I've run out of energy...

I know I have no right to complain as a teacher; I do get my summers and an entire week off in addition to this Thursday and Friday, but I am whooped.

Those 160 kids/day thing wears me right out.  I'm going to attempt some scarf manufacturing tonight, and I will post results tomorrow if I'm successful, but the outlook is grim.

And to top it all off- I'm out of coffee creamer.  Damn.

The Sunday Six

So I just made an Etsy sale!!  Considering I've just opened my shop 2 weeks ago, and I've made 3 sales, I'd say I'm pretty happy with the situation!  My favorite part is wrapping them and packaging them so the buyer has an experience when they get one of my creations.

In celebration, I'm sipping a cup of rare coffee, and perusing the blogosphere.  I will get to work soon and finish up Kurt's gift...

after a few more blogs like these:  (come on and surf with me!)

Every Sunday, I will post some of my favorite craft blogs, so come on back every week to see what I'm reading...

1.  Every day One Pretty Thing has new ideas.  Love this site.

2.  Head on over to No Big Dill for inspiration. Her craftsmanship is stellar.  Never have I seen a straighter stitch.

3.  Thinking of quilting little objects?  Noodlehead has no comparison.

4.  Dana over at Made has made her blog a feast for the senses.

5.  Over at the Mother Huddle, I found an idea for a golf ball sling, as well as some pretty rad Christmas ideas..  (That's right, I'm bringing rad back.  Write that down.)

 

6.  And, last but not least...There is always something amazing to imagine making on Ucreate.  

Enjoy?  Let me know- I'd love to hear who is reading what around the blogosphere...

The State of Affairs...

So, candy making is complete.  Problem is, my house looks like this:

I found the printable labels here:  Printable Holiday Tags

Now I just have to go out and get gift baskets, load them up, and tag everything.  This may take longer than the actual making of the stuff!  This brings new meaning to "bagged and tagged."  All sexual innuendos aside... *giggle*

Not to mention cutting up these:

Candy Cane Marshmallows- sticky and scary

You could come over and help, if you want... :)

Currently working on....

I know, I know.. I said I'd be making candy tonight.  But I find I don't have everything I need, and I'm too lazy to go to the store.

I am piecing a wool blanket together out of pieces of upcycled sweaters.

This is one of those processes that leaves me staring at the floor for lengthy amounts of time, wondering if I have the layout just right.  Right now, I've got two columns done, and I'm finicky over the last one...

Column on right is giving me pain.

But, once I get the flannel backing on this baby, everything might seem okay... What do you think?  Manly enough?

Christmas Craziness...

So, for some reason, I forgot about the early Christmas party at my in-laws this Sunday.  Totally slipped my mind.  Do you ever find yourself in these situations?  Here is my uh-oh list.

1.  I don't have gifts for the kiddos, just the girls of the family. 
2.  Gift baskets.  To go in gift baskets: peppermint bark, this orange bark that looks delicious, these pretzels, homemade candles (thank goodness these are done!), and sea glass candy.

 

Not necessarily a long one; but that #2 is going to be a killer.  I better get busy.  No Etsy crafting for me until I'm done with this.

I did get the boys Christmas shopping done yesterday, but I wrote a check that is going to overdraw my account.  Whoops.  Tell me I'm not the only one who forgets to balance their checkbook.

Drool.....

So, at a secret location which shall not be disclosed- I found 10!!!  Cashmere sweaters for under $2 each.
Tan, Teal, Pink, Yellow....and more.  drool...

Can't talk.  Thinking of what to make...

Giveaway Day!

This is what I've been doing with all my free time today: Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway List
I started visiting to just comment for goodies, but I find myself following so many new blogs and really enjoying myself.  Too bad this house needs some sprucing up, or I'd be on this new fangled interweb all night long...

The most amazing giveaway I've seen for "Sew Mama Sew"'s Giveaway Day! Renovating our Foursquare has 2 yards of fabric up for grabs! Go for the giveaway.  Stay for the reading.  I found myself laughing out loud twice before I realized it...

I wish I'd seen this in time to participate!  I have some lovely vintage fabric and sheets that I'm sure someone would adore....

Renovating Our Foursquare: Giveaway Day!: "Monday December 13th is Giveaway Day at Sew, Mama, Sew! Edit: Woo! I'm in! I submitted my request to be involved super, super, super ..."

The process....

So I have this process of designing these one of a kind items, and it never really is the same...  But the basic steps go something like this.

*Mommy note:  This is by no means a continual process.  I'm constantly interrupted by the needs of the household (rugh.) and the needs of my kiddos and hubby.  Interruptions add time and frustration to the need for design inspiration.  But alas, we do what we do. 

1.  Hunt for objects that are natural fibers.  Find.  Buy.  Buy more.  Buy more.

2.  Organize said natural fibers by color.  (I'm currently using an old bookshelves and repurposed shelving in my laundry room.)  Could be more organized, but you aren't reporting to Martha Stewart, right?

These colors are at the top of my to- do list. 

Vintage sheets!!!!!!!!!

3.  Stare at items.  Fondle items.  Decide if items should be felted.  Put items back onto shelf until inspiration strikes.


4.  Once inspiration strikes, remove item(s) from shelf, felt in the washer, and proceed to de fuzz .  Whilst de-fuzzing, which anyone who has ever felted knows- takes FOREVER..., I stare at item some more, and decide what it wants to become.  Whatever that is, it needs to be chopped up.

5.  Chop, slice, chop.

6.  Decide that the original idea I had will not work with said sliced pieces.  Stare at item.  Fondle item.

7.  Make a command decision.  Back out of decision.  Man's plain armwarmers?  Those sold quickly.  Embellish these brown ribbed wrist warmers with beautiful felted flowers or embroider, or better yet; a lace flower with a button?  That would be really cute...  This goes on for an hour or so.  Then I embellish or not. 

I end up with something like this-

Kept plain.  They were already sooo darn cute!

or this

Angora and Wool with a lace flower.

or this

The Cowl that would become a purse embellished with Vintage fabric and wool rosettes.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes my inspiration pile gets unruly... But I just pick what I like when I look down...

Declan has a little pink soldier "watching over mommy's pink sweater thingie"

And I always have extra scraps to inspire me further into the patchwork/embellishment abyss...

So there it is.  Organically created by a possibly insane person, who has trouble focusing if I know I won't be tested, who doesn't like to ever do the same thing twice, and who loves, loves, loves what I'm doing.

What inspires you?  How do you get that inspiration out there? 

Photoshoot for Etsy!!!!!

So, I begged my hubby to help me look gorgeous for the Etsy goods I've been working so lovingly on.  I wasn't happy with any of the photos I'd shot, and needed someone to shoot me outside in the new snow...


I think I look gorgeous, if not a little tooo much like my mother:

And, due to the laborious efforts of my husband----

MY FIRST SALE!!!!!!!!  I sold these two pair of armwarmers within hours of listing them...

Pretty Awesome, no?  I'm so excited, I may pee my pants.

One good idea....

I had an amazing idea today for my Etsy store.  One that is so good I must keep it a secret.  One that is so good that I should start making them right away before someone else thinks of it.

But, as with any good idea, I need to have the time to put it into action.

My list of things to do BEFORE wonderful, excellent, superfantabulous idea can be put into action.

1.  Clean stupid house.  Done.  Not with any joy.  I was not Doris Day, flitting around in an apron waving my feather duster with apparent lightheartedness and song.  More like a disturbed servant in Wuthering Heights.  Every corner held dark secrets needing to be swept away.

2.  Feed Children.  Apparently, they get cranky with no food.  Someone should make a manual for this parenting thing with a schedule of how often these miraculous creatures need food.

3.  Finish SSS (super secret squirrel) gift for hubby.  This involves labor.  And darling, if you're reading this; blood, sweat, tears, and blisters.

4.  Some cowls, armwarmers, etc. for the Etsy store that are ready to be whipped up.

5.  Grocery shopping.  See #2.

6.  Decorate Tree, and get out Christmas decorations.  (hey, I'm a busy woman.  Some would use the adjective obsessed, but I say I'm busy, and you will nod your head and agree. right?)

Then, and only then, will I be able to get the design out of my head and into stitches.  One clue.  That's all you get.