Christmas Holiday Questions

I am searching for some information about your Christmas plans. "Remember when" or "then and now" information. I recall that we often opened our presents on Christmas Eve because on Christmas Day, we went to someone's house. There we would have lots of family members. Children dressed in their new "Christmas clothes" and playing with new toys from Santa. The ladies would all be in the kitchen putting finishing touches to that special Christmas dinner. The men would be in the living room often watching football. There would be presents under the tree and the smell of turkey and pumpkin pie and cinnamon would excite your senses. It was usually a bit like chaos, but it was a festive time.

The table would be filled with delicious holiday foods and there would be a lovely holiday centerpiece to help show off all the hard work.

Today........Wow, how things have changed. Both of my children and all six grandchildren live near Oklahoma City which is over 10 hours away. I will not be seeing them this year nor did I see them last Christmas. My husband and I celebrated Christmas alone. It just isn't the same!!! What a shame. It is hardly worth the effort of pulling out all of the Christmas decorations or putting up a tree.

I still love the holiday for it is the time of year that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He is the reason for the season. I am ever grateful for the greatest gift of all: SALVATION.

So how about you? Have your Christmas plans changed through the years? Do you still celebrate Christmas with family and friends? Leave a comment. This could be fun.

CHRISTMAS MADE EASY FROM ESMARTS TEAM ON ETSY

Well, here I am blogging when I should be sewing. Just haven't had the time or energy to get in there and design. I have plans to create a couple of fall outfits and several Christmas dresses. I know I wil be back at it soon. The fabric seems to be calling me louder and louder. It is screaming "CHRISTMAS IS COMING." I won't be able to stay away for long. I just love creating the Hobnobbin' Originals. Oh and by the way, after much thought and some consultation, I have decided to keep the name Hobnobbin' Originals. I liked the name when I first thought of it and nothing else seems to fit me. So I will continue to be Hobnobbin' Originals. I am grateful to all of my Etsy Esmarts team who encouraged me keep the name.

Speaking of Christmas, I have a solution for your shopping needs.
The Esmarts team on Etsy is a great group of extremely creative people. You should check out their gorgeous creations. The team has so much to choose from. All of the team members create their items and sell them on Etsy.
You will find fabulous jewelry items, beautiful original art, handbags and totes, and of course Hobnobbin' Original dresses for little girls. Just check out the links below and you could check off a lot of gifts from your Christmas list. And the best part is that you can shop from home and purchase unique items for all those on your gift list.

What's In A Name

HELP! ! ! I have been trying to decide on a name for my shop, my designs, etc. I searched my current name "Hobnobbin'Originals" and have come up with so rather inappropriate sites. So....I thought that I would just choose another name even though I really liked the one I had. I spent hours trying to come up with something "catchy" that would be a good name. Each time that I thought I found a new name, I would search that name to see what would come up. AHHHHH! To my surprise and disappointment, every name that I thought up was already in use. Often times it would also be associated with undesirable links. What is a person to do?!

So I guess until some great, unique idea comes along, I will remain Hobnobbin'Originals by JB Design Boutique. I just wonder how many other people have had this kind of experience. Surely I am not the only one. If you have any good suggestions, please feel free to let me know.

Consider Those Who Serve

As stated in my profile, I am a fast food manager. I have been in this type of management for 18 years. Do I have stories to tell!?! However, today I would like to address the most current problem with customers.

Customers expect and deserve fast, friendly service and most places try to deliver that kind of service. What customers should realize is that a cell phone conversation can wait! People pull up to a drive thru order speaker and then call co-workers, family, etc. to find out what they want to order. Often they have to read half the menu to the person on the phone. Meanwhile four more customers wait in line behind them. Then they pull up to the window. The cashier says "how are you today, you had blah, $$ please." The customer, still on the phone, digs through their purse for money. More customers line up behind them. On top of all of that, they never even acknowledge the cashier. These same customers want and deserve the same fast, friendly service as do all customers, but they are the reason for many slow service complaints.

It would be so nice if people called to get orders from people BEFORE they get in line. It would also be nice for them to at least ask the person on the other end of the call to hold a moment while they paid for and received their order.

We have evolved into a "want it now" generation. Yet we are often the reason for longer waits. People have forgotten how to be polite to those who serve. People have developed the idea that service people are here to serve "ME NOW" and no one else matters.

If you don't agree with this idea, let me give you a few other examples. Take road rage for instance. Attitude: "where I need to go, is more important than where you need to go." Take grocery store lines. Attitude: "I deserve to be first."
We have become so impatient and selfish. What ever happened to the "golden rule"?
What has happened to "please" and "thank you"? People all but demand it from service workers, but fail to realize that a service person likes to be treated with respect and courtesy too.

So think about it next time you have the urge to be "too important". Take time to be kind. Kindness goes a long way. I try to teach my cashiers to give a smile to every customer because that may be the only smile they get that day. How about you?
Give a smile today and please consider those who serve you. Please be kind.

Still Learning

Another week of learning more about of networking has been very busy. I have met a lot of new people who are online sellers. The people I have met sell a variety of items. One person who has been helping me learn more about networking makes beautiful jewelry.
I am really enjoying learning as I go. I know that there are many people who have switched to online shopping. The price of gas is probably one reason. However, I feel that some people would just rather shop in the convenience of their own home instead of fighting the crowds and traffic. I am one of those people. I know that I am not the ONLY one!

Hopefully, my little girls dresses will eventually find a place on the internet. I know that if I get a few people to buy them, then word of mouth will drive my sales.

I am truly looking forward to that day. There is a day coming when I will have to turn down orders because I have more than I can handle.

Great luck to all who are attempting to do the same as I.

Just a Little Background

I first learned about sewing by helping someone make quilt blocks when I was just 12. I only took one Home Ec class and made one dress. I did not sew much more until I was 20. The rest of my sewing education was while working for a sewing factory. I worked for a place in Oklahoma that made "Martha Miniatures" and other dresses for little girls. That is where I fell in love with all the ruffles and frills. I eventually worked for several sewing factories. Even though it was tough work, I learned a lot about sewing.

When my children were little, I made most of their clothes as well as my own. I have made several unusual items such as: a wild tuxedo for my husband when he was "Jeepers the Magical Clown" and my own clowning dress for "Sparkles".

Just Getting Started

Hello to all who read this.

Let me introduce myself. I am the owner/creator at JB Design Boutique where I make "frilly dresses for fancy girls" which I call Hobnobbin' Originals. I have over 20 years sewing experience and truly enjoy sewing. Each creation presents it's own challenge as well as pleasure. I always wanted to dress my daughter is ruffles and ribbons and lace; however I was not able to do so. Now I enjoy sewing for others and seeing their daughters get all dressed up. What a joy it is to see the little girl smile with twinkles in her eyes. And of course, I love to see Mom looking so proud at her darling little princess all dressed up.

Definition of hobnobbing: 1) to come or be together as friends "those two have been hobnobbing together since the first grade" 2) to take part in social activities < hobnobbing with the rich and famous


Currently, I am selling my Hobnobbin'Originals at Etsy http://Hobnobbins.etsy.com I plan to also create totes and possibly hats to go along with my dresses. I also make two-piece outfits.

I am also a member of the yahoo group Esmarts. eSMArts@yahoogroups.com
This is a wonderful group of very creative people. Here are a few links to some of the members. You should check them out.

http://sassydlite.etsy.com
http://abeadedaffair.etsy.com
http://szarka.etsy.com