from a comment...

Even though I am SURE that my dolls are original because I design them. I often worry that someone will copy them. I have never sold my patterns but it wouldn’t be hard to do. In the world of dolls there are copies galore. At times I think it might be good publicity because as they say, imitation is the greatest flattery, but I remember what it felt like to see one of my (yes copyrighted) dolls changed slightly and cast in resin… I felt violated. I STILL feel like a piece of me was taken and used to satisfy greed.
And it always come back to that for me. “Greedbay” has loosed upon the world some very scary monsters that constantly try to infiltrate Etsy. I have to admit that those monsters understand the integrity and community of the artists on etsy, pretty much the same as we understand them.
I recently experienced the monster mindset from a “friend” of over 40 years who is an apartment manager in Hollywood. He had evicted a 75 year old woman giving her just 3 days to vacate! He admitted that it was not legal, but that it worked to “get rid” of tenants paying low rents because they had been there many years. Like a vulture waiting for something to die he would jump on them the moment some hardship befell them and hand them his infamous 3 day eviction notice. Honest people never question, so it worked. The old woman had to leave some of her things stored there, and he claimed he tried but could not contact her to pick them up.
Well he had asked me to give him a hand cleaning out the closet the stuff was in, and as we tossed out a lifetimes worth of family photos and personal things, he mentioned to me that she had been his friend!!!
In shock I said, but, you evicted her and gave her only 3 days!
And this man that I grew up with snapped back at me with the words:
“Oh, well, that was BUSINESS.”

And suddenly, I understood. I was there because he was trying to start up a side business and he needed a creative mind. I looked back over the years. I remember walking home from school and him writing down the poem I was making up as we walked, for a homework assignment he had.

To the monsters, we are food.
Like a mouse to a cat, maybe fun to play with, but really just food.
We mice need to remember that.
We also need to remember that in the end… Etsy… well for them it’s just business. The only reason they play so nice is because they don’t want to scare away the food.

Thoughts on handmade....

"Once you begin to mass-manufacture anything, by the very nature of the process, you lose the sense of personal attachment you might have to something made by hand." Jim Butcher (writer of the Dresden Files) from his story Last Call, in the book Strange Brew

New Banner all around.

I think I have finally settled on a banner that I can live with. This one suits me to a 'T'. Everything, shops and blog have the same and I hope that will tie things together. I also added a new video and pic. Enjoy!

You cook while I sew...

I LOVE this recipe! It can go on pasta, on a roll, or spice up some nice steamed or stir fried vegetables! Switch it around a little and use an envelope of taco seasoning instead, and you have some amazing Mexican taco or enchilada filling..or add a can of beans and a can of drained corn and call it chili!
I could not live without the slow cooker.

http://foodiefriendsandmore.blogspot.com/2010/11/italian-chuck-roast.html

Chocolate sherbert

I found this recipe and OMG!
***If you can't get unsweetened cocoa as in baking cocoa, not even at a bulk food store, then you can use less sugar.

Chocolate Sherbet
Serves: 4
Cooking Time: 5 min
Ingredients
* 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
* 6 tablespoons sugar
* 1/4 cup hot water
* 1 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons cold water
Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, combine the cocoa and sugar over low heat. Slowly stir in the hot water. Continue stirring over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is warm.
2. Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the milk. Pour into a 7” x 11” baking dish, cover, and freeze for 3 to 4 hours, or until firm.

3. Break up the frozen mixture and place in a food processor that has been fitted with its metal cutting blade, or in a blender, along with the cold water. Process for 2 to 3 minutes, or until smooth and light-colored. Pour into an airtight container, seal, and freeze for at least 2 hours, or until set.
I suggest making a double batch because it disappears so fast!

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