Moving On Sale

Well, all good things must come to an end. And it's the end of the road for my little Etsy shop.

All items are listed for at least 50% off!

Spread the word and you could win $100 worth of jewelry (let me know how you shared in the comments).

Thanks for your support through the years. I'm looking forward to new crafty adventures!

Put on Some Pearls

Because they're on sale!

I've put my pearls on sale to make things a bit simpler in my shop.

Large glass pearl necklaces on sale for $15 (originally $20)
Glass pearl infinity necklace on sale for $20 (originally $30)

Happy Weekend!

I feel like this past week was so darn long. Needless to say, I'm super excited it's the weekend!

We had friends over for dinner last night. Kyle's putzing in the garden today. I'm enjoying homemade soup while Sammy takes a nap!

What are you up to?

Let's celebrate with a little shop discount.

Use code "weekend" to get 20% off in the shop [through Sunday night].

Welcome Back

...to my shop that is!

My li'l old handmade shop is reopening today and I couldn't be more excited!!

[cotton and lace button necklace]

I've made a few changes that I hope reflect my vision for Along for the Ride Handmade. I also have a few new products with more to come soon.

[large glass pearl necklace]

And i'm so excited to be working with an amazing photographer, Danielle from Urban Stills Photography.

[small cotton and lace button necklace]

[triple button necklace in vintage fabrics -- more coming soon!]

Use the code earlybird for 20% off all morning. Check out my twitter and Facebook pages for more discounts throughout the day.

Leave a comment with your favorite item for a chance to win a 50% off coupon code!

Last Chance!

My shop goes on vacation at 10pm tomorrow (Monday) night, so this is your last chance to scoop up your favorite items! Plus I'm offering a huge coupon code... 40% off with code herecomesbaby40.

Shop Closing Updates

Not forever...just for baby!

New in 2013: 
- Lots of new infinity necklaces in new, fun colors
- More beads! bracelets, cluster necklaces, and earrings
- Even more colors in my favorite bias tape rosette earrings
- New and improved button jewelry
- More items featuring vintage fabrics

Saying goodbye:
- I will no longer be carrying rosette necklaces. You can still get the necklaces and pendants at a super low price until the shop closes.

Now is your chance to purchase items for the holidays! And you better grab up your favorites -- they may not be back in the new year.

GroopDealz Sale!

Hi friends.

I wanted to let you know that I'm doing a little sale on GroopDealz today for my bias tape rosette earrings. I'm offering 5 colors perfect for fall!

$3.50 per pair. A steal of a deal!
Earrings available here.

Coffee Date: Shop Updates

Hi Friends! Happy Friday.

If we were sitting down to coffee together, I would be busting at the seams to tell you some of my new ideas for my shop.

The future of my shop has been on my heart for a long time -- some days I'm tired and frustrated and other days I'm brimming with inspiration.

After some advice from a friend, I am making some changes and cannot wait to see how things unfold in the new year.

- I will be closing my shop early October for maternity leave. I will be doing some big 'ole sales in lieu of holiday promotions since I'll miss out on the after Thanksgiving rush. It's my personal opinion that everyone should wake up to bias tape earrings under their Christmas tree!

- I will be discontinuing rosettes from my shop (this includes necklaces and headbands -- it does not include bias tape earrings. Those babies are forever!). I love them, but I need to make room and time for new ideas.

- I have some big ideas about how to incorporate new materials, use old items in new ways, and make each piece even more personal and special. In order to help me reach these new goals, I will be putting some current items on sale.

- First up, my rosette pendant necklaces. Originally $15, for a limited time you can grab one for $8.

- Also, I have lots of necklace bails (those little metal things that turn the rosettes into necklaces) and fabric strips if you're interested in purchasing those supplies.

So I would tell you all those things and probably ask for your thoughts. Do you have suggestions for my shop? Anything you'd like to see?

Gosh, change is exciting, and scary, but mostly exciting. Here's to new things in the new year for the Along for the Ride shop!

A Few Changes

Lately I've been having an online identity crisis. I have been fighting an inner battle between being Laura and being Along for the Ride -- between being a blog and a brand and being just plain old me.

All the social media handles and logins that seemed so foreign and phony to me. Trying to remember passwords and which email address I used where.

So I would like to reintroduce myself. My name is Laura Denlinger -- and that's how you'll see me online from now on. Yes, Along for the Ride is the name of my blog, but it doesn't define me. It doesn't limit who I am on- and offline. It's a cherished title that I use to share my voice and my story.

But in the end, the story belongs to me.

I made a few changes. Where I could, I changed my name to my real name. You'll now see Laura Denlinger's photos pop up in Instagram. Laura Denlinger is now following you on Twitter.

I've tried to make things as simple as possible and change as many handles to good 'ole aftr_laura. No more millions of ways to combine my name and blog -- just the one.

And now, because the things I write and do here are so personal to me, I'm using and advertising my personal email address -- laura.c.denlinger @ gmail . com.

Gosh, I feel like I'm meeting you all again for the first time!

This feel good. Actually it feels great. It feels organized, and real, and honest.

***

I'll be sharing prayer requests and praises later today. Can I add your's to the list?

Flash Sale

I'm back in the craft room -- my new and improved craft room -- and ready to hit the ground running in my shop.

To celebrate, I'm offering 40% tonight only on all items!

Use code welcomeback40 when you checkout.

Bias Tape Earrings On Sale

It's no secret that these little earrings are my favorite. Small rosettes made from bias tape in so many lovely colors.

And through the weekend, you can get them for 50%! Only $4 per pair until Monday.

Which color will you choose?

And a peek at a few new items in my shop...

infinity necklace in gray

fabric-covered button necklace made with vintage fabric

fabric-covered button earrings made with vintage fabric

vintage glass bead necklace in aqua

rosette pendant necklaces

vintage glass bead earrings

***

Are you interested in starting your own shop. ByAimee is featuring information all week about various shop platforms...and today you can read about why I love Etsy!

Keeping It All Together

*originally shared on Sashes to the Merchants*

photo from The Flourishing Abode

It is so hard to keep everything in our online worlds together. Our blog, shop, sponsorships, ideas, deadlines.

And the list always goes on.

A running goal of mine has always been to get more organized when it comes to my little blog and business, Along for the Ride. I've tried planners, to-do lists, and of course, lots of sticky notes.

And even though, during this season in my life, I feel a bit more unorganized than usual, that doesn't mean I'm going to give up my quest for intentional, meaningful, something-I-can-feel-good-about organization.

You don't have to tell me twice that women are creative folks! Here's some of my favorite handmade tools to help us keep it all together.

- Lots of great printable planners are available online. A few of my favorites are from Wild Olive, Flourishing Abode, Living Locurto, and Infarrantly Creative.

- I'm usually drowning in ideas. Get those babies down on paper with a cute notebook. Some of my favorite handmade notebooks are from Riley Blake Designs, Design Aglow, Doda's Creative Wanderings, and V and Co.

- I am a to-do list fiend. I love them! Some cute printable lists from The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking, My Everything and Nothing, and A Pair of Pears.

How do you keep it all together? What ways do you stay organized?

Shop Sale This Weekend

So it feels good to be back! I've had some time to get back in the shop, and I've got the creative juices flowing for some new ideas!

Use code "wknd15" for 15% off this weekend.

Plus, I'm so close to reaching 400 sales! I'm ready to celebrate with some free gifts for those that help out!

Rosettes are Coming [to a shop near you!]

I'm oh so close to stocking my shop with my favorite hand-rolled fabric rosette items in pretty new colors.

Now featuring: yellow, green, plum, carnation, mustard, red, cream, blue, gray, and peach

You can look forward to all your favorite items (plus a few new ones) in the solids above and a few vintage patterns.

I'm trying hard to get them listed soon, but I'm just not sure when.

If you're interested in pre-ordering any rosette items, I'd love for you to be the first ones to own my new rosette beauties!

Small rosettes: bobby pin

Medium rosettes: pendant necklace, hair clip

Large rosettes: hair clip/brooch combo, headband (stretchy or metal)

The vintage fabric will also feature these same sizes and items and will be available soon.

The Other Day...

- The other day my alarm clock went off during church. And the worst part was that I whispered "that's embarrassing" looking around for who did it, and then realized it was me. Oh geez.

- The other day I got all this for a song at Salvation Army! Woohoo!

- The other day I fell in love with this song by Mumford and Sons. Listen here.

- The other day was laundry day. I had an adorable helper.

- The other day I watched all three episodes of The Finder. Kind of silly acting, but generally pretty good. 

- The other day I realized a not so hidden talent. I am so darn good at card games. Like seriously.

- The other day I saw a young woman walking around with boxer shorts on over her leggings. Is this a new fad? Just wear pants, ok?

- The other day I lost complete control of my email and am still drowning a bit under the weight of my inbox. 

- The other day I added these beauties to the shop.  

- What about you? What did you do the other day?

Shop Update

I wanted to let you know about an upcoming change in my shop line up.

In order to focus on new ideas and make room for new products, after my current stock of cabochon jewelry is sold, I will no longer be selling it.

So what you see in the shop (minus a few things I still need to list) is it. Once it's gone, it's gone.

[So between now and then, if you are making a purchase that includes a piece of cabochon flower jewelry (earrings, necklaces, rings, hair pins), use the code "cab10" for 10% off. Please, only reserve that for orders that include cab jewelry.]

Bye bye sweet flowery friends. It's been fun!

[You can view my shop here.]

I'm Back

I'm back after a much needed vacation.

And what a glorious vacation is was!

For two weeks we:

spent time with both sides of our family

drove multiple hours to and from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and back to Missouri

were reminded of just how blessed we are

During my vacation I:

read The Hunger Games

learned to cross stitch (thanks mom!)

got a cold and was nursed back to health with love and chicken soup (thanks mom!)

visited with my dad's racing pigeons

took far too few pictures

made lots of great memories of a really special Christmas and New Year's

My very first cross stitch project. 

And although I made something that says "let it snow," I don't really mean it. 

So, how have you been?

What's new in 2012?

It's taking me a bit longer than I'd like to get back into the groove of things. I hope that's ok. 

A few upcoming/ongoing things to know:

- The shop's back! I'll be listing new things soon! Use the code 'welcomeback' for 15% off this week.

- I am loving Journaling Through January and I'm so excited for everyone participating! I'll have a post on Sunday where you can link up and talk about how it's going.

- I have a new addition to my sponsor family- featured ads. For two weeks at a time I will be featuring some fabulous up-and-coming shops and blogs. I can't wait for you to meet them! Stop by Royal Daughter Designs and tell her I sent you!

Is there anything you'd like to see on AFTR? Topics to explore? Things to change? Stuff to do different? I'd love to hear from you!

Please be patient as I get my life in order again. I promise, you won't be disappointed.

Just A Quick Hello

source

After a long day of running errands (in the rain), I'm home for good tonight.

Kyle is working on a grad school project and, last we talked, he probably won't be home until 2am.

So tonight it's just me, kitty, a messy house, earrings to make, hot chocolate, and the tree.

***

I'm so sorry if you've been wondering where crafty Saturdays have gone? With the holidays, I've been a bit  preoccupied (and a little lazy). It will be back for the next two weekends and then take a bitty break until the new year.

***

I'm working on a few more journaling series posts. Have you been loving the journal stories as much as I have? Want to share your own? Email me please :)

***

My shop closes for the holidays on December 11. If you've been thinking of getting something for someone you love, make sure you do before I go on a little vacation.

Have you seen my Cozy Winter Surprise Gift Package? $50 worth of goodies (for only $40) sent to you during December, January, and February. 

And, through the holidays, you can get free shipping with code happyholidays.