Newly 30...Birthday weekend!

I have welcomed my 30th birthday. I thought something magical would occur when I woke up this morning, except it didn't. It really was just another Sunday, albeit the weather was exceptional for December. Everyone makes such a big deal about moving onto new birthday decades, and while I typically don't fuss about birthdays, I have been patiently awaiting this one.

Gone are my 20's, which I begun while as junior in College and in it's span gave me countless of memories. Many were happy, joyful, sad, frustrating, terrifying, hopeless...I guess it's only fair to have plenty of each. The one thing I have learned for sure is that I have grown emotionally.

I am looking forward to my 30's teaching me more valuable lessons. I am looking forward to becoming a better me. I think during the 20's era we get so caught up in trying to figure out who we are, yet instead we end up not really figuring it out at all. I actually began figuring myself out about a year ago. It's a work in progress you could say, and I have zero qualms over it.

So, cheers to another year of life. I hope to accomplish many more goals during this next tour around the sun.

For now I'll continue on my Eat, Pray, Love.


-A.

Holiday weekend recap.

My oh my this holiday weekend was just beyond busy. Thursday we had the family over and we ate dinner early. It was nice, the kitchen was cleaned up by 6pm and we just relaxed the rest of the evening. Now in the late hours, I had to work on Soph's wish for a Frozen themed birthday. I was up until 2 am! Unheard of by the way. I try my hardest to make it in bed before 11 on most nights. Friday morning was nuts. I had to go pick up her cake at one my favorite bakeries. Swedish bakery never fails! We then spent the rest of the day celebrating the birthday girl. She wanted to bake cupcakes so I complied and baked chocolate cupcakes. Again, we decided to do something low key and it turned out perfect. Soph thanked us throughout the entire day for everything that we had done for her. The most exciting part of her celebration was the gift scavenger hunt. She loved it! She had been begging  for a Nintendo DS for the past year and well we gave in. Saturday, was my day. I got to escape for a few hours to the craft stores to take advantage of all the coupon bonanza! I made out like a bandit with my purchases. In addition to this, I shopped from some of my favorite Etsy shops. I love supporting small business owners, especially ones run by moms. Now today, I did a lot of clean up in the girls room. It was just toy mayhem everywhere. It was yet another reminder that my children don't need anymore toys. I purge usually every other month and my goodness every single time I get rid of at least one garbage bag filled with toys...overall a very productive Holiday weekend. 

The aftermath.

So the craft fair was Sunday and it was an awesome learning experience. I sold lots of my bows, headbands and hair clips. I even traded a necklace with another fantastic mom who makes natural products with essential oils. The crowd that came out wasn't that large and in part I blame that the horrid weather we had.  However I am super thankful because a lot of people admired my work and how nice my presentation was. My neighbor was lady that sold canned goods and I had a chance to chit chat with her and taste her yummy stuff. Which I of course had to buy. I am looking forward to signing up for craft shows and continue to receive support from my friends and family. In the next couple of weeks I will be focusing mainly on custom orders I have. After the holidays I will probably begin to make new collections. I have so many ideas in my head, I just need the time to sort them out and follow through. 

-A.

I have an explanation!

Ha! Why yes I do have an explanation for being so MIA on my blog!  I have been diligently working on a number of projects. Most importantly, the craft fair I signed up for is this Sunday. I have been on full prepping force for the past week or so. I'm exhausted. Working and coming home to do all of this has me beat. I'm super excited and nervous at the same time. I am scared that I have put in so much time creating things and I don't end up selling much? Is this a normal feeling to have? Quite frankly I don't know if these "jitters" I have are totally normal. I swear just the other night I was saying, "oh screw it I'll just drop out of it." However, I won't do that. I really have put in too much work to not see the end result.  In the mean time here is some stuff I have been working on. 

There is more...I just haven't had the time to even document the making of process....well off to bed I go. Not looking forward to that alarm that goes off every morning for my 9-5. 

-A.

TGIF!

Definition of an excellent Friday night when you are a parent: children asleep before 9 pm first and foremost. Wine glass, comfy pj's, tucked in bed and puppy cuddles. 

This week was rather long for me. I've been super busy at work now that I've switched roles. Despite the fact that my days fly by, I feel so unaccomplished because there is plenty to do. That sounds kind of asinine doesn't it? C'est la vie! 

Anyway, tomorrow is Halloween and the girls are sure to have a fun day being dressed up and seeing other children in their costumes. We will be taking the kids trick or treating at the mall, since the girls are still sick and the weather probably won't be great.  I'm looking forward to unwinding this weekend. I'm itching to treat myself to a little something.

The Blah.

Sometimes I find myself slightly overwhelmed with everything. Sometimes it's necessary to take a mental health day. My other way to unwind besides crafting: organize. I did a lot of that today.

 

This little guy got a lot of cuddles today. In return I got loved back. 

-A.

Let's catch up!

It's official I have spilled out of my crafting closet. Wah Wah. I really need a legit sewing and crafting room. This extra space is most definitely on my priority list when we move next year. There is no bargaining on this one for sure! 

This weekend I didn't get too much done. I have been insanely busy with all sorts of things. The girls have been sick, actually the entire family is sick. Even my co-workers are sick. Yuck! I love autumn, but I don't love that the nasty germs have begun to spread.  

I was as happy as a clam when I got all of this fabric in the mail last week. Oh so heavenly. You want to see me happy? Be at my door step when my fabric mail arrives.

I did get these linen/cotton blend bows done...

This one is my favorite. It's pretty large, but oh so girly. 

Made these earrings...

Current state of my sewing space...not good for my OCD tendencies. 

Also, these little guys have all been adopted by one special girl. I'm kind of sad to see them go. I have a ridiculous sentimental attachment to them. 

My obsession with Paris led me to something I have never done before. I was walking my dog during the weekend and I saw these two framed prints in the alley next to the trash. Without a second thought I picked them up and brought them home. I immediately took them out of the ugly gold frames and they are getting new ones soon. These prints were such a great find!!!

Since you totally care...(Heh, you do right?) Here is my new dog!

Kidding! My little guy has been shaved to look like a naked mole rat. He was totally looking like Chewbacca. A very matted Chewie, so goodbye long mane. 

Lastly, I am missing banjo classes...BADLY! Two more weeks and classes resume. I still don't have mon banjo. Eek!!! 

Yours truly,

-A. 

More exciting news!

Good morning friends, happy Saturday!

Sophia's school is having a craft fair and I have signed up to be a vendor. I'm so thrilled and scared! This is going to be my first time to publicly offer my creations to people outside of my friends and family circle. Needless to say, my weekends and evenings are going to be jammed packed! The fair is right before  thanksgiving break, so I have a good number of weeks to get all of my projects accomplished.

Last night...

This  morning...

Let's see what the evening brings!

-A.

A new season has begun.

Talk about transitioning fast. Two weeks ago we were in the high 80's with the smell of BBQ's lingering in the air and sicadas serenading into the late evening.Yet, my favorite time for the year has come. The air is crisp, we have fallen to the 50's and the leaves are turning into the most precious warm tones. Who could also not mention that pumpkin spice lattes are back (yum! I'm such a fan).  I am happy to report that I have been super motivated in getting things done for the website. The hardest part about all of this is the photographing, the editing, and uploading. With the grey fall skies photographing is tricky. This is half of my dilemma right now. Other than this major detail I have been happily sewing totes, bows and even earring making. The upcoming weeks are panning out to be busy as suddenly I have a baby shower to decorate and a birthday as well. I feel like I now need to start jotting these things down because I will have to get on a schedule to time everything to be on track. There is some great satisfaction in knowing that people are starting to ask about purchasing my items and are inquiring about my general crafting services. I wish nothing more than be able to have steady clientele to continue running my sewing and crafting endeavors. I have said it before, crafting is my therapy. When stress or anxiety riddles me I turn to the thing that makes me go into my own little world. So thank you to those who support me by admiring, encouraging and buying from me. You have no idea what your support means to me. 

-Yours truly, A.

Exciting weekend

I'm super excited to share that I finally have a logo for my store. I have slowly begun to work on the website and I hope it will be ready in the upcoming weeks. This is a long time idea that has been on the back burner and that I wasn't even sure I wanted to do. Yet I have found a lot of people encouraging me to sell my creations. I'm really excited and can't wait until everything is up. 

Ta-da!!! Yes, Banjo and Threadz.  I'm so geeked about it. What do you think?

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I finished a custom tote for a purple loving gal.

Snuck a few bows...

Lastly, my sister got to keep my cloud lavender filled novelty pillow. 

-A.

Music and its effects.

Can we talk a little bit about music? Looking back to six months ago, I'd like to say I went through a little epiphany. I learned a lot about myself. I took initiative to make changes within me. I allowed myself to be me. I even stepped out of my comfort zone by picking up banjo classes. Within this realm of finding me, I found myself searching for new music. Somehow music is always my best friend. Music, is always there for me. Music, allows me to reflect. Music allows me to feel. Music, moves me. 

So I'd like to share some of these very same artists that have been very present in my everyday. I'm ever so thankful for the Internet and mostly Spotify. I listen to these few daily. 

Vancejoy...this guy right here, James Keogh. It's my morning ritual at work to listen to the entire album. 

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi0vNpDrBJPdBeS1Ln3BtsAz_komgsNfn

James Bay and his album Chaos and the Calm. My second choice of the day... Sometimes battles Vancejoy for first place, depending on the mood. 

Bahamas

Bon Iver

The Avett Brothers

Punch Brothers 

James Vincent McMorrow

Ben Howard

Jose Gonzalez

Hozier

Iron & Wine 

Matthew Santos

Well the list is totally longer but these are a few that are worth listening to if you haven't...

-A

Apple picking, tractor riding and hay sitting...

Another successful trip out to Indiana to the County Line orchard. This year however we made sure to first buy the donuts and then do everything else. Sure enough we didn't have to do an insane line and by 6 pm we were walking out with all our goodies in tow. One major negative this year, mud. It stormed last night so there was lots of mud, and walking around the orchard got pretty messy. However, the weather was perfect, a little breezy, and the best part, no Mosquitos!  The kids enjoyed the tractor ride. My sister climbed the trees for her random photo ops. My mom also went into the shrubs and trees to get the best apples, and I mostly held the bag to collect them. 

Ps. Sorry my fellow locals, Chicagoans really enjoy your local goodies. I do wish the orchard was in my backyard. I'd love to go out there more often. 

-A.

"Holy moley, me oh my, you are the apple of my eye. Girl I've never loved one like you." - Ah yes, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. I'll never look at an apple and not sing that tidbit from Home. 

   She is such a mama's girl. Unlike S,     who is all about her daddy. 

I spotted this apple in a nest. Surely someone must have placed it there. 

-A.

Super productive sewing weekend!

I am happy to say that despite the many hats I must wear on a daily basis this weekend I got to do a lot of sewing. I am so excited because I got a number of things done.  

First up, this bundle of cotton & steel fabrics arrived and I made totes. 

These totes and a few more that are still in the making will be up for sale shortly.  

The next set of items I got accomplished is Halloween inspired hair bows! 

These are completed and will be listed on my Instagram page tonight. Should there be more interest in these super fun bows I will most certainly make more. 

These I made for the girls and they love them... Especially Sophia, who is such a girly girl. 

This mini pillow case I made for miss Sophia. She has nap time at school and I decided to make something fun for her, it's quite darling.  

Lastly, for myself I made a little novelty pillow. I'm going to put it on my shelf in my cube at work. My cube is pretty bare so it's time to make it homey with none other than with my creations!

So all in all it is pretty fair to say that a few house chores may have not gotten done since I spent a lot of time on my sewing machine. Heck, it's my therapy so laundry and dusting can wait. 

-A.

 

Zara Elaine...

I will keep it short and sweet...Well it's my little bit's 2nd birthday and my husband decided very last minute that he wanted me to make a little birthday decor. So a Tinkerbell inspired banner I made since he bought her a whole bunch of Tinker balloons. This year we decided on a super low key birthday and just the grandparents and my sis were over for cake. Zara enjoyed us singing happy birthday to her and basically spent the entire evening singing it herself. So banner + balloons + cake= a birthday party in a 2 year old's head. The end. :)

-A.