A little update..

I have been busy with life and stuff and haven't had the time to sit and blog. Truthfully I really should be doing my foster care paper work but instead I am working on this.

What has been going on since I lasted blog.. school is out for summer, I am the proud mommy of a Holland Lop bunny named, Jasper, I have been making fabric yo yos like crazy, sent in my fee for Cotton Ginning Days in October, strung my "Create" necklace inspired from my INSPIRED weekend but I am letting it hang in the studio to ponder if I like it or not, went on Ebay frenzy but did buy some really cool and useful thing, and this week we are going to the beach and I hope to take some neat pictures with my Nikon.

School is out and some days I can't wait for it to start again. Overall it is good it just we all have out routine and everyone being home is an adjustment and of course the boys are complaining already about being bored.

I am totally in love with my bunny Jasper. He is a house bunny and I have never seen such a sweet and loving animal. He also is the easiest pet I have ever had as far as care. I really missed having something cuddly and Ben just didn't get it. All my life I have had a cat and I had to leave Phoebe at momma's cause Ben couldn't deal with a cat in the house. My freind bought some bunnies for her son and that got me to thinking I could get a bunny keep outside but bring it in the house when I wanted. Ben being the sweetheart he is said if you want a rabbit get a rabbit. After going to Hippity Hop Bunny Farm and seeing the sweet bunnies that were raised indoors I couldn't bear the thought of putting him outside. So I came home with cage and Jasper and his new home was my studio. He is happy and I am thrilled that I have a cuddley pet once again.

So I am on a fabric yo yo making kick and it is so much fun. I have purchased all sizes of the yo yo makers from Clover and boy does it make it super easy and fast. I have lots of ideas for using the yo yos and it is a way to "upcycle" fabric scraps from a friend from Etsy that makes my aprons. If you are in the market for awesome vendor aprons Yoopers on Etsy is the place to go. I am looking forward to having yo yo items at the Cotton Ginning Days. This year the Cotton Ginning Days will be October 9th thru the 11th at Biggerstaff Park. I am not doing the Gem show this year because I am limited to just selling my jewelry.

While at the Inspired weekend I picked up a "create" and "imagine" charm to make my own necklace to remind me and keep me inspired from my weekend. I have it strung and hung in the studio so I can see it everyday and decide if I like. Momma and Ben really like it but I am not so sure. I picked up some crystals today that I didn't have that I wanted incorporated in it. Maybe I will clasp it off and wear it for a while and change it up later. I suppose that is the good the thing about making my own jewelry.

We are going to Wilmington for a long weekend with the boys. It should be fun and interesting. I have never been to the beach with all boys and I made sure that informed them everyone needed swimming attire that fit properly I didn't want to accidentley see things I didn't need to ever see. We got some boogie boards at Big Lots for 9 each. Woohoo thats beats the price at Wings or whatever the souviner shops are called down there. I am actually pretty excited about having the boards. I am also excited to look for Dawson's Creek landmarks while I am in Wilmington. I am sure the boys will gag, but maybe I can convince them to go fishing while I go exploring. Sounds like a plan to me.

I have covered pretty much everything that has been going on. I am adding pictures of the "Create" necklace and I welcome comments and suggestions. I also posted shot of my studio and the picture of Jasper.

So...

I have said it before and saying it again I have not gotten in the habit of blogging. The biggest thing with me recently I was given a wonderful opportunity to attended Donna Downey's Inspired Artist Workshop Mother's day weekend. Inspired could not have been a more fitting name for the weekend. It was two full days of being surrounded by creative, wonderful people, wonderful ideas and most of all Inspiration.
The last night at our dinner Kelly Rae Roberts gave the most wonderful speech. It was as though she was talking to me. I am sure others in the room felt the same way. My heart was so full of joy and knowing that I was in the right place at the right time. I am extremely sorry for the circumstances that prevented Jennifer from attending but I am so grateful she offered me the chance to go it her place. I learned from the experience to step outside my comfort zone and most importantly to BELIEVE in myself.
My time there also allowed for some girl time with Tonya. Everyone thought it was funny and the more we thought about it we did too but it was only the second time we had ever seen each other. We of course talk on the phone and facebook but it is as if we have known each other for years. Tonya, I know you might read this...so I want to tell you what a great time I had. I hope we can hang out again soon. You are a terrific and a joy to be around.
Since the Inspired weekend I feel as if there is a whirlwind of ideas and thoughts swirling in my head. The only problem is there is so much I am at a stand still...I don't know what I want to do first. I suppose the solution is to dive it.
Oh yeah, how could I have forgotten to mention I have studio space of my own now. I have claimed the upstairs bathroom. It was big and is secluded from the BOYS. I am not anti boys in the studio but it is invitation only. LOL. I do have to thank Ben he did suggest that I use the space and I could not be happier.
Wow..I feel like this blog has no order but I am on a roll. I have been making fabric yo yos and let me say they are addictive. I would like to thank my Etsy, friend Michelle, of Yoopers.etsy.com for sharing her awesome fabric scraps with me. I will say that I have some super cute hairbows. Madalyn loves them and I do too, but I am wondering am I too old for a yo yo hairbow?

Cherry Blossom Festival 2009

This past weekend was the Cherry Blossom Festival in Cherryville, NC. It was my third year setting up at the festival and it was the worst year for sales. If I had been selling food or drinks I would have had a pocket full of cash.



It was the debut of my felt food and I did get positive reactions and comments but no one took a sandwich home. The comment I heard the most was, " now that is a fat free sandwich". My crayon scribblers were the biggest hit but not like they were last year at the Cotton Ginning Days. The most important thing was I had fun and enjoyed the beautiful weather. I have to also give credit and thanks to Shane for getting up early to go with me and help me set up, Momma and MawMaw for hanging out with me, Madalyn for being my salesgirl, and for the end of the day Carroll showing up just in time to help me pack up to head home. I also have to thank Ben for being supportive and encouraging me in all I do.

Taking a moment...

I still haven't gotten in a routine of blogging. I am taking a moment while I have the laptop to post a few lines. I have been busy today melting used crayons to make scribblers and working on felt food. I am getting excited about the Cherry Blossom Festival next weekend. I always get excited but this year since I am branching out I have added excitement.

I am trying to think if anything really interesting has happened and beside the woodpecker being successful in making a home finally in the tree in our backyard. I have watched it since Sunday pecking away while stitching felt and looking out the door. So much for an exciting blog. LOL sorry Tonya.

So much to do so little time....

Since I last posted so much has been going on around here. Stomach virus, Snow storm 09 with power outages, a husband in the hospital for a week with gallbladder pancreatitis, crazy antics of teenagers. and of course just everyday life.

I feel like I have totally skipped and missed out on the first week of March. I was at the hospital everyday and most nights with Ben. I am so thankful that everything went well and he is home and pain free. It is amazing such a unnecessary organ can cause such severe pain. While at the hopital sitting and waiting I did knit up another doll. She is waiting to be stuffed and given a face.

The snow storm came March 1st. We got probably 6 inches or so. It is the only time our backyard has been pretty. The picture above is view from the patio. If I posted a picture of it now the caption would read, Seriously is this the same place?" I am sad that Madalyn and I did not get to play together because the next day is when Ben went to the hospital. . It was her first time experienceing that much snow and sadly no one took pictures. We joked that she and I are apparently the only ones that know how to use a camera.

As for crazy antics of teenagers that is about all I can say about that is CRAZY and drama who know they had so much DRAMA. It hasn't been that long that I was a teenager but I swear by brain did not functiion like the two here. Listening to their conversations is hilarous. The other day I heard them debating was time travel true and possible. The next day were gremlins real was the after school convo. I thought at first it was a a joke to see if I would jump and tell them they were crazy but no they were serious. One really believes that there are little furry creatues that cause mischief at night. I hate to tell him there is but they are called racoons not gremlins.

I am also still trying to get use to living with all boys instead of all girls. None of them yes including Ben know how to wipe up spills or put wrappers and such in the trash not leave them on the counter. Everyday I remind them and it's the same the very next day. Clothes in the hamper what a foreign concept. I do have to say it is getting better they now lay next to the hamper instead of all over the floor.

Oh to be the only girl in a house full of boys. I am in need of a boy free day. Hopefully that can happen Sunday, but I am not counting my chickens before they hatch.

Well today...

I haven't felt the greatest. I woke up with a sore throat. Blah. It seems every year near or on my birthday I get sick. What is the deal? Oh well, enough of my whining.

I worked on somethings today. I finished another yarn "painting", made a couple upcycled bracelet, bottlecap pincushion, made a felt pickle spear, and onion and pickles to add to the sandwich. The other important thing I did today was send in my application for the Cherry Blossom Festival in April and of course I am adding an update to my blog.

Here's what I have been doing....

I finished Madalyn's doll for her birthday. She wanted a doll to look like London Tipon for The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. I was excited to make an Asian looking doll. All five of the dolls I have done have been different nationalities. I didn't have a reason for doing it other than just to be different.



I also have made Madalyn felt food for her kitchen she got for her birthday. We went shopping for some pretend food but nothing look real enough or it was just a hunk of molded plastic. So with her birthday money she bought a play pen for her doll and I told her I would make her food. I started with eggs and bacon, followed by turkey sandwich and now I am working on pancakes. This can easily become my new addiction. It is so fun and I love the simplicity of it.



I also am trying to do my part in "going green" and have upcycled empty tape rolls into fashionable bangle bracelets and bottlecaps into pincushions.



I am happy that I have the time and I am taking the time to be crafty and to blog. I really would love to have one of those blogs people really enjoy reading.

Sorry the pictures aren't in order with the paragraphs.

What a day....

So being true to my word and myself I am posting a blog. Is it anything interesting NO. Will it make me feel better to vent perhaps? I have been on the phone all day with the unemployment office well actually the circuit was overloaded so I never talked to a HUMAN. I did leave a message with no return. I have also been on the phone with a credit card company and how hard it is to add an account to pay well apparently it is time consuming. Time is not what I had for the payment it needed to be there ASAP. So finally in order to post today I had to pay an extra $15 freakin dollars to pay over the phone. All day I have been stressed and Ben my wonderful husband thinks I can apparently turn stress off like a switch. In the three months we have been married he has not learned or realized that I can not function like that. Okay sounds silly but I just sighed and I thnk I felt relief and I really think that typing this made me feel better. That is all I have to say about that... Until next time.

I said I was going to try blogging....

I have not been very good with blogging. It seems there is always something to do and I never take the time to just sit down and do it, until now. It seems I should have more free time on my hands seeing as I was laid off in December but I have busy since with the holidays, with my boys being out of school, trying to make this house my home too, and the never ending task of household chores. I am enjoying my time as a housewife and truthfully I wish I could always stay home. The good news is I can if I can figure out a way to produce income at the same time. That would be wonderful. However with the economy in the situation it is in my jewelry doesn't do to well and so that leave me with thought of what can I do for income. I really would love to use my crafty desires and abilities. I have tons of ideas of things I would like to make the questions is would anyone want to buy them or be interested for that matter. I think I will get busy and create and be positive about the future. I just recieved the application for the Cherryville Cherry Blossom Festival this week and I am struggling with to do it or not too. I didn't break the bank doing it last year nor did I feel like I won the lottery. I think I will work toward incorporating different items along with my jewelry and do just because it is fun. Well at least that is the outlook for today. As I am typing this is actually relaxing as if I am babbling to a good friend and I like that feeling. I think that I will try to post something everyday.... I did say try. If I do not post everyday I will try to post every week. I have read blogs and enjoy seeing people's progress on their creations and I will post mine too. Maybe somebody out there will be interested in seeing what I am doing. Well I guess that is enough babbling for one day. Until again.......