reading and bookmarks

I love to read... I must admit to a problem though... I have a very difficult time getting anything else done if I'm in the middle of a good book (it just wouldn't be nice to leave the characters in some sort of trouble!), I'll read instead of doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

I am lucky to be able to read with Cami. I volunteer as a leader in her classes Literature Circles (like a book club). Every Friday my group of assigned kids discuss what we read the previous week and then begin the current week's assignment by reading a few pages aloud. I LOVE hearing the kids read and I feel so proud as I listen to Cami read with such expression. It's definitely one of the highlights of my week!

Well... as I was thinking of this week's assigned reading I realized I needed a bookmark. The poor lonely chocolate on my desk was just calling to be made into one. Poor little thing was just whimpering how it would love to spend it's days living vicariously through prose and fantasy. What could I do? I had to fulfill it's dream. :) The chocolate bookmark has now been added to my shop.

I hope to add a "pocket full of posies" tomorrow... That is if I'm able to finish this book..... (sigh)

magnets and volleyball

I was able to post the new set of chocolate magnets I completed yesterday! I used the magnetic board I bought from PaperRockScissorsInk to "stage" the magnets and it turned out great... The little magnets are super cute and would also be great doubling as a little needle pincushion in an embroidery floss case. They are just the cutest things to hold stuff up on the fridge or anywhere else you like to stick stuff (well....maybe not anywhere...).

I have a little book clip I hope to finish and post tomorrow... and I need to work on an order for 3 chocolate truffle pincushions. I'm going to spend a little time with scissors right now so I'll have the pieces ready to start embroidering.

Tonight is volleyball league... Yeah! I'm looking forward to a good competitive game. This will be our second week playing together this season. (This league changes teams 3 times a year.) It's a great mix of players, I think we'll have a great time. (Last season the team I was on won!) :)

I also have a two day tournament coming up, it's going to be so fun to play in a tournament again... the last one seemed so long ago (those holidays seem to play havoc with my volleyball schedule!).

It's a good day... anytime I get to create AND end the day with volleyball.... :)

buy and sell

I bought a couple of cute things from dizzybroad today... I absolutely LOVED her Easter tag and had been meaning to buy it for the past week, plus I added a couple of cute gift cards. She does such beautiful work and it will be nice to have those ready to use.

One of my chocolate truffles sold today! Yeah! It makes me so happy to be able to send another one off to a good home... :) Tomorrow I'll be adding the chocolate magnets that I finished making today. I also updated the photos on my truffle greeting cards and I'm much happier with how it looks now.

I guess overall it's been a good market day...

a break from the rain

The rain has finally ended after a FULL week! Yesterday on my way to volleyball I took a few pictures of the clouds. It was beautiful... there was a break in the rain for a couple of hours and by the time I left the gym it was raining HARD again. It was nice though, a good reason to stay in the house for the rest of the day.

Today has been lots of fun... I put together a set of greeting cards based on my photos of the chocolate truffle pin cushions. They really turned out great! I'm very happy with how they look. It feels so good to make something that you are proud of... I think these cards made me especially happy since the chocolate truffles are near and dear to my heart already! :) I think I may need to take a couple more photos though to show that the set of 3 cards are 3 different cards, not all the same image. I'll get that done tomorrow.

I got a new "toy" today as well... my SUPER, thoughtful, handsome, loving, husband (think this is enough kiss up?) bought me something that I've been REALLY wanting.... bamboo fun (pen tablet)! I just finished hooking it up and I can't wait to start creating fun things with it. Just using it for the day to day function of getting around the computer will be a blast. :) You know what? I am a complete gadget freak AND nerd!

Well... I'm really looking forward to finishing a couple more projects tomorrow AND organizing my office a little (I need to create a good workspace for my "bamboo fun"). It will also be nice to have the sun shining into my office, another day's break from the rain. :)

it's nice to relax

I have a hard time sleeping in... but today, I wasn't in a rush to get dressed and "get going". I wandered around in my robe, worked on a new set of chocolate tags, took pictures of them, posted them... what a nice way to start a Saturday morning! After having breakfast with Cami it was time to get dressed, but weekend dressed, you know, comfy pants and shirt, the kind you don't really plan on leaving the house in.

This afternoon has been just as relaxing... I cut out some more felt pieces to create another part of the "chocolate collection". I'm going to work on them while I catch up on some dvr recordings. I also pulled out my knitting bag... I am almost done with a BIG project for an upcoming holiday (pix & details after "the" holiday so I don't ruin the surprise for anyone) so I think I'll work on that a little as well.

It's getting cloudy again outside (ANOTHER big storm is supposed to hit tonight), it was sure nice to see the sun for a little while this morning. I must admit though that the cloudiness and oncoming storm feeling is definitely contributing to that "let's just stay in" attitude.

It's just soooo nice to relax....

raindrops keep falling on my head

My... it sure has been raining alot this week! The pool has become an "infinity" type pool... We're getting a little break right now but a new storm is expected tomorrow! I do love the rain... and last year we had a drought... I guess we're trying to make up for that all in one week! I just hope that no major mudslides are a result of all this rain.

I am sooo excited I had four items sell yesterday!!!! I really love that! One of the items that sold was the chocolate truffle tags. I'm going to make a new batch of them up to post PLUS I'm working on another chocolate related item that I hope to have ready soon. I'm really having fun with the chocolate theme. :)

I feel so lucky to be doing what I love.... to be able to "work" at home (chief operating officer, if anyone asks...), be creative and "run" my etsy business, AND play volleyball a few times a week! I definitely have nothing to complain about! (even when raindrops are falling on my head) :)

my showcase day

Today I have a spot in the Valentine's Showcase. I was happy to see how many views my chocolates were getting. I was also able to list the newest white chocolate with milk and dark chocolate heart accents. It is really cute, I am very happy with how it turned out. I am almost finished with a dark chocolate, I may be able to finish it tonight.

I am also working on a custom order! Yeah! I should have that finished and ready to post tomorrow as well. I am feeling very productive and excited to be making progress on my "list" of projects I want to get to...

I look forward to having more showcase days.

the party's over

Cami's birthday party was great! All the kids had a great time... They played "Rock Band", made snowglobes with photos of themselves and decorated the opposite side, made bracelets, and just had fun! We had a dvd playing as the kids arrived that had clips from Cami's 10th birthday party... it was amazing to see how the girls have grown in just one year. My baby's growing up. (sniff, sniff.)

Today I've been busy getting a few "sold" (YEAH!) items ready for shipping... I'll be off to the post office tomorrow to send them away to their new homes. :) I also was able to work on something I've been wanting to work on for a few days: chocolate truffle tags! I played around a little with how best to make the chocolate three dimensional, and now I believe I have it! I just listed a set of three tags. I also have two chocolate tops appliqued and now I need to put the pieces together so I can get those listed as well... I have a Valentine showcase tomorrow and I am hoping I'll get lots of interest in my little chocolates!

Back to school tomorrow for Cami... the party is DEFINITELY over!

busy, busy

Tomorrow is Cami's birthday party! Today I have been running around trying to get everything set... Had to get the rest of the supplies for the girls to make snowglobes (this year's theme) plus all the food items, cake, etc. Now I have to finish with the housework.

I did get the last two dress cards listed today. Yeah! I can't wait to work on my next project. I still have some chocolates to sew up but I have some more paper items in mind to make and list next week. I love looking forward to new things!

Well I better leave my little studio right now and get back to the business at hand!

(btw... the soup yesterday was DEE-licious!) :)

it smells sooo good

I am getting very hungry.... it's because of the smell... I put lots of good stuff into the slow cooker this morning, and boy, is it creating a delicious aroma. I'm using a honeybaked ham bone that I have had sitting in the freezer for awhile. It's going to be a bean and ham soup, perfect for a cool, windy day! I can't wait to taste it...

I have been busy creating a series of dress cards today. I retook photos of one of the cards to better show it's dimension and beauty as well as created 3 additional cards with different backgrounds. I have two listed so far and I will list the other two later today or tomorrow. I love how the fabric gives such life to the cards!

I also cut out some more pieces for additional chocolates... Now it's time to start stitching them up! I will work on that while I wait in the car for Cami to get out of school. (Isn't it amazing how many things you can get done while you wait places? Definitely a lot of time spent waiting!)

Today is the first day Cami wore her glasses to school. Yesterday she felt very self conscious about them and wanted her old glasses. I did convince her to take the new ones to school so she could show her friends to see what they thought. Luckily, after much drama, she seems to think that they'll do! :P Whew!

...now to go and check on that soup... I can hardly wait for dinner!

kinda blah

Today has been one of those days where I can't seem to get myself going. I feel a little under the weather, not bad enough to be in bed, but not feeling great either. Needless to say, I was not very productive. I did take an hour to catch up on watching the Sara Connor Chronicles... so I guess all wasn't lost! :)

Cami got her new glasses today! Super, duper cute! They fit her so well and seem to express her personality. I think they show off her beautiful brown eyes as well! The best part of it is... she can see again! When we watch American Idol together tonight she'll be able to read the names of the contestants...

Mmmmm.... more chocolate

Today I finished making the white chocolate with milk and dark chocolate accents... This is the fifth one I have made. I was fantasizing today how lovely they would look on the coffee table. A little box of handmade chocolate. Yummy... and NO calories (hopefully no one REALLY tries to eat them)!

Yesterday I decided to offer a special on the truffles. It's my "sweets for the sweet" sale on etsy. Buy one truffle and get any others at a reduced price. It's a pretty s-w-e-e-t deal! It will run for 10 days. I'm excited to see how it goes. I sure hope that others are as excited about these little chocolates as I am! Valentine's Day is coming up... how can someone not think of or get excited about chocolate?!

My sister, Heather, called me today! She just opened her own etsy shop... She is so talented! I can't wait to see the things she lists! (I'll give the link as soon as she lists her first things.) Her shop is still in the building process. I am very happy that she's going to be a fellow etsian!

Afternoon bliss...

I love the temperature today... It's 75, sunny and perfect. One of those days you really appreciate in the middle of winter! I was able to sit outside for awhile this afternoon and work on my latest chocolate truffle pin cushion. (I'll be listing it tomorrow.) It's the perfect weather for daydreaming and naptaking... :)

I am so happy that my husband has finally recovered from the two surgeries he had last October and is back to work in the office (he had been working out of the house). It's funny how I was unable to be as productive although he never was demanding... I think I was distracted. It's so nice to have the stress of that time past.

My youngest daughter, Cami, is having her birthday party this coming Saturday. She'll turn 11 on the 20th. (Where has the time gone?) I'll be busy during the week, preparing and making sure all is set! This year she has invited 9 girls and we have planned some fun craft projects as well as video game playing... The girls will play Rock Band! I love that game! :) I'm going to have to control myself from saying, "my turn!"

My goal for this week is to make at least a couple of brand new items. And of course... most importantly... make the best birthday and birthday party ever for Cami!

The best day...

I had the best day Thursday... why?, you ask... well... I spent the day creating!!!! :)

I made another chocolate for my collection and also created a series of magnet sets. The magnet sets were a project I started on when I was getting ready to throw out last year's calendar... I had the realization that there were some terrific images that could have a second life! I really get enjoyment out of finding some way to recycle things, even if it's just a small item in one of my projects. The problem with this might be all the stuff I have sitting in my studio all waiting for this chance! I'm going to have to work faster so they all have a chance at their next life! :)

I'm looking forward to making and adding more chocolates to my shop next week... I have a dark and white chocolate in the works. Here's to more "best days" next week...

Chocolate creates a "yummy" feeling....

I have always enjoyed eating chocolate.... there's just something about it that makes you happy! Well... now I've found that making faux chocolate is ALMOST as good as the real thing!

I have had lots of fun over the last couple of days playing with a new creation... it's now done and listed at my etsy shop. (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8811104) I made a cute litte pin cushion that looks like a chocolate. I can hardly wait to make more now that I am happy with the first one. I'd like to surround myself with chocolates!!!! :)

I have to remember this feeling and push myself to keep striving for it by being creative and putting into reality the ideas that pop into my head. Now for that piece of chocolate...

A New Year to Create

2008.... It's a new year! A time for me to create!

I am so excited to have a fresh slate to start this year out with. It's my blank canvas just waiting for me to attack it with many mediums, colors, and ideas. No proscratination.... (admittedly a problem). This year I won't just let ideas fly out of my head with no sketch to anchor them... I'll carry a sketch pad AND I will sketch! I will add more art to my etsy shop. These are just a few of the creative side of my new years goals. I have MANY personal and family goals that I will strive to accomplish this year too.

I feel excited, nervous, and full of anticipation as I look at the canvas ahead of me, waiting for my mark, waiting for me to make a year to remember.