New Page!

The new Floral Cards page is up - go check it out!

There's still time to sign up for the Pine Tree Designs newsletter, over in that right column - the April newsletter will be emailed Friday, April 1. Within, you'll find a special offer celebrating the 2nd anniversary of Pine Tree Designs.

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Please go meet my new friend, Jamee at Jonara Blu Maui. Her jewelry is stunningly subtle. She's so multi-talented - we've been discussing pottery lately.

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Speaking of beaded jewelry, did I tell you about the new book I bought that arrived today?

I know, I know, I need another hobby like I need a hole in the noggin - but just look at this! These necklaces require teeny, tiny beads - and counting! Yeah, I'm excited too!

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My friend, Sherry, is a new Avon Lady so she sent me the current "magalog". This world is so foreign to me, that I get an education just looking at the pictures. I didn't know Avon made a product called, "Butt Fixing Cream". Promises to "brighten and tighten". I literally laugh outloud every time I read that. Then there's "Bacne Acne Treatment" for those hard to reach spots that break out. Just ewww.

I do happen to be in the market for a couple of lotion/oil things, maybe some new cologne and I saw something else I must have. I believe Mom must have one for Mother's Day too so I can't divulge any more about that.

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I think this just about says it all.

Is it Warm in Here?

What the heck kind of mailing list am I on, if I receive a brochure from 2005 Glamour Modeling Pageants, I ask you??

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Too much information for $400, Alex. It seems I'm on the precipice of menopause! No hot flashes just several surges this weekend, apparently triggered by heat-inducing events such as physical activity (Sat), hot tubbing (Sun) and a hot shower (Mon). I worked most of the day in my studio with one window wide open - and it was only 45 degrees outside! Verona was happy about that open window though. Welcome to age 49 - and let the games begin!

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This is a card I made for an order so I temporarily taped the name on the card pending approval. In my haste to get it mailed this morning, I forgot to scan the real deal. Looks better without the tape, trust me. The little quilt squares are foam taped to give it more dimension.

Pooped

I was so busy this weekend, I didn't have time to blog!

I gave my notice at Celebration Gifts - I will not be renewing my lease. All of my purchased products (magnets, cards, coasters, sachets) at the store are 25% off through the end of April. I removed all my hand crafted cards because I'm not going to discount them. There are a total of 5 of us leaving at last count, so the store will probably take on a different flavor and maybe some new vendors. I've struggled with this decision for weeks and am relieved that I've made a decision and I'm very happy about it.

I'll focus on my cards and even more so on framed pieces at The Wine Trek Gift Company and I've always wanted to beef up my Pine Tree Designs website. Eventually, I may try to get into another store or something but I'm not ready yet.

You know how when one door closes, another opens? Sure enough. Just a few days after I made my decision to leave Celebration Gifts, a woman from a retail store associated with a rafting outfit in TN emailed me for a wholesale catalog. We've been emailing and have worked out a deal where she'll buy all my leftover purchases product - at my cost. It's such a win-win because I don't lose any money and she pays the same price she'd pay the wholesaler but doesn't have to meet their minimums. And get this - she doesn't need the product until May - and I finish up with it April 30th.

I worked in the store Saturday morning and ran some errands for most of the rest of the day. Today I watered plants, rearranged a few and Freecycled this stuff, pretty much all of which has been spoken for and will be picked up in the next few days.

I'm tired and my back is tired so I'll leave you with these cards I made today. They are for orders and you've seen them all before, but here you go.

What's in a Name?

I flat-out stole this from Doug. (Okay with you, Doug?) I know we share a lot of the same readers so this will be a repeat to some, but I found it very amusing. (Read about the basis for this list at that Doug link.)

FORMER TITLE -- NEW TITLE

Dog walker -- Canine Circumambulation Coordinator

Massage therapist -- Relaxation Resource Manager

Meter Maid -- Public Coordinatior of Vehicular Irritation

Wal-Mart greeter -- Satisfactory Shopping Experience Initiator

Grocery bagger -- Coordinator of Product Conveyance

Tattoo artist -- Epidermal Arts Practitioner

Dog groomer -- Canine Aesthetician and Stylist

Telemarketer -- Peace and Tranquility Termination Specialist

Newspaper reporter -- Executive Disseminator of Data

Newspaper editor -- Executive Interpreter of Disseminated Data

Manicurist -- Curator of Cuticles

Bread salesman -- Counselor of Carbohydrate Consumption

Stripper -- Development Director of One-Dollar Donations

Divorce lawyer -- Alimony Alchemist

Firewood salesman -- Branch Office Biomass Broker

Nursing mother of twins -- Chief Lactation Coordinator

Window washer -- Viewtrician

A New Magazine - Just What I Need

I stopped today on my way home from work to take a picture of The Wine Trek Gift Company building to use in my April Pine Tree Designs newsletter. It's on a pretty busy road so I pulled into the gas station across the street to take this, then waited for a break in the cars. Even though the sun shone brightly all day, I was afraid it would be too shadowy at this time of day. Then I see I managed to get a lovely shot of the power lines. I sure wish I knew someone who liked to work in PhotoShop that would like to spruce this picture up a little bit for me. Someone I would be eternally grateful to. Someone that doesn't mind that I keep promising I'll learn it myself . . . someday.

Maybe I'll use their business card instead or along with the photo.

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After work I took a plate of chocolate chip cookies and a plate of brownies over to my friend Kim's house. Her dad passed away very unexpectedly a couple of weeks ago (in FL) and they are having the memorial service here tomorrow. Unfortunately, it's at the exact same time the vendor meeting is being held at Celebration Gifts. It's an important meeting since our leases are all up for renewal at the end of April. I've already made my decision but I still very much want to attend the meeting. So I told Kim I'd bake for the gathering at her house after the service and try my best to get over there after the meeting.

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My friend, Dara, sent me this link for Cardmaker Magazine - a brand new magazine! All about cards! Naturally I immediately signed up for the free trial issue. Today in the mail, I received their solicitation. Look! They have Stefani Cards right on the front of the envelope. Not literally, of course, but cards like I make - punched, layered flowers with brads and nice, neat squares all lined up. And that dragonfly card on the front of the magazine is pretty too. (Mom, that card screams your name.)

I can't wait for the first issue. Yeah, I bet I end up subscribing.

Soup's On

Last Christmas I gave my dad the gift that keeps on giving. I gave him an empty Rubbermaid container and a booklet of 12 soup recipes - a Soup of the Month gift. Each month he tells me which soup he wants; I make it and deliver it - and he returns the container, ready to use for the next month.

Here's the March selection, Potato Sausage Soup.

2 onions, chopped

1/2 cup margarine

4 cups diced potatoes

1 (10 ounce) package frozen diced carrots

1 pound Polish sausage, sliced

Directions:

1. Using a large saucepan, brown onion in butter.

2. Add potatoes, carrots, green peppers, sausage, water, salt and pepper. Cook on low, for about 45 minutes or until the potatoes are creamy.

3. Add milk and cook until heated through and then add instant potato flakes. If you want a creamy potato soup, add a 1/2 cup potato flakes, or if you want your soup thick like stew, add 1 cup of potato flakes.

4. Let soup sit for approximately 5 minutes in order to thicken and then serve.

Makes 6 servings.

Looks and tastes like a winner to me!

The Quick Fix

I forgot to show you how I fixed the two cards I posted the other day. Mucho better, huh?

That's it for tonight. I have a grocery list to write, a studio to clean and orders to fill!

TGIF.

Life is good.

She Shoots, She Scores!

Pam, the owner of The Wine Trek, loved my stuff! I'm in! She kept the five pictures. I brought home the 9 cards to bag in cellophane sleeves and take back tomorrow. I should have remembered they sell all their cards in sleeves - another good sign of a quality store. I guess I wanted the dimensionality (that's a word, isn't it?) to be evident. Not a problem, I have sleeves here.

These two cards I brought home to rework and frame. She thought they were too fancy (my word) to sell as cards and should be framed. I love framing things so I'm very happy about that.

We discussed pricing and other details. It was so much fun! I'm brimming with ideas!

Oh - and I was relieved to know that of this morning, there is a Wine Trek website but it's just a placeholder until it's up and running. I think she said a friend is doing it - or at least the friend did what's there so far. Websites are a must in my book.

It was definitely a good day in the neighborhood.

Once More, with Feeling?

You people aren't going to charge me consulting fees, are you??

Isn't this better? I was using the wrong heart punch! No wonder that scraggly thing yesterday looked like Gretchen's shamrock (except I hope her plant looks better). I'm calling this a philodendron instead of an ivy.

Ann - does this still look like it's floating and needs a line near the bottom to anchor it - or is this okay? It seems like it's better because the scale is better - but you tell me. Next time I'll probably make the plant on white cardstock, then layer it on a green card or something. This is one I'm going to take to The Wine Trek, so maybe I'll still do that - in the morning. I really like layered cards best - much more interesting.

I had to go to the QuicKutz website tonight and find the original that I'd seen in their catalog in the scrapbook store. Then, because I'm so horribly bad at unorganized art, I had to print it and set the picture on my table so I could pretty much copy the leaf placement, one by one. I drew my stems whereas it looks like they used thread or wire or paper. I like my folded leaves better because it gives it more dimension and I'm trying to make this thing my own instead of an exact copy.

I love my pot this time, by the way. I punched two pots and cut the rim off the second one. I glued the rim over the full pot's rim, bowing it out just a smidge. It looks cool. Much better than their crummy pot, that's for sure.

I decided if I'm going to call the flower I posted yesterday an allium, I'm going to call this my hydrangea. I think I like it but I'll know for sure in the morning - I need to step away from it tonight. I used scrunched plastic wrap and dabbed two shades of pink on coated paper. I ran it through the Xyron machine and punched little 1/4" (?) round flowers out. I stuck them to a white circle, purposely not being compulsive about covering every little space. (Yeah, me - not compulsive - how easy do you think that was??) I made the dots with the end of my stylus, tapped on a black ink pad. Next time I make it, I think I'll use the darkest pink color for the center dots. I struggled with the placement, as you can tell - but I think if I add a word in that big empty space, it will really be okay.

Okay, let the comments fly! Seriously, I value your opinions.

Need Ivy Advice

The concept here is good (not my original idea, by the way) but I'm not sure if it looks just right yet. Sometimes I have to come back at it with fresh eyes, like in the morning - but what do you think? Not enough leaves? Too many? Too straggly? Next time I'll foam tape the pot so it sticks out the tiniest bit, that will help. Ideas? Thoughts?

This is another card I'll take to The Wine Trek, tomorrow I believe. I found a much better way of making these. I run the paper through the Xyron to make it adhesive backed. Before I was putting a dot of glue on each piece. I know, it seems ridiculous in retrospect but I was thinking it would be a bigger pain to peel the backing of those tiny little pieces. It's not.

I also think I should start calling this an allium, instead of a hydrangea, since I'm making it on one stalk, straight up like that. Whoa - I just got another idea for making a hydrangea! Cool. Stay tuned.

This is my newest pussy willow design - using two branches instead of one. My friend, Allison, of Blue Turtle Studio, suggested it - and she was right! I was going for simple before, with the one branch - but it was too simple. This has better balance. Unfortunately, I've run out of suede paper, which makes these pussy willows fuzzy and can't find any locally just yet. I'll keep looking and/or buy some online.

That's it from Card Central here tonight.

Card Biz

I was a card making machine yesterday. These are the cards I made. At least one of each of these was for an order and I made extras where I could. I'll take the excess inventory to the store this week. Most of these you've seen before or they're on the Pine Tree Designs website, with these two exceptions:

These are two I'll take to The Wine Trek this week. I have a couple more cards I'd like to make, for a complete variety and work up a couple of framed pieces too. Two framed pieces are done actually and another one just needs to be put together. I plan to just stop by on my lunch hour one day this week and if the owner isn't there, I'll just leave my stuff for her to look at and get in touch with me. I really want this to work out. It all feels just right.

Tonight I wrapped rope around one of the carpeted posts of the kitty condo where Venus had shredded the carpet a bit. She must have caught a seam. They really scratch on the rope wrapped posts at the bottom - just like good kitties should - so this seemed like a good solution to keep the carpeting from shredding more. Steve gets credit for the idea, I get credit for the labor.

Simon completed 3 house projects for us tonight - I took it off his car loan. He replaced a hose on the washing machine, puttied the bar thing on the refrigerator door and installed a deadbolt on the front door. The kid is amazing - thorough and smart.

Not sure if I told you - he did not get the job at Abercrombie Kids because they were looking for someone who could open mornings. I'm not sure why they interviewed these three high school kids then - equal opportunity something or other? Seems like a waste of everyone's time. He's yet to apply anywhere else which is causing me extreme anxiety. I told him the other night that he's going to force me into a position I don't want to be in - I'll have to take his car keys away if he can't make his car payment. I'm already being lenient as hell - allowing him to pay it throughout the month instead of in a lump sum. We were working towards getting him to the lump sum on the first of the month place when he lost his pizza delivery job. Now I'm letting him work some of the payment off, though it helps me tremendously, getting these things done so I can concentrate on PTD and other stuff.

I told him tonight if he's scared to apply, afraid of what kind of boss he'll get, the only way to get through fear is to barge on through to the other side. He said that's not it. I asked him if he was being lazy. No, he said, he really didn't have any good reason. I think lazy gets the call. He says he'll apply places tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to these next couple of weeks.

I also filed my quarterly sales tax return tonight, nice and early. Last quarter I came dangerously close to filing late and incurring that $50 minimum penalty. The stupid thing is that I file our quarterly sales tax return at work, so I'm certainly aware of the schedule! Anyway, feels good.

Think I'll read the paper and head to bed.

Birthday Weekend Extravaganza

See what happens when I’m having fun? I have no time to write about it. Here's the Birthday Weekend Extravaganza in review.

Friday

I turned 49.

Simon wished me happy birthday without prompting, first thing in the morning. He wanted to be duly noted for that so Gramma and Grampa wouldn’t yell at him, he said.

Steve and I went out to breakfast at Steve’s Place. The country toast was so exquisitely undertoasted, as I was exclaiming over it, Steve said, “I know, you wish you had your camera.” Yep, it was picture-worthy, alright.

Went to Home Depot for a few things.

Read the paper.

Took a 45-minute nap.

Worked on paperwork.

Had an outstanding massage at 2:00, using the $10 off birthday postcard she sent me. Turns out it was her birthday too!

Had subs for dinner that Steve picked up.

Went to see Off the Map at The Little Theatre. I had never heard of this movie until reading the review in the Friday morning paper. I'd call it a character study of 5 people, 2 of which are old hippies, played by Joan Allen and Sam Elliott. Yeah, Sam Elliott – can I get an amen, girlfriends?? Just like Robert Redford, I don’t care how old these dudes get – I’d do either one in a New York minute. Joan Allen was stunning, as well, physically - and her acting of course. Not much plot, shot in New Mexico. I loved every frame of this movie. I’d see it again even. I think Steve tolerated it, he didn’t really say. It’s actually the kind of movie I would normally go see by myself, rather than subject Steve to it, but since it was my birthday, I had a legal right to drag him along.

Saturday

Went to breakfast at The Log Cabin with Mom, Dad, Steve, Simon, Gretchen, Paul, Gershum, Lizz and Erick.

Mom always brings flowers for the table when we go to a restaurant. (And Dad usually brings a jug of maple syrup. I know, aren’t old people cute?) But she outdid herself this time – two vases of roses.

Gretchen’s birthday is April 2 so we always do a joint celebration. Thus the two vases. And Gretchen would want me to remind everyone that for this three-week period between our birthdays, I’m FOUR years older than she is. Whatever.

After breakfast we all went back to our house so Mom, Dad and Gretchen could see both the kitty condo and the pool table, neither of which they’d seen before. We all played a game of pool – no teams – just took turns.

Then Gretchen and Mom and I drove out to North Rose to Barbara Jean’s Furniture Farm. (It’s 45 – 60 minutes away, I’d guess.) I don’t remember if it’s really called that but it could be. It’s a bunch of (new) barns connected to each other, loaded with furniture. It’s fairly well known for reasonable prices. Mom & Dad just had their living room painted (I’ll take pictures to show you someday) and are giving two of their old chairs to Gretchen. So they really need one new chair.

You need to understand that their couch and chairs are 40 years old! They’ve been recovered so they don’t look old. The quality of goods made in "the old days" just amazes me!

So we walked our legs off, found a chair, which is being delivered Friday. We also found an area rug, which we brought home with us.

We decided to take Route 104 home, looking for an ice cream place. It’s sort of our tradition to stop for ice cream, anytime the three of us take a day trip. Or an hour trip, it doesn’t matter!

Then I said, "I know you guys aren’t that hungry, but just up the road here is Bad to the Bone Barbecue . . . " I barely finished the sentence when they both agreed we should stop. Guess I’ve mentioned that place more than I realized. We ate there and brought home plates of ribs – for Dad, Steve and the boys.

Gretchen stayed and visited for a while, waiting for Paul to finish his ribs so she could take him home to get his stuff to spend the night here Saturday night. As soon as they left – I took a nap! On the bed, under an afghan, slept like a rock – an hour or more I think.

I spent the rest of the night doing desk work. Never ate dinner since we ate lunch at 3:00 or so.

Sunday, I made cards all day. I’ll save those for tomorrow’s entry.

All in all, it was an excellent birthday! An excellent birthday weekend even. Since I was on my feet all day at my craft table making cards – I can’t wait to go back to work tomorrow and relax.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes I received. I heard from several people that the Blogger comments were down. Hope all is working now.

Yep. Forty-nine.

This is the picture of the flowers I really wanted to post because it shows both cats nosing around the flowers. And I think we all know how fond Mom is of felines.

We're Just Getting Started

So far so good on the Big Birthday Weekend Extravaganza! I went out to lunch with the CFO and CEO today. (Sounds impressive, doesn't it? It’s really just Bob and Ray. No, not that Bob and Ray.) Ray said I could invite someone so I took Kathy – she’s a good conversationalist and a good sport about these things. Years ago I used to be really nervous about this annual lunch but now it’s just fine and always interesting to see what Ray will talk about. He gets going sometimes and says stuff I don’t think he should be telling us, but there you go.

For any new readers, the CEO has always taken every single employee in the Rochester office out to lunch for their birthday, which I find pretty impressive.

I also got to choose the restaurant so I picked a favorite of mine that Kathy and I have gone to a few times, Boccacino’s. I ordered the Fusilli – pasta with chicken, asparagus, artichoke hearts, Boca spice and olive oil. I’ve ordered it every time I go to that restaurant except once. It’s my perfect dish – and the lunch portion is just the right size too.

My department had dessert for us in the afternoon – the chocolate cheesecake assortment from BJ’s Wholesale Club. I guess they somehow figured out I like chocolate. This is about 12 slices of cheesecake, 6 different varieties. We cut them in half so we could sample a greater variety. There was plenty left so a few of us took some home and I put the leftovers in the American Heart Association bake sale that’s still going on – and will continue until the food is all gone, I guess.

I had assembled the Sweet & Sour Meatloaf last night so I stuck that in the oven when I got home. I was almost glad Steve was ridiculously late getting home because I promised him, no matter what, we were eating dinner together. I’m not sure we’ve eaten together all week because he works late most nights. By the time we ate dinner it was close to 8:30 so I was finally not full from lunch by that time. I was too full, however, to think about fixing a side dish of any sort so we had crackers or chips with our meatloaf. Kind of pathetic, but easy! And of course, there’s always room for more cheesecake. I think.

Moving on from the food portion of our entry, I arrived home today to find a box from Amazon, which I assumed was for Lizz. Wait – that’s my name on that box! It was a book from my Amazon wish list from Ann – who also sent me one of her gorgeous watercolor birthday cards.

Steve and I went in the hot tub for a bit, now I'm writing this entry and soon off to bed. I rarely stay up late on weekends because I love mornings so much. So quiet, so filled with the promise of the day.

It Worked!

I've gone from having too little creative energy to too much, if that's possible. Or maybe it was the 3 chocolate brownies I had over the course of the day.

We had a bake sale today at work to raise money for the American Heart Association and I baked a double batch of brownies last night. I try to be modest about my legendary brownies, but damn, these were exquisite! Underbaked just enough to be decadent but not enough to be gooey. So of course I had to try one this morning while I was wrapping them individually for sale. Then I had to buy one after lunch, you know, for charity. And I'd saved a strip of the edge (the best part!) that Steve and I split after dinner, as brownie sundaes.

Oh yeah. Where was I?

So I bought a "mosaic tile" QuicKutz die yesterday and had a vision in my head of what I wanted to do. But I couldn't get there last night.

I call this Paper Frenzy. Every drawer of scraps is open and the pile is about an inch deep on my table. Tonight I finally got the tile part how I wanted it but it took a good hour to come up with the flower part.

But I finally got what I wanted. I originally envisioned a yellow daffodil and spent way too long scouring the Internet, looking for Origami daffodils, quilled daffodils - but nothing was quite right. I just kept playing around with the flower punches I own. This blossom is made out of handmade paper Xyroned to white cardstock and punched out with my beloved leaf punch. I scored each one down the middle so I could fold it slightly. The pale yellow center is held in place with a black eyelet. I like it.

It took me a couple of tries to get it scanned just right so while that was going on, I cleaned up my table. And energy-wise, I crashed. I'm kind of glad because I was so hopped up before, I was wondering if I'd be able to get to sleep. I'll sleep alright.

And little Verona slept through the whole thing. Actually, she didn't - I took this a few days ago. I have to close my studio door when I'm in there working because she hogs the table big-time. I mean she is right wherever my hands are. That went from cute to annoying pretty darn quickly. Closing the door solved that little problem! She still loves to use my mouse hand as a pillow when I'm using my computer. She's the sweetest little snuggle bug.

Feelin' the Love

I checked out two other co-op gift shops on Sunday. They, along with Celebration Gifts, all have their pros and cons. I'm going to stay at Celebration Gifts and renew my lease in May for another 6 months. That's my thinking today.

However . . .

I found the most spectacular store today, on the advice of two of the CG vendors I spoke with in the last couple of days. The store is brand new, opened in January, so they don't have a website yet or I'd link to them. It's a new gift store, on Route 96 in Victor, called The Wine Trek. It's a brand new log cabin I've been watching them build for months. The inside is even better looking than the outside. And it is filled with (mostly) hand-crafted items. Paintings, painted glass, jewelry, leather - I can't even name it all. They actually do offer some handmade greeting cards but not really like I make. I spoke with the employee (manager?) at length and gave her my card. The owner came in just as I was leaving so I was able to meet her too. They offer consignment only - no working at the store, no rent - and this place is filled with ART. It made my heart sing, I swear to God. I was beginning to think the world was boiling down to everything made of resin, in China.

I'm mailing them this thank you card tomorrow morning, then I'll call later in the week and see if I can stop in with some samples of my work. (I have Friday off so that would be a good day but I'll be a busy little crafter in the meantime!) A portfolio - I'll have a portfolio! Obviously the cards look much better in person than on a monitor. I told them even if we don't do business - I'm a shopper there. The prices weren't outrageously high either - for handcrafted, no two pieces alike - very reasonable.

I know I've completely oversold this place to you - but seriously, if you want to visit a "gallery" of local art, stop in and look around.

So yeah, I'm feelin' the love again - excited about making cards. Whether or not this place works out for me, it feels just right to me, now. I even registered this morning for the National Stationery Show in May. You'll recall that Gretchen and I decided weeks ago that we'd go. Sometimes when you drag your feet about something (registering to attend), there's a reason that you just don't see yet. I decided that was not the case here - it was just me being scared of taking that step - of committing to going. So I says to myself, "Self? Cut that out and get moving!" And so I did.

Then look what happened? The opportunity at The Wine Trek opened. I received an email from a former co-worker who had found my Pine Tree Designs website through my Plaxo card (electronic business card) and asked how to place an order. Then today, I received a (small) unexpected check in the mail.

One more thing happened, at work today, but I'll tell you about it when I know how it turns out.

Sounds like The Unmistakable Touch of Grace to me! (I'm number 9 on the hold list at the library.)

Life is good.

Funny How Things Go

I've been feeling sort of, um, not focused - for about a month now. For a conglomeration of reasons, each only a part of the picture. The weather. My rule is that I'm not allowed to complain about the winter weather until April. (Steve even has a specific date: April 20th.) However, March usually finds me stifling a whine. My apparent refusal to wrap my head around weight loss. Lack of PTD sales - though typical for this time of year - has me thinking hard.

I've been feeling like I'm stuck, which really isn't like me.

I'm not saying I'm cured but when I read about Pioneer Melissa's 6 Week Tweak movement, I got a little whiff of enthusiasm. Maybe that's what I needed, a goal! I don't perform well under pressure - but I do love a goal. Six weeks puts us at about the 3rd week of April. We certainly should be having some semi-decent weather by then. (Yes, I do know we've had snow in May, thanks for bringing THAT up!)

Anyway, the 6 Week Tweak is a very loose notion - fix, do, improve whatever you want. Melissa mentioned putting together a Yahoo group for it - kind of hope she does.

I'll be tweaking:

1. Eating healthier. I've been "trending" that way over the past several weeks but it's time to kick it up a notch or twelve.

2. Walk Reggi more often. That's as close to exercise as I can get to, for now. Nicer weather will definitely help that. When Steve's ready to join me (he's less of a fan of cold weather walking - and he typically goes into work pretty early), we can go back to walking her at 4:30 - but I won't walk in the dark alone. Sunrise is now at 6:37 am so that's do-able, before work. Still need to buy earmuffs - last time my ears were so cold but I don't want to go to work with hat hair!

3. Figure out what direction I want to take Pine Tree Designs. I think what I've been feeling about that for the past few weeks is that I'm at a turning point or crossroads or something - but that didn't become clear to me until yesterday. (More about that in the notify message.)

I hope I'm right - that this 6 Week Tweak is the shove I've been waiting for. It feels like it is today, anyway. One of the best things I ever heard Dr. Phil say is, "Behave your way to success." Just do it like you feel it - and pretty soon you'll genuinely feel it. I've had that happen many a time.

So tonight I'm going to clear my slate, as it were. I'll get my paperwork in order, finish up a few things in my studio, get to bed early, read and sleep. Tomorrow I'll start fresh - and tomorrow night I'll be ready to begin on Pam's order. (Thanks again, Pam!) Pictures to follow.

Oh - the title, Funny How Things Go - refers to two things. The first is that I found such unexpected inspiration - in the 6 Week Tweak. The other refers to two of the options I checked out today for PTD future. I had expectations of liking one more than the other - but just the opposite became true. You just never know.

Changes & Decisions

I spent some time working on the sidebar tonight. I haven't checked the "online friends" links. I will tonight or tomorrow. If you get to it before I do and notice yours isn't right, please let me know.

Do you think I should have my profile showing like that? Should I even have a profile? Is that interesting to new readers? I'm not very worried about safety issues, honestly. I'm not hiding from anyone, and any stalker who wants to find this overweight, middle-aged, semi-recluse will change their mind quickly enough.

I have a few questions about archives - of both this blog and how to link to my old journal. (Willa - I'll be emailing you for help, if that's okay?!)

Those are the changes.

These are some decision I reached today.

If at all possible, I'll not work a full day at the store any more. I haven't done it in months, preferring to split the shift with another vendor. She wasn't available to split today with so I decided to bite the bullet and see how it goes. It's sort of 6 of one, half a dozen of the other - working 3 shifts instead of 2, but they are shorter shifts. I like short shifts better, I've concluded.

I got a bunch of stuff done while at the store today though - read Country Business magazine, made a bunch more bookmarks for the Pine Tree Designs promotion (see sidebar) - and did stuff around the store too. I tidied up, emptied the trash, vacuumed, washed the windows.

The other decision I've reached is I'm going to check out other gift shop co-op opportunities. Tomorrow I'm going to go visit 2 and get a feel for them and find out the particulars. This is just in the thinking/gathering information stage right now.

I'm going to spend the rest of the evening reading journals (and checking those links!) As usual, I'm woefully behind and I miss my friends!

A Day in the Life

This is the sum of my card work today. Not what I had in mind either, volume-wise. But I'm happy with them. (I'll have to rescan them before I put them on the website - they look a bit crooked here. They are so dimensional, they aren't easy to scan. I have to hold them in place with tape and leave the scanner lid open.) The first card I mailed to a friend today and the others are going into the store tomorrow.

Let's see. Here are my excuses. I stayed up until (gasp) 11:00 last night, practicing the sunflower technique. I got up at 5:45 to make sure Simon got up for school - and went back to bed at 6:30. Slept until almost 8:00. Steve and I hot-tubbed. I went to Perkins and bought muffins for us for breakfast. Read the paper. Downloaded some fonts so I could print "oh happy day" on these cards. I've never downloaded fonts before. I knew it wasn't brain surgery but it took a little time to find good, free sites and review the fonts and decide and download. That was fun!

We rehung the basement bi-fold door that we took down in case the pool table people were able to take the pool table down the stairs when they installed it Monday. (They weren't - took it in through the basement doors.) Oh. I didn't tell you? Steve bought a pool table a couple of weeks ago.

In a way, it's funny because as I'm continuing on my path of (mostly) simplicity and less possessions (craft stuff doesn't count), Steve seems to be heading in the opposite direction with the hot tub and pool table. Here's how I look at it. He's never really lived in a single house as an adult. He either shared a house with guys or lived in an apartment complex. He's more comfortable financially than he's ever been. So he's finally living the life he wants. Since he's paying for these toys and maintaining them, I don't really think there's a downside to this for me, is there? I'm not interested in owning these things - but you sure don't see me refraining from using them, do you? I ain't goofy, you know. Simon loves the pool table.

After we rehung the door we installed the rack for the cues and rehung some pictures. Then we went to the home improvement store and bought a wall mount and cable splitter for the TV for the "pool room". (It's the part of the basement I cleaned out a couple of weeks ago. I'll take pictures later this weekend.) I gassed up the car. We stopped at Celebration Gifts so I could pick up the key so I can open tomorrow morning. We came home, we ate lunch.

See what I mean? Time gets chewed up so easily! It was probably 3:30 before we finished installing the wall mount thing for the TV and I got down to serious work on the cards. Plus I'm not really 100%, having caught Steve's cough so my chest is a little tight. Then this afternoon I got that vertigo business again. Now I'm starting to get a headache so I'll be heading to bed shortly. None of these things are severe, of course, but like I said, I'm not at my peak efficiency. Didn't even eat my Dove Dark Chocolate bar. Now I'm saving that for Sunday.

I didn't feel like cooking so I went to Wegmans and bought Chinese for me and Steve. And these chocolate mousse things that were to die for. Too much food. Too full.

So I guess it was a pretty productive day, just not in the way I envisioned. That's the way it usually goes, isn't it?

Back in the Game

I decided yesterday that it was time to get back in the game. I've been feeling a little low due to lack of sales at Pine Tree Designs. I know it's the slow time of year, but still. I've been busy with paperwork (personal and business) and house stuff and have gotten out of the habit of making cards. Life is a habit. Time to change the habit back to a better balance.

First, I decided to call tomorrow's vacation day, a Stefani Day, instead of a Catch-Up Day. Remember? Like back in the old days? Stefani Day sounds like fun. A Catch-Up Day sounds like pressure to work. Once I decided this, I was so psyched!

I made this sunflower last night, just to get the juices flowing, prepping for tomorrow's big card-a-thon. I decided that was something else that was holding me back, I was bored with my usual techniques and cards. My plan is to have a whole line of spring cards (suitable for Easter, Mother's Day and every day) - and to me, spring means flowers. I've done a little quilling in the past and it's been in the back of my mind to get into it again. The center of this sunflower is pushed out a little, held in place by a tiny ball of aluminum foil. I even had fun with all the practicing - what size strips of paper work best, how many do I need, etc. And Verona, the little black cat, has been out of her mind with excitement at all the little bits of rolled paper scraps.

So I'm back in the saddle, even bought my Dove Dark Chocolate Bar for the big day tomorrow. I should have a myriad of new cards to show you tomorrow and posted on the PTD website.

Feeling better already, I am.

The Mouse - Part II - The Final Chapter

Remember my little cute as the dickens mouse story from yesterday? After dinner last night, I went into my studio to check my email. That little devil was in there! Well, his blood soaked ribcage and a few tufts of fur were in there, I should say. I’ve never had a cat that actually killed a mouse, because they usually keep them (mostly) alive to play with them. I wondered if Reggi had something to do with it but she would have just wolfed the whole thing down I think. Oh sorry, were you eating? Not any more?

Of course I had to go all CSI about the thing – get my CSI flashlight out and study it. (I’m afraid I’m being serious.) I studied the blood spatter to determine the primary scene of the crime, before the body was moved. I threatened to swab both cats and the dog for DNA samples but Steve and Simon talked me down. This is what happens when you watch CSI three times a week.

And yes, just for a moment, I considered taking a picture. Cooler heads prevailed - it was really just too gross.

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Steve and I just finished watching the NYPD Blue tribute, followed by the final episode. Damn, that Jimmy Smits is one long cool drink of water! Bobby and Diane were my favorite characters on that show, but I started sniffling long before they showed some of their scenes. Barely shed a tear at the final episode, I think, because most of the big changes had already happened. But I sure do like nice tidy, happy endings.

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I'm taking Friday off as a vacation day - just to catch up on stuff mostly. I'm working at the store all day Saturday so at least this way I'll feel like I have a weekend, of sorts. Today I was looking at the spreadsheet (what else?) where I keep track of my vacation/personal days. I always make a short note of what the day was for, just to jog my memory if I ever need to know or compare to the official company records. So far I've noted a "catch-up" day in January, one in February and now one in March. At this rate, I'll use up 12 vacation days in no time flat! I won't really do it that way, but it was noticeable that I've done that so far this year. I'm taking off my birthday (March 11 - mark your calendars!), a couple of days in May for the National Stationery Show, a day around the 4th of July, the week of Thanksgiving and I think that's all I have scheduled for now. That is a very good thing about where I work - that stuff is very flexible. As long as things are covered, we can take days off pretty much last minute.

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One thing I intend to make time for this weekend is to jazz up this page a little bit. Mom and Ann have already put their two cents in! I am learning something new everyday about how this all works. It's pretty fun!

Of Mice and Snow

When Steve and I returned from walking Reggi Saturday morning, the cats were playing with a field mouse in the dining room. Cutest little dickens. I grabbed a Rubbermaid box and caught said mouse. I then tried to get Simon to take it outside, telling him that I don't mind catching them but it's the flinging of them I don't like.

Simon: Don't fling the poor mouse, Mom, just set the box on the ground and lift the lid.

Stefani: Sure, so it can run up the leg of my pants!? No, thank you.

Simon: Don't be ridiculous! It's not going to do that.

Stefani: What if I keep my hand there too long and it runs up my arm, crawls into my ear and has babies? What then??

Simon: You are too weird.

Steve: You two should charge admission for these conversations. (This isn't the first time he's said that to us!)

Meanwhile Steve took the box with him when he went outside to get the newspaper. At last report, the mouse didn't look all that happy sitting in the snow.

Why didn't Simon just take the mouse outside, you ask? It's part of his new program to wean us off of his help. He's really very helpful around the house, fixing stuff, ridding the house of mice and snakes, etc. Unfortunately, Steve and I have said a few too many times, "What are we going to do when Simon's gone? Who is going to do this stuff for us?" So now he's showing us a little Tough Love.

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This is amazing!

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I've been after my friend, Nancy, the one who turned 40 last week - to start her own blog. Once she saw how easy this Blogger deal is - she did! Check her out here. This will be cool - another person I know in real life - with a blog.

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This is our long ass driveway, full of snow this morning.

This is my car, stuck in the snow. (I called our mechanic today to get new tires. I've been feeling guilty and irresponsible driving with the tires I currently have. Today, it became a no-brainer.) I tried to shovel myself out. I tried to rock the car from the inside and the outside. I tried to look as pathetic and pitiful as I could and not one driver passing by would make eye contact with me!

I went inside and called a woman I work with but she'd already left. There's another woman who lives sort of nearby but her phone is unlisted. I called Gretchen - not knowing she's in Florida this week. I called Steve, "I am so stuck." I really just called to whine but he insisted on coming home and picking me up.

When we got home, the driveway had been plowed by our neighbor we pay to do it. Simon and Gershum and I were just starting to work on the car when the same neighbor and a friend stopped by and pushed me out in no time flat. He said he'd come back and clean out the driveway again.

While waiting for Steve, I took some nice snowy pictures, hoping to use some for postcards to sell. I took down the Christmas wreath from the front of the house. One of my pet peeves is competing holiday decor. So we had the Christmas wreath not that far from the Valentine's Day flag - in March! What would Martha say? (She gets out of prison in 5 more days, you know!)