Olivia

I'm not an amazing blogger. I'm a sucky texter-backer (hi Haley!) and a sucky blogger...this I know. So I am back to playing catch-up as always :) I'll keep it short and sweet for all of you that know I have a rambling problem. My name is Alex...and I have a rambling problem. Okay, carrying on...

So when I decided to make a return to Etsy (and began painting on wood again) I found myself spending a lot of quality time with one particular doll. Her shape was not functional but she wasn't meant to be. I had always loved the Kokeshi from the San Diego Subtext show back in 2007. They selected over 75 artists from 13 countries and it was absolutely amazing to see the end result from some of my favorites working out of their 2-demensional element.

I named #1 Olivia after the daughter of a newfound friend. I plan to make one a month and for each to be a unique, one of a kind creation. Olivia is now with a wonderful kiwi in New Zealand. :) #2 is already in the works and I hope to debut her in a couple of weeks!

I also decided to take on wedding cake toppers. I have had many requests over the years and turn them down 95% of the time (plenty of Etsy sellers making wedding cake toppers), but I figure as long as I take on one couple at a time, my perfectionistic problems won't get in my way (working on my 3rd couple now)! Translating human faces onto a figurine is challenging as well as fun-times. I had forgotten how much fun it was to create this family awhile back. Aside from Olivia, custom painting is sooo rewarding!

Between studying and a major housing situation I haven't had as much time as I would like to have for creating things...so many things in the creative files of my brain and little time to dedicate/execute. A lot of works in progress...soon they will be in-shop! I promise to blog more often, I'll keep everyone posted on the new things coming next week! xoxoxo

A Quiet Comeback

I cannot believe it's been an entire year! My girls are each a year older (ya, ya, as am I), and the three of us are all students this year! The girls are in an amazing Charter Academy and I will be applying for the Sonography (possibly Nursing) program this year at Gulf Coast State College. For now I am taking my pre-reqs and holding onto my Pell Grant for dear life. Balancing my grades and caring for the kids and their needs have been my most difficult challenge and those two things are my biggest priorities.

My mundane job was a huge thorn in my side...not accommodating for a single mom and so I made a decision...some would say a leap of faith (others would say a stupid decision, lol) to work for myself again. A mall job does not take precedent over my education and that store was draining me. I gave them a year of my life and I have regrets about that. I am fully aware of the risks and can only try my best and pray for success. The creative motivation to create and paint again is in full swing and my dedication to my kids is always in full force!

I am on a full Pell Grant for school (as long as I maintain a passing grade, of course), and I took out a Stafford Loan. I still haven't filed my taxes so there is still a little cushion to sustain me for a bit while I try and reestablish myself at Etsy.

It's so nerve wracking and exciting at the same time! I feel intensely motivated and am excited to have this reopening on the 12th! I'm restocking some old classics and introducing some new things including my 1st WK Collectors Doll, Olivia. I'm planning to do one a month...each doll will be an original, one of a kind creation (sneak peak of her little face). She has been so much fun to make...after batches of remakes...such a welcome, relaxing break from the regulars. Also bringing back the pig-tailed Kokeshi Spool Doll! Other surprises to come! ;)

I hope everyone is having an amazing year so far! I've missed all of my old crafty friends, etsians, and supporters and hope good things are happening globally for all of you!

New cute things

If you have kids, I'm sure you recognize these three from Nickelodeons Ni Hoa Kai-Lan. It was tedious (my fault for wanting perfection) but a wonderful break and challenge from the Kokeshi Spool Dolls I normally make. Even better, they were commissioned by a fellow wood doll artisan, Beccijo of the Enchanted Cupboard ...which made 'my heart feel super happy' <--Kai-Lan always says that. :)

A WAY overdue product will be arriving in the shop this week! I hope everyone out there is having a wonderful start to their week!

Update Tomorrow!

Finally, an update! Little Yuki in the center is a reserve I had promised forever ago to a wonderful etselebrity (that's what I call Etsy featured sellers) , Agnes Blum from Knockknocking (which reminds me I need to blog about her amazing work that I WILL own one day). I took this pic this morning and they are still unvarnished and not complete (one is missing half a face!), but I think you get the idea. I may have one or two additions if I can get them completed in time. Maybe. Hopefully...I'm doing tax stuff and you know how that is...so I can't promise.

Also in the update a batch of little, sweet, "falling" acorns amongst some other surprises!

*wishing*

My Jaidy turned five on the 17th but I had the party today...definitely party on a budget but every little touch she asked for I tried with all of my soul to make happen. I can't believe my baby is five!

My kids are growing up way too fast...her arms look so long; she's getting so big *sniff* :(

In other news, employment where I live is awful. Never in a million years would I ever think I would say to myself, "I hope that's Wal-mart, Publix, ect." when the phone rings...frustrating. I could get a part-time job...but only if I'm "flexible" and well, I don't have a sitter at nights so I can't promise an employer anything. I do put "available all hours" on my applications, just so I can get called in for an interview. Maybe the lie is bringing bad karma, lol. I'm thinking of going back to school...taking out student loans. It sucks feeling like you wasted weeks of your life job-hunting when you (and by you I mean I) should have been painting. Grrr, this divorce/my ex is a huge thorn in my side at the moment. Not giving the girls and I child support is just another way of trying to have control. It is actually slightly motivating...my girls will one day look back and see what a strong mommy they have!

The Christmas Post

Christmas was small this year but absolutely wonderful! I knew my new status as 'single unemployed mom' wouldn't allot much money for awesome toys but I had a nice trick up my sleeve :) ... I found a foster-kitty who needed a loving home as much as I wanted to give him one! He stayed with my sis for a few weeks before Christmas so the girls had no idea. We would go to Pet Smart and I would say, "Well, girls looks like the kittens are all gone...maybe next year".

Christmas Eve after the 'feeding of the reindeer' and the setting of Santa's cookies and milk, the kids brushed their teeth and put on their pj's. We held hands and prayed & promised to love and care for a kitty if He chose to give us one. I made sure to remind them that God does things in his own timing and to not be disappointed if there was no kitty pouncing around in the morning. After they fell asleep my dad brought our kitty, Franky, home. We already have given him 'pet names': Frankford, Frankenbaby, Franklin, Frankfurter. I'm weird about names but the woman that fostered Franky and his brother Sammy LOVED them. She had bottle-fed the siblings back to health and they were her "kids" so I kept his name for her...ya, not a big "Franky" fan but the care she gave this kitty made him a sweet, loving, purring, hugging, sitting on your shoulder-ing, people-loving cat and we adore him! I was waiting for him to freak after I put the Christmas collar on him but he didn't even flinch! He has no idea he is a cat. He also likes to play in water. We love the little weirdo!

Christmas was off to a rough start with a promised tree that somebody was supposed to bring for the girls. He "forgot" and didn't bring it so I had two sad little girls, and as their mom, I was more than irritated (cannot afford to buy a tree at the moment). His mother had to call her grown son to order him to get that tree and he did...better late than never I suppose....sigh.

Zoe made our tree topper from school...and this year we got new ornaments to commemorate the beginning of a new, wonderful life. The ones above in the first pic, Jaida picked out the hedgie (that's my girl!), and the faux gingerbread cookie ornaments are from my mom (we got six on a cute tiny cookie sheet). Below are some of my other favorites from this Christmas season. The Angel and Snowman are so adorable, we all know how I feel about cute...and those two are at the top of their game. I picked the snowman to mark and remember the year 2009; a really difficult year but an important one nonetheless. The year I finally left a bad situation. The year that I got better. 8 horrible months but the rest of the year more than made up for all of those miserable days.

The angel, on his/her wings it says "Tis a gift to be a mom" which was perfect because now that I was out of an extremely toxic relationship I was free to focus on what mattered more than anything in the world...my girls. The plastic tree has my Zoe's kindergarten picture in it in front of her coloring artwork and she was beaming when she gave it to me so I will picture that expression every year I see this ornament. The little beaded ones are from a collection that a very good friend from a far-away land sent to me (she also sent yummy homemade chocolate confections in which were gone in under 2 minutes). She is in New Zealand to be exact...or Sea land as my girls call it. These little handmade ornaments captivated the three of us while shining in the forefront of Christmas tree lights...I think 30% of my ornaments have come from Ginny (that's our sweet kiwi); I have to say that after years of isolation in Dothan I'm so thankful for the few really good friends I've made through Etsy and Flickr. Cupcake (Kaysie), you are another wonderful person and have been a great friend to me over the past couple of years that I've known you....why must you two have to live so far away?! Thank-you so much for "being there" for me and my girls. You have the most beautiful hearts, I ♥ you!

♥ This will be the best year ever!! ♥

♥ Shop Update 1/16/10!♥

The Perpetual Game of Catch-Up

Yes, I am still behind..so many things going on. One great thing about having left my marriage is that we (the girls and I) actually do things opposed to being trapped in the house while dad played video games/watched TV on the couch/bed all weekend. I can't put the blame entirely on him. The last thing he wanted to do was go out on the weekends.....but the last thing we wanted to do was stay in. IIt would have been nice to do things as a family...we didn't have to go out but that wasn't fun for him. The kids were so jipped having a lazy father and an agoraphobic mother, lol! It is still so hard to explain how great my life is since leaving, I feel like I've been transported back where I left off. I feel motivated again, my ambitions are back. It was a leap of faith but I'm so grateful I had the courage to not only leap, but to not take him back (pats self on the back). :)

No live fish/nor bait were harmed during the shooting of these pics!

Winter Break began and my Zoe had her first taste of stardom when she performed with the rest of her elementary school's kinder-kingdom for their Holiday program. They all had little costumes, reindeer, snowmen, bells, santas...very cute. She did so good on stage but unfortunately she's in the group of "tall kids" in her class so no good pics for me as they put the tall kids, understandably, in the back row. :(

I really want to get the kids into dance, martial arts, cheer leading...something to nurture their self-esteems. Low self-esteem puts a ball and chain around your destiny...and I'll support their dreams from now until forever. I tend to feel overprotective because my worst fear is that they will be like me. Not saying I'm a horrible person, but I struggled with major insecurities and had they not been in my way, my life would be completely different. Having said that, I wouldn't change a thing about anything I've gone through and it is only because of my girls. The thought of not having them in my life is just...well unthinkable!!!

My sister's youngest turned 3, and I've talked about "Martha Sister" before and so of course his birthday was a giant fun-fest for kids even for my little sick Zoe! Here's some more pics from that day!There's nothing more entertaining than watching the maniacal playing of hot potato...or in this case hot monster truck...it's like a bomb to them and kids go crazy! I wish I had video of my nephew hitting that pinata. It was like 'tap,tap,tap' and he bent both knees with every tap. Hilarious. One bonus to the party was the arrival of Santa...aka, the PC Beach Fire Department...the boys got candy filled candy canes, the girls Disney Princess ornaments filled with candy and we all got chocolate!

In shop news...job-hunting is a nightmare...actually that's an understatement. Employment is really bad where I live so I am planning an update in the coming weeks because, well, the girls and I need heat and water, and there is a man (and by man I mean boy) who refuses to help support his family.

I'm so sorry for venting but sheesh he's such an unbelievable loser!

Breathe in....pause...breathe out. Okay, better now. :)

Belation: A Continuance

I know, I know, it's Christmas time but I'm sticking with my unintentional late posts until time allows me to be a tad more current with these things. I wanted to share some pictures from Thanksgiving which also happened to fall on my birthday this year! Perfect timing as there is so much to be thankful for this year!


What's not to love about Thanksgiving? Yummy food. Family...speaking of, my sister did her usual "Hostess with the Mostest" thing and concocted lots of festive edibles! Those acorns on the end: donut holes with their tops dipped in chocolate, then rolled in toffee pieces and a pretzel stick for the stem....so good!

Speaking of acorns, some sweet little ones made their first appearance in my shop....and speaking of my shop, I'd like to thank everyone who stopped by to shop the update...means so much right now, so a big THANK YOU!

I'm about to lay on the couch and try to watch Funny People without falling asleep. Wait....no reflection on the movie (I haven't seen it yet)! I'm just so sleepy right now. First some more pictures from our Thanksgiving!

Jaida wished for a unicorn and Zoe just said "I love mommy". It must be true because little Jaidy didn't win this wishbone tug-of-war. :) Good thing because she would have been really disappointed to know that Unicorns don't really exist.

Oh...and my cake. My mom brought it over and the girls sang me happy birthday and gave me cards they made (I almost cried). This birthday was way less detrimental than turning 30 last year. I feel like I wasted my 20's wallowing in mental hell. I know this decade is going to be awesome! Still, it was a strange birthday; bittersweet. Hard to explain. Although, the cake took away the "bitter" pretty fast! I love Carvel ice cream cakes!

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving and if I don't post before Christmas, Merry Christmas! xoxo