drain the pot and drizzle with some evoo over them, add sea salt and crushed black pepper and garlic.  Mix until all coated.  Grease a cookie sheet.  Put each potato on cookie sheet and press with the bottom of a glass to 'smoosh and semi-flatten'.  Pop in the oven for approx. 20 minutes and flip after 10.  Cook longer if you want them crispier.  Take out of oven and serve on dish topped with scallions and dollop of sour cream.

Have a closer look.

Hey, wipe that drool off your keyboard!

Oh my, my, my, my. Our new favorite way to have potatoes. Gar has even requested them again tonight and I'm more than happy to oblige. These pressed potatoes were that good. Well, that and Gar is Irish after all.

Birthday Shout Out

Happy Birthday to our niece Rachel, whose talents know no bounds......dancer, singer, curry chef, spoon-on-the-nose balancer extraordinaire (don't be alarmed, just an old Dignam Family tradition).

Hope you're letting Dublin know who the Queen of the Day is Rachie! Sorry Rache, I couldn't resist the photo.

Feel Good Friday

We love these girls (and the arrangement ain't bad either)!  Click the link if you get this via email and don't get the video.

Here's hoping you have a great day, and even more fantastic weekend.  Our big plans include: a campfire if wind dies down, pressed potatoes, wood splitting, basement clean up. I know, I know......thrills galore! How about you?