Holiday Prep: Cookies, Pomergrantes and Crocheted Snowflakes

A few snap shots from Instagram.
Cookies made and ate - check.
Perfect tree found and imperfectly decorated - check
Enjoying the start of winter and the beauty of nature - check
Sampling the tastes of the season - check
More decorating and gifts to make this weekend - check and check

Those cookies on the bottom right are so yummy and not too bad for you! Prepare a Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cookie mix with a 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin instead of butter.  Add a little bit of frosting on top and a dried cranberry.  They were scarfed up in moments at my party last weekend!

Let's talk pomergrantes - they were a new to me food last weekend.  So with a little help from my Facebook friends and Pinterest I gave it a try.  Yum, you need to go pick one up today.

Here is an easy way to get the seeds from a pomagrante.

Three tasty pomegranate recipes to try:
Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Pomegranate (I might skip the greens and eat this as a side dish)
Chocolate Pomegranate-Ginger Bark
Pink Swirl Meringues with Pomegranate Sauce

You are digging the crocheted snowflakes, right?  Me too! My mom showed me how to make them a few weeks ago.  I barely know how to crochet, so I can't offer much advice other than find someone to teach you! Looking for snowflake patterns - here you go. I'm going to make my collection into a garland to hang in our dining room windows.

This weekend I'm looking forward to decorating the rest of my home for the holidays.  Making jam and crocheting with my mom for the weekend.  We are going to watch Christmas movies, drink coffee and tea and find a little peace and joy from now until Monday. 

What's on your plate for the weekend?  Whatever it is, take time for you and just being with the ones you love. 

Ornament Party

We hosted an ornament making party at the new house today.  We gathered together supplies to make felted ornaments with cookie cutter shapes.  These are the ones I finished.  It took me half the day, I not quite sure why I was so slow.  I guess it was the good company, great laughs and yummy treats that made it hard to work quicker!

 Here they are on my beaded tree.

I have been enjoying nesting in the new house.  Today we added a few holiday touches to put everyone in a festive mood.

 We were stocked up on chocolate - the crafter's fuel.

 Happy crafters!

My sister made her ornament into a mitten pin to wear on her sweater, she is such a clever girl.

 A few of our finished and not quite finished ornaments.

 Had to share a cute picture of my aunt's pup, Finton - he is always a welcomed guest!

Jess was happy to create his paper ornaments again, spending the day hunting unusual and interesting images from harvested Martha Stewart Living magazines.

 Here are the stacks waiting to become the ornaments below.

From the time I get up in the morning until the moment my head hits the pillow at night I am completely and thoroughly happy here in our new home.  It's all put together and the nesting has began.  We are looking forward to decorating for Christmas next weekend and have been working on some crafty projects for the house thanks to Pinterest! 

Facing Fears

I made this little card for myself and printed it out, it's next to my computer as a good reminder of changes that are coming soon.

This summer will be filled with new directions and new adventures.  I will share more about that when I can.  But what I will share with you is my fear over change.  The things that are taking place, I want them, really really want them.  But I'm also afraid of what that change means.  I'm afraid my little adventure won't be successful or that it will cause undue stress on me and my family.  I'm afraid I won't be up to the task and challenges that will be demanded of me.  I'm afraid of falling back into old patterns that have long been resolved.  But then I think to myself, it will all work out, there is no challenge you can't face, you are a different and more mature person, you won't fall back into the old when you've learned so much from those times.  The rewards will be greater than the risks.  And I breathe and trust in things bigger than me and know that everything will be okay.

Speaking of old patterns, you will not believe what I did this weekend - cleaned off my bead tables!!!  I'm gearing up to turn this room into a serious bead factory for the next few weeks and needed a fresh start.  I can't believe it.  I should have taken a before picture - you wouldn't believe then either!  Sadly, it won't last as I go into a polymer clay frenzy and bead trays will be stacked all over this place.  (This is one of three tables that I work on.)

And I thought I'd share this very cool box that my daughter Evangeline made for me for Mother's Day.  You can see it on the shelf in my studio.  It's made from phone book pages.  That kid is brilliant I tell you!  I was talking to her the other day about what she wanted to do when she grew up, it went something like this:

Mom: "And so what do you want to do after high school."

Vangie: "Have fun and travel with Hannah."

Mom: "That's cool, but what about after the summer, you know like for college."

Vangie: "I don't want to go to college."

Mom: "Well tough, you have to go for at least two years.  You can take business classes and study some things that you like."

Vangie: "Why?  I'm going to open an Etsy shop.  How hard can it be?" (Last sentence dripping with sarcasm.)

End of conversation.  As I walk away shaking my head and trying not to laugh!

Balancing Family & Creating

I'm often asked how I find the time to do everything.  The truth is, I don't!  I struggle just like you with balancing family and running my business.  But I have always worked my creative business along with raising my girls, from the time I would do craft shows with our newborn in the stroller and beading away when she was taking naps!

I am very fortune to have a family that completely supports my business.  Most of the cooking and cleaning are handled by Jess and my girls. 

I was in the terrible habit of working all day and night for a few years, but have scaled back this year.  I stop working when the girls get home at 4:30 and spend time doing family stuff until they are in bed at 9:30. When they arrive home from school I devote that first hour to listening and chatting them with about their day. I use my time in the evening to sketch, read and jot down ideas while we watch TV or hang out together. I don't get on the computer or spend time in my studio during that time.  This has been good for all us, and good for me - we can't work 24 hours a day! (Now if I could only pry the Ipod from my hands during TV commercials. Shh, don't tell on me.)

Here are some tips that I shared on my facebook page for mom's who were struggling with finding time to create:

• Do you have another mom you can exchange babysitting time? I used to do that with another homeschool mom when I homeschooled. We would trade a day so that we could work on our creative businesses.
• I still get up before everyone so I can have an hour or two of quiet time. Is that what you do now? I find I'm more creative if I wake up early rather than staying up way too late.
• Maybe you could do a family creative day once a week. Feeding your creative soul may not involve beads at that time, but you will all enjoy the break from the everyday! We would take the girls to museums, art shows, take our sketchbooks to the park, etc.
• And then there is the reality that when we are raising kids we can't do it all - there are only so many hours in a day.  Don't be hard on yourself and set realistic goals.

I also found this great round up of tips for maintaining balance with work and family - it's a must read!  Couldn't have come at a better time.

Thirty Steps to Forward

I love this band, Thirty Steps to Forward.

It could be because I love Gretchen's sweet and honest voice.  Or it might be the thought-provoking lyrics.  Or it could be the stripped downed acoustic sound provided by Seth on guitar and mandolin.

It might be because we are cut from the same cloth.

Kindred spirits, shaped by some of the same memories.

I promise it's not just because they are my youngest sister and brother.  Although I can say I have enjoyed a few private concerts from the artists.

You can listen to a preview and purchase their debut album, The Bird and The Fool, here.

Their music has been keeping me company in the studio lately while I create things like this:

 

and this...

 

Be sure to check out Seth and Gretchen's music and help support indie artists!

My Valentine

We met in a drawing class.  Our first conversation was about the price of Folio paper. ($4.25 a sheet)  I thought he was amazing.  He drew pictures in my sketchbook while he talked about his life in Texas.  Our first date was dinner at my house, I served a mean bowl of noodles with tomatoes and parmesan cheese.  This was 17 years ago on February  11th.  We married a few months later on August 7th, yes fools do rush in.  I was 19.

He is the best dad to our two beautiful daughters, makes me laugh everyday and wraps his feet around my cold icy toes each night when I crawl into bed. 

I could not run this business without his support.  He never complains when I travel around the country.  Okay, he pouts when I go on the Bead Cruise, he knows he is missing out on all the fun.

He loves to read, watch SCI-FI movies, he is an amazing artist, he works so hard everyday and I happen to love him to pieces. 

I know, I count my lucky stars and thank God everyday for him. 

A house that Jess made for me.

On of my favorite necklaces that he made.

His studio and yes he does have an etsy shop.

Daughters & Mothers

My daughter, me and my mother
(thanks Rosanne for the photo)

Sending out lots of love to my mom today, wishing we were together.
Sending out a prayer for my daughter, that I will know how to love and guide her.
Thankful for my mom's patience, friendship and heart.
Thankful for my daughter's laughter, curiosity and independence.
And me in the middle, forever changed by both.

Beading Across the Miles

This was fun and unexpected. Rosanne had sent me a little care package this summer with various treasures from Bead & Button, they have been sitting in my studio waiting.

Rosanne created this necklace earlier this fall using one of my bird pendents. You'll notice the seed beads on the right. She named this piece Indian Summer, for those brief days in the fall when the weather turns warm again. This was her first asymmetrical design, I'm so proud.

Last night my mom sent me this photo of a bracelet she just made using the same seed beads. They look like colorful kernels of corn, don't they? The bracelet is called Harvest Moon. In case you are wondering those beads have been crocheted together, each one interlocked into a chain. I love it! I joked that I should make earrings and we'd have a complete set.

So when I came into the studio today I spent a few minutes whipping up these earrings using the same beads. I'll call these ones Seeds of Change. I paired mine with gunmetal findings, chain and my teal Branch disk beads.

After I finished it was fun to think of how this strand of beads connected my family across the country - in Michigan, Louisiana and Texas. You know what they say, "The family that crafts together, stays together." Well, okay maybe I'm the only one who says that!

Sunday Morning

Today I'd like to run away for a little adventure. Take my bathing suit, scrounge from treasure at the local flea market, eat real tacos for lunch, laugh like I have not a care in the world, hold my husband's hand, swim like a fish, sketch some new drawings, listen to my children, turn my heart towards heaven and soak in each moment today, there will never be another day just like this one.

Some music to share, another blast from my teenage angst past.



So I'm off to pack my beach bag and wake up my sleepy bunch. Enjoy the little things today.

Camera Works!

Yeah! I finally figured out how to upload my photos to this computer. We went for a little nature hike today and there was a field of day lilies that a woman planted in her front yard. Day lilies, tiger lilies are they the same thing? I'm not sure.

This was only half of them!
"...Consider the lilies in the field and how they grow. They don't work or spin yarn, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them." - Matthew 6:28-29
Tomorrow is little E's birthday. She'll be 10. Watching your kids grow and become their own person has got to be one of the most amazing experiences you can have ever have. I'm so blessed to be their mom. We miss Jess terribly. Little things will remind us of him and we'll all do a collective sigh. He is mr. lonely, eating his crazy bachelor food, pouting when I call him. Poor, poor Jesse. Maybe he'll feel creative while we are away and spend some time making more amazing things in his corner of the studio. (hint, hint Jess, make more of those houses!!!!) Or maybe he'll really surprise me and have the leaky kitchen faucet fixed by the time I come. (hint, hint, again...no, I didn't just nag my husband via my blog, did I???)
Playing with my macro lens.

Come back tomorrow for some more photos, until then need a vacation of your own but can't get away? Follow Kerri Smith's guide for a free mini vacation.

Home Sweet Home!

Time has just flown by and now I'm officially on vacation! But still with one toe in the cyber water. I did bring my beads, my etsy shop is open and if I can figure out how to get my camera to upload photos here I have some beads to list that I took photos of right before I left. Yes, I am a workaholic and need serious help!

Well, I figured out why I love tiger lilies so much. South Haven is covered in them. I've never seen so many! So subconsciously they must remind me home. And what a little slice of heaven it is here. It's so fresh and the weather is so much cooler. Everything is green, what a contrast to the dull drab of dried out Texas. We drove by the Lake today, I can't wait to go to the beach and hope to catch at least one sunset as we walk along the water.

I'm so happy to be with my family. Total bliss! Today was my sister's wedding shower. Here is a photo that my aunt Rosanne snapped of my daughter Hannah. I'm behind her and behind me is my mom. Great photo Rosanne! Tomorrow I'm going to spend the day goofing of with my girls, can't wait.

Love and Marriage

My girls and I look at each other this morning and in unison say "2 more days!" followed by a round of overly excited squeals! Did I mention the reason I'm heading home is because my sister is getting married? Which has me thinking a lot about marriage these days and in particular mine.

When I was a little girl my mom made a comment about a couple that we saw at the beach one time. Something about how they were best friends and that is why they were so happy together. That always stuck with me.

Jess is without a doubt my best friend. He so gets me, my humor, my ambition, my creativity, my spirituality. He accepts my faults and there are many! I try to do the same for him, offering grace where there is disappoint. Unconditional love when there was been mistakes. Remembering our carefree youthful days when life is wearing heavily.

"Love covers a multitude of sins." This year has been very trying. The job market that Jess worked in for 12 years has dramatically changed and he has had a hard time finding a new job. Thank goodness for my business! But it's stressful not having a steady paycheck and it's easy to let that stress get in the way of enjoying life.

But life is short and no matter what, each day should be filled with love, grace and joy. Sometimes when I hear Jess joking and laughing with our girls or my youngest daughter is gleefully packing to go to the pool with him in the afternoon I stop to think, those are the memories I want my girls to have of their dad. Not that he was gone working all the time or that he was just a paycheck.

So while we figure out this next phase in our life together, I'm glad we are in it together. I couldn't imagine life without that guy!

(The necklace is a gift that Jess made me, he always has just the right words!)

The Perfect Weekend

It started Saturday morning with our first trip to a farmer's market here in San Antonio. It was small, only about 10 farmers. But very nice and peaceful. They had their little stands under a groove of trees. We bought potatoes, green beans, blackberries, eggplant, the sweetest peaches ever and I picked up a few herb plants. Sweet basil, rosemary and spearmint, they are so fresh looking on my little porch.

After the market we went to Hobby Lobby. I picked up some more chain, wood beads and various sundries.

I spent the afternoon getting orders out the door. It's the best feeling in the world to be caught up. You etsy customers have kept me on my toes. I sold 23 items in one day last week.

I spent the evening playing with my beads and came up with a few new designs. Playing is a luxury these days, it was quite enjoyable.

Today was a family day. Time with my girls and the Jess-ter. Nephew's birthday party, lots of little ones running around.

And the perfect end to the weekend? Holding my brand new niece, who is a month old today. She is just a little whisp at 7 lbs. I ask you, is there anything more perfect than a precious little newborn?

Beads featured are from my Etsy shop.

Another slide show

It's Sunday and I'm not much in the mood for business today. So here is a rare glimpse of the Humble family on our last trip home. Yes, I'm having too much fun at slide.com.

We'll be back to business tomorrow with a new contest.