LilacsNDreams

Google Friend Connect and Linky Followers

2012-02-08T22:52:00.002-06:00

Google Friend Connect and Linky Followers. Welcome back to LilacsNDreams! I promise I won't keep you all long with this posting. But, I got an email that was informing me with all the changes of Google that the Google Friend Connect would soon be phased out as well. Has anyone else heard of this? I know Google is making changes....like with picnik closing, and a few of their other programs they have. I never did get a full list of what other programs they will be closing, so was questioning about the Google Friend Connect. IF that is true, and that is another program that Google will be ridding of.....those people in your Google Friend Connect will be lost. There is no way for you to transfer them over to another service. Unless they come up with something to help out, there will be no way to transfer your friends to another program that you might wish to use.

So, in the right hand column, right below the Google Friends Connect that I have you will see another box that friends can connect with, and follow with too. That one is called Linky Followers. It is Free, and Linky does get used with quite a few blogs I have noticed too. For those who have already signed with Google Friend Connect, if you will be so kind as to sign in with the Linky Followers I would appreciate it. Just in case there is some truth to this issue I would rather be safe, then sorry. If for some reason, or other it does not happen I will remove the secondary box. Until then I will keep both boxes for signing up to follow with until I can get confirmation for such actions.

Thanks for visiting LilacsNDreams, and working with me everyone, I appreciate it. Take care, and have a great week!:) See ya later.........

Optimizing Blogger Blog and Achieving Traffic

2012-02-08T13:52:00.000-06:00

Optimizing Blogger Blog and Achieving Traffic. Welcome back to LilacsNDreams, and glad to have you here! I started a post last week as a refresher of what I had done about Blogs, Blogging, Platforms to choose from, etc. Today will be about what to do with your blogs to better help you with traffic which can also help in making some money if that is what you are choosing to do.

1) Blog Title is an important part of applying proper SEO techniques. A reminder that SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Choose a title that will use keywords other might use to search with, and make sure it reflects on what your top will be at that time too.

2) Blog Description is a significant part of a blog for Search Engine Optimization, or also known as SEO. You want your description to be appealing to visitors, and at the same time using keywords that you are targetting in search engines. Remember, the keywords will vary for everyone because it depends on what you topic is at hand. Some keywords that I try to use for things that pertain to my blogs, what I blog about, what I sell, and what I discuss would be like vintage, collectibles, handmade, homemade, hand altered, repurposed, upcycled, glassware, and things like that.

3) Comments is something that you would like to allow with all your blog posts. Allowing comments can help enhance value of your blog post, and it also helps to update your content as well too. Along with this it will assist in helping to improve your search engine rankings.

4) Quality Content is a must for your blog success. When you can, or able to post quality content that people like to read this in turn will help improve your traffic to your blog. What you have started your blog for in regards to topics, themes, business, etc...If you can stay within some kind of a rythmn of it that people will be interested in they will stop to visit you, read with you, and hopefully comment and share things too.

5) Submit Blog to Search Engines and Directories. Submitting your blog to these things will give you a better search engine rankings as well too. When I myself submit my blogs I submit my domains that are directed to them, but I also submit their blogspot url addresses they have too. It helps since people will use both url addresses to come visit with you.

6) Use Keywords in the Anchor Text of Links. Using keywords in the anchor text of links is of vital importance to get some of your best SEO results with. Use your primary, and secondary keywords in anchor texting of links. Again, words I generally use for me are vintage, collectibles, handmade, homemade, repurposed, upcycled, altered, and things like that. When clicking on these different keywords you will be directed to 1 of the 3 stores I have items listed with. Also, keep in mind not to over due it too. Google, or the search engines see it being over done, or an over kill of it they will ignore you. It then will become considered spam, and that is something all search engines try to avoid.

I hope this little bit has helped some of you with things you do with your blogs. It also works for your websites, and can work with where you list your items for sale too. I can honestly say by doing some of the things I have noted for you over time, it does help your views with your blogs, and when I check my Google Analytics I am seeing results there too. I honestly can get more views with my Blog than I do with my stores. My long term goals...I hope it keeps working this way for me too:)

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and wishing you all a Happy Hump Day! You take care now, and see you again soon. Later . . . . .

Blog Blogger Blogging Social Media Networking of Today

2012-02-03T12:39:00.002-06:00

Blog Blogger Blogging Social Media Networking of Today.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to see you here, and everyone is always Welcomed to visit with LilacsNDreams too.

I came in here today with an idea in mind to discuss with all of you, but along the way changed my thinking and thoughts. Ever happen to you? Heck, I can even walk across a room sometimes, and either forget what I was going for, or also change my thought along the way there too...LOL:) I know I have talked a little bit before about Blogging, and Social Media or Social Networking. I have decided to cover this a little bit again for everyone, and touch base with it a bit. Why? Social Media, and Networking is growing fast, and is still predicted to be something good to use with all that you do with online sales, marketing, your brick and mortar stores, and etc.

So, the question is Why Blog? Many reasons for it. I'll try not to bore you all, and keep it simple. 1) Social Media or Networking is one reason for it. Blogging is another form of Social Media like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and so on. 2) Another reason to Blog is it gets you published. How you ask? By working with certain things in mind in regards to your SEO you will get noticed in search engine rankings, and etc. 3) Another reason to Blog is that you get your message out that you would like to share with others. There is no right, or wrong message to put out there. It is up to you what you wish to share, and what the message is that you would like others to relate to. 4) Blogging is another way to share tips, tutorials, questions, and answers too. 5) This has become a great way for Teachers and Students to share work, class notes, pictures, and etc.

Blogging is not just for one form of profession, but for many and all forms. Online Sellers, Brick and Mortar Store Owners, Big Companies, Small Companies, Journalists, Photographers, Publishers, Writers, and many many people are turning to the forms of Blogging as the Social Media Networking area grows.

Choosing the right platform is a task that you yourself will have to cover, and determine. Your main, and popular platforms are with Blogger.com and also with Wordpress.com. Another growing platform is also with Tumblr.com. Choosing the platform that works for you depends on what you want to do with your blog.

1) Tumblr is a platform for Social Networking of simple, and quick posts. Some themes are free, some are paid for premium themes. No plugins are used to add additional features onto your blog. This is a nice place to use for the casual internet presence.

2) Word Press is a more serious professional blogging used. There are 2 forms with Word Press which is WordPress.org, and with WordPress.com. The .com of word press is the hosted service of software, and has your basic features for free. It displays ads on your blog unless you want to purchase ad-free upgrade. The .org is the home of software. You get complete control, and flexibility here. You can download the software that must be installed on a web hosting server to work like Blue Host, Go Daddy, and etc.

3) Blogger of course is another free service used by many. You do not have to have certain plugins to do different things. You are allowed up to 10 pages with them, and those are static pages. You can have as many blogs, or blog urls as you wish....up to 100 I believe is the limit there. Like Word Press it has pros and cons to using it as well.

Well, as you can see....I use Blogger, and love it here! I do have a blog at Word Press, but do not use it as often. I am use to blogger with the ease of use of things here, find it easier to navigate around here, and if I work things right I can make it show with the search engines as word press shows too. That will be the next discussion for you with optimizing your blogger blog.

Here we are going into the weekend everyone. I wish you well, have fun, enjoy, and please be safe too. Enjoy it, and see you all again soon LilacsNDreams. Remember, you are always welcome to leave a comment, share something you know to contribute with this, and of course most of all....Please say Hi so that I can come visit with you too. Take care, and see you again soon everyone.

Buying Handmade Homemade Hand Altered Online and Local

2012-01-31T22:58:00.002-06:00

Buying Handmade Homemade Hand Altered Online and Local.

Hello everyone, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you here, and that you stopped by. Thought I was ready with my topic, but I did a little bit more research, and it is amazing what everyone says, trying to find definitions to help with the meanings of words, and etc.

Why buy Handmade Homemade? After researching a bit I will use both of these words. Handmade is considered made, or prepared by hand rather than by machine. Made by hand, or a hand process, and made by people using their hands. Individual pieces, or materials that compromise a finished item. Paint, wire, pieces combined to create a final item. Projects with a lot of hand work.

Hand Altered seem to have a little bit more suggested for it. Glued, nailed, screwed, sewn, whittled, affixed, stapled, embroidered, mixed, inscribed, painted, drawn, photographed, etc. Any alteration, or embellishment to an item by hand, or by machine controlled by hand, or via traditional art or craft method. Hand Altered is also referred to as hand embellished, or hand assembled.

Homemade can be referred to pieces that are repurposed. I also found made, or prepared in the home, made by oneself, and crudely or simply made. Creative touches, quality supplies, ingredients.

So, why buy pieces like this?

1) Find something unique. You are not wearing what everyone else is wearing. If maybe you like to keep up with the trends you can fix it up with a one of a kind accent piece.

2) Super Craftsmanship. Handmade items get individual care, special attention, focused with details, quality control, and etc. Also, there is no assembly line with unskilled workers.

3) Putting money into good hands. When you pay an artist, or craftsman for their work, they are actually getting the profit from it. You are not paying a CEO of a major company, their over head, and so on. You can also improve the economy, and make a difference by shopping this way with Handmade, Homemade, and Hand Altered.

4) Better Customer Service. Oh, yeah! That is something we all really love to have. Buying this way you get individual attention from the Seller. When you receive your products you might have a hand written note, thank yous, and sometimes some will give a freebie tucked with your item too. If you have a problem with some kind of mix up, lost or damaged in shipping, maybe item received was faulty, it is almost always taken care of effectively. Buying this way you will have a better chance with a refund, replacement, or sometimes a return too. These sort of issues though happen less frequently due to the care, and the concern Sellers strive for in having Happy Customers.

5) End Slavery. I am not saying this in a bad way, or no punt intended with this please. What I am referring to is buying this way you are not supporting industries of sweatshops, child labor, and some of the different industries like those in China. People are not factories.

6) Go Green. Smaller scale operations will produce less waste, use recycled materials, found objects, industrial salvage pieces, etc. All items that could have gone to the landfills, but with these techniques of Sellers they are spared and used.

7) Get Custom Items and Alterations. It's great having things made just for you. It's a pleasure to receive one of a king items, and maybe to help complete a vision you might have of something not out there yet. Also, if you don't have the skill to make it yourself, there is someone out there who does.

8) Make Somebody's Dream Come True. Many of us dream about quitting the day job, becoming your own boss, and doing what you love to do all day, and everyday. Whether it is for you, or helping someone else with this, it is very inspiring.

"Do What You Love, and the World Will Follow . . . ."

There are many categories that fall under these topics I have mentioned. Jewelry, clothing, accessories, home decor, housewares, vintage, used, soaps, lotions, bath products, but they all have something in common. Start from scratch, or connect things or pieces making something for you.

So, there you have what I have been reading about, and researched a little bit for this. There are some wonderful sellers out there doing all kinds of work. They take much pride in what they do, and like many others work very hard at what they do to make their items to be offered to you. When shopping please don't forget about them, and I would suggest if you have not already bought something like this . . . give it a try. You will be very surprised at what you get, and will want more. It's addictive!:) Artfire is one of the market places online that has sellers selling such items. Another place to also visit would be with Etsy as they are offering the same things within their market place too.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope you all enjoyed it. Take care, and see you again soon.

LilacsNDreams Vintage Collectibles Repurposed Upcycled Altered

2012-01-27T03:19:00.001-06:00

LilacsNDreams Vintage Collectibles Repurposed Upcycled Altered Informational, and sharing Blog.

Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and as always glad to have you visiting with me! I apologize to everyone in blogland, this has been one of them off weeks for me. I have slowly been working on things to list in my stores, and to show with my page here too. But, by the time the day passes with other things I have been dealing with I seem to have lost a little of my spit, and fire that keeps me going at night. Hopefully this weekend I get things moving a little bit more again...that is a goal I am setting for me to do.

It is almost 3 a.m. my time, and I am going to finish my late night with this blog to start your weekend. I have a renewal that is due soon with one of my domains that I have. I honestly have never really liked the domain using that .co. Sorry, but to me it is too close to the .com, and I sometimes feel it is confusing. Don't you think? So, this week I have thought about things, made some notes, and finally decided it was time to do it. Gonna make a few minor changes, or adjustments if you will. Gonna see if maybe I can get things rolling a bit more for me with the changes, and have it work to my advantage.

You will notice at the top of this page the tabs I have for other pages that come from this blog. Of course my 2 main pages are first this main blog page of LilacsNDreams for ya'll to come to, and that you are now visiting. My other one is what I am now calling LilacsNDreams Shoppe page. From this main page it is your choice if you wish to read more by visiting those pages. Also, remember you can always leave comments, and say Hi to me when visiting any of my pages so that I can come visit you too:) Ok, the minor change I have made, (if you have visited the page before you will see the change made) is with my other LilacsNDreams page which is now called LilacsNDreams Shoppe. If you can remember it was LilacsNDreams Store. Sorry, besides the change of the domain with the .co I did, using that 'store' word was just not jiving with me. Just felt a little blah for me. So, the page is now called LilacsNDreams Shoppe. I also have a new blog address for that page which is LilacsNDreamsShoppe.blogspot.com AND the new domain which should now be working is LilacsNDreamsShoppe.com.

With this Shoppe/Store page I had the .net domain directed to it. But, again, a minor change I have made:) I will be dropping the .co for my website, and directing my .net to my website instead. Makes more sense to me, and hopefully not so confusing with a more well known domain used for the website.

Ok, I honestly hope this all makes sense with my babbling everyone....Please forgive me. It is getting late, and I know I love to talk, but I need to give it a rest for the night too. Thanks so much again for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Make sure to say Hi so that I can come visit with you too. Hey, comments are also welcome here too!:) Take care everyone, and see you again soon!:)

Picnik Announces Closure Petition to Stop This With Google

2012-01-21T12:01:00.000-06:00

Picnik Announces Closure Petition to Stop This With Google!

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad you are visiting again, that you stopped by, and that you found me too!

Checking my emails today, and I got a very sad announcement. I know we all have our preferences for photo editing programs, and softwares that we use. I myself, for a very long time now, have used Picnik. It was always free, did not have to sign in to use it, could do simple editing without having to first understand the software program, and it was just so easy to use it. They do have a premium fee that could be paid for you to get more tools to use of course. I know of many people who do photography that would use this program as some of the editing tools, and have paid fees too. So, this announcement is quite disturbing to receive. They are refunding all fees back to everyone...even if you only have 1 day left with the premium they still intend to refund the full fee. That is nice, but still does not fix the issue at hand. Now where do I...along with many others go? What program could work in place of this with such an easy, no complications, no hassles, and was actually enjoyable to use because of its ease?

I remember when Google took over Picnik, and it was scarey to see what changes would come. Things still went along smoothly with no hitches. Now, everything is being converted to Google+, you are being referred to that service, and etc. I have clicked the link to take me there to use the Google+ services, check it out, see if I can adapt to it, and actually really get no where with it. I am assuming it is Picasa they have you using? I don't know, it is not telling me much, or taking me anywhere with the announcement of this change. That is Google, right? I enjoy Google+, have adapted with it well, but do not consider them a photo editing program for me to us, and feel like Google+ is being pushed at you more now too. So very very sad. I have to apologize for this being so long today, but I wanted to copy the announcement from my email to you. Actually, I wanted to put the widget here for the petition to sign, and try to stop this....but the google blog is not working fully for me to do this...imagine that, right? So, please, give it a read below, and if you will....please sign the petition to this as well. Thanks so much everyone! I hope ya'll have a super weekend with lots of fun, enjoyment, and of course as I always ask....Please be safe!:) Till the next time everyone....see you soon!:)

Official Announcement: Picnik is closing

Since joining Google in 2010, we have been creating editing magic in Google
products while continuing to keep Picnik awesome. But now we get to focus
on even awesomer things. Picnik will be closing on April 19, 2012.

Your photos liberated
Amazing photos are created in Picnik, so we have launched a new
feature, Picnik Takeout, that easily downloads your photos to your desktop
in convenient zip files. You may also elect to copy your photos to Google+
where you can store and share your creations. You may request your
photos at any time and use this handy tool as many times as you like
until our closing date of April 19, 2012. Learn more.

Premium Refunds
To our primo Picnik Premium members, we'll begin processing a full
refund of your current membership fee within a week of this announcement.
By "in full" we mean the whole darn thing. Yep, this means even if you
are on your very last day of an annual membership, we will refund you
the entire $24.95. Just because we want to say thanks.

Now the Good News - Free Premium for ALL!
To express our gratitude for your support over the past 5 years, Picnik Premium
is free for everyone! Use Picnik in all of its premium glory, for free, from
now until our actual closing day. Touch-up, Textures, Advanced, and more are
all free for you to use!
We have been incredibly proud of building a product that is used and
eloved by so many of you. We continue to be amazed and humbled by
the photos you create and we are immensely grateful for all of your support,
creativity, and passion.

We are excited by the photo-editing fun we have already brought to
Google products, like Google+, where you can find many of your favorite
Picnik effects in Creative Kit. We encourage you to visit Google+
and give it a whirl.

Please visit the Help Hub for more information on our wind down, and
check the Picnik blog for updated information on our April closure.

It's been awesome,

Team Picnik

Pinterest the Virtual Pinboard That is Addictive

2012-01-17T07:30:00.000-06:00

Pinterest the Virtual Pinboard That is Addictive!

Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and always glad to see you here. Enjoy the visits, and remember..don't forget to say Hi so I can come visit with you too!

Pinterest, what is it? What do you do? Oh, another place. Is it worth being involved? Many questions, and hopefully I can give you a few ideas of what it is, and then let you decide about it.

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard that is done online, and allows you to organize and share things that you find on the web with everyone. You just add a Pin It button in your address bar, and when you see something you like or want to share, click the Pin It button, and take it from there. Many people will use the pin boards to find recipes...and there are many good ones out there. Also, to find things you like with home decor, vintage items, DIY items, and just whatever your interests are. Best of all, you can browse pinboards of other people to see what they are sharing, and to discover some new and intriguing ideas by many other people.

What can you do with Pinterest? You could redecorate your home with different pins that you collect, and get ideas from all of them. Some like to use Pinterest to help plan their weddings for themselves, or for family members and friends too. People like to use Pinterest so that they can share their style with others who might have some of the same likes, and interests too. This is a great way to save inspirations that you might find along the way. As mentioned earlier, excellent way to get some really yummy recipes too!

Pinterest is a way for everyone in the world to connect with things that they find of interest. Shared tastes, and interests is bringing many pins to the site every week.

To get started with Pinterest you need to request an invite. Doesn't take long, and you will have a response with your acceptance into Pinterest. Once you have access to setting things up you can start making boards for yourself. Name them whatever you want, be creative, and have fun with it too. The pins that you add to the boards are credited back to the people/place that you got the pictures from...which is good for many people. One important thing....Pinterest asks that you not use the sight as a self promoting tool. It is ok to pin things you are proud of, that you have, but not to overload in self promoting is requested of them.

Stop by to see my Pinterest Boards sometime. I either am adding boards, or sometimes will change the name of the boards too. It sure is fun, and I get to see different things, meet different people, and get some wonderful ideas of things too!

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope you enjoyed your visit! If you haven't visited with Pinterest yet, make sure you get by there to give it a look. Take care everyone, and see you again soon.

Vintage Collectibles Repurpsoed Upcycled Altered

2012-01-13T22:53:00.001-06:00

Vintage Collectibles Repurposed Upcycled Altered are things I enjoy, and am passionate about. I wanted to stop by, and leave you all a small note. A reminder that you all are Welcome to visit with my tabs I have above that would interest you as I try really hard to post with some of my others pages here too. When visiting make sure to say Hi so that I can come visit with you too. Also, make sure to visit my LilacsNDreams Store page tab above too. On that page is where I will share items of interest with the online world of selling. I will show pictures for items of mine, where they are offered, I sometimes will feature another seller with some of their items, and etc. Along with the pictures I show I will share the links to the items being offered. Remember, if you see something you like, have questions about, want to know more...visit the link provided. If you are interested in buying it, and do not want to visit the site contact me to invoice you separately myself.

I hope all of you are going into having a great weekend. Thanks again for stopping by. Take care, have fun, enjoy, and best of luck with all you do. See you again soon.

USPS Postal Increases Coming Soon

2012-01-13T00:15:00.000-06:00

USPS Postal Increases Coming Soon!

Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and as always glad to have you visiting with Me. We have pretty much gotten through our 1st 2 weeks of the year, and time is just rolling don't you think? With this month speeding by us I wanted to give you a quick note here, and a reminder about our Postal Services shipping increases coming to us. Effective January 22, 2012 the postal rates will be increasing. A stamp that costs .44 now will then cost .45. Boxes for over night delivery will be to anywhere in the country for 1 price regardless of the weight. Of course that weight is up to 70 lbs. Express Mail Flat Rate box will be debuting on January 22 as well. Flat rates for Priority Mail will be as such: Small boxes $5.35, Medium Boxes $11.35, and Large Boxes will be $15.45. There is going to be a flat rate box that will ship over night, anywhere in the country, regardless of the weight...up to 70 lbs.

As for the regular postal rates for Priority Mail...since that is generally how my items are shipped I cannot seem to get in to find an updated chart, or the prices for this change. Will have to keep watching for it. If you would like to read a bit more about this, see more prices, and to better understand the changes visit the USPS Postal Site for this, or Google it for some answers too.

I will be going through my stores of vintage, collectibles, repurposed, upcycled, and making the corrected adjustments for the shipping I have quoted. I use priority mail which also includes the insurance. Till I can get some definite prices for these I will have to leave them as they are, but hopefully will soon have these changes made for the price changes that go into effect on January 22, 2012.

* * * Also....on Monday, January 16, 2012 the United States Post Office will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. birthday. Make notes to yourself about this everyone. * * *

Hope everyone has had a great week. Tomorrow is Friday....the 13th....Hmm. I am not superstitious about this, but know that others might be. Just another reminder of what day it is. Well, time for me to call it a night. Get up tomorrow, and hopefully be more productive getting things done since I will be home, and no scheduled appointments.

Thanks for stopping by, and visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone! Make sure to say Hi so that I can come visit with you too! Take care, and see you again soon.

After Holidays Organizing Cleaning Inventory Control

2012-01-09T23:29:00.001-06:00

After Holidays, Organizing, Cleaning, and Inventory Control.

Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone, and happy to have you here. Well, here we are into our second week of the new 2012 year already! Holidays are over, cleaning has been done, things put back into their places for decorations, and now we are moving onto catching up on the computers, and with our online stores. I LOVE selling online, meeting other people, learning from others, sharing thoughts and ideas with others, and all of that wonderful stuff.

Over Christmas I was able to spend a few hours with a very good friend of mine. MaryLouLavender*s. If you visited my LilacsNDreams Store page here with my blog you would have seen some of the items she had listed with her ebay store recently. It was great seeing her, and as always never enough time to go over everything, share everything, and cover all we would like to do, see, and talk about.

During our conversations we were discussing blogs, things we sell, ideas, and just all that sharing that feels good to do. The idea of organized inventory was brought up. How do you organize everything? What works, what doesn't work, and where do you begin? I know this is something many many of us struggle with in our homes to organize for our online stores, and also for just around the home too. How do you organize this, how do you organize that, what is the best way, and so on.

You know, these are good questions and thoughts to be asking. As we grow with our online businesses our inventory becomes more, and there has to be a neutral way that is acceptable, and workable to keep organized, and to keep peace of mind with ourselves. Having it organized makes it so much easier to locate for when items sell, for when we list, doing inventory, and etc. I decided to look around a little, and see what others had to offer of what they do, and how they do things. Keep in mind, some of these ways do not always work for everyone as all of us have different kinds of inventory, and things that we sell.

One of the popular ways I am seeing is to use tubs, and some shelves for each category, and items. Some use this sort of system for each month as they list. Some of the shelving was done with wire racks that are bought from Costco. Some found things with their home to repurpose, and use. The tubs could be colored, or some will use see through ones which enables them to better see what is inside the tub too. Some mentioned that they used boxes as well.

On the top of the shelves some will use by putting their bubble wrap there, envelopes, USPS boxes, their supplies. It is best to keep enough in supplies for what is needed to help in organizing, and controling your system you have. On the tubs some will use removable address labels as stickers to notify what is in the tubs, or using a numbering system. Item tags are used on some with a bin number system. Along with the bin numbers some will also note the price paid for the item. Then, some will note the tubs with the item title along with the listing number too. Some will use print outs...like an inventory sheet for each tub notifying what is in it. Some sellers will choose to keep their items together by brand, and in alphabetical order. Then there are some who will mark their tubs, or their boxes with dates of when they listed items too.Yet another thing that was mentioned was to put a picture with each tub of what is in there also. Many many ways, and this is something for us all to find our way that works for us.

When placing the boxes, or the tubs on the shelves many noted to keep the spacing right between each one so that it was easier to slide the containers out like drawers when they had to be accessed. I did find that some who had large amounts of inventory would use storage units. They would use units that had set access times to them, video surveillance cameras on the property, tall chain link fences, and some have an access code you have to use to get through the gates to the units too. With the units they not only kept their inventory there, but would also have the tables set out with shipping supplies there for them to box, wrap, package too. Interesting, isn't it?

Many did mention having an inventory spreadsheet for their inventory too. Some would map their inventory from organizing, and labeling. Interesting, huh? When you bring more products home it is best to group items together, and then to organize them.

Organizing our inventory, and having control with it is an everyday task. Can give us a headache too. Hopefully some of the methods mentioned will help you with your thoughts of what will work for you, and organizing your inventory. It is always nice to get some ideas of what others do to help you in organizing what will work for you.

Good Luck with all your organizing everyone! Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and I hope your new year is treating you well so far. Take care, and see you again soon!

Happy Monday Bloggers and Blogland Visitors From LilacsNDreams

2012-01-09T03:14:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday Bloggers and Blogland Visitors! Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and happy to see you stopping by to see me. Sorry, been MIA again here. Kept busy over weekend with moving things from upstairs to the downstairs, making room for workers, loading car to donate items, and just when I think it will calm down...I change my mind, and decide to donate a few more items. Hopefully this week the plumber gets his part done so then the rest of the bathroom can be completed.

The weather has been great here! Not a normal winter for us northerners at all! But, I will take it, and enjoy it as much as I can. Sorry to say I did not have much to cover in this posting to all of you wonderful readers. I have some notes made, have a topic in mind, but have not gotten any further with it. So, wanted to stop by here, and say Hello to all of you passing through. Wishing you all a super Monday, and a beautiful week! Thanks so much for visiting, and see you again soon. Take care.

A Year in Review in Blogland Bloggers Websites Market Places

2012-01-02T17:09:00.004-06:00

A Year in Review in Blogland Bloggers Websites Market Places, and etc.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Always glad to have you stop by. Make sure you say Hi so I know to come visit you as well, okay?

As usual a slow day, should be doing this, should be doing that, and here I am at the computer and doing things in between my internet roaming. As I am doing this I was thinking about how all of us each have reflections of some kind of what the year was for us, what it was all about, and of course what we would like to see with this New Year. Many set goals, make plans, and will set forth things to do for the year. Me? I don't really do that anymore. When the end of the year comes I don't want to be sad, disappointed in me, or upset because I did not achieve everything. Life happens sometimes. I like to feel good, and be happy about the New Year, and accept it openly and ready for good things to come.

I have been traveling around Blogland a little bit today, and have seen many showing their beautiful and great projects that were done for 2011. There have been many accomplishments, and many things shared by everyone. Made me think, and reflect a little bit on what I had done. I do not have Big projects to show you all. I guess I can say small things were completed with reading things on the internet, learning, becoming a little bit more knowledgable with some things, many notes taken, thrifting, junking, repurposing, collecting, and just roaming and taking in things from everyone else. Course now and then a little dream, making some notes with those dreams for the next year to come, and so on.

I can say that one of my accomplishments this year has been with my Blog. I have enjoyed working with it, changing things, learning to add things like pages, how to do my own background, making my banners and own buttons, and just learning some things with it too. I have also enjoyed sharing things with all of you that I myself know, have learned, heard from over here, and heard from over there. Just sharing A lil bit here, and a lil bit there, and I have enjoyed it all! I love seeing everyone stop by, leaving me a note, sending me an email, visiting and reading all of your posts, and I want to Thank You for sharing with Me...LilacsNDreams.

As we start this new year I want to wish you all the very very best in 2012. May it be all that you wish it to be. May you all just be "Happy to Be" Remember to "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do" Jalal Ad-din Rumi

* Simplify * Dream * Create *

Happy New Year Bloggers Blogland Website Visitors

2011-12-29T16:57:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year Bloggers, Blogland, Website Visitors!

Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and glad to have you here always. Well, did you all survive Christmas? I know some still celebrate after the day too. Families, Friends, Schedules, and trying to fit everyone in to have time with all. Festivities, and the rush of have everything done. Work so hard for that big day, and like that it goes too, doesn't it?

End of the year, and trying to get things in order here. Going through files to delete what is no longer needed. Taking products from one store, and adding to another store to be offered for those to buy. Removing maybe a few pieces of inventory, marking the books with all the changes, and prepping for the new year. I still have some products that have been completed that I have not listed yet for those to see, and buy. I still have a few things to complete that I would like to add small items with them, or show for decoration to help with some of those creative ideas too. Make sure to visit LilacsNDreams at Artfire, and to also visit LilacsNDreams at Ecrater. Between the 2 I will be offereing vintage, collectibles, repurposed, upcycled, altered, and so on. I do still have some things that are listed with LilacsNDreams at Etsy. In fact I made my first purchase of an item from Etsy couple of days ago too. At Etsy I have some vintage pieces listed along with a few of my repurposed items as well. Trying not to keep all the eggs in one basket, but yet not too far spread out that I cannot give the proper attention to the stores, and customers too.

So, now that Christmas is over I hope to try, and work on some of that the next few days, and nights. Hopefully I get something accomplished for this weekend to start offering in the stores. Make sure to visit LilacsNDreams to keep updated on what I am offering, and to make sure you check my LilacsNDreams Store tab at the top. In my store I show pictures, and links to visit to see items being offered. Not only do I show my own products, but I have started showing products of other sellers being offered, and will continue this too.

Hoping everyone had a sweet Christmas, and it was all you wanted it to be. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year with much success, sales, and everything wished for. Take care, and see you again soon everyone.

Facebook Social Media and the New Timeline

2011-12-22T20:18:00.001-06:00

Facebook Social Media and New Timeline.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Always glad to have you stopping by to visit with me. How many of you Facebook, use Facebook, have a Fan/Business Page, and so on? There are some people who do not use Facebook, have no desire to, and get along perfectly fine without too. But, for those of you who do use Facebook, spend much time there...sometimes too much, right?:) What do you think of the new Timeline that is coming out?

Yes, Facebook has yet another change that is, or will soon be taking place as well. They are calling it Timeline. This was being announced back in September, and some were able to sign up, and play around with it then. Since then there have been more who have been able to visit their Timeline, edit with it, play with it a bit, and so on. Once you opt into the new Timeline, your profile page is never going to be the same. This new Timeline reminds me of a diary. With it you will be able to dig back to the time of when you first started with facebook, see things you had noted and posted to everyone, and it attempts to use the data already inside of facebook sort of like a digital scrapbook.

Once you start the Timeline you will have up to 7 days to play with it, edit it, change this, delete that, and so on. You can then click the button to publish it, or it will automatically publish within the 7 days for you.

Your cover photo will stand out with this. It will draw attention as it will stretch across the page width of facebook. Your facebook profile photo will then become a smaller square. No new information is shared. Facebook is bringing back the old posts. It has been said that the privacy set with them old posts will still be there as well. If it is to be shared with friends only, it will be that way. The Timeline will try to determine which of your posts were the most read, liked, commented with and expand those for you. If you have a post that you want to bring up, and has not been expanded you will also be able to expand it as well. If there maybe are some posts you want no one else to see, you can make it for "your eyes only" as well.

Now, how does everyone feel about this? MANY mixed emotions, and thoughts have been shared. There are some who are loving it, enjoying playing with it, and so on. There are others who have dealt with enough changes, and do not want to have another one. Also, they are not in favor of this change, and wish that there was the option to opt out of it too. My understanding is that everyone will eventually have this Timeline, that it will be added. If I read correctly it is to be coming out of beta on December 22, 2011...today:)

So, when visiting Facebook if you have not already had your offer it is coming for the Timeline. See what others have to say about it, and play with it yourself too. You will either like it, not like it, or it will grow on you like any other new change does. Sorry, I was not really impressed with it as it is just another page to me. Another confusion to deal with, and will be an adjustment again. Time will tell with this for me, and for many others as well. As one person did comment this was all the more reason they were going over to Google+.

Thanks for visiting LilacsNDreams! I wish you all well, and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!! Take care, have fun, enjoy, and be safe everyone. See you when you stop by again.

Merry Christmas Bloggers Website Visitors Holiday Shoppers

2011-12-20T21:07:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas Bloggers and Website Visitors! Glad to see you at LilacsNDreams, and hope ya'll have been having a great week so far.

So, how is everyone doing with the Christmas preparations? Got the shopping done? Is the food all bought? If not having your friends, and loved ones in your home will you be traveling. If so, are you preparing for this as well.

I know, so many things to do, and so little time to do them. And, now, the rush will be on to get everything completed by the end of the week before places are closed to enjoy their Christmas as well. How many bought gifts this year? How many are treating those special to you with handmade gifts? Did you know there are a lot of handmade gifts, repurposed and upcycled gifts being given this year as well. Not only the economy, but others are seeing that they can make it more personable by doing so. Sometimes a little bit of this, with a little bit of that, and doing it this way is found to be much better than the store bought items too.

For those who are still shopping, and maybe doing Christmas on another day....not the traditional one....you will still have time to shop, and to also get your items shipped to you as well. Not only supporting your local stores to find what you need, but also supporting the artisans of all kinds is a great thing to do too.

As we all know with this big Holiday things will be slowing down just a bit with our stores, our blogs, and websites as we ourselves also prepare for this joyous and meaningful holiday. I wanted to stop by, and wish you all well, and thank you again for visiting with LilacsNDreams! I wish you all well. Enjoy your Holidays. May they be merry, fun, happy, and filled with much enjoyment. Take care everyone, and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!

Repurposed Dressers for Home and Organizing

2011-12-14T00:45:00.000-06:00

Repurposed Dressers for Home and Organizing. Remember that Everything Old can be New Again!

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! As always glad to see you here. Besides selling online I do a lot of roaming of the internet looking at things, getting ideas, seeing what others are doing, and just LOVE some of the things I see, don't you?! For a very long time now I have been enjoying viewing how things are repurposed, and upcycled. So many things out there, so many things being done, so many creative people, and it is wonderful seeing how everything old becomes new again!

For a couple of weeks now I have really enjoyed pictures being shared by many on their blogs, websites, pinterest, and so on. Repurposing dressers is sooo neat! Many things that can be done with them. Like anything else...don't throw it away because there is always a way to reimagine it, and find another use. I have seen dressers repurposed, and upcycled for not only in the bedrooms, but also for the kitchens, dining areas, bathrooms, entry ways, for outside with gardens, and so on. Some will take the drawers out from the dressers and use them as shelves on the floor and walls, wall mounts, under bed storage, and for many organizational things too.

I have seen some dressers, and desks too repurposed into a bathroom vanity. Oh, so neat too! Some have been made into a desk, baby changing tables, planter boxes or containers for the garden, labeled basket storages, a kitchen island, a bench in the entry way, television consoles, and even a place to organize with the kitty litter box containers and supplies too. It's amazing what creative minds can do, and knowing that many of the pieces are from our homes, or things that maybe someone is throwing out too. Don't forget to check your thrift stores, and second hand stores for dressers to have for your re-dos. Sometimes with the condition of them you can get them pretty inexpensive. Then, depending on the condition and what you want done you do a little bit of sanding....and sometimes no sanding I have seen done too. Strip varnish, add some varnish, paint, add tile tops to them, maybe do some mod podge with some adorable paper, maps, materials, and you have something old that is new again.

Here is a dresser that was repurposed as an island, or a stand in the kitchen. Pretty neat huh? And, who would have guessed you could do that, right? This is from apartmenttherapy.com.

This one became a bathroom vanity, and is shown by justinetaylor.tumblr.com I have seen some that used the raised, or table top type sinks too. Hmmm.....love it!

Here is showing how you can use the top drawers on your walls for wall decor. I have seen some that use them as shelves for maybe books, and some drawers have been cut and attached to the walls that you could see the front of the drawers giving it a bit more character too. This picture is something that I found on pinterest.com that came from bhg.com

Here is yet another repurposing idea from MakinItHappen found on JunkMarketStyle.com Great way to organize things for the craft room, baby room, and any room in the home. If I remember correctly the top done on this was done with some tile to add to the decor of the dresser too.

There is so much more out there to be seen with the repurposing, and upcycling of dressers. When you can visit pinterest.com to see more, visit the places noted with the pictures, and you can even Google it for Repurpose Dressers to see more too.

This is definitely something for me to consider to help with some of my organizing projects I have in mind....when the house is back into order again, and the contractors aren't coming in and out:) Hope ya'll enjoyed this, and thanks again for visiting. You are always welcome to share ideas with everyone here, make a comment, and of course....don't forget to say Hi too!:) Thanks for stopping by, and see you again soon.

Lets Get Organized Repurposed Upcycled Organize Your Home

2011-12-10T00:09:00.001-06:00

Lets Get Organized! Repurposed Upcycled Organize Your Home.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to see you stop by. Since Thanksgiving our house has been in a shambles. Contractors in and out, mostly outside, pulling things off walls for them to bang while putting on insulation and siding, cutting holes in wall to put in windows, removing windows, covering, and so on. We have 2 extra rooms upstairs that I have had to combine both of the content into one....Yeah! That was fun! I have most of living room furniture in the dining room, and....I think ya'll have got the picture of it, right? Me going nuts!:)

Prior to this I was looking things over in the rooms, going through things and slowly boxing them to be donated, would find some things I could repurpose, and do some handmade projects, and things like that. Slow process when you do it by yourself, and limited with some things you can do. But, took my time, and just went at my own pace with it. Unfortunately, I did not get all of it done before the house was shook up with everything.

Now, sitting, looking around in the computer room, seeing the mess in the dining room with completed projects and the other clutters, and just everywhere I have realized I really would like to find a way to better organize things in the home. Maybe on the walls, in the cupboards, where to put some of the little things, crafting working room, and so on.

I am all about saving money, but still having it look good too. There are many things a person can find that are low cost to use for the organizing you want done in your home. Along with that there are also things that you might already have that you can repurpose it, upcycle it, recreate it into something else to use for this task. Below you will see a few pictures I have found to give you some ideas. There is so much out there to see, get ideas from, learn from too. So, I thought maybe I would share a few with you that I had found of some of the small tasks. Here goes........Hope you enjoy, and it helps you with that "spark" for some of your home organizing.

Here is a repurposed cup mug holder that was transformed into a scissor holder for your crafts, and creating. This is shown by allsorts.typepad.com

These are some vintage match box holders that have been left with their vintage patina, connected to a wall, and can be used for some of your items as pencils, pens, could hold some scissors, and things like that. I have a couple I have been wondering what to do with them, paint them, or use them some how. This helps me with some ideas. This came from brooklynlimestone.com

Here is another simple organizer for the counter tops, your desk, table, etc. Use plastic sleeves, and add them to a paper towel holder with some rings. Store some of your embellishments, sticker sheets, recipes, and many possibilities. Organize it to your needs. This was found with clubcreatingkeepsakes.com

Here is a really nifty idea! Some simple quick filing of everyday things, pencil and pen holder...all in one. This is a dish rack being used for this organizational idea. Great isn't it? I found this picture that had been pinned, and showing at Pinterest.com

Here is another idea to help organize around your desk, maybe a place with your counter tops, fixing that corner up to be more presentable, and etc. Seeing this gives some wonderful ideas too. This had been found at pinterest again, and it was noted bhg.com with it.

I have seen some neat things done with wooden boxes, crate boxes, drawers, and etc. The drawers are cut shorter, and then connected to the wall and then used for organizing your books, magazines, papers, files, and etc. This simple box has been repurposed for organizing of some jewelry. I have also found this picture from pinterest.com Sorry, I don't see a note made of who to credit with this.

This is something I really enjoy...using shutters for many things. Hanging on the walls for some of your mail, pictures, notes, added some little catch alls to them for your pencils, pens, scissors, rulers, and endless possiblities. Oh, yeah, this is another picture someone had pinned at pinterest.com That place is addictive with pinning, and seeing what others are finding on the internet, and sharing too.

Here is a repurposed shower caddy being used. It's endless, and the possibilities with so many things too. Priceless. As you can see this one is showing being used again with supplies of note pad, scissors, ruler, and so on. This picture is credited to bhg.com

When....I had more purses than I do now...LOL:) You are always looking for a way to have them organized with storage, within reach, easily accessible when changing from one to another, and etc. This picture shows using shower rings to hold, and help organize them. Hmm....getting some ideas for other things too? This picture was noted from bhg.com

This is great to use for under your sinks, and in some of the cupboards where it is needed. We all get some spray bottles collected for different cleaners, and different purposes. Yet, there is never enough room to have them all together. Or, have them together and then where do you store your other things to use with it too? This tension rod being used to hang the bottles with the handles, and sprayers is a great idea. This picture gives some ideas of what could be done to help you....and Me:) Picture came from simplystated.realsimple.com

As mentioned above, there is a lot of things out there to see, get visuals of how others suggest or have done themselves, and etc. I seen a lot of possibilities, and many of them gave me some great ideas to use, and revise to ways that would work for me.

Now, time for me to get to work, and organize what I can till the house can be put back together again. Hope you enjoyed your visit, and I hope this has helped you with some of those wonderful organized ideas that are needed. Hey, if you have any ideas, or something you have done that helps you.....give a holler here, and share it with us all. Love to hear from you. Remember to say Hi so I know you stopped by to visit too. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams! See you again soon.

Social Medias Facebook Google+ Ning Groups

2011-12-06T20:01:00.001-06:00

Social Medias Facebook Google+ Ning Groups, and so on. Which ones do you use if any?

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Always glad to see you visit with me. Social Medias, and their uses. Social Medias, and how many of you use them. Are they beneficial to us, or are they just another thing to spend time with, and fill our days. Actually, Social Media is another good thing for us as Sellers to use, and be involved with too. Did you know that the more you are involved with a place, and the more others get involved, it truly does help the ranking for that site? Also, Google and your search engines will see "activity" happening, and they will go in to check it out, and see if it is time to place it with page rankings as well too.

I belong to a few Social Medias myself, and I do enjoy them. Not only do they help my rankings with different things, but I get to meet other people selling from the same venues I use, meet others with some of the same interests I have, learn from what others share, offer what I know to others, share pictures of what you sell and maybe projects you are working on too. Generally if there is a question, or a problem with something I can go to one of the sites I belong to for me to read about it, or ask about it as well. Everyone is great in responding back, sharing, and most of all helping too.

At one time I did belong with too many sites, and I had to take time one day, and weigh my options, views, feelings, and remove myself from a few of them. Not that I don't like some of them, but I needed to find a way to better organize my time spent with them, and spend more time with those I seem to be getting more benefit from as well. Some of this is visible when I go to Google Searches. I just go there, and put in my business name of LilacsNDreams, and watch the pages that come up. Once that happens I will start looking through those listings to see what places is helping my name become visible on the internet. Remember, each time you check with search engines rankings for different things can change, what is on page 1 could later be on page 2, and so on. But, some of the places I have learned pretty much where they are staying at, and have noted this so I know where to focus some of my energy.

The Vintage Village has been a good one for me. Not only does Lora have the Vintage Village that keeps growing with members, but she has also started a sister site to it which is called Vintage Rising. Then there is ESN for Ecrater Store members, and from there you can go to Online Sellers. Another place for some of the crafters, and repurposers to collect at is called Creating the Hive. Some of the other places I also like to associate myself with is of course the big one Facebook, but I have also found I am enjoying the new Google+ too. There is Twitter which I do not sign into much, but do have things being posted there that have been set up from different places as well. So, while I post something at one place, it is not only seen there, but with twitter as well. Along with this one I also am signed with LinkedIn. Another place that is showing up on Google Searches I have noticed when researching with different pieces is Pinterest. That place is very addictive, and when you see something you like that you would like to share with others you "pin it", save it to one of the "albums" you have set at Pinterest, and others will view items, pin them again which others will see, and so on. Very addictive little place to belong to as well. If you would like to see some of these places make sure to look in the right side bar of my site here, and find the clickable buttons to take you there.

I know that Social Medias seem like such a waste of time to some, but it has been proven that others have gotten higher views from such places, and some have made sales because of some of these places too. The more exposure, the more your name is seen, the more you can benefit from it. Using these places are a great way of promoting your stores, blogs, websites, links to you, and so on. Remember, I am not saying you have to sign up to all of them, and belong to a long list of them, but associating yourself with a few of them is good for you, and your business. Just like blogging.....google and the search engines like fresh content which helps them to know to crawl there, and check things out. So, next time you are out roaming the internet, and looking for ways to show your name more, keep in mind that Social Medias are a good thing to be involved with.

I want to thank everyone for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope I was able to share some things with you as well. If you have any question, would like to comment, and most of all maybe share something with the rest of us, please do so. Love hearing from everyone, and don't forget to say Hi letting me know you stopped by too.

Anchor Hocking Forest Green Glass Ruffled Rim Vase

2011-12-01T22:26:00.001-06:00

Anchor Hocking Forest Green Glass Ruffled Rim Vase 1950 to 1957. Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and always happy to see you here!

The Hocking Glass Company had been started in 1905 by an Isaac J. Collins. Isaac had been named after the Hocking River which was near Lancaster, Ohio. That location had previously been a carbon company. When Mr. Collins purchased this property, the building at that time was black with soot which had been from the previous owners. The locals then would call the Glass Plant the "Black Cat". Unfortunately, the Black Cat was destroyed by a fire in 1924. A new plant had then been built, and Hocking had continued on.

The Forest Green had been manufactured by Anchor Hocking from the time of 1950 to 1957. The vase you are seeing is one of four from this Green Glass Line.

The vase is about 3 1/2 inches tall, has an adorable ruffled rim, and then the wide or expanded body. Many uses for these pieces, they have a great transparent green color, use as a mini vase with some flowers, set on your window seals, use in table arrangements, set by themselves in places that fit with your home decor, and for those who like to repurpose and upcycle there are uses for it too. If you will visit my post prior to this one, you will see how I am showing this with a Repurposed Glass Cloche that was done by Me. Watch my LilacsNDreams Artfire store for this vintage piece accompanying the glass cloche.

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Any questions ask, you are welcome to share something with all of us here, leave a comment, and please don't forget to say Hi so I know you were here too. Take care, and see you again soon.

Glass Cloches Bell Dome Decorative Home Decor Serving

2011-11-29T20:19:00.001-06:00

Glass Cloches Bell Dome Decorative Home Decor Serving. Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and glad to see you visiting with Me! Above the pictures you are viewing are all Glass Cloches that I have repurposed so far. The top left pink one is listed with my LilacsNDreams Artfire store, and is the first one that I made. The other two are ready to be listed with my store. Slight delay this week, but is a working progress.

Some people will ask, What is a cloche? A cloche is french for bell. Cloche jars were originally hand blown jars used to protect plants from cold, and frost. You will also find that they may be referred to the following as well.
• Bell instrument especially with music. A restaurant Bell shaped cover for plate of food used to retain warmth. A dome shaped clay oven used for baking single loaf breads.
• Row Cover: a covering which is for protecting plants from cold temperatures
• Cloche Hat: close fitting hat/womens which is worn by flappers in the 20s

Basically a Cloche was, and still is one of the latest rages in home decor. There are websites that sell these. Some of the prices from these sites are quite spendy. I myself prefer not to pay some of them prices which I am sure others feel the same way too. So, I have been making my own that I will be offering with my store at Artfire. I have seen others who have made these as well, and some of them are just gorgeous with what they do, and how they present them! Sometimes vintage glass pieces are used, and sometimes a more modern piece is used as well. After viewing websites, and what others have to offer I started to watch different Thrift Stores for pieces that I could also use myself. I also would check through some of my own belongings at home, other pieces of inventory I have, and etc.

Cloches have many uses for them. They are pretty, and can be paired with many different things in order for you to get a variety of looks. They look great adorning mantles, counters, tables, knick knack shelves, using woodland floral arrangements, single flowers, succulents, showing precious photos, collections of seashells, vintage objects, ornaments, and many many possibilities. Can be used for everyday, holidays, special occasions, gifts, and so on. They are versatile because of what you choose to put under it.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope you enjoyed your visit. Remember, you are always welcome to share with everyone here, leave a comment, and don't forget to say Hi so I know you visited with me too. Love hearing from everyone. Make sure to check out my store, and watch for others that I am completing and will be listing too. Take care everyone, and see you again soon.

Anchor Hocking Glass Company Bubble Pattern 1937 to 1965

2011-11-25T17:00:00.001-06:00

Anchor Hocking Glass Company Bubble Pattern 1937 to 1965.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! As many know I do sales online with different market places. When listing treasures that are found by thrifting, yard sales, flea markets, estate sales, and etc I often research before listing them. I like to see how popular others listing same item at the time, read in my books for information if I have one to help, and a lot of research is done online with other sellers of like items. My passions are with vintage, collectibles, glassware, reused, repurposed, recreating, and things like that.

This item Anchor Hocking Milk Glass Bubble Pattern Bowl is listed with my store at Artfire. Here is a little bit of research that I was able to find on it. Collectors are calling this pattern "Bubble". I have also seen it referenced as Bullseye, and Provincial too. Anchor Hocking Glass Company which is of Lancaster, Ohio first produced this pattern in 1937.

There are different Bubble colors for different years which are:
1937 - crystal, forest green, sapphire blue
1959 - white milk glass
1963 - pink which was in a very limited number, and the royal ruby
There is also iridescent which is rare, vitrock, amber and other hocking colors

The exceedingly, orbicular bubbles have managed to be timeless in blending as well as with today's decorating themes as they did when they were first issued.

Hope you enjoyed the little history lesson with this Anchor Hocking piece I have listed, and found something useful for you to use as well. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and see you again soon. Take care.

Happy Thanksgiving Holiday to All From LilacsNDreams

2011-11-23T22:38:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL From LilacsNDreams!

Happy to see you stopping by here as always. If you have something to share, or just want to say Hi, please know that you are Welcome to do so.

Everyone have big plans for the big day tomorrow? I do hope that everyone has some where they can go, some where they will be, have someone to share the day with, or have people you can be with to celebrate this day. Will be nice to have a day off for a little while anyway. Enjoy some good food, great company, and just being with family and friends is always a special time.

I wish you all well, enjoy your day, have fun with it, and most of all....be safe. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

Repurposing Your Favorite Treasures For Home and For Selling

2011-11-17T20:06:00.001-06:00

Repurposing Your Favorite Treasures For the Home and For Selling too.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Always happy to have you visiting with me! There are many things that many of us do with crafting items. Some of us make completely handmade, some of us use items and alter them, we paint, we glue, we cut, we design, and a little bit of everything comes together for us who like to do this. All of these treasures are made with love, thought, and are not mass produced. One-of-a-kind pieces that are special in many ways. I enjoy, and think it is fun to see creativity, and the excellence of so many very talented people. I am in awe with so many things I see on the internet, through different market places, and am intrigued by all of it too.

So, What are some of your favorite things to craft? What are some of your favorite things to use, and craft with? Do you just work with one area, or are your interests spread with many things? I myself enjoy repurposing pieces of different things I find. I love glassware, and enjoy using some of that to work with. I enjoy the different plates I find, the colors, the designs, and enjoy putting these pieces together to make one-of-a-kind treasures for others to enjoy. Many of the pieces I find are lonely pieces, some are pieces from broken sets that did not sell in one of my online stores, many are gently used pieces, some are vintage pieces, some of the pieces might have a slight flaw with them, but are still very usable too. I find my pieces with thrift stores, good wills, junking, yard sales, and just about anywhere that someone has something to offer.

There is so much out there I want to do, want to work with, and try to create. Right now I am in a rut of making cake plate stands, candle holders, jewelry holders, candy dishes, soap dishes, catch alls, and pieces that fit with many home decors. I enjoy making these pieces because they are versatile, and have many uses.

I adore cloches, and have made a couple of them myself. My 1st piece was ok, but I enjoy the second piece I made from a glass vase, and hope to get it offered into my Artfire store this weekend too. I have about 4 cheese plate cloches here that I have painted the wood bases...all a different color. They are dried, one I will add a candle holder to it painted the same color to raise it, make it a pedestal for it. Then, on couple of them I want to add some tea or coffee stained music paper to the inside of the bases. Found myself doing too much at once:) I have 4 different sized wooden pedestal bowls that are all painted, and I am working on getting those offered in my Artfire store too. Although....one I might keep for me....LOL:)

I have another piece that was a kitchen utensil of sorts. I have it primed, and painted, and here it sits. A doilie I thought would work great with it....I want this piece to be a wall hanging.....but the doilie was not as I had planned on with this piece. So, I have to look through some of my inventory at home here to find another one, find some paper to mod podge with it, maybe add some lace, buttons, and you know....something like that. When the mood hits right, and I get inspired is when it will be completed. I have some pieces for yet some others projects I have in mind...should be fun! But, I first want to complete what few pieces I have here now before I become overwhelmed with all of it.

Anyway, I am sooo enjoying this, and find myself at peace when working on different things too. I enjoy painting the smaller things, gluing, light sanding, putting things together, and just a little bit of everything. I enjoy seeing the work of others, and learning from many who have shared things along the way too. But, enough of me now. What do you like to do? What are some of your favorite things you have made, repurposed, altered, and so on? Would love to see what others have been up to. Please share with all of us when you have the chance:)

Hope everyone has a great weekend.....Tomorrow is Friday already! Where did this week go? Take care, and Happy Crafting everyone!:) See you the next time.

Please, Remember Our Veterans Today and Tell Them Thank You

2011-11-11T14:42:00.001-06:00

Please, Remember Our Veterans Today and Tell Them Thank You

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to see you here, and that you are visiting with me! Today is Veterans Day. It is a special day for many who can remember times, have lost family members to this, and for those who are still here to share with us too. If you will, just take a moment, please remember our Veterans today. And, if you see someone who is a Veteran, if you will, walk up to them and shake their hand and tell them.....Thank You!:) This would mean so much to them. Remember, it is a trying day for some of us, but even more so of a day for the Veterans amongst us.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams. When in roam on the internet don't forget to visit with my stores for vintage, collectibles, and repurposed at Artfire and Ecrater. Also, visit Ebay with LilacsNDreams for some of the items I am auctioning too. Thanks again, and hope to see you again.

Google Plus Business Pages Opened For LilacsNDreams

2011-11-10T01:58:00.000-06:00

+LilacsNDreams Business Page

With Google+

Google Plus Open For Business Pages

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone! If you do not already know about it, or have not seen notices for it yet, Google Plus has opened their next phase for Business Pages. Like anything else when new, a bit confusing till you figure it out, but it really has not gone badly. When trying to work with something new you always seem to hit a slight bump in the road. It happens. I myself do like how these pages are compared to FB. I am having more success with navigating around much easier, and going from a personal to the business page seems to go much smoother than FB too.

One thing I like about a business page with Google+ is that it will be good for SEO, gets your name out there more, and I have seen some business pages comment on how they were being ranked and found with their pages too. Hey, every little bit we can do helps all of us Sellers out, right? Google has many different apps that people work with, they offer free websites, and until I went to process my Google+ Business page....I had forgotten that my business name is registered with Google showing business hours, map, location, and etc. So, the more with Google the merrier right?:) And, let's not forget that Google is also the biggest search engine for general, and for shopping too. So, having these business pages just gives it another kick too:)

When you can stop by to visit my page, see what it going on there, sign up with Google+, give me a holler, and add/invite me to your circles.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams. Remember to visit my stores for vintage, collectibles, repurposed, and reused treasures too. Most of the inventory is at Artfire, and I also have a few things with Ecrater. Some of the inventory has been listed with Ebay recently too. Hey, gotta get some of this inventory to move so that I can make more room for other things found, and mostly to make more room for me to work on repurposed and restyled pieces too.

Take care, and hope to see you again!

Day Light Savings Time Clocks Fall Back an Hour

2011-11-05T19:24:00.000-05:00

Day Light Savings Time Clocks Fall Back an Hour.

Hello everyone, and Welcome again to LilacsNDreams for vintage, collectibles, gently used, and repurposed. Wanted to stop by as a reminder to everyone AND to me too! Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour tonight before you go to bed. You could wake up to a reality check in the morning when you are rushing to get to church, go to the store, meeting with friends, and realize that you are ahead of schedule...LOL:) So, set them clocks back, and enjoy another hour of sleep, and relaxation. I know I will.

I realize with us setting the clocks back it is good, we are "gaining" an hour, and all of that. But, I also am reminding myself how it will get darker sooner, the nights will get a little bit longer with darkness, and that fall/winter is here. Hmmm.....

Well, off I go again. Taking a break, got a simple wood candle stick painted today, wanted to tea stain some music paper....I have to find them in the closet again. Need to measure, and make a paper template to follow before I start cutting into those music book pages. Will see what happens, and what this body feels like doing tonight.

Thinking of my friends as they are out shopping, digging, thrifting, and enjoying "girls weekend". Hope all is well with them, they are enjoying it all, and finding some good things too:)

Thanks for visiting LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again. Take care till the next time everyone.....

LilacsNDreams For Vintage, Collectibles, Gently Used, Altered or Repurposed Items

2011-11-04T20:33:00.000-05:00

Welcome to LilacsNDreams Where Vintage, Collectibles, Gently Used, Altered or Repurposed Treasures are offered.

Hi, and thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams tonight. I wanted to drop a small note here to let everyone know I am still around, and that I really have not been ignoring my blog. I have been by here often, and have done a little bit of work here and there. I do things as I am able to before I have spells of this darn cough I still get.

Anyway, if you check on some of my other pages with the tabs at the top, you will see that there has been a few things done with some of them. I have listed more items for sale at Ebay trying to move some of this inventory I have at home. I am still selling at Artfire, and also with Ecrater, and you are always Welcome to visit my stores too. This week I did have a sale with a Fenton piece from Artfire, and I have sold 2 other items with Ebay. I have another item sold at Ebay...still has time with the auction. So, slowly some sales have been coming to me...whew! Feels good to have some to work with, and making room for a few more things I would like to list at Artfire with some vintage, but also with some items I have repurposed too.

You will see some of the links clickable in this posting to go to the stores, or you can also find the links to the right side for the stores. Just give it a click, and you will be there. Hope everyone had a super duper week...better than me health wise. I would never wish this stuff on anyone. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again. Have a super Weekend ya'll.

Happy Halloween to Everyone From LilacsNDreams

2011-10-29T17:57:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween to Everyone From LilacsNDreams!!

This is a big weekend for many, and I wish you all well. Unfortunately, I have been home sick almost all week, and it still has not gotten better. So, there goes any trick or treat plans I had made!:( I wanted to stop by and leave a note to wish you all well, have fun, enjoy, be happy, and please be safe too. Enjoy your plans everyone!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN to All!!:-)

Selling Vintage and Collectibles on Ebay

2011-10-23T23:56:00.003-05:00

Selling Vintage and Collectibles on Ebay.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to see you here, and that you could stop by to see me too:) Wow! Next weekend is Halloween already. Is everyone ready for it? I know I am not. Been busy trying to get things in order, sort through more things to go out the door for donations, and then finding time to work with listings in my stores. Move some things around, and getting prepared to start adding some new inventory too.

Well, that time of year when I will try listing with ebay. That I have been doing. Over the weekend I have slowly been adding some products into ebay. I hope to add a few more yet by tomorrow night. But, have got some things there now to be seen, and viewed, and of course purchased too. Visit LilacsNDreams Ebay to see what I have listed there.

Thanks again for visiting everyone, and hope you had a wonderful weekend! Take care, and see you again soon.

Repurposing and Reusing What You Have

2011-10-20T18:20:00.000-05:00

Repurposing and Reusing What You Already Have

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you here, and happy that you could stop by. Been sitting here, and thinking of different topics to work with on my blog. I have to make a list when I think of something, or I might forget about it, and never think of it again. Today I was thinking of items being repurposed. How many times do we repurpose a particular item. How many items in your home have been repurposed. Are all of your repurposing projects from home, or did you find some while thrifting too.

I LOVE to repurpose, and reuse things myself. It is more cost effective when you use what you already have, or thrift for items to repurpose and reuse for your home, or for selling too. Another reason to repurpose is that some of your pieces already have character, patina, details, and so on with them. Newer pieces do not have this. Also, often your older pieces you have are better made than some of the newer items made today too. So, before you plan on buying new, have a look around. Carefully look for pieces that you could reinvent. Some pieces might just need a little updating which could be some new material, glued together, fresh paint touch up, new hardware, and just have fun reimagining them in new ways.

For instance, that old tv armoire you think you should get rid of? Why not convert it to maybe a kitchen pantry, a microwave cart, and etc. Don't get rid of that small old dining room table now. You could cut the legs down on it to a height that agrees with you, and make it into a coffee table. Another thing we often rid of is dressers. Instead of being rid of those why not convert those into maybe a bathroom vanity. Another thing is don't be rid of them darn old bathroom fabric shower curtains quite yet. They are good enough to use for showers, water resistant, and etc. Soooo, why not use them for some of the outdoor cushion covers?

Now, I am not saying or telling you to go out, and do exactly what I have said to do here. I am suggesting that before we throw, or are rid of things from the home, and before buying new....maybe consider items to be repurposed, and reused in other ways. Nearly everything has a second life. Seeing beyond what it is, to what it can be can be really fun too!:) And.....a money saver too!:)

Thanks again for visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone! Don't be afraid to share, or comment with each of my postings either. LOVE hearing from everyone, and having ya'll add something too. Also, keep an eye on my store at Artfire too. I am getting ready, and gearing up to start adding more inventory to it. Most of the inventory I am adding will be items that have been repurposed, painted, glued, and things like that. It is all a working progress, and dealing with many things from the home, or what I find thrifting too. Also, I do have a few more vintage, and collectible items that I will be adding into the inventory as well. I have slowly been working on revising some of the listings there now, have a small start, and hope to do more with wording, categorizing, changing pictures if needed, and etc. Work, Work, Work:)

Take care everyone, and see you again soon!:)

Retro Vintage Look is it Popular Again

2011-10-12T00:09:00.000-05:00

Retro Vintage Look is it Popular Again.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you here, and happy to see you visiting with me!:)

During my spare time lately....when I can find that....I have been noticing a trend of things, and of course things changing a bit, and what people are looking for too. I have been noticing that the retro look from like the 50s and 60s is becoming popular again. Whether it is the hair styles, the clothing, the kitchenwares, and the colors they are using of aquas, pinks, retro designs, and the 50s 60s style....it's there. I haven't really noticed any emphasize on any kind of specific trend, have you? Am I over looking something here? There really does not appear to be a "Now" look in America today. It feels like we are composed of many things now, times, recreations of things, different collections, and so on. Sometimes I honestly think that people are looking for more of the simpler times, and ways of things.

I myself find me going back often to simpler times, simpler things, and simpler ways of doing things. If I have not gotten there with some things I sure do think about it, and wish for it too. It's great that we have become so advanced with so many things today. But, along with that advancement also comes issues that effects all of us too. My house has been slowly showing it too. I have been ridding myself of some of the pretties....too many things, and getting back to a point of when things were simpler for us. I have donated a big wooden shelf that fit 1/2 the wall in our living room, donated a coffee table, ridded myself of quite a few lamps, different figurines, and I am still not done. I have been going through boxes, taking things out here and there, donating them, and then later I will go through some of the rooms again, or some of the boxes again, and do it all over again with removal of things. Sometimes I am finding things that I repurpose a little bit, and that seems to be working in our home too.

I have noticed more people appear to be shopping with Thrift Shops too. Not only are they shopping them to save a little bit of money, but because everyone is looking for that unique look. Something different, something of theirs, and you know what I mean.

Nothing too special with this post. Thought I would share a few thoughts with things I have viewed, and noticed. I like some of the retro look with some of the colors, and probably will implement some of it into our home more too. Gotta clean house first before I bring anything else home to fill it:)

Would love to hear from some of you on what you think of this. Do you see any kind of a specific trend, are you seeing something different from what I am, or is it different for different parts of the country? Chime in with some of your thoughts. Would love to hear from others, and of course always enjoy the conversations too.

Thanks again for visiting with LilacsNDreams. Take care, and hope to see you again soon!

Facebook, Google Plus, Social Media Which One

2011-10-05T13:05:00.001-05:00

Facebook, Google Plus, Social Media, Which One have you chosen?

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you here, and happy to see you returning to my site too. Big Buzz happening on the internet lately. Mostly has been with Facebook, and with Google Plus.

Google Plus is trying it again with the social media. Facebook is still being highly used yet, but how do you feel about the changes that have happened recently? Are you signed up with Google Plus? If so, how are things going there for you?

Facebook has done some major changes lately, and I had read where there will still be a few more. One is with the Fan Pages. Prior to the changes FB was really starting to become spam for me. I LOVE conversing with everyone, sharing, commenting, reading, and all of that. I understand people wanting to show their items also being offered for sale. But, when I have half a page that is full of pictures for items for sale, and from the same person, sorry....but that is starting to feel like twitter and the spam that comes with it. I understand social media, it is to our advantage in many ways, but when it starts to feel like spam, when it is no longer enjoyable to visit, I don't have the desire to visit quite as much. Then, some of the things I have read with the changes, and what is being done on FB I can remember thinking "Why do I have my fan page then" or "Why did I work to make my fan page something" So, time will also tell with that. I sometimes get the feeling that I am not getting all of the posts on FB to read like I use to, and it just feels like I am missing out on some things with the changes. Having a harder time getting around facebook again too.

Now, there is Google Plus which I have joined a long time ago with invites from others. When I first joined with them I had my business name, and soon found that others were having issues with their accounts being removed, blocked, or warnings sent to them about this. The Google Plus started out being for the personal accounts, and they are still working with their business part of it for others to soon join. Till then they have asked that you use the real/personal names. So, this I have done.....scary as I do not even know me by my personal name!:) I am so use to my name of LilacsNDreams, or also answering to the name of Lilacs that is was an adjustment for me....LOL:) Anyway, roaming around Google Plus has been quite comfortable for me. It feels like simplicity....which I believe a lot of things need to go back to myself. Google has been a bit easier to roam around with things. I enjoy seeing actual conversations from people, and sharing with them. You accept the people you want within your circles, and you can have many circles to better organize your friends list with as well. Then, when posting things you have the option of having it public, or if you want only certain friends circles to see it too. When accepting someone to a circle, prior to that, it is a bit easier to read about them, see their profile, and on the side of their about page you can see the links they have for stores, blogging, social medias, and different things like that to better assist you as well.

I might be using my personal name at Google, but my avatar is still with my LilacsNDreams so people can know me, and then follow over to the business part of it when I can get that done, and is available to all of us. I am kind of leaning towards Google+ myself, feels cleaner, not so cluttered, easier to navigate, enjoying the conversations, and so on. I have not had a problem sharing links there, and with some of the links....like with my blog, the picture shows with it as well. But, I am still using Facebook since many friends are still there yet too. Time will tell, and I will be watching myself to see how this all comes out with both places.

Where are you, what is your preference, and have you tried them both? Google Plus is open to all now, and invites are not needed. Would love to hear what others are feeling about this situation as well too. Share if you wish to.....All are welcome to do so. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams today, and hope to see you again soon. Take care everyone....till the next time:)

Follow LilacsNDreams With Blog Lovin

2011-09-19T00:19:00.003-05:00

I have joined Blog Lovin, and this is something I need to add to a post for procedures of claiming my blog there. Hey, stop by to give me a follow there as well along with other fellow bloggers too:)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Where Were You on 9/11 10 Years Ago

2011-09-11T23:14:00.000-05:00

Where were you on 9/11 when tragedy came to our country 10 years ago?

That is a day in history that has not been forgotten. Many people were effected everywhere. Some had family, friends, co-workers, parents, children, spouses that were lost along with those from the service, fire fighters, policeman too. America as we knew it then has not been the same since.

My husband was driving truck then. Often he will go out west, and many times was usually headed east for his deliveries, pick-ups too. He happen to be home on this day due to a load being delayed, or was it cancelled? I think it was delayed. Anyway, I woke up that morning....and he always gets up way before I do to watch the news, and drink his coffee. When I awoke, and came downstairs to the living room of course the tv was on. At that time he sat me down, and told me not to be scared, but I was going to see some bad things that happened that morning. When I was able to view what had happened I was devastated. My eyes got big, I looked my husband straight in the eye then, and I started to cry. I cried for all those that had lost someone, I cried for those who were trying to help and had been injured or had also lost their lives, and I questioned how on earth could something like this happen? I also cried in relief that my husband was home. He was suppose to be out east that morning, but due to the delay/cancellation on his load he was able to come by the house. I remember my Grandmother calling to check in, and see if I had heard from my husband as she too knew that he often had to travel that way with loads. Hubby later had to leave that day, and headed out east going down the road again.

When he arrived that way he did call me to let me know he was ok, and how it was hectic....which was very much expected. He along with others were being searched with the dogs, and everything like that. He was not disappointed about that, but told them as this was happening Thank You, and I only wish precautions had been taken sooner.

When I think of this day I still get sad, and I still will shed a tear. So many people were lost, and for what real reason? I was happy to see we could come together as a nation to help with this tragedy, but was also sad about this because it shouldn't take a tragedy such as this to make us stand together as a proud country. I think of the kids who lost a parent, 10 years later, and how it is effecting them as they grow. I think of those who were there to help with rescues, what they had seen, and how some lost their lives helping others.

It was a very sad day then, and is still sad and remembered as time goes along. I know there are many others who have worse memories than what I do as they were more closely effected by this, and some have the memories of turning on the tv, and seeing what had happened too. What were you doing 10 years ago on September 11, 2001 when the world seemed to stop then?

Thanks for visiting everyone, and feel free to share and comment after reading too. Take care.

Milk Glass Collectibles For Sale For Home

2011-09-07T17:19:00.002-05:00

Milk Glass Collectibles, For Sale, For Home Decor, and for many more things.

Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and glad to have you joining with me today. I am going to discuss, and show a few pictures of pieces of Milk Glass for your reading.

Did you know that Milk Glass was first made, or originated in Venice in the 16th century. The Venetians made the glass opaque, or translucent in several different colors of blue, pink, yellow, green, and including white too. The white color is achieved through the addition of a tin oxide, or a bone ash. The name "milk glass" is a relatively recent name for the glass which is blown, or pressed into a wide variety of shapes. Milk Glass is still considered a luxury item, and a great collectible. It is very easy to fit into any type of style you may have.

Sometimes people cannot find the exact shape of a Milk Glass item that they would like. To solve this issue some people will find glass pieces that are clear, or maybe another color, and will paint them white to fit in with their needs.

This glass can be nicely decorative, gorgeous with flowers, or some of the pieces will also have a shape that needs nothing else to show it. The item will take on it's own style alone as is. Below you will find some pictures showing you different pieces, and styles of Milk Glass. Some of the makers are unknown, some are vintage, some come from names such as Fenton, Westmoreland, and so on. If you do not see the item with the link I am showing you that is because the item either sold, or is no longer available. Also, for other reasons it might not be available too.

Different Shapes Sizes Styles of Milk Glass
MilkGlass.org
@Website

Moss and Milk Glass Center Pieces
RuffledBlog
@Blog

Here you can search their site to find different things, different ideas, and enjoy:)

Fenton Blue Milk Glass Compote

Barking Sands Vintage
@Etsy

Shell Pink Milk Glass Pedestal Cake Stand

Fab Funky Finds
@Etsy

White Milk Glass Shaker Set
Passion of Milk Glass Collecting
@Blogspot

Vintage Green Milk Glass Hobnail Slipper Shoe

Eclectic Artifacts
@Etsy

Isn't it wonderful the different colors, styles, shapes, and different pieces offered for Milk Glass. With this kind of variety many pieces can fit into many home decors. Don't forget the Holidays we will soon be celebrating. Milk Glass is great to have adorning the rooms in your home during that time!:)

Thanks for visiting LilacsNDreams, and I hope you enjoyed the topic of Milk Glass. Now that you have some new ideas, know a little more about it, and can see what it does with different arrangements....time for you to go shopping, thrifting, and hunting to find some pieces for your home!:)

Take care everyone, and come visit with me anytime!:)

Welcome to LilacsNDreams Blog Website

2011-08-20T15:25:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams Blog! Sorry, I guess this was my week to slack off just a bit. I do have a topic I am going to share, but will probably do it this next week. Got some pictures, and some blogs/sites I would like to add with the topic too. Also, don't forget the tabs at the top for other pages with this blog too. I try to share things a little different with each one:)

For our area, most of the schools have started. Kids seem to be doing good, and enjoying themselves. For me it was quite different this year not rushing around getting school supplies, looking for any school lists, registering kids for school, having a meet the teacher night, and so on. Both our kids our grown up now...last one graduated last year, and our daughter is a bit older, and is married with a 6 year old too. Oh, yeah, Grandma I am too....she decided she had to start young I guess:)

Hope everyone had a great week, was enjoyable, able to get some last minute plans in, final vacations, but hang on as we have Labor Day coming to us soon too!:) Thanks for visiting, and stopping by to check on things here. Ya'll take care, and see you again soon. Have a sweet Weekend!:)

Online Sales Summertime Slow or None

2011-08-11T21:55:00.001-05:00

Online Sales Summertime Sales Slow or None
Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and glad to have you visiting!:) For those who do sales whether online, or in a brick and mortar store have noticed sales being slow, or for some they have not really had any sales to speak of. When this happens, many of us will question ourselves about what are we doing wrong, do I need to change something, is there more I could do, and so on.

In all reality sales during the summer generally are slower for many. Depends on what you are selling, supply and demand, etc. Many people, and families during the summer spend time vacationing, traveling, spending more time with family and friends, and their focus is not with buying too much of anything. Sure, they will buy when they are traveling, visiting out of town, and vacationing for different little things. The majority of their time is not spending all their time online buying, but maybe emailing, researching with travel plans, some take the summer to prepare for winter months themselves, and things like that.

Me? Selling vintage has usually been slow for me during the summer time which I have adjusted to. I have adapted with the sales being very slow, or if any at all. This summer plans worked out for me being slower during this time. I have taken the opportunity to work more with my blog, spend some time with my website, researching some things I wanted to do with a few changes I wanted to make, and taking the time to repurpose different items. I have also been able to go through some of my inventory, review what has been selling and not selling, and making decisions of trying to keep selling what has not sold, or to let it go.

With some of the pieces I have tried to sell with more than one venue, and they have not sold. I do not desire to donate them, or give them away. So, some of them are being repurposed also. Not all of them, but some pieces. I have also been able to experiment a little bit with like the glue I choose to use, and if it will work for me. I have been working on painting just a few things, not all I had planned on, but some of them. Do I spray paint, or do I brush it? I have also been able to take a little time to go thrifting for different pieces knowing more of what will sell for me, and also as I walk around seeing if I reimagine any of the pieces in other ways. It has been an enjoyable summer doing a little bit here, and a little bit there. Learning, reading, and making them notes too!:)

Upon checking with some of my other pages in the tabs above you will see a little bit of what I have been doing. What I have found thrifting, what I have repurposed, before and after pictures, and just some chit chat too:) If you will view the Thrift Store Junkies page, and Second Time Treasures page you will be able to see a little bit of what I have been doing. Also, if you see my Artfire Store you will see more of the vintage there, a few pieces of repurposed, and the other inventory I have been working with I will soon be adding to that store.

So, if you are getting the summer time blues with your sales, are worried about having slow sales, or no sales, don't be too worried. Summer time is generally slower for many as they look back through things, and discover that is generally a slower time that has been dealt with. Now.....the season will soon change with vacations over with, traveling becoming minimal, and with school starting. School for the little ones, those in middle schools, high schools, and college too. Things calm a little after that, and people will be spending more time with the computers, and doing some of their favorite online shopping again too.

Hang in there everyone, things will soon get better!:) Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope you enjoyed your visit as always. Take care, and see you again!:)

LilacsNDreams Artfire Market Places and Completed Sales

2011-08-06T12:32:00.002-05:00

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! I hope everyone is having a super weekend, and that is continues for you!:)

WooHoo! I am happy to say that I have made 2 sales now! One was through Addoway, and due to a glitch with Payapl we had some issues to over come. I ended up invoicing the customer through paypal myself, and she has been very happy with my co-operation, and staying on top of things. This made me feel really good. That sale happened on Thursday the 4th for an Amethyst Scalloped Ruffled Fluted Glass Bowl. Then, this morning I received notice from my Google Checkout with Ecrater about my A&W Bear that has been purchased. Unfortunately, it is the weekend, postal service, and I will not be able to ship this treasure till Monday. I may be extremely tired past few days, but it has been very comforting having a couple of sales too.

ARTFIRE has an official group with LinkedIn now....WooHoo! I myself had started a really small group there for Artfire as I could not find anything that was being maintained, or a place for memebers to go too. I am so very happy to see this Official Group by Artfire now using the Official Artfire Logo too:)

Just stopping by to share some of my excitement with all of you. Visit my stores, and don't forget about my other blog pages tabbed at the top too. Happy to see you everywhere with me. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams today. Wishing everyone a sweet weekend, have fun, and be safe!:)

Preparing For Shipping and Finalizing the Sale

2011-08-05T00:16:00.000-05:00

Preparing For Shipping and Finalizing the Sale.

Well, you have done everything up to this point, and have done a listing for your products you wish to sell. Do not be discouraged after this if it takes a while to get a sale, maybe you will have a sale right away, and sometimes you will make more than one sale too. It varies for everyone, and consistency is not something that comes with selling online.

Ok, you made a sale, and with most market places an invoice has been sent to the customer. Everyone does everything differently, and again you will have to find the way that works for you, and feels comfortable for you too. Once a sale is made I send a personal note to the customer thanking them for their purchase, and asking them if there is any change to the mailing address to please notify me of it as well so that I may note it.

Once payment is made you will then have to prepare the item for shipping, or sometimes you can have most of the process done while waiting for payment too. Make sure you have supplies on hand for the method of shipping you have chosen. Boxes, mailing tape, bubble wrap for delicate items, peanuts, or whatever supplies you choose to use for your shipping. You want to do the best you can wrapping the item to ship as once it leaves your presence you will have no control of how it is handled from then until the customer receives the item they have purchased.

Another step to follow through with after receiving your payment is to prepare the shipping label, and also I recommend enclosing an invoice with each order you process. I myself enclose an invoice with the item for verification for the customer, and I make a copy of the invoice for my records as well. You will also want to consider enclosing a business card, maybe a thank you note, and some sellers include some small gift along with every purchase of maybe a pen, a magnet, or whatever is used to represent you, and your name. No rules for any of this, and it is your decision of what you will, and will not do.

Ok, you have securely wrapped the item, properly boxed it for shipment, and it has been delivered to the post office, or a pick up was done of the item for delivery. After this processing is completed it is always curteous for you to then notify the customer by thanking them again for their purchase, and that their shipment has been made. This will better help them to watch for the item, and kind of when to expect delivery according to the shipping service used.

Keep in mind, you do not have to do all of these extra steps, and there are plenty of sellers that have their own ways, do just a few things, or really do nothing at all except to package and ship. It all relies on the customer service that you wish to extend to the customers, and how you will be remembered for your services too.

I know there is much more that could have been covered, and it could have become very lengthy too. Yeah, more winded than I have been:) Most of what has all been covered with these topics for selling is the basics of doing things for Online Selling. I hope this has helped you with things you do, for those new to online selling, and maybe a bit of a reminder for some as well too. I wish you all well, and best of luck to you with all you do. Take care, have fun, and enjoy your new venture!:)

Listing Formats Basics for Market Places

2011-08-03T00:02:00.001-05:00

Listing Formats Basics for Different Market Places

Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone!:) Tonight I will be covering the listing formats, the basics of them for the different market places. Every market place provides you with a form for you to complete, and is the page you will see when shopping. Keep in the mind that the sequence of how the pages are done will be different with each place, but they all have different sections to complete. Don't be frustrated with them as they do the same thing, just different orders of things done, and the categories can vary too.

You will want to choose the category you will be listing with. Make sure you check for any site rules about listing in certain categories, and if you are allowed to list with more than one category too. You will want to research a bit to see the categories used by others selling similar items with the site you are listing with. Most of the sites do have a specific category, and then sub-categories with them.

Writing a Title as was mentioned before will now be used. Check with the site you are using for how many characters are allowed in the titles. It is generally from about 55 up to 70 characters. Avoid the adjectives such as Beautiful, Adorable, Pretty, New with your titles as they will not count, or help. They do not make you stand out more in searches, and only take away from characters you are allowed to use. Make sure to use keywords that will be used for searching for your items with the search engines.

Next will come the pictures you will be posting which we covered last week with the bit on photography. Each site is different on the amount of pictures they will allow. Some will allow up to 10 for free, or is included with your site fees. Other places maybe only allow 1-4, and any more you will have to pay a small fee for anything above that. Also, will you be able to use the pictures from your computer, or does the site have you upload them from an online hosting site. By now, you will know some of these things as you are doing your listings to better assist you.

Now you will work on your descriptions with your listings. Make sure to give as much information as possible here. It is ok to use your title here again in the first sentence which is better for search engines, and placements. Give information of the product, color, size, condition, vintage, collectible, handmade, supplies, and etc. Mention some of the purposes of having this item, why they should purchase it, and make this appealing to the customer. Remember, you are trying to sell your product to them who cannot see it in person, feel it, touch it, smell it, and etc.

Mention your payment types accepted, your shipping procedures and what they can expect, and your return policies also. If you charge any kind of handling fees it would be best to mention this too. Let them know that if they have any questions to please contact you with them. You are willing to help them the best that you can to make this an enjoyable, smooth, and pleasant transaction.

As you can see it is all kind of coming together now from this little bit of a series that has been offered to you each week. There is just another 1-2 topics to cover, and you are on your way to listing your products, and enjoying your sales that will soon come to you also. Remember, it can be frustrating at first. Especially if this is all new to you. Some people will make a sale right away, and then have to wait again for another one. I have seen another business who has been doing ok for themselves mention that it took them up to 9 months before they made their first sale. It varies, and no 2 incidents will ever be alike. All we can do is learn from others, apply some of what others have done, but most of all find the way that works best for ourselves to accomplish our goals.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and I hope this information has been helpful to you. Either you can follow what has been suggested, or at least apply some of it to fit in with your own way of doing things. I wish you all well, and Good Luck to you all!:) Happy Selling, and enjoy everyone!:)

Product Pricing For Auctions, Fixed Price, Payments, Shipping

2011-07-29T17:16:00.005-05:00

Product Pricing For Auctions, Fixed Price, Payments, Shipping.

You are almost ready to start listing with your new market places, or auction sites you have chosen. A few things you should have thought of, and worked out before you start listing. This will better help you, and assist you as you do your listings.

PRICE OF PRODUCTS
• Auction: Your starting price, setting a reserve price has been noted to be discouraging when
bidding. You want to list with the lowest price you would be happy to sell with.

• Fixed Price: When doing this please research your items. Check with Ebay to see what it sold for
on an average. With the search engines check on the average asking price. Then, you can better
determine what would be a respectable asking price you can be happy with.

• Shipping Charges: There are different shipping choices from different carriers with different
services. Decide if you wish to offer free shipping, or not. Consider if you want to use the
estimated shipping costs which would mean maybe using some charts, and a scale would be very
handy to use too. Or, maybe you would like to use calculated shipping costs. There is NO law on
this answer. NO right, or wrong answer. This one you will decide what works for you, and what are
you comfortable with using. You might have to try different ways before you settle on which method
you will use.

• Payment Types: Some of the sites will allow you to set payment options on each listing. Others will
have you deal with this when you first set up your account. Those choices would then be added to
every listing. Paypal, Google Checkout, Amazon Payments, Money Orders, Checks, and so on. Each
site is different in what they will allow.

Make sure you include information for shipping times according to the payment received. Show this
with your shipping policies. Something like you ship 3 times a week, 5 days a week, within 24 hours
of a clear payment received, and so on. If you are accepting Money Orders, or Checks they usually
allow more accepting time. The payment decision can, and will effect how you ship, and the delivery
times.

• Return Policy: Decide if you will, or will not offer a return policy. Some do, and some don't.
Depends on what you sell, previous conditions, and etc. Also, if you accept returns is it with money
back, or credit. Another issue to note is if the Buyer will be responsible for the shipping for returned
items also. Keep in mind that some use the return policy with a buyers remorse too. This is some-
thing you will have to determine what will work for you.

Some Sellers will post with every listing their policies at the end, or bottom of the description. Some put it on another page for policies. You will have to decide if you want them to look further, or if you will have everything noted up front for them without searching further for information. Yes, this can be time consuming, but you will also find it is necessary to have this all in order prior to doing your listings. Will make the listing process a little more simpler for you, and a bit smoother as you find your way of how you want to do your listings.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope I was able to help you just a little bit more. Whether it is giving you ideas, or giving you some things to consider you might have forgotten about too. Always welcome to share, comment, and offer more too. Thanks again everyone, and have a super weekend!:)

Photo Tips Photography Taking Pictures For Products

2011-07-27T00:11:00.001-05:00

Photo Tips, Photography, Taking Pictures For Products that you are selling.

Welcome back to LilacsNDreams, and so good to see you again! Ok, so far we have covered, or skimmed over topics in regards to selling online. Are you a Full Time, or Part Time Seller, or considering selling. Planning, deciding on products you will sell, determining if you want to sell with auctions, market places, or maybe both, and your listing formats. Along with your listings will come pictures. Don't be afraid, and don't get nervous. We all learn from what we do, learn from others, and researching some techniques online can also help.

When a customer comes to your store they were drawn not only by the product they are looking for, but by your titles, and keywords you used. Once they enter the store they generally will look at pictures right away. The old saying "Pictures are worth a 1000 words" really does help with selling online. Having pictures does help things sell better if the the customer can get a clearer image of what they are buying. Yes, detailed descriptions are very helpful, but remember the customer is not there to feel the item, touch it, smell it, and so on. We have to do this for them with the ways we use to present to them.

You don't need high dollar cameras to take pictures for your listings, and you don't have to be a photographer to do so either. Just some simple little things to consider, and help you with "showing" your products.

When you are setting up your area to use for picture taking make sure that you have enough contrast between the setting, and the product so that you can distinguish between them. It is recommended by many to use a black, or a white backdrop. Also, to use shadow boxes. Use what works for you. Don't make it loud, and keep it simple. It can be something with character, a vintage table top, maybe an old lover letter, slabs of stone or maybe some wood. Make sure the focus is kept with your product, and that your backdrops used are not too distracting, but yet appealing with the product to make it show more.

Using natural lighting is generally the best to use. The best lighting can be outside on a cloudy day, or by the window too. If you use some sort of white transparent film on the window it can help filter strong light. You can use a Halogen light, or some kind of lighting determined by you if using your shadow boxes too.

Most sites display a square format for the picture. So, after taking your pictures you generally have some minor adjustments to be made with them. Resizing them to work with the formatting of the site you choose, crop them, rotate them, changing the contrast, maybe sharpening the picture a bit, and so on. Many many free programs out there to do this with. You will see many suggest using picasa, gimp, photoshop, the program that came with your computer, and there is also picnik.

Take many pictures, and use as many as permitted by the site of choice you are using. Show a full size picture of item, zoom in for characteristics you want to emphasize with, if there are any flaws make sure to picture that, if you have a makers mark with the item also picture that for the customer to see. Remember, the customer cannot feel the product so they are relying on your detailed description, and your pictures to better help them.

Once you take the pictures you will want to download them to your computer, or some places require that you use a place for hosting your images. Good way to store the pictures you use for your listings so that it keeps the space on your computer free too. There is photobucket to host with, or you can also use flickr too.

You will see some mention that you should consider water marking your pictures. This process is done because there are people out there who like to go through, and use pictures of others without doing their own work. Yes, it has been known to happen. A watermark is just a light marking done to the picture that you can show it belongs to you. You put it in a place on the picture that it does not distract from the picture, you can make it very light, but yet slightly visible so it can be seen it is marked. For instance, with some pictures I have watermarked I would use LilacsNDreams, and it is generally done in a light shade of white too. Close to the product, but yet not distracting from it.

You seen the term "light box" used by me. This generally is used for smaller items. A good example would be for those who deal with jewelry. Also, to get more of an understanding of picture taking you can research it with the internet for the products of your choice that you will be selling too.

I hope that this version of photo tips for your listings has helped you in some ways. Remember, anything that I suggest, or have been telling you is not the rules, the law, or anything like that. Just some simple techniques to better assist you with your online selling. Always welcome to comments from others, and having others share some thing with us here too. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and I wish you all well.

What a Weekend at LilacsNDreams

2011-07-24T23:18:00.000-05:00

Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone!

I do hope all had a good weekend, and you were able to stay cool where you were, or dry where you were too. It's definitely summer time everywhere, isn't it? I think the heat got to me at the end of the week, and through the weekend too. Trying to do too many things, rushing to get done, over doing it, and that sort of thing. I was off on my weekly posts I do, and I apologize for that.

Just wanted to stop by, and say Hello to everyone, and thank you for visiting with LilacsNDreams. Got the note pad out on desk, pen...extra one in case run out of ink. Will look through notes in morning, and get back on schedule with my posts I have been doing. Not done with the small little series I started. Have had some great responses from everyone, and I thank you for that. I enjoy hearing them, and am welcome to suggestions too. Also, don't forget to roam through the other pages I have been adding to my blog. Those tabs are found at the top. You see something you like, and would like to comment or share with, please do so:)

Thanks again for visiting. Take care, and have a super week. Best of luck to all. G'Night:)

Visibility With Market Places and Search Engines

2011-07-20T19:55:00.001-05:00

Visibility With Market Places and Search Engines.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams. Sorry, bit off this week aren't I? I apologize for that, and was just taking some time for me...trying to anyway:)

Last time we has a topic was about choosing the auction site, or market place you would like to sell with. Once you have chosen that there are many other things to get in order, and prepare for. Doing a few of the simple steps in preparation can help you with your listing format that you do.

When we list we often wonder about how we rank on the site of the market place, and with the search engines as well. How our listings will rank among other listings in the market place depends on different things. Considering how many listings could be similar makes just a little bit more work for all of us. The more unique your item the less competition with any search results. Your title can help with this greatly. View the site with the different titles, and choose your words carefully.

All of the sites have internal search engines for searching by title, keywords, or categories. So, each site will have its own rules. Some might be complicated, and others will have fees for different levels of exposure. If you are following some of the best practices for Google Search you should find yourself with a good position with search.

Some of the same things with the internal search will also apply with the Search Engines too. There are many layers for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). The effective use of keywords is one of the most important. That is how people find you. Your titles with your descriptions need to have keywords that buyers would use in search of items offered.

Use Google's Home Page, and experiment a little bit. Get some ideas from your own searches, see what works for others, and get a feel of how some of the searches might be done. Remember to view it from a customer's view of shopping. This will better help you with choosing your words that you should use, or consider.

Along with researching keywords, tags, and such you should also research what others are offering for products. See the prices they are using, their shipping the charge, their policies, and etc. Try to be competitive, but also stay within reason too if possible.

Ok, that is some of the things to consider when getting ready for your listings. There is more to do, and more to work with. I am trying to do this in baby steps for you. If I over look something, or you have a question, please ask, ok? I am not an expert, but will gladly help you the best way that I can.

Hope ya'll are having a great week so far. Happy Hump Day Everyone!:) Take care till the next time. Enjoy. . . .

Scentsy is Having an Online Party with Scents Aroma Candles

2011-07-17T23:56:00.001-05:00

Scentsy is Having an Online Party! Scents, Aroma, Candles, and Hmmm! Love it! If you have not had the pleasure of using these products yet, now is the time to give them a try. Many scents to choose from, wall plug ins, adorable warmers that are decorative, holiday, eventful, kids, and all! Got a little bit of something for everyone.

Here is the link you need to visit for further details, and to see the products. Visit with Ashley for Scentsy at her site, enjoy, have fun, and place some orders too. Don't be afraid to contact her with any questions. She might be busy, but will always answer as soon as she is able to do so.

Yes, I do have these products all around my home too. I have one plugged into the kitchen, have one in the bathroom plugged in....great night light too! I have one in the hallway upstairs plugged in, and then I also chose some that fit with the decor of our home too. So, when they are not turned on they look nicely sitting on the tables, or plugged into the walls with all the choices you have.

Also.....they have some NEW scents which are for the month of July Only! So, get on over there, and see the products offered, and check out the new scents they are offering.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope you enjoyed your visit here. I also hope you enjoyed the visit to http://www.asilberstein.scentsy.us/ to see those wonderful Scentsy products I was bragging about too!:) Have a wonderful week everyone, and make sure to visit again.

Selling Online MarketPlaces Auctions Site

2011-07-14T23:13:00.007-05:00

Selling Online, MarketPlaces, Auctions Sites. Welcome to LilacsNDreams Blog. Glad to see you here.

Ok, so far we have covered a little bit about your choice of selling online, part time, full time, occasional selling. Discussed a little about you getting started by choosing a name, your picture or avatar, setting up accounts, emails, security, taxes, and venues.

Now, I would like to cover just a little more in depth about choosing if you want to sell with a MarketPlace, or an Auction Site. You might also decide you would like to use both. The old saying "don't keep all your eggs in one basket" always comes to mind when choosing sites, and how many to sell with.

Most of us when first starting choose one site. We do this so that we can get the feel of things, test things out, and learn with it. When choosing what venue will be best for you, there are some things you should consider. Also, know that before choosing a place I would recommend researching some of them a little bit so that you may learn about them, and understand a little more about them prior to choosing one.

Some of the things you should consider are:

• What is the focus of the site you are researching

• What are the listing costs for the site

• Consider what their category selection is, and do they have categories for

what you will be offering

• How are their listing formats. Will it be fairly easy to list there, is it self

explanatory, is there support available to help

• What payment services are allowed with the site. Is there more than one

choice.

• How is the ease of use of the site. Is it easy to navigate. If you enjoy it, will

the customer also enjoy it as well?

• How is the security with the site

• What are their listing policies

• How is the traffic to the site

• Do they feed to the search engines

• Check for visibility with the MarketPlace. This is called Site Search

Optimization. Will determine how your listings will rank among other listings
on the site.

If you choose to sell by having auctions, there are different sites that you can consider.

• Ebay is the biggest one that we all know. The fee structure is a little bit
   complicated, and would need to be studied. The fees are divided into 3
   categories which are Listing Fee, Final Value Fee, and Subscription Fee. If
   list items that do not sell you may still owe fees for those listings. The Final
   Value Fee is only for items that sell.

• eBid is the leading alternative to Ebay. Their focus is on keeping a variety.
   Registration is free. If listing for auction you will need to upgrade account to
   Seller, or Seller+ status. See the subscription prices in the My Subscriptions
   section of My eBid.

• Atomic Mall was originally set up for the fixed price format, and low fees.
They have since added the auction format of a sealed bid process.

• Webstore is an online auction site as well.

• Online Auction is another place mentioned for auctions.

Check with Online Auction Sites Review for the top reviews of auction sites mentioned, and more.

If you choose to sell with fixed prices, or offers you might want to consider Marketplace Sites for this.

• Artfire offers handmade, vintage, craft supplies, media, design, and fine art.

Listing is free, no final value fees, and for a limited time there is a free basic

account to have.

• Ecrater has no fees. No listing fees, and no final value fees.

• Addoway is a newer site that is growing. You can list for free, and they soon
will be implementing a final value fee.

• Etsy is another site for handmade, vintage, craft supplies, media, design,
   and for fine art. They have a .20 cent listing fee in which that listing is good
   for up to four months. They also have the Final Value Fee upon the
   items selling.

• Bonanza which use to be Bonanzle, is a free listing site. They do have a final
value fee with the sale of an item.

• Ruby Lane has a monthly fee subscription.

• Ruby Plaza is a sister site to Ruby Lane, and they do have some special with

those stores till the end of 2012 I believe it was mentioned.

• iOffer is a site that offers selling, buying, and trading too.

• Yardsellr is a new social marketplace that is used through facebook.

There are many more places to choose for the marketplaces as well. Check with 101 Auction Sites to see about some of these mentioned, and others too.

You have seen me mentioning fees. Every site is different in how they charge, what they charge, and if they charge. The break down of the fees to watch for will be listing fees that will be charged to your site account when you list an item. The final value fee is charged when a sale is made. The fee usually consists of a percent of the sale that will vary from site to site also. Extra fees might include for having a gallery picture, using bold print within the title, extra pictures from the amount the site already offers, and so on. As mentioned some sites will also have a monthly subscription charge. The fees will vary from site to site that have them. Along with the monthly subscription they might offer a free store front, and extra tools and services can have a monthly subscription too.

When searching for a market place check how their availability is with the search engines. Google is the biggest search engine, but there is also Bing that is used by some too. Most sites will offer to automatically submit your listings to Google, both, and maybe a few others too. Some sites will also offer the tools for you to use to submit your listings to facebook, twitter, and other social medias too.

I hope that some of this was able to help you a little further with your decisions when selling online. It's a big place out there, and there is much to see, and learn. None of us can fully know all the answers, but we can offer what we know and have learned along the way. Hopefully it can with some of your decisions as you move forward. Maybe you have already been selling online, but are still learning as I do too.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope these ideas will help you again with your decisions of selling online. I wish you all well, and the best of luck to you. Most of all, have fun with it too. Take care Everyone!:)

LilacsNDreams Artfire Store
LilacsNDreams Ecrater Store
LilacsNDreams Addoway Store

Welcome to LilacsNDreams Blog and Blog Pages

2011-07-12T15:59:00.002-05:00

Hello again everyone. I do hope I am not bothering, and making this an inconvenience for anyone. My Blog has been a working progress for me to add things, update some things, and making some changes. I was happy to find a way with getting more pages for everyone to visit, but still did not like the links on the side bar. Don't know what I was thinking, but I NOW have all the pages listed at the top with the tabs.....Like I was trying to do before. Long story, I am not computer techie, learn as I go, but have come to a place I am happy with it now. Sorry, I try not to make too much clutter on the right side bar, and this was something I could remove from there, and put to the top for more visibility to everyone.

Thanks again for understanding, and I do apologize for any inconvenience this has been to anyone. Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Glad you stopped, and don't forget to visit with my stores too. I appreciate all of you. Take care

Selling Online Full Time, Part Time, Plan, Products

2011-07-11T21:12:00.000-05:00

Selling Online Full Time, Part Time, Plan, Products. So, are you ready to sell online, or are you selling already? Are you selling part time, or full time online? First of all, have you determined what you will be selling? Will it be vintage, collectibles, new, used, repurposed, upcycled, handmade, etc. Once you choose what you want to sell, then there is more things to consider before actually getting started. Keep in mind that you might choose something now, but things can always change too. You know, once you get started, get the feel of things, and maybe you will see something else that would better fit you, or something else you feel more comfortable with.

Once you have a product in mind you should then choose a name for yourself, your business. The internet is a big place, and others might also think like you with choosing a name. So, when you think you have a name, check to see if it is taken, how many others are using it, and so on. You can do this by checking on google.com, maybe look at godaddy to see if someone has a domain for the name you chose, and things like that. When choosing your name, or user name for a site, try to choose a name that is descriptive to what you are doing, your business, etc. I myself chose a name a long time ago. It has followed me since 2004 as others were not using it, and have not come close to it. But, as things grow, and expand others are choosing names similar to me. Also, my name follows me with all accounts that I use for sites, blogs, website, emails, and so on. This will help with your exposure on the internet.

Once you have chosen a name you will want to decide on an avatar, a profile picture you want to use. This will help in your identity as well. Some use their personal pictures of themselves, and some choose a picture that identifies with their business name they have chosen. This is a decision you will have to make. Many say use your personal pictures so that people can see who they are dealing with, and for a more personal effect. Some do not use a picture for security, and personal reasons too. Remember, you will start with things now, and you can always change as everything is still new to you, and you will be working on establishing yourself.

You will have accounts you will want to establish. Emails, and if you have chosen one or more venues you will want to get those set up. Upon setting all of this up, remember security with everything. Choose passwords that you will remember, add numbers with them, and so on. Once you put your name, and business to the internet things become public. You will also want to consider checking with your accountant, or tax preparer about books you should keep for inventory, expenses, taxes for selling online, etc. There are tax changes that have gone into effect that have to be reported for 2011 taxes for online sellers. Make sure to find out about those, and what you will need to do for that as well.

Remember, you might get discouraged, be nervous, and question things because it is all new to you. Everyone has been through this. The internet is a big place, and it can take a while to establish yourself, and to others. If you were thinking of selling online occasionally it is still good to do these things, and practice some of them too.

These are a few things to consider to getting started with selling online. As you go through them you might think of more to add to your list as well. Good to keep a notepad nearby to make notes, write down some thoughts, or make notes of maybe things others will always suggest as well.

There is more to come, but hope these first few steps will help you with getting started. I wish you luck, and thank you for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Take care everyone!:)

Welcome to LilacsNDreams Blog and Blog Pages

2011-07-11T03:53:00.001-05:00

Good Morning, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams!

Almost 4 a.m. my time, and I still need to get some sleep! Had a hectic week with babysitting grand baby, she loves my attention, and it makes it a little harder to get on this wonderful computer to visit facebook, social medias, and of course to come in here and blog with everyone!:)

I just finished another page I have added to my blog. Now, remember, since google threw a curve about the pages they allow...10 of them, but they are static pages too. I have had to find another way like many others of how to get my pages to my blog. Soooo, if you will look to the right, see where it says My Blog Pages to Visit, you can click on those, and go to the pages I have made so far for my LilacsNDreams Blog. Hopefully this will help everyone a bit instead of cramming everything into one spot. Trying to spread it out a bit so more can be done, can share a little bit more, and making it so that others can share and comment with us on each posting to.

Well, now, better be off to bed. Hope everyone has a great day, and yes, I will be back to this in a few hours again. I have another blog topic I want to get done for everyone to read too. Take care my blogging friends.

Fenton Art Glass Company Will Cease Production

2011-07-08T01:05:00.003-05:00

Fenton Art Glass Company Will Cease Production, and how sad this is! Hello again everyone! I am back with some news I received from one of the sites I belong to - Iantique.com A blog post had been done there by a member named Tom Norskov, and I have copied his blog post from there, and brought here for all to read about this breaking news of Fenton Art Glass Company.

Fenton Art Glass Company to cease production!

Posted by Tom Norskov Wed at 1:44 PM - Filed in Industry News - # #fenton glass - 25 views

Here is the complete press release that went out to media, Fenton clubs, etc. earlier today:

FENTON ART GLASS TO CEASE TRADITIONAL GLASS PRODUCTION
AND SHIFT PRODUCT FOCUS

(Williamstown, W. Va., July 6, 2011). The Fenton Art Glass Company announced today that it would wind down production of its collectible and giftware glass products. The company has faced financial challenges since its restructuring in 2007, and recent developments combined to force the shutdown of its traditional glassmaking business.
"The market for our pressed and blown glassware has diminished," company President George Fenton said. "We cannot sustain the overhead costs. Our employees have worked hard and efficiently, so this is a very sad day for us. Shortly, we will begin the process of shutting down our main furnace. Remaining employees will be finishing existing glassware from the company's inventory that will be available through the Fenton Gift Shop as well as the company's web site and Fenton dealers across the country."
As a part of winding down the traditional business, Fenton Art Glass is exploring the sales of one or more product lines.
"We know that our many customers and friends will have questions," Fenton said. "Our web site www.fentonartglass.com will be updated regularly beginning the week of July 11."
Inquiries regarding sales of equipment and other assets should be directed to Fenton Art Glass at assetinfo@fentonartglass.comManagement at the Fenton Gift Shop is evaluating the impact of the termination of traditional glassmaking at Fenton Art Glass. "The Fenton Gift Shop is in discussions with Fenton Art Glass, the glass manufacturing company, to provide customers with a wide range of samples and special decorations as well as final quantities of limited edition pieces," said Randall Fenton, President of the Fenton Gift Shop. "The annual Tent Sale in Williamstown starts July 8, and the Fenton Gift Shop and the outlet store in Flatwoods, West Virginia, remain open."
Founded as a decorating company in Martins Ferry, Ohio, in May 1905 by brothers Frank L. Fenton and John W. Fenton, the Fenton Art Glass Co. constructed its factory in Williamstown during the fall of 1906. The first glass pieces were made there on January 2, 1907. During its 106-year history, Fenton introduced the first iridescent ware (now known as "Carnival glass") as well as classic patterns such as Hobnail and a wide variety of handmade colored art glass as limited editions.

This is a really sad time as I so love Fenton Glass, their pieces created, the craftmanship, and just everything about them. Just so sad:(

* * Sat. July 9, 2011 UPDATE * *

Here is some additional information that was shared by Tom Norskov from The Vintage Village Social Network I copied to here:

* * Some additional information: Fenton Art Glass Co announced on July 6th that they will no longer be producing their giftware line. Some glass has been produced and their Halloween/Christmas line will ship to dealers by August 15. There are going to be some items not produced, but it is not known what items yet. The Fenton QVC shows scheduled for July 14 and July 16 will go on as scheduled.

* * Just some additional update information: This week Fenton announced some massive changes for the company in Williamstown, WV. After many years of adapting to the marketplace and exerting countless hours of dedicated hard work, they unfortunately have not been able to find a profitable way to continue manufacturing thier traditional glass lines. So what does all this mean for the Fenton Company? Is the company going out of business? The company is still in business, continuing to make beads and pursuing some industrial glassmaking projects.

Full Time Part Time Sellers or Considering Selling

2011-07-07T15:57:00.000-05:00

Full Time, Part Time Sellers, or Considering Selling. Which are you?

First of all, I do hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend, and enjoyed all that you were able to do. During my Holiday weekend I was on, and off the computer. I seen some wonderful blogs out there in blogland of sharing their ideas, their techniques, and ways of doing some of their wonderful work with repurposing, upcycling, refurbishing, and so on. I enjoyed many, made notes of some, and have yet to add them to my Sharing Blog Love page. There is a tab at top, or a clickable link in my right side bar of My Blog List to Visit.

So, my question to some of you is how many of you are sellers, resellers of products you find. Do some of you deal with Drop Shipping, Sell for yourselves or for others, Do some of you have your own brick & mortar store, and have added online sales with it? How many of you do this full time, or part time for yourselves?

Maybe some started with selling some of your own things, collectibles, household goods, home decor, items repurposed, some upcycled items, handmade, crafts, scrapbooking, and so on. I myself started out with selling of items from thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, and so on. A lot of it has been a learn as I go with what to look for, where to sell it, how to research items, knowing what prices to put on items, the shipping, and more of customer service too. Much of it has been by trial, and error to things. It is always a learning process every day. Something is always changing, being updated, new techniques of things, and as I said always learning. Yes, prior to this I had done retail sales with small stores, and with a bigger chain in my area too. I have always worked with customer service. Like many others I was wanting more too.

So, my start with online sales was back in 2004. Since then I have been on, and off with it. Towards the end of 2010 into 2011 I started thinking I wanted more. I wanted to learn more, and take it up a step or two. Like many I started out with basics of selling online, and nothing wrong with it. Depends on your goals, and what you want from it to know where you are headed with your business.

So, my next few topics will be covering just some basics for doing sales online. They are not rules, not written anywhere of this is what you need to do, or has to be done type thing. Just sharing some basics of things to help those who maybe have considered selling online, and maybe a thought for those who have been selling online as well.

Thanks for visiting LilacsNDreams today. Don't forget to see some of my vintage items with my Artfire store, some of my repurposed items are also in my Artfire store, and some of my collectibles and glassware are with my Ecrater store. Always happy to see the visits, and the sharing of everyone. Take care my Blogging friends till the next time.

Happy 4th of July Holiday Celebration to Everyone

2011-07-04T01:53:00.000-05:00

A very HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ALL! I wish you all well, have fun, enjoy, and please be safe!:)

A friendly reminder for visitors to LilacsNDreams that I have been slowly working on my blog pages, and due to circumstances with Blogger, I cannot get the full effect for some of them. So, I have been doing things a bit differenly, but am getting some of the pages I want, and what I was intending for them to be too. To see those pages you can click the tabs at the top to click the links that take you to the pages. Or, you can look in my side bar towards the top for the heading of My Blog Pages to Visit, and there you will see pages along with their links to visit right away. Thanks for the patience, and understanding with this everyone.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ALL!!

Reuse, Repurpose, Upcycle, Recycle of Discarded Treasures

2011-06-30T23:23:00.000-05:00

Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle of Discarded Treasures. I, like many others, spend time roaming the internet, reading, and learning things. Along the way I like to see creations that people make, what they do, how they do it, and love everything I see with it. Over time I too have been wanting to do some of this, be creative, and it feels like a yearning inside of me trying to get out. To me it is relaxing, very fun putting my thoughts and ideas into something, and it's the little things that bring a smile to my face, and hopefully yours as well.

Definitions I found of the words when I googled them.
• Reuse: whatever the purpose, you basically reuse the item for the same
purpose more than one time

• Repurpose: you take one thing, and use it for something else (repurpose it)
before it goes through any breakdown, and reformation. For instance a shirt
being used to make a handbag, or shopping bag. Maybe a metal pipe into
a sculpture. Use something in a new way.

• Upcycle: is familiar to recycling in that you are taking something, and
reworking it into a new form for continued use. Main difference being you are
not altering its form back into its components for reuse.

• Recyle: return (material) to a previous stage of cyclic process; convert
waste to a reusable material. For example a recycled box is broken down, and
made into new cardboard. Or, plastic is broke down, and melted into new
plastic.

I know, it can get confusing sometimes, but it also determines how we use the words, and explain them to mean also.

Repurpose Vintage Items ~ Giving new life to stuff already owned. There are many things a person has around their home that they can do this with. If you are like me, you don't throw anything away because you might be able to use it some day. So, sitting at home, or looking in magazines, and looking through thrift stores, yard sales, and junk there is always posibilities.

Vintage items can be repurposed in your homes. Maybe you have an old wooden high chair, a ladder, or an ironing board. Popular use, or remake is to use them to hold books, and sometimes flower pots too. Have a double kitchen sink? Use it for your gardens as a raised flower beds. Collectible tumblers, and vases can be a variety of things. Use them for tooth brushes, hair brush, paint brushes, combs, pens, pencils, etc. Use some of those vintage long, and low ceramic planters with the kitchen, or bathroom for sponges, soaps, teas, washcloths, loose change, your keys, reading glasses, etc.

Another one I like, and there is a person who has a blog that I giggle with, laugh at, and am in aww over is how they repurpose coffee tea pots. They use them for outside, in their gardens, and make people with them. It is just adorable! But, you can also use these items as planters, paint them to fit with your decor, use them as hanging planters, or maybe for the table tops as center pieces too.

Hang on, just a few more ideas to help get them creative juices going for everyone. How about some of the kitchen decor you have? For instance the colanders. Put some onions in them because of the circulation, and ventilation with them. Use some enamel pans for maybe your potatoes.

I adore those who use bits and pieces from the past, and create something new to enjoy. I sometimes hope by doing this that it will help remind people of simpler times.

LOL:) See how much fun junk can be?! I love vintage, and collectibles, and have worked with it for years now. But, it feels like something is missing. When I am out thrifting I sometimes visualize other ways of using pieces, maybe if I paint it this way I can sit it for show in this way, or maybe I can add this piece to a more modern piece I have at home to make something new of it. The possibilities are endless!

I hope everyone enjoyed this topic, and was able to maybe get a smile about something, see something in a different way, and of course to help you with your creative juices of ideas, and what can be done. After all, we are collectors of a little bit of everything. If not reusing pieces for as they are, why not repurpose them in ways that puts a smile to your face too?:)

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams. When in internet roam stop by to see my Artfire store, check out the category for the repurposed, and upcycled treasures I have. There is not a whole lot there yet. A working progress as I clean house more, rid some of the inventory, and of course use some pieces of the inventory to repurpose too. Have fun, enjoy, and be safe all. I look forward to your next visit:)

How to Remove Stains From Corningware

2011-06-28T00:42:00.000-05:00

How to Remove Stains From Corningware.

Eww! How many times have we all had this issue with some of these pieces? Whether it be our own, or pieces we find while thrifting. I love corningware, pyrex. Items last forever is well maintained. But, them darn stubborn stains do collect over time, or if not properly cleaned after use they will build too.

So, quite a while ago I had been blog roaming, and did see instructions that were being shared by another blogger for cleaning corningware. So, these instructions are not from me, but I am passing them on from what I had found.

Things Needed:
Rubber Gloves, Newspaper, Oven Cleaner, Trash Bag, Dish Pan, 1/4 c. white
vinegar, 1 tsp. hand dishwashing soap, dish scrubber, kitchen towel

Got all the supplies now? Ok, here goes for the cleaning now.
1) Wear gloves - open windows in kitchen to keep fresh air, or turn on the ventilation fan
2) Set corningware on the newspaper. Coat the corningware with the oven cleaner. Then place item into the trash bag, and seal the bag.
3) Leave the sealed corningware over night. The oven cleaner will break down, and loosens the stains during this time. Makes it easier to remove.
4) Next day take the bag outdoors. Remove the item from the bag, and set in a dish pan of hot water.
5) Add the 1/4 c. of white vinegar and the 1 tsp. of dish soap to the water. Scrub the corningware with the dish scrubber to remove the stains loosened by the oven cleaner.
6) Rinse the corningware well with some plain water. Make sure to remove ALL chemicals, and then dry with a clean kitchen towel.

There you have some easy instructions for cleaning some of the stubborn corningware pieces that need a little help. Good luck with this, and I wish you well with your cleaning. If you have any other methods that you have found to work for such a cleaning, please share with us here. Always happy to hear from everyone, and love learning more.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams. Wishing you all a great day, and be safe. Visit us here again soon.

Blogs, Blog Pages, Community Pages for LilacsNDreams

2011-06-24T18:11:00.000-05:00

Blogs, Blog Pages, Community Pages for LilacsNDreams.

Whew! What a day I have had trying to work around something that should be simple, but I forgot google with blogger, and the work you can sometimes have. Anyway, I had commented a little bit ago about pages I was adding with the tabs you will notice above. Due to some issues with blogger, what they are allowing for these pages, and so on I have had to revise the last 2 pages just a bit.

You can use the tabs at the top, and you will still be taken to the correct place with the clickable links. OR...I have added in my side bar a Title of My Blog Pages to Visit. . . and the links you see there are clickable, and are the pages I have started that I am wanting here too. Not completely what I wanted to do, but it is working, and is giving me what I was wanting from the pages I "thought" I was getting too. Any questions please ask them. Visit the last 2 tabs at the top to read further about what I have done, what happened, and so on.

Sorry, I told the story a couple of times now, and my hands are hurting:) LOL:) Contact me for any questions, and enjoy your visit with the reading. Wishing everyone a fun, and safe weekend. Take care . . .

A Cottage Style Decorating For Home

2011-06-23T23:52:00.000-05:00

A Cottage Style Decorating For Your Homes is the topic for today.

Having a cottage style home is light and airy, fresh and fun, and completely clearly plainly original. Today's style often incorporates soft palettes of greens, blues, yellows, shades of lilac, and pink too. Sometimes you may see some things brightened with some brisk colors used too. Using pastels for color, some pretty florals, and with some vintage home accessories gives your home that cozy cottage style.

Lace handkerchiefs, lace trims, fragrance candles and some sweet smelling soaps, those comfortable rocking chairs, wallpapers, fabrics are so yummy for the home of cottage styles. Also, sometimes some glassware whether it is clear, or slight coloring that sparkles in the light may be displayed. Picture some of those furniture slip covers that are inviting, some vintage style upholstery, and of course the layers of weathered paint. Gotta love that chippy paint.

Your cottage style decorating can surface anywhere, and attitude is also what makes the house cottage. Depending where the house is located sometimes I have seen seaside, shells, and sailboats incorporated with their decor too.

Todays expression of cottage style is the thought of flea markets, fresh flowers, vintage patterns, and a bit of romance with that. A welcoming feeling to all who visit.

I love cottage style homes, and wish I was all that with our home. Working progress. I sure do admire the style when I see it in books, and by many who share their homes with us. Which style of home are you?

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and come back often to read, share with us here, and make comments. All are welcome. When in roam visit my LilacsNDreams Artfire Store, and my LilacsNDreams Ecrater Store. Maybe you will find something to fit with your cottage style homes.

Thrifting, Vintage, Repurposing, Upcycling, Creating, Salvaging, Life and More

2011-06-20T01:40:00.001-05:00

Hello, and Welcome again to LilacsNDreams everyone!

Sorry I did not get a second post done for the week. Took a small break with the weekend, Fathers Day...which I hope everyone was able to enjoy the day, getting some house things done, and going through notes and such here. I have some more topics I will be touching base with a bit, but spent a little time looking things over again. Yes, again, but no drastic changes everyone, I promise. Just working on how to combine things more, and doing some more of that simplifying that I have really gotten a bug for doing the past couple of months.

I so enjoy trying to put things into one place, or have them near by as much as possible. I am happy I can offer links to everyone that you can click, and go to, view, visit, and enjoy. A way to share what I offer to you. But, sometimes it is nice to be able to put everything into one place too. I have many other blogs as I know many of you also do as well. They are fun, addictive, and I enjoy them. Sometimes it is very time consuming, and a decision must be made where to focus your attention more to better serve everyone. So, I have slowly added a few more tabs to the top of my blog as you will see.

I have a tab for Where I Hang At...sharing a few different places that are open to the public for all to view, and of course join with too. You know, social media. There are some great places out there, and some of them have been very helpful with the people/members, the sharing, and most of all the learning too.

There is a tab I have added in for Sharing Blog Love. . . There are MANY MANY great blogs out there! Some I so enjoy I could spend all day reading, and going through them. I enjoy the things shared, techniques and instructions offered for DIY projects, and it is just interesting seeing what others have to offer with their passions they have. So, I have started a list of some blogs there, and know there are many more to be added yet. I made this a page as I did not want to add it to my side bar of my blog. I just feel sometimes I might be putting to much on my main blog page, and it can be distracting to some, and for some it can also slow the page loading too.

Another tab I have added is for Thrift Store Junkies. . . .Something that is a passion of many people. A way we all find our treasures for our own homes, to craft with, doing some creative work with, repurpose, upcycle, and so on. I do have a blog for this that does not get near the attention of this blog, and my store blog. So, I am trying to incorporate that into this blog by creating the page for it. I try to keep my Blog Home Page more of a place to read, share things about this n that, not too many pictures as I offer my store pictures with my LilacsNDreams Store Blog, and store page links are shared there with the pictures.

I almost forgot! There is yet one more tab, or page if you wish. That one is called Chit~Chat Coffee Shoppe. With that page I am hoping to some how work it that we can stop by there, and share a little bit of everything there. Whether it is to say Hi, give us your name, and what you do, what kind of day you have had, did something good happen you are exploding to share, and if you need a place to just vent a little bit too. All I ask is that it is kept clean there, no bad language, remember everyone does have an opinion, and let's keep it pleasant please.

So, give the pages, or tabs a visit if you will. Bear with me as this is a working progress, the tabs could change a little, or the titles might change a little. I am hoping to make your visit with LilacsNDreams more enjoyable by offering just a few more things for you to see, and share with too.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope you enjoyed the visit. Remember, you are welcome to share, comment, ask questions, and just be yourself. Thanks again everyone, and have a Happy Monday!:)

Blog Blogging With SEO

2011-06-14T18:11:00.000-05:00

Blog Blogging With Seo. Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams. This posting will be in part to my previous blog post about blog, and blogging.

Reminder that when we blog, and especially if it is for business, we want to work with our Seo. There is On Page Optimization, and Off Page Optimization to work with. ALL Search Engines have a unique algorithm for determining how relevant your blog post is to a given query.

On Page Optimization is for how many words in a post that match up with a search that was just done. Create content that will pertain to your business, or the topic of the post. Try to answer questions within your blog post. Doing some of this will help in your ranking higher with searches.

• Brainstorm Keyword Phrases. Brainstorm as many keyword phrases, and words
   that you will rank well with, and you fell prospective customers will use.

• Use Keyword Analysis Tools like Google Adword Keyword Tool.
   Also, you could use the Google Analytics which in the report you can also see
   what keywords are being used to find some of your posts. There are free
   things out there to use for researching keywords, and of course some are to be
   paid for too.

Tools help determine how many people are searching for your phrases you use, and also gives an idea of how much competition is there for each phrase too.

Off Page Optimization is how many quality inbound links you have (links from other websites, blogs, directories, etc to your blog and the post done. This is the other 1/2 of the search engine equation. Search engines see inbound links as "votes of confidence"

Variables that will effect how important each link is,

• Linking Site
• Number of links on the referring page. Each page does have a limited amount.
Again, you would not want to over due it as suggested with the keywords too.
• Context of the Linking Page. Your blog subject, and if links from that subject.
• Anchor Text. Words in the link are critical. Use words that pertain to your topic,
and of course what your business is. Such as vintage, collectibles, repurposing
are words that could be used for me. You then have those words link to the
blog post, your website, your store, and so on.

To get more incoming links to your blog, and the website as many of you work with you can use numbered lists. This was suggested, and it is not something I have done, but there are some businesses that could use it for their way of business. Use How to Articles. Speak of a certain topic, use and give instructions for completion of certain topics, and a suggestion for this would to also be using a video. Yes, videos have been highly recommended as it is seen people do like to view these. Another suggestion for more links is to use Guest Blog that you can create keyword rich links to your blog, or website.

Links were mentioned, but don't forget your backlinks too. Not only do you want links going out to places of interest, but you also want the links coming back to you. Preferably they are links from sites, or places that share some of your same interests to be more meaningful too. This will also help you get higher in search engine rankings too.

Remember, when you blog, find topics that pertain to the audience, customers, followers that you have. Hard to please everyone I know, but do the best you can, and of course topics that appeal to you so that you can show your interest, and personality with it too.

Publicize your blogs. Do this by sharing them to Linked In, Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Stumble Upon. You will generally see more reactions with this than comments left on your blog.

Try to show your personality through your blogs too. People can see you, and sense you through your words, how you present yourself, and is good for creating friendships, and business relationships.

Back to the idea of a topic. If you have a thought, something you want to share, see something that refers you to it being a good topic please make a note of it. It is very easy to grow your topic list this way. Sometimes we might run into a block of thoughts, and ideas too. Sometimes using word tracker can be helpful with ideas from words read.

Try to be consistent, have a schedule of posting, and another thought is you can always post again about a topic you have already done. By doing that you will be adding to it, and refreshing the thoughts and comments with it too.

Here is to everyone who visits with LilacsNDreams today. Hope you enjoyed more of the Blog Blogging topic, and that is was helpful to you. Remember, you are always welcome to share, comment, and add to the topics as well. Thanks again, and have a great day everyone.

Why Blog, Blog For Business or Pleasure or Both

2011-06-10T01:29:00.000-05:00

Welcome to LilacsNDreams Blog Website regarding Why Blog, Blog For Business or Pleasure or Both.

I have been making a list of ideas that come to mind to share here with everyone. Some, most of it will pertain to business, or how things can be applied to the business aspect of things.

Today I want to talk of the subject Why Blog? Should we blog? Does blogging work for business?

Why Blog? Many many reasons as to why we blog, and why some of us choose to blog. Great way to express your experiences with different subjects. Some of your subjects could be about vintage, collectibles, repurposed, upcycled, junking restoring, crafting, handmade, collectors, dealers, sellers, store owners, arts, political, business, and so on. As you can see the list could go on forever. Some use blogs as a diary, journal, and some do it for money too.

I can say from research I found that search engines serve up web pages, not just websites. Now, every blog post has a new page everytime you post something. By making these pages you could do well within ranking for searches. You know, some of the websites do have a blog on it too. Hmm....that could be a good idea to have. Actually, I had already applied that idea to my website, but have now seen the suggestion while researching blogging. Google likes content, and blogs give a new page all the time with a post, and of course the content with it too. A blog post = web page, and web page = search opportunity.

Blogs can describe things in depth. Blog is a tool that lets you get new content out continuously, or as often as you choose to post, both to your website viewers, and to the search engines. Blogging can be used as a hobby, and for some of us blogging becomes a business venture. Blogging keeps growing, and over time has been realized how it is not just for professional writers, or marketers with a product/service to sell. It is actually suitable for anyone with stories, or ideas to share.

I am just covering a few things with blogging. This post could get very very long if I tried to cover everything.

3 things you will need for Business Blogging:

• Use the Right Platform
There are many to choose from, and everyone has their own preferences to what they use too. Many use blogger because it has been known to be easier to work with, and there are quite a few that use Wordpress as well. With wordpress I guess you get more plug-ins to work with to do more with your pages. If you have not decided on a blog platform search it a bit, and again, find one that works for you, and that you like the feel with.

• Own Your Own Domain
You want to be able to blog from your own property. IF you would ever decide to move to another platform this allows you to retain all of the inbound links that you have gathered too. I seen it suggested to use your .com for blogging. I use my .com for here, and my .net for my store blog of pictures. Go Daddy makes it really easy to direct your domain, and redirect if you want to move it too.

• Be Committed With Blogging
Takes time to get seen, heard, have followers, comfortable with topics you want to discuss and share, and to find what works for you. Put your own character into it so that people can feel who you are. This is how they get to know you, like you, want to share with you, share your link to others, will become your friends, and also will become customers who will buy from you too.

On an average I have seen it noted that you should try to blog about 2-3 times a week. I know, I know....where do you find the time to do ALL of this? We all go through this, and find our way with it. For me? I still facebook, twitter, and visit different social medias. But, I do not spend as much time with them like I use to. I like blogging, enjoy it, and like to research a little for the next topic that I will be sharing. Whether it is for business, something I learned, or a little about me. A little something shared is better than nothing too. I have been working on my schedule for blogging, and so far have kept it at about twice a week. Sometimes I might drop in a note, or announcement in between too.

I don't always do it, but you should start your post with your post title. Have keywords in the title, and know that the search engines give a little more weight to the 1st 3-4 words. Use keyword phrase through the body of the post. Try to do right away, and then a couple of more times in your post.

Use links to appropriate pages in your blog. Link name to the page on a site where you can buy the item from, link your keywords, and don't forget to anchor text too. Here are just a few examples: Artfire, maybe use the word vintage with a sentence, but note that you also like to repurpose treasures, and adore upcycling too.

Don't over do it either. I can not find a set limit to watch for, but if you overload with all of it, google will also see it as bad, and you will not make it to searches either. You also want to work on inbound links. Those are links that come from other web pages to your blog post. Preferably from other pages that deal with the same thing you do, involved with same topic you are discussing, and that sort of thing. That will have more weight with search too.

Ok, I need to slow this down here a bit, and not write a book to ya'll. I am just skimming some of the research I have found with blogging. I can say it is becoming more popular, and sometimes people are turning to that more than just socializing too. Work with it, takes time, but I have seen many who have made their blogs into their websites too. It all depends on your goals, what you want, where you are going, and so on.

In conclusion, things to work with in blogging to help with your rankings and searches are:
• Perform a keyword analysis to know keywords that drive qualified traffic to your site

• Put keywords in your titles, content, and through out your blog post. Remember do not over load the keywords as that can be looked at as bad too.

• Create content that will encourage people to link to you, to your blog, and want to share your blog with others.

Time for me to sign out. Late night here for me, but wanted to get some kind of a post done for ya'll to read, think about, and work with if you wanted to also. I want to thank all of you for visiting with LilacsNDreams, hope you enjoyed your visit, and stop by anytime. Remember, welcome to leave comments, share with us, respond to comments left, and you get the picture. Take care everyone, and have a wonderful super relaxing enjoyable weekend. Be safe!

How Many Storefronts do We Need, How Many is Enough

2011-06-07T16:17:00.000-05:00

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad to see you!

Here comes that good old saying many of us see, hear, and that we repeat to others too. "Don't Place Your Eggs in 1 Basket"

So, here we are another day, another blog, another posting, and what shall I do? Hmm....I know! Let's talk about How Many Storefronts Do You Really Need? We often come across this issue, thought often comes to mind to many of us, and we repeatedly ask ourselves...Do I need another store? Will I make more sales if I have another store? How many stores is enough, and how many is too many? Many questions asked, and with very good reasons too.

The theory behind this is something like the more shops you have, the more eyes that you will attract, more visitors, more traffic, and all of that. There is no right, or wrong answer to this. You must find what works for you. What will work for you, and what you are more comfortable with yourself. Sorry, but I will not be able to give a single answer to this that will cover all sellers. Many mixed feelings, and ideas about it. Some sellers find that having everything under 1 roof works for them while other sellers find they can do better if they separate things into different stores.

First, ask yourself if you should have 1 store per type of product you will be offering, or do you want 1 big store with maybe multiple categories in it. One thing to consider depends on the product you are selling. It may not all be for the same audience, or the customers you serve. The example I will use here would be like selling electronics, and clothing within the same store. Will it work? Is it appealing to you? Try to maybe see it through the eyes of a customer too.

Then again if you have everything into 1 single store it could be helpful because you would have more listings, you would have more people coming in to check things out, could bring you more traffic, the customer would not have to chase around with stores, and so on. Doing this could make a little bit more work making sure you have categories to cover everything of the products you have to offer, and to help assist customers when they do enter your store to visit, browse, and shop. My first thought was kind of like a catalog you would browse, and shop with. Also, Simplicity. If we can keep things closer together in 1 place then how much easier is that not only for us, but also for our customers too.

So, IF you did split things up into separate stores, how much should you have in each one of them? Honestly, I have seen it said many times, and have read it too. You should have at least about 100+ items per store to pull in some descent traffic to your stores, and to better help with trying to get placed with google searches. I am thinking SEO. Actually it would help you with any search engine.

Ok, if you have separate stores should you have all your stores located with multiple market places. Should you have them spread out with different locations. Consider fees, and time spent doing all of this too. It would really depend on the type of product you are offering, and if it would really be necessary to do this too. Ask yourself it is would be beneficial to you.

I do apologize again I cannot give you a right, or wrong answer to this. I have seen many people do many things that work for them. Some have experimented till they found the way that works best for them. I see numerous sellers having 1, 3, 5, 10, 12 shops and more too. They have found this works for them. I am thinking....WHEW!! I myself have had up to like 5-6 shops, and did not really like it. Helps with not duplicating things for sale in your stores, but it was very time consuming to go from store to store, maintain this store, need to do this at that store, and then have to hold up on doing things because I have to get this order ready for shipment from this other store, etc. Ok, this item sold, now which store did I have that listed in. Did I duplicate it, and if so, better get it out of the other store as soon as possible so I do not have a double sale happen to me.

I have narrowed down to 3 stores now, and debate if I should still have 3, but maybe 2. I am testing the 3rd store right now, and see if it is one to keep, or if I should use just the other 2 instead. For me, I will need at least 2 stores because not everything I sell can be considered vintage. Some of it is collectible pieces not old enough to be considered vintage, and therefore cannot be listed with 1 of my stores. So, that is where the 2 stores for sure would come into play for me. Some people are at a venue where they can house everything under 1 store. Hey, I did it with Ebay many moons ago, and I did great with it there! Like everything else, time happens to us, and we feel the need to move on.

Well, I hope this little topic is enough to have you think about what you are doing with your store/stores, and if you feel it is the right path for you to be taking. I wish you all well, and the best of luck with all your decisions, and sales of course too!:) Always Welcome to visit LilacsNDreams, leave comments, and share with us your experiences too. Thanks again everyone!

Website Hosting Domains Shopping Carts, Do I Need It

2011-06-03T18:47:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you here!

Time to have another topic for ya'll to read, share some opinions, and offer what I have read too. Websites, should I have one, do I need one, so much work, is it necessary, and boy those things cost too. Yes, you are right, they can be costly. Depends what you all want to do with it, what your goals are, and how much you would like to spend with it too.

No matter how many storefronts a person has it is good to have a website. The website can serve as your home base, links your web presences to one another, and serves as your "hub" that will direct visitors to your stores, your blogs, and serves as kind of an online business card.

Before jumping into this I recommend searching around a bit. Do searches about them, see what others say, and suggest. Calculate how much you would like to spend for the website. Cost of hosting, your domains, the shopping carts, and do you intend to advertise to get your website out there too? A lot of things to consider.

What is the best Host, and what should you consider? You need to consider it needs to be affordable for you. I know Hostgator starts about $3.96 a month, and I see that one mentioned often by others using. The host needs to perform well for you, and your visitors. You need to be able to draw traffic. Does it give you the option of setting up a shopping cart, or is it included maybe? Make sure you have support staff that is available 24/7, and that it has the tools to let you edit the site yourself too. And, this one I like myself, it should provide for a blog if you would like to have one too. Another thing is can you do the domain with them, or do you need to go some where else for that?

Having a website is great for business cards. You use your main domain name on the card with the URL, and it will lead people to the website. From there they can view, and click to where they prefer to shop at. Your traffic can come from your host, and also your business cards too.

Now, there are some websites that are free to use too. Depends how much work you want to work with it yourself, what you are knowledable with, and where you feel comfortable at.

I have one. Actually on my 3rd, 4th, or whatever I had signed up with. There are different free ones out there. Some I have liked, and some I do not like as well. Google has one you can set up as many pages as you want, it's free, and takes a little work. But, I am not all computer literate so sometimes anything will take a little work for me. Check google for sites.google.com/?? Or, just go to google, and search it there. There is Microsoft Office Live, FreeWebstore.org, Webstarts.com, Wix.com, and Weebly.com. I know you can get one at Vendio, don't let the ebay thing bother you as it can be done without ebay, and I think that one was free?

There is also Pro Stores that can be used, and I do believe that starts at about $30 a month. I have heard others mention it, and they like it. I have been noticing some websites being done with vistaprint.com, and do not know the cost for them. Yahoo has business sites/stores that can be used, and not sure of their cost. Just a lot all there, and no way I could mention them all. Search google for many of them, read forums with sites and social medias to learn of some, and just roam the internet to find them too.

As I mentioned I have my website free, and that is with Weebly.com. Through bannerfans.com which is also free, I have made my banners, avatars, and such that are used with the site. I have set a tab that is a blog on my website...free, and I could add it in if I wanted to. I have directed 1 of my domains to this website. I got my domains through GoDaddy.com. I have never had an issue with them, pay a small yearly fee for the domains, and that cost is sooo small compared to paying fully for a website, and all the extras with it.

I do not have a shopping cart on the site, although I could, or I could use the buy it now buttons as weebly does have that. Instead I use my rapid cart from Artfire, My widget from Ecrater, and for Addoway and the other stores I also have my RSS Feed going to the pages for them.

I have chosen to use my website, and my blogs as my landing pages showing my links to the stores I sell with, links to all the blogs, link to my website, and so on. Maybe at some point I will add the shopping cart, and sell either with my blog or website. But, for now, for me, I am comfortable using them as landing pages, and making an internet presence that way. Please, visit my LilacsNDreams Website, and have a look around. It is not perfect, I am sure there is much more to do with it, and different ways to do things, but I am comfortable with it, and it works for me. Great support at weebly, and they have been getting used by quite a few too.

I hope this has helped you with the issues of a website. I know I have not covered everything for you, but hope I was able to give you some things to think about, consider, and research with. Thanks again for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and visit with me here anytime. Always welcome with the visits, comments, sharing, and so on.