Holiday bustle....

The hustle and bustle is certainly here! I'm at that point where you feel like your list of things to do is growing and growing and somehow you add more than you check off...

I am super excited that I had some etsy sales this week... That always feels GREAT! I was happy to make some custom cards, I haven't made greeting cards for a while and it really felt good to play with paper and glue again. I forgot how much I enjoy doing that! It also gave me an idea for another set of cards that I want to make and list sometime early in January.

Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day for my daughters and I. We're going to see "Wicked." I think it's going to be great! (that's what I keep hearing anyway!)

Now that I've sent out my etsy orders... It's time to get back to the "unmentionable" projects... that holiday bustle is certainly here! :)

I love it when...

I love it when I check my email and I see the words "etsy transaction!" I always feel happy when someone buys something I have worked hard to create. It's a terrific feeling! :) Yesterday I saw those beautiful words and today I had the pleasure of packaging up my "shades of pink hat" (http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=6715398) and mailing it off to New York. I'm sure it will be very happy living there in the city.

Today is my birthday... Although my husband had to be away on a business trip and Leila is away at college, I had a wonderful time being spoiled by my youngest daughter, Cami. She carefully arranged a bucket of popcorn to be microwaved, my favorite candy movie treats, and the dvd "Hairspray" along with a darling note that informed me it was "girls only" night for us to celebrate my birthday. She placed it all on the kitchen table early this morning so that I would see it first thing. So sweet and it meant so much to me to see how proud she was of this. It was also nice to have Leila call me first thing in the morning to wish me a terrific day. I have such wonderful daughters! Plus, tomorrow when my husband returns home I get to celebrate all over again! I think this is going to work out VERY well! :)

It's so nice to have great family and friends! I also heard from my parents, all my sisters, and some of my wonderful friends... It's nice to feel cared about. :)

I have been busily working away on a few projects (that can't be named here.... I have to watch out for "peekers") that need to be finished by Christmas. When these are complete I am anxious to work on a few things I have dreamed up to add to my etsy site.... I love it when I get to make stuff AND it sells!

Happy Birthday...

I've been thinking a lot about my grandma today... It's her birthday today. I miss her. It's been a number of years since she passed away... but when I think of her my memories are as strong as if I last saw her yesterday.

The smell of her freshly popped popcorn, the way she'd rub her hands together, how she looked in her beautiful red coat with her squash blossom turquoise necklace, her patience and kindness to all, the way she looked at and enjoyed nature, the way she played piano and tried to teach her grandchildren, how she would tend her garden (no pesticides... just cut off those pesky grasshoppers heads with scissors specifically for this purpose!), the light in her eyes that showed her wonderful sense of humor, generosity that knew no limits, appreciation for all creatures great and small (except maybe those grasshoppers and snails).... I guess you could say I just miss everything about her... especially her patience, love, and understanding for me no matter what I did... even when I didn't deserve it.

Happy Birthday Grandma... I miss and love you very much...

Decorating & Family

What a wonderful time of year!

I get so excited to have the family together to put up our holiday decorations. We decorated the day before Thanksgiving... It was so nice to see all the beautiful, festive decorations while we enjoyed our delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Cami is always excited when Leila is home from college and they had a great time trimming the tree. I love hearing the noises of my family with beautiful Christmas music in the background... it makes me teary eyed just thinking of it!

We spent some time taking family photos for this year's holiday cards. It's always fun to see how they turn out. We have quite a few to choose from this year... it makes it easy when you have such gorgeous (not that I'm prejudiced or anything!) girls!

One of our Thanksgiving traditions is that we make/write cards to each other. It's a place to write how grateful you are for your family. It's one of my favorite and most touching moments. Leila & Cami make beautiful cards and I treasure each one I receive year after year. This year felt especially poignant to me... and I have to say again how absolutely grateful I am to have/be a part of such a wonderful family.

(Here are pictures of a couple of cards my daughters made this year...)

Holiday Tags...

Cut... cut... cut... and paste! or sew! I put together a couple set of holiday tags... Yeah! It feels good to have some cute tags ready for the holidays! I always like presents that I give to look beautiful (it's part of the gift!). The tags I made are primitive, but festive. I have to control myself so that I don't make a small project end up being the creation of some HUGE perfection driven drama. I think I did it! ... and I feel good about how they look! That's the important part!

I listed two different sets on etsy today...

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7912578

and...

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7913019

Now that I've had fun... It's time to get to the business of getting some "work" done! It's almost time to pick up Cami from school....

Today I'm Listed in Bags & Purses Showcase!

I decided to make an investment in my shop... A couple of days ago I bought a spot in the etsy showcase for bags & purses. I'm curious to see if it will increase the traffic to my shop. I hope so! This is the link for the "Gorgeous Hand Knit Cable Bag" I put in the showcase: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7843204 We'll see what happens!

Well... I'm using this blog to push myself creatively and to have a space to record what I accomplish. I am thrilled, yet nervous. It's like that feeling I get when I have a new project in my brain that I REALLY want to start ...yet.... I'm somehow apprehensive about getting all the stuff out and just getting to work. What is that? I need to stop doing that...

So... in the spirit of moving forward, today I plan on sewing up some holiday tags. (That's right... create some accountability... I hope I don't regret this later!) :)

It feels like the very first time....

I'm joining the blogger revolution... (OK... so I'm a little slow... ) :)

I am excited to have a place to record my adventures in arts and crafts! I don't quite know how it will all work yet... I'll learn as I go... I really want to make this a place where I focus on being creative. I guess it is just like the very first time! The first time I've had a blog site!