chugging along

well, I'm back in my cinder block office (I'm not complaining though, it's quiet and it's all mine). I usually get a few yards of a warm colored fabric to 'hang' on the white brick walls, and it's pretty cozy actually. It's about 7 feet by 16 feet, and I squeezed a desk and filing cabinet in here, and sometimes I even do jumping jacks after lunch if I need a shot of adrenaline. I sort of resigned, and then unresigned, and it was quite gut-wrenching. I am trying to do that thing where you look for 100 blessings throughout your day, and I kind of do that already. Right now I'm thankful that I'm sitting down, and I don't have to talk, or teach, or plan a lesson. For the moment, it's just quiet time. My feet are enjoying the break. I can already think of several blessings for today, so I guess I'm well on my way.
Etsy's been pretty busy, so I'm just focused on keeping up while I'm back at school. I have lots of ideas for new autumnal things. I made a very cute patchwork scarf, and it's the fabric itself that really inspires me. It's very Denyse Schmidt:


I'm calling it a "Scarflette" due to it's short length, and I have no idea if that's a word or not, but it sounds pretty cute to me. It's reversible and has the softest, fleece-like- (looks like wool but it's not)-gray plaid- cotton fabric on the other side. I'm making a skirt out of it too.

I got some gorgeous deer skin too, and I can't wait to have a chance to sit down and make some fall leather purses out of it. I'm sorry to all the vegans out there, but man, I love me some leather. Just walking in to the leather shop makes me so happy! I just breathe in deeply and am overcome by the wonderful smell. I have no idea why it smells so darn good, but it does. I want to do something natural with it, like leave raw edges - none of this rhinestone stud crap that seems to be so popular these days. I can't stand all that metal embellishment stuff all over those handbags - it's just overkill. Just my humble minimalistic opinion, though. I'll post some pics of my leather progress soon. I'm thinking of making some wrist cuffs with the small leftover pieces - I don't want to waste a single spec of it! caio~

only 2 days left...

Only 2 days left to sleep in, have tea at my studio desk, and create in my pajamas. Plus I have a ton of errands to run tomorrow. Ugh. I've been making lots of these fabric business card holders lately:



I love working with these lovely fabrics. I can't wait to start working with leather for fall.
Well, off to bed, more tomorrow, caio for now!

House on Bowery Hill

Ok, as promised, a day late, here's the new house on the hill necklace. I love it!


I actually named it after the hill that I live on. When I bought my house which was built in 1910, on the description paper (??? don't know what it's called), it describes Bowery Hill, and the borders of the property. No one calls it that anymore, and it's not the street name or anything. It's weird to think about where that name came from, and how this end of town was where Omaha started 100 years ago. My neighbor Madeline is about 97, and she has told me stories about her memories of growing up on this street. I can't imagine the changes she has seen take place. She lived in one house, and then got married and moved into the next one. So she's been here her whole life. She still crochets and always gives us handmade slippers and embroidered tea towels for Christmas.
So the hill is so steep in front, that my neighbor lady actually comes out of her house and watches me mow, for fear that she may need to call 911 when I have a horrible disabling mower accident. The guy next to me wears his cleats when he mows his yard. I actually pray while I'm doing it, because you slide downward the whole time. So the polka dot hill is much prettier, and I think I'll do a series of these hill necklaces.
Well, we're going on a short summer vacation in the morning, and I'm already freaking out that I'm going to be away from my sewing machine and my iBook for a few days. We are going camping, but in a nice cabin with air conditioning - I know, I'm weak, but I don't want to be miserable and stinky. I'm looking forward to 'family time', and forcing myself to do something other than be creative. I'm not, however, looking forward to next week, and going back to work. Where did the summer go?
Caio~

Dog days...

Ok, I know it's been over a week since I posted. I've been swamped with orders, I know, it's a good thing. I'm really dumbfounded that I have to go back to work in a week and a half. I'm going to try really hard not to complain about my job this year. That's my goal for the year. Too bad I can't write that down on those 'Professional Goals' sheets that we fill out every single year. Ok, now I feel like complaining about filling out the forms! I'm off to a very bad beginning aren't I? But seriously, who reads them, and whose file cabinet are they stowed away in, and do they save them for someone's entire teaching career?
Yeeesh. And then at the end of the year you have to look at what you filled out at the beginning, and you're like, huh? Those were my professional goals for this year? And then you have to say if you met them or not, and how you went about it.
Oh well. My little one is starting high school, and I should be freaking out, but for some reason I am excited and happy for her, and not at all sorry for myself. Occasionally I get a very sad flash that I can't remember exactly what it was like when she was like 4 or 7 or whatever age, but I know that's normal. I'm sure her high school experience will be much better than mine was. There's no way possible it could be worse. Here she is playing in the tub with her hamster "Ollie" (named after the skateboard trick of course)

I'm so glad she's a late bloomer in some ways, and still likes 'kid' things. I'm very proud of her, but we do struggle at times. I just pray in a few years we'll still be best friends.
Ok, before I get all emotional I'll stop. Here's a few things I've been working on:

and this:

and Sasha made this collaged bangle, so I put it in the shop: (I get so excited when she does anything crafty, because it's kind of rare. She knows how to sew, but it's hard to get her interested)

I also made a new design on one of my scrabble tile necklaces, Little House series, and it is sooooooo adorable, if I do say so myself. I'll take pics tomorrow. ciao everyone!