Love this.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
And AGAIN I can't sleep
So I thought I would get a good night's sleep and I actually was tired and fell asleep around 7 or 7:30 pm. Up at 11:40. :::sigh::: Now it's 4:06 and I've diligently tried twice more to fall asleep in complete darkness and quiet to no avail.
Maybe I should just give in to it and become the night owl I've always been. It is easier over the summer when the kids don't have school. All of our schedules become backwards it seems. But honestly I'm getting a little old for this. I remember all-nighters on the yearbook in college, but come on, that was some time ago.
I have been thinking of another project. I am so incredibly 'project' oriented. For a while now, the girls and I have been talking about opening an Etsy shop. It's an online store that is affliated with ebay but there is no bidding or anything. You just sell your items but it is based on handmade and vintage kind of items.
Since I've recently become re-obsessed with crochet and trying to learn to knit again, I have a goal to open a new Etsy shop in September. For the past few weeks I've been trying to regain my "skills" at crocheting and have had a crochet hook in my hand for many hours a day. I really want to become professionally proficient and produce an excellent product. It takes practice.
Of course my other love is retro anything, especially clothing. I've found some wonderful, incredible vintage patterns for dresses that are gorgeous and I cannot wait to start sewing again. I used to sew almost all my clothes for a few years back in the early 80s, but it does take a lot of patience I learned at the time. My true desire is to design my own clothes. Tweak everything to make it my own. Discover my own style.
One of the things that mean the most to me is to leave to my children a legacy of creativity, courage to create and express themselves, believe in themselves no matter what anyone says to them. I was discouraged throughout my life by people who had no credentials to even give me an educated opinion and yet I was influenced, discouraged in fact, to follow what was truly in my heart.
It is amazing that even ONE off-handed comment by a inexperienced kid can so affect the self-esteem of someone that it can actually change the course of their life. I think most of us have experienced this to some degree.
But this is my changing point. I may have just turned 52, but in my heart I am still the 25 year old person I was (just with so very much more wisdom-thank you Lord). My body has changed and gotten older, but the desire to express my creativity has only grown. It is not too late to follow a creative dream. I am going to give it a try! : )
Maybe I should just give in to it and become the night owl I've always been. It is easier over the summer when the kids don't have school. All of our schedules become backwards it seems. But honestly I'm getting a little old for this. I remember all-nighters on the yearbook in college, but come on, that was some time ago.
I have been thinking of another project. I am so incredibly 'project' oriented. For a while now, the girls and I have been talking about opening an Etsy shop. It's an online store that is affliated with ebay but there is no bidding or anything. You just sell your items but it is based on handmade and vintage kind of items.
Since I've recently become re-obsessed with crochet and trying to learn to knit again, I have a goal to open a new Etsy shop in September. For the past few weeks I've been trying to regain my "skills" at crocheting and have had a crochet hook in my hand for many hours a day. I really want to become professionally proficient and produce an excellent product. It takes practice.
Of course my other love is retro anything, especially clothing. I've found some wonderful, incredible vintage patterns for dresses that are gorgeous and I cannot wait to start sewing again. I used to sew almost all my clothes for a few years back in the early 80s, but it does take a lot of patience I learned at the time. My true desire is to design my own clothes. Tweak everything to make it my own. Discover my own style.
One of the things that mean the most to me is to leave to my children a legacy of creativity, courage to create and express themselves, believe in themselves no matter what anyone says to them. I was discouraged throughout my life by people who had no credentials to even give me an educated opinion and yet I was influenced, discouraged in fact, to follow what was truly in my heart.
It is amazing that even ONE off-handed comment by a inexperienced kid can so affect the self-esteem of someone that it can actually change the course of their life. I think most of us have experienced this to some degree.
But this is my changing point. I may have just turned 52, but in my heart I am still the 25 year old person I was (just with so very much more wisdom-thank you Lord). My body has changed and gotten older, but the desire to express my creativity has only grown. It is not too late to follow a creative dream. I am going to give it a try! : )
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Fun Stuff!
So a couple of weeks ago I took the girls shopping and we got some fun crafty stuff to keep us busy creating this summer. We got some knitting looms, crochet hooks, knitting needles and some idea books along with a variety of yarns. And then we got to it! I haven't crocheted or knitted in a long time, so it's been really fun to get back to it. I've made rasta tams, scarves, caps and now I am experimenting with designing and creating a belted shrug without a pattern. Jussara has made several caps and Jaiden is still getting the hang of the loom.
I made my first afghan about 30 years ago in the late 70s. I still have it. It's actually back in style because of the whole retro thing. It is a ripple afghan in the classic 70s colors of yellows, oranges, rusts and brown. I love it with all of it's wear and tear, and it's held up so well. I used it about 15 years ago to cover the back seat of an old car I was driving and the Arizona sun really faded one side of it, but it just added to its character as far as I was concerned.
So Jussara shared with me that she really wants me to make her an afghan. She said she will be going away to college in a few years and she wants to have one. She said I should make one for each of the kids, so I think I would love to try and do that for them for Christmas. It's ambitious, but maybe I'll be able to pull it off. We'll give it a go. : ) If not, I can give it to them for their birthdays over the next year.
I've also found a lot of fun things on the internet that I would like to share!
I've discovered Japanese Bento Boxes and I would love to get a cute Bento box and try to make Jaiden some really fun lunches to take to school this fall, maybe once or twice a week. I guess they can be pretty time consuming so I don't think I could pull it off every day, but they really look so cute I'd like to try my hand at it at least.
And some more lunch ideas. You can find several Bento groups by searching Flickr.
I mean how much more would you want to eat your vegetables if they came with a cute presentation like these?
I also got some embroidery thread and a hoop and I want to create some of my own retro-inspired designs on tea towels and aprons. The girls and I have talkd about opening our own
Etsy shop and filling it with original designs of all the things we love. We hope to have enough items to open it in a couple of months. We love to create fun items, and it would be great to have some extra income for Christmas.
Etsy shop and filling it with original designs of all the things we love. We hope to have enough items to open it in a couple of months. We love to create fun items, and it would be great to have some extra income for Christmas.
Here's a great place to get retro-inspired embroidery patterns.
I LOVE these! It really isn't your grandmother's embroidery patterns! They are funky and cute!
It does the heart good to create something with your hands and your mind. It's soothing and brings so much joy. I guess I'll get back to crocheting. Happy crafting!
Still missing Michael. Gone too soon.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Michael
I haven't cried so much since I can't remember when. Watching the coverage of Michael Jackson's memorial service today, I felt his loss so intensely. Michael was just a year younger than I and I grew up watching and loving him from a very early age. Finally he gets the recognition he deserves. He was so amazing. I will miss him so much. My heart is broken for his children.
But he is free from the reach of the negative arms that tried to pull him down and bring him down.
He's free.
Rest in Peace, Michael Jackson.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Cable TV Shows
So I really like "Burn Notice" on USA network. It's kind of like MacGyver meets that guy Bruce Willis played in Moonlighting meets Jessica from Murder She Wrote. I realize the outdated references reveals my age-range, but I can't really think of another show like this. But I like it. It's set in Miami, which is nice because I love tropical settings. New season starts Thursday. I love the humor. Fun show
I also like "The Closer" with Kyra Sedgewick. It's starting new episodes for the summer too. I'm surprised at how many of these regular cable shows I like. I was working full-time and didn't have time to even watch the news, which I hated. I like to stay informed. I tivo ABC World News Tonight, for goodness' sake. Still miss Peter Jennings. I grew up watching television. I make no apologies for it.
Still have to make sure I am creating some kind of art every day and organizing! Which are a couple of my goals for the summer.
I also like "The Closer" with Kyra Sedgewick. It's starting new episodes for the summer too. I'm surprised at how many of these regular cable shows I like. I was working full-time and didn't have time to even watch the news, which I hated. I like to stay informed. I tivo ABC World News Tonight, for goodness' sake. Still miss Peter Jennings. I grew up watching television. I make no apologies for it.
Still have to make sure I am creating some kind of art every day and organizing! Which are a couple of my goals for the summer.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
New Day
I've been really worried about working full-time this summer. Working has been an adjustment, but working full-time has been a really huge adjustment. I started in November of last year working temporary part-time and quickly moved to full-time, so I've missed spending all the time I've been used to spending with at home with Clyde and the kids. I've worried what will happen this summer, but thankfully that has all worked itself out. I have only worked full-time for one year in the past 20 years and that was 17 years ago. I didn't realize how stressful full-time work can be when you haven't been used to it.
I loved the work and the great opportunity I was given. I've made great friends and I've learned so much and it has been wonderful, but it was time for a change. I've needed some time off and the timing was just right to take a break and my boss was able to make that happen. He's been amazing and I am so grateful for his support and understanding.
I'm looking forward to art projects with the kids, jewelry-making, painting, scrapbooking, sewing and photography. I've missed the creative side of my brain. It needs to be nourished and fed, for me and for the kids. I can't wait.
I also can't wait to be a full-time housewife and mother. There has been so many projects that I've had to just drop because I haven't had the time or energy because I've been exhausted from full-time work. I can't wait to get back to all of that and helping Clyde with our company business. It's a new day and I am so grateful for this opportunity to experience all these blessings.
Maybe I can finally get caught up with LAUNDRY! I actually am looking forward to LAUNDRY!
LOL!!!!
I just wanted to give a quick update and a great big thank-you to my boss at work for all his understanding and help throughout this adjustment. Life is good!!!
I loved the work and the great opportunity I was given. I've made great friends and I've learned so much and it has been wonderful, but it was time for a change. I've needed some time off and the timing was just right to take a break and my boss was able to make that happen. He's been amazing and I am so grateful for his support and understanding.
I'm looking forward to art projects with the kids, jewelry-making, painting, scrapbooking, sewing and photography. I've missed the creative side of my brain. It needs to be nourished and fed, for me and for the kids. I can't wait.
I also can't wait to be a full-time housewife and mother. There has been so many projects that I've had to just drop because I haven't had the time or energy because I've been exhausted from full-time work. I can't wait to get back to all of that and helping Clyde with our company business. It's a new day and I am so grateful for this opportunity to experience all these blessings.
Maybe I can finally get caught up with LAUNDRY! I actually am looking forward to LAUNDRY!
LOL!!!!
I just wanted to give a quick update and a great big thank-you to my boss at work for all his understanding and help throughout this adjustment. Life is good!!!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
NEED TO START BLOGGING AGAIN
I am back to blogspot now. I haven't blogged for awhile. I didn't renew our mac account last fall so I really haven't been blogging. I also started working full time at the end of November so I really have had time to do much of anything. It is quite an adjustment. I haven't worked full time for 17 years, and of course being 17 years older, it is a big change.
But I do enjoy working. It is challenging, but I enjoy the challenge and the feeling of accomplishment when I've completed several projects. It just feels like there's always more and more to complete.
I miss being home with the kids right after school and I'm usually so tired I can sometimes just sleep all evening. But I am getting adjusted and I think it will all work itself out.
I have to be very left-brained at work, so I miss the creativity of writing, painting, drawing, etc. I have to find a way to make room for all the things I love in my life, my family, spiritual needs and creative outlets.
I hope to keep up with blogging, tweeting, facebooking, myspacing and all the rest. Wow! How things have changed!!!!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
My newest blog
I have a new blog through my imac account. It's www.susiescrapbooker.com. I hope you check it out!
Susie
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