From My Desktop

Hello to all you faithful readers and visitors,

I'm a little late getting out this edition. I've been visiting my daughter and her family in Arizona this past month for a fun vacation. The weather was wonderful and warm. The scenery was gorgeous, and it was great to spend time with family members. However, no matter how perfect, there's no place like home. Maine in October is a beautiful place. We are now at the height of the foliage season and everywhere one looks there is a view that can take one's breath away. I'm glad to have the opportunity to visit other parts of this great country. It makes me really appreciate my own state and adds to the state of contentment I feel when I return home.

Now I'm renewed and ready to jump back into enlarging my home decorating website. I hope to add some exciting features within the next few months. The first feature will be a new interactive piece where my visitors can add comments and photos of projects they have completed with the inspiration of this site. Readers will also be able to post photos of rooms where they may be having problems and ask for help and advice from myself and other visitors.

I'm anxious to complete this project as I feel it will add a lot of excitement to the site, as well as being helpful to you, my faithful readers. I'll keep you updated on the state of this project. In the meantime, continue to enjoy the site and this ezine.

I thank you for all your help, comments, and support. It is much appreciated.

Your Friendly Neighborhood (even if I am half way around the world!) Home Dec Lady,
Gloria

The Creative Workshop
Techniques for Developing Creativity

Because creativity is a complex subject, many myths have been developed about this process. The major myth being that we are born creative or we just were out of the room when the creative gene was handed out. This is so untrue, but many people fail to live life to it's full potential because this has been drilled into their mind by parents, teachers and other people of authority.

Creativity can be developed and sharpened because we are all born creative. This is a fact of nature that cannot be disputed. Once we open our mind to this thought, we give our creative side permission to develop and grow. Our creativity can be a powerful, life changing force in our lives. Listed below are a few ways we can access the creative process and help it grow within us:

To begin with, you must believe you are creative.

This is a proven fact. Many tests have been done in scientific environments with people of all ages. Given tools, directions and the opportunity to experiment, every subject was able to show creative thinking and do creative projects. Creativity is part of our natural being that cannot be denied.

Open your mind to new interests and thoughts. The broader your thinking, the more you will find your mind open to new ideas. In the area of home decorating, don't always do what you have always done. Look around at the new fabrics, paint colors, and accessories available today.

Collect samples of fabrics and paint chips that appeal to you. Be sure to look at colors you would never consider before you started on this path to creativity. Cut out magazine articles and print photos off the Internet that you are attracted to. Have a box handy to store your collected items. Don't worry about putting anything together or whether things match with each other. Just put things you like into the box.

Keep notes or record impressions on your cell phone when you see or hear about something you may be interested in. All of these activities will help bring out your creativity.

Some rainy or snowy day when you have some time to yourself and just want to curl up and relax, make some coffee, turn on some of your favorite music, and curl up in your favorite chair with your idea box. Spread out your samples and pictures. Mix things up. Break out of old habits of thinking. Put things together you might never consider. You may be surprised at what comes from your thinking.

When you put together new items and ideas that you like, set them aside for a few days. Creativity needs time to bubble and boil, just like a good soup. Come back to your projects a few days later and you may find even more thoughts have been developing in your subconscious.

Don't give up on yourself or your project. Creativity is not necessarily easy. Make lots of mistakes. Learn from them. It is to be expected. It is a part of the process. Keep going. Eventually you will find yourself saying, "You know what I've discovered? I really am creative!"

Are you an eBay fanatic?

Do you love to buy and sell on eBay? Are you trying to make some extra money to augment your income? If so, check out my new page, Become an eBay Power Seller If you buy on eBay, be sure to download my free e-book, "How to Buy on eBay" that is located on this same page. I hope you enjoy it and learn some new hints to make shopping and buying in eBay quicker and easier.

Creative Dozen - Collecting on a Budget
Tips for Collecting on a Budget

1. Develop an eye

Begin by looking at the best examples you can find of what it is you are collecting. Use those examples as a standard for judging other objects.

2. Become an expert

If you are serious about collecting, know your product inside and out. A bargain is not a bargain if it is a reproduction or a fraud.

3. Arm yourself with expertise

Read auction catalogues, visit museums, go to specialty shops that carry this item, and join groups interested in this product whether they are local or online. Just for the fun of it, watch Antique Roadshow. You may be surprised to see how much you can learn here.

4. Buy because you love it

Don't buy an object for investment only. Good antiques hold their value, but if there is no buyer, you may not be able to sell it or get your money back. Collect for the love of it and you can never go wrong.

5. Ask questions

When you come in contact with a knowledgeable dealer, don't be afraid to ask questions. You will find most of them love to talk about their goods and are willing to share their knowledge. Also, don't be embarrassed to ask the dealer if he can "do any better on the price". Collectors are always bargaining and dealers expect this question.

6. Become friendly with local dealers

Stop by often to check for new merchandise. Give them your email address. Often, at the end of the season, they will be anxious to clean out their stock. Ask to be notified by email if they have any items you might be interested in.

7.Get to know your local real estate agent

Who knows better about what's going on in town? Who's buying, who's moving, these are all opportunities to pick up collectibles at yard and estate sales. Get the jump on what's coming up and what's new in your area.

8.Determine your budget in advance

Only leave home with the cash you are willing to spend. It's very easy to have "buyer's remorse" after a day of antiquing and flea marketing. Determine in advance the top price you are willing to pay for an item and walk away if the price is not right. You may feel badly at the time, but another, better item at the right price may be waiting for you at the next stop.

9.Don't get hung up on matching sets

Think in broader categories rather than identical matchings. Plates of the same shape, hats of the same color, silverware of various designs and monograms will open up your collecting opportunities. Identical pieces are boring. Open up your collection in terms of color, design or shape and see how much more interesting it becomes.

10.Arrive late to flea markets and yard sales

Yes, everyone knows you should arrive early to get the best buys. However, once the day's end is in sight, sellers are anxious to dispose of what is left. You can often get great bargains at the end of the day just because sellers don't want the hassle of packing everything up and bringing it home again.

11.Don't collect "hot items"

Collecting fads come and go. You will most likely be paying top dollar for fad items and when the public moves on to another hot item, you will not be able to recoup your investment if you should tire of the item.

12.Buy what gives you the most pleasure and satisfaction

In the end, always buy the item that gives you the most pleasure. Buy the best example that you can afford. If you are not able to purchase the top of the line item today, don't worry. There is always to-morrow. Eventually you will be able to upgrade your collection and sell of the less desirable items. Collections are always changing and that is part of the fun and attraction of collection.

Happy Collecting and may all your purchases be exactly what you were looking for!

Dare to Dream, Dare to Hope, Dare to Believe, Dare to Live!

About the Home Dec Lady:

If you enjoyed this newsletter, visit my website and learn to develop your creativity and create the home you dream of by using my **free** online home decorating workbook.

To find out why and how I am building a web business visit the Mysite/Myself page on my website. I am having fun and building a good income at the same time. If you would like to do the same, check out this page while you are visiting my online home

Take the time to visit this site if you can use an extra $500 to $1000 a month

Do you already own a website? Is it producing income for you? If you would like some hints to increase the income from your site download this *free* Affiliate Masters course. Read what other website owners are doing to increase their monthly income.

All products recommended on this site have been actively researched and used by me. I only recommend products and services I use myself, and hope you find some new and interesting ideas for developing and using your God given talents and creativity.

Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated! Feel free to email me and let me know of your comments and suggestions now while your thoughts are fresh in your mind.

Please feel free to pass on this issue to friends and associates --just keep the entire message intact and unaltered.

Published Monthly “Creative Home Decorating" is a newsletter geared to the individual who dreams of creating the perfect home atmosphere of peace, harmony, comfort and relaxation.

Designed to help the frustrated decorator and creatively challenged, this ezine will inspire you to jump in and take a chance on your inborn talents. By doing this you will grow from the inside out.

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Gloria Daniels, Publisher
http://www.home-decorating-room-by-room.com