Ready for summer~

Ahhhhh, the last day of May. I’m sitting here in my office (kiln closet) at school, and everything is done, cleaned and put away for next year. I am so glad this year is over, it seemed very long. I kind of wish I hadn’t signed up to teach these extra 2 weeks of classes, but they will be fun, and only 8 to noon. Then the rest of the summer is mine! I’m also very relieved because today I found out that my request to have less hours next year has been granted (4 days a week instead of 5), and I get to stay at the same school. Yes, I’ll make less money, but hopefully my etsy sales will more than make up for it.
Now I am going to fulfill the rest of my duties this week, basically attending meetings for my summer classes and turning in receipts, and being a taxi for my daughter’s softball games and pool visits.
Sales have seemed a little slower than usual this past week or two, but I’m hoping they will pick up again, especially when I actually have time to work on things. I’ve been trying to find the time to take pic’s of some skirts I’ve been working on, and I got this fabulous wire dress form that I am super in love with, but I also need a sunny day.


I’ve had a lot of fun planning the design of the applique’s on the skirts, and of course I will be adding some teeny tiny buttons by hand. I love them so much, and I think people will be comfortable buying them because they are wrap skirts, so it’s easier to fit a variety of body styles. I wish I had an old clothesline that I could hang them all on, way out in a green field – what a great picture that would make!

the last day

wow, I feel like I just finished a marathon, and I'm on my hands and knees, crawling and scraping my way across the finish line, completely spent. My mind is so full of ideas on things I want to work on, but my body is just so tired and achy. When I turned off my alarm this morning, and slowly made my way to the bathroom, the bottom of my feet hurt. The only time my feet feel like that is when I've been standing waaaay too much, and for waaaay too long. They used to feel like that after waitressing, and it always hurt more the next morning. Anyway, today was the last. day. for. students. ...
My boss still hasn't told me if my request has been granted for next year for a little lighter schedule. I'd love it if I could just quit, and make etsy my full time job. Maybe someday...
So after dinner Sasha had movie plans, and since we live 20 minutes away from the neighborhood where all of her friends are, I usually end up driving pretty far to take her places. Just the thought of being a taxi tonight made me tear up, so Kev offered to drive her. I am unbelievably grateful for him~ he's always there to pick up the pieces when I feel like I'm going to fall apart. I guess I appreciate it so much because for the first 12 years I didn't have any help. It's so great when I can just sit and be, and someone else can do what needs to be done. So now I'm sitting by my 'studio window', which is our living room window, trying to think and write, and this tiny little dog that lives across the street is incessantly barking at all of the cars parking on our street- due to a band playing a couple of blocks away tonight. I don't let my dog bark and bark like that - it is sooooo annoying! Speaking of my new studio, it's pretty awesome. I'll post some pics when I have some daylight to shoot. Basically, I just keep rearranging until I'm happy, and my husband is getting pretty used to it now. I told him, Honey, you just have to understand that I rearrange every 3 months, no matter what. So his desk and my studio are in our living room, and I kicked him (nicely) out of the corner by the window, and took over. He's fine with it, and now I can take photos of jewelry and things without moving all of my junk. I put a big bookcase behind my desk - off to the side, and I'm organizing all of my supplies that are not housed in drawers there. I love this space so far, and it will get even better when I have time to 'pretty it up'.
My goals this weekend are: 1) finish a custom vest for a lovely customer in Finland, and get it shipped out
2) work on a skirt that's been swimming around in my head for about 2 months,
3) buy some sterling silver chains to create some asymmetrical necklaces with these gorgeous black agate discs I bought on etsy
4) complete my new revised sun hat pattern with some new fabric
...and anything else I can squeeze in.
Caio~

The end is near...

Wow, the last few weeks have been an absolute blur. It's going to be very difficult for me to complete my next few posts without any whining or complaining about classes, students, grades, or anything school related. Throw in Sasha's softball games and practices, and too many miles driving back and forth across town (esp. with the price of gas), and I am one tired mama. But- the end is in sight. I am so grateful that I can spend many wonderful hours this summer hanging out with my daughter, and creating. I am very lucky.
I have managed to create quite a bit lately, considering time constraints. I keep trying to pack more hand sewing stuff to take with me to games, so I can work during down times. My competitive streak keeps me focused on the game most of the time, though. I made this cute boxy purse last week, and it already sold. Yay!
It was pretty tough to get a good shot of it, and then I had to get Sasha to model it for me (which is the shot that sold it, I'm sure), but she HATES modeling for me. I'm loving this fabric right now, though, along with many, many others. I will never ever be rehabilitated from my fabric addiction.

So, onto more projects, and I can breathe a little easier now that all my grades are done. Grading for elementary art is so... hard. That's all I will say about that. All I have to do is survive a few more hyper classes and 6th graders with attitudes, and I'm home free.

Tagged!

I’ve been tagged by hojpoj.
I am so excited because I’ve wondered if it would ever happen, and I love laughing out loud at all of the hilarious things I’ve read when people write about themselves.
• Start with 7 random facts/habits about yourself. People who are tagged have to write their 7 things on their blog. Then choose another 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment to tell them they have been tagged and to read your blog.

7 things that people might not know about me:
*1. I absolutely CANNOT eat in a restaurant by myself. I have tried, there is just no way, not ever, it ain’t gonna happen. I really don’t even like to eat with other people if our table is out in the open, and not against a wall. It’s just so…barbaric- to have people watch you eat.
*2. I am crazy about miniature things, and whenever I see something tiny, like doll buttons, I turn into this gushing idiot, and I keep saying “Aren’t these the most precious things youv’e ever seen in your ENTIRE life?” (See pic of random miniatures I've been using lately)

And whoever I’m with usually just nods in agreement and tries to move on quickly.
I was fascinated with dollhouses and the furnishings that go in them when I was little, but never had one. I still think I may get one and decorate it, but not with that expensive furniture at Hobby Lobby, I’ll make my own.
*3. I hate swimming. I finally took lessons at age 11, and flunked. It doesn’t seem natural or normal to me, kind of like flying in a plane; human beings are just not meant to be underwater or up in the sky. (No offense to people who love these things;) some people say “But I feel so free”- I just feel freaked out.
*4. I absolutely love spelling. It drives me CRAZY that I find misspelled words all the time, in books, on signs, in blogs – you name it, they are EVERYWHERE.
*5. I do not have a creative bone in my body when it comes to cooking. No matter how many times I’ve tried, I just can’t get into it. I try on Thanksgiving, and I made an awesome turkey last year (for the first time), but I have to have a recipe and follow it exactly. I’m not one of those people that enjoys experimenting and ‘throwing things together’.
*6. I cannot have short hair – it makes me feel naked. (Is there a phobia trend developing here?) I once went 5 years without getting my hair cut - crazy I know.
Now I get a haircut once a year, at the beginning of the summer, but only an inch or two.
*7. I am good at taking tests, give me just about any book and let me take a test, and I will ace it. But I cannot find my way from one side of town to the other, even if it's somewhere I've been to several times. I don't look at landmarks AT ALL. I have to know the street name, and people have to give me directions like, Turn right on Jones St., turn Left at 3rd Ave., etc. It drives me insane when people say, "Oh just go past the Taco Bell, and up a hill, etc. etc." AAAAAHHHHHH!

Ok, there, I've finished my ranting. Now the hard part of tagging 7 more people. I don't know what happens if they've been tagged before, but I guess we'll find out.
Here's my lucky 7:
Dottie Angel, Mosaic Cottage Happenings,
Alices Looking Glass, An Odd Duck, Hello My Name is Heather, Apron Thrift Girl, Holly Loves Art

10 more student days this year, and I'm going to make a goal of at least 3 blog posts per week this summer. I can't wait to fill up the shop with more stuff soon. It's been dwindling due to sales- that's definitely a good thing, as Martha would say. Ciao!