Crafting and Kindle

OK, don't be scared. I'm off my soap box. After my rant last night, I think maybe I need a bit of relaxation today. I worked overtime hours this past week and I need some fun. Don't get me wrong. I'll still be multi-tasking, doing laundry and picking up around the house. In between my domestic responsibilities, however, I will be creating.

Yay for creating something...anything! 

For me, that is a great way to relax and to feel all smoothed over and shiny again. What do you do to unwind? For me, reading is another favorite method of relaxation. Thanks to my new Kindle Fire HDX with the secret feature that reads to me, I "read" while making things. Today, I'll be "reading" a novel about Norwegian Immigrants finding their way to Minnesota to homestead. Aaaah! I can't wait to get started!

Today, I decided Wyoming Rose Boutique needs some attention. I'm in the mood to make new jewelry. I feel inspired!

Above is the sign Maria created back when we had time to do craft fairs. Now, with my full-time job and Maria raising two little girls while juggling her teaching and art, we don't do any craft fairs. We both still love making things for our Etsy shop, though! Anyway, I couldn't part with this sign. I just love it!

So, this is how I start with that creating process. I usually have an idea in my head. I gather up some things that seem appropriate for that little nugget of an idea. This is what I gathered up this morning. I'm not sure what I'll be using but some of these pieces looked like good possibilities. There are chains I purchased a while back. Sometimes I see new earrings that aren't anything I'd want to wear but they have parts that seem like possibilities for future projects. Additionally, there is a variety of different bobbles, charms and beads that may find their way into a new project today. 

I am getting so excited; It is time to quit talking about it and get to business! What are you going to do today? How do you best relax and refresh?

Celia's Link to My Grandaughters

I am getting excited!  Maria and Eric will be welcoming their new daughter next month!  That little baby is quite definitely HERE now.  Maria is looking "full of life" and she's at the point where we can even see when that new little grandaughter has the hiccups!

When we were waiting for Cordelia's birth I remember feeling like my arms just needed to hold her, just as I felt as I waited for the births of my own babies.  I'm starting to get that feeling again!

One of the things I did before Cordelia was born was that I chose a piece of my jewelry that would someday be her's.  I know that seems rather premature but my plan was to be wearing it in photos taken the day she was born.  I'm particularly proud of that idea.  I chose a cross ring given to me by my friend, Celia.  I wear it often and I hope that for Cordy it is something she will remember having seen on me. For some reason the photo cuts off the bottom but trust me, I was wearing the ring in this photo.

For this new little person I want to do the same thing, only different.  I want both girls to feel special and to know they are individually precious.  I am narrowing it down.  I am thinking about a cross necklace, also from Celia, that I will give to this new baby.  

I didn't know it at the time of Cordelia's birth but there is another link to this tradition.  When Cordy was about a year and a half old, Maria and Eric purchased the house where my friend, Celia, grew up!  So, those girls will always have a link to Celia as well.  Cool, huh?

Jewelry in the Sun

Another thing I enjoy is making jewelry.

It is another addiction, much like crocheting.

Recently, I had a chance to share my addiction with two of my friends.   We were out on a deck at the beautiful home of one of them and we just enjoyed being together.  It was really a pleasant morning.

They made some lovely pieces for themselves.

I made a couple of pairs of earrings, one for Wyoming Rose Boutique...

...and one for a GIVEAWAY!

Entering is NOT complicated. 

Simply leave a comment at our store blog:

http://wyomingroseboutique.blogspot.com/

In one week we will place the names of all commenters in a hat and draw for the winner!



Treasure Hunt

When my daughter,Maria, and I first talked about having a little business, my thoughts mostly centered around the idea of an outlet for pieces we create ourselves.  We both love designing and crafting, but there is just so much we can wear or display in our own homes.  We like to design a WIDE variety of lovelies, ensuring we are never bored with it.

Then one day Maria started talking about incorporating vintage items into our repertoire.  That sounded intriguing!  Maria, with her art history degree and good eye, has learned a lot about vintage and antiques.  She's been teaching me as we go and it has been such fun! 

For one thing, searching for these delightful items takes some time... time together!  Cordelia comes along and gives her opinion as well.  Even when we don't find pieces that fit into our store, we ALWAYS see something interesting, something with an obviously fascinating history.  Sometimes it isn't the items for sale but those people selling them... or fellow shoppers!  We always have a good time and that's what's important.

Yesterday afternoon was one of those times.  Maria, Cordelia and I  went treasure hunting! 

You can see how excited we were to head out on our adventure!  Well, Cordelia really wanted to get down and do something else at the time Grandpa snapped this photo, but she got into the spirit later.  We headed to a local antique sale, leaving the men at home to watch tennis.  I think they probably felt bad about being left behind but they held it together and hid their disappointment.

When on such a treasure hunt, there are a lot of items that must be sifted through that do NOT qualify as a treasure.  Well, everyone's idea of treasue can vary but we try to only purchase doo-dads that WE find to be charming.  I notice we are especially drawn to dandies that seem a bit unique or display some sort of visual surprise, but we have also found some appealing classic beauties.

These are all items that will soon be available at Wyoming Rose Boutique, but first we must sort, clean and otherwise tweak to be sure each piece is at its best.  That is part of the fun as well!

Back to Sewing!

Yesterday, as I worked on my room some more, I kept turning green!  No, I wasn't sick.  I mean, literally, I kept turning green.  Remember that I was spraypainting the dresser the day before?  Apparently you really should do it outdoors or in an open garage as the can says.  Although I couldn't see green anywhere, it kept showing up on my hands!  It seems a green dust had formed on some surfaces.  My computer was in there (Netflix kept me entertained as I worked) and so everytime I use my computer yesterday, I got green fingers.   It was weird.

The important thing, though, is it is all back in order and my dream room is again being used to create!  No carpet yet, but that will come.  I also haven't had the guys move my new/old sewing machine and cabinet up from the basement yet.  I'll tell you more about that someday but it will stay downstairs until the carpet is in.

Here is a picture of two of my shelving units.  The one on the left has fabrics, patterns, etc.  The one  on the right has jewelry-making items as well as beautiful yarns.  I don't know what it is but I just love looking at all that potential there, especially the fabric and yarns!  It is kind of like I have my own craft store!

This is where I sew.  I was so excited I had to start a quilt already.  I've been watching the series Eli Stone on Netflix as I worked so I just kept watching it while I sewed.

So, I am going with Kate W.'s suggestion of calling it the Paisley Room.  I just love paisley fabric and I love saying the word Paisley.  I looked it up on Wikipedia and found that the design we know as paisley is from India and Iran.  The word, paisley, is from a town in Scotland.  I have some Scottish roots; maybe that explains my love of that word!  I even like Brad Paisley!

Lucky for you all, I just backspaced over an educational lesson regarding paisley.  I decided to leave a little mystery, meaning I didn't want to get tooooo boring.

You probably can't see it but that quilt top has some black and white paisley in it.  I noticed that a LOT of my fabric is paisley.  I'm going to move my paisley giraffe in there for inspiration and I think I will make a paisley wallhanging for decoration!

Kate, I thank you!

My Life Was Interrupted

I am attending a Women's Bible Study at our church.  We are about to complete our study of Jonah by Pricilla Shirer.  It is not the first time I've studied Jonah.  It seems each time I go through  it I get something new from it.  Pricilla started right off talking about how Jonah's life was interrupted.  That caught my attention in a personal way...

My life was whirling along just as I'd planned in early 2010.  I was working as an oncology nurse and absolutely loved what I did.  Yes, it was hard and stressful at times but I found such satisfaction working with these people.  I was up close and personal with people who were often discovering they were able to draw upon a strength they previously hadn't even acknowledged.  It was beautiful.

Then, early last year I got sick.  That's not supposed to happen!  I am a caretaker!  I was treated.  I got better.  I got sick.  I was treated.  I got better.  I got sick.  I went to the hospital.  I was treated for a long, long time.  I got a bit better.  I got sick again.  You get the idea.  Each time I got better, I returned to work.  Finally, it became apparent that I needed to give up the job I loved, at least for now.

MY LIFE WAS INTERRUPTED! 

So, what now?  Maria (my daughter) and I came up with a plan to build on a little home business idea.  I'd made and sold a few pieces of jewelry before but was always too busy to really do much.  But now, we've made all sorts of things!  We've had a lot of fun and I've really enjoyed being creative.  It's been such a joy to be with Maria and Cordelia (grandaughter) so much.  There are many good things about it but I still fretted that I needed to get back to taking care of patients.  I thought that was my calling!

Through this study I've felt myself becoming more relaxed about the changes.  One of the things that bothered me was that being an oncology nurse felt like a ministry to me. I felt it was God's plan for me.  Well, it was, but maybe not forever...or maybe not again for just awhile.  Now, I realize that it doesn't have to make sense to me, but it is important that I just trust God to lead me to what his plan is for me.  It's humbling and it has been a bit hard on my ego, but it has been a growing experience for me for sure!  I don't know where it's going from here, but I know who is in charge!

The title of this blog, Only The Manager, is a result of this study and my life's interruptions.  God is the owner of my life, I am only the manager. 

I bet you've had interruptions as well.  I'd like to hear about them. (That sounds strange to write since I have only 1 follower right now, but who knows?)