Shameless Self-Promoting and Website Building 101!

I guess one of the worst things you can do as a blogger is to double dip on your own post!

https://g2taylor.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/working-on-my-website/

But this one was a dual topic post anyway, having to do with book promotion AND being my creative self!

Between this blog, my two other blogs (The Delete Key, 365 Days of Santa Claus). Goodreads, two websites (g2taylor.com and the one I keep for Grave Expectations, my local chapter of Sister's in Crime), and now, my new about.me/g2taylor page, not to mention YouTube, Pinterest, Etsy, eBay, AND Amazon's Author Page plus the numerous other sites like MARSocial that want to know a bit about you like Google, Facebook (The Kitchen Dance, Geri G. Taylor Artist, Author, Actress and then my personal page which is also public!) I keep pretty busy with all of this shameless self-promoting.

We authors call it building a "platform" and it literally takes up more time that actually writing a novel!

Go figure!

Jim Gatling Shares His Clever Snowflake Idea That Will Make YOU Think, "Why Didn't I Think of That!'

I just read a post by Jim Gatling with image of his beautiful snowflakes.
What a fun and crafty idea to bide away the time on these cold winter days!
The colorful clipped art are certain to brighten your day!

Jim Gatling illustrates a new take on snowflakes!

Check out these LINKS for some great patterns on easy to DIY snowflakes.

http://www.marcels-kid-crafts.com/snowflake-pattern.html

http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/snowflake.html

http://patterns2.othermyall1.net/snowflake-paper-patterns/

Wow! January 4th and I Still Haven't Packed Up the Holiday Decorations!

I should be ashamed...but I'm not.

I'm actually sorting through my Santas and deciding which ones to sell on eBay or Etsy. Also, I ordered some dry wax tissue paper, the kind they use at delis because they are the best for wrapping fragile ornaments. Moisture can cause regular tissue paper to stick to the painted finishes of my favorite House of Hatten figures.

So, the ever talented in all things, Lara, from Overstuffed offered some great advice for packing up your holiday decor!

Tips for Packing Up and Storing Holiday Decorations

365 Days of Santa Claus

I am so happy to have added many followers to my blog this holiday season with my 31 Days of Santa Claus and my Countdown to Christmas themed posts.


It is always good to meet other Santa Claus collectors, artisans, and crafters, as well as those who truly enjoy the holiday season!

I have started a new blog, 365 Days of Santa Claus where I will continue to post blogs about Santa Claus collecting and crafting.

Please join my email list and share my post with other Santa enthusiasts.

Belated Merry Christmas....

Well, I composed a blog post on Christmas Day but apparently I forgot to actually POST it!

It is time for Creative Daze With Geri to return to the style of blog for which is was originally intended, as a place for me to post a variety of creative outlets.

But, before I leave the realm of Santas...I want to post about one last eBay "FAIL" when it comes to sorry sellers.

Recently, I was SOOOOO excited about a Dee Gann Santa that I found on eBay that was an ORIGINAL SIGNED  by DEE!!!! for only $65 (Buy it Now) so, of course, being a lover of all things Dee Gann, I jumped right on it.

"Like-new adorable country folk-art Santa. Original created by artist Dee Gann in 2000.  Detailing is very exquisite. Perfect for a person with an eye for, and appreciation of primitives.  Signed by artist."

What a great deal! Right?
I was meant to have it! Right?

WRONG!

It was a reproduction with a large tag attached to his hat that clearly stated that it was reproduced by House of Hatten.

Now, I love Dee Gann's Santas and he is very pretty, but I have a rather extensive collection so if I wanted to buy another reproduction I would have just stuck to the bid amount of $25.  But I really believed that it was an original because the seller said it was and they failed to mention there was a tag attached or provide any other photos of the Santa.

Look, there are some shady people on eBay and I seem to be finding more than my fair share!

Because this woman was being so completely unfair about her return policy (even though the she was clearly at fault), I had to seek help from eBay's resolution center. So...he will be shipped back to the seller (return shipping covered by eBay I suppose) but that doesn't erase the amount of stress this seller put me through.

At some point,  you don't know if someone is being innocent, ignorant, or just a damn liar.

Since being a liar usually involves claiming innocence or ignorance as their first defense.

But being one to find a silver lining in my ever darkening cloud of doom...I had some fun with him while he was visiting my home. In keeping with my "making my own heirloom Santas", I added a few things to him.

I added a vintage baby doll. The details in his tiny sweater were perfect for this particular style Santa. Dee Gann loads her originals up with vintage toys and dolls, so I wanted to do the same.

A pair of doll glasses was just thing to give him a more bespectacled appearance. As it turns out, it is rather difficult to match the right sized glasses to the right proportioned face. Its a good thing I'm not an ophthalmologist.

Every Santa needs a bear, and in this case, a Boyd's angel bear tucked nicely in his arms.

I added a vintage style pocket watch/pendant. In spite of the doll missing a head (I would have made a head if I kept him) he's a pretty nice looking guy. He'll be missed, but it is time for him to go to another collector who I hope will fix him up nicely.

Countdown to Christmas: Christmas Eve!

Well, I'd like to say I'm ready, but I'd be kidding myself.

However...the table is set ready for breakfast and dinner tomorrow.

The tree is decorated. Goodies have been made to give to friends and family.

But the living room and kitchen are a mess and I still have some wrapping to do!

I guess I'll be counting down hours then minutes!

Countdown to Christmas: 2 Days A Visit from Wilderness Santa and His Wolf

In case you missed my post about creating your own Heirloom Santa, here's another idea to get you started or keep you going.

In keeping with my tradition to constantly be adding things to my Santas, I thought this rugged guy just needed something.

For a while I had him holding a doll, but the doll just did not go, so she's been passed on to another Santa.
I purchased this Santa off eBay earlier this year. I would not have thought a wilderness Santa would appeal to me or go with my decor, but there was just something in his eyes.  Now, with addition of his wolf friend, he looks likes he's got a purpose!

Then I found a Ganz Webkinz Signature Endangered Species Red Wolf at my favorite place to shop Rolling Hills Ministries Thrift Store. He just spoke to me, and for a whopping fifty-five cents (worth almost 10x that on eBay!), I answered his call, OOOOWWWoooo!

If you either watch or have read "Game of Thrones", this wolf is about the size of direwolf in proportion to this Santa, so I've named him Ned.

I felt that my Santa needed a little bit more added to him to make him an Heirloom Santa for my collection and decor, so I've added a birchbark birdhouse (originally and ornament that I glued to stick, and a comical crocheted or knitted reindeer ornament.

Countdown to Christmas: 3 Days Judie Tasch and Her Beautiful One of A Kind Father Christmas FIgures

If you've read some of my other blogs, you know that I love collecting House of Hatten Santas.

I've been fortunate to pick up a few this year off eBay for very reasonable prices. One particular style is that of Judie Tasch.

I've added a nutcracker made in Germany who was rather pricey and deserved a place of honor.

I paid a rather decent amount on both the Santa in the white robe and the Santa in the green robe, but I made up for up when I purchased the smaller ornament with a lot of other collectible Santas.

Judie Tasch is an amazing folk artist who crafts beautiful vintage style dolls with simple and subtly expressive faces. This is one of her originals. Unfortunately, I have house payments, so he's not in my collection, but I have a few with the same "face" that I love. I wish I had more to say about her but apparently she's very illusive and I found little about the actual artist available online.

Either way, enjoy looking at her beautiful work. If you get the chance (and your house is paid for), why not add one of her originals to your collection!

Available on eBay

Available on eBay

Countdown to Christmas: 4 Days

Countdown to Christmas: 5 Days Merry Christmas from The Taylors

This year's family portrait was taken at Albert Pike in Arkansas. Our cat, Storm, didn't make the trip because, frankly, she doesn't travel well.

Besides, we've tortured her enough!

But then Dash had her moments as well...

Countdown to Christmas: 6 Days Countdown to Christmas via FACEBOOK!

I found this great Facebook page! Countdown to Christmas

Since like most of you, I am super busy today! Check out and FOLLOW this page for more great photos, stories, and posts.

And check out Everything Holiday while your are at it!

Countdown to Christmas: 7 Days Beers, Cigarettes, or Toys! How Generous are YOU Feeling This Christmas?

I was so completely unsettled by this article based on a Facebook post I read that I had to share it with you.

Ok...As I was leaving Wal-Mart at 6:30am this morning, I asked the returns clerk did someone purchase these? She responded, those were yesterday's return. I then asked the question; were these gifts? She responded that most likely all of them are gifts from organizations or toy runs. 

I was sick to my stomach with her next response, "folk return them, get a gift card and then buy beer and cigarettes." 

Be aware of your blessing to others in need. Make sure that the organization or individual is truly getting and keeping the gift, especially children. 

These pics are from one day of returns and the clerk said; most of time there's more. Be blessed friends... 
Read more at http://snopes.com/politics/business/walmarttoys.asp#gzfUmoy2oReDt6po.99

The author of this snopes.com article states that this is "Probably False" but for some reason, I don't believe it.

Not to put a damper on anyone's charitable giving this holiday season, but I think it is important you know what you are actually "giving" and you might want to make a few adjustments.
However...

When Katrina swept through New Orleans, many of its refugees came to my town.  I volunteered at the Civic Center. Copious amounts of disposable diapers so generously donated lined the walls of the room where we collected the donations, but we had no babies.  I contacted other shelters, but they did not need them either. Since families, especially those with small children, were at the top of the housing list, there were no diaper wearers in any of the shelters.

My solution?

I sent around index cards asking refugees to let me know of any specific item(s) they needed that we did not have and I loaded my SUV with diapers. Our local Walmart was very helpful and accepted all the diapers and I was able to buy bras, pants, shoes for school children (many only had flip-flops), and other specific items that individual people needed.  If I could not find the item (as in the case of a pair of welder's gloves) I kept the cards by the phone, and when people called in or came by, we asked them to look through the cards and see what they could do to help. Our community really stepped up and most of the much needed items (including the welding gloves) were donated.

I am all unconditional giving all year long. I am only suggesting that you do a bit of research and that you do not participate in or permit the corruption of charitable organizations.

Countdown to Christmas: 8 Days