The Journey Continues ... New Life from Old

I'm really pleased to have finally launched my latest "Green Treasures" ... wallets made from upcycled plastic bags that are fused into a new, strong material that is super light but strong.  I love creating the fused plastic; impossible to recreate two that are the same, so every item is so unique. I have listed one wallet plus a "teabag" wallet and card holder that I'm selling as a prototype.  It didn't start out as a teabag wallet but the design took on a life of its own.  They are fun little gifts or for a treat for yourself.  I'm keeping the prices low, at least to begin, because I feel like I'm still developing the process, thus each item seems better than the last. This is a short post, just to celebrate the product launch.  I have a few sheets of fused plastic that I've created, waiting to be cut and stitched, so hope to list lots more items in the next few days. Let me know what you think.  And what features are important to yo...

Every day I look at the spaces I use most, and every day I promise myself I will de-clutter, organize, tidy, clean, whatever you want to call it.  Every day thinking about doing all that makes me very very tired, and I often succumb to a voice in my head that says, “you need to have a nap”.  Some days I do feel awake and productive, and I can get a lot done when I feel that way.  Unfortunately, it rarely lasts two days in a row, and by the time I get back to the organizing project, I have to re-do so much of what I got started the last time. Two steps forward, two steps back.  Inertia. So this time, I am not looking at it as cleaning and de-cluttering.  I’m looking at it as creating a new workspace for my projects.  Some of that workspace is in the basement where I want to create a proper studio for my projects and everything related to my Etsy shop.  And some of it is on the main floor, where I sometimes prefer to work and enjoy the sunshine....

Has it really been months since I posted?  Yikes.  I've been adding more and more blogs to my reading list, and reading as much as I can, so I guess my own writing went by the wayside.  Plus ... so much as been happening in life. The grand kids just grow more precious every day.  They are beautiful little beings, full of curiosity and love, and I don't think it's possible to spend too much time with them.  That being said, I sure am ready for a nap whenever they take one!  It's a full time job keeping up with them.  The oldest is two and a half, and just discovered bubbles.  He got a set recently, and it's been a daily activity for him.  It is pure joy to watch his fascination with the bubbles that float away in the breeze. Baby is walking now and enjoying her freedom to play and move around independently.  At the risk of being totally repetitive, she is a beautiful little girl. I signed on with a couple of companies to do mystery ...

Yay. Another sale. I usually have my first cup of coffee in bed while I check emails and shop stats on Etsy.. Yesterday, there it was - an email saying I had been paid -- so I knew something had sold. That's a great way to start the day. It was my first non-North America sale, which made it extra special.  Recently I saw some notices of upcoming craft shows. Now, if I left it to myself, I would likely think, "hmm, I should enter," and then miss the registration deadline. So I talked to my sister, who has been doing a lot of painting lately, and asked if she had enough inventory to enter the show and, if so, I'd share a table with her. She is organized and gets things done -- on time, no less! So we are entered in three craft shows. I have done a couple of shows before, but they ended up being not-craft shows ... most of the tables were rented to home party sales people, so lots of Tupperware, candle companies, and cookware dealers, but very few crafts. The...

The new year is no longer so new, it being February now. No need for season's greetings anymore; it will soon be time to tally up the resolutions I have kept, except I didn't write any. Does anyone else have time slip away from them like this? I closed my Etsy shop for most of January while I was on a bit of a vacation. I believe the shop notice said to come back in February to see my new shop look. Hmmm, there's no new look but I have been toying with making the products I want to list.  My new project has been experimenting with fused plastic. It's fun and feels really creative, in a I'm-being-green-and-saving-the-landfills sort of happy way. I spent a few hours online to get an idea of how to fuse the plastic ... it's plastic shopping bags. Everyone cautions that you must work in a well ventilated room due to fumes (even if you can't smell any, they're there). I had a window open beside me, despite the fact that the wind chill was minus 35...

Setting Goals but Seizing the Moment Vacation mode is over, but that doesn't make it any easier to switch gears.  I put my shop in "vacation mode" while we went on a road trip to capture the last weeks of the summer.  Now that I'm back, there's so much do be done:  I have been listing a few vintage pieces, but once that's done, it's time to get some handmade items completed. My to-do list grows every time I glance at it, with an unending series of should-do's, could-do's, must-do's,want-to-do, and likely-won't- do's.  Sadly, many of the want-to's are likely going to end up in the likely won't-do pile.  If I am going to keep up with creating, listing, and marketing the things I make, there needs to be some discipline.  But when is "too much work and no play" just too much altogether?  I mean, what is the point if we can't seize the moment sometimes and just do what we enjoy? I intend to do a lot more o...

The first long weekend of the summer starts today -- Canada Day weekend here in Canada.  It is also my husband's birthday weekend or, as he likes to say, all of Canada celebrates his birthday.  This is a milestone birthday and we are planning a surprise party for him.  Well... he knows we'll have a family barbecue and cake, but he doesn't know we invited an extra three dozen people.  My sister is hosting at her place which is perfect because, one, it helps keep the surprise; two, she decorates much better than me; and, three, her house is much tidier than mine.  One extra surprise that is the most fun of all is that my son who lives in Europe will be here for the celebration. Meanwhile, we have been doing a bit of house renos, specifically installing a new sink.  That is a whole other post, but after spending a day working on it, there is a new sink in my kitchen.  Believe me, we had all sorts of glitches.  There are so many more updates and rep...