Calling All Who Dats!

I am so excited to show you something I just created for all the Who Dats! For those who don't know, a Who Dat is a New Orleans Saints fan of the ginormas variety! LOL

I have a trivet that shows off your passion and enthusiasm for the bayou boys in New Orleans at is fashionable at the same time. They are great for game day when you have everyone and his brother over and want a place to put out all the hot food.

Here is a link to my website so you can order yours today.

http://www.customcoastersbycindy.com/Who-Dat-T-1025.htm

If you would like to add your favorite team member's number to the trivet, I can add that at no extra charge.

Blessings,
Cindy

Thibodeauxville and More

Hi Everyone!

I have some awesome news this evening! I realized that the check for Thibodeauxville was deposited so you know what that means? .......... I am going to be a vendor at Thibodeauxville this fall, Saturday, November 9! Yeah! Well, YEAH! but scary at the same time.

I will be at 3 craft shows this fall (as of this writing) within 3 weeks. Two of he craft shows have 1000's come through. There is great potential in all three for meeting lots of awesome people, selling some coasters and trivets, and making some business contacts.

Here is my schedule, as of this evening.

Saturday, October 19--Temple of Praise Fundraiser
109 Wayne Avenue
Houma, Louisiana 70360
9:00 AM until 4:00 PM
Facebook Page: Temple of Praise Women's Ministry Vendor/Craft Event

Saturday, November 2--Southdown Marketplace Arts & Crafts Festival
Southdown Museum
1208 Museum Drive
Houma, LA 70360
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Facebook Page: Southdown Plantation & Museum

Saturday, November 9--Thibodeauxville
Thibodaux, LA
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
http://www.thibodauxchamber.com/chamber/chamber-events/thibodauxville/

Please mark your caldendar for these events and I hope to see you there!

Ready, Set, Charge!!!!

Oh, the game is on now! My battery charger for my camera came in this afternoon and I have a battery charging as I type. As soon as it has a full charge I'll be taking photos of what I've made the last few days. I can't wait to post the new designs at my site @ www.customcoastersbycindy.com.

One of the designs today is for anyone who is a New Orleans Saints fans. It is a trivet with our call to the nation, Who Dat! It also has a fleur de lis and "Believe." Anyone who who is anyone in the Who Dat Nation will want one of the trivets for game day. You get your gear on and your counters and table need gear too. This will do the trick. While you're at it, you can also order coasters for your tables. The Who Dat trivets I made are already sold so put in your order today and get yours for the first game of the regulare season when we roast some Falcon! ;)

Oh, another thing I am excited about is having my new table top in place to work at. I got it in yesterday. It is so beautiful! It is sturdy too! Don't you love it when you have the proper tools to do the work you have at hand? More and more in life, I find the benefit in having a proper work environment, including the tools I use. Too many times I've tried to "make do", scrape by with whatever ... you get the idea. It doesn't mean you have to spend a lot money. Any really, if you buy quality the first time, you can end up spending less money in the long run. With the right tools the process goes quicker, more smoothly, and is "funner"! Is that a word? If not, let's make it one! LOL

I do love doing what I do with coasters and trivets. I love trying to figure out how to make a design work in a small space, have colors that work well together, and a design that looks good to others as well as myself. I am still amazed that anyone want to see what I've done, much less purchase it! LOL It is a trip, believe me!

I would love to hear from my readers and get your ideas for coaster and trivet ideas. I do take ideas seriously and do my best to meet the challenge of coming up with follower's suggestions. Please take a moment to comment here or at my facebook page @ www.facebook.com/customcoastersbycindy.

Later this evening look for newly posted designs on my website. Time to get back to that blank trivet laying on my work table! :D

Toodles for now,
Cindy

Football Season

Football season has arrived and the wonderful, awesome, good stuff that goes with it. It signals the start of fall, though here in south Louisiana, we won't really feel fall weather for quite a while. However, football energizes us and gets us "happy, happy, happy" as Duck Commander would say.

In line with the topic of football and Duck Commander, I want to let you know it's time to order your coasters and trivets for football parties. You know how friends can get excited and forget about their beverages on tables and other wood surfaces. You want to protect your furniture even during fun events like football game parties. And of course you want to be the first of your friends to have coasters for your beloved team(s). Trivets are great at protecting your counters and tables from hot pots and casserole dishes. We can create trivets that coordinates with your team coasters or your kitchen.

I currently have designs for the New Orleans Saints and LSU. Take your pick or get a set of each. The sooner you order them the better chance you have of getting them for the first regular season game. Plus, if you order in August, you get your name in the drawing for a free set of coasters with your monogram on them.

Here is a link to the LSU and Saints coasters ... (You may have to cut and paste the link into your browser.)


Fleur de lis coasters ... (You may have to cut and paste the link into your browser.)


For the men in your life who love to duck hunt, I have two designs of ducks that I can use to make coasters. One is a duck floating in water by reeds and one is a flying duck that I make to look just like a mallard. These coasters would look awesome in any man cave or hunting camp. These coasters, along with any other coaster order, qualify you for the drawing if purchased by August 31, 2013.

I will be posting pictures of the duck coasters by Saturday evening. They are not yet uploaded due to technical difficulties with my camera, which is being repaired.

Please feel free to call or email me with any inquiries at 985-381-3154 or at customcoastersbycindy@comcast.net.

Toodles for today,
Cindy

This 'n That

Hello to all those in cyber/craft world! I hope you’re having a crafty kind of day wherever you are. If you have been over to my facebook page today you know I issued myself a challenge earlier today. Whenever I issue myself a challenge I do try to make it big enough to seem a nearly impossible to complete so it feels like a true challenge. Don’t you dislike it when people posts or voice challenges and they really aren’t much of a challenge?

Today my challenge is to create 4 sets of coasters and 4 trivets. By the way, when I do a challenge like this none of the coasters can be a duplicate of something else I’ve made that day or ever before. Same goes for the trivets. They have to be totally new designs.

So far today I’ve created 4 sets of coasters and one complete trivet. I had started a trivet the other day but didn’t finish it till today. I am not counting that one in the challenge because it seems a little like cheating to me since it was already started. One of the coaster sets and the trivet I did from scratch today are a coordinating set.

I wish I could post pics but, alas, my charger for my camera battery is missing. We are going to have to purchase a new one so I can charge the battery! I know once it comes in we will find the old one. That is how my luck runs. Anyway, you will have to trust me when I say I have completed the challenge for the coasters and have 3 to go on the trivets.

I was thinking earlier how dirty my hands get when I create designs, especially if I am doing a background color on the coasters and trivets. It seems until the last few years I didn’t like getting my hands dirty. Now I don’t mind at all. It is just a sign of getting creative now. Not that long ago I apologized to someone for my dirty hands when we ran into each other. She no, that is just a sign that you are an artist. Oh, did that give me a wake up call. I don’t always feel like an “artist”. I just feel like someone who is creating a few things I like and still wonder if anyone else likes it.

It’s about time I try to get another piece done, especially since I can’t get pics done and upload them for you to see. That part will have to wait a few days.

Toodles for today,
Cindy

www.customcoastersbycindy.com
www.facebook.com/customcoastersbycindy

Give Away Contest Underway

I have decided to have contest for the month of August. I hope you'll take part so you can have a chance at winning!

Each person who purchases a set of coasters or a trivet during the month of August will have their name entered into a drawing for a free set of coasters. The free set of coasters will be personalized with your monogram. Here is a sample using the letter "O".

My website is www.customcoastersbycindy.com. If you are local you may call me with your order. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at customcoastersbycindy@comcast.net or call me at 985-381-3154.

Toodles for now,
Cindy

BIG BIG NEWS!

Hi Everyone!

I am very excited and pumped because I have a huge announcement! Yes, it big to me and hopefully you will be excited too.

Yessterday I received a rather plain looking envelope in the mail and it felt a little "thick." I first noticed the handwriting where the addressee is written looked a little sloppy. Immediately I thought, whoever wrote that could have been a little more careful with their handwriting. :( Then I looked at the top left corner to see who had sent it. The name at the top was Terrebonne Historical and Cultural Society.

Do you know yet who sent this by the name? At first it didn't sink in my mind. So I flipped it over to open it and began thinking. I began to wonder if it was about my app to get into Southdown Marketplace in the fall. And then I thought, it's about that and it's a rejection letter, it would not be this thick! I suddenly got excited and nervous! All this is happening in just a few seconds as I tear open the envelope.

I pulled out the folded stack of papers, yes plural. No rejection letter! I got accepted to Southdown Marketplace for November! Yeah! I even have a booth number assigned, number 55. Then I realized the sloppy handwriting was MINE when I included aelf-addressed stamped envelope. LOL

Southdown Marketplace, for those who do not know, is held twice a year and is fundraiser for Southdown Museum in Houma, Louisiana. Hundreds of vendors pack it in at Southdown selling their arts and crafts. The approaching marketplace will be Saturday, November 2, 2013. Hours for the show are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Here is a link for Southdown Marketplace .... http://www.southdownmuseum.org/marketplace. I hope you'll attend and check out all the vendors, have some lunch and meet a new friends.



If you live out of town and will be here for that day only, you can pre-order coasters or trivets and I'll have it waiting for you. Please contact me at 985-381-3154 or customcoastersbycindy@comcast.net to place your order.

Many blessings,
Cindy

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you fire or bake the coasters and trivets?

Our coasters and trivets do not need to be baked or fired. The coasters and trivets start out as tiles and have already been through a firing process. The materials we use to apply color to coasters and trivets are waterfast. Since these materials are waterfast, it does not require baking or firing either. Your design will remain even if water spills on your coasters or trivets.

2. Will my design smudge or run if the coaster/trivet gets wet?

The short answer is "no". I use several different materials to apply color to coasters and trivets. They are water-fast. Water-fast means it is resistant to the effects caused by water; not changed or faded by the action of water. However, if you experience an issue with your design fading or bleeding due to contact with water, please contact me.

3. What do you use to make the coasters and trivets?

At Custom Coasters by Cindy we use only a few materials to make our beautiful designs. For coasters, you choose which stone you want, travertine or marble. Travertine coasters comes in two colors: ivory and scabos. Travertine will be pitted, dimpled and distressed . Marble comes in ivory only and will have a smoother finish with slight veining. All coasters are 4"x4". Trivets come in 8"x8" tumbled ivory travertine only.

4. Can I use the trivet for a cheese board (or to display/serve other food)?

The materials we use on the surface for color are not food safe (according to the manufacturers) so it is not recommend to use trivets as a food surface. Trivets are, however, excellent for protecting surfaces from hot pots/dishes and as decorative items.

5. Do you seal the coasters/trivets?

No, I do not seal either one. The materials we use on them do not require sealing.

Coasters will lose their absorbency if they are sealed. Then, as iced drinks condensate, the water will run off the coaster onto your furniture. This defeats the purpose of the coasters. This is much less important for trivets that are used for hot pots and casseroles. If you want your trivet sealed, please contact me before ordering. There is a small charge for sealing. Please ask for current fee.

6. Will the coasters or trivets scratch or otherwise damage my furniture and countertops?

We place four (4) felt pads on the bottom of all coasters to protect your furniture. Orders for trivets will include 4 rubber feet for you to place on your trivet. Some people will use their trivet only for display purposes in a plate hanger, plate rack, etc. When displayed in this way, use the rubber feet at your discretion.

7. What if I want a design using different colors?

You are welcome to call or email me with your order. We can discuss customizing the colors to your decor or that of the recipient, if it is a gift. You may make changes in color at no extra charge.

8. What if I want to combine elements of two different coasters, or create my design own design?

You are welcome to call or email and we can discuss a custom design. Typically there is no extra charge for creating your own design if I have the elements needed to make the design. If an extra charge will apply, you will be notified up front before you are asked for any payment.

9. Can I get my company or organization logo on coasters or trivets?

Yes. If you want to use your company or organization logo, there will be a one time set up fee, plus the usual cost of the coasters or trivets. There are no minimums. However, there is a longer lead time for logos. Please allow a minimum of 4 weeks for company or organization logos on either coasters or trivets.

10. How do I clean my coasters and trivets? Are they dishwasher safe?

Coasters and trivets should be wiped down with a clean, damp cloth. It is okay to let them air dry afterwards. However, they are not dishwasher safe. Household cleaners are not recommended.

If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact me at customcoastersbycindy@comcast.net.

Blessings,
Cindy

www.customcoastersbycindy.com
www.facebook.com/customcoastersbycindy