Summer, where have you gone?

Oh no, this always happens! The end of summer always seems to kind of creep up on me, especially now that I don't have a classroom to prepare! The mornings are colder & the shadows are a bit long. Last weekend we managed a quick little beach getaway with my good friend rachel & her family...jack loves his buddy isaac. Here's some happy photos to kiss summer farewell!


I've also kicked my rear into high gear preparing my Etsy shop for fall....new fabrics, new frame pouches, new wristlets... yay! bring on the hot chocolate & pumpkins ;)

Thoughts of Summer

Jcaroline Creative, one of my all time favorite online fabric/supply shops has been offering giveaways all week to celebrate their anniversary! She has an interesting story to tell & I'm really crossing my fingers I win some of her fabric. Today, she asked for favorite summer memories. Here's mine:
My favorite summer memory is just a collection of lovely thoughts of living in a small rural community....walking all around town barefoot, under the sun, through bristly dry fields, popsicle in hand, & waving to old folks on their porches. Life was so easy & sweet.



I just can't resist adding photos so here are a couple pictures of Jack at a parade in Sisters, Oregon- classic summertime :)

Orange You Glad

Looky, looky! Just received this absolutely lovely fabric from birdsnestandpaper which was featured on the Etsy front page. It was just so gorgeous I had to scoop it up. This shop was such a charm to order from, I've already checked back to see if there is something else I can't live without. Super sweet communication & lightning fast shipping. Plus, orange is one of my favorites... been lovin' it before it became cool...my high school colors were orange & white & brown - we had no shame in tying orange ribbons in our hair, wearing orange hoodies, and yes, even orange knee high socks. So, back to the fabric, it arrived just in time to brighten up this stormy & gray August day and reminds me that sometimes you have to just go out and make your own sunshine!


ps. thanks so much to everyone who voted for my snap wallet in Etsy's fabric frenzy contest, I'm so glad to have at least made it to the top ten. The funny part is in the results article & contest gift guide Etsy actually showed my wash cloths instead?? Oh well. It was a fun experiment.

Enough! Prayer for having enough....

I'm up to my eyeballs in orders right now, my husband's away on business, and my toddler is displaying a curiously strong rambunctious streak these past few days.....plus, I'm up early enough to watch the sun rise... and happened upon this prayer. It put things in perspective for me. It reminds me of being a kid in Oregon & complaining about the rain and adults would always say something like, "ah, yes, but think of how glorious the summers are here." And it's true. Summers in Oregon are amazing. And I think Oregonians appreciate every little drop of sunshine that comes our way. Kind of a metaphor for life I suppose.

I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Time Saving Tips

I must say, with an energetic toddler running about & a career (put on hold) as a special education teacher, I've got some time saving tips under my belt. These have luckily transferred over to running my business & I thought I'd jot some down and share them, because while some may be obvious, they will hopefully help, or at least give a little push in the tush to get things done!

*Prioritize To-Do Lists: It might not be good enough to write out a list, it can help to prioritize those must do things! Here are some ideas-
"Front Burner and Back Burner,"or "By the end of the day" column with a "By the end of the week" column or Top: Business Items Bottom: Household Items (keep these separate)

Attention: Any paper artists out there, I'd love to see a to do list dedicated to prioritizing :)

*Do It In Batches: Obvious, I know. But somehow I missed this when I just started out on Etsy. Instead of cutting, making, listing, shipping....and repeat...try doing those steps (or whatever it is you do) all together. Same goes for checking/responding to convos & emails, taking photographs, etc.

*Use A Timer: Might seem a little like punching a time clock, but as a special education teacher I learned those little timers can do wonders to help you complete dreaded tasks, keep you focused, & provide incentive. Having a sluggish day? Set the timer for 20 mins, get to work, and when it beeps you can stand back & admire your own initiative!

*Limit Time Wasters: Going along with the timer thing, limit time wasters in a quantifiable way (because it just doesn't work to say, "just for a little bit"). Allow yourself to send 5 personal emails. Give yourself 10 mins to romp around on Facebook. Choose 3 of your favorite blogs and read them. Only them.

*Take Meaningful Breaks: Every business (except maybe a few...) seems to know that taking breaks is important. The key though is to really make the most of out them. Think about what your body/mind/creative spirit needs & then fill it up (i.e. yoga, exercise, music, a latte, whatever) just don't take a break & waste it on a repeat of "Child Stars from the 80's- Where Are They Now?" Use the timer if you need to.

*Don't Waste A Trip: Whether it's from the studio to the kitchen or from home to the office supply store- either way, go prepared, armed with everything you need. When I leave a room, I always check to see if there is something (such as trash or random items) that can be tidied along the way..this saves cleaning later on!

*O.H.I.O. (Only Handle It Once): I learned this as a teacher....touch something, find it a home, and be done with it. No more drifting supplies & work areas.

*"Measure Twice, Cut Once": This old adage certainly is true for sewing but it applies to everything. Just do it right the first time (allowing for good ol honest mistakes of course) but it can really save in the long run to double check addresses, shipping costs, and shop announcements.

*Delegate: This can be the fun one. Need some time together? Invite your spouse/friend to join in the tasks. (I was pleasantly surprised when my husband joined in with the holiday rush- we put the baby to bed, turned on some music, lit a few candles...and shipped some orders!) I've also had a fabric cutting party with friends- amazing what drink & food & friendship can accomplish!

Please add any other tips & tricks you've got....I can use all the help I can get!

Tally It Up- Vote for My Snap Wallet!

Hooray, another round of celebrations here! My snap wallet is included in this week of Etsy's Contests, "Fabric Frenzy." I'm lucky to be included in this fabulous group & hope to make a splash :) Go vote:

http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=62

Oh Happy Monday- Etsy Found Me!

So I had planned on writing a very long & thoughtful entry on my best time-saving tips or some great marketing ideas from Inc. magazine, but instead I have to celebrate what I just discovered....my Peridot Baby Bib Set is included in today's Etsy Finds article!

Admittedly, I don't always peek at these emails since it tends to induce shopping (obviously :) but I took a peek today and was admiring the Fall fashions & back to school items and then smack dab at the bottom under "Shades of Peridot" is my baby bib set!

Just what I needed to start off the week.....