Where does the time go?

I always feel like I have to include a picture with each post. So I chose a picture of the beach in Key West from our trip to Florida last month. It was really beautiful there and warm too. I can not believe January is almost over. Where does the time go? I thought I would be well into my next ebook, but instead I am just catching up on some jewelry orders. I have not even gotten any time to make anything new. It is terrible. Thankfully I have been drawing some ideas on paper. There is nothing worse than when you do get some time to create and sit down at the workbench you are like Okay what was it that I wanted to make. LOL!

I have some more bows to make for an upcoming competition. It will be Rachel's first competition with the Showtyme all star junior team. I am excited to see her cheer. She is cheering with an older group of girls which is nice for her, because she gets to learn new skills. Christina also has been busy with the girl's basketball team at her school. So that means I have been VERY busy to say the least. I have been working during the school day 2-3 days a week and I feel like I am at full capacity. Each week I say I will get some time this week to put my paper ideas to actual creations, but really maybe it will be this week. I will than have some jewelry photos to list here on my blog. Now that would be nice.

Where have I been?

Well I have been back for awhile from Disney. Okay, let's talk about how much I love Disney. I am not super obsessed, but I can not wait to go back again. We had a great time this year. My sister in law and her family came a few days after us, and it was nice to share some meals and talk on the phone with her at the parks. Generally we went our separate ways. She has a little one so that leads you a different direction in the parks. We did have fun hanging out with my nephew Domenic. I bribed my daughter Christina to go on the Tower of Terror. She loved it and went on twice, and even got a Disney sweatshirt out of the bribery deal. My daughter Rachel was pampered at the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. My husband was against it at first. He thought it was a waste of money. (He is so practical. LOL!) Well he saw how much effort I put into finding a small tiara like the one they give you that when I finally made an appointment at the boutique he did not say a word. Well Rachel was beyond excited and it showed all day long. I asked my husband again if it was worth it and he said Yes! How can you resist an appreciative smiling princess daughter? Well I am back in the groove again. It was a slow start to get back in the designing mode. So I am off to create some jewelry orders. I will be back more regularly and I will have some more Disney stories. I did not want to over do it in one post.

Okay I have been so busy, but isn't everyone. I have had quite a lot of orders from the holiday shoppers. I am finally caught up. I have been doing lots of cheerleading and I even made some bows for another cheerleading team where my daughter does gymnastics. This picture of my mom, sister, and my daughter is from last Sunday's competition where our girls won first place. I was beyond thrilled for them. It was a tough competition, but Yeah for the Lindenboro Chargers. We have our last competition for the season this coming Sunday. It is going to be a crazy week. We are hosting and there is lots of work to be done. I will be closing my etsy store and my website on December 12th until the first of the year. We are going to Disney and to visit our family for Christmas. We are beyond excited. Oh we saw Enchanted last night, it was such a cute movie. Disney has such a wonderful way of expressing that dreams do come true.

Are you ready for this?

Okay, it is Halloween, right? Well I have never went to Halloween party. I am not particular fond of dressing up. My husband has went out with his sister before we met. Anyway my sister was havng a Hallowwen party and we wanted to go. We were trying to think of something we could be that was simple and not really expensive. We are going to Disney soon, so we are saving our money. Well we were searching the internet for costumes and I jumped up and said Oh I have an idea, and that was before I did see their actual costumes. We can be Dog the bounty hunter and his wife, Beth. I was so excited, and I think because it was easy for me. I did make myself a pendant that said I love Dog teh bounty Humter. LOL! I bought my husband a wig and he did not feel like the Dog when wearing it. So he went out with the kids to get some supplies for his costume including a new wig. He did really good. It was funny at one point I was like you know you do not have to look exactly like him. We were excited to go and everyone got a kick out of it at the party. We are supposed to go to a party with my sister in law this Friday. I borrrowed a part of my sister's costume for this upcoming party. It is a huge chest to put under my shirt. It is ridiculous, but have you seen the show. Beth is very large up top. So maybe with us both looking in character we will win a prize. I will keep you posted.

What have I been doing lately?

I have been making bows. You might think well that is not so bad, but boy there are alot of steps. Actually I should be making some right now. It is Tuesday and I need all 42 bows complete by Saturday for Sunday's cheerleading competition. I like how they turned out. It is for my daughter's cheerleading team. The coach wanted sparkly bows and I have seen this type of sequin bow, but I assumed it was ribbon. Well, it is not. I searched for a long time with no luck finding any sequin ribbon. I contacted a nice seller on ebay asking to buy some ribbon and she kindly told me it is fabric. I am not sure how others make these bows, but I cut the fabric and used some fusible tape to iron it on from the back. I fold them, sew them in the middle, tie piece of ribbon with a pony, and cut the ends. See I told there is alot of steps. I am glad I can help do the bows, but it just seems like there is never enough time. I received alot of jewelry orders over the weekend so they come first. Thankfully I have had some with bow making process. My older daughter cut all the fabric strips. I ironed half and my sister is coming tomorrow to iron some more, while I make some more bows. Hopefully I will have time to make some new jewelry items this week. I got some new supplies and I am excited to get started on a new idea.

Thank God for friends like Charlotte.

Okay will you look at this beautiful appointment bag and tissue holder I received from my friend, Charlotte. She let me pick out some fabric and she designed it. She also included this awesome tissue holder. You must check out her STORE on Etsy. I really adore it! It is made so perfectly, inside and out. She is truly talented. I spent tons of money on another bag and it is a dollar store item compared to hers. Thank you Thank you Thank you I really appreciate it and I will treasure it forever. It fits nicely and looks great inside my brown purse.
So I really do want to thank God for friends like Charlotte. You meet alot of people in your life, but it is not often you meet a true friend. I cherish all of our conversations and our present exchanges. Our frienship in a verse. Romans 1:12 NLT When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

I am sharing a photo of my new handstamped ring. I have tried very hard to perfect the technique and I wanted to be able to recreate this for custom orders. I think I have it down and I will be able to offer this soon online in custom sizes and custom text.
Gosh, has it been that long time since I posted to my blog. I can't believe how fast time goes by. October is one of my busiest months. I had an awesome craft show which is great, but I sold most of my inventory. I usually do not schedule a show back to back, but I had one the next week. I have been working hard to replenish my stock with a few orders coming in at the same time. I have been very busy to the say the least with cheerleading, my one day a week work, family, and jewelry making. I am also going away this coming weekend with my ladies group in church. I donate some jewelry gifts and I also set up my jewelry display. It is a wonderful time of fellowship. Although I do not like leaving my family especially my husband. I do usually panick a little as it gets closer, but I seem to be really calm this year. I will take my camera this year so I can post some pictures. Well I better get to my orders from Saturday's show. I really enjoy making the custom handstamped charms for necklaces and bracelets.