Etsy Shop

Well, I got my Etsy shop up and running at the beginning of the week. I've been in kind of a funk about it, which is why I hadn't posted about it yet, and then I messed up my sewing machine last night when I accidently ran over a pin and was really upset about that because I DO NOT want to have to take it in to get serviced. I only have a few purses in the store right now, but I have so many things I would like to make and want to add. The problem is that I can't afford to go out and buy the materials to make everything I want on the hope that someone will buy it. I was thinking, though, that if any of you out there have something you want me to make for you I could do some custom orders to help get started. I haven't decided if I'm going to sell Emmeline aprons because I would have to get approved by the pattern designer and then pay a yearly fee of $100 to legally do that. And they take a bit of work, so they would end up costing about $45, and I don't know if people would be willing to pay that much. (I think it's kind of a lot, myself.) Some of the things I was thinking about adding were: tote bags, baby blankets and burp rags, diaper bags, placemat purses, etc. If anyone is interested in something like that let me know.

My little handy man

Working with his "hammer-tools" as he would say.

I think that Max looks just like a mini Lloyd Christmas with this hairdo. This kid has got big things in his future, I tell ya!

And finally...

Here are the last of the Christmas crafts that I made: the aprons. I made three of these "Emmeline" aprons, one for me, one for my sister, Shannan, and one for my sister-in-law, Alese. (Here's a little secret: This was the real reason I wanted to separate the siblings into boys and girls when we drew for Christmas gifts this year. I really wanted to make this apron and needed a good excuse!) I love this apron! I think it is cute and girly and makes you want to put on your apron and bake all day.

Then one night I was watching Jeff cook in his old apron that was a gift from an ex-girlfriend and I thought, "I should make Jeff an apron, too!" I figured he wouldn't want a figure flattering Emmeline apron, so I went with a more traditional style.

What's in a Name?

I am getting ready to open up an Etsy shop and the name I had picked out and was so excited about is already being used. Now I'm kind of stumped about what to name my shop and I'm hoping maybe you all would be willing to help me out with some ideas. I want something that is easy to remember, unique, and doesn't tie me to one kind of craft because I want to be open to add different things to the shop.

Christmas Crafts, Part 2

Here are the cousin gifts that I made for Chloe and Hannah.

I made Chloe this girly placemat purse, which I thought turned out so cute. I also made her a few hair bows to go with it, but I forgot to take a picture of them. Max loved this little purse so I made him a "boy" version with bugs on it.

I made Hannah a special box that I put some cards, paper, embelishments and small stamps and ink into so that she can make little cards. I hope that her expression in this picture isn't how she felt about her gift! ;) After she's done with the stuff inside, she can use it as a jewelry box or somewhere to keep special items. I love this idea. You can buy these boxes for a few dollars at most craft stores and they come in a lot of different shapes/sizes. Then you can paint and/or modge podge cute paper or fabric onto them.

Happy Holidays

(First off, I just had to throw in this picture of Max because I think it is CRAZY that he was able to fall asleep like this!)

Do others feel like life has been a little crazy lately!?! I feel like there is so much going on right now and I haven't really been in a blogging mood, even though I have several things I want to post. We have had a busy couple of weeks. Being a little hectic before Christmas, Max and I didn't get around to decorating our gingerbread house until after Christmas. He did such a great job helping me decorate it and was mostly good about not eating the candy. (There was a specific reason he wasn't supposed to eat the candy, I'm not just a mean mom!) We threw it out about a week later when Max just couldn't seem to stop picking candy off of it and I was ready to rid my house of sugar after too many sweets the last couple of weeks. I'm thinking I might need to go on another sugar fast since the holidays have got me slipping back into bad habits.

We spent New Years Eve and Day at Jeff's parents. We had so much fun playing games and hanging out with Jeff's family for a very relaxing couple of days. Max really loves going to Grandma and Grandpa's house and playing with his cousins. He'll ask me for days after if we can go back. My favorite new year memory would have to be Jeff's impromptu "passionate kiss" that he planted on me when the clock struck twelve. I was so surprised I was beating him off which apparently looked pretty funny. Most of us were laughing so hard we had tears streaming down our faces.

Yesterday morning we were able to get together for breakfast with our friends Jake and Maren before they head back home to Texas. Then we headed straight to my Mom's house to get together with Seth and Jessica before they went back to Omaha today. Erin, Brian and Ellie were there as well and we had a great time eating pizza and playing games. We were so glad that we got another chance to see them since we don' know when we'll get to see them again.

I've also been trying to get an Etsy store started and it is turning out to be more work than I originally planned. And both Max and Emily have birthdays right around the corner. And we're refinancing our house. And I didn't finish two of my Christmas gifts. (They both still need to be finished and I am having a hard time finding the motivations since I'm a little burned out with crafting and my carpel tunnel has been giving me problems lately.) And we need to buy a new vacuum. (Anyone have any input into a good vacuum?) I feel like life should be more relaxed and easy with Christmas over and it being a new year, but instead I feel crazy! I guess it's just on with life, right?