About 4 years ago I started a custom quilting business out of my home. I purchased a mid-sized machine and set to work. My client base grew steadily and I found great satisfaction in the work. About a year and a half ago, the business really took off and I upgraded to a long-arm machine w/computerized options. I had 5-6 quilts in my sewing room/office at any given time and they just kept coming in.
Around this same time I got offered a job with an organization I had worked closely with through my work on the trade show. Fearing a missed opportunity if I passed it up, I jumped on board. I now had 3 jobs/businesses...all of which I could run from my at-home office. What I also had, over the next few months, were ulcers. Both of my office jobs have the same January deadline since they work in conjunction with each other and the vast majority of quilt clients wanted their quilts done by Christmas. I was living under one deadline after the other.
Don't get me wrong, I was glad for the work and job opportunities. There are a lot of people who don't have either right now so I'm not complaining. But, this spring I decided I had to let one of them go and the quilt business seemed like the easiest one. I made the decision, told a few clients and even posted it on Facebook (where the entire world could see it...ugh). However, the machine hasn't sold as of yet and, low and behold, the quilts keep coming in. "Could you do just one more before for me before your done?" and "It's just a little one...". Since I still have the machine and could use the extra cash, I've been taking them. And...that's how I continue to have quilt business even though I had every intention of closing up shop. In fact, as I write this I should be working on one of the 7 quilts I have sitting here because I have several others that are still on the To-Do list.
So...I could sit here and spin this into a 'grasping opportunities' schpeel or I could just get back to work and make the most of what's been set before me.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Goodbye and Hello
Today I made the decision to leave Facebook. Not a huge deal but it did take a little convincing just because of how easily I can keep in touch with relatives and friends. But I got tired of the confusing changes, the hacking attempts and, quite frankly, the temptation to sit and waste chunks of time that I'll never get back.
So...I say goodbye to Facebook and hello to all the moments that I hope to gain back with this decision. Maybe it will even allow me to blog more often, who knows!
So...I say goodbye to Facebook and hello to all the moments that I hope to gain back with this decision. Maybe it will even allow me to blog more often, who knows!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Memento Mori
I've been thinking about time, and it's speediness, alot lately. I have two big things that I can point to as the reasoning for this train of thought: my kids and a vivid reminder of mortality.
My kids are constant reminders of how quickly time goes. It's a sneaky thing though...when your around people every day you really don't notice the changes that are happening. Which is why I love that my husband has set our computer up to scroll family pictures as our screen saver. When I'm working at the desk, I will look up to see a picture of Wyatt as a 3 year old, all bundled up to play in the snow. Or a 2 year old Kate giving me her gremlin face. Or Abby, just last year, on the soccer field. No matter what the age of the kid, its always a reminder of how quickly they change and grow. And then there's the way my son is growing...he's pushing 5'10", his feet are huge and he eats everything that's not green. The other day he looked at me, or should I say, he looked down at me and I could see facial hair! Facial hair, people!
The other reminder...a very potent reminder...was the passing of my brother-in-law. He was just shy of his 46th birthday. 46. That's only 8 years older than me. His diagnosis was so out-of-left-field, which I suppose is the way for most of them. And, as I suppose it is with most every death, it seems so unfair. It makes me realize that time can be so short and it can be taken away before we can do all that we think we will do 'someday'. I have so many 'somedays' in my life: someday I want to write a book, someday I will try sushi, someday I will travel to New England in the fall, someday we'll take the kids on a cross- country road trip through all the states, someday I want to dive with sharks. Someday. Someday. Except someday might not come. Someday doesn't come for everyone and it might not come for me. Morbid, but true. And something to remember...that's my Memento Mori.
My kids are constant reminders of how quickly time goes. It's a sneaky thing though...when your around people every day you really don't notice the changes that are happening. Which is why I love that my husband has set our computer up to scroll family pictures as our screen saver. When I'm working at the desk, I will look up to see a picture of Wyatt as a 3 year old, all bundled up to play in the snow. Or a 2 year old Kate giving me her gremlin face. Or Abby, just last year, on the soccer field. No matter what the age of the kid, its always a reminder of how quickly they change and grow. And then there's the way my son is growing...he's pushing 5'10", his feet are huge and he eats everything that's not green. The other day he looked at me, or should I say, he looked down at me and I could see facial hair! Facial hair, people!
The other reminder...a very potent reminder...was the passing of my brother-in-law. He was just shy of his 46th birthday. 46. That's only 8 years older than me. His diagnosis was so out-of-left-field, which I suppose is the way for most of them. And, as I suppose it is with most every death, it seems so unfair. It makes me realize that time can be so short and it can be taken away before we can do all that we think we will do 'someday'. I have so many 'somedays' in my life: someday I want to write a book, someday I will try sushi, someday I will travel to New England in the fall, someday we'll take the kids on a cross- country road trip through all the states, someday I want to dive with sharks. Someday. Someday. Except someday might not come. Someday doesn't come for everyone and it might not come for me. Morbid, but true. And something to remember...that's my Memento Mori.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
"Holy Crap is that the Sun?" aka "Oh, look it's Spring now"
Spring looks like it has finally arrived around here this week. Wahoo!
I have lived here all my life (except 2 years in Eastern Oregon) so I am completely used to the amount of rain, gloom and general darkness associated with a Willamette Valley Winter. That being said...I have had enough! I want to go to soccer practice without preparing to board the ark....I want to kick my kids outside to play...I want to get some freakin' Vitamin D! I'm not greedy, just every third day or so, could it not rain??
So thank God, the sun has finally arrived this week!! Everyone is in a better mood around here...even the animals. The pigs have come out of their little house to run around the pen, the steers are sunning themselves in the pasture, the chickens aren't hiding under the stock trailer to avoid the rain...it makes for a happy little farm!
And today we get to go play soccer without two giant umbrellas, under armour, towels and hats....that calls for a bit of a happy dance around the kitchen!
I have lived here all my life (except 2 years in Eastern Oregon) so I am completely used to the amount of rain, gloom and general darkness associated with a Willamette Valley Winter. That being said...I have had enough! I want to go to soccer practice without preparing to board the ark....I want to kick my kids outside to play...I want to get some freakin' Vitamin D! I'm not greedy, just every third day or so, could it not rain??
So thank God, the sun has finally arrived this week!! Everyone is in a better mood around here...even the animals. The pigs have come out of their little house to run around the pen, the steers are sunning themselves in the pasture, the chickens aren't hiding under the stock trailer to avoid the rain...it makes for a happy little farm!
And today we get to go play soccer without two giant umbrellas, under armour, towels and hats....that calls for a bit of a happy dance around the kitchen!
Monday, April 11, 2011
My Girls Rock
This Saturday was the opening game of my girls' spring soccer season. As I've alluded to in other posts, I love sports, so you know I was excited! I just love to see my girls out there on the field learning all the great things that sports can teach them: teamwork, winning well, losing well, sportsmanship and self-worth.
Anyway, this season is doubly great because both of my girls are on the same team. Kate, my older girl, is technically a U11 age but playing on a U12 team. Abby, my younger one, is usually in the U9 age bracket but was able to play up with the U12 team also. Both of my girls are the same height right now: short. In fact, our whole team is short...little...on the small side. And all the other teams are tall...big...huge. So, it gets a little rough out there on the field with younger, smaller girls taking on the bigger, older ones.
My girls didn't even flinch! Kate plays defender, or fullback, and she was blocking balls left & right! Sacrificing her body by taking shots to the stomach and legs...never pulling up or backing off once! It was amazing! Abby plays midfielder & forward. She was taking on girls feet taller than herself to get that ball. What she couldn't do with muscle & size, she did with footwork & agility...never giving an inch!
Watching them on the field fills me with pride and hope for their amazing futures. Whether they are on the soccer field, in the classroom or out on their own in the future, I know my girls are tough, resilient and talented...and that will take them where ever they want to go.
Anyway, this season is doubly great because both of my girls are on the same team. Kate, my older girl, is technically a U11 age but playing on a U12 team. Abby, my younger one, is usually in the U9 age bracket but was able to play up with the U12 team also. Both of my girls are the same height right now: short. In fact, our whole team is short...little...on the small side. And all the other teams are tall...big...huge. So, it gets a little rough out there on the field with younger, smaller girls taking on the bigger, older ones.
My girls didn't even flinch! Kate plays defender, or fullback, and she was blocking balls left & right! Sacrificing her body by taking shots to the stomach and legs...never pulling up or backing off once! It was amazing! Abby plays midfielder & forward. She was taking on girls feet taller than herself to get that ball. What she couldn't do with muscle & size, she did with footwork & agility...never giving an inch!
Watching them on the field fills me with pride and hope for their amazing futures. Whether they are on the soccer field, in the classroom or out on their own in the future, I know my girls are tough, resilient and talented...and that will take them where ever they want to go.
Friday, March 18, 2011
My Son
When I look at my son:
I see myself, in his rambling stories with 15 minutes of backstory, told at a volume that's just a tad too loud.
I see my husband, in his sense of sticking up for people and doing the right thing even if it hurts.
I see both of us in the flash of restrained anger in his eyes when we really crack down on him.
I see the baby he was, all pudge and roundness.
I see the toddler that spoke his own language that only we knew.
I see the sensitive heart that I fear will be broken by some girl soon.
I see the older brother who offered his sister some of his Blizzard last night when he realized that her ice cream was alot smaller than his.
I see the amazing athlete waiting to fully emerge from his quickly growing frame.
I see the inquisitive, and slightly obsessive, mind that can focus like a laser on his favorite topics.
I see equal parts mad scientist and artist.
I see his faith and pray that it never waivers.
I see a bad liar which makes me thankful.
I see my first born child and hope that I haven't messed him up too bad while I was learning to be a parent.
I see my child that I wish I could wrap in my arms and cuddle again without grossing him out.
I see a person that is growing so fast, physcially, mentally & emotionally, that I don't know if I even really know him anymore.
I see the man he might become and it makes me proud, hopeful and thankful, all at the same time.
I see myself, in his rambling stories with 15 minutes of backstory, told at a volume that's just a tad too loud.
I see my husband, in his sense of sticking up for people and doing the right thing even if it hurts.
I see both of us in the flash of restrained anger in his eyes when we really crack down on him.
I see the baby he was, all pudge and roundness.
I see the toddler that spoke his own language that only we knew.
I see the sensitive heart that I fear will be broken by some girl soon.
I see the older brother who offered his sister some of his Blizzard last night when he realized that her ice cream was alot smaller than his.
I see the amazing athlete waiting to fully emerge from his quickly growing frame.
I see the inquisitive, and slightly obsessive, mind that can focus like a laser on his favorite topics.
I see equal parts mad scientist and artist.
I see his faith and pray that it never waivers.
I see a bad liar which makes me thankful.
I see my first born child and hope that I haven't messed him up too bad while I was learning to be a parent.
I see my child that I wish I could wrap in my arms and cuddle again without grossing him out.
I see a person that is growing so fast, physcially, mentally & emotionally, that I don't know if I even really know him anymore.
I see the man he might become and it makes me proud, hopeful and thankful, all at the same time.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Mix-tape for my kids
Sometimes I wish it was like the 80s again and when we wanted to say how we felt for someone, we would make a mix-tape of songs to express ourselves. We put alot of time and thought into making sure those songs said what we couldn't, or wouldn't, say ourselves. I remember sitting with my handheld tape player, recording songs from the radio or another tape player...if you were getting songs from the radio you have to be quick on the 'stop' button so you didn't get the dj or the next song.
There are alot of things I would like to say to my kids but it seems like life takes my voice sometimes. Either I'm getting after them for their horribly messy bathroom or because they didn't do their homework or because they are eating a piece of cake for a snack. Or, like right now, I just can't bring myself to go there...for a vareity of reasons. So...here's my mix-tape to my kids. There's something in each of these songs that I want to pass on to my kids...sometimes it's something obvious and sometimes it's just a feeling I have when I listen to these songs.
Jack Johnson - Go On
Jack Johnson - Better Together
Jack Johnson - If I Could
Gary Allen - Life Aint Always Beautiful
Jennifer Knapp - Martyrs & Thieves
Jennifer Knapp - Lay It Down
Kutless - Strong Tower
Monk & Neagle - The Twenty First Time
Natalie Merchant - Wonder
Nickel Creek - The Hand Song
Nickel Creek - When You Come Back Down
Phil Wickham - Divine Romance
Sheryl Crow - Lullaby For Wyatt
Tenth Avenue North - Love Is Here
Tenth Avenue North - Hold My Heart
Addison Road - All That Matters
JJ Heller - When I'm With You
JJ Heller - What Love Really Means
JJ Heller - Boat Song
JJ Heller - Back Home
JJ Heller - Keep You Safe
JJ Heller - Lullaby
Jars of Clay - The Valley Song
Jars of Clay - Two Hands
Jars of Clay - Something Beautiful
This list could be revised and added to daily...music is such a big part of my life and an emotional outlet for me. It communicates to me and for me and someday I want my kids to hear all the things that these songs represent spoken from my mouth.
There are alot of things I would like to say to my kids but it seems like life takes my voice sometimes. Either I'm getting after them for their horribly messy bathroom or because they didn't do their homework or because they are eating a piece of cake for a snack. Or, like right now, I just can't bring myself to go there...for a vareity of reasons. So...here's my mix-tape to my kids. There's something in each of these songs that I want to pass on to my kids...sometimes it's something obvious and sometimes it's just a feeling I have when I listen to these songs.
Jack Johnson - Go On
Jack Johnson - Better Together
Jack Johnson - If I Could
Gary Allen - Life Aint Always Beautiful
Jennifer Knapp - Martyrs & Thieves
Jennifer Knapp - Lay It Down
Kutless - Strong Tower
Monk & Neagle - The Twenty First Time
Natalie Merchant - Wonder
Nickel Creek - The Hand Song
Nickel Creek - When You Come Back Down
Phil Wickham - Divine Romance
Sheryl Crow - Lullaby For Wyatt
Tenth Avenue North - Love Is Here
Tenth Avenue North - Hold My Heart
Addison Road - All That Matters
JJ Heller - When I'm With You
JJ Heller - What Love Really Means
JJ Heller - Boat Song
JJ Heller - Back Home
JJ Heller - Keep You Safe
JJ Heller - Lullaby
Jars of Clay - The Valley Song
Jars of Clay - Two Hands
Jars of Clay - Something Beautiful
This list could be revised and added to daily...music is such a big part of my life and an emotional outlet for me. It communicates to me and for me and someday I want my kids to hear all the things that these songs represent spoken from my mouth.