Family Pride

I have an overwhelming urge to share some love, and be a bit boastful of my family. My Dad....the kids call him Papa, gives the best "strawberry jam' hugs, listens, and loves with his whole heart, and shuffles his feet in modesty in the sawdust. So Im going to boast on him since I think he deserves it.  After much prodding and convincing....he has his own etsy shop, BlockheadProduction. He makes the most beautiful wood turn bowls and vessels! I'm just in awe of his talent, they evoke emotion, are tactile, gloriously designed. Ok Papa are you blushing yet? It's all true, and I think his shop deserves our love. Just for grins and to share some love, please leave your comments here, or convo Papa at his shop and let him know what you like about it! Making him blush is one of my favorite pastimes :)

Families and creating (or not)

I love reading blogs from mommies of toddlers and preschoolers. They are constantly asking how to coordinate family and business, and assume it gets easier as the kids get more self sufficient. HA! ha ha ha :) I have 4 great kids. My oldest son is an adult(22) , and still living at home. My oldest daughter is in her second year of college (away) but still calls or IMs me every day for advice or chat. My middle son is 16 , and an extremely gregarious, and busy teenager. And the babygirl is 10, and I swear from all the tears lately, that she is hitting prepuberty! (HELP!) 

So anyway this last week the kids only went to school 3.5 days. What does that mean? They are here, and their friends are here, I'm the local bed and breakfast, taxi to basketball, choir practice, cheer camp, band, etc. I'm here to tell you so far it doesnt change! I had to get CRANKY on everyone yesterday just so I could work on my orders. I was in my craftroom working on a bear, and the biggest kid ( Husband of Wonder ) wanders in and asks if I'm busy? He wants a haircut, and apperently he wants it now. So fine off we go (better to get it done or he follows me around), and sons see that dads getting a haircut...so hey mom as long as you have the clippers out? the entire day was filled with "hey mom?, and hey Boo?" By the time dinner was over, I was laying down laws, even the kids' friends were given chores to do before I sent them home. I cranked at the Husband of Wonder and reminded him once again that the wife's little hobby is what paid for his flat screen tv.....he'd best do the nighttime patrol with the youngest so I could get back to 'orders'! So how do you coordinate? I dont believe there is such a thing......I just keep pluggin away, family first, business at night. Oh I did get my orders boxed and ready to ship today, and the bear is done!

Share the love!

I have to share some love today. I hosted the artisan fair in my home for our Fall Festival this last year. I had the good fortune to meet some very talented local artists! One that sticks out has a fairly new etsy shop, The Cheney Bag Lady. I was positively drooling over her bags! Her craftsmanship and attention to detail is excellent!  

 The bags are beautifully constructed, sturdy, and she uses great fabrics. Her color, and pattern combinations are delightful! I swear you will want to let the moths out of your wallets for one of her bags!

Expanding horizons

I have finally decided to expand my horizons so to speak. I have been selling my lovely little creations in my etsy shop for just over a year now. I keep seeing the phrase dont put all your eggs in one basket, and this has prompted me to expand my online presence. I have opened another shop under the same name at ArtFire. I realize that maintaining multiple shops will be more work, but honestly I dont consider the computer time to be work. The time I spend on the computer in the evenings is my down time at home.

What prompted this? I really enjoy creating, and tend to be prolific at times, and selling my wares is a grand thrill for me. Right now I'm truly switching over to believing this what I should be doing as a business/career, for myself, and my happiness. After doing my taxes for the last year, and crunching some numbers I came to a conclusion that it is possible earn income enough to help support my family, and my creativity. 

Hmm.....so how's that for challenging yourself creatively? Actually I'm still creating, and here are the pictures of the new pendants......

Just for GlassIdentities:

Bread Pudding- pour 2 cups scalded milk over 4 cups cubed slightly old bread, let sit for a few and mix- 1 cube melted butter/margerine add 1/2 cup sugar, 2 lightly beaten eggs, and dash or so of nutmeg or cinnamon. Mix the bread mix and the butter mix put in a buttered casserole dish, and bake at 375 for 40-45 min....do the toothpick test...I like mine warm.

oh Glorious day!

What a grand and glorious day! 

• we got to witness history today
• I got my taxes done....woohoo
• my kids are all good
• bills are paid
• hubby is happy
• cars are running
• we have food, heat and shelter
• and there's homemade bread pudding left over! (I'm hiding it)

oh and I have time to post :) the picture is the latest creation for my personal challenge.

Life's little challenges

I havent ignored my personal challenge...in fact Ive been a very busy bee. I spent yesterday cleaning the entire craft room. Now I know it wont stay that way for too long, but for now I'm patting myself on the back, and it really makes me want to mess it up again. I wonder if that is a type of weird illness? 

I was so excited to find some great new decorative shelves with the quilt rods on them at our local thrift store! I got them assembled and up on the walls. Boy what a difference the extra storage space makes! Of course they are already filled, and I hung my ACEO collection from alligator clips on ribbons from the quilt rods. It's so nice to have them up where I can see them and feel inspired. I was so inspired I got some pendants done in blues, and there's still one to finish from today with a stunning chalcedony stone. I would have finished, but 'husband of wonder' promised our young missy a ladies day out. So we spent a good portion of the day chaperoning three 10 year old girls at the house of rodents( Chuck E Cheese ) . Someone please slap me if I ever agree to go there again!.....Seriously she and her friends had a blast, so I'm glad we went. :)

Did I lose time?

I think I lost some time somewhere? I know today is Friday, but I can say it sure feels like Thursday. I need to be more concious of being in the moment apparently. Oh well onward and upward. Yesterday was a blur of chores, work, kids, organizing tax papers, basketball games. Subsequently I didnt blog at all.....30 lashes with a wet noodle for me. I did manage to get work done creatively, not much a pair of earrings, and Ive started on a pendant, which will be finished today (I hope)

On a bit of a side note I have checked out the Baroness' shop here she's rockin along with me on this 90 day challenge....way to go! 

Creation for day 5

Benjamin Bunny

Check out this fun Giveaway

http://roses7184.blogspot.com/2009/01/giveaway-time.html

Over at Life,love, YARN rose is having a giveaway for this adorable handmade bunny! I definitely entered. After peaking in her shop and seeing the quality of her handwork, I think everyone should wander over and enter her giveaway and take a look at her etsy shop. As soon as I bump my paypal back up (woefully low after the holiday) I am buying this scarf!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19301052

Personal challenge

Ok, it's day 4, and I'm still on track. (I hope) It was a challenge of another sort today to create anything. I had my youngest home sick from school. I think she teamed up with NASA, because I swear I had my own personal satellite orbiting my atmosphere today.
She's finally abed, tucked in and snuggled down, so I can spend some time posting, and listing in my shop. After this I believe I'm going to snuggle down as well. I'm posting pics of todays creations. I'm actually surprised I got 2 done.

pendant from day3

Day 3

Ok I know it's later in the evening, but this is the first time I could sit my butt in front of the computer today. I'm rather pleased to say I did get more created today, plus pictures taken.

Woohoo!!! but alas....I didnt make a lightbox yet. I really need to get on that.

Day 2

quick update, I did make two pairs of earrings this evening. I will take pics tomorrow. Note to self - nighttime pictures suck! Make a light box.
Im feeling pretty good I did get earrings done in between all my kids basketball games today.

Personal Challenges

I have decided to challenge myself to get organized and create! My shop took a bit of an inventory hit over the holidays and I'm having to squirrel away time to make new things to restock. So I have challenged my self to create something everyday for the next 90 days, and I will be posting pics and updates everyday here. If anyone wants to join me or create their own personal challenge please comment on my blog and I will be sure to come look at everyone elses progress :)
To start off I got this heart pendant done today and will be posting in my shop this evening. YAY! one down and 89 to go!

Left over after the holiday

The holidays left behind some gifts for me I never expected. I had more people, friends, relatives in my home than I have in a long time, including the clutter they leave in their wake. The weather broke all records for snowfall in the recorded history of our region. The boiler ran out of oil with the record low temps. The alternator died in Humphrey the land whale (my volvo)The tax forms have all come in and are staring me in the face. I have lost hours at work due to closed highways.
SO.....what was my gift? I had a realization. Amidst all this chaos I am surrounded by the most loving people. My mother called everyday to lift my spirits, one friend snow blowed the driveway more than once, friends just pop in for ice cream and coffee. My boys make sure the wood bin is filled and the fireplace is kept going.
I was really feeling poorly there for a while until my heart heard what all the chaos around me actually was.......just sharing
Many blessings for your new year!