October ... from the first to the last!

     My, how time flies!  Doesn't seem anytime since special days of September were featured, and here we are in October with its own very special days, weeks, and themes for the month.
     This month's celebrations include Adopt a Shelter Dog, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Apple Month.  We hope that many dogs from many places will find forever homes this month.  This watercolor helps remind us that dogs need families, too.

Yankee Girl Art

Dogs come in all sizes, breeds, and colors.  From big to small, we love them all!

Six Sisters Art

Diane Clancy

A serious concern for women and girls everywhere is breast cancer.  October has been set aside as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  There are fund-raisers of various kinds, with proceeds going to research or other organizations that help women who have been diagnosed.  Many wear clothing or jewelry or carry bags that exhibit the pink breast cancer awareness symbol, such as the earrings below.

Meredith Bead 2

Autumn is a beautiful time of the year, with the deciduous tree leaves changing to gorgeous splashes of color throughout much of the country.  We look forward to cooler days and special treats, such as apple cider, and a variety of delicious apples.  Although the apples below won't keep the doctor away, they are delightful to see.

Jewelry by Lone Wolf

Fantasy Creations 1

Beth Peardon Prods

The first week of the month has been designated American Craft month.  Our team has members across the world, not just in America, and every team member is a talented artist/crafter and their work represents a large genre of art forms.  Here is just a tiny sampling of some of their creations.

Stitches by Julie

Pickle Berry Trifles

Zuda Gay

Get Lathered

Peregrine Silk

Whimseys

Nonnie 62

Blazing Needles

The Slip Stitch

Just past the middle of October, on the seventeenth, it is World Greeting Card day.  Just think how happy you can make someone by sending them a card in the mail.  Think how happy it will make you to do something for someone else.  And, last but not least, think how the U.S. Post Office would benefit by such a huge mailing!  There are many talented card makers, and here are two of them.

pfd Original Art Works

Nature in Pastels

And to wrap it all up, we end the month on October 31 with Halloween.  Witches, black cats, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, and all things black and orange.  

Circle in the Sand

Chris 1

Fire Fly Glass Design

CC Valenzo

Van Fleet Street Design

Rural Retreat Vintage

Paintings by Kate Ladd

Enjoy your October, and remember, buy handmade.  And start with the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street team for unique, well made, wonderful selections!

This post written by Pam Todd, whose hand-crocheted items for people, pets, and homes are featured in her Bags and More by Pam Etsy store.  Pam is a proud member of the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team - Bbest.

September - A Time to Remember and More!

     September is filled with many special days, many of them just for fun.  However, September 11 will always be a day to remember and honor those who perished at the hands of terrorists in New York City when the airliners crashed into the World Trade Center, killing the occupants in those buildings and the rescue workers who tried to save them; in Pennsylvania when the airline passengers chose to crash the terrorist-controlled plane rather than let it reach the White House, and those in the Pentagon. It was a sad day for America and for the world.  Let us always remember the victims and their families and that great loss.
     Today is Labor Day in the United States,  established to honor workers and give them a holiday from their labors.  It is ironic that while businesses and government offices are closed, those in the retail industry are super busy at work today with Labor Day sales in stores across the nation.
     And then on the lighter side, you might be surprised to know that this is National Chicken Month!  Just did a search among my Boomers and Beyond Etsy friends, and here are a few items to represent the chickens!

Mister PenQuin

Button Divas

Herons Treasures

Jills Treasure Chest

The third week in September is National Flower Week.  It has been a rather barren summer for flowers in many parts of the country due to the extreme lack of rain this summer.  Now we are getting the effects of Hurricane Isaac in the mid west, and lo and behold a few flowers have perked up in our yard.  The flowers below are always fresh and beautiful since they don't depend on the rain and sun to keep them lovely!

Vintage earrings from Nonnie 60

JN Originals

Lovely tulips from Yankee Girl

A gorgeous flower pendant from Zuda Gay

And in the fourth week of September, we celebrate dogs, one of my favorites!  What joy and company dogs bring to families and service to those in need.  Here are just a few items featuring dogs.

Diane Clancy

Nature in Pastels

Scottie Acres

Six Sisters Art

September 15 is Make a Hat day.  Several of the Boomers and Beyond team members have made the adorable hats shown below.

Big Island Rose

CB Basement

Stitches by Julie

Turtle Treasures

It won't be long until the first day of Autumn.  These beautiful paintings and photos are just a small sample of the beauty that awaits us as the leaves begin to change color.

On a Whimsey

The Creators Palette

Backroom Treasures

Beth Peardon Prods

Whatever days you choose to celebrate in September, may they bring joy and fun, or humility and thoughtfulness, to your lives.  

This post written by Pam Todd, a proud member of the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team, whose Etsy shop, Bags and More by Pam, features high quality, reasonably priced hand-crocheted items for people, pets, and homes.

Just Some Thoughts for Red, White, and Blue

For three months in a row, I've been thinking red, white, and blue.

May - Memorial Day, when we honor servicemen and women who have given their lives in fighting to preserve the freedoms we enjoy and/or to help secure or protect freedom for others in the world.

June - the 14th is Flag Day.  Can't you just picture Betsy Ross, sitting in that rocking chair, wearing her white bonnet, with needle and thread in hand, sewing the first American Flag?

July - the Fourth of July is when we celebrate our independence as a country. Once ruled by England, we became the United States of America on  July 4, 1776.  What a blessing that we now consider England our staunchest friend and ally.

All of these days are about freedom in one sense or another. We are thankful for the freedoms we enjoy - freedom to talk with one another, freedom to meet, freedom to attend (or not) the church of our choice, freedom to share the news through the press, freedom to select those who will govern our country, freedom to bear arms, and more.  I am thankful to live in the United States where I could choose to study what I wanted and become a teacher, where I can now use other talents and abilities with which I have been blessed, to crochet, where I could become the mother of three children (or more if that had been my choice), where I can worship according to my beliefs, where I have a home on two acres of land, and can watch the deer (who ate my hostas, by the way), the wild turkeys with their little ones, birds, squirrels, rabbits, a coyote once in awhile, a fox family, the hummingbirds at the feeders.  It would take much too long to list everything I associate with freedom.

But, in thinking about red, white, and blue, I often think of my friends and team members on the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team (Bbest team) who represent several different countries throughout the world.  I think of the varied talents, the creativity, and the friendships forged through our common desires to create and share what we make with the world.  Please enjoy viewing these red, white, and blue artistic creations, and others as you visit their shops.

White ruffly scarf handmade by Blazing Needles.

Lovely blue lily painted by Paintings by Kate Ladd.

Patriotic iron on appliques from Rural Retreat Vintage

Red poppies by  The Creators Palette

Red felted flowers by Yarrow 1

Blue Sapphire Pendant by Nonnie 60

Lily of the Valley Soy Candle by AJs Country Cottage

Patriotic Centerpiece by Bags and More by Pam

Lily of the Valley Photograph by Beth Peardon Prods

Small Flower Pendant by Zuda Gay

This stylish slouch hat is by Big Island Rose Designs.

What a lovely journal by Bookwraps.

Beautiful blue earrings by CC Valenzo.

Elegant earrings from Jills Treasure Chest.

Pretty pendant necklace from Dream Whimsy.

Fused glass business card holder by Chris1.

Felted bag by JN Originals.

Native American necklace in blues by J  Stinson.

Fabulous feathery earrings from Meredith Bead 2.

I love the birds painted by Six Sisters Art.

What a cute crocheted dress by Stitches by Julie for Kids.

To see more shops from the Boomers and Beyond Street team, just type in bbest team in the slot next to handmade.  You will love viewing hundreds of creations from these talented artisans.

'This post written by Pam Todd, whose Bags and More by Pam shop features hand-crocheted items for people, pets, and homes.