A Good Time Was Had......

Here are a couple of new pieces that I finished up just in time for the Ink People Holiday Gift Fair. I really like the top one, out of all the pieces I made, I think that little one is my favorite!

Despite a really awful stomach ache (brought on by too much Thanksgiving foodage and WAY too much coffee) and the very sad absence of my vending partner, otherwise known as my mom( insert a HUGE frowny face here, I don't think it will get any easier any time soon), I had a great time on Saturday! It was so nice to be a part of this fair, in familiar surroundings and among super talented artists. It always inspires me when I do shows, I see so much around me that I love and appreciate the hard work each of these artists puts in to their work and everything else. I can't wait for the next one! Hopefully I won't be up until 2am nailing down all the final details this time. Although, I was quite impressed with how much I was able to get done despite the craziness and grief over the last couple months.

I look forward to doing more shows in the future. Now that the kids are getting older and I am able to find sufficient time to work and plan, I think I may be able to pull it off, we'll shall see though, we shall see:)

Up in The Middle of The Night Again

Not that I want to be, but I just am. I'm pretty sure I could sleep but I'm having a really nasty allergy attack complete with wheezing and sinus headache. So, after I finish writing this, I am going to finish gluing the appliques to the last of my leathery wallets and such for my show on Saturday. It's not much, but enough to keep me busy for a couple of hours until my allergy meds start working. I still have a bit to do, but I feel like I am farther ahead than I have been in the previous years with all my stuff. I think my mom's passing has really bit me in the butt! I really feel the need to get stuff done, and not put anything that I find important off. Procrastination is deadly! Working on my leathery things has become a necessity again for coping with the loss of my mom, but I have also found that it brings me a little peace and happiness. Even if I don't sell a damn thing, I still feel good that I am making things that I love in the way I want to do them. That feeds my inspiration, which makes me want to create more. I think I lost that a bit over the last year, with all sorts of gooey details that I am not going to spill, it's been difficult to find enjoyment and inspiration in much of anything. I feel like I've found that again. Now, the trick is to keep it!

Only a Few More Days!

I am working my butt off to get some nice leathery things done for my upcoming show next Saturday. I will be selling my leathery pieces along with the last of my mom's lovely ponchos and baby jackets at the Ink People Center for the Arts Holiday Gift Fair.

I am running behind though. I still have a stack of wallets to cut glue and sew. I always do this! Although this year I guess I have more of an excuse for procrastination than usual but still! Oh well. Since I seem to have caught a sewing bug maybe I can just power on through without too much trouble. It really does help to work, it kind of clears my mind of all the busy-ness for the moment and I can just focus on what is in front of me.

In other news, we are gearing up for Thanksgiving and the holidays. I am going to have the kids finish up an Autumn wreath this week and we are hosting a small Thanksgiving potluck for my family. Then...... On to lots of glittery winter fun! I am keeping up the happy not only because my heart craves it right now, but my kids need it too. They are soooooo very excited about Christmas this year, and I think it's great. It makes me excited too. It's going to be a lovely, sad, happy, teary holiday season this year.

Lizard Condos and Such

We needed to switch Lulu and Beazus to different cages so we got this cool little Exo Terra terrarium for a temporary lizard condo for Lulu since she is too small to live with Beazus right now. It comes with a pre-made background for climbing and I started out by adding some pebbles, charcoal, and mesh for drainage on the bottom. Then I added some coco fiber as planting/bedding material.

We planted it with some ficus, alocosia, and pothos. I added some moss that I collected for stability and humidity control. I also put in some monkey vines for Lulu to climb and perch on.

Lulu seems to like it pretty well, she immediately climbed one of the monkey vines so she could take a peek around at her new place. The plants I used are all planted in the larger vivarium as well so it should be comfortable for her. Lately her favorite place to spend the day was curled up on one of the alocosia leaves hidden away from everyone. It was too cute!

Beazus seems pretty happy too. Her temporary tank was much to damp and stuffy. I was worried that she might become ill if she spent too much time in there. Now, she has a lot more space with better ventilation and it's a little warmer for her. She's been exploring all afternoon.

I can't wait for Lulu and Beazus to live together but I would rather wait until Lulu is big enough to hold her own if there should be any gecko battles over territory. So for now, the big girl gets the big vivarium, and the little girl is nice and snug in her little vivarium. As long as they are happy, I am happy.

More Newness!

These are the newest of the new now listed and ready to find new homes in my etsy shop. I am sorta diggin' the bright yellow leather, it makes for some super fun new elements in my designs. It's always a bit of a challenge to find colors that work together well without having to be altered in some way. This yellow was super challenging, but I think I found some colors that work well with it. It should be fun to see what more comes out of the crazy bright yellow, 80's jacket with bat wing sleeves and and huge shoulder pads. Now it's off to work on some coin pouches and eyeglass cases. Yippee!

Billfolds!

The whole stack is done! I finally got to listing them and the first six are now in my Etsy shop. I am listing just a few each day since I am also working on a huge stack of coin pouches as well. Man, it is such a lovely feeling to be productive! I am now gonna get my butt out of the house for a few and play:) Have a great weekend everyone!

My Plan for the Day

Is to get these listed! Finally! Just got to trim up some threads and take some pictures. Then...... a whole other stack to finish up for listing tomorrow. I don't think I have had this much stuff to list in a very long while! After all the listing excitement, I get to clean up my sewing area that a little explosion called Edolie got in to the other day. She seems to have spread most of my fabric and zippers all over the living room. Should make for a lovely game of "I Spy".

We Made it Through Halloween!

The blue M&M and the grouchy ladybug had a great time making cookies, carving up some jack o'lanterns, and trick or treating on the plaza. I made it through too! We had a wonderful day and were very happy to end it with a bowl of split pea soup with biscuits and a dessert of dirt and worms, along with some play time with the cousins and Auntie. Today we welcome in November with candy hangovers, roasted pumpkin seeds, and WAY too many jack o' lantern and ghost cookies.