Things I've Learned From Blogs I Follow:

1) I'm not the only one who has problems recruiting participants for contests! ;) This last holiday season, I set up a fun "design your holiday shirt" contest where the winner got a FREE shirt - and I had a whopping 2 participants. Before that, I had a "refer-a-friend" Starbucks giveaway, and had no participants. Now that I'm becoming a little more well known, I would probably have a better turnout... I think. lol.
However, the whole point is that there are others out there that hold regular contests but have a hard time getting anyone to participate. For example, one blog that I follow is http://hippiescreations.blogspot.com/. She is doing a giveaway to someone who correctly answers her trivia question. I didn't even know the answer, but I guessed anyway just because she deserves to have someone participate! If you get a chance, you should stop by and participate - you might win something!!

2) You can find new freebies by visiting other blogs. I myself have found two great sites (that I have blogged about previously) where you can get FREE blog backgrounds and other blog goodies just by visiting other peoples' blogs!
There's a great freebie listed on one of the blogs I follow today: http://mommysdreamcreations.blogspot.com/ . It's a cool flash widget thingy that lets you show off some Etsy items in your shop!

3) Etsians like to promote other Etsians. By the way, an "Etsian" is simply someone who buys and/or sells on the site http://www.etsy.com . It's the best crafting site in the world in my opinion! I could easily go broke there...
Anyway, so a lot of times when you check out someone else's blog, you will be introduced to another great artist in the process! There's an interview right now from one Etsian to another on a blog that I follow: http://lizswares.blogspot.com .

4) There are some incredibly cool, unique and gifted artisans out there! I can't believe some of the awesome items I have found - I've been making up a list of shops that I will "need" to buy from as I slowly start accruing my holiday gifts for this upcoming year!
One of those shops has a great fact blog: http://wrightmade.blogspot.com/ . Aren't the handmade kaleidoscopes amazing?!

5) Bloggers are human. That means human things happen to them, and they sometimes share their feelings about them. When I went through my foot surgery, I shared a brief note here and was so surprised and touched that some readers went out of their way to send me personal emails wishing me well!
A recent blog by http://decembergirll.blogspot.com/ had me cringing in sympathy as she discussed her fear of spiders - ick! I'm so not a spider person.

I've learned many other things, but I really should get to work and stop procrastinating by posting things to my blog. ;) I hope you enjoyed learning more about what I have learned!

Updated blog for Valentine's Day!

Yep, I changed my blog again! Now that I have found great free blog design sites, it has been fun to see all of the great designs I can use!

This one is from a different free blog design site: www.thecutestblogontheblock.com. I really recommend it, or www.shabbyblogs.com.

Speaking of valentine's day, why not surprise your love one with a custom valentine's shirt? We'd be more than happy to make one! Or better yet - does the man in your life love beer? We have great customizable beer jerseys - beer coozies shaped like t-shirts - that would make a GREAT gift!!

Happy Vday a little early from Java Jess!