2017 | Crafting Homestead

October 13, 2017 Crafts, Family Post a Comment

Changes are on the horizon

What a whirlwind life has been these past few weeks! I thought once school things were settled, it would be back to normal. NOPE! We’ve had Dr appointments like crazy! Some folks deal with those on a regular basis, not us. We all see the doctor once a year for physicals, dentist twice a year for cleanings and eye doctor once a year for good measure. Then we’re done, but not this year. This year we have GI issues, still trying to determine if it’s Celiac’s or something else. When the 16 year old avoids gluten (oh, and dairy now as well), she feels better…but instead of just going with that we apparently must see all the specialists, do all the lab work, twice and keep the child out of school to do it. UGH!

The 15 year old had surgery when she was 9 and is experiencing some discomfort near the scar tissue. The original surgeon and her pediatrician suggested physical therapy, that didn’t do anything. Different doctor in the same practice said to consult a local surgeon who performs that same surgery for their input. Did that, got the x-rays. He seems to think that it’s likely coincidental regarding the location, may be unrelated to the surgery (both initial and follow-up). Waiting to hear about the x-rays.

Yesterday the 16 went to the dentist, she said her gums were swollen all the way in the back. It’s pretty early, but I’m thinking wisdom teeth. X-ray, and YES, they are impacted. GREAT! More doctors appointments and more missing school.

Oh there’s more, the 16 year old just started working a month ago. She’s saving her money so she can get her license. She has the permit, and has been practicing, but it’s almost time for the whole enchilada. She is also an actor in the local Haunted House.

All this while I have been trying so very hard to get my business really geared up. Trying to get my name and products out there. I have many orders, mostly for family, and therefore, are gifts. I had many of my items in a local craft/gift store as you may recall having read. Her shop has been doing very well, it’s chock-full of all kinds of things. My products seemed to not quite fit in, somehow. Some things sold, but it wasn’t profitable enough so this evening I will be bringing it back home and I will resort to craft fairs for the season. They are fun and I will enjoy them. Meanwhile, I HAVE learned quite a bit about making my own designs and have actually listed quite a few for sale on Etsy. At this point only 2 sales however, those designs don’t really owe me anything. I made them for whatever project I wanted to make, now someone else can make something. If you visit Etsy, look for me : CraftingByValerie

Anyway, time to finish up my other orders. Hopefully, word of mouth will continue and the paying customers will find me. 😉

August 24, 2017 Camping Post a Comment

Summer, I love you!

We have had such an amazing summer. Well, OK, *I* had an amazing summer. My two teenagers and 8 year old will total cry about how bored they were. Most of the summer I did precisely what I set out to do, perhaps without the reward I was hoping for, but still enjoyable. There is one final week and back to the regular school routine.

The highlights to my summer, related to this blog and crafting anyway, were a couple custom orders. They were fun and well received. Also I was invited to participate in a Farmer’s Market, yes I had also requested to be a vendor, but she had forgotten my name as she had sent it to “Crafting Homestead”…then she saw a Facebook post and invited me. 😀 That made me happy. Now, I just have to be sure I have enough items to bother attending. I know, I should just jump on it and DO IT. I *must* step out of my comfort zone. This is what I want…and it’s scaring me. I can’t wait to share how this pans out.

Until then, other things:

The 16 year old got her permit

The 16 year old got a job

(…so this is what happens when you neglect your blog and post the draft you created a year and a half ago. Can we agree I am distracted?)

August 19, 2017 Crafts Post a Comment

My epsom salt turned yellow. :(

Whilst attempting a cute little craft that would use some fake snow I discovered that baking soda, while white, doesn’t really come off looking like snow. Hmmm, what else do I have? Corn starch would have the same trouble, too soft and fine. Alright, Pinterest time…

Epsom salt! Yes, ok, I believe I have some…pour it into my little jars and…ugh! Why is it yellow? Who would want a cute winter/Christmas-y candle with yellow snow?!?

Back to Pinterest, nothing. Google nothing. So, I don’t know why it yellowed, age? some mysterious ingredient added? Whatever the case, I still want to make this craft and have “white snow”. With nothing to lose short of a cup of Epsom salt which wouldn’t be any issue, I added some of the baking soda, not bad! I didn’t measure it but it’s roughly 1:1, so half Epsom salt and half baking soda.

What do you think? How does it look now? Not perfect perhaps, but certainly improved!

Here’s to hoping you don’t get yellow Epsom salt, but if you do, now you have an easy remedy. 🙂

July 27, 2017 Crafts Post a Comment

Custom orders!

Oh boy! That was exciting!!

I have been making a bunch of crafts. Trying to figure out something that will allow my craft sales to take off.

Could this be it??

An item was listed in my Facebook post and someone asked about a similar theme, but for a different product. Well, heck! I can do that! So after a few conversations we agreed on the item, colors and all and got to work. Within two days I delivered it to her and she loved it! (YAY!) So Miss Diane then posted it (as well as a rave review!) on HER Facebook page. Now even more folks are looking at my items. This make me very happy. I am so enjoying what I do, if it also fulfills a need that someone out there has, so much the better!

What was the item? Oh, sure, here you go:

Is there something that you have been looking for, but haven’ found? Maybe I can help! Well, unless you’re looking for a good man…I lucked out and found one, but those are rare creatures indeed. 😉

June 22, 2017 Family, Homestead Post a Comment

My sad garden

I started a bit late.

The hectic schedules around here keep me on my toes and any plans I ever attempt are constantly thwarted by anything two teenage girls can come up with. For instance yesterday, the 15 year old technically still has school although finals were done last week. The time of her orthodontist appointment required me to pick her up from school. Between the school and the office I notice my Jeep was shimmy-ing at 55 mph, and a peculiar burning kind of smell. Everything else seemed OK, but being half an hour from home with a child made me anxious. Called my darling husband, if he says to go ahead and drive it home, I will. BUT he says he’s coming down (thank all that is good that he was HOME) and he will check it out. He does and it turns out I only need a new brakes, caliper, and rotor. However, my quick jaunt that I would have been home by 3:30 turned into all kinds of other tasks. Calling part stores, going to the store to retrieve said parts, calling on friends with a garage to impose on them to fix. UGH! It has to be done sooner than later as we are travelling next week.

The silver lining…it happened while we were still here and not far from home.

Back to the garden, it’s sad. I planted a few things: peas, kale, lettuce, carrots, watermelon, and beets. I also planted some cantaloupe seeds from a cantaloupe we had just eaten. When some of the seeds sprouted I was thrilled, then I realized I had no idea what it was. The seeds look like pumpkin seeds, but we didn’t have pumpkin. I thought they were cantaloupe, but they are too big. What the heck did I plant?? I guess we will have to wait an see.

I also thought, what the heck and put a couple of small potatoes in there, a garlic clove, an onion that had begun to sprout, and two green onions that were growing wild.

June 13, 2017 Camping, Crafts, Dance and other extra-curricular activities, Family, Homestead, Moving Post a Comment

Summer is almost here!

It’s quickly approaching one year since beginning my blog. I had hoped to already be moved, definitely further along with being self-sufficient, and having a thriving blog business. However, although it hasn’t happened yet, we are still proceeding in that direction.

The school year is almost over, just 4 more days, then a wedding, a week to prepare for a little vacation, the vacation and BANG, serious time.

Things have been going fairly well. The crafts I have been making are selling at Stacey’s shop. Well, actually, I hope, find out today as I pay her rent for the start of my 3rd month with her. Hopefully she has a generous check for me. 🙂 I am about to place a large order of supplies for my stock along with another piece of equipment to help with the process. My husband is always so agreeable. He sees my commitment much more than he has in the past, yes he never denies me whatever I look to pursue.

The crafts are only a part of the plan. They will provide the fun and peace in my life…and maybe even some cash to pay for necessities. 😉

Truly the most challenging thing is having teenage girls. The rough daily mental plan I make for myself each day generally gets tossed right out the window as soon as they wake up. Yesterday was the first day of high school finals. One child didn’t get to finish one test because of some issue which happened during the last class under the supervision of a substitute teacher. So, a make up test (??) involving staying after school seems to be in order. The other teen only has one exam so wishes to not remain at school the entire day. Meanwhile, I *am* still working, two schools are on half-day schedule, but the third is not. Both girls attend separate high schools, about 5 minute drive away from each other, but 30 minutes from our home. SO…do I go to work (driving) for 3 hours, drive 30 minutes to school #1, drive her home, go back to work and drive for 2 hours, drive to school #2, drive her back home, go back to work again for an hour to keep them happy? This means that the few moments I could accomplish *anything* would be gone AND I would be driving in the blistering heat of the third day in our heat wave. I hate sweating. Yes,my vehicle has AC, but my large yellow tin can does not. That’s assuming I have “my” bus as yesterday it was out of commission, having to borrow 2 others. Am I complaining? I kind of feel like I am complaining. 🙁 Have I mentioned that I don’t like to drive? I know, wacky that I am a bus driver, but remember, that was means to an end. So I could drive the ~~motor home~~ coach.

Sheesh! I have typed a book already and we haven’t even talked about dance. So much more to talk about, yet, no time. I’m going to get ready for the day – STAY COOL and enjoy yours. 🙂

June 8, 2017 Family Post a Comment

It’s been a while.

So much has been going on. Just that time of year I suppose. Things are beginning to wrap up. The school year is almost over and the extra-curricular activities have all but stopped. PHEW!

Girl Scouts has finished, field trips are done, the recital is over…the count down to the last day of school and then…

There is one major and totally awesome event left: A WEDDING!

Yes, on June 17, 2017, we will be attending our youngest sons wedding! The ceremony and reception will be held at the brides mother’s house. We recently attended the bridal shower which was also held there – WHAT FUN! Their backyard, while small, has all the elements of a vacation spot, specifically Key West! There is the all important bar area, the gazebo area, the fire pit area, the beach area (!!), the tiki area and the patio area. All kinds of memorabilia and decor to make you feel as if you are on vacation in the Keys. I dare say, the only things missing was the salt water smell. I bet we could figure that one out! 😉

The Bride and Groom are keeping everything simple and low-key, it will be small (under 50 people). Not an easy task when the Groom’s immediate family is 24 (grandparents, parents, siblings, significant others, niece & nephews).

I do hope to post again prior to the wedding as I have been busy making crafts…so busy making things, that I haven’t switched gears to attempt to sell them.Definitely have to work on that!

So, toodles until next time…

April 30, 2017 Crafts Post a Comment

It’s the most amazing thing!

A friend and former co-worker has been crafting in her basement for a few years and had begun bringing her finished products to a few different stores to sell. Then something wonderful happened! While her wares were selling just fine at these stores she wound up with an opportunity to OPEN HER OWN STORE! I am beyond happy and excited for her…and yet…wildly jealous! As I mentioned, she is a *former* co-worker. She was able to leave her job and start living a dream! All that is fantastic for her, but as wonderful as that is, it completely motivated me to really crank up my crafts. Why? Because before, to sell something I had to list it in Etsy, on eBay, post it on some tag sale site on Facebook, or here. Most of those options involve shipping and typing up lengthy descriptions, snapping pictures and that cuts into my crafting time. UGH! Now I make a bunch of things and bring them to her shop. Beautiful! And *amazing*!!! I am selling items already and she has only been open for a couple weeks. The Grand Opening is May 5,2017.

So, what is her shop called? Stacey T’s Treasures and Artisan Boutique. Have a look around!

I can’t wait until someone can call me their former co-worker… <3

April 8, 2017 Camping, Family Post a Comment

Loving life

March 24, 2017 Family Post a Comment

WOOOIE!

I love my kids SOOO much! We all love our kids, right? That’s how it’s supposed to be. We’re proud of them, take care of them, try like the Dickens to do the right things, while at least sometimes feeling like a complete failure.

Well, I feel like an awesome mom this week (well, sort of, fighting some kind of cold this week)! We had a Sweet 16 party for, wait for it…our 16 year old on Saturday. I don’t want to brag…wait, yes, I do…IT WAS GREAT! Everything went smoothly, she was happy, the other kids had fun, a bunch of family was there and they had fun, too.

It was like having a mini wedding. We sent invitations, hired a hall, DJ, photographer, theme was masquerade, made decorations. Everything was color coordinated, including her brother who escorted her into the party when the DJ made the announcement. There was the Father/Daughter dance, can you say “tear-jerker” OMG! It was great. She had her nails, hair, and make-up done. It was a production! I took mostly videos and I haven’t received the CD of pictures from the photographer yet…so not many pictures yet. While I await them, please enjoy these. <3