Please let us know

What can we do to improve BTWT? We'd love some thoughts/ideas for next year, as we are starting to plan out what we'd like to do! What would you like? I created a quick poll for you, but please feel free to email or comment with additional ideas.

Thank you!

Tuesday's Tickle

Have you ever tried to find prim Thanksgiving items and realized there's not that much out there? Well I've been looking around and found a primitive Thanksgiving craft to show you today.


Bernice of Olde Colonial Signs, came up with this design for a sign - how cute would this be in your kitchen? Or to bring along as a gift if you are going somewhere for THanksgiving this year?





If you are interested in this or other signs, be sure to visit Bernice at: http://www.oldecolonialsigns.com/

If you are a crafter, check out some of these Thanksgiving patterns offered on Pattern Mart: http://www.patternmart.com/patterns/subcat/Thanksgiving+Dolls

Lots of great patterns to whip up something yourself this Thanksgiving. I'm working on a set of Pilgrims from Maureen's (Sweet Meadows Farm) Round-a-bout pattern. I think I'll keep them ;)

Cindy

Ask the Editors (Part 2)~ Megan's turn!

1. How do you come up with the themes for the newsletter? Do you plan the issue around an upcoming holiday?

We usually start a newsletter draft around a holiday or certain time of year. From there, ideas just brainstorm. We try to hit up all our writers for ideas and ask on message boards and such for ideas for things readers would like to read about or have tutorials on. We're always up for suggestions as we never want our readers to get bored!


2. Why does the newsletter not come out monthly?

I'd be brain dead if I had to think that much! HAHA! Seriously though, there is alot of work that is involved into putting out the newsletter and most of us have our businesses, full time jobs, kids etc...on top of all the everyday things. Most of our articles take time and research and we definitly need plenty of time for kissing up to our contributors for all the freebies they help us out with. Cindy and I felt that releasing the newsletter every other month would allow us to put together a quality magazine that everyone would be able to use and look forward to!


3. How does one sign up to get the BTWT newsletter?

On the home page of www.btwtnews.com there is a signup throught Yahoo where you will receive a notification when we release our newest issue every other month.

4. Anything "new" that you can share with the readers??

Oh we've got lots of great plans for upcoming issues! September we're doing some great fall/Halloween crafts goodies, a fun article on a recent HUGE show that Cindy and I did, decorating ideas and all the other cool things you've come to expect from Beneath the Willow Tree!


Thanks Megan.....I tossed those questions at her after quite a long day at work but she came thru with answers right away! heehee

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru the Attic Door

Fabric Friday.....on Saturday!

I am usually not one to impulse buy fabric. I live in Canada and the price can really knock the wind out of your sails mighty quickly. I saw this fabric and it was like it screamed my name! LOL

The red is a really deep rich shade and then detailing is in a light cream and almost looked stitched to me. The start of Autumn is here in Nova Scotia and the pattern just made me think of fall seed pods.

So I bought some. So shouldn't have....but I did!LOL

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru The Attic Door

Tickle Your Fancy ~ Ric Rac!!!!

I have to admit that for quite awhile I was missing out on the excitement of creating with Ric Rac. I thought of it as the stuff that was on my grandmother apron. LOL

Then a few gals that I "watch" started using it more and more. I was intrigued and wanted to get my hands on some. You'd think it would be easy right? I live in a small rural area of Nova Scotia and was having too hard of a time. Folks were looking at me like I had 2 heads when I'd ask if they had any in their shops. A special friend of mine sent me a bunch of it so I could try creating with it. OH MY GOODNESS! How have I been not using this before?? Its in so many fantastic colors and is the easiest way to had a special extra "something to a dollie or whatever you happen to be creating.

Great... so I finally get all excited about Ric Rac and its harder to find then I ever thought possible.

NOT ANY MORE! My Ric Rac obsession can fully blossom now as I want to tell you all about a wonderful new website that sells ONLY RIC RAC!!!! I'm so excited! The colors that they have and they say more are to come soon! Yippee

The Ric Rac Shack

Terri and Kellie are wonderful ladies and have created this super little website totally full of awesome colors of Ric Rac that are sure to spark you into wanting to create something. The prices are beyond reasonable. They tell us they have more colors coming too!!

So if you are thinking you might need to stock up on your Ric Rac stash....go check out this wonderful website!

ENJOY!

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru the Attic Door

Where's the Time Go???

So it seemed so simple an idea to write in this blog at least 3 times a week. Figured there were three of us and that would be plenty to cover the spots.
Already we've hit a bit of a glitch! LOL
Megan and Cindy are in the midst of a big craft show together.
Cindy has family visiting.
I have family visiting right now for a week too.

So..... please know that we will do our best to stay on top of the blog but if a few extra days skip by....hang tight....we'll make the wait extra special! ;)

Thanks!

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru the Attic Door

Look at them!!!!! ohhhhhhhhh

Ok so once again I'm posting the "Tickle My Fancy" on Wednesday...Tuesdays seem to become crazy busy for me!LOL I know once you see these wonderful gals....I'll be forgiven! ;)

Our friend Karen of RK Creations has just come out with a brand new pattern!!! These four fairies are sure to steal your heart. Oh they are adorable! I went into town today and bought myself some material because I can't wait to make some of them! LOL I would have started last night when I got her pattern except it was almost 1am and I don't think the other family members would have been thrilled to hear my printer going then! LOL

There is a special fairy for each of the four seasons!

Good peek and I just know you'll wish to own this pattern too. Tell her Cedara sent ya! ;)

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru the Attic Door

Fabric Friday

As a new mommy, time 'out and about' by myself is a rare gift. Since my hubby is off from work today, he sent me out today to Joann's to enjoy a little me time and I sure did. It was perfect timing for our Fabric Friday here at BTWT's blog too.


I found this cute Debbie Mumm halloween fabric with ghosts and pumpkins; I came home to find that this orange polka dot fabric I picked up last year is a perfect match too! Joann's is now carrying alot of Debbie Mumm prints; there was a selection of fall and everyday fabrics.


Ok so next question now that I have it.... what to do with it? (never mind that I ask myself that each time I buy fabric with a huge variety to pick from!)

Tickle Your Fancy Tuedays

Ok so I am actually posting this on Wednesday but I had something happen that sort of took over my time on Tuesday.

I am here to tell you all about it now though! heehee

FOLGERS GOURMET COFFEE BLEND~ VANILLA BISCOTTI

Oh my goodness this stuff is awesome to use for staining primitive dollies!!!!

I have been brewing two big pots of it and then pouring them both into my big dollie making plastic bowl. I don't have to add spices or vanilla to it. Everything is already in the ground coffee and it smells sooo heavenly!

I use a sponge brush and coat my primitive dollie parts in it and let her dry. Its leaving a wonderful rich color to her that I am just loving.

Oh and I'm thinking it probably tastes wonderful too...I just can't vouch for that aspect because I don't drink coffee! LOL

ENJOY! Place a bag in your grocery cart next time and....tickle your fancy!

Blessings!

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru the Attic Door

Interview with the Editors ~ Side Note

Megan sent an email that said Cindy had given all the good answers already to those questions.....she wanted new questions! heehee

Darn that new Momma being up late with her sweet baby girl and answering the email first ;) So while Megan pouts for a bit, I'm working on some new questions for her to answer.

Look for "Interview with the Editors ~Part Two" soon! ;)

Interview with the Editors (Part One)

Thought this would be a good forum to ask the ladies some questions.
I sent them both an email and these are the answers I got back.
ENJOY!

1. What do you enjoy about being the editors of BTWT?

CINDY~ For me, I love seeing our collective ideas come to 'life' in this type of
format - I love to write and I love crafting so those two things together
are a perfect match for me. Since this newsletter is completely free,
getting feedback from our readers like an article helped them or they
enjoyed the patterns - makes me smile every time. We all put a lot of time
into it, so it's nice to hear!

2. What is frustrating about it?

CINDY~ For me - when I mess up HTML code! Some of
our pages have a lot of code and if you miss one little character well....
It's not fun when you are up late trying to make a deadline! I seem to get
a 'brain block' about certain codes!

3. How often do you two talk about upcoming issues?

CINDY~ It's an ongoing discussion - a lot of times we catch each other on IM or through emails to throw an idea or two out at each other. We try to keep a watch out for 'hot
topics' to see if we should write an article about it; like in May we did
How to Survive in Tough Economic Times since everyone was talking about it
being slow on their sites. We also like to get ideas from the staff and use
our private message board on PM to keep topics going and suggestions open.

4. How are articles picked for the writers? Do you tell each writer their
topic for the issue?

CINDY~ We have some writers who have a dedicated column - like Whispers and
Business Talk; it's up to the writer to connect to whatever 'theme' we may
have for that issue to their column and writing. We will always throw
suggestions out if someone is stuck; but the writers choose their topic from
one issue to the next.

5. How can someone become a writer for BTWT???

CINDY~ If you have an idea for us, please send us a writing sample. We have a full
regular staff now, but we are always looking for special feature type of
columns and articles to run occasionally. If we get an article that we
like, we may hold off and save it for a future newsletter where the topic
fits in with what we have planned.

BTWT Editors

heehee I bet they didn't know I had this photo of them. ;)

Megan Tucker of AmericanPrim and Cindy Markovcy of Homespun from the Heart are the editors of BTWT.

Now most writers don't usually get along with their editors, right? They are the ones cracking the whip. Shouting demands that can't be done in the time frame the editor is expecting. You aren't friends with them.

WRONG!

Oh my goodness....I think a huge part of my enjoyment of being a writer at BTWT is that I get to work WITH these two ladies. That's right....WITH THEM! They never come across that any of us work FOR them.

Many a night has been spent tossing emails back and forth between us. Long hours spent chatting in IM chats discussing topics for future issues of the newsletter.Even longer hours spent talking about all the fun things that form our friendship and bonds us. heehee

I met Megan first. She and I were roommates at the Primmart Convention during the first year that it was held. We bonded and became vast friends on so many levels. During the next year, BTWT had some changes happen behind the scenes. When it all finished, Megan and Cindy were the editors.

I made the trip to Primmart Convention again and got to finally meet Cindy this time. Oh she can make me giggle! We all could sense that this partership was going to be fantastic!

I am so very proud to be able to say that I have never loved writing so much for something as I do for BTWT and it is greatly in part to the two of these incredible ladies.

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru the Attic Door

What will you be reading here??

You have found our blog and we are thrilled! Its new so not alot has been written yet but oh my....the plans that we have brewing for this blog. I am SO EXCITED! heehee

We thought it would be fun to have special days here at the blog.....so make sure to mark this down someplace so you won't forget.

TUESDAYs = "Tickle Your Fancy"....... different things ranging from a new pair of shoes; a doll creation we have seen; a recipe we tried at dinner the night before; anything that has tickled our fancy enough that we think we need to spread the word on it.

FRIDAYs = "Fabric Friday"...... we are going to share snapshots of fabric that we just bought or have stumbled upon in our fabric stash that we are going to create something with next.

SATURDAYs= "Spotlight"....... we are going to randomly share different creations/websites/artists that we think our BTWT readers might enjoy learning more about.

Some of the blog posts you read here will blossom into full articles in future issues of BTWT.
With the use of your comments and feedback, we'll expand further on topics you show interest in.

We hope to give you giggles and smiles.
We wish to bring you inspiration for your crafting.
Business tips will also be shared to help further you in running your websites and at home business. We can't always be fun and laughter! LOL

BOOKMARK US!
We are going to take you on a wonderful exciting ride!

Thank you!
Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru the attic Door

Putting Words to Paper

So I know that when you type to a blog its not really putting pen to paper but the concept is still very much the same. I have written in journals for as long as I can recall. Finding it very relaxing while at the same time somehow bringing out a new side to my creativity.

Words seem to float around in the back of my mind all day. Usually I hear something and its like a section gets filed away in my thoughts. I love the feeling of sitting down at my desk and writing those words out. Feelings and emotions flood forth. Sometimes it flows out like liquid from a pitcher to a tall glass. Other times I fight with them and they seems to drop like large chunks of ice. There are some nights that I just end up staring at a white screen and playing a dozen games of solitare!LOL

A few years ago I was in the Primmart chatroom and talking with some of the other gals that had gathered for the evening. So many different topics were brought up that evening. Everything from what had been cooked for supper that night to what some of us were going to be creating next for our websites. Lots of laughter and sheer fun as we all took turns getting to know each other just a little better. As the evening progressed, a few gals signed off and it slowly dwindled down to just a couple of us left.

The topic of writing came up in the conversation and I mentioned how I loved it so. That I had stacks of journals that on my death bed would have to be burnt before all my secrets got out!LOL It was that night in the chatroom that my life altered in such a wonderful way for me.

I was asked to write articles for Beneath the Willow Tree.

Really? But.......well you don't even know what I write. How is this going to work? I've never done anything "online" before. I'd only written things down that my own eyes would read again.
They giggled and said that I was going to be just fine.

Then a moment of sheer panic overtook me..... what would I write about?? Could I really create something from the words floating in my head that others would want to read? Oh I was starting to panic! LOL

She had given me full control of what I would write about and the style to which I would do so.
I must have sat up that first week just scratching ideas down onto my own paper filled journal. Some would work out. Others were ripped out and tossed away. I slowly began to find myself feeling calmer about the whole idea. I wasn't hitting a brick wall. The words were flowing.
The tales were coming to me in flashes and I was smiling.

I have now been a writer for Beneath the Willow Tree for almost 4 years. I have been blessed with a wonderful following of readers who enjoy my articles "Whispers from the Past". The feedback from each issue is what acts as the muse for the next whisper to start forming.

I thank my readers!
I thank the wonderful ladies at BTWT for letting me express my soul to others thru words.

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com

BTWT's Brand New Adventure

Hello faithful Beneath the Willow Tree readers!!!!

YUP.... we have decided that Beneath the Willow Tree needed to spread its "branches" out in a slightly different direction. We,of course, will continue to bring you the BTWT newsletter that you already enjoy reading so much.

This blog will be used to give you a glimpse "behind the scenes" to our regular ezine issues. Little sneak peeks of articles that are being written. We hope to run polls and use the feedback and comments from you all reading the blog to further make BTWT the best online newsletter!

We are going to offer freebies here on the blog as well!
So make sure to bookmark this wonderful new blog and check back often.
You never know when something will have been added to make you smile!

Thank you!
Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com