the easiest way to my dream.

It has been a nice weekend.  Family time. Shopping (most of my list is purchased AND wrapped!!). The house is all Christmased up! WITH a tree this year!  How could I NOT have a tree last year! Ben will be returning home with Z tonight.  I hope to get more of the house cleaned before they get here.  And I really have to start on those craft show crafts!

I have an unsent email sitting there under my gmail tab to ABC's SharkTank.  I have to craft it just right so that they contact me.. and I get on the show and Barbara gives me lots of start-up money and a piece of her business know-how.  But I don't want to say too much so that some $12 an hour assistant runs away with my idea. It's in the Lord's hands anyway. right!  Funny how quickly that can escape one.

here's mine.

i am thankful that I finally spilled over to page two on my etsy site.  I hate listing my stuff... so much work!
i am thankful for locust street and having an outlet and for the handful of people who "get" it and have gotten it.
i am thankful for the little boy upstairs dreaming of robots and lumberjacks. and the little girl upstairs dreaming up new songs to sing tomorrow.
i am thankful for a creator savior God who I can relate too. Especially his experience with being let down by those closest to him and the loneliness that may have caused. He understands. He knows. He conquers.
i am thankful for a husband who gets up and goes to work even when he doesn't want to so that we can pay bills and i can stay home.
i am thankful that since getting my cat neutered he hasn't shown any signs of attacking my other cat.
i am thankful for all 350 people who bought concert tickets so that I don't have to worry about it.
i am thankful for the "planning" outlet directing momtime gives me.
i am thankful for friends that i can be completely honest with and can tell me that they've been there too.
i am thankful for music... and the continually inspiration the Lord gives others for new songs.
i am thankful for all of the people away from home now to "defend" our country whether or not we should actually be there.
i am thankful that even if I don't have anymore kids, Kate will have a "sister" in her cousin who's almost the same age.
i am thankful that i have a warm bed i can run to now.

In the middle of it

Just purchased Waterdeeps new album "In the Middle of It"

I have been a big fan of Waterdeep since freshman year in college in '98. There has been a small hole in my life since loosing my copy of You Were at the Time for Love.  I don't own all of their albums.. but enough to know that when this one was announced I was definitely in the mood to add to my collection. For the first two days I played it in the background of life.. underneath the pleas for goldfish and juice and the hum of the dishwasher.  I wasn't too excited about it.  But last night I finally got to sit down a work on my journals with my headphones on and boy was I pleasantly surprised!

The first few seconds you do a double take to make sure you hit the right button.... yup.. it's waterdeep.. interesting... computer synth... Happen Every Time.  Some of Don's great story telling.  Some of my favorite lyrics. You ought to know when you own a siberian tiger and they want to pet it that it's only an innocent query and you don't have to let it. 

You don't wait too long to get Lori rocking in her usual style. Couple Cheap Rings made interesting with Don in the background.

Your head  is still nodding as Don continues with Haven't You Always.  A bit of southern rock. And for awhile no one was boring. 

Lori's turn again on Falling. a dark rock feeling.

Peter Gabrielle? Nope.. still Waterdeep. Needs A Break  More great story telling. More complex. I don't remember thinking that their other albums had this much going on.

First thought is Gran Torino. Can't help it. Tools in the Garage. Very catchy.

Gimme My Walkman. I've already heard that this is a favorite of many. Not mine. Maybe because I don't relate to it. Maybe because I'm now the "mom."  Gimme My Walkman back so I don't have to listen to the fights you have with dad. 

We're Not Gonna.  More Lori and her sass.

I'm Gonna Love You.  More Lori and her dark rock.

One of my favorites. Only One Time. Love the words.. love the progression. One of the softer songs on the album.  Only one time and then I said no but everything I believe is tainted by that one moment of weakness like watching a greyhound leave. 

In the Middle of It   A hint of country boy. Lighthearted.Fun.

Difference Between  Lori reminding me a little of Edie Brickell for a moment. Smooth.

Another favorite. I'm a sucker for mellow. Their "Grey's Anatomy" song. Rivers Rise.  The piano adds just the right touch. and then the strings. beautiful.

And ending just lovely. Easy Baby. I've learned twice as much from sorrow as I've learned during all my days of study

Picking up this album is a no-brainer for Waterdeep fans.... a good mix of what we've always loved and some new surprises.  My only regret was not getting the "deluxe" option.  I'd love to hear the interview.

milestone!

Finally reached 50 shop hearts!  I was getting over 10 a week before I stopped advertising (to work on building inventory... which is still not up on etsy!)  So to celebrate the next person who buys an inked journal gets it half off (get it... 50%...50 hearts... okay...;) )  If there is no shop announcement then someone beat you to it!

http://locustst.etsy.com

just got back....

from the library.

I checked out every. single. book. they had on small businesses!

The library will offer no small business resource help for anyone in the vicinity for the next three months. Sorry potential business owner.

There's a lady who started a business with her husband like twenty years ago who goes to my church.  I've just met her this week. I want to see if I can meet with her... for kind of a mentor or something... and had the PERFECT opportunity today... perfect... but I lost my nerve.  I don't know what I'm scared of... rejection? being told my idea is dumb? or that I can't pull it off?  that I'm too ignorant?  I don't know. I'll read a few books and maybe email her soon.  The realtor covering the storefront I covet hasn't gotten back to me on prices yet.  I feel like I'm out of my element even talking to him.

And Kate decided to dress herself this morning...

I remember with Zachariah... when he was even remotely close to the next age.. both month-wise and year-wise I would always round up.  With Kate it's the opposite.  I still love thinking of her as my "one year old" even if she'll be two in a few weeks. 

My goal is to finish my china journals.. TODAY! Off to work!

The Next Show

In two weeks (wow two weeks.. LOTS to do!!!) I will be doing another show.  They sent us "postcards" to print off and pass around.  I was excited to see what they did with it because I've seen some really cute craftshow ads at nokomis.  Once it came in the ole inbox I opened her up to find that it was just the basic information written in comic sans font.  Wow. Really?  That's how you're going to woo the masses into coming to the show? Comic Sans?

So I ordered a 100 free postcards. I choose the slowest shipping.. but it should hopefully still be here in time.

 

My only gripe was the back... I sat there for a long time trying to make all the names look nice and this is the best I could do.  I can't stand to look at it for more than a second.  But it should atleast get the job done! 

And I won't have to waste my precious ink and paper printing off Comic Sans!!

I will shamelessly plug Vista Print because they've done such a great job on the two orders of business cards I've ordered (both FREE just paid a few bucks shipping!) If you want to check them out there's a link on the right side of my blog... just scroll down a bit. 

I can't fight this feeling anymore...

So I obsessed for awhile.. and then I got busy and it went away... and then I read this blog post and it came back.   I REALLY REALLY want to own an "occasional" handmade shop.  Like almost a NEED.  And I want to do craft classes/open crafting time in the back.  I have another business idea that I'm throwing around which would fit into this too.   The only thing stopping me is money.  I have none.  Literally... NONE. Not five bucks to throw at it.  How do normal poor people do this business thing?

we've only just begun...

ahhh karen.

This past weekend I had my first "real" craft show.

I was pretty disappointed with the outcome. But it is a learning experience.  I've signed up to do another one a lot closer to where I live Dec 5th. I'm going to make a bunch of Christmas stuff for that one. (Do you ever see a picture of yourself and just get sick to your stomach at how you look!! The pictures my mom took of me at the show reminded me of how much I NEED to get back to they gym.. totally gross. I don't even want to leave the house until twenty pounds are off! You don't get to see the photos in question!)

I am planning on sending a few of the notebooks to a shop in Ely.And will slowly be posting a bunch on Etsy. I really don't enjoy that process.  Here is the one I posted tonight...

The kids were so endlessly naughty this morning... I finally sent them outside.  I love it when they get along. Zachariah was trying to teach Kate how to ride a bike. He'd let go and shout "now pedal your feet!! pedal!! pedal!" She didn't quite get it though.

less than twenty-four hours to go!

I have been burning the midnight oil all week getting ready for tomorrow's show!  I only got done about 60% of what I had planned... but I'm comfortable that I have enough.  Today I need to sew up the table cloth tops and make some signs... stuff like that.

If you're in the Minneapolis area tomorrow check out:

And no matter where you reside.  The Handmade MN etsy team is having an online sale today through sunday.

http://etsymn.blogspot.com/2009/11/handmademn-holiday-sale-november...