Mountain Life

Give me snow and cold air, I am one happy girl.
Today we escaped desert life and hit the slopes.

Talkin Shop

Well here it is a new year and I am ready to take it on.

Trying to revamp my ETSY shop.  When I started this etsy shop in 2009 it started off with a bang.  It was a constant stream of orders.  I had clients that couldn't get enough of what I was making.  I would spend all day in my studio with a new baby in his bouncy by my side.

When his disability started to show, I had to put my shop on the back burner.  And truthfully, I lost my drive.  I hit that depression and had to realize my dream of a shop wasn't what I was called to do.  Boy have I learned that lesson over the years.  Yeah, it still hurts to look back but things happen for a reason and I love what I have learned.   Realizing I can't do it all,  I try to make when I can.  Making things that I really love and can put time and detail into.
Now I am only offering  a limited amount of product.

My paper pockets draw a lot of attention and emails so I am sticking with them as my top item I make.  They combine my love of sewing and vintage in one.
But I also love making small hand held clutch bags from vintage and reclaimed fabrics.  So I am offering them in small amounts.

The shop is small and just a few offerings are listed.  I am trying to make less but pack a bigger punch with detail and style.

Remembering that I don't have all day to sit in my studio and make.
I am first a mom, a teacher, a wife then a maker.
My schedule is full, from making sure everyone has food to eat, a dog to walk, me to walk, homeschool, errands to run, house to keep, appointments to make, time to read, and finding me time to crochet.
It is a lot! Plus then trying to get in the studio and make.
I am mom but I am also a maker.  It is my way to relax and reboot.  If I cant find time to do this then everyone suffers.

Thank you all that have stuck with me since day one here on the blog and encouraging me to keep making, with kind comments or purchasing of my things.  I am grateful

January

Well I can't believe that I haven't blogged since September.  To me that says that life has been too busy and full of fun to sit behind a computer.

I have missed catching up with all of you out there so I hope to be able to make a few post in 2016.

Happy New Year to all of you that may still be out there.  I think blogging has become a thing of the past in this fast paced world of instant posting on IG and FB. 

I started this little blog in May of 2009  it seems like ages ago.  I was a new mom, longing to connect with people.  I made some amazing friends and it also ripped friends from my life.   This month is a fresh slate.  Removing all that was negative.  Maybe that is why I havent blogged in ages too.  I hated logging in and seeing feeds that I no longer wanted popping up.  Thankfully I was able to fix that today by removing over 50 accounts from my feed. 
Keeping those that really care or have blogs that have a meaning. 

Things are going good here as we continue to homeschool, WOW what a difference it has made in all of our lives.  Tucker the dog is now well on his way to becoming the boys service dog, and I am finally balancing motherhood, schoolteacher and crafting business woman...plus finding time for making new friends. 

Not only did I clean house on this little blog but in our life and home too.
More on that to come for another January post.

Cheers to all for 2016  wishing you all a great start on this new journey. 

September Goodbye

September a time for change. 
I write this with tears in my eyes as we celebrated 14 years of life with my cat but today we bid him farewell.  He lived a super happy, comfortable life.  His nickname was Fatsy. 

                               

As you can see from this pic a few years ago.
But in the last 2 years he lost his ability to eat normally and very bad food allergies developed.
He lost his battle today.

I will miss you.  You gave me much comfort over the past 14 years.  Always by my side when I battled sickness, recovery from surgeries and depression.  He was so intelligent and had a meow that made you laugh.  I will miss his mow wows at 5 am to feed him.

Goodbye Rest in Peace 

Back to Homeschool

This is our first week back in the swing of homeschool.
We are excited to have found a community of homeschoolers.
We will now have outings and classes along with like minded parents and children. 

This week we have been to orientation and found a mom with a son the same age as my boy, who also shares the same allergies and way of eating. And to put the cherry on top, they live right down the street from us.  Finally able to bond with a family who gets it. 

We are so excited to start supplemental classes at the resource center.  My boy will now have drama class, science, geography, and Polynesian studies.  I especially love drama and polynesian studies since his dad was born in Hawaii.
He will now bond with children like him and finally have friends to interact with.  

When we are not in classes or outings, we will be at home with set times and structured class at home.  So far he is doing so good. Granted it has only been 2 days but he is really dedicated to learning and wanting to do work.  It is really amazing to see the change in him and how the frustration has turned to happiness to learn.  He wants to know what everything around him says.  He is dying to learn more in reading.  He has a disability with learning sounds and sounding out words so he memorizes everything.   Everyday he sits and writes his words over and over as to learn the word and spelling of it.
I am so proud of him.

(learning to tie his shoes)

He has shown so much growth and maturity since leaving  the public school system.  I never thought I could handle it but seeing the results makes me work harder for him.

(art studies at the Bellagio Fine Arts Gallery, his best Picasso face)

So our summer is officially over. Now if someone would let the weather people know.  These heat warnings are killing us.  I am so ready to turn this AC off and feel a cool breeze. I am ready to ride my bike and show off my new crochet basket.

Well, when we are not schooling, which is about 10 pm at night, I get to sit and crochet.  I just finished up this poncho.  I am so in love with it.  Again it needs to get cold out so I can actually wear it.

I am also working on some other things that I will reveal as soon as I get further into them. 

Life is full and we are hanging in there.  This dog is so much fun and keeps a smile on our faces.  We are so glad he found his way to our home.  The cats, not so much...

What I did on my Summer Vacation

Well 2 weeks just wasn't long enough.
I miss the ocean, the cool air and waking up to open windows.

We had so much fun on our vacation.
Hanging with family and friends.

We had art camp classes with the fabulous Paul Frank!!!

We met up with my friend Kelly and enjoyed the Renegade Craft in LA

she sat with me in the park and showed me how to granny.

We went to the beach almost everyday and when we weren't boogie

boarding we were swimming in grammys salt water pool

We explored, we had seashell hunts on the beach at sunset.

We had roasted marshmallows with family on cool nights by the fire.

The memories and fun we had as a family are ones that will stay with me always.

It just went by too fast. 

Christmas in July

I know I know it is 113* out but its nice and cold inside.

People like to get their decor in order early and I like to get out of the studio by October and spend the season with my family.

I usually sell out by the beginning of October and then I get a ton of requests to make things once November hits.  Sorry folks, I make it early and when it is gone it is gone. 

Therefore my Christmas in July kick-off.

Crochet Home for the Holiday tea light jars,

Ornaments,  woodland dress up animals so cute to adorn your tree or packages

Garlands to hang by the mantel, staircase or around the tree,

and Dear Santa advent pockets for the 12 days of Christmas.

I will be making kits this year to buy as sets for all in one decor.

Have a safe and happy 4th,  after the fireworks go off, its on to Christmas....