Like pouring molasses in January

I have been struggling with some extreme fatigue these past few weeks.  I don't know if it is stress or the weather or what.  I pretty much sleep whenever I am not working. This means I am not getting a lot of crafting done. I get so frustrated when I mentally want to do things but physically I just can't. 

I am calling the doctor to get my thyroid checked again and am going to commit myself to the green smoothies which always give me energy. I am also trying to give myself a break and let myself sleep. I think sometimes we push ourselves so hard and try to do everything that we end up fried and depleted. 

My life as a Grad student had me in a perpetual state of panic. Always something to read, to write, to grade when I was teaching. There was always the looming qualifying exams, the dissertation, or the need to be publishing and presenting. I could never catch my breath. 

There were also financial concerns that kept gnawing at me. Living below poverty all the while piling on more student loans and seeing the job prospects grow smaller and smaller left me in a state of continual panic.

On top of this was the feeling of not being right. Feeling like what I was doing was going against my grain. Near the end I started calling this period of my life a Jonah moment. For those of you unfamiliar with the bible stories, Jonah was called by God to go somewhere. Well Jonah decided to say heck, no and beat it in the opposite direction. On the way, his fellow shipmates blamed the horrid storm they were stuck in on Jonah's disobedience. They chucked him overboard and he was swallowed by a whale/large fish. Jonah sat and stewed in the fish until he agreed to go where God directed him.

Back to what I was feeling. I felt like Jonah because I was stuck in an uncomfortable spot because I was doing the wrong thing. Unlike Jonah I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. I guess I am still searching for my path. Part of my path searching is listening to my body more. Hence the sleeping more and giving myself more breaks. All the push push pushing has led me nowhere. What if I just let go and see what happens? Follow instincts instead of the shoulds? 

So here I am, trying to put my creativity on the forefront. Writing things down for all the world to see even though I cringe every time I release a post in case it is badly written or just ridiculously self centered.  But I am here. Doing it. 

After all this seriousness I want to post some fun things.


Lynne went to Falling Water with her goddaughter this weekend and brought this back for me. The wheels of my mind are spinning like crazy trying to come up with some cool ideas to do with it.

I also worked on creating some beads for a vegetable garden themed bracelet.

Last but not least, I need some opinions on what is the best way to use these cute heart bead frames I found. Here are the two options.

The top one would be more charm bracelet like. I have a couple different heart beads on the way. The bottom one would be like a chain link of the hearts together. 

What do you think?

As always thanks for reading. 

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Hello Everyone.

Last week and this I have been working more hours than usual. It has been seriously getting in the way of my crafting time. I have made some progress in finishing some merchandise. I finally had a breakthrough on a project I have been working on for months. I found the cutest little display rack for my earrings. Many good things that have made me happy.

I have been discouraged with my day job. I think I need to move on from there and find something new. Our library system has a great job counseling program. I am going to check it out and see if they can help. In the meantime, I have been trying to find ways to make lemonade out of the lemons of my situation.

I realized today that I enjoy walking from my parking spot to the store. I have to park rather far away and it seems like a bother most of the time. But there are a couple of things I have noticed that I really enjoy seeing. In the cold I walk through the mall to get to the store. There are lots of posh boutiques and galleries. The one gallery always has interesting things in their window. Their new display has these beautiful glass pieces.

There isn't any info on the artist but I find them beautiful.

This month they have also had some pieces out in the mall on display. I laughed out loud the first time I saw them and wished for the money to buy some for my sister's yard.

They are just so goofy and colorful. I smile each time I pass them. There is info on the artists who make these. Check out the website here.
http://www.borowski-studio.com/index.php?article_id=286&clang=1


The other thing that has kept me going is thinking about summer coming. I ordered a new bathing suit in preparation of the pool opening. And I have started a bike fund.

I love riding a bike but my old one is no longer. I saw some really cool new cruisers at a bike shop in Cleveland. I am pledging to put at least $10 a week until summer comes. I hope to have enough to get one of those beauties. I glued the lid on, so the only way to get the money is to break the jar. I tend to give in to temptation and instant gratification. I told my family I would except donations. My nephew gave me some of his change. That is a big deal for him. I thanked him and gave him a kiss. (Much to his chagrin.)

I just received an email today about the logo. The proofs are awesome. I am going to have a really hard time picking one.

Until next Wednesday. Thanks for reading. I wish you all to find little things that make happy in your days.

Big News

You will likely see some changes to the look of my blog shortly. I have a chance to work with someone to design a logo. It is all just in the beginning stages, so I don't know exactly what will happen.
Check out the artist with whom I'll be working. https://www.facebook.com/EmmaCatarinoDesigns

She is a friend of my sister Lynne and works with her on this awesome homeschooling blog http://sandboxtosocrates.com/

I am going to wait until the new look is done before I open the shop. This has given me time to put more projects in the works. My biggest challenges right now are staying focused and getting things accomplished. I live in the preparation and gathering modes for too long. I need to start cranking it out.


The weather has taken a turn again after a couple of sunny days of reprieve. I feel like a bear who has been woken too early from hibernation. Grumbly and tired, I wait for spring to come.


I thought a picture I took at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens a couple of years ago might be a bright way to end.

Stay warm and think spring thoughts. Check back next week to see what is happening.

Hi all.

Seems like writing the blog twice a week is too much for now. Maybe if things develop, I will add another day. For now, Wednesday seems to be the best day. It will be a way to to take stock of my week and the progress I have made on my weekly goals.

It seems like the past few weeks have flown by. I put the Etsy stuff on pause because I am trying to finish a some baby blankets for a friend's twins. These blankets seem to be taking forever. I also realized that I needed to gather a few things before I could finish some of the stuff I want to list. Work, work, working away as much a possible.

My day job has been rough lately. Lots of physical work and running around. It has also been very very cold. This long cold winter has been getting me down lately. I went to Trader Joe's to pick up a few things and decided to get some flowers to perk up my spirit and my room.

Aren't they happy? I even had a few left to make a little bouquet for the bathroom.

While I was waiting in line I noticed something awesome on the windows up front.
A little Calla Lily. I had to buy it. It made me so happy. It can be a Renegade Lily mascot.

At work today I had to unbox all these different Bargain books and kits. This is dangerous for me be cause I want to buy them all. So many great things for so cheap. Well, I found one I couldn't resist.

Do I need another hobby? No. Do I care? Apparently not. I can't wait to break it open and give it a try. Maybe next time I'll show my attempts. 

So many things are happening right now. I have so many projects and plans in the works. I can't wait to see what becomes of them. This blog is helpful because it is a way to hold myself accountable because I have put it out there for you all to see. 

See you all next week.