A lovely spring day

This week is my spring break, and so far, it's been a perfect combination of getting things done and getting absolutely nothing done. Today started early with Sophie whining at 4:45 am. I guess I forgot to let the pooches have one more chance outside before bedtime, and so she was doing the potty dance with her whimpers. But, with our dogs, if one is up, then all are up. So, everyone ate and went out in the early morning hour. It was back to bed for us shortly thereafter with three pooches in our increasingly small queen-sized bed.

Needless to say, I slept in until (gasp!) 9:30. That's a rarity nowadays. I've been conditioned to get up at 6:30 on weekdays and 7:00 on weekends. No fun, but it's routine. Alas, it is spring break, so some sleeping in can be forgiven.

Just about when I decided that the day was going to be a wash, I got a bit of inspiration to plant the beans and snap peas that were about ready to choke each other in their starter greenhouse. So, raking, tilling, and planting occurred. It felt really nice to be outside on a day like this. Warm, breezy. Spring is here. I've been in the soil to prove it.

I also caught up with a high school friend, which is rare, as I only still talk to one high school friend on an annual basis. Sad, but that's life. It's okay, we always fall right back into the groove of things. That's nice.

And I rounded out my afternoon with one of my favorite thing.... reading in the sun on our deck. I got a few chapters done before a pesky wasp drove me out of my own space. Although, he's the one with the sharp thing on the end of him.... he can reign for now. I have a plan for him if his kind dominate summer like they did last year. I hate wasps. Plus, the pugs can only take so much heat.

All in all, a wonderful spring day.

New Favorite

I've been making pendants like crazy lately. It's been fun to design something and see how it turns out after the burning process. I've had some great success by taking them to my work. So far, I've had 9 sales in total, so I took time today to restock my etsy site.

I've been trying something new, and I really like the way it turned out. I've been adding embellishments to the pendants, and I love, love, love the way it's turning out! This one, in particular, is my favorite!

My first etsy sale

It feels so good to make a sale on etsy! I've finally found my craft... and business is booming. I've already sold 3 and have orders for 2 more. I might just be able to start living the dream :)

A Sale!

I've made my first glass pendant sale! Hooray. While not an etsy member, my first customer is my SLP mentor at school. She saw the etsy site and is buying the Spring Stringer, which seemed to be a big hit with everyone. So, I don't have to worry about shipping and all that jazz... on Monday morning, my customer will have her item hand-delivered. No extra charge :)

I've dedicated all of today to stocking the store, so please take a second and check it out! I'm very excited about my new hobby!

Coming to the store...

My kiln for fusing glass has arrived, trials have been made, and the first projects are hot off the presses (or kiln, in this case). Here's what you'll see in my store in the near future....

the first attempt at cutting glass and designing glass

Getting progressively better! Light pink and black confetti glass used here.

Made into a pendant for an easy necklace.

Same idea here... just different confetti color

My favorite one yet! Used glass stringers to make this fun design.

New Endeavors

For a long time now, I've been trying to find my craft. I'm a woman who doesn't like to do one thing for a long time, but I've really been itching to get into just one thing. I've tried sewing, which ends up disappointing seeing as there are no fabric stores within a twenty-mile radius. I've tried stationary and stamping, which I really enjoy, but I hate to do the same thing over and over. I've been keeping the stationary just for me. I'm looking to really sell something. I've had minor success with the headbands, selling to people from my work. But, as my sister pointed out, the demographic for people who wear feathery headbands is kinda small. I know.

So........ after much thought and deliberation with friends and family, I'm going to try fusing glass. I was hesitant about it at first, as it can get quite expensive for all the materials (kiln, glass bits, jewelry bits, etc). But, wasting money on finding a craft is getting expensive, too. I just bucked up and paid the money. Done. It's on it's way.

Soon, I'll be able to make fun things like:

2 Blogs in 1

Following the latest blog, here are the pictures as promised.

Kitchen

Our Fur Babies

new addition, sweet Mabel

Mabel, again

Henry Hippo

our little Sophie is growing up so fast.... 

she loves her keys

Changes

Sorry for the blogging hiatus. Sickness and busyness has kept me away. But, I'm back... and with a new header! Let springtime come! In the couple weeks away, there have been a few changes. Another project. Another pug (well, kind of).

We started working on the kitchen again.... it's had three paint jobs in three years. I guess I just need to face the fact that the kitchen is just not my favorite place in our house, and updating it won't really make it bigger and better. With that said, this change will be the kitchen's last (I can say that with 99% confidence... give me a break, I need some wiggle room). The color is now a neutral light khaki color. Goes with anything. Everyone (especially potential buyers) likes that color. The fun is in the accents.... like the cute bird and flower measuring spoons I've hung above the sink. We're also adding a bit of backsplash to some of the area. It'll just give it a little personality. Fun. Easy. One weekend. Pictures will be up when it's all completed.

Another change is...... still undecided. We've now had Mabel, our foster pug, since October. She's in love with me. I adore her. Where I end, she begins. She's that attached to me. Understandably so, as I'm the only person she trusts after her previous 5 years in a puppy mill. I can't give her up. She's mine. So, we had a big decision to make. Have 3 pugs and stop fostering? Perhaps find Henry a home where he can be king and continue to foster? Decisions, decisions. We were close to finding Henry a home that might be able to give him as much love as he requires, but that fell through. So, after the thoughts of giving him up made us sad, we are leaning towards just having 3 doggers and stop fostering. But yet, we're still undecided.

More changes will happen soon.... my school district is laying off people left and right. The state is failing Illinois education massively, and talented teachers, like my good friend, are getting axed. It's a crime how much every district is cutting, but alas, the state has not taken responsibility. So, when Randy has finished his master's degree, we're done-zo with Illinois. We're taking a look at places that actually value education, like Austin, Texas. I love the idea of picking up and moving somewhere completely different, and I welcome that change!