September News

Ladybug Wreaths Newsletter
Brought to you by Nancy Alexander
http://www.ladybugwreaths.com

Hi !

In this issue of my free newsletter:
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1.Welcome Friends
2.New Baby Girl, Ava Grace
3.Decorating on a Budget
4.Diane has Sold 6 Wreaths, & Making More
5.Be Our New Featured Aspiring Designer
6.Yes, I Did, I Really Did Feel Just A Hint Of Fall in The Air!
7.Brand New Fall & Christmas Videos Are In
8.Customer Survey, Coaching Class in the Works

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Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Feel free to pass this on to your friends…

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1.  Welcome Friends
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WELCOME !

I’m sorry you didn’t receive a newsletter last month, but August
was “one of those months!”  It began with the entire family helping
son, Matt; and family, renovate and move into a new home.  Barely
two days later, their daughter, our first grandaughter, Ava Grace
was born. As August drew to a close, my husband’s 85–year old
Mother took a nasty spill off her treadmill, dislocating both
shoulders, fracturing a bone in one shoulder and a possible rotater
cuff tear in the other.  We’ll just see if September can top that
for excitement!

It is very important for me to get to know you, and is also
important that you get to know the real me. So, as I’ve said before
-no “formal” sales stuff here, I just would like to give you
useful information to help you in your designing endeavors, while
giving you tips and bonuses along the way.

But first, let me be a grandmother for a moment….
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2.  New Baby Girl
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BABY GIRL - AVA GRACE ALEXANDER

Our lives have been turned upside down for the last six weeks.  We
have been busy helping my son Matt, and daughter-in-law Sara,
remodel and move into their new home before “Baby Girl” was here.
As it ended up, a lot more had to be done to their beautiful home
than we thought, but everyone pitched in together and got the
“kids” moved in two nights before the baby was born.  This was a
very stressful time for Matt and Sara, but they were real troopers.
I don’t know where all their energy came from, but it spilled forth
when they needed it.  I kept telling Sara every time she climbed a
ladder, or leaned way over to fill up cabinets, that “Baby Girl”
was going to get here early.

Well, “Baby Girl”, now known as Ava Grace Alexander, was born
August 3rd.  She is perfect from head to toe - weighed 7 pounds and
8 ounces, and was 20 1/4 inches long.  She absolutely is the most
beautiful baby I have ever seen, but I guess I may be just a little
bit prejudiced….. Tee Hee Hee!!

If you would like to see some pictures of her (typical
grandma,huh?) you can go to my blog: http://nancysramblings.com/

And even though my newsletter is late, I still have some important
things I want to share with each and every one of you.

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3.  Decorating on a Budget
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Are you ready for a new look, but just can’t afford to redo
everything at once?  There are a couple of major things you can do
which will not be expensive, but will make such a big difference in
your living space.

First:  I know you have heard this before, and probably think you
don’t have time, or it’s such an ordeal, or that you really can’t
afford it right now.  Have you guessed what I am referring to?  If
you guessed paint, well, you are exactly right.

If your room is dark or drab, or so bold that it’s downright
irritating, then it certainly is time for this kind of a change.
I’m telling you, a couple of gallons of paint can make such a
difference; it will make your room look like it has totally been
redone.  And that’s without recovering or buying any new furniture.

Here are several tips on paint.  I always buy Benjamin Moore paint.
It costs a little more, but it covers exceptionally well.   If you
take your time, buy as good a paint brush as you can afford (none
of these .99 specials!!), and a little more expensive roller with a
little nap on it (awh, come on now, how much can a nice roller
cost?), then you can do a professional job yourself.  If you are
not making a drastic change on paint colors, one carefully applied
coat will probably be enough.  Most professionals say always use
two coats, but remember, we’re trying to change our lives on a
budget.

If your doors and moldings look half-way decent, then leave them if
necessary.  However, a little soap and water can make most of them
look like new.  Now, this one step has saved you lots of time and
money.  Next, with a nice angled brush, cut in on the walls around
your windows and doors.  This is the step which takes more time,
and you really won’t see how great it’s going to look while you are
tackling this job, but your persistence and hard work will pay off!

Next comes the fun part; where you can really begin to see a
difference in your room… roll the paint on your walls.  Roll
slowly overlapping as you go.  Keep your roller filled from the
paint tray, being careful not to load it too full, or you’ll have
drips.  Get as close to the trim, lapping over where you have
already cut in with your brush and slowly go all the way around
your room.  If you have to stop for a while, never stop in the
middle of a wall - always in a corner.  The same hint applies if
you run out of paint and have to buy another gallon.  Even though
you purchase the exact same color, you can often tell a difference
in colors which are purchased at different times.  So starting and
stopping in a corner takes care of this little problem.

Second:  All right, we have a wonderful, cheerful new color on our
walls - my next tip goes down to the floors.  If you have hard wood
floors that are sort of worn, and most of the shine has
disappeared, a can of Johnson’s paste wax rubbed on and then buffed
can make such a difference.  If you don’t have a buffer, or don’t
want to rent one this was what my mother had my sisters and I do
when we were little.  Sounds a little silly, but it worked!!  We
put on two or three thick socks on each foot and started rubbing and
sliding… also a nice thick pair of sweat pants can really cushion
your tush, and you can slide around on your bottom for a while.
We had a ball doing it and when we were through, the floors were
shining.  Now, I am 58 years old, and those were the old days folks,
so most people have access to a buffer now. lol

If you have carpet instead of hardwood floors, then an area rug is
the answer.  I know, you’re already saying, “but we’re doing this
on a budget, right?”  Yes you are, and I don’t mean go out to a
store and look for a brand new rug.  It’s time to get out to yard
sales ladies.  My most favorite rugs that I own have come from yard
sales and I wouldn’t trade them in for anything.  The prices found
are sometimes breath-taking…. as you’re walking away with your
treasure…. you have this weird feeling like, “Wow,did I just
steal this beauty?”

Just last Saturday, at 7 a.m., as I walked up to my first yard
sale, I found a 100% wool Persian rug for my sister.  I have
shopped rugs enough to know when I find an exceptional one, and
believe me… this was it.  This rug was made around 1920, and is
still in perfect condition.  I know this one will last for years
and years to come - probably even generations to come.   It is 12′
by 14′, and was so heavy that my hubby couldn’t pick it up by
himself.  I paid $100.00 for it, but if I had it for sale when I
used to own my shop, the asking price would have been at least
$1,500 to $1,600.

I’m not suggesting that you go out and spend $100 on a yard sale
rug, unless you find an exceptional bargain like I did.  But I see
plenty of rugs all of the time that are $10 to $50 each.  So, get
out and get looking.  My theory is that God always provides what we
need, and He truly does!

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4.  Meet Diane, She Has Sold 6 Wreaths & Making More!
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I would like to introduce you to Diane. She is having a wonderful
time making wreaths after learning the process from my videos,
She comments– “Although I am still working on design, I have so
much fun making them… I have sold 6 wreaths through a craft
store… I know I still need to work on floral placement and
design, but it is so relaxing for me to go up to my wreath room,
turn on my music and just think about this!  I appreciate all the
encouragement you have given me (you know, we corresponded by
e-mail for awhile!)… It is a hobby I will continue to work on,
improving and experimenting, until I am able to really jump up and
down with joy with my creations!  So, thanks for bringing this
hobby to life for so many
people!”

See two of Diane’s Wreaths

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5.  Be Our New Featured Aspiring Designer
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SEND IN PICTURES OF YOUR NEW WREATH

If we select yours as the “Feature Of The Month”  you will receive
one of my PDF E-Books of your choice absolutely free!  All right
ladies, from the emails I’ve received, I know there are a few of
you who have been making your own wreaths! Well, we all want to see
them!  Don’t be shy, I’m sure they are all beautiful…. and seeing
yours might inspire someone to jump right in and make their very
first wreath!

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6.  Yes, I did, I Really Did Just Feel a Hint of Fall in the Air
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That’s right!  Autumn, or Fall Wreaths are being snatched up as
quickly as we can design them.  We’re taking order after order for
these whimsical creations.  Some have the cutest scarecrows, others
have pumpkins, ghosts, black cats, or gourds, and welcome signs.  I
don’t know about you, but this is my favorite season.  Looking in
my rear-view mirror, I see the fall leaves dancing on the street
after I have driven by! Oh, I Really Do Love It!

I think this passion for fall really shows in our fall designs,
They are “Wild and Woodsy” and filled with so many yellows,
oranges, and reds — wonderfully bright colors which really inspire
me.

If you want a fall wreath and don’t see what you would like to
purchase, you’d better give me a call or send an e-mail before we
start running out of supplies.  That always happens this time of
year, and I find myself wishing I had ordered more… So don’t be
one of those who gets caught wanting a wreath that we can’t make
any more!

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7.  Brand New Fall And Christmas Videos Are Now In!
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My collection of newly filmed Fall and Christmas Videos have
arrived.  These are so much fun to make.  And not only am I making
Wreaths, but I am making Centerpieces, and Table Christmas Trees!
So exciting!!

If you order any of these new videos from my Website, you’ll
receive FREE SHIPPING!  Here’s a list of our new videos:

“Christmas Elf Magic”

“Pumpkin Patch”

“Fall Table Centerpieces”

“Christmas Centerpiece”

“All That Glitters” (A Two Foot Christmas Tree)

Click Here To Learn More About My New Videos:

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8.  Customer Survey - Coaching Class, or e-Course?
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I receive emails every day from customers wanting to know how I
have learned to sell on eBay and on the Internet.  You are buying
my e-books, and my videos.  You are learning how to make beautiful
wreaths and are selling them.  Now, you’re ready for the next step
and may not don’t know where to begin.

Well, I have been advised by a dear friend that I need to start
offering coaching classes.  So, whether you’re learning the floral
business, or just want to know where to start with your home craft
business, I and my associates can give you guidance and
instruction.  If you want to start your own business and don’t know
what to sell, this class will start at step one and help you on an
amazing journey to find a product, how to set up, sell and promote
your items on eBay and the Internet.

This dear friend, Jim Cockrum, author of the best-selling book EVER
on eBay called “Silent Sales Machine”, has agreed to be my guest
speaker on our very first coaching class.  We will have other
guests, and I’ll have an internet “Technical” person to be on each
call with us.

I am just beginning to make plans for this.  I want to hear from
you.  I want this coaching class to answer questions and be all
that you need it to be. 

I don’t know yet if this will be a tele-seminar, or an e-course, or
maybe a combination of the two. But, I guarantee, this can be a
most unique opportunity for you to learn from some tallented
entrepreneurs about the Internet and selling.  So, if you have
time, please send me an email: nancy@ladybugwreaths.com, and let me
know your thoughts.

Tell me what you are interested in and would like to learn.  If you
don’t have any idea where to start, then we’ll certainly help you
by tailoring these coaching sessions around all of your questions.

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Nancy Alexander
LadybugWreaths.com….”And All Things Unique”

http://www.ladybugwreaths.com/
http://www.ladybugwreaths.net/forum
http://nancysramblings.com/
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About the Author:  Nancy Alexander and her team design beautiful,
one-of-a-kind wreaths and wall baskets for their loyal customers.
Custom Wreaths, as well as Character Wreaths are very popular!
With almost 25 years of experience in floral design and interior
design, she has created 4 e-books on wreath design, and nine videos
on bows, wreath design, and wall basket design.