Monday, December 28, 2009

Friday, December 18, 2009

It's THAT good.


Snickers

Chocolate dipped with nuts.


These are the apples that made me come back just to post even though I'm officially on vacation.

For starters the shop owners are delightful people to deal with, very responsive, ship fast and have a sense of humor. I think the humor is really important if you are making happy food, you know?

Anyhow, this was the direct result of some bizarre out of nowhere hankering for a caramel apple. I'd imagine my brain thought "Hey, I know you want to climb a water tower with a rifle, but how about...?"

The shop is SinnersSaintsSweets and you should order from them.

Order a lot. Send some to me.
I picked them because they had the best price but also because they are new shop. I think it's important to give newbies a boost when you can.

Except when you are buying soap, you should always buy that from me. Back off, newbie soap sellers! *waves bar around menacingly*


I got the chocolate with nuts and a Snickers for the boy because I didn't want to share. I could have, I mean they are 14 ounces (superbig) but you know, sometimes Moms just want their own damn stuff.

The apple was fabulously tart and juicy. It was nicely presented and the caramel and chocolate top shelf stuff. I know cause I make this stuff. Or used too, not so much anymore, but I digress. Caramel making can be tricky and I 'm impressed that they nailed the right consistency to coat an apple so very, very nicely.

So, that's the story and now I'm going back to my blog break. I even tweeted about the shop, you know how much I so do NOT Tweet, right? My only complaint is that they lack a matter beaming device and you have to wait for the USPS.

They need to work on that. Or move to the East Coast, I mean, you know, whatever is easier for them.

P.S. If they made a salty pretzel dipped in caramel and chocolate they would totally own me.
(hint hint)

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

See you next year!


Merry Christmas! or you know, Happy Stuff! or whatever. Just have a good time, ok? I'll be blogging again after the New Year. I'm working on that feedback, honest.

**Due to Christmas madness at the P.O. I am shipping Mondays and Thursdays until the New Year. I will be closed Dec. 24 through Dec. 28th. Please feel free to order after the 24th but understand your order will not ship until the 28th.**

Thank you so much for your ongoing support and commitment to being clean. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that's appreciated.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

I will if you will.



and yeah, that's George. He was kinda hot, huh?

Of Goats and gaggles.

Yes, I know about 'that' blog and the diatribe put forth by the author. All I care to contribute is that as long as people I have no respect for have no respect for me, I think I'm doing just fine. Anything more would denote interest or concern on my part. Of which I've neither.

But, this saves the time of those who have been kind enough to write. The point of spewing more poison out into an already difficult world escapes me much less being so important to someone I have no personal investment in. I'm just a poster on a forum, after all.

While I appreciate the kind thoughts, though, it's not the kind of thing that upsets me. I do find it curious that someone I have no previous interaction with would do this, much less try and start a campaign to have me muted. But then again, I don't get Anon commentary either. Why would anyone feel they couldn't express their feeling about me in name, I mean, what am I gonna do, come to your door with a bat?

So, no worries and let's get on with the Season, shall we? I've disabled comments for this post because I'd prefer to just leave it be rather then feed it. I'm sure you have very real upset in your life, as do I, why spend energy on something like this, you know?

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Poker Face

I have to say as much as I cannot stand Lady Gag Gag she does inspire fab parody.

Yep.




Monday, December 7, 2009

New at Grumpy Haters




Meet Forum, the Dead Horse. Stick not included.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Best New Scam

Although the helicopter society lady is still my fav.

Dear friend,

I am Madam Anna Mikk and I have been suffering from Ovarian cancer deseed and the doctor says that I have just two days to live. I am an Estonian Woman. But base in Africa Burkina Faso for more than Ten years now as a merchant in cocoa and cotton exportation. Now that I am about to end the race of life like this, without any family members and no child.

I have $2.5 Million US DOLLARS. Two Million Five Houndred Thousand Us Dollars in Africa Development Bank(ADB) Burkina Faso which I instructed the bank to give to Christ the King Missionary Home in Burkina Faso .

But my mind is not at rest as I am writing this letter now through the help of my computer beside my sick bed.I also have ($4.2 Million US Dollars) Four Million Two Houndred Thousand Us Dollars at Ecobank here in Burkina Faso and I have instructed the bank to transfer the money to the first foreigner that will apply to the bank after I have gone so that bank should release the fund to him/her but you will assure me that you will take 50% of the money and give 50% to the orphanage home in your country for my heart to rest. You are to contact the bank through this email address: infoecobank_bf@bk.ru Thanks.

Yours fairly friend
Madam Anna Mikk

You thought that hamster was creepy?






Tuesday, December 1, 2009

New Soap Iris

Iris

New Soap Pre Order

The 'Vice' soap is amazing. Get that and Who's Sorry Now? and it's like a little orgy in a box. Going up in two weeks, thought I'd give you a chance to order if you'd like. This and the WSN? will be ready to ship mid December. Email me at goatmountainarts@aol.com and I'll put you on the list and invoice you when it's ready to ship.

Pin Up Girl

Ok, look, it's a Comptoir Sud Aloha Tiare duplicate. First of all I can't even figure out how to SAY it past Sud Aloha. Not to mention writing that on a tag. What's a Tiare? Closest I can come is a beauty queen hat thing.

This is a simple, easy-to-like tropical blend of tiare flower, vanilla, coconut, ylang-ylang, and a touch of white musk. I didn't think I'd like it, actually. I do make stuff that other people like, you know.

Now, it smells NOTHING like you'd imagine, which if you are me is like fancy suntan lotion (no offense if that's your thing). It also doesn't have that floral sharpness either, it's really quite delightful and I like it very much.

I bet you will too. Seriously.


Call Me

Top notes of peach blossom, bergamot, mandarin, and lemon lead to an exotic floral middle of gardenia, tuberose, peony, and orange flower, with a warm, spicy drydown of cardamom, sandalwood, cedarwood, amber, and patchouli. It has what I can only describe as a sort of Chablis base note that's very evocative.

Dude, wow, seriously. Very American Gigolo, very expensive, very chic, really. It's a pretty complex blend that pulls off what I can only describe as a demure strut. La Perla in soap form. It's a little smaller so it's $3.65 instead of $3. 85.



Happy Place

Damask rose, mimosa, freesia, and clove, which open up to a rich bouquet of violet, heliotrope, and jasmine, spiced with geranium. Woody, resinous bottom notes of sandalwood, amber, coumarin, and musk are smoothed with a touch of honeylike sweetness from cire d'abeilles (liquid beeswax).

This was supposed to be a 'holiday' soap, but it's so happy and sunny smelling I plan on having it in my year round stock. Somehow all these scents play very nicely together. Wish we all did, huh?







Vice

I wanted a The Postman Always Rings Twice heady who's your daddy? scent and I nailed it.

There's an Indonesian essential oil called "jatamansi" that I used. I have no idea what the hell Jatamansi is. But jatamansi is the 'spanker' of the heady oils. It knows you wanna be dirty in a very non soap related way.

I added sandalwood, amber, an almost burnt vanilla and a tiny bit of honey scent to round it out.
Enough Patchouli to make you go 'Hmmm' not enough to make you wonder why the hell the soap smells like dirt.

I only made ten bars this time around because those oils aren't easy to work with and they are costly. You mess that up you end up with soap that smells like cheap hippie.

But this, this scent resonates on a very visceral level. That's fancy talk for it gets you hot. Not to use before a business meeting unless you've always wanted to do that guy right there, on his desk.

This one is $4.75 along with the WSN? soap.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Friday, November 27, 2009

Grumpy Haters

Grumpy Haters on Etsy

Working on Forum Master Flash cards and Traveling Forum. If I can ever get my laminator out of storage.

Also coming Voodoo Owl and Make a Wish (cause it ain't gonna happen) Owl. Padded desk for bruised heads and "Just cause I make cute stuff don't mean I won't cut a bitch." buttons or magnets.

What do you think, buttons or magnets?

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Newsletter


Working on a newsletter with sales, new soaps and the occasional brilliant insight. If I can't find any of that, I'll come up with something. It will go out once a month. If you'd like to receive it please email me at goatmountainarts@aol.com

All the cool kids are doing it.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

New Soap Pre Order

The 'Vice' soap is amazing. Get that and Who's Sorry Now? and it's like a little orgy in a box. Going up in two weeks, thought I'd give you a chance to order if you'd like. This and the WSN? will be ready to ship mid December. Email me at goatmountainarts@aol.com and I'll put you on the list and invoice you when it's ready to ship.

Pin Up Girl

Ok, look, it's a Comptoir Sud Aloha Tiare duplicate. First of all I can't even figure out how to SAY it past Sud Aloha. Not to mention writing that on a tag. What's a Tiare? Closest I can come is a beauty queen hat thing.

This is a simple, easy-to-like tropical blend of tiare flower, vanilla, coconut, ylang-ylang, and a touch of white musk. I didn't think I'd like it, actually. I do make stuff that other people like, you know.

Now, it smells NOTHING like you'd imagine, which if you are me is like fancy suntan lotion (no offense if that's your thing). It also doesn't have that floral sharpness either, it's really quite delightful and I like it very much.

I bet you will too. Seriously.


Call Me

Top notes of peach blossom, bergamot, mandarin, and lemon lead to an exotic floral middle of gardenia, tuberose, peony, and orange flower, with a warm, spicy drydown of cardamom, sandalwood, cedarwood, amber, and patchouli. It has what I can only describe as a sort of Chablis base note that's very evocative.

Dude, wow, seriously. Very American Gigolo, very expensive, very chic, really. It's a pretty complex blend that pulls off what I can only describe as a demure strut. La Perla in soap form. It's a little smaller so it's $3.65 instead of $3. 85.



Happy Place

Damask rose, mimosa, freesia, and clove, which open up to a rich bouquet of violet, heliotrope, and jasmine, spiced with geranium. Woody, resinous bottom notes of sandalwood, amber, coumarin, and musk are smoothed with a touch of honeylike sweetness from cire d'abeilles (liquid beeswax).

This was supposed to be a 'holiday' soap, but it's so happy and sunny smelling I plan on having it in my year round stock. Somehow all these scents play very nicely together. Wish we all did, huh?







Vice

I wanted a The Postman Always Rings Twice heady who's your daddy? scent and I nailed it.

There's an Indonesian essential oil called "jatamansi" that I used. I have no idea what the hell Jatamansi is. But jatamansi is the 'spanker' of the heady oils. It knows you wanna be dirty in a very non soap related way.

I added sandalwood, amber, an almost burnt vanilla and a tiny bit of honey scent to round it out.
Enough Patchouli to make you go 'Hmmm' not enough to make you wonder why the hell the soap smells like dirt.

I only made ten bars this time around because those oils aren't easy to work with and they are costly. You mess that up you end up with soap that smells like cheap hippie.

But this, this scent resonates on a very visceral level. That's fancy talk for it gets you hot. Not to use before a business meeting unless you've always wanted to do that guy right there, on his desk.

This one is $4.75 along with the WSN? soap.

Correction and Head's Up

The Who's Sorry Now? http://goatmountainarts.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-soaps-pre-order.html soap is NOT $5.75, it's $4.75.

The New Year will bring an increase of 10 cents, so from $3.85 to $3.95 on my soaps. Sorry, really, but you know.

News from Zibbet (Etsy can you hear me?)

Hi Zibbeters,

I just wanted to quickly update you on all the exciting things we've got in store for you! Here's a quick rundown...

- Coupons / Gift Certificates feature: This is almost ready for launch! You're going to love having the ability to fully customize your own coupons to give to existing and potential customers. Buyers will be able to easily redeem your coupons at checkout. No more having to refund through PayPal after the sale has gone through! For more info, visit the blog: http://www.zibbet.com/blog/2009.11.18/coupons-gift-certificates-coming-soon <-- Special coupon code (in blog) to get your Premium Account 1st Month FREE. A great deal! Only valid until midnight, Friday 20th November.

- Community Hub: The 'community hub' will be a place for you to interact and connect with other members. It will have forums, instant chat, and the ability to create/join groups. You'll also have the option of uploading images and videos, plus you can even maintain your own blog posts. Many of you have asked for this and we're excited to announce that we should have it up and running within 5-6 weeks (hopefully sooner).

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Comfort Soap


Comfort soap. Like a blankie, but you know, without the embarrassment of being far, far to old to own one. Good for days when everything goes stupid or when your boss is even more of a jerk then usual.

This bars are bigger then usual too, so you could accidentally throw one at your boss's head and do some damage. Notice I'm not recommending that, just a thought.

Approx. 4 to 4.5 ounces.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

New Soaps Pre Order

Trust me, you don't want a 'hug goodbye'.


Two batches setting up. Candy Cane, which is a sweet candy mint. Not a Brommer's scorch your nose hair sort of thing. Pretty Straight forward.

And my once a year Who's Sorry Now? soap. WSN? is the soap you use the morning your boyfriend, who announced you should "See other people." comes by to 'get his stuff'. It's the soap you use the morning before the divorce settlement or those lovely occasion where you have to be civil 'for the children'.

It's the "Ha, loser, don't even TRY to touch me." soap. And he'll want to, trust me.

I start out with floral notes of Tunisian jasmine petals, tuberose, and lily of the valley. The body of the fragrance is a melody of sweet grapes and berries with rich clove oil from Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla. The dry down consists of Egyptian sandalwood and Virginian cedar wood. It's drop dead come hither.

I make this once a year (or custom) because it's expensive to make but also because once a year there will be a few of you that need a 'Kiss my ass.' scent. It's a great custom order for the recently cheated on, divorced, ponzi schemed, you name it.

There are only sixteen (now twelve) bars availible. They sell for $4.75(price correction) each. They'll be set up in about three weeks and ready to ship, you can then use them then or let them cure and get harder so they last longer.

I just finished and I feel like I could go take on the world,lol. My whole house smells like kick ass ninja bitches live here.

If you' d like to preorder just email me at goatmountainarts@aol.com first come first serve.

New Shop!



Come check me out at Zibbet. I am loving the layout of the site, it has lots of nifty features. Sort of like AF got rid of the flea market clutter and Etsy updated it's Cave Man tech.

To celebrate, everything in my Zibbet store is 15% off until the end of November.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Just because.





You'll note the Monkey Song breaks down the Etsy Search function in a way we can all understand.

Random dog pictures

Baxter deciding that Kinley doesn't suck. That took a good four or five days.




Baxter's pound pic.


Kinley home for three days.


Kinley's pound pic. Now you see why, huh?



Baxter and Kinley a few days after Baxter stopped ignoring him. Kinley is now bigger then Baxter.




Lida

Kinley



Kinley





Kinley the day we got him. Six months. After three baths. Notice how he's down on his pasterns? (pancake feet) One of the worst cases I've seen. Now his feet are nice and tight.






Baxter at three months.



Yes, he has always been this serious. That was when we had grass.




Death by Basset. Baxter (no dogs were harmed)




Lida's pound picture, she was "Urgent number 3" she was pulled the day she was to be gassed, minutes before, really.


Lida when she arrived.


Who you help support with your purchase.

Lida's Petfinder ad.




I wanted to give you an idea of how flexible this dog is. Her second day she slipped UNDER the fence through a hole roughly the size of a piece of paper. Now the gate is bungeed shut because Kinley can open the latch.


Every dog has a story and I'm still working on them. Almost done with Kinley's. Kinley is a challenging dog, but well worth the effort. I made the right decision not adopting him out. He'll be two sometime this month and he has been particularly challenging every now and again over the last couple weeks.

It's good to see these pictures and know you can make a very tangible difference without really doing very much and benefiting greatly in the end.


Sunday, November 8, 2009

Enough of that, lets have fun.


Ok, dear readers, shall we get back to better things? I'm gonna go pop a bottle of Advil and make something nice. Thanks for hanging in there.

It's a lovely day outside, it's it's lovely for you, that's good too.

Friday, November 6, 2009

A room full of Nellies.



You know this was TWO years ago. I happen to agree with FancyPants in regard to he manned up and it's bridge water. *waves at Fancy*

I'm stating this because I keep seeing this getting linked to as a 'See how AF is SATAN!" point is while I love the traffic, really,  not only is not not how I feel anymore (in most regard) but it is't fair to Tony.

We all fuck up. He fucked up on a GRAND scale. And while AF and it's forums in particular, aren't for me, I'm not comfortable being used out of context to show someone in a negative light. While it was enough to boggle my socks, it hasn't happened again that I know of.

Goat

p.s. Yes, I really did get death threats I still have them in 'comments' , but I'm sure those  people are much saner now as well. Right?

Yes, he really did all those things. Yes, he's apologized. As for my being credible, well, that's all a point of perspective, isn't it?

From the fine EB folks

This is from the fine ladies at Etsybitch.blogspot.com. They've written a fine article and I hope they don't mind me riding on thier coat tails to bring this to your attention.


Etsy doesn't allow returns

One of the 'clarifications' in the changed Dos and Don'ts was regarding cancelled transactions:
The seller may cancel an invalid or void transaction, as defined by these circumstances:-The buyer did not pay (see Non-payment) at the time the transaction was created, according to the transaction agreement or according to the terms in the seller's Shop Policies.-Both the buyer and seller agree to cancel the transaction prior to shipment. If the buyer has already paid, the seller has refunded buyer (price paid for item plus shipping).-The seller has refused service to the buyer (see Refusing service).

If the buyer hasalready paid, the seller has refunded the buyer (price paid for item plus shipping).-The buyer paid for the item(s). Although the seller shipped the item(s), the buyer did not receive the item(s). The seller has refunded the buyer (price paid for item at minimum).But sellers wonder, what about when the sale is refunded because the item was returned? As far as Etsy cares, it was a sale, so they keep their fees... Even if you don't get paid!

Stellaloella says:
The DOs & DON'Ts of Etsy define transactions as such: "A transaction is created when a buyer completes Etsy's checkout process. [...] An Etsy transaction is completed when the buyer pays and the seller ships the item."Canceling a transaction is linked to refunding a seller their listing and transaction fees. In the case that the buyer wishes to return the item and the seller agrees to a refund, that is still a valid, completed transaction for which Etsy requires fees to be paid by the seller. Etsy has provided a completed transaction service to the seller.

If the seller chooses to accept a return and possibly refund the buyer, that does not negate that Etsy has provided an agreed-upon service for which we should be paid. This was not clearly outlined in our policies in the past, and some sellers took advantage of the opportunity to cancel valid, completed transactions for the purpose of avoiding Etsy's fees or feedback from buyers.

Yep, it's the sellers' fault. Offering refunds on returns like good business people...expecting a completed sale to be the point of a listing. Paypal may do it, but they're suckers!Don't you all realize that the point of listing on Etsy is to pay them!? All those poor admin working all day and you guys want to take away their fees for doing nothing! shame on you.On a nonsarcastic note, if the seller doesn't get paid, Etsy shouldn't either.

They already received the listing fee for the interaction with the buyer, but if the seller isn't paid for the item (including refunds on returns) then Etsy shouldn't get the percentage cut of the sale price. But then again, Etsy likes to take money that isn't theirs, like the fee for sale prices on weekend deals.

By the way, kind of nice of Etsy to put this policy into play without notifying their members. Hands up for everyone who's gotten an email about the new Dos and Don'ts...yeah, it doesn't matter that I can't see you, I know there aren't any hands up.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Camping and bears. A lot of bears.

Very Big Bag.


Boy in Hammock.


I love my E.


Imagine Big Black Bear head poking up right at the edge. About twenty feet away.


Campsite number two. No very unhappy children.


Bear Patrol.


See where Kinley is gazing off? He'd just come back from disappearing after the deer, waaaaay back there.


We just got back from Big Meadows. We saw a LOT of bears. The first night we stayed in A loop in our fav place and a mother and two cubs came walking along the end of the site.


This is when I learned that my city dog (Baxter) and my rural stray (Kinley) truly are from two different worlds. Kinley, apparently knows what bears are and is of the firm belief, as am I, that they need to stay a respectable distance away.


He was the one that alerted me to the bears. In fact, he bounded out of the car (we were tucking in) and made these low growling noises I'd not hear before. This told me it was serious.


Then he ran forward several feet and put on quite the show. Not the barking to scare the hikers who are idiots and walked through our site, this was a totally different sort of thing. The bears stopped, looked at Kinley, he looked at them.


Baxter stayed in the car sleeping. Either because he has no idea what a bear is (he learned later) or because he hopes Kinley will perhaps be eaten by one.


I called Kinley back and he reluctantly came after I got Gabriel in the car. The bears kept going. A stupid dog would have run up to the bears or made a commotion. He is not a stupid dog. I was a little short of breath. I'm not used to half domesticated bears, I'm used to Alaska bears.


The next morning as we were waking up I went to tether the dogs and Kinley saw a group of deer. Yep, you guessed it.


He was off and it was both beautiful and panic inducing. See, Kinley is a runner and a very competitive one. He didn't want to catch the deer, he never made a sound. He wanted to race the deer.


You can see in the pic with both of them the back is wide open so you could see all this unfolding. he was leaping with the deer and then *poof* they were all gone.


As in ALL gone. I blew my ER whistle, waited....and he came bounding back. it was like, a movie moment, I tell you. he was all 'Did you SEE what I did?!" and I was all "OMG you came back!!"

Baxter is just looking at Kinley like "Whatever."


So....we have breakfast and for some reason, even though the campground is almost empty a family with two very unhappy small children move next to us.


Very, unhappy small children.


So we moved over to E loop and scored 187. This was easy as we had no tent. Although the small children were audibly miserable enough I would have moved a brick and mortar condo need be.

We spent the day hiking and eating .


It's very tiring with two dogs because you pretty much have to keep going through out the day. Went to the lodge, played checkers.


Next morning I'm making coffee and I hear Kinley make the 'bear noise'. I can’t see anything. The E loop is on the edge of a drop off to the Appalachian Trail, you can see it in the pics here.


I'm looking, Baxter is looking, I go down a few feet, no bear. Kinley is still making the bear noise. I turn around, pour my coffee, turn back and there is this HUGE black bear sticking it's head up right over the edge.


To see what he could see.


Kinley and Baxter and now getting serious, I'm yelling at Gabriel to stay in the car and here is this bear.


Bear decides the dogs are a PIA and moves along. Now according to the rangers the bears are no big deal you just make noise and they go away. But I was happy to have my boys.


Kinley remained very serious the rest of the day. You can see in one of the pics where he is basically on bear look out.


The E stuff, well, I found this tri folds martial arts mat we had and used that. it was fantastic as it went all the way under the steering wheel. used the cushions to level it.


The bag, the BAG, I love this bag. I have never loved a bag before. It's HUGE. It has pockets, its flannel lined and has a big top cushy extra part you can drawstring to make a mummy type hood and another drawstring along the top. Zippers one BOTH sides and it's warm. It made me HAPPY.


It's the Teton Mammoth bag. Supposed to sleep two adult and a kid, we are one fat adult and a big nine year old and had plenty of room. It was a dreamy bag.


The secret to putting it back in is to fold in lengthwise and the cram the bottom end in first. Don't even bother trying to roll this sucker up. I am so happy with this damn bag.