Chuc Mung Nam Moi

Chuc Mung Nam Moi - Happy New Year!  Say goodbye to the year of the dragon and welcome the Year of the Snake! Downtown Ho Chi Minh City is beautifully decorated - flowers are everywhere!  Flower markets have sprung up all over the city. The flowers come from all regions of the country. One street has been transformed into a huge flower garden with colorful displays to honor the Year of the Snake which will bring good luck and prosperity! Enjoy these photos!

Home Sweet Home

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted!   The time has flown by.  I have been distracted by some family issues which kept me from blogging. We are feeling more and more at home especially since our shipment arrived in mid- October. How did we ever collect so much so stuff!  I do love having all our familiar things around me.  There is a lot of stuff, but almost everything evokes a happy memory of an event, a trip we took, and/or memories of our family and friends. Here are some photos:  the apartment before the shipment arrived, the boxes from the shipment and the after shot - all unpacked and organized.

The Before - Our bare apartment!

Where did we ever get so much stuff?

The After!

It now feels like home. Life is good! 

From Santiago to Saigon - Another New Beginning

Despite a horrible start  - 12 hours in Chicago's O'Hare with two delayed United flights which ended up getting cancelled, waiting in line 3 hours for a new ticket, delayed baggage which arrived 2 days after us (No more United flights for us!!) and finding out some of my paper work was not completed - we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City.

Within a day we found an apartment in a modern highrise complex across the street from my job and very close to the downtown area.  Although our shipment is arriving 2 weeks later than scheduled, we have been existing quite nicely with the bare necessities.  Needless to say, the apartment is BARE & empty. It is amazing that we can survive with so little.

Although a have been to Saigon a few times, it has changed a lot and is continuing to grow into a modernized city; such a contrast of old & new! 

Etsy Promos

I am enjoying the summer vacation in upstate NY and preparing for our move to Saigon. Since I foolishly put my jewelry inventory into our sea shipment which will not arrive until mid-September, I have been neglecting my etsy shop.  Really cannot promote it, if I cannot provide the goods at this time.  So, I am promoting goodies from other etsy shops.

Rather than just a random selection of items to promote, I have created a little procedure to follow. Each day I search for a "Favorite" item.  First, the item must be something that I really like and would purchase (if I were wealthy - I would buy all the items I select).  Second, it should have a low number of views and admirers and few, if any, treasury appearances.  Third, I add the item as a "favorite." Fourth, I tweet it on Twitter. Fifth, it gets pinned on Pinterest on my "Etsy Favorites" board. Sixth, I may feature the item here on my blog. Hopefully, this brings more views and sales to my fellow etsians!

So Long Santiago! Ciao Chile!

Our two years in Chile have flown by and it is hard to believe we will not be returning to Santiago.  Our house was packed up in three days - 162 boxes were loaded on a truck and sent to storage for a month.  On June 23rd we said farewell to wonderful friends and a beautiful country.  Beside the people and the country, I will miss the climate,  fresh fruits & vegetables, wine, and our cute little house.   

On a business note, I foolishly put my jewelry inventory into our shipment, which I will not receive until mid to late September.  If you are interested in purchasing anything from my etsy shop, I am happy to reserve it for you until Sept.  Just send me a convo via etsy.

We are now visiting family in New York in anticipation of our next adventure in Vietnam! We will arrive in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) on July 29 to set up a new home and start new jobs in slightly different careers.  But I will continue to make and sell jewelry. I am looking forward to searching the markets for beads.  Vietnam will be inspiring new creations.  

Saigon picture from http://oursurprisingworld.com

Pomaire

Since it is a three day weekend here, we took a little road trip to the village of Pomaire.  Pomaire is known for its pottery and 1/2 kilo empanadas.  If you have eaten in any restaurant in Chile, chances are you have been served a meal in a piece of Pomaire pottery.  We went in search of the three-legged lucky pigs and enjoyed a small cheese empanada!

 

Treasuries

Creating Etsy treasuries can become an addictive past time. In the past week I have created three!

It is relaxing as well as a creative outlet. It is a challenge to find great items to match the theme. Here are my most recent ones:

  

'Challenge #49 My Best Friend's Wedding'

Romantic / Bridal / Wed... EllaGajewskaB... $149.00	Wedding jewelry. Bridal... EgyptianInspi... $62.00	Butter Yellow Chrysanth... ExpressionsFl... $89.95	Bridal Dress Sash Whit... carellya $39.00
Large Tuxcedo Bib Laura4ca $12.00	Heart Earrings - Gold H... TheUrbanLady $14.99	Beaded Brooch . Beadwov... enchantedbead... $49.00	Honeymoon Romance Handc... DallasSoapCom... $6.00
Two strand necklace mad... HollyMackDesi... $250.00	Unique Creamy white bri... seragun $43.00	White Floral Lace Scarf... mediterranean... $16.90	Gold Hug Ring Wire Wrap... MysticalMoonD... $37.00
Custom Initials Wedding... MaybeSparrowD... $20.00	Scottish Sea Glass Jewe... MommysDream $140.00	Purple crochet earrings... riorita $52.00	Purple Rose Victorian B... MysticWynd $21.31

Treasury tool by StylishHome.

'Polka dotty' by bluewhitejewelrywear

Couture Kentucky Derby ... ffortissimo $179.00	Set Of 3 cupcake BLACK ... shimrita $32.99	Ruby Red Rose Pillow on... bedbuggs $26.00	Wristlet Clutch in Red ... PoshPursesBou... $20.00
Cupcake Pedestal Plate ... CenteredClayW... $35.00	Set of 8 Hot Pink, Blac... dreamscapedes... $28.00	Stiletto Shoe Tape Disp... ME2Designs $20.00	retro apron I LOVE LUCY... loverdoverscl... $28.50
Vintage Polka Dot Mad M... ClementinesBo... $40.00	Kiln Fired Good Morning... kaoriglass $25.00	Set of 25 Large Black P... justalittlefa... $35.00	Red With Black Polka Do... QsVintage $5.25
Vintage Polka Dot Peep ... etseebetsee $32.00	Galvanized Metal Bucket... BroddersTubs $28.00	Girls Dress Vintage Spo... apieceofpie $57.00	High waisted polka dot... meshalo $69.99

Treasury tool by StylishHome.

'The Ladies of Downton Abbey' by bluewhitejewelrywear

Titanic 1900s Downton A... MattiOnline $155.00	Downton Abbey Cross Sti... cottagenestin... $8.95	Downton Abbey Inspired ... LittleMonkeyD... $2.00	Edwardian Hunting Outfi... finnmoxa $90.00
sale Sew 1920s Downton ... eVINTAGEpatte... $4.24	Downton Abbey inspired ... Fasheners $22.50	Countess Edwardian Pear... StudioRegency $35.00	vintage English porridg... fadedsimplici... $21.00
Wide Brim Hat for Women... TheMillineryS... $255.00	Downton Abbey's The... ScottChristia... $150.00	Silk Satin, Evening 192... SarinaPoppy $210.00	Victorian Cameo Portrai... rustandreliqu... $23.00
Original Downton Abbey ... chrismeeks1 $12.00	A Rosina Wild Flowers F... JimmyVintage $18.00	Downton Abbey Style Vin... VariedTreasur... $45.00	Original Downton Abbey ... chrismeeks1 $12.00

Treasury tool by StylishHome.