A Joyful Christmas and a Blessed New Year...

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all!  I decided just to post some pictures of the holiday tidings around our house.  Life has been so busy here - I am sure most of you can relate... 

We did not have a white Christmas here this year - just lots of rain.  So the girls took it upon themselves to cover the wall going upstairs in homemade snowflakes...

Most of the ornaments on our tree are either hand made or very old.  They range from home made Girl Scout ornaments (circa 1981) to embroidered ones that I made a few years ago, to bulbs that the girls helped out with just last year.

Finally I would like to introduce you to Red Girl, the newest member of our family (she was a little embarrassed about the sweater, so we only make her wear it once in a while).  She is a five month old half German Short Haired Pointer and half English Setter.  She is VERY energetic and is already pointing birds.  You can just imagine how crazy our Christmas has been!  I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a Blessed New Year! 

Putting Myself Out There...

Talk about a sign from above, the day before Thanksgiving my husband showed me an article in our local paper (The Norwalk Reflector) about an art gallery/retail shop opening up just off Main Street...

Gabby Road Studios is an eclectic little shop that promotes and sells hand crafted items made by local artists.  Here is the link to their website http://www.gabbyroadstudio.com/index.html

So on Thanksgiving Day I took the plunge and emailed the owners about my interest in selling some of my picture frames.  

The owners responded right away and within a few days I had some picture frames for sale in the shop.  Gabby Road Studios has been wonderful to work with and they graciously allowed me to photograph their wonderful space.

I believe this is a sign from God that this is what I was meant to do.  Friends and family (blogger friends included!) have been telling me for a couple of years to put myself out there and take a chance.   Gabby Road Studios was the Lord's way of saying "here I am now doing everything but selling it for you  take the chance!"  On that note I will say this - for all of you out there thinking about doing what you love - take the chance!  I hope everyone has a Blessed week:)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

A very Happy, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  I'm so sorry for having neglected my blog - the season has just gotten so busy.  I'm trying to find the time to fit it all in...

I completed my first craft/art show last Saturday. I did okay for my first time ever trying anything like this.  I sold two picture frames, several slate magnets, and one custom order 12 x12 frame.  I would have liked the show to have been a little bigger with a little more traffic but I had a really good time and I met some great people.

More importantly, I finally did something that I had wanted to do for a long time but always found an excuse not to do.  I am the type of person that thinks about things for a very long time but is very slow to act, partly because of a HUGE fear of failure. So now I have jumped in with both feet and feel a bit more comfortable.  I am very fortunate on this Thanksgiving for my twin sister, Gretchen, who is my consummate cheerleader.  She was my assistant at the show and was a huge support - both physically (in helping me set up) and morally!  My cousin Colleen also stopped by and then was kind enough to take my sister and I out for dinner.  Of course too, I am thankful for my parents, who, even though I am 40 years old, came out to the show and brought me coffee:)  Gotta love family!  I hope everyone is having a Blessed Thanksgiving and if you are venturing out to shop remember to buy local!

Trying to live in the moment...

Life here in northern Ohio continues to be very busy.  I always feel, around this time of year, like I'm on a wheel.  As the end of the year draws closer, that wheel just seems to go faster and faster.  Time is such an elusive thing!

I've been quite busy with the girls and school and all the extras - like ballet and Girl Scouts.  Kudos to those moms who have several kids all in different activities at the same time!  So far I only have one night a week where I truly feel like a limo driver.  I am continuing to work on my picture frames, my deadline date is fast approaching.  My attitude is "whatever I get finished, is what I am going with". No sense in getting myself stressed out, 

I want to enjoy this first experience.

I have been very conscience lately of trying to slow down and enjoy just being in the moment.  Like watching the fall leaves change colors - it only happens once a year!  The tree in our backyard turns a brilliant shade of yellow...

Before we know it the holidays will be upon us and another year will have gone by.  As the girls are starting to grow up I am realizing that I don't want to miss any part of it. Making sure that I'm actually engaged in the moment is the only way I can think of to not miss something.  What sort of things do you do to "be in the moment"?

More frames and a little Halloween...

I have been busy making frames!  I now know why those of you who do the craft show circuit spend months and months making stuff before your shows...

I do like very much having a deadline though, it keeps me motivated.  Last week the weather here in Ohio was just beautiful - this week it's back to cloudy and rainy.  This is a good thing as I did not get as much finished when it was so nice outside.

I have been trying very hard to stay balanced through all of this.  It's been going pretty well - I even took a little time to make some Halloween decorations.  These are mason jar Jack-o-lanterns.  
Very easy and fun to make:)

The girl's Halloween costumes are finished - with the whole idea of finding balance their costumes this year are "semi-homemade".  A little bit crafted by me and a little bit store bought.  They are happy with them and I have maintained my sanity - I will post pics soon.  
Have a wonderfully Blessed week.

Inspiration...

Wow! Has it really been two weeks since my last post?  How dare life get in the way of my blogging. I think whoever said that things get easier as your children get older was not being entirely honest.  Life in general is easier (everyone sleeps through the night without needing a bottle or a diaper change) but boy are we busier.  During the quiet moments I like to look for inspiration, and I always seem to find it right in front of me... 

Partially finished picture frames drying on the dining room table... 

A pretend campfire made of paper streamers 

(thanks to one of Fiona's Girl Scout projects)...

My never ending stash of tissue paper;  I can't help myself, the colors are so varied and rich and it's so inexpensive! 

During our fast paced lives, what inspires you during the quiet moments?

Committing to an Art/Craft Show...

Well I have finally made a commitment.  A friend of mine asked if I would sell my picture frames at a craft show/fundraiser that her daughter's school is hosting.  I took the plunge and signed a vendor agreement form.  Now I just have to start making lots of frames by November 19th...  

I have three frames completed - looks like I have my work cut out for me!  I am still not as familiar with copyright laws as I would like to be, so for this show I am sticking to biblical quotes and my own verses. (Not sure but would quoting someone like Henry David Thoreau violate copyright law?)

It is very wet and rainy here in Ohio this week, so it's a good time for me to just kind of hibernate at home and start creating.  I just have to remember to keep a balance and I'll be okay.  How do all of you creative types keep balance in your lives?