Oh Summer

So friends.. My summer. It started off not so great... I mean.. The Vacation Church School was fun and wonderful. The trip down to Louisiana? Not so great.  The last post I did was while we were in the hotel in Georgia after my car began to break down. The next morning my poor car was even worse.  It was Sunday and of course nothing was open. I sobbed. I  made calls to people saying I wasn't going to make it to Louisiana.

It. Was. Awful.

So then what happened is we got my car towed to a dear friend's apartment.  I then got a rental car.  Said friend's husband and daughter drove e boyfriend and me to the airport to pick up the car.  (All the while her daughter was singing Frozen songs to me. Like ya do.) We decided to continue our trip and so... I made a bunch more phone calls to say that we were, in fact, going to make it.

Then we began our ride at 4 in the afternoon (7+ hours).  We got there. We felt loved. It was a lovely trip filled with hugs and drinking and love.  Just what I needed. the boyfriend wanted to stay there forever I think. (Me too secretly).

So an uneventful drive home. We stayed with my friend in Georgia and her husband on our night in Georgia and I sold my car to a junker the next morning before we left. It was sad. But I think I had shed enough tears for it. And... it was gone. We got home and I had to contemplate a new car. After much stress.... I got it. My lovely boyfriend was helpful.. and stressful. Hah. Here's to the new. (Its still very new and I'm still sad about my old one. Lets not talk about this again. Okay?)

So.. the rest of the summer has consisted a lot of hanging out with neices and my nephew and being with family and spending A LOT of time with the boyfriend. I went on a short trip to the lake with my little brother and her husband. And it is already time to go back to work. *insert sob*

Summers always go too fast and are never long enough!

So I leave you with an image of the kiddos I spent some of my summer with:

They all look silly, but that's life with these crazy kiddos

Its a mess. I'm a mess.

So.. School is out for the summer. FINALLY. It was a tough year.. in every way. It ended very sad and thats all I'll say about that. I'm OVER change.

And the week after school got out, I spent watching my nieces and taking them to Vacation Church School at my church.  The spent some nights with me and one of them was in my class.  The younger of my loves (Hazelnut) went to the nursery... and broke my heart every day.  She cried when I left her. Though she quickly stopped by the end of the week, it made me cry every day that I dropped her off. That precious, sweet little girl. Sigh. The older one was in my class and she basically was stuck to me all week at VBS except in art and outside time.  It was so very nice to get to snuggle with her and just have that time with her that she gets all my attention. Its what I wanted for the week.  The girls were happy and wonderful all week.  They didn't get sad often (which made me happy) but I just got sad about everything.  At one point, Ponygirl (the older girl) said to me, " You have hair like Mommy."  OH sweet girl. I didn't want to cry in front of her.. but oh how those words got me.

So after I finished up my week with them it was time to get going for a trip for myself. A trip to see relatives who will support me and that I don't have to feel the need to be strong for them.  Of course.. this is never simple. Never.  My car has decided that it doesn't want to go into some gear.. 3rd maybe? It gets there with some encouragement, but its not right.  So then the boyfriend puts the thought in my head that we may not even make it to the destination tomorrow.  We are in the hotel and I just want to cry. (And by want to I mean I did.)  I just want to be there. I want to be with my family and be supported and loved. Sigh. And he's not feeling well now so he is irritable and upset.... snowball effect. So yes. I'm a mess. Feeling like the universe is against me right now.  I know that is not the case. I know that things are not all against me. Its just one of those days/weeks/months/years that makes you feel as though every step forward is 5 steps back.

So. Prayers. Prayers that we make it to our destination tomorrow. Prayers that the boyfriend feels better.  Prayers that I don't want to curl into a ball tomorrow and cry cry cry.

Like I said... I'm a mess.

Monday Night Jewelry

So.. This is a blog about crafting. I went to the craft store today and got some little additions to use in my jewelry.

Lace/ Ribbon Bracelet (I made 2 of these. They are posted on Etsy.)

Converse Ribbon Bracelet (I made three of these- 2 posted on Etsy and 1 posted on Lista.com)

New funky beads I got at the store turned into earrings

Necklace that my mom wanted made.  Each larger stone represents the birthstone of my sisters and myself.  They are not the actual birthstones, but similar colors and more natural looking.

And now.. Sleep.

Stepping Stones

So I mentioned in an earlier post about a stepping stone party I organized in honor of my sister, Annette. Today I felt the need to put some more together. And I suppose my morning was leading up to that..

I had a difficult time holding it together at the services at church today where I rang bells and sang. The music... The sermon.. Something about the culmination of everything there today made me just want to cry. It reminded me of Annette. In the sermon there was talk about what Jesus's last words were and all I could think of was her. She is always on my mind and even more so lately. At the second service that I rang bells and sang, I doodled during the sermon. It helped me not to have such a wondering mind and held the tears at bay. 

Ok.. That being said, I wanted to make more stepping stones today to sell/give to family. So I did. I spent a good couple hours making 10 stones. These are what I ended up with (Yes, I know, there are only 8 pictures but two of the stones were repeats.. So I didn't bother posting the pictures of those):

Calla Lily

Elephant

Hearts

Dragonfly

Sanderson High School (For selling at Holly Days)

Grapes (This one is specially made for my boss)

Turtle (though it kind of looks like a dinosaur.. meh)

Butterfly (This one is for my grandmother)

So... Yep. Trying to keep my mind and hands busy. Its what I do to get me though the hard times.

Free Stuff

So.. Sometimes I like to explore the internet for free stuff. There are some sites that I frequent (sweetfreestuff.com for example). I stumbled upon a site called listia.com. It's weird. You get credits for signing up and taking tutorials and stuff. Sometimes even just for logging in. So I explored. It's auctions. For all sorts of things. Some neat, some stupid, some not even worth the free credits you bid. You can even pay for more credits (which of course I am not going to do because "free" is the goal here).

So I have been staying in the "craft" area and also "free shipping" (broken record: FREE). I have probably lost more than I've won, BUT I have now won three auctions: buckles, tree charms, and butterfly beads. 

I also wanted to test the waters and posted a few things for auctioning and free shipping since I was just putting it in regular envelopes to sell. And you know what? It went well! I posted two pairs of earrings and a simple bracelet, and they all were auctioned pretty well.

I mailed them out in simple home made cards and included a thank you for bidding on the item and a business card.  I also asked them to visit my Etsy page (etsy.com/shop/j9craftsnsuch).  I had one bidder for the bracelet who was outbid for the item.  She then requested another posted so that she could get it. I don't have another one made at the moment, so I need to work on that.

With the impending summer, I want to start getting back into my craftiness. My mind has been so preoccupied and in other places that the motivation for craftiness has been fleeting.  It's time to dig deep and find it somewhere.

So far behind

I am so far behind it is not even funny. Its been a horrible/crazy/unreal year. My life was turned on its backside and our family has been slowly recovering since. Some people have been incredibly supportive and wonderful while others have failed that test. Its been interesting to see who falls into what group in my life.  Relationships have grown closer with some, while others have seemed to falter. Its something I never would have wanted to ponder happening in my life, but these things happen for a reason, as I try to remember to tell myself.

I try to find the happy in things that my sister would have loved.  Sitting at a fishing pond (not the fishing part-she would have hated that!) and seeing dragonflies flying all around me.  My mom's cousin told us soon after her passing that every time we saw a butterfly or dragonfly it was Annette looking out for us. I felt surrounded by her the other day when the man and I went fishing.  It was a new spot, a little off the beaten path, and it was nature. It was calm. It was surrounded by these dragonflies that flew all around my head.  One settled upon my leg at one point and all I could do was smile. It was her. Saying, "Hi." (Or more likely, "Be nice to the fish!")

I have been trying to fill time with party planning or crafting or being busy in some way.  I planned a baby shower for another one of my sisters and a party in honor of Annette's birthday.  I didn't have a huge turn out for the birthday celebration, but those who came we were wonderful.  Many people had things happening that weekend, which was totally understandable.  And then, once again, there were people who I thought would be there to offer a little support for me or to honor my sister, but they were not. I know that Annette smiled down at the day and knew it was what it was meant to be.   Much of her husband's family came by that day and made stones and hung out with us for a good while. A few co-workers of mine came by as well.  The idea of the party was to make stepping stones to sell to benefit my sisters family (her husband and my two beautiful nieces).  Many water themed stones were made (which I thought was a wonderful way to honor her) and then also a butterfly and lizard. All things that were her. Still working out the pricing, but I'll figure that out eventually.

Also..  School.. its almost done for the year. It has been yet another trying year. Mentally, physically and well.. behaviorally? Hah. Something like that. The snuggles I get from the loving kids every day help me to feel that much better. Its tough. Its tiring. But the hugs and love from the kids make it worth it. (Most days!)

I'll try to keep up with this maybe a little better. Is there an app? Maybe that would help.

Later Gators.

Life.. is short.

Its been a while since I last posted. I was babysitting a lot towards the end of the summer.  School started back.  I've been engulfed in crafting and school and blah blah blah. Excuses. Excuses. Excuses.

Recently, my mind has been preoccupied by a recent sad even that took place.  A teenager that I used to work with for Park and Recreation passed away in a particularly tragic manner. I worked with her at a camp, at a game night program, and at a bowling program.  She had her particularly sassy moments, but she really liked me (I think!). She was really a funny girl, and it makes me so sad to hear about what happened to her.  I know it seems like it has been a while to everyone else, but I feel like I am still dealing with the passing of another teenager I used to spend a lot of time with.  This happened back in November, but it seems like it just keeps coming around.  The two teenagers that passed away were kids I had at one time in my life, seemed to spend a lot of time with. Having not been able to think of anything else that I could possibly say to these grieving families, I made them cards.  Each got a card filled with as many pictures as I could find on my computer of wonderful times we had with each other.  It was my way of grieving and my way of showing that these special families were in my thoughts and prayers.  I'm not all preachy preachy with my praying and churchy stuff, but its inside me for sure.  These things have just been weighing heavily on my heart.  I cannot begin to understand how hard this must be for them, but I know that I am deeply saddened to hear about their deaths.  I will actually be able to attend this particular funeral, which I think will be extremely helpful in dealing with all this.

I am not entirely sure if this is related (I think it is), but I am just having a hard time with dealing with stressers this week (i.e. children who like to abuse me all day, people who can't stop asking me questions, headaches).

I also am trying to get back into my Etsy site. Trying to spend this sad/emotional/stressful/blah energy on making things.  Making things to make myself feel better. That's a good philosophy huh? I should just keep going with that.

I've pinned lots of things to pinterest that I want to start making.  Has anyone seen those zipper bracelets? I really want to try them. I've been eyeing a set of colorful zippers on amazon that I really want to get to try this out.  In fact, they are sitting in my digital cart, just waiting, WAITING, for me to buy them. To buy or not to buy....... that is truly the question.

And with that, I shall call this bloggeroo done.  I'll try to be a little more up-beat in the next one. And share more pictures. Adios muchachos.

A tale of Sock Monkeys

I've been waiting to post the blog about sock monkeys until I had all the parts assembled and ready to go! And well.. They are done!

The process began at the beginning of the summer when a friend of my boyfriend tasked me with making 12 of these little guys for her son's 1st birthday.  I had until August to get them cross country.

I started with dying them (with your standard tye-dye dye).

After this I had to do the sewing machine thing.  I had to sew what I could on the machine in order to make the process much quicker.  After this, I had to assemble the monkeys.  This is a mid process picture.. monkey parts everywhere.

After this.. I was well on my way to getting these little guys finished!  Its a bit of a time consuming process, but I really don't mind those kinds of things.  (Clearly) And here is what I ended up with:

My little signature on the monkeys

Monkey Butts!

They are all a little different. They all have slightly different cuts, but my mom said to me during the process, "Don't make them feel bad about themselves. They are all going to be a little different because they are handmade. Its what makes them special."

What a wonderful way to put it mom. 

So now I get to say goodbye to my little friends and send them off to live with new families in California! What adventurous lives these little monkeys will have. Adios Amigos!

For Lisa

Yesterday I found out that one of my good friends from high school passed away. She lost her battle with cancer, that she had been fighting since January. I don't think that I let it really set in until today, and felt that I needed to post about her.

We met when I was a Freshman in high school and she was a Junior.  She adopted me into her circle of friends and made me feel welcomed and accepted for being the oddball that I was.  I learned of her love of Beck and crafty things and horror and we shared many fun times together. I spent so many days with her during high school, and met so many wonderful people through her.

We lost touch after high school, as many people do.  I wish now that I hadn't.  My sister is getting married 4 states away on Saturday, so I cannot even make it to her service.  I decided that all I really could do was make a card for her family.  I'd like to think that Lisa would have appreciated it.

I will miss you Lisa.  Life is too short and I wish we had been more in touch over the years. Love you friend. I hope you are in a better place.

A little bit of this and that

So I have been contemplating what crafty thing to do lately... but have been finding it hard to get that motivation.  It seems like when I have time in the morning to do it, I just want to drink coffee or go lay in the pool. Hah.

But, I have have a few times the past week or so when I was able to focus that sporadic energy into something crafty.

I found some little crafty card things at Big Lots (of all places.. I know.. but sometimes they have cool things).  I made these cards out of the little bling things that I found as well as these cool chipboard letters that I used on these cards:

Also, I finally got around to trying this melted crayon art stuff that I wanted to try for so long!  This is the only  completed one that I have so far: (well.. mostly completed)

I've been doing a whole lot of cooking lately too. I think maybe that is where my craftiness has been channeling through.  Last week I made a few interesting menus:

1. Radish and bulgar wheat salad; steak; apple stuffed buttercup squash
2. Baked fish with brushetta topping; corn on the cob; baked jalapeno poppers with a homemade greek yogurt ranch dipping sauce
3. Baked chicken; home made tatziki sauce; home made hummus; tabbouleh 

Ok.. that's all I can remember, but they were all pretty tasty meals. 

Next week the family is trekking up to Pennsylvania for my little sister's wedding.  9.5 hours plus stops. Hah.. Long trip.  I have to find something to occupy me in the car.  I think the sock monkeys will be taking a trip with me as well to get them finally completed.  2 are complete; 7 are assembled, but need eyes and a mouth; 3 still need to be assembled.  Its close though. I think that I can finish all that in 9+ hours.. ok.. well I guess it would be more like 6+ hours because I'll be driving for part of that time too. BUT! They will get completed.  

Oh.. and I repurposed a large shirt into this:

Shoulder strap with eyelets! I love how this looks!

Owl midriff 

What the shirt looks like as a whole

Anywho. Happy crafting all! And happy Friday!

Sewn cards

Another day of summer break.. another blog post... another set of cards!

On Pinterest (broken record here) I saw something about how to make a mini-book out of a single piece of paper...  And from there this is what happened..


I got a box of random scrapbook paper and stickers for free! One of my mom's co-workers knows that I make cards and she picked up this box from someone off of Craigslist. For. Free.  Say what?? But awesome. So I got a box of free paper. That is always okay with me!  So looking through this box, I saw papers that had stitches on them, which looked so neat! Also in there were papers that looked like home made paper, which is really a neat effect. I decided to use one of those home made looking papers to turn into a book/card. Then I hand stitched around the edges to hold it together.  After the second card, I decided to try to sewing machine.. which miraculously made the process much easier.  Who'da thunk? Hah! Anywho.. here are the ones that are just sewn, not decorated:

And this is the finished one:

Outside view

Front of card/book

Second page

Third page

Last page- left blank so that it can be written on

I also spent part of my day trying to make french bread, which turned out tasty, but not very nice to look at.  And also I made this as an experiment based on stuff people had posted on Etsy and Pinterest:

Ribbon and pearl bracelet

And the biggest news of all: 

I opened my Etsy shop! And if you are interested in any of the stuff here, you should check it out! 

Have a wonderful day everyone!

First day of freedom: craft time!

Schooooooool's out for summer!

And so are teachers.

My school year ended teacher workdays yesterday around 1:45. I came home and contemplated life and what to do with my summer.  I have some home repairs to do (and by some I mean a lot- and the thought of it gives me a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, so let's not talk about that right now). I went out with some friends yesterday who took my mind off the things that made me want to be upset and so today I felt ready to be crafty.

My secret pal at work gave me a final gift of card making stuff and a $10 gift card to A.C. Moore! So, of course, on my first day of summer break, I went over there.  Before that though, I spent a while talking crafty stuff with a friend who moved away (also, the person who got me started on Pinterest!). So, I was ready to go!

I got these flower beads off The Plaid Barn recently.  I had seen some in California last summer, but have not seen them ANYWHERE since! I was super pumped to see them on The Plaid Barn!  (The Plaid Barn is a really neat site that only sells one thing a day, but at super awesome prices. If you are crafty its a fun little email to get every day!) So this idea came to me while I was in the craft store:


The flowers are linked to a green chain.  I like to think of it as a vine holding the flowers. The earrings are that dark gunmetal color that I so very much love on jewelry. I think they are pretty fun and I'm thinking I might start my selling on Etsy with these beauties!

Next up: Gift for the boyfriend.  Random. Inexpensive. Thoughtful.

Its a wooden scorpion that had to be assembled.  I colored it with a brown marker and mod podged it.  I think its pretty awesome, personally. And, seriously, what California, born and raised dude would not love the gift of a wooden hand colored scorpion from their girlfriend. Right? Right!

Moving on: Cards

While the staff at school was cleaning out the supply closet, they decided to throw out this large roll of long stripe stickers. I scooped it up and decided to use it on cards.  Free stickers for cards? Yes, please! I have another roll of similar stuff, but that is more like Easter-y or baby shower-y.  I'll keep it in mind for those sorts of things because I know I'll have like a bazillion more of those things to go to. So these are the cards that I ended up making today. One with seashells off a cheap necklace; one with woven stripe stickers; one inspired by pinterest:

Last up: Duct tape craft (also inspired by Pinterest!)

I gave it to Mom. 'Cause Mom always deserves flowers.

So yeah.. I guess it was a productive (in a crafty way) day.  Now what to do with the REST of my summer. Hah!

Things I'm working on still:

• Sock monkeys
• Bridesmaid dress
• Loading stuff on Etsy to sell
• Twirled paper cross

Labor intensive twirled paper

Something you might not know about me: I enjoy labor intensive crafts.  I have no idea what sparked this interest, but i can stay involved in the same project for a ridiculous amount of time. I guess knitting can be categorized into that category.




Anywho.  After church on Sunday, my parents and I and another friend from church went to lunch at Cameron Village.  My dad wanted to stop into Ten Thousand Villages to look for something and I, like always, wandered around looking for new crafts and stumbled upon this. Ok.. I know that some woman in the Philippines worked a long time for this, but I wanted to try my hand at it instead of buying it.  So I took a mental image, went home and immediately started cutting up newspaper.  I started with long strips and folded each side in then folded in half so no raw edges were showing.  Then is the fun part. You just start wrapping it around itself.  I worked on those coasters for about an hour and a half.  Then I thought, well, they had a box for them at the store.  I bet I could figure out how to make that.  And I did! (2.5 hours later it was done!) Then I just mod podged the mess out of it (and yes that sentence makes sense to me). This was the final project:

Also, along the same lines, I am working on a gift for my grandparents who have a collection of crosses.  Its not quite done yet, but I think its coming along nicely!

Current projects:

• set of 12 small sock monkeys for a 1 year old's birthday party
• personalized cards for my secret pal
• personalized cards for my grandparents
• Dress for my sister's wedding? Maybe? 

Also, just for some more picture viewing... here are some recent cards I made for a few people for their graduation!

I know this one looks blurry, but it turned
out really neat!