Giving Thanks

Sorry I've been a little out of touch lately - between running the business which is really starting to take off and running after the munchkin I am finding my days FULL!!!!  It is full of wonderful stuff and I feel blessed to be doing both, but it is full nonetheless.

It's also had me thinking a lot about how often we give thanks.  In my daily life I find I am often too busy worrying about the little details to stop and focus on what is truly important - being thankful for all those little details.  So today I am giving thanks.

I am thankful for the people in my life who support me: my husband who wakes up 1/2 hour before me to get my son so I can sleep a little longer in the morning and who does so much to make my life happier, my parents who taught me that I need to make my own decisions and have supported me in every choice I've ever made - good and bad,  my sister who always tell me the truth and makes me laugh with hilarious pictures of her dog dressed up as santa claus or a police officer (his halloween costume last year).  I am thankful for all the other families in our lives who have become a second family to ours.  I am thankful for the wonderful neighbors in my life who we stop and talk with on a daily basis and who make living in our home a genuine pleasure.  I am thankful for the people who have chosen to buy my artwork and mobiles thereby allowing me the freedom and time to stay home with my son full-time.  I am thankful for the blessings in my life and for the opportunities that are given to me.  I am also thankful for all the hardships in my life that allow me to understand that life is not always easy and which have helped me to develop empathy and understanding.  

"More than Enough" by Jahjehan Bath Ives (aka me)

This just a little bit of what I am thankful for today in my life.

What are you thankful for in your life?

Just Breathe

So I am resting up a bit after my first craft show this weekend at the Highlands Mansion in Fort Washington, PA.  I am working on a bunch of custom orders and so this week I will simply post a link to the lovely treasury I created called Just Breathe...take a look and enjoy.

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Mondays without little man

So the past few Mondays little man has been sent up the river to stay with Grandma and Grandpa - overnight!   I've been really busy getting ready for my first craft show and my parents offered to do this to help me out.   It's been so wonderful of my parents to take him and I am completely grateful that he has such comfort and trust with them that he will willingly stay there without us and have a wonderful time. 

So this is simply a post to say thank you.  Thank you to all the grandparents out there who give their time, hearts, and energy to making our jobs as parents a little easier.  We love you!

Fall is almost here

Little man and Daddy trick or treating at Urban Outfitters

Fall is almost here and I am getting excited to make little man's Halloween costume for this year.  Last year I think I was still adjusting to the sleep deprived nature of being a mom so the only thing I managed to crank out was a jack-o-lantern trick or treat bag made from an orange cotton Urban Outfitters bag (thanks to Joe!).  Oh and I sewed a little red heart onto Gavril's skeleton sweats with his little black Converse sneaks.  Doesn't he look like one of the bullies from the Karate Kid movie?

This year little man is all about trains so I think an engineer costume is in order.  He has the perfect little striped overalls with a little bandana and then I think I am going to make him an "oil-can" trick or treat bag out of felt and a little engineer's hat.  Then I am thinking of making some sort of shirts for Joe and I with trains on them so we'll his vehicles... We'll see how much I can get done, I do get a little break after the Highlands Craft Show.

See more musings by other bloggers on fall at Scoutie Girl

Goldfish swim along merrily and hum a happy tune

So little man has been up at Grandma and Grandpa's house since yesterday enabling me to get a lot of stuff done in the studio.  I have been thinking of a new mobile for a while featuring everyone's first pet - the goldfish.  So two days later I have a new mobile design and some photographs to share.  Now I must get back to work because I am getting ready for my first craft show in less than two weeks at the Highlands Mansion in Ft Washington.  If you are in the area come and see me - here's a link  for more info and a $1 off coupon for admission  http://www.highlandshistorical.org/craft.html

Rainbarrels can be beautiful

So I wanted to share little side project that I just finished last weekend - a painted rain barrel for the Manayunk Eco Arts Festival which will take place the weekend of September 25th.  You can get more info about the festival here http://www.manayunk.com/play/special-events/manayunk-arts-festival-maf

I was inspired by the canal which runs through Manayunk to make frogs leap and lily pads float across my barrel and the beautiful weather we had provided the perfect excuse to paint outside.  Here are two pics which I took quickly before I delivered the barrel.  The best part is that after the festival I get to keep the barrel and install it to collect rainwater for my garden!  Unless someone wants to buy it - then I'll totally sell it...and make another for me.