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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

So Proud!

Our Monkey in the Middle, Madison, won first place in a Holocaust writing project! The contest had participants from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and British Columbia. She wrote "What Impels You to Action?" and all I can say is that it is one amazing piece of work from a twelve year old.

We made the drive from Spokane to Mercer Island for the ceremony, where she read an excerpt from her piece. It was a big deal for us, for her, and her grandparents were able to make it over as well. She wasn't nervous a bit about reading in front of that large a group either. *So Proud of her.*

We also took in a bit of Seattle. We have some family there, so we were treated to a nice BBQ, and some pretty fantastic weather. It's always so great to see the little ones, all boys, playing together! A lovely weekend for sure, and I can't wait to get back there. We would love to live there, but the logistics of a move like that just aren't in the cards right now. But maybe, someday...

Madison in front of the Holocaust Memorial...
Just before we head back home, we stopped for some dinner with the grandparents, and some summer shopping for the girls. Props to the Hubby for getting through the shopping with a smile. Most of the time. A bit sad to leave, truly love it there.

The weather here is finally gorgeous, so I'm off for a nice long walk, and as usual, my long list to tackle.

Enjoy your day!!


Friday, April 13, 2012

Sneak Peek!

Meet Fritzi. He is debuting in my half size patterns! This is a super easy pattern, wonderful for beginners. I wanted one that my younger daughter would feel confident making, and they turn out so cute. My friend made hers very scrappy, and I want to post a picture if she'll let me as another cute option! This is just one of the half size patterns I will be offering on the website!
A close up sneak peek at a baby elephant stuffie, she's a part of the Big Top Circus pack!
Another sneak peek, this is a part of the Owlette Set! (this is the "cheater applique" on the place mat/pillow)

My graphic designer has been working so hard, as have my testers. We are still on track for a website launch soon. I am thinking though that I am so excited, I may launch with less than the five I was going to! I have five in the works, by the way, Fritzi as a half size pattern, an embroidery design, (half size as well) and three full size. The three large patterns include the Reversible Commuter Bag, the Big Top Circus Set, and Big Eyed Owlette Set.

Also on the website I'll be offering sewn goodies, and fabric sets. (More of nicely packaged de-stashing) I am also in talks with a local company about helping me produce something else, that is a perfect compliment, and so sweet, but I'll share that and what it is when I know for sure we're going to do it!

So there's your sneak peek, I am off to enjoy the sunshine, and do some fabulous photography!

Enjoy your day!


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Happy, Sad, Happy, Sad...

Been a bit absent lately. I've needed to take some time for myself, enjoy my children's spring break, and also a small vacation with my Hubby in Las Vegas. (Okay, I admit, that last one was desperately needed after the rainiest March on record here!) You see, I've been a bit blue. And in between feeling blue, I am elated at the way my patterns are turning out. Because I feel like this is my safe space, I'm going to share a personal experience.

I am grieving right now. Not in usual sense that some one died. But because a friendship died. It's funny how one day I will be doing great, not much thinking about it, and then other days, like today, I lose sleep and can focus on nothing else. It saddens me. I normally am very good at choosing the people I let into my life. I don't let the drama, the gossip, or the mean get in. I hold on to those I care about, and have their backs, so to speak. I listen, I help, I encourage. I let people "vent" if they need to, knowing it's normal to let off steam. I never feel the need to go to someone else and share what I've heard. It's just not right. So imagine my surprise when it happens to me. (By the way, I am SO NOT perfect, just cognizant of other's feelings.)

I helped a friend with a big event, as did my hubby. We spent a lot of time on this, and found child care for the three days required. We did not ask for payment. The event was stressful, but I felt went smoothly. Someone quit after that, and it put a lot of strain on my friend. I took her tea, and listened. No big deal, it happens. I was there for her. But something funny started to happen after that. A silly little rumor gets started about me and this other person, and when I went to share how funny this was with the people involved, I get "un-friended", and shut out. Hmm. Before I get the chance to fully process what is happening, another person is fired for telling me in the first place. Wow, now I really don't know what to do because I am now involved in a person getting fired. Not a good place to be, as I really like this gal. Then, just because life couldn't get any stranger, I start getting private messages from people. More than a few, less than ten, telling me about things that were said about me, by my friend, quite a while ago. And I, oblivious to this, and because no one wants to be the bearer of bad news, continue to visit my friend and fight for a friendship that I guess was never what I thought it was. So it all started making sense, why some people who I used to converse with frequently, suddenly stopped. Why when someone saw me at the person's business, she said, "You still come in here???" I didn't put it all together until suddenly, at a round table discussion with friends, it all comes back like Dory's memory in Finding Nemo. Fast, image after image, comment after comment.

She told people such a wide array of things, from the benign weird, to the downright hurtful. She attacked me and my family. Now I stand accused of "convincing people to leave." First, if I had that kind of power I'd go into politics. (My power of suggestion is so great, I must not even realize I do it, LOL) Next, that puts far more "give a crap" than I'd care to expend. So I talk about it here in this post, but have decided to hold my head high, and other than this post, which is born of sadness, frustration, and a sense of defending myself, I will not speak ill of her, have not engaged in any negative dialogue, and mostly just hope she finds happiness, wherever that may be.

Something wonderful has happened out of this situation, however. I have discovered a treasure trove of heart, friendship, support, camaraderie, and love. I have a group of girlfriends now who sew together frequently, laugh and eat together, but most of all, support each other in all the ups and downs life has to offer. I am so lucky and blessed! I lean on them for my sad days (like today), and my glad days (like today)! I am there for their sad days and glad days as well, and who new that out of sadness would be born a support group like this!

My friend said this: "When it comes to grief, you cannot go around it, under it, or over it. You have to go through it." I am so happy to have my friends and family having my back as I *try* to go through it, when really I just want to hide from it.

So thank you for making it this far! More gladness, I have received some proofs, some things are ready to go to print, copyrights are purchased, and I'll start work on the website next week! I can't believe how fast things are happening now, and I am positive that my days are going to be mostly ups from here on out. :)

Enjoy your day! 


Loving Life and Stuff

Hmm, this is where I write a bit about myself, and try to make myself sound utterly and completely fabulous. Hmm... Okay, well, how about I tell you how much I love my life, my family, and what I do? Of course I think all of it is fabulous!

I am a mother of three, two girls, 14 and 12, and one crackerjack boy, 2. Not a typo there, yes, there really is ten years between our two youngest. The girls adore their brother, and truly I cannot imagine life without him. He was a surprise. Not the "Yay I won five dollars on Lotto!", more like the "OMG." variety. One day you have a thriving bakery, happily working a lot of hours, making crazy cakes, saving for college and vacations, and the next you're looking at a stick with two lines, crying, repeating "This so wasn't in the plan" over and over. But life is mysterious, and we decided to end the bakery run, and focus on this new life we were creating. Not just the one inside me, but the whole deal. He is such a happy blessing. They say kids keep you young, what I can't figure out is why I'm not 30lbs. lighter with the chasing and pulling off counters and such.

A part of the new deal is my creating a new business from home, with a skill set that I learned at a very young age, and have cultivated ever since. Sewing and designing has always been a passion, along with cross stitch and embroidery. People used to tell me when I was young that I "had an old soul", and I certainly seemed to love all things stitchery related. It just makes me happy. I loved making people happy at the bakery, and now it's time for me to help people find their own joy in sewing and creating. (Lucky for me sewing and stitching has come back into style!)

I would love to say that I have a big fancy degree, but I do not. What I do have is passion and drive. I am a self-taught artist, baker, decorator, and designer. By saying self-taught, maybe I should say, self-learned, as I pay attention to anyone who has experience in any area of life I want to explore. I feel we all have so much to learn from each other, but also to teach. I started the bakery when my oldest was six. I wanted her to grow up knowing she could set her mind to anything, and accomplish it. Here I am today, doing it again!

I'll be sharing so much through this blog, and loving every minute of it. Thanks so much for joining me!



 


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