Live and Learn

 

 (Live and Learn Embroidery by me! I'll share some exciting news about this a bit later)

(Paint)

(Early morning sunshine in Harlem. Not sure if I've ever mentioned this before but I love mornings. I love getting up early)

(Annnnd shopping helps all problems. New boots!)

 

As silly as it sounds I think I often forget to just live. Like to stop and actually take it all in, appreciate it and stop worrying about... well everything. Day to day life offers so much awesomeness and so many lessons. I just don't want to forget how important that is. I want to take things one day at a time, learn everything I can and trust that things will be ok. I'm working on that.  



Life lately...

So.. I've been thinking a lot about this blog. I'm not going to make any apologies for not keeping up with it because really who cares, it's just a blog. Buuuut I enjoy blogging so I think I am going to slightly change the direction of this. When I started this I wanted to keep it super strictly about my shop and while I love sharing the things I make and what's happening in my shop that doesn't make it very fun for me to keep up with so I think from now on I'm just going to share whatever I want and not worry about it :)

 

Life lately has been rough. I'm going through some pretty heavy personal changes and am doing my best to try to keep my head up and learn from this experience.

 

I thought I would share a few things that are making me smile and because a simple smile has been hard to come by and I really want to savor each and every one. Here are a few ways I fight depression and take care of my mental self...

 

Paint. I love to paint but don't do it nearly enough. These color smudges really made me feel good.

 

Get outside. Exploring NYC is super fun but I am a TN girl and I like the woods. Its nice to get lost in a park and discover a cool bit of art as well.

Read. Read books that are inspiring, encouraging and uplifting. If you have any recommendations for things along this line please let me know.

Treat yourself to things that make you smile. I bought this Happy Peanut Charm from Misako Mimoko's etsy shop and how can I not smile when I look at this cute little peanut!

Make stuff. I make stuff all the time but I am really putting in extra effort for my shop these days.

 

Those are just a few things that have been helping me though this time in my life.

 

What are some things that help you feel good?

 

Humble Makings

Hello there, how have you been lately? Well I hope. I have been good, living in my head mostly. I feel  sometimes I just get lost for weeks at a time there, in my head, thinking and dreaming. Dreaming of moving, dreaming of making a living doing something I feel is worthwhile, thinking about projects and crafts, thinking that I must keep thinking and dreaming and above all trying my best to be positive about life and about my dreams.

I make things because I have to. I make things to make to myself okay. I craft from my heart and for my soul. It's so far beyond a hobby, it is almost spiritual. I think that probably sounds pretty silly but that is how I feel. Sort of like making things, creating something from nothing, is like a meditation.

I don't mean to ramble, but ya know, sometimes you just need to get these sort of things out of your head.

I have been doing quite a bit of making lately,

 Sewing some Little Bears.

This quilted Little Bear is now listed in my shop, if you are interested. I was really thrilled with how this guy turned out.

I made a Rabbit Brooch.

And I embroidered this leaping rabbit in a hand painted striped hoop. I'm apparently going through some sort of rabbit phase...

I am still hard at work on my quilt after taking a break from it. I will share photos and progress updates soon. I am working on so many more things that really don't justify a photo just yet but there will be more to share soon enough.

I also want to say thank you, to you, to everyone who has ever purchased something from me or read my rambley blog or looked at any of my numerous craft photos over many, many years. I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart.

Always with love,

Jen

The ABC's of me

In my effort to create 'about me' posts it occurred to me that I have a really hard time writing things about myself. I'm sure this is true of a lot of people but when I try to write anything about me I just come up blank ever time... Theeeeen in comes the ABC list to my much needed rescue! I saw this handy little list on the blog, Crafted Love and thought it would do the trick. So without any further ado, here are the ABC's of me, Jen.

Age:  27 but I tell everyone that I am 25... Shhhh...

Bed size:  Queen

Chores that you hate:  Dishes! I do not have a dishwasher and I like to cook which means the dishes never ever stop, they just keep reappearing... I hate them all...

Dogs:  A Boston terrier named Domino. She's my baby.
Essential start to your day:  COFFEE!

Favorite color:  This changes often for me but currently it's ivory and rusty orange

Gold or Silver:  Both

Height:  Short. 5'1"
Instruments you play:  None, I have no musical talents. Last year I bought a harmonica and tried to learn how to make it sound not stupid but that didn't work and I gave up on it.

Job title:  Unemployed but working on making my dream of having the job title 'plush maker' come true.

Kids:  None, my dog is my child.

Live:  Currently I live in central New Jersey, but I am from Knoxville, TN. We are planning to move to San Diego, CA soon.... hopefully.

Mother’s Name:  Sandra Kay

Nicknames:   I really don't have any...
Overnight hospital stays:   Fortunately none so far.

Pet peeves:   Oh, I have far too many of these... I guess my biggest one is just a general lack of manners. People not saying 'thank you' or 'excuse me' really bothers me.

Quote from a movie or TV show:  I have a terrible memory for quotes.. I can't think of any...

Right or Lefty:  Righty

Siblings:  None

Time you wake up:  I normally get up pretty early, 8 or 9 AM usually.

Underwear:  I really don't understand this question? Umm, yes, I guess...

Vegetable you hate:   I really don't much care for peas, when they are mixed with other stuff I don't mind em but on their own? Yuck.
What makes you run late:  Public transit.
X-Rays You’ve Had:   My right hip when I got in a car accident, I fractured it.

Yummy food you make:  Spiced pork tenderloin with sauteed apples. This stuff is so yummy! I make it at least once a week.

Zoo Animal:  Bears!!!!!

So there you have it, my ABC's. I hoped you learned something about me and I look forward to sharing more in the near future. If you do an ABC's list for your blog leave a link for me in the comments, I'd love to learn more about you! 

Annnd now it's time for outtake pictures that I thought were kinda funny. Most of my photos turned out pretty blurry today... it's hard taking pictures of yourself. I really enjoy the face I'm making in the first pic.... haha