Shop Talk as well as misc chatter

We have Valentine's Day on the brain over at Collage. We'd love for you to check out our newest offerings and see if you don't just fall in love! (New items are available for preview until they're released for sale at noon eastern today!)



Speaking of love, we just celebrated the 7th birthday of my son, Mason, last Thursday. He's such a sweet, little guy! Can you believe that his requested birthday presents were a super soft blanket, a gameboy game, and candy. Those things together are his idea of a good time.

Oh...also! Book love! I have been coveting this book for the longest time. I finally got my hands on it and I adore it! I'm totally jonesin' for some spare time so I can play!!

I also read this book recently and it, too, was wonderful. I just love Louisa May Alcott's stories. I don't know how this one managed to evade me until now!



And another little something I'm completely in love with is the quilt I received in the Four Seasons' Quilt Swap. Look how absolutely at home it looks on my wall! Thank you, so much, Courtney!! (you can click on the picture for a larger version)

I'll try to not be so scare this week! :-)

Crossing things off the list!

Whew! That overwhelmed feeling is passing. Things are getting crossed off the list one by one. And I'm feeling much better. :-)

I've been working like a busy bee and it's paying off. Don't you just love the way it feels when you can cross things off the list?

The only thing that would make me happier is if the post office were open today so I could get these guys outta here!



As you can see, I've been in Bendy-land lately. Lots and lots of bendy dolls. You'd think I'd be sick of them by now, huh? But, while I do appreciate the fact that the next few things on my list are not bendy dolls, I still love them.



This last order included some bigger bendy dolls. They're all about 4.5" tall. Usually when I make dolls this size they're the adults in bendy families. I had a hard time envisioning them as requested: fairies and princesses and such, similar to the smaller dolls. My mind kept saying, "No! Bigger dolls are moms and dads!". I am so pleased with how they turned out though.

Sorry for the packaging. I had already packaged them before I remembered I hadn't taken a picture yet.



There are a couple bendies that have made their way to the shop. And before long I'll have a new sock dolls to add to stock as well. I've had several requests for more and promised I'd put them on the list. And, well, I am making progress on that list!!! I am so excited by this! I really hate feeling behind. Catching up is a good thing!

Overwhelmed

Do you ever feel just totally overwhelmed? I do. And I am right now.

We've had a horrible sickness invade our household. A yucky sort of sickness with fevers that make you want to sleep 18 hours a day and chest congestion that leaves you feeling weak due to lack of oxygen and all that effort spent on coughing. It's finally on its way out the door now. But if you've been wondering where I've been, I've been in bed, sleeping and coughing.



During the holiday season I take a break from many of my responsibilities as I just get too busy with business crafting. My husband helps out more around the house and we take a break from homeschooling. This frees up time so I can do crafties as a full time job.



Right now my to do list is long and I'm wishing I could just have two more weeks of full time crafting so I could knock out the list. But school has resumed and my husband has returned the apron and laundry basket to me. Health is returning (yahoo!). And I have managed to cross a few things off the to do list, as evidenced by the pictures in this post. Progress is being made. It really does help to see it in pictures.

Back in the Saddle

Life seems to have transitioned back to normal. The house is back in order. My back has mostly healed (I didn't mention it but I pulled something in my back and it's taken a good 2 weeks to recover). We're very close to resuming our homeschooling schedule. And I'm getting back to crafting.



I don't have much to show for my return to crafting just yet. I dyed 5 yards of felt over the weekend though. And I have a pile of wrapped bendy doll bodies whom I will be working on finishing over the next few days.

I've also been on a mission to shrink up any of the new felt yardage that's made it way into my stash recently. And then I did something stupid. I forgot what led to the last time I had to make a new cover for my ironing board. Red felt. And since I forgot, I did it again.



You see, when I shrink felt (which makes it much thicker and nicer!) I wet it and toss it into the dryer. I don't dry it all the way. I take it out when it's still damp and then iron it smooth again, which dries it almost completely. Wet red felt = a big red stain on the pretty ironing board cover. As soon as I did it I remembered that I had done this before!

On another note, I think I've mentioned my odd little book collection here before. I love books that have dolls who are alive as the main characters. Not creepy, spooky dolls-more along the lines of Raggedy Ann, Hitty, etc.

About a week ago Isabelle and I went to the bookstore. We were browsing the children's books and this book caught my attention. It was on the shelf with its cover facing out and I suspected it might just be my kind of book. Well I read it last night and absolutely loved it!! So much that I actually cried more than once while reading it. If you get a chance, I highly recommend The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I plan to start reading it to the children tonight.