A Short Update

I just wanted to update really quick...Thank you for the kind comments and emails you've sent. They have meant so much to me and now that the initial shock of the job loss has eased a bit, I'm feeling better than I did when I last posted. So, thank you all again.

I haven't found a job yet but I know that I will - in God's time, not mine. I will keep you posted and hopefully return to sewing and crafting soon. In the meantime, have a wonderful spring!

A Different Life

I just keep dropping off the blogging world don't I? Procrastination...work...life...you name it. I read other blogs at least weekly yet it just seems hard for me to make posting a habit. That might be about to change...I don't know.

I have just joined the other hundreds of thousands of citizens who have lost their jobs due to this sad economy and I'm just now able to type these words without tears pouring down my face. I've never been down this road in my lifetime and even though I've been out of work only 2 weeks I can assure you that I will NEVER forget this feeling. I will NEVER be completely comfortable with my position or the company I work for again, even in my 16th year. I will NEVER be the same. That might not be a bad thing, as long as I find employment soon. I might be the best employee I've ever been, in the future. Right now, I'm just trying to pull my head out of the shell, get up out of the bed in the morning and put one foot in front of the other. Those have been my daily goals for the past 2 weeks. So far, I've met my 3 goals each day - but I promise you - I force myself. I've stood in line at our local job service with people who look like they've worked harder than even me to meet those 3 goals everyday. I've stood in line with a woman who was laid off in October with a severance package of a one year salary (unlike me of course) and wants to now go back to work because her husband doesn't get home until 6:30 and she's "a bit bored". (Yes, I was able to keep my lips zipped.) I've stood in line with men with a baby, and women with a baby; the luxury of a babysitter for a few hours so far out of reach. I'm (1) of a 2-person household, my high school senior being the 2nd. She's the one with a job right now. A weekend job - but a job. She worries...for me, not for herself...and I worry for her because she's worrying for me. I pray - alot. And I know prayer works, so I'll keep praying and I hope you will too. Pray for me, pray for your own job, pray that your family and relatives will be able to continue working, pray for this country, for our leadership, for the millions of people who are so depressed and down on their luck that they can't find any hope. They're out there. I've seen them...in those lines.

It's Amazing What You Can Do.....

....when you're up against the clock.

My sister had to bow out of her craft vendor spot at a festival due to sudden surgery and very kindly offered it to me.

The organizers agreed to it so there I was for two weeks, every night, sewing machine smokin' !!

I was really glad I did this because I made some great contacts and sold a lot of bags.

I had such a great time that you couldn't tell I'd slept only 7 hours for two nights prior to the festival! I was pretty tickled about that! It reminded me of 30 years ago, in my 20's, when I could work all day, stay up all night and work the next day. I was pretty darned proud of myself..........until the festival was over at 4 p.m. and somebody hit me over the head with a goofy stick.

Comatose. Head turned completely upside down. Yea....that was me! And as always, saying "never again"......until the next time.

And girls....thank you all SOOOOOO much for your comments on my last post and making me feel worthy of posting again. What kindred spirits you all are!!

A Lapse In Creativity

Where do you begin when you've been away for such a long time?!? The hot and extremely dry summer stirred little creativity within me. My brain often felt as dusty as our parched ground. (I'm talking now as if summer is completely over which I know is NOT the case, but it helps put a little spring in my step to think of autumn just around the bend.)

Months ago I began considering changing my bedroom into my sewing room and vice versa. My bedroom was larger and had brighter lighting due to the sun, windows, etc. I needed more space for fabric and tables and sewing than I needed for sleeping, so the first summer Saturday I was available to change out furniture and belongings was marked on the calendar. I anxiously awaited this adventure because I expected this move would stir some creativity back into me. Well....I guess it WOULD have, had I not totally exhausted myself for 3 weekends trying to change those blasted rooms!!!! Have you EVER thought about doing something like that? Well think again dear friends! I haven't worn myself out like that in so long. I only THOUGHT my sewing room was unorganized. After moving it across the hall I found out what true chaos is. What a job! Maybe I just have too much furniture. Too much stuff. I don't know. I didn't ask anybody to spend the day with me to help and by the time I realized I was in-over-my-head it was too late. The following (2) Saturdays were spent trying to organize it all back to some kind of order so that I could sew, JUST in case something sparked creativity again. I'm trying to get back into it now but it's harder than I expected to become accustomed to my new area. (I so badly want to call it my "studio" - but for now I just crack myself up each time I say it.)

So....I don't have much to show for the last several months other than these little curtain thingys I made for an old cabinet we use in the bathroom. I do like them though, and they were the first thing I created in my new area......my studio......no....my new area.

By the way, thank you for the emails and comments prodding me on.

Feathering The Nest

I've been feathering the nest with purses lately... oodles of them.

I was blessed with an abundance of local orders just after my last post. This brown and blue combination was the most requested order.

I had to order more of both fabrics just to fill the orders for that one and I made so many with those fabrics that one night I dreamed about some kind of family gathering and everybody in the dream was wearing clothing made of those two fabrics! There was no conversation in the dream, only smiles and silent laughter. Creepy! I think I've see this fabric toooooo much. I didn't think I dreamed in color...until that dream. I'm now preparing for our "Spring Fling" this weekend where my sister and I will have a craft tent. It's my first time selling at Spring Fling and I'm really excited about it. I've decided that even if our weather isn't that great I will enjoy myself!

While my nights and weekends have been spent crafting, I've spent my days working my regular job while watching this little wonder. (I don't know what that cord goes to but with water on the left and my door/office on the right I don't think it looks very safe. 'Em.)

The geese are nesting and this little lady is just outside of my door.

And SO is her husband!

He didn't like me at first, but when I realized I had to unlock my door every morning like lightnin' and move away from the mother of his babies, he quit squawking and coming over to my railing.

He's there every morning though as if he's counting the seconds it takes me to get in the door.

"You've got 8 steps to your door lady. I'll give you 8 seconds or I'm comin' over there!"

Once a day he talks her off the nest...

...and they go for a dip...staying within 3' of the eggs.

This love is so sweet!

Lately....

In order to help me get back into the habit of posting I'll show you a couple of things I've just completed.

These aprons were for my cousin in St. Louis who has a quaint, but hip cafe named Luvy Duvy's Cafe. If you're in that area you need to check them out. I used homespun and quilters cotton and made them reversible, with the embroidery on both sides. (By the way...I don't have an embroidery machine. A friend of mine did that for me.)

I had a custom order on my list for (3) purses and this is one of the fabric choices she made. I was playing around with my camera when I took this photo and had no intentions of putting it in a post, until I caught a glimpse of two items I purchased months ago from crafty blogging friends.

The pincushion in the upper left is one made by LeeAnn and on the right edge of the photo you can see part of the pink and blue coaster made by Karen. I use both of these great little items every time I sit at the sewing machine.

And these are the (3) purses I had the order for. The striped bag is a reversible combination she wanted but my favorite is the green with the bamboo handles. I love those colors.

This customer was very easy to work with. She didn't want any pockets or magnetic snaps, making this order easy. I was pretty amazed at how she organizes a purse. She carries three zipper pouches in a purse and she knows exactly what is in each one. Nothing is loose anywhere. When she changes purses she only has to transfer three pouches. I think I'm going to try that myself. I've been using a "Purseket" lately but it doesn't work for me in some of my purses, so maybe I need to try the idea of several pouches. I'll let you know how that goes.

Catching Up

OK. My 4-month break is over! It's time for me to get back to the real world isn't it? It isn't possible to catch you up on everything, but I'll try to hit the high spots.

November was filled with a 3-day weekend to Hazlehurst, Georgia with my mother, a 5-day trip to Maryland for Thanksgiving, and constant sewing in-between preparing for a holiday fair in early December. The holiday fair was great and worth the effort, but I still had a lot of Christmas gifts to make and very little time. Christmas arrived and everyone loved the gifts I made and for the first time in 2 months I took deep breaths. I also went into a deep hibernation.

January brought more sewing and a lot of organizing and de-cluttering - because I had made a huge mess over the two previous months! I'm finally getting back into my routine now and realizing that spring is just around the corner DOES help.

I thank each of you who have written me, asking where I am. You're all so sweet and it makes me feel good to be missed. I'm back. I've missed posting but I missed reading other posts more. I've tried to catch up over the last month or two so I'm feeling connected again. I found it to be difficult to get back into the swing of things, whether it's posting or sewing or finding my way through my schedule at home. But I'm gettin' there! Now, to share some photos.

Look at some of the goodies I received from Vallen in our November Sweet Goodness swap. Handmade tags (that I'm still too selfish to use yet)...

...a felted pin...

...and my own crown believe it or not!!! I just loved this crown.

And look at this handmade garland...love it love it!

The package from her in December was just as exciting! Handmade necklaces and a decorated box....a Japanese confetti bottle for New Years....

...a linen tablecloth and napkins with cross-stitch scenes (which I just squealed over)....

...a recipe box with some of her favorite holiday recipes, along with candy and a fantastic "food" CD she made...

...and this fantastic reversible vintage apron, which I love to wear!

Vallen is such a sweet sweet person. My packages to her were always late (in the midst of my craziness) but she is an extremely gracious lady, BESIDES being so talented. I wish you could see the crown and garland up close. They are unbelievable and have now been very carefully packed away for next Christmas. Thank you for everything Vallen!

I've been busy the last month or so making pillows, purses and aprons - mostly for friends and family - but I'll be adding to my Etsy shop very soon so I'll post some photos just around the corner.