The Cat and the Bags

The last couple of weeks have been a huge blur of busyness and deadlines and canvas... lots of canvas. I've made lists only to scrap them for newer lists, and then scratch them out because of the other thing. There is fabric... everywhere.

I'm maybe not so good at the scheduling thing, but I ROCK at the overscheduling thing. Apparently, there is a difference. (Somewhere, my husband is slapping his forehead.)

This holiday shopping season came upon me like a freight train on crack. Suddenly, everything in the world has to be done by Nov. 1st. Everything.

And although I've been very good at starting things early (seriously!), I've been extremely bad at estimating exactly how looonnnnnng something can take to complete. Also good to know is that I can't sew for 14 hours a day for a week straight. My body begins to send little signs that this little arrangement "just isn't working."

So, let's recap, Mendy! Plan better, give yourself more time, don't overschedule, don't forget sleep. Yeah, I guess that pretty much covers it.

In other news, I thought I would let everyone know that Max, the yard sale kitty, is still surviving and thriving in his new home.

Before...

After!
Man, that kitten chow stuff really works! He really is a sweetie, and gives kisses on your nose if you pick him up and he likes you and such. He and Baxter get along like brothers that sort of play together and sort of annoy each other but basically like each other.

I've got several etsy things to show you, but that will have to wait for another day. I hear that after Nov. 1st, I should have a little bit of free time.

The Best Part of Halloween

The Child's Play bag. The ridiculously-oversized conglomeration of chocolately, chewy goodness. 4 1/2 pounds! That I buy, of course, for the children.

It's all just a freefall of sugar, carbs, and fat from now till Christmas.

Lessons learned?

I'm making promo magnets again... wish me luck.

The Unbearable Greeness of Late October

What is going on? I took this photo from my back door today. October 19th.


THE GREEN! So very, very much green. Normally this hill is gorgeous with color at this time of year. This year, the only fall color is on door wreaths.

Project Runway Season 2 Marathon Today on Bravo!!!

Santino and his insane lingerie line!
Crying on the Runway!
Tim Gunn on ice skates!
Nina is bored! Michael is underwhelmed!

What happened to Andre?

I LOVES me some PR!

It's good to be home.

Hello interweb! I've missed you!

The evil computer virus that I've been fighting (OK, my husband had been doing most of the heavy lifting on this one. My contribution consisted mostly of whining and complaining.) finally took down my poor little 'puter in a sleeper hold.

Truly, it is challenging to run an online business without the "online" part.

While my only solution was to douse the CPU in gasoline and light a match, my valiant husband worked and Googled and downloaded and rebooted and Googled some more, and finally, emerged victorious!

Thanks to my customers for your patience! I'm heading over to etsy to go through my convos right now.

It's that time of year again...

Time when a young girl's fancies turn to thoughts of Halloween costumes. Last year, she was a Roman Goddess.

The year before that, a stylish witch.

This year, she decided that she wanted to be a ghost. Of course, it couldn't be a Charlie Brown ghost with eyes cut into a bedsheet. So we got the idea for a ghost of a Victorian era woman, very sort-of Gibson Girl, but of course, very much other worldly.

So the plan at the moment is to do a Victorian era style dress all in white, and then make her hair and skin very white and ghostly as well. We are also planning to sort of shred the bottom of her skirt, just above the ankles. With her wearing a gray or black shoe/stocking, the hope is that it will have a "floating" effect. (My hope is that it looks ethereal, and not hillbilly.)

Baxter is just kinda hoping that we forget about his costume entirely this year.

My Perfect Day...

Today, it's raining, and I've got the window open just enough to hear it and feel a touch of breeze. There is a Project Runway marathon on Bravo. I've got new fabrics. There's a plate of chocolate chip cookies downstairs.

Yep, pretty much my perfect day.

And Now for the Winner!

Thanks so much to everyone who checked out my blog and my shop!

And the Winner of the 100th Blog Post Giveaway is.....................

Yes, Ann! You, you!

Congrats!!! Just convo me and let me know which fabric you would like.

Dear clever computer virus evil person,

Kudos to you for finding a way to infect my computer with your nasty little virus that didn't seem to ever want to go away. After all, I go to such risky places like craft blogs and sewing sites, I simply should have expected it!

Thanks to you and your darling little computer-virus-trojan-something-or-other, most of my day has been yelling to my husband, "hey, I rebooted and it's still doing it" and "yes, I already ran the anti-virus stuff" and such. The dog was able to hear some choice phrases that I only use for very special ocassions, such as burning myself with the glue gun. (Thankfully, my daughter was at school.)

The pop-ups that I fought like I was playing Whack-a-Mole were very, very thoughtful, however, I'm not sure that you should be concerned that I might need Hoodia so that I will "look better naked" and, well, thanks for the offer to see Britney's boobies, but really, haven't we all seen enough of Brit? AND Anna Nicole? Thanks, but no. Oh, and I'm perfectly happy with my ringtone. No need to offer again.

If only you would use your power for Good.

100th Post Giveaway!!!

This is the 100th post on my blog! Wheee!!!

(Edited to add: The Contest is now over. Thanks so much to all who participated!)

To celebrate the fact that I was able to click the "Publish Post" button 100 times, I've decided to give away a Makeup Bag and Skinny Headband Set. Just post a comment on this thread, and on Friday I will choose a name at random. The winner will receive a new Makeup Bag in your choice of fabric.

Like this one...

Or this one...

Or perhaps something like this.


Good luck to everyone!

TCB, Baby.

When you are running a home business, you fill every shoe - VP of Marketing, IT Guy, Research and Development, Administrative Assistant, and skaterpunk in the mail room. Did I even mention production??? We all need a little help now and then, sometimes just to keep on track and not let something obvious slip through the cracks.

That's why I LOVE this idea. Christina Perdue is running a daily series this month on her blog, "30 Days to a Better Shop" with ideas taken from the etsy forums. She's only on day 2 (duh, Mendy!), so if you want to join in, you can easily be on track. I've already written out my goals AND tweaked my shop info (just a touch - still needs some love).

Also, I found the coolest little thing on etsy. Ever wonder exactly how much profit you are making, or even IF? Sabine at Blue Water Studio has the neatest little profit calculators for only $1.11 that you can download and use with excell. They are even pretty! I got one last night, and I'm dying to try it out. (My hubby will be oh-so-pleased with me for being so bean-counter-y.)

Baxter's New Couture

Hey Baxter! How 'bout we try on your new coat! I'll take pictures!

Am sleeping. Very sleepy. Try again later. zzzzzzzzz..................

Oh, come on! I made it special-weshul just for you! Besides, Momma needs a blog post. Look at the handsome boy!

Totally lame. If you think I'm going to walk in the neighborhood wearing this piece of precious, you've got another thing coming.

It's black and white HOUNDSTOOTH! How much more dog appropriate could it get? You're just lucky I'm not making you model headbands.

No one understands me, except you, volley ball.

Seriously, I can't be seen like this. The Great Dane across the street will be laughing his ass off.