Went for a walk

Shop Update

I've got too many bits and pieces cluttering up my studio area so I've decided to try my hand at a 'get started' kit. These are a few that will be posted here this weekend. The pages have been sewn together for sturdiness for a new total of 10 sides. Included are vintage trims as well as new and old fabrics. Use your fabrics to make a cover for your journal or sew them onto your pages. A great way to get started on an art journal if you've never tried one before.

In other news, my mom and I went to this huge Mennonite fundraiser at a local college and saw some beautiful quilts. Most of the detailed ones were up for auction and going for hundreds of dollars. There was a fair trade tent with items from workers in countries that don't have the human rights laws they should so all of the profit went back to paying them fair wages. I found a tea cup from Vietnam that I had ordered for Brett off a fair trade website years ago and hadn't been able to find since. I was so excited! So, I purchased a match for it and just appreciated all of the other things I would've loved to take home. Tons of cute college students and old people. It was refreshing.

Favorites

Easter Family Pics. No Laughing. We were scheduled for a studio that had moved locations since we'd been there last. So, we just went to the other end of the mall to the low end, 'no refund', no tripod studio where you can get a playboy background for an additional $5. Need I say more. This is what we got. Lets just say we have a hard time coordinating our schedules and won't be retaking one.

On a different note, this is stepping outside of the art box.

New favorite music. Camera Obscura. Andrew Bird. The Ponys.

New favorite etsy shops. Nice Face. Green Chair Press. Miss Bunny Shoes. For The Record.

Trip to the Mountains

We took a day off to visit the Sierras. We drove up about an hour from our house and landed at Shaver Lake to play on the beach for awhile. It was chilly and empty, just what we were hoping for. Still a touch of snow in the crevices but green and fresh. Back to the sewing machine tomorrow. Head over to the RVA blog to check out the ugly doll winner.

Couldn't think of a title.

I tried posting a comic from Sunday's paper (April 8th) but I can't seem to get the link to work to my source. If you're really interested, Google Baby Blues comic and check it out on the Seattle Times paper. If you're a scrapper, you'll laugh a little.
I have updated the shop with a few of these Pretties. More to come this week.
Also, check out this band.

Next

I'm so thankful for the contacts I made this weekend. It was a low sales event for all of the vendors since it coincided with Easter weekend but the weather was great and my neighbors were friendly. I saw some friends from high school that I hadn't heard from in awhile. I met two bloggers that live close by and came to say hi. Sebastian stayed with Grandma Mary and Big Poppie but stopped by both days. Sebastian got to ride his first pony! It almost shook him off when he started pulling on its mane. It was a slow Sunday and we were all glad for things to wrap up. The good news is, I still have a lot of product left for BabyFest and my Etsy shop.
I'm taking a few days off from sewing to spend some catch up time with Sebastian and Brett. I've got a few orders to fill. Bags and aprons were requested so I'm going to test out some new designs soon.
Thanks to everyone who left encouraging comments.
I have posted a few items in the Etsy shop and I'll be listing things all week.
I hope your Easter was peaceful.

Because Festivals are all about the Fun Drinks

Today was fun. More stories tomorrow. Time for family tonight.

Thursday's Pile

Well, I did manage to get 8 hours of sleep last night. My mom is taking away my sewing machine today at noon so I'll still have time to tag and pack everything before it gets too late. Then we'll be up @ 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning to get there and get set up. I'm excited. Its getting closer. I think I'll probably have a little downer on Sunday afternoon once it starts to wrap up. Its that same feeling you get on the last day of high school or on the drive away from your wedding reception. So much has been put into this event that has to end sometime and all of the sudden, you're sad that its over.
Here is my pile. I'm keeping it all out to remind myself that I do have a lot of stuff. I'm still working on one more project and then its time to spray paint my hanging stars and make my sign. You girls have been so encouraging in this process. Thank you for your sweet comments. I'll post again on Saturday evening with some pics of the booth. Yay!

Wednesday's done.

My mom is the best. She washed off and painted my doors today while I sewed. She watched Sebastian this afternoon and then again this evening so I could finish a few more oven mitts. She is on spring break and enjoying being away from her classroom. She invited me to go shopping with her and I had to take a raincheck. Talk about determination.
As long as I take a shower every day I'll manage to stay on this side of obsessive. I'm totally stressing out already and its not even down to the last 24 hours. I always put these incredibly unrealistic goals in my mind like I somehow have the power to stretch time. We'll see. I've got two days left and I still need to make a sign for myself and finish up the display details. I realized that I had been making left-handed oven mitts after I took this picture. I'm going to bed.

Tuesday

Today didn't feel as streamlined as Monday but there are still good things to show. I did get two floor mats finished and a ton of oven mitts cut out. I went to the hardware store to get some supplies for the door display. I got a fun card and felt pouch from Cammeron in Oklahoma. Thanks, Cammeron! I finished a project for the RVA blog. I went to the gym! I made lists. I put in an order for our kits. I got a video of Sebastian crawling for the first time! So, here's a peek. Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Sprint to the End

I have a hard time spacing out projects in order to get everything done without losing sleep. I know this about myself. When I was in kindergarten, my teacher told my mother that I needed a time frame to work or else I'd never finish anything. My mom repeated this to me in high school one late night as she helped me finish a report. I don't know if this is a self-fulfilling prophecy because I was labeled a procrastinator at a young age or if I'm just wired to be less organized and driven than some of my peers. I still manage to get an amazing amount done in the wee hours. I just trade in my sanity. My peace.

So, this week, with my deadline breathing down my neck, I'm going to try to make lists of projects that need to get done. I'm going to try not to test a new idea or recreate an old one. I'm going to use the fabric that I've got instead of rushing to the store for something that feels newer. I'm going to spend less time checking my e-mail and lurking on blogs. I'm going to be intentional with the time I have to myself when Sebastian is asleep. I'm going to need lots of music and lots of coffee.
It might get a little messy.

I plan on keeping a lens on it all and sharing the process. Thanks for stopping by.