Wunderments

Olivia

2011-04-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-06T14:56:00.001-08:00

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

2010-02-02T01:43:00.001-08:00

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!

2010-01-22T21:23:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-13T21:07:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-03T12:33:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-21T22:04:00.000-08:00

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

Belated Holidays, Birthdays, and Updates

2009-11-29T06:11:00.000-08:00

Edit: This was supposed to have been sent last night but two little girls wanted to snuggle and I fell asleep. Oops!

I have this terrible annoying habit when it comes to estimating time and following through with announced updates, which, believe me, annoys myself as much as I'm 99% sure it annoys all of you. Camera issues were one thing, but along with that came mental shut-down days where all I wanted to do was be with my kids....when I should have been searching for my battery charger. I know...totally unprofessional. Please forgive my lack of business savviness and I'm so hoping no one waited around on me to start the listings and if any of those aforementioned people are reading this right now, I'm so, so very sorry :( I feel awful. Tomorrow, no excuses, no mental shut-downs, there will be listings, I promise! Really, I swear!

Another bad habit of mine...updating my blog. Allow me to reminisce...My big-little sister (a year older but she can shop the kids department for clothes) choreographed an awesome double-birthday with a Halloween theme for our kids on Oct. 31! Each of us has a child with a September birthday but we couldn't have birthday parties for different reasons so my perfectionistic, anal-retentive sis pulled the ever present Martha Stewart from within her (see above pic) and the result was what Zoe called, "the best birthday ever" (awww). Wait, isn't every occasion involving presents a "best day ever" for kids? No, but Zoe and Jaida still talk about it and I caught Zoe running up and hugging my sister for no reason other than it being her way of showing her appreciation for an awesome birthday party!

Hilarious outdoor games

Indoor games (that also included a frantic game of hot potato...well, hot pumpkin).

The birthday boy and girl!

They all danced the Monster Mash (Jaida did The Robot).

We ate cupcakes and all the kids went home with kid-swag bags full of fun toys and candy. Everyone got a prize no matter who won a game. My sister thought of everything....I still don't want to ask her how much she and her husband spent on this party. All the gifts came from my sis and my parents because mommy is a little financially strained at the moment. I thank God for these people in my life because we would honestly be homeless without them!

*nervous laughter*

That night my girls trick-or-treated for an hour dressed as themselves.

My princesses :)

Down came the rain

2009-11-02T10:47:00.000-08:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! It's been a difficult few months for my family. Some of you may already know I'm going through a divorce. I want all of you to know that I'm leaving my marriage with no regrets. It needed to happen. I won't go into detail about his character but I will say this: it's taken longer for me to get over ex-boyfriends then it has my husband and I feel happy and closer to "myself" than I have in a very, very, long time.

Some of you may also know that I suffered for nine years with Panic Disorder/Agoraphobia and after many years (and many meds) I finally found a medication/psychiatrist combo that made me feel 80% better....but I still panicked at the steering wheel. I still couldn't be alone. My eyes still scanned the room for the phone/exits.

Click here for my favorite short video about living with this disorder.

My marriage has been a source of depression for me for the past three years. My anxiety made me feel dependant on him. He kept my already weak self-esteem at the bottom of the gutter and I just felt at his mercy every second. Trapped. I was under appreciated, overworked and very lonely. I wasn't in love with him but I wanted to be. We had children together. A man wants respect as much as a woman wants to be able to respect her man but I had none to give him.

We have been doing a lot of this lately :)

I did my usual semi-annual thing with him: "Counseling or divorce". This time I told him to say nothing until the end of the week and every day/night I prayed harder than I have ever prayed in my life that whatever his decision, it would be what was best for the girls and I. I wanted out and he knew it but every time he said "divorce" he would never follow through, he'd feed me BS about how he'd change...we don't need counseling, blah, blah, blah and we stayed in this horrible, monotonous, marital limbo. For me, I was so afraid of the outside world...this misery was almost a relief, although I dreamed of a different life. I knew I deserved better and I really wanted him to go out and find happiness so this time when he said "divorce" I was out of there. I'm not one to believe that everything happens for a reason but I do believe in putting your life in God's hands and in trusting His decisions. I looked at it as God's will so me, my girls, (and my agoraphobia) kicked my deadbeat tenant out of my rental and started over.

I'm not going to lie, it was scary but I pushed through my fears. I had a five year old that needed to be enrolled in school in two weeks so for them, my children, I forced myself to do things I hadn't done in years. It was a crash course in Exposure Therapy but it was exactly what I needed to get over my Panic Disorder which was the one thing I have continually prayed for God to take away. I know He answers prayers in His own timing and I truly believe He was waiting for me to have honest-faith that I didn't need my husband. I passed the test and this is my blessing, my gift!

I had been a stay-at-home-mom for the past four years so I filed for Child Support right away. They tried to send him the paperwork but he wouldn't go to the P.O. to pick up that letter, (I'm still waiting for the Sheriff's dept. to serve him). My youngest is four and you can't take your four year old to work. I applied for daycare assistance and was denied because my husband paid one month of our mortgage ( he hasn't paid that mortgage since). The next option would be to work 20 hours a week or be enrolled in school 20 hours a week. The latter was out because I can't pay bills going to school and the former has been struggle since you need money to put your child in daycare but you need a job to have that money for daycare and you can't get any money unless you have a job. So you basically need a baby-sitter willing to work for free. Thanks FL!!

"Silly Sock" Day at school

All that matters to me are those two, my precious girls. Thank God for my parents who have helped us financially. My dad, who has lent his new car for me to drive since this mess began and who has kept the tank full; who has paid for repairs that needed to be made to the townhouse and let me do our laundry at his house. My mom, who has looked after my health (I was down to 99 lbs) and would take me and the girls out to eat, get me vitamins, help with the kids and remind me to pray. I'm especially thankful for my sister who has helped toughen me up and who has had my back throughout all the hell I've endured in my marriage. I don't know what would have happened had I not had (and still have) her pushing me and I so appreciate her tough-love ways. Zoe wouldn't have had school clothes or school pictures, presents for her birthday if it were not for them. I have to blog still about the kick-ass birthday/Halloween party my sis threw over the weekend for Zoe and her son (and all the cousins). This is my public thank-you to them and to all of you who have prayed and sent kind thoughts to us during this time. Thank-you!! I love you! We love you!

Let me end this post on a miraculous note. Introducing my newest niece, Alaisha Nadine, born September 23rd (Zoe's birthday!) She's a very good baby, so easy and sweet.....complete with that new baby smell!

SHOP NEWS!
I'm so sorry it has taken so long to get back to Etsy and I apologize to anyone who has been waiting, any convos I have neglected to reply to or get back to...I'm so sorry :( I hope this post helps everyone understand. I have an update up my sleeve....I'll definitely let you know when!

Deutschland, here we come!!

2009-06-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

Some of you may already know my husband hails from Germany. I visited once with Ben (sans kids) back in 2006 and it was amazing...although I'm not a fan of air travel. We won an all-expense paid trip...no, kidding, I'm not that lucky. Actually, Ben's father bought us all tickets to come and visit.

He met Zoe once during her first Easter (she was just a baby) and has yet to meet Jaida. I would rather him fly to the States but he also wants his mom to meet her great-grand kids as well as the rest of his family. I can't complain. We desperately need a vacation and not only is the destination awesome but it's free which is perfect because, well, we're broke! Ft. Meyers, Florida straight through to Düsseldorf, Germany...still freaking out about the long plane ride.

My last shipping day in the shop will be June 25th so be on the lookout for new stuff as I scramble to make a little extra spending cash for our trip! I love Germany...it is a breathtaking country and we were this close (holds tip of thumb and pointer finger 2cm apart) to moving there.

This time we're going when the weather will be nice and warm....last time I brought sandals like an idiot and had to go shopping for clothes that I never wore again...well, some of them. Here are some pics of our last trip there:

All of our poses are the same...we need to be more creative this time. See that castle? It was so amazing and what a workout to make it down there (they drove us back though, whew)! We got another workout sprinting up the (500?) dizzying, spiraling steps to the top of the Cathedral ( Kölner Dom )...I could stare at that architectural work of art for hours studying the beautiful details of it. Speaking of spiraling, look how that tree grew in spiral-formation (Ben's pretending to twist it).

The cute baby in striped stockings is Emma, Ben's niece and the cute baby in blue is Anskar (love his name), his cousin Nicole's baby boy. Can't wait to see how they've grown and meet the new kids! Oh, and yes, nothing special about Walmart but that one sold beer in an outside tent...so funny! We also got to take a quick 24 hour visit to Paris. When the bus dropped us off for an hour to do whatever we wanted I was actually afraid for my life.....long story. Anyway, that's it! So excited!! Just need a tranquilizer for the plane ride there and back and I'll be set!

One Lovely Blog Award

2009-06-10T08:43:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank Fran of http://www.auntifranni.blogspot.com/ for nominating me for this award! I really don't blog as often as I'd like to so it's very sweet of her to think of me! Oh, and check her shop out here or here!

I'd also like to thank Sarah of Diaries of An Obsessive Compulsive

for her sweet feature on my shop! Check out her adorable Etsy shop, EssHaych here!

Thank you both! :)

Yay! Front Page!

2009-06-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

I know, the front page changes every 10 minutes it seems but I still get excited to know I've even been there especially when it's a hand-picked front page. I know it's silly but I get super happy when I imagine an Etsy employee thinking anything that I make is worthy of the Front Page.....yay!

In family news: Zoe lost her second tooth...and she didn't get overemotional this time when it came out, just excited! I stole her box after she fell asleep, but before I could put it back under her pillow, she woke up and drunkenly waddled into my room half-asleep. When she realized she had forgotten her box and ran for her room I had a mini-panic in my head and quickly ran after her explaining to my distraught five year old (poor thing couldn't find her box), " The toothfairy probably woke you up"....."ya, she can't take the toothfairy box to Pixie Hollow, it's not allowed so she probably got scared off! Go back to sleep and she'll come back". And she did....went back to sleep, and I, the toothfairy put a dollar and some coins in her box and slid it under her pillow. She woke up early the next morning and squealed with delight and happiness! Oh, then the patting-tears-from the eyes thing she does was back. :)

Monochromatikinder and her Mom

2009-05-30T14:43:00.001-07:00

Just listed this little duo in the shop. I've been wanting to remake my original Monochromatikinder Doll series for a long time...I just haven't found the time. But last night I couldn't sleep...and so these were born.

I started the Monochromatikinder Dolls awhile back one day when I was trying to explain to my daughter what the word Monochromatic meant. These dolls have slightly different shades of blue and brown with a contrast of black and white.

Art is healthy, I want to teach kids while they're young and support them as they grow...into the next little da Vincis!
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Oh, and I'm so excited that heart-o-matic is back and better than ever thanks to Julian (the originator) and Karena (of Magic Jelly)! Together they made an awesome site I will be on most likely every day. Etsy wrote a great article on it on their blog...read all about it (click) ! Yay, CraftCult!!

"Mommy, my heart's beeping fast"!

2009-05-28T17:40:00.000-07:00

That's what she said, my little Zoe, after losing her first tooth last night! She did the overemotional patting her teary-eyes thing she does when she's excited or happy (so sensitive, she is!) and now she's anxiously awaiting the wriggly tooth next to the hole to fall out. We celebrated by drinking a glass of "coffee" now that she's reached a new milestone. It's actually Teeccino but they think it's coffee and it tastes great....except now I'm addicted to French Vanilla Coffee Mate and Stevia. You brew it like regular coffee, and it's made by the Republic of Tea peaple . Hazelnut and Almond Amaretto are my favorite flavors...oh, and if they'll give you a free sample here, and even better you get to pick the flavor!

I personalized her little tooth fairy box (I know, it's sloppy but I was rushing!) and this morning she was so excited to get a gift from the tooth fairy....a Velcro dartboard, fun for all! I can't believe in a few months she starts school. Uh-oh, now my heart's "beeping" fast! Thank God my little sister is pregnant so I can remind myself how much work they are! I miss my "babies" but I'm so proud of my girls, even though they are becoming more and more independent....they'll always be my babies.

Okay, I'm going to go cry now!

Kidding!

Maybe.

A New Baker!

2009-05-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry about my few and far between postings. Our lives are very stressful right now. To make a long story short we are trying to cover two mortgages and well, I will NEVER landlord again....I'm a big softie when I shouldn't be and a big meanie when I shouldn't be. I can never get that right!

We're going to be moving soon back to Panama City, FL (when I was younger my friends and I referred to this city as a black hole and here I am being sucked right back)....but the bright side is my daughter, Zoe, starts school this year and although the four of us (and 3 pets) will be cramped into a 900 square foot townhouse that I loathe, she will be attending one of the best elementary schools in the city...and that's so important to me! Plus, my poor husband, Ben, won't have to travel 1.5 hours to work every day...he'll be home more and that makes me really happy. :)

We spent the weekend with some very welcome guests (Ben's family) and they brought a wet saw and skills to tile our master bathroom! It looks awesome! We're hoping to have the cabinets finished this week so we can call a realtor in and get this house sold! Ben's mom made it look WAY to easy...I swear, this woman knows how to do everything!
Oh, I restocked some little Granny smith zakka apple boxes! I hope to have a Spool Doll update soon and I promise: next time I won't be waiting so long to update my blog! I have so much to say.....just no pause button for my hectic life! :)

Update Tomorrow!

2009-05-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

It's going to be smaller than I'd hoped for but there are a ton of things going on in our lives currently that include evicting tenants, moving to another state, registering our firstborn in school, and a collection of small annoyances that = out to huge time-eaters! Can't wait to get settled!

I have a little surprise if you are one of my sweet blog-readers. There will be six spool dolls in the update (which is at 5pm Central) and if you see one that you absolutely love I'm allowing one "reserved" doll per person! Feel free to call dibs through comment or convo, I'm fair so I promise first commeth first getteth!

Here they are, the spool dolls for tomorrow! Rikuyo (with the pink hair) is the first doll sporting the low-side buns, and the Lucky Kokeshi is also the first to have a new hairstyle! There is one more spool doll for the update, Hitomi ....but with pigtails. There will also be a Toothfairy box restock as promised as well as Twine Bakers including a new baker girl! Hope to see you at the update!

* Thanks so much to my super-sweet blog readers for putting your claim on your favorite doll before todays update! They are all promised to happy homes! *

I Heart Moo

2009-04-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

My sticker books from Moo got here and I love them so! They arrived a couple weeks after my moo cards and now I can't find my moo cards to share with you. I'm so unorganized, but I love the cards just as much . I've been trying to organize my chaotic office so when I find them, I shall show and tell. :)

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

In honor of the occasion I present some eco-faves! That adorable bear up there was in my etsy favorites! He was made out of new and upcycled fabrics, washed with phosphate free detergent. He is also stuffed with 100% polyester stuffing made from recycled plastics. He's gone now (I know, it's so sad) but his creator, Stitchface churns outs lots and lots of adorable eco-friendly plush creatures in her etsy shop. Right now there is the cutest toothy beaver waiting for some lucky person (eco-conscious or not) to adopt him!

Another awesome Etsy shop: Vintage Renaissance ! I love how they repurposed this vintage suitcase into the coolest pet bed! It just wouldn't be the same without those bright, chartreuse, clawfoot legs, I love it! Our shih-tzu, Libby Lu loves to be up high and anytime life gets super-busy and I slack on my laundry duties, I'm sure to find her sleeping in the basket at the very top of the pile. Everything they do is one of a kind so you have to check often to snag one of their awesome creations!

It's no secret I love wooden toys, but not only is this little shoe a mere $6 and teaches your kid the art of tying le-shoe, but it is made of non-toxic eco-friendly rubberwood colored with vegetable dyes! This shop is entirely eco-friendly and has so much great stuff...oh, and free shipping on any order over $50, which would not be hard at all to spend here. *sigh* if only my credit cards weren't in my freezer. :) Modernkidstuff.com

Yet another one of my favorite etsy shops, Yava Glass! Awesome upcycled glasses. I always think of this Etsy shop when I see a really cool bottle...they will turn any screen-printed glass bottles into your own personal drinkware. I will definitely be on the lookout on our next trip to Germany!

Tornadoes and Customs

2009-04-13T12:02:00.001-07:00

Well, today was off to an interesting start with a 6:30 am Tornado siren wake-up call. Thankfully, (and this is probably the only time I will ever be happy about this), both of my little girls snuck into our bed last night so we just had to scramble to collect our three animals and into the bathtub we went. A gust of wind blew the back door open and in poured about a gallon of rain-water....I was so glad Ben was home because I would have lost it without him...he's so calm. The storm passed pretty quickly and there were no tornadoes riding down our street (so thank-you God)!

This is Mom and dad of the custom family I've been working on...not clothed or varnished yet but they are near completion, yay! Here are their three beautiful kids!

Paloma, Vincent, and Navae (aren't those great names?) Two of the kids also have some custom beauty marks they will be receiving today and I will be shopping for clothes for them all tomorrow...today is stormy and horrible! I'm also working on the family's Great Dane and fluffy cat...the Dane was an experiment but so far he's turning out really awesome....I think this is why I try to avoid customs; I spend way too much time and the customer has to wait forever and I hate that for them. I always see something to improve and am constantly touching up...it's a problem. Luckily, the girl I'm working with is really sweet and has been so very patient but I'm determined to unite the spool family with the real family this week!

* Oh! Shop update May 2nd! :D

Update of an update

2009-03-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

I can't thank everyone enough for coming and shopping away at my update, especially a certain New Zealander named Virginia and a group of new friends living in Virginia....weird, isn't it? Oh, and I can't leave out a new friend hailing from my husband's homeland Germany, Suse! A lot of new people as well...you all know who you are! Thank-you sooo much!

A new Kinder Box! I'm obsessed right now with exposed wood-grain, I love it. She hasn't been varnished yet and when she is, the grain of the wood will really pop!

Good ol' Baker Giuseppe is back and he'll be listed as well as a a new twine-keeper, Baker Molly! Rei with a top bun is also about to be listed in the shop! I apologize for being so slow with listing, I'm still trying to get the hang of things and I didn't spend any time with my girls yesterday so I was feeling "mommy-guilt" so I played most of the day with them. I watched my five year old Zoe, make a new friend...it was really cute. They both had scooters and scooted around the cul-de-sac together as if they'd been friends forever while Jaida chased the two of them around...why can't friend-making be that easy when you get older? Oh, to be 5 again. :)

Speaking of those two, I promised I'd watch a movie with them so I had better post and go! :D I hope everyone had an awesome weekend!

Shop update tomorrow!

2009-03-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

Without further ado here is a sneak peak before the update! :D

New Kokeshi Spool Dolls including our first blonde boy, Easter Special Editions, beautiful open-eyed girls, and a kissing Yuki Doll!

What is a baby without baby fat? Into this world they were born clad only in their birthday suits and look at them now! All fattened up with bakers twine!

My new Baby Bakers! They are tiny as you can see next to the sweet "Littlest Pet" but they are each wearing six yards of beautiful baker's twine! Plus their spool bodies fit right on your spool rack so they are functional and adorable! Oh, and in case you were wondering, our original Twine-keeper, Baker Giuseppe will be back as well. :)

New fairy-tale inspired Kinder Dolls! Also in tomorrows update: Kinder trinket boxes...my favorite product right now! I'll be updating as soon as time allows tomorrow but I know for sure it will be in the afternoon. (I like to make big breakfasts on Saturdays). ;)

Sigh An Edit

2009-03-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be here to see the sneak preview of the new stuff for what was supposed to be tomorrows update but, alas, a thunderstorm with great timing has us stuck in Florida and there's really no other way to say this; I'm afraid to drive in the rain. It's only an hour and a half to Dothan, Alabama where we live, but I can't stand a second of driving in rain especially when there's thunder and lightning added to that rain, and two of the most important little people in my life strapped to the back seat. I'm so sorry.

But...tomorrow evening I'll be posting the sneak peak of brand new things, and since the kids can't go outside, it gives me an extra day to work on more goodies! The update will be Saturday evening, seriously I promise!! :)

Gearing Up!

2009-03-24T10:25:00.001-07:00

The update is this Friday and I will be restocking these little ladies...

...as well as adding a new DIY Spool Doll to the DIY section (the top-side bun Kokeshi style) like this Yuki doll:

I'll be upping the quantities of the DIY dolls as I've been getting a lot of requests for me to do so....wish granted. :) I've also been very diligently working on my first custom Spool Family for a gorgeous couple and their three gorgeous children! I'll have some new (painted) Spool Dolls this Friday as well including some Easter Editions!

Check back Thursday...I have some new things to show you before the update! :)

A modest intro

2009-03-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Alex and I, as per usual have been over thinking.

I know this is just another blog in a sea of a trillion but I've rough drafted more than several "First Posts" as if my very life and credibility depended on it and in the end...it's just another blog in a sea of a trillion. And so like many "firsts" in life I'm just going to get it over with. :)

This is my family.

My husband, Ben, who brings home the bacon and our two beautiful offspring/partners in crime/comedy duo, Zoe, 5, and Jaida, 4, who keep me laughing and who ground me to what is really important in this world.

Everything I do is for these three humans. The loves of my life.

This month marks my one year anniversary as a seller on Etsy and even though my time is always constrained, I figured I could at the very least use blogging as a way to let my sweet customers get a sneak preview of products before shop updates! Also, I really wanted to have a place to go and just talk about non-work-related stuff, vent about things, talk about my kids, post about current favorite Etsy offerings, movies, books, so here it is...my official outlet.

Wunderments

Olivia

A Quiet Comeback

New cute things

Update Tomorrow!

The Christmas Post

The Perpetual Game of Catch-Up

Belation: A Continuance

Belated Holidays, Birthdays, and Updates

Down came the rain

Deutschland, here we come!!

One Lovely Blog Award

Yay! Front Page!

Monochromatikinder and her Mom

"Mommy, my heart's beeping fast"!

A New Baker!

Update Tomorrow!

I Heart Moo

Happy Earth Day!

Tornadoes and Customs

Update of an update

Shop update tomorrow!

*Sigh* An Edit

Gearing Up!

A modest intro

Sigh An Edit