Yay!

Shop is finally open!  It's been a few months or more that I've been planning to re-open.  Something always comes up to distract me, it always feel like barriers popping up left & right blocking my goals.  I once heard that these things happen not to discourage you but to make you work harder to get to what you want.  I find i'm always reminding myself of that to stay positive; things could always be worse.  I have a lot to be grateful for.
Anyhow, I have a few new items:  headbands, knotted bow hair elastics & hair clips.  I'm working on some ready to ship stuffed animals.  My daughter has made a few requests for different types of animals and I hope to bring those to the shop soon.  I'm keeping them a surprise, mostly because she'll try to steal them.  Shes a doll snatcher, they're all her babies.  The excitement on her face when she sees a new creation always kills me. Her eyes get bright & wide, arms in the air, a squeal of "OOH MI GOODNESS! I LUB IT! THANKS, MOM!"  She's the best, when shes not being terrible.  Oh the pleasures of having a scorpio child born in the year of the tiger. Definitely never a dull moment, never never never.  Thank goodness for sleep.

Alive!

Time seemed to have escaped me, didn't it?  Blogging hasn't been at the top of my list of priorities.  Creating has been off and on. Lots of bows, not as many plush animals and no rag dolls.  Not having my own space to work has taken a toll on my creativity.  I have lots of ideas and lots of goals, just doesn't feel like I have enough time.

Two kittens & a soft pink polka dotted wolf.  The wolf is our new favorite, my daughter's & I.  It'll be a very special little gift for a special little girl.

Photos taken with a shattered iphone.. A shattered iphone with scotch tape on most of the main screen.  It's still functional, just a little blurry. 

Thoughts..

I've been without a sewing machine for a week, two weeks?  Who knows, the days run together.  It's driving me insane.  Trying to keep myself busy with other things, but it's not the same.  I haven't been feeling inspired though my mind is filled with ideas.  Surely it has to do with moving, job hunting stress, more time then I normally like on my laptop and phone due to boredom.  But still feeling very much at peace.  It's such a blessing to feel so at ease in a situation where I would have normally had a breakdown. The new year has brought a wave of tranquility, lucidity.. A fresh perspective.

Years ago, a man said he had a message for me:  "He wants you to know that the world is still filled with beautiful things."  And it is.  I finally see that again and not with a veil of angst.  
“But listen to me. For one moment quit being sad. Hear blessings dropping their blossoms around you.”  -Rumi

  

Spooksie & lace

I had partnered with a good friend of mine to collaborate on some hair accessories.  She was already a fan of my lace hair bows and wanted to start selling them in her shop.  The bows are cute on their own, but with her unique style of art added, they are definitely something special!

Check out her shop where she has lots of her art for sale.  http://www.MoonlitArtShop.etsy.com

Hello!

I've made a commitment to my craft and to make time for it.  Feels like life gets in the way, but doing what I love makes me happy.  Sewing, drawing, painting, creating.  I NEED to do those things.  I'm using this space to document those things.  With maybe a few snippets of my life here & there.

Sewing is my first love.  I've been sewing for as long as I can honestly remember.  I remember my dad teaching me a few hand stitches when I was very young. Soon my mother bought me a small sewing machine, a toy I'm sure. I was hooked from there.  I made lots of dresses for my dolls.  My mother's not particularly crafty, but she was always so encouraging. 

My maternal Grandmother taught me how to crochet.  My best friend and I would take our crochet to school, 1st or 2nd grade, and I remember being teased a lot about it. Being called "Grandmas", so we would crochet in the bathroom during recess! 

My paternal Grandmother is an amazingly crafty woman.  We aren't close, but it's no doubt I inherited my talents from her.  Her home is filled with amazing kitschy goodness. I remember her always gifting us with the most beautiful hand embroidered, crocheted, stitched bed linens, table clothes, and random house items.  My mom would always tell me how she made them and I was always so amazed. 

I stopped sewing for a while.  Got caught up with working and life.. Mostly I painted.  Then my daughter came along, bringing back the passion I had to create with textiles and fibers.  I made her a simple ragdoll, something that I wanted her to keep forever. A heirloom.  It was such a great feeling to see her cuddle her doll, drag it along with her. Then my niece asked for one. The same with her, such a great feeling to see a child love and appreciate an item that you made with your hands.  My maternal Gma recently saw the dolls I make.  Her mother coincidentally used to make dolls very similar.  

I love that my daughter tries to "needle" things.  I hope that she will continue the legacy of creative, crafty ladies.