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This weekend, hot muggy sticky in all it's glory seemed to go by at just the right pace. It's really truly the beginning of school, even though the children did start last Wednesday - it's the start of the homework, and lessons. We have gotten ourselves back on track with scheduled bedtimes. There is plotting of time when all three children will at school and there is quite moments at home to start projects.

I'm trying to challenge myself to get back into making or working on something every night. Just to carve an hour or two out for myself. It's harder than I thought, especially when it use to be my norm. 

Recently the lovely people at Better Homes and Gardens featured me in their Holiday Crafts Magazine. I am so honored! Not only am I flattered to be featured with some many wonderful designers, it also gave me the inspiration and push I needed to keep making. So if you ever wondered how to make my Snowflake Garland here is your chance. The magazine features the step by step pattern in it. So look for it on shelves now...hopefully it will inspire you too. 

Honored to be Featured

I have been keeping a secret and one that I could barely contain! The lovely Christine over at Etsy asked me in the beginning of the week if she could feature my home on the Etsy blogs. Of course I said YES!!! Today the article came out and I can finally share the news (thank goodness). You can visit the feature here.

Also Katy from Winsome Hollow featured one of my vintage finds in her Saturday shopping post ~ you can see that here. But enough about me - I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday!

Friday Photo Shoot and NYC

My little trip to New York City on Friday was wonderful. My mom and I took the train in from New Haven, Connecticut. We had great conversations about what this year will hold and what we want the barn shop to look like.

When we got to New York I tried using my phones map to show exactly where we needed to go for the photo shoot. Luckily I was thinking ahead and advised that it would be around noon when we would get to the photo shoot. My phone kept sending us in circles.

While walking street vendors kept trying to hand fliers to us. I would avoid them while my mom would take the flyer, adding to collection of free souvenirs. The guy by the empire state building trying to promote bus tours was tricky though - He caught me off guard and was able to give one of his fliers to me.

Even with all the circles, zig zags, and going to W 28th street number 36 instead of W36th st number 28, we still made it on time. I have to say it was fun going into an elevator and hitting the PH button for penthouse. The shoot was amazing. The loft had white shabby painted floors, whimsical touches, and a small group of other Etsians.

It was fun to see what other people made. We met a lovely lady who lived in New York who made origami, she was nice enough to suggest places we might like to visit in the city. There was a jeweler asking others for marketing advice and how to promote her shop. We even met a candy maker who shared her candy with us and it was really good.

The photographer was really nice. He kept saying things like "oh nice" "yes that is it" "love it" and it kinda made me chuckle. He took a couple of head shots and some pictures of me holding my bag (which will soon be my shop). There was also a video camera there who filmed our work.

After the shoot we went walking and found a lovely diner, just when I was about to give up looking for one. We also tried our luck on the subway a couple of times, took a trip to Brooklyn, and had a taxi driver refuse our destination. It was a long day but worth the trip.

The feature for Etsy will be in Inc Magazines April addition and online. I can't wait till it comes out. Till then I will making more New York bags for the shop .

Someone Heard Me

(Someday really soon my retail shop)

Icicles are hanging everywhere and you can barely see around street corners. The snow in our state has reached an all time high and it hasn't stopped. Just the other day I was saying  that I needed a vacation.

The children have been getting a nice vacation. If I count the days I think they have gone to school 6 days in 3 weeks. Remember snow days? Those were great. 

Call it cabin fever or children overload, the need for a vacation this week has made me less than chipper at times. So when getting an email on Etsy about a photo shoot in NYC and being featured in a magazine I jumped on it. 

I know I promised myself that I would never visit New York City in the winter ever again but that was dragging a 4 year old around and carrying a 1 year old all bundled up. So next Friday I will be traveling on a train, kid free, into the big apple to be part of a photo shoot for Inc Magazine.

So you see, the sun can come out and melt the icicles. Someone somewhere heard me and I am thankful for that. Now what should I wear? What things from my shop should I bring? Should I make new stuff just for the shoot?

Honored in a Treasury

Tonight while making a bunch of snowflake garland (I have a cute plaid one coming out that is very homey and rustic) I decided to take a break. My fingers and hand kinda feel like they are going to fall off. I stopped at the best moment ever to get an email stating that I was featured in a treasury!!

How sweet! Thank you NullifyAnew, your treasury is indeed a tribute to a Handmade Christmas.
This week has been full of wonderful surprises and it's only Tuesday!!! The other surprise happened when I was visiting the talented and very much admired Lola Nova. I was there reading up on her lovely family, hoping to get some inspiration from her beautiful pictures and TA DA there I was. She featured me and my garland on her post. Thank you Lola Nova, I couldn't stop smiling. Okay, so I suppose my break time is over and typing really didn't help my hands and fingers much ... but the break was so worth it!

**UPDATE - After posting this I was thinking oh how could this week get even better - when I found out that not only am I in a Treasury but also in The Storque ~ Get the Look Decor: Deck the Halls (if  your wondering what the noise is - it's me doing my happy dance)**