Do You Blossom In Spring?

Oh my gosh....if I don't get my workshop cleaned up I am not going to be able to start working on new things. Right now everything from the craft show is piled up on my workbench and on the floor...boxes upon boxes.

Irv and I were brainstorming and I we are seriously considering setting up my booth in the driveway as soon as the weather is a bit warmer and having my own little craft show/clearance sale. I wouldn't lose any money! HAHA! We really are thinking about it. I am sure I could even find some supplies I will never use that I could sell. Crazy idea?

I made a connection at the show too....there was a girl that came over to my booth and said that she had tried selling older china on e-bay and it didn't go well for her. She has boxes of stuff that she wants to get rid of! How perfect is that? She's going to photograph some of it and e-mail me so I can get an idea of what she has. I'm hoping to get some great stuff for future projects.

Tresa also has a lady in her building that sells all kinds of stuff, including dishes, at flea markets. She going to ask her where she is going to be this spring. I got some really great deals from her last fall.

Why do I need all the china? Well, I will be doing some cake stands for the consignment shop....and......some other things. Sorry, still can't tell you. I will show you once I get what I need and get some made. I can't wait!!

Got a couple of other things up my sleeve as well. It is spring and things will be blossoming outside and in my workshop. Are you making any changes this spring in your business or your personal life? Spring just feels like the perfect time for change doesn't it?

Who Are You?

If we are forever growing and changing...do we ever become the person we are meant to be? I feel like I am a combination of a caterpillar and a cat. Caterpillars go through metamorphosis, and I feel like I've done that at least as many times as a cat has lives! Does that make any sense at all?

When I was little, I was outgoing and friendly. I had no problem talking to anyone.

In Junior High, I was still pretty comfortable with myself. Then in high school I started to feel just a little inferior to the beautiful people and the true leaders. So, I became a bit quiet and shy around certain people.

Once I was out of high school I changed again and excelled in my career, but still said "no thanks" when offered management opportunities. That wasn't who I was at that moment.

I married and had children and changed yet again into the "defender" and the "helper" and the "keeper of the children". I wasn't afraid to defend my stance on any subject. My children became life itself.

The kids grew up and I reverted back to the quiet and shy girl for a while. I wasn't quite sure who I was now or who I wanted to be with my children not "needing" me like before.

Then I slowly went through metamorphosis yet again and became the person I am today. I am quiet when I need to be quiet and outspoken when I see fit. I like myself now more than I ever have, and I think that is fulfilling in itself.

I am not fearful of change. I don't reject change. I welcome it with open arms.

I am in butterfly mode right now, but as time goes by....who knows, I just might go back to being a caterpillar and see what emerges. Life is such an adventure!

Change Is A Comin'

The school district office where I work is undergoing some major changes this summer. First of all, our superintendent is retiring and one of his assistants is taking his place. Other staff will probably move up a notch to replace other people that are moving up. It's the ladder thing....

In our Special Ed office we have a director and a coordinator. The coordinator's position has been eliminated and I'm not sure how that is going to work. Time will tell.

They are moving another person from our office to an office down the hall and are bringing in someone from another related department into her space. They also might change the other secretary's position from part-time to full-time and give her more responsibilities.

Yikes! That is a whole lot of change!

People get nervous and worried when change is upon them, but not me. I welcome it, because you never know how change might work out if you never give it a try.

Same goes for life changes...got something you've been wanting to change? Something you've been wanting to try? Go for it! How will you ever know if it will work, be fun and improve your life if you don't give it a shot.

If it doesn't work, it doesn't mean you failed, it just means it didn't work. As they say, "No regrets!"

The pictures are from a little kayaking Irv and I did on the river last year. Never in a million years did we think we would ever try kayaking. Well, we tried it and we love it. Right now we have to rent the kayaks when we want to go, but one day we will own our own!

Pulling Up Roots

I want to move. I really do. Unfortunately, I can't move right now. There are a number of reasons...like the job market, the housing market, too much debt and two of my kids live here....the two that will be starting families of their own soon. Those of you that have moved over and over and over again probably think I'm crazy, however, I grew up about five miles from where we now live. Irv moved out here from Chicago in eighth grade. This area is all we've ever known. It was a awesome place to grow up and a wonderful place to raise kids, but now I want to experience something new. I want the excitement of putting down roots somewhere else. I want a change of scene. I'm ready to pull up the stakes and pitch my tent in another part of the country.

Let's say that three years from now the economy is better, houses are selling and there are jobs available. That would be great, but there would still be one thing that would keep me here, and that would be grandchildren. I am really looking forward to that. I don't want to be a long distance grandma. I want to be hands on. I want my grandchildren to know me, to sit on my lap so I can read to them and sing to them. I can't do that from the other side of the country...at least not on a regular basis.

So, just this morning I asked myself...what is it that's driving me to want to move in the first place? Is it the weather? The view? The house? The fresh start? The adventure of it all?

If I ever moved out of state, I wouldn't be moving to a warmer climate. I would move to Colorado. So it obviously isn't the winters. The view is definitely a plus in Colorado, but it isn't the driving force behind my desire. I don't really care too much about the house. Sure after 36 years in the same little house, it might be fun to have a change of scene, but I love my little house. No, it isn't that. A fresh start? That always sounds like fun, but we really get a fresh start each and every day. Don't we?

The excitement? Yes, I think that might be it....although I honestly feel that it's really a little of all of the above that feeds into the excitement. Don't you think?

If I can't pick up and move to Colorado when the opportunity presents itself because my heart tells me to stay put, what could I do to fill my desire for the excitement a move would bring?

What about moving to a new town in Illinois, or in southern Wisconsin? Would that do it? Would that be enough? I would be moving, but still not leaving the kids and possible grandchildren. It would be the same awful weather and the same basic midwestern view, but it would be a fresh start, a different house and heck...it would be exciting!

All I can do right now is to continue to control what I can control and that is clearing up my debt. Then when the time comes, I will take a look at everything else and decide where I would like to continue this wonderful adventure called "life"!! The funny thing is...when I think about pulling out of this driveway for the last time, I tear up.....I assume I would get over that?

Have you moved a lot? Did you leave somewhere you loved? Are you living where you grew up? Are you living where you want to live? Feel free to share...I would love to hear your stories!

Changing Gears

How good are you at changing gears? No, I don't mean the stick shift in the car...I mean to be going in one direction and all of a sudden you realize you need to go a different way. That's where I am right now. I am changing gears.

I opened FourDogDay on etsy the end of July of this year. I started with photos and cards. Even though it has been fun, I don't want to just make cards and tags and paper things. I want to do other things, and I think I need to do other things to be successful.

My Fun and Fancy Serving Plates have started out nicely, and I think it is time to reopen MyOtherShop and move them over there. I would like that shop to be all home decor....so, today Matt and I went to Hobby Lobby. He needed some frames for the Christmas gifts he made all of us and I wanted to look at unfinished wood things.

Our Hobby Lobby is rearranging their store and I swear that each of the last three times I have been in there they are working on the aisle I need to be in! Today it was the unfinished wood aisle. It was crowded and disorganized, but everything was 30% off and I bought nine pieces. My plan is to paint and decoupage them. Have you ever done decoupage? I did years ago and I really enjoyed it. I like taking something plain and turning it into something kick-butt! I also like "messy" work. I like paint and glue and cutting and pasting.

Oops, I did it again. Change of topic for just a second. Did you see the post in the etsy forums yesterday about the website that ranks the readability of your blog? Hmmmmmm.....mine was rated at a Junior High Level. Click here if you are interested in rating the readability of your blog. I think I need to stop saying things like woo hoo and kick-butt and Mr. Bah Humbug...........not a chance! Anyway it was interesting.

Back to changing gears. I really have no problem with change, in fact, I love it and I look for things to change. I can change gears at the drop of a hat and not grind the gears at all.

My thought is this....a revamped FourDogDay that will be all paper and photos, and then MyOtherShop (which I closed right before the holidays) that will be all home decor, including my Fun and Fancy Plates, and all of my new decoupage items. I might even do some picture frames which would work in both shops. I still have tons of old jewelry that I love to take apart and make into things. Who knows, I might even do some sewing...napkins and placemats anyone?

What do you think? Too much change or do you think two shops is a good idea? I value your opinion. If you have any suggestions on how to make the transition and how to equally promote two shops, I would love to hear from you as well!