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

Quick Update

Here it is 5 months since the last post and I can hardly believe it. Levi had his second birthday, Erin is going to have a baby girl in November (or December?), I did my first boutique (Oh, Sweet Sadie show in May), enjoyed a lovely family at my house for several weeks (including the arrival of a wonderful baby), and, just yesterday, finished ALL of the preparations for a huge display at my work convention this coming week! Wow! It's been a wonderful spring and early summer!

Zan has settled in in Boston (well, actually nearby but I can't recall the name--just one block away from Cambridge) and will arrive here next Saturday for a lovely long visit. She's going to help me prepare for and be part of Craft Lake City on August 14th. I've got big plans for art smocks and oilcloth bags and some new ironing board covers for the show and am super excited to be part of it this year.

Well, I should probably post a picture, since that's what I always like on blogs. Here's a recent one of the boy (as he calls himself then he wants me to get him out of his car seat: he says, in an questioning tone, "the boy?" as if I could possibly forget him!). This is Levi at his art desk in my craft room, wearing his favorite reading glasses to provide the very best view possible. :)