Cyber Monday Sale!

You are sooooooo lucky - because I am giving you the secret code to happiness...ready for it?  Are you sure?  Here it is...

CYBERMON

This code will get you 40% off everything in my shop - Happy Cyber Monday to you!

Blue Minis - here today, gone Monday!

I have added a ton of new stuff to the shop today!!  My favorites?  Well, it's hard to pick, but I do love my little pots so much, and these are done with cobalt, which is just so hard to resist.  So, this little guy might be at the top of my list:

Wonder where's he's going on Monday?  Well, I am having a huge sale!  That's right - even Etsy shops can help contribute to the lack of contribution to the GNP on Cyber Monday!  Visit my shop on Monday and use the coupon code "CYBERMON" for a fabulous discount!  Want to know how much it is? Hmm, it's a secret, so you'll have to go shopping to find out :)

Thankful

I am thankful for so much, I couldn't possibly put it all in one post...but here's the first couple of blessings that come to mind: a loving family, loyal friends, faith, a flexible job, a safe home, plenty of food, passions I have time for, food a-plenty, good neighbors, a car that runs, warm clothes, a great view, joyful children...

My two creative assistants help me remember what the most

 important things in life really are.

And new blog friends remind me that there are so many good people out there in the great big world.  Here's a crafty fun box I put together for Amy from The Idea Room - we were talking about how we have so many extra supplies, so I decided to turn Thanksgiving into an action word (can't take credit for the idea, saw it on a church marquee) and share the wealth.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!  I'll be putting up several new items in my shop either today or tomorrow - not to worry, I'm keeping up with the making end of the challenge, just not the posting end!

Reframing

I know that there are no guarantees when you go to a show - I know that in my brain - but I've never really experienced it...until now.  After weeks of preparation, and of course, my usual last-minute-up-till-3 am craziness, I was hoping to at least break even at the craft show I went to this past Friday.  I did not - not even close!  I sold 6 items, for a total of $19.00, which did not even cover the entrance fee.  It was disappointing.  I was crushed.  I hadn't done a show since my kids were born, which just about equals when the economy started sliding down the tubes.   Apparently, this has significantly impacted handmade craft sales, as well.  So, I went home feeling all sorry for myself.  I was so bummed, and I just couldn't feel better about it - I even considered taking a break from creating, quitting my self-imposed challenge, and starting again in 2012, if I felt like it (I know, I'm kind of a baby, right?).  
Then, I decided to reframe (I learned this from The Happiness Project)...
So, when someone asked me how things went, I said, "Great!  I got so many compliments on my work" instead of "Terrible!  I hardly sold anything."  See - the former sounds so positive.  And the more I said it (because I had told all my friends about this show, so they all asked how it went - strangely, only 3 of them came down to see it . . .) the better I felt.  It really does work!  And I really did get a lot of compliments, and several people took my card and inquired about custom orders, so there is the potential for some future business!
When my son won't take his second nap for the day (giving it up already! You just turned 2!), I will be excited about the extra playtime we get to spend together.
When my daughter comes down in a completely mismatched, inappropriate for the weather outfit, instead of exasperation, I will be exhilarated - at her independence and budding sense of style!
My husband (helpfully - not exactly) pointed out that compliments don't pay the bills.  Thanks, honey.  
I decided to reframe some other areas of my life that sometimes annoy/upset/stress me. 
When my husband calls me for the fourth time in one hour (he loves to talk on the phone - I don't!), I will think about how lucky I am to be married to such an attentive man.
When the drive-thru line at McDonalds inches forward at a snail's pace, I will appreciate the moment to just sit and think, instead of impatiently wondering what in the @#$%* the guy in front of me ordered.
I did this all weekend, and I am amazed at how much less stressed I felt.  I'll keep you posted on my most creative reframings...I'm sure there will be some good ones. 


In the meantime, here's a couple of little imps that I'm very thankful to have in my life - no reframing required.  We had a great time playing in the massive leaf pile we made in our yard.  Now, if only the wind could help us out and move it over to the empty field next to our house!

Christmas is Coming

It's true - I know, I know, Thanksgiving is first, but let's be honest - decorating with turkeys isn't nearly as fun.  So, I've got the Christmas spirit going on in the craft room - and I can't wait to get my fall stuff down this weekend and put the Christmas decor out!  I've made a couple of ornaments and one hand-stitched canvas - more to come, I promise!

Creative Under Pressure

One thing I know about myself - I am GREAT at procrastination.  So, it is a little hard to believe that I'm nearly half-way through my challenge and I've only missed 2 days, and I made up for them pretty quickly.  

Another bag - at least I got this done before I turned to dusting...

However, my creative spirit is flagging at times.  Yesterday, I actually cleaned all evening instead of working on any projects.  Who knew this creative challenge would have so many rewards?  Not only have I posted a lot of new items, but now my house will be clean, too!  Amazing...I gotta think of something even better for December - any ideas?

Purses & Bags - the new stuff!

 Coming to my Etsy shop this weekend (2 tonight, 1 Saturday, and 1 Sunday!) - these four gorgeous bags!  I made them while at Threads & Beds Retreat Center in Danville, IL - 1 1/2 days of uninterrupted sewing may be as close to heaven as I can get here on Earth!  I'm hoping to get some patterns made up for them by the end of November . . . then you could make them for Christmas presents!  We'll see how that goes - I've got a quite a few things I'm supposed to be getting done in the next 19 days!