Nepal Relief



 

Just wanted to put a quick note out, these US nail wraps are only available from May 6-8(now).  100% proceeds to UNICEF for the Nepal Earthquake relief efforts.   Send me a note on Facebook.

 

 

And I am stitching, even doing some little art painting, pics coming soon!

 

 

 

Humbled, and other new things

 

So, I still wanted to put up an image, at least one, and I figured this is pretty nice.  I started with the Jamberry nail art wraps, to apply to your nails, a couple months ago.  I'm not getting super far with it, but I am impressed with the concept and product.  Nice stuff.

 

I've also added SuperPoints, some of you may remember that they were around a couple years ago, for click pay work.  Not a lot, but one of my favorites.  I realized that they re-opened, and it is by invite only.  Nothing to lose, can make a little money if you are sitting around online a lot.

 

Since I last posted, I've been humbled, several times.  I really thought I had experienced some of the very worst in life here.  Or at least incredible things that no one should HAVE to go through.  And I thought I had a pretty good idea of the path in front of me. It's interesting that my "Do Over" entry is my most read post. (and some interesting new...followers, sigh)  Going forward was going to be hard work, really hard, and it would take some time before I saw some real sunshine.  And I have been surprised again. Some in a bad way, new firsts for dumb stuff that I had to stand up and be a mature adult for, just....embarrassing.  Never too old for those kinds of firsts, I guess.  And I have just been grateful for the people that surround me today.  It's not perfect(not yet!) but it is love, acceptance, and my own space to breathe. More than I thought I would find, and have gone without.  Nice to know I don't have to be a total hermit to have some peace. And somewhere, in all of these tangled relationships along the way, I shed a lot of stuff.  Other people, things, normalcy.  I thought it would still be a while before I would get some of that back.  I had some time to get on solid ground and get balanced, and get in shape to see what I could get back of those things.  But it's coming, like a lightning bolt out of the blue sky.  That I am missed, needed, was "right" about things, and even need my help.

 

It's exceptional to be getting my place back in life.  Validated as a person, trying to do the right thing, and not shoved aside. It's been a really long time since I've been counted on as the strong/wise/trusted one, and without a fight.  I have a new life, and really can have some of the old pieces back that I want.  Things that lie ahead are scary(but am not fearful), exciting, liberating.  And I'm not ready, but I am.

 

I know I don't talk about this stuff much, and this isn't really the place. But I am known to be a realist, and to see and feel the amazing changes that life is putting before me now----I really am humbled. Appreciative of what is put in my reach now.  And I have been out on a new path for a year, it seems to be changing quite quickly now; the gray cloud finally lifting for real. Still hard, but no bad stumbles.  If this, what the tip of the iceberg, starting now, is what I have been holding out hope for, for what seems to have been my whole life, it's worth it. 

 

And I have been doing a little stitching again.  My next updates should have some progress pics!!

 

QS Chocolate Start

Ok, still taking pics in the dark, figured for progress pics, it shouldn't matter much.  This is my January start. Didn't realize I was just itching for a new start, and this is what I had on hand.  I'm not a particular fan of this style, but hopefully it will just stay a fun piece.  This is from HAED, Randal Spangler's QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate.  I'm not a fan of brown, either, but somehow, it's more soothing than all the blue or brights that are in a lot of other pieces.  I started it strong at the beginning of Jan, and then had to put it down for the better part of a month.  I had a crik in my neck, and now a very sprained ankle.  And I put in some stitches on the Freebie SAL Frogs, too.  I've just picked it up again in the last few days, and at a slower pace.   This is done 1x1 on 25ct antique white lugana.

I'll hopefully have something worth seeing, on the SAL piece, pretty soon.

Jamberry Nails and New Starts

Ok, I guess I kept thinking I would post this, but didn't, so close to some other cross stitch updates, but I will do this first, and then later post the cross stitch. 

So, the new year rang in more new things.  I have still been hoping to generate some new income that wasn't all stitching or typing. A little smaller, more, compact, "easier"(lol) ideas.   So I signed up with Jamberry.  These are nail art wraps to cut to fit your nails.  Think vinyl with adhesive.  So with a little hair dryer heat, and snip of some scissors, you can have pretty little art on your fingers and toes, that last about two weeks.  There are several other nail items, including polish, vitamins, a box of the month, etc.  Even matching sets for kids!  And of course, you can sign up to sell, as well--no inventory to keep, other than your sign up start.  It seems cute, fun, and reasonably priced.  Since I started with the late winter season, I got a lot of catalogs for the winter, and the spring ones are already in progress.  So, email me, and I will send you a free catalog and a sample nail, in the US.  That will be good permanently, any catalog I have on hand, going forward.  And I am on Facebook, too, I will have some updates there from time to time.

New starts for cross stitch.  I started QS Chocolate, Chocolate, and More Chocolate, HAED, Randal Spangler piece.  It was what I had handy, but not what I planned on working on.  It was going well, until I got a cold, and pinched a nerve in my neck.  I put it down for a while.  And I have gotten kitted materials for the HAED freebie SAL, doing the QS Frogs Kissing.  I have just barely put any stitches in it, so not much to see there.

I am also beginning the official descent on selling beads.   It will take some time, doing it properly.  I will still list some Swarovski crystals and sterling silver findings, I think, as a newer switch, for a while, since I have people still looking for bead items.  But I am dropping the standard fire polish and delicas, etc that I have had cluttering the store for forever.   It's time to make room on ebay for the cross stitch pieces.

It's Been A While

 

So this is just the online art image of what I had started a few months back, that would be easier.  Called Tiger, by Design Works.  I have made a good dent in it, for being a dark 14ct, but as usual, things went a bit haywire, and I haven't picked it up lately.  Hopefully, it's time to pick up the needle and attack it, it's a lovely, easier chart. 

 

So anyway, I moved again.  Kind of abruptly, towards the end of the summer.   Where I was before, was a nice break to hide out and de-stress, but I wasn't making progress really for income and productive things.  I had an offer to move back to an old place that I was familiar with, to give me a bit of a breather, and get my head on straight.  Other than catching up on making some money, and just figuring out what I might want out of life, in a more personal sense, I obviously still disappeared a bit.

 

There are only so many hours in a day, and some of the crafting and business end went by the wayside for a while.  I was waiting for an advertising ad copy to be done and published, much delayed, but that seems to be out circulating now.  (I can't go by and check, but online traffic is increasing.)   I've become quite anxious to get back in the swing of things again, and have gotten back to sorting, and working the business end, selling craft items online, Ebay and Bonanza, and working on Facebook, general social media.  A full time thing in itself, right?  And, of course, mentally fresher for some more challenging projects and ideas.

 

Hopefully, all is well in everyone else's part of the world, and really, I'll be back much sooner with some more updates!



Do Over

I usually always post pics now when I post, but am not up to it right now.  Soon, I hope--I think.

So, I've been struggling with some really stupid personal.....crap.......off and on.  Really for years. (Ha, my entire life!)  Always some humdinger combination.  And I finally decided to make a break from it all.  And I did.  At this age and station in life, not a lot holding me in place.  So I grabbed some of my craft stuff, and walked away from the rest of my life as it was.

Crazy or just ballsy, whichever. (And broke!) Happiness is important.  Living life how I want is pretty crucial.  And it just wasn't happening.  And I have been continually frustrated that my crafts/art still seemed to take a pointless backseat to other things that just don't matter that much to me.  I am not complete without my creativity.  And that's how I want to make a living and be known.

So, here's to a complete do over on life at this moment.  It's all on me now.  And I anxiously look forward to having some new things to finish and share soon.   Cheers!

Ad copy

I thought I had posted this already.  Guess not!  This was the ad for restaurant tables.  I went by to see if the tables were in place yet, but not yet. Good thing, since I'm not quite as ready as I'd like.  The last stitching project I finished sold before I could put it as a steady piece available(hummingbird).

So now I am busy trying to get more things ready.  And as always, there isn't enough time in the day for all the things going on.  But busy is good. At least the beads that I have up are selling.  I'll get there, over time. Not as fast as people want, but well, such is life!

Hope everyone is getting back into a routine after the holidays and ready for spring.