My first treasury

I was included in a treasury this week! Check it out!

And I had my first business meeting with my business partner yesterday... and plan on meeting with her again tonight before she flies back to California. Lots and lots to do.  Just wish we could come up with a name!

I'm hoping to pick up a bunch of shelving units this week and organize the basement!! My crafting space organized?!?... a little tear is forming in my eye.

interview

My interview with storybeader came out today!! http://www.storybeader.com

I tried to stock up my shop some more for it but still have many many notebooks that I haven't had time to put up yet!

If you found my blog from that site then "Hello!" :)

lets get rich find away around setting up pins and knocking them down

What do I write about? The concert? The new albums I'm listening to for the first time? That I forgot to wake ben up early and he was late for an early meeting??

We had Sara Groves and her crew come to our church last night for their O Holy Night tour.  About as nice of people as you could possibly hope to meet. And they made my job as one "in charge" so completely easy. I was able to see why her songs are so real because she genuinely listens to people...feels for them. A little pixie of compassion.  We had a sold out show. Every seat taken...okay so I church isn't huge...but it sounds cool. Songs from her Christmas album... a few songs from fireflies and songs....stories of Santa coming through the gravity furnace... Christmas sing-a-long in faux candlelight... a few songs from Melody Olson and a phone conversation with an ex-prisoner touched by Sara's grandparents ministry.  People definitely got their money's worth. And left saying "I knew it would be good... but it was GREAT!"  There are only four more dates... check it out if you're in the vicinity.

I'm going to give fireflies and songs a few more listens and then I'll let you know what I think.  And also station wagon: songs for parents it's old but produced by dan chaffer. One of my all time dream mixes happened four years ago and I didn't even know!

Chickity china

I made a set of notebooks for an etsy buyer to give her son/granddaughter who were going to China.  She found them satisfactory enough to refer a friend who requested a Germany journal for her daughter.  So I'm going to be doing that this week!

Here are a few shots of the Chinese ones. The large one was 8x8 the small one 6x6. Old old map of china underneath the inked covers. A few different pockets.  A map of the city subway. Their name in chinese. Other random things.

love helping out

Don't know why I didn't think of it sooner!...

I have a few friends who are active missionaries.  The Annands who are in Guatemala with YWAM doing everything in the world there and being such a great family to look up to. And Tony who has been with YWAM pretty much since I did a DTS in 2002 (where I met him) and is going back to the LA base to staff a school.  A little part of me is jealous of them and the work they are doing.. and when I say *little* I mean *big* and when I say *jealous* I mean a good jealous.

I want to financially support both of them but need to sit down with the bank statements and get a better budget down... which ends up making that a "sometime soon" event.  But I wanted to do something right NOW. So I am donating 40% of any etsy sale that has either of their name in the buyer "notes" to them.  Through Dec 31st and if it works we'll go further.  So if you know them....  Or if you don't know them but would still like to support them... now you know how!

weekend in review

friday.. stayed up past 2am getting ready for the show.
saturday... spent all day at the show... it was more of a home business show than a craft show. Sales were embarrassingly low and had me swearing off crafting for the rest of my life.  Okay not really.  But it was disappointing.  I ended up giving away more Christmas stuff than I sold because what-in-the-heck can I do with it now! I did make enough to finally print my stupid legal ad in the paper.. but what an annoying thing to have to spend money on.
The experience did however get me motivated to get rolling on business idea #2.
(oh and Katie.. if you read this... I lost your check in the garbage!..oops!)
sunday... Got a message from a girl I worked with at camp six years ago... she saw a blurb on my business idea #2 and has been working on getting started on basically the EXACT same thing for a year!  We are talking about joining forces and becoming business partners and doing this thing. It's such a crazy God thing that I can't even wrap my mind around it. She's in California. Very excited to see what God has in store! Reading business nap-envoking books now to learn about all the legalities.  yuck. Who decided to make everything so dang complicated.

Got a random etsy sale tonight from out east.  Have another person from England interested in a journal.  The Lord knew that I needed that confidence boost.   It feels good to have the show done.  I feel way more relaxed now.  Able to slow up and work on what I want to work on.  I'd like to get back to making "real" books again with signatures etc. And I'd like to get my stamp stuff out and create a few handmade stamps. I got a few more art books from a few friends that I'd like to go through and make some larger journals with.

Kate turns two on thursday!! She always gets the short end of the stick birthday-wise.  But I'm sure that will change when she gets older.  For now they are low key... much like she is.  I am just loving getting to know her though.  She is such a fun little girl.  Nothing gets by her. And she can hold a normal conversation already.

Next week is the Sara Groves concert! It's always seems far into the future.. and here it is!  Everything's on course for a great night.

Where did the weekend go?

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...

You would be so pleased with all the cleaning I got done yesterday... amazing what a fight with your husband can do for the house!

Time is going to fly by with all that I need to get done for the show in November!!   I will dance around the house if I can get all of my journal covers done today! I ordered some business cards yesterday... I think they look fine for wanting them fast with little effort.. but I will definitely be creating my own design sometime when I have more time. A little hard to read on here...

Last week I got my locket in the mail.  My first etsy purchase that wasn't supplies...

From uniqueartpendants  in the twin cities.  Some of her jewelry is to be featured at the Walker!

Fight Like Armies.

I am dwelling in the comfy-ness of the day. I'm trying to enjoy the snow as if it were December 23rd and not October 23rd.  There's no place I need to be.  Kids are napping... I can go finish my cash apron. and once I finish my cash apron I can show you! It's made out of a paper bag... and has a zipper! I don't know how you can handle the excitement and anticipation of a revealing like that... but you will have to handle it some how... (I may suggestion...chocolate cake or a fruit tart from Whole Foods)...because I'm not quite finished.

I was asked to sell my journals in another shop! I'm waiting on the details but it's always nice to have that confirmation! I wish I could crank them out faster.. but there's always so much to do like... facebook.

I was "dismissed" from my wah phone job this week... and rightly so.  I was missing a bunch of hours and didn't always read the script.. and when I was "didn't always" I mean "almost never".   If you would have called in and got me you would have loved me!! No additional offers for magazines... or discount clubs... or insurance information after your TimeLife Sweet Sounds of the Seventies order... unfortunately the magazines...discount clubs and insurance companies didn't love that they were paying to have something said that wasn't.  So I had to go.  Anyone need a Plantoronic t10 phone and headset?  

three cheers for productivity!

Found my camera cord! yea! So I added a few pictures to my previous post.

I had a special request for another inked notebook so I took the liberty to get out the inks last night and start on some more notebook covers.

 

yeah.. I got a little obsessed with the ink dropped ones.

Then today a few of them grew into notebooks.

He worked..I worked.. It worked.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I will openly admit that I listened to Christmas Music all yesterday as it snowed.  It put me in a creating mood. And I got some more work on my journal covers done!

These journals are such a long process.  I am considering a few shows.  One that I was accepted in is Nokomis in Minneapolis. But in order to do that one I need a tax id.  Which means I first need to file my name with the state.  I'll be doing that tomorrow.  Kind of fun to be a "business owner"... even if the business is so small an ant could wear it for a hat.  I'm trying to think of how to balance shows.. there's a smaller one a half hour from here... but what if I sell a lot there and don't have enough for minneapolis? Not that I think I'd sell out or anything.. but what if just the "best" were sold and I'm only bringing up the mediocre ones to minneapolis... not that I intentionally make worse ones.. I just have my favorites... although my least favorites seem to be the ones that sell quicker.. hmmm.  I think I would rather get "in" the twin cities crowd...maybe? decisions decisions.  And that would give me more time to get ready too without worrying about doing two shows.  Thanks for helping me out with this decision. I wish I had someone to go with me though.  It feels little overwhelming to do it by myself!

I should be starting to sell the concert tickets by this weekend which I am PUMPED about.  I've been spinning my wheels waiting for this to get underway! And I talk to the CBS group tomorrow about Momtime. (and I still haven't done my cbs lesson for tomorrow! I've been rubish at doing my lessons this year.) So I think maybe I'll feel a little less anxious next week with this stuff off my plate. When I get anxious I don't feel like doing anything... and anything I do feels like I'm moving through wet cement or something.

I'm starting to spend WAY too much time in the etsy forums. 

But isn't this the cutest!!!

Jumping Jasper, a Grasshopper Pull Toy in Maple and Walnut  TheWoodGarden

Giveaway for knitware

I ran across this giveaway for a knit necklet at kerreraskye.  She is wondering if she should stop her contests because she doesn't get that many entrants.. but her stuff is very original!  Leave her a comment if you would like to win!

three weeks and no ideas.

Halloween isn't "my" holiday.  I'm not one of those people who goes crazy over the top for "satan's holiday"- ha. But I would like to come up with a decent costume for Z.  Last year he asked to be a robot and I tried to change his mind at first but there was no changing so I created one.. and it was pretty fun.. and won a small town costume contest.  This year I can't think of ANYTHING. I considered having the kids be a washer and dryer.. but I've learned from previous experience (walking all the way up and down Grand Ave, St Paul carrying "zachariah robot") that box costumes do not have a long wear time.

(minus a few details)

I started to make the covers to a new batch of journals last night while listening to the twins WIN on the radio!! After I finished my first batch I was a little burnt out by them... but I have an excitement back about it.  Which is wonderful.  I never want this to feel like a job.

And I got a bunch done for the Sara Grove's concert yesterday during preschool.  Hopefully I'll have the tickets made and possibly printed today which means that I can turn into a selling machine... I'm SO ready to become a selling machine! itickets is all set up to take orders but there's a starting fee of $4 to order through them! Crazy! So I don't think we'll be doing much through them.

oh the finds there are to find.

Yesterday the library had a book sale... One of those "everybody bring in your books you don't want" and they sell them to raise money.   And oh did I buy! Off the top of my head... I got an atlas, a dictionary, some sheet music books, a few more art books, an oversized book of only new york times front pages from1920-1975, some old books to make "hollowed out books" (I've always wanted to do that) and what I'm most excited about...a  set of five "albums of american history" published in the 40's... five encyclopedia type books of nothing but  great great black and white pictures. I have Ephemera coming out my ears now.. in such a great way! (I took some pictures so that you could share in the excitement.. but I can't find the camera-to-computer cord.)  I would be one happy girl if I could have hours upon uninterrupted hours to just sit down here and make some more journals.  But alas I have more important things to take care of in the form of small human beings.One whom has a cough so I don't think we'll be making church today.

I spent last night prototyping a christmas tree banner/garland.  I'm going to go try it out on the small evergreen in the backyard.

Some days are just good days. Today. Today is a good day.

Momtime was good today... we're growing and the women that are coming are just great women. And I was called by a community bible study leader yesterday wanting me to speak about the momtime group in a few weeks in front of the whole group! So that may bring more women in. I don't want a huge group to have a a huge group... I really want to bless the mothers of the community by providing a place of friendship and a time that they can experience God. And the Sara Groves project is moving forward. And the timing of my talk to cbs will match with when I will hopefully start advertising for Sara. I'm praying that the show sells out quickly.

And I received a message last night asking if I would like to sell a few of my journals on consignment here.

Ummmmmm... YES!!! What a charge to have some confirmation that I'm good at doing something...and that something happens to be the thing I love to do.

My first week on etsy has been great. Two sales and this opportunity. I need to decide which ones I'm going to send and the price. The journals take so much time to make that I really don't make much money off of them when it comes down to dollars/hour but it's better than making nothing watching tv... or...cleaning the house. And I should make more sooner than I was planning on. The library has a used book sale tomorrow.. must go see if there are any books that have collage worthy pictures! I'm really excited to start some of my christmas things. I need to finish the banner I showed last time. And I'm working on a mini banner right now. Which lead me to needing some fibers... which lead me to this shop which just makes me so anxious... the good overwhelming can't-wait-to-get-my-hands-on-this-and-make-something anxious. Just beautiful fibers.

She has a sale going on right now. www.beckandcallgirl.etsy.com

My sister is coming down for the weekend. If our children aren't too crazy maybe we can do some creating!

I am having a 20% off sale in my shop this weekend! Any journals not sold may have the chance of being shipped up to northern mn come Monday! Get them while they're still there!

Happy Weekend!

so that's how they do that!

I was wondering how people get those beautiful bright white background pictures... a light tent!  See all the things I'm learning!

Here's a great tutorial I'm going to try soon!  Most of the things I'm making now would be too big for this... but I should probably retake some of my journal pictures.  I'm sure my little kodak and his big expensive camera are pretty competitive in outcome.  It's all about the light tent....right!...right?....

Am I really going to be this cold for the next six months??

Listening to my son play his guitar and sing upstairs... he doesn't know I can hear him. I hope I will hear the same thing 15 years from now.

I've been enjoying life with family lately. Trying to capture the "little things" that are so special.  Birthday parties... walks at the nature center... Kate asking me this morning "More sugar please mommy!" Is my baby really old enough to be holding conversations in full sentences. Although sometimes it starts turning into the final six minutes of the series finale on "Six Feet Under" in my mind.

I'm starting to want a "number three".  Maybe it's because I'm thrown off my usual cycle.. every other year around this time I've been in my third trimester and getting ready for a little one... 05, 07..... no 09.... I want an 09.  No babies to cuddle with this winter.  No nursing babies! This is the first winter in four years I haven't nursed. Is that a weird thing to dwell on...

Between working on Christmas crafts last night and having community bible study be on the birth of Christ can you tell what I was thinking about during lecture today?

And yes, that IS a Brambleberry Grace painting above the fireplace!

Here is the banner I worked on last night... going to make a few minor adjustments and let it marinate on my piano for a few more days to see if I want to do anything else.. and then I will call it done... besides the small stars that I'm waiting to come from Istanbul.  I'm in a banner mood this christmas... so I will probably be making a lot of banners... mostly with christmas hymns or bible verses.

the flood gate has opened.

I love how when you start being creative you get a little better at it... or it starts coming a little easier.. or something.  I need to keep checking my attitude and priorities.. because the selfish me just wants to work on my little crafty do-dads... and not say... clean the house or play with the kids. So tomorrow is "clean the house day".. which the "getting sick of a nasty nasty house" part of me is rejoicing over... but not the "but.. what!?!..wait a minute... that means I can't craft as much!!!.."part of me.

Here are a few things I did tonight while working...

well darn.. my camera battery went dead so I can't get the pictures off.

We'll have to revert to radio days when words were enough...

I finally got of my adirondack alcohol inks and played around with them just a little.  Made three small journals with transparency covers with alcohol ink covering them.  Second page that you can see through the transparency page is a piece of sheet music.  I may see if my mom has a heart dyecut and cut a small heart in each cover making it "love notes".  It was fun doing something different.. and making a journal that didn't take hours to do!

and then I made a business card holder cut out of a fruit snack box and covered in paper and of course inked a little. Haven't decided if I'm going to cover it in tape or not.  You will have to wait for tomorrow to see!

no longer a girl... but a woman...

I have made the transformation in my craft career... Today I made my first etsy sales!! One was from a fellow minnesotan whom found me on the Handmade Minnesota blog.  And one was through facebook from a friend from Camfel.  So exciting. Do you always remember your first etsy sale?  I'm sure you do if it is also your last. I hope to keep the creative juices flowing a keep this up.

In the dreaming stages of doing a cute little invitation only juried craft sale in November. In talks with a friend about it. Could be lots of fun!!  And boy do I LOVE planning!!

It took most of the day but I got all of my journals posted on etsy!whew!

it's official!

I now have an etsy site! With ONE whole thing listed! Yea! Tomorrow I need to take pictures of the rest of my journals.  Posting is an exhausting task.  Have been excited about the good feedback I've gotten from refest visitors. And a bit surprised that my hand drawn covers are favored over the others.  There is a possibility of selling at Johnny Appleseed Days in Lake City with a friend.  We'll see!  Would love to actually attend an event.  

www.locustst.etsy.com

sneak peek.

Almost finished four "old leona's"... long skinny journals made from the white paper scraps of my other journals.  The one of the left is finished.  The others just need lamination and binding.

Refest came and went. And I still have a stack of journals.  Which I'm actually excited about.. because I really wanted to open my etsy shop.  My friends were disappointed in the lack of sales at our table.  We'll just have to try again.  And I do want to try again.  I was told that a lot of people liked my journals so that is encouraging.

I just have to take really nice pictures of them now.. which I'm not looking forward to.  I'm going to research etsy tips on picture taking for the shop.

In the meantime I should mention my fascination for regina spektor this week.  I'm looking forward to going wild and crazy on itunes one of these days and getting myself a few of her songs.  Any must haves to recommend??

Normally I daydream about having time to craft... Now I have an excuse to craft (that means my husband won't get too mad at me for doing it during the day) and I'm doing everything but!! because a deadline makes it feel like homework.  How am I ever going to get them done by tomorrow!!  People have offered to help but there's really nothing that anyone can do but me because I only have one binding machine and an overt need to be in control.

work space

I have today and tomorrow to finish the journals for refest!!  I'm still in cover making mode... here's what my basement work area looks like...

A few of my finished covers...lighting is bad down there. I started layering "famous pictures" on top of each other for some of them. 

All my pages are together in groups but still need to be punched...

And this is what my table looks like.. I am just working right over the top.  These journals are a bit all over the place... so maybe this mess is inspiration.  I'm working on the waxed paper.

No time to fool around!

I still need to make tags too... and I was going to make some really long skinny ones out of the scraps for really cheap.

And I still need to figure out a price!! they're about 5 1/2x 4  1inch thick of random papers, drawings, inked papers, stamped papers.  All completely one of a kind.  suggestions??

Zachariah was being mean to Kate. "Zachariah, you need to be nice to Kate... you're the big brother... you need to protect her." "I don't wanna be the big brother!! I want to be the BAD brother!!"

That pretty much sums up my day.

finished one journal tonight 1/21.  I've gotta get moving!

new trinkets

Because I live in a small town it is a treat of all treats to go to "the cities" and get to some of the art/craft stores. Dick Blick and Archivers are next door to each other in Roseville which is more than convenient (also next door to a consignment shop which held, up until a few hours ago, a silver dish marked down to $1.18 which now resides in said small town). I wanted to make it to this wonderful art store on Grand-- which my sister literally lives a few short blocks away from (she also lives directly across the street from whole foods... I wouldn't have enough will power if I lived there)-- but was too tired to make the walk.

I got a lino cutter, they didn't have the stamp medium I was looking for but I got some ez cut printing block... is that going to work for stamp making?? from Blick. And Archivers had the felt ink applicator tool I was looking for.. on 75% clearance! The dumb thing is I only got one! I should have gotten three so that I didn't need to trade them out when working with multiple colors. So I'll have to experiment more with my distress inks which I've basically only been using like regular inks thus far. I also need to start working with my adirondack alcohol inks that I splurged on and then never even opened. I got a package of mini misters... way too expensive for what they are... but I couldn't help myself. Finally got a bone folder! I've wanted one for so long! And a few more wires for my journals since they are still on clearance. If I lived closer I'd be purusing their clearance section frequently to snatch up all the 75% off goodies.. maybe it's a good thing I don't live too close.

We've been going to como park all summer since zachariah got a season pass for the rides they have there. Today for the first time he went on a few of the "bigger" rides. It was neat to see him growing up... but sad because it was a very tangible way of seeing my little boy becoming not as little.

No big plans for the weekend. Need to keep working on these journals. A little scary to start working on the covers.

Worship at 8500 has been scheduled already for next summer. The place they're having it this time has a trout lake. Without hesitation Ben said "we going" when he heard that.

Moving In

My new home! Hopefully I will have some finished projects to post soon. I am working on some brown bag journals for refest right now. I only have two weeks left and lots to do!

Currently they look like this...



Which took several episodes of my favorite tv programing and some late night talk shows that I'm usually not up late enough to see to do.

I also need to work on the banner... for this and etsy. And the momtime website needs to be redone.. it's terribly pink right now. I can not say "yes" to anything else this fall! I need to leave some mental-health-creating-time... but yet the calendar gets filled anyway.