So Many Finches

While Charlie was playing on her Grandma and Grandpa's swing set, I sat down for a quiet break. The sun was warm, the breeze felt good, and there were about a hundred eyes staring down at me.... 

My mom loves birds, she even buys special seeds to attract certain types. Apparently I sat too close to their feeder, because there were tons of tiny yellow chested finches watching my every move. I took a picture, and only got a handful of them in the photo. Cute, but I was definitely outnumbered.

Chandelier Plant-lets Off Etsy!

Last year I purchased these little plant-lets from an Etsy seller for the low rate of thirty cents (as free as you can possibly get on Etsy)! I paid the shipping ($2), and received a package filled with tiny newbie plants. Here's a little bit from her listing:

"Each (Chandelier Plant or BRYOPHYLLUM TUBIFLORA) plantlet is from one original plant taken from a razed line of row houses in the Freedman's Town section of Houston Texas. It is a small way to remember part of a unique community that continues to fade due to new construction. For more info see: http://www.freedmanplantlets.org/"

Almost a year to the day, the plants are doing great! They even have their flowers now.

I just checked her shop, and she didn't have any listed. Just in case, here's the link to her vintage shop-

Aynart on Etsy


















Of course Charlie wanted some action too.....




Epic Teddy Tales: Gazpacho

I saw him from a few blocks away. He was just a crumpled furry lump, slowly drifting towards the sewer. He was abandoned, alone, and upside down. I checked over my shoulder at the curb as I drove past, and knew he had to be saved. I made a circle around the block, and parked right next to the sidewalk. He was dirty and had a hole down his back seam. I carefully looked over him, hoping I hadn’t picked up someone’s crack holder or needle safe (unfortunately not uncommon for this neighborhood). His neck ribbons were smashed, and his fur was matted with gunk and nastiness.    

          I set him in the chair on my porch, to let him settle in and relax from his ordeal. Meanwhile, I readied his bath (making sure to use extra detergent). After his heavy spin wash, he was thoroughly dried. He didn’t complain once as I stitched up his back, making sure to hide his painful scar. He was finally repaired, clean, and ready for a name. It was the first and only name that came into my head. Gazpacho. He knew how close he had come to his end, and he was grateful for my kindness. He now spends his days traveling on Charlie’s imaginary bus, and enjoying many long tea parties with his new friends. 

 

Sorry If I Bled in Your Yard....

While driving home, I saw a house whose yard was filled with free stuff. I of course stopped, free can be great. While rummaging through the boxes and baskets, I noticed a stack of frames lying upside down on the ground. I love frames, so I excitedly grabbed at them without being very cautious. They were completely shattered, and I painlessly sliced a huge gash down my finger. Blood instantly started gushing everywhere, so I gathered what I had and went back to my car. Sorry if I bled all over your yard, it wasn’t my plan. At least I got some cool bamboo trays and a couple of glass canisters out of it though. Thanks.

Will Work for Money

I started straight out of high school at an air conditioning and heating company, doing customer service. All of the jobs I’ve held have had some element of customer service involved with them. After I had Charlie I stayed at home, until we could no longer afford for me to. For the past three and a half years I’ve worked for a group home as a child care worker. I only work nights on the weekends, so my time during the day can be spent with Charlie. My current job is vastly different from the office setting I worked in before, and is usually pretty horrible.

With Charlotte getting older, I’ve decided to resume my full time work.

I was shocked by the employment wall that I plowed right into. Nobody will hire me. I’ve faxed my resume everywhere, and filled out every application I can get my hands on. Three plus years of child care work has really screwed me. Apparently being a mom or working with kids makes me inept when it comes to answering a phone. It’s hard that no one will give me the chance to prove that I’m a strong worker. The job market is terrible, and I’m at a loss for what to do. I’m even considering putting myself into a bit of debt, so I can attend a career training college.

What can I put in a cover letter that will convey this situation to any potential employers? I’m still professional, and always a reliable worker- I just want a chance, without having to beg pathetically. If anything, being a mom has made me stronger at what I do. My patience is off the charts these days…. 

Any ideas?

Wine Charms, and More Wine Charms....

I changed my shop around a bit, and now I only stock wine charm sets. I'm done with necklace charms and picture clips- I adored making cake toppers, but I feel like I have to charge too much just to make a profit.




There are so many possibilities with wine charms, and I love using them.

Prices for wine charm sets are fixed at a store wide equal level. Flat price + free shipping.  Each charm can take anywhere from ten minutes, to two hours to create. Sets include five to eight charms, all affectionately constructed with my own two hands.

My Etsy shop 

  

 Have any ideas?

A Star Wars set is in the works, and so much more.....

It Creeps, It Crawls, It Eats you Alive... Run, don't walk.... From the List!

I'm starting a "to-do" list.
I slack when it comes to taking care of obligations or just starting one of the many projects floating around my head- I'm hoping that having a list for all to see will put some fire under my butt. I have so many things to do, that I'm beginning to get frustrated with the amount of projects left.
The list will become smaller, I will not fail.
- Que The Eye of the Tiger.... Do. Do do do. Do do do. Do do dooooo.....

Bare with me.....

• Organize all of my craft materials
• Paint. I need to paint....
• Beg all of my professors to add me from the wait-list, to their classes.
• Start some paper crafts with Charlie (Thank you library book!)
• Photo day with Charlie
• Start seriously pursuing my children's book ideas 
• Stop delaying the end.... Watch the final installment of Harry Potter. (Rubbish... How someone can choose the books over the movies is beyond me)
• Get a yard sale together
• Post on Twitter, blogger, and Facebook more like a madwoman
• Organize the basement
• Contact the Mission Galleria about a booth
• Increase my Etsy shop's inventory
• Find my missing mp3 player... Doing dishes sucks without it!
• Set up my recycling buckets
• Overhaul and organize the walk-in pantry
• Build a Julia Child's inspired pan wall
• Season all of my cast iron skillets
• Start the quilt for Charlie
• Buy a new couch
• Fix money-pit car one more time.....
• Design and create a height chart for Charlotte
• Shampoo carpets
• Organize walk in closet
• Build a poker table
• Build a bar from a travel trunk

I'm sure this list will grow, just as fast as it shrinks. Talk crap if you don't see any crossed off soon. Maybe some good ole' fashioned bullying will do the trick......