laizydaisydesigns

my new home!

2010-06-16T17:54:00.002-04:00

please follow me at http://thelaizydaisy.com!! i have my own website now ... so i will be blogging from there too! :) hope to see you soon!! :)

2010-04-25T02:31:00.002-04:00

i'm hanging here for a little while ... come visit ... :)

http://daisy-moonstars.livejournal.com

holy crap.

2010-03-04T00:05:00.006-05:00

we are buying a house. and not just a house but a HOUSE. i mean look at this pic. does this look like something someone should be buying with a HELLO KITTY check? seriously, guys.

dave and i have just been stuck in this whirlwind the last few days ... between phone calls and appointments and visits to our realtor. we are discussing insane amounts of money. WE HAVE A CLOSING DATE. i'm just ... i don't know what i am just. i'm JUST just.

because of all of this ... i am more behind than usual in Life. my Renegade application is due friday ... and i have no pictures. and i am working tomorrow and friday i have to be in paramus for a meeting. i don't want to give up on this. maybe i will bring the amigurumis with me to work tomorrow and try to take some pictures on my break. i did the morris plains inventory last night and had a blast with some old friends ... but was USELESS today. got home a little after 4am, sleep around 5am, mom and i headed up to the house at 10:30am, lunch at 1pm, appointment with realtor at 2:30pm, napped till 5pm, doctor at 5:30pm, home by 6pm and napped till dave brought home dinner at 10pm. i am still zombie like. oh and its 12:30 and i have to go to work at 9am tomorrow. work till 6:30pm. darts at 7:30pm. thpthpthpthpthphthtphtpht. oh yeah and laundry? all. over. the. place. new rules in the new house? NO CLOTHES ON THE FLOOR. EVER!!!!!!!!!!

but, to backtrack a bit, inventory was fun last night! got to see some great people i MISS working with. had kait's amazing cupcakes!! and some sort of cheesy bean dip!! and half priced lattes!!! and pizza with PINEAPPLE on top!!!!!! it was fun. :) and i SURE DO miss those folks.

*sigh* so ... life has been ... crazy, right? crazy good ... but also just crazy. i am ridiculously excited ... but sometimes i just sit back and say, how is this my life?!??!?!?!? :o)

snowicane.

2010-02-26T23:30:00.003-05:00

(not an actual picture of my outdoor world. it just plays one on tv.)

hello everyone. we are finally digging out of the epic snowstorm we've endured here in jersey for the last two days. we have over 2 feet of the white stuff out there ... thank God for a wonderful fiance who kindly dug out the cars!! :)

i spent thursday after work being lazy on the couch ... and then today, once the roads were clear, i ran some errands, got a necessary latte and crocheted. i realized my Renegade application needs to be submitted a week from today!!! EEEEPPPP! so i finished a amigurumi bunny ... as well as a few touch-ups on some completed amis ... a tail for the kitty, a scarf for the first teddy i made, and a pom pom for the mouse. up next is a panda. :) pictures coming this week!!

off to bed now .... good night!! :)

finally surfacing from world sick.

2010-02-11T01:32:00.004-05:00

hello internets. it's 2:30am on thursday morning and i am finally surfacing from near-death. i've been sick with bronchitis since late last week ... and tonight is the first time since then that i've been able to walk around my apartment without coughing up my lungs. i haven't read, i didn't crochet. i am REAL tired of soup. everything tastes likes straw. i've watched every episode of every law and order, csi, criminal minds, ncis. ever. seriously. my sleeping is totally messed up. i realized yesterday that this is the sickest i've ever been. weird. mittens just follows me from bed to couch, couch to bed.

don't get me wrong. being home is WONDERFUL. especially today during the snow storm we had (snowed ALL DAY! OVER a foot! who's helping me get my car out?!?) i just don't like being home with all the energy of a dead slug and no desire to craft. i mean seriously. home all week is a dream ... and i wanted to take time off this week anyway to work on my stuff for renegade. instead the only thing i've created is a permanent jessica-groove on my couch.

i didn't even have nurse dave to whine too! he's in california for business. he comes home friday night! :) i like alone time ... but, again, if i was going to be home on the couch for a week, at least he could have had the decency to be HOME!! hehe.

since i was planning on taking vacation days friday and saturday anyway, i think i'll use a sick day tomorrow. i do not want this coming back regularly. maybe i can actually get some crocheting done.

hmmm. what else. what else. in wedding news the save the dates have arrived. planning a menu. trying to plan a date to see a dj. moving along ...

well, i guess i should try and get some sleep. here's to a more productive tomorrow!

cozy sundays.

2010-01-17T15:32:00.007-05:00

happy sunday everyone! :)

we had a very productive and fun weekend!

dave and i began registering for our wedding which was a lot of fun. (i just have to remember to remove the case of pistachios and leopard print snuggie dave scanned in ...). we also looked at five houses today ... and, well, we learned that pictures online LIE. A LOT. we saw some real winners (being factious there!).

we also learned that each house tells a story. sometimes a tale of woe (seriously - a FIST PRINT in the fridge door?!?) and sometimes a tale from the 60s (matted shag anyone?).

we saw an absolutely georgous house ... but whose bedroom windows looked right over scenic Rt. 57 and whose property was absolutely sandwhiched between like 7 other houses. i wanted to investigate buying it and then like airlifting it elsewhere, but dave didn't think that was really realistic. (what? what does he know??). the last house was a definite possibility ... but we weren't INLOVE and we have a lot of other houses on our list to see.

and so ... we continue ...

in other news, i spent a lot of time making stuff and sketching out some new ideas. i tried out some different techniques and new projects ... and will be taking a few sneak peak pictures as soon as i finish up a couple more things!

i seem work better with a goal (DEADLINE) ... so i gave myself the goal of at the very least, a new shop update on february 1st. i would like to have my new brand up and running at that point but i am still waiting for adobe illustrator (dave ...) so that may have to wait a bit.

so ... february 1st will be a shop update ... and maybe that giveaway i always promise!!! stay tuned!!

i did finally upload the pictures of the ca-ute owl pillow i made for anita as a thank you for my amazing new sewing machine!!

i am INLOVE with my sewing machine guys! its a not-very-expensive brother ... but it's absolutely amazing! sews so smoothly! so much control! i can sew felt with it without it jamming and freaking out! i can sew fast and it doesn't sound like it's going to shake apart my dining room table! can you tell how excited i am about this machine???? its like i have something in my head and i start to sew and ... it looks like what was in my head!!!! ok ... i'll stop ...

(but i really really love it. thank you thank you thank you anita!!!!! oh and thank you bonnie for the power cord and pedal!!! XD )

anyway ... it was really a glorious weekend. :) so relaxing and so productive and so fun. :o) oh and the JETS WON ... so there was that too ... ;o)

onward .......

2010-01-04T21:19:00.003-05:00

greetings! :) all the christmas stuff is down and packed away for another year. as much as i LOVE the season, it's always nice to put everything away and get back to normal. and it was nice to know that after all the work we did in the apartment today, i still have ONE MORE DAY OFF!!! :) makes relaxing all the more ... RELAXING! :)

i am THISCLOSE to a new shop name. i am excited but also sad about losing the laizydaisy name. i know for branding purposes and having my own shop/online identity is makes sense (i mean its weird to think, but there are other LAIZYDAISYs out there, spelled different and everything! makes things confusing for a shop and an identity!) ... but it's a little annoying. X_X

and i have so many ideas .... i don't know where to begin. so i am just picking up yarn and starting something. :)

i was excited today because i stopped at the Store to get a phone number ... and there was my new sewing machine waiting for me in the office!! i couldn't wait to get home and try it out! it looks amazing. BUT! there was no power cord or pedal in the box!! i will ask anita thursday if she has it ... and i emailed brother to see if they will sell me one. i was SO disapointed!!! but it kind of forces me to work on yarny things then for the next few days.

ah well.

xoxo.

2010.

2010-01-01T20:57:00.004-05:00

the last moments of 2009 were spent with friends and family. the first morning of 2010 was spent snuggling with my honey. the first morning of 2010 was also spent getting a fancy new pair of glasses and indulging in a few sales (aeropostale and bath and body works) as well as a white mocha. the first afternoon of 2010 was spent at kyle and jen's watching the winter classic and then playing wii fit. the first evening of 2010 was spent in my cozy apartment with my honey and my kitty, on our comfy couch eating dinner, sipping wine and watching the sugar bowl.

so why am i so cranky?

pms should be illegal on the first day of a new year. :o(

anyway.

happy 2010 everyone.

merry merry!

2009-12-27T17:47:00.005-05:00

a very merry christmas to you!! we had a fantabulous holiday with friends and family ... and our holiday will wrap up with a big new year's dinner on thursday with my family. but, as much as i adored this season (and i was really on top of things this year, so there was minimal scurrying around when things got crazy at work), i am thankful that things are winding down. today is my first day off in like 10 days (christmas doesn't count since we had 4 places to be that day!!). i slept slept slept ... and have spend minimal time off the couch. i am sewing ... but i am just enjoying spending lazy time with dave and mittens. :) i SO needed this!

and i am REALLY excited for 2010!!!!!! i mean, sure i am getting MARRIED and i am looking for a HOUSE with the boy i am crazy for ... but, people! i am going to get this craft thing off the GROUND! :) 2010 will be the year of crocheted critters and knitted accessories! :)

there will probably be a shop name change because dave did some investigating and there are actually quite a few lazy daisys out there ... spelled a variety of ways. i want something totally unique ... so that will most likely be happening soon. i also will be working hard at "branding" myself ... and i am looking to do a few BIG craft shows this year (renegade anyone????). i have SO many ideas and plans ... i actually stay awake at night, laying in bed and planning and thinking. :o) i am GOING TO DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o)

so stay tuned ......... :o)

happy holidays and all that my friends!!

xo.

kitty.

2009-11-15T14:04:00.003-05:00

here are the pictures of the kitty cat i made this weekend. i am so happy with her!! she will be listed in the shop soon. :)

home.

2009-11-14T21:30:00.004-05:00

we just returned from a visit with w. i can't express enough how relaxing and recharging it was. i crocheted for 13 hours thursday!! that sure is my idea of heaven! :) i made a super cute cat and ~~am just trying to figure out the whiskers and then~~ it will be photographed tomorrow and up for sale in the shop soon! :) i am SO PROUD of this cat. it turned out exactly as i had hoped. i am adapting my pattern to create THE ONE ... and i think i just about got it. it's an amazing feeling to begin creating something ... and to finish it and be SO pleased with how it turned out. :) i also did some sleeping, some reading, some visiting with w and his amazing family ... and just sat with dave and w and listened to their amazing brains. the conversations these two have!!! :) i also did a lot of thinking. i am discovering some things about myself and my attitude toward life. and i think i need to make some serious changes.

it's hard now because we are living in a one bedroom apartment ... but when we do find a house, i need to create a cozy space. i need to create a "den" ... in the sense that i create a space where i feel cozy, safe and isolated ... removed from the world. being in my apartment, i am comfortable here ... dave and i have made our space great. but it's very ... smushed. work space blends with kitchen space blends with tv space blends with sleeping space. i look forward to a time where i can go into a room with knitting needles and yarn and you will actually have to go LOOK for me. spending time in w's amazing home, he's really created places where you can just burrow away and read or create ... and just feel like the world is a million miles away. i told him i consider his home my artist's retreat. he calls it the "haven" and it is certainly that. :) i am blessed to have met this wonderful person (and not just because he has an amazing home!!) :)

i also let the world affect my head WAY to much. home has not become the haven i remember from my childhood. again, don't misunderstand, our apartment is amazing and coming home to dave and mittens has made my life. but i don't let the world fall away like i once did. as i get older, i worry more. i pick at things more. i let past unhappiness creep into a perfectly good day. when i come home and kiss dave hello and am greeted by mittens at the door, i want to totally forget the customer who yelled at me because i won't take back their item. and i want to NEVER let the past ruin a perfectly good day.

i say it over and over again ... but i need to relax. i am lucky because my work stress level has decreased significantly ... but i still carry that worry on my shoulders. i am blessed because i have an amazing fiance ... but continue to last the past creep up and scare me ... while also waiting for the other shoe to drop and have this relationship explode in my face. i just keep ... waiting ... for the bad ... and i don't want to live my life that way at all. that is a horrible waste of perfectly good days! bad stuff will happen and i will have my family, my friends and my faith to sustain me. i did it before. why can't i trust in that ... and not let all this crap crowd and color my days?

but.

i am relaxed. my home is comfy and clean. i am creating. i've had a few sales. the holidays are upon us (and i am just ITCHING to play a charlie brown christmas in my car!!). oh and i have the best family and friends a girl can ask for. it doesn't get any better than this. so, dang it, jessica, let yourself enjoy this!! :)

sigh.

2009-10-29T23:11:00.003-04:00

(from the awesome-ness that is http://wasting.tumblr.com/)

hi guys. i'm a mess. tired. migraine-y. all around yuck. i was moody and messy last week ... and this week i am just ... worn out. my creative-ness has been NONexistent these last two weeks ... which makes me feel even worse. i am trying so hard to kick myself out of this ... visiting places and blogs that make me smile. reading good books. playing video games. keeping the home relatively clean. even did some shopping yesterday and bought some cute things. and i am STILL in the blah-space. sleeping today away is just another blah in the blah blah.

what do YOU do to shake the blahs?

FINALLY!

2009-10-05T12:30:00.003-04:00

i did it! i reopened my etsy shop! :) today was a gorgeous day for pictures so i took some after my meeting ... and just sat here and got it done. i still more things to list ... but just taking the step to reopen was a big one. :)

so go here:

http://laizydaisydesigns.etsy.com

and see all my stuff!

and stay tuned for a giveaway at the end of the week! I PROMISE!!! ;o)

what's going on?

2009-10-04T22:37:00.004-04:00

been sewing my little fingers off these days, bloggies, and i am STILL not ready to reopen my etsy store. ><>

here's a picture to keep you interested ... and following for the reopening of my shop.

SOON, I PROMISE!!! :o)

good times.

2009-09-20T13:44:00.006-04:00

what an amazing weekend!! :) we drove up to dave's friend w's home in happy valley, pa. i of course loved the farm country and the amish grocery store (!!! i bought this quilt wall hanging from a roadside stand!!!)

but the real fun was making this little guy while relaxing in the beautiful and amazing home of dave's good friend w while the boys caught up. i'd heard a lot about him over the last 18 months but had never met him. dave wanted to ask him to be in the wedding so i suggested a visit. it was about a 3.5 hour drive but it really wasn't too bad. we got there friday night and got back today around noon. w's home was AMAZING!!! and it was so nice to finally meet a good friend of dave's. he cooked us an wonderful dinner and we lots of chats and laughs. he has three kitties and one of them kept us entertained all weekend. AND, while dave and w caught up with each other, i sewed jackie o'terrapin as a thank you to our host! :)

spent the rest of today day resisting the call of the bed AND the couch (can i tell you how difficult that was???) and baked mom's birthday cake, cleaned, straightened and watched some football. we are heading over to mom's once dave is home from rehearsal to finish celebrating mom's birthday. busy busy weekend ... but SO refreshing!! :)

i still plan on reopening my etsy shop and posting a giveaway ... soon! :) this weekend got a little away from me. :) i was too busy having a good time!!

coming soon to a blog near you ...

2009-09-14T11:48:00.004-04:00

so not only did my two week craft blitz put me behind in all things home (who knew cat hair could actually pile up after two weeks of ignoring the cleaning??) ... it also put me behind in my other crafting endevours. i am TOTALLY behind in my LBF quilt-along ... my etsy shop was only to be closed for the summer months ... and now it's september and it's still closed ...

SO! in the spirit of a Spring cleaning (but, you know, in Fall), i have bloggy and etsy plans for the next week or two! so watch for ...

* monday the 21st will be the GRAND REOPENING of my etsy store! and to celebrate that ...

* friday i will announce a GIVEAWAY for one of my sweet Ami creations!!!

excited? i am! :) let's get this party (and by party i mean my Fall plans, of course) started!!!

well ... it wasn't SO bad ...

2009-09-12T21:11:00.010-04:00

and so ... it rained yesterday. a lot. when we were first setting up, i had to send dave on a lint brush mission (HOW do i forget a lint brush?? i work in fabric and felt and yarn ... and have a CAT!?!?) the rain started to come down pretty hard and i had to call him to buy a tent. :( it made me mad because it effectively ate all my profits ... but i suppose it will be needed if i do this often. :/ we had a break mid-day but then it started up again around 2pm and we ended up packing it in at 3pm (an hour early).

dave was a very good partner and helper. thanks honey!!! :)

one half of the table ...

the other half of the table ... the apples ended up being the hit of the day!

all in all it was a good experience and i got lots of "oh this is SO cute!" :) and, of course, i SOLD some things too, so that keeps me going! :o) i think i will continue to try .. continue to put myself out there ... continue to work on new and cute things ... because i think i am on the right path. :)

now i am excited to clean my apartment, catch up on my LBF Quilt-a-long and finish up Maddy's quilt for Ann Marie. :) but tonight, tonight is rest with my honey on the couch and a football game on the tv. :)

ps - watch for the grand reopening of my etsy shop in the coming week!! there will be a give-away to celebrate!!! :)

pray away the rain!

2009-09-11T15:37:00.003-04:00

tomorrow is the big day. i think i am really ready and have a lot of cute things to sell!! today is the perfect stay-at-home rainy day to finish up a few projects, tag and lint brush everything and pack up the car. BUT. the weather reports are saying showers possibly in the morning. as in TOMORROW morning. as in the morning that i am to be setting up my craft table at ole suckasunny day!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

*sigh* i got rained out last year. i BETTER not get rained out this year. :(

pray for some sunshine, guys, ok? or, at least, no rain. ugh.

sweet sunday.

2009-08-30T23:19:00.004-04:00

yesterday was just the best day! dave and i slept in, discovered it was beautiful out, went for a ride, had lunch outside on the patio of the tewksbury inn, went to the storage place, target, a&p, did some stuff around the apartment, had dinner in, watched football. i (almost) finished my work on week 3 of the quilt challenge (ran out of thread!!) and am starting the binding on maddy's quilt. it was a productive, relaxing, fun day.

days like today - dave and i bumming around, running errands, doing some things around the home, enjoying each other's company - just make me so happy. there was a time i thought i would never have lazy sundays with someone. there was a time that i thought that, even if i did have someone to share a lazy sunday with, i would be too busy worrying about life and the world to actually enjoy it. there was a time where i just didn't believe that there was someone out there who even WANTED to share a lazy sunday with me.

but. i was proved wrong. huh. go figure.

my faith has struggled a lot over the last few years. i am still not where i was ... and pretty sullen towards God. i don't blame him ... i don't ask him why ... i don't even care why. he's just been ... quiet. and i don't really listen for him anymore.

but i am working on changing that.

and, even if things are a little quiet and strange on the spirituality front, i can and am still thankful for a lot of blessings. i know how to live on my own ... and i know i can SURVIVE on my own. that was a HUGE learning experience. i also am thankful for the wonderful people in my life to share everything with. and then there is my dave. :) there, even when God is not speaking to me (or i can't hear him ... or forgot how to listen ...), in my life is a boy who is so patient, so loving, so kind, so supportive ... how can i not think he's a blessing? how can i not see that God had something amazing in mind for me when life blew up in my face? how can i not be thankful for a guy who likes to spend sundays riding around, running errands and vegging at home with me? *sigh*

sometimes i look at my life ... i realize it's been awhile since i've been scared ... or hurting ... i realize that this is what happiness is ... and i am thankful all over again. :)

so busy ... so good! :o)

2009-08-28T22:29:00.010-04:00

so busy these days ... but it's been all good things!! :) i am on week three of the LittleBitFunky quilt challenge brought to us by sweet Crystal. and here is a little preview of my progress ...

i still don't really believe i will have a quilt when all is said and done! but, i won't think such negative thoughts!! ;o) i am combatting my perfectionist qualities with this quilt. no templates? no pencil markings? no pining? ahhhhhhh! :) but i will perservere!!!

and speaking of quilts, i decided to make ann marie's twin girls fleece quilts for their 3rd birthday. a week before the actual party. and i've never made something like this before in my life. ever. i figured that HAD to be a sign of insanity. "hmmm ... i've never made a quilt before ... lets make TWO in a week!" i, of course, did not finish in time for their sunday birthday party ... but i showed ann marie my progress so she could see the goodies that are coming ... and i did finish Sydney's this week ...

since my sewing machine is pretty basic and i don't know how to do anything other than sew in a straight line, i had to stitch the binding by hand! hence, the length of time it is taking me to finish ... but, i'm getting there!

hmm ... let's see ... what else has been going on ...

we've been eating, sleeping and breathing football these days! dave and i went to a giants preseason game ...

and jets training camp ...

(dave watches ALL football like a coach. it's the cutest thing!)

and we are off to the giants and jets preseason game today after little anthony's birthday party. :o)

~*~

my craft show is QUICKLY approaching ... and i am starting to panic. do i have enough completed? is what i have good enough? i didn't complete NEARLY what i wanted to ... i am free and clear on sunday and i plan to spend the day sewing ... here's hoping i finish A LOT of stuff. OH! and miss crystal made me THIS for my table since i knew i wouldn't have time to make my own ...

isn't it the sweetest?!?! i can't wait to see it in person!!! :o) thanks crystal!

~*~

work is work ... it's fine ... but it SO does not fit in with my crafty lifestyle!! but i am working HARD at not letting that be a factor. i am trying to do SOMETHING each day ... wether it's sew a few strips together or put some stitches into a binding or cut some fabric. if i have to work at a job that sucks the very lifeforce from me (hehe) then i will spend my remaining hours crocheting!! :)

~*~

oh and we picked a wedding date and reception hall ... October 16th, 2010!!!! and we want to look at going to tuscany on our honeymoon! and we are pretty sure we know who our caterer will be! IT'S HAPPENING!!!!! eeeep! :o)

~*~

and ... that's all i got guys! off i go to get ready for birthday parties and football! have a sweet weekend!

challenge.

2009-08-16T22:48:00.004-04:00

been busy, as usual. apartment isn't the cleanest. not accomplishing everything i mean to. but. i am crafting. i read a book this week. i worked. i slept. i visited friends and family. i ate better. so ... i suppose i have to look at the week as a whole ... and it's been pretty good. i am accomplishing more ... not everything ... but more. and that is whats important. :o)

so ... in other news, i have accepted crystal's quilt challenge at little bit funky. and, for probably the first time in my life, i have finished something BEFORE the deadline. :P so ... here are my cool fabrics ...

and here they are cut into 2 1/2" strips ...

i am SO looking forward to making this quilt. and FINISHING this quilt. :o) ok, crystal, i am ready for step two!!! :o)

relax.

2009-07-26T22:46:00.007-04:00

vacation was amazing. two and half weeks off replenished my soul like i can't even explain. before the wedding i felt like i could just loose it and harm someone at work. i would sleep and wake up tired. my home was a mess and life was just overwhelming me. but these past 17 days off have made me feel like a human again.

first was kyle and jen's wedding. what a beautiful bride and an amazing couple they make. everything basically went off without a hitch and we all had a lot of fun.

its so strange to think that my little brother is married ... is a husband ... has a wife ... has his own home ... it blows my mind actually! but i am so happy for them ... i love jen like a sister and friend ... they make just the best couple ... and i pray SO hard that they live the happily ever after. they both deserve it.

next up with our vacation. we spent a week in plum island and then 2 days in boston. we had a truly amazing time. we both needed to decompress and relax very badly. and once we did, we reconnected and had just the best time. we slept late, spent time on the beach, did a little exploring, ate like pigs, read, shopped, talked, planned ... boston was gorgeous and once again i dreamt about moving there. it's definately something that we talked about ... but moving so far from family and his theater just isn't an option unfortunately. but we loved the visit just the same.

i also had a lot of fun with my new camera (as if you couldn't tell! :p)

*sigh!* it was all heaven. the following week we bummed around, was extremely lazy (which felt SO decadent! and SO amazing!). i finished up my turtle Ami from the Roxycraft pattern ... and created my own pattern for a piggie. she still needs some tweaking ... but came out cute all the same.

i've hesitated signing up for the craft show this september because i don't have any vacation time left and i am unsure what my inventory will look like ... but dave encouraged me to do it ... so i think i will drop the check off today. a little nervous about that ... but ... well ... at least that gives me a goal.

i did a lot of life thinking these past 2 weeks. it's time i put aside any residual fears and start planning this wedding. my life seriously needs a little discipline. i need to loose some weight (stop eating SO MUCH garbage!!! you don't feel well afterwards anyway!!). i need to stop whining and just get things done. i need to relax at work and stop putting so much stress on myself. i just need a little structure. a little more focus. and maybe, somehow, a few more breaks from work to keep this perspective. i swear people would be more productive if they had a week off after every 6 or so weeks they worked. i know i would be. i was useless before kyle's wedding.

anyway ... i just want to work really hard at life. i don't want to overdo it ... but i just want to stop being so lazy and lamenting the fact that i never have time. i will be even busier when i have children ... i need to learn how to squeeze the most from a day now!!

i know it's only wednesday but i have spent a whole two days on my cleaning schedule. i am getting things done. i couldn't sleep anymore so, instead of laying in bed playing video games (which isn't bad SOME of the time ... but not ALL of the time), i got up, made coffee (still working on achieving that perfect cup ...), wrote this post and will crochet until i have to get in the shower. dave and i are eating at home. i am bringing lunch. i am watching my calories. i love love LOVE doing nothing, relaxing, etc ... but i crave a little structure. i blame my mom for that!!! :p

and i am doing a lot of thinking about my crafts ... and i really really want to work hard on them. i want to create a strong etsy presence ... i just have to figure out what direction to go in. but that is my goal for the rest of the year ... to really really focus and work hard to get this baby off the ground!!! :o)

coming soon ...

2009-07-14T17:18:00.004-04:00

i've been away and i am on vacation. i have plans and ideas and am planning on revamping my world. stay tuned for changes and updates in the next few weeks!!

xoxo

jessica

updates

2009-06-08T22:55:00.004-04:00

so why is it that i read other people's blogs and want to write a post of my own ... and then i get here and it's like i have never written a paragraph before in my life?

let's see ... what is going on in my life.

jen's bachelorette party was this past weekend and, aside from a rough rough saturday night after a few too many shots (bleh!), we had a great time. the weather cleared up nice - almost two full days without rain! that has to be some kind of new record! :P i got a little

sunburned but stacie, jen and i spent a lot of time on the beach and i read and dozed

... which is always a perfect way to spend some time.

this coming weekend is the big Stanley black-tie wedding. i am looking forward to that a lot too. :) can't wait to wear my gorgeous gown and be all dressed up with dave. :o)

work is work. annoying but handleable.

trying to get back into bible reading and devotionals. i really feel the need to work on my spiritual journey. i just have the hardest time setting aside a consistent daily time ... and i have the hardest time not getting discouraged. i am kind of at a loss and not sure what direction to go in. i am just going to keep reading and searching ... and hoping.

added a few more critters to my ami army ... and started on a new one ...

trying to keep up with the chores ... be wise with any of my spending (it's good to have dave reign me in now and again!) ... reading a book or two a week ... eating relatively good and trying to figure out how to squeeze a little exercize into my schedule.

sparkly shiny people

2009-05-18T18:58:00.006-04:00

i can't believe it's been almost a month since i've posted! i have like 20 saved posts that i haven't finished ... written in all manner of foul and stinky moods ... and then i go back to them a day or so later and am not feeling it, so i never post them. and so i thought it was time to actually post something today. you know, for like the .5 readers i have anyway. :o)

so ... what's been going on in my life? well, dave and i got ENGAGED. yep. i know, you're shocked. ;o) we haven't made any definitive plans ... but we were thinking about a nice NEXT june or july wedding. right now, i am just enjoying being in this limbo state where there is no pressure and nothing to do except kick around ideas and staring at my ring in various lighting to see where i get the best sparkle! :o)

(mah bling)

i had a bit of a freak out period, of course. i was extremely anxious about "taking the plunge" again. i was worried that we would get married and things would instantly turn into yuckiness. worried about joining everything and the expense of a wedding and then failure again. but ... i've relaxed a bit ... and am just trusting my instincts (against MY better judgement!!! my track record SUCKS), the opinions of those around me and God. it's extremely hard to do this ... but i'm too tired to worry anymore!

and so ... we are getting married. we have a joint checking account. he let me get hello kitty checks. he bought me QUITE a ring. he rubs my stinky work feet. :) he must really love me, right???

so ... what else? work is ... the same. i have stressful days ... and i have days where i love my job. i am convinced that H is plotting to get rid of me ... but, hey, all i can do is my best and see what happens. and i am trying my best. i love my store and my people. i am trying very hard to roll out and follow all the corporate baloney. and i am counting down the days until i can demote myself to bookseller! LOL. oh well. all i can do is take it one day at a time.

my etsy shop is collecting dust. i am really into amigurumi ... and have great ideas ... but am too tired by the time i get home from work to really do anything but sit in front of the tv and whine (and wine :P). and a day off these days doesn't necessarily equal sleeping in and relaxing. i am ... craftually frustrated. i am thisclose to just buying crafty things from etsy and claiming them as mine. lol. no, not really. i could never do that. but it's BAD when i am actually entertaining that thought.

hmmm. i am trying to loose weight. i am eating better and have cut out a lot of crap. but the weight is hanging on and frustrating the heck out of me. but, the way i see it is, unless i make a "life change" and not just "go on a diet" ... i will be carrying around this extra stuff forever. so i am trying to focus more on just being *relatively healthy* rather than "INEEDTOLOOSEAMILLIONPOUNDSBYJULY". so there is that. lol. think i'll go have a pudding now. hehe.

i am working hard at staying organized. keeping my home pretty clean and clutter-free. i try to do a little each day so that i don't wake up one morning and the dishes and laundry are threatening to attack. i do a little straightening, a little cleaning each day ... and try to stay afloat. dave is a HUGE help (which still shocks my soul!) and helps with the money and budget ... it's just amazing living an adult life with a true partner and not just someone is along for the ride. :) ok, so maybe i AM making the right decision for a change! ;o)

and that's about it. taking a vacation day tomorrow and spending it with dave and his mum. going to try and find a fancy dress for noelle's wedding and the bat mitzvah the week after. trying to live the best i can each day ... and not let the daily crankiness and stress take me over. :)

it's all good! :)

good times.

2009-04-21T19:17:00.014-04:00

hello all! :) things have been busy and good these last few days. had a super fun weekend with my boy ... saw his new show, Neverending Story, on Saturday (really really AMAZING! :)

and then we, along with Jeremy and Tommy, took a ride up to Mt. Airy. we ate at a great place on deck overlooking the Shawnee Golf Course (and I had THE BEST dirty martini i have ever ingested with bleu cheese stuffed olives!!!) and then we went to play the slots at Mt. Airy. i admit to getting a BIT peeved when Dave was up $300 and then gave it all back XD ... but aside from that little bump, we had a blast. we spent the night at Jeremy's Amazing House and we were going to go to the Crossings for a little shoppng but ended up sleeping in and then getting breakfast and going home. it was a nice weekend! :)

tonight i made chocolate dipped pretzels and think they came out good. here are some pictures ... SOMEday i will take good photos ... X(

have i mentioned that i LOVE my chocolate melting pot???

dipped pretzels awaiting their decorations.

yummy.

mittens wanted to play with the pretzels too! :)

pink chocolate ...

i tried sprinkles first. the teeny hearts looked the best.

but the drizzles looked the best! :)

i love them! haha. and managed to not eat too many! :)

chocolate overload

2009-04-14T23:14:00.005-04:00

hello all. things are good here in the world of jessica. easter was a lot of fun. we had the whole family at my grandfather's house and we just had a blast. and now we have WAY too much candy in the house. XD i am doing SO poorly at eating well. the bridesmaid dress on the bedroom door is taunting me each night. i don't know WHAT to do. bleh. i need lock-jaw, i think.

work is good. i went to west patterson last night to help out at their inventory and had a great time. really cool staff and store. and i really got a feel for a good, smooth inventory ... and, again, what H is looking for in a store. i went to work today recharged and with a renewed perspective. and i got a lot done. looking forward to doing more tomorrow! lol. i am a geek! :o)

haven't crocheted much since easter took over ... but i am looking forward to starting something new again tonight or tomorrow.

now i am in my favorite place (couch) watching tv (idol) and debating on sewing or just vegging. and there MAY be a chocolate cadbury egg in my future.

2009-04-03T23:31:00.005-04:00

well after yesterday's bumpy ride i feel i am slowly recovering me again. the past reared it's ugly head in a big way but i am dealing and burying it all over again. kinda weird and trippy when your past and present collide, you know? but the past is a past for a reason ... and it's over ... so lets move forward again and not dwell. still kinda reeling tho ... which makes me so mad. lord life is hard and strange. blows my mind when i think about how close we were and how a single action can burst that bubble so completely and totally. crazy to think about that life ... and how long ago it was. imagine a life lived so totally ... a future planned out so hopeful ... a friend and partner known so completely (or so i thought) ... and then having the proverbial rug pulled out from under you ... and being strangers from here on out? it's just ... so ... odd. and then you live ... you go forward ... you try to heal and cover up the scars the best you can ... and then, suddenly, the person that caused you so much pain and ended a certain life stands in front of you asking about your life? your family? people you knew together? commenting on the weather? how ... stranger and angering.

and so, i cried. and hid. and drowned those surfaced sorrows again. i was shocked at the pain and the ... strange normalcy. i thought i was done crying. dealing with the damaged insides. being mad and sad over someone who really, when you think about it all, didn't deserve any of me. and today i got on like i have been trying to do these last few years. and i looked over at the person sleeping next to me and was thankful all over again. weird how you can be thankful for pain. but, because of that pain, i am here. and i can't believe how lucky my life is for now. i worry about this same chain of event happening all over again ... but, really, all i can do is be thankful for the happiness and love i am surrounded in right now ... and know that, if it dies too ... i was loved for a little while.

i made her today ... and love how she came out. bad phone pic ... i know ... but i didn't have patience for the real camera at 2:30am. she is cute tho, isn't she? betty the berry i have christened her! :)

and now, onto another day ...

the last few days

2009-04-01T22:34:00.005-04:00

things have been good here in the world of jessica. for the past 2 days i was in meetings for work and they were actually very informative. last years meetings i was so new and so in over my head, they just overwhelmed me. this year, as overwhelmed as i can feel sometimes, these meetings really helped me put my focuses in perspective. i really enjoyed them and enjoyed getting to better know the managers in my new district. i had a real good time! :0)

(bad picture but the next finished ami guy! :)

now dave and i are enjoying a rainy evening at home. food was ordered, books are being read, strawberries are being crocheted and episodes of 24 are being watched. i am off tomorrow too ... so i am looking forward to that as well. and i think i am actually looking forward to going to work on friday and working in my store. :) yeah, how did that happen?!? lol.

weekends are awesome! :)

2009-03-29T20:01:00.005-04:00

good weekend. busy ... but very relaxing and fun. dinner last night with the family and denise, harry and danny was a blast. then home to watch 24 and crochet. finished this little guy ...

then started another one. Froggie is going in an easter basket for stacie and the one i am working on now is for kyle. i want to make lots and send them to people and give them as presents! how fun is that?!

today stacie and i went to kelly's and made these adorable little cupcake candies ...

they were surprisingly easy! we are going to make them for easter too! mom loved them and wants to help. i am sure with the three of us, hilarity will ensue. :o)

then i cleaned the apartment. it needed it so bad and i just HATE living in a dirty home. i did almost everything except the bathroom floor ... but i will do that tomorrow while dave is at school. and i will *TRY* so hard to keep up with the clean so that it doesn't get gross again. *sigh* it is shocking how much cat hair, dust and my hair ends up EVERYWHERE!!! ;o)

dave and i just finished applebees take-out and now we are watching law and order. i am crocheting on the couch. i LOVE home and being with him and vegging out! hence, i suppose, the dirty apartment. lol.

here's to a good week!

yup.

2009-03-27T23:30:00.004-04:00

sometimes the kawaii images i find online are too perfect for words. lol. this is EXACTLY the way i've been feeling lately. boss visit at the bookstore on wednesday just totally fried my brain and ate away a little part of my soul. i came home and slept and then drank my troubles away. yesterday was better but i did have another bad spell before bed. i'm SURE the pms wasn't helping matters ... but i just really felt so low and defeated. boss is very demanding and nit-picky. just feel overwhelmed and not qualified.

musings on the real world*

2009-03-21T01:12:00.006-04:00

* not the tv show. i mean the REAL real world.

and so as my vacation nears the end ... i've been thinking about work ... and what i am going back to. i work in a bookstore. i manage a bookstore. a corporate-run bookstore. as far as jobs go ... and industries go ... it's really really not a bad gig. but i just wonder why this all stresses me out the way it does. i definitely don't hate it at all ... and i work with some of the best people. when i worked at the staffing agency, i used to pull into the parking lot and sit there, willing my legs to carry me into the building. i used to get this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and used to think up ways i could "get out". and i never feel that way towards the bookstore. But. i am not happy. well, not ... unhappy. but ... there are a lot of times that my stress level is thru the roof. i worry about being a good manager, supporting and teaching my staff. i suppose a lot of managers feel that way. i think i would be a much better assistant manager ... i told dave today i think i prefer to be a worker bee ... and not the hbic.

but then i think about my job ... and what i have to actually do ... and i wonder why i feel this way. sure there are stressors ... there is in every job. but do i put a lot of this stress on myself or is it really there?

dave and i looked at a house today ... and i can't believe how excited and hopeful i am ... how hopeful we are at this prospect and for our future. but we would never be able to even consider this without my job. not matter how much i craft and crochet ... we could not consider a house without my salary. and again, my job is NOT BAD. so why can't i reconcile all of the pros and cons and stop ... wishing for an out? :/

*sigh* i think i have to learn how to take things a little easier. figure out how to keep things in perspective. work hard but then enjoy my time off and stop stressing at home. i have to (for some reason) remind myself that WORK is a natural part of life and stop wishing for an instant miracle to happen and be able to stay home and crochet for a living (cuz that isn't gonna happen).

baking days rock my socks

2009-03-20T23:28:00.003-04:00

a day of baking with friends and then dinner with the fam. it was so much fun!! hyun, kait and i got together at hyun's house and baked some kick-ass cupcakes! from scratch!! and then we decorated the heck out of them and they came out pretty cute! kait has one of those awesome kitchen aid mixers in pink and, i wanted one before ... but now ... i think it's now a NEED. especially since they come in some pretty amazing colors. :o) kait also had the pastry-icing-bag-and-tips set ... and now i MUST have one of those too and master it. you can do so many cute things with them!!! :) i feel a new obsession brewing ... ;o) hyun also made some yummy looking sour cream custard fruit pies ... that were tragically almost totally lost. she made three and set them in the dining area to cool and set. ming (one of her two adorable min-pins) decided to dine on one ... and then when she was trying to save the other two dropped one on the kitchen floor. i felt so bad for her!!! but it is kind of a funny story to tell after the fact. ;) but anyway, we had an awesome time ... and i think more baking days are in our future! :) taleen and dee from MP also stopped by and it was GREAT seeing some old faces from my MP days. i miss that crew so much ... they are good people.

so we baked and chatted and i even crocheted 2 arms for my latest ami project. someday i will finish one and post a pic ... i just haven't mastered the art of a cute face yet. it seems so easy ... yet it continues to elude me. i will get it tho ... i just need to spend more time practicing.

afterwards, i picked up dave and we went to ron's for dinner with mom, dad, kyle, jen and stacie (altho she was at another table with friends and tried REALLY hard to pretend we weren't there). we had a great time as only Bisignani's can ... laughing until we cried. i just LOVE family dinners like that and wish we could do it more. :) we have such a great time! :)

and now i am home, on the couch, and will start sewing after this post. dave is playing his new puzzle quest ds game ... and avalon quest awaits me in the bedroom. seems like a pretty cool game ... i just need to get the controls and stuff down.

tomorrow is the theater benefit, sunday is NOTHING and then monday it's back to the real world. :( i hate to think about that ... :( i've had such a great time being off and visiting friends and hanging out with dave. the real world just messes all this up!!! XD

holy crap days off with Dave are fun! :)

2009-03-19T01:41:00.005-04:00

today was just the best day! dave couldn't take much time off this week, so we canceled our toronto trip idea and even scrapped the nyc and atlantic city plans. i had to go to staten island this week for my "secret shopper" thingy so we decided to do that at least today. since i am a dork, i actually enjoy going to other barnes and nobles to see how they are laid out and merchandised. and since my store is small and without cafe or music, i also like getting a latte and wandering the aisles, shopping the gift department or listening to some cds. and my beloved is a dork as well, so he was equally excited about spending time in a bookstore and our "secret mission". he took to secret shopping like an actor to a stage. he helped me out and reported back all the pertinent information like how clean the men's room was and who said what to whom in the music department. he even offered to go in costume and wear a monocle. this is why i love this boy! :)

so anyway, we went to staten island. since we didn't go away, we spent the money we would have on a room on coffee, music and books instead (you would SWEAR we hadn't been in a bookstore in months! ;). afterward, we stopped at carrabba's for a yummy appetizer, drinks and quite an involved conversation on work, titles and pay rates. we came home to shakeys to just shoot for an hour ... but then dave messed with my grip and it was all over. first i wanted to shoot so i could master the better grip ... then i started to get the hang of things and i couldn't stop. i WANTED to beat him!!! lol. i didn't beat him but i did shoot pretty well. let's hope this continues into tomorrow.

we FINALLY left shakeys (sans car again!) and came home to my mittens kitty, american idol, and ate our take-out lamb stew and corned beef on the couch. :) now dave is reading his new Zombie Comics book, the life aquatic is on tv, and, once i am done with typing this i am going to do a little crocheting. :) yay to days off and time spent with dave!!! :)

wonderful weekend!

2009-03-16T00:15:00.003-04:00

hello hello. :) we had such great weekend! saturday stacie and i went to Gap and shopped till we dropped. her discount is AWESOME! i got a pair of great jeans, some t-shirts and a few cardigans. then i splurged at Coach and got a cute black wristlet. it was so much fun!!! saturday night we went to dave's aunt and uncle's home for the annual Spellman St. Patrick's Day Party. it was a blast and the corned beef and cabbage was amazing!!! :) we spent the night at dave's parent's house and then today jimmy, alissa and baby anthony picked us up and we went to garden to watch the Rangers beat the Flyers!!! ican't believe a nearly 7 month old baby sat thru an entire hockey game content! he was so good and so cute all decked out in his hockey gear just watching everything going on. :) then we came back and had a wonderful dinner with dave's mom. what a great couple of days. :o)

now i am sitting on the couch watching will ferrell in his george bush show (cue dave's hysterical giggle here! LOL.) and working on some new amigurumi patterns that i purchased off of etsy! :) and guess what? i am off ALL WEEK!!! YAY!!! vacations are rocking my socks right OFF! :)

2009-03-13T01:07:00.005-04:00

another day, another sinus headache. i am feeling a little better now but it's been a yucky couple of days. but ... as of 6pm friday i am on vacation!! and i can't wait to sleep late, crochet, read ... and sleep more! :) i also have a nice little city trip planned with dave mid-week and a cupcake date with hyun and kaitlyn on friday. a st. patrick's day party this saturday and the theater benefit next saturday. a perfect blend of gatherings and relaxation time! :) so happy! now if i can just get rid of these stinkin' headaches ... i'd be perfect! :o)

arg.

2009-03-11T01:30:00.003-04:00

this is what my sinuses are doing to my face at the moment. i found this image and thought it was hilarious.

tired. counting down the MINUTES to vacation. trying oh so very hard to not eat the boxes of girl scout cookies on my desk at work. can't wait to party saturday night with dave and his family and then go see the rangers on sunday in the city! just about finished with my amigurumi kitty ... just have to make the ears, a tail and then the sash for the dress. i think she will be cute ... but this was SO labor intensive. :\

watching american idol with da-veed and then heading to bed. ooooh i think the sinus medicine is kicking in. huzzah.

oh what a night ...

2009-03-04T00:13:00.006-05:00

work was good and productive. i freaked out a bit when i realized my reviews are due on monday ... i lost yesterday to snow and friday and saturday to being sick ... so i am a little behind. but ... i am not TOTALLY freaking out ... yet. LOL. yeah, this is the new calm, cool and collected jessica! ;o) and this will last just about until sunday night when the real freak out occurs. ;)

dave made a pot roast tonight that was just amazing. i am SO full. even mittens enjoyed a little taste! :) we watched american idol ... and i crocheted some more. i got the skirt finished on my break today at work and then it took me all night to make one little arm!!! i really struggled with the back post single crochet. but now that i know the general idea of how to do it ... i hope the next arm won't take as long. then comes the face. i actually thought today of making her a little girl doll instead of an amigurumi animal ... or making a little bonnet for the head ... not sure what direction i am going to take it. i don't have to decide just yet ... still have another ARM to finish!!! arg!

off tomorrow ... coffee with mom planned ... laundry ... a little cleaning ... i should bake for maria's little party tomorrow but i am just not feeling cookies tho. maybe cupcakes? we will have to see!

alrighty i am gonna start the other arm before bed ... wish me luck!

creepin' on.

2009-02-28T18:41:00.004-05:00

feeling slightly better ... but it's hard to tell when all you've done for 3 days is sleep. but, i suppose if i am sleeping this much, i needed it, right?

went to work this morning just to open. when the mid manager came in, everyone sent me home. so home i went, nyquil i took, sleep i did. i was a little tired because, apparently, when i am sick, i am not as sound a sleeper as i usually am ... and dave's snoring kept me up all night. i would try to wake him up to have him roll over ... and he started babbling about spreadsheets and work-stuff and how "it's not going to work." lol. it's funny now ... but a little frustrating at the time.

i worked for a like a minute on a amigurumi project ... i am hoping to get a little more done tonight after dinner. i have a few cute ideas ... i just have to EXECUTE them. but hopefully with being so sedentary these last few days, i will feel better and be able to do something tomorrow. i should be back in action (i hope!!!) by monday. :)

it's been kinda nice, tho, doing nothing. observing, dreaming, tuning out totally when i feel too overwhelmed. i feel a little ... revived. a little ... more me again? i think i let work so totally take me over that i loose myself ... my creativity ... i loose ME. but i am feeling a little more together ... and that makes me feel better (despite the cold!). maybe i needed this cold/hibernation after my total-stress-out earlier this week.

and now i sit on the couch ... watching any NCIS, Law and Order, or House i can find. :)

sick and cranky.

2009-02-27T21:37:00.003-05:00

i'm sick. i'm tired. i haven't showered. i have a headache. i haven't sewn in a week. i haven't done a thing but sleep and watch tv the last few days. my apartment is a MESS. i think i am stuck on the couch. and i want dave to come home with my COOKIES. yeah life is thrilling these days.

i made it.

2009-02-26T00:05:00.004-05:00

i made it, blogger-world. i stressed myself out like you would not believe (or, if you know me, you WOULD believe!) over today's visit with the boss. and it went FINE. really FINE. i was practically giddy with relief when it was over. and i think i am doing an OK job. i still hate the pressure and stress and politics of running a corporatized retail business ... but i think i can relax a bit now ... and just keep on keepin' on! :) i came home and passed out for like 4 hours ... it was blissful, really. did a little bit of crochet while watching american idol, of course! but didn't work on anything of note. i was too tired to focus. i needed mindless after these last few days. :)

tomorrow i am off but am going to visit my grandfather ... then i have darts in the evening. i am kinda bummed that my BIG DAY OFF after my work visit is a bit filled with plans ...but at least the pressure is off for awhile. that is what i am MOST thankful for! :) and maybe, just maybe, i can get something accomplished tomorrow afternoon! :)

nighty night!

2009-02-24T01:16:00.006-05:00

so busy internet friends. work is just taking up all my energy, all my time. i have finally come to terms with it ... i am trying to remember that, should a house be in dave and my immediate future, this job will afford us so many wonderful things. but, even though i have comes to terms with this … it’s still difficult having work and nothing else in my life at the moment. :(

it's almost 2am and i am crocheting ... just because i have to do something creative before i fall asleep.

Lord, keep me strong.

2009-02-15T14:45:00.007-05:00

happy day after valentine's everyone! :) i hope everyone had a sweet day filled with love and chocolate! :) i had a great couple of days ... we decided to go out to dinner friday to avoid the crowds and pricey special menus ... and had a WONDERFUL yummy dinner!

then, yesterday, these georgous flowers arrived for me at work .... my favorite gerber daisies ...

then, once we both got home, dave gave me this AMAZING card. i can't believe he made this! he's going to put me out of business!!! lol. well, if marketing doesn't work out for you, honey, i'll hire ya! ;)

then we had this with fresh strawberries ... just cuz ...

then he made an AMAZING chicken and potatoes dinner that filled us both up to the gills! but i promised to clean up ... and there is still this to be dealt with ...

hehe ... so that is why i am sitting here avoiding the kitchen! haha.

it was a sweet and relaxing weekend ... and i loved every minute of it! thanks sweet pea! :)

today's shop additions and some musings ...

2009-02-11T15:24:00.005-05:00

my latest shop additions ... and some frustration musings ...

i love to create. sew. cut and design. i do this for me because i enjoy it ... not because i am looking to make a buck. BUT. that being said. i do like getting my stuff out there. i would love to have a little shop and sell my things and help support a family some day. and, i know that the world is spending differently these days ... we have all felt the pinch. but i just don't seem to sell much of anything. i know i haven't been doing this for that long. etsy shop has been open only a few months ... since the fall, i guess ... and i've only done one little local craft show. but i don't know ... why keep going if nothing sells? i mean, i'll never stop creating and making things ... and i always think a handmade gift is so much more special than something store-bought ... so i will always try and create things for friends and family. but etsy? craft shows? am i like those singers on american idol who think THEY ARE the next american idol .... only to be laughed at by the judges and sent on their way with a "sorry sweetie this just isn't the thing for you?" (thank you dave for making me the weirdo who is now comparing life to an american idol audition! ;) ♥)

so ... why internets why do i keep going? how can i justify going to michaels or target to buy up supplies ... only to make things and have them sit in baskets or the closet getting mittens's fur all over them?? am i doing something wrong? not being aggressive enough? is there just no niche for my items? do i have to pay for etsy features? when you make items that are predominately under $10 ... how do you pay for any type of advertising and still make a little profit? hmmm ... not so sure ........

warm ...

2009-02-11T14:18:00.004-05:00

so so warm today in northern new jersey! :) windows are open, breeze is blowing in ... is it possible that this weekend could be back to 10 degrees??? well, i'll enjoy it either way!

i am working on some stuff today (LOVE LOVE LOVE days off!!!) and taking some pictures ... so keep your eyes peeled! oh and as i said in my last post, if anyone has tips on taking some better photos, please let me know!!!

enjoy the weather wherever you are! :o)

2009-02-09T20:24:00.003-05:00

hello bloggy friends. i first wanted to thank the sweet people who commented on my last post! :) thanks for all the encouragement! :)

i have some new completed items to put up in my shop ... but i have a question for all you etsy-ers. how do you take your photos? what tips can you share about taking good, artistic photos? i seem to stuggle a lot in this area and see the quality photos on etsy ... any tricks of the trade would be appreciated by this newby etsy-er!!

have a nice day! :)

bloggy blog bleh.

2009-02-05T00:00:00.003-05:00

so i love blogs. they are like little windows into people's lives and souls. i could blog-hop for hours. i have certain ones i read everyday ... and get bummed when they haven't updated or their updates are short. following blogs are part of my daily routine now. i come home. i check my email and facebook. i check my blog roll for updates. i check facebook again. i sew. i check the blogs again. sad. lol.

but then there is my blog.

i don't know what to write. i can't imagine that anyone is really following this. i don't have much to say ... or at least i don't think that my life is that blog-worthy. i seem to be at a loss as far as being a bloggy writer. what do i write? do people really want to hear me talk about how i'd rather be sewing and creating than managing a bookstore and dealing with corporate bs? do i really write about how dave and i are sitting on the couch tonight underneath crocheted afghans watching hook off of netflix? how good our chicken dinner was and that i finally mastered cooking a baked potato (cooking is SO not a strong point in my life ...)? how i am totally in love with knitting looms and have made 5 hats in the last week? how i wish i could take a day off tomorrow or friday and sleep and sew ... how i long for days at home to hide ... snuggle with dave and mittens ... poke around on the internets and blog-hop? how sometimes i actually dream and plan ways to take a leave of absence/medical leave/quit/etc so i can just stay home? how bad i feel that i am thinking these things while there are so many people in our world right now who need a job so badly ... and here i am plotting to run away from mine so i can stay home in my cocoon and make hats?

huh. am i writing a blog post? :D i think i am! lol.

here i am!

2009-01-26T12:05:00.005-05:00

hello everyone! :) i am here and i am being productive! i went to work this morning for my monday meeting and i did NOT come home and crawl into bed! (this is a BIG acheivement my dear blog readers!!!) i've listed my new journal covers, a new baby onesie and my ipod holder on my etsy as well as listing a whole heap of vintage strawberry shortcake toys. check them out here! here is a peak ...

i feel like i've accomplished SOMETHING. it's 12:30 and i am off to clean the kitchen (woo-hoo, i know ... but because of the funk i've been in, the fact that i have energy to do this is a BIG deal! :).

have a great day guys!

trying to get back into the swing of things.

2009-01-25T19:20:00.005-05:00

ugh. so i've been sick the last few days. apartment is a mess. sewing but having difficulty getting anything up on here or on etsy. don't want to go to work. slept a lot in the last few days. just feeling yucky and behind and out of sorts. bleh.

i get so frustrated sometimes. i feel so lazy and lethargic a lot of the time. i could sleep (even when i am not sick) for 2 days without even realizing it. i could spend a lot of time on the couch. i'd being sewing or researching projects or wasting time on facebook ... but i'd still be sedentary. why am i like this? why don't i have energy? why don't i have any get up and go? i mean, once i am started and have downed my second cup of coffee i am ok ... but why do i always feel the call to hide at home, sleep in and do (almost) nothing?

i do think part of it ... or at least this guilt-factor stems from ... my family and upbringing. if i was not DOING (as in MOVING) it was not considered productive. the only reason my brother got away with it (enduring his share of ribbing, i know) is because he makes money doing it. i make a a few dollars here and there ... but it's not my living. therefore, it's lazy, lumpy jessica. so i know that i am probably harder on myself than many of the adult population. but still. i still feel less than energy-filled. oh and i think rather than loosing weight i am gaining. bleh bleh double bleh.

i do feel a little better today. i went to kim's going away party this afternoon and gave her the above towel and pot holder set. i think they came out pretty cute. :) i also got some of the strawberry shortcake toys up on etsy (go see my shop if you are interested in vintage toys!) and finished another journal cover. i have to get up early for a meeting at work and then go back in to close ... so i am hoping to NOT come home and fall back asleep. i can take pictures and list stuff after the meeting. or i will come home, get back into bed ... and sleep until i have to go in. i really don't want to do that. but sometimes it just happens. *sigh*

new items!

2009-01-20T01:21:00.004-05:00

two days off and lots of fun stuff accomplished! :) i am a little bummed that it's too dark to take decent pictures tonight ... but i did manage to get this photographed before the sun went down.

its a felt journal cover. i have three made and i can't wait to take pictures of them all and put them up here and in the shop! :) they will come in 3 sizes, they are reuseable and refill journals can be purchased at barnes and noble. i also have a few new baby onesies done and am almost done with an ipod holder.

had a really nice lazy day with dave today ... baked some cookies ... watched some tv and a few movies ... watched the snow fall ... i just really enjoyed being home. :o) i wish everyday could be this fun and relaxing.

stay tuned to here and the shop for the new items!!

better.

2009-01-15T01:06:00.004-05:00

ok. crafters-block is slowly starting to disapate. praise the Lord!! the clouds are lifting. i wasn't happy with the way the amigurumi were turning out (but i am DEFINATELY not giving up! they are just on the back burner for the time being ...) so i sat down after work today, poured myself a glass of wine, turned on american idol (i TOTALLY blame dave for this. i NEVER watched these shows before him!!! ;) and surrounded myself with felt. and it came back!!!! i was cutting out cute things left and right. i'm not entirely sure what i am going to sew these cuties on to ... i have some bag/purse ideas that i need to work out some logistics ... but i am very very pleased with what came out tonight!! so, hopefully, my etsy store will be refreshed with all new items ... at some point in the next few months. i'm excited!

have a nice day! :o)

struggling

2009-01-13T14:08:00.002-05:00

so i've been off for 3 days. and it's been blissful. nowhere to go. snuggling up on the couch with dave at night. putzing arounf the apartment during the day. staying up late and sleeping in. spending an entire afternoon on the couch finishing a book. lovely.

but my creative juices just were NOT flowing. at all. i have plenty of ideas in my head. lots of ideas of things i want to create. but i could not execute ANYTHING. at. all. nothing turning out the way i hoped ... if i even got somewhere on something. spent a lot of time poking around etsy ... which IS inspiring ... until you then start convincing yourself that everything you come up with is copying someone else's idea. UGH! :(

help me crafters! what do you do to get out from under crafters-block? and how do you know if you are copying someone else's idea ... or if your idea is a just a variation ... or if it's unique??

getting ready for the snow

2009-01-10T00:10:00.002-05:00

hello all! we are gearing up for a snowy weekend here in north jersey. they are predicting about 8 inches for our area starting saturday morning into sunday ... and i just couldn't be happier! :) we have had a lot more winter weather this season than we have had in a long time. i do have to open the bookstore tomorrow but snow will mean a quiet day ... and, as the manager, it goes against store manager code to wish for a slow day ... but i do have to admit ... snow days are the best! (shhh! don't tell my boss!!!) its quiet ... cozy ... and you get to putter around and do your work without all the interuptions or crazy retail stuff. it's pretty cool actually! now if my store had a cafe with starbucks white mochas ... well, then i would be in heaven!!! :o)

but, anyway! dave's play rehearsal got cancelled for tomorrow and we are both off on sunday ... so this means a snowy stay-at-home weekend for us!!! YAY! we have books and magazines and video games ... and i have my NEW PROJECT (bear with me ... i am working a little slowly at the moment.) that i am feverishly working on ... so hopefully i will have something to show ya'll by the end of the weekend!

dave and i have become SERIOUS homebodies these days. there is nothing we like better than to cook dinner or get some take out, plop ourselves down on the couch in front of a game (which translates into amazing FOOT RUBS for me!!!) or he will play video games while i sew ... with mittens the wonder kitty snuggled up between us or on out laps. we choose these nights over ANYTHING else offered up lately. :o) does that mean we are in a really good place ... or just getting old? hehe.

so anyway ... that's the plan for this weekend! are you getting snow this weekend? what are your plans? have a splendiferous weekend and stay tuned for a CUTE item by monday morn! :)

huh.

2009-01-08T09:34:00.000-05:00

it's 9:30am. on thursday. on a DAY OFF. i went to bed after 2am. and what am i doing? i AM AWAKE. ??? anyone who KNOWS me knows that this is something very very unusual. like sign-of-the-apocalypse unusual. but. since i am awake on this day off i might as well enjoy it. i am off to target for a white chocolate mocha and a bit of a shop (gotta gift card that is burning a hole in my purse!!!) and then i will come home to clean and sew until darts tonight. :) i heart days off. and starbuck's white chocolate mochas. and snow. and target. and gift cards. and my home. :o) have a nice day everyone!!! :)

nothing witty or interesting comes to mind.

2009-01-05T22:32:00.000-05:00

i feel a little more back in the swing of things. work will get back to *normal* insanity this week with kids back in school and people back to work. as i go through my cleaning schedule this week i will remove christmas from each room. sad but, at the same time, always kind of nice to get back to simple, neat and clean (no more pine needles!!!). i am slowly reconnecting with my friends and planning dates. i am trying very hard to get organized and stay organized. i am feeling ... good! :)

~*~

i am currently working on two projects that i am VERY very excited about. i am working on a mini art quilt to see how it turns out. if it turns out well, i will start working on the larger scale one i am planning as a gift for *someone*. i am also working on creating my own amigurumi patterns. i love the ones i am getting from books and online but if i am going to put something in my Etsy shop, it will totally created by me. so here goes!! :) stay tuned for pictures!!

hoping you have a nice day!

happy 2009!

2009-01-01T13:58:00.000-05:00

my second attempt at an amigurumi creation. not too bad, eh?

i hope everyone had a happy, enjoyable and safe new year's celebration! we went out to dinner with my family a la yearly tradition (great food! horrendous service!), then we visited the fredericks' (rocked the guitar hero!) and then had a drink with the Shakeys crew and rang in the new year (we don't need noise makers! ahhhhhhhhh!). i was tired and dave was ambivalent so we were home at about 12:30am. i'm so old! :) but i don't care! it was a wonderful night! :) it was so sweet ringing in the new year with someone who is as excited for 2009 as i am. :)

i have thought a lot about 2008 the last few nights ... kinda replaying the year in my head ... and, once again, it was a wild ride. but i think, for the first time in a few years, i came out on top in '08. i really want to wash my hands of the last few years and all the yuckiness that happened. i am in one piece. i have found myself (well, i am still finding myself but i am getting there!) and have found love ... but i also think that i have reached the point that, if dave and i didn't work out, i know in my heart and my head that i can be on my own. i am not as afraid of that as i once was. i have family, friends and God on my side. i can do anything with or without a significant other. :) and if a significant other is in my future ... well, then, that is just a bonus! :)

i don't like to call them resolutions ... but let's just say these are my 2009 plans ...
~ quit smoking for good.
~ i am just under 150 pounds at the moment. we have 3 weddings to go to starting in june (and one i am in in july!) so i would love to weigh about 20 pounds lighter by june.
~ i want to really work on creating more and getting a lot more things into the Etsy shop. i have a zillion different ideas of things i want to make ... i just don't want to be a lazy-bug and not get anything done cuz i don't want to get off the couch! ;o)
~ start a savings account FOR REAL! (this will happen after all my debts are paid by may. whoo hoo!)
~ i bought a daily bible and i want to read it EACH DAY! no excuses or exceptions!
~ curb my relationship and future worries and just enjoy each day with dave.
~ talk to God everyday ... even if it's just a thought in my journal, a passing thank you or a beg for forgiveness!
~ work at consistently keeping my home a little cleaner.

i'm sure there are a zillion other things i'm forgetting or could add ... but i think that is a pretty good start! :)

what are your plans for 2009?

cranky-pants

2008-12-30T23:04:00.000-05:00

so apparently i have forgotten how to relax. my first DAY OFF with nowhere to go since november ... and i had a good day, don't get me wrong. but i spent the majority of my day crocheting a little amigurumi mouse and it's just not turning out the way i had hoped. i can't find the right eyes so i made some out of yarn ... and it's ok but not great. and i am struggling with the arms and legs cuz they are just so tiny and i feel so clumsy with my big stupid fingers. and of course, since it didn't turn out the way i wanted, i feel like i wasted my day off. and now it's 11pm and i am cranky cuz i feel like i wasted my day and i have to go to bed soon and go to work tomorrow ... *sigh* it's a vicious cycle. so now here i sit with a big mug of hot chocolate (cranky cuz i forgot to buy marshmallows!) and am trying to salvage the day. why can't i just be happy that i had a nice lazy day off with dave?!?! ugh!!

i think i will try it again with a bigger needle. i like the tiny size but i am just struggling so much with the small needle. *sigh*!!!!!!

ramblings during a relaxing evening at home!

2008-12-29T21:03:00.000-05:00

don't ya just love the cupcake? i think she turned out so cute!!! ever since i followed a knitting pattern for dave's wool hat, i thought i would try my hand at the adorable crocheted amigurumi i've admired for awhile. this little gal only took me a total of 2 hours!! i need a lighter shade of tan yarn for the base ... it came out a little too dark for the eyes and mouth. but other than that, i am pretty pleased with her! :) i can't wait to make others to put in my etsy shop! keep your eyes peeled!!

the holidays were wonderfully sweet but oh so exhausting. i love christmas so much ... and i did very good this year with early shopping and a bunch of handmade items for friends and family ... but i was just going a mile a minute everyday ... and work was just silly! 9 to 10 hour days 6 days a week! i am not complaining because i am very thankful to have a job during these scary economic times. i know how blessed and lucky i am. but between that and social engagements and family gatherings ... i just didn't have a moment to really sit back and enjoy the season! tonight is the first night i can just sit on the couch and look at the christmas tree and relax ... and it's all gotta come down in a few days!!! whew!!

but, as crystal mentioned in her http://littlebitfunky.blogspot.com/">blog, as enjoyable as the holiday season is and how much fun it is to decorate the home all cozy christmas ... there is just something about getting everything all back to clean and normal. and you better believe i am looking forward to lazy days off and quiet evenings in. :o)

i will be spending the coming weeks updating my blog with new items and musings and i will be working very hard on adding a bunch of new items to etsy. i have so many ideas and things i want to make and share ... i'm so excited!! :)

christmas!

2008-12-07T20:31:00.000-05:00

it's been a tough week for a variety of reasons ... work stress, divorce hearing, anxiety and fear about life and relationships like i haven't had in a long time, a bit of a ... fight ... with dave ... but today was just filled with holiday sweetness. waking up to a dusting of snow on the ground, yummy breakfast at my favorite local place, dave and i then going to get our tree and then going home to set it up while christmas music (and then the football game!) played in the background. it was ... refreshing to be with someone who actually WANTED to help out with the tree ... it was fun and sweet to decorate the apartment with the rest of the holiday stuff ... it's so nice to be home in my cozy home while the wind whips around outside, a kitty on the couch next to me, a hockey game on the tv (go Rangers!!) and my tree lit up and completing the cozy holiday home! as soon as i finish this i will proceed to knit some christmas presents!!

so crystal at littlebitfunky took some pictures of what christmas is like at her house ... and requested her blog readers to do the same! so here are some pictures i took! :) hope you enjoy them!

the tree

some of my grandmother's christmas village houses the my grandfather gave me after my grammy passed away.

and that's my home! :)

have a wonderful week!

holiday hiatus

2008-12-01T21:18:00.000-05:00

it's been awhile since i've updated so i wanted to take some time to write. my traffic on etsy has slowed to next to nothing ... but i have been so busy with work that i haven't been able to create anything new. it's frustrating because i have a ton of ideas ... especially gift ideas for friends and family as well as things to list on etsy ... but i come home from my days at the bookstore beyond exhausted. i just don't have any time these days.

i am also in a little bit of hiding because of the emotional state i'm in. my divorce becomes official on wednesday and has sent me back onto the emotional rollercoaster. dave has been absolutely phenominal ... so patient, so kind, so loving...just like the bible verse! but my fears and emotions run away with themselves and scares me into thinking that maybe the love and life i seek don't exsist. i'm so tired of being mired in this ... and am really looking forward to closing this door of my life.

i am planning on continuing etsy and my craft business ... i have big plans for 2009! new products, new directions, new life!

i'll definately be peeking in now and then ... until then, however, please have a wonderful holiday season!

is it actually possible ...

2008-11-17T21:27:00.000-05:00

to be so overwhelmed by ideas, impulses, projects and creative juices ... that your brain just goes ka-plooie and you can't do a single thing??? because if it is, i think that just happened to me.

work is going great and i have a real vision as to how i want my store to run. the time flies by and my shifts don't seem long enough ... which is odd for me because, even though i have always enjoyed working the bookstore, i always want to be HOME! :) that being said, however, i do want to be home because i have so many things i want to do here as far as cleaning and organizing ... as well as crafty things! i really want to work on developing more CUTE things since that seemed to elicit the most squeals at the craft show friday. i have some stuffed animal ideas ... as well as some other ideas ... as well as a scarf in mid-knit and a hat in mid-crochet ... and here i sit on the couch with a horrible headache and NO energy. :( and i am not even THINKING about the disaster that is my laundry in the bedroom ... and that nice cleaning chart i made myself that says today is kitchen day. X_X uugh.

happy sunday

2008-11-16T15:40:00.000-05:00

hi everyone. still riding the creative high from the show! :o) making new stuff and putting new items into Etsy. go have a look! :)

here is a preview ...

hope you are having a beautiful sunday!

craft show report

2008-11-15T01:27:00.000-05:00

hello everyone!

so i am back from my first craft show and it was a moderate success! :) i was hoping for a bigger venue and a larger crowd ... but i made a little money and got lots of great feedback (i wish i had counted how many times someone told me my items were "so cute"!) ... so i am taking it as a win!

here are some pictures from the night ... and the new items that didn't sell tonight will be up on etsy in a day or two.

me and dave at the table.

the new baby onesies that will be in etsy soon! so cute!

getting some work done at the show ... finished two tote bags!!

thanks to everyone for their support and love. especially dave for all his help! love you baby.

Franklin Elementary School Family Holiday Gift Shoppe!

2008-11-13T16:00:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! My craft show is Friday at the Franklin Elementary School from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. Franklin School is on 8 Meeker Street right off of Hillside Ave. in Succasunna. There is plenty for the kiddos as well as 40+ vendors, snacks, games and door prizes! Hope to see you there!

craft show in t-minus 3 days ...

2008-11-11T20:17:00.000-05:00

and the anxiety is setting in! i have a lot of stuff done ... i think. but i am happy i have the next few days (minus work tomorrow) to work on everything. i am excited too ... because i think this has the opportunity to be good. it's a holiday shopping boutique for kids and their parents at a local school. the town is pretty big with a lot of schools ... so there should be a big turnout. and because i have stuff for kids and adults ... i think i could do quite well! so we shall see!

in other crafting news i am making a ton of new stuff! so, if i don't sell out of everything (hehehe ... gotta be optomistic!) i will be able to throw that stuff onto Etsy! so keep your eyes pealed!

ok ... enough goofing off online ... back to the sewing board ...

snow!

2008-10-29T00:19:00.000-04:00

yup! we had our first snowfall today ... and it's only October!!!! :) about 4 inches or so fell today. it started at about 3am ... and didn't really stop till 5ish. it was amazing!

unfortunately i had to go to work because the closing manager couldn't make it in ... so i didn't get any photographs. it was very wet snow and very heavy so there were a lot of down trees and branches ... some amazing scenes!

and nothing like a little snow to get you into the holiday spirit!!! :o)

recovery.

2008-10-26T23:09:00.000-04:00

another visit to the hospital. more medicine. restricted diet. more pain. lots of missed work. feeling better and then stretching or moving and remembering that i had surgery a few weeks ago. not getting a whole heck of a lot done at home, at work, in my crafty world. it's been a frustrating time.

but today i am feeling better. went to a high school friend's baby shower and i was so happy for her. appliqued a little elephant to a onesie for her and it came out cute. trying some new crafty things ... and looking forward to my show on 11/14. going to do my best at work ... and try very hard not to stress. i can't control what other people do ... i can only control how hard i work. happy with having dave in my home ... and thanking God for putting him in my life. looking forward to a holiday season filled with love and happiness ... the first in about 3 years. wow. how crazy is that?

feeling a little more organized ... a little more together ... a little more me today. i am SO thankful for that.

and i hope to get a lot done this week in my crafty world. i have a lot of ideas ... a lot of things to do ... and i want to have that focus this week to work hard. stay tuned for some new items this week here and on my etsy!!

have a great day!

pushing through

2008-10-17T15:11:00.000-04:00

ok so despite crampiness and crankiness ... despite feeling totally uncreative ...despite stretching this morning and feeling something snap by my stitches and now being in more pain than i was the last 2 days ... i've perservered and am creating. i am posting these in Etsy as i type this ... go on over and have a looksie! i have a few more items to list but was getting horrible shadows on my deck so i have to wait until the sun moves.

i'm proud of these! :o) now let's see if they sell! more later!

it should be illegal ...

2008-10-17T14:52:00.000-04:00

to have to go thru pms and cramps while still recovering from surgery.

bleh.

2008-10-17T00:05:00.000-04:00

so i didn't get nearly as much done these last few days as i had hoped. i know that i had surgery but i really thought i would be able to sit at the dining room table and work on my projects. alas, that was not to be. sitting up-right hurts, i can't sew on the couch and my sleep has been all over the place. i am also feeling decidedly uncreative. i've been on the computer a lot this week (when i haven't been playing viva pinata on my ds - my current obsession!!) and did a lot of crafty blog hopping. as inspiring and fun as that is (and i LOVE looking at what creative wonders people put together!) it also makes me feel uncreative and lacking in talent. i am trying to just ride this out ... not get too bummed by it ... because i know these yucky feelings usually passes with time. and then i will have those days where the creative ideas just spill out from my ears! but between the pain in my side and living in frumpy sweats this week ... and just feeling eh ... i am not feeling my usual cheery, happy self. i am also in a little bit of a freak out thinking about my craft show in less than a month.

but i am sitting on the couch in front of the ballgame ... dave is rubbing my feet ... mittens is asleep on the computer chair ... and i have so much to be thankful for. i have to remember that.

mini break

2008-10-14T13:27:00.000-04:00

so i am officially minus an organ. no more appendix for me! it's very weird to think that i no longer have a certain part of my body!

i woke up saturday around 4am with a lot of pain in my midsection. thinking it felt an awful lot like the kidney stones i had last year, i drank lots of fluids and went to work as usual. by the time the closing manager came in i felt worse ... but continued to wonder if i was just using it as an exuse to go home. i kept thinking to myself, "is it really as bad as you think it is?" dave wanted to take me to the hosital instantly but i kept putting it off. "maybe a nap will make me feel better." "if it's kidney stones, they are just going to tell me to drink lots of fluids." the exuses were silly, i know, but i will do ANYTHING to not go to a doctor. by the time he came home from his show he thought i looked paler and i had to admit that the pain was pretty bad. so we piled into the car and off to the hospital we went.

blood tests, cat scans and a few hours later saw me in the operating room ... a place i have never been! i was doped up but still nervous. had a panic attack upon waking up (not fun when you don't know anyone there ...) but came out ok ... just minus a very infected apendix. had to stay in the hospital until yesterday afternoon ... and i am surprised by the amount of pain i've had. the first two days i couldn't do anything but lie in bed and be helped to the bathroom. i can feel the improvement each day ... but i am still sore ... walking slow ... it's hard to bend, sit, lay, laugh, cough. it's very odd. but ... i can't do anything until i am cleared by the doctor next monday ... so here i sit! it's a little frustrating. as much as i love being home and sleeping in ... i am not a really lazy person. i love being on the couch ... but i hate not being able to do something while i am there ... or not being able to jump up 12 times to get different things to work on. :( but ... it is what it is! :)

dave has been a wonderful caretaker. i am not used to having someone do everything for me! everyone has been great, actually. once again i feel very supported and loved. :o) oh and i also got these really great fall flowers from dave's parents today ... what a nice surprise!! :)

so i am planning on making the best of this time. catching up on my reading, my crafting and my video gaming! :o) this is like a nice, imposed vacation ... minus the pain, of course! stay tuned for lots of great things going up on etsy this week ... and whatever else my mind thinks up this week!

enjoy the day!

back from florida and back to sewing!

2008-10-05T17:13:00.000-04:00

hello! it's been a busy few weeks but i'm back in the swing of things. had a business trip to florida last week ... it was fun but extremely exhausting. next time i go to florida i think i would like to see more than what i could see outside my window in my room! :o)

i am sewing like a fiend tho ... and i have my next show lined up! it's at franklin school in succasunna on november 14th. i believe it starts at 5pm but i will post more info as i get it.

so i am sewing lots of holiday goodies ... i will post some here in the next day or two ... but be sure to check out my etsy shop for all the new stuff!

the weather here in nj is cool and beautiful. the leaves have started to change and there is a definate chill in the air. i am loving it! :o)

have a wonderful day!!

happy fall!

2008-09-16T19:48:00.000-04:00

hello! my blog is undergoing some changes ... please bear with me! :o) you may visit 5 different times this week and the blog will look 5 different ways! lol. i'm working on stabilizing it!

i am currently putting some new items into my etsy shop ... as well as trying out different ways to get the best pictures of my items! i am also experimenting with some new ideas and felting techniques ... so expect some cool new items for the holidays! any suggestions, comments or custom orders you may have, please leave me a comment.
some new items i'm featuring on etsy ...

fall tote bag

fall tote bag (detail)

pumpkin tote bag

(makes a great halloween treat bag!)

pumpkin tote bag (detail)

pumpkin tote bag version 2

pumpkin tote bag version 2 (detail)

bluebird change purse

happy apple change purse

fall is in the air ... and it's time to dig out my fall decorations! this evening is so nice and cool ... it made me realize that it's mid-september already!!! in the retail world ... and with how busy i've been lately with work and plans and sewing, etc ... i realized that i wasn't really thinking about the approaching change in seasons. but now that i've realized it ... i can't wait to get "into" it! :o)

check back often here and on my etsy page for more cute stuff ... and please contact me with any questions, comments, suggestions or orders!

thanks and have a wonderful day!

coolness

2008-09-07T23:34:00.000-04:00

hi there! so even tho my succasunny day show was thwarted, Dave and his Growing Stage friends came thru in a pinch and i got to set up a table in front of the stage for Netcong Day. i made a few sales ... a few were pitty sales (Lol) but a few were true sales! :) not bad! here are pics of my table ...
once i figure out my picture sorting i will post some new items as well. look for that as well as a revamped blog and items list.

i've also opened a shop over at etsy.com ... LaizyDaisyDesigns.etsy.com ... go visit it and buy some cute things!!!

thanks to everyone for their support and help this weekend ... and a special smootch goes out to dave for everything ... and the cool new logo!!! :)

rainy day

2008-09-06T17:02:00.000-04:00

hello everyone!

so hurricane hanna rained out my 1st craft show. i was very bummed - i worked like such a dog these last few weeks ... and sewed until my fingers were literally bleeding these last few days. BUT. now i have a boat-load of things to sell ... either at another craft show ... or online. in the next few days i will be setting up an Etsy.com account and ebay account to try some online selling. also, if you see anything you like here or would like something custom made please contact me on here ... or email me!

today and tomorrow i will be posting pics of all the new stuff i've been working on in the last few weeks! enjoy! and enjoy this cozy rainy day at home! :o)

for the love of tote bags

2008-07-22T23:30:00.001-04:00

so even though i have more than a month before my craft show, i'm freaking a bit about having enough stuff done. that anxiousness, i suppose, can be used for good and not necessarily evil ... if it forces me to get stuff done.

tonight's installment ...

(front)

(detail)

strawberrie tote bag

i love having a tote bag to throw everything into and fling over my shoulder (i carry around a lot of stuff. you never know when you are gonna need ... a book to read ... emergency lipstick ... tissues ... nail clippers ... a notebook ... a journal ... a nintendo ds ...). i assume (especially with the whole "green" thing going on these days) that other people do to. so i am stitching my designs onto tote bags! many many more of these cuties to come!!!

back to work ...

and i'm back!

2008-07-21T22:51:00.000-04:00

vacation was wonderful (oh so wonderful ...) ... but boy was it hard to get sewing again. lots of great ideas floating around my brain ... a craft show in my near future (!!!) but i just couldn't balance my day to get the sewing started. but i forced myself to sit down tonight ... and dave pushed me a bit to work too ... and i finished a cute little change purse!

cloudie change purse

i plan on making a tote bag to match!

getting (re)started was so hard! but i can see that i am slowly getting back on track. i am a little anxious about my craft show in september ... but it's an excited anxiousness!!! and ... because i am wacky ... as excited as i am to (hopefully!!!!) sell some of my stuff ... it will be so sad to part with it! that's why i am glad i started this blog to chronicle all the stuff i am making!

well ... enough jabbering ... must get back to work!

insomnia = productivity

2008-06-25T07:34:00.000-04:00

updated some of my pics now that the sun rose. couldn't update green mouse since green mouse has disappeared from my apartment. only mittens knows where he resides now.

also adding my latest addition ...

mom's owly eye glass case

mom requested a case for her glasses ... so here is what i did in my spare time ... instead of sleeping.

just a few

2008-06-25T00:12:00.001-04:00

a couple of new designs ... crappy pictures but i will take better ones and repost tomorrow.

green mouse

tried out a mouse for a cat toy. didn't stuff it as full of catnip as it probably should have been ... but the idea is there ... and i will try it again. i also think i need better catnip (well, better than the kind you get a walmart) because mittens really isn't caring for it whether its in a toy or just sprinkled on the floor. and, unless she is the only cat on the planet that doesn't go retarded for catnip, i think the kind i got is crap. but, she is part dog, so she plays with anything she can get her paws on ... and she is playing with green mouse as i type this. so i suppose, all in all, green mouse is a success!!

apple purse

i am so excited by this item!! the applique came out too cute for words ... and i got a black denim messenger-style bag to put it on. stitching is good ... and i didn't have sew a zipper on! horray! the pictures don't really do the purse justice ... like i said, i'll post better pictures tomorrow.

and now back to sewing .......

another day, another star

2008-06-22T22:34:00.001-04:00

starry change purse 2

i sewed this guy a few days ago but just wanted to finish him up to post tonight. zipper and stitching continue to get better each time. this one is also lined on the inside with a purple starry fabric.

i have lots of new ideas in my head ... and a few ideas near completion. hopefully this week i can be productive and get lots done!!

today's first installment

2008-06-19T13:32:00.001-04:00

rainy day duckie change purse

hello! so i just finished my latest design ... and he is too cute! :) once again, i think with each project i am getting neater with my applique sewing. it was dave's idea to put a red rain hat on him ... and i really think that is what makes this change purse!

and lastly, today's creations

2008-06-18T22:57:00.001-04:00

straws

today i had off from work ... and spent the majority of the afternoon and evening finishing up my two strawberry projects. i was really excited to try this design since i love strawberries!!! he is the largest plushie i've sewn to date and i really think i am getting some good facial expressions now. i also sewed the detail on his leaves ... and it is probably the neatest sewing i've done yet.

strawberry wallet

my 4th change purse came out a little big ... so it became a wallet. i really worked hard on this one! the strawberry applique is the neatest sewing yet and the stitching looks really cool. the zipper is also my best one thus far. seems like things really do get better with practice!!! now if only i believed that when i was practicing for high school band ...

and sew on ...

2008-06-18T22:42:00.000-04:00

burstly

next in my growing collection of kawaii friends is burstly. once again, i was just really experiementing with face designs and expressions. when i cut the face out in a circle, i figured he had to be a sunshine!

cherry change purse

this was my first experiment with a change purse ... and sewing a zipper. the zipper was a little large for the small purse ... and it isn't sewn on very neatly at the edges. but i loved the little cherry guys ... this is so far one of my favorite creations! the perfectionist in me, however, decided i had to try again and get that zipper right ...

bun

bun is another design from aranzi aranzo. i enlarged the pattern from the cute book. i glued on her face and then stitched them on for better durability. she is cute ... and very floppy!

starry change purse

my next attempt at a change purse. this one was slightly better than the cherry one ... but the zipper still isn't perfect. i stitched on the star and then jazzed up the black background with some stars and detail in satin embroidery floss. getting better ... but still not perfect!!!! X_X

brown kitty change purse

my third attempt at a change purse. each one is a teensy bit better than the one before it ... but i always see places to improve. this one was the biggest applique i had done thus far ... and it was better but still could use neatness. i experiemented with the face - gluing the mouth into a bigger smile ... and adding a little red color pencil to the mouth and cheeks. she may not be perfect but she is a cutie!!

my projects thus far ...

2008-06-18T21:19:00.000-04:00

koun-ette

this was my first project. i wanted to make something for Dave to take with him on his business trip to Texas. i knew he was a little nervous about a presentation he had to give so i wanted to give him something to wish him luck and make him smile. i got the pattern and idea from a book called the cute book by aranzi aranzo. i named her "koun" because that is the japanese word for good luck!

moxley

moxley was made by me a few days after koun-ette. i got the idea from the freestyle monster article from craft magazine. i just cut and pasted randomly and at first i thought he would look too much like a pac-man monster. but he soon took on his own shape ... and has a head full of crazy white hair!

tea

tea is a another random early creation. i was just cutting felt and sewing stream of consciousness-like. i was more concerned with stitching a cute face onto something in order to try out different designs. when i started to sew, she turned into a tea-cup.

bean

bean is another random happening. again, i was more concerned with trying out face designs. when i started to sew her together i thought she looked like a seed. dave and i thought it would be cute to have flowers blooming out of her head. so, she does!

starman

anyone who knows me knows i love stars ... and cute things! so i made a star template and tried out a new face design. i thought he looked cute with the folk art-style stitching ... and i tried out a bigger mouth made out of felt rather than embroidery floss. i was pretty happy with him ... and my growing collection of cute, kawaii-style things!

welcome!

2008-06-18T21:13:00.000-04:00

this is the first post in my new blog! i wanted to create a place where i could chronicle and showcase my crafty projects! over the next few days i will post everything i've made over the last couple weeks ... and tweeking the layout here so it looks more ... me! :) i will have to remember how ... i seem to have forgotten the little web design and html/css that i learned last year!

please feel free to leave me your thoughts!