Hello there friends, happy October!  Wait, what’s that?  The month is pretty much over?

Add time-warping as a symptom of pregnancy.  Because I swear yesterday it was only August something.

Even though time is flying we are (all 3 of us) doing very well, and thought I’d pop on with a check in and some updates.

- Big news [...]]]>

Hello there friends, happy October!  Wait, what’s that?  The month is pretty much over?

Add time-warping as a symptom of pregnancy.  Because I swear yesterday it was only August something.

Even though time is flying we are (all 3 of us) doing very well, and thought I’d pop on with a check in and some updates.

- Big news first to those I’m not friends with on Facebook… it’s a girl!    We are thrilled.  Alan is nervous, but I’m convinced he’ll be the most excellent daddy on the planet.  I mean a daddy that dances and sings?  C’mon, perfect.  I also happen to know he’s one of the best lullaby crooners around.

- Speaking of Facebook, thank you so much to those of you that have sent me friend requests, I realize I put that button in the side bar to do so, and then haven’t accepted any in awhile.  I’ve decided that my personal page on Facebook will remain just for those I actually know, most especially with the baby on the way.  I may start a Crafty Cafe page in the future but we’ll see.  For now though thank you, I do consider all my readers important to me and friends, and hope we can keep in touch here.  Thanks for understanding.   (You can always follow me on Twitter too, I’ll be tweeting more soon!)

- This little girl kicks up a storm for cake…. she is mine.

- The nursery is coming along wonderfully and I’ll post pics soon.  Alan has painted it a sweet buttered corn yellow (have I ever mentioned all my rooms must have paint colors named after food?  It’s seriously an obsession), and the furniture is ordered, due to arrive in late November.  I’ve sewn the curtains (yes I did something crafty!) and next will be working on a lamp, crib skirt, etc.  Will share it all of course.

- I am officially on leave from Craft Critique.  This is the first time in a loooong time I don’t have any outside obligations and it feels pretty good.  Don’t get me wrong I love working for them, but it really does add a weekend or two back to me that is now much needed.  They have been nothing but supportive and sweet, and really rock to work for.  Did you know they are always looking for great reporters?  Go check it out and apply, if you work hard and do a great job, you’ll have all sorts of wonderful opportunities.  I’m going to begin re-running what I’ve written for them over the past two years here so I have all my work in one place, so look for some oldies but goodies coming soon too.

- This little girl also kicks up a storm for chocolate, ice cream, and does a jig for creme brulee with strawberries.  She is definitely mine.

- No weird cravings to report.  I do have food aversions though, come near me with even a whiff of fried and chicken and you’ll be sorry.  Also I can’t seem to get  enough of plain unsweetened iced tea.  No fried chicken and unsweetened tea has Alan worried his southern isn’t going to come through in this child.  (I tell him not to worry, but secretly hope she hates sweet tea as much as I do so what’s in our fridge stays 2 to 1 in my favor)

-And finally I do have other crafty projects in my head I want to get done before the little one arrives.  I’ve been told by many to do whatever projects need to be done now, as they will not get done after she gets here.  My nesting instinct is starting to kick it into high gear and I imagine lots of those projects will get done soon.  If anything other than being healthy and happy, I want her to have the impression from the start that we make things ’round these parts.  The effort and time is worth the reward.

Hope all is well with you and you enjoy the Autumn season.  I hope you are having lots of cider, pumpkin carving, and indulge just as much as you want to as the weather turns cooler and we can wear those bulky sweaters to cover up that extra slice of pie.

However as the pic above illustrates, I’ll be sticking out my bump this season as far as it will go to show it off,  so pass that pie my way.  

See you again soon, and thanks for stopping by. XOXO

Just so you know I’m both still around and well occupied!

I hope you’re all doing well dear readers.  We are doing great.  The above is actually almost 9 whole weeks ago and next week we’ll be finding out if we are buying pink or blue at our 20 week ultrasound.  [...]]]>

Just so you know I’m both still around and well occupied!

I hope you’re all doing well dear readers.  We are doing great.  The above is actually almost 9 whole weeks ago and next week we’ll be finding out if we are buying pink or blue at our 20 week ultrasound.  Pretty darn excited about that… and well this whole thing really!  I’ll be 100% honest and say the crafty bug had left me during the journey to get to this point… not for any other reason than I know my mind just had to concentrate on what was directly in front of us day by day.   But with the fatigue and general blechi-ness of the 1st trimester well behind me now I can see that turning around.

Slowly, but surely.

I’ll be around more, and I’ll be stopping by you too to catch up.  I’ve got a lot of that to do.   I’ve got a lot of so much to do!  Oh my.

But oh is planning for it so much fun!

And the shopping… after we know the gender by God there will be shopping.  Please keep your fingers crossed for us that the little punkin cooperates and let’s us get a peek!

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, and see you soon.

XOXO,

]]> http://www.the-craftycafe.com/just-chit-chat/probably-high-time-i-show-you-what-ive-been-working-on/feed 7 http://www.the-craftycafe.com/just-chit-chat/this-weekend http://www.the-craftycafe.com/just-chit-chat/this-weekend#comments Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:41:42 +0000 Jess http://www.the-craftycafe.com/?p=2791

Spending time together.  Alan is now home on Saturdays for the first time in 8 years, and we are kind of “honeymooning”.

Putting out Easter decorations.  Realizing I have a thing for tumbling bunnies and chicks.

Laundry… (the work of a super hero’s wife is never done).

Cuddling the fur-kids.  The little nap enablers.

Eating lunch out at [...]]]>

Spending time together.  Alan is now home on Saturdays for the first time in 8 years, and we are kind of “honeymooning”.

Putting out Easter decorations.  Realizing I have a thing for tumbling bunnies and chicks.

Laundry… (the work of a super hero’s wife is never done).

Cuddling the fur-kids.  The little nap enablers.

Eating lunch out at Portillo’s (YUM).

Driving around neighborhoods as we are thinking where our next home might be… dreaming of what comes after the ‘starter house’.

DC Universe on the PS3 (Alan).

Scrapbooking (Jess).

Take out Chinese and Netflix (Dirty Dancing, Big, and Arthur).

Stretching time out as much as possible until Monday morning when the week starts all over again.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend too.  Back soon with some craftiness and scrappy sharing.

XOXO,

Do you ever feel like that as a blogger?

When you’re not posting, your blog tugs at you, sometimes with longing to have the time but sometimes with a little jab of guilt for not being there?

I’m trying to change that mindset for myself… as it’s kind of bogging me down.

So I’ve had to really sit back [...]]]>

Do you ever feel like that as a blogger?

When you’re not posting, your blog tugs at you, sometimes with longing to have the time but sometimes with a little jab of guilt for not being there?

I’m trying to change that mindset for myself… as it’s kind of bogging me down.

So I’ve had to really sit back and think on what I want from my blog.

I’ve been reading lots of articles lately on how to have a ‘successful’ blog one should post every day… and I do get that to a point.  Post every day – your hits go up and people check back with you to see what’s new.  Simple as that.  And I love blogs that post every day, good quality, reliable content like my morning news.

But what makes me feel my blog is successful?

Is it the hits?  Well, kind of.  Seeing my hits go up is so much fun.  Not to mention getting new subscribers, and the all important comments.

But does X more hits one day vs. the next inspire me more creatively?

Nah not really.  So I don’t consider that a success.

Is it for money?  Hey’all No.

I don’t do ads on my site.  I tried it for awhile once but quickly realized I didn’t like at all the vibe it brought to my sacred space.    Please don’t get me wrong, if you have ads on your site to generate a little extra dough than more power to you.  And to those that can earn a living through ads I say bravo!

While I do blog sometimes due to products I’m endorsing ( I mean c’mon, crafters like free stuff to play with), I just don’t want detergent ads on my site.

Don’t make me preach about laundry again.

Is it for prestige?

Um, well, the hits… they are nice.  I can’t pretend they aren’t an ego boost.  But I don’t display anything that shows how many hits I have or subscribers or ‘Top’ what-have-you for a reason too.  It gets obsessive, and I know because I used to put those things up.  “Whoohoo! I’m up 10 places!” can quickly turn to “Argh no!  Why did I fall 20 places!  Wah!”, and too much self obsession.  I also don’t want anyone who stops by to have a preconceived notion of my blog due to the numbers game.  I know how many hits and subscribers I have and that’s enough.  And I have a rule to only check every so often.  (I am, after all, not completely immune to the rush of a new follower or two).

So if I’m not into making money, and I don’t go for the numbers… I’m not sure why I get that “Ugh I haven’t posted anything in a few days” feeling.

This is my creative space and where I want to share projects, ideas, and the occasional stream of thought.

I am not supercrafter and don’t necessarily have those every day. (Dear Marvel Comics… ‘Supercrafter’… you’re welcome)

I started off this year pretty good, posting 3-4 times a week, vlogs, a recipe a week… and my subscribers tripled.  So I know I was doing something right.  But I got burnt out way too quickly again and I don’t want to do another hiatus of not blogging for months.  That made me feel icky.

But the reality is I work at a sometimes stressful day job… I have long days that drain my creative juice like everyone.  And I don’t want to spend my entire Saturday prepping 5 posts for the next week.  Sometimes I just want the couch, M&M’s, and a kitty on my lap while I watch non-stop Law & Order: SVU.

So where am I going with this??  First as a tiny explanation to those new subscribers (thank you and I love you for wanting to see what I have to say) as to the sporadic posting these past 2-3 weeks.  And second as a recommitment not to my blog but to myself as a blogger.

Dear self….I promise to seek out enough inspiration and create enough to post at least twice a week*.  More if I’m totally inspired,  but no more forcing creativity to post every day.   I’m not into this for the work I’m into it for the fun and creative outlet.

*Usually.  If I’m not here for a week because I’m elbow deep in paint or out taking photos of trees on a beautiful day, that’s just the way it goes.  Pressure off.

So, if you enjoy my posts I’d love it if you subscribed so that you know when I’ve been inspired and posted about it, and I don’t feel like I might be letting you down by not posting every single day.  Let me be the one in your Reader who doesn’t necessarily post a lot, but really really means it when she does.

And comment or email me every once in awhile so I can get to know you too, because even if I’m not writing I can guarantee I’m blog surfing.  Sometimes I feel like we just comment back and forth to get a comment for a comment, (another “rule” of blog land) but I really want to see who you are and be inspired by you, so know I’ll stop by your space and book mark it.  And if we comment back and forth enough we’re destined to be friends.  

And I hope as I shift back a little from being a blogger who crafts to a crafter who blogs every so often, you continue to enjoy the journey with me.

That is what would make me feel like my blog is a success.

Thanks for stopping by  today, and see you again soon.

XOXO,

Hello friends.  It’s a busy busy week.  Real daily life (though imperfect) is taking up much of my days, but I’ve got a weekend of creativity planned.  I needed to let a few ideas gestate for awhile, sketch a little, jot down some ideas, soak up inspiration in some old but [...]]]> (By Cut Paste Print)

Hello friends.  It’s a busy busy week.  Real daily life (though imperfect) is taking up much of my days, but I’ve got a weekend of creativity planned.  I needed to let a few ideas gestate for awhile, sketch a little, jot down some ideas, soak up inspiration in some old but favorite magazines, and step back from thinking I have to do it all backwards and in high heels while wielding scissors and Crop-a-Dile and creating my own baked goods from scratch with organic flour from an island that has no word for ‘stress’.

I’m not stressed… just busy being the ‘day’ me.

She does numbers, reports, and puts out fires.

Looking forward to starting a little creative fire this weekend. 

In the mean time I want to make sure you go here to Scoutie Girl for some inspiration if you aren’t already a regular.   It’s beautiful writing that always seems to express how I feel with a remarkable flair for giving a voice to that part of ourselves we fight with a lot… being creative vs. being realistic and sound minded.  She gives great advice too.

What?  Sound minded?  What’s that now?

Ok I might be a little stressed…

But it’s nothing a  crafty-scrappy-chocolately-chick flicky-slipper wearing-dishes be damned weekend won’t cure.

Course when all else fails…

(By Sad Little Crown)

Sometimes it helps.

Here’s to the ‘daily’ that gets us to the good stuff.

XOXO ,

The term “perfection” is so irrelevant when it comes to living creatively.

And I’m not talking about  “there is no perfect design”.  We all know that speech.

I mean realizing that in order to nurture creativity in our lives… in real, [...]]]> By Rosie Geissler, see more amazing work here

The term “perfection” is so irrelevant when it comes to living creatively.

And I’m not talking about  “there is no perfect design”.  We all know that speech.

I mean realizing that in order to nurture creativity in our lives… in real, normal lives where we don’t get to wake each morning to song birds,  have a cup of tea on the terrace while we meditate in a billowy lavender gown and watch the fawns playing in the distance…

I’m talking regular daily lives where we wake up way too early to a blaring alarm clock or bellowing children, and live on the notion that coffee is indeed a food group, while we don our uniforms… and don’t get to think about creativity until it fits into our schedule.

It is just a reality for most that creativity takes a back seat to that daily life.  There is so much we have to do before we can do what we want to do.  We scrapbook, paint, or write after the real work is done first, the kids are in bed (or in my case the husband busy with a video game), calling those moments  “me time”.

I don’t think I have to preach about letting the laundry go for a day in the name of creativity, ordering in one night instead of worrying about dinner if deep in thought on a project, or being good to ourselves when it comes to scheduling that “me time”.

But I’ve been thinking lately that in order to truly live a creative life I need to embrace the fact that imperfections in daily real life are indeed daily and just a part of who I am, not only for when I decide to say ” to heck with the laundry” and make time for what I really love to do.

That writing usually means staying up too late and that I won’t get as much sleep as I should.

That to spend  time making a mess of paint and paper I forgo home cooked meals way too often in favor of take out.

That I’m just the type of person who would rather play than do what’s responsible around the house…. so it’s pretty neglected dust bunny wise.

Man, I am SO imperfect at  this “real” life.

But I’m so creatively fulfilled for it.

What are your daily imperfections that you can embrace in the name of being creative?  I hope you can name at least 3 too,  or in the rare case you have none at all… at least make one by forgoing the laundry for a little while today in favor of play.

Billowing lavender gowns are probably dry clean only anyway.

Imperfectly,

]]> http://www.the-craftycafe.com/inspiration/daily-imperfections/feed 4 http://www.the-craftycafe.com/inspiration/oscars-of-craft-organization http://www.the-craftycafe.com/inspiration/oscars-of-craft-organization#comments Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:00:33 +0000 Jess http://www.the-craftycafe.com/?p=2722 Hello there friends! How was your weekend?  Did you watch the Oscars?  I have to admit I love awards show season.  The excitement, the fashion, the montages… yes I adore a good montage.

Especially when there is 80′s music involved.

Writing my most recent article for Craft Critique on how to choose [...]]]> Hello there friends! How was your weekend?  Did you watch the Oscars?  I have to admit I love awards show season.  The excitement, the fashion, the montages… yes I adore a good montage.

Especially when there is 80′s music involved.

Writing my most recent article for Craft Critique on how to choose your craft organizers (check it out here) has me in the mode of finding wonderful ideas to make my space inspiring yet functional, and in the spirit of the awards season here’s a few favorites I’ve run across recently.

The envelope please…

Best Organizer Using Vintage Elements

Vintage Tin Can Organizer from bhg.com.   Love the colors, love the idea, love the many balls of white yarn… love everything.

Best Use of an Everyday Item

$5 Ribbon Organizer from Spunky Junky.  Easy, cheap, brilliant!  Check out the tutorial here.

Best Make it Yourself Organizer

DIY Lazy Susan from The Crafters File Box.  Huge bonus points for it being a Pottery Barn Kids knock off!  Easy tutorial here.

Best Traveling Craft Kit

Vintage suitcase from DIYideas.com.   I love how this looks, and I love the idea.

Best Use of Wall Space

Clipboard Wall Organizer found via Apartment Therapy.  What a great way to keep a rotating array of inspiration!   And the idea could fit whatever wall space you have.

And finally, for the big one…

*Enter Steven Spielberg*

Best Craft Room Transformation Before and After

This amazing transformation from a formal dining room to a craft room at Tatertots and Jello.  I mean come ON amazing.   See more pics at her site.

And there you have it, and we only went 4 1/2 hours over. 

For more crafty awards, be sure to check out Craft Critique’s Best of the 2011 Winter CHA Show.

Lots of wonderfulness to get excited about!

I’m off to kick off these high heels, roll up the red carpet,  and climb out of this huge taffeta ball gown I’ve been wandering the house in.

We take the Oscars serious round these parts.

Ok not really that serious, but that would be awesome.

Have a wonderful and rewarding day,

Just resting from kicking a cold and healing from a root canal that had to be redone.

(Mr. Sad Tooth from sighfoo on Etsy)

Yeah, crappy week.

So ready for the weekend!

Sometimes the best medicine is just many “poor [...]]]> Well hello there.  How’s your week?  It’s been a light posting / creating / much of anything for me.

Just resting from kicking a cold and healing from a root canal that had to be redone.

(Mr. Sad Tooth from sighfoo on Etsy)

Yeah, crappy week.

So ready for the weekend!

Sometimes the best medicine is just many “poor baby”s from an adorable husband, lots of homemade soup (so the menu says anyway), and good drama filled TV.  And I’ve had plenty of everything all week.

And pills… if you shook me right now I’d probably rattle.

Looking forward to catching up this weekend and getting back on top of things.

Have a wonderful Friday friends.  See you very soon.

Hello! How was your weekend dear friends?

Or rather…

Hark!  How’est thine past days hence favorable fortuners?

Er something like that.

Italics do make everything sound more theatrical though, don’t you think?

I hope you had a wonderful one.  I got to play a little this weekend and put together the above project using the Tea and Crystal Light dyed tags [...]]]>

Hello! How was your weekend dear friends?

Or rather…

Hark!  How’est thine past days hence favorable fortuners?

Er something like that.

Italics do make everything sound more theatrical though, don’t you think?

I hope you had a wonderful one.  I got to play a little this weekend and put together the above project using the Tea and Crystal Light dyed tags from last week.    I ran across these images which I absolutely adore on The Graphics Fairy, and have been waiting for the inspiration on how to display them in our little reading room.

Which contains many, many copies of the complete works of William Shakespeare.

We tend to love him round these parts.

The Frame is one I repainted white and added a crackle finish too, and added the ribbon just tied around the outside.

Then attached each with a pearl topped pin through the ribbon.

That’s Kate from Taming of the Shrew, my all time favorite Shakespearean character.   And one of my favorite lines too.

I hope you did have a wonderful past few days hence and were able to get some creativity in too.  I tried to do a bit more but have got this kind of restless feeling I’m noticing right now… so extremely ready for the season to shift into sunshine again that I can hardly stay in my own skin and keep switching from one task to the next.  Getting over a bout with a cold too, so as my energy returns I find myself just ready for the renewal of Spring already.

Ready ready ready.

But tis coming forth with soon enough. 

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me, and have an inspiring day.

Never woefully,

And that I still have my NKOTB trading card collection in my nightstand drawer.

Held together by a scrunchy.

That for our Valentine’s date this year, we purchased the Valentine package for Medieval Times, which came complete with a flashing lighted rose, [...]]]> That what inspired this post was listening to The New Kids on the Block channel on Pandora.

And that I still have my NKOTB trading card collection in my nightstand drawer.

Held together by a scrunchy.

That for our Valentine’s date this year, we purchased the Valentine package for Medieval Times, which came complete with a flashing lighted rose, cheering wand, souvenir champagne glasses, and stylin’ paper crowds.

And really had fun.

And also that I always have to always look up the spelling of “Medieval”.

That we’re trying to have a family.

And are having to get a little more help to do so than most people.

And that I’m nervous putting that out there… but have a feeling it will become part of who I am, and that I may need to write about it every now and then.

That this is my first ever layout…

On typing paper…. please give props for the pinking scissor action.

And that looking at it now I’m kind of digging the checkerboard stencil and wish I still had it.

That I find my husband teaching our nephew proper technique for using a light saber 100 times hotter than…

Well a lot.

That the very thought of this movie scares the pants off me,

And that to this day I will  NOT watch it.

I mean it, Alan’s tried.

Yes I know it’s in the “Comedy” section.

That if I had three wishes,

I’m not so sure I’d wish for something like world peace.

But I’d think about it pretty hard.
……

That I procrastinate on things I don’t want to do.

That I can be stubborn on my opinion, and pout if I don’t get my way.

That being part of a flash mob is one of my life goals.

That I’m not quite sure how to end this post.

……

But that I’m mostly realizing after writing it that I am not ashamed at all of who I am.  Quirks and all.

And that’s what’s making me happy and inspiring me today. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful week.  Thanks for stopping by.

XOXO

Hangin’ Tough,