the "office"

from the hallway:

so I thought on my last day in my cinder block "office" I would take some pics for my dear readers who have listened to me complain for the last year. Actually it's a kiln closet (see the kiln tucked away under the table at the far back). I was very grateful for the quiet space, actually, because the alternative was a half-cubicled area off to the side of a loud hallway right by a major kids restroom area and the cafeteria. So this was much better! I cannot think with a lot of noise, and a school with over 1,000 elementary students can get just a wee bit loud :)
this one is from the inside:

so today I say 'farewell' to my cinder block office... I have loved you (not really), I have hated you (really), and now onto the next phase of my life. I'm wishing all of you a beautiful beginning to your summer ~ enjoy your children, enjoy your gardens, enjoy the weather!
I leave you with a picture of a different kind, to make you think of warm summer days: taken by my daughter, who is becoming very interested in photography, and even started her own flickr this week :)

deer dream

Not long ago I had a very vivid dream about a multi-colored deer. There were really cool vintage embroidered linens hanging like room dividers in this old house, and I guess it was supposed to be my grandmas house (the one that died when I was 5). We were going to inherit the house, and I was so excited about all the old linens. Anyway, there was this little deer with beautiful colored spots on her fur.
I've thought about it a lot, and then I saw this on the front page of etsy yesterday, and decided I should buy it:

cornflakegirl is the seller (I start humming that tori amos song everytime I think of her username), and she is Asian, and I told her about the dream. She said it was a good omen in Chinese culture to dream of a multi-colored deer. How odd that it's dreamt of enough to actually mean something. So I google 'deer dream' and it talked about how deer are graceful and can stand for the feminine aspect of ourselves. It said if you dream of a black deer, it might mean you are trying to stifle a part of your femininity, so I guess I'm letting mine flow for sure! Must be all the colorful things I've been sewing lately :)
She also makes these amazing custom dogs that look exactly like the live dog!

Truly amazing...
Here's a little creature made with vintage fabric:

It's May!

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. I put the shop on hold so I could make a bunch of new things for a Nebraska Aids Project craft fair. I only sold one thing, but at least now I have the biggest inventory ever! So I'm listing a bunch of new goodies in the shop, around 4-6 items a day until they're all in there.
I've also had major pain in my neck and back again, and it causes me to have headaches every afternoon. I'm back to naproxen sodium for the pain, since ibuprofen doesn't do anything. I wish there was a way for my neck and back to be completely normal. The chiropractor said I have arthritis in my spine.
Oh well, keep me in your prayers, dear readers. That's the only thing that will help this pain. I'm really getting excited now about summer. As soon as I feel better, I'd like to work in the yard a little. We also need to tile our kitchen still this summer. That's painful to even think about. 2 weeks to go til we are out of school. It's going to be hard to wipe the smile off of my face!
Here's a sampling of some of the new goodies:




and of course loads of little house necklaces... I think I made about 75 of them in the past few weeks. Kind of felt like last November when customers were ordering like crazy!
Btw, I am so in love with the rose print fabric in the background of some of the pics. It's so soft and cozy like a vintage sheet, but it's new fabric. It goes with everything. I've used it in a fabric collage, backgrounds for photos, and I think I'm going to make a new purse for myself using some of it. I can't wait to make some skirts out of it; it's just too lovely for words! Well, off to teach a class now~ only 8 more days!

summers a comin'

I reeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally need a summer haircut, like right now. I don't know why but I have a giant phobia of getting my haircut. Must be all those short haircuts I had growing up. I used to actually put my poncho on my head and pretended like it was long hair. So now I'm 37 and I have hair all the way down my back. I think when you have something for so long, it would just be weird without it. But I want a shorter style that I can do more with. I guess this means I'm finally getting older, because I'm ready for change. I bet my readers get so sick of hearing me talk about aging, but it's really freakin' me out!
So, I'll probably opt for a shoulder length layered style, like I did 2 haircuts ago, and then I let it grow for a year or 2, and then repeat the cycle. I actually did try angled bangs a few years ago, but my hairline doesn't want to lay like that, so it was a constant battle. (My hairstylist has always tried to get me to come in every 6 months, but that just seems extreme to me!)
I've been wanting the posh spice bob for awhile, except a little longer in the back. I think short hair is actually more work though, because right now I can pretty much get up, comb, throw it in a ponytail, and go. Not that it looks cute.
so please dear readers, post links to cute short and medium styles for me. I need help.

reality

do you ever feel like you self-monitor when you blog? I think I second guess myself too much, and sometimes I feel like using this space as a journal, but I try to pull myself back at the last minute.
I was so excited about quitting my job, but then this weekend the fear started to creep back in. I start worrying, "Can I really do this? What about the security of teaching? I'll be a one woman sweat shop, and I'll never be able to take a week off"...etc. etc. I need that confidence to well up inside me and take over, and sometimes it's hard to find. There is such a fear of the unknown.
We had a guest pastor speak at church this weekend, and he works with at-risk youth here in Omaha. His message was about actually allowing yourself to dream, and how it's so easy for us as humans to let past disappointments kind of numb us to the point where we don't even think things are possible anymore.
Maybe that's why I have always related to children better than adults. They are less censoring of themselves (if I said that right), and they are still in that place where they dream and imagine totally outrageous things sometimes. But many situations in my childhood have caused me to lose that inner child at times. I need to let her live sometimes.
I can remember laying in the grass as a kid and gazing at the cloudy blue sky, and finding shapes and animals in the puffiness. It's important for us to still allow ourselves to lay in the grass, and let time slow down for a bit.
Maybe spring has me dreaming of the lazy days of summer already. I don't know, as I realize that I'm REALLY getting older now, this is for real, that I don't want life to pass me by without dreaming and enjoying... and living.
I think for a long time I was scared to really live. Fear of public speaking (MAJOR- still have it), intense fear whenever I fly, fear of the water (I failed swimming lessons at 11), among other fears... it's just fear of living. I am realizing I can't control every variable that could ever happen to me. I can't control everything. Wow, is this post turning into one of those self-enlightened moments? Basically though, trying to control everything means that I... what am I afraid of really?
Well, at least at this point in my life I'm learning to play. I posted a while back on letting more color into my life, and not being so neutral. I think allowing myself to do that means I'm not as scared to be seen or noticed. The color is really exploding now-

my husband is like, wow, you're really into the pinks and greens, aren't you? He thinks it's pretty (in his caveman sort of way), but I really think that having a shop and creating on a more regular basis than I did before has brought out more confidence to try new things - and more colors. I guess normal people don't equate color to happiness, but it makes total sense to me.

new arrival...

ok, I don't have enough inventory for a photo shoot yet, but I had my 'grand opening' yesterday :)

I was mainly procrastinating on finishing my taxes :( but I was happy to accomplish both.
~also, I can check off 'clean refrigerator' off of my spring break list. (maybe not spotless, but clean)
...on to the next list...

accomplished~

Ok, learners permit - check
rearrange living room, bedroom, craft and fabric supplies - check
that's about it so far, and it's Thursday! Must get busy. I've been working so hard on orders, I don't feel like I've even had a vacation yet, and everytime we rearrange one area of the house, it affects every other area. So trying to create more studio space for me affects the kitchen, bedroom, hallway, dining room, etc.
Someday we'll have a bigger house and I can sprawl all my stuff out, but for now, space conservation is of the utmost importance. I'll take pics when it's not so rainy and gray. I know this means spring is here though, so I don't mind.

Also, I've got some jewelry in the upcoming book, 1000 Jewelry Inspirations, available for pre-order on Amazon.com. It looks like it's going to be a really nice addition to my crafty bookshelf ~ check it out!

spring break

ok, I have about 10 days off to gear up for the last 6 weeks of school - then all of my faithful readers won't have to hear about how I can't wait to be a small business owner only, and not a teacher anymore. I promise!
I'm going to try and accomplish the following this week:
1) clean out the fridge --spotless.
2) be a sewing MACHINE. (I've always wanted a t-shirt that says "I AM a sewing machine") ~~Some of this weekends' progress:

3) do a tree painting for my living room. (already got the canvas ready)
4) hire someone to do a banner for the new shop (already conversing with someone)
5) photo shoot with someone for the new avatar - - with mardi gras mask (oooohh, aren't you intrigued now?)
6) take little one to get her learners permit (not worried at all, she's a great driver! She's been on wheels of some sort since her first bike at 1 1/2)
7) Re-organize bedroom that is overflowing with fabric and craft stuff, which means I'll be reorganizing all of the other crafting spots in the house, and we are going to rearrange the living room.
8) Exercise at least 30 minutes a day (I gave up on the 2 hour ugliness from a few posts ago, I just don't have the time - or energy!)
9) Re-upholster top of husbands' desk after chopping 6 inches off of one end. We really need the six inches in the living room, and I already covered it in distressed leather, so all I have to do is unstaple one end, saw, and re-staple.
10) Possibly sweep and organize the back patio now that winter is over, so we can not be an embarrassment to the neighbors.
11) Hang new curtain rods that have been leaning up against the wall for 2 months.
12) almost forgot...TAXES! ugh.
ok, I'll stop for now, because I don't want to overwhelm myself :)
Oh yeah, relax on the couch and watch "What Not to Wear" every day at 11 am central time on TLC. I am so addicted to this show! Some of the poor people who get nominated for this show -- I can't even fathom their clothing! And then when they accept the fact that they can find clothes that make their bodies look better, then it's so exciting to see them get new hairstyles and makeup. (Although I think sometimes the hair guy could choose better styles).

sneak peek

first of all, thanks to Amy for the wonderful info. about a future possible gorgeous model :) And now a small sneak peek~ this little apron isn't exactly what the new shop is going to be full of, (it will have variety of course- it is me after all), but a peek all the same.

...more to come-

helloooooooo?

Would the Amy who posted a comment about her nieces in Papillion please send me a message through my etsy shop so I can contact you back?
There is no blogger link when I click on your name, and I don't know how to reach you~ THANKS!