Dusted off and ready to use again.

Dusted off and ready to use again.

Originally uploaded by blue lady studios

I took a break from reorganizing my workroom this week to pull out my old sewing machine to see if I could finally figure out what happened to it to make it not work properly.

Over a year ago I put it away in frustration as I could just not figure out what was wrong. I had been using it with great success, and then one day I plugged it in and the stitches were just a mess. I read the manual over and over, looked online for advice and had rethreaded the machine, gone over the tension, checked the bobbin a dozen or more times til I was ready to pull my hair out. I finally just took the needle out for safe keeping, put the thread away and tucked it into a corner of my room in defeat. I didn’t at that time have the money to pay someone to look at it and since I generally only sew for a hobby and not for profit I figured I’ll just do everything by hand which is my preferred method.

Unfortunately, hand sewing takes quite a bit of time. Time that is in very short supply and after a year of promising my oldest a new quilt to replace her well worn and too small quilt I decided to pull it out for one last try.

So I dusted her off, replaced the needle, rethreaded and made sure the bobbin was in position. First try, stitches off, adjusted the tension a smidge higher and perfect. Huh? You telling me after sitting for a year, after hours of beating my head against a table trying to figure out why the machine wouldn’t work, it works flawlessly now.

Let’s hope our new found relationship continues to be one of cooperation. I have plans for her that involve more then the pretty purple fabric squares my oldest is impatiently waiting to become her quilt.

Another New Year and another set of goals.

Another school year is well under way, holidays were celebrated and my girls are another year older.

Time once again to think of what I’d like to work towards and things I’d like to accomplish this year.

Some are for family. Things like being more patient with my girls, appreciating the little things like hugs from the youngest who isn’t so little anymore. Late night cuddles with my middle girl even if it is at 2am in the morning. She won’t always do that and even if I miss the sleep now I’ll miss the little girl who wants her mommy more. To try and make sure that my oldest is getting my attention as much as her other sisters. For all Anna’s complaints that she gets the least attention, I know that Katy is the one who really loses out most days as she is the big girl who doesn’t need my help as much. I think this may be a good year for her to start learning how to help in the kitchen.

I need to be more organized this year. To keep a more set schedule so I’m not sneaking it in here and there and feeling like I am always saying, ‘Not now, Mommy needs to work.’I hope to have less nights where at the end of the day I feel like I was going from sun up to sun down but somehow not much seems to have been accomplished.

I want to try and work on something creative everyday and to list new creations at least once a week.

I want to blog at least once a week, I’d like to say once a day, but that is not within the realm of reality and why set myself up with something that I would not be able to sustain.

As for Mike, I just want to continue to spend time together when we can and appreciate the man who puts up with me and all my idiosyncrasies.

So here’s to the New Year and all that comes our way!

-Kim

Birthday Bead Sale!

In honor of my getting another year older, a little bit grayer and having a few more brain cells tromped on by the kids I am having a Bead Sale in my Etsy and Artfire shops!

Everything in both stores is 30% off. At Blue Lady Beads on Etsy discount will be given in the form of a refund in Paypal prior to shipping. The prices in my Blue Lady Studios shop on Artfire have already been discounted.

Sale ends the evening of 9/7!

-Kim

A wonderful way to end a busy week.

Tara’s Third Birthday!

Originally uploaded by blue lady studios

My littlest baby girl turned three yesterday. She had an amazing day that started with banana and chocolate chip pancakes and ended with pizza, ice cream and egg-less cake.

It’s hard to say which present was the bigger hit, the rocket ship or the art easel. She spent the evening bouncing back between the two with both sisters wanting a turn too.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Time to get back to work……

My older girls started back to school yesterday which means its time for me to reclaim my house and get back to work. My youngest seems to be adapting quite easily to her sister’s being gone for most of the day. In fact she appears to be greatly enjoying the freedom to play with whatever she wants without her sister’s telling her what she is going to play/do.

As for me, I’ll be taking the next couple weeks to reorganize between working on new projects. I have several sets of new items nearly complete and will be placing a new supply order for the bead shop soon.  I’ll update here when those items are up and available.

-Kim

Coming Vacation days for Blue Lady Studios stores.

My Blue Lady Beads store on Etsy and my Blue Lady Studios store on Artfire will be going on Vacation mode the evening of July 31st! All orders must be paid for by 8pm EDT Friday, July 31st for them to be mailed before I leave. Orders paid for after that time will ship upon my return on Thursday August 6th.

Creative ideas are flowing freely,

even if they are just in my head at the moment. The most interesting thing to me is that they have little to do with polymer clay or pmc silver. I have a sudden urge to start making patterns and begin sewing once again. Many, many  moons ago I made primitive crafts. Little paper bird houses with faux birds in the shape of churches, cottages, and the like. I also made little scarecrows and such which I sold in my parents craft booth. My first real taste of selling my work.

Now I sit around 15 yrs later and I am thinking of tea dying some muslim and sketching out some new patterns for decorative dolls and such. As if I didn’t have enough on my plate, but sometimes you just have to go where the muse takes you.

- Kim

Tara took another step away from babyhood this week.

My older girls seemed to always be in a hurry, in a hurry to walk, to talk, to get that big girl bed. Both were in their very own twin beds by the time they were 18mths old because they would not stay in the crib.

Tara though has been more content to let things take their sweet time. She didn’t walk til nearly 11mths, she was happy to let Anna take the lead and talk for her, and she showed no signs on wanting to move from her crib……

Til now. A couple weeks ago she started swinging her leg over the top rail, never climbing out, but more showing us that she could anytime she wanted to. No surprise, she is nearly 3 and a big girl(compared to her sisters at her age). So we took the rail down the beginning of the week. So far so good, equal number of nights staying in bed, and getting up to be put right back.

The last baby taking another step away from babyhood and into big girl territory. Makes this Mom a little bit wistful.

-Kim

Summer Bead Sale on Artfire!

To celebrate getting my Artfire store up and running I am having a Summer Sale! I’m taking 15% off everything in the store. Discount has already been applied to all items.

Blue Lady Studios on Artfire!

Sale runs 7/2 through 7/10.

Just a reminder about the upcoming holiday….

Most post offices within the US will be closing at Noon on July 3rd and will not be reopening til Monday, July 6th!

Orders placed after 8pm EDT on Thursday July 2nd will not go out til Monday, July 6th.

-Kim

Happy 4th of July!