Right Around the Corner

One of my favorite times is coming up!

It involves a lot of preparation,

a little lack of sleep,

and quite a bit of slippage in the housekeeping department

but...

I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

Yup it's doll show time and it's right around the corner.

Yet when I had a peek back at past years I was surprised to see I really didn't 

start preparing until mid to late August...hmmmmm.

Could it be I finally paid attention to that note I wrote to myself on the 

July page of my calendar to 

"Get ready earlier!"

Maybe it's the fact that "Back to School" hits full force the very same week as the show

and this time around not only will preschool will be back open for business 

 but I'll be heading off to college myself  for a wee refresher.

Or perhaps it's because I've had it on my radar 

for the past several months 

due to this...

...our annual flier layout for the show.

Minus the fact that this is an amazingly terrible photo 

(compliments of my phone) let me just say I love this little flier. 

It's familiar and cozy and for me represents tradition and dependability. 

The biggest excitement of receiving them each year is to see what color they will be printed on.

I even like the fact that the directions are written out for you since I can't 

quite seem to entirely trust the whole Mapquest mentality yet.

But considering I'm not the norm, 

ramblings under way  in the 

revamp department.

And so a while back I was put to task with a bit of sketching....

...which progressed to some layout planning,

followed by a little line drawing,

until finally a rainy day was made bright with coloring fun!

It seems with that mission accomplished

I've got the inspiration needed to push full steam ahead 

in the production of inventory...

wee wooden dollies,

pincushions galore,

and an assortment of itty bitty go along goodies.

Considering I'm not on the show committee 

I honestly don't know the ins and outs of how or even if  my flier will be used. 

What I do know, however, is that I can't wait!

If anyone is interested in joining the fun, please do!

You can find all the info here

or

if you'd like a little flier of your own just let me know...

I'd be delighted to send one your way!

Summer Reading

Within our walls exist 

a dear hubby that works from home,

three quite grown up "children,"

and a bichon pup with severe separation anxiety issues.

To expect our day to day

(or night to night)

to flow in a leisurely summer manner

would be asking a miracle...

and so I don't.

Instead, I read.

This year I even went so far as to create a 

summer reading curriculum. It includes a selection of books 

picked with lifestyle dreams in mind since I figure you 

can't redirect your daily path if you're

not quite sure where you

want to go

yet. 

I started with a few favorite authors....

combined with an interest in remote coastal living,

a tad of cozy housekeeping love,

and a hint of New England nostalgia.

I suppose the cherry on top is this one...

I've had it in my possession for ages and am shamed to say have not yet even 

browsed it's pages. Strange, especially considering Tasha Tudor 

wrote the introduction. Perhaps it needed to be saved 

especially for this summer.

It might be just the inspiration needed to 

hurl myself out and actually go visit someplace beyond my own dooryard.

They do have tours of the island you know!

Speaking of traveling out and beyond....

a gathering of wee friends made their way out into the world this week.

What brave little hearts they have!

Only two remain.

Both also have a bent for adventure 

so I've promised to provide just that by posting them 

over Etsy way come Friday morning.

I do believe a few Pinelopes

intend to join the fun 

as well!

What's Up?

Quite literally the most exciting thing up in our neck of the woods 

is a brand new chandelier....

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever live in a home with such elegance,

I feel like Cinderella! Our previous boring old light fixture developed a habit 

of popping and smoking whenever the switch was turned on 

and so a venture out to Home Depot was in order.

I found an amazing assortment of sleek and oh so grown up specimens to choose from, 

unfortunately I am not a very sleek or grown up individual.

In fact I felt very Goldilock-ish in that nothing felt just right.....

too big,

too bright,

and

too boring.

But then, way down low I spied something of interest, 

a relatively tiny box with a hint of glimmer to it.

The home improvement fairies must have secreted it away just for me

for the box contained what was marketed as a 

"Miniature Chandelier."

Oh the power of words....

I

was

SOLD!

Add to that a can of Robin's Egg Blue spray paint,

an agreeable dear hubby, a bewildered electrician and here I am,

living like a princess!

But what else do I fill my days with aside from selecting ball gowns and eating bonbons?

Well I'm trying to remember how to take photos for some listings I 

want to get in the shop....the poor thing has been 

as empty as Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard for ages upon ages now!

I've also a fair share of goodies I need to get delivered....

.....and so many more in the works!

I've got a wish list of inventory I'm hoping to take with me to 

the Southern New Hampshire Doll Show and Sale this September and a lack of available elves to help with the production so it looks like my fingers will be busy!

All in all I'd say it's a happily ever after adventure.

Well Lookie There!

Long time no see....at least around these parts that is!

Like everyone else I've been busy with this, that, and the other but as of today...

IT"S OFFICIALLY SUMMER!

To say I am delighted is an understatement.

I am so looking forward to the longer days, the warmer weather, and a chance to really 

enjoy the pleasures of taking stitches.

I'm even hoping to pop in here much more often....

but if not so frequent as planned

I already know the culprit to be that dratted phone of mine

and it's ever so easy link to the world of 

Instagram.

It's quick, it's fun, but also lacking in ways I can't quite wrap my head around.

Quite simply...

I

Miss

My

Blog.

I'm so glad your still here!

Maybe Someday, Maybe Never

So the New Year's plan was to orchestrate a series of monthly shop updates.

Each was to be developed around a theme of sorts such as Hitty goodies, doll beds, or pin toppers.

I thought this plan of action would keep me organized and focused.

Trouble was, I thought wrong.

It turned out to be a case of too many pots in the fire.

Chaos reined in my work spaces and in my head

and as a result

not one item made it into the shop

nor into the hands of some VERY patient individuals.

It's no longer a new year, but it is day one of a new month.

And for this fine month of February ahead I have developed a new plan.

It's called the 

"I'll Do What I Can Plan."

What it means is this...

I'll do what I can with what time I am afforded and only with a feeling of joy in my heart.

I want each individual stitch to be enjoyed, each paint stroke applied with peace, 

and each completed project to smile back at me.

Working under a deadline and at the expense of family, friends, and sleep 

is the perfect recipe for mishap and mayhem on the work table. 

(It also makes for one cranky mama

 and more than a few 

miserable meals...just ask the kiddos!)

Items made under an air of misfortune are not something I wish to share with others.

To do so would turn all of this into a job and not a joy. 

That would be sad.

I'll still be creating on a small scale and curating my little shop...

day by day,

stitch by stitch,

item by item,

 but always with a whole lot of happiness in the heart!