Baileys Basics

I've Moved!!

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Mon, 17 May 2010 18:26:00 +0000

Baileys Basics

has moved....

...to Wordpress.

Please click here to join me on my new site at baileysbasics.wordpress.com

Sad Shop News

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:25:00 +0000

I've spent the past few days poring over the "rules" and idiocy that is the CPSIA. After much deliberation with my husband and much thought about what's best for my business and personal finances, my Etsy shop will no longer feature any products for children under 13. I was hoping to include slings, felt food, burp cloths, child-sized cloth napkins, and embroidered items for babies. Tame That Tushie butt balm is also going away. I can't afford the testing necessary, or the logistics behind labeling individual items by the batch. I'll still be offering "grown up" sewn things as I work on them, and all the "grown up" herbal items I love to make. As always, if you have any questions about what's available and what I can make for you, please don't hesitate to email me at BaileysBasics@gmail.com.

This blog will continue to feature anything new that I work on, and lots of works in progress for adults. Occasionally I may post something interesting on my family blog and link to it from here. Please feel free to visit there, as well.

As always, I'm more than happy and willing to craft herbal remedies and natural products for your home. I love making custom teas to meet your needs, or whipping up a salve to take care of that crazy rash you have on your elbow. If you have a need, email me. If you live locally, I love Cash & Carry customers.

Take care and have a great weekend! I'll personally be spending tomorrow whipping up some cute tea towels to embroider for St. Patrick's Day!

Fun Stuff I'm Doing

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:00:00 +0000

Last night I finished up a small gift that I've been working on and wanted to share it with you all. Surf on over to our family blog to see what's up. Here's a clue.....

Maybe Coming Soon?

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:51:00 +0000

Happy New Year!! Here's a little look at some things that may be coming soon to my shop.

You may know that I have an in-home daycare. In searching for good, quality toys for my little friends to play with, I discovered the absolute fun of making felt play food. I made a set for a little girl my mama knows, and am working on a set for my kiddos here at daycare. Hopefully I'll be adding these sets to my online store and to the brick and mortar shop here in town that sells Baileys Basics items. These pictures are of food made from acrylic and Eco felt. I'm currently looking at sources for 100% wool felt, so there may be some color differences in the food that eventually hits the shop. Meanwhile, here are some of my favorite things these days....

Full breakfast of two pancakes with syrup and butter, 2 rashers of bacon, and two eggs

Cheeseburger on sesame seed bun with lettuce, tomato, and pickle, with ketchup and mustard

2 sugar cookies and 2 fudge cookies, each with icing and sprinkles

2 toaster pastries, strawberry and fudge with icing and sprinkles

Ripe, red strawberries

New Look

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:49:00 +0000

I know, it's been a long time since we posted anything! But, we've been busy. And we've had to rethink our business a little bit. We're currently shifting from focusing on our on-line sales to building a brick and mortar presence here in the Valley. We're streamlining our product line and yet adding a few new items, too.

Some of the cool new things we'll have in-stock soon are baby slings, baby wraps, kids' cloth napkins, and reusable quick-mop covers. The salves that are the best-liked with our customers will stay, like Skin Salve, Plantain, Comfrey, Tame That Tushie!, and Breathe In. We'll hopefully be adding Stiff and Sore to our on-line offerings as it's been a huge hit with our customers here at home. Teas? They'll be the same. And, of course, we'll still have our scouring powder in several fragrances and laundry powder available. All in all, it's a move in the right direction as we remember that this is a HOME based business. No sense in neglecting the "home" part, right? This way we will still be able to offer great customer service but won't feel guilty if a week goes by without grating soap....

Do you love the new look? A good friend who is a graphic designer put the new logo together for us. Our packaging will slowly be changing to include it, and it'll be featured on our sewn products as soon as possible. If you'd like information on good design work, please email us for his details.

We've had a good summer taking it easy, but hope to be posting here more often. Of course, no posting means someone is busy grating soap and grinding herbs!

New Update in the Card Shop!

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Hey! There's a new update in my card shop! I know this is our Baileys Basics blog, but one shop kind of keeps the other running, you know? Or rather, they keep each other running. Head on over and pick up Mother's day cards and cards for all your Spring sending needs. Here's a sampling of what you'll find.......

We have a stalker...

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:00:00 +0000

But it's the fun kind!! Our Headache Relief Tea got stalked this past week. Check it out and leave some love for Beatrice and Violet of Etsy Stalker.

We're honored to be stalked, and glad that searching for headache relief led to our tea. I was thinking a few weeks ago about making eye masks....I see one here and may have to rethink my idea to avoid stepping on others. I'm always so hyper-worried about infringing, you know? Anyhoo, very cool stalker moment. We're adding the badge to the sidebar, too, since we rock!

Important Things on the Homefront

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:48:00 +0000

There is a very important post on our personal blog. Please go read it when you have a chance. It's not business-related, but it's important business. We now return you to your Entrecard dropping and business-related clicking!

Been a while

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:47:00 +0000

I know it's been a while since I've posted. Trust me, we've been busy. New products are brewing, I'm sewing my little heart out, and we're working on producing enough inventory to put in our new brick-and-mortar location. Since new products means buying new herbs and containers, that leads to being a bit busier than usual.

In the meantime, I'd invite you to visit my new store and check out what else I've been working on. It's just a hobby, but I enjoy it! Here you go: 3 Cats Cards.

Link'd up

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:14:00 +0000

Okay, folks. The Twitter follow-me button is ready to roll again. I think. And I even know what I did wrong.

Next question -- when I update my blog or store, does it show up on your Twitter? 'Cause it's not showing up for me. Of course, Tweetdeck has stopped opening on my computer and has made it clear that it hates me. I think we may break up. So, help a girl out - am I tweeting out there?!

It's freezing in here. If only I had some manner of warm bag of...rice, or something. *brrr* ;)

Bad Link Luck

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:48:00 +0000

Hello, everyone! I just wanted to let you know that someone sweet has let me know that my Twitter link doesn't work. I've been having trouble with Twitterfeed not tweeting when I've updated either the shop or the blog. So, I'll be looking into this and trying to make sure all my links are up and working in the (very!) near future. I'll let you know when I've fixed it, and if you find anything else that's broken, please do let me know! Thanks so much to Work At Home Mom for letting me know.

Other cool news around the shop is that we'll soon be offering a muscle rub for sore muscles. We swear by it around here since we're both decrepit, so I know you'll love it.

In addition, we have Mullein Oil bottled up and ready to go, Comfrey Oil ready to be bottled, and new washcloths and cleaning cloths that will be for sale shortly.

The coolest thing I have to report is that we'll be offering our products for sale in a brick-and-morter shop here in the Valley very soon. My cousin owns a local flower shop, and they're branching out to offer cool natural products as well. Today I met with Jade and introduced her to our products (hooked her, basically...), and she invited us to offer our products in their stores as soon as we're ready. We are both totally excited about this, so give some love to Blakemore's Flowers as a big thank you and to encourage them to continue offering this great opportunity to local companies!

We're hanging out at home tonight, and tomorrow I fully intend to spend all day in front of the sewing machine. Have a great weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:22:00 +0000

We interrupt your St. Paddy's celebration to say....

HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY TO WITCHY AND McGEEKY!!!

If you'd like to visually visit Ireland and lust after the beauty that it entails, please feel free to visit our personal blog. For those folks who already visit both our personal and business blogs, I'll spare you the recap. Everyone else hop on over.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled corned beef & cabbage, Irish stew, Guiness, and soda bread.

Slooooowwww Internet....

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:09:00 +0000

Our internet access is a bit wonky this week. I'm not sure what's wrong, but only one laptop in the whole house is working reliably right now. Bear in mind that one of us (not me) runs a computer business out of our house, so we have (at last count, I think) 4 desktops and two laptops. And that's just ones that work, not ones being salvaged for parts or waiting for new life to fill their little CPUs. Or the one in the spare bedroom, just waiting for all its parts to join it. Nope, that's just down here in the office. And one is currently able to access the internet most of the time.

The problem seems to be our ancient router. Not to worry, because we'll eventually replace it. Especially since it's affecting not just our internets but because we also can't access the XBox Live account to use our wonderful Netflix. Which is known around here as NetCRACK, we love it so much. So I don't anticipate this being a long-term issue.

Another possibility is that it's not even our fault, and that the internet seems to be broken all over our neighborhood. Since we can't connect to any of the servers we usually can. Not that we'd ever use a neighbor's server, no sir not us. Nope. But if we did, we can't. Yeah.

So, needless to say, no Entrecards have been dropped, little blogging is getting done, and I'm frustrated. Right now, it's working so I'm taking advantage of the situation. We'll see what happens afterwhile when I'm off to drop a bit.

Meanwhile, thanks for all the three-column love! Also in the works: I've worked on paper-based crafts for ages, and figure I may as well put some cards and such up to sell. So tell me...what do you think of the name 3 Cats Cards for my new venture? I like aliteration just a little, can you tell? And as a division of Baileys Basics, what better wat to go then with a couple of C's? Name-picking is always the hard part for me. But I think I like it....you?

New Layout

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:25:00 +0000

Thanks to Witchy over at The Copper Cauldron, our switch to a three-columned layout was mostly painless! Let us know what you think - we're always open to creative criticism.

Now, here's the featured product for this week....

Moisturizing Hand Salve
available in 2 ounce or 4 ounce tins

Hope on over to our shop if you'd like to keep your hands soft, smooth, and moisturized!

Just for Sandy...

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:43:00 +0000

....and anyone else who needs this information.....

Sandy over at Stitchinglifetogether asked how to make a blog a favorite on the Entrecard Toolbar for Firefox. Here you go, Sandy:

When the blog is in your active window, there should be the following on your toolbar:

Your Name

Your EC total/drops for the day

Category (like Favorites, or Inbox)

How the pages are sorted

One arrow to get one window

A double arrow to get something like 10 windows at once, and then...

A heart.

This heart is what you want -- click it to make the blog you're viewing a favorite. Beside that heart you'll also find either the amount of EC needed to advertise on that blog or "insufficient funds". Which makes advertising so much easier, too!

I hope this has helped, or at least is a start.

Now can someone tell me how to save my widgets so I can convert to a three-column blog template? I don't want to lose everything, but want to change my template. Any advice? Also, where do you find templates that are minimal, or changeable? I generally don't like prepared templates and opt for changing colors and such on my own. But I really want three columns. Email me if you have some answers!

Holy Toolbar, Batman!!

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:42:00 +0000

I don't usually blog on weekends, but this is totally necessary:

This evening I added the Entrecard toolbar to Firefox. It was amazing. I do not say that lightly; I am not easily impressed. I finished dropping in no time flat, and had much less aggravation. If you don't have this toolbar, do yourself a huge favor and go get it here.

What else is going on around Baileys Basics? I'm planning on painting and doing some home improvements around our house in the next few months. I'll be making drapes for some of the rooms, so I'll be sure to post pictures. I'm browsing Amy Butler for fabrics, of course..... Other than that, we've been doing our usual things like working, working, and working.

Oh, yeah...and dropping EC.....

EntreCard Addict

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:05:00 +0000

Hello, my name is Andrea, and I am an EntreCard addict.

I can totally admit it, though. That's the first step, right? My goal is to knock out 300 drops each day. So far, I think my highest day was 240-some. Not bad, considering I have a full-time job, a part-time job, and an online store. If I do say so myself.

Meanwhile, I can't stop dropping. And being just the tiniest bit OCD (just a little....) I have to have system for dropping. It keeps me focused, trust me! ;)

So, if you're an EntreCard addict, please pop over to the right and drop away. I'll be by your blog later to leave my own little mark, I bet. Maybe eventually I'll get off the computer and finish making new products! I did sew a bit tonight, but not for the shop. But I've been making things that will eventually make their way into the shop, I promise! Lots of new stichy goodies for your houses -- stay tuned!

We Need Your Opinion, Please!

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:11:00 +0000

It's nearly Spring. At least, if you live here in the Valley. It's about 60 degrees out today, and it's February 11th. That's absurd. I have our windows open and I'm wishing I was wearing lighter clothing. And the change in seasons always gets us thinking about new products. In our line of products, new things take a few weeks to make. Sure, salves take little more than an hour to whip up. But infusing all that oil with some herby goodness? More like two weeks and three days. So if it appears as though we're moving slowly, have patience - goodness is cooking.

One of the products we're working on is a clay facial mask. I've used bentonite clay for about a year on my face now, and if I do say so myself, I have darn good skin. So we're going to share it with everyone else out there! Here's my question:

When purchasing a clay facial mask, would you prefer the mask to be powdered and add water, or would you prefer an already goopy mask that you just scoop up and apply?

We need to know. E-mail us, or (better yet!) leave a comment with your answer and input.

In addition, warmer weather always leads me to think about kombucha. I won't go into the health benefits and debate about kombucha here. Just suffice it to say that I love it, and practically live off it in the summer. Every batch of kombucha yields a scoby, or Symbiotic Colony of Yeast and Bacteria, the little organism responsible for kombucha's yummy taste and probiotic qualities. I simply hate to through the little buggers out. But they are shareable! So, that leads me to my next question:

Would you be interested in seeing scobys offered in our shop? At a ridiculously low price?

Let us know. Enquiring minds and all that,you know!

Don't You Wish You Were Me?

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:02:00 +0000

As some of you may know, our dearest friend (and Brian's cousin-in-law) runs The Copper Cauldron. She makes the best soaps I've ever used, and that's no small feat. If you're a fan of Witchy's soaps, you also know that she's moving. Which is so sad, for those of us who are used to living five minutes away and having our soap (and occasionally groceries or Farmer's Market cupcakes) delivered.

As she was getting her shop ready to go into vacation mode, Witchy found a lot of irregular or second soaps. Maybe they're not pretty, or they're underweight. She made grab bags, and posted them in her shop. I was lucky enough to get one....

OH MY GOODNESS!

This is by far the most amazing collection of so-called seconds I've ever seen. I am completely in love all over again with Witchy's soap. And now I have enough of it to last at least until I see her again (which is April, so not that long!). In all reality, I may have enough soap to last the rest of my life!

Now, never fear. Witchy will be safely moved by mid-March and I know she'll have her shop back up as soon as possible. I also know that she will spend the next month packing and unpacking...and thinking. Thinking up new soaps and scents and yummy things to do with oil and lye. So you can rest assured that The Copper Cauldron will be bubbling away again soon. You can also be sure of another thing: Witchy is picky. Very, very picky when it comes to her soaps. So she'll be sure to have some seconds to put up in the shop ($2 for a pound of soap? Please.). When she does, grab them!! Then you can be like me....

Coming Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:04:00 +0000

Here's an idea of what we're working on.....

Skin care products such as a clay mask and facial moisturizer
Really, really good lip balm
Bath tea
Chair covers (to keep your chairs free from applesauce fingerpainting)
Washcloths

There are other things, but I don't want to spoil the surprise! I know we haven't posted much lately, but it's not because we're not working, trust me! Oil is infusing, fabric is being picked out, and herbs are being combined. Stay tuned!

The Witching Hours

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:24:00 +0000

Hey, if you're not listening to blogtalkradio right now, you are missing out. Agoodwitchtoo, of The Copper Cauldron, is hosting her very own show, featuring a Treasure Hunt that was just too much fun. Come by and catch the last half hour of a great time!

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:12:00 +0000

Hey! You Cyber-Monday shoppers! While you're enjoying our excellent sale in the Etsy shop, please don't forget to hop over to The Copper Cauldron and enter for her soap subscription give-away. It's too cool to pass up, and I can personally vouch for the excellent quality of her soap. I've entered the contest, and you should, too.

And seriously, check out our sale!

Start Your Christmas Shopping NOW!

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:47:00 +0000

It's that time. It's Black Friday.

And, in honor of that auspisious day, we're having a

SALE!!

So, start your shopping right now, right here. Take a look at all these great ways to save:

**10% off all products Thursday, November 27^th through Tuesday, December 2^nd.

**Returning customers from June 1^st - November 26^th will receive an additional 10% off!

**All orders will include a coupon for 10% off your next order.

**All orders from 11/27 through 12/1 will be entered in a drawing for a $10 gift certificate. A random number generator will decide who wins.

Now, that's a sale! There are way (way!) too many new things in the shop to list them all here, so you'll have to make due with an excellent photo collage. Enjoy it, and pop by the shop. While you're at it, show some love to all the ladies over at Team Christian Artists and Crafters, as well as my darling friend at The Copper Cauldron.

Psst! Why are you still here?! You have shopping to do!

Baby Boo Boo Bags

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:01:00 +0000

These little cotton bags are perfect for bumped heads, skinned knees, and maybe even hurt feelings. They feel great on sore gums when your baby's teething, too. Keep the bags in the freezer so they're always ready for when your little one loses a fight with the coffee table. When microwaved for 30 seconds, they provide moist heat for sore muscles and nursing mommies. A great part of any mom's first-aid kit!
Boo Boo Bags are made of unbleached cotton muslin with a 100% cotton cover. The cover unbuttons to be washed Please wash it in cold water with no bleach and lie flat to dry. DO NOT wash the inner bag! The buttons are securely sewed on; please check them before giving the bag to your children.

This set of Boo Boo Bags features two sizes to better meet your first-aid needs. The larger bag is 5 X 6 inches (12.7 X 15.24 cm) and the smaller is 5 x 5 inches (12.7 X 12.7 cm. Both weigh an average of 6.5 ounces (184.3 grams). Each set comes tied in with a grosgrain ribbon with a use and care card. Pink, cream, or blue ribbon are available upon request.

Hunters' Handwarmers

noreply@blogger.com (Baileys Basics) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:40:00 +0000

These small, camo bags are a perfect size for slipping in a pocket to keep your favorite hunter's hands warm while out in the stand. They're great for warming up cold hands before the hunting day begins, too!
Hunters' Handwarmers are made of 100% cotton flannel, filled with rice, and are machine finished for durability. Hunters' Handwarmers are approximately 4" by 4" (10.16 cm X 10.16 cm), and weigh approximately 4 ounces (113 grams). The set of two arrives tied with a jute string with use and care instructions attached.
To warm, simply microwave the handwarmers in 30 second intervals. Gently shake or knead the bag between intervals to distribute any hot spots and avoid scorching. We won't say there aren't other ways to warm these bags, but please be safe and remember that flannel is flammable. Baileys Basics is officially not liable if you burn down your hunting cabin looking for new ways to warm your hands!