Another of zan

I adore this girl.

Zan outside her school

Kindle Sleeve with Luscious Iota Fabric

New Kindle Sleeve in My Etsy Shop

I'm super excited that I just posted a completely new product in my etsy shop: a padded sleeve for e readers! Charlet very kindly let me borrow her son's Kindle so I could finally take photos and get this first one posted. Now I've got a stack of other fabrics I can't wait to sew up; I chose pretty nitchey fabrics that just sort of tickled me or otherwise said, "I'd make a great gadget sleeve!" We'll see how it goes.

I'm also super excited to report that sales continue to grow and I'm more than halfway to the monthly sales I need to support myself! Wahoo! I'm heading to Boston to spend Christmas with Zan and while I'm there I'm going to do a lot of research on the internet to begin making some connections with bloggers who might be willing to feature my products on their blogs, including sewing and quilting blogs--an idea I hadn't even thought of which the fabulous Kristina Werner suggested. Thanks, Kristina!

Lucky me!

This is me taking a walk in my lovely neighborhood in the middle of the day with short sleeves in late November! Wahoo!

And poor Ivy has a cold in her eyes

Thankfully she only looks miserable but seems to feel okay. She was a big help tonight with licking the bowl after the turkey dipping in chocolate. She'll be one tear old on Sunday and is a pure delight to me.

Levi makes place cards

Can you figure out Levi's dad's name from this card?

Levi makes treat turkeys

Can you see a turkey in there somewhere?

Take me home!

These two chairs are looking for a good home. Text me at 801 913 2351 and they are yours for free!

Yes, Jen, two sales IS good!

womantowoman.etsy.com

At our weekly picnic yesterday I told Jen I had sold two lanyards; she looked at me with a quizzical expression, wondering how to respond. "Is that good?" she hesitantly asked. She wasn't sure if she should commiserate or celebrate with me.

I've got to tell you that I'm pretty darn excited to have sold two lanyards, three as of a few minutes ago! That means I get to donate $3 to the non-profit program, Sister Somalia, (Suzie volunteers her time with A Thousand Sister, a non-profit that helps support Sister Somalia) plus that means that I'm a few dollars further away from having to go get a job. Wahoo!

I really like self-employment, especially self-employment subsidized by SU, not to mention naps subsidized by SU.

Getting organized

I just put together this shelf in the basement to help me get all organized and tidy for my home business. It feels good.

New Machines

Today I bought an industrial fabric cutter at Daines sewing center down in Murray so that I can cut multiple layers of of ironing board pad fabric at once. Right now I have to cut each one separately with my scissors and it takes a LOT of time! I'm super excited to try out the new cutter tomorrow and then to serge them on my new serger that arrived last week! I'll be sewing so fast you probably won't even be able to see me. :)

So while I was in Daines I saw two machines that I really REALLY wanted: one was a used Juki straight stitch industrial machine that is also as fast as lightning for a mere $375 which I promptly bought; the other was a ginormous Singer bookbinding sewing machine that just made me drool with it's beauty and size and cost close to $2,000 and would pretty much fill up any room it was in which I refrained from buying although it was really tough! I'll probably dream of large sewing machines all night!

What does $500 worth of thread look like?

It looks like this! Twazy, huh!

Halloween is coming!

And I've got my first bit of decor out!

Actually it's about time; my current cover is SO ready for a wash!

Levi

Ivy

Developments . . .

Here's my first version of a self padded and elasticized cover. I really like how it fits. Is there anyone out there who would be willing to test drive this cover? You can keep it when we're done; I just need you to use it quite a bit in the next week and give me feedback. The first taker gets it!

New bolt of Joel dewberry yumminess

Yum

Brady's incredible raspberry jam makes everything taste even better!

Thanks for sharing, Brady.

Owen

And here's Owen! Handsome, huh!

Anna

I remembered to take pictures of our picnic with jen and kids this week! Here's Anna: isn't she beautiful!

Suzie and Matt and such

I just realized I totally forgot to take any pictures while Suzie and Matt where here! Darn it! You'll just have to believe me that we had a lovely, lazy visit: went to two movies on Saturday, played games at Erin's house, slept in, and took little walks with the dog and the kids. Their car was packed full, so we didn't even attempt to do any yard saling on Saturday; Zan will be here next weekend and I'm wondering if she'll want to do any yard saling.

Did you know google has a calendar?! It's great! I just set up my new, revised v 1.1 schedule which now includes less nap time and more time to enjoy dinner with family and friends.

I'm recommitting myself this week to working all of the hours I've scheduled. It amazes me how easily the days slip by so quickly, filled with family and friends. Finding balance is always a challenge for me; I think that this new schedule better accommodates time with others as long as I just watch the clock and get back to work when it's scheduled.

Just so this post isn't too boring, here's an old picture you might get a kick out of: this is my graduation from Utah State University with a bachelor's degree back in 1993. Along with me and the girls, my mom, brother David, and sisters Kristine (glasses) and Sarah are also in the picture.
At the time there were only 10 children among us; now there are 22 plus 5 8/9 grandbabies! Go Hogans!

Opening Order with Moda Fabric: Wahoo!!

The Moda sales rep is coming to my house this morning to set up a wholesale account for me and to take my opening order (a mere $750 minimum). Here are a few of the pretty fabrics I'm ordering. Have I mentioned that I really like fabric?

My next account to set up will be with Michael Miller: I've go to get me some of that Sandi Henderson goodness!

Better go hop in the shower so I don't scare the poor rep right out of his wits!

60 headbands

Aren't they luscious!

20 more!

Fruits of my labor

Yesterday I had a little moment of panic when I realized that I'd have to sew ironing board covers for at least 6 hours a day 5 days a week every week of the year to support myself and so far this week I had hardly sewn at all. Luckily Erin talked me through it and reminded me that right now I need to spend more time building up channels for selling and testing new products and that I've got my severance pay to get me through from now to then. Ahhhh, I felt much better--the joy of having a wise and wonderful grown daughter living nearby.

I want to remember to relax and have faith that I'll have everything I need. I don't have to do more than I can and that's comforting.

All that said, I still set a goal of completing 20 ironing board covers today in preparation for Oh, Sweet Sadie in two weeks and I'm delighted to say I did it with several interruptions to eat ice cream (this is becoming a daily event--okay twice today: breakfast and dinner) and think about taxes (self-employment tax is crazy high) and read about taxes (with a home business I can deduct part of my interest and some other home expenses) and think about houses (should I keep mine or move to a smaller place or move in with Erin and Nathan while I build my business) and walk Ursa--twice--and talk to Joellyn and Mom and Sarah and Becca and Erin and order some fabric and refill some prescriptions. I made it and it feels good. Very good.

Tomorrow I'd better think about ice cream, or rather less about ice cream. :)

And the first magically transforming Halloween pillowcase treat bag sells!

I just think it's so fun when I sell the first of any item. :) What a rush to know someone out there likes what I made.

On another note, I met Jen Foxley and Anna and Owen at the park for lunch today and FORGOT to take a picture! Dang it! They are all so darn cute! I loved getting to sit on the ground under a shade tree and hear all about what Jen's up to and to tell her about my ideas. And the best part was watching Anna go up and down the swirly slide while Owen did the bear crawl on the bark since he refuses to walk. In fact we had such a good time we are making a standing date: every Tuesday at noon as long as the weather holds we'll picnic at the park. And I'll remember to take a picture next time so you can enjoy them, too.

Stacked

I love fabric. I mean I REALLY love fabric. Here's a stack of fabric I bought this morning to make lanyards. Aren't they fun!

New Job Jitters

It's kind of funny and definitely unexpected, but I've got the new job jitters tonight! Because I've had family visitors ever since I lost my job, I haven't actually had a real work day yet of working for myself. As I was walking home from Erin's after watching The King's Speech, I realized I felt some butterflies in my stomach about being solely responsible for my success. It feels just a mite overwhelming (or to answer Julia Stile's younger sister in 10 Things I hate about You, I could just say whelming since they mean the same thing).

Anyway, I'm going to take it as a good sign that I feel jittery about starting a new job and go jump in bed for what I hope will be a good rest. First thing on the agenda tomorrow: make a list of done and nearly done things I can post on etsy, prioritize the list, and get started in order. I will also begin clearing out Zan's room upstairs to get it ready to rent. Let me know if you know anyone looking for a room to rent in the lovely Daybreak community. Cindy (was Rhodes) Carroll, my friend and current renter, can vouch for it here. :) And I can vouch for her, too: it's a joy having her around.

Check it out!

Here's my fancy schmancy business plan, made all by myself! Cool, huh!

And here it is in readable format:

I will sell the following quantities each month:

• Wholesale ironing board covers (IBCs): 125
• Custom IBCs to hotels, etc: 100
• Retail IBCs on Etsy: 50
• Retail IB pads on Etsy (compelledtocraft.etsy.com): 20 (there's not enough profit in the pads to sell them wholesale; I just offer them as a service on Etsy)
• Vintage resale on Etsy (imavintage.etsy.com), KSL, Craig's list, Ebay: $500 worth (values vary) (this is to support my garage saling habit without overfilling my house, garage, life!)
• Lanyards: 100
• Various household decor on still-to-be-stocked Etsy (househomemade.etsy.com): $1000 worth (values vary)

And here are the hours I'll work:

• Monday through Friday: 7am to noon and 4pm to 8pm, except Wednesday date-night with Levi when I won't work in the afternoon ). I've always wanted a quiet afternoon for lunch with friends, a siesta, grocery shopping, errands, a movie.
• Saturday: garage saling 6:30 am to 11:00 and posting vintage items for sale from 4pm to 8pm

This is what I'm starting with and will adapt as I'd like. That's the joy of being my own boss! Wahoo!

Cousins waiting for trax . . .

. . . after filling up at taco bell. Lots of cousins!
PS: the man is not a cousin or an auntie or a sister or a daughter, although after seeing all of the fun we were having I'm sure he wishes he were!

Ivy scrunches her nose and makes the cutest little snorting sounds!

Vocational Musings

So this new opportunity to be self-employed has really got me thinking about what I want to do and how I want to do it; about what's important to me and what's not important; about how I want to feel and about what I don't want to feel. I've realized that I tend to look back on my life with embarrassment and self-criticism rather than appreciating what I've learned from each experience, especially the tough experiences and the mistakes.

I've been thinking that I'd like to record the coming journey in an open public forum, to hear myself say aloud, "this is what I'm thinking and doing and I refuse to feel embarrassed about it today or ever." I give myself permission, in fact I give myself the directive to make lots of mistakes so I can learn lots and lots of things to make my life better and happier. I expect to do some dumb things and I expect to have some hard times. I know I get depressed and wallow in self-pity. I also know I always pick myself up, remember god loves me and I can love me too, and move forward again. God is taking me places I didn't have the guts to take myself and I'm pretty excited for the trip. :)

So here's my declaration:
I'm building a business for myself, doing what I love the most: making things. I'm putting love and good intent into every item I make, whether it's the first of the 10,000th. I'm partnering with a non-profit that serves African women. I'm living the life god wants for me because he is smarter than I am.

Enough rambling for tonight. As Tiny Tim said, "God bless us, every one."

Life is good.

Ivy likes olives and chicken. I like ivy!

Cousins and an aunt (or is she a niece or a mother or a daughter?): a real Mormon family

Erin, Ivy, and Daniel meet for the first time and immediately sense a family bond, in fact Daniel is comfortable enough with his cousin Erin to eat her shirt.

All Fired Up
Okay, I think I'm pretty funny. I decided my first post after being laid off should say something about getting fired. :) You'll just have to bear with me.

So here's what I've done today, besides celebrating Levi's first ever poop in the potty (bonus of being self-employed: I could run right over to admire said event), getting the oil changed and tires rotated, and feeling just the tiniest bit adrift: Magical Halloween Pillowcase that turns into a Trick or Treat bag!

I've got my first one posted in my etsy shop, compelledtocraft.etsy.com, with plans for more to come. Do you like it?

Suzie's graduation