The idea of making something makes me happy. Because it is something enjoyable, as a responsible mom, I feel as if before I take personal time to enjoy for myself, I must do all the not-fun-stuff, like cleaning, cooking, working.
Therefore, since those NFS’s are always there I rarely permit myself to do the fun stuff.
Perhaps it’s time to re-think that as I really find no motivation to do the NFS’s…
Here are some of the crafts I have allowed myself to enjoy. I would love it if you would pin them or otherwise share them, maybe even allow yourself to make something similar!
It’s been so long since I have posted here. So many things are different.
The fact that I have not been working is one of my dreams, NOT that I don’t want to work. Rather I want to work doing what I love… and I have been. So, though times are difficult and many people are struggling, for which I am tremendously sad, I have been flourishing! This extra time has allowed me to accomplish so many of the projects I have for myself. Still a very long way from completing them, however it feels amazing to be so productive.
Another blessing is that my children are home more. <3 😀 Crazy schedules are gone, though in comparison with many other families ours was quite calm. My two teens are still working, my husband still has his job (so grateful for that, he would be wildly unhappy if he was trapped at home).
In any case, in the coming days and weeks, I look forward to sharing some of the projects, crafts, ideas, organizing, recycling, and masks that I have been spending my time WORKING on.
It had it’s moments of unpleasantness, but overall it was quite lovely. Certainly more wonderful than 2016. It is my great hope that 2018 will be better still. Towards the end of the year I opted to do many things related to my “business”. As October was underway, I pulled my items from the local store and chose to focus on craft fairs. The tricky part about wanting a business is that you want to make money, right? Most folks know that you also must invest (spend) money to make money…why is it tricky? I didn’t happen to have money to spend to have products to sell. UGH! Some of my items are created from re-purposed materials, which helps, but in addition to having items, if you are looking to sell at craft fairs, you have to pay for your space up front.
SOOOOO, I only attended one craft fair, but I feel it was successful as I came home with more money than I had paid for the space. Did it cover my materials and time? Not really. Maybe next year. Meanwhile, I have been enjoying making designs to sell on Etsy. the beauty of those are that, being digital files, I do not have to physically mail anything, it is automatic. Sure, there are substantial fees (compared to the price per item), and sales are slower than my dreams. I’m happy knowing that I have moved beyond the starting line.
Therefore this means, to me, that I have a head start on 2018 and things will be terrific!
Wishing you all similar terrific-ness and success for your 2018!
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. 😉
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. 🙂
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. 😉
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. 🙂
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.
Every now and then while driving on a main state road in my town I see this beat-up looking truck. The fact that it is a little rough around the edges didn’t make it stand out all that much. It was the letters on the front grill. Hand painted block letters on a piece of wood that didn’t make much sense, oh wait, they’re backwards (like the front of an ambulance)! OK, look again, but now it’s gone. Grrr
A week or so later,same deal,old truck what’s wrong with the grill, ooh, it’s that truck, letters are backwards, right, quick, read it, what does it say??? sway? I don’t know…
A week, a few days, whenever later, HEY, there’s that truck! It’s a web address! www.TimsWay.net Huh, that’s kind of intriguing…wonder what’s so clever about Tim’s way?
Yesterday: Oh yeah! TimsWay.net, I forgot to look that up, Must remember to find out about this. It turns out to be a modest little website,and that’s when I noticed the first thing. Ohhhhh, it’s Tim Sway! Mr. Sway is a *very* talented and modest man from what I can tell. He transforms junk into wonderful works of art. I watched his video transforming reclaimed barn wood into a lovely chest. He speeds through the entire process. All the steps and detail, just inspiring. Each side has staggered pieces which when joined together create a nice sturdy corner, everything fit together perfectly. My favorite part, that would generally go unnoticed are the little feet. He tapered them so they aren’t just chunky little bits.
Other items include wall sconces made from the turn signals from a Volkswagen Beetle. They are not my decorating style, but I love them! I appreciate his vision in creating them. There is no doubt, many more items he has created, and someday I will delve further in, but for now I wanted to share this with you.
Anything to encourage anyone to reduce, reuse and recycle! Do your part! <3
Recently, I attended a webinar on how to create your own blog/website. Of course, I already have one, but it could sure use some tweaks.
One of the improvements I have added since then was my storefront, which I believe is quasi-open at the moment. There are products up for sale, yet the portion that accepts payment isn’t complete. Great…
Well, if anyone reads this bizarre post, please browse around the store and let me know what you think of my offerings. Maybe you will love something that was created with love. Any purchases allow this little gem of a blog keep going. So, many thanks in advance for your support.
As I mentioned in my February 1, 2017 post, I purchased an artificial Christmas tree in order to make some crafts. After realizing how big the tree was to store, a need to condense the material was realized. Some of the larger branches were left intact to use as is. Most of the branches were deconstructed to make eventual use of them easier.
Initially, I had used wire cutters to remove a few twigs from the branch. Not liking the sharp ends, I chose to release the twigs from their threaded prison. The first one was horrible, the threads (there are 2 for each branch) would get easily tangled in the needles. My scissors were kept close by! Finally. the end of the branch, and I had a nice pile of twigs ready to be used for my crafts.
It didn’t take long to realize that I need to start at the very end, the part that would be toward the center trunk.
OH! That color-coded label is a sticker holding the thread ends to the branch. I may eventually post a video of the process, but until then these pictures of the process may help you.
Here is one of the small branches. See the yellow tag? That’s how you know where to place it on the tree. It’s also just a sticker holding the threads wrapped around the metal bar.
To begin deconstruction, tear off the sticker. I imagine all trees are built the same way, therefore they likely all are built by wrapping two threads around each branch.
As you unravel more and more be sure to not let the threads tangle in the branches, trust me, it gets ugly quick! Hard as I tried, it still occasionally gets caught, just catch it as soon as possible.
Here, enough has been unraveled that a few twigs are now loose – SUCCESS! Keep going, being careful not to tangle those threads.
When you are done, you will have a pile of usable material. This small branch yielded 16 twigs, nasty, nylon, grabby thread, and a metal bar. After doing a bunch of these, you will understand my dislike of the thread. 😉
Some branches were left intact to use for larger projects, two were bent to make a display tree for some crafts (pictures to come), the rest have been reduced to a large pile of twigs. <insert evil laugh> There is one remaining branch. In the near future I will unwind that one while making a video to help you see how easy it is. It may have already been done save for the fact that the weekend I spent on the rest of the tree injured my shoulder. It’s been 3 weeks, it’s almost completely healed. (Pace yourself if you plan to do an entire tree, it didn’t hurt *at all* while I did it.)
Now it’s time for the real fun! Making your projects using evergreen twigs! Here are some things I have made with them.
